She crept out of her chambers and walked through the secret passageway.

"Come on Poonam" Chitrangada urged as she rushed towards the stables.

"Your Highness! Don't you think we should stay back? Her Majesty would be furious "Poonam said nervously.

"Relax! it's not the first time we are going hunting on our own. Mother must be used to it by now, " She chuckled.

"It looks cloudy your Highness what if we get caught in a thunderstorm?"

"That's even better I won't be getting tanned in the sun, hence mother won't get angry" Chitra laughed.

As the wedding day was approaching the restrictions around Chitrangda had increased. She was forbidden from leaving the palace grounds. There were tutors and nannies giving her lessons on Royal etiquettes all day.

Like a bird trapped in a cage, free-spirited Chitrangda longed to feel the air on her face as she rushed through the fields.

About a month before the wedding she had enough and decided to creep out through a secret passageway. She had accidentally come upon this during her explorations. It was probably built by one of her ancestors which was forgotten over time.

There was a secret door in the stables which led outside the Palace boundaries through a tunnel. It was probably used for transporting war material during a seize. However, it was neglected and abandoned until Chitra stumbled upon it.

She often used this to go out without her bodyguards. It was unsafe, but she hated being escorted like a child everywhere.

She mounted her favorite horse Chetak and Poonam took another horse.

"Don't worry we'll be back soon. No one will find out" Chitra assured Poonam who was still nervous.

Soon they were riding towards the Dandak Forests. It was a cloudy day with rain clouds forming huge giant shapes in the sky. Chitra wanted to savor every bit of freedom she could have before being sent off to Patan.

As a future queen, her life was going to be regulated. Vikram's grandmother The Empress dowager was an extremely strict lady. She openly disproved of Chitrangda's rather reckless nature and carefree upbringing.

With a tinge of sadness about her impending fate, Chitra rode quicker. Lost in her thoughts, she did not realize she was already quite deep into the forest.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!" Poonam called out.

Chitra slowed and turned back. Poonam was gesturing her to stop. She pulled the reins and stood waiting as Poonam caught up.

"Your highness we have been riding for hours, let's go back."

"We have just reached here Poonam; Let's hunt something first."

Poonam looked around nervously. They were surrounded by tall intimidating trees.

"I don't feel good, it looks dangerous here. We should leave."

"What nonsense! I command you to stay quiet, and follow me" Chitra said.

Poonam meekly followed her as Chitra rode slowly ahead admiring the scenery. A rustling sound alerted them and Chitra stopped in her track. She looked around unsheathing her sword.

"Well well!! Look what we have here" A booming voice said.

There were 10 of them, probably more in the hiding. They were dressed in black, their faces covered by black clothes. Only their menacing eyes could be seen.

Poonam screamed and came close to Chitrangda.

"Bandits!" Chitra thought.

She shivered under their menacing gaze. Her skin crawled as they appraised her top to bottom.

"When I ask you to run just run towards west, don't look back" She whispered to Poonam.

Trying to look confident she faced those men and said "What do you want ?" she croaked trying to be brave.

The one in the front who was probably the leader said "Get them".

Chitrangda panicked and shouted at Poonam "Run! now!".

Poonam nodded and before she could respond, Chitra kicked her horse and rode in the opposite direction. Poonam knew what she had done. She had split both of them so that Bandits would be confused for a second whom to follow.

This split-second could give them an advantage.

Poonam rode away as fast as she could hoping Chitrangda's trick would work. There were shouts as bandits scrambled to follow them, she did not look back to check how many were followed her. She just rode blindly as fast as she could.

"Princess please be safe" she prayed silently.

Chitrangda rode through the vegetation. Her skin getting scratched by sharp twigs, she was not bothered she had to get away. A sharp pain shot through her arm

"Arrows!" She thought an arrow had grazed her arm. She did not dare turn back, to check how many of them were still chasing her, she could hear them shout profanities. Suddenly the world turned upside down and she fell back hard with Chetak.

Her horse neighed in pain as the arrows pierced its pristine white body.

"No!" She shouted and sat up immediately ignoring the throbbing pain. She cradled the horse's head as it died, his white body now covered with patches of red. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as it started to rain.

Tears mixed with the raindrops running down her eyes.

"Come on little birdie, stop playing hard to get" That familiar menacing voice called.

She shuddered, afraid to look up "Is this how I will die?" She thought.

"What are you waiting for! Get her!" He shouted at his men. They rushed forward.

"No!" she screamed and scrambled back into the trees trying to avoid their touch. There was more shouting, screams of men being slain.

Something was happening but it was too dark to see. She felt dizzy, and her head throbbed in pain.

It happened in a flash. She was grabbed by strong arms, flung across a horse as it started to rain harder. She felt the rain drenching her but was too delirious to open her eyes instead she shivered in the cold rain. Her head throbbed with each hoofbeat.

She opened her eyes, only to shut them quickly, fear gripped her. The sounds of the horse galloping at full speed was nothing compared to seeing the ground so close, only to see it flying by. Chitra was strapped across the saddle, in front of the rider, her hips on the saddle, her head and legs hanging helplessly over both sides.

Chitra felt a large hand press warningly against her back, which only caused her to struggle more.

"Stop your squirming or you'll fall from this horse," said the voice which she didn't recognize.

"Let go of me- please! I feel sick... I cannot stay this way..." she cried over the thundering hoofbeats.

"A little more distance my lady. I know you are cold and injured" a soothing voice called.

Then everything went dark.

Shivaditya looked at her body which had suddenly gone limp.

"Please be alive" he whispered as he rode further and further away from the bandits he had just slain.

He rode into the stables and jumped off his horse letting Jayaraj his bodyguard hold the reins. He pulled the limp body in his arms and rushed inside. She was cold and bloodied though still breathing. He caught glimpse of her face and his breath stopped for a moment.

She was beautiful would have been an understatement. For a second he thought perhaps he came across some heavenly nymph! but they were not supposed to be real or were they?

He laid her gently on the huge bed wondering what to do next.

"I need to stop the bleeding first," he thought, them looked at her injured arm.

"Get me hot water and some clean sheets, quick!" He commanded. The attendants ran to do his bidding while he stared at her exquisite face.

Though dirty and tattered she was dressed in expensive silk and jewels which meant she was from a noble family.

She moaned in her delirious state trying to sit up "Please don't touch me..let me go".

He immediately settled her back in the bed "Shhhh....lie down I won't harm you"

"Who is she?" He thought.

To be continued...