The palace of King Xerxes was filled with song and laughter of drunken men for he was celebrating his conquering of over 127 provinces; yet the king wasn't out there celebrating but in his chambers pondering and wondering why everything was going wrong in his life.

His father died recently, his wife was acting strange and he knew the princes were not pleased with him.

"You look like your father." Hegais deep voice echoed through the chamber.

Xerxes looked up and smirked, "At least I have his looks if not his wisdom."

Hegai came closer, he was the only one allowed to come before the king without summoning. He had raised Xerxes since childhood and was like a second father to him.

The eunuch placed his hand on his shoulder and smiled, "On the contrary my King, you have the wisdom of your father and all other kings before that."

Xerxes stood up and looked at the night sky behind him and closed his eyes. "My father's death was not an accident Hegai, he was murdered by our enemies yet I still have not taken the proper actions. Would he want me to conquer them or leave them be since they are already weak?" He asked.

Hegai folded his arms, "Only you can answer that, but know that your father told me many times how proud he was of you."

Xerxes weakly smiled and then walked back to his desk to finish writing.

"The queen would like to know if she can see you." Hegai asked.

Xerxes grumbled and dropped his shoulders. He hated that Vashti was his queen. She was a princess of Babylon and the daughter of the late Belteshazzar which in past promises meant that he would be wed to her.

It was a rule established when the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon many years ago. The princess would be wed to the prince of Persia.

She was vain, snotty and sometimes manipulative. All she cared about was having more gold and diamonds. More servants and dresses.

He had no reason to stop her from being queen he was not the man that would cast his wife aside for no reason.

Xerxes looked at Hegai intensely before responding, "very well I'll speak to her before the banquet."

Hegai nodded and left the chamber. Moments later he came back with Vashti who of course was decked out in a extravagant dress.

Xerxes pulled his tunic around him, "Enter."

Vashti smiled and walked up to him with an arrogant smile which made Xerxes angrier than usual. It was like she knew something he didn't.

"It has been many nights since you've summoned me." She spoke.

"My apologies my queen."

"Surely these banquets every night are tiring you out."

Xerxes smirked, "Surely not."

Vashti shrugged and walked closer to him. Xerxes stoop up and walked towards his bed where a set of royal robes sat waiting for him.

"You know, I will be planning for war with Greece, and I know how you feel about it."

Vashti furrowed her brow, "My Lord King I never knew that you would actually go through with it." She complained.

Xerxes snickered, "And is that why you hold these banquets in protest? Did you not think I knew?" He questioned.

Vashti became pale and then gulped, "I-"

"You forget your place, I know what you are planning."

He walked up to her and stared at her.

She rolled her eyes, "Xerxes- You and I both know the Greeks will retaliate, when I do not know but I've tried to stop you from making a mistake but your ego was to big."

At that Xerxes exploded, "You dare talk to your king like that?" He seethed.

Vashti turned around, "I would have you stay, enhance your kingdom, and preserve your throne. But no, all you care about it revenge." She spat.

Xeres now raging with anger grabbed her arm which made her wince. "If you ever talk to me like that again there will be consequences." he warned.

Vashti astonishingly calm simply nodded and walked away, Hegai following her heel.

Xerxes grabbed the closest thing to him being his crown and slammed it at the wall. The metal object rolled on the ground before falling at his feet.

The king looked at the scroll that sat at the side of his bed or many years and gently opened it revealing a dried rose. He had kept this rose with him for all these years.

He was still intrigued with the girl that gave it to him. She was so young yet so well spoken. He had never met a Persian so willing to speak to royalty like that.

"I wish i knew who you were." he sighed and took another look at the rose before placing it back in the scroll and rolling it back up.

It was time for the banquet. Hegai's booming voice overtook the hall and entranced the guests, "I give you Xerxes, son of Darius and king of kings."

Xerxes proudly walked down the line of guests who were bowing before him. After settling in he sat with his princes and enjoyed the wine provided.

Admantha his cousin was sitting next to him with a smirk on his face and Memucan his general was staring at Admantha with a scowl.

Xerxes was slowly getting drunk and merry with every step he took. The fight he had with vashti replayed in his mind. He hadn't meant to lose his temper but the more she challenged him the angrier he got.

She knew better than to challenge him especially being the queen. He would be lying if he said he didn't want someone else to share his life with.

He wanted someone he didn't have to summon or treat formally. He wanted a wife who he loved entirely that he could care less if she was in his presence without being summoned.

His thoughts were broken when the princes began yelling for vashti and her beauty.

He growled, How dare they.

He looked to Memucan, "They really request Vashti?"

Admantha piped in and smirked, "Undoubtedly the queen's beauty is a want."

Xerxes sighed and looked at Hegai, "Send for her."

Hegai nodded and carried out his orders. Minutes passed and still they shouted for Vashti. Xerxes was getting annoyed now.

Hegai finally returned but with no Queen. Xerxes clenched his mouth and fists.

"Hegai where is she?"

"My Lord the queen refuses to come."

Xerxes could feel the blood pumping in his body, "She refused to come!?"

Admantha and the other princes looked at each other with knowing looks.

Memucan looked at xerxes and whispered to him, "The queen holds her own banquet in protest of the war, surely you knew she would refuse."

In an instant xerxes threw his cup to the side and sat up. "What does protocol say?" he asked Memucan.

The old man had a sorrowful look on his face before answering the King, "Protocol says that Vashti come no more before the king and that her crown be removed from her head and her position be given to another more worthy than her."

Xerxes was to drunk to feel sorrow, joy, or happiness. All he knew was that Vashti had crossed him for the final time. He stood up abruptly and came to the edge of the platform he was resting on.

His mind was fuzzy and his head was pounding.

A mixture of anger and wine nonetheless.

He stumbled towards his people and in a loud voice yelled, "Persia has no more queen!"

After that he and Hegai left to his chambers quickly leaving all of Persia in shock and curiosity.