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Chapter Twenty-One: Goodbye

Ashtyn and Erik lunged at The Black Panther, who manages to divert Ashtyn's attack but not Erik's; who strikes him aggressively across his face. Momentarily stunned T'Challa stumbles, but quickly recovers to block Erik's follow-up attack, but T'Challa's momentum was short-lived. Ashtyn's alter ego; Madam Slay was on him preventing him from advancing any further.

Erik smiles, knowing that with his wife by his side that victory will be surely theirs. As she continues her assault, effectively distracting The Black Panther, Erik strikes him from behind with a devasting blow to his left kidney. The Black Panther arches his back in response to the attack. Before stumbling forward and nearly collapsing on top of Ashtyn from the force. Yet, he somehow managed to regain his footing just before toppling over. Refusing to surrender T'Challa continues to fight valorously back, despite the combined force of Erik and his queen being almost too much for him to overcome.

Then as if the world itself was coming against Erik and Ashtyn, a train transporting vibranium comes traveling down the tracks. Seeing the train approaching Erik tries desperately to cross the tracks before it separates him from Ashtyn, who is actively battling The Black Panther. However, the train is too fast and briefly separates the couple. Erik is just barely able to peer through the gaps between the train cars to see his wife holding her own against their opponent. It had nearly passed when The Black Panther side-steps a punch that Ashtyn threw, she loses her balance just as the caboose clipped her right shoulder. The force whirls her around like a spin top before she falls hard onto the tracks.

Erik is alarmed by the sight as she laid motionlessly. He wanted to rush to her aid, but T'Challa's attention was fully on him. The Black Panther wasted no time capitalizing on Erik momentary lapse in focus and began to attack him relentlessly. Erik was forced to turn his focus towards the battle, all the while hoping that his wife is alright. As their battle continues, he tried to end the fight as quickly possible. It was killing Erik not to know Ashtyn's condition. Erik draws his blade as T'Challa is forced to block his attacks with his bare hands.

Another train comes hurtling down the tracks. Erik continues his assault but somehow, he had lost control over his weapon. It goes flying into the air. This isn't good, Erik thinks to himself as he sees the weapon spiraling down. He knew that he was not in a proper position to catch it. His life flashes before him. This was the end that he feared. He was going to leave Ashtyn alone, and childless, not even his good intentions would survive. He closes his eyes and accepts his fate. There was nothing more for him to do. Just as he imagined T'Challa grabs the hilt of the blade and stabs it into Erik's chest.

Yet, Erik felt no pain, but he did feel something leaning onto his chest. Looking down to his horror he realizes that the blade didn't connect because something had prevented it from hitting its mark...it was Ashtyn. She collapses before him onto the ground. Erik is too horrified to even scream. He turns his beloved onto her back where he sees the blade that was meant for him still buried in her chest.

Realizing the severity of the moment he was finally able to articulate an audible sound, but it sounded more like a howl that a wounded animal would make. Looking down at his bride he could see her struggling to stay conscious. Erik grips her hand and notices how her hand was beginning to turn cold. Tears pour down his cheeks as his heart began to break. Never did he imagine that death would touch her. It was supposed to be him, it should have been him.

His kisses her between sobs and says words of encouragement. Yet, his words were empty. He had seen many people died, most by his hand, looking at his wife he knew that death was claiming her soul. Worst there was nothing that he could do but hold her and lie. Stroking her hair from her face he says, "You are going to be alright."

"I thought that you didn't' say shit that you do not mean," Ashtyn says jokily in a weak voice."

Erik knew that she knew that she wasn't going to make it. The color in her face was draining and her eyes were becoming less vibrant; dangerously reminding him of her eyes prior to her transformation.

It was shocking to Erik that he had the presence of mind to remember The Black Panther was behind him.

"What are you waiting for?" Erik calls out to him. "Go on, kill me." Erik challenged him as if he was being defiant, but in truth, he wanted to end his suffering. If Ashtyn was going to die, then he wanted to die too, because there was no him without her. However, The Black Panther didn't grant his morbid request. Erik turn to him a broken man, much how he wanted to break T'Challa once more by killing Shuri. Yet it was now Erik who was barely holding onto his sanity. No, the irony was not lost on him. The pain Erik felt as his world was being stripped from him was debilitating. With no will to go on, he begins to yell at T'Challa to finish him, but he refuses to strike him, he only offered a sad expression.

Truly this was worse than death. Erik holding his queen within his arms, as her eyes closed. She was fading away, then something begins to stir within him. Hell no, was he going to let his wife die! With newfound conviction, he stands to his feet while clumsily gathering her within his arms. Carrying her limp bloody body away he walks with new purpose to Shuri's laboratory. He had heard from W'Kabi and Klaw how their technology could save lives and heal fatal wounds.

