Hey everyone!

As promised, another upload very quickly! There will be one more upload soon to cover this weeks usual upload, so I hope you look forward to that!

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Love,

Luckycharms

---

In the months that passed, I gave birth to another baby boy.

Everyone was in a state of panic and fear when I went into labour, worrying that this birth would be as bad for me as Maya's birth was, but it was not at all. It was the easiest I had experienced and he came out as perfect as the others.

Aaryan and I named him Aaruvinth... his royal name being the impossibly complicated Aaruvintharaavanan. Aaruvinth meant lotus... the beautiful flower that was the throne upon which many of the gods and goddesses sat. And Aaru meant river... peaceful and calm.

He certainly was both.

And just as the lotus was the means of comfort to man of the gods and goddesses of our lands, so was my son. No one was sitting on him, of course, though that statement was enough to make Aaryan laugh for the first time in a long time. What I mean was that his birth brought comfort to everyone who was worried. It brought an end to what felt like an era of chaos and bloodshed. Maybe it was because his birth consolidated the bond that Aaryan and I still shared... the bond that so many were beginning to question.

Or maybe it was something else.

Whatever it was, he was perfect.

His birth also marked the first time that Lady Suhanya finally began to return to at least a bit of her normal self, and for the months that came after, she was attached to him like he was her own. Of course, I could not blame her... she was certain he was my father-in-law reborn.

Aathavan and Mayalahi were doing wonderfully. With every day that passed, they grew into themselves a little bit more, their unique personalities making themselves known. I always thought it was so strange how different those two were, despite the fact that they were both raised by the same people.

By the time he reached six, for the most part, Aathavan was exceeding everyone's expectations, all the time. He was smarter than everyone thought he would be, sweeter than anyone thought he would be and even more handsome than everyone thought he would be. It seemed that that would be his special trait... constantly surprising people.

Of course, he was still a child... and a boy at that... so he was certainly rambunctious here and there.

Maya, at four, was a force to reckon with. She had a flame in her that was constantly raging and no one could ever put it out even if they wanted to. No skirt could stop her from wrestling with her friends or brothers, and it certainly wouldn't stop her from climbing trees or rocks or once even the side of the house. Every morning I would tie her hair into the sweetest of styles and every evening she would come back with it all a mess, ribbons, clips, whatever, torn out and missing.

Aaryan thought it was hilarious, he couldn't be more proud... of course, he wasn't the one who had to pick the dirt and sticks out of her hair every night. Nevertheless, she was growing up to be beautiful.

She looked so much like Aaryan, with dark, dark eyes and a focused stare that often caught me off guard. Her hair was thick and black like mine, but it began to curl as it grew longer, as Aaryan's often did.

Though, despite the fact that I was indeed in charge of most of the child care, Aaryan didn't shy away from his own duties when it came to our children. Aaryan was close with both of them, and I knew that there was no one in the world that both Maya and Aathu admired more than their father. It was strange, sometimes they were the quietest when Aaryan was gone for days on end... maybe it was because they missed him, or maybe they were worried about him. And when he came back, whether it was after a regular day or after a few days, they were always so excited to see him.

Though Aathavan had only recently turned six, at the advice of some of Aaryan's most trusted generals, Aaryan began teaching him some of the ways of a warrior prince. Apparently, Aathu was starting later than the generals would have liked. I suppose that's what I should have expected... a warrior prince would need to learn to master a sword while still learning to master his letters.

Of course, Maya was right there with them, flailing around a stick while hoping to receive praises from her father. And yes, Aaryan never failed to let her know how well she was doing too.

So yes, Aathu and Maya were doing wonderfully. They were children being children and no matter how frustrated I could get with either of them, I loved them to death.

At this point, Aaruvinth was three.

Though Aathu and Maya were the ones who spent more time together, as often times Aaru simply couldn't keep with with them seeing as he was still so small and fragile, the two did include their little brother as often as they could.

But more often than not, Aaru was usually with me or Lady Suhanya.

Aaru was incredibly quiet and shy, sometimes even around Maya and Aathu. He was another unique personality. It seemed that he found most comfort around myself and Lady Suhanya, and in general, really didn't want to be around anyone else.

He was even shy around Aaryan.

Though... it didn't help that Aaryan was a little hesitant around him too.

It had become pretty much a fact around this kingdom that Aaru was the Maharajah reborn, and somehow that affected Aaryan's relationship with him. I knew Aaryan loved him, and I knew Aaryan treated him well. He would never make excuses or treat his youngest differently.

