Nakul's heart galloped in his chest, as sweat beaded on his forehead, his eyes stung while he ran towards the hallway.

The sharp agony that sliced through his heart, at the thought of losing Panchaali, nearly knocked all the air out of him.

A hundred scenarios ran through him making his eyes blaze with anger, as concern pumped through him.

His hand tightened on the sword, as he ran towards the hallway, worry marred over his face.

Panchaali's heart beat wildly in her chest, as she gazed at the bloodied hallway, bodies littered the ground with chucks of their body parts missing.

Her heart roared in fear, as breathing came in short pants, her vision blurred as she gazed at the scene ahead of her.

What was happening?! Who had killed their soldiers? Were they under attack and she didn't know?!

N number of possibilities swirled in her mind making her dizzy, some. thing was wrong, but what?

Her heart galloped in terror, as the thought of her husbands, children and other family being had her heart freezing.

Arya. Kids. Jijis.

Her breathing grew laboured as her throat burned, tightening making it difficult for her to think straight.

Her hands fisted on the lehnga as she stumbled back, swirling around before she ran pushing herself harder, to run faster.

Tears tracked her cheeks as her body rattled, oh god please let them all be fine, please god, they were all she had. Her heart hammered crazily pushing her to run faster.

The loud sound the anklets reverberated throughout the hallway, her body slammed against a hard one, making her stumble back, she shut her eyes expecting the impact of the hard floor.

Strong arms wrapped around her ceasing her fall, her heart thumping loudly in her chest, as she held her eyes shut too scared to open them.

The warm musk fragrance reached her senses, Arya Nakul, his name came instantly to his mind as her eyes flew open, terror and relief creating an intense cocktail of emotions making it impossible for her to think straight.

Nakul's blood pumped with concern while he gazed on her face, the pure terror that he saw on her face had his heart squeezing in agony.

His eyes stung, "Oh love." He whispered, his voice filled with sadness, as he encased her in his arms, she hid her face in his neck, cries wrecked her body as she rattled hard in his arms, making his heart squeeze with agony.

"Princess. Oh doll. Easy love." He whispered, his voice strained with worry, as he felt like someone had poured acid in his heart making it difficult for him to even breath.

Her every cry pierced his heart, making a blinding agony shoot through his heart.

Her rubbed her back, hugging her closer, rubbing her back in a soothing manner.

They had always kept her away from every harm's way, sure time and again they had taught her defense but never really exposed her to any bloodshed.

Nakul and his brothers tried their  best to keep her away from all sorts of violence, she was their heart and they cherished her.

He rubbed her back soothingly, his hands running through her hair in a soothing manner.

"Panchaali, sweetheart, quit crying dear."  He whispered, "Oh baby everything is fine." He continued on, he didn't know what to say, this attack had been out of nowhere, and as he gazed around, dead bodies of their soldiers littered every corner making his hands tightening around her small form, pulling her harder against his chest.

He pressed his lips on her forehead, lingering there as he thanked the gods above. For keeping her safe, he pressed his lips on her forehead breathing in her soothing scent, as he nuzzled her neck.

He breathed in her soothing scent, she hiccupped, tears flowing down as he cupped her cheeks. "Look at me beautiful." He whispered, making her look up at him, his rough warrior hands cupped her cheek, the dark stormy orbs that were filled with concern locked with her terrorized onyx ones.

"Listen to me sweetheart. Please don't cry." He almost begged gazing at her, if there was one thing he hated the most was to see her cry, to see her break in his arms.

A tear tracked down his cheek, as he mashed his lips with hers, pulling her soft body hard against his. His lips moved against hers, drinking in all her pain, his words were failing, so in this kiss he poured in all his love and adoration in that kiss.

She was his strength, his weakness, seeing her cry in this moment was growing his heart weak. She whimpered against him making his heart tug sharply in his chest.

He laid his forehead against hers, "Love you are my everything. Please calm down beautiful, I need you dear. Don't be my weakness love, you are my only strength, be strong for me love please. Trust us love." He whispered, his voice soft while he nearly begged to her.

He was a warrior and had possibly seen many people die and cry, but he hardly anything moved him however seeing her cry making his heart squeeze in his chest.

She gazed up at her husband, the one man she loved more than her soul. No she can't loose him, and her family, she needed to be strong for them.

He traced the rough pad of his finger on her cheek, giving her a reassuring smile, making her nod at him.

She shut her eyes, breathing in his musk scent, drawing in strength from him. He needed her she can't get weak in this moment.

He was right she needed to be strong, she can't break and cry so easily. Terror in this situation was normal, but conquering it was valour.

"There's nothing that we can't do together." He whispered, his hand running through her long tresses, his soothing warm voice caressing her heart making the terror disappear,as her love strengthened her.

Yes this situation was bad, that she could loose someone possibly but if she broke, this possibility will be a surety.

And she can't let that happen, her family was her everything.

Nakul pulled her close tightly. He gazed at the dead bodies lying around them.

He was sure that without the presence of a traitor, it was impossible for an outsider to reach inside, without them having slightest of hint about the same.

He held her closer, hard against his chest while he began moving, his mind spinning with the thoughts of Karenumati and the rest of family. 

He wondered where were his brothers? His chain of thoughts broke,  the sound of large gongs rings and conch shells blowing, singing the war songs, alerted  everyone of the surprise attack.

