Kshatrani - The Warrior Princess

Parenthood

"Rajkumar Arjun!" Subhadra practically screeched in pain. "I'm never forgiving you for this!"

Arjun winced. His hand was clasped in Yadavi's vice like grip, and if he was ever unsure of her strength he was very sure now. Her knuckles were a pale bright white, and it seemed she had cut off the blood flow to his hand with the sheer intensity of her grip. He couldn't help but wonder if his hand might never function the same again.

Arjun looked at Subhadra, her face contorted in pain and sweat beading on her forehead. He had seen her many facets, but nothing had prepared him for this.

"Just breathe love, you're almost there." he tried to soothe her. "Almost there."

Subhadra glared at him in fury. Almost like a fire-breathing dragon, he thought. "Don't. You. Dare." she said, each word punctuated with frustration. "You're responsible for this!"

He cowered under her fierce gaze. The only support he could he could provide was his comforting presence, but he really really couldn't see her like this. He felt a pang of guilt; if he could, he wanted to lessen the burden in any way possible. 

It was just this morning, when Draupadi had brought the children to play with Subhadra when she felt the first bout of pain kick in. It couldn't escape Draupadi's trained eyes, and she was quick to ask what was wrong. Subhadra tried to pass it off as nothing, but Draupadi insisted she call the healer. It wasn't until the pain caused her actual discomfort that she felt like the day had come.

"Jiji, I think..." Subhadra said, almost breathlessly.

"Subhadra, let me get the healer." Draupadi said, her voice soothing. "Just breathe till then."

Arjun was instructing the soldiers about a new training activity when the children came to fetch him at the behest of Draupadi. It sent a jolt of adrenaline through him, and he had dropped everything, sprinting towards the chambers. When he had arrived, Subhadra was already being attended, Draupadi by her side, offering words of comfort and encouragement. Arjun had rushed to her, taking her hand in his, feeling a mixture of excitement and fear.

"You're here," Subhadra had breathed, relief evident in her eyes.

"I'm here," he had assured her, though his own heart was racing.

As the contractions had grown stronger, Subhadra's pain had become more intense. Draupadi had stepped back, allowing Arjun to take over the role of primary support. 

The healer bustled around the room with practiced ease in the face of chaos. Arjun felt another surge of pain as Subhadra's grip on his hand tightened even more. He could barely suppress a yelp, his own discomfort now a constant, throbbing reminder of the intensity of the moment. But he knew better than to let his own pain show; Subhadra was the one truly suffering.

"I know," he murmured softly. "I'm here."

Through the agony reflected in her eyes, he saw her determination and love for him shine through. She gave him a shaky smile, taking a deep breath. 

He wished he could take away her pain, bear it himself if he could. "I'm sorry, Subhadra," he whispered, his voice barely audible over her cries. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry!" Subhadra snapped, scrunching her eyes in pain. "I'm doing this for us."

How could he forget? They were in this together, they always had been.

As she gripped his hand harder, he couldn't help but admire the woman he had married. 

Both of them. 

In fact, all of them.

Subhadra's cries pierced through his thoughts like his arrows pierced through his enemy's heart. He tried ignoring the pain in his hand, focusing his attention on her.