Arshia rode her horse slowly, engaged in her own thoughts. The feeling of rejecting the offer or request to see her son(s) was not setting in well. Karna had requested her to come to Hastinapur but she had to deny,she knew the 6 won't be happy with the thought,not that it mattered but she had to respect them.

Arriving at the castle,she jumped off her horse, giving it a last tap and handing it over to the guards. The sound of her feets grabbed attention as every servant turned to her and bowed their heads.

"Where were you?" Draupadi asked, walking out, wearing all the jewellery one could. The red clothing shined through as her hair blew rightwards because of the wind. "Meeting Arya" She simply answered. The fire born softly nodded her head,a calm expression taking over her face.

"How is he?"

"He is good."

"I still won't forget how he went against his best man to defend the both of us,he is really a gem of a person." Arshia softly smiled and nodded.

"Surely."

"Get changed,you are Anga's queen not a maid." She patted her shoulder and asked a maid to help Arshia get dressed.

.

With her bun done,her chudamani with red rubys was set on top, marking her married life. Her yellowish green saree with big earnings reaching her shoulders,a thin waist chain and all jewellery that marked her as royalty added on to her dusky complexion.

"Thank you." Arshia stood up and looked at the maids. All of them bowed their heads at exactly 30 degrees as she bowed her head just slightly,to acknowledge them. "I will be off. You all can leave as well. Thank you for your work"

Turning her heels,the sweet sound of anklets catching attention,she entered the common room for the seven of them. "Hello." Draupadi greeted. Arshia smiled back and made her way to the chair, sitting down and leaving a huge sigh. It was going to take some time to adjust to the heavy jewellery.

"Before you came,we agreed upon a plan. We send them an invitation to the war and invade Hastinapur tommorow,the six of us." Arjun went over the plan, casting a glance at her. Arshia shrugged,not interested in the idea.

Arjun raised his eyebrow at her, questioning her action.

"What is it that you want then?We can go with your plan." He suggested. "I don't have a plan."

"Then you are bound to follow ours." Arjun spoke back. Turning her sharp gaze at him,she gave him a question-look. "I am bound to?Says who?"

"Says me. We won't be fighting for no reason. If you refuse to follow this plan,then tell us yours. We will be more than happy to follow yours." Yudhishthir decided to speak.

"I don't have it yet but waging a war this early won't keep us in the brighter side,it will only darken our side more." She replied back. "Looking down at us is not helping Arshia." Nakul tried to use his softest tone possible.

"Looking down on demi-gods?I am not crazy,brother Nakul. They are millions more than us—"

"Until this morning,you were ecstatic about getting revenge but after having a talk with Angraj Karna you have stared to going against our plans. What did he tell you? What is it that he offered you?" Yudhishthir slightly glared.

"Don't use that tone when you are talking about him. Anyone but him. 13 years ago,when all of you kept quiet he was the only one who spoke up,that too against his own best friend because he couldn't stand women being insulted. You all had lost your tongues,lost yourselves. So,next time you try and use that tone when you even talk about him,be careful." A gust of anger arose in her as she stood up and walked out of the room.

"Arshia!How dare you talk to eldest like that!" Bheem yelled, marching ahead and grabbing Arshia, turning her around. Arshia's brown eyes gazed up with fire,threatening to burn the man infront of her.

"Arya!" Draupadi yelled, making Bheem to draw his hand back. "Apologise" Bheem yelled.

Arshia snorted.

"If I was wrong,I would have went on my knees and apologized. But I wasn't,if stating events that occurred years ago hurt you,please man up. You won't be winning any war w—"

"Arshia!Learn to respect elders! You can't go on insulting the eldest two." Arjun stepped forward,his face stern. "Insult? What was so insulting? Is it because I said you all lost yourselves and couldn't speak up for the both of us?Is saying the truth insulting now?" Everyone fell quite.

"Thought so. I will be taking my leave, please proceed with your plan and tell me if it succeeds and if you need me to join you all. My thoughts doesn't matter because here,the youngers are supposed to be quite and follow elders blindly,just like 13 years ago." Turning away,she opened the door and exited.

