The Birth Of A New King
1380 Words
King Xerxes POV
Many months have passed and the arrival of my new heir is approaching. Hadassah has been on bed rest for 3 weeks. I'm very afraid she will not make it through the birth. I just pray that her God and mine keeps my wife here with me. I am standing out on the balcony overlooking the garden just lost in my thoughts. I didn't even hear my wife enter the room until she touched my shoulder.
"Hadassah why are you out of bed my love?" I asked simply because of my concern for her and our child.
She looked into my eyes but never spoke. I noticed she was holding her stomach and wincing in pain. Oh no she is in labor.
"Hegai, go find the physician quick the queen is in labor." I yelled into the room once I saw his presence behind her. He turned and ran out the room to find the physician.
"My love lets get you lying down." I said while bending to pick her up and carried her to the bed.
She groaned in pain and reached for my hand. I held hers and looked in eyes which were filling with tears. It broke my heart to see her in so much pain but there was nothing I could do. Hegai and the physician entered the room along with her handmaids.
"Your majesty I will need you to leave the room, it will be fairly hard to deliver this baby with you in here." The physician said once he was in front of my queen.
I looked at him like he was crazy. I am not leaving my wife's side while she gives birth.
"I am not leaving, I will just move back." I spoke firmly.
He looked up and nodded at me. He sterilized his hands with hot water and lifted Hadassah's dress. In other circumstance that sort of action would warrant death.
"Your highness I will need you to take a deep breath and push." He spoke to the queen and she nodded in response.
After 30 minutes of pushing, I finally heard the infant's faint cries. My child had arrived and I couldn't be more pleased. Hadassah had bore me a child, an heir to the Persian throne.
"What shall we name the new prince?" The physician asked and my face lit up.
Prince? I have a son and Persia has a new king. I smiled down at Hadassah who was tired beyond belief. She returned the gesture with a weak smile of her own before she passed out in my arms. I panicked, my fears were happening before my very eyes.
"Your majesty I need you to leave the room, you will be allowed to return shortly." The physician spoke and I was instantly angered.
Memucan placed a hand on my shoulder, the warm gesture actually cooled my temper. I stood, leaned down kissed my wife and exited the room. After 5 minutes Hegai came out of my bedchamber to tell me she was fine. I sighed in relief, my wife is okay.
I entered the room and saw her sitting in my bed holding our son, the new crowned prince. I walked over to them kissing her and our son before exiting the room again. As was Persian protocol I had to assemble the scribes and send out a message to every province stating that an heir has been born. Then once my son and wife were healthy enough to join me in court I will officially introduce him as the crowned prince with his own tiny crown.
The birth of an heir also requires a celebratory banquet in their honor. I ran into Harbona turning the corner towards the throne room.
"Congratulations your highness on the birth of your prince. Please send my warm wishes to the queen as well." He said while entering the throne room.
"Thank you Harbona and I will give the queen the message." I replied with a warm smile. I took a breath before entering the throne for the first time as a father. I loved this feeling of having my own child. I ascended the stairs and sat upon my throne.
"As all of you have heard by now, Queen Esther has just given birth to my heir. The crowned prince has yet to be named but once he is I will formally introduce to the entire empire. Memucan has already assembled the scribes to spread the message across the provinces of our prince's birth. I will expect in the coming weeks a celebratory banquet to held." I rattled of instructions to the other princes and enuchs in attendance.
Once I had finished speaking I dismissed them and retired to my bedchamber were my wife and son were.I entered and Hadassah looked up at me smiling. I returned the smile and sat upon my bed. She passed my son over to me to hold. He was so tiny with gorgeous hazel eyes. I instantly fell in love with him.
"What are we going to name him?" I asked my wife.
She looked down thinking for a few moments. When she looked up and smiled I gave her my undivided attention.
"He shall be named, Benjamin." She answered me waiting for my approval.
I loved her wanting to keep her traditions and customs of Jewish culture alive in our son.
"His royal highness, the crowned Prince Benjamin." I said to Hegai who was standing by with a scribe to make sure it was enlisted in The Chronicles. I turned to my wife who was beaming with pure pride.
"I am glad you did not change his name my lord." She spoke quietly.
I placed my arm around her shoulder before replying, "I wouldn't dream of it. His name is perfect besides his is half Jewish and half Persian. He will be an impartial king someday because I know you will teach him to love where he comes from."
The young prince yawned and closed his tiny eyes drifting off to sleep. I kissed his forehead and placed him in between Hadassah and I.
She kissed his forehead and said to me, "Goodnight, my love."
I smiled at her replying, "Goodnight, my queen."
I laid down on my pillow and drifted into peaceful sleep with my two loves right beside. My family was complete.
Mordecai's POV
I smiled in pure joy of hearing my little Hadassah had just given birth to the new prince. I sat with Hegai and waited for all of the scribes to assemble. Once they were all in attendance I started.
"Today the Persian empire has an new heir. His Royal Highness, the crowned Prince Benjamin, son of Xerxes. He is to be thrown a celebratory feast in his honor one week from today. His Majesty, King Xerxes has requested that all of Susa attends. Her Majesty, Queen Esther has also gained the title of Queen Mother. She is to be regarded as the highest ranking woman in power for henceforth. This message is to be sent forth to all of the Medo-Persian Empire under the great seal of Mordecai, Prince of Persia." I finished speaking and waited for all of the scribes to finish writing. Once all of the letters were written and sealed I dismissed them.
I left the scribe room and retired to Haman's former estate. I was crowned Prince and Master of Audiences shortly after the death of Haman. I was to inherit his wealth, prestige and power. I was the king's right hand man. Prince Memucan remained his general.
I finally laid in my bed still overjoyed at the addition of my great-nephew Benjamin. He was named after our Jewish tribe. I was surprised the king allowed such a thing but I know just how much he loves Hadassah. He calls her by her Jewish name in private but in front of the empire she is Esther.
I cannot thank God enough for keeping His people in this empire. He truly gave us an enormous blessing with our newborn prince. I pray that Hadassah will instruct him on the ways of the Lord as well as the laws of Persia.
"Welcome to the world, Prince Benjamin may the Lord keep you always."
- Writer
