A/N: The same night-

Kritvarma was seated on a bench, in his hands was his unsheathed sword, his eyes seemed measure it's sharpness just by sight. He sighed and sheathed the sword, this was his brother's, the same he used it in his last battle. 

He was sitting quietly when he heard footsteps, fast but not very quick, not heavy like a warrior, there was no sound of weapons as well; He did not turn, he knew whoever this person wasn't a threat.

"Mahamantri Kritvarma?" he heard a soft, melodious voice.

"Rajkumari Anviksha," he saw her and immediately moved to one corner of the seat to make space for her.

Anviksha nodded and sat down next to him. "This is a beautiful sword," She commented, realizing that he won't start a conversation and hence she did.

Kritvarma smiled, "It once belonged to my brother." There was pain in his words.

She kept her hands on his, "You miss him?" Kritvarma barely nodded.

"It is same like me and Renu Jiji-
I can't even imagine to stay away from her.
I know I cannot understand what you are going through, but I know one thing-
Your brother would have never wanted you to cry." She spoke, holding his hand.

Kritvarma nodded, "You know- what people say?" Anviksha gestured him to continue, "That he had nothing when he died. He had no family-
But in reality, he had parental figures like Maharaj and RaniMaa, brother and friend in form of Drauni, son like figure, me, and daughter like, Vrinda. And Roohi of course.

In a way, he had everything.
That brings me peace. That he died satisfied. When those Nivatakavachas had sent his face, I saw that calm smile on his lips. He was content with his life."

Anviksha kept his hands, "Then it is good, that he experienced everything before he died."

"But I am left alone." He replied dryly.

"Not rally?" She spoke, and then her face dropped, she realized what he meant, "You don't think Maharaj as father or Maharani as mother? Or Vrinda like a daughter, right?" 

Kritvarma nodded, "They mean a lot, but not that way. For Satyaki, there had been no one and he could Maharaj and RaniMaa as parents, but for me- I did not lack in parental love as him. He was my father.

And for daughter figure- Satyaki has always been there for everyone.
But me? I had never been out of his shadow, and I was secure. I never felt the urge to become someone's elder or role model, like he did.
He was always the elder one, for me and all kids of our age." Kritvarma explained.

He was not wrong in his view, and Anviksha understood. 

"I know I am wrong to say, but you have to move on. Mourn for him, but don't be stuck with it." She spoke slowly.

A death, was heart breaking, but one has to accept it and walk ahead in life. That is how it works. Kritvarma couldn't be stuck in with his feelings forever. 

Kritvarma sat silently, he did not know how to respond. He may sound good, but internally he was dying. His soul was on fire, to lose a brother, a twin was like losing half of the body. 

Anviksha smiled for his sake, and cheerfully asked, "I have a question, can you tell me about Khandava history? Before Takshak came in?"

She spoke to divert him for sometime.

Kritvarma was surprised by her question, but answered nevertheless, "As you say your majesty," He got and bowed dramatically. 

"Behold, presenting to you, the greatest Kings of Aryavart, and the lineage of Hari, Harivansh." He spoke catching her with his words.

Anviksha giggled at his manly behaviour, and Kritvarma continued, "The Kings of Khandava were Harivanshi, descendands of Shri Hari himself.

The founder of Harivansh is Rishi Nar. Before knowing about Khandava, you must first understand Rishi Nar, so starting with his story."

Dambhodbhava had pleased Suryadev with his penance, and asked for a boon, "I want to be protected ny a thousand armours. The thousand armours can be broken only by someone who performs penance for a thousand years! And that is not all...' whoever breaks my armour should die immediately!'

Surya was horribly worried. He knew that Dambhodbhava had performed a very powerful penance and that he could get the entire boon he had asked for. And Surya had a feeling that Dambhodbhava was not going to use his powers for good.

However having no choice in the matter, Surya granted Dambhodbhava the boon. But deep down Surya still admired Dambhodbhava for the devotion with which he prayed to him...

Surya's worries were however correct. Immediately after getting the boon from Surya, Dambhodbhava started wrecking havoc on people. People were scared of fighting with him. There was no way of defeating him. Anybody who stood in his way was crushed by him. People started calling him Sahasrakavacha [meaning one who has a thousand armours]

It was around this time that Prajapati Daksha, got one of his daughters Murti married to Dharma - one of the 'Mind' sons of Lord Brahma.

Murti had also heard of Sahasrakavacha and wanted to put an end to his menace. So she prayed to Lord Vishnu to come and help the people.

Lord Vishnu pleased with her appeared before her, 'Murti! I am pleased with your devotion! I will come and slay Sahasrakavacha! Because you have prayed to me, you would be the reason for slaying Sahasrakavacha!'

Murti was happy. Subsequently she gave birth to not one child, but twin sons. She named them as Narayana and Nara.

Narayana and Nara grew up in the ashrama surrounded by the forests. They enjoyed praying to Lord Shiva. Their mother also encouraged them to learn fighting. The two brothers learnt the art of warfare.

The two brothers were inseparable. What one thought the other was always able to finish. Both of them trusted each other implicitly and never questioned the other.

As time went on, Sahasrakavacha started attacking the forest areas surrounding Badrinath, where both Narayana and Nara were staying. The two sages promised the others that they would come and help them.

Nara went to Sahasrakavacha, 'Sahasrakavacha! I challenge you to a fight!'

Sahasrakavacha bellowed looking at Nara, 'You pathetic human! You really think you can defeat me! ME! The great Sahasrakavacha! Do you even know how I am protected! Do you know anything about me!'

Nara smiled and said calmly, 'You want to talk some more or are you willing to fight me?'

Sahasrakavacha looked at the calm eyes of Nara and for the first time since he got his boon, felt fear building inside him. He said nervously, 'I can be killed only by performing penance for a thousand years. You cannot....'

Anviksha smiled, of course she knew the story of Rishi Nar and Narayan, but the reason of her smile was that successfully distracted Kritvarma, even if it was some moments.

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This is the story you all know, now in next to next chapter will come the story you don't know.

Also the above story is taken from Puran, I hold no copyright over it.

And a disclaimer: The story of Harivansh, there actually existed Harivansh but what I am writing is completely my imagination and not taken from anywhere.