Thanks for being patient my loves!

Xerxes was walking towards Hegai's room to find out if one he was alright and two what had happened. Something didn't quite add up.

As he was walking Haman emerged from the shadows. "My Lord, you're back so soon?"

Xerxes stopped and raised his brow, "Ahh Haman I wondered when you'd show up in all of this."

Haman chuckled, "My Lord is always humorous."

Xerxes rolled his eyes, "Haman things haven't been adding up lately and I intend to get to the bottom of them."

"Such as?"

"Such as the fact that my wife was seen in your carriage along with Hegai whom both suddenly took ill."

"My King I helped carry heat from the stables after a horse kicked him in when I saw he was unconscious. Did the queen say otherwise?" His tone was monotonous.

"She can't remember. She hit her head."

Haman internally smiled, that was an even better outcome than he could have hoped for.

"Well I speak the truth sire, I do hope the queen feels better soon."

He bowed lowly before walking off. Xerxes yelled out, "Haman- I wish to see you first thing tomorrow."

Haman clenched his jaw tight, "Of course sire."

Xerxes huffed, why did it always have to be so irritating to talk to him. Finally, the king arrived at Hegai's chambers.

When he entered the eunuch was resting easily on his bed with a scroll in his hand. "Hegai?"

Immediately his friend looked up, "My Lord!" He grunted as he sat up but Xerxes lifted his hand to tell him not to get up.

Hegai slowly sat back in comfort. "My lord you are back so soon!"

He smiled. Xerxes nodded, "Yes- but I returned to find things happened in my absence."

"Such as?"

"Well you're being hurt, the queen losing her memory and Haman having some part in all of it. Tell my Hegai, do you remember anything about the night? Because I am eager to gain knowledge of what occurred."

Hegai took a hard swallow, he had never seen the king so angry. Usually, he was kind enough to hear it out but tonight he was in no mood.

But what was even more alarming was when he said the Queen had lost her memory. He remembered no such thing!

"The queen my Lord?"

"Yes, she fell and hit her head. Her memory of the day is gone I'm afraid. But the physician tells me that she, you, and Haman were all together and that you were injured."

Hegai rubbed his chin, "I don't recall haman helping us at all sire. I recall being with the queen at a meeting."

Xerxes tilted his head, "A meeting? What meeting?"

"Well, Esther asked me to go with her to a meeting so that she could get the proof she needed to show you about something."

Xerxes anger began to rise, "You took her somewhere dangerous?"

"My lord she told me she was going with or without me. I had no choice. How was I to stop her?"

"Hegai! What was this meeting?"

"All I remember was Haman was the main speaker and he had some scrolls that Esther said she needed desperately. Once we got the scroll I took her away and-"

Before he finished Hegai's eyes widened as his memory returned from the night's events.

The gang, the arguing and the hit on the head were all returning. Xerxes watched his eyes widened and that made him even angrier, "And what?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"And- a group stopped us and I was protecting her and I think I was knocked out."

Xerxes flipped his chair back and stood up. "They lied to me then. I was told you were knocked in the head by a horse. It's good to know loyalty is no longer alive. First, you take her to a dangerous meeting! You know Haman's wish, and then she lies to others about why you were injured. Hegai- you are lucky I care for you deeply or else."

He ran his hand through his hair aggressively. Without another word, he ran out of the room and back towards Esther's chambers.

He wasn't going to let her get away with it either. For all, he knew she could be faking the memory loss. When he entered her room all the anger seemed to pour out from him in a blur.

His questions all but stunned her. He accused her of lying and faking it to hide that she was attending secret things. Within 30 seconds his wife was in tears.

"I- I don't."

Her breathing became heavy. She was terrified. She didn't know what he was talking about.

"You knew I wouldn't let you but you're so stubborn you had yo see for yourself! Well, what could have been so important that you risked my name asking to find?"

Her tears became heavier. "I can't remember. But if I did go as you say I did it wouldn't have been for nothing."

Her voice was limp and weak and it all but caused him to fall in his tracks. He sighed in defeat and sat next to her on the bed.

"Esther," he mumbled sadly.

"I want to be able to help you with saving your people, but I need you to help me."

