CRASH!

Vikram twisted his head around as the double doors to his bedroom crashed open.

Chitra looked under his outstretched arm, silently thanking the person, whoever they may be, for interrupting him and saving her from further humiliation.

"Shiv!" she screamed.

Shivaditya stood in the doorway, his bloodied broadsword raised, his face an armourer covered in dirt and blood.

Shiv's gaze swept the scene before him. His face reddened in rage as he spied Vikram on top of her.

Shiv advanced on Vikram, grinding his teeth in anger. He pointed the tip of his sword at Vikram's throat.

"Take your filthy hands off my wife," he spat at Vikram. His anger was almost palpable.

Vikram grinned, he let go of her neck and raised his hands slowly.

"As you wish," he said. "I have already done what I needed to do."

"Get off my wife, NOW," he growled, pressing the sword into the flesh of Vikram's, neck, drawing blood, but not deep enough to injure a major vessel.

Chitra whimpered in relief as Vikram got off her.

"Now move over there," Shiv said, his sword still pressed against Vikram's neck.

"Shiv please untie me" Chitra pleaded. He looked at her battered body covered in bruises and cut,

"Don't move" he gave a warning look at Vikram who looked at them with a bored expression.

Shiv untied her knot and she slid quickly from the bed. Shiv turned to her, lifting her face gently with his fingers.

"Are you alright Chitra?" he asked, searching her face, her eyes swimming with tears.

Chitra couldn't answer as a fresh wave of tears threatened to overpower her. Instead, she leaned her head against the hard metal of his breastplate and closed her eyes, enjoying the coolness it provided. Shiv's free arm pulling her tightly against him in a comforting hug.

"Shhh," he said softly, lowering his face to kiss her head. "I'm here now."

"She is ruined Shiv, I made sure of that," drawled Vikram from across the room, waking the two to his presence.

"Shut up Vikram!" Shiv shouted.

Chitra felt Shiv bristle and pull away from her. She pulled at his hand as he was about to strike him.

"No," she said quietly.

Shiv gazed at her in utter confusion.

"Princess... You know what I must do."

"I know what your heart demands you to do Shiv - I want him dead as well," she said slowly, folding her arms over her semi-naked body. "I do not disagree with his execution - just the manner of it."

Shiv offered her his cloak which she gladly wrapped around herself.

"I don't understand, what difference does it make if I kill him here or somewhere else?"

"It matters a great deal Shiv. It sends a powerful message to your enemies that their actions will be dealt with brutally. There is no benefit in running him through with your sword in this room," she said, pausing to swallow the relatively large lump in her throat.

"But if you hang him in the city, with thousands watching - you will reap the rewards of a public execution."

"Excuse me I am a king! On what charges are you going to execute me?" Vikram was still cocky.

"On charges of killing your people. I know what you have done. This is now war. I will eradicate Gurjar-Pratihar." Shiv said angrily.

"You forgot one more charge. Raping your wife!" Vikram grinned.

Shiv lost it at that point.

His fist slammed into Vikram's face. He was hitting him like a madman.

"Shiv stop!" Dev arrived as soon as he had cleared up all the soldiers in the lower levels.

"Take him away!" Shiv said.

Dev glanced at dishevelled Chitra and dragged away Vikram without asking further questions. It was something they had to deal with on their own.

Chitra collapsed on the floor. Too tired to stand anymore.

"Chitra!" Shiv ran and kneeled in front of her.

He cupped her face forcing her to look up.

"Are you alright?"

"Shiv! please kill me."

"What nonsense."

"Everything is my fault! Countless people died because of me. I can't be your wife anymore Shiv. He...he...."

She broke down unable to speak.

He hugged her. His armour felt hard yet it was comforting.

"I love you Chitra. Nothing else matters. I don't care about anything else."

She could barely speak, she had not eaten anything for almost a day.

"My head hurts," her speech slurred and darkness engulfed her.

He picked her in his arms and carried her out of that wretched place.

Kalavati was in the King's chambers sitting near Kiritveer. He was heavily bandaged and sedated. She heard of Chitra's retrieval and immediately went towards her room.

Her smile vanished when she saw her battered state and Shiv's grim expression.

"Oh no! What happened to her?" She cried.

"She is fine, I have sent for the healer. Please attend to her and get her changed. She seems to be severely dehydrated." He replied looking at her chapped lips.

When something shatters, picking up the pieces and rebuilding it is more difficult than starting afresh. That was the case with Navsarika. Everything was in chaos. Those who survived were trying to pick up the pieces.

Shivaditya was walking briskly towards the dungeons where Ghori was kept.

"You have fulfilled your promise. Now it's time I fulfil mine. I just need one more help." Shiv announced.

Ghori looked at him expectantly.

"I need evidence and your statement that you were invited by Vikram to attack Navsarika. I also need to know who was involved in this conspiracy."

"Sure your highness but as I said everything has a cost."

"You will get whatever you want except women and children. We don't allow slave trade."

"What a pity! You lose out on a profitable business!" Ghori chuckled.

Shiv gave him a disgusted look and left. He had half mind to give a good thrashing to Vikram lodged in another cell but he decided against it. He didn't want to see his face or listen to his nonsense. It was already hard for him to get that image of him ravishing Chitra out of his mind.

He found Dev coordinating the rescue and rehabilitation.

"How is Poonam Dev bhaiya?" He asked.

"She is recovering. Though it will take time to come over the loss which she has faced."

"I have a request bhaiya," Shiv said.

"Please interrogate Vikram and get him executed. I don't want to see his face, I would end up killing him."

"Of course Shiv. I will handle that. And technically Gurjar-Pratihaar is now under our control. If there are rebellions from their provinces we'll have to handle that as well."

"I know bhaiya. It's a complete mess." Shiv rubbed his forehead.

Dev patted him on his shoulders.

"How is Chitra?" He asked cautiously.

Shiv slumped his shoulders.

"She is still sleeping."

"Go to her," Dev said.

"There is still a lot of work Bhaiya."

"Don't worry about it. I will manage everything. Right now she needs you." Dev said.

Shivaditya nodded and went towards Chitra's chamber.

Kalavati looked carefully as the maids cleaned and changed Chitrangda into fresh clothes.

"God! Who did this to you Chitra! " She was worried about its repercussions.

"Not a word about this must go out. Is that clear?" She said sternly to the maids.

They nodded.

The healer arrived.

He checked Chitra and asked them to feed her liquid go keep her hydrated.

"Maester, is she alright?" Kalavati was worried.

"She has not eaten anything and she is dehydrated otherwise there are no major injuries." He said.

"I mean something else maester. Has she been violated? " Kalavati asked.

"No your majesty, I don't think so. She is just injured."

Kalavati signed with relief. This incident could have destroyed their reputation and life.

"Which king would keep such a wife?" She thought. She was wrong about Shivaditya.

Shivaditya arrived just in time when the healer was about to leave. The healer gave him the same answer about her well being.

"I would like to stay with her." He said to Kalavati.

"Of course your highness. You can stay with her." Kalavati said.

While the maids attended to Chitra.

Shivaditya took a chair. It would be difficult to sleep on it but he wasn't planning to sleep anyways.

He leaned forwards, his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together. He lowered his head, his chin resting on his hands as he lost himself in thoughts. The happy life and the future that had been so carefully planned bled into one another and created a terrifying mess, and Shivaditya had no idea how to fix it.