I just knew because there was a hesitation... and every time that child cried, I could see the guilt in Aaryan's eyes. I could see him struggling.

And all I could really do was hope that as Aaru grew up and could speak more and be his own person... I hoped that he could help his father move on as well.

One day.

---

It was early, and I could already hear Maya and Aathu squealing in excitement, their loud footsteps echoing as they ran around. I sighed, but found myself smiling as Aaru held onto my shoulders and smiled at me while I helped him put his trousers on.

It was almost like he was telling me that it was all going to be okay.

I chuckled as I lifted him up and kissed his belly, making him giggle before resting him on my waist and leaving our bedroom to go downstairs and feed him his breakfast.

As expected, Maya had already lost a ribbon and I frowned as I watched her frantically go down the steps, one by one, after her brother.

Aaryan, who was standing by the massive front door, leaning against the door frame and reading some scroll, turned and looked at the two. "Maya, Aathi, go to Maha please, your breakfast is ready."

Though his voice was stern, he was ignored. However once Aathu reached the bottom of the steps, I saw him pause and smile at his father. "Good morning, Appa!"

Maya took this opportunity to jump from a couple steps high, making both Aaryan and I flinch in panic, though the giggling girl landed straight on her brother's back, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. "Got you!"

Aathu struggled to balance himself, his eyes wide as he tried not to fall back, and it was me who had to grab his arm with my free hand when I reached the bottom of the stairs to help balance him. "Maya, you could have hurt him!"

She got off him and grinned at me.

"Breakfast, you two, now," Aaryan repeated, sounding like he was already exhausted.

But the second Aaryan closed his mouth, Maya burst into another run, the surprised Aathavan blinking before realizing that she had caught him, which meant he was it. And soon, he too was running again.

Aaryan stepped in their way, but his long legs meant nothing to the two children. Maya grabbed her father's leg, using it to help her turn as she blazed out the door and around the corner. Aathu, though being a little more respectful squeezed his skinny body past his father, who was gaping, before chasing his sister.

I was already stomping after them, Aaru still at my hip, before they were even out the door.

"Hey!" I shouted when I reached the door and stepped past Aaryan. My shout was loud and sharp and frightening enough to make the two brats freeze, Maya tripping over her own skirt and falling onto her knees in the process. However, knowing I was mad made her stand up quickly, and turn to face me, her smile gone.

I was glaring at the two of them, not worried about the eyes of the gardeners and servants who were, to some extent, a part of this family too. "When your father tells you to do something, you do it. Immediately. No questions asked. Do you understand?"

The two nodded their heads.

"If I see you two ignoring your father ever again, I'll be sure to call Lord Suresh so that you can spend an entire week only studying from the moment you wake up until the moment you sleep. Is that clear?"

They nodded again.

"Now get back inside and go eat your breakfast."

The two of them were clearly embarrassed, especially thanks to the giggles of the servants, but they marched on back in as per their orders. And I was sure to keep my glower consistent as they walked past me. I was also sure to give Aathu a light twist of his ear when he walked past me. "You should know better."

The little boy squirmed, and when I let go he apologized but pouted his lips.

Then I turned to Aaryan, who had both his brows raised, "And you," I started, ignoring the sight of both Aayu and Anbu riding in on their horses. "How can you be trusted to lead an army when you cannot even control your tiny children?"

Aaryan's brows furrowed, looking surprised that he too was getting in trouble for his children's behaviour.

"It seems our timing couldn't have been more perfect?" Aayu asked as he got off his horse.

"They don't teach you how to train children in warrior school?" I asked Aayu, my voice still sounding frustrated, as Aaryan continued to look at me with a look of exasperation.

He hesitated as he walked over to us, now wondering if he was in trouble too. "Unfortunately... they don't."

"Hello Seetha," Anbu smiled warmly at me, knowing how to stay on my good side.

The smile of the young man, who, over the last few years, had grown into such a handsome young man, though still as soft and sweet as ever, made me calm a little. "Hi Anbu, go tie the horses up and come in, have something to eat."

I didn't fail to notice Aaryan and Aayu exchange a look with each other.

I walked past the men and towards the dining area, where Maya and Aathu were eating, quietly now. "Your brother wants two more, you know?" I said to Aayu, who was behind me. "Can't even control the three we already have."

Aayu chuckled. "Seetha, a hundred children would be possible if you would let the children be raised like normal nobility."

"So they can be more brattier and naughtier than they already are? I think not."

On queue, Maya, at the sight of her uncle, gasped in excitement and jumped in her seat. "Chithappa!"

