Chapter 18: no rest for the weary

Shuri groaned as she attempted to open her eyes. Her head hurt, her boobs hurt and nausea was trying to claim her.

Whispers were heard around her.

"Princess? Can you hear me? It's Zuri."

When she finally opened her eyes she was met with the concerned looks of her family

Her brother and Eric were sitting in chairs at her bedside while Nakia and her mother were sitting on the edge of her bed.

Zuri, their shaman, and priest. One of the tribal doctors and S'yan were standing over her.

Shuri was shocked to see S'Yan. She hadn't seen her mentor in years. Once Shuri had been established as the new head, S'Yan decided to become a war dog in the science community. What was he doing here?

"S'yan?" she called in Surprise. Her throat felt like it was on fire. She grabbed her throat as if touching it would soothe the raw ache.

However, when she felt her skin, she realized her neck was exposed. Matter of fact she was in a completely different change of clothes.

Shuring gasped as she realized her gills were on display. No wonder s'yan was here. Her family probably panicked.

Zuri handed her a glass of water, while S'yan looked at her in concern.

"Princess." He began. " as you can see we are all a little shocked and concerned. I hope I am not offending you when I ask this..but…did you do this to yourself? Are these gills on your neck? Or did you expose yourself to something you shouldn't have? I want to run some tests on you but I did not want to do anything without your consent. I only did the basics, like taking your temperature and your blood pressure. You have a cold and your blood pressure is high. I would like to draw some blood-"

"NO." shuri suddenly shouted. She was covering her gills with her hands.

"Shuri you are sick you need to be treated." Her mother said sternly "Your health is our top concern."

Shuri bowed her head.

"Please…get out. just leave the cold medicine and get out. I wish to be alone."

No one moved.

"GET OUT! GET OUT ! GET OUT!" She screamed.

Finally, her family complied.

" we will check on you tomorrow morning sister. That is an order." Her brother commanded.

Shuri turned away from him. Exhaustion settled in her body.

…..

T'challa walked with Zuri as he watered his garden. The man had been his mentor and confidant since he was younger. he could use the wisdom now.

"Zuri… I do not know what to do. My sister has not been herself for a long time. and I believe she is keeping secrets from me. her falling unconscious is shocking enough but to see gills on her neck? I do not understand. Would she have done that to herself? Did someone hurt her and she just didn't say anything? To make it worse, we have this.. this sea king. He is unpredictable. And my trust in him is nonexistent. I am afraid, the only thing we have in common is the protectiveness of our two nations. I am truly at a loss."

Instead of giving him an answer, Zuri handed him a water can and a pair of gardening shears.

" water…" he ordered

T' challa did so and sighed.

"Now look at these flowers. They are beautiful but they didn't start that way. When a flower is growing in a garden weeds sometimes show up and they must be cut. Some weeds grow to look beautiful on the outside but they kill the flower on the Inside. Princess Shuri is the flower and life is the weed. You have to know when to cut some things away. She is learning what she needs and what to cut away. Right now, she needs her brother and not her king. And in regards to this sea king. Have you taken a minute to get to know him? Learn his story? Know why he feels the way he feels? Or did you just make assumptions? A good king sees from all angles t'challa not just one."

T'challa took Zuri's wisdom and began to think. He needed to give the sea king a fair chance but he also needed to support his sister. However, in his heart of hearts, he would never trust the sea king.

….

Shuri sneered at the Dora as they blocked her entrance from the lab.

It was three in the morning! what were they doing up anyway?

Okoye stood in front of her arms crossed.

" princess shuri. You're running a fever. You are sick. You need rest."

Shuri coughed before she spoke. Her body hurt and her head was pounding.

" but Okoye! I need to check on the vibranium detector. griot should still be searching the database. "

" No, Princess. Go to bed. And if you refuse I will knock you out."

Before Shuri could argue any further, warm arms were pulling her back and into someone's chest.

When she turned to see who, she was surprised to see her husband. A look of frustration and concern.

"Enough of this princess." He chastised "You will not be able to do your job effectively, if you are not healed. What use will you be to your people, if you are not in the right frame of mind?"

Shuri hung her head and coughed. She was stubborn and was known to challenge others who challenged her but this time she had to admit defeat.

Without asking, ch'ah picked her up and Shuri didn't bother to fight. He then looked at Okoye with a raised eyebrow.

"I believe she is ready to head back home."

Okoye sneered at namor and turned on her heel motioning for him to follow.

"How did you find this place? And where is your escort?" Okoye asked him.

Namor shrugged.

" I bumped into the princess as she was leaving her room. I could tell she didn't look well and followed her here to make sure didn't pass out. In regards to the escort, I may have left them behind."

Okoye made a sound in disapproval.

"that is not possible. The guest quarters are intentionally separated from the royal families. There was no way you could have gotten to the princess unless you were watching or waiting on her."

