ArHi FF:13: The BEASTS and the BLEEDING ROSES - Page 94

Dear Admirers of The Beasts and The Bleeding Roses,

Seeing as how you are all perplexed and are in earnest of the story, I have decided to narrate a chapter today.

You may recall this story began as an "improvement" on the plot of the show which had strayed recklessly halfway, leaving audiences largely ungratified and embittered. I have only been reworking on that ORIGINAL story, attempting to make it more magical and promising in plot. IPK's beginnings were perfect and I have begun this story parallel to it. But IPK did not reach its ending on a conceivable note: most of the scenes following the forced marriage, the Dadi entry, the unspeakable delusions of Shyam and the totally unnecessary kidnapping of Arnav in the show, the extremely awkward attempt at modernizing Kushi towards the end... everything was haphazardly planned and produced. So yes, as Fuzzy pointed out, I stuck to the original plot and am still doing it. Only, the rationale, connections and certain equations go the way I charted them, making certain it marvels any who read it.

And trust me on this: the ending of my story is a happy one. You can count on that. *wink*

Lots of love for each of you, your Lin. The Storyteller.

P.S. MysticRiver. Thanks a lot for being so trusting.

Chapter 333: Crossroads to the Climax

"I don't believe this!" Lady Anjali spiritedly announced as they walked across the expanse of wilderness that was bathed silver by the tranquil moon, "Anarkali is your cure?!"

"Come away, now," her husband pulled at her elbow, "You are wandering off the path."

"But imagine how ironical it is!" she asserted, "All along you thought her to be the incarnation of your curse but the truth was staring right at you and she is revealed to be the one who will be your cure."

"It is not that part that gets to me," elucidated the General, "Now that I know she is my cure, I know why and how."

Lady Anjali smiled understandingly, "I cannot wait till my child hears of this! Not that she'd understand it quite."

"We ought to get her rescued first," pointed out the General, "And by the looks of it, I don't think your brother succeeded to find them for we did not see him on the return in the course of our journey."

"He might still be searching, in that case," deduced the hopeful Lady Anjali and then she froze, as a worried thought came into her mind, "Do you think... do you think they got to him? Do you think it's too late?"

"Nonsense," the General turned to her, "I despise your brother immensely but I would never doubt his power to overcome his enemies."

"We are bound to meet him sooner or later, right?" Lady Anjali looked around the dismal land and towards the clump of forest trees in the distance.

The General was about to say something when the sound of rushing hoofs was discerned in the breaking the silence of the twilight.

Lightning perked up, recognizing the sound instantly. The General noticed the stiffness in her poise and commented slyly, "Talk of the devil and he summons himself."

All three looked in the direction of the forest line that stood in the distance from where the sound issued and as the noise of the galloping amplified, all of a sudden, a black stallion emerged from the darkness and into the moonlit open where they stood.

"Chotey!" exclaimed Lady Anjali.

But just as instantly, her smile fell on realizing that the horse was without its rider.

"Where is Chotey?" conjectured the agitated Lady Anjali.

The General sensed peril instantly and stepped closer to the stallion.

Shadow withdrew a step, declining the advancement of his Master's enemy.

But the horse lifted its head on noticing Lightning who stood beside the General.

The mare had a worried look on her face and the stallion reciprocated it by approaching her.

Lightning hesitated but did not withdraw. She stood her ground as the stallion sauntered up to her.

Shadow neighed and Lightning's ears perked up.

She looked at her Master who stared at the two horses, "What is it? What has happened?"

Lady Anjali clutched at his elbow.

And then, as they watched, Shadow meandered away. It was almost as though he had waited for them to come, for Lightning followed after her old enemy as though he were leading her on the trustworthy path to truth.

The General took his wife by her hand and, together, they followed after the horses.

They didn't have to go too far into the forest for, nearly into the first dozen feet from the fringe, Shadow had halted and, with him, Lightning, who stood staring into the darkness that lay beyond a throng of trees.

"It's a ruin," mumbled Lady Anjali, peering between the trees and beholding the rundown Fortress, "Do you suppose that's where they are?"

The General nodded, "They must be held hostages there."

"What about Chotey?"

The General didn't answer immediately for he had glimpsed a few number of heads within the broken fortifications. Countless number of guards.

"It's hard to believe they managed to subdue him but it looks like he must be in there too," revealed the General.

Lady Anjali let out a mournful whimper and the General looked at her.

Her eyes had filled again and she looked at him, "What do we do? If they could easily capture Chotey, would they not you too?"

"I am more powerful than him," stated the General, more for assuring her than to advertise his prowess, "I might stand a better chance to get them freed."

"I will help you," assured Lady Anjali, one hand tugging at the strap of her quiver.

"No," the General blurted immediately, "You will stay here."

Lady Anjali gaped at him, "I came this far for-"

"I want you to stay here for a purpose," the General interjected kindly, "If by some reason I don't return, you will go back and get reinforcements."

"I can't let you go as well," pleaded Lady Anjali, clutching at his collar, "I can't lose you too."

"You won't," promised the General, clasping her hands, "I will be back."

Lady Anjali stared at him, wanting to believe him.

He nodded to himself and then, withdrawing his hands from hers, turned to Lightning and began retracting the swords and guns from her saddle.

He began arming himself and inserting weapons into the sheaths at his belt, into his boots and across his shoulder until he looked like a soldier about to fight the paramount battle of his life.

He positioned his hat straight and then looked over his shoulder at his wife, "This is it."

Lady Anjali nodded and he walked away, his weapons clinging onto him from every side.

He had barely taken a dozen steps onward when he stopped and turned around.

And then was running towards her.

Lady Anjali was worried if he'd seen something or if he had forgotten to take another weapon when, all of a sudden, on reaching her, his arms pulled her to him and his lips crushed themselves against hers.

Gasping in surprise but melting in her heart, Lady Anjali wrapped her arms around his neck as they assured each other in that fervent kiss that all would be safe.

When their lips withdrew, she was trembling with tears and he nervously licked his lips, tasting the memory of her touch.

"If something should happen to me," he whispered coarsely, holding her face close to his, "You will remember me, won't you?"

"Nothing's going to happen to you," assured his wife gently, "You will return. With OUR child. And we will be a happy family."

He swallowed, "I wish you'd married a man who deserved you."

"If the Powers let me chose my man in seven lives, seven times I will marry no other but you," promised Lady Anjali, pressing her forehead to his.

He smiled into her eyes, "My lady queen..."

Her cheeks turned red and her eyes glistened with delight.

"Go, my love," whispered Lady Anjali her farewell, "Go and liberate our family."

The General kissed her lips one last time, before he stepped backwards, watching her as he departed, and then, turning around, he sauntered cautiously in the direction of the infernal Fortress.