Nakul's heart nearly ceased, as his grip tightened on his wife closer to his chest, as if willing to hide her within him somewhere.

He knew what this meant, but he couldn't believe it was happening.

He rushed to the nearest balcony, the cool wind did nothing to ease the fury that blazed in him,while his gaze settled on the troops and troops of soldiers that were rushing around the place, slaughtering everyone in sight.

A troupe of large hooded figures had already sneaked past the walls marching towards the second palace of women.

His gaze settled on his brothers that spread around, slaughtering and ceasing every life that tried to mobe towards where their family.

Their army men beside them.

Karn and Arjun stood at the roof head of the palace showering arrows, that rained into fire on the troupe of men, their screams pierced the air as red angry flames of fire filled the air.

The smell of charred, burned skin filling the air.

Nakul gritted his teeth.

His hands fisting, this men were here to fight? Surely they no longer had any wish to live. 

It was night, and there was no previous warning given, nor there was any order send asking for them to surrender or fight a war.

None of the ethics were being followed here.

Who would attack like demons at night?

He ran his fingers through his hair, slightly tugging it more  in frustration. His sight moving across the scene while the gears in his mind began to move.

Panchaali understood his inner turmoil, she herself was shocked and scared, but her husband need strength.

Earlier she had been weak and he had provided her strength, now it was her duty to be his strength. She couldn't  be weak, she has to be there for him.

A sea of questions ran through her mind, who this people were? What they wanted ? But it was clear that none knew.

Nakul cupped her cheeks, she was pregnant.

His heart squeezed, aching.

After so long they were blessed with one happiness, but fate just had to play some game.

He could see the fear swirling in his eyes, but he knew she was being strong for him.

He cannot let her break.

She wasn't alone. A life was growing in her.

He held her close to a chest and said, "Don't worry love, we will figure out everything soon."

His voice was soft, yes they will figure out, as a family they were strong nothing could break them.

This was the beauty of their relationship.

They had each other's back.

They could count on the other. Like true partners, in everything, happiness as well as pain.

Panchaali nodded, and gave him a slight smile of assurance, making him believe she was fine.

Nakul continued, " Some adharmi has again pushed himself to act against Dharma. He has forgotten all the rules of the war and attacks. Its time we show him our power and make him realise how Dharma shall prevail over adharm. "

Nakul recalled that even Ghatotkach wasn't around today to help them fight against their enemies in the wee hours of night.

He took a deep breath calming down his highly palpitating nerves.

He  thought to safeguard the ladies and the kids first. He was sure they will show these demons that they weren't weak.

He gazed at Panchaali .

Panchaali face was pale, anxiety eating her from within.

"Arya, we need to find Jiji and kids. We have to keep them safe. We have to do something soon Arya " her voice was soft, eyes glazing over while her breathing grew shallow.

He cupped her cheek, his eyes meeting her, "Panchaali you are a trained warrior, you believe in yourself, because I believe in you and your capabilities. You are Govind's student. We all have too taught you every kind of weapon fight. Quit worrying. Trust yourself, because I trust in everything you do. "

She was lost in his words.

Her beating heart calmed at his words instantly.

He gave her the sword and with confidence glazing in his eyes he whispered, "We will fight together and emerge victorious.

Believe in us.

Quit worries.

We will do this together. "

For a second they felt the world around them fade, yes together they can do this.

A sharp shrilling scream pierced through the hallway making their heart ice over, their eyes widened.

"Jiji!" Panchaali's voice faded, as fear  set in their hearts.

They broke into a run down the hallway, everything around them faded.

Karenumati's loud piercing scream came from the opposite direction, "ARRYAAAAA!!!!!!!" 

Their hearts tugged as they gazed at each other, they both knew what they had to do.

Their gazes met, his heart tugged while she gazed at him, he didn't want to let her go but this was the right thing to do.

They shared a nod as they split running in opposite direction.

Panchaali ran towards Devika's room, while Nakul bolted towards Karenumati.

Panchaali pushed the door open making it bang against the wall with a thud.

Fury unfurled in her chest, her eyes darkening with anger. The terror that earlier spreading through her completely vanished while she glared, at the man ahead of her.

A hooded figure wrapped his hand in Devika's hair, tugging at them sharply, tears traced down Devika's face as she thrashed under the man, trying to get away from him.

Disgust thrummed through Devika, as she felt his lecherous touch burn him.

Panchaali roared, her wrathful cry bounced off the walls was enough to have anyone trembling.

The man turned around just as Panchaali ran towards him,  wrath making her roar, as she jumped on the couch that lay between her and her target.

She jumped high, her sword raised above her head, while she brought it down with all of her might.

Blood splashed on her face, while the sword cut through his neck, bone crunching with a zing sound, as the sword cut through him as easily as though slicing through butter.

"AHHHHHHH!!!!" A loud scream of fury left her mouth, her body rattling with anger. Glaring at the dead body, Devika's eyes were wide with shock, as blood marred her peach clothes.

She gazed at Panchaali's furious expression, a wave of anger spreading through her.

The silent conversation zapped through them, fear and agony that were moments ago filled Devika's heart vanished, as her hand wrapped around the sword of the man, picking it up, they shared a look, they needed to protect others while the two nodded silently moving out of the room,

With only one this of mind, death of each and everyone of this monsters who had dared step in their little happy world. . .

*******

DO VOTE AND COMMENT!

*******