Star of Persia: Esther's Story

by Jill Eileen Smith

  “I will never forget you. If they let me, I will call for you.”

  “I will check on you daily, and you will be always in my prayers.”

  She could not speak. She clung to him and wet his shoulder with her tears.

  He patted her back and held her tight. “I love you, my Hadassah,” he spoke softly into her ear.

  She gulped, forcing back the urge to weep uncontrollably. She straightened and smiled, swiping her cheeks. Mordecai cupped her cheek.

  “I love you, Abba.” She searched his face, memorizing each line. How soon would she see him again? Would she ever see him again?

  Guards knocked on the door, startling them. Resignation filled Mordecai’s dark eyes, and Hadassah released her grip on his arms and turned again toward the door. “I suppose we must go.”

  “Yes,” he said. He touched the small of her back as though offering his support.

  They followed the guards to the palace gates, where she was ushered into the harem. Where he could not follow.

  CHAPTER

  Sixteen

  Amestris paced the palace halls, attempting to hold her temper in check. Nothing had gone the way she had planned. Memucan had failed her, and now he was as useless to her as Vashti was to Xerxes. There was some small measure of comfort in that thought—that her husband should suffer as much as she suffered.

  But there should be no suffering for either one of them. If he had simply named her queen in Vashti’s place, there would be no need for this “beauty” search. What a completely and utterly foolish idea!

  She had borne the king’s heir and more besides. He had no need of more women. He had a harem full of them already. What purpose could there possibly be to flood Susa with thousands of young stargazed women who thought they stood even a remote chance of becoming queen in Vashti’s place? Ludicrous!

  She must do something to make sure he chose the most pliable woman, someone she could control and train. It would not be the same as assuming full leadership, but if she held the reins of the young filly, she would control the girl and, by extension, the king.

  The thought did little to lighten her bitter mood, but she moved toward the harem just the same. A line of young women waited to enter their rooms. Where did Hegai think he could possibly fit all of them?

  Normally she did not travel to this area of the palace. At least Xerxes had given her rooms of her own. Rooms she did not have to share with his concubines. His mother would not have allowed him to do less, for which Amestris felt the slightest bit of gratitude. She didn’t care overmuch for Atossa, but at least the woman had been useful in this. And she would make sure her mother-in-law did more for her in days to come when it came time for Xerxes to name a co-regent.

  Whoever he named queen must never bear his child. Amestris rubbed suddenly sweaty hands over her royal robe. Was there some potion she could slip into the girl’s food or drink to prevent a child? She must consult her physicians. Surely there was a way, though it seemed as impossible as her other attempts to gain control.

  She pushed the thought temporarily aside and moved closer to the area where Hegai inspected the newest group of virgins. Amestris swallowed the acrid taste of jealousy as she glimpsed women younger and more beautiful than she had ever been. Much as she hated to admit such a thing, Xerxes’ young servants had concocted an ingenious plan. This “contest” would keep the king happily distracted and in a good mood for years. Even with his insatiable lust, he would not call for a woman every night, and it would take a year before any of them were pampered and bathed and oiled enough to make them pleasing to his tastes.

  She had endured the same treatments the year she prepared for her wedding to the man. But their love had always been overshadowed by his love for Vashti. Amestris always felt that Xerxes was performing a duty with her, not truly caring about anything she said or did. His interest only changed when she announced another pregnancy, but even then, Vashti took first place. She had ruled his heart like no other, and if these young virgins thought for a moment that they might take her place or win his love, they were sorely mistaken.

  But let them discover that sorry truth on their own. She would befriend them only to control. She would do nothing to help them when they came to her, confused at Xerxes’ inattention. A slow smile thinned her lips as she stepped closer, still hidden by a large marble pillar, to hear Hegai’s words.

  “Your name, please?”

  A young beauty with smooth, flowing dark hair and the darkest, widest eyes Amestris had ever seen stood before the king’s eunuch. “Esther, my lord. Daughter of Abihail. Adopted by Mordecai, son of Jair.” The girl’s voice carried a cultured lilt. She must come from wealth or privilege. Whatever was she doing caught up in this . . . mess?

  “Mordecai. He sits at the king’s gate.”

  “Yes, my lord. He is my adoptive father, as both of my parents are dead.” Esther spoke matter-of-factly, as though the news was not recent

  Perhaps she was not so privileged after all. Just fortunate to be beautiful. A shame.

  “Your age?” Hegai’s scribe jotted notes on clay as the questions were answered.

  “Fifteen, my lord.”

  Stop calling him “my lord”! He is a eunuch! Amestris clenched her jaw against her building frustration.

  Hegai looked the girl up and down. “You will wait over there.” He pointed to a spot not far from him, then continued with the rest of the group.

  What purpose could he have with Esther? Amestris waited, stepping farther into the shadows.

  Another group of women approached, but Hegai put his underling in charge of taking their names and information. He moved away from the entrance area and walked closer to Esther. Amestris could not hear from this vantage point, but dare she move closer? She did not want Hegai becoming aware of her interest in these girls. She would need a good reason for being here, and at the moment she had none.