Namor gave Okoye a sly grin.

" the how doesn't matter. let us focus on the princess's health."

"why do you care?" Okoye challenged angrily as she turned to look at him.

Namor gave her an evil glance. A glance that made Okoye feel a shred of fear.

"I don't." was his explanation.

…

Namor waited until the palace was silent before he decided to slip out again. he needed to be by Shuri's side.

He knew her guard had tightened since his interaction with them just an hour earlier. The general didn't like him, he didn't care but it just made seeing his wife harder.

He was quick to fly out of his balcony window, faster than anyone could see. He then took a deep breath and allowed himself to concentrate.

He silenced everything around him. Everything that is except for his wife's heartbeat.

Finding it quickly, he flew to her side of the palace. Her balcony doors were unlocked. Why wouldn't they be? Who would expect someone to be on her balcony in the first place?

Her room was dark, except for a blue lamp in the shape of a square. It was giving off a dark blue glow, reminding him of Talokan, he wondered if she did it on purpose.

Walking up to her bedside, he laid a gentle hand on her forehead. She was burning up. he knew her guard had sent a doctor to check on her but her fever was still too high for his liking.

He was quick to take out a brown seal skin pouch and guide the water over her forehead and chest.

Fear ran through him as he looked at her. this was too much like his mother, her death started with a fever. Eventually, she got better but her body just couldn't fight anymore.

Namor shook his head. He wasn't going to lose his wife. With that in mind, he went into her bathroom that was adjacent to her bedroom and filled up the tub that could practically be a swimming pool. He added special herbs he collected from the sea, something he always Carried on him. at all times. They were known for their medical properties. While Wakanda relied on technology, talokan relied on the old ways. Medicines, herbs, and things found on the earth. They incorporated technology when they needed to but they didn't Stray from their roots.

Once the tub was filled, he picked up his wife, stripped her, and submerged themselves into the water.

A groan released from her lips alongside his own.

While he could survive on the surface world perfectly fine, he thrived in water the best.

It was his lifeline.

" ch'ah?" Shuri groaned hoarsely

"Shhh, don't speak Mia amore. Just rest in the water. Your fever was too high.."

" the water feels good." She told him.

He held her, as the water washed over her body. Her gills looked healthy, and open to circulate the water and oxygen.

" are you starting trouble?" she asked him sleepily.

" aren't I always?" he chuckled. He then helped her wash and carried her out of the tub.

Once he dried them both off and put her in a fresh lounge dress, he laid her back in bed.

" ch'ah stay.." she moaned.

He couldn't resist her pleas and crawled into the bed With her. Before he knew it he was fast asleep.

…..

Shuri groaned as the sunlight penetrated her room and a knock sounded on her door.

She noticed a very warm presence next to her and felt someone holding her. Her pillow was hard and seemed to be moving.

A loud snore sounded and the knocks seemed to get louder.

When she finally opened her eyes Shuri gasped. Her husband was lying on his back, her head on his chest and he was snoring.

She thought last night had been a dream but it was real. Chah had snuck into her room and drew her a bath.

" princess shuri? Are you awake? It's S'Yan, Zuri, and the royal family. can we enter ?"

Shuri was quick to elbow ch'ah in the ribs waking him up. His eyes opened and he smiled at her giving her a full tongue down-the-throat kiss before he pulled up a chair and then went into her bathroom.

Shuri told her family to come in as she stared after her husband's form. He had kissed her and she hadn't even brushed her teeth. Shuri swallowed hard as the image of his naked body crossed her mind.

"Princess good morning. How are we feeling ?." S'Yan asked as he came closer to her bed.

"I'm doing better than I was yesterday."

" that's good. I heard someone tried to sneak to their lab yesterday while she had a fever." He lightly scolded.

Shuri sighed "Yes I understand it was not wise of me to do that. So why are we all here? Are you going to ask me about my gills again because I don't have an answer for you right now."

" We need to know if this is harmful shuri." Her brother pointed out

"It's not harmful to me," Shuri told them as s'Yan began to take her vitals.

" well you still have a small fever, all your vitals are now normal. Your hydration is a little low. I'll have a special drink brought to you. And some food. Your blood pressure is good. We just need to get rid of this fever. I'll have a female doctor come in and look at you physically. Now back to these gills. Are they functional? We don't know what effect they will have on your body."

" once again they are not harmful. They are fully functional. I have a special consultation. "

" Who? What test have they run Princess"

Before S'Yan could ask more questions shuri's bathroom door opened and namor appeared. He wore a thick Mayan shawl that covered one side of his body. He wore tan pants and his customary jewelry.

" the princess is not in danger. She and I have talked plenty about her gills." Ch'ah told them as he made his way towards her. Eric and t'challa stood to their full height.

"What are you doing here? Do you not know how disrespectful it is to be in the princess's royal quarters? It is an offense! And presumptuous!" her brother argued.

