"Vanathi!" Arulmozhi called out, running through the corridors of the palace. "Vannu!" Arulmozhi called out again as he entered his sister's chambers, hoping to find her there, but no, there was no signs of Vanathi. "Vannu? Are you playing hide and seek with me?" He asked looking under a table.

"I'm really good at that game, I beat Anna always when I was a kid," Arulmozhi announced proudly, but frowned at the thought of his brother. It's been two years since he had seen his face, the last time he saw him, Adithan wasn't doing very well, who knows in what state he is in now.

***

Arulmozhi kicked a rock in disappointment as he strolled through the Kaveri river. Half of his mind was on his brother the other half was thinking about Vanathi.

"Akka?" Vanathi's sweet voice boomed.

Arulmozhi's face lit up in excitement. He poked his head through the bushes to find a beautiful sight. His angel and Kundavai feeding a flock of pigeons.

"Hmm?" Kundavai hummed. Arulmozhi was mentally jumping up and down in excitement. Finally! he got to see Vanathi, she's been avoiding him whenever she used to visit Thanjai. Arulmozhi was not going to let his Vanathi escape without seeing him again.

"Do you think Ponniyin Selvar likes me?" Vanathi mumbled. Kundavai rolled her eyes and sighed.

"How many times are you going to ask me that question, Vanathi?" Kundavai laughed. Vanathi's face turned red, Arulmozhi had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from dissolving into laughter.

"You hide from him every time you visit, how do you expect him to love you when he couldn't even see you properly for more than a second?" Kundavai said, Vanathi started sulking at her sister's words.

"Akka...I'm just shy," Vanathi said, her toes digging through the wet sand.

Kundavai sighed. "Oh how could the great Ponniyin Selvar marry someone as shy as you?" Kundavai started in a mocking tone.

"Akka...!" Vanathi stomped her feet and whined.

Kundavai chuckled and placed a hand on Vanathi's shoulder. "Thangachi, He loves you, he talks non-stop about you,"

"Go, Akka...Stop mocking me," Vanathi sighed. "You're right, I'm too shy to marry the ilavaraser,"

"Vannu, I was just kidding--"

"No, Akka, he doesn't love me," Vanathi sighed.

"Who said I don't love you?" Arulmozhi asked. Vanathi jerked in shock on hearing his voice. Arulmozhi waved at Vanathi, who stood there shocked and out of breath.

"Oh--Aru--" Before Kundavai could finish her sentence Vanathi collapsed into her arms. "Oh no! She has fainted again," Kundavai said struggling with Vanathi's weight. Arulmozhi swiftly moved towards Kundavai and took Vanathi in his arms.

"Why did you scare her like that?" Kundavai said punching Arulmozhi's arm.

"Ouch--" Arulmozhi winced. "I didn't know she would faint like this?" Arulmozhi said, looking at Vanathi who was lying unconscious in his arms.

"Hold her like that, I'll go bring some water," Kundavai said rushing off toward the river. She knelt down and fished out some water with a leaf.

Arulmozhi enjoyed this situation more than anyone. He was able to enjoy his Vanathi's beautiful nearly perfect face after a long time. He gently pinched Vanathi's cheek and smiled. "Oh look! how cute you are,"

Kundavai coughed, cringing at Arulmozhi's romance. "Vanathi?" She said gently, sprinkling some cold water on her face. Vanathi sprung to life in his hands.

Arulmozhi smiled slyly as Vanathi's eyes fluttered open. "Hello," he whispered.

"Oh no!" Vanathi buried her face in Arulmozhi's chest. "I'm going to faint again,"

"I won't mind," Arulmozhi chuckled. Kundavai stepped on Arulmozhi's legs to make him stop.

"Let her down," Kundavai commanded. Arulmozhi gently let Vanathi down with a frown on his face.

Vanathi didn't dare to lift her face up, she took off like a fish let out in water.

"Vanathi wait!" Arulmozhi shouted. Vanathi shook her head and started running toward the andha puram.

Kundavai laughed at the little ones antics, who was not so little anymore. She has grown a lot in the last few years, both in height and intelligence, not to mention her beauty, her beauty just doubles every passing year.

"Akka, why is she hiding from me?" Arulmozhi whined.

"Thambi, she's just shy, give her some time," Kundavai said.

"At this rate she'll faint in our marriage function too," Arulmozhi mumbled as they started walking toward the palace.

"Dei, hold your horses, there is still a lot of time for that," Kundavai laughed.

Arulmozhi blushed a little. "Haan Akka, I'll only marry after you and Anna find someone," Arulmozhi said.

Kundavai laughed. "I'm not the marrying type," Kundavai said.

"Why Akka? Thousands of men will line up in front of Thanjai to take your hand," Arulmozhi chimed.

