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

She walked across marble floors, past golden pillars, past hanging gardens, past so much splendor, with an authority given to her by the God and the angels she did not see, the God she prayed to for strength, but for what Hadassah wondered?
Soon this young beauty, she must not have been more then eighteen, maybe younger, soon she entered a royal court filled with scribes, advisors, petitioners, and countless gawking observers. Pausing only slightly to take a breath, hoping it would fill her with courage she continued, disregarding the shocked gasps filling and echoing like ripples through the crowd. The king, looked about him in confusion, not fully understanding yet what caused this reaction, had he said something unjust? Had he passed a decree that would shatter his kingdom? Then his eyes widened as realization sank in and a dread filled him at a rapid rate, for here came the one he had chosen above so many, un-summoned, and thus according to the law sealed her own fate. His mind seemed in a fog as it raced for a way out, a way to save his gentle, stubborn queen. All too soon she reached him, standing then quickly bowing with her face touching the marble floor, as no queen ever had bowed before, and swords were drawn ready to strike.
He snatched his scepter from besides his throne almost without thinking, it was as natural reaction as breathing, no thought whatsoever to political repercussions, he extended it for her to touch. The swords were blocked by the very scepter, the courageous queen lifted her head, as tears flowed down her flawless cheeks she touched the scepter and gave an audible sigh of relief.
“Tell me why you have come, tell me what you desire for it will be yours,” said the King.
“Please,” she began, then paused as if rethinking how she should proceed, “My beloved Ahasuerus, I would be honored to be graced by your presence at a dinner in your honor, would you join my household on the morrow?”
He laughed, such a joyful, relieved laughed. He turned to the gaping crowd who still did not seem to dare to breathe and spoke loudly so that all could clearly hear, “You see how your Queen honors me? Do you see? She cared not for her own life, she came to me unannounced seeking my presence, do you see the love your Queen bears for me?”
The crowd did not know how to respond. He took hold of his Queen delicately and gently lifting her up to stand besides him, “You should all be honored and thankful to have such a Queen as this!” he bellowed. “For as she loves me, I guarantee she loves you! Hail to my Star, Queen Esther!”
A cheer like rolling crackling thunder exploded from the crowd…..
The music continued as the images intertwined with one another, whizzing by faster as if on fast-forward, the same queen with a child in her hands, a king assassinated, a banished queen, the child growing, another generation being born, and another and another… each time the same strength and boldness was reborn. Until Hadassah herself gasped as she saw another Esther, only her name was Estera, the symphony thundered now and then a much needed pause before the finally as Estera gave herself for the ultimate King of kings… leaving behind Hadassah.
Hadassah’s own life was shown only in brief glimpses, a child being taken by train out of Romania by a young man who was her own cousin Iosua, their arival in Sweden, Iosua taking the role of a father, Raphael ever watchful from a distance, heart break after heart break, time and time and time again of being passed over until her heart could endure no more. Until she longed so much for the arms of loving parents, until she longed she had not turned her back on her cousin who had tried to shield her and prepare her for what she was but did not realize… the song, oh the melody, oh!
Then only silence, and images fading, yet peace remained no matter how much they had hurt to see.
Questions overflowed within her and she did not know which to ask, or if she should ask. With caution she lifted her eyes and met Raphael’s knowing ones.
“Why do you show me this now? What does this mean?”
He smiled, but his smile was weaker then usual tinged with sorrow lurking beneath it, “You must know who you are, you must know who you need to be, much is soon to be required of you… just as it has been with each woman in your family.” he answered.
“Why am I cursed?” she asked, remembering too many images of death.
He shook his head, “Not cursed, never cursed, you have been blessed to stand in the gap, to speak for those who have no voice, for those who’s voice has been silenced.”
Hadassah thought on each word, absorbing them slowly, then accepting the truth that rang in each one.
“What must I--” but before she could finish a knock came on the library door before it opened.
A kind faced servant came in holding the hand of a child who looked around her in awe before her eyes rested on Hadassah.
“Madam Marcu, I have brought you most important appointment to you, the child Karina from ALLMÄNNA BARNHUSET, she has been selected for the day with the Queen above all others from the orphanage.” The servant smiled as if she was escorting royalty into the royal library, and indeed she was, Hadassah thought, for what was more royal then a child of God?
Hadassah beckoned for the child to join her, took her gently by the hand as if they were long lost sisters, and turned to Raphael, “Today I stand in the gap for this child, tomorrow we will speak of where else I need to stand.” Then she turned and walked with a child, today little Karina would see and not forget the kindness of the Royal Family, nor would she forget Hadassah the beautiful lady who made it all happen.


