Parthibendran started getting worried. It's been a few hours since he had left him alone and the Prince was yet to return back to the camp. The sun set a while ago and it was getting dangerously dark.

"Oh Shiva...I can't with him and his stubbornness," He mumbled and cursed himself for leaving him alone.

If this is what love failure does to a man then Parthibendran decided not to ever fall in love. The minor heartbreak he had in Kundavai's matter scarred him enough.

"Ilavarese!" Parthibendran called out. His horse trotted slowly in the woods, paying heed to his command. At least the horse is listening to his words.

Karikalan's tantrums only grew worse after the battle of Chevur. Parthibendran did not know what happened to him.

Parthibendran couldn't believe it. That a great warrior like Adithan, the Crown Prince, a man who could get any woman he desires is still crying, and going insane over a girl who had left him years ago.

He had to fix him, and Parthibendran took upon this huge responsibility. If not, Karikalan would just doom himself and the empire.

Maybe if he could fix up Karikalan then Kundavai 'might' show some interest in him? Then she might also marry him! Kundavai would love him for saving her brother. He smiled to himself.

But his dreams didn't last long. The sound of horseshoes shook Pallavan awake from his dreams.

He drew out his sword and alerted himself. He felt someone watching his moments. "Whose there?"

No reply came.

"Whose there!" He yelled. He sensed a shadowy figure rushing off beside him.

Pallavan looked around and inspected the area. He saw someone hiding in the bushes. He arched his eyebrows and tightened the grip on his sword. In a split second, he dove into the bushes and pinned the man hiding down.

"Aiyo! Pisasu! Ghost!" The man shrieked, closing his eyes shut. Pallavan was deeply offended. Did he just call him a ghost? Has he seen his face in the mirror?

"Who are you!" He threatened the fellow, pressing his forearms on the guy's throat.

The guy slowly opened one of his eyes. He smiled with relief after confirming that the man before him is not a ghost, but the Pallavan king himself.

"It's you! Pallava Arase! Karikalar is poisoned, he needs your help," He said in one breath.

Pallavan blinked, oh god, the Prince is poisoned, but how can he trust this man? It could be a plot to distract him.

"Who are you? Tell me! Are you one of the Pandiyan rebels?" He said, apply more pressure on his throat.

"Don't--" he choked, tapping feebly on Pallavan's arms. "I'm in your army, I fought alongside you,"

Pallavan furrowed his brows in suspicion. "We fought alongside 40,000 or more men, how can we trust you?"

"You have to! The Prince--he's there--Iyya even your Prince trusted me,"

"Even a newborn child can tell that you're a fraud by just seeing your face, you're telling me the Prince trusted you, Ey look, I'll cut out your throat and throw it in the lake, tell me the truth, Who are you!"

He whimpered. "I promise! I'm not lying! Look, I have the Prince's ring," he reached out for his pouch. Parthibendran alerted himself, eyes fixated on his hands. "Look," He held out one of Karikalan's rings which he had slipped out while aiding him.

Pallavan furrowed his brows. "Did you steal this from him? Did you hurt him?" A wave of horror struck the Pallavan King. "Did you kill the Prince!?"

"No! but he'll die soon if you keep blabbering nonsense!" The man snapped.

The audacity. First, he steals from the Prince, and then he tells the Pallavan King right in front of his face that he's a fool. Pallavan strangled him under his arms threatening to not let him go he told the 'truth'.

"Aiya, I'm a P--Prince too, I--I don't have the need to steal," he stammered, struggling under Pallavan's grip. Hearing his word Parthibendran loosened his grip a little.

"I'm Vaanar Kula Ilavarasan, Vallavarayan Vandiyadevan," He introduced himself, brushing aside the curly locks which were covering his line of sight.

Vaanar clan? He had heard about them but there still lingered some suspicion.

"It's not as famed as the great Pallavas but please, trust me, the Prince will be no more if you don't!" Vallavarayan pleaded.

Pallavan got up. "Fine, Where is he?" He asked, holding out his hand for Vandiyadevan.

Vallavarayan got up and dusted his shirt and pants.

"Where is he!?" Pallavan hurried him.

"Oh yes, the Prince, follow me," Vandiyadevan lead Pallavan navigating his way through the forest.

"Tell me what happened," Pallavan asked, following him hurriedly. Vallavarayan explained everything to Parthibendran who listened to him in confusion.

"So, You saved the Prince from the rebels?" He asked, doubting Vallavarayan's story.

"Yes, I sent them running," He said, proudly. Although that's not what exactly happened.

"You?"

Vallavarayan glanced at Pallavan. "Why Arase? Are you doubting my bravery?"

"Not at all," Pallavan shook his head.

"Someone shot the Prince with a poison arrow, The rebels tried to assassinate him,"

Pallavan's heart dipped. Forget marrying Kundavai, she'll have his head for dinner if she knew her brother died because of his carelessness.

"Here!" Vallavarayan skid down a moud. "Ilavarase," He rushed to Karikalan.

Pallavan's soul returned to him only after he saw the Prince. "Aditha!"

"Took you long enough," Karikalan whispered breathlessly, clenching his shoulder. Vallavarayan knelt down beside the Prince and looked at Parthibendran, hoping he would do something. Pallavan gave him an apologetic look and turned back to Karikalan.

"I left you on your own for one hour and you managed to get stabbed and poisoned!" Pallavan rambled, examining his wound. "What happened?" Karikalan looked away, not willing to answer any of his questions. Parthibendran shook his head and turned back to Vallavarayan, "I'll do basic first aid, go call the Vaithiyar! quick!"

Vallavarayan nodded and got to his feet immediately."Okay! I'll try to reach here as soon as possible," He said, looking around for his horse. "Semba!" he called out, running into the woods. "Whose clothes is he stealing now?" he mumbled to himself as he darted into the woods.

"You'll be okay," Pallavan assured the half-conscious Prince while applying some herbs. "Aditha?" He called out to Adithan who was mumbling something in his daze.

"Nandini..."

*******

Nandini pressed her ear against the door, trying to over hear their conversation.

"Did you see him die?" Ravidasan asked, his eyes red in anger. Devaralan shook his head nervously, Ravidasan fisted his hands and glared at them. "I'll throw a rock over your head--"

"Ravidasa stop! We can't fulfill our oath if we fight among ourselves and break each other's heads," Vasuki tried to reason, while tending to Devaralan's injuries. Ravidasan kicked the ground angrily and stomped around.

"He's alive," Soman muttered. Nandini let out a sigh of relief involuntary. Though, she should be wishing for the exact opposite. She should be wishing for his death to avenge Veera Pandiyar's murder, but her heart did not allow it. But Nandini forced her self to surpass her feelings for him.

Little Amarabhujangan walked upto Nandini and sat down next to her, lying down on her lap. "They failed," He mumbled sadly. Nandini stroked the boys hair, trying to comfort the kid.

"Will you do something? He should pay for what he did to Appa," The young Prince said firmly. Nandini frowned at his words.

"...Yes, Ilavarese, Kar--He will pay," She said, her voice barely above a whisper. A few tears slipped down Nandini's cheek, which went unnoticed by the Prince.

Amarabhujangan nodded innocently at her words and rubbed his eyes sleepily. Soon, the boy dozed off.

A/N

Halllooo

Sorry for the late update!!! My school started 😭