Wandia had left more than twenty minutes ago, and the elders were still debating what to do.
"Shuri, you are the Queen, so tell us, what should happen to this woman?" one of the elders finally said
Shuri sighed. They were probably not going to like this, but she was going to suggest it anyway.
"I think we should let her stay in Wakanda. She has nowhere else to go, and she doesn't want to bring harm to anyone here."
"And what if she does? What will people say?" the Merchant Tribe elder questioned.
Shuri thought for a second. Wandia was unpredictable, and there was no way to know whether she was a threat. But something told her that she should let her stay.
It's what T'challa would have done.
"I vouch for her. If she does anything to endanger Wakanda, you can blame it on me. If you don't feel safe, she can stay in the castle. She'll be monitored by guards 24/7,"
The elders looked around at each other, silently trying to decipher the other's opinion.
M'baku finally sighed. "Fine, she can stay, as long as she stays in line. Just remember, Shuri, this is on you."
After her short appearance at the elder's council, Wandia had been taken to a glass holding cell. One of the bald warriors had given her one of the most intimidating glares she had ever seen.
"If you try any one of your fancy magic tricks, the last thing you will be doing is trying to get my spear out of your gut. Do you understand?" Wandia nodded frantically and stayed put.
Unfortunately, being left alone with her thoughts was not always a good thing.
She knew the collapse of her reign had been the scheme of jealous men, but it was her fault. Her fault for trusting Otas blindly, and letting him into her inner circle.
Her fault for almost falling in love.
"If only Mama and Nyawir could see me now." she thought bitterly.
Tears prickled her eyes as she thought of her family.
Her mother, sister, brother, and father.
All casualties of a war they didn't start.
And yet, somehow, she was still alive. Why? She didn't deserve to be alive and breathing. All the deaths she caused, all the pain and loss.
"If only I didn't have these stupid powers. I would have-"
A voice shook her out of her depressive thoughts.
"Hey! Good news, the elders said-" Shuri paused when she saw Wandia's crestfallen face.
"Are you alright?" she inquired, walking closer to Wandia.
Wandia looked up and gave her a rueful smile. "Yes. I'm just tired. Those power-dampening bracelets are finally getting to me." she lied.
Shuri looked like she didn't believe it, but she continued anyway. "Well, I can show you a place to rest that's better than here."
Shuri opened a large door to reveal a beautiful room. A queen-sized bed with the softest-looking pillows Wandia had ever seen. The decor was simple, yet elegant. There was a small wooden desk and vanity at the far end of the room and a decently sized bathroom at the other.
Wandia walked around the room, amazed. She sat at the edge of the bed and looked out of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The view of the city and golden hour was spectacular. The sun glanced over the buildings, blanketing everything in a golden glow.
"It's not much, but-" Shuri began
"No, it's perfect," she said, tearing her gaze from the windows and looking at Shuri with gratitude. "Thank you."
Shuri blinked a few times.
"Y-You're welcome." she stammered, with a tiny smile on her face.
After a few beats of comfortable silence, she cleared her throat.
"I'm free tomorrow, so I could show you around the city if you'd like."
Wandia smiled. Seeing the city would be a good distraction. She definitely needed it.
"Sure!"
Shuri smiled wider. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then."
She began to close the door. "Alright, bye Wandia,"
