The thirsty scavengers surrounded the dead corpses. They encircled in the dark sky eagerly ready to taste the warriors' blood. Thousands and thousands corpses laid down in the battlefield. The only sounds that could be heard were the menacing thunder and the whimper of the pack of wolves. The sky roared to pour down with impending lightning that stroke the trees to fire. From that fire, the holy wedding fire was raised. The bride and groom took wedding vows around the burning pyre of thousands of soldiers.

With that she woke up with a shrieking shrill cry. It had been the third time since she woke up with same nightmare in a night. How many times she tried to sleep only this dream appeared and woke her up, bringing down her every nerve to numbness. Her lady in wait immediately came to her rescue.

" Relax Rajakumari.... You are safe in your room.... Relax Rajakumari.... Relax Avantika" She soothed her.

"I am unable to sleep Chaitali.... When I try to close my eyes the same devilish scene occurs.... It freezes down my every nerve to numbness.... I just don't understand why I am seeing such nightmare...." Avantika growled as she drank the water given by Chaitali.

Chaitali pacified her highness. It was very rare for Avantika to have nightmare that disrupts her peace and ruins her sleep. Last time when she had a nightmare at the age of thirteen, the whole kingdom realised it wasn't just nightmare but a warning prophecy. Good or bad but the dreams that came in Avantika had most of the time been true. There are certain augury that went false but that was one in ten.

And now what shoke her princess was something they all would want it to be one in ten.

"You go to sleep Chaitali.... I am sorry for ruining your sleep too... " Avantika groaned as sleep once again tried to overtake her. She could see Chaitali's red eyes that demanded for rest.

"Rajakumari it is my duty to attend your needs.... When you are in trouble how can your maid sleep?"

"You are not just my maid Chaitali.... You are also a human being... You may go now and sleep and it is a order" Avantika commanded leaving no room for arguments.

Chaitali bowed her head and left to her mattress. She knew that if she further stayed over there or uttered anything else she would have to face the wrath of the royal blood. And plus her body too nagged her for rest. For past two fortnight the whole kingdom was in a running wheel. And for the next two fortnight too they have to. With Avantika's birthday celebration and then due time of Vedika had made them all work tireless. And now with Avantika's and Atithi's swayamvar held they rarely got room to breathe.

With Chaitali taking leave Avantika stood in her balcony. She knew that if she was to sleep now she would once again wake up all her maids. She opted to stay awake for the remaining time. And of course an idle mind at midnight will definitely own devil in it. So was it for Avantika. She was restless about the dream. She could neither make out what was it about nor sleep peacefully again. She assured herself that she will definitely seek answers for her nightmare from the Royal Gurumata Dhristi Devi.

The only one who could always answer to her questions from her childhood. There was no doubt for Avantika's intelligence. During her childhood she used to attend the royal court along with her father. She was highly pampered for being the only daughter of the royal family who survived all obstacles. With court proceedings going on she would ask questions that would leave everyone speechless and in awe. Her father with so much patience would answer all her questions. Some would be silly and some would leave them in admiration. Whenever she couldn't find answers to her questions she used to run to the Royal Gurumata Dhristi Devi. She was the insight of Avantika's catechism. Indeed she was a woman with no vision but a light who took away the darkness of people who came to her.

*†*†*†*†*†*†*†*†*†*†

The next day morning Avantika got ready before the break of dawn.

"Rajakumari you got ready.... Why didn't you wake me up.... I would have readied hot water for your bath.... " Chaitali complained as she folded her mattress.

"Oh my dear friend.... I told you yesterday itself that you too are a human being so there is nothing for you to panic about.... I prefer to do my things on my own Chaitali.... Now enough of your grumbling.... Come... Help me to pin this shawl.... It is getting late for me...." Avantika ordered her.

"Getting late? Are leaving anywhere Rajakumari? Oh no please.... If Maharani gets to know she will sue me up this time for sure.... Don't go anywhere Rajakumari" Chaitali groaned as she pinned the shawl and helped Avantika wear her accessories.

"If you are done with your ranting will you let me talk now?" Avantika mocked at her.

A part of her was laughing for her sweet maiden friend's naiveness and a part was annoyed with her ranting.

On seeing Chaitali's feared expression she took her into a warm hug and smiled at her.

" I am going to meet Gurumata at the Vaikom temple regarding my nightmare..." At the mention of her nightmare Chaitali facial expression projected fear and pain.

"Chaitali I want you to promise me that you don't share about my nightmare to anyone.... Not even to Atithi and it is my order to you.... Until I find answers to my questions you shouldn't leave an air about this to anyone" Avantika ordered her in her most authoritative tone.

She knew very well about Chaitali and Atithi's relation. Though Chaitali was a lady in her waiting, the relationship of her with princesses of the royal palace was highly envied by other maids of the palace.... The reason was Chaitali's mother was the Head maid and was once lady in waiting of Queen Nayila. She travelled along with Queen Nayila from her home to Mushika's palace and later got married to one best the warriors of Mushika.

Both she and her husband died serving and protecting the royal family with at most sincerity and loyalty. And hence their two daughters and two sons were taken into the royal family's custody when they were too young.

Thus the daughters served the princesses who were of almost same age while the sons worked in the army and carried out secret missions of the King and the heir apparent.

More than maids, Chaitali and her sister Yashtika were good companions of the princesses.

"Rajakumari my loyalty always lies towards to you at the most......" Chaitali moaned.

"Oh my most loyal maid... I know your loyalty is only towards me but I know that no one can escape from Atithi's shrewdness.... I don't want you to become a pray for her over smartness.... Did you get it?"

"But Rajakumari what should I answer her when she comes in search of you?" Chaitali pouted as she adjusted Avantika's nethi chutti.

"Should I teach you that too, Chaitali?"Avantika asked her as she looked for the last time at her outfit's reflection as she set out for her journey.

"N..o....no Rajakumari" Chaitali shuttered.

"Rajakumari am I not allowed to accompany you?" She asked her hoping she will allow her to accompany her.

"No Chaitali.... I will be taking Yadhvi with me...."

"But why her Rajakumari.... Did I do any wrong? It is me who always accompany you everywhere... Forgive your maid if she has done any mistake..." She moaned as she was quite possessive of her position in Avantika's life.

She could never tolerate any other maid taking her place in Avantika's life. She devoted her whole life to serve Avantika.... More than maid she was Avantika's most trusted companion and was entrusted with many secret missions of Avantika's.

"Chaitali.... " Avantika laughed at her ignorance.... She hugged her and made her comfortable.

"I told you already that you are more than a maid to me.... I can see you turning sick and tired due to the recent celebration and responsibilities of the palace.... I want you to heal here... Plus I am leaving you here with a responsibility..." And with that she saw the enlightened face of Chaitali.

"Order me Rajakumari..."she pouted like a child.

"While I am off to the temple I want you to observe every thing within the palace... Especially today's court proceedings.... And most importantly I don't want anyone to realise that you are watching them.... I want you to personally take charge.... You may take help from my most trusted elites but I don't want you to miss a single details of what is happening over here" She said as she left her bedchamber.

"Did you get it?"

"Yes Rajakumari.... You please take care of yourself and be careful"

This was it, Avantika loved in her most. Chaitali knew that Avantika's martial arts has no match to most of the kingdoms' warriors' martial skills but still wherever Avantika left for Chaitali stood as a shield for her and cared for her like a mother.

"I will"

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A/N:-

Hey peeps.... Hope you all are doing good.... Do read and comment.... I would like to know your opinions about the story development and processing so please do comment....

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Rithushree.