Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Marvel.

A/N: Thank you to all the followers of this story. Please continue to review, let a girl know how you all are feeling about the story. Have a blessed week…Concrete Lily.

Chapter Nine: Kingship

Ashtyn was a bundle of raw nerves. She imagined multiple scenarios, ranging from the most favorable; to the extremely unpleasant. Ashtyn didn't trust W'Kabi, his allegiance to their cause was too quickly won. Before their arrival he was loyal to T'Challa, but now he was their ally? When she told Erik about her concerns, he said that he didn't trust anyone…except her. She didn't need the gift of sight to know that he was giving her one of his overly confident smiles; that conveyed that he was in total control of the situation. Yet, they were arriving under the pretense of being W'Kabi's prisoners. Ashtyn couldn't help but the think. What if W'Kabi suddenly betrayed them? What if he meant to truly turn them over to T'Challa? Ashtyn had too many questions floating around within her head. There wasn't the time, nor the privacy to have them all properly addressed.

When they were a few miles away from their destination, W'Kabi's men shackled them. As she felt the coldness of the cuffs against her skin, and the weight of her shackles restricting her movements. She thought about the insanity, of her being bound was slowly becoming a common theme of her new life with Erik. She audibly snickered.

"What is so funny?" Erik asked.

"Our life together." She answered honestly. Erik thought over her words, and then joined her in laughter. Those around them looked puzzled, not at all being invited to the couple's inside joke. He had to admit that their relationship was unconventional in every way possible. Yet, he found one part of her statement not funny in the slightest…but endearing. She had said, our life together. Erik had been alone for much of his life, but that would be no more. She had promised herself to him, and he was eternally grateful for her love and devotion.

He knew that she was worried, and in truth he was concerned too. Never for himself, but always for her. If things didn't go as planned, then he may have to do something drastic to free himself from any undesirable outcomes. Defending himself and her could prove to be difficult, and he secretly feared that he would be unable to protect them both. He shook the unwelcomed thought from his mind, he had to believe that his plan was sound. He had already waited too long to have his moment in time, this was his destiny.

Once they had arrived at Wakanda's borders, W'Kabi and his men treated them as prisoners of war. Erik didn't like W'Kabi's men handling his future queen so crassly, especially given her disability. On several occasions she had nearly tripped over her own feet, because they were making her march faster than her legs could carry her. Erik knew that he shouldn't say anything, they were just trying to make it all seem authentic. Yet, he whispered into W'Kabi's ear, "Tell your men to chill with the rough handling of my girl. Or I promise you I will snap and kill them all." W'Kabi looked at Erik with a surprised expression, but the look that Erik gave him was one that sent a shiver down his spine. He quickly instructed his men to slow, to a more reasonable pace.

Soon they approached the royal court, the doors were closed to them. Two members of the Dora Milaje, the king's royal guards, guarded the doors. When W'Kabi approached, they immediately opened the doors to the court without question. This was exactly what Erik had wanted, he knew that W'Kabi was his way of getting close to T'Challa. Now, he only needed to reveal the truth that had been buried for so long, and he did. With W'Kabi supporting his claim to the throne he was granted his request to challenge T'Challa for kingship over Wakanda.

As they approached the sacred battle ground, on top of the waterfall, Erik felt a surge of energy moving throughout his entire body. He had wanted this, he had trained for this very moment and finally it was happening. There would be nothing that would stop him from becoming king. He didn't want to look over, yet he felt compelled to. He had to see Ashtyn, if only for a moment. He had been so consumed when he was in the royal court, of making his presence known, that he hadn't thought once about how his harsh words and demeanor was being interpreted by Ashtyn.

She already knew that he could be a bastard, but she still loved him. He knew that she was not surprised by his behavior. So, he began to question his real reason for needing to see her face. If it wasn't to make sure that she was still in agreement with him, then why did he need to look at her? It was because she placed a contentment upon his heart that didn't exist without her influence.

He glanced over to her, the expression upon her face was stoic. Erik knew within her that turmoil was raging. He knew this look, it was the one that she put on like a mask to show her strength. He had seen it at the museum the first day they had met, when the art director had belittled her in front of him. It was the same look she displayed when they were about to rescue Klaw. Now, it was present again, and he knew that she was fearful. However, once he has defeated T'Challa their worries would be over. She would have a life of leisure and he would wordship her as if she was a goddess. If only she could see the bigger picture that he saw for them.

