Yudhisthir's heart pummeled with dread, years of training kicked in.

Terror spearing his movements faster.

It was fastest he had run in his life, dodging and jumping over the furniture, he wrapped his hand on her wrist.

Tugging her sharply.

A surprised scream left his wife's lips, slamming hard against his firm muscled chest.

His arms instinctively wrapping around her petite frame, pulling her harder against himself.

"Panchaali."

Relief and dread tangled in his words, creating a poisonous broth of emotions.

Burning him from within.

Had he been even a second late. . .

The thought sparked a dread so deep, that breathing seemed an impossible task.

He almost lost her. . .

He almost lost her. . .

The thought spun in his mind in a deadly circle, blazing an ache in his chest.

Pressing his nose in her hair, breathing in her soothing fragrance, he tried to calm his palpitating heart.

A lone tear tracking down his cheek.

What if he hadn't reached on time?

He shook his head, refusing to even think about it.

"Drau." He heard his brothers' panicked voices, they surrounded him. Dread masked their expression.

Lightening the haze of terror that had fallen over him.

Never in his life he had ever seen his brothers this scared, and he was pretty sure his expressions matched theirs.

The protective and fatherly instinct towards his brothers, forced him to push his pains down.

Their pain, their fear, always came before his. Seeing them in such dread, had his protective instinct of an elder brother kindling, he wanted to wipe those expressions off.

The terror that he had felt in that one millisecond, was unlike anything before, nearly paralyzing him.

Nearly ceasing his heart mid beat. Words had escaped his mind, as he tried to assure himself that she was fine.

That he had inturn reached to her in time, that she was safe. The pulsing agony in his chest eased, dread losing its clutch over the beating organ.

Pressing his lips to her forehead, he breathed in her natural scent, calming his senses.

She's fine.

It was a mantra, that constantly played in his mind.

"You okay?" He found his voice once again, after what seemed like forever. Cupping her cheeks in his calloused hands he voiced his concern.

"Yes, I am good. Arya? What happened?" Confusion weaved every word that left her mouth , concern bubbling in her, noticing  fear in his eyes.

He just shook his head, unable to speak. The relief was too great, and she?

Too precious.

Ease flooded the systems of the pandavas, gazing at their wife.

Barely holding back the instinct to crush her in an embrace.

Yudhisthir stepped back, seeing the need in his brothers' eyes, to hold her.

To assure themselves.

He didn't want to let go, he wanted to hold on, to be selfish for once.

But if she was his wife, they were his brothers, if she was his soul, they were all one body.

How could he ever ignore their needs?

Pressing a warm kiss on her forehead, he released the cage of his arms, not willing to move behind.

It was probably the most difficult thing he had ever done, had it been anyone else he would have not even let her out of his reach, let alone touch her.

But this were his brothers, his soul. He trusted them more than himself.

"Oh you silly woman." Relief rang through the words of the best archer of Aryavart. Wrapping his fingers around her wrist, he pulled her in his arms.

"You scared me to death. For the love of lord! Don't ever do that again." Terror tinged his words along with relief, the cocktail of emotions, driving him bonkers.

"Do what?" Confusion and concern rang in her words, her eyes scanning the worried expressions of her husbands.

"Shh, just let me hold you please." She didn't like one bit the fear in his words, never had she seen any of them so worried.

Like someone had practically snatched their souls out of their bodies.

Wrapping her arms around him, she let him absorb her warmth.

Arjun tightened his hold, her familiar smaller, warm frame against his, assured a sense of completion in him.

His heart calmed a bit, pressing a kiss on her forehead.

He pulled back, cupping her cheeks, resting his forehead against hers.

Shutting his eyes, he just held her closer, just letting his palpitating heart, feel her proximity.

Opening his eyes, they clashed with his other three siblings, though he wanted nothing more to hold on, he let go.

His bond with her was true, so was with his brothers. If he couldn't see her in pain, he could never imagine them seeing in fear.

His arms releasing her, and into theirs.

A lone tear traced down Sehdev's cheek, wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her hard against his chest.

Embracing her fiercely, like his life depended on it.

On her.

"You scared me so bad. I swear you'll be the death of me." Terror tainted his words, mixing with the silver of relief.

Cutting every word that she wanted to speak.

To ask.