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After she left I knelt, for I was drained, so much would now change… but here, only here is where the battle would truly begin, and only here kneeling in prayer to the Almighty would victory be won.. But not without sacrifice, not without tears, and not without fire.

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The letter had first reached Victor Vulpes who was now a chaplain and close friend of the Royals. He recalled so clearly the moment his life had changed, the moment he had finally found purpose, the moment… oh that precious moment when two souls had given their lives to save others, and unbeknownst to them had also saved his heart and soul. Victor had fled then, not yet brave enough to stand for his newfound faith, when communism had fallen in Romania he had rejoiced, and now holding this blasted letter he mourned, for as Solomon himself had said “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.” So it was for Romania, it’s short time of freedom had again been stripped, again the small country was at battle for its own soul. Victor wondered if he should show this to Raphael? Determined he started for the gardens which were now covered in a thin blanket of snow and found Raphael kneeling near the fountain tears streaming down his face, when his eyes met Victor’s he understood that the letter was not delivering news he had not known only confirming what unseen messengers already told.


CHAPTER TEN

Song of Solomon 2:10
"My beloved responded and said to me,' Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,And come along.”


“If virtue accompanies beauty it is the hearts paradise; if vice be associate with it, it is the soul's purgatory. It is the wise man's bonfire, and the fool's furnace.” --- Francis Quarles


“Alright Karina, would you please wait here? I’m just going down the hall to see if the queen is ready for her special visit with you, okay honey?” Hadassah asked the charming child. The child had long golden hair that were plaited into two braids, her blue eyes were smooth and clear as water tinged with sorrow kept at bay.
The child nodded, sat down in the engraved chair beside the door leading to the next hallway. As Hadassah opened the door and looked back one more time she saw that Karina had begun fiddling with her hands, a slight nervous tremor running through her, for she would meet the queen.
Hadassah had a satisfied smile on her face as she made her way down the long hall leading to the office of Queen Silvia, today she would have the honor of showing a child how precious she was, that she was not just an orphan, that she was Karina, the girl who met the queen.
As she raised her hand to knock on the door her hand stilled as she heard persistent voices arguing, but in a civil controlled manner.
“No.” said a voice that had become as familiar to her as her own, it held a stubbornness in it that she had heard so often, it was filled with the same determination he had used each time he plead a case for raising funds for the forgotten, a voice that not so many could stand up to… that is none but the Queen.
“Give her a chance at least Philip, she is a royal, Princess Zara is also a beauty, at least consider an official meeting.” Queen Silvia reasoned with her son and Hadassah’s heart stood in her throat, she knew she shouldn’t be listening, but she couldn’t help it. Already disappointment seeped through her, it was inevitable, she had known that this friendship with Philip could lead no where…yet still she had hoped, as she always did, when would she ever learn, she chided herself.
“No.” said Philip simply.
The Queen sighed in exasperation, “Well why not? We are in need of an alliance with England and she is a very wanted, much sought after young lady, so tell me why?”
Silence.
“Do I really need to answer that? And are we still living in the dark ages of arranged marriages?” Philip demanded, his indignation just barely controlled.
“Don’t tell me, oh but of course! It’s Hadassah! You my dear son have been obsessed with her--”
“Mother!”
“Do not mother me Philip, while I love Hadassah with all my heart for the sweet natured child that she is, she has no royal blood, she’s an orphan with no lineage.” his mother laid out the case plainly, the truth of which burnt at Hadassah’s soul.
“She may not be a princess of royal blood as we define it mother,” started Philip, “but in my heart she is more then that, and to the poor she ministers to she’s become their princess just as if she were Victoria or Madeline, no! Even more so she has become as a Queen to these poor forgotten ones, for salvation, grace, deliverence, mercy and hope follow her as if she were wearing a royal robe, love crowns her.” Philip presented his case and it was evident he was ranting with a passion, determined to show his mother who Hadassah was.
“A Queen, Philip?”