Domains : The World of Men and The World of Women

WORF: 

Thank you for coming. 

As you probably know by now, Jadzia and I will be married here on the station in six days.

BASHIR: 

There's nothing more romantic than a wedding on DS Nine in springtime.

O'BRIEN: 

When the neutrinos are in bloom.

WORF: 

By tradition, the Klingon man spends the four nights before his wedding on a mental and spiritual journey. 

It is called Kal'Hyah, the path of clarity. 

And he is accompanied by his closest male friends.

MARTOK: 

You cannot imagine the experience that awaits us. 

Four long nights filled with song and fellowship.

 A time of unbridled pleasures.

O'BRIEN: 

Are we talking about a bachelor party?

WORF: 

It is a similar ritual.

BASHIR:

 That's good enough for me.

O'BRIEN: 

Me too.

SISKO: 

Count me in.

WORF: 

We will meet in the holosuite tomorrow night at twenty one hundred hours.

MARTOK: 

I advise you all to get plenty of rest.

BASHIR: 

Four nights at a Klingon bachelor party. 

Just think of the possibilities.

O'BRIEN: 

Thank God Keiko's not here.
(O'Brien and Bashir leave.)

SISKO: 

I wonder what Dax will be doing while we're travelling down Kal'Hyah?

MARTOK: 

She will be taking a different journey 

with my wife.

SISKO: 

Your wife?

[Airlock]

MARTOK: 

By marrying Worf, Dax will be joining the House of Martok. 

Since the Mistress of a Great House must approve all marriages, Sirella will spend the next four days evaluating Jadzia.

(The airlock opens and a stately Klingon woman comes out.)

MARTOK: 

My Lady.

SIRELLA: 

You've put on weight 

and your hair is going grey.

MARTOK: 

My deterioration is proceeding apace.

SIRELLA: 

I thought you would be in your grave by now.

MARTOK: 

I shall endeavour to die this year, if possible. 

Allow me to present Captain Benjamin Sisko, Commander of Deep Space Nine. 

Captain, may I present the Mistress of the House of Martok, my wife and the mother of my children, Sirella, daughter of Linkasa.

SISKO: 

Welcome to Deep Space Nine.

SIRELLA: 

Thank you, Captain. 

Where is she?

MARTOK: 

Jadzia's quarters are in the Habitat ring, section twenty five alpha. 

Shall I escort you? It's quite far away.

SIRELLA: 

I'll find my way. 

If you'll excuse me.

(Yup, they're deeply in love. I'm thinking Benedick and Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing.)

MARTOK: 

Magnificent, isn't she?

[Dax's quarters]

WORF: 

Are these real var'Hama candles?

DAX: 

Yes, Worf. 

I travelled to Kronos, 

I captured three targs in the Hamar Mountains, 

made the ritual sacrifice at dawn, 

came back to the station, asked Quark to boil their shoulders into tallow. 

Then I spent two days molding them into candles with my own hands.

WORF: 

I was just asking.

DAX: 

You were criticising. 

Again. Relax. 

She's not going to reject a prospective daughter because the var'Hama candles in her welcoming display were replicated.

She Might.

(Doorbell)

DAX: 

Come in.

(Sirella enters.)

DAX: 

Tuq son bosh mok A'Beh Sirella koh. 

E'Gagh vet moh.

SIRELLA: 

What is he doing here?

WORF: 

I meant no disrespect.

SIRELLA: 

Then leave. 

(Worf leaves.)

SIRELLA: 

Your worthiness to join our House will now be judged according to the traditions of my family.

DAX: 

I am prepared, my lady.

SIRELLA: 

I doubt that. 

A Klingon woman would find it difficult to gain my favour. 

For an alien, it will most likely be impossible.

DAX: 

I like a challenge.

SIRELLA: 

I will not have my authority challenged by you.

DAX: 

That's not what I meant.

SIRELLA: 

If you cannot say what you mean, say nothing at all. 

The evaluation will begin tomorrow morning. 

Have the traditional meal prepared before I arrive. 

And in the future, if you cannot trouble yourself to make real var'Hama candles, try not to use such obvious fakes.

[Rotarran ready room]

WORF: 

You never told me that your wife was opposed to this marriage.

MARTOK: 

Sirella is a woman of strong convictions. 

She believes that by bringing aliens into our families we risk losing our identity as Klingons.

WORF: 

That is a prejudiced, xenophobic view.

MARTOK: 

We are Klingons, Worf. 

We don't embrace other cultures, we conquer them. 

If someone wishes to join us, they must honour our traditions and prove themselves worthy of wearing the crest of a Great House.

WORF: 

Jadzia is worthy.
 

MARTOK: 

Of course she is. 

She is an honourable woman and a formidable warrior.

WORF: 

You should say that to Sirella.
 

MARTOK: 

...that's not such a good idea. 

I don't want her to think that I'm interfering in her domain.

WORF: 

Perhaps I should speak with her. 

Coming from me, it would not seem like a challenge to her authority.

MARTOK: 

I... wouldn't do that if I were you.
 

WORF: 

Why?

MARTOK: 

Well, The Truth is - 

She doesn't like you that much either.

WORF: 

Me.

MARTOK: 

Don't let that bother you,  

I had every right to bring you into the family 

 and she's accepted the fact that 

There is nothing she can do about it.

 
WORF: 

How comforting.

MARTOK: 

And they say that you have no sense of humour!