Royal court, Indraprastha

"I want to know why Prince Kotikasya has been..."

Govasana's words remained in his mouth, as the court nobles stood up to greet Maharani Devika, hailing her name. He saw the Queen walk regally through the spacious assembly hall and then rise to the elevated dias that seated Yudhishthira and Draupadi. Devika now looked totally different with the golden crown shining on her head and a serene aura of justice radiating from her person. She responded to the court nobles with a brief namaskara and took her seat on the second throne at Yudhishthira's left.

Govasana stared for a while. The sheer indifference in Devika's regal gesture made his tongue turn sour.

As if she was no more his daughter but the Goddess of justice to whom everyone was equal. The very Goddess he had have a vision of before Devika's birth.

Devika looked straight, her gaze extended till the end of the sabha and then rested on Govasana, with no special emotion in those eyes.

If her father could be that heartless to deny the relation in open, she had no urge to acknowledge it either. She noticed Govasana's facial muscles tightening in frown, and that made her even more determined.

This is what you asked for, Pita! Let our relation in this court be only of a Queen and a patron of an imprisoned convict! Nothing more than that!

Steeling herself against all emotional turmoil, Devika shifted her eyes to Yudhishthira.

"Apologies for being late, Maharaj. Hope I haven't missed much."

"You haven't, Maharani. We are yet to hear the King of Shivi." Yudhishthira had regained his calm, much to Devika's relief.

"You may continue, Maharaj." He evenly said.

Govasana looked at him once, and then at Devika and Draupadi. He could sense that Devika's arrival had added to Yudhishthira's strength. The presence of these three suddenly appeared to be a fresh surge of midday sunlight, - carrying too much light of truth and the heat of determination. A part of Govasana felt cringed. But he was too regal not to express that.

"I want to ask you what my prince has done to get imprisoned." He managed to utter.

"Definitely something unpardonable." Yudhishthira calmly replied. "Prince Kotikasya is accused of causing revolt in my kingdom."

"Accused. Not proven." Govasana stared hard. "Does the famed Dharmaraja imprison anybody on the basis of mere allegations?"

"Proof is there and I can present that right now." Yudhishthira did not flinch. "Would you like to hear everything your nephew has done, directly from the witnesses and the victims?"

Govasana gulped. He did not expect Yudhishthira to be this strong, even after being forced to rush to the sabha with no preparation at all.

"The Shivi Prince has too many offences to pardon, ShiviRaaj." Draupadi evenly said. "He has assulted innocent women of Indraprastha and robbed their belongings. He joined hands with Naga chief Takshaka who is our enemy." She gave a deliberate pause and then added in a cold tone, "I think no kingdom of Aaryavarta spares such a person."

"If you wish, we can call those women to the sabha, for evidence." Devika added.

Govasana looked at her once and then to Draupadi. His eyes returned to Yudhishthira.

"It would be better if you could talk, Maharaj. I am not used to discussing royal issues with women." He said with a frown. To Devika's already annoyed ear, his tone felt insulting. She bit her lips, breathing hard.

Was this the same father who once trusted her the most to make important political decisions?

When did you change so much, Pita! Who did this to you?

Yudhishthira's serene face held a grimace.

"Apologies, ShiviRaaj. But you are in Indraprastha. Here women do hold the most crucial responsibilities, from the treasury to military training. There can be no raajsabha, no justice in Indraprastha without my honourable Queens." His firm yet proud voice reverberated through the walls.

"Hence, if you seek justice in Indraprastha, you have to listen to them." The King concluded. "Especially because it's Maharani Devika Gauvasani who witnessed Prince Kotikasya revolting against my rule."

Govasana looked back at Devika, his eyes squinted in a mix of hurt and disgust.

"The woman who herself can revolt against her own motherland and natal family is now judging others for revolt!" His lips curved in a retorting smile. "I have nothing to listen from such a person, Maharaj. Just one request to you. Your Maharani has already denied herself to be 'Gauvasani'." He clenched his teeth. "So no need of taking her name that way."

Devika's face darkened. A heavy lump formed in her throat. She knew that she could not let those tears flow.

For a Queen cannot cry in an open court. For she could not weaken Yudhishthira.

"I did not want to bring up the family matter to raajsabha, ShiviRaaj." She slowly uttered. "But since you have brought it up, I am bound to reply." Her voice did not shiver but all her loved ones sensed a hint of suppressed tears in it. Concerned, Draupadi held Devika's palm. That affectionate caress of the elder Queen helped the younger gather her strength back.

"It's not me who started the revolt, ShiviRaaj. Your Prince did. You blamed me for getting him imprisoned. But may I ask you what punishment you gave him for harming his sister's family and kingdom? Was that not counted as a 'revolt' against his own family?"

The sabha held a cold silence. Even Govasana could not speak.

