Sissy Princes and the Daring Princess (Part 2)

Chapter Five 

 The Hero(ine)

The king was almost tearing what little hair he had left out of his head.

“What do you mean, gone? They must be found at once! The future of my kingdom depends on it”.

The Captain of the Guard shrugged “Sir, we have searched everywhere, even in the ladies’ quarters. They must have either been kidnapped and spirited away or they somehow got out of the palace undetected”.

“This is a disaster! A disaster, I tell you! I have no-one of my family to duel against the prince!”.

“Yes, you do sir!” came Anusha’s clear voice.

The King looked up to see his daughter, but she was not wearing her usual gown. Instead she was dressed for the battle.

“What’s the meaning of this, daughter?

“Impossible. You’re a girl. The enemy is expecting a prince to fight the duel, not a slip of a girl like you! I haven’t time for this nonsense! Leave me alone girl!”.

Anusha picked up the parchment the King had received from King Aadithya containing the terms and conditions under which the duel was to be fought “I’m not leaving you yet, father. Look, King Aadithya specified that a member of the royal family had to fight the duel and that they had to be of the same rank as Arjun. It does not specify that our champion has to be a male. I’m a member of the royal family and I am a princess, so I’m Arjun’s equal in rank. I can fight the duel for you, father”.

“You’re a clever girl, Anusha, much cleverer than your brothers and even perhaps myself, but you’ve had no training. You can’t use a sword! You’ll be killed! I couldn’t bear that, I just couldn’t! I will have to concede to King Aadithya ”.

“Sir, that won’t be necessary. Look!” Anusha took out her sword from its scabbard and turned to the Captain of the Guard “Defend yourself!”

The captain protested “My lady, please..”

“Fight me, captain, that is an order!”.

The captain looked at the King. “Do as she says, Captain” instructed the King, intrigued.

The captain reluctantly drew his sword “I’ll try not to hurt you, your ladyship”.

The captain soon found that it was he who was most likely to get hurt. His opponent’s speed, skill and strength were astonishing! It took all of his skill and experience to avoid being defeated early in the contest. As it was, ten minutes later, the captain, the king’s most skilled swordsman, was lying flat on his back with Anusha’s blade at his throat.

“I yield” said the captain, embarrassed to have been beaten by a girl in front of his own men and his sovereign.

Anusha graciously helped him to his feet “Thank you, captain” and was then astounded to hear everyone in the room, including her defeated opponent and including her own father, applauding her. Anusha blushed.

The King looked at her with love and with genuine respect “That was a truly awesome display, Anusha. How did you acquire such skills?”

Anusha told him about her sessions with Hari Acharya “He taught me all I know”.

“He has made a warrior of you! Captain, I want Hari Acharya found and brought to me.”

When he arrived, the King asked him to accompany Anusha, as her companion to fight the battle.

Chapter Six 

The Battle

Anusha accompanied by Hari Acharya, rode out to meet Prince Arjun outside the palace. She was nervous, aware that there was a risk that Arjun might be too good for her and kill her, but she was determined to go through with it. The King and the kingdom was relying on her.

They stopped at the Duel zone, an enclosed square. King Aadithya and Prince Arjun were waiting, along with a nobleman who was to act as Arjun’s second.

Anusha spoke to the King “King Aadithya , as agreed and at the appointed time, I am the King’s Champion and I am ready to fight”.

There were guffaws of laughter “But you’re a ..girl! Has your king lost his wits? Sending girls to fight for cities”.

Anusha had expected this reaction but ploughed on “I am the Champion for the King nevertheless”.

Prince Arjun spat on the ground in disgust “I don’t fight girls!”

“That’s your right, of course, not to fight, but under the terms of your own letter, if you do not fight me, my kingdom remains to my father!” said Anusha firmly.

King Aadithya and Prince Arjun looked at her. A girl, she may be, but she had guts and brains in ample measure. They were impressed by her fearlessness and ability to stand her ground.

“Very well” said King Aadithya “I’m not willing to concede, so fight her Arjun. It should be an easy win for you in any event”.

“Father…” Prince Arjun began, but his father’s expression made him silent.

“Shall we proceed your highnesses?” Anusha prompted “I don’t have all day you know!”.

That angered Arjun, as Anusha had hoped “Cheeky wench! Very well, get ready for the worst pasting of your life!”

Fifteen minutes later, Arjun and Anusha faced each other in the dueling square. As soon as the instruction to fight began, Arjun launched a vicious attack against his opponent and was surprised to find the girl not only coping with the onslaught, but counter-attacking and forcing him on the defensive. He had to admit that the girl was as good as, if not better, at swordplay than himself. The two opponents fought for a solid half hour and became weary.

Anusha found the weight of her armour oppressive and was flagging. The energy seemed to be sucking out of her and it was all she could do to defend herself. There was another blow and Anusha went sprawling to the ground. She couldn’t move, let alone get up. She expected to feel the blade of her opponent at her throat and her life ended. I’m sorry, Father, she thought. I have failed you.

To her surprise, the feel of cold steel did not come. She looked up to see Arjun just standing there, looking at her.

“Well, come on then, finish me off!” Anusha shouted at him.

Arjun responded by throwing his sword to the ground and calling for help to get Anusha on her feet. Arjun removed her helmet and gave her water. Anusha felt herself being lifted up.

