A Magical Spell ~ Ramayan | @TheLadyAesthetic

11. When Divine Meets Demoniac

"But, how?" Urmila asked, lifting her bemused gaze from her husband's to Rama's.

All four princes exchanged a glance, smiling knowingly.

Flashback-

"What?!"

Rama boomed, incredulity marking his handsome features.

"That only means one thing..." He muttered, scanning the worried and tensed expressions of everyone present. "We need to get to the sick chamber, NOW! HURRY!" He roared, grabbing his bow and sword from the nearby weapons' chest. Bharat and Shatrughna did the same and the group barreled out of the eldest prince's chamber, heading straight toward the royal quarters designated for the injured.

As they neared the passageway leading to their destination, Rama came to an abrupt halt and held an arm out, signalling for everyone behind him to stop.

As all the footsteps died down, one pair continued, loudly, distinctly, reverberating hauntingly throughout the golden fire-lit hallways.

"Shh, wait. Someone's coming." The eldest prince whispered, and the princesses clasped each other's hands fearfully.

The party froze to a sudden halt, listening in silent apprehension as the heavy metallic boots got louder and closer.

Rama groaned aloud despite the tense situation, and Sita tugged at his arm, alarmed.

"How many times do we have to do this, that too in our own palace?" The eldest prince asked his anxious wife, frustration lacing his exasperated tone as his voice echoed lowly throughout the surroundings.

Sita desperately put a finger to his lips, visually signalling for him to keep it down.

Just then, Shatrughna placed a hand on Rama's shoulder, and the prince snapped abruptly in his direction.

"Bhaiya, listen" He whispered carefully.

The corner was all silence again, and this time, upon more concentrated attention, the group registered three more pairs of footsteps joining the previous, singular set. And then, a distant, almost inaudible giggling of women.

While the others stared at each other in confusion, and Shrutakirti wondered if it were a witch, or may e witches, haunting their palace, the eldest prince exhaled deeply, facepalming aggressively, before stepping out of the shadows, much to his wife's dismay.

But when no reaction was noted, the rest of the crew members joined him, and the younger two princesses openly gasped in shock and surprise when they saw none other than...Dasharath.

Rama stared grim-faced at the approaching group of four, and when the king finally noticed him, the prince almost scowled.

Frowning in bewilderment, Dasharath exchanged a look with the queens as they reached the younger party.

"What is it my son? Why do you look so annoyed?" The monarch asked, confused.

Rama exhaled. "Papa another intruder, of not the same one from yesterday, has breached our security system, again." This statement was met by gasps from the older ladies, and the ruler's eyes widened.

"The unidentified suspect is invisibly lurking in the far end shadows of the palace, his ever immortal footsteps constantly ringing through the open corridors of the royal home. We were trying to locate him. Then, we heard footsteps, right here at the bend."

Rama turned to Shatrughna, who was pointing with emphasis towards the corner they had long abandoned.

"And then, we realized the so-called suspect we were thinking was roaming this passage, was none other than your highness, Papa." The prince cried in frustration.