The next couple of hours wasn't easy for anyone. Nakul and Vriti remained in the trance state until suddenly Nakul expressed a desire to spend some time alone with Adrika. They also discovered Dristadyumn's body and kept it near Adrika. Although his body was destroyed his face had a beautiful smile that showed he was peaceful in his last moments. He was cremated not so long after that.

"Uttara! I'm feeling very tired." Vritika said softly to the other princess holding her.

"Han han... Let's go to my camp. It's quite there. You need peace away from all.."

       Uttara said looking around the crying and wailing healers and other women, normally the wives of soldiers. Vritika nodded. Srutakarma went with the two girls. After Vriti settle down on the bed, he said to Uttara.

"Bhabi.. why don't you also rest for a bit. I'm sitting outside if anything happens I'll inform you. You don't look so good yourself."

"If you think I look bad. You haven't seen a mirror. I think we all look the same. Sit here comfortably. I don't think with what happened.. with what we just lost. I'll be able to sleep at all." Uttara said lovingly to her younger brother in law.

"Vriti and Aadi.... I can't think of any way how they both will survive Bhabi..!" Uttara sighed before answering,

"I'm more worried about Kakashree Nakul. Atleast Vri and Aadi have all of us. And each other but Kakashree... Unka to Sara sansar hi maa thi. Unhone to apna sansar hi kho dia."
(Maa was his world. He lost his whole world.)

"It feels like we are all walking inside a dark tunnel and there isn't even a single light on the other side of the tunnel."

         They both fall silent after that. Contemplating and occasionally sobbing they both sat in silence. Until Srutakarma suddenly stood up and picked up his bow.. he felt like something very powerful was coming towards them but before he could do anything a devine astra came in speed of lightening and hit Vritika. A gut wrenching scream was heard from her and then there was a pin drop silence. For a moment both Srutakarma and Uttara were in a complete shock then Uttara 's cry broke it she started shaking Vriti unable to speak just screaming. Srutakarma ran outside yelling for Krishna.

"Maaa... Chotimaa..... Mamashree..." He painted. Everyone rushed to the tent without question. Noah ran on the other direction to find Prativindhya.

"Elder prince....!" He stopped infront of him.

"What is it Noah?" Prithvi said sending off a group of thesterals with last of healers.

"It's Vritika.. something happened.." Noah panted.

"What do you mean by something happened...?" Prithvi asked as they both started running towards the camp.

"I don't know Shree just said something happened to her."

          Noah said running after him. Everyone were panicking and crying in the camp. Aadi was trying to heal Vriti but he was not enough powerful infront of the Brahmastra. Prithvi sat with Vriti and held her hand. It was stone cold.

"Maasi.. kya hua hai ise?" Prithvi asked Subhadra. She instead of answering him rounded up to her own brother.
(Maasi.. what happened to her?)

"Have we not lost enough Bhratashree ... I saved your life once. You owe me your life. Save her. Me...  these kids... we have had enough of this war now. Save her and we will leave this war.. this land.. this kingdom.. everything. I have left no concern for the wealth or that God forsaken kingdom anymore. Save my daughter and let us be free from here. This is my one and only wish from you in my lifetime." Her words shook everyone to the core. This was the first time she was expressing her deep desire to be done with things. Arjun was about to say something but Krishna was first to reply.

"Ofcourse Subhdre. I won't let symbols of our Adrika's struggle, her children, be harmed after everything." Subhadra cried as he hold her both hand.

       Vasudev Krishn healed Vriti from the effect of the bramhastra but informed that she may remain unconscious for a very very long time. Mia was still around who was given Vritika's responsibility. Subhadra, Helisha and Prativindhya alike were getting sure that they had to leave the war zone as soon as possible in order to stop these misfortunes to happen. But there were several people still yet to come and visit. Maharaj Dhritarashtra, maharani Gandhari and Mahamantri Vidur with his wife Parasri also reached the battle ground to give respect. They were not allowed to see Adrika right away because Nakul was with her. When they were,

"The one who made sure no injustice should happen to anyone was the one most injustice happened." Mata Parasari said crying. "Adrika.... Tumhara to badhu ke tarha Hastinapur main swagat hi nai ho paya."
(Adrika we couldn't even greet you as the daughter in law in Hastinapur.)

