8

Eywa's POV

The next day, I remained in my chambers in the kingdom. Wakanda was awake and happy as usual and today I felt happy to just be home. Although I wondered when Namor would come and speak to the queen. I was sure I had not seen the last of him. I had my medical pad on me continuing to check on the young patients from outside of Wakanda that I had healed before. The virus was gone, and parents were keeping them away from others so they would not get sick again. I sighed with relief.

"Good." I replied gently. There was a knock on my door. "Come."

The door opened and in came Ayo. She stood at attention. The gold on her uniform suited her. I know Okoye would be proud of her. I would need to see her soon that much was for sure.

"General." I replied and she bowed her head.

"Eywa, the queen wishes to speak with you amongst the counsel immediately." she said. I could tell she was tense about something, which made me think my assumptions were correct. I nodded and sat my medical pad down and left with her. Many nobles and their families were walking about the halls as they were allowed to. They were whispering amongst themselves which was unusual. I looked at Ayo as she led me.

"General, is something the matter?" I asked.

"I am not at liberty to answer. The queen will explain." she replied. That's strange too. I followed her to the counsel room where two Dora were standing guard. They saluted their general with their arms firmly pressed across their chest in a perfect X formation. She returned it and the two opened the door. Ayo stepped aside so I could go in and once I did, the doors were closed behind the two of us. This time there were many people in the room. As usual, the queen sat in the middle with the elders of each tribe sitting in their own seats to the side. Three Dora were behind her with Ayo coming to stand at attention and a few warriors tasked with guarding the elders were also here. Queen Ramonda was smiling professionally and when I glanced at my mother I noticed she gave a smile as well, but I could tell she was hiding something.

Once I was in the middle of the room I bowed to the queen.

"You sent for me my queen?" I asked and she nodded.

"Eywa, I am so very happy that you have returned safe and unharmed by the Talokan. I am sure you were made aware by King Namor, that his actions against Agent Ross and the ship was a misunderstanding due to some recent information brought by the Talokan King." she said. I tensed and looked down wondering if she had told everyone here. I nodded.

"Yes my queen." I replied respectfully. She nodded once.

"King Namor visited Wakanda yesterday and offered his apologies and also offered a permanent solution of peace between our nations, this solution I had discussed with all the tribal elders here and they agreed to it as I have as well." she explained. I tilted my head some feeling uneasy now.

"That is great news, my queen. You always do what is needed to protect Wakanda… but for some reason I feel as if I am being sentenced. Have I done something wrong?" I asked. My mother was leaning forward in her chair as if wanting to speak, but the queen raised her hand.

"Of course not! Wakanda owes you a debt for your many years of service to the nation. You sacrificed your childhood to study and shape your abilities so you could use to help anyone in need. We will always be in your debt." she said before lightly taking hold of her throne's arms. "But this solution involves you to sacrifice more." I looked heavily confused now finally remembering what it was Namor had wanted for us in the first place. My chest tightened and the queen raised her head to look past me and onto the large doors that were opening yet again. I turned and watched as Namor himself, dressed in a large feathered headdress of many colors. Gold clang to his shoulders and chest forming one piece. He looked as if he were ready for war as his spear was tight in his hand.

He lead the two warriors I had met earlier in. They also had their water filled masks attached to their faces. Their blue skin caught everyone's attention. Only Namor's bronzed skin remained the same. The three stood a few feet from me and now everyone was taking in their form. I just looked at them stunned that they were here. Namor finally turned to look at me and I just looked at him clearly taken a back.

"Eywa, King Namor has suggested a permanent alliance of Wakanda and Talokan by the way of marriage and you have been chosen to marry him." Queen Ramonda replied, her voice breaking the stare down Namor and I had with each other. I finally looked at her stunned and she looked at me with firmness, like a queen would her subject, leaving no room for objection. I looked around at each elder of each tribe and their stare mimicked their queen. Even my mother looked as if her decision was made. I then looked at the queen again feeling a mixture of emotions. They were not suggesting this, they were demanding it of me. I could not object. But I didn't care.

