Chapter 17

Prakriti P.O.V

I gently stroke my hand in his hair, touching his small palm from my other hand. I have to leave today towards south but before that I want to say farewell to my son who is unaware of my journey right now. He slowly opened his brown eyes and looked at me, an innocent smile appeared on his face "Pranam, Mother" he said, I looked at him in adoration and continued stroking his hair "How did you sleep last night, my little warrior?" I asked, he looked at me pouting "I was waiting for you, so that you can sing me to sleep, but you didn't come" he said in low voice, my heart melting at the sight and I put my hand on his cheek "Son, I was busy in meeting last night, I am so sorry" I responded sadly, I wanted to be with him but duty calls and I know Draupadi took good care of him. He made a face and turned his head in another direction, I chuckled and brush his hair away from his forehead "That's why your Mother Draupadi was with you" I said, he turn his head back and nodded his head "Yes but she doesn't know rhymes like you do" he murmured innocently, I laughed and peck his cheek "I know but you will teach her, won't you?" I asked him, he quickly nodded his head "I will" he said enthusiastically, I smiled at his innocence then my face fell as I remembered that I have to disclose the news to him that I am going away for few days.

"Son, you are my little warrior, aren't you?" I asked him, he nodded his head briskly. "Will you take care of your Mother Draupadi and Elder Father while me and your father will be away for work" I said slowly, letting it sink in his head. He looked at me for a few seconds and then nodded his head "I am Warrior like my parents, I will do my responsibilities with full dedication" he said in serious tone, my eyes shining with tears as I looked at my son who understand the meaning of responsibility at this age, I pulled him in a hug, kissing his head "I am proud of you son" I replied, he broke the hug and looked at me innocently "But come back soon, I can't sleep without hearing your voice" he said which made me chuckle and I put my hand on his cheek nodding my head.

***

I was standing at the entrance, our army was ready to attack Magadha, Brother Krishna, Arya and Brother Bhima were ready. "You should take a part of army with you" Brother Bhima said smiling, I smiled back and shook my head "They will slow me down, I have to get back quickly" I responded, I will fly towards the outskirts of territory and meet their King, they knows about my arrival beforehand, I just have to go and represent my Kingdom, taking army with me will take more time and energy. Brother Krishna chuckled "Abhimanyu must have want her mother back soon" he said knowingly, I nodded my head and looked at Arya whose eyes were on me, I convey the message with my eyes for him to take care, he is going on a war against Magadha, I know he is capable to take care of himself but I worry for him and my family nonetheless, he slowly blinked his eyes and nodded his head. "Now you should go, Prakrite" Brother Krishna said putting his hand on my shoulder, I nodded my head and joined my hand in farewell and asking them to be safe in the war. Everyone nodded their head with smile. I moved backward a little closing my eyes and called the air power which consumed my very being and I soared towards the sky leaving my Kingdom and family behind.

First I went towards Virata Kingdom, I know the King of this Kingdom doesn't have allies and contacts with other Kingdom so I went there first, landing on the outskirt of Virata Nagari, this place is ruled by King Virata, I heard the King is Moral and fair with his subjects but the commander of this Kingdom is Adharmi and power hungry. I walked towards the entrance of city, two soldiers were assigned at the entrance with spear in their hand, they looked at me raising their eyebrows, I joined my hand in greeting gesture "Kindly tell your King that Indraprastha's General Secretary is here to meet him" I said politely, by hearing the name of our Kingdom, they quickly get out of their casual state and bowed their head in front of me. "Our apology, My Liege, we couldn't recognize you" one soldier said lowering his head while other looked at me joining his hand as well. I waved my hand, at first glance people doesn't recognize me and it's fine, they will soon after our Yagya, each and every Kingdom will know us. They both called other soldiers who respectfully lead me towards their Castle in their chariot. I looked around myself, people stopping their work and staring at me in awe and intrigued, I joined my hand in greeting gesture for them, even if they are not my people but they are respectful subjects and they deserved greetings as well, some of them joined their hand in return while other bowed their head in respect with smile on their face. King Virata was standing at the entrance of Castle with his soldiers, our chariot stopped in front of him, I get off from the vehicle and walked towards him, he joined his hand "Welcome, Princess Prakriti" he said with a smile, I joined and hands together and greeted him back, "Thanks for having me in your Kingdom" I politely responded.

"It is our pleasure that we are having guest from Indraprastha" he said smiling and we entered in his Castle, "You must be tired from your journey, you can rest in the guest room, we can schedule the meeting tomorrow" he said as we walked in the corridors, I nodded my head and gave him an approving smile "That would be great".

