King Xerxes slowly peeled his eyes open. He looked around and noticed commotion in his chambers.

He felt sick inside almost too sick to move. He groaned and covered his eyes with his hand. Immediately a physician came to his side to check on him.

"My Lord, can you hear me?" He yelled.

Xerxes moaned, "Yes you idiot."

The physician gave a nervous chuckle, "Oh- very well."

Xerxes looked around and saw Hegai standing on the balcony talking to a servant girl. He groaned, he wanted to yell for him but it was as if his mouth was not willing to move.

Thankfulyl Hegai turned around and saw he was trying to call for him.

"My Lord- I am so glad you are okay." He took his hand and squeezed it.

Xerxes coughed and sat up. "Truth be told Hegai I don't remember much of what happened- after I sent Esther away the next weeks were a blur." he murmured.

Hegai nodded, "My Lord- you were poisoned."

Xerxes coughed, "Poisoned? Impossible Hegai that is why I have cup bearers." he scoffed.

Hegai folded his arms, "My Lord- I assure you what I say is true."

Xerxes rubbed his eyes and sighed, "Have you found the culprit then?"

Hegai smirked, "You doubt I wouldn't? He is in chains ready to be judged."

Xerxes slowly stood up with the help of Hegai and ordered for his royal dressings to be brought.

"Very well- let's go."

He went to walk but immediately saw blurs of his surroundings and fell back.

Hegai caught him and threw him back on the bed with a grunt. "I Don't think you are well enough, my lord."

Xerxes moaned and rolled over, "Fine- keep him locked up. I'll deal with him tomorrow, Now tell me what happened."

Yesterday-

When Hegai said those words fear racked over me, I knew how temperamental he could be and we didn't know who we were dealing with.

I couldn't stop him so i gave his arm a light squeeze to let him know I was there for him.

Then I went to give the cup to the physician's people to examine the contents.

A servant girl was washing herbs when I went down.

She gave me a smile, "Hello- are you a new washer?"

I shook my head, "No I'm from the harem."

She nodded, "I figured- you're too pretty to be a servant." She chuckled.

I blushed and looked down, "I don't think so but thank you- I was actually looking for whoever is in charge. I have something to give him per Hegai orders." I reassured.

She nodded, "Of course- Darren is the person you would be looking for- he's in the back."

I smiled and gave my thanks before following her directions. I came to a small room with hundreds of herbs and medicines everywhere.

Some were bubbling and some were burning under a candle. An older man was writing in his scroll and didn't even notice me.

I cleared my throat which quickly received his attention. He lowered his head to look at me through his spectacles. "Yes young lady?"

I smiled nervously, "I have the King's cup- Hegai told me to bring it to you."

He gave a huff and stood up. "Well bring it here."

I handed it to him and watched him examine it. He took some powder and poured it in the cup and closely examined the process.

I was intrigued- I'm sure for most of his years he had studied the practice of medicine and learning the traits of poisonous and medicinal herbs to serve his kingdom.

He wrote some notes on his scroll and continued to study the cup's reaction to the powder. "I know the poison that was used."

He quickly wrote his notes down on the scroll.

"What is it?" I asked curious.

He gave me a grunt and ignored me. "You don't have the authority to know- now take this to Hegai immediately." He ordered without emotion.

I frowned, he was clearly nothing but a rude, old man.

No worries I thought- Hegai would tell me.

So I sweetly smiled through my teeth and took the scroll without a word and left.

I still wanted to know one- how did the poison enter the king's wine.

The whole point of having a cup bearer was to prevent the king being poisoned; and two- who did it? My first guess was Admantha- he was the one who wanted to become the King and I knew he didn't care about how he achieved it.

I pondered my thoughts on the way back. I saw the same servant girl walking up the stairs with her wet towels.

I grimaced when she fell back alone with all the towels. I quickly ran over to help her. When she saw me helping her she looked stunned.

"Here." I gathered the towels and put them in her basket.

"T-thank you." She stuttered.

I nodded, "Could I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"When the king's food and wine is prepared is it watched over?"

"Oh yes! There is always a chief guard or eunuch that watches the food be prepared so it's nearly impossible for the food to be contaminated."

I bit my lip, "Where does the wine come from?"

"Well the king prefers his own vineyard here in the palace but during the non harvest months he accepts the wine from a vineyard in the south bend."

I gasped, so the wine could be contaminated there where no one could see! Of course- I thought!

"Thank you." I gave her a smile and dashed off.

The young girl giggled, "Your welcome."

I needed to find the King's personal physician so I ran to the room where he was in and banged on the door.

When he opened it he was annoyed. I gave a sheepish smile and then held out the scroll in my hand.

"Here, I was to take this to Hegai but I figured you'd need it first seeing as you are treating the king." I shrugged.

He gave me an inquisitive look but stepped aside to let me in. "Alright well thank you."

I smiled, "Your welcome- actually I was wondering if I could ask a few questions."

He sighed, "Very well but make it quick, I must get back to the king."

I nodded and sat down on the stool near his bed as he read the scroll. "The poison used on the king, is it severely dangerous? I mean would it kill you if you took one sip?"

He was grazing the scroll and shook his head, "Huh? Oh no this poison is meticulous and sneaky. It doesn't kill in one taking."

"So how long do you think the king has been poisoned?"

He sighed, "I would say for at least two weeks."

I bit my lip, "One last question."

He gave a groan. "Hurry child I don't have all day."

"Well I figure- it's nearly impossible to give the king the position while it was being prepared and the cupbearer must sip the wine before it goes to the king. So either the cup bearer was in on it or he was being poisoned too- but if so how was he not affected?"

