Fuck you...Your Majesty!

6

Atharva was quick to put on his armour when he heard the horns blare. Walking towards the royal court many thoughts invaded his mind. He was still trying to weed out the possible future threats, he still needed to win over his husband and now an enemy was knocking at their door with a potential threat of war. His mind was in great turmoil by the time he reached the royal court. Heaving a deep sigh, he brushed those thoughts aside. Right now he just needed to focus on his kingdom's safety.

"The royal army is getting ready for war as we speak, your Majesty. We have already sent over our spies to assess the enemy's army. From how much information we have got, it's the Kaveri Kingdom. " said Rudra, the chief commander of the King's army making the entire royal court ring with shouts of various opinions. But the thing that was common in all of them was that they all blamed the High King for the proposition they were in right now and this enraged the King. He knew if anyone was to blame if the Kingdom of Kaveri attacked them would be him for not treating his High King right, no one else.

And just when he was about to refuse the noblemen's opinion, he heard the voice of his High King ring in the court.

"Your Majesty! There is some misunderstanding. The kingdom of Kaveri will never attack Antharva." exclaimed Salil. He was determined to stop the misunderstandings from escalating.

"How can you be so sure, High King? They come over in the dark of night without any prior notice, knocking on our door. What else can it be?" shouted a nobleman, clearly panicked from the prospect of going to war with the most feared Kingdom, Kaveri. But Salil had answers to all their questions.

"They are still three miles away from the kingdom's boundaries. And I know that they will never attack in the dark or without any prior notice. The Kingdom of Kaveri hasn't raised any cowards." He said in a firm tone. He wasn't about to let these noblemen sit here and disrespect his homeland. Turning to the throne, he continued,

"My King, I would like to go ahead and check their purpose of arrival." He bowed his head seeking the crown's approval for his endeavour. But Nobleman Anwar, concubine Mayuri's father decided to interrupt before the king could say anything.

"And what if they are here for war? How can we trust you to not side with them during the war?" There were shouts of agreement to the question all around the court. And this infuriated Salil. He was right to decide to leave, this place had not an ounce of respect for him.

"If a war happens, I pledge on my honour to fight from Antharva's side. The kingdom of Antharv is the only motherland I have since I married the king." He said clenching his fists in anger. Atharva could see the fire in his husband's eyes. He knew that these questions of the noblemen were ticking Salil off and decided to butt in before things could escalate.

"I trust the High King. You may go on and check their purpose of arrival but the royal guards will accompany you," said Atharva in a stern voice earning a bow of thank from Salil in return. Without any further delay, Salil left for his endeavour. He had a task to finish.

"Is it right to send your High King out there, your Majesty?" asked nobleman Anwar once again making Atharva smirk in return.

"High king is equal to me. He is capable of defending himself. High King Salil is a shieldmaiden, unlike those frail princess and nobleman daughters. I think that answers your questions." The Nobleman understood that the king was indirectly mocking his daughter but said nothing in return, not like he could get away with it.

"The court is adjourned. We wait for the High King to come back now," said Atharva before leaving.

                           *******

"What's the meaning of this, King Samartha?" Salil asked his brother who had been enjoying his meal near the bonfire with his soldiers.

It was easy for Salil to enter his brother's camp. The soldiers knew him well and the King had already expected the arrival of someone from Antharva to question their arrival once again but they hadn't expected Salil to come forward to question them.

"Salil?" questioned Samartha, not believing that the king sent his brother to confront him. Looks like he assessed the situation wrong. Now he will need to see things for himself to help his brother, thought the King as he approached his little brother.

"I pose no threat to Antharva or its people. I came here to fetch High King Salil back to Kaveri for my wedding," said Samartha with a smile when he saw the royal guards around Salil tense up as he approached his brother.

Salil's eyes widened in surprise as he assessed the words. He knew his brother had come to take him back but wasn't lying about his wedding a bit too much? 

"My apologies, King Samartha but a prior message could've saved us all the panic and trouble. " Chief Rudra's voice, coming from beside him broke the chain of Salil's thoughts. Coming back to reality, he saw the royal guards still holding their battle stance, glaring at every moving thing in his brother's camp. He wanted to laugh at their uprightness but didn't as it would have been disrepute of him.

"No need, Royal guard. But I'm surprised that your king still didn't get the message when he was the one who had sent a nobleman a few hours ago, when I was about to send a messenger to inform the king of our arrival, to acquire the reason behind our arrival. " chuckled Samartha. It was clear to the people around that the king was trying to mock King Atharva.

The royal guard Rudra was shocked to hear King Samartha's reply. If what King Samartha said was true, then there was a conspiracy brewing in the galleries of the royal palace of Antharv and he needed to inform the king immediately.

"I think there must've been some kind of miscommunication. But now that you know, I hope you can relay the message to the king, Royal guard," said Samartha snapping Rudra from his thoughts. The royal guard looked quite flabbergasted and Samartha basked in it. He was having fun teasing the warrior. And this didn't go unnoticed by Salil.

Now was when Salil decided to speak, helping his royal guard save some face before his comrades.

"Very well said, King Samartha. Royal guard Rudra, I trust you to relay the message to His Majesty while I escort King Samartha to the palace." The said guard simply bowed to his high king, mentally thanking him for letting him escape the sharp predatory eyes of King Samartha. Salil dismissed him with a wave of his hand and the guard left swiftly but not before ensuring that there were sufficient amount guards to accompany the high king.

"King Samartha, ask your troop to pack up the camp and follow us to the royal palace. It will be rude of Antharv to let you camp here outside, in the open. The kingdom of Kaveri will have its white flags up. I don't want the border patrol guards to misunderstand anything."

The soldiers didn't even wait for their own king's command. Salil's words were enough for them. They knew they were here to take their warrior prince back home. At first, they wanted to wage war on the kingdom of Antharv for making their beloved prince feel so miserable that he needed King Samartha to rescue him but had to hold back when the said prince requested a peaceful rescue.

                        *******

King Atharva was furious when he heard the Royal guard, Rudra. Things were beginning to get out of hand. His enemies now had the guts to lie and try to frame his High King. He knew he had to take action soon or he will lose his beloved once again.

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Hey guys...

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