Out of the Abyss (FF)

Title: Out of the Abyss

Notes: Takes place right after when Chandra sends a proposal to Nandini. Told from Nandini's perspective.

She's known as Roopa but I'll call her Avinashi as the meaning is more fitting.

This is going to be about what happens when you realise your comfortable world is a lie and those whom you admired all your life are actually evil.

Hope you guys enjoy.

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CHAPTER ONE

Be his third wife, utters his mother.

Nandini looks at her weary face, the streak of grey and the carefully painted lips. How could she even believe that this woman suffered at the hands of her father?

"If you know what's best for you and your family, you will marry my son." Chandra's mother says, eyes smiling.

"What kind of king marries his enemy?" Nandini hisses, the very thought causing her blood to boil.

A stupid one, the voice whispers in her mind.

"Leave." Nandini commands, making sure that the old woman understood clearly who still had control here.

"You have till night to make a choice." The old woman informs her before turning away.

The rest of the enemies lackeys leave too. Nandini eyes search the room until they find her mother.

"They may think they can threaten us but I am still alive!"

"If you fight them, Avinashi will be freed!"

"Mother, maybe they need to be defeated by Avinashi."

"You didn't say that."

Nandini takes a step closer to her mother, eyes pleading. "My father is dead. My brothers-your sons have been killed mother..."

"Exactly! Which is why I cannot risk you, my daughter too. If that demon takes over, you will be gone!"

Nandini takes her mother's hands, "Just give me some time to decide because whatever the outcome is, I have to think about saving our people from an unruly king."

She could see the fear in her mother's eyes but Nandini had no time for second guessing herself. A whole nation now depended on her.

She would not let her father down.

**

Blood drips from the sword.

Nandini watches Chandra's face. There was no pain, only determination as he met her brother with challenge. On their altar.

Your idiot brother had to start a fight now, Avinashi sneers.

She didn't realize when she had thrown herself in between her brother and Chandra, desperate to keep the only blood sibling she had alive.

"Get out of the way, Nandini!" Chandra commands, as if he hadn't just married her.

"Now is not the time for this!" A priest yells- the very priest whom had misbehaved with her father. Acharya.

Chandra complies, although reluctantly. Nandini notices how much power Acharya has over the new king. It was insulting to know that this novice would be leading her people.

And not into greatness.

When the wedding was over, Nandini had braced herself for the boring rituals that would commence after. Hugging old ladies, accepting gifts and being told the rules of the new kingdom. Lucky for her, Nandini's first marriage didn't consist of such useless things so it was all new for her.

New things weren't so bad.

Chandra's mother spoke as if she was happy and had never suffered at all while she gave her another tour of the palace.

Then she had met the other two wives. Helena steps louder, making her anklets heard as if she was the most desired one. And Dudhara who bounced up and down, threw her arms across Nandini like a little sister would.

In another world, maybe Nandini would hug her back.

But these women were allied with her enemy.

She was shown to another room- one that used to belong to her brother and his wife.

Her old room was now taken by Chandra's mother. Her old room had the balcony, which had a beautiful view of the city and the distant mountains.

Nandini sighs, her new room was closer to Chandra's.

If he tried to sneak in and have his way with her, Avinashi might come out and play.

Then he certainly would be dead.

"Let me make something clear, daughter of Nand." Chandra's voice cut through the room.

She saw him by the window. Great.

Her hand discreetly reaches for the dagger behind her.

He advances.

"You say you married me to help the people but let me tell you, these people hate you and your entire family. Your father was a devil. He tortured them for you. Took their hard earned money to give you something you didn't deserve. So let me tell you, from now own, as one of my wives, you will pay every citizen back for what your father did to them."

"Says the scoundrel who was raised in the jungle by a filthy priest." Nandini scoffs.

Then he grabs her. Nandini points the dagger at him but already she is spinning against him, his arms right around her, tight like a snake.

"Don't ever utter a word against my guru," he warns, deadly and cold.

He takes the dagger from her and drops it. She hears the sound of it hitting the hard floor echo in her ears.

Today was not the day she'd strike.

She'd make Chandra fall on his knees and beg for mercy.