Chapter Text
That was close. I clutch the wound at my side. It throbs under my fingers. Infected by that insects spawn. To think some lowly Eartherealmers, and that skittering traitor could embarrass me! I try to pull myself to a stand. But pain threatens to knock me back to the ground. I've lost my throne... The medallion.... And now my pride. Once I find them I'll... My vision falters. And my balance wavers. I'll need to get out of this jungle first... I begin marching. It takes all of my effort just to put one foot in front of the other. The jungle is so hot. And the ground is a gluttonous mud, swallowing my feet with every step. I can hardly see. The trees are all a blur of greens and browns. The hum of the wildlife is an incoherent cacophony. But if I can just- my thoughts are cut short as my feet slip. The terrain falling away beneath me, giving way to some kind of hill. Trees jutting out like spikes, promising to rend my flesh. Unable to regain my footing I tumble and crash through the branches. I cry out as one skewers my leg. But there is no help. I'm alone. Falling to my death. Kahnum Mileena facing a most disgraceful end. Every tumble sends me through more brush, ripping and tearing at my skin. I try to regain my senses just long enough to find something, anything to slow my descent. But before I have the opportunity I’m met with a large tree. As my skull cracks against the trunk, my entire world goes black.
As my mind swirls through the throws of death. I can see all my mistakes carefully woven together in a tapestry paying tribute to my failures. I see my end. Not at the hands of the jungle, but kneeling before the Osh-tek traitor. He doesn't even grant me the death of a Khan. But instead, he sentences me to the lips of that disgusting creature. Making my body a host for her repugnant children. I feel them consume me from the inside out. Feasting on my tongue and my eyes. I scream out in pain before dying. Right at that traitor's feet. No honor. No glory. Only my fetid corpse, left to rot. Even in death, I feel the ground cradling my lifeless body. Is this hell? Am I to lie here, inhabiting this desiccated corpse? Left to ponder a fate that wasn't even my own? The room fades as my thoughts begin to clear, and my hearing returns to me. I can hear a fire crackling. Feel it's heat at my face, and something else by my feet? Before I'm even fully conscious I've summoned my sai and pressed it to the throat of my would be assailant.
"If you're going to kill me Princess, I suggest you do it after I tend to your wounds?" I recognize Tanya's voice even before her face. My most trusted ally at the end of my blade, remaining calm as ever.
"Tanya I-" The agony returns all at once. Silencing me, save for my winces of pain.
"You need to lie down. Bleeding out, or dying from infection, is hardly becoming of a Princess," her tone is as teasing as it is tender.
"That's Kh-Khanum to you!" I'm barely able to get the words out from between my gritted teeth.
"Until you have the energy to silence me yourself," She gives me a playful shove, which, i my weakened state, is more than enough to push me back onto the bedroll. Tanya crawls over and whispers in my ear, "I'll stick with Princess." Her boldness make my heart race even now. Before I can respond, she pulls away. Leaving me to stare at the ceiling. "Now, since already you went through the trouble, give me your blade. Unless you actually intend to kill me?" My grip is already weak, handing it to her saps nearly all of my strength.
"I haven't decided yet. Maybe you should finish me off while you have the chance?" Tanya twirls my blade in her hand, taking a seat by my waist.
"A tempting offer, but perhaps you should save the courting until after you've recovered?" Her body carefully frames the branch running through my leg, and the hastily bandaged injury at my side.
"I... You...." I give myself a moment to breathe. My mask obscures the blood flushing my cheeks. "Where are we Tanya? I was escaping D'vorah and those Earthrealmers when I..."
"When you nearly fell to your death?" Tanya cuts in. "I never thought clumsiness would be what does you in." I don't grace her jab with a response. "I pitched us a tent, just at the edge of the Jungle." She sounds exasperated, exhausted even, "The Tarkattan camp isn't more than a day's Journey away. Once you've recovered, we can head off," I glance around at her handiwork. Clearly she pitched our shelter in a rush. Even still, it's a welcome respite from the harsh jungle.
