The King's Shield

Chapter 32- The One Hurting

Why couldn't he bear the sight of her crying in front of him? He was angry but he felt helpless. What was her story? Why was she hurting so much? What happened? These questions consistently plagued him.

He was also angry at the fact that she had not chosen him nor did she confide in him. Was he not worthy enough of her trust? Was he not enough for the truth? Could she not share with him her pain, her insecurities?

He stood at the doorway, Shiva had fallen asleep on Bhumi's lap. Bhumi was consoling her and patting her head. She looked at Adhiveer and called him.

" Will you be able to get that here," she pointed at a cot at the end of the wall.

He nodded and picked it up easily and placed it near the hearth.

" Put her on it or she will catch a cold on the ground like this," she said.

He cradled her in his arms and placed her on the cot. She was sniffling in her sleep, which pricked his heart. All the sorrow she had pent up for all these years had made its way out today. Maybe that was the reason that she was so guarded and didn't express her feelings.

Bhumi went inside and got a blanket to cover her. Adhiveer was sitting next to the cot, his mind still fixated on the idea of her suffering alone and no one was there for her during that time.

" Thank you," Bhumi said as she put a blanket on her and sat in front of him.

" For what?" He asked.

" For her, bringing her here," she said looking at Shiva.

He nodded even if that was far from the truth. She had brought them here, maybe because she thought this was a safer place for them.

"And also for being there for her. She seems more at peace, now that she has you." Bhumi caressed Shiva's forehead. " When she ran away, I somewhat guessed why she'd left. She was happy with us, at least she looked happy but she was always guarded and closed. As if she carried something with her, an immense weight. But now I look at her and she seems free as if a weight has been lifted. Much free."

But she was still guarded when she was with him he thought.

" She only looks strong," she placed her hand on Shiva's chest, " but in her heart, she is still that scared fifteen-year-old girl who agreed to stay with us. It's like a face she puts on, showing that she is not affected by things around her or even the things in her past but she fails at it." She looked intently at him." Aadhi... please take care of her." Her eyes were a bit teary." I have seen that she cares for you and loves you a lot. She may never say that she needs help because she is too stubborn. But please protect her and care for her, don't ever leave her. She needs you more than she needs anyone else."

He doubted she even loved him anymore. She is loyal, and he knew that for sure but did she love him? She had hidden the truth from him, distrusted him. Or it was only her loyalty that had kept her from fleeing away.

But now his heart was hers and that was the only truth he knew.
" I promise I will never leave her. I will protect her come what may. She means everything to me." He knew that he wouldn't have said any truer words than these. He believed in it wholeheartedly.

" I am glad that she has you." She got up." It's getting late. Go and sleep now, take her along too," she said.

" No, I should not disturb her," he said looking at Shiva. She was fast asleep. He got up. What if she didn't want to be with him? She had not shown any interest when they had first stayed here and had left him alone. Maybe she didn't prefer his company anymore.

He tucked the blanket around her once more and went upstairs to the room. He sat on the edge of the bed wondering whether he held any significance in her life. Whether she would be back with him at the capital again after all of this. Would she even consider him? He wanted her to know that he was reliable and that he would be there for her whenever she needed him. He wanted her to know that he loved her.