The Royal Exchange: Series 3, The Search

"I'll definitely catch you" Hadassah said as she ran around the yard, chasing a young boy who was wearing an over-sized robe. They were both laughing as they ran.

"Make sure you don't get yourself bruised" a woman shouted from where she was working the mills, some wheat grains on the millstone.

"Don't worry mama, I won't. Hadassah won't let me fall" he said as he laughed looking back to check Hadassah's face.

"Alright Hephzibah, no more running around" Hadassah said as she stopped running and bent over, trying to catch her breath.

"Just bring those clothes so I can wash it alongside others. I need to finish up on time so that I can read the story to you and others. You know that today is the concluding part."

"I love the clothes" he said as he pouted. " It looks good on me, see" he said as he turned around, his eyes brightened as he looked into Hadassah's face, anticipating her approval.

"No, I don't think so" Hadassah said as she came near him, and held him by the hand firmly, in case he wants to start running again.

He protested mildly before removing the robe.

"And what is the cute little angel doing in that robe?" Mordecai said as he entered into the yard. In his hand was a bag containing apples, raisins and figs. In his other hand was a scroll.

"Uncle Mordecai!" the young lad screamed with excitement as he ran towards the man, advanced than him in age not less than fifty years. He jumped into his hands and the older man held him up, dropping the bag and scroll in his hands.

"Oh boy, you have gained a lot a weight these last few days. What has your mama been feeding you? " he asked as he chuckled, the boy giggled excitedly, obviously happy to be the object that held the man's attention.

"Raisin cakes, wheat bread and a lot of apples" Hephzibah said smiling, revealing a gap in his dentition where a tooth had recently removed, as he spread out his hands as if to demonstrate how much the lot was.

"And I have a lot more for you boy" Mordecai said as he lifted the bag, the boy still in his arms.

Hadassah smiled from where she was as she watched the two. She will always remain grateful to the Holy One of Israel to have given her this gift of a loving uncle. Since the time she lost her parents, he had been the one who stood as a father and mother figure in her life. Growing up as a girl, she had gotten to know the ways of the Lord through the teachings of this man. He was not only a father, but also a mentor. He practiced what he taught her, many things she had even learnt from him through his actions, without saying a word at all.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And love your neighbor as you love yourself."

"Your obligation to God comes first, then your obligation to man. But mind you, you cannot give to a fellow man what you don't have yourself. Love yourself, live a content life, that way, you would be able to love another" Uncle Mordecai had said.

Looking at him, he had spent the whole of his life loving God and serving humanity. He never allowed himself to be embittered because Israel was captured and he was enslaved. He was a man full of knowledge and the wisdom of God. Also, he is a very determined man. She had not seen a man as determined as Uncle Mordecai.

"Is dinner almost ready?" Mordecai asked as he put the boy down.

"No Uncle. I have been running around after this angel of yours to collect the robe from him and finish up with the washings before I fix something nice for dinner" Hadassah replied as she went over to finish with the washing.

"Ok. I bought some apples. We can eat some apple pie for dessert after dinner tonight."

"Hurray, apple pie! "Hephzibah said before taking a big bite of the apple Mordecai had given to him earlier.

"I will assist with the apple pie" the mother of the boy said from where she was grinding some grains at the grindmill.

"That's so sweet Leah" Hadassah replied with a smile on her face.

"Hadassah! Hadassah!" a young man called out as he rushed into the house. It appeared he had been running.

"What's the emergency? What makes your majesty rush in like that? Is there a fire or something?" Hadassah asked, wondering what that was about. The youth was Hadassah's agemate, and a neighborhood friend.

The boy was breathless, he paused to catch his breath before going on.

" There is a decree throughout the kingdom that young girls that are unmarried and are virgins should be brought into the palace. The king will select his new bride from amidst them." He finished his statement.

"And how is that supposed to be my concern? " Hadassah asked, obviously unbothered by what he just said.

"The king officials will soon be here to hurl you off to the palace" the young man said, surprised at Hadassah's indifference.

"No, I will not be hurled anywhere. I am meeting with the kids tonight. I want to finish the story of Samson and Delilah today with them, before we move to the grand finale and finally wrap up the story." Hadassah replied as she winked at Hephzibah who was now standing beside his mother, after Mordecai had dropped him and gone to change in the room.

"You need to take me serious, as I speak, the king's officials are already going to houses to take away maidens to the palace, whether they coperate or not" the young guy said.

