Shorter chapter as a filler before we get into the good stuff! I'll be wrapping up the story in about 3 chapters and then concluding with an epilogue.

Xerxes paced himself back and forth waiting for the physician to tell him why he had to find his wife on the floor collapsed with blood all around her like a battle scene.

His guards were watching him go back in forth in the corridor like a mad man. If they weren't worried about their own lives they would have tied him down themselves.

Only seconds later the physician assistant came out wiping her hands with a towel.

"My lord."

Xerxes took two long steps forward to reach her. "Well?"

"Aza says she is recovering well, he will explain everything to you shortly."

Xerxes grumbled to himself, more waiting. Some more time passed before the old man himself came out.

"My lord."

Xerxes was sitting down with his head in his hands when the doctor came out. When he heard his title he sprang up in no more than a millisecond ready for any news.

"Yes?"

Aza gave a sympathetic look. This poor king had to deal with his wife's almost dying twice now. Surely his heart couldn't take it anymore.

"The queen is resting, I managed to discover what was wrong."

Xerxes took a deep breath, "Well was it her wounds? Did you not treat them right the first time?"

Aza shook his head, "No my lord that was not the issue."

"Well, what was it, old man?" Xerxes huffed, clearly frustrated.

Aza sighed, "My lord the queen was once again with child. But this time her body rejected the child. The reason for all the blood my lord as well- her body was trying to release that child." The physician watched the king's face.

This was even worse than the last time he had to tell them their child had died.

"With child again? How- it's only been a few months since her accident." He mumbled.

"I know sire, but she was a few weeks along. Not more than a month I'd say."

"Why-" Xerxes swallowed, "Why did her body reject the baby?"

Aza rubbed the back of his neck, "When the queen went through the terrible accident and I had to go in surgically I believe her womb was weakened. Meaning it's almost impossible for her to safely carry a child without losing it."

Xerxes backed up against the wall and slowly slid down. So he was hearing he would never have a child with her? Ever?

Aza carefully spoke, "My lord?"

"Let me be." Xerxes sighed in defeat.

His head was in between his legs and he was already sobbing. His heart broke, not for himself but his love. He couldn't bear to put her through this once again.

He knew how excited she was to give him an heir to the throne. That was what put a smile on her face every time they spoke of it.

The physician left the king in his thoughts and went back into the queen's room. He was going to tell her she was already awake and ready to speak with him but he wasn't going to risk his life. When the king says 'let me be' you obey.

Esther was sitting up with pillows all around her to make her as comfortable as possible. Her handmaids were cleaning the blood off of the ground.

When she was trying to get the help she had smeared it all over making it look like the battle of all battles had occurred. Esther watched the old physician walk back in solemnly.

"Is he alright?"

When she had woken up she wasn't even sure what had happened let alone where she was. The last thing she remembered was talking to Haman in the courtyard for some reason.

She didn't even know that Xerxes was back until the old physician told her he was the one who found her unconscious on the floor.

"He told me to let him be, my lady. He was sobbing."

Esther sighed, she was afraid of that. The doctor had explained everything to her as thoroughly as he could. She knew that to save her life he had to cut into her womb last time.

And she was grateful for that. The consequence?

Her body could never properly carry a baby.

And that broke her heart. But she wasn't going to sit around and cry about it. She was going to be strong for herself and her husband.

"Anahita, go get him, please. And tell him I'm wide awake."

Anahita nodded, "Of course."

Xerxes was sitting on the marble floor of the palace, only a few feet away from his wife's room. He felt like he was stuck in some sort of bubble.

He couldn't seem to move. When the doctor told him he would never be allowed to have a child with Hadassah it felt like time stopped.

They had been through so much already, how much more could they take? "My Lord-" He lifted his head at the sound of his name.

"What?" his reply was gruff.

The young maiden that stood before him was familiar but he didn't feel like guessing.

She cleared her throat, "I'm Anahita- the queen's maid. She asked me to bring you in."

She tried to sound a chirpy as possible but when she saw the state the king was in even her mood was brought down.

She had never seen such a powerful man be so broken. Xerxes seemed almost shocked when she said that Esther was awake.

Why hadn't the doctor told him?

"She's awake?" He said incredulously.

Anahita nodded, "Yes my lord. She is awake and smiling as usual."

Xerxes ran his hands through his hair and wipes the tears from his eyes so that she wouldn't see his former state. He stood up and took a silent but deep breath before entering his queen's chambers.

Just as the maid said, his beautiful wife was sitting up, smiling and talking to the physician as if she had never been in a dire situation.

She sensed his presence immediately. Her head whipped in his direction and she immediately had a huge smile on her face when she saw him.

He couldn't help but smile back at her at that moment. No matter how bad a day he could have could beat the smile she flashed at him every day.

"My love," she whispered.

He glided to her bed and gingerly sat down beside her, wary of any movement causing her pain. But she just smiled and placed her hand in his.

"When did you get back? When I awoke I didn't even know you were here until Aza told me."

He kissed her hand, "Only a few hours ago. Are you okay? Are you in pain?"

She shook her head, "No- I can't feel anything actually."

Xerxes eyebrows shot up in a panic, "What?"

"Just the medicine my Lord, it is stopping feeling temporarily," Aza said quickly knowing his life could be up if anything ever happened to this queen under his watch.

Xerxes tension slowly dropped back, "I was terrified when I found you like that."

His wife gave him a tender yet sad smile. She was hurting just as much as him. But they were together and that was all that mattered.

"And where is Hegai?" he asked looking around.

Not once had he seen him since he arrived.

Esther shrugged, "I'm not sure- I can't seem to remember the last time I was with him."

Xerxes frowned, she couldn't remember just a few hours ago?

The old physician once again spoke up, "I was with him just before you called for me sire, he is in his room recovering."

"Recovering? From what." Xerxes asked worried about his friend now as well.

"He was kicked by a horse in the head- well that is what the queen and Haman told us."

Xerxes and Hadassah looked at each other both equally confused. "Haman? What were you doing with Haman? And how did Hegai get kicked in the head?!"

Hadassah's eyes widened, "I don't- I don't know. Why would I be with Haman! I despise the man truly my love."

"Yes, we both do. Do you truly not remember anything?"

Hadassah shook her head, "No the last thing I remember was talking to him in the courtyard. About what I do not recall."

Xerxes sighed, "Aza do you know any more about the situation?"

Aza shook his head as well, "I'm afraid not sir, the only thing I was told was Hegai had been in the stables with her majesty and a horse kicked his head. Apparently, Prince Haman happened to be there and helped bring them back."

Esther sighed, "I wish I could remember."

"Don't worry, I will go check on him and see if he remembers. For now, I wish for you to rest."

He sat up and pressed his lips against her head. "I love you."

She closed her eyes and smiled, easily leaning into his touch. "And I you."