Lord of the Dance (Star Trek: TOS story by Anne Elliot)
| K/S Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Lord of the Dance |
| Author(s): | Anne Elliot |
| Date(s): | 2008 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Original Series |
| External Links: | |
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Lord of the Dance is a Kirk/Spock story by Anne Elliot.
It was published in the print zine First Time #62.
Summary
"Emotions are revealed following a cultural exchange on the planet Koullend and a dance which liberates both Kirk and Spock to uncover a secret between the two."
Reactions and Reviews
Oh, I enjoyed this dance! It presented a very good premise with an interesting culture and customs as background to a tender compelling love story. The interaction and the subsurface feelings Kirk has for Spock and vice-versa is just as I like it. There’s such tenderness and yet there is enough uncertainty to build up the tension between the characters and on the part of the reader.The idea of the Big Dance performed on this alien planet was such an original concept and very well described, I thought. More important than that, however, was the rhythm with which the love between Kirk and Spock was realized. Kirk’s carefully orchestrated determination was pure JTK and Spock’s self-denial was right on target as well. At least in the way I see these men, they were perfectly written.
The intimacy is simply and beautifully told. Every touch is drawn in an artistic manner with words – I could almost feel the warmth of their loving caresses.
This is a most satisfying, heartwarming story that left me glowing. [1]
This is a fabulous story written by one of my absolutely all time favorite authors. I‘ve been a huge fan of Anne‘s writing ever since the very first story of hers that I read (Animal Magnetism in First Time # 54). I just adore Anne‘s way with words, and she has written another wonderful story with a truly unique idea, and filled with many of her signature humorous moments. I‘ve never read about anything like the Big Dance that is the centerpiece of this story. Kirk, Spock, Uhura, McCoy, and a young crewmember are on a mission where they must participate in a dance at the palace with the local ruler and populace. But what a dance! It‘s very complicated with difficult choreography that they must learn, and involves thousands of people dancing in intricate patterns for hours, wending their way through the rooms of the palace. (I love how Anne describes this, as a ―strange mix of line dancing, folk dancing, the conga and the waltz but all performed at speed and with a lot of ever-changing partners. Or as McCoy says afterwards: ―...some sort of endurance test thought up by an evil mind.‘‘) Kirk diligently learns the steps to the dance although he is preoccupied by his relationship with Spock – or rather by the lack of the committed relationship he desperately wants with Spock, which Spock has recently gently but firmly declined. During the rigors of the mission (the planet is cold and uncomfortable), the dance, and then afterwards on the ship, he and Spock come to a new understanding of themselves and their relationship. They work out a compromise for their last year on the ship. Kirk thinks if he has a year with Spock that he can convince him to agree to the bonding he wants so much. I love the foreshadowing of Gol, V‘ger and the events in ST TMP, and the last line gives me chills: “And so, by the time VGER’s search for its creator finally brought them back together, they were both truly ready to begin their own Big Dance, and to continue it to the end of their lives.” This is a must read story for all K/S fans! [2]
As I‘ve said before, this particular author tends to inject a lot of humor in her K/S stories and has the unique ability to add just the right amount so that the story never comes out as silly or ―slapstick‖, but makes us laugh just as the humor in TOS made us laugh, as well, yet never put the characters in a ridiculous light. And this story is no exception.I have to admit, my favorite part is the beginning. Kirk, Spock, and company are playing diplomats on a planet with a particularly cold atmosphere, an atmosphere that, for one desert-bred Vulcan, is proving to be more than a little difficult to handle, despite the fact that he was 'wrapped and padded until he could barely move, almost carried into the transporter room and beamed down along with the rest of the Enterprise diplomatic party.' Still, he is unable to effectively ward off the persistent chill and Kirk wants nothing more than to wrap his arms around the Vulcan and keep him warm. But that is a privilege he feels he is no longer entitled to, based on a recent incident between the two not long before this mission. The memory leaves him as cold and uncomfortable as the planet‘s climate, despite the fact he at least knows that Spock has no intention of leaving him. But he has no time to dwell on it, as his attention and energy are soon focused on learning and then participating in one of the planet‘s rituals – a dance that can involve thousands of participants and last for hours. Such is the case here and the landing party soon find themselves involved in an activity that, as McCoy describes, is 'some sort of endurance test thought up by an evil mind'. Still, they manage to survive it, but not before Kirk learns a valuable lesson, a lesson that makes him determined to try to mend his relationship with Spock and perhaps take it to the next level. At first it seems his efforts are a success, but he soon learns that having an intimate relationship with a Vulcan is not as easy as it seems.
Once again, this author has given us a story that is both funny and touching at the same time. I can‘t wait to see what she comes up with next. [3]