The Crown Prince and His Love

Chapter 52 |Fright and farewells|

Pazhayarai

The news of the youngest Prince going to war spread like wildfire. The Princesses were distraught upon hearing the news. What would Arulmozhi do on the battlefield? Since he was the last born he was pampered from a very young age, how would he face the hardships of war? 

Tears pooled under Vanathi's eyes as she heard the princesses talking. She was already worried sick about him going to war, which added fuel to the fire. She got up and swiftly walked to her chambers. In the midst of her tears, she buried her face in a soft pillow and began to sob. Oh lord, how could she live without seeing him? And what if something happens to him?

Shiva Shiva, she couldn't even think about living without him. She would rather die.

"Vanathi?" A soft voice echoed, hand on her shoulder. She immediately got up and wiped away her tears. 

"Akka? What are you doing here?" She asked, sniffling. 

"I knew you would be such a mess after hearing the news, so I decided to pay you a visit," Kundavai smiled, wiping away Vanathi's tears. "I guess I wasn't so wrong," Kundavai smiled slightly, tilting Vanathi's head gently.

"Akka...I'm just worried..." Vanathi said, looking away. Kundavai sat down beside her.

"Worried? What is there to worry about?" Kundavai asked. 

"Ab-about Ponniyin Selvar going to war..." Vanathi whispered, on the verge of tears again. Kundavai sighed and made Vanathi look at her. "What if something happens to him?"

"Nothing will happen to him, Kanne," Kundavai tried to console her. "I know my brother, He's one of the finest warriors I've ever seen," She said, but Vanathi was inconsolable. "I'll tell Arulmozhi to write to you every week. how does that sound?"

Vanathi frowned. "Will he be gone for too long?" 

Kundavai shrugged. "Might take a few months, or years," Upon hearing this Vanathi started crying again. "Aiyo...why don't you ask him?"

Vanathi looked up at Kundavai with wide eyes. "Is he here?" She asked, excitedly. Kundavai pressed her lips in a small smile.

"Mhm, Come on," She said. Vanathi shook her head shyly.

"He must be here to see you.."

Kundavai pouted. "That's what I thought too," She sighed dramatically. "But his eyes kept wandering, searching for you,"

Vanathi bit her lower lip. "Really?"

Kundavai rolled her eyes. "Will your Akka ever lie to you?" Vanathi shook her head. "Okay come, he's waiting for you,"

Vanathi shook her head again. "Akka, My heart couldn't bear to see him go away," She whispered, looking away. Vanathi knew she would break down if she met him now. What will he think about her then? He would think she was weak and helpless. She did not want him to go to war in a bad mood, worrying about her constantly.

Kundavai perched her hands on her hips and looked at Vanathi disapprovingly. "Okay then," She said, turning back to leave. Kundavai looked at her one last time before leaving.

Vanathi buried her face in the pillow again and sighed. As soon as she heard the doors close she felt regret building up in her. Classic Vanathi, always regretting a decision she made mere seconds later. 

Will Ponniyin Selvar forget about her? What if he meets someone prettier and braver than her? What if he changes his mind about marrying her? Tears flooded Vanathi's eyes again, she was so lost in her own sorrows that she didn't even notice someone entering the room. She felt a hand on her shoulders. "Akka, I said I'm not coming,"

"So...you're just not going to bid me farewell?" Arulmozhi asked with a tinge of disappointment. Vanathi immediately jerked up upon hearing his voice, What was he doing here? 

She was on the verge of passing out but she quickly composed herself

"Ponniyin Selvare..." She whispered, backing away a bit. Arulmozhi frowned, why was she being so distant? "What are you doing here?"

"Paying you a visit...before I leave," He said, stepping closer to her. Vanathi's face flushed, and her eyes fluttered as she looked down. "I figured you'd be worried about me going to war..." He said, curling her hair in his fingers. "So I thought I'd come here to console you," He smiled, his dimples poking out.

Vanathi bit back a smile as she placed a hand on his chest. "Y-you will be okay right?" She asked.

Arulmozhi nodded. "Your Uncle is accompanying me, I'm basically invincible with him by my side," He laughed.

"You won't forget about me, right?" She asked innocently.

Arulmozhi raised a brow. "Do you think I could forget you?" He asked. "I might be in Lanka, but my mind, heart, and soul will be with you," 

Vanathi blushed even harder now, she hid her face in his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "Write to me often?" She asked.

"Of course," Arulmozhi said, wrapping his arms around her delicate body. Happily embracing her.

*************

Kodiyakarai

Soon the sun rose and came the day Arulmozhi had to leave for Lanka. He overlooked the ships, from a nearby lighthouse, being loaded with heaps and heaps of food, weapons, wood, and whatever they needed to survive. Arulmozhi furrowed his brows as he looked at the sea, she looked a bit restless. Soon enough, dark-bellied clouds covered the sky.

"Mama, I think a storm is brewing," Arulmozhi said, Periya Velar nodded in agreement. 

"We can't leave today," He said, descending the stairs to inform the soldiers. Arulmozhi stayed, chewing the insides of his mouth, could this be a bad omen? He hung back his head and groaned.

"Stop overthinking," He chided to himself and turned away, but something caught the corner of his eye. A lone boat sailing through the rough waters, he squinted his eyes. There was no way in hell that boat could get to the shore before the storm started. Before Arulmozhi could descend the stairs to order his men to set up rescue boats, it began raining.

He looked at the direction the boat was coming from, and as expected the waves erupted, trying to engulf the tiny boat. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the sailor. A women. Her strong hands tried to hold together the sails, trying to save the boat from flipping over as she tried navigating her way through the storms.

To say Arulmozhi was impressed would have been an understatement. She fell off the board a couple of times but fought the sea and got right back on. Before Arulmozhi could drag himself through the storm towards his soldiers, the girl had already made her way to the shore. The rain ceased a little. He could now see her face clearly, a huge smile was plastered on her face with zero fear.

"What Amudha, you look like you saw a ghost?" She mocked a boy standing near the shore.

"Are you mad or what? You knew there would be a storm, why did you go sailing?" Amudhan asked, he looked more scared than her. He was right? Was she crazy?

"Are you scared?" The girl laughed, and the boy kept chiding her as they made their way into the woods.

What black magic did Arulmozhi just witness? Her sailing skills and bravery left Arulmozhi in awe. He had to know more about her.

A/N

Our girl is here guyyysss, Ponniyin Selvan is flabbergasted.