Swordfight

"Where are you taking me? Raksheet, at least tell me." Ira asked while getting dragged somewhere by Raksheet.

"To armoury." He replied with a bright smile.

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she asked "Armoury? Why?"

"Didn't you said you like fencing? I want you to continue it."

Ira's eyes widened when she heard Raksheet's words. Her legs froze on her place, making her stop "What? No, i can't!"

Raksheet stopped and turned around to face her with a questioning look "Why? You like it, right? Then what's the problem?"

"It's inappropriate for me to do it now. after marriage." She said the last sentence in a low voice. Thinking that it's inappropriate for a married woman to do such a manly sports.

"What do you mean by inappropriate after marriage?" He asked, stepping forward towards her.

"I mean.....What if your parents don't like it? I don't want to offend them."

"And why you think they don't like it?" He crossed his arms on his chest with a questioning look on his face, waiting for Ira to answer.

"My mother told me that i shouldn't do fencing after marriage. Most of the families don't allow their daughter-in-law to do such a thing like sword fight, horse riding and any other manly activities."

Hearing Ira's answer, Raksheet chuckled as if his wife is saying something silly. "Really princess? Do you think my family is one of those narrow minded people?"

Ira didn't replied, she just kept quiet, not knowing what to answer.

"Didn't mother tell you that they will give their daughter-in-law everything she wants?" Raksheet asked, reminding Ira that she have freedom to do whatever she want. And no one will question her. Instead, they will support her.

She looked at him in surprise "How do you know?"

He smiled softly and replied "Mother always used to say that she will pamper and love her daughter-in-law very much. Whatever my wife likes, she will bring it for her and I can never interfere between them. My mother wanted a daughter but we both are her sons, Ahil and me. Because of this, she wants to fulfill all her hobbies with her daughter-in-law. If her daughter-in-law want to do fencing or any other 'manly activities', she won't stop you from doing it."

He held Ira's hand and continued his words "And others also don't have any problem with it because they know i like it if my wife want to be strong to protect herself. Fencing and horse riding is basic. I want you to learn sword fighting better, become expert in it so that you can protect yourself and our family and the kingdom when I am not here. When i am in a battle field or somewhere else and at the same time, if something bad happened, you should at least protect yourself and our family."

He cupped Ira's face with one hand "You are my wife, so all you have to worry about is me and my likes and dislikes, not others. You should respect our elders but when i am telling you to do something, you should obey me. No one will say anything to you because i am telling you to do it. Okay?"

He wanted Ira to learn fencing better so that she can protect herself from Abel on the day of coronation. Raksheet was worrying about Ira's sefty all the day but when he found out that his wife like fencing and have learned it before, He felt as if a ton of burden had been lifted off his head.

She nod with a smile that didn't left her face until they entered in armoury.

When they entered in armoury, Ira saw that no one was there except the two of them. She frowned and looked at her husband "There is no one. Why?"

"Because i don't want anyone to disturb my wife." Raksheet replied "I thought you would not be comfortable if other soldiers and knights were here."

Ira nod thoughtfully 'Yes, it's uncomfortable to practice infront of someone who have great knowledge about fencing. I would have look like a looser. Thanks to Raksheet i don't have to face such an embarrassment.'

"Come here and choose which sword you want." Raksheet's voice made Ira come out of her thoughts and walk towards him.

"There are so many." She said in wonder while looking at the swords infront of her, on the table.

There were so many sword of different size, shape and weight. Raksheet had shortlisted some swords for Ira according to her comfort.

While deciding which sword she should choose, Ira's eyes fell on the sword near the table. It was looking sharp and well maintained. It wasn't looking too heavy for Ira to practice with. That sword catched her attention just by one look at it.

"I want this one!" She grabbed the sword and lifted it up and slides her fingers on its fuller, observing its sharpness. It was a bit heavy but she was comfortable with it.

"No! you can't!" But Raksheet grabbed the sword and pulled it away from Ira.

The smile on Ira's face suddenly dropped as her husband snatched her sword. She looked at him with her puppy eyes and asked "Why? I like it. You told me to choose. I want it, give it to me." She extended her hand towards the sword to take it back but Raksheet pulled it back again.

"I told you, you can't take it!"

"Why?!" She asked, feeling annoyed by Raksheet's behaviour.

"Because it's mine! It's mine sword. I use it when i practice and go to war. I can't give it to you."

