The Sweetest Night Flower Of Wakanda Chapter 27
By the time the Jabari got to the Golden City it was a literal warzone.
Dead Dora Milaje and Border Tribe warriors are laid out everywhere.
The only ones really left standing are Nakia, Okoye, Shuri, and Ayo. All four all surrounded on all sides by warriors from the Border Tribe with W'Kabi leading them. This is a last stand. None of them wouldn't go down fighting.
The Border Tribe are so focused on their opponents that they didn't even realize the true enemy was upon them before it was too late.
Lifting up an alarmed Border Tribe Warrior by the nape of the neck for all to see, Tamu and a bunch of others standing around him, M'Baku roared "Witness the might of the Jabari firsthand!"
M'Baku then tossed the man he held directly into the vibranium shield barrier.
Taking that as their signal Jabari warriors, men and women alike, sprang from where they'd been hiding in the crowd attacking the Border Tribe left and right. With the Jabari team up with Nakia, Okoye, Ayo, and Shuri now the Border Tribe are the ones in serious trouble.
During the confrontation Tamu managed to get T'Challa's location out of Shuri after she noticed he was absent along with Erik.
Tamu was shocked to learn that T'Challa and Erik had plummeted into the depths of the vibranium mines after their elder brother saved her from the latter.
Assured that the others had this part of the fight well in hand Tamu went after the two in hot pursuit.
Tamu would not accept the loss of two brothers let alone one. That's right, she said brother's not brother. On the way here with M'Baku she had a bit of an enlightenment of sorts. Yes, she was horrified and disgusted with what happened when she was a baby and the heinous actions of Erik since this all began. But she can't deny the fact that they are blood.
Tamu has to at least try to set this right somehow. They're family. They shouldn't be fighting like this.
Fortunately luck was on her side this time, but not theirs.
The moment Tamu arrived on scene it was her worse nightmare.
T'Challa and Erik were on the trams that transport the loads of vibranium and they are standing in direct proximity to the vibranium disruptors.
The most distressing part is that Erik was trying to force T'Challa off the track with a dagger to his neck. T'Challa was fighting with all his might, straining to not fall all the while keeping the knife from slicing through his neck.
A few more seconds and either one will most certainly snuff out his life.
"No," screamed Tamu.
This caused both men to snap their heads in her direction. The suddenness of her appearance her provided T'Challa exactly the distraction he needed to gain the upper hand on Erik. This resulted in Erik getting stabbed fatally in the gut with his own dagger much to his shock.
Tamu's hands flew to her lips in surprise and disbelief. The same wide eyed expression appeared on Erik's face as the full impact of what just occurred fully hit. The disrupters had allowed a temporary destabilization in the suits that created a weakness for the weapon to push passed the regular invulnerability.
As Tamu finally reached them Erik had collapsed onto his knees, the dagger lodged deep within. Both looked up at the sound of her feet running their way.
Tamu slowed to a stop a few feet away staring at them.
Breaking the awkward silence, pushing passed the pain, Erik said "What up, Little Sis?"
Step by step Tamu closed the remainder of the distance between them. T'Challa reached out a hand to her. Tamu traced her fingers gently over his palm, but did not stop.
Tamu knelt down to eye level with them. Carefully Tamu touched his side checking. Erik cringed upon contact making her retract instantly.
"You…came back," he said.
Swallowing a lump in her throat, Tamu stated "I had to."
Erik then chuckled sweeping his gaze over the mines.
At last, he said "You know our pops said Wakanda was the most beautiful thing he ever seen. He promised he was gonna show me it one day…show us. You believe that?"
Erik gasped choking up a tiny bit with tears in his eyes at the memory mixed with how difficult it is now to even breath. T'Challa even appeared to be keeping his own under restraint listening to him.
Shaking his head, coughing, Erik scoffed "Kid from Oakland, running around believing in fairy tales."
Tamu can't take this. She aimed a pleading look at T'Challa begging him to do something. From what she gathered in his eyes T'Challa is thinking along the same lines as her. Together they got Erik to his feat against his objections.
Together they managed to get him to the top entrance of the mines at the peak of the mountain.
The sun was setting showing all of Wakanda at its finest hour of the day. This will be the last thing Erik sees as he passes on to N'Jobu or the Ancestors.
"It's beautiful," breathed Erik, softer than he's ever sounded to them.
"It is," agreed Tamu, laying her head on his shoulder. "I've always loved this view."
"Glad at least one of us got to see it a lot," said Erik, exhaling painfully. "It's strange, isn't it? To find you at last only to lose you again,"
"You will never lose me…Brother," said Tamu, kissing his brow.
Reaching at his neck Erik removed the chain from his neck that held the locket.
He tenderly placed it into her palm, saying "Take this. I want you to have it. So you never forget..."
Wrapping her fingers around it, nodding, Tamu promised "I won't. I just wish we had more time."
Feeling merciful and sympathetic towards his cousin after all he's been through, T'Challa offered "Maybe we can still heal you."
"Why," scowled Erik. "So you can just lock me up? Nah. Just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors that jumped from the ships. 'Cause they knew death was better than bondage."
Erik then did something that appalled Tamu. He then tugged on the dagger until it was completely out of him. This one act was too much.
The dagger slipped from Erik's limp fingers as he fell backwards. Tamu caught him in her arms where his upper body is now lying across her legs. This accelerated the process. He has minutes left, but Tamu can provide him with some sort of comfort before he entirely left this world, left her.
Tamu cupped Erik's cheek, stroking the tips of her fingers over his temple as she sang to him in a lament to carry with him to the afterlife.
.
O, Father dear
I oft times hear you talk of Erin's Isle
Her lofty scene
Her valleys green
Her mountains rude and wild
They say it is a pretty place
Wherein a prince might dwell
So why did you abandon it
The reason to me tell
Brother, you were only a few years old
And feeble was your frame
I could not leave you with your friends
You bore your father's name
I wrapped you in my cota mor
In the dead of night unseen
I heaved a sigh
And said goodbye…
To dear old N'Jadaka
.
Stand corrected. The sunset isn't the last thing Erik saw. It's Tamu. In this one thing alone Erik felt content.
Sad, isn't it?
Tamu sobbed as she felt the last grasp of life Erik had leave him. T'Challa gathered her to him holding Tamu as she cried. He joined her in the devastation and distress. None of this should've happened. T'Chaka should never have left Erik behind all those years ago. That one action led to all of this.
The one consolation the siblings had is that perhaps after all of this Erik can have peace.
We can only hope.
Authors Note:
Only one or two more chapters left! Ah! I can scarcely believe it myself! ;D
Also, the song you see here is from the show Victoria in episode Faith, Hope, and Charity with a few alterations to make it fit here. If any of you know the name of this song please let me know. I'd be very grateful. I can't seem to find it anywhere.
