Empire of Righteousness (When it Ends)

Chapter 244 : Archer and his Fireborn

Draupadi halts in front of her open door.

It's full moon today. Every candle is dimmed despite that her chamber is illuminating with the moon light.

Arjuna is standing in front of his own painting. The painting she drew decades ago. Every detail she draw, gentle brushing on the his face, a young prince at his prime. Now decades later, a man filled with gray hair, experienced and wise eyes, body filled with scars of battle staring at his own painting.

Draupadi slowly takes step towards him.

With each step she enters in a different dimension that Arjuna himself is lost into.

Maids are looking at themselves worried and scared.

Today is finally a very destined day. A day where their princess finally marries the man she loves.

Marriage with the archer who's eyes shot the arrow of love straight in their princess's heart.

"Rajkumari... the time is nearing...please let us..." the maids plead.

"No," Draupadi grits her teeth, "I am clad in the same red garment I am supposed to. Don't any of you dare touch me! I won't get ready more than this."

Maids look at each other not knowing what to do. Draupadi has refused to get ready and the ceremony in delayed. They don't know what's gotten in their princess's head but Draupadi is furious.

"Disperse," Krishna enters the chamber.

The maids leave.

Draupadi turns away from her sakha, "Don't touch me, Sakha!"

Krishna purses his lips with his usual divine smile. He comes closer and gathers his sakhi's cloud like hair that flows till her knees.

"Let m..."

Draupadi swats his hand away angrily.

Krishna's smile grows. He gathers her hair again. Draupadi swats his hand again and moves away.

He pretends to be tired, "Both of you will be death of mine! Go see the chamber he stayed! I swear on Narayana's name he launched Brahmastra there! Every single plate, glasses, curtains there he shattered!"

Draupadi's face grows a little concerned and Krishna takes advantage of it.

"What can I even say?" Krishna sighs longer than necessary, "He lived in forest too much. Now that he finally got a princess in hold, he is so desperate to hold her."

"Why dress me up?" Draupadi accuses, "I have already been a bride twice, a wife in every sense of his older brothers. You Partha doesn't feel an ounce of shame looking at me as a man looks at his woman?"

Krishna keeps distance from her playing with the hem of her achal humming wedding songs.

He smiles at her mysteriously, "Can a man be jealous of his shadow? Pandavas aren't five but one. My Partha is devoid of jealousy, Krishnaa."

Krishna gently guides her in front of the mirror and sats her down. He begins to brush her hair.

"But yes," Krishna teases, "If he manages to get jealous, that's your spell then, Krishnaa. You made a man jealous over his own shadow."

Draupadi's eyes moist and she whispers, "Such great man your Partha is, he doesn't feel something as petty as jealousy. I am the stone heart woman. Say O Madhusudana, does your Partha feel love? Is he capable?"