02x02 - A Kingdom of Snakes

[bunniefuu]

My Prince.

I have spoken to the rebels in Bengal.

They will fight by your
side against anyone you command.

What's the need?

Salim's demise needs
to be a bit more low key.

An accident could befall
him or his children at any time.

Indeed.

Like in a tavern fight, for instance.

Tavern fight. I like that.

[Abul Fazl] Place your ear
on any wall of this palace

all you will hear is Prince Salim.

[Ruqaiya] How do we stop him?

Every strength has a weakness.

Once we find Prince
Salim's weakness,

then he'll be under our control.

Then we do not have to fear him.

This should not affect Khusrau's claim.

On the contrary,
this could work in his favour.

How?

Salim's presence
unnerves Daniyal enough.

Do you believe Daniyal
would make a move?

His matter is complicated.

If he does then Salim will k*ll him.

If he does not,
he will appear a coward.

Either way it would push
supporters towards Khusrau.

This is what I want.

You are Giyas Beg's daughter?

From what I remember,
my son saved you in Lahore.

Do you have a fondness for him?

What?

In my childhood my grandmother
taught me one thing,

always be indebted to those
who save your life.

Even the ones who have lost everything.

You do know he's been
exiled from the empire.

Pardon me,

but I believe sometimes

the truth is spared
to serve those in charge.

Even my grandmother taught me,

emperors don't decide truth and lies,

rumours do.

[Jodha] If Salim is ever to
regain power in the kingdom,

[Jodha] he will need friends,

[Jodha] those who can protect him.

[Mehrunissa] From his enemies?

Sometimes enemies.

Sometimes himself.

The only difference between
a leader and a dictator is empathy,

and I fear that exile
has robbed him of his.

And yet it may be that very darkness
give's him the edge.

Still, he needs someone by his side
to show him the way.

I am prepared to do both, my Queen.

You believe you
are up to such a task?

I do not fear the dark.

- My Queen
- Keep it.

With this, Salim shall
know you have my backing.

I am asking you to protect
my most treasured possession.

My Lord.

May I have a moment?

Can this not wait?

I'm afraid not.

I fear we have a spy in our midst.

[Giyas beg] My Lord!

[Giyas Beg] You summoned me?

Your daughter I have been told..

is in cahoots with Salim.

Is this true?

No My lord.

We are all loyal to you.

And yet she was seen in a tavern
with him last night.

There must be some mistake.

This source has never let me down.

My daughter may be strong willed,

but she is as dedicated
to this empire as I am.

Who knows what she
is doing behind your back?

We need her removed from the palace,
as soon as possible.

She has nowhere to go.

Then have her married.

- Marriage?
- Yes.

Prove your loyalty.

With your daughter secretly meeting Salim,
the kingdom is at stake.

You must get her away from Salim.

Otherwise you will be remembered

as a traitor who tried
to end the Mughal empire.

Your highness,

she has no suitor.

I know the perfect man.

Prince Salim.

Mahabat.

Your father has sent you an invitation.

What invitation?

To a wedding.

Whose wedding?

Mehr-un-Nissa.

[Sher Afghan] Greetings.

[Akbar] Congratulations.

Thank you My Emperor,

Congratulations Mehr.

God bless you two.

[Akbar] May the almighty shower
his blessings on you.

Thank you My Emperor.

Many Many Congratulations.

Please continue with the celebrations.

Give it time,

she will learn to love him.

Him?

I've heard he's a beast.

If he hurts my sister
he will have me to deal with...

With that grave threat above his head,

I'm sure he will treat her like a queen.

I will tell him personally.

Prince Salim.

I have wanted to speak
with you for a long, long time.

Likewise...

I have been waiting
to hear your adventures...

Prince salim..

You call it adventures,
I call it hell.

Have pity.. have pity Prince Salim

Did you ever find her.. Anarkali?

Nobody knows where Anarkali is buried.

But I can find out.

Where is she?

[Khurram] So the stories
are true father...

That all depends on the narrator.

They say you are a man of no morals.