Once at the waterfall, his mind was consumed by his mission at hand. He blocked out everything and everyone, including his precious Ashtyn. The fight commenced, Erik was the aggressor forcing T'Challa to defend himself against his attacks. Erik could see something within T'Challa's eyes, it wasn't fear, but it was something more crippling… it was doubt. Erik had shaken the pampered prince of Wakanda's world with the knowledge of his self-righteous father's true nature. No, he was never Wakanda's true king. The only title that Erik saw fit to bestow upon him was prince. For the title of king now belonged rightfully to Erik, son of N'Jobu. Erik had gained the upper hand, by stabbing T'Challa deeply in his abdomen, the prince fell down howling in pain. Erik was finally going to have his revenge upon T'Challa and deliver a fatal blow, but suddenly Zuri intervened.

Erik was momentarily stunned by his involvement. He looked at the man who had sat at his table and shared a meal with him and his father when he was younger. The man who he had affectionately called Uncle James. He listened as he pathetically offered his life to save T'Challa's.

"I had your father killed! Take me." Zuri pleaded.

"I'm going to take you both. Uncle James!" Erik replied, as he rammed the spear deeply into him.

Erik heard sharp gasps coming from the crowd. T'Challa cried out in anguish as he attempted to avenged Zuri's death with futile attacks directed towards Erik. T'Challa was broken and Erik knew that he had won the battle. Capitalizing on his emotional state Erik quickly finished the pampered prince by tossing him over the waterfall. He closed his eyes momentarily to take in the victorious moment, before turning around and addressing his kingdom.

There were two things that Erik noticed. One, his aunty and niece were missing. Secondly, Ashtyn was down on her knees, blood oozing from a wound that was flowing from the upper part of her outer thigh. Somehow, during their battle she had gotten hurt, and Erik was beside himself with anger over it.

He marched up to where she was and kneeled beside her. He snatched an article of clothing off a nearby person, who drew away from him in shock at his tactlessness. He pressed the material onto her wound to bandage it. Erik could tell right away that the wound was deep, and that possibly a major artery may have been severed.

"What happened?" He asked. She turned to face him. Ashtyn winced as the pain was undoubtedly severe.

"During the commotion, I slipped on the rocks." She answered. "The sharp edge of one of the rocks caught my thigh."

Erik was breathing deeply, as anger build up within him. He looked to W'Kabi. "Why wasn't anyone watching over her!?" He exclaimed, demanding an answer.

"Erik please." Ashtyn cautioned. An angry Erik was a dangerous one, and she didn't want for anyone else to lose their life today.

"Wakanda's healers are known for their gifts. They can heal her." W'Kabi told Erik. The healers showed him to the lower chamber that held Wakanda's most prized possession, besides its vibranium, the heart-shaped herb.

Erik insisted on carrying Ashtyn down to the secret chamber. The makeshift bandage he had made for her was soaked through with blood. His heart pounded wildly, as he felt her body go limp within his arms. He looked down at her, she was breathing but she was slipping away into unconsciousness.

"Yo. Hurry up!" He exclaimed. The healers hastily showed him where he could lay her down in the sands. Then the healers hurried to make the elixir for Ashtyn to drink.

"My king." One of the female healers said. "The ingestion of the heart-shape herb is only meant for those of noble blood. It could prove to be more harmful, than good."

"She is bleeding out. I could have rushed her to a medical doctor, but I was told that you could save her. You damn well better do what was promised, or she will not be the only one who dies tonight."

The healer stiffened, at the intake of his words. She quickly poured the liquid down Ashtyn's throat. "We must cover her." She then instructed. Together they moved the sands over Ashtyn until she was completely covered. Moments felt like hours as she remained hidden from his view. Erik felt as if he had been shoved into a pit of darkness, and Ashtyn was his light source that had been lost to him. His heart ached, and he wondered if he had fallen in love only to be stripped of it.

"How long should this all take?" He questioned the healer who had given Ashtyn the elixir.

"It is different for everyone. Perhaps, if Zuri was here he could answer your question." She stated.

Erik's eyes widened, he was going to snatch her up and shake her for her insolent tongue. When the sands started to stir. He ran over to Ashtyn's side and began to rake the sands away from her. He held her within his arms, she had survived. Noble blood, or not she was a survivor and he knew that if anyone could come back from the brink of death it was his Ashtyn.

He brushed away the last few remaining grains of sand away from her eyes. She then opened her eyes and Erik was startled by the sight that he beheld. Her eyes were no longer brown and lifeless, but a vibrant-illuminous purple; which was the same color, as the petals that the heart-shaped herb produce. However, more amazing than the color of her eyes was the fact that when she had opened them that there was recognition for Erik held within them.

"Erik?" Ashtyn questioned. "I can see."