She woke up with a start. It was a familiar feeling. A feeling of certainty, but this time there was fear as well. She called out to the guard, who she knew, was standing outside. She heard the rustling of curtains, followed by the slightest clank of metal against metal, then the heavy thuds of footsteps. From the heavy thuds, she knew it was Guru who was on duty tonight. He was thoughtful that way. The seemingly pointless thudding gave her time to get her thoughts in order and get out of her huge bed. The soft mattress and the thick curtains that she so loved were annoying her as she struggled to get out of the giant bed. Just as she managed to get on her feet, the crack of light from her door way widened ever so slowly and was eventually engulfed by the large silhouette of Guru.
She hastily beckoned him towards her and bid him to lower his large frame so that she could whisper the name into his ears. The name she loved, the name she lived for and the name she had been wanting to scream out ever since she woke up "Kumaran".. Guru seemed to understand this cryptic message and smartly turned on his heels, almost capsizing her slender figure in his wake and left the room in large purposeful strides. All this silent commotion had woken up Keerthi and no sooner did she open her eyes, she hurried to her mistress' side. By this time, the princess had lost her fear and only certainty remained in her beautiful eyes. She visibly tightened her expression, her full lips receding until there was but a slit of determination left. Keerthi knew this expression well and rushed to get her mistress' clothes and a torch while she was at it.
Valli, princess of Madurai, thoonganaragam (the city that never sleeps) was known around the seven kingdoms for her wit, her beauty and her kindness. But more importantly, she was lesser known for her ability to dream. Guru, of course knew of this ability and his steps quickened as he saw that his destination was at reach. He was sweating, but he knew it was not of exhaustion or effort. At last he came upon the door of his desire and he took no time or thought to bang on it. When Guru bangs on a door the whole neighborhood usually wakes up, but thankfully, the house of his target was an isolated one, being as it was inside the royal forest. The youth that came to the door, looked neither surprised nor angered and the minute he saw that it was Guru merely left the door open and went back inside. No sooner had Guru stepped into the threshold that he beheld the young man dressed and ready to leave. And together they left...
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