The Doomed Princess - Book I

Chapter - 4

The thirsty scavengers surrounded the dead corpses. They encircled in the dark sky eagerly ready to taste the warriors' blood. Thousands and thousands corpses laid down in the battlefield. The only sounds that could be heard were the menacing thunder and the whimper of the pack of wolves. The sky roared to pour down with impending lightning that stroke the trees to fire. From that fire, the holy wedding fire was raised. The bride and groom took wedding vows around the burning pyre of thousands of soldiers.

With that she woke up with a shrieking shrill cry. It had been the third time since she woke up with same nightmare in a night. How many times she tried to sleep only this dream appeared and woke her up, bringing down her every nerve to numbness. Her lady in wait immediately came to her rescue.

" Relax Rajakumari.... You are safe in your room.... Relax Rajakumari.... Relax Avantika" She soothed her.

"I am unable to sleep Chaitali.... When I try to close my eyes the same devilish scene occurs.... It freezes down my every nerve to numbness.... I just don't understand why I am seeing such nightmare...." Avantika growled as she drank the water given by Chaitali.

Chaitali pacified her highness. It was very rare for Avantika to have nightmare that disrupts her peace and ruins her sleep. Last time when she had a nightmare at the age of thirteen, the whole kingdom realised it wasn't just nightmare but a warning prophecy. Good or bad but the dreams that came in Avantika had most of the time been true. There are certain augury that went false but that was one in ten.

And now what shoke her princess was something they all would want it to be one in ten.

"You go to sleep Chaitali.... I am sorry for ruining your sleep too... " Avantika groaned as sleep once again tried to overtake her. She could see Chaitali's red eyes that demanded for rest.

"Rajakumari it is my duty to attend your needs.... When you are in trouble how can your maid sleep?"

"You are not just my maid Chaitali.... You are also a human being... You may go now and sleep and it is a order" Avantika commanded leaving no room for arguments.

Chaitali bowed her head and left to her mattress. She knew that if she further stayed over there or uttered anything else she would have to face the wrath of the royal blood. And plus her body too nagged her for rest. For past two fortnight the whole kingdom was in a running wheel. And for the next two fortnight too they have to. With Avantika's birthday celebration and then due time of Vedika had made them all work tireless. And now with Avantika's and Atithi's swayamvar held they rarely got room to breathe.

With Chaitali taking leave Avantika stood in her balcony. She knew that if she was to sleep now she would once again wake up all her maids. She opted to stay awake for the remaining time. And of course an idle mind at midnight will definitely own devil in it. So was it for Avantika. She was restless about the dream. She could neither make out what was it about nor sleep peacefully again. She assured herself that she will definitely seek answers for her nightmare from the Royal Gurumata Dhristi Devi.

The only one who could always answer to her questions from her childhood. There was no doubt for Avantika's intelligence. During her childhood she used to attend the royal court along with her father. She was highly pampered for being the only daughter of the royal family who survived all obstacles. With court proceedings going on she would ask questions that would leave everyone speechless and in awe. Her father with so much patience would answer all her questions. Some would be silly and some would leave them in admiration. Whenever she couldn't find answers to her questions she used to run to the Royal Gurumata Dhristi Devi. She was the insight of Avantika's catechism. Indeed she was a woman with no vision but a light who took away the darkness of people who came to her.