Xerxes 2

'I built it, I completed it, beautified and made it solid, exactly as I determined'.

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Exiting the Apadana, Artaxerxes chubby face was hit by a soft breeze and he took a moment to look around him. Beyond what looked like an endless royal complex, he saw towering mountains, stretching farther than the eye could see. The sky was orange with hints of purple, and the sun was setting, reminding Artaxerxes that he had been asleep for a few hours.

Traveling through the palatial structures after exiting the Apadana, the duo reached their destination, A magnificent palace, similar in design to the apadana, but smaller. Only being supported by four columns, rather than thirty-six.

Entering the palace without any interruption from the imposing squad of guards at the entrance, Artaxerxes yet again took notice of his surroundings.

(A/n: I'm doing lots of descriptions just to give a vibe, after these, I won't do as much as to not get you all bored)

This smaller palace complex, What Artaxerxes could only guess was Xerxes palace, had thick mud brick walls which were faced with glazed tiles of elegant greens, blues, and oranges with patterns of rosettes and palm trees.

On the massive doors were the stone reliefs of throne bearers lifting the Great King on a royal dais. Artaxerxes, a bit desensitized towards the majesty of his surroundings just took a glance at these displays of wealth and power and then moved on, deciding it was best to get used to these sights.

Inside the palace, Parnakka, the man who had spoken for the King, was waiting. Seeing Amestris with an infant in her arms followed by some attendants, He courtesies and then spoke, " The Great King is in the council room, planning for the festivities." Hearing the king's attendant, Amestris made no sign of acknowledgment and strode past.

Traveling deeper into the complex the group arrived at a wide-open roof area, surrounded by guards. Passing through the guards without issue, Amestris approached the men inside the open space surrounding a table.

One of the men who had been paying special attention to the surroundings immediately noticed them. Performing a courtesy, he said "Lady Amestris, it is a pleasure for you to have arrived" With the man's words the rest of the men surrounding the table turned and noticed the duo who had just arrived. Amestris smiled, "To you as well, Hazarapatish"

(A/N: Hazarapatish: Commander of royal bodyguard in old Persian basically a chiliarch)

None spoke, Not until one man at least. "Is that the child?" One of the men asked, however unlike the others, he seemed different. Artaxerxes noticed that when this man spoke, the other men were respectful and showed deference. "Yes, my husband, this is our third son, Artaxerxes."

After hearing that exchange, Artaxerxes was quick on the uptake, 'Holy cow, that's my father, Xerxes I.'

Xerxes was a handsome middle-aged man, with a thick mustache that was twisted as it dropped elegantly at its ends, and a distinctive square-cut beard. Standing well over 6 feet tall and with strong facial features, he was dressed in a voluminous court robe, draped and belted at his waist. The robe was dyed with varying hues of gold and Tyrian purple. The woven patterns of his robe--chevrons and floral buds, stripes, and rosettes-- were augmented by golden lion heads which shone and chimed as he walked. He wore fine white silk trousers with blue ankle bands. His soft suede shoes were of a deep blue hue and were fastened with side laces. To finish the look, he wore lion-headed torques and bracelets with intricate earrings. No man on earth looked as splendid as Xerxes.

Seeing his father, Artaxerxes was confident to say, he was going be a lady killer when he grew up.

Hearing this, Xerxes walked towards Amestris to take a look at the child. "Mm, A good name for a prince, raise him well." And with that Xerxes turned around and went back to talking with his advisors and officials. 'Huh? That's it? No tears of joy for a new son?' Artaxerxes, still a soul from the modern era, expected a tearful reunion between husband and wife after their son's safe birth into the world. But instead, his father took a glance at him, exchanged a few words with his mother, then went back to his business.

Amestris, smiling after her husband's compliment, didn't seem dissatisfied whatsoever and walked out of the council room.

(A/N: Year is 483 BC)

Leaving the palace, which Artaxerxes now knew served as some sort of council room, Amestris took him to a much more secluded section of the palatial complex, behind the Apadana he had woken up in. Passing a high wall that served to defend this particular part of Persepolis and seeing countless guards patrolling up and down the fortifications, Artaxerxes knew that this part of the palace must have a special significance

Passing the relatively simple gateway into this area of the complex, Artaxerxes took notice of the difference in atmosphere. Here there were much less hubbub and activity than there was in the previously explored areas of the complex. Where previously servants and officials ran from one area to the next with important assignments, here there were only massive palaces and a few green-robbed men with square hats.

"Welcome to your new home, Arta, do you like it?" Amestris said with a motherly smile, adjusting Artaxerxes so he could get a good look. Walking further into the new section of palaces, Artaxerxes noticed that when they passed the men and women strolling around they would immediately stop and courtesy while giving room for Amestris and her attendants.

Entering a particularly large palace, Amestris entered one of the rooms that had been recently furnished by some servants and placed Artaxerxes inside the same crib that he had awoken. Smiling at her son safely inside the crib. Amestris turned to a maidservant, "Alert me when he's fallen asleep and when he awakens, understood?"

Kowtowing on the floor, the maid responds " As you command, my lady."

Witnessing such a display of servitude didn't even shake Artaxerxes at this point, being too tired after his recent rebirth and nonstop events since. Closing his eyes, Artaxerxes soon fell asleep.

Jeffrey, now Artaxerxes, knew that things would never be the same again.