"I have punished him only for what he has done to my husband and my kingdom, not for the pain he gave me. I could not punish him for the infamy he put on me, for how he lowered my head in front of my marital home. I forgave him from my part. Because," she sent her tears down the chocked throat. "Maharaj Govasana might cut the tie, but Princess Gauvasani has not. She could not."

Her eyes became crimson like Kinshuka flower, her face turned colourless. Her famed beauty appeared pale and lifeless.

"Devi!" Yudhishthira could not resist, forgetting the protocol of sabha.

"I'm alright, Maharaj. Don't worry." Devika assured Yudhishthira with a nod, and turned to Govasana again.

"Apologies, Lord of Shivi. Raajsabha is not a place of personal emotions. As the Queen of Indraprastha, I have only one thing to say. Prince Kotikasya has been shown enough forgiveness. Have this been any other kingdom of Aaryavarta, he would have lost his life by now." Devika's eyes had regained their regal aura, duty replacing pain in her voice.

"Maharaj Yudhishthira is too kind. He preferred to let his convict change from within rather than announcing his death. I'm sure you would not have waited to utter a death sentence had a rajadroha happened in Shivi." Devika stared cold at Govasana.

"It would have been much better had my Prince died a glorious death rather than suffering this insult in prison." Govasana gritted his jaw. "He is a Kshatriya."

"I too wish that he can become a true Kshatriya whose Dharma is protecting, not harming." Yudhishthira spoke after long. "And for bringing that change, he needs to go through this."

"That means you won't release him?"

"I would be glad to. But under a condition." Yudhishthira calmly stated.

Govasana's lips pursed.

"The Shivi Prince has to apologise in front of all." Yudhishthira declared.

Govasana fumed. "To you?"

Yudhishthira shook his head. "No. To the entire Indraprastha. To the village girls he has wronged. To the citizens he scared and misguided. I will release him only when my subjects will forgive him. Otherwise not."

"You are putting condition with me?" Govasana snapped.

"I am, and I don't think you should have an objection to this simplest solution."

"What solution?" Govasana shouted. "It's too insulting for a Prince to bow to the commoners. Being a King yourself, don't you understand that, Yudhishthira?"

"Lord of Shivi!" Draupadi objected. "Kindly maintain the decorum of sabha. You cannot take our king's name like that. This court is his, not yours. Remember that you cannot get your Prince back unless he wishes."

Govasana looked straight at Draupadi's eyes. "I am not bound to accept your king's vile condition!" He hissed.

"Then pardon me, for I cannot take the risk of setting a revolter free." Yudhishthira was firm.

"This is your final decision?"

"Without a doubt."

"Then wait for my army!"

Yudhishthira hid a sigh.

This was exact what he was fearing. But now there was no other way.

"I invite you to the battlefield, Lord of Indraprastha! I shall secure Kotikasya's release with my weapons. The entire Shivi will fight for their Yuvaraj."

Yudhishthira's heart ached. He could not even bring himself to meet Devika's eyes.

The battle in swayamvara was a necessity. But now! How would he raise weapons against the one who birthed his wife? How would he kill the soldiers of Shivi who still loved Devika? Those very soldiers had placed their hopes on their beloved Princess. Would they have to die in her kingdom only?

Yudhishthira felt like a failure. How much he might try to win Govasana's heart, things always seemed to be going against him. Letting another battle happen would only worsen the bitterness further. And not accepting the open challenge would make him fall from his RajaDharma.

"Won't you accept my proposal, Maharaj Yudhishthira?" Govasana retorted.

"You are too fortunate, ShiviRaaj, that you can threaten a king thus in his own sabha and yet stay unpunished." Draupadi's nosetril flared. "Because this is Indraprastha. We do not become unfair even with the worst enemy."

"He knows that well, Maharani. That's why he can dare to speak thus here." Devika slowly uttered. Her sharp gaze rested on Govasana's fuming face.

"Do come with your army if that pleases you. The valourous Pandavas are never afraid of battles. Only the four of them did defeat you along with your army and allies. They are capable of doing that again." She paused and looked at Yudhishthira once. Their eyes met. She saw the sheer pain of dilemma in his eyes, while he found the much needed comfort in hers.

"My Maharaj is too compassionate, too forgiving, but not weak. He has been silent to your war proposal only because he detastes fighting against his loved ones. And despite all the bitterness from you, he still considers you his father-in-law." Devika's lips shivered a little, but she steeled herself.

"But I know that you won't value his respect for you. And I won't let you or anyone present here mistake my valourous King as a coward. Hence, I, Maharani Devika Chandravanshi, accept your challenge on my king's behalf."

Yudhishthira let out the breath he had held for long.

The one for he was hesitant, has herself cleared his path.

"As you wish, Lord of Shivi." Yudhishthira evenly uttered. "I am ready for both peace and war. Choice is yours."
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Author's note: This was a tough chapter to write. The consequences of this scene will come soon, with something happy in the end. I'll update regularly from now, so please keep reading.

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