The First Empress

Divine answer

Strong fathers raise strong sons who become strong men.

The collective gasp of the courtyard rang like a victory hymn in Rajendra's ears.

Aditha lay bleeding on the sacred ground, unmoving.

Rajendra's gaze drifted toward Sangamithra. Her eyes were shut tight, her lips trembling as she whispered fervent prayers.

His stare lingered. Slithered. Stripped.

And then. A cough.

Rough. Defiant. Alive.

Rajendra: Aditha... Aditha... Aditha.... 

Mudhugil kooda unakku kangal irukkindranava???? Un manaiviyin meedhu en paarvai sendradharke un iruppai kaattugiraai... avalai naan nerunginaal enna seivaai???? 

Rajendra began walking toward Sangamithra as he spoke.

Rudhra's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white. Every instinct screamed at him to move.

But he stood still.

This was his father's duel.

Yet the sight of that monster advancing toward his mother awakened something primal within him.

However, Sangamithra did not open her eyes.

In that moment, she seemed detached from the mortal world as though she stood between realms, untouched by fear, untouched by time itself.

A strange sanctity surrounded her.

And Rajendra, corrupted and restless, found himself drawn toward that light.

Rajendra: Anaitthum irundhum unakku avan vellai selaiyai kodutthu irukkiraan.. Naan tharugiren unakku sivappu selai... ennidam vandhu vidu Mitthirai... 

Ennudan maharaniyaaga amara nee oppukkondaal podhum... Adithanai thavira mattra anaivaraiyum naan uyirudan vittu vidugiren...

Rajendra's voice turned honeyed, false promises dripping from his tongue as he tried to lure Sangamithra to his side.

With deliberate arrogance, he removed his outer drape. Beneath it, he stood adorned like a king as though he had already claimed the throne.

He extended the saree toward her.

Sangamithra did not stir. Not a breath. Not a tremor.

The cloth hovered inches from her and then...

A silver spear tore through the air, slicing the space between them.

In the same heartbeat, Rudhra's arrow flew. It pierced the falling saree and flung it away, as though rejecting the insult itself.

Rajendra spun around, fury blazing in his eyes.

Aditha stood there.

Blood on his lips. Fire in his eyes. Standing to his full height.

Aditha rose as though the exhaustion had never touched him. Strength seemed to surge back into his limbs.

And only then did the truth strike Rajendra.

Aditha had been holding back.

Because he had been dressed in a woman's attire.

A flicker of humiliation crossed Rajendra's face. He looked up.

Aditha stood there, blood at the corner of his mouth. Smirking.

Rage blinded Rajendra as he charged.

Aditha's gaze shifted briefly to Rudhra. A silent command. The son obeyed without hesitation, guarding his mother.