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Namor and I were escorted to another chamber. He moved in with anger in his steps, while I followed in calmly. The door closed and he looked at me obviously upset.
"How dare you undermine my authority before the queen and her council!" he snapped. I kept my fingers curled as I looked at him keeping a rather submitting stance.
"Someone needs to speak to the allies. Had you not started this mess when you took me before, none of this would have happened." I replied. His eyes flexed as he pointed to himself.
"So you are blaming me for the greedy actions of those monsters?" he asked. I thought about my words before I spoke.
"You took action and left Wakanda exposed to all the blame. Because you took me, Ramonda had to take all of that blame and bare all the future consequences as well. If I go to America on behalf of both Wakanda and Talokan we can discuss a peaceful resolution." I replied. He shook his head immediately.
"There is no talking to those surface dwellers!" he spat and I nodded.
"But we cannot go about this with violence either. I know that may be Talokan's way of settling inconveniences, but it is NOT Wakandas." I replied. He scoffed almost looking offended.
"Is that what you think of me and my people? You think we are just some mindless nation who attacks when we don't get our way?" he asked. I could feel the raw emotions growing inside me and my face melted into a slight frown.
"Is that not the approach you took last year last year when you brought your warriors to attack Wakanda? People died, my people died! When the warriors came to the hospital, they planned to kill my patients… innocent sick people: men, women and children. Had M'Baku and his warriors not have helped they would have succeeded. I have made peace with the fact that it is a gruesome part of war, but it was still war on our nation nonetheless! We just formed an alliance and now you are willing to sit back and let Wakanda handle everything which will resort inevitably in a war of which you are okay with. Well Wakanda is not! These are my people too and I must do what is right for them as well. Not everything can be a war." I replied. His face was a mixture of emotions and feelings as I spoke because he knew I was right. He approached placing his hands on my face, his eyes breaking down into vulnerability.
"You are my queen. I cannot just sit back in the waters and watch as you are surrounded by our enemies." he said. I placed my hands over his and nodded.
"But I will not be alone. Our allies know very well what will happen if they try anything. We have the power, they do not." I spoke. He looked down and slowly shook his head before taking a step back.
"My answer is still no." he said. I shook my head.
"I am not asking your permission." I replied before turning and moving toward the door.
"If you are held hostage by those creatures, I will not rescue you." he said. I paused at the door and looked back at him.
"Don't say things we both know our clearly lies." I replied softly before exiting out the door. I knew I was defying him, I knew this could lead to friction between us, but I will not sit back and watch Wakanda be the center for the world's hatred because we did nothing. We returned to the council room and I nodded at Queen Ramonda.
"I will go." I replied and she looked stunned before looking at Namor.
"And you agree, King Namor?" she asked. Namor just stood by me looking at me with disappointment.
"She will go." he said. Everyone looked relieved.
"Good this time the queen will be escorted by one of our Talon fighters. She will be briefed on this assignment and given proper communication devices so she will have contact with us." Ramonda replied. I nodded, but Namor just turned and walked from the room. Attuma followed, and Namora stayed back to escort me out. I glanced at him leaving before sighing and looking at Namora.
"Go with him. I am staying here." I replied. Namora bowed and followed after her cousin. When everyone else left, I remained behind to speak with Ramonda.
"Namor is a proud man, but that pride was never going to benefit Wakanda." she said as she stared out the window looking into the city. I nodded standing beside her.
"I know. He is too far gone when it comes to talking with our allies. He will never see eye to eye even though history has progressed since he was a child." I replied staring as well. She nodded.
"You two are bound to clash just like me and T'Chaka did when it came to our beliefs on the outside world." she said. I looked at her and grinned some.
"Oh what did you two clash about?" I asked. She sighed gently, looking as graceful as ever as she looked at me.
"The subject of opening ourselves up to the world. He wanted to remain hidden, but I thought we should reach out and form an alliance. Ultimately that happened, but I never thought I would be the one keeping the peace." she said. I nodded slowly.
"Namor's only answer is war, because he was met with war. And even though both our nations are untouchable, his people are below the ocean. They will never be touched and he will never see a reason to ever be in the same room as our allies." I replied. She nodded and looked at me.
"Whatever happens at this meeting, peace must be the result. If Wakanda is seen as the enemy, that will only mean more and more will forcefully try and steal our resources. Erik Killmonger was the first and last to ever get into Wakanda successfully and take over… I will not allow anyone else to hurt us." she replied. I nodded in agreement.
"I will present our allies with only two options: they can accept Wakanda's help at our terms and continue a peaceful alliance without trying to gain our resources, or we cut ties and they can fend for themselves with the knowledge that if they try and come for Wakanda, than Talokan will show them no mercy." I replied firmly. Woah, where did this attitude come from? Queen Ramonda's stunned face matched my shock as well, but she then looked at me firmly and nodded.
"Wakanda will not be taken advantage of." she replied and I nodded.
"Wakanda Forever." I replied and she nodded proudly.
"Wakanda Forever." she replied. After the briefing, I returned to the house and was surprised to see Namor in one of the rooms down the hall, painting on the wall. He had his usual white cape around his shoulders, and he was just drawing what looked like a serpent.
"I thought you would have returned to Talokan." I replied. He did not answer and so I assumed he was giving me the silent treatment. I turned to leave when he spoke.
"We will get upset with each other in the future, but that does not mean I don't want to be where you are." he said looking down and slightly in my direction. I gave a small smile and nodded.
"I will leave you to your thoughts." I replied moving to leave again.
"You are right." he said. I paused and turned to him.
"About?" I asked. He put down his brush and moved over toward the spot in the room with numerous pillows and blankets. I followed him and sat down beside him. He sighed.
"I did start this conflict between Wakanda and your allies when I came for you. You both had a deal and I got in the way and left Wakanda to speak for my actions. I was prepared to fight your allies in response because fighting them is all I know. You weren't alive when I came upon land to burry my mother, but you know the horrific history of those people, and so you know I will never see them as equals worth listening to. But if Wakanda sees that and wants to avoid wars by diplomacy I will respect that." he said placing his hand over mine. "I just wish you were not the one to have to do it." I placed my other hand over his and nodded.
"I do not mind being your voice when needed. If Ramonda went, she couldn't speak on your behalf. But I can. I can speak for both our nations. I have made it very clear with the queen my intentions when I leave. The allies have only two options: Keep the peace, or go to war with us and I know they will lose." I replied. He smiled and nodded.
"That they will." he said and I smiled and leaned forward and he did the same kissing me softly.
"I know you are born of Wakanda, but all I see is a Talokan queen, and all I want is to protect you from the horrors I have seen in my life." he said gently and I nodded.
"I know, I have learned many of our allies ways. But I know not all are like what you have seen, and this is what I will take with me when I talk to them. I have decided that I will be gone for one week. I will offer to do as much healing as I can as a show of good faith. Once that is done, I will return and there will be no more conflict while we handle this sickness." I explained. He winced and looked away.
"A whole week?" he said lowly, and I nodded.
"It was supposed to be one month before you came." I reminded and he sighed and nodded. He took my hand and curled his fingers into mine.
"Just always keep your bracelet and necklace on. If anything happens use it and I will come." he said. I tilted my head.
"I thought you would not save me if I were held hostage." I replied. He gave me a playfully annoyed look.
"I will never say something that we both know is a lie." he replied.
Author's Notes
Thank tiktok for a Attuma X OC FF coming next! hehe