"I am so sorry." She really had no idea what she was apologizing for, but she did it none the less.

Fear on their face was not something she was fond of seeing.

"I am fine." She assured, her little hand wiping the tear that had tracked on his cheek.

"Please." Agony rang through her words, making her voice wobbly, she hated tears in their eyes.

It sparked an ache so deep, that it webbed in her heart.

He just shook his head, his hands tightening around her. The muscles that he build over years of training, bulging, embracing her with a fierceness.

"Didn't I tell you, not to touch anything?" He scolded, his voice more watery, than angry.

Relief was a sweet emotion, one that he never knew could be this gratifying.

"I am so sorry, arya." She repeated the words, concern piercing every syllable.

Trying to ease the agony that masked his features

"Oh Drau, what am I to do with you little one?" He asked more to himself that her, pressing his lips to her forehead.

She just let him hold her, leashing in all the questions that wanted to pour out of her lips.

Nakul embraced her hard, kissing her forehead. His throat tightened, the image of his mother's dead face flashing in his mind.

He nearly lost her today. . .

The thought aroused a bone chilling terror, a heart crushing ache had his breath knocking out, clutching her harder, he shut his eyes.

Stomping down the zillion scenarios that nearly spelled her death.

An unexplainable pain throbbed in his heart, making it pulse painfully hard.

"Arya, I am fine." She whispered, sensing his distress, rubbing her hand over his heart.

The soothing rhythmic motion, settling his palpitating heart.

Sighing, he pressed his lips to her forehead.

"Someday you'll be my demise..." He whispered, her fingers pressed against his lips, worry clouding her features.

"Arya." She said in a scolding tone, eliciting a grin from him. Concern masked his features, but he forced a smile, trying to ease the pain that mirrored his.

Though he himself was in agony, it was bizarre to him about how he cared more for her well-being than his.

How the need to sooth her pain was instinctive, no matter how he felt.

"Please don't ever say such words." Her words wobbled, his heart clutched, caressing his thumb over her bottom lip, he just stared at her.

Taking in her concerned expression, the fine glimmer of fear didn't go unnoticed as well, he sighed.

"Than stop endangering yourself." He whispered, "Don't you understand? Every time I see you almost falling to your death, I die too." Honesty tangled with agony.

Reflecting his turmoil.

"Arya. . ." Her voice faded, words abandoning her.

What could she say? What does one say to reply something like this?

Holding her gaze, he slowly released his arms from around her.

"You are too precious Drau, I can't ever lose you." He whispered pressing his lips on the back of her hands, making her heart skip a beat every time.

Sparks lightening her body, where his lips touched.

Bheem pulled her in a bone crushing embrace, his lips pressing on her forehead, wild thundering of his heart eased, the moment her soft body pressed into his hard one.

More powerful than anything before, the man was considered invincible, but who knew that one girl would be his biggest weakness?

His biggest strength?

And all that condensed in one person?

Was that even possible?

Realising that you are in love, should be a great romantic and fancy moment of your life, or that's what he had expected.

But now as he stood with her in his arms, he knew that his heart was a gone case.

He had lost himself to this little being in his arms, who had suddenly become his world.

"Silly girl. Does trouble attracts you? Or you attract it?" He asked, trying to ease the tension in her body, and in the air.

As much as he didn't like seeing her scared, he didn't one percent liked his brothers agonised and in terror.

Joy of family, happiness of his brothers, had always been before his.

And now Panchaali's too.

"I think the trouble is attracted to her beautiful face." Teased Nakul, earning eye rolls and chuckles from his brothers.

It was a situation that numbed their hearts and mind, but as long as they had each other, they were fine.

No matter how big the problem, they knew they could solve.

Five fingers of a hand, they were together, and would forever be.

Strong and invincible.

The second son of Kunti tightened his arms around her, pressing his lips to her forehead.

His heart warmed with the familiar flame of love.

Joy and satisfaction that followed his realisation was something that he couldn't put in words.

"Do you have any idea just how annoying you are? Dare ever put yourself in trouble again, I swear I'll personally push you down from this balcony." More than anger there was concern in the words of Duryodhan.

His heart had nearly ceased mid beat. Another person he cared about, a friend, his brothers' wife, the one person who had returned him his family.

He had almost lost her.

Panchaali had almost become a younger sister, there was nothing that he wouldn't do for her.

