The fierce clash and clang of sword on sword was clearly heard from the training grounds. 

Lilavati had wandered further from her palace this time than she ever had, soaking in the sights of her lord's city. She had not strayed into the city proper for fear of people recognising her, but had instead heard the sound of weapons and decided to investigate.

She stopped in a corner, her gaze sweeping over the training grounds and coming to rest on two men sparring with each other.

Their movements were with such fluidity and dexterity that she recognised that they were definitely masters in weaponry. A sheen of sweat was clearly visible on their bodies, the effect of training as well as the hot afternoon rays of Surya upon them. 

Eventually, one of them found an opening, and disarmed the other, his blade coming to rest on the other's neck. The other man glared at the sword and then its owner for a few moments, then laughed and pushed the blade away from his grasp. 

It clattered to the ground.

Attendants came swooping in and Lilavati stepped into the shadows, marvelling at the grace of the two warriors. 

When she noticed that the grounds were cleared except for the two men, she worked up the courage to approach them.

One of them was laughing and saying, "Well, now that we've duelled out our anger, say, do you want to grab something cool from the kitchens? I'm soaked!"

The other was about to reply, but then he noticed her walking towards them and spun to her in curiosity. His companion frowned, then looked at her and turned around as well.

Lilavati took a deep breath, and folded her hands in greeting, bowing a little.

"Pranaam. I apologise for disturbing your time, but I was curious as to who you were and wished to speak to you."

The pair in front of her studied her. 

She watched them through the lashes of her eyes, something glinting in one's eyes when it came to rest on her mangalasutra.

"You are married, hm?"

She straightened and nodded.

The one who had been speaking previously walked closer, studying her for a few more moments before he laughed.

"You are Sakha Krishna's wife, are you not? Only his wives wear that type of mangalasutra."

"He is your friend?" she asked instead, though her cheeks flushed a bit at the knowledge.

His smile broadened, and crinkles formed at the corner of his eyes—which told her he smiled a lot.

"I see we forgot to introduce ourselves to you," he said, and then joined his hands in greeting. "Pranaam, Aryae. I am Satyaki son of Satyaka—" there was a snort from his companion and recognition on Lilavati's face, for that was the man that fateful day in court who had been shouting for her death sentence, "—and a friend to your husband."

She inclined her head and studied him, now noticing the similarity of the facial features on the man before her and the one on that day. But it did seem that they had very different natures. Satyaki was quite cheerful, while his father had not appeared to be, but she could be wrong, seeing how the one circumstance she had seen his father was quite biased.

Satyaki elbowed his companion who frowned at him and then said, "I am HridikaSuta Kritavarma, and the commander of Dvaraka's Narayani Sena."

She nodded to him as well.

After a few moments, Satyaki squinted up at the sun and frowned. "Can we please move into the shadows, or at least away from SuryaNarayana's rays? It is way too hot today."

They complied, and began to walk towards the palace.

Recalling their duel, she asked, "Why were you two duelling with such fervour?"

Satyaki grinned, and gestured to Kritavarma, "It was this genius' idea. Whenever we end up arguing—which we do a lot—we spar with each other. It is actually a good way to get your anger out and lose yourself in the clash of weapons, when the only thing in your mind is how to counter your opponent. And we do have to keep up our skills, because you never know when the city is going to be attacked or when we are called to war."

While Satyaki spoke, Lilavati watched Kritavarma. The Senadhipati of Dvaraka was quite dour, she observed, compared to cheerful Satyaki who took to her addition like a fish to water.

When Satyaki was done, he looked to his friend, as though he wished him to add something. Kritavarma hummed, and shrugged. "It was whatever Satyaki said."

Then they stopped, and Kritavarma looked at her closely.

"You haven't introduced yourself properly, Aryae."

Lilavati flushed.

"My apologies. My name is Lilavati."

The two of them stared at her in shock.

Then Satyaki burst out laughing, doubling over. Kritavarma's lips twitched, and Lilavati felt a mixture of bewilderment and the desire to laugh.

Wiping a tear from his eye, Satyaki said, still laughing, "So you're Sakha's new murderer wife!"

Perhaps Lilavati should have taken offence to that, but she too began to laugh at his statement.

Kritavarma rolled his eyes and muttered, "I did not sign up for this today. Come on, Satyaki, you're embarrassing us both with this ridiculous laughter."

"You can't deny it's not funny, Kritavarma," Satyaki pointed out, still struggling to control his laughter. "Who knew we'd run into the person who has been the main source of gossip throughout the city for the past few months today of all days!"

Kritavarma sighed and then his lips curled upwards as he began to smile at the absurdity of the situation. Perhaps he had been struggling to hold in his smile, Lilavati noted, still grinning.

"Ha! I knew you were smiling inside deep down!"

Kritavarma shook his head in fond annoyance.

"We are going to get along fantastically!" Satyaki declared, throwing his hands up, to the air, to the ears of the palace, and to Lilavati, and she found that she was quite happy with this turn of events.

~

Her husband came to her almost a prahara later, quietly making his way to her chambers. 

Lilavati was still smiling almost goofily, that sort of smile that comes when you spend time with friends that make you happy. They had gone to the kitchens and had a cool drink which name she could not recall, and then Satyaki had taken them to a room and narrated tales of her husband and anyone and everyone that had her clutching her stomach in laughter, and gossiping about the latest stuff from the city, and managed to coax quite a few genuine laughs from Kritavarma.

Lilavati had been stunned the first time she heard him laugh.

And then Krishna was standing in front of her, watching her smile as her mind replayed the memories of that afternoon. He caught the memory from her and tilted his head slightly, a small smile curving his lips. 

She looked up at him silently, admiring his features and his contemplation.

Finally, he said, "I see you had fun, Lila."

Lilavati smiled at the nickname, and then nodded. 

"They make a good pair. Satyaki is very cheerful and talkative, while Kritavarma is quite dour but he does have a soft interior that just needs some coaxing."

He agreed with her observation.

His keen lotus eyes were on her, assessing her perhaps. She felt him seeking her mind, and she nodded briefly. 

What he searched for, she didn't know, but when he was done, the smile on his face was much more tender. The fire that had come with the first time he sought access to her mind was replaced by something soothing.

"You have changed."

She chuckled softly. "For the better, I hope, Natha?"

He held out a hand to her.

Smiling at the confusion on her face, he said softly, "The sunsets in Dvaraka by the beach are always the most beautiful parts of my routine, whenever I seek rest. Would you wish to join me today?"

Stunned by the request and his gentle tone, she looked at his hand and back up at him. 

She took his hand. It was still surprisingly soft, like the first time he had taken her hands in her dream. 

They walked together, lord and lost lover, kingmaker and sinner.

Other eyes were on her.

She wondered what they thought of her and her lord together. Did they appear like a powerful couple, just like he did when with the rest of his wives, or did they only see their lord and a faithful lover following like a child?

She found she cared nothing of their opinion.

They walked hand in hand until they reached the beach.

Golden waves lapped at the shore like a rushing, soothing melody, the sand crunching softly under her feet. 

The sky was awash with the brilliant colours of dusk, fading from orange to red and dotted with purple and pink. The same colours were reflected in the ocean that moved restlessly.

Her husband was right, the motion of the waves and the silence coupled with the beauty of the sunset was soothing.

Krishna's hand was still soft in her grasp.

The silence between them felt comfortable.

Softly, she whispered to him and to the salty air, "I love you."

The ocean laughed at her feet, the wind tickled her ear. He smiled at her and tucked her hair behind her ear.

She hade never felt so much at peace.