One Night With The King: The New Empire

The King Has Returned

Esther POV

Tomorrow I am celebrating my first year of marriage to Xerxes. I cannot believe how much we have been through in such a short period of time. I am with my handmaids and Hegai preparing a royal banquet for my husband. I miss him dearly as he is off in training preparing to invade Greece and reclaim his father's honor. I honestly don't understand the need for retaliation but I also feel his pain. My thoughts are interrupted by Harbona.

"Your Highness you are needed in court this instant." Harbona announced.

I look up at him to see if I can get some sort of clue to why my presence is requested. The only person who can demand my presence is the King. So if I am being summoned that must mean.............

"My love has returned home!!!!!" I shriek much to the discomfort of everyone in the room.

Hegai smiles at my joy for my husband's safe return. I return the smile and dash outside the room to my liter so I can rejoin my love and take my place beside him as queen. I usually hate going to court but I am actually excited for this.

As I approach the doors of the throne room I am transported back to the days before my wedding. I still feel the same way I did at that very moment, extremely blessed.

[Flashback]

While I walk through the palace with Hegai I am curious as to my being summoned. We turn down a dimly lit corridor and I start to inwardly panic. I have never seen this part of the palace before. Why is no one else in this area? Why is it extremely quiet? Why is it so far away from every other bedchamber? My thoughts were interrupted by Hegai.

"Seat yourself on the stool and read the scroll. It is the chronicles of the King, the royal diary. Through these doors you are no longer a candidate, you are a servant. Remember the protocol to approach uninvited is death." he said.

I looked up at him with realization of what was behind those golden doors we stopped at.

"I read for the King, alone? Like this?" I replied taking in my inadequate attire.

He shrugged and I walked into the room with caution. I had never seen the King up close. I felt very nervous to even be in the same room as him. Anyways I sat on the stool like I was supposed to and opened the scroll and began to read.

"Daily entry 23. Egyptian wheat reserves were reported at half the normal levels due to a recent drought. Admiral Xtes was honored for serving twenty years in the Royal Fleet. After a lengthy speech, he promptly keeled over and died." I giggled after reading that but continued on.

"25. Three herd of sheep were stolen from Dirmalmirah, Satrap of Midea. He requests that the crown send out the proper authority."

I realized this sounded just like the story of Jacob so I began to tell it.

"And so Jacob, also a shepherd by trade, was sent off into the far, far-off land where he came across the fair Rachel tending her father's sheep. He was smitten, and went and rolled the stone from the well, and watered her flock for her. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice and wept with joy. When Laban, Rachel's father, heard of this, he said to Jacob, "Should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" Jacob said, "I will serve you seven years for your daughter Rachel." So Jacob served seven years tending Laban's sheep. And they only seemed but a few days, for the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled." So Laban threw a great wedding feast, but in the dark of the evening Laban brought his older daughter in to Jacob. And, behold, in the morning it was Leah, not Rachel. Jacob was shocked. He said to Laban, "What is this thou hast done unto me? Did I not serve with thee for Rachel? Why, then, have you beguiled me?"

I was interrupted by Xerxes' voice behind me. When did he move? How come I never noticed his movements? I was honestly terrified of how he would react.

"Why, then, have you beguiled me? I must admit that never before has such a tale been found in the pages of a royal diary. Here I expect to be lulled to sleep by tedious reports, instead I'm beguiled by a love story. And how ends your tale? This Jacob, he's able to have his bride? He's able to have her?" he inquires as walks from behind me to where he was originally behind the curtains. The look on his face was one of expectancy. I needed to answer and quickly.

"Only after serving seven more years for her, my lord King." I replied while looking down chastised for my outburst.

"Believeth you in such, love?" he asked with another expectant look although his tone appeared softer.

" Is not the greatest commandment no matter what God one serves." I replied sheepishly.

"How do they call you?" He asks genuinely. He really wants to know my name? What have I done?

"Esther of Susa." I replied using my pagan name just like I promised Moredcai I would.

"Susa? No, nothing good ever comes out of Susa. Look at me." he replied with a smirk. I don't think I understand the joke but who am I to question a king. He stares at me for a moment before answering.

" Come, come if you wish to see what I do." he said before extending a hand and inviting me to approach him. Once inside the curtain he explains the clay figure on the table as the Greek god of love and makes the comparison between love and poison by saying the symptoms are the same. I nod my head in agreement. He then turns to Hegai who has appeared in the room unnoticed. I am escorted away from the royal bedchamber and charged to tell no one what happened. Of course I will not as I am just fortunate to get a chance to be in the presence of the great king of Persia.

[Flashback Over]

I am in front of the throne room as I end my childlike daydream. Who would have thought then my life would be what it has become?