Arulmozhi opened his eyes as he finished praying and turned towards his brother who was looking at the opposite side. "Anna, the god is there," Arulmozhi said sarcastically. Adithan turned back to him and sighed. He wanted to talk to Nandini somehow without his dear brother interrupting them.

"You wanted to go watch the celebration no?" Adithan said. Arulmozhi nodded enthusiastically. "Go now, but stay within this temple's premises, Okay?" Adithan said. Arulmozhi's face lit up like a flame.

"Fine Anna," Arulmozhi agreed readily, he wanted to go to the festival as soon as possible.

"We will meet here in an hour," Adithan said.

"Haan fine," Arulmozhi said impatiently.

"Don't go near the lake, don't talk to strangers--"

"Anna fine, I'll be okay!" Arulmozhi whined at his brother's advice. "Can I go now?"

Adithan sighed and nodded. Arulmozhi took off like a horse and jumped down the stairs of the temple and joined the procession outside.

Adithan looked around to see if someone was watching them, but no one was around, he slowly inched closer to Nandini and hugged her from behind the pillar. Nandini gasped as she felt his wet hands wrapping around her.

"What are you doing here?" Adithan asked as he moved in front of her. Water dripped down from his hair.

"I can ask you the same question," Nandini said drying his hair with her saree. Nandini's long hair was let loose instead of her usual kondai, it fell down to her hips and swayed side by side when the wind blew.

She looked at him and ruffled his hair playfully. Adithan looked down and smiled.

"You look pretty when you let your hair loose," Karikalan said as he ran his fingers through Nandini's hair. He didn't realize how long her hair was until he saw it like this.

"Is that so?" Nandini asked. Adithan nodded. He leaned in closer caging Nandini between him and the pillar. He planted a soft kiss on her cheeks. Nandini pushed Adithan away from her and blushed.

"What are you scared of? Kundavai is not here," Adithan said as he got hold of her saree, he pulled her towards himself, Nandini did a twirl, and Adithan's back hit a pillar as she fell on him.

"You look more handsome in this than your Prince's attire," Nandini said looking down at his yellow clothes, well it used to be white but since Nandini decided to add some colour to it, it turned yellow.

"Oh really? I don't know, I liked the thief's outfit much better," Adithan said. "It helped me earn a kiss from my beloved didn't it?" Adithan brushed his nose on Nandini's red cheeks.

"Don't keep mentioning it Karikalare, it makes me shy," Nandini said.

"I couldn't stop thinking about it, Nandini," Adithan smirked recollecting the moment. "I will take it to my grave,"

Nandini frowned. "Karikalare...You'll have to take me to your grave. If something happens to you, I--" Nandini's eyes got a bit teary at the mention of death.

"Aiyo Nandini, the lake is already filled to the brim, don't add your tears to it or else the Chozha Desam will be flooded," Adithan laughed. Nandini punched his chest and glared at him.

"Humphf I'm mad at you," Nandini scoffed at Adithan's mocking words. She backed off and took off.

"Nandini! I was just joking!" Karikalan followed her as she headed toward the woods. "Nandini," He called out as he caught up to her. "How can you get mad at your future husband?"Adithan asked pushing her against a tree.

Nandini blushed at the word 'future husband', Her anger melted away as soon as she saw the Prince's peaceful face looking at him romantically. But behind that peaceful face she saw a horrifying sight, A man in all back was aiming an arrow at the Prince's back. The man saw Nandini seeing him and let go of the arrow. Nandini's eyes widened in fear.

"Karikalare!" She yelled as she pushed him and herself away from the arrow. It plunged into the tree where they were standing seconds ago. Nandini looked at Adithan with a look of pure fright.

Adithan looked at the arrow which was dangling in the tree and got up. "Nandini, hide!" Nandini hurriedly crawled back and hid behind a tree.

"Cowards! Aren't you ashamed of trying to kill someone from behind their backs?" He said as he reached out for his sword, But it wasn't there. He scrunched up his nose as he remembered that he had left it back at the palace. Before he could think of a plan another arrow was whizzing through the wind, heading toward him. Adithan ducked last minute and the arrow plunged uselessly to the ground.

A few Rashtrakutan rebels popped up their head from the bushes and smiled at the weaponless prince. "Long live the Rashtrakutan empire!" One of them screamed as he approached Adithan with a sword in his hands.

Adithan took Nandini's hands and started running, "Keep your head down," Adithan said as they rushed through the woods, narrowly avoiding the arrows that were whirled toward them. The Rashtrakutan rebels followed them closely, slashing their sword in the air like madmen.