A man who defied an emperor
to satisfy his own selfish cravings.

Do you believe them?

I believe that every tale has two sides.

Khurram.

A word of advice.

In life you will always
come across haters...

but always choose love.

And the truth has not two
but three sides.

Our truth.

Their truth.

And The truth.

And the truth is hard to find Khurram.

I am your husband now.

You know what that means?

I have the freedom to do as I like.

You may not like my ways,

but I don't care.

You will get used to it in time.

Then these chains

will feel like second skin.

[Mehr] Nooooooo

[Daniyal] There you are.

I wondered how long it would be,
before you had the nerve to show up.

I see you brought company.

I don't trust you anymore.

Quiet rascal,

you would have died on many
occasions if I hadn't saved you.

And thanks, I will repay you with
a swift death once I take the throne.

Have dreams you can fulfil.

Why?

Because you want the throne still?

No. Because I am going to k*ll you,

before you get the chance.

Threatening the future emperor?

Father would not be happy.

Who cares about father or his words..
they are as empty as him.

You are still a dreamer,

Prince Salim.

I admire that but the reality is,

if you do not take your
men and leave right now,

I will have you gutted
before you finish that drink.

There... It's over.

k*ll him.

Don't be afraid Daniyal.

It does not end here.

You will die when I am good and ready

and not a second sooner.

Master.

Were your prayers answered?

My prayers won't be heard so soon.

Speak to the Bengal rebels.
Tell them to get ready.

I will teach him a lesson.

[Mahabat Khan] Prince Salim.

Leave us alone.

When you are chained to a mad dog,

you get bit.

Do you love him?

You of all people should know that,

marriages are not made
for love in royal families.

Then who do you align with?

My father?

Never.

Daniyal?

Only you.

If you were to return.

I am right here.

Am I not?

Not all of you.

You do not fear me?

No my Lord.

[Mehrunissa] Since the time you saved my life,
Prince Salim.

I am in your debt.

In fact I know better than anyone,

what you are capable of.

Which is?

Father once told me a story,

of a Persian bird.

The suns rays burnt him to ashes,

but he did not stop flying.

He rose from the ashes
and took flight again.

Towards the sun.

And you can

even swallow the sun.

They can banish you several times

but no one can stop you
from becoming the emperor.

I cannot become the emperor.

Daniyal and Abul Fazl...

So form new allegiances.

There are those willing to help you.

Then make my move?

Exactly.

And who would help me?

You?

Perhaps.

If you were to truly return.

Right now, it is your mind
that captivates me more than the flesh.

This entire region,

is Deccan.

Ruled by these five emperors.

So...we could be facing them next.

I want to broker peace with them not w*r.

Grandpa, rather not mention peace
to brother Khusrau.

How dare you?

Khusrau.

Khusrau an emperor

must know how to fight wars
but also broker peace.

Grandpa, if I become the emperor,

then can I do as I wish?

For now I am the Emperor.

And you must follow my orders.

That's all for today.

Uncle, can you take me to the stables.

You should...

meet up with your mother as well.

Yes, I...

Do as the emperor says.

It's only a few drops of blood.
Be a man.

Why do you look worried?

Grandpa, you have wives
and concubines in the royal harem.

But did you marry anyone out of love?

Such a serious question
at this age Khurram.

w*r, peace, marriage...

Everything I did,

I did it for the empire.

You never could get
on your father's good side. then Punish me

But someone did.

I thought you were his first choice
for the throne.

I thought so too.

Mother.

You...

Mother.

Khusrau!

My son!

You have grown so much!

It's been so long since I last saw you.

I was busy.

Busy?

You also talk like a grownup now.

Mother, father has returned.

Really?

Have you seen him?

Did he ask about me?

No.

He proabably doesn't
remember who you are

No. no... noo. Noo

Don't say that

I am his true queen...

His true love.

Honestly mother.

I doubt it.

No.

Your doubt is baseless

He'll come and take
us away from this hell.

And deal with each and everyone

who took you from me.

Yes.

He will come.