"No. I won't do it." I said defiantly. Now the Wakandans in the room muttered at each other. Namor just continued to stare at me as if not shocked or upset by my rejection of the proposal.

"Eywa-" My mother started, but Queen Ramonda stood up immediately.

"This is not a suggestion or me asking you permission, I ask NO one for permission!" she said firmly. The Dora's eyes were focusing on me, watching me now as if I was over stepping, which I was. I found myself shaking my head firmly.

"And this time you are wrong! I have been forced beneath one man already, I will not be forced under another!" I cried out loudly, the emotions raw in me.

"SILENCE!" The queen yelled. I immediately got on one knee and bowed my head in submission. Everyone bowed their heads in submission. What I had done was defiant in the least. Now it was quiet as Queen Ramonda's chest moved up and down with anger. She looked around at the room for a moment.

"Leave us, everyone." she demanded looking at my mother. "Zawavari, I am sure you would like to get to know King K'uk'ulkan and his intentions."

I glanced up to see my mother nodding as she stood and apparently the use of his real name from the queen made him happy as he nodded as well. I didn't want his eyes on my mother, for I feared he may one day use her against me. He bowed at my mother and one by one everyone began to leave the room. I remained on one knee the entire time, keeping my eyes down. The doors opened only to close after a few minutes.

"Rise." she said, her voice calm and light. Slowly I stood to my feet, keeping my eyes on the floor.

"Forgive me for my outburst my queen, I overstepped. You have lost way more than I, and when you need me I speak out from selfishness." I said with guilt. Finally, I felt her hand beneath my chin raising my face to look at her. Now she looked at me with a sad loving stare.

"No, you speak from trauma." she said and I could feel a tear streaming down my face. She raised both her hands and slowly I took them. "I know your mother told you all that she knew about your birth… and I also know that many suffered once Shuri and I were snuck out of Wakanda as Killmonger took the throne. You weren't even allowed to return to your tribe when he took over." I just looked down but met her eyes once more.

"You lost your husband and son though." I replied and she shook her head.

"There is no competition for loss and pain." she said. I stared at into her fierce eyes and I nodded.

"I can't even let a man close to me because of what he's done. And to think another man- another king can do exactly what he did to me…" I said softly and she nodded.

"I understand, and I know I have asked much of you, and you did everything for your country. But I do not see the type of hate in Namor like I saw in Erik Killmonger. He cares for his people, he protects them, and I know he will protect you as his queen. Trust that if there was any other solution to this that did not involve giving you to them I would take it. But there is not. We cannot make enemies with the Talokans again. We need them." she said. I stared at her for a moment in thought. I trusted my queen, she has given everything for her people and was even a second mother to me, even though she did not have to be. Slowly I nodded, holding her hands up to my face so that I could rest my forehead against her soft and warm knuckles.

"I will do this my queen." I replied. She smiled lovingly and pulled me into a warm embrace.

Normal POV

Namor walked slower than he is used to in order for the elder to keep up with him. Attuma and Namora were instructed to return to the water so the elders could come and witness the agreement of the proposal between he and the beautiful Eywa. He knew they would need to go back to the water and since he could go longer without he decided to use this opportunity to get to know the woman who brought his soon to be queen into the world. He was actually very happy to be walking with her mother. He thought about asking about the Talokan warrior who Eywa's father, but for now he held back. Zawavari walked with her head held high, looking at the open hallway with slight disapproval.

"Usually a father would say this, no boy would ever be good enough for my daughter." she said. Namor looked down at the woman and couldn't help but smirk.

"I am not a boy." he noted. Zawavari gave a light scoff.

"When a boy doesn't get what he wants he throws a tantrum, like you did when you attacked our homes." she replied. Namor gave a shrug, his face showing he did not regret it.

"I did what I needed to do to keep my people safe." he said.