"Oh? So you're saying I have you all to my-" I wince again. The throbbing wounds only growing more painful. Tanya clearly takes notice.
"Flirting aside Princess, these pants do need to come off. Assuming you want me to treat that leg?" Before I can utter a response, the sound of tearing fabric fills the tent. A quick, clean motion splits my pant leg. Wasting no time, she's already leaning over me to slash the next one.
"You know, there are far simpler ways to get me undressed Tanya" she splits the next leg before she retorts. Yanking away the ruined garment.
"In your state? I assure you there isn't. Now can you hold still for me Princess?" Tanya places her hand on my now exposed thigh, her grip is suspiciously firm. More a restraint than a touch.
"Why would I need to-" I get my answer before I can finish the question. As Tanya rips the branch from away with her free hand. I scream out in agony. The blood flowing over my exposed legs. The pain is blinding, and regaining my composure is a feat unto itself. As my heaving breaths begin to slow, and Tanya is already packing the wound with bandages.
"Honestly, I'm impressed that this is the worst of it. We could have easily-"
"No Tanya! It's not the worst of it!" I cut her short, the pain and frustration finally boiling over. "I lost the medallion! I was defeated by some Eartherealmers and that loathsome creature! I'm supposed to be Khanum! I..." I feel tears welling up in my eyes. Is it the pain? Or is it something else? Tanya waits before responding.
"But you're alive aren't you? I'm alive. Rain is alive. The resistance is alive! All told we were rather fortunate. Are we not?" Tanya's rage shows through in it's own subtle way. It's source is never so easily spotted.
"Speak plainly with me Tanya. I'm in too much pain for your vagueries." The words come out in a hiss. Again, she measures her response before speaking.
"You lost. The medallion, a fight, your pride." Tanya shakes her head in a show of disappointment "Is that all you're concerned with? What you lost? Is everything we've fought for, am I, not what concerns you?" Her words hurt as much as my injuries.
"Tanya I didn't mean..."
"I know." She snaps. Then takes a deep breath before continuing.
"You're a delightfully simple creature Mileena. It's one of the things I adore about you. But you aren't usually the type to feel sorry for yourself." She lets those words hang for a moment. "So you lost. What do you intend to do about it?" Now it's my turn for pause. Being brash is what got me here. Perhaps a more level headed Khan wouldn't have failed. Perhaps a better Khan wouldn't have failed. I'm hardly worthy of father's role. How could a thing like me ever be worthy?
"I don't know Tanya." I'm fighting hard to keep my fury in check. "I've failed all of you. My people, my father, my realm, my-" my gaze meets hers for a moment. Her raven hair framing her piercing white eyes. What is Tanya to me? What am I to her? She's no mere mistress, but is she more? "Forget it. You're right. Dwelling on my failures won't change anything." My gaze reaches the floor. I've never known defeat like this. Not since father died have I been so lost.
"Mileena..." Tanya moves to lie next to me. Her hand reaches to remove my veil, moving with a kind of dexterity that only comes from muscle memory. Before my mind can catch up, I reach out to stop her. She can't see my face. Not right now. I can't bear it. Tanya takes this in stride. Grasping my hand and placing a kiss on it. Even this makes my wounds ache, but the affection is well worth it. "You know I'll always be by your side. You're my Princess. My Khanum. I would die to see you reach your rightful place on that throne."
"Thank you Tanya." The exhaustion returns to me all at once. "I grow tired, I need rest. Will you..." My voice trails off. I feel so weak, is it really appropriate to be so vulnerable with one of my subjects?
"Yes Princess. You don't need to ask." She cradles my body into hers, gently wrapping me in an embrace, careful not to brush my wounds. Her body is warm. I can feel her thighs brush against mine, and her chest press into my back. As we lie there, my body finally begins to relax. Allowing me to drift off in her arms.