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fangirlshrewt97 · 1 year

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Tale As Old As Time... (Part 12)

Could it be? Did this girl finally get her shit together enough to actually get back to the work everyone was waiting for so long that they are over it because of how long she took to get back to it?

Look guys, I have no idea when my next update will be, but I do have the entire story plotted out and am determined to see it though, so I kindly ask you to be patient and bear with me.

For all the anticipation, this chapter might be a little slow, but. um. Good things come to those who wait? I know I have made you wait A LONG TIME, but you have trusted me to come back to this story.

Also apologies if the chapter is a little rough, I am trying to get back into the groove of the story.

So, without further ado...

Full work on Ao3 is here

(Previous Chapter)

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Welcome back my dear. Last we left our protagonists, they were sharing a bed in slumber, the first step in their journey together formed between their intertwined hands. Now the time is coming to see whether this seed will blossom, and what it will bloom into.

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Jai blinked his eyes open lazily, nuzzling into the black head of hair resting against his shoulder. The scent of sandalwood comforted him into sinking into it. He curled himself from his back to his side, one leg brushing another’s.

The action had him snapping his eyes open as the world came into focus with dizzying speed.

He was in Kala Bhairava's room.

In his bed.

And Kala Bhairava was curled into his side, face smushed into Jai's arm.

Jai's brain may have been difficulty processing this information, but one half of Jai's body did not. It felt his the nerves of his arm in particular were directly connected to his lower half, the way each brush of Kala Bhairava’s eyelashes against his arm, or the soft exhales of his breaths against his skin sent frissons of static down his spine. Taking a controlled breath, Jai tried to put some space between them.

He didn't get very far. He had barely moved a few inches before a small whine from Bhairava rooted him to the spot, seeing if his bedmate would awaken. The space allowed him a better view of the other man's face.

The room was illuminated by faint tendrils of light, though very little made it past the canopy curtains. Extending his free hand to part the curtain, Jai inhaled sharply.

Even the small light seemed very bright after the darkness of the bed, with the rays casting a glow to Kala Bhairava's figure.

Bhairava.

The man had asked him to call him Bhairava last night.

As memories of the previous night flooded back in, Jai was torn between mild mortification at having come to Bhairava's room at that hour of night, and a stronger sense of accomplishment.

As he pictured their kiss, he could feel the phantom weight of another body, of fingers curling into his hair. He clenched his fists tight enough for his nails to bite into the flesh of his palm, trying to will his body under control.

Jai had taken bedmates before, spent the night in arms of both men and women. And yet.

And yet.

As usual, Bhairava had made every experience feel new, so much more intense than Jai could recall feeling with any other.

In the early dawn light, the other man's face was serene. He looked younger. Softer. There was none of the fear or hesitation Jai often saw in faces.

But Bhairava had never looked at him in fear. Hadn't that been what had piqued his interest in the first place?

Curiosity, surprise, shock, confusion. Even wonder.

But not fear.

Jai pulled back his hand, letting the curtain fall to plunge the pair in darkness again. The wave of want that hit him was new. Unexpected.

This man was driving Jai out of his mind, and entirely unaware of it.

Reaching out in the dark, Jai barely laid his fingers on Bhairava's hair, softly running down their length. Bhairava seemed to melt against him.

Jai needed to get out of here.

He needed to leave before Bhairava woke.

He would be expected at the palace shrine for his daily prayers, and he couldn't let the servants find his bed undisturbed. Gossip travelled faster than air within these walls.

Decision made, Jai slowly but surely pulled himself away from Bhairava. An eternity of five minutes, Jai was hyper aware of every point of contact between them. Bhairava's brows furrowing as he tried to tighten his grip nearly undid Jai. However, Jai managed to extract himself and slipped out of the curtain. Just before the cloth fell, he glanced back to see Bhairava's frown as he rolled into the space left by Jai, pressing his face into the pillow Jai had used.

Jai left the room quietly, walking quickly through the back passages till he reached his own room. Slipping in, he breathed in relief that he had not run into anyone.

He went and laid on his bed, knowing a servant would come in a minute to prepare his bath. And his timing was perfect, no sooner had he closed the curtains of his canopy, did he hear the servant's door being opened and water being poured in.

As he laid there, he pressed a finger to his lips. The kiss had been so much more than he had expected.

He sat up with his back to the headboard.

With his eyes closed he could feel Bhairava climbing onto his lap. The way their first kiss had been a barely there brush of the lips. The way Jai's fingers remember the shape of Bhairava's waist. The warring lust and nervousness in Bhairava's voice as he requested they just sleep.

The way a finger had hesitantly brushed his hand in the dark.

How their hands intertwined so naturally between them, as if they were made to be held together.

Jai's earlier lust faded into a deeper yearning.

What if he had stayed? Would Bhairava have been embarrassed? What would those deep brown eyes look like as they fluttered awake?

