Avantika And Her Quest

A New Dawn

As we clung to each other, my gaze wandered to Arjun. He was sitting up. He jumped up and looked at the scene. He saw Urvashi crying and Sangharsh's body and seemed to understand what had happened. He patted her shoulder and said softly, "I hate to say this now, but we need to leave or at least I need to. My kingdom needs me. I'll take your leave."

As he was about to leave, I just nodded. I knew Arjun needed me but Urvashi needed me more right now and I knew Arjun could handle it. Suddenly, Arjun stopped moving and I saw that Urvashi was holding his wrist. He turned around as she wiped her tears and took a deep breath.

She spoke softly, "take us with you. I can't stay here and I am sure Avantika wants to be with you." He just nodded and helped her up, as he turned towards me I had already gotten up. He just shook his head at my aversion to receiving any help. We rushed to the stables and took the horses. Urvashi followed us, her face an emotionless mask. We rode fast and reached there quickly. The scene was gruesome, Magadha was badly outnumbered and losing. Urvashi picked up a sword from a fallen guard and tested it. She swung it in an arc and looked to us for permission. Arjun nodded grimly. I pulled out my own sword but he tried to stop me from doing so.

"Avantika you have fought your own battles, now let me fight mine", Arjun said grimly.

I gave him my best icy glare, "has it occurred to you that I want to fight this battle. You are in this battle because of me and I'll help you get out. If you don't like it, then too bad because you are going to have to deal with it." I just rode forward because I knew he would eventually accept, it was just his worry and protectiveness speaking. He knew I could handle myself. I turned back and gave him a smirk, "Oh and by the way, the one who gets to the other end first wins."

He just shook his head but I could see that he was now thinking clearly without too much worry and I had done my job. I plunged into the battle and was swinging left and right. I tried not to kill people but just injured them enough so they couldn't fight. I saw that the situation was slowly getting better for us, as many were fleeing. News of Sangharsh's death had spread really fast. A messenger had arrived to ask the soldiers to retreat. The ones from the ally kingdoms left after they asked for a pardon from Arjun who was quick to forgive but the mercenaries were posing issues.

With their employer dead they had no chances of getting any money unless they defeated us and persisted on winning a lost battle. We quickly rounded them up and kept them detained until they could be tried in court. As the rest of the soldiers left to tend their wounds or find their comrades, I stood there, watching the sun rise on a bloody field littered with bodies. I saw a new day dawning and it failed to bring me the joy I usually derived from watching Suryadev in all his glory. I just felt empty and broken. I had freed my kingdom, there would be no more threats and I had killed all my enemies but at what cost? It had come at the cost of many lives and Magadha had suffered for showing me kindness. I just watched the scene in front of me as tears slowly started dripping down my face.

I felt a presence behind me, it was Urvashi, she had minor cuts and was emotionally drained but otherwise, she looked fine.

"It's a beautiful day and you are crying", that was all she said. I hugged her, I couldn't explain it but she was like the elder sister I never had and as I held her, I realized that I was not alone. If my people didn't trust me, I would make them trust me. I had Arjun, Uncle Suryakant and I think now I had Urvashi as well. She just whispered in my ear, "your prince is waiting", and walked off after giving me a teasing smile. I just blushed a light pink and walked towards the temporary infirmary.

What I saw there made my blood run cold, Uncle Suryakant had numerous arrows embedded in his armor and had a sickly pallor. I rushed towards him and called for a doctor. He held my hand and just said, "take care". But I was not ready to let him go. The doctor saw me crying and asked his assistant to escort me out. "It's imperative that he is not stressed, his chances of survival are bleak. The arrows have not pierced any internal organs but it is a deadly wound for a man of his age", the assistant explained to me. I just sat down and stared ahead emotionlessly, I had lost my parents, my kingdom, my pride and just as I thought I would have it all back, it was again being ripped away from me cruelly.

I couldn't take any of this anymore. I got up and walked to the throne room. I saw Arjun there in his father's place. He was dealing with the cremation of all the deceased soldiers and was making provisions for the soldiers' families. He looked up when he saw me and gave me a smile but when he saw no emotions on my face, he dismissed all the servants and attendants from the court. He walked up to me with the thin gold circlet on his head. His crown was different from his father's' crown. His father had a more ostentatious taste.

I lowered my head in respect and spoke in a calm voice, "I no longer wish to ru..to be the governor of my..Avanti. I shall leave your kingdom at dawn tomorrow." I saw a confused and angry expression on his face.

But, I didn't care anymore. I just wanted to be left alone. I spun around to leave the room. He grabbed my hand but I shook it free, he begged me as a friend but I continued walking. It broke my heart to hear the hurt in his voice but I couldn't do this anymore. He seemed to get it. He stopped his pleas. Then I heard a commanding and powerful voice boom in the hall, "by my authority as your Emperor, I order you to stop and explain your decision." I turned around and saw that his face was set in a stony expression just like his father's.

I shot him a glare and said, "I pledged my allegiance to you but I did not accept you as my Emperor. Your father still holds that position", I angrily retorted.

"Then I guess, it's a good thing, my parents retired to the forest today, leaving me King and Emperor to you", he spoke in that booming voice.

I turned around. "What happened? Why?",I asked him.

"Don't you think it's an invasive question to ask your Emperor, one that you have no authority to ask", he bit out cruelly.

"I am sorry to have overstepped my boundaries, your highness. It won't happen again", I retorted just as icily and left.

I would be ashamed of my childishness and ungratefulness to Arjun right now but I was far too exhausted to deal with it. I just wanted a nice bed to crash in. But, I didn't get far. Arjun grabbed my wrist again and this time I let him hold it. I had no fight left in me anymore.

"What happened Avantika? You have to tell me. Please, I can't see you like this", his voice was a pained plea.

I just sagged to the floor with Arjun looking at me worriedly. "Uncle Suryakant, he might not live. Arrows, like father, can't take it anymore", I spoke in broken whispers as I succumbed to my exhaustion. I felt myself falling into an endless pit. I waited for the crash, for the pain as I landed, but it never came. I felt as if I was floating. I looked around and saw that everything was blurry. I felt my mom walking towards me. She looked at me with love and ruffled my hair.

"You did it Avantika, you freed your people. You will make a wonderful queen one day," she softly said to me.

"Mom, what? How? Am I dreaming?" I mumbled in a haze.

"That's my girl," my father's voice boomed with laughter. "You did it Avantika, you have made me so proud. I can't wait to see you become queen."

"Uncle Suryakant, where is he? Is he here too?" I asked.

"That stubborn man still has a lot of time to live, Avantika. Stop worrying," my father said.

I ran towards them hug them but they vanished, though their laughter continued to ring in the air. I stood there for some time in peace, it could have been a few minutes or hours but I didn't care. I had become the savior of my people, a girl but I had achieved it. I had saved my people and Uncle was all right. I guess I owed Arjun an apology. I knew we was never going to let me live in peace and annoy me but surprisingly I was alright with it. I guess I might even miss his annoying behavior. I just sighed and opened my eyes.

Glossary:

Surya Dev: The sun god