One Night With The King: The Next Empire

The War: Persia VS Greece

Queen Sarah POV

Today my husband departs for Greece to avenge his father and grandfather. I, however disagree with the whole thing. He's currently in court and I have sent Hatach to ask him to summon me. If I retain his favor maybe this war can be postponed indefinitely.

"Your highness, the king has asked your forgiveness but he cannot summon you." Hatach said upon arrival.

"You did express the urgency of my request?" I inquired.

"Yes my lady, he was made aware." He answered.

This had become the normal between us. I hadn't spent time with him in months. If I asked to speak with him my request was denied. I was becoming frustrated with my husband.

"Thank you, that's all I require." I said dismissing him.

I waited for hours of any word that he had returned to his chambers. Isaac was passing by with his son Gabriel. He was almost 4 years old now. Eagerly awaiting his time with his uncle, the king. Benjamin's idea of training the young princes together was marvelous. Yet with the war soon to transpire, Isaac would take over their lessons.

"Aunt Sarah!" My nephew ran to me.

"My darling boy, I love you." I replied embracing him.

"Aunt Sarah, can I spend dinner with you? Please." He asked while pouting.

"Gabriel I would love that but what about grandmother? Weren't you suppose to spend dinner with her?" I reasoned.

"Oh I forgot but what if she joins us." He said.

"Of course that would be lovely." I acquiesce.

"C'mon son let's go find your mother and then tell grandmother the great news." Isaac said.

"See you later Aunt Sarah." He said following his father out the room.

It was peaceful for a few minutes before I heard,

"Michael stop running down the halls you could hurt yourself!"

I knew that voice anywhere. Only Benjamin would say something like that. Sure enough moments later he entered my bedroom.

"You wanted to see me dear?" He asked kissing my hand.

"Yes in court but no matter." I replied.

"Sarah if its about the war there is nothing to discuss. We leave for the outposts within the hour." He said exasperated.

"I am aware of that. I just wish my opinions mattered now like they did before you were king." I said retreating to my balcony.

Sighing heavily he replied, "Your opinion does matter but this time I have to override them. I hope you understand and in time forgive me."

I turned to see him exit quickly. The spitting image of his father before him. I looked out over my empire and sighed. Our marriage was being tested and every day I prayed it would get better.

Later that evening............…

I had just finished dining with my mother-in-law and nephew. Gabriel had left the room soon after.

"Sarah, what is the matter?" Hadassah asked.

"I just feel like I'm losing my husband." I said.

"Oh sweetheart I know that feeling. Believe me Xerxes and I fought months before Benjamin was born." She said.

"Really? You always seemed so in love." I said shocked. I never knew that they literally had words for a long period of time.

"It was right after Haman was named a prince. Memucan came to me because it was discussed that all Jews be annihilated for their possessions. I sought him in the library. He was annoyed at first until he realized it was me. I told him how I felt and he got angry especially when I mentioned Vashti. Basically said our marriage was over. I was hurt but we got through it." She stated.

"If you don't mind my asking, why did he say what he said? I mean what was the root of all of the arguments? I know you didn't agree with the war or the annihilation of people." I inquired.

"Truthfully at the time I didn't know. It wasn't until he discovered I was Jewish that he told me." She trailed off almost like she was remembering that moment.

Hadassah POV

[Flashback]

"I was in fear of my own life, I knew that once you left and named Haman in charge he would start his g******e of the Jews. I knew that my uncle would be first to die and that I would soon follow."

"Your uncle?" the king asked

"Mordecai is my uncle" she said quietly "he raised me after a Haman killed my parents when I was a young girl." She said tears coming to her eyes "he didn't know that they had a child because I was hiding under my bed when he slaughtered them"

"Oh, Hadassah why didn't you tell me of any of this?" he said cupping her cheeks in his hands

"I feared for my life, on the night I was taken from my home Mordecai told me that it was too dangerous for me to be a Jew, especially in the palace. So he said that if I was taken I would say my name was Esther, Esther of Susa."

"Why not tell me once we were wed?" he asked

"On the day you returned from battle, Mordecai came to warn me that Haman had been made a prince and that he intended to slay the Jews at the first chance he got. I met him in the gardens near the lover's gate which is when I must have dropped the necklace" she said looking down at the designs on the fabric across her husband's chest.

"That was your uncle?" the king questioned "I thought you were being unfaithful when I saw it was you embracing a man at the secret lover's gate" the king said his shoulders sagging in relief

"no" Hadassah said with a grin, "it was merely my uncle coming to warn me that I could not reveal myself" she looked into his eyes "he sent word again once he had discovered that when you left you would name Haman in charge. He wanted to tell me that I had to be brave, I had to go to you even though you said I was not to come to you again, that night in the library. That I had to stop Haman before it was too late for the Jews, and that my title alone would not save me." She said tears in her eyes "I intended to approach you after court but I had run out of time so I ran through the rain and into court."

"Oh Hadassah" the king said softly, emotion seeping into his voice.

"Hegai tried to stop me, he told me that I was not going to the bedroom of a man I was going into the hall of a king and it would be me against protocol." She said wrapping her arms behind his neck "but I had to or I would surely die once you left for war."

"But you are here, alive" he said capturing her lips again in a searing kiss.

[Flashback Over]

I realized I had just been staring off into space when Sarah her hand in front of me.

"Oh forgive me sweetheart, what was I saying?" I asked.

"You said he didn't tell you until after he discovered you were Jewish." She responded.

"Yeah he thought I was being unfaithful to him. He saw me at the lover's gate when I had finished speaking with my uncle." I said.

"Wow that's interesting but no I know Benjamin doesn't think that. I just feel like he wants so badly to follow in his father's footsteps." She stated solemnly.

"Sarah, you are queen and only you have the power to change the heart of the king. Especially if you pray on it. Believe me, my son loves you. He just might need a reminder." I said embracing her before leaving the room.

I entered my room and laid upon the bed. I pray for my children's marriages silently before drifting off.

King Benjamin POV

"My son why must you be so hard on your wife. As you sit here in the library she is crying herself to sleep praying that you still love her. I never told you this but your mother and I fought before you were born. I thought she was being unfaithful to me. At the time I didn't know it was your uncle whom she was speaking with. I understand the pressures of being king but please realize you don't have to follow after me. I am already proud of you. I love you Benjamin always."

I sat straight up in my bed. I could have sworn I heard my father's voice. I quickly arose and went to my wife's bedroom because she needed me. Climbing in beside her and wrapping my arms around, she snuggled into my chest before whispering, "I love you."

"I love you too, Sarah."