Adithan looked back at them and then at Nandini who was struggling to match his pace. "Nandini, when I leave your head, run to the side, get to Arulmozhi, and make sure he's safe," Adithan instructed her. Nandini shook her head and cried.

"No Karikalare, I will stay with you," Nandini cried out. Adithan clicked his tongue and looked back at the rebels who were getting dangerously close. "Nandini, if you truly love me then you would listen to me," Adithan blackmailed her with her only weakness.

Nandini nodded reluctantly and agreed to the plan. "If I don't return within ten minutes get to the palace and meet Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer and tell him about the situation," Nandini nodded again. She felt his hands slipping away from him, then suddenly he let her go, Nandini stumbled back and turned to the side, and began running, tears poured from her eyes as she looked back at the Prince who was dodging the rebels' swords.

****

Arulmozhi leaned his body on a tree and rested, the amount of dancing and eating he did today made him feel exhausted. Just before he could close his eyes he heard a branch cracking behind him.

"Who's there?" Arulmozhi asked. He arched his eyebrows as no reply came. "I asked who's there?" Arulmozhi got up and looked behind him, A man jumped up from the bushes and pressed his hands against Arulmozhi's mouth trying to suffocate him. Arulmozhi tried to elbow him but it had no effect. He kicked his legs in the air and screamed.

"Kid, don't make your death painful," The man laughed.

Arulmozhi got agitated. He opened his mouth and decided to give his teeth a job other than eating.

"OW," The rebel screamed as Arulmozhi's sharp teeth bit through his fingers. His grip loosened and Arulmozhi escaped easily.

"That's what you get for messing around with the Chozha Prince," Arulmozhi said perching his hands on his hips.

"Ey! Idiots," The man groaned in pain. "Maara! Kadamba! Attack that kid!"

Two more men rose from the bushes and approached Arulmozhi.

"Uh oh," Arulmozhi started to back off, he kept his hands on his training sword. "Get back!" The rebels laughed at Arulmozhi's antics but they were not here to play around with the little prince. They took out their own swords.

"Or not," Arulmozhi gulped. "Oh look! A White crow!" Arulmozhi pointed at the distance. The rebels turned around and looked in the direction where he was pointing. Arulmozhi took off at a blazing speed.

"Idiots! Useless fellows! You let a small child trick you!" The guy who Arulmozhi bit got up and screamed.

****

Arulmozhi pushed through the crowd occasionally looking back to see if they were chasing him, and to his surprise, they were chasing him. "Anna!" He called out hoping that Karikalan would jump out of nowhere and save him.

The crowd gasped in horror and moved away as they saw the three erratic men with swords in their hands.

He regretted his decision of drinking ten cups of payasam. His legs screamed at him and he started getting short of breath.

"Ponni thaiye please save me," Arulmozhi mumbled.

Nandini stood on her toes, on top of the temple, and looked out for the Prince. "Ilavarese!" Her eyes searched for Arulmozhi but her mind was somewhere else, back in the woods alongside Adithan who was fighting the rebels alone.

She got down the stairs and rushed to the lake. Fortunately, she spotted Arulmozhi in the crowd. But unfortunately, he was surrounded by three rebels with sharp swords in their hands, while Arulmozhi stood there with his small training sword.

"Killing a kid is a sin, mind you," Arulmozhi said backing off.

"We have committed numerous sins, killing you won't do any damage to our sin rate, it is already sky high," One of them laughed as they slashed their sword, Arulmozhi blocked the hit with his training sword and stumbled back due to the brute force.

"If my brother found out about this he'll kill you all," Arulmozhi blocked another one of their hits.

"Yea right! Who knows if he's even alive right now?"

Arulmozhi arched his eyebrows. "What did you say?" He gripped his sword tightly. "Say another word about my brother, I'll cut your tongue off," he scowled.

"Look at little tiger's anger, ha!" They laughed as they closed in on Arulmozhi for the kill.

Nandini looked at this from a distance. She quickly turned back to the crowd. "All hail Prince Ponniyin Selvar!" Nandini yelled. The crowd began cheering as soon as they heard their beloved Prince's name. A huge stampede took place in the opposite direction as people rushed to meet their prince. The rebels were knocked off balance was pushed back. Nandini slid into the crowd and took Arulmozhi in her hands and rushed out of the crowd to avoid getting stepped on.

"Who--" Arulmozhi was ready to jump off, but when he saw Nandini's face a smile appeared on his face. "Nandini Akka?" Arulmozhi cocked his head. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"Shhh" She shushed him as they entered the temple. Nandini entered the god's chambers and hid behind the statue. Nandini held Arulmozhi close to her as she heard someone enter the temple. Arulmozhi looked up at Nandini in awe, No wonder Anna likes her very much, Arulmozhi thought, but she was not just beautiful, she radiated warmth and affection, Arulmozhi felt some sort of a 'familiar feeling' near her, He still couldn't put his finger on it.

