Hadassah's Watchman Trilogy - Evangheline Farcas (pdf e book reader TXT) 📗

Queen Silvia’s voice tinged on the brink of anger, for it was her name he had slandered.
“Mother, you misunderstand me, I meant no offense,” his voice softened.
“Even so, you will meet Zara Philips of England.” she insisted.
“No.”
At that moment Hadassah remembered Karina, she knocked on the door and heard two voices answer simultaneously, “Come.”
She pushed the door opened, trying her best not to give away that she had heard so much.
“Your Majesty,” she began with a slight bow of her head, “the child Karina is ready to meet you, she awaits, she is so nervous and excited to meet you.” she rambled putting a little to much cheerfulness in her tone which earned a gracefully raise eyebrow from the queen.
She sighed and proceeded towards the door, as she did so Hadassah hear her say under her breath, “Indeed a Queen of hearts,” though there was not so much bitterness in it, just tiredness of a battle lost.
Hadassah turned to follow after her, but Philip took hold of her hand causing her to tense in fear that he would see the pain in her eyes. She did not want to be the one to bring Philip down or hold him back, and if she allowed him to love her that would be precisely what she would do.
As she met his eyes he studied her for a moment in that silence that he always kept when he was analyzing something, “You heard.” he simply stated.
To him she could never lie, so she nodded shamefully, looking at the floor studying the intricate designs on the red velvety carpet which was so thick you could sink into it, which was in fact exactly what she wanted to do.
“I will not hold you back Philip.” she declared, at which he opened his mouth to protest but already she turned and hurried out of the room afraid tears would come.
She ran, stopping only at her room which was fit for a princess, to grab her winter coat, then fled to the snow covered garden, which seemed like a castle in itself only covered in the cold bitter snow. Though it was only a little after three, it was dark, but her path was lighted by the elegant streetlamps that led to the garden. It was there that she ran into me, falling into my arms sobbing, further breaking my own heart to pieces, as she recounted all. But what tore at me more was that now I too would add to her sorrow, and just as the Queen demanded Philip to raise to his station, so I was now calling Hadassah to raise to hers. For she did indeed have royal blood, more so then even this family could hold, yet it was not to be revealed nor flaunted, for it was not yet time.
“Uprisings and imprisonments have begun in your birth country Hadassah,” I said to her, “children are orphaned each day, and the time has come for an intercessor. In two days time we will travel to Buchurest if the Royals permit, you must now seek their permission and blessing.”
Struggling to hold on and not slip we began to walk the path into the palace, my arm was around her and her head rested on my shoulder, there were no objections from her, no, not even one. Her soul submitted as if it needed something to submit to so she wouldn’t sink in pain of yet another one being chosen over her, I could feel her doubts, I could feel her silent screams welling up within her, but she refused to give way to them. On the outside she was an image of pure calmness, only her tears which were now ice cold on her cheeks would give way that anything was amiss.
“Not today,” I said and she looked up questioningly, “you will not seek out permission from them today, there is much preparation first, and a battle cry to be sounded by getting on our knees.” I explained as we entered the palace.
“What preparation?” she asked after we had passed the row of guards and turned now standing before her quarters.
“If you want to be victorious, you begin on your knees or else you will have only defeat after defeat after defeat.” I stated and it seemed as if a light was turned on, and her eyes sparkled.
Opening the door to her room she turned to me, embraced me, “Then now I will kneel before my King.” she stated, then turned and softly closed the door leaving me amazed at her obedience and strength. She would not fail, not this descendant of the star of Persia.