She had returned him his family, one thing he never knew he craved. She had healed his broken life.

And he may not be able to say it, but he was grateful.

More than he could ever express.

Other than his mother, sister, Pauravi and Bhanumati, he wasn't really used to caring for any other women, specifically as a friend.

He found it difficult to word his concerns, the best outlet was threatening and shouting.

"Is that concern that I heard in your voice?" Humor tainted her words, huffing he just gave her a dead stare.

"Concerned and for you? Not at least in next twenty live times." He grumbled, his thumb wiping the corner of his eyes, hiding the tear that wanted to slip out, turning away, she just giggled.

"Okay kids, we have important matter in hands." Yudhisthir said supporting a smile, turning to face his wife, all the humor disappeared.

Tension returning like an old,  unwelcomed guest.

"Love, what were you smiling at?" He asked, making her frown.

What sort of question was that?

"It is this stick figures of sorts, that are hung here." She stated pointing at the little cute toys turning and twirling in the air, with the wind.

"Where?" Sehdev asked looking at nothing but at the thin air, there was nothing.

Fear snaked in her heart, insecurities rearing its ugly head, she turned towards them.

Dread sitting in the pit of her stomach like a heavy stone.

You are hallucinating, you psycho!

The words from her past surfaced, terror hammering in her chest. Her breathing caught.

Was she really imagining? Had her family been right all this time? Was she a psycho?

"Where dear?" The youngest pandav asked again, and this time when she raised her hand to point, it visibly trembled.

What if she was going crazy?

What if her family had been right all along and she was really hallucinating?

Thoughts, after thoughts orbited in her mind, making her heart clench.

Sehdev reached out, his lips moving rapidly, bright light sparked from his fingers, clashing with the darker sparks, the moment his fingers contacted the unseen wooden toys.

Panchaali gasped, her hands instinctively reaching for his other one, gripping on it with all her might, like her life depended on it.

"Arya." She called half terrified to death, Bheem tightened his hold on her, his one hand shooting out to rest on his brother's shoulder.

The other pandavas instinctively stepping closer, as if waiting for the threat to spring up.

The protective beast in them pacing.

Tension zinged in the air, along with surprise, followed by shock.

As the stick toys appeared out of nowhere, dangling in the air, swirling and twirling with each breeze.

Innocent to the eyes, and cruel to the core.

Bheem pushed Sehdev and Panchaali behind him, standing in between the threat and his family like an invincible wall.

Arjun and Yudhisthir stepping up on his either side. Ready to snap any threat like weak sticks.

"What is this? And how did it come here?" Duryodhan gazed at the things, fury pulsing under his skin.

"It is what we are looking for." Calm stable words of the youngest born of Pandu, had the others gazing at him.

"What do we do now?" Inquired Arjun, furious to the core.

"Who could be the bastard who dared betray us? Entering the rooms of royal women is never easy, and assessible to everyone." Yudhisthir said the words, that were running through everyone's mind.

"Someone who is trusted." The horror than the elder twin's words brought was thick in air.

"Someone who is family." Spoken in low tones, they pierced the hearts like they were screamed.

Knowing that it was someone from palace was one thing, but family?

The palace of illusions, it is what Hastinapur was mostly referred by it's inhabitants, but could someone stoop  low enough to kill their very blood?

Who could it be?

The Kauravas?

Mahamahim Bhism?

Kakashree Vidur?

Jyest mata Gandhari? Jyest pitashree Dhritrashtr?

Mata Kunti?

Who?

Pandavas gazed at each other, they trusted their entire family. Finally they had gotten them back, but now suddenly this?

A heavy silence fell over the room, the only people they could trust were standing right in this balcony.

"No one can be trusted." Whispered Duryodhan, confusion and agony tangling in his chest.

Whom to trust? Whom to not?

The pandavas would probably have for a minute doubted Duryodhan, had Pauravi and Bhanumati not fallen prey.

"Who could do this to us?" Asked the eldest Kaurav, agony piercing his words.

His mind spinning in chaos.

"Brother, we don't have time for this. We need to begin the process of getting bhabhishree back." Sehdev whispered emphatically, giving Duryodhan's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

He nodded, pushing down all the questions that circled the mind of the eldest kaurav.

