The King's Shield

Chapter 9- The Truce

Are you truly here? Or am I hallucinating? Adhiveer looked at Shiva with yearning and confusion. He had neither slept nor had eaten. He didn't even get out of his room. Sidhraj tried plenty of times to persuade him to eat but he said that he didn't have the appetite. Physicians were called but he refused to meet them. His eyes were sulky from lack of sleep, and his lips had cracked from dehydration, yet he didn't care.

But now here she was standing in front of him, looking at him. "Are you truly here?" He asked Shiva, squinting his eyes.

"Ahhhhh..." The woman shouted and dropped the pitcher of water she was holding." Who's that?" She pointed at Shiva.

" Oh, you can see her too?" He asked the woman," I thought I was going mad." He turned towards Shiva. He swayed as he walked towards her.
" You are here. I thought I wouldn't see-"

"Who is she?" Shiva asked.

"That's Drishala, my chambermaid; it's ok. You can clean it up later." He told her. She bowed and left.

He couldn't stop smiling," I am-

"Stop." Shiva raised her hand." We have to get a few things cleared first. You are my king and I am here as your guard to protect you, nothing more."

He nodded vigorously.

"You don't own me. I am not going to be with you for the entire day. You are going to respect my personal space, no holding me or grabbing me by the waist-"

He pulled her into an embrace, interrupting her.
" Let me just do this once," he held her tighter, "and I'll obey all the rules that you set..." He fainted.

He woke in the morning with a heavy head. There was no one in his chambers. He couldn't sit up. Was it all a dream? Where's Shiva? He thought.

There was a knock at the door

"Come in"

Drishala entered and gave him a glass of water. " My king, the commander had requested to meet you."

" Where's Shiva?" he asked her

"Who, my king?" She was confused.

" The woman who scared you last night." He said.

" Oh, the window lady, she is outside the door waiting with the commander."

" Send them in." He said.

She brought them in. " Don't let anyone else enter," Sidhraj told Drishala as she went out.

" How are you feeling now?" He asked.

" I am fine. What happened last night?" Adhiveer asked.

" You fainted. Thank goodness, that she was there." He said looking at Shiva.

"Were you intoxicated last night?" Shiva asked.

"No, he doesn't drink, never has."
Sidhraj said.

"But I smelled some type of spirit on him when he hu-" she stopped." When he fainted." She corrected.

"That's rubbish," Sidhraj said.

" I do feel a little heavy-headed now," Adhiveer said.

Shiva went to the table beside his bed where a glass and a pitcher were kept. She picked up the pitcher and smelled it. It didn't smell of any liquor. Then she picked up the glass. There was a hint of foul smell, but she didn't say anything.

" You are not going anywhere or doing anything today. And please eat something. I am sending the physician in some time, no excuses today." Sidhraj said to him sternly.