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

engravings. If ever I had a weakness other then singing it was also books and I longed to study each one in here, but of course there were more important things at hand currently.
“Forgive me Princess but I still can’t fully fathom why.” replied Hadassah.
Princess Madeline was quick to reply, “Your answer shows exactly why, you can’t see your own worth my dear, and that in some ways is very good.”
Hadassah raised her eyebrows in confusion.
Madeline giggled, “Humility is good, it lets you see into the world, it doesn’t blind you from it’s needs, of which there is much. Pride does the opposite, in our family though we are proud of our lineage and honored of the position we hold, humility is much more honored. Our mother taught us early that we are servants to this country, and we have been taught that mercy towards the poor is worth more then gold.” she explained using her hands to demonstrate each word.
The Prince listened to his sisters entertain Hadassah with the patience of a child, that is with almost no patience at all.
“True, true, now my dear Royal sisters could a Prince get some time alone with our Good Samaritan?” he asked pointedly.
Both rose as one at which Hadassah also rose with just as much elegance and grace. They embraced for they had become fast friends. “We will chat more after our brother has bored you enough.” said Victoria with a wink.
I sighed, for this was also my que to take my leave for the moment, and as I looked at the books that were surely calling me by name I gave an even deeper sigh, “Call for me Hadassah when you need me,” I pointed to her cell phone, “I’ll be strolling through the gardens.”
As I turned to leave this grand, enchanting room the last thing I saw was the Prince lovingly take Hadassah’s hand and sweetly plan a kiss on it that again sent her blushing.


CHAPTER SEVEN


1 Peter 5:8
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

"There is no such merchant as the charitable man; he gives trifles which he could not keep, to receive treasure which he cannot lose." --- Francis Quarles


