2
I was very tired after today's healing. My energy was low and I needed to rest. I asked the two dora, Ayo and Aneka, to allow me some time at the beach before returning to the kingdom. I was in a ribbed silk halter top and a long flowing silk skirt. Two gold anklets dangled around my ankles as the wind blew. The waves were gentle today, the water is happy. I thought about my home, the mining tribe. I see me mother as often as I can and always make sure they are taken care of.
I thought about King T'Challa, more so than ever. I didn't even know he was sick when I was in America learning, until I got word he had passed. Shuri wanted to heal him. Ramonda wanted me to come home immediately. I attended his celebratory funeral. I felt so empty. I had known both the king and princess since they were children. I practiced my healing on them the most as a child helping with cuts and scrapes whenever they found themselves in trouble.
I was visiting Wakanda when Erik Killmonger took the throne and demanded all within Wakanda to stay in it's perimeters. Nakia helped smuggle Shuri and the queen out of the kingdom when T'Challa fell. As my duty as a royal healer, I had to be his healer.
I shut my eyes tight trying to push back the horrors that came after that and I then stood up to my feet. I looked around for a moment and then at Ayo and Aneka.
"Will you both give me a moment? I need to dance for the water." I replied. The two warriors bowed and nodded turning and moving down the beach. I watched them for a moment before turning back to the water and gently stepping toward it. As the grainy sand turned to cool water, I found myself smiling at the coolness against my skin. I could feel the energy returning to me again. Once the water was mid-calf, I paused and just raised my hands. Two streams of water followed my fingers and slowly I swayed my hips from left to right moving my hands together and then a part. The water followed my fingers moving together and then a part. I rolled my hips now and the water formed a belt around my hips rotating with me.
Even though I used the water for healing, I was curious to know what else I could do with this element. I had never tried doing anything else with it. It can heal wounds, kill any bacteria or disease known to man. It can even reform a hymen even after it was violently torn…
I gasped and paused in my dance, the streams of water falling back into the water. Tears were falling down my cheek and I didn't even notice until my vision was blurry. I wiped my tears and turned to see Ayo and Aneka returning. I wiped my face quickly and returned to the sand.
"I am ready to go."
I stared at the moon from my window as I thought about the horrible past. There was a gentle knock on my door.
"Enter." I replied. Shuri slowly entered and I turned to her and smiled bowing my head at her.
"I just thought I would come and check on you now." she said. I looked at her curiously as she stepped closer to me.
"Healing can always drain me, but being at the water earlier today helped." I replied. She gave a soft smile but shook her head.
"I am not talking about healing the children. I am talking about… the other place." she said. I stiffened.
"My body has healed." I replied. Now she took my hands.
"Eywa, a lot has happened since Killmonger's death. My brother's passing, The Black Panther gone, this new alliance with the Talokans…" she said.
"All have Wakanda has endured much pain. I refuse to let my pain be above everyone else's." I replied. Last year, an underwater civilization made themselves known to Wakanda. Lead by, K'uk'ulkan, or Namor by our people, they proved to be very strong and powerful since they also thrived on vibranium. They took Shuri and when Nakia brought her back, they showed Wakanda exactly what they were capable of. I was there when Queen Ramonda almost drowned. She was seconds away from being with the ancestors before I took the water from her lungs so that she could breathe again. Wakanda had already lost its king, it would not lose their queen mother as well.
Shuri nodded, her eyes showing guilt and sadness.
"You've done so much for us-"
"As is my duty." I reminded.
"But you are also my friend, my sister!" she blurted, tears streaming down her face. "My father is dead. My brother is dead. Your innocence was taken by a would-be tyrant, and then my mother almost died, and I couldn't help any of you."
"None of this is your fault though!" I replied touching her face, now crying upon seeing her cry.
"As it wasn't yours either! I was hiding with the Jabari and you were left here with him!" she said. I pulled her into me, her arms holding me tight as I held her tight. She continued to pour her feelings out to me and I gently shushed her.