.

"Why are you all here?" Arshia took in a sharp breath when she entered the room she was assigned to filled with maids. "Setting the room for you, Angrani." A maid said with her shaky breath.

"Thank you,you all may leave now." Arshia turned as everyone went away. Closing the huge doors,she sat on the couch and grabbed a pillow, leaving a blood-cotting scream which only came out as a muffled one.

She leaned back and gritted her teeth.

"This is turning out so childish." She shook her head. Throwing the pillow across the room,she stood up to get dressed into something lighter.

.

Tieing her hair lightly,she put her chudamani down. She put the ring Vasudev Krishna once gifted her. The blue diamond twinkled as she took a good look at the ring. She had carried it around for years but never glanced at it, fearing she would be reminded of him and have the pain of not seeing him. She did miss him but was always absent when he visited,so his thoughts slowly vanished away.

From her mind,at least. Her heart could never.

The couch seemed a bit more comfortable than the huge bed, sleeping on the ground for so many years has prohibited her to jump on a huge fluffy bed. Sighs constantly left her mouth as she thought about the future. She had to change the future,no matter what it takes.

She stood up and grabbed a pillow and a thin blanket to cover her as she laid on the pavement. Turning to her right,she closed her eyes and tried to sleep until she heard a knock on the door.

Leaving a small groan,she stood up and opened the door to see Draupadi with an unreadable expression. She smiled. Arshia could only nod and make way for Draupadi to enter her chamber. The fire born's eyes fell on the silky looking blanket and a white pillow on the ground. "Still on the ground?" The fire born looked up at her.

"Is there anything you want to tell me? I would like to get sleep, I am too tired." Arshia said, trying to maintain sanity. She couldn't go around and talk rudely to people of this era,she would end up in huge trouble.

"Accompany them tomorrow,this isn't their fight,this is our fight. We have waited 13 years for this, don't let this slip through our fingers. We can't be fighting Arshe." Draupadi tried to explain.

"Duryodhana was always a misunderstood child. I hated him,maybe I still do but looking back how was he wrong?Yes,he took rash decisions,he followed Gandharaj blindly, probably still does. The fire won't ever calm down,the event is too big to but I, unfortunately,do not feel the need to wage a war that will kill uncountabl—"

"Have you gone crazy?" Draupadi yelled. Arshia took a step back at the sudden anger. "You are out of your mind!Do you hear what you say? Can you understand what you are saying? I know this is for Angraj Karna and I am completely okay with that. But giving up on revenge is not the ideal idea. You knew if he returned back to the Kauravas,you ultimately had to fight against him. You can't put all our efforts down the drain,Arshia!"

"Nothing is ideal in this world and nor is this war. I will be ready tomorrow. Now please leave me alone." Arshia looked away, feeling tears sting her eyes.

"Arshia, please unde—"

"I have to sleep." Arshia walked to the door, slightly open it. Draupadi sighed, nodding at her and walked out. Closing the door,she slid down the door and bit her lips shut, hoping whimpers don't escape her mouth.

Leaving a watery sigh,she walked over to the pillow and laid down, covering herself with the blanket.

Is there really no way to change history?

.

"I can't wear it today. I have a war to participate in." Arshia set her chudamani down. She fixed the blue ring and stood up. Her war uniform was tightly clinched on to her body as her hair was wrapped in a tight bun.

She walked out of her room to see the 5 Pandavas getting onto their chariots. She had opted for a horse instead. She trusted only herself to drive herself to victory,no one could ever hold the reins of her horse if she was ever in a battle.

Walking down and reaching her horse,she gave it a pat and climbed it, positioning herself comfortably.

"Are you ready Arshia?" Sahdev asked, climbing his chariot. She turned and nodded at him.

Sahadev was someone Arshia could blindly depend on. The other 4 might be great but no one comes close to how Sahadev treats her. He believes the maturity and power she holds,he trys to understand her perspective while the others try to made her agree with their thoughts. He was quite and conserved,not having to deal with the intense drama that the world offered. He stayed with himself and that was the quality Arshia loved about him.

