Chapter 26: A fight for her heart

Shuri laughed as Ch'ah laid featherlight kisses up and down Shuri's neck. After the celebration ended, she and Ch'ah sneaked away before anyone could ask them questions. Shuri knew her brother would take his time when it came to the proposal. First, he would go to Zuri and unleash all his rage and confusion. Then he would go to Nakia, and then their mother who would rant and rave as well on the sidelines. Finally, hopefully, Eric would calm him down and help him see reason. She didn't think her mother would be that agreeable.

"Mia amore… come back to me..." Ch'ah hummed in her ear. "Where did you go?"

"I was thinking about my bullheaded brother. It's going to take a while to get his approval."

"Ah, I see but we will not worry about that now. He will come around because I am not going anywhere. What we need to talk about are the guppies you carry. My beauty why did you not say anything?" he asked.

"I wasn't quite ready to say it aloud." she admitted. "our marriage was fast and we had not been able to see each other like we wanted to. not to mention, the stress of everything going on. I was going to tell you before we got into our little fight."

Remorse flashed in her husband's eyes as he took her face in his hands.

"mia amore… I believe I owe you an apology. I allowed my anger to get in the way of our communication. Alongside my petty jealousy. I heard you loud in clear when you turned that fool down. I knew your heart. I know your heart. But I couldn't stand the disrespect that fool was showing."

"And I owe you an apology. I should have told you about our pregnancy as soon as I found out. I realize I put us in a lot of danger because I failed to communicate as well. And if I were perhaps a bit bolder in my expression of wanting you, we could have been engaged in the Wakandian way much sooner."

" I think we both have some making up to do, my queen.." ch'ah told her as his eyes flashed red again. his kisses becoming more and more desperate on her body.

" I love you.." she murmured between his kisses.

"And I love you a thousand times more. I want to talk more about our children because this changes things. But for now, let me show you how I make up for an apology."

Shuri felt her eyes roll in the back of her head.

Her husband really knew how to apologize.

…..

Namor laid his head on his bride's abdomen as she slept.

Three children.

Three heirs to his throne.

Three different journeys.

If his children were anything like their mother, he knew not all of them would want to live in talokan their whole life. They would explore Wakanda. And maybe even beyond the protective confines of their connected kingdoms.

It was now that Namor had to decide what kind of father he would be to his children.

Would he be their king? Or their father?

Could he be both?

What if they decided they wanted to leave him? Could he allow it? would he allow it?

He had waited thousands of years for a mate. A woman to call his own. And now she was giving him a gift.

A gift of his flesh and blood. Three children were created and wanted out of love. Children who would never question their identity or who they belong to.

They would be children of the land and the sea. That was something he would have to accept.

They would one day leave him. And one day he would finally leave this earth, his bride by his side.

And even in his eventual and long-awaited death, his children would live on.

Live on to continue in the ways of talokan and the ways of Wakanda.

Cha'ah felt a joy like never before bubble up in him.

He was going to be a father.

….

Cha'ah awoke to the sound of knocking on his wife's bedroom door. He had been having a good dream too.

He sighed as he rolled over to find his wife still deeply asleep.

Good, he thought. She needs all the rest she can get. And I will drown anyone who dares disturb her.

He stood silently, wrapping a black robe around himself and making his way to her door.

When he opened it, he was met by the shocked and angry face of the Queen mother.

"Y-YOU!-" she exclaimed.

Cha'ah was quick to close his wife's door as he stepped out into the hall causing the Queen mother to back up.

With a cold voice, he spoke. " Queen Mother, the princess is sleeping. I ask that you lower your voice in order not to disturb her."

"it is noon! She has responsibilities to tend to! And YOU! How dare you be in the princess's room! you are neither married nor her intended! Guards!" she yelled.

Immediately three of the dora milaje appeared.

Namor was quick to crack the bedroom door open and check on his wife. Thankfully she was still sleeping.

"Once again Queen Mother, I will ask you to lower your voice. Your daughter is exhausted and she needs her rest. Any problems you have with me can be taken up at a later time."

Before the queen could argue, Eric appeared looking very annoyed.

"alright everyone let's cool it down. Queen Mother, he's right we should all just step back from this. As you saw before Shuri hasn't been herself lately. We need to let her rest."

"Not when this fish man breaks tradition and protocol. You will not manipulate my daughter." She scowled.

Namor once again opened his mouth to speak but the sound of Shuri's voice cut him off.

"No one is manipulating me, mama."

Everyone turned to see his wife, wearing a white robe that pooled at her feet.

"Beloved, you should be resting!" he insisted.

She put a calming hand on his chest as she addressed her mother.

"as I said before mama. No one is manipulating me. Kukulkan and I are in love, we have been for a long time. that is why I married him."

He watched as the Queen's eyes got huge and she covered her hand with her mouth. Their audience seemed to be shocked as well.

"shuri! you would break our traditions! For this –"

"do not insult my husband mama. And I technically did not break any traditions, I brought Kukulkan before our king last night. Therefore, we are waiting for his blessing for our Wakandian wedding. The traditions of Wakanda will be honored mama."

Namor smiled at his wife with pride. She often allowed her mother to hold all the cards but this time, Shuri was standing her ground.

And yet the Queen mother still knew how to create cracks in his wife's armor.

"I am disappointed in you Shuri. I believe your father would be too."

And then she walked away.

Namor was quick to pull his wife into his arms and into their bedroom away from prying eyes.

His wife was a strong person. But even the strongest people had to break down.

And break down his wife did.

She just couldn't catch a break, could she?

….

"I knew she would be angry but never thought she would say that. "Shuri cried into her husband's chest.

Even though she was hurting, she admitted it was nice being able to hold him and he held her without worry.

"my beloved, I may not have known your father but firmly believe he would not be disappointed in you. and I truly don't believe your mother is disappointed with you either. I believe she is just angry. She says things she does not mean. She is afraid of losing her only daughter."

Shuri looked up at him and laughed.

"look at you trying to put my mother in the light."

" I do not agree with what she said to you yet I am trying to be understanding. Now I believe my queen needs food. You barely ate anything last night."

"our guppies tend to hate food at night and in the afternoon." She told him as she laid a hand on her abdomen.

Before they could decide what to do next, there was another knock on her door.

Shuri sighed and answered it.

"Okoye?" she questions.

"you both must get dressed and come with me to the throne room, we have a problem."

….

As soon as she and ch'ah made it to the throne room, Shuri felt disgust roll through her.

Abimbola and a few mini tribe elders stood in the throne room. her brother sat on his throne looking very troubled.

Zuri and Eric stood behind him, while her mother looked crestfallen.

Her brother stood not allowing himself to show any emotion on his face.

" Princess Shuri, last night you presented to me the man you wish to marry. However, your request has been challenged."

Shuri ground her teeth.

Of course. Of course. That mining tribe fool would do this. However, Shuri had to play the part.

" and who challenges the request of my hand?"

It was then Abimbola spoke.

"I Abimbola of the mining tribe challenge the request of Princess Shuri's hand. "

"Therefore it is Wakanda's law for the princess's intended to either accept the challenge or give up his right to the betrothal. What say you Kukulkan?"

Shuri already knew what her husband's answer would be.

"I accept the challenge and I will win. My beloved is not a prize to be won."

With that said, he picked her up and they flew out of the citadel.