At last the sun drew down, casting twilight over the treetops, where the varied assemblage of the sweet-singing birds rested. I was no longer able to wait and must rise again. Kesar pleaded with me to stay, but time folded in on itself, closing over me and burying me. Just before I reached suffocation, Vorac and Atith arrived.

"The Queen is conscious and asking for you," Vorac spoke first.

My eyes widened. I did not know my mother had been in the state of heavy slumber all this time. This had not lightened my heavy heart, and without another time wasted, we left together.

The Palace was eerily quiet and deprived of the usual enthralling songs. After the long walk through the endless halls and cruciforms, we reached a secluded ashram where the older Queen stayed.

Then we went inside the smaller hall towards a chamber. There I saw my mother. She was resting limply on the bed attended by palace women.

All the avatars were there. They sat in two opposite rows on the wooden floor. Tepi, Raksa, Tusita, Morokot, and Samudra on the left. Issarak and Ravi along with their friends on the right. The Aswin brothers had taken their place with the Guru and the Hora. We saw the King and his second wife sitting around the bed with the sleeping woman. Amarisa was among the royal members.

Vorac and Atith went to their reserved places. Everyone looked at me. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I went forward and knelt before the monarchs. Some palace maids put a soft rug for me to kneel on, but I ignored it.

"Please," I said. "Please, tell me how Queen Jayara is doing. Is she alright?"

At the sound of my voice, my mother slowly opened her eyes. She turned her head to me, and I wanted so much to rush to her side, but I refrained myself.

Then Queen Jayara made a movement of getting up, in which her husband quickly came to assist her.

I was shocked to see how frail she was. My mother's usual bun was undone, letting her long black lock flow down her thin shoulders. No more immaculate hair and clothing. The Queen tried to smile at me once she was properly in a seated position. My heart fell like a rock tumbling down the desert hill. The avatars were staring at me, but I didn't pay attention to any of them.

"How are you, mothe..." I stopped myself before I could say the word. "How are you, Your Majesty?"

Queen Jayara smiled weakly and shook her head back.

"Sweet child, I am glad to see you coming back all healthy and fine," she spoke in a low exhausted voice. "Don't you worry about me, dear one. The sickness of old age is expected and normal. It is nothing to fear."

I briefly glanced around as if to seek for confirmation.

"The twins have given her good herb and restoring drink," the King said, probably noticing my deep concerned face. "The rest of the recovery will depend on time."

"It is because of me you have fallen ill, my Queen," I said. "I am so guilty to cause you this much suffering."

My mother shook her head again, but before she could speak, her body was overcome by a coughing fit

"Bring her some water," her younger sister ordered the maids.

"That is truly your fault!" Issarak sneered at me. "Look at what state you put her through! The blessed gods must be so bitterly angry that they plunged this illness upon her form."

His words had stung me to the heart. I lowered my head.

"Enough of that, Issarak!" Tusita bellowed. "Let no more hateful words escape your mouth. You have no place to judge her as though she was lesser and of ignoble birth. You should be ashamed of yourself for bearing the blood of a god yet act like a disgraceful fool. Keep your mouth shut for the sake of the Queen, who is ill, or else I shall shut it for you!"

Issarak gave a frustrated growl, but he couldn't seem to find a response.

"Calm down, my avatars," this time the warrior King spoke. "I know you are all concerned about my Queen, but let not fight among us as the battle within is far more lethal. I am in debt and honor to have you, children of the gods. You are here to save the heaven-blessed city, a sacred land and second home of the immortals, however, I must request each of you god-born to keep peace among yourselves and quarrel yet no more."

There was a weighty silence after the words of the King were uttered. No one said anything.

"May I request your company with us alone, dear Nikita?" Queen Indradevi said to my surprise.

There was something in her queenly tone that made Amarisa's eyes dart to mine. Her mother saw it as she always did with everything else. Everyone remained still for a moment before they understood and began to leave the hall. My friends gave me a curious glance as they were leaving and so did Issarak.

"Amarisa dear," the younger Queen turned to her daughter. "You must be tired and must retreat to your chamber now."

"But mother..."

"Please, my dear," Queen Indradevi said again. Amarisa nodded. Her face showed worries as she stood and walked out of the hall. The princess seemed to linger for a moment before finally leaving through the doors.

Now there were just the four of us. The King turned to his two wives then back at me.

"Nikita, friends among the avatars, you have graced us with your presence chosen by the Great Lord," he said. "There is no one in the world whom I shall trust more than I do you. If you shall indeed succeed what you have been destined to, we too must make you an offer. Tell me clearly, young one, in what manner do you perceive my only daughter?"

I was stunned by the King's forward question. The silence went on and on, breathless, like a musical string overreaching its final tone.

