Dinner was formal because T'Challa was there, so it had to be. As were many members of his court and council and a fair representation of the elders from the tribes as they'd been trickling into the capital the last few days since being summoned. When Peter and the others arrived, they found there was a high table and several others. Tony, Pepper, and Peter were escorted to the high table, but Ned and MJ were joined by Azoru, who walked them to his own table to sit with him and his cousins. They weren't slighted for not being allowed to sit with the king and the elders; the food was the same for all and it was a relief to not be so closely scrutinized.
Shuri smiled when Peter walked over and he gave her a slight bow and a grin, but then greeted T'Challa, who asked him about his health, but left the questions about the safari for more casual conversation. The king greeted Pepper and then Tony and bade them to be seated. Peter found himself between Shuri and the Water tribe elder, whose name he couldn't remember.
He didn't need to, though, since Alec knew it. The ancient sorcerer didn't remember any of the names of those in the throne room but since they knew their own names and positions it was easy enough for him to pass the information to Peter as needed for conversation. Luckily the conversation was just about the safari and what they'd done on it and the animals that they'd seen.
Peter enjoyed the conversation, even though Shuri was required to hold conversation with more than just him. He understood that, though, because she was a princess, after all. The same way that Tony and Pepper couldn't just converse with each other – or T'Challa.
"So what's T'Challa's announcement?" Peter silently asked Alec when they were being served one of the many courses that came with a formal dinner with a king. "You're close enough to him to know, right?"
"I do. But I'm not going to tell you."
"Aww, come on."
An amused snort.
"No. It's not my place. A little patience and you'll learn along with everyone else."
Peter could have tried wheedling but he knew Alec would be able to tell that he wasn't all that serious about needing to know before everyone else. He'd just been nosy.
"Ugh."
He'd said it under his breath and hadn't realized it until Shuri looked over at him with a raised eyebrow.
"You do not like roast yams?"
"No. I mean. Yeah. They're great." He smiled a thank you to the palace servant who had served him and picked up his fork. "They're my favorite."
He took a bite and forced himself to swallow it.
Shuri wasn't the only one at the table to give him an odd look but no one said anything since everyone else was being served as well.
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"So these are all of the tribes?"
Azoru looked the same direction that MJ was looking and shook his head with an amused smile.
"These are elders of each tribe. Not all of them, of course, because many had to stay at home to remain in case they are needed."
"But they'll all be at the next tribal gathering, right?" Ned asked, looking excited.
Bartel had managed to garner the seat on the other side of MJ, much to Ned's amusement.
"As many as can will definitely attend," he said, looking pleased. "Since we are hosting and the Jabari are celebrated for many of their artisans and their textiles."
"And their secrecy?" Ned asked, pointedly, smiling.
Azoru's shrug was amused.
"It is no secret."
"You're admitting it?" MJ asked, surprised.
"You are Wakandan," he reminded her. "Our secrets are your secrets."
MJ smiled, looking pleased.
"Thank you."
"And you are my friends," Azoru added.
Ned preened at that.
"But you won't tell other tribes how to make your wood carvings, right?"
"Or your rugs?" MJ added, looking at Bartell as well.
"Of course not. All tribes have their specialties. If the water tribe wants to become weavers, then they will need to develop the ability as the Jabari did. But if someone wants a quality boat, they would contact the water tribe and not the mining tribe."
"It works well for the tribes to be like this," Azoru agreed. "If all the tribes were specialists, then there would be no reason for trade or the interactions that come with it."
"That makes sense," MJ said, approvingly. "The people who were helping us look through the things we found in Peter's mine are from the mining tribe."
"Because they are the specialists," Azoru said. "Why have a famer look at your gems to value them?"
"Good point."
"Yams?" Bartel offered, holding them out to MJ.
"No. Thanks."
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Dinner lasted more than an hour. Formal dinners in Wakanda could go twice or even three times that long, Peter knew. He had a good time, though, and enjoyed the company that he was keeping. Sometime near the end of it, T'Challa stood and bade the others to finish eating and then gather in the throne room at the top of the hour, and then he left, with a couple of servants and Okoye following.
There was a lot of murmuring when he left and an undercurrent of expectation. Peter knew (without Alec telling him) that many of the people gathered for the announcement assumed that it was going to be about T'Challa's choice for his queen. It was on everyone's minds, after all, since he hadn't produced an heir, yet, and Shuri – while brilliant and capable – was obviously more suited for the role she already had, rather than as Queen if something happened to her brother prematurely.
It was to their credit that most weren't concerned that Peter – as Shuri's chosen betrothed – was now, potentially, in the line of succession to the throne.
The last course was completed with haste (not so surprisingly) and as soon as they could politely or politically do so, the guests began excusing themselves to head toward the throne room. Peter wasn't one of them, since he wasn't in a hurry, well aware that there wouldn't be an announcement until everyone was present, and he finished his meal with a bowl of melon which he munched on while talking to Tony and Shuri – now that the others at the high table were mostly gone.
"This is pretty cool," Ned said, walking over. He, too, was still eating a slice of watermelon, since fresh food like this hadn't been part of the camping menu on their safari. He looked at Tony. "Did T'Challa tell you what the announcement is?"
"Nope." The billionaire smirked and then adjusted his expression and posture into a fair representation of T'Challa at his most formal. "It would not be right to share the information with anyone, prematurely," he said in the formal tone of T'Challa being his most ceremonial – which made Shuri giggle, because it was pretty spot on. "Especially not a member of the newest tribe."
"But it's probably about him getting married…?" the boy asked. "Shuri said that he was looking for a girl."
"Not as much as mother and his council are," Shuri said, still grinning.
Peter smiled at the truth of that, glad that he wasn't a king.
"Where's MJ?" Pepper asked Ned, noticing the girl wasn't with them.
"She went with Azoru and Bartel to see Natasha." Not the superspy, they understood; but Azoru's half-grown puppy. "Azoru said he'd make sure she gets to the throne room on time."
Peter glanced over at the original Natasha, who was standing next to Stephen speaking to Ramonda.
"Don't look all concerned," Ned said, rolling his eyes at how transparent his friend had been at MJ leaving alone. "She's with Azoru and Bartel. They're not going to let anyone mess with her and she won't get lost."
"It's Wakanda," Tony agreed. "Not Central Park."
Pepper frowned, though, looking at Peter.
"Your stomach isn't telling you anything?"
He shook his head, smiling to prove he wasn't concerned. It had just been an automatic reaction – especially since he knew Bartell was at least somewhat interested in MJ. He was a noble, after all, and was honor bound to keep her safe. As was Azoru, who was her genuine friend – and Peter's.
"No. Nothing's off."
"And you'll say something if that changes," Tony prompted.
"Yeah."
"Good." The room was clearing out, now, with more servants than nobles left. "Come, wife," he said, standing and offering his arm to Pepper. "Let's go see what the King has to say."
She caught his arm, but looked at Ned and Peter as she did.
"You two stay out of trouble."
"We will."
"And don't be late."
"We won't."
There was still twenty minutes or so, after all, and Peter wasn't finished eating.
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AN: Still here. I'm very sorry about the stilted posting. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter (if you celebrate it)