The Pandavas held their breaths as the servant announced the entry of the Kauravas. Arjuna and Bheema looked at each other in agreement.

They would do their best to be diplomatic, but god forbid if something happened..

Yudhishthira's hardened eyes met the steel gaze of the eldest Kaurava, whose demeanor seemed distraught and forlorn. For years, they had been at each other's necks until fate forced them to look at each other in the eye and bend to their brother.

Arjuna, Nakul and Sahadev bowed to Duryodhana due to their age, while Bheema stood his stance, silent and unafraid. In his rageful mind he wished to annihilate this man who had been nothing but cruel and greedy to all of them, but Nakul held his hand.

Bheema looked at his brother who knew him too well. Nakul blinked sternly, gripping his hand in retaliation.

'Not today. Not now.' His eyes spoke, and Bheema sighed.  

Dushasan, Vikarna and Yuyutsu knelt down, their swords lowered as a sign of submission. Only a quiet whisper of rise made them look upon, meeting the gaze of Dharmaraj.

"Sit down, all of you." The Princes followed his command, looking at each other quietly. Sahadev cleared his throat, looking at Duryodhana.

"We have come to an important agreement. If I may be allowed to speak, Bhrata.." Duryodhana's simple words caused a shift in the atmosphere.

"Go on.."

The twins stood taut, their expression betraying them as the muscled warrior put his mace against the ground, kneeling on one leg as he looked at them all. The others younger to him stood up in shock at his uncharacteristic behavior, glimpsing a sheen of tears in his empty eyes.

"All our lives we have hated the five of you, for taking away something that wasn't even ours in the first place. We weren't lucky to have parental affection or love, so we sought in a man who molded us into his puppets and brought this upon our kingdom. But it all changed when she came.." His voice quietened as all of them exhaled harshly.

They knew who he referred to. The woman they had never known changed them in ways they couldn't comprehend.

"Bhrata Suyodhana.." The archer's voice was tight with grief and disbelief. 

"Devi Ishani never judged me, even when everyone did. She taught me that betrayal always comes from the ones who smile and lodge a knife into your vulnerable back. But she also taught me that I needed to open my eyes and choose the ones I wanted to be close with. Mamashree may have brought us up, but I would like to apologize for my evil intentions I harbored towards you all. I am tired of fighting. My brothers don't want this. Neither do I." His voice broke at the end, and everyone in the room gulped their heavy throats.

Yudhishthira rose, gripping his muscular arms and raising him up. "Suyodhana, remember this. Forgiveness is not given, it is earned. And so do we, for judging you in an inhumane manner."

Duryodhana shook his head, allowing the tears that had plagued him for so long to break free.

"All our lives, we have lived in darkness and misery, hating the kin we were supposed to be respecting. All because of our treacherous uncle, we have put our eldest brother and our to-be sister-in-law in grave danger. I am surely doomed to hell, aren't I ?"

"Then so do we. We have been more arrogant and allowed our ego to consume our judgement. Devi Ishani might be different and unlike other women, but we knew she would never lie. I can only hope that Jyesht is taking care of himself and her." Bheema's tired voice made Duryodhana nod, even as Bheema walked towards them and patted his shoulder.

"Forgive me for nearly killing you.." The eldest Kaurava's voice cracked when Bheema's hold tightened, his lips pressed into a frown.

"I don't wish to hold grudges against the past you, Suyodhana. I hated you enough to snap your neck, but who'll be there to spar against me? Besides, Devi Ishani is your disciple, and I can't risk angering her." 

All of them burst into laughter as Bheema roared in amusement, seeing Duryodhana's expressions.

"Call me Suyo.. My close ones call me that." The laughter in the room ceased as all of them looked at each other, smiling nervously. 

They had never imagined a day like this. Where all of them would sit in the same chambers without thinking about using the weapons on each other.

"Let's meet our brothers. I am certain they must be awaiting your arrival." Yudhishthira's calm voice made Duryodhana smile widely. On his behest, all of them departed to the Kauravas' chambers.

"It looks like the residence of a ghost. Why did you make your chambers in complete black?" Bheema, who loved red and golden blurted, frowning as he struggled to adjust to the shades of the chambers. 

Duryodhana shook his head, snorting as he saw the shock on his younger brothers' faces at the sight of the Pandavas.

"Bhrata Sahadev, that book was so interesting that I finished it yesterday itself. Could you please lend me the next one?" Veeryavan, one of the youngest spoke excitedly, make all the elder ones raise an eyebrow at Sahadev who kept his head down in shyness.

"Veera. Quite an enthusiastic one, aren't you? How come I wasn't informed of your escapades with Sahadev?" Veeryavan blinked innocently at his brother.

"Bhrata, me and Bhrata Sahadev would often meet in the library and discuss many things.. " Duryodhana smiled, ruffling his hair lovingly.

"Bhrata Bheema... I am an ardent admirer of your cooking skills.. I also love cooking meals.. Will you partake if I make a meal for everyone?" Nanda asked nervously and everyone looked at a flustered Bheema.

"Of course, Nanda." He smiled, while Duryodhana shook his head. Nanda cooked well, but his recipes were very .. unique and unheard of.

Meanwhile,

Ashwatthama sat on the banks of the river Sarayu, throwing pebbles against the rageful waves to relieve his boredom. Pita Shree had got him to Kosala, since Hastinapur had a long time treaty with it, and he had unwillingly come along, bearing those whispers of awe and surprise as people gazed at him.

He wondered how his friends at Hastinapur were. It had been 2 weeks, and he hadn't gotten any letter from none of them. He could only hope that they were fine. He did remember that they had gone to Dwaraka for a trip. Devi Ishani, whom he actually respected for her distinct and strong behavior was the only one who could change Duryodhana's perspective.