  She watched a little longer and saw Hegai call seven young maids to Esther’s side, then personally lead the girl to another part of the harem. So Hegai liked this one. He could not have been more obvious about that.

  Good. Perhaps her job of finding the next queen wouldn’t be as hard as she thought. She could just watch Hegai to see whom else he favored. There must be more virgins who had caught his eye, young women who had been given a special place in the palace.

  She headed back to her rooms, pondering how to go about gathering more information and what she might do once she had it.

  Esther looked at the ornate surroundings, struck by the enormity of the palace. Marble pillars spread down halls that seemed to extend forever. Mosaic tiles created detailed patterns of blue, red, gold, and white, and finely woven tapestries hung from limestone walls.

  Hegai stood taller than Mordecai, but his girth was wider and his hair completely missing from his head. Esther did her best not to stare at his size, for she sensed kindness in his eyes. She followed him, along with seven young maids, down those long, winding halls toward a set of rooms that were bigger than Mordecai’s entire house.

  When they reached the door, Hegai opened it and turned to her. “Esther, I want you to meet Shirin, Hettie, Jazmin, Rosana, Parisa, Mahin, and Zareen. Each one of them will be devoted to you alone.” He pointed at her.

  Esther smiled at each girl, heat filling her face. Shirin was not much younger than Esther herself. Were all of the virgins given such treatment? But she did not question Hegai. Instead, she followed him into the suite of rooms and listened intently as he pointed to various side rooms and articles of use within each one.

  “You will have your own private bathing pool.” He moved past the area with a deep and wide hole where steam rose off the water, which was heated from an underground source. “And over here is the bed where your maids will apply special oils and perfumes. Each young woman undergoes these beauty treatments for an entire year before they meet the king.”

  Esther nodded, taking in the narrow bed where pots of oils and ointments a
nd flasks of perfume stood along one wall. On a low table were smaller alabaster caskets of cosmetics and the tools to apply them. She would not need her personal combs, and once Hegai showed her a room filled with garments of various colors and designs, she realized that her tunics and even her best robe would never measure up to the glamour here.

  “You will be given jewels, and when the time comes to spend your night with the king, you will be allowed to choose whatever you want to take with you.” He clasped his hands in front of him. “Once you leave here, you will move to the concubines’ quarters. You will not return to this place, but it is yours for the next year. I suggest you make the best use of your time here.”

  Esther nodded again, her head spinning with too much information. She glanced about her, then looked back at Hegai.

  “Do you have any questions?” His tone softened as his hands fell to his sides, and she sensed again the kindness she’d first seen in him.

  “No. Nothing. That is, I can think of nothing yet to ask.” She laughed lightly. “This is all so . . . exotic.” She moved her hand in an arc over the living quarters. “I have never seen anything like these rooms.”

  “You will see far more before your year is up.” He stroked his bare chin. “You will take your meals with the other girls in a dining hall, but if you have any particular foods you would like to have, simply let me know. I will check on you often.”

  Esther tilted her head, debating whether or not to give him the dietary laws she had followed all of her life. He would wonder about her background if she said too much. Could she word the request in such a way so as not to draw attention?

  “I can tell you want to say something.” He quirked a brow.

  “It is only . . . I am used to a minimal diet where I come from. We ate from the garden and ate many lentils and nuts and raisins and dates. And bread, of course.” She searched his face. “We rarely ate meat—sometimes goat or lamb—but in the city we could not keep flocks or herds or afford to purchase much from the butchers.”

  “Well, you can have your fill of meat here,” he said, smiling. “There is no lack of what the king has to offer.”

  Esther hesitated and swallowed, then took a chance in spite of the warnings in her head to remain silent. “I simply fear that too drastic a change in my diet might make me ill. It is not that I am ungrateful for whatever the king has to offer.”

  Hegai regarded her. “I hadn’t considered that, but you are wise to think of it. I will make sure your diet consists only of things you are used to. It would not bode well for me if you became ill.”

  “Thank you, my lord.” She bowed her head.

  He cleared his throat. “It is just Hegai. I am simply a eunuch, not a lord or nobleman.”

  “Thank you, Hegai.” She bowed her head again. “I appreciate all you have done for me.”

  “It is my pleasure.”

  At that moment the seven maids joined her, all talking at once.

  “That is my excuse to leave you now.” He winked and turned on his heel, leaving the rooms. Her rooms. With seven maids. What was she supposed to do with seven girls to attend her?

  CHAPTER

  Seventeen

  Mordecai left his house before dawn, no longer able to abide the feeling that he was utterly alone. He could spend time with his sons, but their homes were too small to add a room for him, and he couldn’t bear to become a burden to his daughters-in-law or grandchildren.

  He had not counted on losing both Levia and Hadassah in such a short time. Why? He glanced heavenward and rubbed a hand over his head. Surely this was the fault of his hesitance. He should have gone with those who had traveled to Jerusalem years ago when his sons were young and Hadassah a babe in arms.

  But the loss of Hadassah’s parents and his work at the king’s gate had caused him to wait. Hadassah was too young, he had reasoned. His work too important. Ha! No work was so important that a man should risk losing his family over it.

