One Night With The King: The New Empire

Vashti: The Banished Queen

Vashti POV

It has now been 8 years since my banishment. I am not even allowed in Susa because of my rebellion. The man I once loved and spent 5 years with has remarried. I am told she was a Jewish orphan and hid her identity from Xerxes until 3 and a half years ago. I was there when they crowned her son Benjamin a prince of the face. I became enraged seeing their little family knowing that was once my life.

I hate Queen Esther or should I say Hadassah. She is my replacement. The thing I don't understand is why she was not punished for breaking protocol like I was. Why did Xerxes spare her life? What made her so special? I spent months asking myself these questions.

I know she's the reason I was not allowed to see Xerxes again. I blame her for all of my misfortune in life. I am the rightful queen of Persia, he was my husband first. I want her gone but Haman ruined that for me. He was supposed to have her annihilated. After she was gone I would go to Xerxes in private and reclaim my place on the throne.

Well I guess the only way I will ever be queen again is to kill Xerxes and Esther myself. The banished queen will rise to power again. The prestigious Persian Empire will fall right into my hands.

Oh wait I forgot, Benjamin will be crowned king after his father's death. I am sure he knows all about me by now. I will have to get rid of him too. I don't know how but I will. First I must return to Susa.

I stop writing just as one of the Immortals appear. I escorted out of my tent to the awaiting caravan. I am being sent to Egypt.

While on the 3 day journey I remember the scroll I had written my thoughts on was still in the valley near Susa. I left it unattended near the training grounds.

I pray that Xerxes never receives that scroll.

King Xerxes POV

"Your Highness I am sorry to bother you but a plot on your life and that of the queen's and prince. The plot was written by Vashti." Hegai informed me while handing me the scroll.

I read the words written becoming enraged at thoughts of my ex wife. She wants my throne and my empire. She was here when I crowned my son in court. I knew she could not be trusted.

"Send for Memucan at once." I replied to Hegai. He bowed and left my bedchamber immediately. I paced the room as the words infuriated me even more. How can she claim to have loved me but want me dead?

"You sent for me your highness." Memucan answered upon arrival.

"I have a matter of grave importance that needs attending to." I replied handing him the scroll. He reads it intently before closing it.

"What will you have me do with the banished queen, Vashti my lord?" Memucan asked.

"Send the Immortals to put a swift end to Vashti." I replied. Banishment was a lenient punishment but her death is a result of her heinous plot.

Memucan exited my bedchamber to do as I had commanded. I turn towards my balcony and stare out the window. There's a hand placed upon my shoulder and I turn my head to see my wife.

"Hadassah, my love." I spoke.

"What weighs heavy on my lord's heart?" She replied looking in my eyes.

"Vashti, she plotted against the empire." I answered her.

She stepped closer to me before I am engulfed in her arms. She looks up into my blue eyes with her brown ones before saying, "She must not her punishment will come quickly for such a crime."

I smiled at my inquisitive wife knowingly. She was waiting for answer on what was to be done with Vashti.

"I will not tell you what has become of her, remember I answer to no one." I said.

"My lord I just wanted to remind you that you once loved her." She replied.

After she spoke and kissed my cheek she returned to her bedchamber. I watched where she had retreated to for a while before returning my gaze upon the garden.

"Father?"

I turned to look upon my son Benjamin. He was standing in the doorway of my bedchamber.

"My son you may enter, you do not need my permission to do so." I spoke to the five year old.

"Father who is this Vashti I heard mother and Memucan speak of?" He asked me. So much like his mother, inquisitive.

"Son, she was once the queen of Persia and my wife." I replied.

"I thought mother was the queen and your wife." He answered.

"Benjamin, 8 years ago I was married to Vashti. I was in my third year as king and threw a banquet. I summoned her but she refused to come. I was forced to banish as a result of her disobedience. A year later I met your mother, she was one of the candidates to be given one night with me. I remember the night I first spent with her, she read to me. She told me the story of Jacob and Rachel. I was enchanted with her so much that on her official night with me I asked her to marry me. Do you understand?" I finish my rather long story.

"Yes I understand, mother is your second wife." He answered.

"Yes she is but she is also the true love of my life." I smile while answering my son.

"I will remember this story, father for future reference." He replied before engulfing me in a hug and running out the room.

"Benjamin be careful." I yell after him. That boy is so much like me as a child running everywhere.

Prince Benjamin POV

After hearing father's story I retreated to the royal library. I wanted to know more about the banished queen. As prince I need to know all of Persian history. I start with the day they were married.

Prince Xerxes and Vashti are now married. King Darius threw a week long banquet in their honor. After the banquet, King Darius set off for Greece. However once the battle was over the king did not return. King Darius had died.Word was sent to Prince Xerxes regarding his father. It was with a heavy heart he assumed the throne. Crowned King Xerxes, son of Darius.

Since Vashti was his wife she became queen. In the third year of his reign however she was stripped of her title. She had spoken out against the war on Greece and held her own banquet in protest. She was summoned to wear the royal crown by King Xerxes but she refused to come. Having been humiliated by her refusal a royal edict was issued that her position was to be given to a new queen.

In the fourth year of his reign King Xerxes married Esther of Susa. She was crowned queen of Persia. 6 months following their marriage, Queen Esther broke protocol by approaching King Xerxes unsummoned. Her life was spared by the king but she fainted onto the steps.

After recovering from her fall she asked the king and Prince Haman to attend a banquet. At the banquet she revealed Haman as a traitor to the empire. He was hung on the gallows in his yard.

His house and wealth was given to Mordecai, whom was proclaimed a prince of the face and master of audiences.

The queen however was with child throughout all of this. Months Queen Esther gave birth to a son. He was named Benjamin. On his third birthday he was crowned a prince of the face. The royal family attended a banquet in his honor.

Two more years passed and a scroll written by the banished queen was found. The plot to kill the king, queen and young prince. King Xerxes demanded a swift end to Vashti. The Immortals were sent to Egypt after her.

"Wow I never that father was so harsh." I spoke aloud to myself. I put the scroll down just as Hegai entered.

"Prince Benjamin are you alone?" He asked me.

"Yes I was just reading about Vashti." I answered.

"I believe you will make a wise king someday." He answered.

I smiled at his words before retiring to my bedchamber. I am very tired after my long day. I settle into bed after sending up a prayer. I hope I can be half the king father is one day.