Would he have allowed Jai to kiss him? To do more? To press him onto his back, bracketing him between his hips. For Jai's fingers to tangle in those black locks as his other hand slipped beneath the thin kurta he had been wearing.

The clicking locks of the servant's doors brought Jai back to the present. Pressing the heel of his hand to his forehead, he exhaled. He needed to get a grip.

Discarding his borrowed clothes (but not before running his fingers over where the seams had split; Bhairava gripping it so tight he tore it) Jai entered the bath. He sank into the warm water, tension seeping away from his muscles. Running his hands slowly down his chest, across his legs and back again.

He grabbed the scented oils, setting about bathing himself.

///

"Om Nama Sivaya" Jai finished his prayers, opening his eyes to watch as the priest brought the aarthi from the inner sanctum.

He reached out to hover his hands over the fire, pressing then to his hands, and repeating the motion twice more. A second priest held a silver bowl with theertha, sacred Tulsi water, which he poured a spoonful of into Jai's cupped palm. Drinking the water, Jai closed his eyes once more, pressing his palms together against his chest.

Bowing to the Shivaling, he rose from the short wooden bench.

He nodded once to the priests, who bowed to him.

Jai exited the shrine to find Kaakha waiting for him.

"Is it urgent Kaakha, or may we have our morning meal?" Jai said plainly.

Kaakha bowed. "It can wait a short while Maharaj."

The pair made their way to the royal wing, entering the dining room just in time to see Kusa throw a chikku fruit at Lava. Jai growled, making both brothers stiffen and scramble to their feet.

"Annayya!" "Jai!"

"I've meet st-street children with better manners than you two."

Lava ducked his head ashamed, while Kusa, as expected, tossed his head in the air. "Lava started it."

"I highly doubt it." Jai said drily as he took his seat at the head of the table. Kaakha sat down beside Lava.

"When did you come Annayya? I didn't hear the drums announcing your arrival." Lava asked softly, extending the platter of chutney for his brother.

"Near midnight." Jai grunted as he served himself.

That seemed to be a cue to pause further conversation. Of course his brothers could not actually be held to those standards. Barely a few minutes passed before Jai became aware of the unsubtle head tilts and glances being traded between the pair.

He placed his goblet of water more forcefully on the table, the bang making both of them jump. "What?"

Lava gulped as he ran a finger around the length of his collar. Kusa glared at him and spoke. "We met your little soldier friend."

Jai resisted facepalming. With everything that had occurred during his trip, he had forgotten about the meal between his brothers and Bhairava. Keeping his voice neutral, he asked. "And?"

"Looks like a girl." Kusa said. "Hey!"

Lava had obviously kicked him (successfully hitting his target this time). "Bhairava garu seems very nice, Annayya. Will he be staying with us for longer?"

Jai felt his eye twitch as he considered the consequences of stabbing Kusa. Not to kill. Maybe his upper thigh, he'd certainly been stuffing himself enough to have adequate padding.

"Indefinitely."

Lava and Kusa exchanged glances. “And…what is he going to be doing?”

Jai resolutely kept his eyes away from Kaakha.

"Did you behave?" Jai asked instead. There were too many feeling knotting together in his chest to make sense of presently.

"Obviously." Kusa retorted.

Jai's hand twitched. What the hell had Kusa said to Bhairava?

Draining the rest of his water, Jai signaled for the servants to bring the water bowls.

Soaking his fingers, Jai dried his hands on the towel the servant held. "Thank you Bhagesh."

Bhagesh bowed deeply. "It is my honor Maharaj."

Jai rose from his seat, only to pause when the kitchen doors swung open to reveal Arunama. "Maharaj!"

Jai's lips twitched. "Arunama. Can I d-do something for you?"

She pointed her ever present knife at Kusa, who shrunk back against the table. "Can you feed him to the snakes?"

Jai shook his head. "I cannot risk them getting indigestion."

"Hey!" Kusa protest was muffled by Lava slapping his hand over his mouth and trying to sit on him.

Arunama harrumphed. "Fine, then I need two more batches of vegetables to prepare for the Rajyasabha."

Jai nodded, turning to Kaakha. "Make the necessary arrangements Kaakha." Kaakha bowed. "Of course Maharaj."

"Anything e-else?"

Arunama shook her head. "Any requests for lunch Maharaj?"

"Whatever you decide will be more than sa-satisfactory."

Arunama smile, pride radiating around her. "Thank you Maharaj."

///

As Jai let the arguments between Charuvat-manthri and Goopeswaran-manthri fade to the background, Jai once again pondered why he had felt the urge to go to see Bhairava last night.

They had disguised the trip as a routine trip through Jai's provinces, but their real goal had been the small area governed by Sarkar-manthri.

Jai had fought to hide his disgust at how the people there had all been skin and bones, hairs hanging limply as further signs of their malnutrition. Even as his subjects all came to see him as he rode up to the manthri's mansion, he noticed the children with the tattered clothing and the distended bellies. Had noticed how unlike the children of the capital that looked at him with wonder, these children shrunk away and cowered in fear. He noticed the barely held back contempt in the eyes of the adults.

