It was midday when they first saw the high stone walls crest over their hilly path, high and lofty in the distance. Shivaditya had sent messengers ahead of them, as a result, the city gates were opened wide for their procession.

The soldiers hailed their prince from the sentry towers. The city itself was enormous, one of the largest on the Continent, and its sights were varying, its people diverse - it was filled with both noblemen and beggars, mercenaries and scholars, holy monks and workers.

Most of them swarmed near the procession. The streets were broad enough to allow their caravan to move on, but there was such a crowd of gawkers and onlookers that it hindered their progress, and they moved with torturous slowness. So many called out to the prince that it was pretty noisy.

In the distance, the palace rose before them, a magnificent structure that dwarfed every other building they had seen thus far. It was tall - tall enough that necks had to be craned to look upon it - but also wide and expansive, almost certainly capable of housing half the population of the city itself, if it came down to it. But first, they had to traverse a bridge.

There were more gates to cross, more checkpoints to pause at and archers to go under, making it amply clear that it was a place not easily breached. But the palace itself was grand and lavish, not above displaying opulence. Eight stone pillars lined the entrance, with ornate carvings.

And it was this that was to be her new home.

He had filled her with information about his family, during the journey. His family comprised of his father the king, of course, his mother, and a younger sister.

As the procession finally entered the courtyard, they were assailed by an army of servants and stableboys, swarming them and ready to make preparations for their welcome.

She nervously stepped out of the carriage. Right in front of her was the gigantic stairway decorated with rose petals like a red carpet. The courtyard was lined with maids and attendants who were showering flower petals on them.

He held her hand while escorting her up the stairs. She was glad she had dressed in her heaviest sari and jewellery.

"We'll take the blessing of the father and mother first. You would also be formally introduced to the court" He explained.

She nervously nodded and followed him.

When she entered the throne room her eyes grew in wonder.

Majestic word would be an understatement. The size and grandeur of the main court were beyond description. She had seen the huge Palace of Gurjar-Pratihar but this was mindblowing.

No wonder Chalukyas were one of the most powerful kingdoms.

She could see The king and queen seated on the throne and she bowed to greet them. She could tell Shivditya got his looks from his mother.

"Welcome back my son !" Bhojraj greeted.

Shivaditya bowed.

"Father I present you, Princess of Navsarika and my wife Chitrangada," Shivaditya said.

"So this is Princess Chitrangada. The enemy's woman. She is indeed beautiful. I can imagine Vallabhdev's face when you nicked her from right under his nose" Bhojraj chuckled.

Chitra didn't understand what he meant by that statement.

"I am pleased to see that you achieved your goal. Navsarika would be a very important ally" Bhojraj said.

Queen Vijaya got up from her throne and walked up to Chitra.

She lovingly placed her hand on her head and said: "I am so blessed to get such a beautiful daughter in law".

Chitra sighed with relief. Queen Vijaya was beautiful and several decades younger than Bhojraja. Chitra knew from where Shivaditya got his looks. She wondered about their age gap but having multiple wives was normal in royalty perhaps she was the youngest wife.

She was ushered from the court discreetly towards her living quarters.

There was going to be a pooja, her coronation as the Crown Princess, and then celebrations.

It meant she wasn't getting much rest for now.

She was shown into another palace or a section of the palace she wasn't exactly sure.

She was greeted by a beautiful girl who seemed to be of her age. There was a strong resemblance with Shivaditya so Chitra guessed her to be the younger sister he had mentioned about.

She bowed to her and said, " Pranam Bhabhi, I am your sister in law Kamakshi."

Chitra smiled "Glad to mee you Kamakshi. The Prince has told me a lot about you. I hope we can be good friends."

Kamakshi grinned at her.

*********

Shivaditya had stayed back in the court and later followed his father to his chambers.

"I hope you handled the situation with uncle well," He said.

"Yes it was hard but I had to do it. He has been exiled to the south. He won't come back."

"But father the punishment for treason is..."

"I know. But I couldn't kill my brother! No matter what he did he is my blood after all."

"Where is Dev bhaiya ?" Shivaditya asked referring to Shubhraj's son.

"Somewhere in the palace, I guess. There was no evidence of him being involved ?"

"No father I didn't come across any but how is he dealing with it ?"

"You can talk to him yourself when you meet him. He seems to be doing fine for now but I don't trust him. Keep an eye on him."

"I will father" Shivaditya replied.

"Now that Navsarika is our ally its time to get back the Pratihars. They were part of our empire once. Long before the great war."

Shivaditya bowed "As you wish father."

Chitrangada had changed into yet another outfit that was specially sent by the queen.

She had to wear some of the heaviest jewellery she had ever seen. It was tradition hence she couldn't protest but she was missing her mom and most of all Poonam.

She wondered where was Shivaditya.

She dismissed her maids and decided to take a walk on the terrace. She was glad that her chamber opened into a large terrace full of flowering plants.

She had yet to get a tour of the Palace or anything else for that matter. So she decided to take the initiative herself and wandered around the terrace peering down at the Garden below.

" I wouldn't do that if I were you."

She turned around expecting Shiv, instead, she found another man. He was tall, good looking, and almost as tall as Shiv, from the way he was dressed she could guess he was a nobleman or royalty.

She looked at him curiously.

"Sorry for barging in, please accept my greetings."

She folded her hands in a namaste then asked: "And who are you ?"

"I am Devburman, Shivaditya's older cousin."

Chitrangda looked surprised at the man standing in front of her. Shivaditya never told her that he had a brother.

"Pleased to meet you, your highness, but why did you stop me from looking down in the garden?" She asked.

"Oh, that! The railing is pretty low so one can topple over accidentally, it has happened before."

"What? Someone died from the fall ?" Chitra gasped.

"Yes but that happened long ago. Shivaditya never told you about it?"

She shook her head.

"He was quite young then. His first wife died from the fall." The man replied quietly, looking longingly at the balcony.

Chitra felt as if the world swirled around her. She felt dizzy, holding the railing for the support she stammered.

"His first wife?"

Dev looked concerned "Are you alright?"

"I see that you two already met." She heard Shivaditya's voice, as he approached them.

She looked at him as if seeing a ghost then collapsed into darkness.