The higher the climb the better to fall, Hadassa considered eyeing the beautiful Misgath with her fragrant curls and painted smile. The woman's progress about the chamber had been noted by eyes other than her own as well. Eunuchs leaned in for whispered conversations and words that did not carry formed upon their lips. Hadassa reached for a handful of soaked rose petals absentmindedly. She wondered if her uncle had managed to find enough of her whereabouts to set his mind at ease and if her boon companion Jesse had managed to leave in time with the caravan. Wet petals settled against her skin and the soft, sweet-smelling mist rose from them.

A foreign touch brought her from her thoughts and she found herself looking into the lambent gaze of Hannah. "Come, let me aid you," her friend said, gently pushing so that she may turn her. Hadassa obeyed the pressure and presented Hannah her back. "Lo, that we should be paraded about like beasts at the market," she lamented their predicament.

"If we are beasts, then surely we are of the finest, most pampered sort." She washed her front with care. "And least we should desire that to change, 'tis best to keep our wits about us." But no one paid them much mind. They would have one night with the King, each and every one of them, to be sure, but greater heads would do the choosing and thus those of them who came with no family to back them and little connections to speak of could but hope for a fond memory. "We will soon be home and all of this shall seem a dream; mark you my words, dearest Hannah."

Misgath had just banished a couple of girls from one of the long benches and lied herself prone upon the wood. Hadassa shook her head at the act and turned her gaze from the great beauty. Eunuchs hurried to massage her well-oiled flesh. "What a disgraceful sight," Hannah spoke the words she herself could not voice. "I pray the good Lord we never sink so low as that one."

"Stay your tongue," Hadassa warned softly. "She is as nothing to us." And what did it matter, the thoughts came unbidden once more, that she was to be queen of the mighty Xerxes. Her insides squeezed with the knowledge even as she chided herself for a fool. And her heart recalled the strong, stern face and shuddered from some unknown ailment. Misgath or some other creature very like her would sit at his side and whisper counsel in his ear, and Hadassa had no business feeling herself injured.

Her washing at an end, she rose, still damp and yet more fragrant than before, from among her sisters. She was handed a long sheet of uncommonly soft cloth to put about her naked form, and servants tugged her this way and that, seating her upon a stool as they combed her hair and pinned it out of the way. Hands pulled at the covering preserving her modesty and bedecked her after in the whites and blues of purity and she rose from the stool to be handed thin-soled bejewelled slippers.

Hadassa beheld her form reflected back at her and did not recognise the woman she saw. Surely that was Esther of Susa who stared back at her with kohl-rimmed eyes and a beguilingly rosy mouth. Demurely, she looked down at her feet. The woman was too strange, too much a creature of attention and too little one of modesty. They would look at her as she passed and she would endure their looks and know that in their minds they too would know the truth of the matter; Esther of Susa or plain Hadassa, she belonged not within such halls as housed her.

Upset at her own grief over the matter, she walked at a fast pace away from the bathing women and made her way without, into the inner garden, sanctuary to all women of the harem. Omarosa, she too of Susa, sat upon soft pillows in the tall grass, cup of wine in hand. She waved Hadassa over; another one of those more fortunate contestants; her father was a rich merchant. She smiled at Hadassa and patted one of the pillows at her side. "You tarry and you dither. And yet I see you are no longer beholden to the shadows, so come and sit with me and share my wine." Omarosa stared into her face and perchance saw something was amiss for she questioned her at once. "Are you unwell then? Your skin is flushed."

"But the heat," she assured the other. She took a cup, but not of wine, and drank gratefully from it, for the coolness of the draught soothed and she found her grief lessened. Omarosa gently patted her arm.

"Come, read to me. I grow weary of sitting in silence." The young woman clapped her hands and a servant brought forth an armful of scrolls for her to pick from and soon enough many a girl had gathered about her and listened to her read. And the gentle breeze played in their hair, mischievously testing the hold of combs and human artifice. And on wore the day until the night was come and Hadassa found herself back in her chambers, shared with Hannah and Sarah and she slept the uneasy sleep a heavy heart engendered.

She woke in the night for there was a whisper in her ear and up she sat, eyes scrutinising the darkness of the chamber. But there was not a wakened soul beside her and she admonished herself, lying back down lest she disturb the others. A second time slumber did not come and when the sun's rays finally broke through the heavy veil of night, she found herself tired and cross, at pains to put a smile upon her face.