It was the only thing that he could think of that could possibly save her. Though he was not certain how to fully wield Wakanda's technology, he was desperate enough to attempt to figure it out. Walking with determination Erik didn't bother to spare The Black Panther a glance as he made his way to his destination. Yet, he should have known that his actions would warrant an adverse reaction. T'Challa grasped him by his shoulder.

"Get you damn hand off of me man," Erik snaps.

"She's dying," T'Challa states. "If you want to save her you will need my help."

"Why in the hell would you do that for me?"

"My father's sins are mines to correct. Your rightful life was stripped from you, so to return her spirit to her body would make us even. However, there is one stipulation, you must surrender to me and deal with the consequences of your actions. If you accept the term, then I will help you to save her life."

Erik looks down at his wife. He had no choice, but to accept a life of bondage. The thought was worse than death to him. Nevertheless, he couldn't allow for her to perish.

"Agreed," Erik finally says after a short deliberation. T'Challa only nods. Then he quickly takes off in the direction of the lab. T'Challa radios for Shuri to meet him there. Erik follows as Ashtyn jostles about lifelessly within his arms. Once there Erik is alarmed by the condition of the lab and momentarily wonders if the equipment was still capable of restoring Ashtyn's life. Furthermore, he was angry that Shuri wasn't yet there.

T'Challa took actions, directing Erik to lay Ashtyn onto the operating table. Erik, who normally would have opposed being ordered around, quickly obeyed because he felt as if he was losing his ability to make any rational decision. His grief was beginning to overtake him. He found himself grateful for T'Challa's directions.

Soon Shuri arrives and is alarmed by the sight of Erik, who was hunched over his bride. Erik was too grief-stricken to fully comprehend Shuri's revulsion towards the idea of brother's insisting that she help in saving Ashtyn's life. All he could do was look at Ashtyn and think about all the things that they haven't done. Lost in his thoughts he barely noticed Shuri when she demanded that he step back.

Again, he obeyed totally at the mercy of his sworn enemies. He mindlessly looked down at himself and could see Ashtyn's blood smeared all over his suit. There was so much of her blood on him it was a wonder to him that she was still breathing at all. His wife was a fighter, and he knew that she could pull through, at least he was trying hard to believe that she could. Shuri wasted no time as she began her work. She was precise in her actions as she took full command of the situation. Before extracting the blade from Ashtyn's chest, she uses some sort of freezing device to stabilize the area. Then she scanned the damaged area. The scan projected a digital image in midair of the wound before them. She uses the digital image to map out a plan to surgically remove the blade. No one dare say a word to her as she began the delicate process of removing the weapon.

Erik held his breath as he watched. Only after it had been successfully removed did he exhaled. Thanks to the freezing device blood didn't flow from the wound. Shuri then took another device and began to tend to the wound suturing the torn fibers of flesh back together. The entire procedure didn't last more than thirty minutes but for Erik, it felt like a lifetime.

Then finally Shuri speaks, "I have done all I can do. We will have to wait and see."

"Thank you," Erik uncharacteristically humble by her mercy says. Shuri simply rolls her eyes in response. Yet, that doesn't change how grateful Erik was for her assistance. He goes to be at Ashtyn's side and grabs her by the hand. Unlike the last time, he touched her this time her hand was a bit warmer. He was also pleased that color was beginning to return to her cheeks.

"Remember your promise. You are now my prisoner," T'Challa cautions him.

Erik strokes Ashtyn's face with the back of his hand. His happiness over her potential recovery was more than enough to make his deal with T'Challa acceptable. "I have not forgotten," Erik replies. He then turns to face T'Challa who is standing beside an obviously perturbed Shuri. "Can I at least wait until she awakes before I am sentenced? Maybe have a few hours to say goodbye."

T'Challa looks to Shuri who looks at him in disbelief as he considered Erik's request. Yet, Erik knew that T'Challa had seen his desperation and his utter brokenness. Erik was a defeated man and was no longer a threat. Erik knew it and so did T'Challa. In truth, his greatest weakness had been exposed and that weakness was his wife. Erik wasn't going anywhere. It was then that Erik realized that in his hast to save Ashtyn's life he didn't secure her own freedom.

"Spare my wife," Erik boldly requests.

"She must answer for her crimes against Wakanda," Shuri says astonished by his audacity. By now her anger was nearly boiling over. Nevertheless, T'Challa holds up a hand to her to silence her. She snaps her mouth shut to hear his declaration on the matter.

"No harm will come to her. She is you wife and she stood by your side. I shall hope one day to have such a thing as you two shares. Furthermore, she saved my mother, Nakia, and my sister. Three lives for one seems to me to be a more than fair trade."