Nandini slowly peaked outside to see if they were gone.

"They're not here, let's go check somewhere else," The rebels agreed and rushed outside the temple.

Nandini and Arulmozhi both let out a sigh of relief and sat back. "Are you okay, Ilavarese?" Nandini asked. Arulmozhi nodded, not taking his eyes away from her. "Ilavarese, don't look at me like that, then I'll have to face the wrath of the Kodumbalur princess too," Nandini said. Arulmozhi broke his eye contact and blushed. (Kodumbalur Princess- Vanathi)

"Your brother is in trouble," Nandini announced as she got up. Arulmozhi's jaw tightened as he heard those words. "You hide here, I'll go..." Nandini trailed off, not knowing what to do.

"I'll also come Akka," Arulmozhi protested. "He's my brother, I can't just sit here when he's in trouble," Arulmozhi got up. Nandini sighed, then finally she nodded.

It was like saving a baby from a lake and then plunging it into the sea. Nandini was aware of this fact, but she didn't dare to deny Ponniyin Selvar's request.

****

Adithan leaned back, saving his neck from the rebel's sword which was hungry for blood. Adithan didn't know how long he was going to survive by just dodging their attacks. Well, definitely not for long. He had a lot of things to worry about right now other than his own life, Was Arulmozhi okay? Did Nandini reach him safely?

"Stop moving so much!" One of the rebels snarled at Adithan who kept dodging his sword.

"You guys are the world's worst assassins," Adithan commented.

"Eyy kid, let's see how you talk after we cut your head off," He tried to stab Adithan, but Adithan moved out of his way and kicked him back. Another guy approached him from behind.

"That's what your king also said, guess where he is now?" Adithan asked punching another rebel in the face. "Six feet under the ground," Adithan laughed. But his laughter was short-lived, someone slashed Adithan's shoulders from behind. Adithan stumbled back and grunted as pain shot up his upper body. His back hit a tree. Blood ran freely from his wound.

The guy who slashed his back turned around and approached him at full speed, but Adithan rolled to the side at the last second, his sword was jabbed into the trunk of the tree. Adithan got up and kicked him away as he was trying to pull the sword out.

Adithan freed the sword from the tree and turned back to the rebel group. His shoulder was screaming at him, Adithan really regretted sneaking out with Arulmozhi.

Now that Adithan had a sword in his hands, the battle began.

******

Adithan plunged his sword deep down into a rebel's neck as he approached him. The Rashtrakutans backed up a little as they saw the Prince's fury. But no matter how many of them Adithan struck down, more kept coming, like mosquitoes for example. "How many of you guys are there?" Adithan groaned.

The rebels were in no mood to chit-chat right now, they got irritated at their inability to kill a young boy. It was not just Adithan who drew blood though, the rebels also drew a considerable amount of blood from the Prince. But Adithan shook them off as if they were ant bites.

Ouch, that's going to sting later. Adithan thought after every hit he received.

"Anna!" He heard Arulmozhi's voice from afar, this should've made him happy since he got to know that his brother is alive and well, but this worried him, now he had to protect his brother too. His worried was tripled when he saw Nandini standing behind him. Nandini let out a cry as she saw Adithan standing there all blood-soaked.

"I thought I told you to go to Periya Pazhuvettraiyer!" Adithan said bitterly as Nandini came into view.

"How could I leave you alone here!?" Came the reply.

One of the Rashtrakutan rebels saw Arulmozhi standing there and rushed toward him with the sword in his hands, Adithan swiftly moved toward him and stabbed him in the back. His lifeless body fell in front of Nandini and Arulmozhi. "Gooo!" Adithan shouted at Nandini, who shook her head. Her eyes were red from all the crying. Adithan groaned at her stubbornness as he fought off another rebel.

Sweat and blood dripped from Adithan's forehead as he fought them off, but they kept coming and didn't stop coming. The wounds which appeared like ant bites a few minutes ago started showing their shenanigans. His body was on fire. Every step he took turned into agony and pain. Adithan's hands and legs were ready to give up. Adithan felt like all hope was lost. He looked at Nandini and Arulmozhi as his consciousness was ready to leave him.

Suddenly the sound of horses made the ground rumble. The sounds of the Chozha soldiers filled the forest.

But was it all too late?

A/N

it was a bit of a boring chapter, I think, idk what's your opinion?

Btw wrote two chapters each with 2.5k words, god that's a personal achievement for me.

Love yall

-Kee