  Hadassah would not be in the king’s palace now if he had simply left when doing so was easy. Instead, he had counted himself among friends with the Jews who had stayed in Susa, and he’d felt safe enough to remain. No harm had come to them in the seventy years they had been captives. What could possibly go wrong now that they were able to return to their homeland if they so desired?

  Before the king’s edict they had been free. But since that notice had appeared on the post of the king’s gate, he knew that leaving would have drawn attention to Hadassah. If only she had remained in the house and never gone out.

  Mordecai walked toward the rising sun and soon reached the area outside of the king’s harem—a place where family and friends could come to hear news of their loved ones who now belonged to the king. He wandered about the narrow section of mosaic tiles and peered through the latticed windows. Only one of them afforded a view of anything inside, and if one were fortunate, they might see a servant passing by. Mordecai waited, hoping one of the eunuchs would speak with him.

  His pulse quickened as the door opened, and Hegai stepped into the garden area opposite the walkway. A small crowd had gathered and now drew close.

  “I will take a few questions. That is all.” Hegai stood straight, towering over those gathered before him.

  “How is my daughter Mara?” one desperate woman cried.

  “And mine. Her name is Teita.”

  More cries from mothers shouting the names of their daughters filled the small court.

  Mordecai felt out of place, as if it were foolish for a father to ask after his daughter. Even worse for a cousin to care what happened to a much younger cousin.

  “You’re her true father.” Levia’s reminder sang in his thoughts, and he raised his voice above the cackle of females.

  “My daughter is Esther. Is she well?” At his commanding tone, silence descended.

  Hegai looked in his direction. “Esther is your daughter?”

  “Yes. My adopted daughter. Her parents died when she was very young. Is she well?” A surge of hope filled him that Hegai seemed to recognize her name.

  “Esther is quite well. And you are Mordecai, who works at the king’s gate.” Hegai looked him over as if he were trying to read his thoughts.

  “Yes, yes. Please, is there anything you can tell me?” He hated the urgency in his tone, but he felt a sudden desperation to know.

  Hegai rubbed a hand over his clean-shaven chin. “Esther is well placed in rooms with seven maids and will be well cared for. Expect her to be in this area for the next year.” He addressed the crowd then. “All of the girls will be in this area of the harem for a year of beauty treatments before they meet the king. You need not fear. All of them will be treated with kindness and respect.”

  A murmur of female voices filled the court once again, and Mordecai nodded at Hegai and mouthed his thanks, then turned to hurry toward the king’s gate to work. It wasn’t much. And yet—seven maids? Had all of the girls received such a gift? A maid was a sign of wealth, but seven?

  He glanced heavenward again. Forgive me. He should never have doubted that Adonai would not forsake Hadassah in this place. Seven maids! Surely God himself had smiled on his girl and would look after her.

  But Mordecai would return to the harem court to make sure just the same.

  Esther awoke to the singing of birds in the garden trees outside of her rooms. She blinked and stretched, still unused to the luxury of her surroundings despite the six months that had already passed. Oil of myrrh treatments had been completed the night before. Today she would begin a regimen of other ointments and perfumes.

  So much fuss simply to spend one night in a king’s bed. She no longer blushed at the thought, for Hegai’s underlings had taught her many things a virgin would not normally know. Ways to entice a man and things to expect of him—things he might request of her.

  At first her cheeks had heated hotter than the setting sun at the thought of things she might be asked to say or do, but no longer. Was the king truly so simple
as to want only one thing from his queen? Would he not also wish to know her? To know her mind and what she thought? A queen should not simply be an object of beauty or desire. But from what she had heard of the man, she knew she could not expect anything from him.

  “Are you ready to rise, my lady?” Mahin asked as she reached for Esther’s covers and pulled them to the foot of the bed.

  “Of course.” She smiled at her maid, grateful for the girl’s delightful sense of humor, even if she would have preferred to stay abed a little longer. She had learned quickly to keep her complaints to herself. There was no use being disagreeable to servants who were simply trying to please their masters.

  “Rosana is waiting with your clothes, and Hettie and Parisa will escort you to the dining hall. After you break your fast, we will begin lessons in court etiquette and give you your first bath in oil of frankincense.”

  “Thank you, Mahin.” She allowed the girl to help her rise, and after she attended to her personal needs, Esther practiced walking with measured, graceful steps toward the small chamber reserved for her many garments. To have an entire room just for clothing still seemed surreal to her, especially in those moments when she recalled Mordecai and the home she’d shared with him and Levia. How was he doing without her?

  “Mahin?” She turned around at the threshold of the garment room.

  “Yes, my lady?” The girl paused from stripping the bed of linens, which would soon be replaced with fresh ones.

  “Would you please either check with Hegai or go to the harem court and see how my father, Mordecai, fares? I know he visits daily, but I do not always hear how he is doing.” A sudden feeling of nostalgia and longing filled her. She missed her home. She missed her family. She missed Jola. Had she married Gad in the months Esther had been shut up in these rooms? She fought a sense of sorrow that life would never be the same again.

  “I will be happy to check on him for you.” Mahin dropped the sheets and hurried to do Esther’s bidding.