His wives needed him, and that was his topmost priority.

Walking in towards Bhanumati and Pauravi, Sehdev reigned his emotions in.

Letting his mind calm down, walking towards them, he shut his eyes, kneeling beside the bed, gripping Pauravi's hand, he let his mind calm down.

Bheem pulled his wife closer, worry sparkling in the hearts of pandavas, watching their brother, begin the process of crossing the veil of mortal world.

Yudhisthir stepped closer towards his youngest sibling, though there wasn't much that he could do, it was still a natural instinct to protect his youngest.

After their father's demise he had raised them, as his own, and the instinct to protect him never faded.

Even though their childhood had.

The world swirled in a mess of colours, the younger twin found himself fading from the mortal world.

The room that he was minutes ago, seemed to blow away with wind, like torn pieces of a painting, that disintegrated and flew with the breeze.

Leaving him in a maze of colours.

Colours that made the base of every human existence, swirled, his inner aura fluxed in ribbons, merging with the outer one.

Where the silvery and golden bandeaus that connected him to his family, merged with the universe's.

Scarlet glittering gold link to his wife, just rotated and swirled, ever pulsing. Anchoring him more firmly in the mortal world.

It felt like he was seeing his family through water, hazy and far. Once he stepped away from his body.

Astraly projecting his soul, his grip on Bhanumati tightened, letting his auras manifest with the darker once that held his sister in law caged.

The dark ribbons of smoke fought with his golden glimmering energy, preventing his entry.

An ear shatter feminine scream had his knees buckling, the high pitched loud shriek nearly tearing his ear drums.

"Shut up!!!!" He cried agonised, but it just intensified, agony pulsed in him, and just as it had come it disappeared.

Leaving him alone, in a long deserted tunnel, stale air made it difficult to breath, the dimly lit tunnel, made it difficult from him to see anything clearly.

There was just a darkness, not the one that resulted as in absence of light or candle.

But the one, that result from the abandonment of god, the emptiness that followed once one seeked home at the devil's feet.

His hackles rose, grip tightening over the beads of rudhraksh that were tightly wrapped around his wrist.

In the mortal world where they were dull forgotten beads, in the universe of auras and energies they pulsed with the supereme glow of the lord, bright and gold.

The heaviness in the air, whispered to him the horrors that this place had seen.

Distorted images of women screaming, fighting against shackles filled his mind.

Like a dream that he was leaving, as though the place was warning him off the evil.

Guiding him to return.

Darker auras resided, agony pulsed from everywhere.

A cold chill ran down his soul, a leering feel of dark webs trying to reach to him, had him rooted.

Turning to look around, he gazed at all that once lived, had wilted and faded into nothingness.

Nothing alive stayed here.

Agonised screams weaved a story of horror, that he didn't even want to listen.

Walking deeper into the tunnel, it opened into a pitch black room.

Dusty stale air, as though no one had entered this place in centuries, greeted him.

Yet, the energies present spoke a different story.

Bizarre was the fact, that someone lived here, yet it seemed like no one did.

How was this possible?

Candels and lanterns lit the place, making him raise a brow in surpise, instead the soft glow that he found in his home.

Here they whispered a tale of terror, a symphony of sorrow, orange hued with red, shocked flaming figures of women being dragged in, and tortured.

Every new flame spoke, a new terror. As though marking this place with the sins it had seen.

Mourning the lives that were lost.

Had it been any normal person, he was pretty sure they would have taken the signs and left running for their lives.

But this just fueled his determination, if there was one thing that he knew, than it was that, whoever this person was they were all too powerful.

And a threat to his family and people, and he would be damned before letting anything happen to them.

Stepping forward, the wooden flooring creaked under his weight, as though protesting his entry further.

Warning him.

He could have sworn like someone was watching him, more like the eyes of the stone gargoyle statue on the right shelf.

As he turned to gaze at it, it was nothing.

Coincidence?

Imagination?

He didn't think so.

Walking ahead he was led to an open area, where a huge alter set up.

Candels flaming, shock froze him, as thick rivulets of blood traced down the corner of the alter.

Thick, sticky, and crimson.

Too much to be of a single person.

The air zinged.

Whistling, was all the warning he got, turning his head, his eyes bulged, the blue end of a hammer swinging down towards his head with a speed that he could see his demise. . .

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