"Thambi, I don't think I will find anyone suitable for me out of those thousand people,"

"Akka there is someone for everyone in this world, you'll meet my mama one day," Arulmozhi laughed while Kundavai shot him a look of anger.

They both talked and walked for a while until they reached the court room, the siblings paid their salutations to the emperor and the elders and took their seats. A smile appeared on Sundara Chozhan's face as he saw his two children being all happy and healthy, soon the smile turned a frown as he thought about Adithan.

He had heard nothing but bad news about him, his exesseive drinking and short temper.

"Arase, Adithan had successfully recaptured tharkollam," The minister read an olai which had come from Adithan's camp. The ministers got excited and were elated, especially Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer, on hearing the news. But the same couldn't be said about the siblings and their father.

"Hmm," Sundara Chozhan hummed. "Anything new?" He asked Anirudhar.

"Yes, Arase, he's asking your permission to lead his army into Chevur," Brahmarayar said.

"Chevur?" Sundara Chozhan's expression tightened. Arulmozhi and Kundavai exchanged alarming glances.

"Appa, order Anna to come back!" Arulmozhi shouted, getting everyone's attention. Arulmozhi sulked back into his seat, getting shy by all this sudden attention.

Sundara Chozhan thought deeply, he too wanted his son to be here. "Adithan should be here, his coronation is to be held soon too," Sundara Chozhan started.

"Arase," Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer rose up. "I don't think you should hold him back," He stated. Kundavai groaned internally.

"Why is that?" Sundara Chozhan asked.

"Adithan is on a roll recently, he has been bringing nothing but victories, imagine the glory if he defeated Veera Pandiyan?" Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer announced.

The room grew uneasy as soon as the Pandian's name was uttered. He was the one who killed their favourite Gandaradityar chozhar. He took his head and killed him mercilessly. Everyone in this room wanted him dead.

"If we defeated the Pandiyan's we would be the only empire ruling the south! Arase, how will the northerners fear us if we couldn't even control the whole of South?" Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer stated a valid point. Everyone in the room agreed to him.

"Is it worth risking Adithan's life though?" Sundara Chozhan asked with concern.

"The only one who should fear for his life right now is Veera Pandiyan, No one could touch our Ilavaraser, he is in his peak, if you stop him now we'll lose our only chance in conquering the south," Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer said firmly.

"I agree with the Pazhuvoor king," Chimed the other ministers.

"Well I don't!" Arulmozhi whispered to his sister, who was looking carefully at her father.

Sundara Chozhan sighed. "Fine, but I don't want him there alone, Send Velar's army for reinforcement,"

"Yes, Arase,"

"Akka! Do something!" Arulmozhi protested. Kundavai looked at him and frowned, seeing the frown on his sister's face Arulmozhi understood that nothing can be done.

*********

Pandiya Nadu, Madurai

Nandini was lost in her thoughts again as usual, it's been two? Three years since she had moved to Madurai. But no matter how many years had past, Adithan was a constant, he stayed in her mind, atleast in the corner of her mind.

"Nandini?" Little Amarabhujangan chimed.

"Yes, Sorry, Ilavarese," Nandini apologized, rolling another ball of rice to feed the prince.

"Always in your Dreamland," Amarabhujangan laughed. Nandini gave me a small smile, a smile that never reached her ears. Nandini fed him the ball of rice and began rolling the next one.

"I don't know what you're always dreaming of, Nandini," Amarabhujangan said shaking his head. Nandini didn't reply to that, instead she chose to stay silent as always.

"Nandini! Amara!" Veera Pandiyan called out as he entered the chamber.

"Appa!" Amarabhujangan dashed towards his father and got up on him. Veera Pandiyan took him in his arms and smiled. Nandini stood up and greeted the king.

"Nandini is keeping you well fed it seems," Veera Pandiyan chuckled. Amarabhujangan nodded.

"Nandini, I need you to take care of him, keep him in your eye sight for the next few days," Veera Pandiyan said diverting his attention to Nandini.

"Why Appa? Are you going somewhere?" Amarabhujangan asked.

"Yes, I'm going to take another Chozhan's head,"

Nandini's expression tightened at Veera Pandiyan's words.

"The emperor?" Nandini managed to mutter out these words.

"No, Aditha Karikalan,"

Nandini almost fainted hearing his name again, She stumbled back and ran out before Veera Pandiyan could dismiss her.

Tears streamed down Nandini's face, one of them is going to die, One of them will kill the other. Nandini thought. She did not want to loose both of them, Veera Pandiyan gave her a home, a place where people respected her unlike Thanjai. She obviously wanted to favour him, but deep down, Nandini was yearning for Adithan to come back. All these years she locked away her feelings for him. Thinking that she could live without him. But no, Even hearing Veera Pandiyan his name made shivers run down Nandini's spine.

Nandini could only brace herself and anticipate for the worse.

A/N

I'm scared for what is going to happen in the next chapter