He took her hands in his which caused them to slightly tremble at his touch, her heart pounding wildly like a stampede of horses as she summoned the courage to meet his dark blue eyes. He was looking at her as if she truly was a priceless jewel, this above all else she couldn’t fathom, that a prince would consider her in this way, this just didn’t happen in real life.
In times past Hadassah had become accustomed to being second choice or no choice at all. Time and time again she would set her heart on the one she thought might be the one, yearning for true love as most girls do only to find that in fact it was not love, not even friendship, it was nothing at all. That nothingness hurt so much. Johan had been the worst, sweeping her off her feet, causing her to compromise, to stop running with a passion that had been in her soul. She had even given up her precious faith, all for him. He soon tired of her, casting her aside as a ripped dirty rag, now she found herself sitting before a Prince feeling only shame and unworthiness. Scarred, shattered in so many ways, with so many pieces missing and needing to be put back together, she wondered could it happen?
“Am I making you uncomfortable?” He asked.
Hadassah almost laughed, of course she was nervous, he was a Prince for heaven’s sake! What was he thinking asking such a question?
Overwhelmed with jitters she answered as honestly as she always did, even when it would come out wrong, “Of course I am, I’m standing before Royalty after all.” sarcasm dripped through her voice which she quickly regretted, “I’m sorry that came out wrong.”
Taking no offense he spoke gently as if afraid that she’d run away if his moves were too sudden or his words too harsh, which in all truth she probably would have bolted.
“I may be a Prince, but I am as human as you, with strengths and weaknesses and many, many failures, as you, on that level we are equal before God, is that not so?” he asked.
Reluctantly she nodded.
“So then, pleas call me Philip, not Prince Philip, just Philip.” he insisted.
At this she beamed at him, “Alright Philip, forgive me but I’m uncertain as to what to say, why am I here?” Though her nervousness was vanishing slowly, still she was not willing to leave her heart unguarded.
He ran a hand through his dark slightly wavy hair then focused on her, apparently picking up some of her nervousness, “Simply because of your generous heart. The few who are like you are needed here, and if you would consent there are some special projects for those in need for which we need you, there is so much that you can offer them.” He explained rambling a bit with the eagerness of a child.
“That is why I’m here? Because there aren’t any hearts more generous then mine?” again she spoke with a bite in her tone that once more she regretted the second the words escaped her lips.
For a moment he was silent, searching for words, “That’s not the only reason, but it is the official reason.” He said daring a wink towards her at which her cheeks flushed red, averting his eyes. The walls of defense seemed to fall apart slowly but not completely, she was unsure how to respond.
Philip took her delicate chin in the palm of his hands, gently directing he face so she would have to meet his eyes, “My main reason is because I would like to continue the friendship that began years ago.” His blue eyes looked like flowing water accentuating the sincerity and determination found in them, they were like waves determined to reach her shore.
“But I’ve never known you until now, not really, not you.” she stated, “You can hardly consider me your friend.”
He frowned, “Why do you think so little of yourself?”
Hadassah got up slowly, removing his hands from her face, turning towards the thousands of glorious books and thought how lovely it would be to escape into one of them.
“It’s not that I think little of myself, it’s just logic assuring me this isn’t real,” she finally replied still not turning back towards him, “I do not know you.”
Consumed with determination he pressed on, “That’s the truth, at least back then I wasn’t Philip to you, but you did get to know me then. I know you remember me, you said you wouldn’t forget, that you couldn’t forget. I was only Lars to you, a ragged dirty beggar.” Placing his hands on her shoulders, he turned her gently to face him.
Her eyes widened, “No, I haven’t forgotten Lars, the beggar with a love of books,” she gave a slight reluctant laugh, “I suppose now I understand that.” she said motioning towards the countless books surrounding them.
Gradually the laughter would not be stopped and it burst from her, “Ha! Beggar indeed!” The sound of her joy delighted Philip, for she sounded so musical and free.
“See? We’re not stranger after all.”
She smiled so easily at the recollection of the time so long ago, almost like a lifetime it seemed, “I remember… sitting at the café discussing J.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and I wondered how a beggar with so much knowledge could remain a beggar.”
“You gave me your own copy of the Lord of the Rings and said to remember that the least is great in God’s eyes, like Frodo… and to never let anyone look down on me.” He said smiling mischievously, “Now tell me, do you believe that still?”
Crossing her hands she said, “Yes, your majesty, this Frodo has been raised.”
He gently stroked her cheek, “No, you are more like Arwen, I sense you are willing to stand against much for what you love.”
Their common passion of books, of this story in particular warmed her, “She was my favorite,” Hadassah said in an almost whisper.
Still a sorrow seemed to linger somewhere close to the surface of her being, the gap in rank was still so large even for a small friendship, so she shielded herself as she always did when intimidated even slightly, “Alright, please tell me Philip what is expected of me? Where can I help?”
Giving a tentative smile, he paused, unsure of why her voice had all of a sudden taken a business-like tone. Taking a hold of her hand he lead her to a window overlooking the water of this beautiful island, the sun insisted on shining in such a perfect way that it illuminated her face, her dark eyes twinkled and the slight gold in them became more evident as if she herself was an angel. Philip wondered how she could not see her own beauty.
“As you know, this country has taken in many refugees, and some need more care then others, especially the children. We are starting a program called Nobody’s Child Outreach, it’s not just for children but all that some may consider nobodies, it’s my own project. Actually, it’s really your project, you started it with me.” each word he spoke was infused with passion
Hadassah listened with rapt attention, something stirred within her as if life was being breathed once more into her soul.
“You will be in charge of it, what you say will be law in this organization, where you deem there is a need that is where help will be sent.” he announced as if giving her a present and he couldn’t wait to see if she would delight in it.
She blinked and gasped, and for a moment fear gripped her, she had never been one to be ‘in charge’ of anything. Was this Prince going mad? Didn’t he know that she wasn’t capable of running any type of organization? Her eyes darted nervously across the green manicured lawns, to the not too distant water.
“How can you trust me with something so big? What if I make a mistake, give in the wrong place, squander this country’s wealth?” she let her fears be unleashed with each word.
He answered with ease, “I trust you because I’ve seen you do this at St. Mary’s, I’ve also heard of your charity work in Bolstabruk, you have a heart for this and that is truly rare.” He stated with finality in his tone.
A phone chirped in the his pocket and Hadassah almost jumped.
He looked down at it as if it was an obnoxious be, then sighed, “I’m afraid duty calls once more, I apologize, hang on a sec okay?” he said holding one finger up as he walked the short distance to one of the book cases, where he exchanged some quick words with whoever was at the end of the other line, then he flipped the phone shut and walked back towards Hadassah was gazing still out the window.
“I have to go now,