Chapter 15: A little laughter.

For the next two days, Shuri spent all day in the lab deconstructing the detector. She kept to herself and tried to keep her conversations short.

She had Griot analyze the fingerprints on the mechanism and it was still going through the database. She also ignored the griot's robotic concerns for her health.

In the meantime, she finished up the final details of the protective barrier for talokan. She was in deep concentration as the Wakandian design group worked in their assigned areas.

"Princess Shuri?"

Griot called

"im busy griot. Please wait."

"But princess-"

"griot you're ruining my concentration!"

"yo, little cousin. What's going on up in here?"

Shuri sighed as she turned to see her cousin standing in the doorway.

"I was trying to warn you, princess. Prince N'Jadaka was on his way."

"thank you, griot," Shuri said in exasperation. " hello cousin. Something you need?"

"not at all little cuz. I just wanted to check on you. I just got out of a meeting with the border tribe, the Dora, and the royal guard. Man, I didn't know there was so much tension in our nation's security. it's insane."

Shuri motioned for him to come to join her in what everyone nicknamed the eagle's nest. It was a giant platform that had a curved staircase. She often did her most important and somewhat secretive projects up here.

"yes, I know all about the drama between the three of them. The border tribe is angry at W'kabi's betrayal while the Dora is angry at the border tribe for not punishing W'kabi harshly enough. And then you have the royal guard. They feel as if the dora and the border tribe do not respect them as if their job is not as important."

"and what do you suggest?" he asked her.

Shuri thought for a minute and then spoke. " I think the three of them need to be reminded who they are and why they are. At the end of the day, Wakanda protection is their focus. The border protects the border, the dora protects the king and the royal guard protects the kingdom and the palace. They all need each other and the fighting is petty."

"That's real wise of you Shuri. when did my little cousin become so wise?"

Shuri gave him a small smile and shrugged.

"I am a genius. Didn't you know?" she joked.

The two burst out in laughter and when they calmed down Shuri smiled at him in gratitude.

" I needed that laugh. Thank you, cousin."

"you've been pretty quiet recently.. everything okay? honestly?" he asked her. there was sincerity in his eyes. a concern and care for her. That was one thing that differed from Eric and T'challa. Her brother as much as she loved and adored him, knew how to push her to her limits. Eric, on the other hand, corrected her without the pressure.

"I am… a little stressed, I admit. Just all the traveling and I still have to write my findings on my travels and turn them into mother. Plus our visitors and trying to find who created this detector. It's a lot. And if I want to take at least one day off, I am looked down upon because that's not what a princess does."

Eric listens to her with intensity.

"you are the princess of Wakanda, yes. you are the chief of science yes. but that is only half of who you are. Everyone needs time to themselves at some point. Maybe you can take one day a week off. Or once a month take two days. I try to take at least an or two for myself. you have to have a balance shuri."

Shuri sighed and asked, "So if I snuck off to have some alone time tomorrow morning would that be a problem?"

Eric looked at her with seriousness in his eyes.

"only if you promise to be back at 9:00 a.m. sharp. I will let Auntie and T'challa know."

"I being given a curfew?" shuri questioned.

Eric smiled at her.

"We are expecting guests and are building a tentative treaty agreement. I am sure they will want to know what we plan to do with the person that created the detector."

"And what are we going to do when we find them? Threaten them?"

"don't know T'challa and the council will talk about it. you coming to dinner?"

"not tonight."

"hmm, but Nakia and Toussaint will be there.." he informed her

"t..they are home?" Shuri questioned, "Why did no one tell me?"

"you've been locked in her little cousin. She assumed you were busy."

Shuri groaned.

"get out eric.."

"Fine. Fine. Im going. 9 a.m. Shuri. don't make me look bad."

….

Shuri tossed and turned in her bed. She couldn't sleep and yet she was tired all the same. She was nauseous and yet hungry. What was wrong with her? She decided to skip dinner and see her sister sometime tomorrow.

Giving up on sleep, she stood and made a decision.

She was going to Talokan but first, she needed to stop by the lab.

It didn't take long for her to jump into the ocean. She felt her body come alive as her gills were now exposed and free-breathed in the clean and clear water.

She wore a turquoise two-piece wet suit. The top was turquoise and gold with long sleeves. Her bottoms were the same color. Her stomach was exposed, and the water felt great on her skin.

She hadn't blown into the couch shell because she wanted to surprise her husband and her people. The closer she got to Talokan the darker the water became. She had to turn on her beads, to brighten her path. She even had a holographic gps, that showed her Ch'ahs location.

Excitement filled her the closer she got.

30 minutes later, Shuri found herself being sucked up into the current that took her to the capital city.

When she got out and managed to stop herself from spinning, she was greeted by the sight of children.

They were kicking a ball through a stone hole and were excited whenever someone hit the goal.

As one of the boys swam to the outskirts to grab the ball, he noticed her and froze. Before she could say anything he was calling to his friends and swimming towards her.

