Shikhandini, 18 years old

Shikhandini was up the whole night. Her room scattered with parchments with new war formations, plans , inventory of the weaponry. Things she occupied herself with in the night so that in the morning she had that much less to do. It seemed as if after knowing what she was meant to do, she could never catch a wink of sleep. She was far too alert to let that happen. She was now waiting for dawn to catch up with her so that she could leave for the city of Dwarka. She had a long journey ahead as Dwarka was a city in water. According to their allied Kingdoms the path would be hard to find as well so she wanted to leave as soon as possible. 

As she put the pieces of Parchment away, putting the royal stamp around them so that no maid or solider would dare touch these, she made herself go sit at the the balcony of the room. She looked towards the sun that would be rising soon as she thought about her father. 

She had told her father that she was going to go and discuss with King Krishna, whom they called Dwarkadeesh, (Ruler of Dwarka), and his right hand man and brother Balram about the military forces of Panchal. However this was far from the truth. She was giving for another reason. To find a solution. To resolve the reason of why she could not sleep at night. However that question was known to her and only her. She could not share the burden of her past with anyone, not even her own mother and father. She wanted them to detach themselves of her so that they would not cry when her purpose was fulfilled. 

When she left Panchal at the age of 16 to go find herself, she was a broken women tortured by the thoughts of those around her. She knew that even her father had a little bit, just a little bit, of doubt of whether she would do him well or not. She left to find her purpose and two years later she had returned as a hollow body. She had spent two years mastering the practice of locking her emotions away. Even those related to her mother and father. Her oath of celibacy made it that much easier to do so. She would not have to worry about the feelings of marriage, not after what the last guy did. She shuddered remembering that horrid face of the man who she thought would be hers. 

Nether less while she was on her route of discovery she heard the stories of a man who was no less then god. A man who had the answers to questions unknown. A man who could finally put her heart at peace. Dwarkadeesh Shri Krishna. 

As the sun now rose, the light blinded her eyes as she shook her head and spoke, "Let's see how much of a god this man really is." She took a scarf and tied it around her hair, making her look more manly. Why she had not cut it off, she didn't know. But she would soon. She slipped on her armour and grabbed her sword. 

As she exited the room, the guards at the door stepped on one knee and said, "All hail Princess Shikhandini." She stopped in her tracks and said, "I will say this once and only once. It's commander Shikhandini not Princess." Without sparing a glance at the men she went to go wake up all of Panchal so that they could see her off for the journey ahead. 

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Dwarka

In the royal hall of Dwarka, there sat many commanders all whom treated their King like god. The citizens of Dwarka stood in their respective spots, waiting for their adored rulers to come into the hall. After all at the mere age of 11, their king had managed to free them of an awful man, named Kansa. This man Kansa, had kept his own sister, Devaki and his sister's husband, Vasudev. captives after knowing that her eighth born son would be the cause of his death. He slaughtered cruelly the first six sons of Rajmata Devaki. As she was pregnant with her seventh son her husband's first wife, Rajmata Rohini had managed to save her child as she took him with her and fled the city. She raised him as her own and this was none other then Balram. The elder brother of their dear King. 

The cruel King Kansa had believed that she had a miscarriage, not knowing that Rohini had fled to her husband Vasudev's childhood friend Nand's house and was now raising the kid as her own. Then when her eight pregnancy came along, she heard the voice of the protecter of the world Lord Narayan promising her that she would be out of their hell hole soon. Narayan himself took birth as her eighth son, not believed by many and miraculously, all the guards at their prison gate slept as Vasudev's chain broke free and over the night he managed to get his son safely to Nand's house in Gokul. Nand had managed to convince Vasudev to take his daughter and swap it with Vasudev's son. Vasudev had said no but the girl's divinity convinced him otherwise. No one knew of what happened that night, not even Nand's wife Yashoda who right after labour had passed out not knowing whether she had a girl or boy. 

The girl was taken back with Vasudev as the guards awakened and chains refastened. When Kansa tried to kill the girl, she emerged as Narayan's divine power, Goddess Yogmaya and warned him that his destroyer had taken refugee elsewhere. She disappeared however unknown to many, she had taken a rebirth as Rohini and Vasudevs daughter, Shubhadra. 

"All Hail Dwarkadeesh Shri Krishna!!" - These were the words uttered by everyone when Shri Krishna made his appearance in the room. However before the hall could take their spots, Shri Krishna spoke, "My beloved citizens, today I ask you to leave this hall, not because I disregard you but because all of you must go and receive Senapati Shikhandini, daughter of our fellow ally King Dhrupad at the gates!" The ministers of Dwarka looked astonished as they had not informed Shri Krishna of her arrival, but they quickly masked their surprise as this was common when their King was no less then god. Everyone filled out and that left only Balram and Krishna in the room. 

Balram spoke using his favourite name for Krishna, "Kanha why are you sending such a royal welcome to a Senapati? It's not like she's a Yuvrani or something." "Actually" Krishna replied with a twinkle in his eye, "She is a Yuvrani, no matter how much she refuses to accept it. But she won't be for long." 

Balram shook his head not even trying to comprehend what Krishna said, "You and your confusing ways. Ok fine, where should I send her when she arrives."

Krishna chuckled, "Send her to the weaponry. Tell her I will be there to recieve her in that room."

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As Shikhandini entered the the gates of Dwarka, a city so majestic that even she could not deny its beauty, she was at once met with people there to recieve her. 

"All hail Senapati Shikhandini." Shikhandini's eyes widened as they dressed her with respect not fear but respect. They didn't care that she was a girl. She immediately took a liking to the people. But masked her emotions as she said her generic thank you. "Dear Citizens of Dwarka, Panchal appreciates the welcome you have put up for our army. Please allow me to graze your lands with no trouble. You all may continue to do whatever task you please." The citizens of Panchal nodded in respect and left.

As she rode her chariot to the front palace she was met by a women and a man. She presumed that the Man was Balram. 

The man spoke, "Welcome Yuvrani Shikhandini of Panchal to the lands of Dwarka. I, Yuvraj Balram and my wife Yuvrani Raivti welcome you to our land." She cringed at the title he gave her but nether less accepted his welcome. Yuvrani Raivti spoke, "You are a very strong women. I appreciate what you have gone through and respect you." Shikhandini was pleased. She didn't have much friends or emotion but Dwarka was breaking her down. She smiled. Something that she rarely did, and extended her arm of friendship. Raivti surprised accepted it and led her through the halls of Dwarka. 

They talked for a bit about non-kingdom related things and Shikhandini felt something she had not felt in two years. Happiness. She shook her head remembering her promise to rid herself of her emotions and spoke, "I came here to speak to your brother-in law, Krishna where might he be." Raviti knowing of her internal dilemma spoke, "He should be in the weaponry waiting for you." Shikhandini nodded to lead her. As Raivti led her to the weaponry she spoke, "You know you don't need to mask your emotions in front of me. A senapati is still a human and humans should have emotions. You're young, live a little and if you need anything consider me your best friend and don't hesitate to call." Shikhandini looked surprised at the way Raivti had read her like an open book. 

Before she could reply, Raivti was gone. And a voice from the weaponry called out to her to enter. 

As she entered the room she saw a man, a peacock feather hanging from his crown. His back face to her as his body was adorned by jewels and a blue outfit. 

"Come, Princess Amba of Kashi. Grace me with your presence." Shikhandini gasped, as those words shook her to the core. Her eyes bulged as her body turned pale. 

'How had he known?' Was the only thought in her head at that moment.