"Please Raksheet, i really like it. You are a great fighter, you can use any sword. Please give it to me!" Ira insisted as she held the sword and tried to pull it away from her husband.

Not letting Ira take his sword, Raksheet pulled it back "No!"

"Why?!"

The tussle between them continued.

"I am used to fight with this sword. I don't want any other sword!"

"How can you be so picky?! Last night, you said we can share our life, our problems with each other but can't you share your sword with me?!"

"No!"

"Please Raksheet give it to me! I am your wife! You should share it with me!"

"No way! In that case, i am your husband you should listen to me!"

"You are too bad!"

"Princess, do you want your husband to lose a war and die in a battle field?! Huh?!"

Suddenly, Ira let go of the sword and looked at Raksheet in disbelief.

Raksheet lost his balance but soon he gained his balance back and stood straight. He smiled and looked at his sword, thinking that he won but when he looked at Ira, the smile on his face fade away.

Ira's eyebrows were curled in sadness. Her eyes were a bit teary and the look on her face was angry.

"W-What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Raksheet approached her but Ira pushed him away. A tear rolled down from her eyes.

"How can you think that i want you to lose a war and die?! Do you think i am heartless?! Why you always have to think in wrong way?" She closed her eyes and clenched her fist, trying to control her emotions but tears rolled down from her eyes continuously. The thought of loosing Raksheet was not letting her stay calm. The scene of Raksheet loosing a war and dying in a battle field was appearing in her mind and making her go crazy.

Before she can brush away the scene that was making her go crazy, she felt two arms wrapping around her shoulder.

She opened her eyes and found her husband hugging her and stroking her back.

"I am sorry." He whispered "I didn't mean it like that. I was just joking."

"I didn't like that joke!" She tried to push him away but Raksheet tightened his grip on her even more.

"I said sorry." He patted her head gently.

"You are the most powerful prince among the surrounding kingdoms. How can you loose a war just because of a sword?" She asked, complaining while sobbing.

A smile appeared on Raksheet's face as his wife questioned his strength "I am sorry. I won't say such a things again and about my strength...." He broke the hug and said proudly. "You will see that soon."

Seeing her husband again praising himself, Ira rolled her eyes tiredly. "Shut up, let's get back to choose the sword." She walked passed by Raksheet while wiping her tears and went towards the table where all the swords were kept.

Raksheet chuckled and shook his head, knowing that his wife is trying to change the topic.

He walked towards her and placed his sword away from the table so that his wife won't set her eyes on it.

Ira saw him doing that and looked at him with narrow eyes.

Raksheet gave Ira the same look as hers and turned her face towards the swords infront of her. "Choose from there, don't look at mine."

"You are such a bad husband." She whispered but it was enough for Raksheet to hear.

"So you bad wife." He replied.

Ira looked at him in annoyance but he again turned her face towards the swords "Choose fast. We don't have all day."

"Why? Do you have any work?"

"Yes."

"Then go and do it. No need to waste your 'precious time' on me." She taunted him.

Instead of getting angry on Ira, Raksheet replied calmly. "Princess, just choose your sword instead of blabbering if you care so much about my 'precious time '."

After observing every sword's weight and size. And if she can have a nice grip on it, Ira finally choosed one.

"This one." She said to Raksheet while showing him the sword.

Raksheet sighed in relief that finally his wife decided what she want. "Finally." He mumbled.

Ira gave him sharp look "What do you mean?"

"Nothing." He shrugged his shoulders and grabbed his sword "Let's start practicing."

"Ok."

They came in the centre of armoury and stood infront of each other, taking their positions.

"You know the basics, right?" Raksheet asked.

Ira nod "Yes, i know."

"Good, let's start. You attack first."

"Me? O-Ok." She was hesitant because her husband is a great fighter. He can easily beat her. He can beat Ahil in just one second then imagine what will happen to Ira.

"Don't worry, i won't be hard on you like Ahil."

Ira's eyes widened in surprise. Can her husband read her mind for real? "O-Ok."

"Let's start, atta-" Ira was about to attack on him but he stopped her "Stop!" He straighten his posture and put down the sword.

Ira quickly stopped on her place and looked at him confused. "Why? What happened?"

Raksheet looked at her from head to toe and smirked. "Are you sure you want to practice like this? In a gown?"

Ira quickly looked at herself and found that she is wearing a long gown which is not a good thing at all to wear while swordfighting.