Shuri had been studying bits and pieces of their language but still needed her translator.

"Chicos! Leti' le reina! Ku!" ( guys it's the Queen ! She's back!)

When they had gotten close enough to touch her, they let their ball go and saluted her.

Shuri saluted them back and smiled.

"Hola chicos, wáaj ba'ax táan u báaxal?" ( hello boys. What are you playing?) she asked.

"water ball!" hey responded.

"how do you play that?"

The boys looked at each other in excitement.

" Reina Pantera? Would you like to play?" one of the boys asked shyly.

Shuri smiled.

"of course! Whose team am I on?"

Ten minutes later, Shuri waved goodbye to the boys and continued to swim on.

She found herself in what looked like a market but instead of going horizontal, the market seemed to go vertical.

As soon as her presence was noticed, everyone saluted and waved. Some vendors even waved her in and gave her various items . one vendor handed her something green on a stick. He then motioned for her to eat it.

Shuri did so and it was the most amazing thing ever.

Seeing she enjoyed it, he was quick to give her another.

"thank you. what is it?" she asked.

"it is lobster, clam, and seaweed on a stick. My queen."

Shuri groaned in satisfaction.

" This is delicious thank you."

"you are most welcome my queen. It is a pleasure to serve you."

Shuri blushed at the gratefulness in his voice. He seemed genuinely happy to have her there.

A gentle tap on the shoulder, had Shuri turn around.

A woman looking sad held a small infant in her arms.

" my queen…could..could you say a blessing over my child? my father has shunned him because he has an unknown sickness. Can you help me please?"

Shuri was moved by the women's grief. With careful hands, she took the infant from its mother's arms.

"Hello, little one. What is his name?" she asked

"ohtli.."

"Hello, ohtli.." Shuri greeted. The child looked at her with his tiny face and chubby cheeks. Shuri felt her heart burst.

She closed her eyes and prayed for the child in her arms. when that was done, she took off her beads and placed them on the child. immediate, a diagnosis was given.

"oh my um.. what is your name?"

"tozi my queen. Is something wrong?" the mother asked as Shuri rocked the baby.

"yes. his sickness is simple. He is allergic to seaweed. Are you breastfeeding him?"

"I am! Oh, dear, I've been eating a lot of seaweed. Are you saying this is why he's been sick?"

"yes, tozi. A simple change in diet will suffice."

To her surprise, tozi bowed and kissed Shuri's hands.

"Nib óolal in reina teech jump'éel tojóolal" she said gratefully.

Shuri smiled and gave her back the infant. She was ready to swim away but a small line had begun to form.

She guessed her husband would have to wait.

…

Namor was sitting on his throne, his council was before him. They were allowed to give him suggestions and voice their concerns but at the end of it he had the final say and no one objected.

At that moment, namora was voicing her concern. She did not feel comfortable with the alliance between them and Wakanda. She feared they would turn against them.

She then voiced her concern about his wife.

"Ka kanáantik a waal le t'aano'" ( watch your tongue child) he warned her. namora may be his second in command and his cousin but everyone knew the queen was not up for discussion.

Namora opened her mouth to voice her concerns again but a call from a guard interrupted them.

"Kukulkan! The Queen was seen in the market!"

Namor shot off his throne like a rocket.

His queen was here? In talakon? Why hadn't she said anything? Why hadn't she called him?

And at the same time did it even matter? she was here. Had she swum down here?

He was going to talk to her about that little stunt. The ocean could be dangerous and everyone always swam in twos.

Namor stopped just a distance away when he saw her. She was surrounded by his people. Now her people.

They were talking and laughing. Her hands were full of gifts. He noticed behind him that namora, Attuma, and Mitnal had come to see the commotion as well.

Not being able to take the separation anymore. Namor made his way to her, scooping her up from behind.

His wife let out a yelp of surprise.

"ahh, ch'ah! You scared me. you-"

Namor didn't let her finish her sentence before his lips were on hers and he was carrying her away.

The citizens of Talokan cheered behind them.

….

Shuri was curled up on her husband's lap. Her eyes were heavy from lack of sleep.

"you have no idea how overjoyed I am to see you. to see you emersed in our culture and our people. It was beautiful. I haven't seen our people so …excited. I have missed you mia amore. Seeing you stand amongst your people, filled me with pride and yet grief. having you so close and yet so far away. My queen, as soon as the alliance between our two nations is sealed, I want you to do whatever marriage or courting traditions your kingdom has. I will do whatever is needed but I need my wife."

Shuri felt tears fall as she looked at him. His eyes were full of desperation. He had been so patient with her. so patient with the process.

He continued speaking. " I am a patient man. And I understand that we must be wise and not risk a war between our two countries if we tell them about us too early. I am willing to follow the protocol but I need you, darling. My entire being craves you and our future."

Shuri buried her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her even closer.

"I love you so much I don't know how I found such a wonderful man" was all she could say.

"And I love you so much more."