"Pick up your sword" she commands
"PICK IT UP!" Xerxes does as he is told, Esmeray strikes back "You love me?" she repeats softly, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Funny way of showing it."
"I know! I have hurt you, I didn't mean it...it was all just a passing time."
"PASSING TIME!!? WHAT ABOUT ME!! ALL THOSE NIGHTS YOU ESCAPING MY ARMS, ALL THOSE NIGHTS NOT COMING BACK" she lunges forward, her blade aimed straight at his heart.Xerxes prepares himself for the worst closing his eyes.
Nothing, he feels nothing. The blade, all she needs to do is push a little and he will bleed, she can escape, she can run home. Her father, he will surely punish her but her brother, he will win the battle for her.
No, she can't, she can't let anyone win her game just by dying. "All your words are nothing but lies. Not a year has passed since our marriage yet you have managed to break me."
"And there isn't enough words to use to express my apologies" Tired, she puts the swords down. "Did you know? Did you know he is getting married..TELL ME !!"
"Y-yes, he told me. He told me to take care of you, that no matter what he will end me if anything happens to you" Esmeray's hands tremble
"I had everything with him. And I threw it away for you....tell me how will you make things better. " tears fall down her face hitting the ground that has only ever tasted blood
"I-I don't know...tell me what you want and I will do it" Replies Xerxes Esmeray's sword clatters to the ground as she collapses, her knees hitting the blood-soaked earth with a dull thud. Tears stream down her face, mingling with the sweat and dirt that stains her once-pristine gown.
"What I want?" she whispers hoarsely. "I want to go back in time. I want to never have met you. I want to be happy again."
She looks up at Xerxes through blurred eyes, her expression a mix of anger, sorrow, and despair. "But most of all," she continues, her voice gaining strength with each word. "I want you to fix this. Fix what you've broken."
Xerxes stares at her, his heart aching at the sight of her pain. He knows he's caused this - knows that his selfishness and arrogance have destroyed the one person who truly mattered to him.
"I'll do anything,"
"Take me home. Take me back home " Xerxes hesitates for a moment, unsure if he heard her correctly. "Home?" he repeats softly. "You want to go back to Ironhold?"
Esmeray nods, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand. "Yes," she says firmly. "I want to go home. I want to be surrounded by people who love me and care about me. I want to forget this place for a while"
She stands slowly, her legs shaking beneath her. Xerxes moves to support her, wrapping an arm around her waist to keep her upright.
"If that's what you want," he murmurs, guiding her towards the stables. "Then that's what we'll do."
As they walk, Esmeray leans heavily against him, exhaustion and emotion draining the last of her strength. She knows it won't be easy - leaving Celestia, facing the rumors and speculation that will follow.
But for the first time in months, she feels a glimmer of hope. A chance to start over, to rebuild the life that was shattered by Xerxes' betrayal.
▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎
"We will miss you my lady, please come back to us soon"
"I will" Esmeray got inside the carriage a smile appearing on her face as excitement takes over.
"You seem happy " noted Xerxes. As promised he is taking her to visit her family for a month or two
Esmeray glances over at Xerxes, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I am," she admits softly. "I'm happy to be going home. To see my family, to breathe the familiar air..."
She trails off, her gaze drifting out the window as the landscape blurs past. After a moment, she turns back to Xerxes, her expression turning serious.
"And I'm happy that you're keeping your promise," she continues quietly. "That you're letting me go, even if it's just for a little while."
Xerxes nods, his own eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I told you I would do anything to make things right," he says gruffly. As the carriage rolls through the countryside, Esmeray finds herself relaxing more and more. The warmth of the sun on her face, the gentle sway of the carriage, and the familiar sights and smells of her homeland all serve to soothe her frayed nerves