VI

                                    

                                          
Shortly after the meal and much more gratitude and blessings, the Prince, both the Chiefs, and company began towards the caravan to part for the fair. They had covered about half the distance when, "Noor! Look! It's your favorite fruit!" The Prince pointed at a tree full of a shimmering yellow fruit. Noor gasped in admiration. She was looking at it after over a decade. "We used to collect it all the time, remember?" He laughed. 
"I do remember!" Noor also laughed still staring it. Prem's eyes found the fruit tree too. It was growing among many others in what seemed like a shared garden by the villagers.
"Well...we can't leave without it!" The Prince exclaimed beginning towards it. "Ministers." He then paused to address the rest of the men with them. "Why don't you all go ahead and we will join you shortly. I just want to revive our cherished childhood memories for a few moments."
"Your Grace." The men bowed in response. Prem too bowed along with them as if to leave.
"Prem! Why don't you join us?" Prince Udam stopped him to the dismay of the rest of their company.
"Of course, Your Grace." Prem gestured at his cabinet members to carry on as he joined Noor and the Prince. 
Both Prem and Noor knew being in such close proximity to the enemy would not sit well with any of their cabinet members but since it was a by the command of the Prince, they were aware it would be overlooked eventually.
Arriving at the garden, Prince Udam eyed the fruits hanging in a line from a branch. "You remember we used to try to shoot arrows at the twigs to get the fruits to fall off?" He laughed. 
"Yeah." Noor too smiled reminiscing their activities nearly 12 years ago.
"Since I don't have my bow and arrow right now..." Prince Udam looked to his side at Noor and then traced his eyes to the other side at Prem before drawing out his sword. Understanding what he was suggesting, Prem too proceeded to draw out his sword in a smile. Noor gasped in surprise and began to reach for her own only realize she had left it behind with Sevak. "Not fair! I don't have mine!" She complained as they began towards the tree.
"Looks like you're going to lose then!" He yelled swinging his sword at the bundle of fruits hanging above his head reminding Noor of how they would race to collect as many fruits as possible. 
Prem too swung his sword in smooth diagonal line below the branch and cut the bundles of fruits clean off.
Noor laughed as they slashed off a few more bundles and then gathered them in the velvet shawl off of the Prince's back before beginning over to her.
"How many, Princey?" She asked in a smile as lively as can be referring him by the name she used for him as a child.
"Ten bundles, I think." Prince Udam replied equally elated. They had gotten every fruit from the lowest branch in just a few swings. The pleasant surprise on all of their faces showed they couldn't believe they were getting a chance to relive this moment.
Taking the velvet cloth from him, "let me see," Noor told him. She pretended to look at the fruits but then mischievously sprinted deeper into the garden away from them. 
"Nooreh!" Prince Udam yelled also referring to Noor by the name he used for her when they were children as he and Prem ran right behind her. 
Prem was faster and caught up to her in no time. Grabbing her from behind, Prem put his arms around her and lifted her off of her feet twirling her around. "Got you!" He laughed.
"Prem!" Noor laughed joyfully in a half-hearted attempt at fighting his hold. Prem put her back on the ground in front of Prince Udam and stepped next to her.