Chapter 25: A celebration, a proposal again! seeking counsel and scheming cousins!
Zuri felt a presence in the temple. However, he kept his eyes closed and didn't open them until he finished his prayers.
When he did open his eyes, he was surprised to find Princess Shuri on her knees, a veil over her head, making offerings to Bast.
When she was done and stood up, he smiled.
"princess shuri! In the temple! Did I die? I thought I would never see the day!"
She smiled at him, but it wasn't full. Her eyes were laced with sadness and confusion.
"Come, have tea with me, princess." He offered as he led her to one of his favorite spots in the temple.
He then pulled out two cups and poured the rooibos tea.
"What troubles the brilliant genius of Wakanda eh?"
Shuri sighed as she adjusted the necklace around her throat.
"I am conflicted, Zuri. Is it wrong to want more? Outside of Wakanda, I mean?"
Zuri's eyebrows raised in Surprise.
"that's the last thing I thought you would say. But to answer your question I would say it depends on your intentions. Are you trying to leave Wakanda?" he asked. He studied her facial expression as she played with the bracelet on her wrist.
"Princess, you can trust me. whatever you confide in me stays between us."
Zuri always knew that Shuri had a hard time trusting members of the royal court. Afraid they would run back and tell the king or the queen mother.
"I mean it. Just be honest. I am not your family's point of council for nothing."
He watched as the princess closed her eyes and prepared to speak.
"I am hopelessly in love with our new ally. Kukulkan is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. I couldn't be more grateful for him in my life. We started seeing each other months before Wakanda knew of his existence. We started as friends and then our relationship grew. We intended to bring our relationship to T'challa's attention the proper way but with the mining tribe proposing to me, it has only made things difficult. I told the mining tribe champion, no but he continued to pursue me. Kukulkan was trying to talk to me when he interrupted us. It made Kukulkan very upset and now I don't know how to fix this. We celebrate in two days, and I have no clue what we will do."
Zuri wasn't expecting Shuri's answer, but he hid his features well. Instead, he put a calming hand on her shoulder and said "Ah, young love. It is beautiful, eh? Now hear my words, princess. An ancient African proverb once said that if love is a sickness, patience is the remedy. You must pause yourself for a moment and think from a king's perspective. From Kukulkan's eyes, he has ruled and reigned over his people. Protecting and cherishing them. However, if he meets you and finds the one person, he could choose over his kingdom. That scares him. And to make it worse, he meets another kingdom that could destroy him. The only kingdom on earth that could possibly match the strength of his own. And yet despite all of this, his heart has settled and opened to love you. our dear princess only for that love to be insulted and disrespected by another. While you may not have had the intention to hurt or disrespect Kukulkan, you insulted him by not allowing him to take down someone he saw as a challenge to his power and his love for you. Does that make sense?"
The princess sighed as she rubbed her temples.
"Yes, it does and now he thinks I don't want him, or that I am ashamed of us. but there are traditions that need to be followed. "
Zuri snorted as he poured her another cup of tea.
"Oh, my dear princess, when have you ever allowed traditions to stop you?"
It was at this moment that Zuri watched as a revelation made itself known to the princess.
"Oh, Zuri! Your right! You're so right! Thank you so much!"
With that said, Shuri made her way out of the temple but before she did, she bowed before bast and whispered a thank you.
As Zuri drank his tea, he could only think of one thing.
I am going to need something stiffer to drink when the king hears about this.
….
Nakia and Eric stood on the beach as they saw Kukulkan emerge from the water. It was late at night and the moon was high.
"yo future cousin-in-law!" eric greeted as he heled up his fist. Nakia was quick to elbow him in the rib.
"Stop it. he's already annoyed." She said through gritted teeth. She then turned to Kukulkan who looked at them, an eyebrow quirked.
"What do you want? the celebration is not until tomorrow night." Kukulkan demanded.
"Yes, that is true, but hear us out please Kukulkan."
He nodded for her to continue.
"well, I know that you and Shuri are not in the best of moods at the moment but we think we have an idea that can change that."
"What Princess Shuri and I go through is no one else's business," Kukulkan said with arms crossed.
This time, eric stepped closer to Kukulkan and waved for Nakia to hush for a second.
"Listen cousin-in-law. I know you are mad about how that man propositioned himself to Shuri. I know it angered you and it was disrespectful, the way he accused you of manipulating her. you're a leader with strength beyond our comprehension, and we know a way you can show it in his face and impress Shuri, what do you say?"
Kukulkan sighed in defeat, as he looked toward the citadel in the far distance. A look of loneliness and desire shone upon his face.
"Very well… show me what you are thinking."
Lanterns lit the Wakandian streets as the golden tribe led the procession to the beach. The royal family was dressed in their traditional clothes. face paint decorated their faces, as they song their nations songs. Behind them were the other tribes dancing along.
This was only the beginning of the celebration.
Meeting them on the beach dressed in their own traditional and custom clothing was the nation of Talokan. They were blue, wearing bright colors, of oranges, reds, whites, and turquoise. their musicians played and the people of Talokan began to dance.
As soon as the drums stilled, T'challa stood proud before his people.
