In the alternate universe, set in the medieval period, where power rules and superstition lingers in the thin air, the tale of The Last Princess unfolds.
For the hazel eyed king has secrets, desires and motives.
The champagne eyed queen has fears...
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Something had changed.
Anika didn't know if it was visible from outside, but she felt it within her. She wasn't sure if it was her body or just her mind. The way she felt his hands moving up and down her body even though they both were in separate places or the fact that she couldn't stop relating things with her husband or the inevitable blush when his name was mentioned or the sudden happiness and comfort she now only felt with him or how she couldn't stop herself from replaying their not so intimate actions in her mind.
Beard scratches and those bite marks were not uncommon to her now and she had mastered the art of hiding them under her clothes and jewellery. Shivaay specifically loved to rub his stubble on her neck as he was well aware that his little sparrow was ticklish.
The giddy feeling rested in them for a few days. Every touch, every kiss, every look - it all felt slightly different. As if there was something in their eyes that had changed, but in a heartwarming way.
Shivaay felt reluctant to leave for the court in the morning. He would rather prefer to stay with his wife in their chamber and stare at her as she slept. They both had turned a bit nocturnal recently, thus the lack of sleep they both had been getting due to their actions, didn't bother them anymore.
A few days of late arrival had made people gossip about the king and queen. Shivaay, thus, had to leave early, not because he cared about what anyone thought but as he didn't want his little sparrow to be hurt at any cost. He was aware that Anika did not care much about what other people said, but he didn't want to take chances, not with her.
It was quite late in the night when he finally arrived at their chamber, exhausted. His back and shoulders ached, the day had been long. They have been going through a financial crisis recently and Shivaay needed to go through the matters regarding it. There was a possibility of a war near the borders of one of the kingdoms Shivaay had. The person in charge of that kingdom had sent a letter, asking for help in the future.
As he stepped inside the chamber, his eyes landed on the angelic face of his beloved wife, who was smiling while braiding her hair. An involuntary smile bloomed on his face as he felt his muscles relax. There was this thing about her, whenever he had her with him, there was a sense of fulfilment in him.
"Shivaay?"
Anika called, her smile broadening. She didn't look up and was busy with her hair.
"Aap ko kaese pata chala ki hum hai?" (how did know that it's me?)
"Jaese aapko pata chal jata hai," Anika answered, turning to face him. Mirth performing a pirouette in her honey brown eyes. (the same way how you get to know)
"Khana khaake aaye hai?" (did you eat?)
Shivaay shook his head in a 'no' as they both proceeded towards each other. Anika helped him to take his turban off as he took off his jewellery.
No matter how occupied they both were with their respective works, they had a custom to have their dinner together. Even though it often became quite late when his works excused him, his wife always waited for him and was never mad at him for coming late. Anika knew what responsibilities being a king or queen brought and she embraced it.
***
Anika snuggled more into her husband's bare chest as they laid on their bed. Shivaay tangled his fingers with her unruly hair locks, while his other hand was intertwined with hers.
"Shivaay?" Anika called, as she looked up to see him. He opened his eyes and the warmth that swam in those blameless blue eyes made her feel breathless.
"Ji?" he answered, kissing her forehead, softly. (yes?)
"Aap naraz ho jayenge kya?" (will you get angry?)
Shivaay couldn't help but chuckle uponhearing her question. He kissed her forehead again, "Aap phele ye toh bataiyye ki baat kya hai," (you first need to tell me what the matter is)
"Matlab naraz nehi honge?" (means you won't get angry?)
"Hum kabhi aapse khafa ho sakte hai kya?" (can I get mad at you ever??)
"Huye the na," (but you did get and at me)
"Kab?" (when)
"Jab hum- hum dono..."(when we- we both...) Anika felt hesitant, she feared mentioning Avanti as she didn't want to ruin things between them.
"Hum, kya Anika?" (we, what Anika?)
"Jab hum lartein the tab," (when we used to fight)
"Nehi, hum ab se aap se naraz nehi honge," (no, from now on I won't get mad at you)
Anika sighed dramatically while her husband couldn't help but adore her cuteness.
"Hum jab Singhall gaaye the, Data Hukum se milne, tab unhone humse kuch kaha," Anika could feel Shivaay tense beside her. Panic rushed through his veins upon registering her words in his mind. What did he tell her? What did she know? (when I had gone to Singhall to meet father, he had told me something)
"Kya kaha tha?" Shivaay tried his best to not sound desperate to her and succeeded. (what had he said?)
"Unhe Avanti ki bohot yaad aati hai, Shivaay, aur woh unse unki harkaton ki wajah se khafa bhi nehi hai," (he really misses Avanti, Shivaay, and he isn't angry at her for her actions)
Shivaay fought the urge to sigh in relief upon hearing his wife, but her next sentence came as a blow on his face.
"Hum unhe dhoondna chahtein hai, Shivaay," Shivaay parted his lips to speak, but was stopped by his wife, "Hamare khud ke liye nehi, hamare Data Hukum ke liye. Woh bimaar hai ur hum unki ye iccha poori karna chahtein hai," (I want to find her, Shivaay. Not for myself, but for my father. He is really ill and I want to fulfil this wish of his)
"Anika par-" (but-)
"Hamare liye unhe dhoondiye, Shivaay. Agar aap ko lag raha hai ki hume aabhi bhi lagta hai aapne humse zabardasti viyah kiya, phir aap galat hai. Hum aapse mohbaat kartein hai aur aapke saath khush hai." Anika reassured before she cupped his cheek in her hand. (find her for me, Shivaay. If you feel that I still think you forced me to marry you, then you are wrong. I love you and I am happy with you)
Helplessness settled in Shivaay's stomach. How could he turn down her request?
"Anika par hum unhe kaha dhoondein? Woh kaha hogi, kiske saath hogi - humein toh kuch nehi pata." (but how can I find her? i don't know where she is or with whom.)
"Woh humne pata kiya hai," excitement danced in Anika's eyes, while dread filled Shivaay's heart. What she she found out? How? (I have found that out)
"Kaese?" he said and immediately regretted. He should've asked what she knew, not how. (how)
"Humne Singhall se pata kiya hai. Hamare ek sainik ne Avanti ko kisike saath bhaagte huye dekh liya tha." (i got to know from Singhall. A solider from there had seen Avanti running away with someone)
"Kon tha woh?" (who was with her?)
"Uss armi ka chehra nehi dekh sake woh, par unhe yakeen hai ki woh ghoda Jamuna Baad ka hi tha," (he couldn't see the face but is sure that the horse they had was from Jamunabad)
"Aap unhe dhoond lenge na Jamunabaad mein?" (you will look for her in Jamunabad, right?
"Haa," (yes)
Little did he know that this promise would cost him what he held the most dear.
