Chapter 63

He stood out on her balcony with Ari sitting close by hoping that just maybe she would come back earlier then the propose 11 days. He felt the days since she left were now exceptionally long. The heavy snow had covered the land of Mordis and with the bright moon shining down it was as if night did not exist; the day felt endless. Suddenly he felt Ari's soft head pressed against his leg.

"You miss her too Ari? Do you suppose she is also thinking of me?"

Patting Ari's soft black fur and with a somber smile Omkara let out a dispirited laugh.

"Do you know what she finally said to me Ari? She finally said...she loved me...and just like that....she left. Fell down off this very balcony. Only she.... could do that to me."

It seems that he couldn't stop himself from coming here whenever the sun had set. Even his thoughts and sighs were becoming a routine.

Through Ari's eyes she could see him looking down at her with a smile that pained her. The thought of sending him word of her whereabouts did cross her mind but she knew him too well. The moment she would reveal that she was in Fray he would surely come for her. However, with Svetlana and Riddhima now in Mordis there was no way she would allow that because knowing Svetlana, the woman does not come early without reason. Suddenly she sees Omkara's eyes narrow as he looks away towards another direction.

Not wanting to disturb his King Ranveer reluctantly knocked on the door. "Your Majesty. Princess Riddhima asks to see you."

She chose a very beautiful lavender chiffon nightgown to wear underneath her white cloak in hopes to catch his eye. She even let her hair down like Gauri usually wore hers. With her long locks cascading down her back and her lilac veil over her face Riddhima truly looked like Gauri from the past; and that was exactly what she wanted. The thought of seeing his dark warm eyes look at her the way he did with Gauri made her heart flutter with expectations. As she waited to hear his voice on the other side of the door after having one of his men announce her arrival Riddhima took one last look at herself.

"I need just one chance...." she thought to herself but despite all her efforts that chance was not now.

"Tell the Princess it is quite late and to never disturb me while I am visiting Lady Gauri's chambers."

"Yes Your Majesty."

When Ranveer turned around he could see that there was no need to repeat his King's words. Riddhima bit her lower lip hard to stop herself from saying something she would regret. It was only when the metallic taste hit her tongue did she realize she was bleeding. She angrily turned around and headed towards her room that she shared with her mother.

Svetlana had just return by using the secret passageway when she saw her daughter enter their room. Seeing Riddhima throw down a full set of teacups onto the floor Svetlana knew that this girl had done something unnecessary during her absence.

"What happened?"

Riddhima resented seeing how calm her mother was while she had just been gravely insulted.

"He does not respect me at all! He doesn't even give me face!"

"You went to see The King of Mordis? Didn't I tell you to not doing anything rash? All you had to do was play out a scene for the people of Mordis to see. Instead....what are you wearing? You think seduction will work on him? Naive."

Clenching her fists Riddhima stomps over to her mother who was now sitting at a small table sipping on some hot tea.

"Did you know what he said to me?! He said that no one is to disturb him while he is visiting Gauri's room! Gauri's room! She isn't even here! Even her room is more important!"

Svetlana's lips suddenly curves up while she lets the hot tea warm her lips.

"To be exact Riddhima. I bet even the ground she had once set foot on is more important to him then you."

"Mother!"

Placing the empty cup down on the table Svetlana takes out the mask she had just made in her secret lair.

~Flashback ~

After her tryst with Tej and making sure he was still fast asleep Svetlana quietly exited their bedroom but not before lighting a candle that will ensure he would sleep for hours. Every step she took was all too familiar as she made her way down the narrow hallway and beside the flower portrait was her lair. Her smooth hand reached out to pull on the candle holder that triggered the hidden wall to open. As she entered the dark steps she made sure to close the wall behind her and once it did the candles along the small walkway lit up.

It took her years to make this place. She had to hire people to dig from the outside to not alarm Tej and his men. Thankfully back then Tej was too busy scheming against his own brother to ever noticed. Seeing the bottles of poison all lined up against the walls as well as her large mortar and pestle Svetlana's eyes brighten with delight.

"If only I could have hauled this to Ashen then maybe Riddhima would have already been able to capture the King of Mordis's heart."

Unfortunately this mortar was not just an ordinary one. Her mother had used her own blood when creating it. Self poisoning herself to make a mortar that could help mold clay into any face you desire took her mother many nights as well as sacrifices. An object like this required lots of things that her mother refused to tell her. She even almost died at one point but the outcome was worth it. Unfortunately before her mother could ever use it death had befall her but today it was going to finally pay off. Svetlana was very thankful that her mother had always kept a book with clear instructions on how to use the mortar and pestle. As she sits down Svetlana started to touch her own face. "Without it....how could my original face ever catch Tej and Kali?" Her wicked smile reflected off the bottles did not dull her beauty in the slightest as she reached for the clay tucked in a silver box.

It took her 2 hours to finish the mask and when she held it up towards the light her grin was evident enough of her success.

"Perfect."

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When Riddhima saw the skin like mask on the table her face couldn't hide her disgust.

"What is that?"

She held the mask in her hand "This is what will make you Queen of Mordis."

Riddhima took the mask from her mother's hand to take a closer look.

"You won't be able to tell until you put it on. Come. I will help you put it on."

Riddhima obediently sat across from her mother who carefully set the mask over her face.

"It's burning my face mother!"

"Quiet. It's a small price to pay!"

