This is my first FF on Swaragini Forum. The story is set in AU and in the past - as in the times of Kings and Queens. Ragini and Swara in this story share a sisterly bond but are not sisters. They are friends. Lakshya and Sanskar are brothers, not just cousins. It's about both the couples - mainly SwaSan and some RagYa. Since I am not following any specific era, there might be historical inconsistencies. Hope you like it. Please let me know what you think.
Behind Enemy Lines
Princess Ragini and her companion Swara, while traveling to another kingdom are attacked by robbers, led by the Maheshwaris and they are abducted. The girls meet the infamous Maheshwari brothers and are swept into a world of danger, adventure and romance. Who will fall and who will survive when they are stuck behind enemy lines?
Index:
Prologue & Characters (this post)
Chapter 1 - The Meet (on Page 5)
Chapter 2 - Another Attempt to Escape (on Page 8)
Chapter 3 - The Training (on Page 10)
Chapter 4 - The Kaushal Palace (on Page 13)
Chapter 5 - The Valley of Flowers (on Page 15)
Chapter 6 - A Fight and A Kiss (on Page 18)
Chapter 7 - The Confession (on Page 21)
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Prologue
The royal carriage drawn by two horses came to a sudden halt which woke Swara up from her nap. She rubbed her eyes and saw Ragini smile at her.
Princess Ragini of Gadodia, looked cheerful. Her face was as pink as the lehenga she was wearing. She was traveling to the kingdom of Kaushal on behest of the Kaushal's king and queen. Even though Swara was her companion, her lady-in-waiting, Ragini treated her as a friend, her equal. She never let Swara feel the difference in their positions. Swara was glad that she was in Princess Ragini's service.
Swara's father was the General of Gadodia Army. He was killed in an assassination attempt on Gadodia's King when she was just 11. The king survived as her father saved him. After that King Shekhar and Queen Janki, due to their gratefulness to Swara's father, took her under their tutelage. Her mother, Sharmistha, was made Queen Janki's lady-in-waiting.
Swara grew up with Ragini, learning the same skills that were taught to the princess - mathematics, science, languages, archery, dance, music and everything else. A princess needed to be knowledgeable in all spheres. That was how it was in those days. At 21, Swara was made Ragini's official lady-in-waiting. A lady-in-waiting was a companion to the queen or princess rather than a servant. The female servants were called handmaids. Swara was also taught one very important rule by her father and mother-always look out for the princess. Always protect her, just like her father had protected the King. That was their duty.
Ragini, even though a princess, was not haughty at all. She treated Swara as a sister and the other handmaids as friends. Everyone thought that Swara was lucky as the King favored her personally but Ragini knew it was the opposite. If not for Swara's brave father, their family wouldn't be alive.
The girls did everything together from the start. Neither Swara nor Ragini had any siblings so they were very close to one another. However, the contrasts in them were stark. Ragini was shy and soft-spoken, an introvert whereas Swara was never hesitant to speak her mind especially against wrongdoing. Swara admired how grounded Ragini was and Ragini admired Swara for her honesty and bravery.
The trip that they were making now, to Kingdom of Kausal, was not just a social visit. They were going to the crowning ceremony of the Prince of Kaushal- Vikram. He was being crowned as king. There was an understanding between the Gadodias and Kaushals that once Ragini and Vikram grew up, they would seal the alliance between the 2 kingdoms with marriage. This was the main reason why they were going - Ragini would meet the prince, attend the ceremony and a couple days later the King and Queen of Gadodia would visit her there to officially announce the matrimony.
The horses neighed and Swara tied her hair. "I am so sorry Princess," Swara apologized to Ragini, still feeling sleepy, "I don't know when I fell asleep."
"It's okay Swara," Ragini smiled, "You were tired. You have been up for almost two days preparing for the visit. You needed the rest."
Swara thanked her, "You are too kind." She slightly parted the curtain of the window and peered out, "Why did we stop?"
She scanned the surroundings- they still hadn't reached the Kaushal palace. It looked like they were in the woods.
Swara turned to Ragini, "I will go and check."
She opened the door and got down of the carriage. She stretched her limbs. They had been on the road for a few hours now. The journey was of 2 days. The first night of the journey, they had stayed at the manor of one of the Lords in King Shekhar's council. The first leg of the journey was easy; the second, not so much.
The carriage was drawn by 2 horses and 1 charioteer. Apart from that, they had a dozen guards on horses following them. The princess of Gadodia was traveling- Swara thought 12 guards were less but the now Army General had said a bigger crowd would attract more attention. Moreover the king, Shekhar and queen Janki always traveled in that number.
"The horses need to rest for a while," the charioteer replied to Swara's question.
"This is not a safe place," she countered. She had heard about dacoits in this part of the forest. It was one of the reasons why they didn't take any breaks since morning; they wanted to be out of the forest as soon as possible, especially before it got dark.
Swara informed Ragini the same. Sunset would be in a few hours now. Swara tapped her feet impatiently. She didn't like waiting here. Her doubts were proved correct when suddenly some men, wearing black masks covering their eyes, jumped out from the bushes. Swara shrieked and immediately ran inside the carriage, bolting the door.
"Daciots!" she panted as Ragini widened her eyes in fear. Swara heard the sound of swords clashing and the yelling of men. She had seen at least 20 masked men. She knew the royal guards were outnumbered. She hoped that the guards were more skilled than these dacoits.
After what was a few minutes but felt like ages. The door of the carriage flung open. Swara prayed it to be a guard but it was one of the dacoits. He motioned for them to move out of the carriage. Swara took the lead and Ragini followed.
Swara saw the guards and charioteer, all unconscious and tied up.
"Tie them to the horses and drop them at the forest border," Swara heard one man shout.
They all turned to look at the two girls. "Nice catch, Lakshya" one of them whistled.
The guy, Lakshya, who had motioned them out of the carriage yelled at his companion to shut-up.
He eyed Swara, "What's your name?"
She looked at him defiantly. She didn't want to reply but she thought it was better to rather than poking the hornet's nest, "Swara." He glanced at Ragini who was cowering in fear. Her lips didn't move.
"Ragini," Swara answered for her.
Swara was very scared but she put on a brave face. Ragini was not doing so well. She pleaded, "Please let us go. Take our jewelry if you want to."
The guy smirked, "We don't want your jewelry. We just want the princess."
Ragini stiffened. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. She squeezed Swara's hand. They wanted the princess. That's why they had left the guards. Swara looked at Ragini and gulped. She had to be brave- for both of them. It is our duty to protect them, her father's words rang in her mind.
She closed her eyes for a second. Her heart was beating fast. She turned to face Lakshya and whispered, "I am the Princess."
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Characters - Most of the characters are from the serial, barring a few. Made made minor changes to the family tree. I'll add more, when and if needed.
Shekhar - King of Gadodia Kingdom
Janki - Queen of Gagodia
Ragini - Princess of Gadodia and only daughter of Shekhar and Janki
Swara's father - Army General of Gadodia (deceased)
Sharmistha - Mother of Swara and Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Janki
Swara - Daughter of Sharmistha; Companion and close friend of Princess Ragini.
Vikram - Crown prince of Kaushal Kingdom
Aditya and Jaya - King and Queen of Kaushal Kingdom
Sanskar -Leader of the Maheshwari clan.
Laksh - Younger Brother of Sanskar.
Durga Prasad Maheshwari - Sanskar and Lakshya's father - advisor to the king (deceased)
Uttara - Sanskar and Laksh's cousin
Uttara's mother - ex healer at Kaushal palace
Ishaani
