Chapter 1
The fishermen huffed on their little boat as the cold wind from the mountains blew down to them. They had been out there for a while and agreed they should journey back soon. They haven't caught much today, spinning tales about whatever reason there might be, but at least they wouldn't go hungry to bed today. Then suddenly one of them called out. There was something floating in the water. It was too big to be a fish. Maybe a tree had fallen but it seemed unlikely around here. Curious they drew closer, gasping when they saw what it was, caught between the shore and a large rock. A man.
******
When he woke up he felt at peace. Somewhere on the back of his mind he thought he never slept that well. Not since he was a child anyway.
His body felt warm and heavy but there was a freezing chill in the room he was laying in. Maybe he could just go back to sleep. Was there a reason to be awake anyway?
He found he couldn't quite slip back into unconsciousness. Maybe he could open his eyes and remain in bed a few more minutes. Sounded like a good plan. His eyes fluttered open and he found himself in a strange room. It was like a cave, no wonder why it was so cold.
"So you're finally awake." He startled at the sound of a deep voice. When did someone else come into his room? He turned his head and was met with the mighty figure of a man. He was clad in furs and not much else. A quite attractive man.
"Who are you?" He asked before he could think of anything else.
The man straightened up, gods was he tall, and presented his - was he holding a spare?
"I am M'baku, lord of the Jabari land." He declared with an aura of power.
"Okay…." He muttered in answer. "Oh, this must be a dream." He looked at the man towering over him again. "A very strange dream."
The other man laughed at him and settled in his chair again.
"You're a funny one, N'Jadaka, tell me how-"
"N'Jadaka? Who's that?" The strange man just looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"You know, you don't have to make jokes all the time. It's your name."
His eyebrows knitted together as he thought about those words. "But that's not my name. My name is-" He stopped abruptly. What was his name? He couldn't remember. Why can't he remember his name?
"N'Jadaka." The man finished. "We found you in the river. How did you get in there? Do you remember anything?"
"The river?" He echoed and tried to remember. But his kind came up blank.
"Where am I?" He asked silently as he looked out at the mountains outside the little cave as if they'd held the answer.
Now the man looked a little concerned at him.
"You're in the land of the Jabari tribe." M'baku answered but the other man just looked at him in confusion.
"You really don't know? Is there anything you do remember?" Was there anything? No, he couldn't remember anything. He shook his head slightly starting to panic. But the man with him knew his name, even if it didn't quite feel right. Maybe he knew more.
"Do you know what happened? Do you know who I am?" He asked rather hopefully.
"Afraid not. Some of my fishermen found you floating in the river. I can't tell you more."
"But you said you know my name." He insisted and leaned forward urging the other man to answer.
The man just sighed and handed him a mirror. He frowned at the object but took it anyway then looked at the other man again. M'baku just moved his fingers to his lower lip and moved it. There was a light blue glue but he probably imagined it. M'baku motioned for him to do that himself and when he did he saw that same blue glow. It seemed to be some kind of symbols. Maybe another language?
"It translates to your name." So N'Jadaka was really his name. He looked at his lip I'm the mirror again but then let it go as he realised he looked kind of weird.
"And you can't tell me anything else?" The man answered with a shake of his head.
"Only that you're not from here. But you're not healed enough yet to safely journey to any other tribe and find your home."
******
N'Jadaka has decided it would be best to stay here for now. It proved to be the right decision. When he felt well enough to leave his bed M'baku had shown him around the tribe. He was quite fascinated by their lifestyle but he figured he'd be fascinated by everything since he lost his memory and to relearn everything anyway.
He spent all of his time with the Lord and he wasn't ashamed to admit he started to have feelings for the other man. Feelings that seemed to be reciprocated.
They married a year after M'baku had found him. He hadn't regained his memory but since he had found it to fit quite well here he decided to stop trying to look at his past and wanted to enjoy his future. He was truly happy and he had a feeling not even his past life could have been better. He was, after all, married to the leader of a whole tribe.
******
"N'Jadaka." His husband called out to him from their bed.
"Yes?" He answered from the other side of their room where he was standing over a bowl of water to wash his face.
"I have to leave for a few days." He perked up at those words and walked over.
"Why?"
"The king of wakanda has requested a meeting of all tribe leaders."
"But I thought we didn't like the king."
"We don't. At least not the former ones. But the new one doesn't seem to understand that a treaty is no option. I think a visit and a few clear words won't have him asking again."
"Can I come with you?"
"No." He laughed. "Someone has to watch over the tribe."
"But I can help you." His husband laughed again.
"You're cute." N'Jadaka pouted.
"Are you sure? Isn't it too soon."
"I've been here over a year. And as much as I love it here it would be nice to see anything else apart from snowy mountains."
"Okay, I'll take you with me." The answering smile M'baku received showed him he made the right decision.