"I was blessed to be able to heal what was taken from me. We cannot let the horrible past be what defines us now. Wakanda is at peace now. We must continue to be strong not only for our loved ones but for ourselves as well." I replied softly. She slowly pulled back wiping her face.
"And here I came to check on you yet once again you are consoling me." she said. I smiled and sniffled wiping my face.
"I don't mind consoling you." I replied before moving to sit in front of my window and she joined me. We stared out at the city together in silence.
"After he was done with me… Okoye came with water." I replied softly. Shuri looked at me and I looked at her with puffy eyes. "She poured it between my legs washing all the blood away and slowly the water moved inside me and healed me. I didn't even know I could do it, until it all happened. She held me while I cried. But even through all that pain and the fear… knowing that you and your mother were safe was all that kept me going." She winced at my words from beginning but smiled through the end.
"Maybe that's why Bast touched you. She knew you would face something horrible but also you would be able to fight through that horribleness to be stronger at the end." she told. I thought about her words and looked back out to the window.
"Maybe but it cost me unable to be intimate with a man. I am comfortable around men I know, but I have not been able to let any man touch me in what should be a loving embrace." I said gently. Shuri's eyes dropped some and she nodded.
"One day you will be. You can't put a time limit on one's healing journey." she said. I nodded slowly and looked back out to the moon yet again.
The next morning Wakanda was alive as it usually was. I was at the medical tower going about my normal duties which were healing and then logging each patient and their condition. I even scanned them to ensure they were completely well again. As I was in my office, my assistant, Kiva, moved into the doorway.
"Eywa, General Ayo is here." she said and stepped aside so the tall Dora could enter. I stood up from my desk and smiled.
"Ayo, hello. Here for a sick visit?" I teased and she smiled.
"I am as strong as a white rhino as is my immune system. I am here to escort you to Queen Ramonda." she said. I was concerned now. Being a royal healer and Wakanda's top healer definitely had me moving all around, but I didn't think I'd be needed by many so early and quickly. I now began to follow Ayo from my office.
"Is everything alright?" I asked as other Dora were waiting for us. Ayo nodded.
"Yes. The queen is not injured nor ill. But she has requested to speak with you." she said.
Now I was in Queen Ramonda's throne room, the counsel sitting around her. I bowed and glanced at my mother who looked at me with pride before looking at the queen.
"You called for my queen?" I replied and she nodded.
"Yes Eywa. It seems our allies are pushing further to have you come to their land and use your abilities to heal. They are claiming since you studied under many doctor's and used your resources it would be your way of giving back to their community and would also halt their desire for our use of vibranium." she said. I inhaled some and nodded. They did not deserve our resources let alone our vibranium.
"So if I go and help then they will stop pushing for the vibranium." I concluded. She nodded. "But I am your royal doctor."
"And the only healer in Wakanda able to cure any disease or wound. Medicine is second below the need for weapons to the outside world." she said with a soft scoff. I nodded slowly and looked down now in thought before looking up at her.
"I will do whatever you want me to do my queen." I replied. Ramonda smiled and nodded.
"We have all discussed this and we fear that if we let you go to America then their military will try and use you as a bargaining tool for our vibranium." she said. I winced some.
"Do you really believe they'd be so deceptive?" I asked.
"Yes." All the elders said in unison which startled me some.
"We have decided told our allies you will go only if you are accompanied by agent Everett Ross. He is coming by boat and will escort you across the Atlantic and to meet with an escort in Washington. Since water fuels you, you can take the time to do what it is you do best to prepare for such an assignment." she said. I nodded.
"How long will I be expected to stay?" I asked.
"Since your powers work quickly we are giving them one month. But I have made it perfectly clear that if they try to do anything deceptive, we will not show any mercy." she said lowly. Her words were firm and hard but I nodded.
"Yes my queen. When do I leave?" I asked.
"Agent Ross ship has already reached our harbor. You leave tonight." she announced.