Mordecai came outside of the room. He had changed into a less heavier clothing, he was surprised to the young man.

"Young man, how are you today?"

"Uncle Mordecai, I am fine, but also fearful for Hadassah" he said

" There is nothing to fear or be afraid of. Only God is to be feared." Mordecai said in a matter-of-factly tone.

"Hadassah may not sleep here tonight."

"And why is that?" Mordecai asked, trying to guess the thing that upset the young man so much regarding Hadassah. He looked towards Hadassah's direction, she looked least bothered, humming to herself as she finished up the washing she was doing.

"There has been a decree issued by the king that all maidens, young virgins that are beautiful are to be brought into the palace from every part of the kingdom. A selection will be made by the king in replacement of queen Vashti."

"And I fear for Hadassah because if she is not chosen at the long run, she will end up as the king's concubine for the rest of her life. Hadassah is not the kind of girl to end up as a concubine."

"And what makes you think that she will not be chosen as the queen?" Leah said as she drew closer to partake in the conversation.

"Hadassah's got everything to become the queen of the kingdom; she is beautiful, has nice shape, and a beautiful heart." Leah continued as she looked towards Hadassah's direction who was now drying the clothes she washed. She was unbothered with problems. A kind of girl who could make the saddest sadist to laugh. She had a beautiful heart, was caring, courageous and fun to be with, her sense of humor is second to none. She faced the future with positivity, and lives one day at a time.

Mordecai also looked at Hadassah. He loved her since she was a little girl. She had been very beautiful from the time she was little. He had called her 'my little princess'.

Lord, I know you have great plans for her. Let Your will be done.

He had seen people gather around at the notification board at the palace, but he had been in a hurry to get home that he did not bother to check after he was done with his duty for that day at the palace gates.

So, this was the information; a replacement for the queen.

He loved and served the king with loyalty. His task was to inform the king of any conspiracy against him. He saw his acts of service to the king as an act of worship to God. He had been working at the palace gates, there are times he got a glimpse of the king. He was a beautiful man, and his aura exuded royalty.

"Hadassah and the king?....." Mordecai was in thoughts, trying to compare them with each other. The king appears to be a cool and calm personality, although he is very sociable and kind-hearted. He is a man of valour, he values justice and loyalty. Hadassah on the other hand is a fun loving person. She is a free-hearted girl. She has a good heart just like her mother before she died, and is very hospitable. He sometimes marvel at her hospitality. She loves children and they also have affinity for her anywhere she gets to.

"The will of the Lord will be done" he said as he faced the young guy again.

"Fear not young man, Jehovah will have His way." He said as he looked into his eyes, reassuring him.

Hadassah came back from where she had been drying clothes.

" Now, let's get to work making dinner. Enough of all this palace talk." She said as she playfully slapped the young boy's shoulder.

She rolled up her sleeves and began to knead some dough.

Hephzibah came to her side, watching her after he had offered to help but she declined. Not long after, a young girl came in, her hair packed in two punny tails.

"Hadassah, I brought you some flowers" she said as she held a bunch of flowers towards her

"Thank you beautiful. This is so lovely." She collected the flowers and smelt them.

"And they smell so nice too" Hadassah said as she bent down to kiss the child, avoiding staining her with the flour in her hands.

"I'm glad you love them" the girl replied, blushing as she timidly rubbed her eyes.

"But where did you get all these flowers from?" She asked, surprised where she got such beautiful flowers.

"From the valley not far away from the market. I noticed them on our way from the market yesterday after my mother sold her wares for the day." She replied.

She had been wanting to give Hadassah a gift for sometime now, but did not know what to gift her. She had always admired Hadassah. She is beautiful, kind, hardworking and very intelligent. She wants to grow up to be like her.

"Let me help with that" she said.

"No love, don't get your hands into this. Just watch as big sis prepare a nice dinner that you are all going to enjoy." Hadassah said, smiling.

"Ok."

"We are going to finish the story today right" the girl asked.

"Yes, we will by God's grace."

Hadassah was done kneading the dough, she was about to put the dough into the earth oven when they heard a knock on the door.

"Who is there?" Hephzibah asked from where he was standing beside Hadassah.

"Soldiers from the palace."

"Soldiers?" Hephzibah said, his eyes going wide with admiration. He always loved soldiers, the way they walk, their uniforms, their voice and their salutory greetings. But the young girl cowered and went to hide behind Hadassah's robe.