Erik humorlessly chuckles to himself in disbelief. What an amazing turn of events. The one action that had nearly torn them apart, her disobeying him and inferring in his kingly matters; was the one thing that had caused T'Challa to be merciful. He kisses the back of her hand in appreciation for her. She somehow foreseen the negative consequences of his impulsive actions and had tried to hinder the side effects. Then, he didn't understand her behavior or reasoning, but now he was grateful for her foresight. He didn't think it was possible to be any more amazed by her, but he was.

"We will give you two sometime alone, to say your goodbyes." T'Challa states, and he instructs Shuri to leave the room with him. Erik was shocked that she didn't start yet another round of arguments before finally obeying her brother command. Yet, she left with little hostility.

Finally, Erik was alone with Ashtyn. He began to speak to her. Saying how sorry he was for causing her so much pain. He had stolen her from her world to join him in his dysfunctional quest. He had found her beautiful and alluring and he was struck by a need for her that he couldn't explain. He was one tough bastard, but he now knew that he needed his superwoman by his side to get him through the day. She was the only thing that calmed him. Only she gave him something to live for other than vengeance.

"There is so much that we haven't done yet." Erik says in a low broken voice. "Darling please come back to me. I would do anything to see you smile again. All the moments we wasted fighting each other, trying foolishly to dominate each other. We should have been cherishing our time together." His voice began to crack towards the end. Lowering his head, he did something that he thought that he would never do. He began to pray.

At first, he didn't even know what to say. It had been years since he and God had chatted. When his father was murdered, he had blamed God for it. Beyond that there wasn't much need for faith in his chosen profession as a contract killer. What was he going to ask from God…his blessing to kill more folks? No, he had altogether decided that his lifestyle wasn't fit for God, and neither was he. But that was then this is now…and he was beyond desperate for help.

"If you are listening, I need you to help me," His prays. "I know that I don't deserve anything good from you, but Ashtyn…she's truly a good person. It is because of me that she is clinging to life. Please, please just let her live. I would do anything…"

"I didn't take you for the religion type." Ashtyn interrupts in a faint voice.

Erik opens his eyes and is overjoyed that she is awake. "Baby," He exclaims, barely able to contain his excitement he nearly crushes her when he hugs her. Then he remembers that she was seriously injured and forced himself to stop. "How do you feel?"

Ashtyn smiles, she struggles to keep her eyes open. Yet, she replies, "Like a knife just went through my chest." She jokes, "Wait that actually happened."

Though Ashtyn was trying her best to lighten the mood, Erik was still struggling to get his nerves under control. "I thought…" He began to say, but Ashtyn interrupted him before his could finish. Somehow knowing that it was too much for him to confess.

"It would take a hell a lot more than a knife through the heart to separate me from you." Erik smiles at her. Pleased that she knew that he didn't need to travel any further down the emotional roller-coaster that he was on. They couldn't change the past, they could only live for their future. Which was uncertain because she was unaware of what he had traded to save her. Nevertheless, he would have done it again if the result was her alive and well before him. He wouldn't dare tell her anything unpleasant, not in her current weaken condition. His somber news would have to wait until a later date. For now, it was enough that she was recovering, and they had their moment in time together.

A couple hours later, Ashtyn was well enough to sit up. He carries her over to a chair for her to sit on. He then pulls over a stool for him to sit on across from her. Holding her hand sadness grips him. This was the moment that he had feared. The moment he would have to finally tell her want the cost was for her to be amongst the living. It was funny he remembered telling her to fuck the consequences. As if he was unconcern about having to answer for his crimes. In truth, it was the opposite he hated what was coming next.

"Ashtyn, there's something you ought to know."

"You don't have to say it. I already know." Ashtyn says solemnly.

"What?" Erik questions, a deep frown setting on his face. "Baby, you don't understand."

"No, sweetheart I understand perfectly. You traded your freedom for my life." Erik tilts his head in confusion. He couldn't imagine how she possibly could have known. He was sure that she was unconscious when he was discussing the terms with T'Challa. The mental gymnastics that he was doing was causing his head to spin, but thankfully his wife didn't leave him in the dark for long. "I was in my body then somehow I was not. It was so strange I could see everything happening around me; like I was having an out of body experience. I saw you holding me and asking for T'Challa to end your life. Then I heard you surrender to save my life. I could feel you despair and pain. I tried to return to you but there was a dark veil that only grew darker and heavier as time went on. I felt myself drifting farther away from you.

"Then I her a voice. A woman approached me and stilled me. She prevented me from drifting away. Giving you enough time to workout a way to save me."

"A woman?" Erik inquires.

"Yes, it was…your mother." Erik sucked in a harsh breath. The revelation that Ashtyn had communicated with his mother was shocking and unexpected. Not that he didn't believe her, but he had to ask more questions to be sure.

