Queen Esther's Secret - Part Two

    

    The platters of food were ravaged, the wine drunk, and through the billowing curtains the night was growing late. The king leaned towards her, and toyed with the bracelet on her wrist. She had been as affectionate to him as she dared, laughed with him, and served him food with her own hand. She could see how taken he was with her. He smiled at her, setting his hand upon her arm. She saw the signet ring on his hand, the same one that had pressed the wax, sealing the orders to kill every Jewish man, woman and child in his realm.

     “Now, what is your request? Even up to half my kingdom, it shall be given to you.” Esther's eyes darted to Haman, who sat in regal repose, relaxed in the luxury of a private banquet with the king and queen. He was the one who had convinced her husband that the Jews needed to die. Her nerve faltered.

     “If I have found favor with my king, and if it pleases you, come again tomorrow, to another banquet,” Esther said, smiling to the king from under her lashes. “Then I will make my request.”

     The king chuckled, his eyes lingering on her lips. “As you wish.”

     It was mid-morning, and Esther heard noise from outside her window. She went out into the gardens outside her rooms to see what was happening. Before her was spread the houses of those in favor of the king, the largest and most ornate belonging to cruel Haman. Not far from his house something tall was being constructed, over fifty feet high.

     Esther turned to one of the maidservants who were dusting the room. “What is Haman building?”

     The main servant looked humbly to the floor, and then replied, “Gallows. He plans to hang the Jew Mordecai on them tomorrow. He has sworn to all his family that he will have no pleasure in life until the man is dead.” Esther's eyes widened, and she turned quickly away from the maidservant to hide her face.

     Only her eunuch Hathach new her Jewish background, that her true name was Hadassah, and that Mordecai was her uncle. Out of the entire palace, he alone knew that Haman's orders for genocide included the Queen herself. She clutched her hands and looked to the gallows being built. She couldn't waver tonight.

     The king and Haman came again to her apartments, and again she served them choice foods and wine. She had musicians play quiet music, and was as charming as she was able. The sight of Haman turned her stomach, watching him revel in his position and prestige.

     As the meal ended, she felt anxiety grip her, and tried to shake it off. She had to be brave and wise. This night would decide the fate of thousands. And, her own life too.

     “So, Queen Esther, what is your petition? Up to half the kingdom, it shall be yours.”

Esther dropped her gaze to her trembling fingers. She tightened them upon her knees, and swallowed hard.

     “If I have found favor with the king, my request is that my life be given to me, and the lives of my people.” The king's posture changed, and he sat up straighter. Drawing her courage, she raised her eyes to beseech the king, and pleaded, “For we have been sold, I and my people, to be annihilated.”

His gaze narrowed, and burned with anger. She held her breath as he cried out, 

     “Who has presumed to do such a thing?”

    Esther's gaze fell on Haman, and he widened his eyes. She raised her chin, “Haman has ordered this, he is a foe and an enemy!” She took the parchment she had secreted, the orders for the destruction of her people, and passed it to the king.

     The blood rushed from Haman's face, and he clutched his chest. The king cast his cup angrily aside, and strode out into the gardens.

     “Your majesty! My Queen!” Haman's voice pleaded, and she turned away from him, anger and fear coursing through her veins. The king was angry, but had she said and done enough? Would the king intercede on her behalf? Would he choose her over his right hand man? She felt Haman move to her couch, and he grabbed her arm, trying to turn her face to him.

     A kingly voice rang through the room, “You would dare to assault the queen, with me in the house?” Haman realized his error, and scrambled away, bowing with his face to the floor. Esther rose to her feet, moving away from Haman. The king's face was dark as flint, and just as hard.

     Harbonath, one of the king's eunuch's came from his place by the food, and bowed low. The king looked to his faithful servant, who extended his hand to gesture out into the gardens.

     “If it pleases your majesty,” Harbonath said. “Behold, the gallows Haman constructed, fifty feet high. He made them for Mordecai.”

     “For Mordecai!” the king's eyes burned down on Haman, who flinched as if whipped. “You mean the man who saved my life from assassins? Who, this very morning, was given a robe and a ring, and whom Haman led through the city in honor?”

     Haman sunk even lower to the floor, utterly prostrate. Esther was surprised, she had known none of this. 

      The king swelled with anger, and he held out an accusing finger. “Is Mordecai the reason you want the Jew's exterminated? You told me the people you wanted dead were insurrectionists! Your pride has become your downfall, Haman!” The king turned to his servant. “Have Haman taken to the gallows he built. And hang him there.”

     Haman wailed as Harbonath and Hathach leaped forward and grabbed Haman under the arms, and dragged him wailing and pleading from the room. The king strode from the room after them, radiating anger like heat.

     Esther collapsed back onto the couch. Weakly, she sipped from her goblet. The secrets were out. King Ahasuerus knew Haman's treachery, and Queen Esther's heritage. The decree for the annihilation of the Jews lay on the floor at her feet. Tomorrow she would go before the king again. She would fall at his feet and beg him to issue a new decree, one that would save her people. She rose, and went out to the garden, where the night air was sweet with dampness. She fell on her knees and bowed her head to the one true God, who had delivered her uncle, herself, and all her people.