"I always considered you a conspirator against my sons. Still while leaving you left me with a cause to live ahead." Dhritarashtra said feeling her arms to her face.

"What are you talking about Tatshree?" Yudhishthir asked.

"She appointed me the mentor of the next ruler of the Island." Dhritarashtra said. "Needless to say me and Gandhari will be going to Island with Her."

"Jiji..." Mata Kunti asked shocked.

"The one who has rights, has the kingdom now. You have the right to the palace and position. It's better that it worked out like that." Gandhari said calmly.

"You two can go by the boat, if you want, with Maa and Maasi." Prativindhya said from the corner.

"Thank you Prativindhya. I know what. You did for Duryodhan... I will wait for the day you took over hasti..." Prativindhya stopped him.

"Pitamah... I don't desire any kingdom and I am the prince of Island now. I do not have any rights to the kingdom anyways."

"But son.. you are the oldest prince of your lineanage." Vidur said.

"Mujhse nai ho paega pitamah. The very air of that kingdom call it Hastinapur or Indraprastha is poison to me. Everytime I set foot there I will be reminded of all the injustice happened. Not only in dark days but during the happy days too..."
(I can't do that)
"Prithvi..." Subhadra stopped him. Everyone knew what he was talking about.

"Sorry Maasi. Excuse me. I have preparations to do." He hurried out. Followed by all his brothers.

"Alash.. I was a bad king. But some mistakes you also did Yudhishthir. Your son may not be dharmraj but he seems to have a better understanding of right and wrong. Sambhal lo is sambhandh ko putra. Der ho gayi to sambhalne ko kuch sesh nai reh jaega." Dhritarashtra said tapping Yudhishthir's shoulders.
(Preserve this relationship from destruction when there is time son, otherwise one day there will be nothing to preserve.)

         Hours upon hours passed. And slowly everyone left Kurukshetra and reached Island. Adrika's body with all the elders reached at the end. The Vibrant City of seasons that they saw previous seemed gloomy and miserable. The city itself was a graveyard. The people and creatures alike were howling. Uloopi who was excited to see Adrika and everyone else was most heart broken. So many things she had in mind to tell Adrika. Show her the letters Iravan wrote her from the war. All her hopes were shattered. But she knew she had to stay strong for Subhadra and the kids. They didn't had time to write to her about Vriti's conditions. So it was a shock for her. But she was composed. Now she is an ascetic. Only living for Island and the kids. With Adrika she also died.

     The elders of Island took care of rituals. And as per that her body supposed to be in palace for people to see and pay respect. A long mourning period would continue with help of wizards. Amongst all this Noah came to inform Prithvi that an old foreign wizard has came. Prithvi asked him not to disturb anyone else.

"You will come with me." He said to the werewolf.

"Ofcourse." The later replied. They both greeted the wizard in a small corridor far from the hustle. He was a frail oldman.

"Greetings my Prince. I, Srivior Moonfall, from westfarthing." He bowed down.

"It's a long journey from home." Prithvi said accepting his bow.

"It is but terrible is the news. I afraid I had to come running. The rumour of inferrnals rising in the west. It's a threat. We have found a map of their origin but I'm afraid it's very old. Older than all our knowledge." The wizard said urgently.

"Forgive me but I still don't understand what is your motive here wizard lord." Prithvi asked confused.

"There aren't many that can read this map, My Lord. The knowledge is off in ancient times. We are hoping, Only the kins of the knowledgeable Adrika Idivida can read it. Where is she?" The wizard asked.

"The stream of knowledge has dried up Master Wizard... We haven't yet sent messages to our friends and allis but.. my Maa. (Deep sigh) Our Queen is no more. She fell in the war of Kurukshetra." Prithvi said with a gulp. Uttering these words itself was haunting.

"How that can be... No... Adrika.. Sister of Vasudev Krishn.. is no longer alive. The holding force of nature has been broken. This is the most awful  news has reached me in my lifetime. My Prince.. my apologies. But we had the news that she wasn't fighting in the war. How it came about.. such misfortune.. mourn.." the wizard sat down.