Shuri coughed and said "But I invited him. There has been no offense here brother. The king here saw my gills when I took him on a tour a while ago. Because he is from the sea, I asked him if he could take a look. He stayed at my bedside studying my gills. Tell them what you told Kukulkan."

He gave her a sly glance and then spoke. As he talked he poured her a glass of water and sprinkled some ground herbs in it.

"Princess Shuri was telling me about her gills. There is nothing to be worried about. Just a simple mutation. She was experimenting with vibranium and water. it absorbed into her DNA. Therefore she has gills. I have been helping her learn how to maintain them. Yes, she has a cold UT the gills are not to blame. Drink this" he told her.

Shuri drank and sighed. Her body was very dehydrated.

"What did you give her?" her mother asked as she gave Kukulkan angry glares.

Her husband took some herbs and ground them into his hand. He then mixed a little water creating a paste.

" water with a healing herb. The next thing I am going to do is put this salve on her neck and forehead. It will help lower her fever."

"We have our own medicines." Her mother interjected as she blocked Kukulkan from touching Shuri.

" mother! The king has been very kind to me. I am grateful for his help. I understand the methods are not like ours but his people are very knowledgeable about ancient medicines. We are allies Mother, and he kindly offered to help. Please let him through. "

Her mother whipped around to face her.

"Are you denying the effectiveness of our medicines? What has bewitched you?"

" I am not denying anything but this is a special case."

Her mother looked towards her brother who was looking just as angry and concerned.

" if anything you have given her hurts her, I will kill you and our treaty will be in the dust." Her brother threatened

Kukulkan stepped toward her brother. His pupils turned into slits like a snake.

" your threats fall idly against the ground. I-"

" Kukulkan…" Shuri interrupted.

He turned to look at his wife. Eyes blazing turquoise, ready to kill. But when he looked at her, he saw the frustration and the exhaustion. He stepped away from the king and towards her. With warm hands, he caressed her neck putting on the salve. He then put a small amount on her forehead.

" I believe someone said something about a doctor. I will take my leave. King t'challa I am assuming we will hold negotiations soon and In the meantime I will be in my quarters."

With that said, Kukulkan walked out of the room.

Zuri turned to t'challa

" my king I believe this is the time to implement what we talked about. Don't worry about the princess she is in good hands."

T' challa sighed and swept a hand over his face.

" think diplomatic brother. "Shuri encouraged giving him a smile that did not reach her eyes.

T'challa smiled at her and went after the sea king.

…

Eric and the dora followed in the distance, as T'challa called after Kukulkan.

The latter stopped and looked at him with impatience.

"the council should be ready to meet this afternoon but in the meantime, what do you like to do in your spare time?"

The serpent king stared at him for a minute before he spoke.

" in my free time, I am often painting. I admire art."

"would you like to come with me, to see Wakanda's artwork? Do we have a history collection that dates back a long time ago? We can also visit the merchant tribe. They have certain artifacts we can look at."

, Kukulkan eyes alit with interest.

"I think that would be interesting."

….

Shuri winched as the doctor touched her throat. Why were their hands always so cold?

"Well, no swollen lymph nodes. All we have to do next is check your stomach. Any pain? Or discomfort."

"There is some nausea," Shuri admitted. She was thankful her mother agreed to step out. right now it was just her and the doctor.

"that is probably because of your lack of appetite. Being sick can decrease your want to eat. When was your last cycle?"

Shuri froze as she thought.

When was her last cycle? Everything had been so hectic lately she hadn't even noticed it was missing.

Seeing that she was hesitant, the doctor chuckled and said "It is ok princess, I am forgetful myself sometimes. Life can be busy. Please lay down, so I can check your stomach."

Shuri however was deep in thought. She was a scientist, she was smart. She had never had a boyfriend, never dated anyone. And the first man she falls in love with, she marries on a whim.

They hadn't used any protection. Why would either of them have thought of it? he was a 500-year-old king, asking him to put a condom on was not an option. And as smart as she was, was still an inexperienced woman who hadn't bothered to acknowledge the opposite sex.

And yet why was the impending revelation not hitting her yet?

When the doctor pressed on her stomach, Shuri closed her eyes. A gasp emitted from the doctor.

Shuri knew then. She knew what was coming.

"um…princess shuri… I..i .. don't how to ask them but…have you..have you been sexually active?"

Shuri nodded.

"Can I ask when? And if you used protection?"

" the beginning of last month. And no protection.." Shuri answered. She felt the doctor press again on her stomach.

"Princess… have you had any other symptoms other than nausea?"

"heavy and painful breast, fatigue, and I've puked a couple of times."

She was grateful the puking was sporadic.

"Princess, I'll need to take your blood and run a test."

Twenty minutes later, when the doctor came back, Shuri wasn't surprised with the results.

"princess shuri… you are pregnant."