She sniffled, "I truly can't remember Xerxes, but if I went it was for reasons that had to be done."

He lowered his head and sighed.

"My Lord?"

Anahita was standing next to Esther when the king had come in angry. All while they went back and forth she remembered the scroll she had found in the Queen's coat.

"Yes?" his reply was gruff.

"When I undressed the queen earlier I found a scroll in her pocket. She had put it behind her pillow. Perhaps that is where the answer is."

Both Xerxes and Esther looked at each other. Esther reached behind her and sure enough, pulled out a rolled-up scroll.

She sighed, "You read it."

Xerxes took it and unrolled it hoping that this would solve everything. When he unrolled it he hadn't quite expected what was in it.

'Date_ I Haman gained control of power to slay every Jew in the quarter of Susa. no man, woman or child shall survive. Let it be known that one Mordecai the Jew shall be personally slain along with his entire family. We will not rest until every Jew has been put down.'

Xerxes looked up after reading the scroll with a haunted look. "

Hadassah." He whispered.

She looked at his face and knew that it was serious. "What is it."

He sighed, "It's a declaration from Haman to kill every one of your people starting with your uncle."

She nodded, "I wouldn't have taken such a risk to get that if not important."

he swallowed hard, "I- I am sorry." he whispered.

It all made sense. He knew she would not take such risks without reason. He was angry because she could have been hurt.

In all truth, he hadn't realized just how crazy Haman was about her people being killed. Now he was certain he needed to take care of this matter.

He wasn't going to let him get away with it.

"My uncle knows he is a target. Ever since Haman laid his eyes on him."

"Did I ever reward Mordecai for his saving my life from Bigtha and Teresh?"

"No, you didn't."

Xerxes smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "I think I know how to get Haman rattled just enough until we figure out a plan."

Esther smiled, she was grateful to him for understanding. She still didn't remember everything but it did make sense about the scroll and Haman together.

She was still a little shaken by the way Xerxes had acted. She had only seen him act like that once when he banned her from seeing him for those few days and she didn't like it!

"My darling get rest. I need to go have preparations made." He kissed her once more before leaving her.

She sighed, perhaps after all this was over she could have one normal day without chaos.

Xerxes had the chronicles of the king brought to him to read over the section of Mordecai saving his life. He figured if Haman hated the man so much he should help him out.

The next morning the king had Haman urgently brought to him.

Haman entered in his princely robes, "You sent for me sir?"

"Haman yes, I need your help on an urgent matter."

"I am at your service."

"I need you to tell me what I should do for the man the King delights to honor."

Haman smiled internally, finally, the king was honoring him. He needed to give the grandest of ideas.

"My lord has this man ride on the King's horse along with a crown on his head. Let the man be arrayed with a robe of the kings and paraded down the streets as a guide shouts 'this is the man the king delights to honor' for all of Susa to see!" He was lost in his world as he gave each notion.

Xerxes nodded, "Ver pleasing indeed. Go and do all as you said."

Haman smiled and bowed, turning to go.

But Xerxes called out, "For one Mordecai the Jew."

Haman turned around with an expression so disgusted, "Mordecai? The Jewish scribe?"

Xerxes nodded nonchalantly. "Yes, he saved my life many moons ago and I never rewarded him."

"But my king!" Haman seethed.

"I am about to have all the Jews put to death and you wish for me to parade one in the streets!? How will that make me look."

Xerxes shrugged, "That is your problem, he saved me and protocol states he is to be rewarded. Now go."

Haman left in such a rage. He ran out of the king's chambers and headed straight to the gates where Mordecai usually sat.

Just like always he was sitting there. Haman walked up and pointed his finger at his face, "You think your slick, old man?"

Mordecai paid no mind, He knew what was going on. The king had sent him word of his plan.

"What prince? What have I done now? You have already sentenced me to death, what more can I do?"

Haman laughed, "You're right! And I think you should be the first to die. Perhaps on gallows, I prepared that are seventy feet high. Then all of Persia can see your body rot as the birds feed off your flesh."

After that, he walked off without another word leaving Mordecai alone.

He only prayed his Hadassah and the king would find a way to stop the slaughter that was about to occur.