As they got closer to Mordis Omkara felt the frigid wind from the north blowing against his face and when he felt Gauri move he immediately hovered his entire body over hers.

"We are almost there. It seems winter is coming soon." Omkara softly whispered in Gauri's ears.

When he heard her whimper in pain he buried his head in the crook of her neck in frustration as he chided himself for pressing up against her too hard.

"Damnit!" Omkara scowled at himself.

Feeling helpless Omkara pulled away just enough to only shield her from the cold but the moment the scent of blood filled his nostrils his mind started to wonder to a dark place. His entire body was begging him to take out his rage but the small woman before him kept him on a tight leash tonight because if not for her Ashen would be lighting up the skies while the beautiful blue water that surrounded their country would be flowing red. Omkara's eyes shook tremendously at the thought of killing all that laid their hands on Gauri tonight. For every lashing that she received he will be sure to return it hundreds of times more. With the constant surge of anger rushing through his veins Omkara's heart reminded him of his own faults. Soon guilt started to rise within him. Resting his head on top of hers Omkara let out a sigh while his fists were tightly clenched.

"I should have never doubted you....I should have never left you there alone....I..."

Ari could feel his master's inner turmoil and could not help but growl. Using it's large wings Ari flew through the air as fast as he could until he reached the high balcony of his master's chambers.

Only when he took her into his arms did he realize the heat coming off of Gauri's body and when he looked more closely he could see that she was sweating and breathing rapidly. Omkara quickly sets Gauri down on his bed and quickly calls out to his two guards whom he knew was nearby because he had ordered them to take the shortcut back to Mordis. The same route that Gauri usually took to enter his forest within 4 hours time.

"Dandi..Ranveer...go get that maid of hers."

Dandi and Ranveer who was just outside Omkara's door came out from the shadows and went on their way to get Bhavya who was staying with the General in one of the guest rooms just one floor below Omkara's.

Dandi/Ranveer: Yes Your Majesty.

********************************

General Rudra's Room

Reeling in from being hauled into Mordis alone Bhavya tried her best to control her emotions as she dipped a clean cloth into a bucket of warm water. Rudra who was still silently observing this maid was impressed at how she quickly took off his armor and helped him into bed without even shaking. Most people wouldn't even dare meet his eyes let alone touch him but the moment she placed that warm cloth onto his chest he could feel her hands tremble.

"Are you scared?" Rudra asked.

Taken back by his sudden voice Bhavya's hand froze for just a second and then continued to clean the dirt from his wounds.

"No."

Bhavya frowned the minute she heard him chuckle at her.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because I can tell you are scared just by your voice."

"I am not scared! I am angry! There's a difference!" Bhavya yelled.

Frustrated Bhavya goes to the table where she had laid out her medicine and ointments refusing to let Rudra see her tears but he could see from her actions that she was trying to wipe them before returning to his side.

"Take this pill for the pain while I apply this ointment for faster healing."

When she saw him refusing to open his mouth Bhavya wanted to just shove the pill down his throat so that she could at least rest for the night but his eyes kept staring at her.

"You think this is poison? Trust me if I wanted to kill you I could just do it right now without the use of a pill. So hurry up and----"

She didn't know how it happened but she felt his grip grabbed her hand that was holding the pill and the next thing she knew she was pinned down on the bed while his big warrior stature hovered over her.

"I want to see you try and kill me little maid." Rudra threatened.

His low and deep voice made her quiver as her hands quickly tried to push up against his chest but it seem her efforts were for naught. He was like a huge boulder that even 10 men wouldn't me able to move.

Rudra who felt amuse that this hot tempered maid was now trying hard to stare back at him with her teary eyes still trying to show defiance.

"Let me go."

Tightening his grip on her wrists Rudra bent down towards Bhavya's ear to warn her.

"Do not take my silence as weakness. Do not poke the bear maid. Now give me water if you want me to swallow the pill. If you want to leave this place then you better hope that your medical talents can heal me quick. But if you dare to throw your tantrums and provoke me then the King himself will not blame me for not needing you."

Loosening his grip when he saw her tears finally fall Rudra lifted her off his bed.

"Go get me the water. I don't like to see women cry. Like I said. You do your job and you will get to return home."

Bhavya quickly goes to the table to grab a cup of water and when she returned to the bed Rudra was already sitting up by the edge.

"You should lay down so that I can finish putting on the ointment and bandaging you up."

Seeing that she no longer bother to even look at him Rudra felt that maybe he was too hard on her but with years of only associating with soldiers he didn't know how to be gentle. So in the end Rudra felt it was best to remain quiet as he took the pill and laid back down to let her finish tending to him.

After putting on the last bandage Bhavya had time to calm her mind and knew that she was wrong to take out her frustration on this man who clearly was someone who was capable of ending her life with just a finger. Even though his eyes were closed Bhavya knew that he was still awake by his breathing.

"I apologize for earlier. You were right. I am scared and I shouldn't have spoken that way to you."

