Seher panicked seeing the sword coming her way but she composed herself and dodged the attack.

Nur use to teach them self-defense techniques from a young age but Seher was least interested at that time and now she was thanking her mother that at least she could defend herself.

"You are a bastard and you know it". Seher knew that she couldn't hold any longer and prayed for a miracle.

"Move away from my sister" Ayath barged along with Shuja.

Taimur started laughing seeing Ayath" Why do I have to deal with babies today. Surrender yourself this is not your parent's training camp."

Ayath was not a girl of words, she did not reply but attacked him on the other hand Shuja was dealing with the soldiers. He saw Arrwows shooting towards Seher. He walked towards her.

"Seher, their main target is you? Is there any way you can get out?"

" But you an Ayath?"

" Look at her She will manage, Please you need to be out while they are distracted"

"There is a trap door in the nest room"

"You just get out from here. You need to think about your children. "

Seher felt like she was a coward running away for her life.

"I can't leave Shuja"

"Look, take the maids and get out from here. you have to think about everyone, including your unborn children"

Seher looked around few of her maids were injured. She instructed them to follow her. Shuja and his men distracted the soldiers and Ayath was fighting with Taimur when Seher and her maids escaped.

Ayath was not a match to Taimurs strength but she was giving him a tough fight. She managed to wound him badly.

"You silly bitch" Taimur hissed in pain.

"Don't forget I am queen Nur Jahan's warrior daughter"

Seher managed to lead all the ladies from Nur Mahal into the secret passage which would lead them far away from the Palace. Seher was heavily pregnant and was finding it very difficult to walk.

Shahmahal was an ancient palace and the secret tunnels were very complicated with full of traps only the royal family was aware of them and Shahzain shared that information with Seher. Even though she was tired she had to take the lead. women panicked when they heard noises from the other end.

"Queen, we think someone followed us?"

Seher walked past and opened the right door and was surprised to see Najma begum and her grandmother along with other women and children of the palace.

They came and hugged Seher.

"Seher, we were worried about you"

"Ayath and Shuja helped us " Seher was breathless.

" Grandmother, how did Taimur enter without anyone noticing?"

"Jafar helped him but don't worry Abasi brought Jafar to his end"

Seher sat down and someone offered her water from their leather flask. Seher felt a sharp pain in her stomach. she placed her hand on her stomach and could feel her baby's moments.

"Seher are you alright?" Her grandmother Hajra asked.

"I am having pain, Mabe it is due to all this chaos" She replied holding her stomach.

"You relax, this way leads us to the stream outside. it is not far away" Najma said. The women were walking for hours the tunnels were very complicated. Children were crying.

"We will be out soon" Seher was holding Martha who was injured.

"Where is Penne?" Seher asked.

"She Stayed back to help your sister" Martha replied. The truth was Penne was gravely injured she asked Martha to take Seher away.

Seher stood up to walk but felt wetness down. "Grandmother?" Seher screamed.

"Oh my God! her water broke" Martha screamed. There was panic among the women.

"Grandmother, the children are all hungry.Pleasetake them outside. I don't think I can walk further" She said to old queen Najma.

"I can't leave you will find a way? we are not very far from the exit"

"That is the reason I am telling you please take them out. I walk slowly "

Najma Begum was all teary " This is a test from God! I am sure we will survive"

Najma Begum took everyone out only a few women stayed back. There was no proper tool to deliver the baby. Seher was already in laubour.

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Back in the palace

Shahzain arrived with his troops as soon as he entered the palace he saw bodies lying around. His heart was beating fast. He ran towards his Palace. There he saw Taimur attacking Ayath.

"Taimur,..." He roared. Ayath turned back Taimur took advantage of the situation and pushed Ayaths swod and took her as hostage.

" A step forward Shahzain, I will kill her"

"You can only attack weak women, if you are a man step up and face me" Shahzain spoke. Ayath was very angry listening to Shahzain. she elbowed Taimur causing him to fall.

" Not all women are weak" She screamed.

" Ayath, you move back, I have to settle many scores with him"

Ayath knew what he meant and step aside.