_________________________


The next morning the sun made it’s brief appearance, indeed the light of day would only last until a little after two. Hadassah greeted me in the private dining room of my suite for a breakfast of pannkakor, Swedish crepes, topped with loganberries and cream. Her face was graced with serenity I had not yet seen on her before which worried me all the more, for there seemed to be something that she knew that I did not, and usually I was in the know.
“Raphael?’ she said in an almost whisper.
“Yes?”
“After we leave,” she began drawing in breath and gaining courage, “after we leave, could you please arrange for this to be given to Philip by someone you trust?”
Carefully I took the envelope from her hands, turning it over and over, “What is it?” I asked in curiosity.
She smiled mischievously yet sadly, “It is so he will understand, when things will be hardest to understand, when confusion comes, it is so he sees…” her voice trailed off.
I could not speak, for there was a foreboding I didn’t like, as I saw two regal angels appear on each side of her and lock eyes with mine, each put their hand on one of her shoulders, as they did so she rose, just as Queen Esther did, the night she went to beseech the King.


CHAPTER ELEVEN

“They came first for the Communists,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
And I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
And by that time no one was left to speak up.”
-------Martin Niemoeller
(from The Cry of Mordecai by Robert Stearns)

Jeremiah 6:16
Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'


The day lay heavy upon her, so much so that she did not want to raise from her luxurious bed, but the sun came through the blue gold curtains and demanded she awake. Late into the previous night she and Raphael had spoken of what must be done, she was still unsure what difference she would make, for she had not resided in Romania since she was an infant. Then she had been brought here by her cousin Iosua, on who she had turned her back on in the past few years, whom now she deeply missed and wanted so much to make amends with.
Raphael had explained to her how the Christians and Jews of Romania had sent petitions to Victor Vulpes to speak on their behalf to Hadassah that she may intercede for them, and perhaps somehow come with help. There was a superstition or rumor or a prophecy, who knew of a Queen who would come and be their salvation, how silly Hadassah thought, for though Queen Silvia loved her country and had a deep compassion for the refugees that needed shelter, she could never imagine the Queen risking her life going to a country in such turmoil. But Hadassah would go now, today, and petition the King and Queen to give her authority to go on a mercy mission, a fact gathering mission which perhaps later could be followed by an action plan to rescue her country from the shackles of oppression. Philip must not know for he would never allow it, she determined, and this would give him time to consider his mother’s suggestion, she would not begrudge him if he chose another, after all he had to think of his country first and foremost.
Pushing aside the thick silky blue covers that shimmered when the light hit them, she walked to her closet, which could have been a room and a half in itself, and decided on an elegant sapphire blue pantsuit trimmed in gold. Dressing quickly she then stood before the full-size mirror in the living room of her suite, then decided to complete her outfit with the beautiful queen Anne style earrings also perfectly matching in color her suit. Just then as if he knew a knock sounded at the door, she slipped into her dress shoes, that of course would wake the entire palace as she would walk across the marble floors, and went to open her door.
She gasped.
Silence engulfed her stealing her breath away, but soon she regained her composure and hid her fear with her new found confidence.
“How did you get in here?” she demanded.
He smiled mockingly, it looked horrible on him and Hadassah couldn’t fathom why she had ever been charmed by such a fool and deceiver as him.
“I just told them that I’m your fiancée, that you were just dying to see me, as I see you are darling.” Johan said.
“You said what!! You fool! Johan you are no such thing to me as you very well remember!” her voice trembled with indignation, and despite her determination to fear not, the terror crept in.
Johan harrumphed, “Well, they don’t know that, besides darling, that’s all in the past.” he said with an air of command that he always had he swept past her into the room closing the door.
He turned around, studying each part of her quarters, leaving Hadassah feeling helpless as she always felt around him.
“My, my, my, how the low have risen.” he finally stated, each of his words leaving her shamed though she could not explain why. Yes, she knew, she was not worth a second look, yet still somehow Philip had showed her this was not it. Oh! Philip, what would he think if it got to him, this lie of Johan’s, would he believe it?
“If God sees fit to put me here then here I remain Johan, and you are a thing of my past, you will leave now.” I said trying to steady my voice, showing him my fear would only feed him what he wanted, what he relished.
“Indeed, you will remain here, I’ve heard little whispers of you leaving the country to be a little hero, as if you could make one iota of difference.. No, no you will indeed remain here my darling.” with his words darkness filled her soul.
“No, I will go to my country for there I was born, you will not dictate what, where or when I go, do I make myself clear?” I said full of