Prakriti P.O.V

"Little Warrior" I whispered, my vision started blurring as tears appeared in my eyes. Abhimanyu breath hitched as he turned around and his eyes met mine. I can't believe he is standing in front of me. He slowly walked towards me, a tear escaped from his eyes. "Ma" he murmured standing in front of me, I nodded slowly as my lips started quivering; he is a young man now. I have missed his entire childhood. My little boy.

I couldn't waste any more moments now so I quickly pulled him in an embrace. The joy I was feeling of finally embracing my son was out of the world. My heat filled with content as I patted his back. I broke the hug and looked at my little boy, he was crying, I shook my head and touched his cheek wiping his tears away.

"My son" I said with a watery smile. A tear escaped from my eyes but before it could drop on the ground, little warrior put his palms out and catches the drop in his hand. He put the tears on his head "Its place is here as your blessings" he said smiling, I chuckled and remembered the time when Arya did this with Mother Kunti. He is just like his father. I put my hand on his head "My blessings are always with you, my little warrior" I responded. I turned my gaze at Brother Krishna who was standing away from us staring at the mesmerizing scene in front of his eyes. My love for my son calmed my anger down in an instant, I don't know what would have happened if he didn't come here to calm me.

You would have probably destroyed the whole Hastinapur

Brother Krishna voice entered in my mind. "Welcome back Prakrite" he said smiling and I sighed in relief, he came here on time. He started walking towards me and put his hand on my head "How is my little sister?" he asked in light voice, I smiled "Now that I have seen you and little warrior, I am more than fine" I responded truthfully.

"Mother, what are you doing here in the forest?" Abhimanyu asked curiously, my eyes meet Brother Krishna and he shook his head a little. I gave a quick nod to him "Son, Agyatvasa is complete now, she is here to meet us" Brother Krishna responded, little warrior looked at him as realization dawn on his face "That's why you took me here, Mamashree" he smiled. Our Agyatvasa is over but we have to wait for Elder Brother's order until then we have to stay in Virata city. Just then I remembered that I have left Krishne in the forest in the fit of my rage. I have to go back. I put my hand on Abhimanyu's head one last time giving him a small smile. I don't want to leave him but my dharma came in between us for now. "Son, I have to go back to the city" I said, his face fell "But now Agyatvasa is over, why do you have to go?" he started saying, his voice pained. "Little warrior, I will be back soon to take you away with me, just have some patience for little while" I said trying to make him understand.

"Don't worry son, after Agyatvasa, she won't go anywhere" Brother Krishna added. I nodded my head "I will be with my son".

After a heart full farewell with my brother and son I went back into the city, without anyone noticing I entered in the Uttara chamber; she was sitting on the bed. "Manha, where were you?" she asked me, her voice concerned. I went towards her and sat on the bed "Princess, I went into city" I responded, she nodded her head accepting my response. "Did something happen while I was away?" I asked her, this place should be chaotic after I killed Keechaka brothers. Her eyes widened and she nodded her head "Yes Manha, someone brutally killed my other Uncles and when Mother asked Sairandhri about it, she said her Gandharava husband killed them" she said telling me the whole story. "So what happened with Sairandhri?" I asked curiously, if Queen Sudeshna did something to her or accuse her for her step brother's death then I would have to intervene again. She shook her head "Everyone is afraid of her now, so Mother left her alone" she responded, I sighed in relief, now no one will point a finger on her. 

Third Person P.O.V

Meanwhile, Duryodhana's spies combed Bharatavarsha, all the kingdoms, all the sabhas, whispering questions among the people, but found no trace of the sons of Pandu. One by one, they came home to Hastinapura. Duryodhana sat perfectly still on his throne in the meeting room, watching his agent with unwinking eyes. His hooded gaze moved from one spy's face to the next "Where are Pandavas?" he asked impatiently, Agyatvasa is about to be over and he hasn't find any news about them yet. "My lord, we have scoured the world for the Pandavas, but nowhere are they to be found: in no king's court, upon no mountain, nor hidden in any valley or forest. We went to Dwaraka, but they were not there. We went to Panchala, disguised and no one had seen or heard of them in Drupada's kingdom. We went among the people, everywhere, but there was no sign of your cousins" The chief of spy said bowing his head. Duryodhana started getting frustrated "Have you anything else of interest to report?" he said .

"The world talks of the death of the Matsya Senapati Keechaka" Old spy said looking around as Duryodhana allies became alert at the news. "And his hundred half brothers are dead as well" he continued. Keechaka is very powerful warrior, he cannot be killed by anyone so easily. 

"How was Keechaka killed?"

"He was strangled in a dance hall in the middle of the night and no one saw the killer. They say a beautiful woman was the cause of his death. They say she has a gandharva husband who watches over her. Keechaka tried to molest the woman and he died" one spy told the whole story in the Sabha. Gandhar King Shakuni raised an eyebrow in suspicion at the sudden death of Keechaka. "And how did his hundred brothers died?" Shakuni asked in interest, a smirk appearing on his face as his mind started working. Spy turned his gaze towards Shakuni and bowed his head "His brothers tied the woman to his litter, to burn her with him in the forest. But her gandharva killed them all and set her free" he responded. 

Gandhar King started chuckling, Duryodhana looked at his Uncle in confusion "What happened Mamashree?".