"PEOPLE OF WAKANDA! WE ARE UNITED WITH THE PEOPLE OF TALOKAN!"
It was then that Kukulkan stood before his people and said the same thing.
"PEOPLE OF TALOKAN! WE ARE UNITED WITH THE PEOPLE OF WAKANDA!"
Fireworks few into the air to begin the celebration.
….
Shuri smiled serenely as she looked out onto the beach. Food stalls from Wakanda and Talokan had been set up. The children ran with different cadies and treats. Women cling to their lovers with happy syrupy smiles. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Ch'ah and her brother talking happily amongst each other. Both kingdoms were celebrating peacefully. And things were about to get even better.
A horn was blown signaling everyone to gather in the center of the beach were a stage had been set up. it was a square stage so that everyone could see from all angles.
The first on the stage was the Dora, they were going to show off for a little before the Talokan warriors did so as well.
After a few more presentations, a small group of Talokons got up and began to sing. It was a beautiful song that had all the key parts, and it was sung in their native tongue.
"Princess?" a voice called.
Shuri turned to see Namora, Luna, and a few other Talokan women.
"Namora..." Shuri greeted as she stood from her seat and snuck towards them.
"Are you ready my lady?" luna asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be, let's get this going. I can't wait to see the look of surprise on his face."
…
"Kukulkan, may I offer you another drink?" a Wakandian servant asked him.
He took the drink and nodded to the servant.
Kukulkan, felt pride fill him as he watched his people laugh and interact with the Wakandian surface dwellers. He was seated on king T'challa's right side while the rest of the royal family was on T'challa's left.
He had caught glimpses of Shuri but he hadn't been able to make any kind of eye contact with her. they both had been swept away by the festivities.
However, excitement ran through him as he adjusted his robes. He wore a white and gold robe with turquoise beads and his traditional serpent headdress. In his lap was his spear. But under his robe, he wore the traditional colors of Wakanda, his body had been painted with the golden tribe's signature paint. All last night and all morning, he had been taught Wakanda traditional dance. He wanted to surprise Shuri with it. As soon as the dance was over, he would propose.
The sound of his people's traditional music caught his ears.
"Kukulkan? Are your people performing another song?" T'challa asked.
"I guess so? This one must be a surprise."
Both kings watched, as a group of talakon women and men stood to the side of the stage, their voice singing slow and smooth. On the other side of the stage were talokan musicians. The sound of wooden trumpets, bone flutes, conch shells, and reed flutes filled the air.
And coming upon the stage hidden by a white veil was a woman.
The singers paused and the veil dropped, revealing his bride.
But she was no longer wearing the colors of Wakanda.
No.
His bride was completely naked from the chest up. her breast on display for everyone to see. And yet her body had been adored with the most sacred and rare jewels of Talokan. The beads flowed into a skirt that stopped at her feet. On her arms were glittering diamonds and turquoise beads. Her wrists were adorned with heavy bracelets and trailing behind her was a white train that attached to a necklace on her neck. Her gills were on display for all to see. Her hair had been turned into braids, woven with ornaments and ribbons.
A song of his people released from her lips, as her body began to gracefully move to the music.
…..
Zuri sat amongst the elders and spit out his drink when he saw the princess.
That's not what I meant when I saw break tradition! He thought
…..
T'chala and the royal family stared at Shuri as she gracefully danced and sang in shock.
"t'challa stop this!" his mother roared.
However, t'challa could only stare at the display his sister had put on. She looked somewhat ethereal.
…
Kukulkan couldn't restrain himself any longer, as he let his robe drop and motioned for the Wakandian choir, Nakia had put together to sing.
He watched as Shuri stopped her dance so he could begin his. Pride gleamed in her eyes as he began to dance towards her.
Something akin to joy flashed in her eyes as she began to dance towards him. Both of them dance in each other's traditional dance.
The couple danced around each other, both of them in a world and rhythm of their own.
As soon as the music stopped, Kukulkan got down on one knee and Shuri bowed before him.
Kukulkan felt the air leave his lungs. Not only had she danced in the way of his people but she was presenting herself to him in the customary fashion. But what shook him to his core was the bright turquoise and red scales that seemed to glow on the back of her neck.
He knew what they meant.
His bride. His wife, his queen. She was carrying their future.
With tears and pride gleaming in his eyes.
He spoke in clear xhosa for all to hear.
"Princess shuri wakanda ungandenzela imbeko ngokunditshata? ..kwakhona?" princess shuri, would do me the honor of marrying me? ..again?
"In ajawo', in sentiría honrado u ts'o'okol in beel wéetel" My king, I would honored to marry you
Everyone was still and quiet as they watched Princess Shuri stand and take namor hand.
She then walked over to T'challa and with perfect grace bowed before him.
"King T'challa I present to you my beloved, the man I wish to marry."
And then from out of the sea, emerged more talokan men and women, all of them holding chests filled with gold, pearls, and vibranium.
T'challa stood as he looked at his little sister bowed low before him. The only thing that could come out of his mouth was this.
"can you please put on a shirt? The whole kingdom can see your nipples!"