Walking the gardens in hopes of finding relief, Hadassa stopped before a rosebush, eyeing the flowers growing there. Upturned was their crown of petals and spread wide. She leaned in and took in the scent. How simple the life of such a flower must be; to bloom so prettily and delight all those about it. She wished she were a flower, and then she would rain her petals upon the hands of some brave soul who dared pluck her from her perch. In her mind's eye, 'twas the King's hand that broke her tether to her brethren and held her aloft, gazing down upon her in admiration, for he saw that the flower was well-made and that was pleasing in his eyes. She would rest upon his desk, Hadassa decided, and brighten his day when he chanced to observe her. The foolish thought brought a smile to her lips. How Mordecai should laugh to hear her spin such thoughts; she had but seen him once and though he brought her great unease, she must not cling to him so. The fine counsel lasted her for all of the morning but not a moment past, for the women gathered could speak of little else but the King and thus her thoughts turned to him once more.

How silly; how utterly foolish, and yet how alluring. She did not expect for Hegai to summon her to him when finally she regained her bearing. She worried, briefly, that her uncle's ruse had been discovered and she was undone. Her heart, wild within her chest, would not cease its frenzied beating. But Hegai merely invited her to sit.

"That scroll you see there, red me from it," he spoke, not lifting his eyes from the scroll he had before him.

Hesitant, Hadassa reached for the object left her. She unrolled it gently and gasped. "'Tis the tale of Gilgamesh the Babylonian," she declared excitedly, tracing the lettering with one trembling finger. Clearing her throat, Hadassa began reading as she had been commanded; it would not do to run the man's patience to ground. Her voice gained confidence the more she read and the words were beautiful to her and she could not help but give praise to God for the joy he had brought her and for allowing her this chance.

"Enough," Hegai stopped her after a time. "You read well, Esther of Susa." She smiled at the compliment and inclined her head. "Come to the gardens after dark and await me; you shall read once again." A maiden lurking in a darkened garden should have brought a wave of indignation to her; yet it was Hegai who asked it of her. He was not a man to be feared as other men were. Knowing herself to be in his power nonetheless, Hadassa nodded and waited for him to dismiss her.

Once released from his presence, she found herself aimless. Only the promise of the night to come kept her discontentment and the idle hope that she might ingratiate herself to the man after all and by winning his favour, adding to her meagre chance.

She had to make peace once and for all with the longing blooming in her breast for a lie beget but other lies and she would not be a deceiver in the face of her feelings. Was it not God that had fashioned her with such a heart in her chest, and was He not the one who taught them all how to love. How could she in good conscience turn from His lesson when it called her to love? With that in mind she bore herself with slightly more joy. Truth had set her free.

Baths and massages occupied her day along with measuring and more measuring and the all important choosing of the best cloths. It was enough to last her a lifetime, she thought, even as she deliberated with Hannah over the best patterns to choose. Sarah joined them at lengths and the three of them spent the rest of their day together.

Time brought with it the long awaited dusk. Hadassa disrobed and prepared to take to her bed, fully committed to not allowing her friends to learn of the night's adventure. Just in case it was some manner of mischief. She would not have them fall to any of that if she could help it.

She made her way without the chamber with great care, eyes searching the hall for any sign of life. But she needn't have worried for Hegai seemed to have taken care of all matters and she encountered not a one hindrance to her journey. And the gardens awaited her, bathed in soft light from the torches affixed to stone pillars.

The Chief Eunuch himself sat upon the edge of the great fountain, apparently at ease in the coolness of the night. Drawing her shawl tighter about her, she came to stand before him. He, still much in the manner of before, gave her a nod. "I thought you might not come after all."

"Lo, you have called for my presence and here I am." It would be of no good to reveal her innermost fears to him and thus she held them locked away in her heart, and Hegai stood and spoke, towering over her like she imagined Goliath had over David. But he was no fierce Goliath and she no brave David.

"You will follow me." And follow she did, stepping in his wake as ever did a child after their parent trusting that whatever danger lied ahead would not be met without a shield. And the Chief Eunuch led her for a time through maze-like corridors until they stood before two great door intricately carved and the strange beasts adorning the heavy stone peered down at them. At a sign from the man before her the twins parted and she could see from within soft billowing streams of pearly white. "You shall go in and read to the King. It is the royal chronicles."