"Beside Brother Arjun." Sahadev said, gazing beyond her shoulders. She nodded and went over. Having a slight eye-contact with him,Arjun gave her a curt nod. Yesterday's tension was still lingering.

With the orders of the eldest,they started their journey of revenge.

.

They stood in a barren land,the Hastinapur palace feets away. Yudhishthir blowed on the divine conch, marking the beginning of the war.

Arshia sighed, forming a bow in her hands. This wasn't war,not the official one at least but nerves got the best of her. Standing in this land,she knew she had to kill people non the less. She won't be stopping the war without killing people,she knew but never,back in her era,she would think that her hands would be covered in blood.

Suddenly an arrow with the red flag of Hastinapur landed infront of them causing the sand of the ground mix with the air. Arshia tried to see through the dust, trying to identify who it was.

Bhishma's tall and muscular self came into view.

Then the son of Ganga announced that they had to battle him in order to get to Hastinapur and battle the sons of Dhritarashtra. Agitated by this,the five protested and climbed down their chariots,Arshia following shortly after.

She stood beside Nakul as the talks between Yudhishthir,Bheem and Bhishma unfolded.

"Prepare an army for the battle, children. You won't get past even me with the huge army of Hastinapur. Anga's unweaving support still lies with us,so we clearly have the upper hand,if we decide to ignore the other allies of Hastinapur." Bhishma's gaze flickered over at Arshia.

"Why would the whole of Aryavart get punished because of our personal insult Pitamah?" Tears arose in Yudhishthir's eyes.

"I wouldn't have advised war if this was your personal insult, Yudhishthir. The event that occurred that day was an insult to mankind, insult to God. How could the Almighty even create men who try and disrobe a queen infront of a whole sabha?Or insult a demi-goddess? His creations are much better than that son. Go and create an army strong enough." His voice started to weaver.

Tears fell from each of their eyes as they stared at the man infront of them. Their enemy was advising them to create a stronger army,to try and defeat the sons of Dhritarashtra.

What broke their hearts was the realisation that they had to fight against the son of Ganga and, eventually,kill him because they won't be getting any where in the war if they don't defeat the strongest pillar.

The six walked to Bhishma,tears still streaming down their eyes,and bent down to seek his blessings for the war. The heavy feeling of revenge ached their hearts as they stood up only to be pulled into a hug by the elder.

"Good luck children." He said, patting Arshia's head. The tears streamed down as Bhishma appeared blur to her. She wasn't supposed to get this soft and close,she has to fight for her honour but her heart is holding her back.

Turning away,the six walked away with heavy steps,not knowing what awaits them.

.

Arshia was dressed lightly as she stood beside Draupadi. Yesterday's argument seemed to vanish into the air as the war had the main focus. Yudhishthir was adamant that they should retreat back to the forest,purely because it would be incredibly difficult to attack the people who you have emotional connections with. The first one down,for them,has to be Bhishma but Arjun was clear that he wouldn't attack him and the same goes for everyone.

There are other people who actually hold a special space in the brother's heart, people who are too close to them. They can't afford to kill them,they can't kill them. How are they supposed to fight in this war when the weapon doesn't go against specific people on the rival side because of personal feelings and connections?

"But we have to fight the war,we can't disobey what the elders tell us and to fight a war, it's his order. Just think about Pitamah's mindset,Arya. He must have turned his heart into stone before asking you to attack him. What must be the reason,Arya? He saw his daughter-in-law being dragged to the court and insulted,he saw his daughter being disrobed but he still had to stay quite because of the strong ties he has with the Hastinapur throne." Draupadi stood up with her jingling jewelries representing how sorrowful she was feeling.

"If you all have a doubt about waging a war,go to Dwarka and question Govind. He has answers to everything." She suggested, looking at Arshia and Arjun.

And they came into a conclusion,

Arshia and Arjun would be travelling to Dwarka.

. . . .