#athreya

The temple was filled with sounds of chanting and music as the tinkling of footsteps got louder. Just as the Warrior finished the pooja, the steps came to a stop.  “Vanathi, what brings you here?” it was early in the morning so Athreya was suspicious on why Kundhavai’s friend was here. “Akka, I have been told to inform you that you have been summoned to the court room in Thanjai today evening.” She stopped in her movements from applying kunkumam , she can’t leave Nandini to go to Thanjai. She took a deep breath, “Do you know why I have been summoned?” she asked as she resumed her tasks, she can just take Nandini with her.

“I am not sure akka, I think it’s about Nandini and the Elder Prince.” Letting out a sigh of resignation she nodded in acceptance. She knew that something was going to happen.

○Thanjai Palace 16 years ago, Aditha Karikalan’s birth.

Loud screams filled the usually silence filled palace. The flames danced as the rain felt endless. The blood red moon made the King’s heart thump, not knowing if this was a good sign. The shadows creeped around adding to the King’s anxiousness. The screams got louder until they stopped, the few moments of silence felt like a millennia of torture to the King’s heart, until cries of a small creature filled the air. The shadows that creeped disappeared in the King’s perspective as a midwife approached him smiling until her face split.

“A Prince has risen.” She answered the unspoken question. “And both the mother and child are healthy.” Sundara Chola could finally breathe. Maybe the blood moon was an auspicious sign afterall.

As he rushed inside to his wife, his mind went through names for the prince, until it stopped on a thought, “let the queen name him.” He thought. The flame flickered shining on the Queen’s already glowing face, her tired face filled with a beautiful smile. In her arms she held a bundle of cries. His beautiful son.

Names, politics, the throne and every other thought left his mind as he held his wife feeling blessed. He couldn’t ask for more.

The palace was unusually noisy as servants ran around, decorating the place with marigolds. The news of the birth of a Prince spread fast. The whole kingdom was engaged in rituals, prayers and hopes for a righteous and just prince, a brave warrior and a great King.

At the same time in an other part of the empire a 4 year old was looking for her lost mother. Her golden eyes terrified and teary. All she knew was that a man took her mother away. This was normal but it was the first time she didn’t return for a whole day. She probably was at the place with drunk men and loud shouting and the women with no clothes. Poor them she was glad she and her mother could got clothes from the men that took her away.

As she entered the brothel, some were startled at the entry of a child, some who knew her mother didn’t react much. She moved along a well known path where she knew her mother would be, normally crying or naked but sometimes she had a lot of money. As she entered the familiar room she saw her mother lying down, she was probably tired, she climbed up the bed to wake her.

“Amma, wake up I am hungry.” The 4year old didn’t notice the blood. She didn’t notice the rigid muscles or the cold temperature. She didn’t notice the lack of breathing for a long time. She held on to her delusion for some more time until she burst out crying. She might be young but not young enough or naïve enough to know what to do next. She took the money bag and the her mother’s mangalsutra for her memory, it wasn’t gold afterall.

If she doesn’t leave one day she would also die a death like her mother, she knows because her mother told her. She knows she has to go far away or the men will take her too, afterall they don’t care about age.

The child ran through the forest with her meager belongings in cloth bag. She knew this had to happen, her dreams always came true. She also dreamt about a warrior whom she will save, she hopes that comes true it would mean that the men were not able to take her.

She moved towards what looked like light, she could her chanting and bells. Was that heaven? Did she die on the way? She couldn’t understand before she fell to the ground, unconscious.

After a grand feast to celebrate the birth of a prince, the palace was filled with laughter and cries of a child. The new parents were content before they were interrupted by a servant. “ Your Highness, the Priest wants to meet you, as soon as convenient.” He panted.

With the same happy smile, feeling as if he can take over the world the King replied “Why? Is everything alright?” the servant was worried on what it meant for the royal family and the empire “A prophecy has been spoken.” His heart dropped.

Golden eyes opened, surrounded by chanting and the smell of jasmine incense. As she sat up, she saw a glorious statue of Shiva being bathed in milk, ghee and flowers. “You are awake child, are you well?” asked a aged woman. “Yes thaiye, I am but where am I?” The woman hummed not answering her and checked her body for wounds. “You, my dear are in Shivan Kovil at the border of Kadambur.”

Before she could speak, her stomach grumbled “Thaiye, may I have something to eat?” the woman did not speak but instead left and soon came back with a plate of food. She ate with vigour of a wild animal. The plate was clean very fast “Child, I will not ask how you hot hurt but rest assured you don’t have to go back there. My name is maithili, what is yours?” The child looked sad and answered “I do not have a name thaiye. Can u name me?” The woman pitied the poor child and then thought “How about Athreya?”

A prince is born, a warrior has risen and a prophecy has been made.

Note: Thaiye means mother. Athreya was named by her Thaiye and not her Amma. Athreya name is actually a male name but I like the meaning very much so

Athreya - Name Of A Sage; Clever; Receptacle Of Glory.

