The Gaze of a King

Chapter Twenty- Six | Unlikely Hero

My soul ached for that cruel collision with the cobbled stone below my window. My bittersweet release from this life could not come soon enough. I winced when the anticipation of rushing wind- the precursor to the final end of my sorrows- was thwarted. Instead, a searing heat began to melt the mortal flesh encasing my left wrist. I jerked my eyes open and upward. Instead of evaporating into the stones, I crashed into the coarse window ledge. The fire, melding skin and bone, was Zev's fist firmly crushing mine. 

My eyes dried up the moment they met with his. His nostrils flared; jaw clenched. I could not help but notice his cheek pulsate as his eyes widened in horror and a mix of some other emotion that I was too dazed to make out. I grunted, as he pulled me gracelessly with broad hands from my imminent death and into the safety of my chambers. I crumpled onto the floor, stunned. His hand did not release mine. My throat stung from the aftermath of the scream I had uttered as I let go of my window's ledge. 

That's why I was unable to speak now, I reassured myself. I averted his eyes, instead, boring into the tiles- as stark contrast to the cobble stones I had set my sights on just minutes earlier. He sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth and dropped my wrist. 

"I'm sorry," He mumbled, "It was not my intention to cause you harm, My Lady. Although, I see that was your intention." 

With gentleness his hands cupped each of my tear-stained cheeks. He forced my eyes to look up into his. 

"I know your heart is broken... And I cannot promise you that it will ever be whole again, but If you promise you will choose life from this moment on, I will make you a promise."

"What promise," I asked shakily.

"I promise you this, My Lady: I will help you taste justice for all that David has done." 

This numb, useless organ that had shriveled up and died as my son did- twinged at his words. He sucked in his lips- as if he were trying to hold something in. 

"What do you mean- 'all that he has done'? What aren't you telling me, Zev?"

I watched with strained eyes as the ball in his throat bobbed. His eyes faltered slightly, but quickly recaptured mine. 

"Bathsheba... It was under David's orders that Uriah was killed." 

The sorrow that had seeped its way into my bones was scorched in that instant from the burning rage that was ignited in my soul. It was the ultimate betrayal, and yet it did not come as a surprise. As if, somehow, deep inside of me- I had known the truth all along. It was too much to process. 

"I will leave you to make your decision. If I hear word of your death riding on the tongue tomorrow- I shall grieve for you deeply. But if you decide that maybe you have found something worth living for- even if it's temporarily- I will be making rounds in the gardens tomorrow at the 9th hour. We have much to tend to..."

Then, he unsheathed his hands from my cheeks and withdrew himself from my room.