8 years ago: Hastinapur: Day of Vichitravirya's wedding; A week before King Prihas's prophecy of Bhishma's death.
Queen Satyavati paced the room as tension filled every particle of air. All the prime ministers of Hastinapur were present at that moment. Hastinapur had just gotten the news that their beloved King had died in war. Thankfully Ganga's son Bhishma had prevented their kingdom from loosing the war itself. Now the King had a younger brother; Prince Vichitravirya, and it was announced that he would now take the throne, but the kingdom was still filled with gloom and sadness. It seemed impossible that the kingdom would be filled with strength that it had not longer then a month ago. It would be 3 hours until sunrise and this meeting was about the future of Hastinapur.
"Call upon my step-son, Bhishma. I have an order that must be carried out immediately." Satyavati finally broke the tension in the room. One of the prime ministers immediately stood to carry out her wish. Satyavati was the Queen mother of Hastinapur, after her husband died, her only purpose was to ensure that the kingdom remain strong. She knew that her son Vichitravirya was the type of person that did not like responsibility clearly unfit for the throne but she had no choice as her step-son Bhishma was bound by the promise of her father to never become King. It was times like this, that she wish that she was never married to King Shantanu, and that Bhishma was King but alas, fate was fate and no one could beat it.
Not long after, Bhishma entered the room. "You summoned me mother?", Bhishma politely regarding his step-mom. "Yes I did, Bhishma." She stopped pacing and turned around to face him as she continued. "You and I both know that Vichitravirya is not fit for the throne. And if he sits on it without any protection then our Kingdom will be targeted over and over again until it is conquered. Therefore I ask you again, Will you sit on the throne instead?" Satyavati knew the answer of that question but she dared ask one last time.
Bhishma sighed, "Mother you know the answer to that question. Then why do you trouble yourself to ask over and over again?"
Now it was Satyavati's time to sigh, "I ask over and over hoping that one day you will say yes, and free me from the burden sitting on my shoulders and the pain in my heart." Satyavati let out silent tears. Bhishma remained silent.
Satyavati stood strong and wiped her silent tears, "Alright then. I am taking a universal decision for the entire Kingdom. Vichitravirya will be married today. If a King is a pillar then his Queen is the foundation. Vichitrairya is a horrible King but if he has stable Queens then the Kingdom may survive for the next lineage. This morning, is the swayamvar, wedding of the three Kashi Princesses. They will pick their husbands. Everyone knows that the Kashi King is strong and for years their daughters having been marrying with our Kuru lineage. You will go and win the three girls for Vichitravirya because god knows he can't do it himself. The Kashi princesses are smart and trained to lead. Vichitravirya will have great support if he marries the three of them. Hastinapur will finally have stable Queens to look up to, other then me, a broken Queen. The citizens will rejoice again finally feeling their future safe in the hands of the three Princesses.
Bhishma now spoke, "I can not do that mother. It is the girls right to choose their husbands. If I go there you know that they will not willingly choose Vichitravirya; I will have to take them by force. This could result in something grave happening. Besides how can we just use the girls and not take in their feelings in consideration."
Satyavati found herself angered, "Well then Bhishma you tell me what to do! You don't want to sit on the throne. You know Vichitravirya is a horrible King and you know that kingdoms will target us. I am taking a decision to better the kingdom. Something you should've done considering your promise to be a slave to the throne and whomever sits on it."
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