"You manwhore!" He winced as a shrill, female voice rung in the forest. It seemed to coming from the other side of the river bank.. Before he could react, he heard a loud growl of pain, which definitely sounded like a man's.

He quickly dusted his muddy clothes, hurrying to the other side of the river bank. He was not the type to involve in another's affairs, but this seemed serious.

His eyes fell on the silhouette of a woman, the dagger in her hand dripping with fresh blood. He quietly inched closer, his eyes widening in pure shock as he gazed at the man choking on his own blood. He recognized the man from a portrait; he was the crown prince of Avanti, Rajkumar Eshwar.

He couldn't see the woman since he was hiding behind the shrubs, but he knew enough not to mess with her. The murder of a prince was a capital and first class offence, punishable by death and execution, but Ashwatthama wondered what got this woman so riled up that she murdered the crown prince in cold blood. 

Ashwatthama had a guess that they must have had a relation, and he was about to quietly make his way out when he saw her flinch in realization. 

For the love of Rudra, she would have surely sensed him. His hands lay on his dagger, ready to leap up in case she launched an attack on him, but he waited for a while.

He could hear her quiet intake of breaths, but she burst into loud sobs, screaming her lungs out. He heard the sound of metal clatter, probably the dropping of her dagger. Ashwatthama felt a pang of sympathy wash over his usually brooding heart as he realized where she was coming from. His first kill wasn't so smooth either.

He had nightmares of his being bathed in blood for weeks after he had first cut the throat of a traitor. 

"I know you are watching." Her calm voice, a contrast to her loud sobs made him swallow deeply. He should have known.

He hesitantly stood up, pushing away the bushes that concealed his frame. The woman turned, and Ashwatthama stilled.

His heart skipped a beat more than once, not because of her beauty, but the raw pain and agony her obsidian eyes failed to hide.

His eyes remained on her face, and they stood like that for a minute. She was beautiful. In her own way. It looked there was gold dust sprinkled on her face to enhance her bronze shade of skin. He then realized that they were freckles, so tiny and glittery.

One of her parents must be from the southern lands, their skin magnificent shades of bronze and flames.

"If you breathe a word of this to any soul, living or dead, I'll shall not hesitate to rip that head off your neck." Her tone was quite calm with a tremor in her voice, but he saw the curiosity in her eyes as she gazed at his gem.

Every one looked at him with disgust and fear, but this reaction was quite unexpected. His hands tucked back the dagger by his waistband, and he sighed as he looked at her.

"It is not my business to interfere, nor to speak about it." A frown appeared on her nearly perfect face, her nose scrunched up in suspicion. He had an inexplicable urge to remove that frown from her face.

"How can I believe the mere words of a stranger, when the offence I have committed is punishable by death?" Her words were sharp and shift, causing a smile on his blank face.

He chuckled slowly, the sound so deep and baritone that she blinked for a moment in confusion.

"You may not know me, Devi.. But I believe I go by the name of Drauni."

Her eyes widened in utter shock. Of course she knew Drauni. Heck, the entire Aryavart knew him.

He was one of the most powerful warriors of this era, after the Vasudev and the Kuru Princes. He was said to be ruthless and cruel to his enemies, but compassionate to the weaker ones, especially Brahmins and women.

Now she remembered those whispers of him: that he possessed a gem that was a blessing from Mahadev Himself.

Dilara found herself at a loss of words, and then he smiled softly. As if he expected this reaction of hers. What had she just done? Threatened the man who had ensured her tribe shelter and protection!

Meanwhile,

"Karna.." Ishani's soft voice stirred him awake. She lay on his lap, looking up at him with hesitancy. 

"I know you don't want riches or kingdoms. So I don't mind giving up the kingdom for you, Ishani. But are you sure that you will not regret it? Even for a moment? If I refuse the throne, I will be a commoner, devoid of luxury. You.."

"I don't. Not for a minute. I'd like to express my gratitude.. for saving me. I can't remember as to why I passed out. I saw him, and then.." Her voice cracked, and his eyes blazed with a new found rage against the man who broke the strongest woman into mere splinters.

His soul must be surely somewhere within his reach. He shall gauge his heart out and..

'We need to go back to Hastinapur. It is not wise to intervene in her training." Karna's stoic voice made Dev realize that he could never get to see for a long, long time.

"Ishani.." He swallowed , trying not to show how much he was affected.

"I shall not be able to meet you, for a long time. But know that Shukracharya and his wife shall guard you in imminent danger. Even that friend of yours.." His swore his mouth turned sour at the mention of that annoying man's mention.

Ishani stood up, pressing a soft kiss to his jawline. "Take care of yourself and your brothers. And the Rajmata. She is just a heartbroken mother at the end of the day. I" He grabbed her by the waist, hugging her tightly.

He couldn't do this. He didn't want to leave. He could just replicate another him and..

"Don't even think of doing anything funny. The kingdom is grieving, and you need to find Radha Maa also. Go, Suryaputra." His eyes hardened in determination as he pecked her forehead, lingering for a while.

"If you are in danger, just scream my name. Where ever you are, I shall immediately come to your side. Even if you are the end of the earth." She nodded softly, but he knew she would come back stronger and handle her problems herself.

He clenched his fists to stop himself from hugging her again. He wouldn't be able to leave if he looked at her again. He snapped his fingers, instantly vanishing as her stare imprinted onto his memory.

Shakuni had played long enough. He needed to be taught the rules once again, and Karna didn't mind doing that.

A devilish smirk graced his face as he thought about the different ways that worm would use to escape from his grasp.