"Absolutely not, Maya," I hissed, sitting down at the head of the long table, Aaru on my lap. "You finish your food first."

Maya, who was sitting to the right of me, frowned and Aathu, who seemingly did know better, kept his eyes on his porridge.

Aaryan patted his daughter's head as he took a seat next to her. "She wants me to treat them like soldiers."

Aayu, who took a seat next to Aathavan, chuckled. "Maya, love, you need to be careful. If your mother gets angry enough, your father will listen to her. And you don't want to know what your father does to warriors who disobey his orders."

Mayalahi smiled confidently, her legs waving back and forth under the table. "I already know what Appa does to warriors who don't listen," she said in a matter of fact tone. "He cuts them."

Maha placed a small bowl of porridge and a small spoon on the table for me at that moment. She squeezed my shoulder, almost seeming like she pitied me, and I thanked her with a silly smile. Then I looked back at my daughter with raised brows as her father smirked and her uncle laughed.

Then I sighed.

I proceeded to feed Aaru, who so patiently waited for his food.

"You don't sound the slightest bit afraid," Aayu said with a grin.

"I'm not scared of Appa," she responded, mouth full of food. She swallowed it when I looked at her.

Aayu, not failing to notice that, began chuckling. "But you're scared of Amma?"

The little girl blushed and now I was smirking.

"Hmm," Aayu leaned back in his seat. "And what about you, Little Aathi? Who are you more scared of?"

My son's eyes flickered over to me before he quickly looked back at his bowl and that was enough to make Aayu snort and look over at Aaryan.

"Big brother," Aayu said. "This is indeed a problem... maybe you should start cutting people more? You can't possibly allow your beloved wife to be the most feared?"

"Frankly," Aaryan started, looking at me, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

I gave him a silly look as I continued to feed Aaru, and he smiled back.

When Anbu walked in, Maya gasped in excitement again. Even Aathavan started smiling at the sight of Anbu. "Anbu Chithappa!" Maya squealed.

The youngest of my brother-in-laws smiled at his niece and nephew. I didn't know what it was, but the kids loved Anbu... maybe it was because he was the youngest, or maybe it was because he was the most patient.

"Have a seat, Anbu," I said. "Maha will bring you something to eat."

The young man smiled warmly and thanked me as he took a seat next to Aayu.

At that moment, Maya lifted her bowl, slurped down the last of her porridge and set the bowl back down loudly. She jumped off her seat immediately and I had to grab her with my free arm and use my sari to wipe the porridge off her mouth before letting her go to rush around the table to Anbu.

Without permission, the girl climbed onto his lap and grinned at him. "Will you play with us today?" She asked.

"Um," Anbu hesitated. "It depends on what you want to play?"

"Sword fights!" Maya and Aathu said together.

Almost instantly, Anbu, who didn't know how to say no, looked over at me, his eyes pleading for me to rescue him. The last time he played 'sword fights' with them, Maya had managed to climb up onto her uncle, make the poor boy lose balance and collapse, and then proceed smack him a couple times with the stick.

"No fighting," I said, sternly. "What did I say the last time? You are not allowed to raise your hands at your uncles."

Maya frowned, though Anbu gave me a look of relief as his brothers laughed at him. "Fine. I hide, you find me?"

Anbu was going to answer but Aaryan cut him off. "Afterwards, love," Aaryan said. "He is here to speak to me about something important. Play with your brothers first and if Anbu Chithappa has time, he will come."

Maya sighed but knew better than to disobey her father only moments after I had just yelled at her, so she slid off her uncle's leg but then burst off into a run. "Big brother, find me!"

Aathavan took a breath, quickly gobbled down the last of his food and rushed after his sister even before I could tell him to slow down.

I sighed and looked at Aaryan. "Two more?"

My husband gave me a funny smile, but then looked at Aayu. "What's the news?" He asked.

"Did you receive the message from the north?" Aayu asked.

Aaryan lifted the scroll he was holding and set it on the table. It was the one he was reading before all the chaos started.

"Seetha, did you get a chance to read it?"

"I have not," I said, putting a spoon of food into Aaru's mouth as Aaryan rolled the scroll over to me. Anbu, being the sweetheart he was, got up and took the seat Aathavan was sitting at. He moved his chair over closer to me and unraveled the scroll, knowing my hands were full.

I smiled at him before I started reading.

As I skimmed it, Aayu continued speaking. "It's from the chief of the northern mountain tribe," he said. "We annexed the territory under our father's rule, it is all the land above the province our mother is from and it's largely just mountains."