Arjun turned to his father, who was dumbstruck at what he was seeing.

“Arjun ! Explain yourself!”

“I concede” said Arjun simply “this girl is the finest opponent I have ever dueled with. She has earned my unstinting respect. I will not end her life just for a city”.

The King swore and shouted at his son, calling him a fool, but Arjun simply walked off the field.

“Your highness” said Anusha, now feeling much better “I believe that under the terms of the contest, our kingdom still belongs to us”.

King Aadithya reluctantly nodded, turned his horse around and rode away, eager to leave.

There were cheers from the spectators for the winner and champion, Anusha .

Chapter Six 

The Battle Hero returns

The King was overjoyed to see his daughter alive and gave her a tremendous hug “Thank the gods you are alive!” he said, which made Anusha happy.

Anusha related to her father what had happened in detail. “This Prince Arjun, it seems, is a man of great honour. He could have killed you and won the city for his father. I am glad he did not”.

“As am I, father. I found myself liking him. He was a formidable opponent”.

There was a commotion outside the chamber and the Captain of the Guard rushed in “Sir, we have found the princes and arrested them, as you ordered”.

“Where were they?” asked the King.

“Perhaps, sir, you had better see for yourself. Bring the prisoners in!”

Anusha was astonished to see what appeared to be two ladies being led into the chamber. Their veils had been removed to show their painted faces. They looked oddly pretty and feminine and their skirts rustled as they moved. Anusha had to stop herself from bursting out laughing.

“As you can see, sir, their lordships disguised themselves as ladies and hid amongst the women. A very convincing disguise, if I may say so, sir. We only found them when your daughter’s maid tipped us off”.

The King looked at his sons in disbelief and disgust “You sirs, dare to shirk your duty to defend this kingdom and place my kingdom in jeopardy? This is outrageous! My sons are revealed to be cowardly and weaklings whilst my daughter risks her life for me and my kingdom? You have earned my contempt”.

The feminine figures remained silent, their heads down.

“Well, you will be punished for this. For one thing, I think it is clear which of my children deserves to succeed me. Princess Anusha, I name you my heir apparent! I can think of no one more worthy to succeed to the throne”.

Anusha was taken aback “Oh, father!....thank you!”

“You have earned it. I am so proud of you!” the King turned to his sons “As for you two, I will decide your punishment later. Captain, take them back to their quarters”.

There was another commotion as a messenger rushed in, bowed, and delivered a letter to the King. The King opened it and his eyebrows rose as he digested the contents. He turned to Anusha.”

“Anusha, Prince Arjun has asked for your hand in marriage”.

Anusha was stunned.

“This is a significant development” continued the King “You are the heir to my kingdom, not that Arjun would have been aware of that when he wrote this, and he is the heir to his father. Our kingdoms would be united. What do you think?”

Anusha was astonished by the question. She was a royal daughter and owed obedience to her sovereign. If her father told her she was to marry someone, she would have to obey him. Her father was according her respect by asking her what she wanted and that he valued her opinion. Anusha felt giddy with pleasure, but she knew what her answer would be.

“I think, father, that I will accept!” Anusha answered without hesitation. A future with another warrior and a man who respected her was very appealing.

A day later, Anusha was practising with Hari Acharya in the courtyard. She had adopted male clothing and had complete freedom of action. Her father would not deny her anything. A banquet would be held to celebrate the engagement of herself and Arjun and Arjun himself would be attending. Anusha was greatly looking forward to meeting him.

From a window in the tower, two painted and veiled faces gazed with envy at the girl in the courtyard, inhibited by their tight gowns, stockings, voluminous skirts and petticoats and the headdress that made their heads warm and obscured their vision. They were conscious all of the time of their silk chemise and knickers that they had to wear beneath their dresses and petticoats. Their ears had been pierced on the instruction of their father and heavy pearl earrings now hung from their lobes. Their fingers ached from hours of needlework and embroidery and their bodies gave off a sweet fragrance of rose. 

They lived in a chamber decorated for a lady and their father had spent heavily to purchase for them pretty gowns, undergarments and jewellery. They spent all day, every day, under the supervision of a tyrant, Lady Maragatham, who had absolute authority over them and chided them constantly. They had to answer to their feminine names and were treated just like any lady.

If that was not shameful enough, Rajkumari Madhu  and Rajkumari Mala had to attend the banquet being held in honour of their sister. Expensive gowns with huge skirts had been made for them, with a mass of silken petticoats and a heavy headdress. They were not going as guests though. They would have to wait upon their sister and even curtsey to her. Worst of all, they would have to appear in public, gowned and petticoated and painted. Everyone present knew exactly who the Princess Madhu and the Princess Mala were, and the shame would be unbearable.

Their father had decreed that their punishment would be, fittingly, to live in the disguises that they had used to shirk their duties for a whole year! A whole year!

They had been forced to live as ladies for almost two days now and they could already sense that having to wear female clothing and underwear had an effect on the wearer’s mind and instincts. They were already becoming more feminine and ladylike. Goodness only knows what they would be like when they were finally released from the bonds of femininity!

“Rajkumari Madhu! Rajkumari Mala!” Lady Maragatham snapped “be good girls and attend to your embroidery please!”

“Yes, Lady Maragatham” Madhav and Manav replied dully, thinking of their future with horror.