Mordecai looked up from where he was reading a scroll spread across the reading table. It was a scroll containing the ten commandments the Lord gave to Moses to give to the children of Israel.

So soon? He thought as he stood up. He looked into Hadassah's eyes. She had paused from putting the dough into the earth oven.

No one made a move to open the door.

There was a bang again on the door.

Should she hide, or run away through some backdoor? No, she would face her future with courage.

Hadassah stood up and went to stand before her uncle. She looked into his eyes and held his hands. Her eyes spoke the unspoken words.

"Let the will of the Lord be done upon me."

Uncle Mordecai's eyes were wet. Hadassah had stayed with him right from when she was a little girl. Now, she had to move to another level of God's purpose and plans for her. He would not be afraid for her, but rather be strong and believe and watch God's purpose unravel for her life.

He went to open the door.

The soldiers came in, with their hobnob shoes and leather belts strapped around their waists. They stopped few metres from the door.

"We are here on the order of the king to bring the maiden from your house to the palace."

Hadassah moved towards the soldiers. She looked at Mordecai's face as she passed by him.

"The will of the Lord shall be done." Mordecai said, nodding his head.

Hephzibah stood at the center of the room, his little mind trying to understand what was happening. The young girl was already in tears. The young man who was Hadassah's friend stood rigid, his feet rooted to the ground.

They all watched as Hadassah stepped out of the house, waving at them as she went.

"She will be fine, I am sure of that." Leah said as she held Hephzibah's shoulder, her eyes on the door.

........................................

Hadassah was led into a large hall with a multitude of other girls of different ages, colours, shapes and sizes. Some were crying, others laughing, some were quiet, others talking loudly in different accents. She was amazed at how large the hall was. The architecture of the building was beautiful, the interiors of the building itself were also not unattractive. This was however one of the many uncommon architectural buildings she had seen in the palace.

Someone came to address them. He was huge and heavily built.

"Attention everyone." A deep voice shouted There was a hush in the hall.

"I welcome you all into the harem" his baritone voice echoed in the hall. "You are all here because of the search for the replacement of the former queen. You all stand a chance of becoming the next queen of the kingdom.

Today, you will all commence your training on what is expected of a queen. After which you will commence your beauty treatments of twelve month- six months treatment with oil of myrrh followed by six months with perfumes and various cosmetics. After these treatments, you will then go in to King Xerxes. Then, the king will make his choice of his queen.

Also, you are to note that you will not be allowed to go out of the palace gates from now onwards.

Are there any questions?"

A girl raised her hands, she was beautiful in an uncommon way.

"What will be the fate of women that will not get selected as queen?" She asked.

The man later known to be Hegai, the eunuch that was the overseer of all the women, who had been addressing them all along cleared his throat.

" They would return to a second harem overseen by Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch in charge of the concubines. None of the women would ever again go back to the king unless the king took a special liking to her and asked for her by name."

There were murmurs in the hall. A girl bursted into tears, asking to go back to her mother. Another sat on the floor. There were various reactions from different angles of the hall. Hadassah stood still, trying to absorb the latest information. ' A concubine for the rest of one's life?' She was flabbergasted.

"Silence." Hegai said as he called order to the hall.

"That is why you must give in your best to cooperate with this training and treatment."

There are rules: no fighting, no sneaking out, no philandering around the palace. If you need anything, get in contact with me.

You will be allocated to your rooms and personal maids. I wish you luck." Hegai concluded.

"And what is your name again?" Hegai asked as he looked towards Hadassah's direction, the girl who asked a question earlier. She is strickenly beautiful with a nice figure. An outstanding beaut he would call her.

She looked back, to check if he was talking to her.

"Yes you."

"Esther...Esther is the name." Hadassah replied, remembering Uncle Mordecai's words, that she is not to disclose her real identity, as Hadassah would reveal that she was a Jew.

"Esther" Hegai called the name again, as if trying the name on his tongue.

"From what tribe?" He further questioned her.

She paused for a moment, her eyes flickered. Then as if remembering something, she smiled and looked straight into his face.

"The tribe of fire, cloud and rock" she replied, the smile curling up her lips.

Hegai looked at her for some seconds, then shrugged as he moved towards the inner part of the harem. The allocations will soon start.

To be continued.......

Questions

1. What do you think about Hadassah's wisdom of replying Hegai of her tribe?

2. Is it always easy to submit to God's will?

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