***

Next day I was in the assembly hall of Virata Kingdom, his secretary, commander, advisor, everyone were present in the assembly. He stood up from his seat and looked at me "We have General Secretary of Indraprastha with us, we would like to welcome her" he said, I raise from my seat and bowed my head in respect "Thank you, King Virata for the warm welcome, I am here representing King Yudhishthira, we would like to invite you for the Raj Suya Yagya and forwarding our hand to establish allies connection with you" I stated looking around the assembly hall at everyone. "If you are interested to form an alliance with us then we will welcome you with open arms but if you are against the ideas, then you are free to fight against us" I announced, one person in the court room scoffed lowly, I looked at him narrowing my eyes "If you have any issue, you can speak loudly" I said with raised eyebrow, he was King Virata's commander in chief, Kichaka, I have heard lot about him, about him misusing his powers, he stand up from his seat, arrogance was clearly shown on his face. "You haven't bought any army with you, how are you going to fight against us if we don't accept your invitation" he asked smirking, King Virata gasped and tried to stop him but I put my hand forward to speak first. I looked at him calmly "Commander in chief, I don't need an army if I want to destroy your Kingdom, I can do it all alone" I responded, my voice steady and calm, I can kill him right now, right here without any issue but I won't do it until he give me a valid reason.

He laughed "I don't think you can even beat a soldier of our" he mocked me, "Shut up, Kichaka" King Virata said suddenly with anger but he didn't stop. He looked at me, thrusting his chin in the air. "Let him speak, King Virata" I said instead, if Kichaka want me to proof myself then let it be. "If you want the show of my power then I challenge you Kichaka in sword dual" I said, everyone gasped in the court room, King Virata moved forward with worry clearly showing on his face"You don't have to do that, you are our guest" he said joining his hands in apology gesture, I shook my head and gave him a reassurance smile. "Yes, King Virata, she has to proof herself if she want alliance" Kichaka sneered.

"I am ready" I announced directly looking at him, a smirk appeared on his face "What will happen when you lose?" he asked raising his eyebrow, I chuckled at his over confidence "If I lose, you can claim your right on Indraprastha" I called, everyone eyes widened in shock at the revelation and Kichaka eyes sparkled with interest "I would love that".

***

I was standing in the arena with Kichaka standing in front of me, sword in both of our hands. He smirked as he scan me, I smile smugly, I am going to show him the power of nature, he has so much pride in his power and strength which is going to break soon. "Are you ready, Princess Prakriti" he asked, I gave him a nod and he quickly run towards me with his raised sword, I grin and in instance I was on the different side of the field, he looked at the front in confusion when he didn't find me.

"Commander, I am here" I said chuckling, he turned his body towards me and looked at me in confusion, I gave him a taunting smile, he run at me again but I simply dodged him with ease, crowd started cheering when they saw the scene. He started getting frustrated and then he moved towards me with force in attacking position, I raised my sword and stopped his attack giving him a smirk,

No one can win against me in sword fighting!

I pushed him with ease and moved my sword aiming for the chest, he was able to stop my attack at last moment, I played with him for a while, sweat started dripping from his forehead, he was tired and everyone can see it. His attack became sloppy and at one point I stand and stared at him as he tried to attack air as I use my illusion on him letting him think that he was attacking me but he was fighting with the air instead. I rolled my eyes and with a flicker of my wrist pushed the sword away from his hand, he turned his head at me huffing, his body was slouching and he was taking long breathes "Confidence is a fine trait. Over-confidence isn't" I said and with my nature power knocked him out cold on the field. Everyone stared at the scene in shock, some even started smiling while other looked at me in surprise, I bowed my head and exit from the arena.

***

"I am very sorry that you had to go through this" King Virata said as I was walking towards the guest room, he was ashamed for his commander, I stopped in my track and looked at him giving him a smile. "Its not your fault, you are a fine King but sometimes you let other thinks that they are better than you" I responded, Kichaka himself believe that he is above his own King and some one needs to get him off his horses. He joined his hand "Again I apologize for the behavior" he said sincerely, I pulled his hand back "You are a King, you don't need to join your hands for other people mistake" I said.

"Now, its time for me to leave this Kingdom" I said, his eyes widened "We couldn't even properly welcome you" he said in low voice, I smiled at his generosity "I am happy by your service but I have to visit other Kingdom as well so I can't stay here much" I replied. He nodded his head in understanding "From now on, Virata Kingdom have alliance with Indraprastha" he said, I grinned at his decision and accepted the Virata Kingdom as our alliance.