The tent set up for the War Council loomed over the battlefield, waiting, for the tides of fate to take one of its abrupt turns. The rules of the war were to be discussed here, rules which would be broken a thousand times over.

 On either side of the war room, there were comparatively smaller tents housing the various royal families and other important officers who had come to take part in the war. There were also cooks and flag bearers and servants of various ranks. Court poets were present to weave the songs that would come out of this fabled war. In short, Kurukshetra was buzzing with life for the first time in forever.

Advaita felt lost amidst all the people in the council room. She hadn't seen this much of royalty, gathered in one place for goal since the Rajsuya yajna. Those were times of peace and this was war. A war that was going to change everything, bring on a new world order.

The Kings from all over Aryavart weren't used to waiting or sitting patiently but for now, they did it anyway. Their eyes fixed on the descendants of the mighty Bharata because even though the meeting was supposed to be a discussion of rules amongst everyone, they were the only people that mattered.

The last person to enter the tent was Mahamahim Bhishm. Everyone stood up in order to show respect. He stood at the center and requested everyone to have a seat. He was a myth among warriors and at that moment it didn't matter which side , who was fighting for, that man clad in white as pure as his mother had everyone in a trance. He sat down and everyone followed suit. He drew in a deep breathe and started, " Today we have gathered here to set the ground rules for the war that has brought us all here to this blessed lands of my ancestors." The Mahamahim stopped and looked around the room, some people nodded in agreement with him. For a moment his eyes locked with Advaita's and the sadness in his eyes made her shudder.

One by one everyone started listing their ideas for the rules. Some were rejected or accepted without any debate and some were debated over for hours. The rules were pretty simple, any honourable  person weren't likely to break them but Advaita knew that war was a monstrous thing. Just like it  brought honour to the warriors, it also took away their souls. For the past thirteen years she had wanted this with her whole heart but now, seeing all those young faces, it all looked useless. 

She was brought back from her chain of thoughts by a nudge from her daughter who was seated just beside her. Her Great-Grandfather had stood up again, he was about to announce the rules that they have shortlisted.

Bhishm cleared his throat and started. " Here are the rules that we have decided on, I hope as people bound by the honour code of the Kshatriyas, we abide them." With this he began reading out, " Every day, the battle should start exactly at sunrise and end exactly at sunset which will be marked with the sounds of the conch shells of the maharathis.

The messengers, flag bearers and servants shouldn't be harmed at any instances.

The battle animals like enemies' horses and elephants should not be butchered unless they pose imminent danger. "

He paused for a moment and looked around the tent. Everyone was content with these rules. He took a deep breath and resumed.

"Unarmed or unconscious warrior should not be hurt. "

A slight movement caught Advaita's eyes. It was Karn. She hadn't noticed him before, for some reason he was trying to camouflage in the background.

"No singular warrior should be attacked by numerous warriors"

A few seats, to the front of Karn, Hredhaan and Abhimanyu looked restless. Advaita smiled to herself, the boys always tried to act mature but still they were just kids. They obviously hated long boring speeches.

"Only people of similar ranks are allowed to attack each other and while in a duel the weapons used should be of similar."

"The infantry will only fight against infantry, the cavalry against cavalry and elephantry against elephantry."

At this point there was a clattering sound. Shakuni had dropped a huge bowl of fruits that was placed in front of him. That man disgusted Advaita.

He is the worst of them all. She thought to herself.

Soon everyone's attention was back on Bhishma. Before reading out the next rule he seemed to search for someone particular in the crowd. Then he said very slowly, mincing out every word, "No woman should participate in this Great War."
He was looking at the prince of Panchal. No, not Dhristadyumn but Shikhandi. This was a sick joke they were playing.

"We are warriors, you have no right to take that away from us." It was Arini who spoke from beside me. "Child,'' the Mahamahim addressed "women are not made for war. It is very unsuitable for them to participate in such things."

"In Dwarka we don't believe that. My mothers and my aunts are warriors. They have trained their whole lives."
Hredhaan said supporting his sister and one of the princelings from the Kaurava side replied, "Is that why the royal family of Dwarka is not in this war? They have lost their edge fighting against women?" Their was a roll of laughter.

Advaita stood up. "Pranipat Mahamahim ." Bhishma nodded at her with a cloudy smile. "If women are not meant for war then why was Maa Shakti always called upon by the Gods in the times of war? If it was not for Maharani Kaikeyi, accompanying her husband to war, the great Suryavanshi king wouldn't have survived or even win the war. And if it was not for the Princess Satyabhama, my husband wouldn't have won against Narakasur. Women are born fighters. We fight from the very day we start breathing, for our existence, for our honour for everything. But this shouldn't be the case. I wouldn't beg to you or anyone present here to give us a chance to fight in this war. If Yagyaseni's pleas fell on deaf ears , then my request wouldn't even reach there."

She turned around to address the others present. "To everyone gathered here today, I stand here and claim that I am a better warrior than most of you. Alas! You won't get a chance to prove me wrong." Saying this she left the tent followed by her daughter.

There was a turmoil in the room, Advaita's claim had hurt a lot of people right where she wanted. They were suggesting Bhishma to let women fight. This war was different than any other then why should this rule be not changed?