When she got up to wash her hands she heard him roll over to his side and his deep voice startled her for a moment.

"Don't be scared."

Bhavya didn't know what to think of this man who was cold yet warm and now he was the only person that she would be able to even talk to here in Mordis was unnerving. Looking down at herself Bhavya heads to the bathroom to wash up before sleeping but the fact that she had to sleep in the same room with him made her nervous.

"I just hope I don't have to stay here long." Bhavya thought to herself as she poured water on herself. The warm water eased her worries until she heard him call for her from within the room.

"You need to come out now." Rudra commanded.

Bhavya slumped down into the water basin to enjoy the water for a bit before getting out only to two men in the room.

Rudra who was sitting on the edge of the bed felt her uneasiness as now there were 3 men late in the night.

"Do not be alarmed. The King has summoned you. You must go."

With her hair still damp Rudra could see the water soaking through her clothing so he stood up to grab a robe from the drawer and draped it around Bhavya who was slightly trembling.

"Do not worry. Dandi and Ranveer are honorable men. You do not have to be afraid."

Dandi: Thank you General. We are very sorry to bother you.

Rudra looks at Dandi and Ranveer before returning back to his bed.

"It is fine. But Dandi....I expect her to return to me in one piece."

Dandi bows his head down at the General's light threat. "Of Course General."

Bhavya who did not know why the King of Mordis needed to see her now was now very afraid.

"Do...I need to bring my medicine pouch?"

Ranveer: Yes.

When Bhavya heard his answer her mind was at ease. "Okay. He needs me for my medical skills." Bhavya thought.

Walking through the halls of Mordis Palace Bhavya was enamored by how everything was sparkling with the moonlight shining down from above. It was true that Mordis was filled with diamonds but to see it first hand was bewitching. Black diamonds that sparkled just as bright as a clear diamond in the daylight was magical and having it all line the walls and pillars of the palace made it breathtaking. When she climbed the stairs to the upper floor she became speechless. Unlike the second floor this place seemed cold and when she arrived at the designated place she could see the huge black door made out of some kind of stone with a black diamond as huge as her head mounted in the center.

Dandi: Your Majesty she is here.

She could hear his voice echo through the huge door and by now Bhavya wished she could return back to the General because at least with him she felt a bit safer.

"You two stay there and let her in." Omkara ordered.

Dandi hurriedly opens the door for Bhavya to enter alone and when she saw The King of Mordis stand by his bed her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

"Your Majesty called me?"

"Come here."

Feeling the sweat dripping down her back Bhavya slowly walks over to Omkara whose gaze was staring at someone on his bed. When he pulled back the chiffon curtain that surround the huge round bed fit for a king Bhavya gasped in shock.

"Princess!!!"

Laying on the bed with her entire back exposed Bhavya couldn't stop her tears from running down her cheeks as she rushed to her Princess's side.

"Princess! What happened?!"

Omkara: No time for your questions. Do you have the medicine for her? She is burning up.

Bhavya quickly digs in her pouch for a fever reducer and inserted it into Gauri's mouth.

"This should help rid of her fever."

"How about her wounds?"

Bhavya was too familiar with these wounds and her heart ached for her Princess.

"She must have suffered from the whip again."

When he heard of the word "again" Omkara thought back of the wounds he saw back when they were in the cave and he remembered how she had asked for his help to apply the ointment.

"You have the ointment?" Omkara asked.

"Luckily I made a lot to use for the General."

But when Bhavya as about to use a cloth to wipe the blood away before applying the ointment her eyes saw something troubling. Using her finger to touch the grainy substance Bhavya yelled out in shock.

"No!"

With just a slight touch Gauri yelled out in pain.

"AHH!!"

Omkara: What is wrong! Why is she in so much pain?! Did you not give her medicine?

"I did! but...."

"But what?!"

"This is salt.....it's deep inside her wounds I need to wash it off before applying the ointment."

"SALT!!! THEY PUT SALT IN HER WOUNDS?!" Omkara roared.

"Leave the ointment and medicine. You may leave."

"But your Majesty! Let me tend to my Princess! I need to soak her in warm water to rid of all the salt."

As much as Bhavya tried to please with the angry King of Mordis she was soon shown the door.

"Return her back to the General. Make sure that no one is to know that Princess Gauri is here."

Dandi/Ranveer: Yes your Majesty.

Seeing the door close behind her Bhavya reluctantly left her Princess's side to go back to the General.

****************************

Gauri could feel someone lift her up and when the warm water hit her entire body her eyes fluttered opened. She could see his eyes were filled with worry as he held her in the water.

"How are you feeling?" Omkara asked.

"Where am I?"

Brushing her hair away from her face Omkara held her waist tighter.

"Mordis."

**I hope you guys enjoyed this update. Don't forget to vote if you did 😊. Do let me know what you think about Ruvya's story so far 😊 Hopefully I can give one more update this week.**