"Why would your father want the mountains?" I asked, though I figured it out as I drew the map in my head.

Aayu noticed that I understood, but answered anyway. "It's the perfect northern border... the mountains create a nearly perfect barrier from foreign invasions. Father thought having that under our control would benefit us, but it was already inhabited by the mountain tribes."

"They're nomadic, right?" I asked. I knew little about them, except for what Aaryan told me.

"For the most part, but not all of them" he said. "And they allowed for the annexing of their land under the promise of allowing them to exist without interrupting their way of life."

I looked back down at the letter. "It's been interrupted." The letter was an angry letter to the Maharajah from the chief of the mountain tribes. It seemed that individuals from the northern province, Thangavoor, the province of Aaryan's mother, were moving onto the land of the mountain tribes.

"Their livestock are being hunted and the very little farmland that they have is being taken by landlords from Thangavoor."

"He's threatening to fight back," I said, feeding another spoonful of porridge into Aaru's mouth. Then I looked up at the brothers. "He has a right to."

Aayu tilted his head to a side. "He's threatening the crown. People should not be allowed to think that they can threaten the-"

"I think the response is simple," I said, firmly. "We keep the promise your father made to these people. People should also not believe that the crown will not keep their promises. So send a few warriors up north and let the Chief know we are on his side and the promise will be kept."

Aaryan, who was facing me, leaning back in his chair and his chin resting on his fist, nodded slowly. "I agree," he said, looking at Aayu. "He should not be threatening the crown but he has all the right to be upset if he believes we are going back on the treaty. Anbu, we'll send you up north... the presence of a Prince will be enough to remind them that we are paying attention to their concerns. We will also send with you a hundred men... the presence of an army will be enough to remind them not to threaten the crown."

I nodded my agreement and looked at Aayu, who after a moment, nodded too.

Aaru, who often never spoke up when adults were speaking, looked at me, shaking his head to let me know he was full. I smiled at the boy, wiped his lips clean and let him sit with us.

"Alright," Aayu said. "That sounds fair... but that leads us to how we're going to get the people who've already settled to move."

Aaryan sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "We'll need to speak to grandfather," he said, referring to his mother's father. "It was his job to ensure that the clauses of the treaty were upheld-"

"And that," Aayu interrupted, "leads us to the news of today."

We all looked at him.

"Grandfather is ill," Anbu finished for his brother. "Very ill."

Aaryan straightened up and my brows rose.

"And my friends in his court tell me that mother has managed to convince him to name Aarun as his heir," Aayu continued.

I instantly started frowning. Aarun being the heir to their grandfather's land would mean that he would be the lord of all the northern province... the wealthiest, and therefore the strongest province. It was called Thangavoor for good reason... it literally meant Land of Gold.

Aaryan scoffed. "He picked Aarun over his own sons?"

"You know how mother is," Aayu said. "And having a Prince as an heir brings a lot more stability than a nobleman."

It seemed that within seconds Aaryan had lost any cool he had previously maintained. He rubbed his face with his hands and let out a frustrated breath. "The fool will be a thorn in my side until the day I die, it seems."

"Anbu also made an observation that I hope is not true but is entirely possible."

"What was the observation?" Aaryan asked, looking at his youngest brother.

Anbu hesitated, knowing well that his observation could very well upset his brother, and I knew how Anbu felt about upsetting his brother. Nevertheless, he let out a breath and continued. "It's possible that grandfather has been ill for some time, though we were not notified, which means that Aarun may have had more control of the north for some time though. And I can't help but suspect that maybe Aarun allowed for people to start moving into the mountains," he said. "Though grandfather was given charge of managing the Mountain Tribes, the mountains were never a part of Thangavoor... and so I wouldn't put it past our brother to want to actually make the mountains a part of Thangavoor."

Aayu, who was nodding as Anbu spoke, continued when he finished. "They could make a lot off of the mountain region... the animals up there can supposedly be made into the finest leather, and don't get me started on what could potentially be mined out of those mountains."

Aaryan closed his eyes to think, and as he thought, I couldn't help but feel a little bitter inside. All these years of peace and quiet and suddenly Aarun has to come back in and ruin it all. When Aaryan spoke, he said exactly what I expected him to say. "I could get rid of him."

"No," I said, firmly. "You can't."

I wanted to get rid of him. Trust me, I did. I wanted that more than anything because his rise threatened the sanctitude of my family. Any time Aaryan spiraled, the chances that it was caused by something related to Aarun was high.