"And marrying my daughter will help that?" she asked. Namor nodded.

"We both know how special she is. Her talents are on the same level as her beauty." he said. Zawavari was not impressed.

"Of course, her looks captured you. She never paid attention to this, but many men were drawn to her and wanted her hand in marriage." she said and paused in her walk and now looked at Namor who stopped and looked down at her quizzically. "What will happen when her beauty fades and she is an old woman?" Namor gently shook his head and shrugged.

"Then she will have your aged beauty and she will still be my queen." he said. Zawavari looked him over some before they continued their walk. She did not speak for a moment, which Namor did not mind. He had never been inside the palace before and so his eyes were going everywhere.

"If you truly want to attract her attention, dancing is the way to go. When rituals and celebrations are hosted, she enjoys dancing and dancing with others. If a man starts dancing before her she usually views it as a means of courting. If she likes the dance she will accept an opportunity to get to know the man, but she has never accepted." she told. Namor couldn't help but smirk as the elder was giving him advice on how to get his soon to be queen to like him.

"I didn't think I'd have trouble attracting her. I always thought of myself as a handsome and suitable mate for any woman."

"Well you're not." she snapped up at him. Namor's eyes flexed, not expecting the quick response from the woman, but he nodded. This woman was amusing to him. She had fire in her, much like her daughter.

"Alright. I will dance for her." he said and then tilted his head. "Has Eywa been married before?"

Zawavari glanced at him.

"No. I just said she has never accepted a man's dance." she said. Namor tilted his head looking at the ground then back at her.

"She said she was forced beneath one man and would not be forced under another." he told. Zawavari's walk slowed and her eyes finally looked down and filled with sadness. Namor caught this.

"Have I offended you, Lady Zawavari?" he asked. Maybe she had a past love who was dead? Did his people perhaps kill him when they attacked? If so that would make forming a bond with Eywa much harder and he knew it was ill to talk about the dead. The elder shook her head and paused in her walk again looking at Namor.

"Long ago, when Queen Ramonda's son, T'Challa was King, he was dethroned by another Wakandan named N'Jadaka, his mercenary name, Erik Killmonger. He was actually T'Challa's cousin. He took the throne and attempted to use Wakanda to destroy all of his enemies." she said lightly. Namor stared at her with heavy eyes, listening intently. "Eywa was T'Challa's royal healer, and it is customary for the royal healers to stay in the kingdom and tend to the king, his family and future kings. She had to make her presence known to him…" Her eyes looked down to the ground as sadness filled her eyes even for.

"He raped her." she said. Namor's eyes darkened visibly, his brows pushing together and his body inflating. His hold on his spear tightened so fast, his knuckles were turning white. He had felt anger before, but this was not just anger it was pure rage. It explained the pain he felt from Eywa when she was with him. It all made sense now that her eyes only showed fear when he was close to her.

"But now Ramonda is queen… where is Killmonger now?" he asked. Zawavari looked up at him with strong eyes.

"Dead. T'Challa killed him." she told. That was the only acceptable answer he would allow. He could feel his anger subsiding but only by a little. He wanted nothing more than to go to Eywa right now and embrace her and continue to tell her she would be safe with him. Slowly he nodded.

"Good." he said. Zawavari nodded.

"If you truly want to protect your people and show Wakanda you are someone worth trusting, it starts with Eywa. She is not just a healer, we have had many healers who did their best to help Wakanda, but she has never failed. Many people rely on her all over Africa. If anything happens to her-"

Namor took Zawavari's hand quieting her.

"You have nothing to fear Lady Zawavari. Eywa is Wakandan, but she is also Talokan. She will always be protected and loved." he said placing his other hand on top of hers. Zawavari stared at him for a moment before nodding. General Ayo found the two.

"The Queen will have only the elders and King Namor in the council chambers now." she said.