Shakuni was quick to work. He had seen Advaita fight, he didn't think like his nephews, with their hearts. He knew, Advaita joining the war would be dangerous for the Kauravas and also he was worried about a certain Pandava general whom he had decided to stop with this rule. He recruited Vikarn to calm down the crowd and change the topic. The rest of the rules were read out in relatively peaceful circumstances.

Advaita was in the stable when she met Shikhandi. He seemed to have just returned from a ride. He smiled at her as soon as he saw her.

"I feel bad that I'm losing the golden opportunity to fight beside you but you know there is always a next time right?" He asked while tending to his horse.

"Oh you have been one of my heroes, my prince, I am the one losing the golden opportunity here." Advaita replied.

Shikhandi chuckled while dipping a piece of rag into a bucket, "they made the rule for me you know? They deprived the women from something they have earned for someone who isn't one. This war might be for an empire or dharm but it is also for my sister, for you and all the women around world who has been wronged. You deserved to fight."

Advaita didn't know what to say. She had heard the rumours about Shikhandi since before Draupadi was even born. But they were just rumours and obviously some bad memories for him, the Kauravas had no right bringing it up.

"You have most probably heard the rumours about me, haven't you, Princess?"

Advaita nodded in response, she didn't actually know how to verbally answer.

"You lost your right to participate in this war for me, so I think you deserve the whole truth about me. Do you want to know it?" Shikhandi asked in an apologetic voice.

"Women have never been given these rights and in a war like this, I didn't expect anything to change. Maybe in the future their will be female warriors who will be able to fight for this great country. Don't blame yourself for this, my prince." Advaita then sat down on one of the greasy tables in the stable. "But if you want to share your truth with me, I'll count myself lucky and I'll not share it with anyone unless you want me to." She said with a smile.

"You have heard about the Princess of Kashi, Amba?" Shikhandi asked.

"She was the oldest sister of my grandmother, her story has been passed down the family in a very hushed manner nevertheless we know it's a very tragic one.''

Shikhandi let out a sarcastic chuckle, "Very tragic indeed! But tell me princess, when Amba's story was told to you did you see any flaws of your beloved Pitamah in it?''

Advaita had venerated her Pitamah Bhishm all her life, especially when she was growing up. Back then he couldn't do anything wrong and therefore how could he have flaws in a story that was nearly a myth? She couldn't meet Shikandi's gaze.

"He destroyed the life of Princess Amba in the name of his dharm and now it doesn't even seem unreal does it? His dharm is so important to him that he'll support adharm to keep up with it-", Shikhandi stopped himself from saying whatever he wanted to say next. Advaita knew he was thinking of his sister, of Draupadi. The memories of the dyutsabha still made her shudder.

Shikhandi had regained most of his composure, he started speaking again. "Princess Amba led a life of penance and when she died, the fire of her revenge was so strong that it created a new life, me. Like my siblings Draupadi and Dhristadyumn I was also born to take revenge. Isn't it funny? Even if we wanted we wouldn't be able to lead a normal life." He sighed.

"Before I was born the Lord Shiva told my parents that they would have a girl child who would later become a boy. For this reason my gender wasn't revealed at birth. My family uh they brought me up as a son and that's all I have ever known, I have ever been. Then my life crashed after my marriage. My wife, she told me that I was no man, I was as much a woman as her and this was so confusing for me. At first I felt ashamed of myself but then I knew that I was a man maybe just not the way how the world wanted me to be but that didn't matter. While my father in law was enraged, I left Panchal to discover myself. And those were the best days of my life. While on my journey, I met an yaksha. After hearing my life story he felt pity towards me. At that time my biggest sorrow was not having a man's body even though I was one in my heart and mind. He told me he would give me a man's body and take my women's body for himself. It was a hard process but it brought me so much joy. I felt like I was in heaven. And when I returned to Panchal I stopped war between my father in law's kingdom and mine with enough proof and no one has doubted me ever since untill today. This is my whole truth. Do what you will with it, princess."

By now Advaita had tears in her eyes. She hadn't expected the truth to hurt this much. Shikhandi had always been a very charming person, she couldn't have imagined in her wildest nightmares that his life had been so difficult. "My prince, the people who doubt should be ashamed of themselves, you have brought so much honour to all the other men who have fought alongside you, you are no less than any of them. Thank you for trusting me enough to share this with me."

Shikhandi looked relieved and he smiled at her. Before he could say anything, Advaita spoke up again and now it was a question. "How did anyone from my family find out if it was so well hidden?"

"Your Pitamah was expecting Devi Amba to reincarnate and our kingdom wasn't an ally of Hastinapur but it was powerful enough so he had spies everywhere there and I believe that's how he knows."

"Oh!" Advaita muttered. "I wish you win in the battlefield Lord Shikhandi."

"I will try my best, princess. And if anyone refuses to fight me because of who I was born as or rather who I have never been, I'll not stand back. I'll fight them on the field and make them realise that if they can't accept me for me, they'll have to die.", Shikhandi ended with a satisfactory smile.

Advaita smiled back at him and bade  farewell to the prince of Panchal.

Oh my goodness, people!! Two years, two freaking years and I atlast finished this chapter. This is really for all of your comments about asking me to finish this story. My writing style has changed over the past years (I hope for the better) so this might feel a tad bit different from previous chapters but anyways this is for you all so I hope you enjoy it.
*SPOILER*
Next chapter will probably have Karn!!!