Take us away.

[Birbal] You are no longer the Emperor,
the Man I respected

If you are truly an Emperor

then Punish me

And release the innocent.

[Anarkali] This pain
shall stay with me forever.

[Sheikh Salim Chisti]
Whenever the waters turn red.

Mughal blood will spill.

[Man singh] Your highness!

Your highness!

[Man Singh] Your highness, all is well.

[Man Singh] No my lord!
You must stay in bed.

- [Man Singh] You are unwell!
- [Akbar] I'm okay.

I've have been through worse.

[Man Singh] These fits
are getting more frequent.

[Man Singh] You must rest more.

I do not have time to stay in bed.

Who is going to run this empire?

Well not you if you are dead!

No one must know about my episodes.

[Man Singh] Of course my lord.

I must speak to you father.

[Man Singh] The emperor is unwell
and must be left alone.

I am the future emperor,

and I want to talk to him.

Prince Daniyal,
your father is really not-

I am fine Man Singh.

Let him come.

[Akbar] Leave us.

What's the reason for this restlessness?

Can you promise that
my lineage is assured?

Sit.

Salim shall never be the emperor.

But what of his sons?

I see the way you look at Khurram.

A future emperor does
not get jealous over children.

You owe me the throne.

I owed you an upbringing.

The throne belongs to he who earns it.

You said I was worthy.

You were... then.

And now?

You are the Oracle they talk of.

I see things that others cannot.

Why is it the pale skins

are the non-believers?...

So... tell me of my future.

Everything comes at a price.

I am blind.

Not a fool.

Well I had to be sure of that.

In life,
you will receive great fortune.

An emperor will come along one day,

whose empire spreads far and wide.

And he will make you
the empress of Hindustan.

Everyone will be in awe of your empire.

What is the meaning of this?

Your hands are sullied
with your kin's blood.

Why is it like that?

I do not decide the future,

merely foresee it.

Hear ye. Hear ye. Hear ye.

A message from emperor
Akbar to his subjects.

On the anniversary of the late
king and prominent wrestler Babur,

the empire will be hosting
a wrestling competition.

And the winner will be endowed with the
title of 'Rustom-e-Hindustan'.

Hear ye. Hear ye. Hear ye.

Did you hear your highness?

The emperor has opened
the wrestling arena.

There's going to be
a wrestling championship.

It's an old game Abul Fazl.

When you cannot feed your subjects,
keep them entertained.

Treat this as an opportunity.

What opportunity?

To get Salim out of the way.

I've heard Ali Quli will be taking part.

So?

If he faces Salim,

then Ali Quli will finish him.

Why will Salim take part?

He will if the emperor wishes him to.

And why would the emperor want that?

This is where you come in.

Your moves are better than
the ones men make in the ring.

[Crowd] Wow! Amazing!

[Crowd] Wonderful!

Mehr...

You do not cheer for your husband?

You know Mehr,

we used to have wrestling
matches in our kingdom as well.

They used to be bigger than this.

After the Greeks,

the only true admirers
of this sport were us, Persians.

Father has fought Russian
wrestlers as well.

Those were the days Asaf.

Now I suffer from gout.

Queen.

[Salima]
Its good you get the tax on time.

Return it.

Why are you in charge
of our wealth anyway?

Because Akbar said I was.

If you have a problem,
take it up with him.

[Ali quli] Is there anybody
who wants to compete?

[Ali quli] Is there anybody?

[crowd] Prince Salim.

[crowd] Prince Salim.

The emperor personally invited Salim.

Father, you keep speaking of those days.

But the truth is,

we are nothing more than
an audience in their celebrations.

Mehr I've said this before.

Don't speak ill of the emperor.

We are here because of him.

Otherwise we would have no place to go.

You must never speak like this again.

You know father doesn't
like to hear such things.

And still.

What are your intentions?

Definitely not to anger father.

To regain our lost honour.

To be more than an audience.

I want to be the queen someday.

You will only be a queen if your
husband becomes a king.

Someday my husband will become

The emperor.