SwaSan & RagYa FF - Behind Enemy Lines - Pt 7 on Pg 21 (05/10/16) - Page 3

Originally posted by: Ritikanfly

Superve concept n prologue
waiting for next update soon

Amazing ! Update soon. Love their Swarigini's characters.

Very interesting start..👍🏼 Waiting for the next chapter😃

interesting start

Originally posted by: khadz20

Amazing ! Update soon. Love their Swarigini's characters.

can't wait for sanskar's entry.

Seems interesting

Originally posted by: Krishnabhisarik

Very interesting start..👍🏼 Waiting for the next chapter😃

Originally posted by: Javeria3991

interesting start

looking forward to read more.

Originally posted by: Shinning_AD

Seems interesting

Update soon😉

Chapter 1 - The Meet

Some of the robbers were inspecting the carriage and horses and going through the stuff. Some were huddled in a corner engrossed in a serious discussion. The robber named Lakshya had tied Swara and Ragini's hand on the carriage door.

"Swara," Ragini whispered in fear, "Why did you lie and tell them that you are the princess."

Swara gave a weak smile, "They will let you go then Princess, just like they let the guards go. Once you are safe, I can tell them I am not a princess and they will let me go too. I won't be useful if I am not royalty, right?"

Ragini thought for a moment, "Your plan is hinged on a lot of ifs and buts. What if it doesn't work out?"

"I didn't say it was a good plan," Swara tried to joke to lighten Ragini's mood. Ragini's expression didn't change, Swara went on, "They said they wanted the princess and lying to them was the first thing that came to my mind. Don't worry, we'll figure something out."

Swara stopped talking when Lakshya walked towards them. He took off his mask . He looked close to her age.

"Listen," she spoke to him, "You have the princess- me, let my friend go."

Lakshya smirked, "Not happening."

"Why not?" Swara questioned him, "You let the soldiers go."

He replied. "Because you princesses have a lot of tantrums; your handmaid will deal with that. Moreover the soldiers were a threat."

Swara raised her eyebrow, "And we are not?"

"Don't look like one to me," he replied casually.

"Oh! How typical of you men. Just because we are girls we are not strong enough? Let me tell you something - I am trained in archery and sword fighting."

"Swara," Ragini whispered in a fearful tone, "Let's not challenge them."

Lakshya spoke, "Your friend has more brains than you Princess. You should consider her opinion."

He then blindfolded Swara and Ragini and made them enter the carriage. The horses started galloping and they knew they were being taken to the hideout and to their leader.

After what felt like half an hour, the carriage stopped. They were made to walk on foot. It was difficult because the terrain was rocky. Someone grabbed their arms and they walked carefully, one foot before another.

"Set the horses free and destroy the carriage," Swara heard Lakshya order someone.

This day was not going as per scheduled - at all.

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Swara and Ragini were stopped and their blindfolds removed. It was starting to get dark. Swara took in the surroundings. It was a small clearing in the midst of forest. They must be deep in the forest, Swara thought as she looked at the tall trees surrounding the clearing. Some small tents had been set up at the periphery. There was a fire in the middle of the clearing. She could hear the sound of water - a stream was nearby. She mentally counted the people- there were about 30 or so. She spotted a few women too.

A man in his mid 20s, walked over to them. He was wearing a white shirt and dark brown pants with boots (just like the others). Swara noticed he was not bad looking for a robber; in fact he had a cute boyish charm. She quickly shrugged the thought off.

He spoke to Lakshya, "Everything went fine?"

"A cake walk, Sanskar" Lakshya replied in a triumphant tone, "This one's the Princess, Swara," Lakshya pointed at Swara and then at Ragini, "and the other's the handmaid, Ragini."

Before only Ragini was visibly scared but now even Swara was sweating. They were in enemy camp, deep inside the forest. This forest spread over hundreds of thousands of acres. How would anyone ever find them? More importantly what were these guys going to do to them?

"What do you want from us?" Swara found her voice. She assumed this guy, Sanskar, was the leader as everyone was reporting to him.

"Nothing from you," he replied. Swara felt herself relax for a bit. He continued, "We are against the Kaushal Kingdom, especially Prince Vikram. If he is crowned King, it will be a disaster for all."

Swara turned her head to Ragini who looked confused. "Disaster?"

Sanskar added, "Prince Vikram is brutal and ruthless. Under his orders, many families who were not in his favour were forced to give up their lands and livestock and everything that they had. If anyone opposed him, he would declare treason and execute them. Whenever he wants something, he gets it by any way possible. He is a tyrant. We have been building a resistance against him. We are vastly outnumbered to fight. So we try and help those who have been wronged by him."

"How do we fit in this scheme of yours?" Swara inquired.

"We know you are here to announce your wedding to Prince Vikram. He should be willing to pay a lot for his love," Sanskar said.

"I am not his love," Swara retorted.

"We get gold in exchange for you. It will help us lead normal lives in other kingdoms. We don't want to leave our land but there is no choice. As we have been branded Outlaws by Vikram, we can't go back to our homes here."

"So, you are doing this for money. How noble!" Swara sneered.

"Say what you will princess. This is our only path."

"Kidnapping us? We have nothing to do with Prince Vikram," Swara protested, "You talk of injustice done to you by Vikram, yet you are doing the same to us."

"You are our guest," Sanskar assured, "You'll be treated fairly. No harm will come to you in our camp. You just have to bear it till your prince makes the deal. Then you are free to go."