A little about

Athreya

Orphan, seer, Dark skinned, golden eyed, Dagger wielder, Archer, shiva devotee, good in politics, loves animals especially her pet tiger, Nandini's sister in arms, admires Aditha's sword wielding, First Female Warrior of The Chola Empire, doesn't hesitate to manipulate.

Background

Was found in a temple with Nandini and grew up a shiva devotee. Always had a passion for fighting and convinced the commander to train her alongside others. Later was yrained alongside Arulmozhi due to her potential and inborn talent. Started admiring Aditha after watching him duel from afar and aspired to become better than him. Forms a close bond with Arulmozhi and Nandini.

"One with eyes of Gold

Comes to love and cherish the sun.

Makes rivers of blood flow in the Empire of Tigers.

As she cries tears of wrath

The moon turns to blood and

The winds show her sorrow.

She is crownedthe Queen of the Sun's Heart"

As the Priest told the king about the prophecy, the king realized something,  the prophecy must come true or the empire will fall like a house of cards.  His son must fall in love with a golden eyed girl. He will not allow his son be the cause for the empire to hinder.

Present day, Thanjai

The golden eyed warrior walked towards the court room. The Thanjai palace was bigger than the Kadambur palace. The sunlight fell on her face, making her look like a glowing goddess. As she reached the entrance she felt a feeling, she was going to get a vision. She paused in her steps and closed her eyes.

A green eyed woman cried as she stabbed a man. she hugged the man as he fell to  the ground. The woman was Nandini but older. The man had a knife in his abdomen. According to his bracelet part of the royal family.

She knew, she knew that woman was Nandini and the man was most probably the Eldest Prince. Why would Nandini kill him? That’s the question. She was brought out by her thoughts as the she reached the huge Golden doors of the court room. The door had engravings of gods, a war and tigers, they seemed to tell a story no mortal could comprehend. As the Grand doors opened she felt anxious on what will happen next, how her sister’s life is going to change and as a consequence hers as well.

She looked at the Emperor, the air he carried himself with was majestic and screamed power. The Queen who sat next to him was the embodiment of grace and beauty. She wondered if one the if Nandini will be the one sitting there. As she got closer, she bowed.

“ I am honored to be summoned Your Highness. But anxious none the less.” The woman spoke break the silence. As she raised her head she saw the King having a shocked look. “Have a done something cruel Your Highness ? You seem pale.” She questioned.

“Marry my son” The Emperor replied. She was prepared for a lot but not this. Never this.

Aditha Karikalan was not in love. He knew it was just tension, passion of the moment or the fact that no one ever treat him like Nandini did but he knew that Nandini becoming the Queen was low. If he caused Nandini to be harmed because of his foolishness he is going to forever live in the guilt. He took some rash decisions but it was too late. He could only hope and make a vow to Lord Shiva that incase Nandini was harmed in anyway, he is never going to marry.

/In another universe, where Nandini did not have a sister this vow would play a huge role in the lives of Nandini and Aditha. They would lead a life of guilt and anguish. Thankfully the Warrior of Fate is alive in this universe./

Aditha Karikalan was going to be back in Kadambur in 2 days and he was afraid. For the very first time in his life he was Afraid and Guilty.

Athreya walked speechless. They were going to a more private place and she had requested Nandini to be summoned to the room as well. They reached the said room and sat down, a servant brought them refreshments. She was still in shock of wht she heard. Marry the Eldest prince? The one who her sister was in love with? How can she commit such betrayal? Nandini soon was escorted into the room, her fearful eyes turned into terror as she saw her sister looking dazed.

“Take a seat dear, Don be afraid.” This broke Athreya out of her thoughts and Nandini had a reasonable amout of relief in her eyes. As she sat down the tension was obvious. It could be cut with a knife.

“ I get straight to the point. Nandini I want to het your sister married to my son. Your lover. I don’t accept your relationship. You are very young and Aditha is not yet mature enough. I don’t want to see a day where you both have a fallout and blane yourselves. I hope you understand my decision and I give you the responsibility to convince your sister. She doesn’t want to do anything behind your back.” Nandini teared up. She knew that if not Aditha she can fall in love with someone else. But if her sister rejects this offer she will remain alone for the rest of her life. She will be an outcast , the one who rejected the Prince’s hand in marriage. An arrogant wrench. That is all she would be in the eyes of others. News travels fast and the walls had ears.

“Your Highness I can’t-” before Athreya could complete the sentence, Nandini closed her mouth. “She will marry the prince.” Nandini said. Athreya couldn’t comprehend the situation, her ears were buzzing and her body felt hot. “Nandini! What are you saying?” she felt cold sweats, she felt guilty. “Akka, you promised remember? When we first entered the Palace.”

It was a starry night a 12 year old Athreya held 6 year old Nandini on her lap as the cart moved towards the Palace. She had cried as the Shiva Kovil was set on fire by a pandya troop. She lost her home, her thaiye and everything. Only thing that remained was Nandini. Now as she lay on the cold surface of Kadambur kovil, Nandini asked her. “Akka, why did the Kadambur kovil people look at us like we were dirt?” Athreya knew why and she wasn’t going to hide the reason from Nandini. “Because we have no identity chellame. We are poor orphans.” Nandini hummed deep in thought. “Akka can you promise me something?”she asked brightly “what is it that you want dear?”

