June 15th, 1857 – Midnight – Bundelkhand Ridge
The wind howled across the granite cliffs as Rani Lakshmibai stood alone, cloaked in black, her eyes fixed on the southern horizon.
Far beyond the dark ridges lay Gwalior, the last possible ally.
But in her gut, she knew something was wrong.
Too quiet.Too late.Too uncertain.
Behind her, Tatya Tope approached, face bruised, shoulder wrapped in blood-stained cloth.
"They've halted their troops," he said. "Again."
Lakshmibai didn't move.
"We sent them steel. We sent them grain. We gave them men. And now, when our walls are ash and our hands are broken... they hesitate?"
Tatya stared into the night. "Gwalior's king fears British vengeance."
She turned slowly.
"So do I."
He blinked. "You…?"
She stepped closer, voice low and thunderous.
"I fear it enough to kill it."
Flashback – 1853 – Gwalior Palace
A younger Lakshmibai sat across a marble table from Maharaja Jayaji Rao Scindia.
He sipped wine imported from London.
"You speak of loyalty, Lakshmi," he said, "but Jhansi is no more than a flame. A flicker. A sentiment."
She replied, calm but cold, "Sentiments move armies, Maharaja."
He leaned forward.
"Armies move empires."
Present – Secret War Council, Jhansi
The remaining inner circle gathered around a single flickering lamp. The palace smelled of smoke and wet stone. Walls were cracked, floors blood-stained.
Ghaus Khan sat slumped, coughing from cannon dust.
Tatya read aloud from a crumpled scroll:
"Gwalior will neither send troops nor arms. Neutrality is their path."
Silence.
Then Lakshmibai slammed her fist into the table.
"Neutrality is cowardice," she spat. "They want to wait until we fall—then sell our bones for favors."
A guard entered, whispering, "British scouts near the northern gate. Watching. Not attacking."
Ghaus whispered, "Why observe and not strike?"
Lakshmibai's eyes narrowed.
"Because they know what's coming."
Later That Night – The Decision
In the candlelit ruins of her war chamber, Lakshmibai stood before a mirror cracked by British artillery.
Her reflection was a jagged thing. Battle-scarred. Raven-eyed. Grief-worn.
She removed her crown.
Set it on the table.
Then took her sword… and kissed its edge.
"If Gwalior won't ride to us…" she whispered.
"I'll ride to Gwalior."
June 16th – The Final Ride Begins
At dawn, disguised in a brown cloak, Lakshmibai rode out with only three companions:
Tatya Tope, wounded but unshaken
Asha, a young archer and spy
And Badal, the black warhorse who had carried her through every fire.
They moved like whispers through dead fields and burned villages. Past corpses hung by the British as warnings. Past streams that ran red. Past temples stripped of their gods.
Everywhere they passed, people emerged from hiding—not to beg, but to bow.
To salute her not as queen.
But as vengeance made flesh.
Meanwhile – British High Command, Calcutta
A telegram arrived from Major Ellis:
"Jhansi still stands.Queen presumed alive.Fort damaged but not fallen.Rebels rallying."
The reply was instant:
"End her.No prisoners.No mercy.No monuments."
Gwalior Fort – Arrival
By sunset, Lakshmibai reached the gates of Gwalior Fort.
The guards hesitated—then opened them.
They'd heard.
Even silence has ears.
Inside, Maharaja Jayaji Rao Scindia waited in his marble chamber, surrounded by British advisors and frightened ministers.
Lakshmibai entered, hood down, eyes wild.
"You called yourself a friend," she said. "Now your friend bleeds alone."
Scindia stood, but not proud. He looked... diminished.
"You came unarmed?"
She smiled without warmth.
"No. I came as a ghost."
He gestured at the British liaison seated beside him.
"This is politics, Lakshmi. You cannot burn down an empire with courage alone."
She stepped forward until their foreheads nearly touched.
"No," she whispered. "But I can make sure it never sleeps again."
She turned to leave.
But paused.
"If I die in Jhansi," she said, "I promise—my shadow will ride to your gates next."
Then she was gone.
Nightfall – Outside Gwalior
Tatya caught up with her.
"No help from them," he said.
She shook her head.
"But something worse."
He raised a brow. "Worse than betrayal?"
"Yes," she whispered. "Indifference."
Back at Jhansi – The Walls Crack
June 17th, 1857 – British forces resumed bombardment.The outer walls of Jhansi began to cave.
Every blast carved a new wound.
Inside the city, food was gone. Water was rationed to a spoon per day.
Babies wailed. Men sharpened dull blades.
And yet…
No one surrendered.
Because they knew.
She would return.
June 18th – The Return
Before dawn, under a blood-orange sky, Lakshmibai returned.
Dust-covered. Sunburned. Alone.
As she rode into the fort, the people of Jhansi gathered in silence.
Children touched her boots.
A widow wept openly.
A blind man called out, "Is it true? You walked into Gwalior?"
She dismounted, nodded once.
Then climbed the central tower.
She raised a tattered Maratha flag above her head.
And screamed.
"Let them come!"
Final Scene – The Whisper Before the Inferno
That night, alone in the temple ruins, Lakshmibai knelt before a cracked idol of Durga.
No priest.
No ritual.
Just her and the gods she had long since outgrown.
"I am ready," she whispered.
"For what?" said a voice behind her.
Tatya.
She smiled, tears in her eyes.
"For whatever comes with fire."
End of Chapter Seven