Eywa's POV

A few minutes of collecting myself, the elders came back in and I noticed my mother and Namor coming back in, pleasant smiles on their faces. That's a first. I wonder what they spoke about. Namor finally looked at me and approached me standing a safe distance away. He was looking at me so, contently, his eyes showing bereavement. I couldn't look at those eyes right now and finally I looked away. As they took their seats and the Dora stood behind the queen's throne, the queen herself remained standing, this time another professional smile on her face.

"King Namor, as Queen of Wakanda, I accept your marriage proposal to our great and powerful healer Eywa of the Mining Tribe." she said. Namor gave a light nod and a close of his eyes.

"To have Wakanda as a permanent ally brings me great joy, and I hope it brings you joy as well, Eywa." he said looking at me now. Once again, he says my name with such care. I nodded slowly.

"I hope to make my people, my family and my queen proud." I said trying not to sound so robotic. Queen Ramonda nodded and looked at Namor.

"Would you like us to go to the beach so that your people can witness this agreement?" she asked. Namor nodded and smiled.

"Yes. I think it would be great for your elders and your warriors to come as well." he said motioning his head toward the Dora. Queen Ramonda nodded stepping from the throne.

"Come." she said. Namor and I stepped aside to let her lead the way. Namor and I walked behind her followed by the elders. The Dora walked around all of us in a perfect circle. Within a few minutes we were at the beach and standing in the water were the elder Talokan from the cave. Mouth pieces were attached to their faces as Namor's warriors stood on either side of them.

Namor stood at the water's edge as I stood on the sand now. His people were behind him, and my people were behind me. Queen Ramonda stood beside me but close enough to where she was beside Namor as well. He looked to the elders and began to speak to them in his language. I had to admit it was beautiful and unlike any language I had ever heard. After raising his spear to the sky, the warriors and elders alike bowed in perfect unison. He now looked at the queen.

"I have told them you accepted my proposal. Our nations will officially be forged after a ceremony is held. Since my people cannot leave the water for too long, it can be a simple one, if you'd like to prepare." he explained finally looking at me. Now it felt all the air was sucked out of me as I realized this was happening. Queen Ramonda nodded.

"It would be for the best that this is simple. Soon all of Wakanda will know, but out of respect we will have a nice gathering at the beach." she said.

Bast give me strength. Namor nodded.

"Tonight then." he said. I tensed at his words. Tonight! So soon.

"We would at least need a day to prepare." Queen Ramonda told. Namor tilted his head, his eyes showing impatience. Why was he so eager to marry? I was sure his people are not going to die without this proposal!

"I would not mind waiting one more day. It would give me time to find a proper ceremonial dress." I finally spoke up. Namor looked at me quickly, the slight frown that was playing on his face earlier was gone.

"If you desire this, then we can wait." he said. Suddenly, one of his warriors started shouting as he and the female warrior immediately glided from the water to stand behind their King. We all looked to see a man on his knees before the row of Dora who shielded the queen from him. Before I could think a flash of colors were dancing in my eyes as I was now staring at Namor's headdress. He was floating in the air spear up and ready to use.

The man dropped to his knees and had his fingers together in a begging position, but not at the queen, but toward me. There were tears in his face and he looked to be in distressed.

"What is the meaning of this!" Queen Ramonda called out.

"Ndiyakucela gqirha omkhulu ndicela uncede ntombi yam encinci!" he yelled through the pointed spears of the Dora. My chest tightened feeling the need to console him, as I touched Namor's shoulder to move around him.

"It's alright!" I said to everyone before moving toward the man. "Yintoni ingxaki?"

The man took my hands quickly, his face wet with tears.

"Intombi yam iyafa, ndicela uyincede! Ndiyacela!"

I gasped at his words and nodded looking back at the queen and Namor.

"His daughter is sick, I must go!" I said before helping the man up. "Ndise kuye!"

Author's notes

"Please great healer I beg you help my little girl!"

"What is the matter?"

"My daughter is dying, please help her!"

"Take me to her!"