"What did she look like?" He asks, and Ashtyn described his mother perfectly. Yet, he still found it difficult to believe. Then she says to him what his mother told her to tell him. Ashtyn says that she still loves him, and she wants him to be the man that she knows that he can be. She said, that it wasn't too late for him to change and to be a better person. She also said not to let the pain of the past dictate his future.

This was like the same warning that his father had tried to say to him, but he wasn't ready to receive it. However, that was prior to him losing his kingdom, his freedom, and nearly his wife. Now a little motherly advice seemed to be something that could use. He missed his mother, and perhaps if she was still alive things would have been different. He couldn't help but to ask, "Do you believe that I can be redeemed?"

Ashtyn leans towards him and take his face within her hands. She gives him a simple kiss on the lips and says, "Yes."

"Any moment they will be coming through those doors. They will take me away from you. I will have to stand trial. The prospect of being a prisoner for the rest of my life use to be worse than death to me, but now I only fear being without you."

"I am not going to leave your side. You are not going to have to go through this alone." She then moves and sits on his lap and the two embrace each other.

"You got me, huh."

"Always."

Erik snuggles her, playfully nuzzles her neck with his nose. She giggles in response. "Do you think that would allow conjugal visit?" Erik lightheartedly questions. Ashtyn laughs, and smacks him on his chest, "What…a brotha has needs." Just as a lighter mood was settling over them. They heard a knock on the door. They look at each other knowing that their time was up. "I will give this to T'Challa, he is respectful." Erik says, and motions for Ashtyn to get up, she reluctantly obeys. Standing to their feet they walk together to open the door and to face the consequences of their actions.

Erik finally answers the knocks and says as if he still has some level of power for them to enter. T'Challa stands before him with the remainder of the Dora Milaje behind him, including Okoye who eyes showed no love for Erik. Not taking his eyes off the people before him, Erik leans over and kisses Ashtyn gently on her forehead.

"I will be seeing you soon." Ashtyn steels herself, trying desperately to keep from crying. She didn't want to make things harder on him than they already were.

He glances at her for only a moment and smiles. The gesture is bittersweet, but still she refuses to cry. "I love you." She says, but the words aren't enough. She wanted to say something that would carry him through the dark days that were surely to come. Yet, words were all she had. She watched helplessly as they shackled him and haul him away from her. She refused to break eye contact with him until he was no longer in her vicinity. T'Challa alone stayed behind. All at once Ashtyn's strength failed her and she crumbled to the floor in a heap. Uncontrollable sobs wreaked her body. She felt destroyed and the loneliness was all consuming.

T'Challa stood above her looking down at her, his expression was full of compassion for her. "My mother would like for you to remain housed in the palace. She is very grateful for you saving her life. So am I, but I must warn you that you will not be able to freely roam the compound and will be heavily monitored. It may be more comfortable for you to stay outside of the palace walls."

"Isn't this where Erik will be?" Ashtyn asks.

"Yes, he will be housed in the dungeon."

"Then here is where I will remain. If you would permit me to."

"Very well." T'Challa says as he begins to walk away. Ashtyn breathes a sigh of relieve, that was more than she expected to receive from the king. Then T'Challa suddenly stops and without turning around says, "Oh, Ashtyn."

"Yes?"

"Do not mistake kindness for weakness. If you step out of line even by the slightest of margin you will regret it." With his threat hanging heavily in the air the king exits the room. Two members of the Dora Milaje instructs Ashtyn to follow them to her quarters. With one on each side, Ashtyn is boxed in by the women. All the while T'Challa's threat is playing on repeat throughout her mind. The threat was real, she knew that, but so was her love for Erik. For now, she would endure his rules, but Ashtyn had already decided that she would be damn if she let her husband rot away in some cell. If the trial didn't go their way, then she would force the change that would best suit them. Recalling what her husband had said to her, they were the wolves of the world and the world is what would have to adjust to them. With a sly smile on her face Ashtyn had finally understood her husband's ways. She vowed to herself one way or another they were going to be together again. By any means necessary.

A/N: So sorry for the long-awaited final chapter. I know it is a cliffhanger for a very good reason. If you want to see how things plays out. Then I was thinking of writing a second volume. However, I don't like the idea of starting a new fanfiction that you all would have to find and follow all over again. So, if you all don't mind, I will just continue the story, using the current Erik's Queen handle; and just note the start of the second volume (hopefully that make sense). Bottom line you will just come to the same place as always to get more of this story.

Plus, as you can tell I haven't been uploading as often. My apologies, I have recently started a new job and I have just been plain busy. Please permit me to have a few more weeks off prior to the start of the new volume. Hopefully, once I start the new volume, I can get on a writing schedule that will permit me to post more regularly. Thank you all for your support! Seriously I am blessed to have readers like you to support and encourage me in my writing. Hope to see you back for volume two! ~Concrete Lily.