Nhutalu exhaled slowly, hoping the cleansing breath would soothe her frazzled nerves. The butterflies in her stomach seemed to become more active when she did that, however.
"Don't tell me you're getting cold feet," Kelsey said, helping to secure the wrap at Nhutalu's waist.
"No," replied Nhutalu, trying to remain calm, especially with what she was about to say. "It's not every day a girl acquires an entire Empire."
"Don't worry yourself about that," Airiway reassured her. "Emperor Kuzco will still be ruling the Empire on his own. Your job will be to nag him when he does something stupid."
"Well how will I know when he's doing something stupid?" Nhutalu asked.
"She's about to panic again," Airiway muttered to Kelsey. "No passing out on us, Nhutalu."
"I'm not ready for this kind of responsibility -"
"Sure you are!" Kelsey and Airiway replied in unison.
"Now I don't want to hear any more of this self-conscious garbage from you." Airiway got to her knees before Nhutalu and began to adjust the hem of Nhutalu's gown. She and Kelsey had dressed the soon-to-be Empress in a gown made from the silky wool of the Empire's prettiest vicuñas and had spent about an hour adjusting it, making sure it fit just right.
Nhutalu took another deep breath, smoothing the floor-length blue skirt she wore. "So, Airiway," she said, hoping the subject change would help ease her anxiety, "how are you and Kronk doing?"
Airiway blushed. "He decided our ceremony should be a month from now."
Nhutalu squealed, stooping down to hug Airiway. "I'm so happy for you!"
Shortly after Kuzco had chosen Nhutalu to be his bride, he had noticed the way Airiway and Kronk were eyeing each other. Although Airiway had sworn celibacy -unless the Inti chose her- when she joined Kuzco's Aqllawasi, Kuzco allowed her the freedom to leave. Something like that had never been done before and probably wouldn't be done since. There was a deafening outcry from the remaining girls in the Aqllawasi about this, the ones who knew that they would never be chosen by the Emperor and thus would be destined to spend the remainder of their lives as Virgins.
But Airiway and Kronk had no complaints. And those who questioned Kuzco got an earful about how Airiway and Kronk had done a deed good enough to deserve one to happen to them in return.
Pacha poked his head into the room where Nhutalu had been blessed and then readied for the ceremony. "The Emperor is waiting," he told the three virgins.
Nhutalu faltered, practically blacking out for a moment.
"Whoa! Nhutalu -" Kelsey grunted, barely able to support her.
"I can't do this," gasped Nhutalu, her face turning white and her voice shaking. "I can't do this."
When Airiway attempted to escort Nhutalu to the huaca, Nhutalu would not budge. For a moment, she and Kelsey panicked. Then, Airiway took Nhutalu's hands.
"Talu, listen to me," she said. "I know you're scared. But at least just make it to the door of the temple. If you still want to leave, then you can."
Nhutalu knew that Airiway had no right saying such things and that inevitably, it would be Kuzco's decision. But Airiway's suggestion seemed - for some reason - satisfactory enough.
As they walked by, Pacha gave Nhutalu a quick kiss on the cheek. "You can do this," he whispered to her just before falling in step some length behind the three Virgins.
At the door to the huaca, Nhutalu froze.
"Come on," Airiway coaxed her. "You've made it this far."
"No, no -" Nhutalu whimpered. "I'm scared."
"Don't be scared," Kelsey attempted to reassure her.
Nhutalu clenched her eyes shut, trying not to hyperventilate. What was she doing? "Oh no, oh no, oh no . . ."
Airiway quietly stepped up to the temple and opened the door. Kuzco was standing at the far end of the aisle and turned when he noticed the sunlight suddenly streaming in. He was dressed in clothes not much unlike his usual Emperor attire, but with many more gold accents all over.
"Look -" Kelsey whispered, gently putting a hand on Nhutalu's shoulder.
"No," she whined. "I don't wanna . . ."
"Come on," Airiway said, trotting back over to them. "Open 'em up, Talu. Take a deep breath - I think you'll like what you'll see."
Drawing in a lengthy, tremulous breath, Nhutalu opened her eyes.
Kuzco didn't look the least bit afraid. He grinned at Nhutalu and waved excitedly at her to join him. Seeing him so confident did relieve some of her anxiety; just enough for her to regain the strength to enter into the temple and make it down the aisle.
She was grateful to reach him, especially when he reached out and took her hands. "Are you ready for this?"
Nhutalu swallowed thickly. "What about Ysalane?" She blurted out. She'd kept meaning to ask him for weeks, since the night Kuzco picked her from the line-up. And that would be her last chance before entering into something that she couldn't easily back out of. Unless she died.
"Listen," he whispered, squeezing her hands. "I did what I did because it was required of me. The throne needs an heir - according to the stupid law - and I fulfilled my duty." He shuddered. "Ysalane is just my sister. I've talked to her and punished her for what she did to you and she knows her place. You don't need to worry about her." After a pause, he finished, "Besides, after the talk we had, she doesn't seem to want to leave the Aqllawasi. At least . . . not any time soon."
Nhutalu watched Kuzco explain this to her, seeing no nervous twitches, nothing to lead her to think that he was lying. His eyes never strayed from hers.
"Believe me," Kuzco requested.
"I do. I do believe you."
"Are you ready now?"
The truth was, she really never would be. "Yes. Yes, I am." She bit her lip, smiling up at him slightly.
He smiled back at her, feeling unmasculine tears threaten to squeeze out of the corner of his eyes.
Halfway through their traditional wedding ceremony, Kuzco leaned over and kissed Nhutalu in the middle of the forehead. "I told you that you were my princess, remember? And now - now you're gonna be my Queen."

The End
Finding the Llama Within - Written by J.E. Zison :-)