The initial bad taste in his mouth had only grown worse as he was ushered to a grand feast that had been prepared in his honor. So much food hoarded to fill greedy stomachs as young souls starved outside his walls. And the attitude of the manthri himself, obsequious to the point of disgust. How he spoke in double edged comments, a compliment and an insult wrapped in one.

When one of the servants, a young woman who appeared more a girl, had accidentally dropped a platter of nuts, the man had hit her with his cane. It was only Kaakha's biting grip on his arm that kept him from throttling the man in return.

That night, he had been fuming as Kaakha had reiterated how important it was to keep the manthri from guessing they knew of his desire to oust Jai from his throne. While far from the only manthri acting against him, they had determined Sarkar was the pack leader. They could not figure out what the man’s end goals were though, for all that he was greedy and craved wealth, even he would realize he was ill-suited to governing. He was far too lazy for all the responsibilities the crown bore.

No, it was better to pretend they were ignorant of the conspiracies running through his court. Until they had solid evidence and a better idea of all the players in the game, it would be reckless and foolish to confront Sarak directly now.

The following few days had been a similar ordeal of patience, with Jai grinding his teeth enough to give himself headaches. He knew he had asked for the 'Raavana' reputation to be spread beyond their borders, but it galled him that even within his own lands, his people looked at him in fear.

Easier to manipulate people to turn against a king they believed to be the cause of their misfortunes, after all.

By the time it was their day of departure, Jai was ready to crawl out of his skin, given how much anger he was keeping pent up. Kaakha had tried to suggest perhaps they should delay their return until the building storm had passed, but one glance at Jai's wild look had him keeping his mouth shut.

Jai had held back until they had crossed out of the manthri's lands before pressing hard on Ahilan’s side, and torn down the path. It was unwise to leave his retinue behind when he was technically still not in friendly territory but he almost hoped some assassin would try their mettle against him at that point.

Some bloodshed might provide relief for the storm beneath his skin.

He had been severe on Ahilan, pushing him till the animal was almost collapsing. Only catching his breath as Ahilan struggled with his, Jai had led them to the nearby river and let the animal drink water and rest. They waited till his retinue caught up with him, and Jai listened to Kaakha's scolding with a twinge of shame. He had covered more ground during his mad dash than he'd expected, and if they could maintain a steady trot, could be in the palace by nightfall.

Of course the sky had decided to come falling down on them in the last stretch to the palace, in the open road. With no other option the riders had continued till they reached the palace well past the middle of the night.

By then most of the anger had been banked, transforming into a bone deep weariness. He could not recall actively handing the reins of Ahilan to one of the stablehands, nor how his feet carried him to a bedroom that wasn't his own. He did remember the way Bhairava had pressed a blade to his throat, and how his voice had broken through the fog in Jai's brain.

"-raj? Maharaj!" Kaakha hissed sharply, similarly bringing Jai back to the present. Kaakha looked at him with a curious expression, but Jai focused on the scene in front of him. Clearing his throat, he spoke. "Well? Has an agree-," Jai paused to swallow the stammer in his tongue, "-ment been reached?"

Both ministers looked mullish but they nodded begrudgingly. Jai sighed. If only he could actually order them as he wished. Or this squabble didn’t inevitably cause problems in another few weeks. "Very well. I will see you at the Rajyasabha."

The ministers bowed deeply and exited the meeting chambers. Kaakha, to his credit, waited until the guards had also filed out before rounding on him. "I came to check on you last night. Your bed was empty. What did you do?"

Jai's eyes narrowed. "Spying on me, Kaakha?"

Kaakha bristled. "Quite the contrary, Maharaj. I'm your chief advisor. It's my duty to know of your location and safety at all times. After the ... unfortunate horse incident yesterday, I assumed you'd go straight to bed."

"I did."

Now it was Kaakha's turn to narrow his eyes. "And where might that be, may I know?"

Jai shrugged. "It's not important. I'm going to see Ahilan now."

"But Maharaj!" Kaakha cried out to his back. Jai quickened his pace. He knew he was being unreasonable, and Kaakha was right to be anxious. But all he wanted to do was get away from all these politics for a bit.

And maybe find some more ... pleasing company.

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Notes:

“Om Nama Sivaya” - The mantra is the ultimate prayer to Lord Shiva, translating roughly to “Salutations to Lord Shiva”

Aarthi - Hindu ritual employed in worship, often part of puja, in which fire/light is offered to one or more deities.

Theertham - Sacred water offered to devotees, often infused with tulsi (mint) leaves

Shivling or Shiva Lingam - The Linga idol is the most common way in which Lord Shiva is represented in worship.

Manthri - Minister

Rajyasabha - Gathering held by the king with all their ministers

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