9

I followed the man to a nice silver home with artifacts from the villages outside of Wakanda. The door opened and an older woman came out quickly motioning us inside. She wore a purple head scarf with gold earrings and a flowing black and purple dress. Around her neck was a gold neck piece. I didn't think about anything now, only the sick child. I followed them inside and the pair led me to a room. Other doctors were in here tending to a crying child. I winced upon seeing her in so much pain. One of the doctors looked at me and stood immediately.

"Her fever has spiked. Her intestines are swollen and it looks like the illness is spreading faster than we could have ever anticipated!" he said. I quickly got on my knees before the crying child.

"Mama!" she cried out.

"Have you given her antibiotics?" I asked and the doctor nodded.

"Yes, but her body is rejecting it." he said.

"Great healer help her!" her mother, the woman in purple, cried holding her husband. I didn't realize the queen and the Dora had followed.

"Everyone needs to leave now or else risk getting infected! Someone bring me water. NOW!" I snapped. Everyone began to leave the room, but the father remained.

"The water has been cut off due to a system update. The water we got from the lake isn't finishing purifying yet for use!" he said. I winced and looked at the girl touching her forehead. She was burning up. Someone gasped and I looked up to see Namor entering, causing everyone to flee the room in fear rather than catching the sickness. His head dress was off and he quickly got down on his knees beside me.

"Why did you come here?" I asked quickly.

"To help anyway I can." He said. I had no time to process him being here. Other villagers must have been so scared to see him here. I looked at the girl and touched her arms.

"She is dehydrated." I noted. I looked down at my hands thinking for a second before closing my eyes. He was truly distracting me for now all the problems I will have in the future due to him is not helping me now. But I had to focus, for her. I raised my right hand up and let my palm face me. I had to remove some of the water in me and put it inside her to begin the healing process. I had to try somehow. I could feel the water moving from my body and I made sure to breathe evenly as small traces began to move from my chest. Namor winced.

"What are you doing?" he asked worriedly.

"I am not strong enough to pull water from the air, but I can pull water from myself and put it inside her so that it can kill the virus. It's all I can think about right now." I said quickly groaning gently as I started to feel weak.

"But you could become ill." Namor protested.

"She is my only concern right now." I said panting softly. As the water moved to my palm, I gently turned my hand so the back of my palm was facing me and the water flowed across the air and over to the girl. Already my hand was shaking from the water leaving my body.

Now a brown hand covered my own hand and I looked at Namor feeling the wet hand against me. He looked at me with strength in his eyes.

"Take the water from me too in order to save the girl." he said. I looked at him completely stunned. Why would he do this? He just nodded and I slowly nodded back and placed my left hand over his hand that covered my right hand. Slowly I took the water from him. Luckily, I didn't need a lot. But he didn't look weakened by my ability. Clearly this showed I had some kind of upper hand over him. I didn't even think about it, but now we both knew this fact. Focus!

The water moved into the girl and I stared at her moving my fingers slowly. Now I could feel the sickness truly radiating off her and into me. Namor's hand was gentle over mine and he seemed to be watching me closely. The doctor is right, this strain of flu is very violent and has spread through her fast. I only wanted to give her relief now for I knew her body was tired of fighting. I had to clear my head, remain focused and keep my mind only on her. I could feel the water moving to the first issue, her intestines. The water began to absorb there, and I could feel myself sighing as the virus was no longer spreading and the bacteria was being killed.

I could hear members of the family ululating from outside the room. Obviously, they were doing what they felt would help guide in the child's healing. Namor seemed entranced by the sounds. The water spread further into the child's body. Her crying had finally stopped and now she was lying still. After the water spread all over, I placed my hand down and sighed a sigh of relief. Namor looked at me with concern.

"Is she…" he asked and I looked at him with a gentle smile.

"She will be alright." I replied before moving closer to the child and leaning over her.

"Oselula, vuka." I whispered gently touching her face. Her fever was gone and I just smiled as I began to slowly see dark eyes. She groaned gently.

"Mama." she said softly. I could hear it in her voice she was so tired, but now she was better. I nodded.

"I will take you to her." I replied moving my hands under her arms and she raised her hands so that I may lift her small body. I held her to me as I stood up. Namor joined me and looked at the child before looking at me in awe.