I wanted to get rid of him.

But we couldn't. "You can't go around and oust people from their position like that," I said when Aaryan looked at me. "Especially if it is in your grandfather's will. If you do something like that, all the other people you rule over will either think they cannot trust you or they will fear that you will do just about anything that suits your own needs, which may be worse than losing their trust. If you want to oust him, you need to find a good, legitimate reason to, then get rid of him. Catch him breaking a law, or prove that he is breaking the treaty, just find something legitimate."

Aaryan kept his eyes on me as Aayu nodded. "Yes, I agree with the Queen."

"As do I," Anbu said, looking at Aaryan nervously.

Aaryan let out a breath. "Then we have two options that I can think of. One, we ignore the cries from the mountain tribe and let Aarun continue until he completely breaks the treaty, then I get rid of him. Or two, we send Anbu and our men as originally planned, we push back the individuals who are making their way into the mountain tribe's territory, upset Aarun and the landlords who had the nerve to disobey the treaty in the first place and then wait for another opportunity to get rid of him."

"Option two, obviously," I said.

Aayu and Anbu agreed.

"It'll show that you can keep promises and it'll show that it is you who is in control."

Aaryan considered that and then nodded. "Fine."

I turned to Anbu and Aayu. "And I think, when pushing the people who are encroaching upon the Mountain Tribe's land back, you should show some force. Fine anyone who opposes you, Anbu. We can discuss with the Minister of Justice how much the fine should be, but these landlords should be fined."

"That's certainly a good idea," Aayu said. "It'll make landlords more hesitant in the future... I will talk to the Minister of Justice."

"Good," I said, looking at Aaryan. "I think we've come to a temporary solution?"

He nodded. "Have it all written down, Aayu, and call the ministers in for a meeting. We will discuss the plan with them and figure out the logistics."

"Understood," Aayu stood, Anbu followed suit, standing and adjusting his kurta.

"And good work, Anbu," Aaryan said. "Good work looking into this deeper than the rest of us. You've been proving your ability to lead very well. Keep it up."

The young man blushed and I chuckled as I stood too. To my surprise though, the usually shy Aaru began clapping his hands. "Anbu Chitha do good!"

I laughed and kissed the boy's cheek.

Anbu, who was laughing, reached out and took Aaru from me. "I did, didn't I?" he asked. "No how about we find your naughty big brother and sister so we can play for just a little while? Just while our horses get ready."

"Wait up," Aayu said after giving the stablemaster a wave to ready their horses. "I want to know why those brats want to play with you and not me."

"It's because I'm their favourite uncle," Anbu responded.

Aayu scoffed.

I laughed some more and watched as they walked off and I felt a lightness fill me.

I would fight for this peace.

I really would.

I was going to turn to look at Aaryan, but he surprised me by hugging me from the back. "You know, I really love it when you put me in my place in front of the only brothers of mine left who actually respect me."

He had a sarcastic tone, but I knew he would never stop me from speaking my mind. "I was always under the impression that that was exactly why you made me your Queen?"

"I suppose it was," he said before kissing my cheek.

I turned in his arms and put my arms around his shoulders when I was facing him. "Seriously though, love, if you were to show an ounce of the harshness you show when dealing with nation matters to your kids, they would not be running right past you when you tell them to eat breakfast."

His lips curved up into a silly smile.

"Especially with Maya," I said. "That girl walks all over you... when did she learn to say that you cut people?"

"Your father was not this lenient with you?"

"Absolutely not," I said. "If I did what Maya did, my father would have made me stand outside holding two buckets filled with water."

"At four?"

"At two, if I was so naughty."

He laughed. "Do you really want me to be so stern with them?"

I pouted as I considered that, and then I sighed. "No... I suppose the kids need one of their parents to be warm and gentle."

He chuckled. "Just like how Chandraba needs one of their rulers to be warm and gentle?"

Now I laughed. "Exactly."

He smiled before kissing my lips. We did not kiss like this very often, usually because we were both so busy, whether it be with the kids or with the affairs of the nation. Usually I would get home first. I would handle the children, put them to bed, and by the time Aaryan got home, we would both be so exhausted that at most, we would share a quick peck on the lips and then fall right to sleep.

So any chance I got to kiss him a little more deeply than usual, I took with a happy heart.

"Two more," he said against my lips.

I pulled away and looked at him. "You are absolutely hilarious."

Though I wasn't laughing, he laughed and kissed me again. And despite rolling my eyes, I kissed him back.

I would fight for this peace.