The Crown Prince and His Love

Chapter 38|The Fire that devoured him|

Adithan shook his head, clearing his vision and trying to concentrate on the path in front of him. "Nandini..." He mumbled as he rode his horse through the forest. "Don't be dead," he prayed, drops of tears rolling down his dark eyes. "Nan--" he coughed.

He had set out to search for Nandini and ask her for forgiveness for his stupidity and anger. He doubted if she would forgive him though, it's okay, he must apologize or the guilt would prick his heart for all his life. Nandini could decide what to do with him later.

But now he was scared if he could ever meet her alive, now. He asked an elderly couple about a girl in a hut, they instead wailed in front of him and mourned the loss of their home, which was set aflame by the Pandiyan rebels.

Later they told him about them tying up a helpless girl to throw her in the fire. Adithan's heart jumped out of his ribs.

"No, no, no," He kept mumbling throughout the way, but much to his terror, he smelt something burning, his eyes began to get teary due to the heavy smoke coming out of the forest.

"NANDINI!" He screamed out at the top of his lungs as he approached the source of the smoke. He heard the jingling of anklets in return.

"Nandini?" He breathed out. He jumped down from his horse, almost losing his balance. "Wh--"

"Are you competing with my horse?" Young Karikalan asked following the sound of Nandini's anklets.

"The horse might be yours, but this forest is mine," Nandini giggled softly, stifling back her laughter. Adithan shook his head and laughed.

"Won't you grace me with your presence, Princess?" He asked, looking around.

"I'm no princess, Ilavarase," Nandini said hiding behind a tree. Biting her fingers shyly.

"Well, you sure do look like one," He smirked. Nandini's heart fluttered at his compliments, she looked down at the earth.

"Why hide that beautiful face of yours?" He asked, Nandini felt him getting closer. She took off before he could get any closer. Adithan sighed as he heard the ruffling of leaves afar.

"Well, she's gone," he said, patting his horse. "I'll surely catch her another day," He said looking back.

Adithan snapped out of it, "Nandini," He called out weakly, stumbling in the direction of the smoke. He saw Nandini, well an illusion of her running in front of him, prompting him to follow her.

'Nandini' led him straight to the burning village and turned back to him. He saw the damn hut, where he had killed Veera Pandiyan, which was now flaming, crumbling down from the inside out, the other huts around the village faced the same fate.

"Nandini, I'm sorry," Adithan fell to his knees. "Please," He cried, ignoring the burning village in the background.

"Look what you did!" Nandini yelled, her accusing tone broke his heart.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry Nandini!" Adithan sobbed, pleading for her forgiveness. "I..I shouldn't have, please--" Karikalan panted.

"Aditha!" Pallavan called out, bringing his horse to a stop. "Ilavarese?" He raised a brow at Adithan talking to himself. His gaze shifted to the burning village, Pallavan jumped down from his horse and ran up to Adithan.

"Nandini! Don't!" Adithan screamed lunging himself toward the fire.

"ADITHA!" Pallavan jumped in, pulling back the prince. "Are you out of your mind!?" Pallavan scolded, struggling on to hold Adithan.

"NANDINI!" Adithan screamed, thrashing his legs in the air. "LET ME GO! YOU IDIOTS!" He yelled at Parthibendran.

"There's no one there, Aditha-- stop! Calm down!" Pallavan said holding Adithan in a chokehold, trying to pull him away from the raging fire.