"My kid, it is so obvious, I know where the Pandavas are! Just four men on earth were as strong as Indra himself: Balarama, Bheema, Shalya and Keechaka was the fourth. Keechaka is dead. Only one of the other three could have killed him with bare hands. Which was it? It could not have been Balarama or Shalya, or we would have known" he said as he started putting puzzle into places.

"But what about hundred brothers of Keechaka? they were beheaded with a sword or some sharp weapon" Duryodhana asked, he can't imagine Bheem using sword instead of his mace to kill these many people. "You are forgetting my son that Prakriti is with them, she is as elusive as her brother and she is a fighter, her favorite choice of weapon is sword" he replied, he is sure that Prakriti has a hand in killing Keechaka and his brothers because he know that to save Draupadi, she can do anything.

"She is only a woman Mamashree, I don't believe she can kill" Duryodhana said in denial, Prakriti seems so soft and calm, how can she do this much destruction. Gandhar King scoffed at his nephew absurdness. His nephew likes that woman so much that he is ready to forget that woman in herself is a form of destruction. "My dear nephew, you are forgetting the havoc she created in the sabha when she came here to save Draupadi, are you forgetting she swore to kill us" he said reminding him the details of game of dice which he can never forget himself. The same day he saw his death in front of his eyes. 

"Mamashree is right Brother, Bheem and Prakriti are the one who killed Keechaka and his brothers" Dushasana agreed with his uncle. Duryodhana was up and pacing the sabha, a predator who had scented his prey. "The spies say the Matsya kingdom has never known a harvest like the one they have this year. The king's coffers flow over and, if you think about it, Virata is just the kind of old fool whose hospitality our cousins would seek" he breathed finally accepting the views of his uncle. Dusasana was on his feet. "We must attack the Matsya kingdom!"

"The Matsyas' cattle is their wealth. If we lift their herd, with Keechaka dead, the noble Pandavas will come to their hosts' defense. And back to the forest with them for another twelve years. Gather an army, we ride at once" Duryodhana said devising a plan to defeat his cousins. "I will ride with you, Duryodhana. The Matsyas humiliated me repeatedly when Keechaka lived; now that he is dead I want revenge. I will attack Virata from the south and take the Matsya herd. That will fetch Virata's forces out. Without Keechaka there, I will crush them. The day after I attack, you ride at them from the north. The Pandavas will have no choice but to show themselves and, Duryodhana my friend, we will achieve both our ends" Susharma, king of the Trigartas, jumped up, he wanted revenge for the humiliation and now he is going to get it. Duryodhana nodded his head liking the idea. 

"We welcome Susharma's plan! Two armies are always better than one" Karna stood up from his seat, finally the time come when he can defeat Arjuna with his own hands, he was itching to do it for almost thirteen years, now the opportunity is here on silver platter. "Susharma, you ride ahead and attack Virata tomorrow. The day after, a Kuru army, with Grandfather Bheeshma, Guru Kripa, Guru Drona and Aswatthama, Karna, Mamashree Shakuni and Dushasana will ride at Virata from the north. Tomorrow is the eighth day after amavasya and, the day after, navami, the ninth. Victory will be mine!" Duryodhana said already on his way out of the sabha. 

Prakriti P.O.V

I was standing in the dancing hall staring at Arya as he was teaching Uttara new dancing style. His body was flexible as he did some moves, my eyes was fixated on him all this while. Even in Eunuch form, he looked like a skilled warrior, his broad shoulder moving with the rhythm, sometimes I feel like dancing with him. I just want to stand up and dance with him and lost myself in the music and my Arya. His gaze met mine and he raised his eyebrow in question and I shook my head giving him a small smile, but now is not the time, we have a war ahead of us which will decide the future of Aryavarta.

Just then King and Queen of Virata entered in the dancing hall. I bowed my head in respect. Music stopped as they stand in front of Arya. "I want to see how much Uttara has learned from you" King Virata asked to Arya, he chuckled and moved his arm around "Are you trying to question Chitrasena himself who has taught me" Arya responded with a small smile. "No, no, Brihannala, we don't doubt you and your art, we are just here to see how gracefully can our daughter dance right now" Queen Sudeshna said. Arya nodded his head and proud smile appeared on his face. "Uttara is better than any celestial nymph" he said in delighted tone and gestured Uttara to perform, she nodded her head and bowed in front of her teacher. Music started again and Uttara showed her dancing skills, I knew my Arya taught her well and he was right, she can dance like a nymph. After her performance she bowed her head in respect. Both King and Queen looked impressed with her dancing skills. "I never knew my daughter can dance like this" Queen said proudly.

"She is not just a better dancer, Queen Sudeshna, our Princess is a better person as well" I said in between, both of them smiled at the compliment and Uttara blushed.

Just then a hectic cowherd entered in the dancing hall "Enemies are upon us! Our herd is gone! Save us, King Virata!" he cried joining his hands in plea. My eyes widened and I looked at Arya, he looked alert as well. "Who attacked us?" King asked. "It was Susharma, he has his army settled in the south of the city" cowherd responded, King Virata nodded quickly and walked out of the hall. Queen Sudeshna followed him. 

It can't be a coincidence that Susharma attacked Virata city all of a sudden. My fist clenched as I stared at the same place King was standing. It is a perfect plan made my Prince Duryodhana himself. He want to find out about us.

He is coming!

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 Author Note:

Next will be the battle of Virata.

Will Prakriti fight for Virata kingdom and show herself to her hastinapur family endangering her Agyatvasa?

Vote and comment your opinion on the chapter :)