The physician looked at me with a shocked expression.

"I- well."

I giggled, I knew he wasn't used to a woman asking such questions.

He growled under his breath, "You ask a lot of questions."

I nodded, "Yes sir but I just want to know that last one and I'll leave you alone."

He smiled, "Good! Now if the cup bearer only takes one sip of wine a day the poison really can't affect him. It needs to be consumed in large amounts to work! So if the cupbearer is sipping once verus the king drinking a whole goblet multiple times a day I can tell you that he wouldn't be affected."

I nodded, "Thank you."

I raised up and kissed his cheek. He grunted and shook his head before pushing me out. I smiled, I was feeling achieved. Hegai would be proud of me.

Now I needed to find him.

I ran as fast as I could. Luckily I didn't have to look far he was in the court yard and looked as if he was just returning. I ran up to him out of breath.

"Hegai- I know how the king's wine was poisoned and how it got past the guards."

He placed his hands on my shoulders, "Tell me everything."

So I proceeded to tell him all that I had discussed with the servant girl and with Xerxes physician. BY the end of it Hegai's blood was boiling.

"Well we know how it happened and where it most likely came from- but now we need to know who."

I nodded, "Yes- have you talked to Admantha yet."

He shook his head, "No I went to the royal cup bearer first but he is innocent and most likely as you said slightly poisoned. But now I go to Admantha and I will find out the truth."

Admantha yelled out and slammed his cup down. "All of the planning! All of it down the drain! I spent months thinking of a way to kill the king and now someone else goes and try to take that chance from me."

Haman snickered, "Well at least we know the king has another enemies."

Admantha growled, "Haman I don't want to hear your wisdom! How am I to kill the king now! It would look to obvious and not to mention now he'll have double the protection until this dies down."

He paced back and forth with his hand on his chin.

"No, we'll have to wait it out a few months and let it die down before I strike."

Haman took a bite out of his apple and scoffed, "And what of Hegai."

Admantha sighed, "Wait a few weeks and then take care of him."

Haman smirked, "Of course- your highness." His tone dripped with sarcasm.

"Get out Haman! I'll call for you when I need you again."

A servant ran in, "My Prince! Hegai the eunuch is here on the king's behalf."

Admantha cleared his throat, "Yes let him in."

He waited for the servant to leave before pushing Haman out of the room. He couldn't be seen with him, Hegai would know something was up.

Hegai walked in with a defensive stance, fully ready to take action.

Admantha smile and fell on his bed, "To what do I owe this pleasure dear Hegai."

"I'm sure you have heard the news of the king's sickness."

Admantha shrugged, "I know he's been moody but sickness?"

Hegai scoffed, "My prince I know what you are up too! And if you hurt my king I will not hesitate to take proper action."

Admatha smiled, "Dear, dear Hegai- I admire your loyalty but rest assured it wasn't me. I would never harm the king he is family."

"Even family can be despicable."

Hegai looked at the table and noticed the two wine cups. "You have company?"

Admantha smiled, "Long gone my boy, long gone. Now will that be all?" He motioned for the door.

Hegai simply glared at him. He thought it had to have been Admantha but sadly he knew this time he was clear.

But He could see right through him, it was far from over when dealing with Admantha.

Hegai rode back solemnly. He was failing at his job. How was he to protect the king if he could not find the culprit.

Esther ran up to him for the second time out of breath with a smile.

"Hegai! We know who it is."

I was thinking of the possibilities when I remembered what the servant girl had said about the wine coming from the vineyard in the south bend.

I then asked around and discovered that the owner of the vineyard's daughter was one of the virgins taken in the raid for the competition.

I figured maybe he was getting revenge for it. So when I saw Hegai had returned from Admnatha's house I ran quickly to let him know.

"It wasn't Admantha, Esther."

I nodded, "I know Hegai. But I do know who."

Within hours the man who we suspected of being the poisoner was in chains before Hegai in the courtyard.

Surprisingly he wasn't scared of fearful for his life.

He was actually angry looking.

"Take him to the dungeon until the King is well enough to pass judgment."

"I wish he had died! That man took my daughter and I wanted him dead!" He yelled his anger as the guard dragged him away.

I bit my lip and walked over to Hegai who looked exhausted. "We did good huh?"

He smiled, "Yes, I am proud of you Esther."

"And I know the King will be proud of you too."

I gave a nervous laugh, "Well he doesn't want to see me so there's no need to tell him of my involvement."

Hegai shook his head, "He will know and I can assure you he wants to see you."

I shrugged, "If you say so Hegai."

He chuckled, "Get some rest."

Present day-

Xerxes groaned, "All that because of his daughter?"

Hegai nodded, "I am afraid so my Lord."

Xerxes sighed, "Well thank you for saving my life Hegai."

Hegai smiled, he purposely left out everything about Esther just so he could tell the king.

"Well I am afraid I wasn't the one who saved you."

Xerxes snorted, "Really? Then who did."

"Esther."

Xerxes choked, "Esther?"

Hegai nodded, "Yes- she is the one who discovered everything even though she knew how dangerous it was seeing as you practically bashes her."

Xerxes sighed, "Hegai I told you I have to protect her from Admantha but seeing as she saved my life I think that's an excuse enough to see her don't you think?"

Hegai chuckled, "You do not have to convince me my lord. Shall I send for her now?"

Xerxes yawned, "Maybe not tonight- I need rest even though that's all I have been allowed to do I am exhausted."

Hegai smiled, "As you wish my lord, as you wish."