"You are incredible." he said softly. I just gave a gentle nod in thanks before walking around him and moving to open the door. Everyone was standing there with wide eyes as I just stood there with a soft smile looking at the child who now looked at everyone with bright eyes.

"Imani!" her mother called out moving over to us.

"Mama!" she said reaching out to her and I handed the young one to her mother. The father moved over and hugged them both.

"Oh, thank Bastet. Thank you, great healer, thank you!" he said moving over to take my hand and bowing at my fingers. The doctors swarmed around the girl to scan her to making sure she was okay. I just smiled and nodded.

"Of course," I replied and looked at the doctors, "We need to monitor this sickness and start working on vaccines to get everyone protected beforehand." They nodded. I looked over surprised to see Queen Ramonda standing there with pride in her eyes at me. And with seeing her face reminded me of everything that was to come…

Later that night

All the Talokans returned to the water after we left the merchant's home and I was thankful for that. Namor definitely couldn't take his eyes off me after that and I wasn't sure how I felt about it or not. Queen Ramonda explained what would happen after tomorrow's ceremony. I would be allowed to stay in Wakanda as I could not travel to Talokan which I was fine with. But it made me wonder how long that arrangement would last. I would still be able to help the citizens of Wakanda when I can. The queen even showed Namor and I a beautiful home, although empty, it was close to a lake that you could swim under Wakanda's defenses in order to get to the outside world. That way Namor and I could… have alone time there and he could leave when he wanted.

And not only was I just marrying a Talokan, I was marrying the king of the entire civilization. Oh my Bastet, that would mean I would becoming a queen tomorrow. I knew nothing of living a royal's life. Being a tribal elder's daughter had its perks, but not the strict responsibilities or expectations of a queen. And what of our people? Would they accept the new event that was going to take place tomorrow? I was trying to take in all of this, but a faint tapping was distracting me. I sat up and looked toward my window and gasped to see none other Namor himself floating before my window. I was not decent enough for company. My gown was thin and my curls were not in braids but moisturized and perfectly pulled back to greet my satin pillows.

What was he doing here? I moved from the bed and over toward the window. Now we stood before each other, his eyes gentle and soft as he smiled at me. He placed his fingers on the glass and tapped again. I shook my head confused before moving to open the window. I felt if I didn't, he'd find another way to get in. Once the window was open he moved close to me.

"Eywa." he said with a slight purr. I felt another jolt of electricity in my stomach forming now.

"Namor, what are you doing here?" I asked. His wings fluttered lightly as he glided inside and gently landed on the ground. He had on a white cape that was wrapped over his shoulders.

"I had to see you again." he said. I blinked confused at his words. I then realized he was looking at my hair and smiling. "Your hair... it's really beautiful like this." I gave a light smile in appreciation.

"Thank you." I replied and he continued.

"I know the last time we spoke was not on the best of terms and even earlier today, we did not get to speak and I feel since we will be wed tomorrow, you and I should talk." I shrugged gently.

"About what?" I asked. He gently walked around my room looking at the many sculptures and paintings that were on my wall.

"About us, about what will happen in the future. I think you and I should both get to know each other at least a little bit, wouldn't you agree?" he said. I gave a gentle groan and nodded.

"If that is your wish." I replied. He looked at me with a slight frown.

"I do not plan to make a slave of you, Eywa. Tomorrow you will be a queen and a healer highly respected by my people." he said. I gently began to fold my arms, lightly holding myself.

"A people I will never know. I will never see your city." I replied. He smiled and approached me.

"But you will. I am having a special suit made for you so that you can come to Talokan with me and so that my people can meet you. It will be important for both of us to make good impressions to the other's people." he said. I couldn't stop the brightness that formed in my eyes from the mild excitement. To see an advanced world like Wakanda under water was not something to just think lowly about.

"Can you really make me a suit?" I asked, my excitement becoming noticeable. He nodded smiling more.

"It will be done very soon." he said now reaching into his cape. "I also got you a gift." Now I was completely flushed. To get a gift from a man definitely made me uneasy. Wouldn't that mean he wanted something in return. He pulled out what looked like a brown box with an inscription engraved on it. He opened it to reveal a gold and blue wrist bracelet much like one he was wearing. He removed it from the box and held it up to me.

