Queen of Persia

Burdens

I bowed myself before my bed. The heavyweight in my heart was wearing me down.

"My queen," Mary slightly approached behind me.

"Yes Mary?" I looked back lazily.

"My queen you can not continue like this. What's the most I need to do to please your heart?"

"Mary," I turned to face her, "I and my people are condemned to death. And the whole nationality is counting on me."

"I know Esther. I very much do. That is a heavy amount of pressure, but your God will help you right?"

I nodded, "he will Mary."

"Can you eat something? You have not eaten in two days. As your first lady in waiting it is my duty to make sure you are healthy."

"I'm not hungry Mary."

"And you haven't been to your dress fittings."

"Should I really worry about dresses right now?"

She sighed heavily, "ok probably not, but what if the king finds out that you've been distressed? And have not been eating or sleeping? My queen, I could get my head cut off."

"Mary I would not let that happen to you."
I paused, which reminded me... "ok Mary there is something you need to know. And I'm only telling you this because I trust you. You are to tell no one else."

"What is it my queen?"

"Tomorrow, I will be approaching before the king."

"Oh he summoned for you?"

She noticed my silence.

"Unsummoned?" she gasped, "but my queen that is a risk, a deadly risk. You could be put to death. You know the laws of the palace!"

"I am very well aware of what could happen to me Mary, and of the laws, but I losing my life is better than my whole nationality being wiped off the face of the earth. If the king does not hold out the golden sceptre to me, I will perish trying."

"My queen-"

Mary was interrupted by a light knock on my door. Lilliana, my other lady in waiting, pranced in the chambers.

"Hello Lilly," Mary saluted.

"Hello Mary. My queen," she bowed before me.

"Good evening Lilly. What news do you bring?"

"An old friend is requesting your presence."

"At this hour?"

"Yes. And she refuses to comfort herself unless she speaks to you."

"Whom is it?"

"She goes by the name of Zara."

"Zara?" my eyes wide. "She's here?"

"She was one of the candidates," Mary informed.

"Yes I remember. Please, let her in."

I examined Zara's sad countenance as she approached before me. She fell to my feet and began to cry.

"Zara what's-"

"Please don't say a word my queen. Allow me to mourn for the wickedness of my father," she sobbed.

"Oh no Zar," I helped her up, "your father's actions has nothing to do with you."

"Lord Haman is a wicked man," she sniffed, "he's my father but in no way am I like him."

"You think I'm angry against you because of your father? Your father is not you."

"But my father is my blood and I want to apologize for the sins of my family."

"It's ok Zara. Everything will be fine. There's always a happy ending."

"How do you remain to be brave after all of this?"

"Mourning with the rest of my people is not a solution. Someone has to be the hero in all of this."

She smiled softly. "If there's anything I can do Esther, please inform me."

"Thanks Zara, but this is my burden."

"You are so brave Esther. You truly are meant to be the hero of you're people. They are blessed."

I grinned, "Thank you Zara. Now, if you're done beating yourself up, I would appreciate it if you accompanied me on a walk for some air out on the courtyard...and maybe talk about something else rather than my nationality."

She smiled. "I would like that."

We examined the stars in the dark sky as we sashayed around the fountain of the court.

"They seem much closer here," Zara gasped at how close the stars seemed to be.

"Slightly too good to be true," I agreed.

She turned to face me. "So this is your life huh? Do you ever miss home?"

I smirked, "I most definitely miss home, but now I have to fulfill my destiny as a queen. I try not to think too much about being back home."

"I understand. From an innocent young lady to the queen of 127 provinces- that's a very unusual step," she grinned."

"It's too overwhelming to believe sometimes."

She laughed. "But you're handling well."

"My God gives me strength."

"Good." She smirked, "And how's the king?"

"In which way?" I raised a brow, now noting the many intentions attached to this question.

She laughed softly. "As a husband."

"He's beyond words."

"Well, sounds like he was worth the 1 year of preparation."

"I don't regret."

She grabbed my hand. "This position was truly meant for you Esther, and no one else. Look at you," she examined me from the gold glistening crown upon my head to my rich silk nightgown, "No one else would have worked this better than you."

I chuckled, "Zar"

"I mean it my queen. You are so brave and courageous- so flawless. And you have the brightness of a sunshine that people wait upon eagerly to appear in the sky during a dark storm. That's exactly why the king fell in love with you. And we just know that you will help our king lead our country towards greatness."

I smirked,"Zara these are words of a saint. Thank you very much. And if you're not in a hurry, I have a gift for you. From my heart to yours."

"I am very much curious of what it might be."

"It's a custom made crown. I am to give it to someone special. Now you might not have been chosen as the new queen of Persia, but you definitely have a heart of a queen. You were the sweetest candidate. And you became my friend, even though we were all competing for the same title."

She smiled, "thank you Esther. That's very kind. And I apologize once again."

"Stop Zar. Please, after you."

We started our way back to my building of the palace. With Zara almost gone, I had to tie my thoughts back to reality- tomorrow's risk.