Evening was blur for her with medicus giving zillions of herbs and advices. Now, she was resting alone on the bed with Justus sleeping in another cot.

Unable to sleep, her tumid blackberry eyes were gazing out ahead, acutely. Steady breaths were inflating and deflating her bossom like rhyming poem while she laid there in half sitting position.

The morning was long gone tourer, afternoon was like subsided sea wave, orangish glow of evening had ebbed away leaving behind eerie or maybe serene night.

With the help of a maid, she had changed to a hand embroidered pale gown whose frilly net rested few inches above her hills. It had meticulous working of pink and brown threads which were shaped like small roses.

The ribbons which were stitched near the round neck, descended down and were tied just above the either side of the elbows in a graceful manner while beautiful fringes above the cotton were just perfect! The elastic around her waist was loose unlike gowns which were made with the purpose to squeeze in the waistline of women. All together, it was an amalgam of grace, soothe and elegance.

Sipping in the spinach juice, her face scrunched and twisted when bitter taste blasted around her tongue. She distanced it from her lips and kept the mug aside on the wooden table not being able to intake more.

Slanting her head, she looked outside towards the sky which was knitted by the finest black threads of darkness. Even moon's silver light couldn't penetrate through it, making darkness spread in sky.

(symbolising no moon night)

It was around midnight and Augustus hadn't returned yet putting her on the edge. She couldn't sleep without him and she knew that he was hiding something from her in the morning.

She closed her eyes momentarily praying for everything to be fine. Seconds later, there was creaking sound of door being opened and Augustus's head popped in who was trying his level best to not disturb Ritha or Justus. A frown settled on his face when he found Rithambara awake.

" You haven't slept yet? " saying so, he removed his woollen coat and put it aside.

" couldn't sleep without you. "

Sitting on the bed, near Ritha's legs, Augustus asked in fake surprised tone,

" Oh! Is that so? "

Rithambara hummed softly in response. Lately, everything was so tiring and exhausting for her but a smile broke on her lips when she felt her toe ring being rotated followed by her husband's voice, " I love these. As a matter of fact, your clothing and jewelries always peak my curiosity. "

Instead of responding verbally, she stared at his well sculpted face for a minute. Feeling her intense gaze on his, he stared back with a smirk.

"Can't get enough of me, sotie (wife)? "

Muffling her laugh and putting a serious face, Ritha spoke, "You know that I know when you hide something from me? "

Smirk which was resting on his face perished in a second. Since her health was still an issue, he didn't want to stress her with war information but now, that she was insisting, he had to tell her. Exhaling loudly, he stood up and sat closer to her with hesitation as he had no idea about her reaction.

His warrior hands which held swords and spades with motive to kill the enemies were now scooping her cheeks with utmost care , " our army is going to leave this palace for war after two days. "

"After two days? "

She could feel numbness spreading in her body. Oh the irony! Contrary to what is to be believed, numbness is the most felt sensation where body is in hypnotized trance of absorbing but not responding.

It was too soon to happen !

Augustus knew what Rithambara was going through. It would be a normal reaction of any wife because battles were not caution to throw in the wind. It could cost him his life. He could be dead or worst , his fate could be cruel enough to not let his soldiers find even his dead body.

He pented up his negative thoughts because fear of dying couldn't climb his bravery's mountain as tide of protecting his kingdom had his heart submerged.

Watching her tensed face, he smiled and held her protectively in his embrace which was best way of consoling. No words, yet it provided the same comfort like smell of ink would to do to a writer.

Ritha's eyes were tightly closed and the way her hands had fisted around Augustus's shirt clamping it in the process were enough for him to understand intensity of her emotions.

Augustus had gone through the phase of losing a lover and he understood her vulnerability. The mere thought of it, crumbles down the beauty of life but what could be done?

Wars are never a pleasant memory for a warrior but without them, there mere existence would perish. Once again, Goddess of irony had perfectly set her game board.

" I'll return as Rex, I promise. " spoke Augustus after what felt like eternity.

Removing her head from his shoulder, she looked into his eyes and whispered ,"You have to because you know how much I value promises. "

Of course he knew because a promise to keep the value of her father's promise, she left behind everything.

Lifting her chin upwards, he spoke in a light hearted voice, " yes, my lady! Or you would give me a choke throat. "

Giggling at Augustus's attempt of making her laugh, she shook her head.

Looking at half filled spinach juice, he glared at Ritha making her scrunch up her nose. Commanding her to drink it one go, he went to take his night bath.

Meanwhile, Rithambara pondered over the current happenings and knew that her being weak at this moment would give others edge plus, she had to encourage her husband and become his strength not his weakness.

She knew that a warrior's biggest strength is trust of his kingdom which propels him to fight.

Every family of soldiers was going through same emotions. Seeing their beloved son, brother, husband or father was frightening.

Victoria, Aurelius's wife was crying continuosly and her being pregnant was not helping either. Aurelius had hard time consoling her with saccharine words. Just like Augustus, he promised his wife to return back safe and sound but he himself didn't know whether it was true or not.

In battlefield, nobody considers promises before killing.

In other corner of the palace, Balbina was still in trauma of Aelia's death. In addition to it, Luca hadn't returned even after a day. All of it was just too much for her to take and for the first time, she defied Master's order.

With death of Aelia, eagles seemed to shatter but now, it was responsibility of remaining members to hold it together. She didn't know what future had in store for them but she knew one thing for sure and that was to kill Ritha at any cost.