"This is a bracelet that will allow us to speak to each other even if I am in Talokan as you are in Wakanda." he said. The bracelet was beautiful and I couldn't help but raise my right arm and watch as he slid it on with each. "Although, I do not plan for us to be living a part for too long. Once the suit is ready most of your time will be spent getting acclimated to Talokan. You will have much to learn."

Now my smile fell a bit as I admired the beautiful piece. I then looked at Namor.

"What is it you will expect of me? I know nothing of a royal life. I had always hoped to… continue being a healer, helping those in need surrounded by my loved ones and live a happy life." I replied with a soft scoff looking down at the bracelet some more. Namor tilted his head.

"But you will be a healer surrounded by a those who love you. You are Talokan now and forever. You will know both worlds and still live a happy life only it will be with your husband," he said and now I looked at his knees as he said this, "and children."

Now I tensed and turned away immediately moving over in the direction of my bed.

"I cannot do that!" I said quickly holding myself now as I closed my eyes. There was silence for a moment but I could feel warmth against my back as he was right behind me.

"Your mother told me what happened with the tyrant king." he said. Slowly I opened my eyes and looked up.

"I am not surprised." I replied softly.

"Was it your first time?" he asked. My shoulders tensed immediately as I felt his hands gently placing on them. But I could not move. I just nodded. "Aaww my beautiful Eywa, no woman's first time should ever be introduced with pain and violence."

"Everywhere in the world women's first times are met with pain and violence." I replied turning to look at him. "Although I was able to heal myself, the wound is still in here."

I placed my hand over my heart and he looked down at my hand gently taking it and holding it. I looked up at him with vulnerable eyes.

"I used to dream that my first time would be met with pleasure or at least slight pain that would eventually grow into pleasure. But now every time I think about intimacy my core just throbs with pain and my mind plays that moment over and over again, the vicious thrust that tears my whole world in two." I said my voice breaking some, yet his free hand came up and rested on my cheek, his thumb wiping away a tear that silently fell.

"Then we replace those feelings with something new, something better. Eywa, do you want to experience pleasure?" he asked. I could feel my body shaking some. I was afraid of what will happen if I tell the truth and say yes. I looked down shyly.

"I do not know what to do. I don't… want to look like a fool." I replied and he smiled gently and raised my face to look at him.

"A fool is the last thing I would ever think of you. I have not known you long, but I know you are strong. You care about your people and would die for them. You would sacrifice your future for them as I would for my own people. But also, your heart calls to me. When that warrior took you from the cave, I felt empty. I was missing you. I don't know how I could miss someone I barely knew, but I still did. When your mother told me of your attack, I wanted to find the man that did hurt you and do… unspeakable things to him. But he was very lucky that death got to him first." he said. I nodded slowly, finding that I liked the warmth of his hand against my skin.

"It was the only pleasure I had ever taken from him, his death." I replied. He nodded looking at me with a mild firmness.

"I pledge that you have my loyalty and my spear. Anyone who threatens you will fall by my hand. Anyone who makes you cry I will show them no mercy as I send them to the afterlife. I will be a protective husband to you and a patient father to our children. We are both of two worlds, but tomorrow we become one." he said with strength and pride. I was completely taken back by his words and slowly I moved my hand so that our palms could touch once more and he smiled at the action. Well there was no turning back now on this.

"Thank you, K'uk'ulkan." I said softly. Apparently, that's all it took for him to lean in and firmly capture my lips with his. I couldn't stop the reaction of me leaning back from him, but not too far.

There it was again, that spark. He bit his lip before running his tongue over it. Suddenly, I felt something between my legs, a soft pulsing that I had felt before I had been forcefully taken. It was arousal. Namor leaned forward slowly pressing his forehead against me. I was still as he did this, his body slowly moving against mine, both of us gently breathing against one another. He smelled… good. My eyes began to flutter the arousal in me growing.

"Eywa…" he said lowly, already making me shiver from the sensual use of my name. "Let me help replace some of that pain with pleasure tonight."

Author's Notes

Young one, awake.