16

The table was filled with different kinds of dead fish, eels, octopuses, green plant life and different crustaceans. I stared all over the table as Namor ate quietly. I had never had the biggest stomach for sea food and so seeing all the different dead aquatic life staring back at me did not help. Namor right cheek was swollen with food when he looked up at me. He swallowed and tilted his head.

"Is the food not to my queen's liking?" he asked concerned. I cleared my throat a bit and looked down with a bit of nervousness. I didn't want to offend him, but I was unsure if I would be able to hold any of this down, especially if I am to be swimming right after that.

"No no, it's fine, but I don't have a good stomach for sea food… had I known I would have just made me something from the kitchen." I replied pointing back at the large cooking area which has yet to be used. Namor immediately shook his head.

"You are the queen of Talokan. You do not serve yourself." he said and I shrugged lightly.

"In Wakanda there is only one queen and that is Ramonda. I do not mind taking care of myself in the house." I replied getting up and moving toward the kitchen before he could say another word. I fixed myself a light breakfast of scrambled eggs, two sausages and some berries. I came back in to eat with Namor and once done I disposed of the unfinished sea food. Namor was not too happy to see me doing chores that a servant could do. But when I advised more hands make less work he joined me. Luckily there are many ships that come to dispose trash all over Wakanda and many workers break down items to later use to help add to the city. Once the trash was gone, Namor took my hand and led me to the spare room where his items were brought into. I stood a few inches from the doorway inside and watched as he moved over to the large and beautifully crafted box.

He opened it and pulled something out and turned to me. He smiled warmly at me and approached finally opening the box to reveal a choker necklace that was beaded and designed to look just like the neck peace Namor wore. In the middle was a beautiful deep blue pearl. I couldn't help but give a gentle gasp at its beauty. Namor gently raised it from the box.

"This necklace was forged and created by my scientists. When you are engulfed in water it will react and immediately surround you in a veil of air so that you can breathe. You will be able to travel to Talokan with it. The little stones were collected by the children of Talokan. They were very excited to help in the creation of this piece." he said gently. Children picked these stones? It was unlike anything I had ever seen and I looked up at Namor.

"It's beautiful." I replied. He smiled more and I just turned and raised my hair so he could put it on. I could feel his arms moving around my neck to gently locked the choker in place. It fit perfectly. I inhaled gently now as I felt his fingers gently caressing my shoulder blades. I now close my eyes as I feel his lips pressing softly against my cheek and slowly I looked over at him.

"How do I look?" I asked turning to him and he looked at my neck before looking me over.

"There are no words to describe your beauty." he said and I blushed and looked away.

"Now we just need to test it." I replied and he nodded taking my hand and quickly moving from the room.

"Ooh!" I said in shock as we were now outside and Namor was moving fast into the water, pulling me along with him. Now I grew nervous and I paused, our arms now outstretched. He looked at me confused. "I can't just jump right in." He nodded swiftly.

"But you can. Do not worry the necklace will protect you." he said. I looked down at the water now to my knees and slowly I shook my head feeling fear growing in me.

"I am still scared." I replied softly and he gazed down at me lovingly, gently reaching to take my other hand and softly his thumbs massaged my palm.

"No matter what happens, I would never let you drown." he said and I stared up at him, his eyes strong and vibrant. Slowly he began to back up into the water, gently pulling me with him and I moved forward as if entranced by his longing gaze. Our bodies sank, the water rose and I could feel my body's automatic reaction to close my eyes and hold my breath once the cool water hits me. But this is only for a second as I feel warmth suddenly flow over me from the top of my head to my toes. I was floating now that much I knew, and I was still holding my breath. I peeked my eyes open to see my vision was clear and I finally opened then wider blinking a bit. No water was getting in them.

Namor was floating in front of me before floating beneath me and above me. I followed his movements watching as he swam around me as if to impress me with his skills. I looked at my hands to see a very mild blue form around them. This must be the necklace creating the suit- or more like outline of protection for me. My chest was starting to feel tight as I felt I needed to breath. I tried to swim back up, but Namor's hands grabbed me and pulled me back down. He shook his head and I shook my head as well. He took in a big breath and with his other hand he motioned from his mouth downward as if wanting me to breathe. The panic was setting in and my eyes showed him I was afraid and he just gently shook his head, eyes soft on me.

"I will not let you drown." he said and I could hear him clear as day. My heart beat was picking up and I knew I would have to make a choice and so I exhaled and no water tried to get into my mouth. My eyes widened and I looked down and then up at him before inhaling. And nothing but air came in. I gently touched my neck with the tips of my finger, but all I felt was the neck piece.

"Oh my Bastet, I can breathe." I said, my voice sounding different under water. Namor nodded a big smile on his face.

"The necklace will protect your body as well from the body crushing depths of the water too. You are completely safe. Are you ready?" he asked holding his hand out to me. As ready as I'll ever be. I reached out and took his hand and with his hand around mine, he swam fast through the water. So many fish passed us by along with thousands of bubbles! My eyes were going everywhere looking up at the darkness that we were moving beneath the borders of Wakanda and then everything brightened now into a beautiful hue of blue as I could see the entire life below. The sun came down on the water and showed me everything.

But I only caught a quick glimpse before Namor was bringing me further down into the depths of the water. Now I was nervous again about the lower depths crushing my body but the further we went down the more normal and okay I felt physically. We dove deeper and deeper and things started to grow darker. I couldn't help but fight against Namor's hold now at the thought not be able to see. I thought he would look at me as if he were annoyed but instead he looked at me lovingly, placing his hand on my face gently.

"It'll be dark for only a moment and then there will be light, I promise." he said. I looked down at the darkness, this time his soft eyes alone could not bring me comfort. He looked up as if thinking before smiling and looking down at me. "I have an idea."

And before I could ask him what it was, his arms just locked around my hips and on cue I held on to him as he immediately dove down into the deep. I whimpered and held on to him as we moved fasted going deeper and deeper. I kept my eyes closed the entire time. My face was buried into his chest before I could see flashes of lights above us and I finally looked up? We were still moving further down but lighted fish were now swimming all around us. I gasped at the sea life that was moving all about giving us glimpses of life. It was definitely like being in another world. Namor and I were both looking up with smiles and aww on our faces. There were even large fish I had never seen before but they swam away from us. Finally, he stopped at what looked like a large cage.

"That is the entrance way to the Talokan cave where I first brought you. From there, I will have air tunnels created so that you may travel from the cave and into the Capital City. When they are finished we can use them together." he informed. I nodded looking over the cave and seeing a cluster of lights and gasped as I looked at Namor who just nodded.

"Talokan is just a few miles away. Do you think you can swim on your own?" he asked. I looked at him a bit unsure before slowly releasing his hand and letting my feet and arms do their part in helping me float about. I was half expecting my body to just begin floating up. But it didn't happen, I remained in place and now and I just looked around a bit trying to remain calm and have control of my body. It didn't seem like I was going anywhere so I looked at Namor and smiled and nodded.

"I am ready." I replied and he smiled and nodded and gently began to move toward the large cluster of lights. Without any problems, I swam after him, surprised I was able to keep up with his elevated speed. Maybe it was the necklace's doing. Either way, I was excited for this new world I was about to enter.