"There was an ambush... After the war. Maa was protecting us brothers." He answered carefully

"My child! I will not hold you up anymore. You should join your family. You should not be kept away from mourning. I'll wait in the forest for your reply as the matter in hand must get our earliest attention." He said kindly.

"That should not be necessary, master wizard. I'm unable to understand the script. My brother and Sister are in poor mental and physical health right now." Prithvi said in a no nonsense tone.

"Young Prince! The threat is real. And growing everyday. I know it isn't The Island's concern but we have always looked up to the leadership and advice of The Island in these matters." He pleaded.

"The dynamics has changed Master Wizard. Island is not stable right now. We need time and support. We lost our Queen. We lost our mother.Like you said it's not our concern. For some time it will be the best interest of our people that we concentrate on our own concerns." His wise words with an authoritative voice made the old man sigh.

"I can understand. With your permission I shall stay here to mourn our Queen and pray for her soul." He said after a pause.

"You shall reside in the university with other wizards. They are preparing for mourning ceremony of the fifth moon. They can use your guidance Master Wizard."

"Young Prince is very thoughtful." Wizard said bowing. Prithvi sighed as he left.

"You did well." Noah said.

"My first act in behalf of The Island, and I denied the help." Prithvi said.

"You are right though. We are going through a mourning period that will follow a transitioning period. Our main focus must be on our own people." Noah replied.

"My main concern is my brothers and Vriti right now. They are shattered by what happened and no kind of stress shall cross their path until they are stable and ready."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Start with sending message of Maa's passing to our friends, allis and neighbours. I don't want to have this kind of conversation again with anyone. Close all the route into the kingdom except for the trade routes. Even though, send the word that only essential item trading will be allowed. Stop the trading of luxury items immediately. The city won't import or export any silk. I know it's customary to wear only Lenin but I want to stop the trading of silk as well. Stop all the celebration, meetings and gathering for the mourning period. Limit the visitors inside the castle. My family needs time now. Send out word that until the mourning period is over commoners can no longer see Aadi, Vriti or Kakashree Nakul. If official statement needed to be given I'll talk to Mata Ulupi or Subhadra Maasi to do it. Once everything is settled." He said looking into the horizon.

"Seems like you are well prepared man. I'm proud of you. We don't expect anyone better than you to handle this difficult situation. But don't exhaust yourself. You are mourning too Prithvi. You need time too. Try to stay away from matters that aren't necessary right now. You have an excellent court to ease your way. Use them." Noah said genuinely proud.

"In a perfect world I would have take a time off from everything and stay with my family all along. In a perfect world my Maa would have been alive and well. So that's not happening. But if you want to ease my way, how about you stay with me full time as my advisor. I have talked to Alpha Aeser. He is ready to releave you from your beta duties and choose your younger brother Niger to be the next beta." Prithvi said with a smile in a very long time.

"Wow.. I.. I don't know what to say. I mean I do want to stay with you and help you. But leaving the pack.." Noah rambled in uncertainty.

"I know how much being the beta means to you Noah.. It was your father's position. I want you to know how much I value your and your contributions in our life. We always look up to you as our advisor because all the others are Maa's advisor, her friends. Not ours. The court members are her court members. I don't know them. I know you. The man who went to the war with me. In the end it's your decision." Prithvi replied softly.

"Thank you Prithvi.. I love the pack and I'm proud of my Beta title. But you are my friend and you need me. That's all matters now."

"Thank you Noah."

"And frankly Alpha Aeser doesn't need me. He is very self-sufficient. And Luna is there to help him."

"I don't know what the procedures are but I'm sure Mata Ulupi will help us figure out that. Welcome to the court."

            The mourning Island didn't know a new ruler had taken its place. The new erra had began. They had no clue that the fate of the city went to another legendary figure of the history, who was going to give direction to build society not only in the island but to the whole world.

An

Sorry for the late everyone.. I was facing some technical issues.

But atleast I did manage to make it today.. thank goodness for that.

Tell me how is the chapter....

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