"What?!"

Svetlana ignored her daughters complaints and continued to place the mask perfectly.

"Go to the mirror and take a look." Riddhima hurriedly ran to the small makeup table and became speechless.

"What do you think Riddhima? Identical isn't it?" Svetlana proudly asked.

Still in shock Riddhima ran her fingers along the bridge of her nose and her soft lips.

"I look exactly like her! How is it possible?!"

Svetlana was still appreciating her work as she sets a small bottle on the table.

"When the time is right make sure to drink this."

Riddhima grabs the small vial "What is it?"

"Silly girl. Do you think looking like Gauri is enough? You will also have to sound like her. But I only have time to make this much so you will have only one chance. Remember...you will have to wait until everyone has made it to Mordis. They will arrive two days before the signing of the treaty. Till then just make sure to make a good impression on his people."

Riddhima looks at herself once more in the mirror and nodded obediently.

"Can I just have her face forever?"

"Nonsense! You are to be crown Queen of Mordis not Gauri. Do not let your greed for beauty misguide what is the main goal here. Besides the longer the masks stays on the more damage you original face will endure."

Riddhima then sees her mother pick at her own face lifting what seem to be a mask.

"Mother?!...."

She was left with fear as she saw half of her mother's face that lied beneath that smooth skin she was always jealous of.

"You see...if you wear it too long...you will end up like me. To make sure the mask remain in good shape I have to rely on those expensive creams."

The skin underneath looked horrendous. The chemical burn alone left the skin raw and red. Riddhima was unable to look at it any longer and begged her mom to put the mask back on.

"We will fine a way to cure your scar Riddhima but do not covet this mask. I made that mistake and now I can't even recall my true nature."

"Actually...the Princess has an ointment that will cure my scar mother. Before Gauri left she had made it. I want it."

Svetlana gently pats her daughter's hand accompanied by an evil smile. "Once Queen you will not have to ask and she will giveth."

Mordis Northern Border

Bhavya could hardly lift up her face without blushing. To have him carry her all the way back to their tent was beyond embarrassing. What was worse was when he punished the two guards that she had bypass in order to find him. When she tried to take the blame he commanded her to go inside and wait while the men had to obediently carry out their punishment. The moment Rudra returned inside Bhavya quickly came to his side.

"It was my fault General!"

"I know."

"Then..then why did you punish them and not me? What do they have to do?"

"Because they are my men and to let a little woman escape without the slightest clue is unacceptable. You do not need to know what they are doing. Your job is to tend to me."

Seeing him try to remove his armor Bhavya quickly came to his aid when she remembered seeing blood earlier.

"Why do you not let me come with you? Everyday you over train like this will only make your wounds worse. Medicine will not work if you don't take it easy."

He found it amusing just how quickly he could divert her attention and seeing her worry about him made him smile.

"It's not a place for you."

"Why not? I won't be in the way."

"You are a distraction to my men."

"What? Then I can dress up as a male soldier. I fooled a few when I was trying to find you earlier."

As she continued to bandage him up she felt him wrap his large arm around her waist and hoisted her onto his lap.

"You will distract me; regardless of your attire."

Her cheeks felt like it was on fire but she wasn't going to back down either. "Well...that is your problem. I want to do my job well."

He could see that if he didn't concede to her that she will surely try to sneak out again and after seeing his uncle hold her earlier he had already decided to let her follow.

"Alright then. I still have to go back and monitor my men train."

Her eyes widen "Then why would you bring me back here?! We could have just stayed there!"

"I don't like your choice of clothing. You should not wear men's clothing. Especially mine. It's distracting. You can just wear your own from now on."

It took only a minute for Bhavya to understand what he meant and the heat from her cheeks traveled all the way up her neck and to the tip of her ears.

"Help me change back into my armor and then you can change into your own clothing."

She didn't dare to look at him as her fingers continue to tremble as she helped him with his armor and to her dismay the big General in front of her didn't ignore it.

"Why are your hands shaking?"

"No..nothing. Just a bit cold."

The corner of his lips lifted as he noticed her rosy cheeks and so the teasing continued.

"And you say you want to follow me."

He had succeeded yet again in distracting her thoughts when he saw her angry eyes finally finding the courage to seek his. "I will follow you!"

True to her words the little maid tried her very best to tolerate the frigid cold of the Northern Border. He even felt sorry for her and so when the sun started to set Rudra disperse his troops to return early for supper.

However, just when Rudra was about to have one of his men set some food out on the table inside his tent for Bhavya and him one of Abhimanyu's men stood outside.

"Greetings General. The Great General does not feel well. He asks if your doctor could come and check on his well being."

Bhavya quickly looks over at Rudra in fear and hoping he would do something to help her.

"Alright. She will be there...."

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When Gauri opened her eyes the very next morning she saw a silver dress propped up on by her vanity table. She stood up to appreciate the beautiful silver dress with dragon scales cascading down the back. The maid quickly came over to the future crown princess of Fray.

"My lady. This is the dress the Queen has picked out for the Crowning Ceremony."

Gauri nods her head and proceed to let the maid help her. With her hair pinned up to let the beautiful dress enhance her natural beauty and the decision to only apply minimal makeup made her look like a goddess bestowed from heaven.

With every step towards the Royal Hall where the guards were all bewitched by the beauty of their captivating Crown Princess, Gauri slowly made her presence.

"Greetings grandmother."

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