Just as my mother leaned forward to intervene, I decided to speak, "Of a truth, your majesty, all things in the world pale in comparison to your daughter. Her voice is sweeter than heavenly songs. Her stately moves surpass all graceful dance. It is my heart that is surely excited by the curve of her neck and the gleam in her eyes. But there are more that I could not fathom into words for such emotions are rare even to me. I might lose my life saying all this to you now, but I have no fear nor regret in stating this honest truth. Yes, I am in love with your daughter."

The King took a long look at me and then he turned to his second wife. Queen Indradevi bowed a little to both her husband and older sister before addressing me again.

"I named my daughter 'Amarisa', because we too value our daughter above all gems and possessions, above all else that exists on earth. She is heaven to us. And we will not let anything threatens to dull her light," she said calmly, probably trying not to frighten me. "It is our duty as parents to provide all the worldly comfort and happiness to her. We have no objection to your feelings towards our Amarisa, but this matter is not to be considered in haste. There are other things that come to my concerns."

"I do understand what you mean," I said. "I am a girl and not godly and powerful. You must be troubled by this."

"No," she said. "It's not that, my dear. Although you are wise in hiding yourself, I have to be wiser still in finding you," Queen Indradevi said with a small trace of a smile. I looked up at her in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"We know who you are," the younger Queen said solemnly. "My sister has told us the truth. You are gravely wrong to think you're not special."

I looked at my mother, who sent me a nod of reassurance.

"It's best to let us know we're family," she simply said.

"What about Amarisa?" I asked.

"She is not aware of this yet," my mother answered me. "But one day, she will, Nikita, the truth is unavoidable."

"I know, mother," I sighed.

"We have spoken about you and my daughter," the King said. "If your feelings are true, then I and my Queens will have to take care of some important arrangement."

"What arrangement?"

"As you might remember, we had left the capital a while back to another city," he said. "One of the kings under my authority has a Kumara, a crown prince, who is finally ready for marriage. He held huge tact of the ripest southern lands, which give supplies to our kingdom every year. Their army is guarding the south of our empire. He knows of our dependence and has proposed for Amarisa's hand."

A tremendous shock went through me, shattering my thoughts. I felt like blown debris in the sea trying to float back together. My hands turned sweaty and my heart pounded. I thought I was going to faint, and I had to summon back my strength to speak again.

"Does...does she know about it?"

"No, we have not told her yet," the King said quietly. I did not respond for a long time and just stared at the smooth floor, unblinking. The monarchs exchanged a look. Queen Indradevi cleared her throat a little before she spoke.

"We will inform the king later that we want no marriages," she said, but I surprised her by shaking my head in disagreement. I knew it was supposed to be this way. My heart was cursing, bleeding and searing every nerve of my being, to stop me from my own intention. This was the nightmare that I dreaded, that one day, Amarisa would be taken from me, but there was no waking to relieve myself of it. I forced my mind to shut off the burning pain like hot knives against flesh.

"I believe this is what best for her, Your Majesty," I said, jaw clenched from sorrow and raging anguish. "We all know she will continue your lineage and the kingdom will go on flourishing. Amarisa deserves a better life. She needs someone who is unstained..."

"Daughter!" my mother gasped, her voice trembled with effort. "What has possessed your mind into this self-loathe thinking?"

"No, mother," I said. "Don't pity me. You haven't heard the rest of what I have done."

The shame and guilt gripped me in its tight fist again. I took a deep ragged breath before I continued.

"May I ask you for one favor, Your Majesties?" I went on without stopping. "After the Great Game is over, may you grant me the privilege to have Amarisa's company until her wedding day is set? I promise nothing inappropriate shall be born from this. It is for memory's sake only."

"I am shocked to hear what you just said," the King spoke with a deeper frown. "Why did you make such bitter decision for yourself?"

"I did not make this decision alone, my King," I said as I raised my face to them and saw the three royals looking at me with conflicted emotions.

I felt my tears pooling like burning lava in my eyes. I told them everything about the Naga Spirit. I told them with precise details and left no doubt to question. My mother began to weep bitterly in the arms of her younger sister. Soon they all understood why I chose to end it this way. There was hardly any chance for me with my beloved princess. Not in this life.

"I am safe only at the mercy of Fate," I said. "Memory is all I can hope to spin from our entangled destiny. I am blissful to have met you all and be endowed with your kindness and hospitality. The least I could do is to save Amarisa from me. Now I have said what I ought to say. I hope you agree with me."

"If that is what you wish, then we shall oblige to it," Queen Indradevi said with a sigh. "May your sacrifice satisfy your heart. May it not be fruitless."

With that said, the younger Queen came and took my hands. I rose to meet her eyes, all flickered with deep compassion and empathy. I gave her a nod.

Then my mother opened her arms, urging me to come to her. I did and we embraced one another in sorrow. No one spoke. In the deep silence, all I heard was the cry of wild birds like mourning songs to haunt the bleak cold night.