The Gaze of a King

Chapter Twenty- Nine | A Bargain

Morning came all too soon. When my attendants came to deliver my morning meal, I had a missive prepared for them to discreetly deliver to Abigail. My dear friend had been respectful of my need for isolation and solitude. She had come to check on me nearly everyday only to be sent away by my attendants at my behest. I needed her now. My attendants departed without a word to me. I waited anxiously for their return. I picked at the food on the tray and nibbled at the delicacies, not out of hunger- but a need to keep myself busy while I waited.

When they finally returned it took all my self control to keep from lunge from my chaise. I held out my hand and one of the attendants placed a neatly folded piece of parchment in the center of my palm. I hastily ripped it open.

My dearest Bathsheba,
I am so happy to hear from you- even if it's in writing.
As to your inquiry- Zev has been arrested and is now awaiting punishment in the dungeon.
I am not sure what has transpired to place him there-
Only that he is accused of high treason.
Did you know him well?
Please write to me soon. Even if you aren't up for company, I will settle for this.

I crumpled the missive in my hand. My attendants gave each other a quick glance.

"Your majesty," The bolder of the two asked.

"I am going to the King's chambers," I stated plainly.

*~*~*~*~

The guards at the entrance to King David's chambers looked me up and down once before opening the double doors. They did not dare question why I was there. I strode inside, head held high. My eyes scanned the large expanse of grandeur before me, until I found him in his bed. The place where all my troubles began. A blanket covered his legs- revealing his bronze torso. His curly red hair gleamed from the sunlight shining through his window.

"Go away," he murmured hoarsely.

"My Lord," I responded. "It is I."

He sat up, eyes squinting across the room. The blanket fell further down his waist revealing a glimpse of his intimate parts.

"Bathsheba?"

I nodded my head and took a few steps forward. He rubbed his eyes and began to look around. He seemed disoriented.

"Are you well, My Lord?"

He raised a hand to assuage my concerns.

"Rest is the only cure for the sickness I have- it is man made... and inflicted by partaking of too much wine. I will be fine, Bathsheba."

He has been drunk? Is that why he seemed so discolored and malnourished yesterday? Has he been withering away by drowning his sorrows in his chalice? I mused over these questions. Silence lingered between us for a heavy moment. He slipped out of his bed and walked towards his wardrobe. I averted my eyes- not wanting to be caught blatantly staring at his naked form. He grabbed a white tunic and haphazardly wrapped it about his waist.

"Why have you come?"

I swallowed the fear that had begun welling up in my mouth. I was already here, there was no going back.

"You arrested Zev," I stated. It wasn't a question. He walked closer to me. The light cascading off his toned muscles. I tried to ignore them. They reminded me of how we wrapped ourselves together, entangling our bodies and souls in mortal sin. That sin which had stolen my husband and son. It now threatened to steal one of the few friends I had in the place.

"He conspired to commit treason against me."

I swallowed again. Could he see my heart pounding out of my chest?

"What proof do you have of this?"

He released an airy laugh. With a lazy hand he brushed his golden fiery curls with his fingers.

"He's not the only spy in the palace, my love."

Someone saw us... in the garden. That is the only answer I could conjure to explain how our conspiracy was discovered. When he was but a breadth of space between us he finally halted his steps.

"Why am I not in the dungeon alongside him?"

A warm thumb and forefinger grasped the tip of my chin firmly, forcing my eyes to meet directly with his. His gaze was intense. I noticed the redness in his eyes lingered. It was the irritation that was caused from crying too long.

"For one reason and one reason alone. I love you, Bathsheba. I had not realized it before. I was consumed with lust for your beauty. Consumed by my own ego and need for power and control. When I thought I had lost you- I realized how much you mattered to me."

I ignored his useless words. They meant nothing to me.

"If you love me like you claim you do- release him. Your words mean nothing to me. They have brought me nothing but pain and heartache. Release him, My Lord. Prove to me that your words aren't just empty promises. Please spare him. I cannot-"

I choked on a sob.

"I cannot lose anyone else. I cannot."

His thumb released my chin and swiped at the tears coating my cheeks.

"You love him?"

I shook my head. I was surprised by how honest and vulnerable I was being with King David right now. Perhaps I felt that if I was honest and vulnerable with him he would grant me my request. Or maybe it was because we both had had our souls stripped bare by the loss of our son- that we could no longer hide our true selves from each other.

"But he loves you." It wasn't a question, but I nodded my head yes anyways.

"Bathsheba, he committed treason. Many seek to dethrone me. If I spare one man they may all rise up against me..."

"You spared me," I interrupted.

He sighed his reluctant agreement.

"The prophet has heard a message from God. That is what I was going to tell you yesterday. You weren't ready to hear it yet... If I promise to spare his life, will you promise to heed the prophets words?"

I nodded emphatically. The prophet was a man of God. I trusted in him. Besides, I was desperate to save Zev from the penalty of death. I could not bare another soul dying on my account. The guilt was too heavy for me to bare.

"He will face banishment. But you have my word that he will live."

He retracted his hand from my cheek. I released a heavy breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Relief washed over me. It faded as quickly as it came.

"What was the prophets message from God," I asked, tentatively.