"I am to read to the King?" she questioned, looking down upon herself. "Like this?" What had Hegai done onto her? But she was bound to follow his word; the King expected to have the chronicles read to him. And thus she found the pit dug too deep for her to climb back out and entered the chamber of the King.

She entered, the soles of her shoes meeting the ground with a loud sound. Hadassa winced at that, looking about herself. She could see the man hanging curtains come together to make a great tent of sorts in the middle of chamber. Behind one of the many thin walls she could see a figure. Instinctively she knew to draw herself from sight and make her way to an empty stool. Picking up the scrolls she found at the foot of the seat, she opened the first. She began reading, hearing her own voice soft and faint in her own ears. The many complaints to be found within must have been a heavy burden to bear.

Hands worked upon something man-shaped. Hadassa distinguished a head as she lifted her eyes from the report regarding the King's granaries. Once more her gaze dropped to the scroll and she spoke of an awarded military man's death before she had time to pause for breath. Such was the man's demise that she could not help but giggle and then the account turned to a shepherd and his troubles. Unbidden, the story of Jacob came to mind.

And since the King was not listening, she might as well speak of a subject dear to her heart. "And this Jacob was too a shepherd, on a long journey from his home to that of his mother's brother. And lo, after walking long in the desert without succour in sight he finally came upon a well. And by this well stood a woman, veiled from the harsh glint of the sun, and she drew water from the well, for the sheep that were about her. And Jacob came upon her and her companions with a shout of joy and found her to be Rachel, the daughter of his mother's brother, Laban. He then helped water her flock of sheep, for she was a shepherdess. And once he had tended to the flock of his mother's brother, he turned to Rachel and kissed her, telling her he was the son of Rebekah, come to his uncle's home. And Jacob stayed in his uncle's home the month and then his uncle asked him Shall you serve with me for naught; come tell me what will be your wages? And in turn Jacob said I will serve with thee seven years for your daughter Rachel and he worked in his uncle's home for the seven years that seemed only a few days for him, so great was his love for Rachel. He then went to his uncle and unto him spoke Give me my wife, for my time is complete, so that I may go in to her. And Laban gathered all his kin and gave a great feast, but in the darkness of the night, 'twas Leah, his oldest daughter, he brought in to Jacob. And Jacob, blind to the matter, did lie with Leah and when came morning lo, 'twas Leah in his bed and not Rachel. And he said to Laban What is this that thou hast done unto me? Did I not serve with thee for Rachel? Why then hast thou beguiled me?"

"Why then hast thou beguiled me?" her words were repeated back to her from just behind. Hadassa jumped in her seat. "And here I thought to be lulled to sleep by an endless stream of dry reports." The veil between them lifted and he walked by her, moving to one of the alabaster columns, permitting her to drink in the sight of him. Heat suffused her cheeks; he bore himself with elegant ease even as he leaned against the pillar, eyes upon the stars above them. "Well, is Jacob able to have his bride?" Mute with wonder, Hadassa could not quite lower her gaze from him; he was so much more than she remembered. "Is he able to have her?" She thought there was something wistful in his words, but the moment was much too short for her to identify it and she might lose the chance to answer him.

It took time to gather her thoughts. Enough time that his gaze slid from the stars to her own face. And her eyes did drop. But her lips parted. "Only after serving seven more years for her." Chest tight with emotion, Hadassa attempted to calm herself. Was that what Jacob had felt when gazing upon his Rachel? The unrelenting joy, the untrammelled awe for the perfect grace of God? But surely, the one who stood before her was unmatched among men. Gaze softening upon him, she could not even answer when he asked after her name without hesitating overlong.

"Esther," she said breathlessly, "of Susa." She felt his regard, felt the sharpening attention. Again she dared a peek at him and was startled to see watching her intently.

"Of Susa? That cannot be." She flinched. "Nothing good ever comes out of Susa." Relief came upon her. "Look at me." She knew he said it in jest, but her fright was much too recent for her to do aught but stare at him. And yet he held one hand out to her. "You must be tired, Esther of Susa. Go, for I may require your services again soon and would fain have you well-rested."

And thus her interview with the King was at an end. Hadassa longed to turn back, to look at him once more, and so she did; but he was returned to his work, hands and gaze concerned with only the shaped clay upon his table.

Hegai led her back to her chamber and she slid into bed. The King has after all said he might have need of her once more. She clung to that as she the sweet release of slumber. And God granted her an easy sleep.