"Show them to their tent, Lakshya," Sanskar ordered him and walked away.

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It was a small makeshift tent. There were some sheets on the floor and an earthen pot filled with water. 2 men were guarding the entrance. Swara noticed the hem of her clothes was drenched in mud and it was torn in places; Same for Ragini. Lakshya handed over two pairs of shirts, pants and boots, like the group wore.

Swara helped Ragini change, "I am sorry princess, about the clothes."

"Clothes are the last thing on my mind Swara," Ragini replied, "What are we supposed to do?"

Swara changed into the shirt and pant. It was a little oversized. She tightened it with a belt around the waist. "We wait it out I guess. They will send word to Prince Vikram and he will immediately rescue you. It's just a matter of a day or two."

Ragini sat on the floor, "Do you trust them?"

Swara spoke, "They kidnapped us! How can we trust them?"

Ragini looked unsure, "The leader, Sanskar, whatever he said about Prince Vikram, you don't think it is true?"

"They are outlaws, they have to justify themselves, so they made the prince look bad, that's all," Swara assured her, not fully satisfied herself. But she couldn't say that to Ragini. Ragini looked devastated. She had to lift her spirits.

After sometime, Lakshya entered the tent with a plate of food which was mainly something shaped like a slice of bread and some cut fruits.

"The princess is supposed to eat this?" Swara scowled at Lakshya.

"Do you always address yourself as the princess? Are you really that self-absorbed?" Lakshya chided her, "Eat this or sleep hungry."

"And where are we supposed to sleep? On the floor?" She complained.

Lakshya sighed, "Look Princess, I don't have time to deal with your tantrums." He walked over to Ragini and handed her the plate, "You deal with her."

"Your leader said we were his guests. I need to talk to him," Swara demanded. Lakshya rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"If I don't eat, I will fall sick and I may not survive. How will you get your gold from Prince Vikram if I am dead?" Swara reasoned.

"Okay," Lakshya agreed, "I'll take you to Sanskar."

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Sanskar tent was bigger than theirs. There was a table at the centre with what looked like maps on it. At one side swords were kept. Sanskar was reading something when Lakshya and Swara walked in.

Lakshya sighed, "The princess wanted an audience." He then left Swara and Sanskar alone.

Swara's eyes wavered to where the weapons were kept. She could grab one, threaten to kill him and use it to get out of the camp. He didn't have any weapon on him. She contemplated her escape plan.

"What is it now?" Sanskar asked in a bored tone.

Swara made a dash for the corner where the swords were kept and picked one. She pinned it against his chest, very lightly.

Instead of being scared, as Swara hoped, he smirked, "What are you doing?"

Swara raised her voice a little, "You will let us go, right now. Or I'll kill you."

He tried to suppress a smile. He was mocking her. Swara gritted her teeth and took a swing at him with the sword. He backed away instantly, the smile had worn off. He spoke in a serious tone, "You could have hurt me."

"I intended to," Swara snickered. She tried to take another swing at him but this time he was quicker. He ducked. Suddenly he grabbed her wrist and the sword fell from her hand. She tried to struggle but his grip got stronger. He pulled her toward him. He wrapped his other hand around her waist and her back was pressed against his body.

"Let me go," Swara struggled.

She felt Sanskar's breath on her neck.

"Try this again and I'll kill you," he whispered in her ear.

She felt a tingling sensation all over her body. Her heart began to race and her breathing shortened. He hadn't let her go. She was still propped up against him.

"Understood?" he purred in her ear.

Swara gulped and nodded.

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It had been quite some time since Swara had left the camp. Ragini paced around, nervous. She walked out when the guards stopped her, "You can't leave."

"I want to see my friend, Swara, please," Ragini pleaded.

"Let her pass," came Lakshya's voice. He was sitting around the fire with few of his friends.

Ragini walked towards him, "Where is Swara?" she asked in a timid voice, "I want to see her."

"Even the handmaid has demands," Lakshya mocked her.

"It was a request," Ragini corrected him,

"Staying with princesses has turned the servant into one too?" Lakshya sneered and the others laughed.

"Why do you mock handmaids? Just because they are servants? Isn't this little rebellion of yours against tyranny of Vikram? How do you expect to break free from authoritarian rule when you yourself ridicule people below your station? According to you that is exactly what Vikram does."

Lakshya widened his eyes in surprise. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. At that moment Swara was escorted out of the tent by Sanskar. She made her way to Ragini and they both headed inside the tent.

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"You did what?" Ragini exclaimed as Swara told her. "Are you crazy? He could've killed you. We've had sword training sessions in the palace just a few times, mostly for fun. You are an amateur. These people, their leader, are well trained in weaponry. Don't do this foolishness again."

"I thought it was a good opportunity," Swara explained.

"Let's say somehow you over power him and use him as hostage to get horses. Then what? We don't even know where we are. We could get lost, or get eaten by wild animals," Ragini responsed.

"We can't wait here princess. What if help never comes or they don't get enough gold or they change their minds? What happens when they have no use for the princess?"

Ragini nodded, "That's true."

"I heard the sound of water," Swara recalled, "If we travel along the banks, downstream, we might come across a village or even the Kingdom of Kaushal."

"That is not a bad idea," Ragini spoke after a moment, "There are always small establishments near river banks and moreover, we would not get lost because we would be moving in 1 direction, with certainty."

"Okay," Swara spoke excitedly, "We just need to find a way to get to the river and then my Princess, we are out of here!"

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