“Promise that one day you will get to a position where no one can look down on us.” She said offering her pinky. Athreya smiled and curled her own finger against Nandini’s “Promise.”

Note: That honestly made me cry, like damn I had a huge headache and a writer's block. But it's done~~~.

The breeze blew fast outside the temple, even the bells moved. The green eyed girl was sobbing as her golden eyed sister held her, whispering assurances. She looked like a warrior goddess as her dark blue skirt fluttered in the wind and the breeze ever so slightly moved her fringes away from her fierce eyes, the scars on her nose and eyebrow made her look like she was ready for war, and in fact she was ready to fight a war for her sister, no matter the fact that they weren’t related by blood.

“Your Highness! This is outrageous, she has done nothing wrong, please take back this decision, I will lay down my life this very second to make sure that Nandini stays with me” shouted Athreya, As nandini was about to get exiled. Athreya couldn’t believe how cruel someone from the royal family be, but no matter who, whether it is Princess Kundhavai or the Emperor himself she will not give up her sister. Athreya was enraged how nandini someone so innocent could be exiled for something like falling in love. She was enraged how Aditha's family was ready to punish him by taking away Nandini.

“Just be cause you are the only female warrior does not mean you can talk with such obnoxiousness. Get on your knees and apologise immediately. What nandini did was her own fault and she deserves to be punished for it. She is just an orphan who has no one to call family.” Princess Kundhavai’s arrogance had no limits, if she expects Athreya to do whatever she wants just to save Nandini then she is completely right.

“Well then Ilavarasi, I apologize. But please don’t banish Nandini.” It was embarrassing, she was one of the strongest warriors but now she has to kneel for something not even her fault. It’s okay anything to save her sister.

“Okay then, I will not banish her, instead I want YOU to leave” For a second everything went blank. Athreya should have expected this. She shivered, why was Lord Shiva punishing her like this, what had she done to deserve this!

Her golden eyes teared up as she shivered ever so slightly. She stood up with the grace no human can achieve. Her sister was sobbing.

“No, No please! Ilavarasi let my sister go, I was the one who made the mistake. PLEASE! Don’t punish her” Her sobs were music to Kundhavai’s soul.

“As you wish Your Highness, I will leave as soon as possible.” She started to move towards the temple, basically dragging Nandini. But before she could take her 7th step someone was in her way. “Arulmozhi?” The golden eyed beauty questioned.

“Hah, people have really given her too much lenience. Now she dares to call the prince by his name” The Ilaya piratti scoffed. The warrior’s cheeks were burning, embarrassed about actually being wrong this time.

“Stop this madness Sister, what are you even doing. Why are you banishing Athreya? As far as I am aware she hasn't done anything deserving of being banished.” Athreya tried to stop him, but he was avoiding even looking at her because he knew how persuasive she can be.

“Brother, you don’t know what happened. She deserves being banished, don’t interrupt me-“

“ Oh don’t even try to make excuses, I know Athreya, she wouldn’t cross any lines unless it is a life or death situation or if Nandini is involved. I assume it’s the latter. But either way I don’t appreciate you trying to banish the best warrior of our kingdom. I am sure the commander will agree, but you definitely are intelligent doing this when he is not available.” Arulmozhi definitely was not going to let Kundhavai banish Athreya because of silly jealousy.

“But brother-” “Nandini take Athreya and go home” Nandini wiped her tears and took a stunned Athreya back into the temple. While Arulmozhi was her Close friend, she did not expect he would go against Princess Kundhavai, his older sister.

“Akka, are you ok?” Nandini’s tinkling voice interrupted her musings. “ I am chellame, don’t worry about me. It’s been a long day for you go and sleep.”

“But you have been through a lot too. You worked so hard to get to a position where no one can look down on you, if Ilavarsan was late you would have lost all that, all the hardwork, all the pain and all the suffering, would have been just suffering. Today you sleep and I will do the pooja, ok?” She can’t believe how much her little one had grown. If feels as if it was just yesterday that she was a baby crying in her arms.

“As my dear wishes, I will accept your deal with one condition. When the Elder Prince comes back, you will not meet him. Alone that is.” Nandini rushed to hug her sister. She was definitely lucky.

Athreya laid down, her fierce eyes close as she heard the bells and chanting. A few hours later all the noise stopped and silence took over, the shadows of night crept up the temple walls and only sobbing remained and ruffling of clothes was heard. Athreya felt a pair of lips touch her forehead, she help Nandini’s hand as she was about to stand. “Where are you going thanggame? Bags packed, hiding your face…are you going to leave me alone in this cruel place?” The sobbing increased, as clear tears ran down the 13 year old girl’s face. Athreya sat up to hug her sister “Shh it’s okay, you didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t leave okay?” she smiled. “I promise one day I will achieve something never dared by anyone then no one will look down at us.” The golden eyed woman promised.

As the bright moon smiled, two sisters felt at peace in each other’s arms. Their only hope being that nothing seperates them.