"Shahazain, you are nothing without the support of Uzbeiks." Taimur provoked him. He knew Shahzain was unable to control his anger and wanted to take advantage. He signaled his commanders to attack from behind. What he did not knew was being with Seher taught him patience.

"I want to keep you alive so that Ain can punish you"

When Taimur's commander attacked they were tacked by Ayath and Shahzain took care of Taimur. it did not take long for Shahzain to behead him in a single strike

Shahzain took Taimurs head and stood on his balcony declaring his victory. The soldiers who saw Taimurs dead body gave up the struggle and surrendered.

"You should have kept him alive" Ayath spoke after wiping blood from her face.

"you should not have risked yourself Ayatah" Shuja replied and Absi came and joined them.

" Where is my Seher?" Shahzain asked panicked.

"We send her through the underground passage along with other women"

Shahzain did not wait and rushed inside the secret door behind the fireplace. He then turned back and shouted "Abasi, take Taimurs head to the battleground and ask Shams to end this bloody battle and also look out for injured people"

Ayath and Shuja followed Shahzain.The tunnels lead to four exits throughout their kingdom.

"Where should we go?" Ayath asked.

"Keep quiet let me focus " Shahzain entered the first door and replied not this one and the next he did the same when he went inside the third door he shouted to Shuja and Ayath to follow.

"How do you know they went in this direction "feel the torches on the wall. They are still warm indicating that they were lit up a while ago "

Shahzain was running in that direction. After a few hours, they heard a woman's scream coming from the end.

"Sehrer, " Shahzain screamed.

Seher was in active labor for the past 3 hours. Martha who was a trainee midwife was assisting her along with Hajra begum"

"Hold on Seher, keep your legs straight and take deep breaths" Hajra Begum was holding her hands.

"Where are the midwife and Rabia?" Najma Begum asked.

"We don't know she went out with Master (Murad) last night." Mahapare Murad's assistant replied. Se was wiping Sehers face with cold water.

Seher screamed with each contraction. Shahzain heart was about to explode when he heard the screams. He knew straight away, it was his wife.

Najma Begum took out her sword when she heard noises coming from the tunnel. but when she saw Shahzain's face she dropped her sword and ran to him.

"What happened to Seher?" Shahzain asked.

"She is in labor, it is very hard for her. " She did not allow him to go further.

"I don't care about the bloody tradition, I want to be with her" Shahazain walk forward and saw Seher lying on the floor all sweating.

"My love" He came near her and kissed her forehead

"You came" she smiled seeing him with tears in her eyes.

"you are very brave" He held her hands.

Shahzain heard that childbirth was painful and fatal to mothers but seeing his wife in pain was unbearable for him. He looked around They were in the old tunnel without any comfort. Seher was on the floor lying on an old cloth which looked like a women's veil. He was king of one of the richest kingdoms with luxuries at his disposal but here his wife was giving birth in this situation. God truly has his ways to test a person. Seher's scream brought him back. he wiped his tears.

" Shall I Carry her to the palace?

"No, we don't have time " Njma begum replied.

"When will they come out," He asked his grandmother.

"Couple of hours or maybe less"

"Why are they torturing her," he asked again.

"Shahzain, relax every woman goes through this in labor, just support her"

"Seher, we won't be having more kids" Shahzain replied. Men were not allowed in the birthing room but Shahzain was adamant and sat next to Seher holding her hands.

"I can see baby's head" Martha replied. "You need to push " Hajra Begum added. queen Najma did not have much experience with childbirth so she sat there praying for her Seher and her children's safety. It was not long when The first baby came out. The tunnel echoed with babies crying.

They were unable to rejoice the moment when Martha saw Seher closing her eyes."My queen, please don't close your eyes"

Shahzain instead of looking at the baby was focused n Seher."Seher, look you did a great job, just once more. Please "

Seher gave one final push and Second Child was out.

"Congratulations " Everyone was screaming in joy. Shahzain's held Seher's hand, he saw her eyes getting closed.

"She is bleeding heavily" Hajra begum replied crying.

"Seher......" shahzain was tapping Seher's face who was unresponsive.

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