Persia: A Kingdom That Mourns
1255 Words
Queen Sarah POV
With Hadassah gone the entire city of Susa is somber. Mourning has caused the merchants to pause the sale of goods. There haven't been any caravans in or out of the gates in weeks. Within the palace walls is complete silence.
I have been promoted to Queen Mother and I really don't wish to hold that title. Raquel and Isaac took their family to Israel to deliver the news personally to the priest Reuben. I'm sure once they found out Jerusalem is as somber as here. Reports from the provinces reflect the same. Hadassah was truly a queen unlike any other. According to Hegai even Vashti wasn't mourned like this.
"Your Highness, the king requests your presence in his chambers." Hatach spoke.
"Alright, I will attend to him." I said walking down the corridor. I was about to turn towards the east wing when he spoke again.
"My lady, he is in the west wing as he has taken the official quarters for the king." He said.
"Thank you, Hatach." I said turning to the west wing and those familiar golden doors.
I paused at the threshold being reminded of the last moment I was here. When we found out the painful news of the passing. I took a deep breath and walked through the doors. Once inside the room I found servants removing her things from the room. Most likely they will be taken to the crown jewel room where Xerxes crown and other jewelry resides.
Upon the walls are blue and gold silk drapes where they were once scarlet and white. The desk and canopy bed have also been changed. I guess Benjamin was quite busy this morning. I hovered as I waited for his permission to continue forward.
"Enter Queen Sarah. I require your input on the final touches to the room." Benjamin said waving me over.
I looked down to see the plans for the renovations being done. I guess this happens when a new king takes over.
"What do you wish to ask me?" I inquire.
"Well, I have already changed the drapes and furniture but there is still the balcony and garden below. My mother designed it and I was hoping to add to its beauty." He said.
"Add in white roses to the already red ones. Also place a fountain in the middle in the shape of a star to represent her memory." I replied.
"That's a lovely idea. I will add a couch onto the balcony and a few new ones in the garden. Her favorite color was scarlet." He said.
I walked out onto the balcony and sighed. I had a lot on my shoulders now and for the first time I wouldn't have her guidance to ease the burden.
"Sarah, I will always be here if you need me. I have prepared you well to take my place. Protect Persia and my son the same way you have seen me do so in the past." Hadassah spoke.
I looked around the room slightly confused. I know I did not just hear her voice.
"Yes you did my love. Just like Xerxes I can speak to you. I may be physically gone but my spirit is not. Look at the necklace you posses. The heart of the kingdom is in your hands." She said.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and left my husband in his new chambers. I walked into the library and began pulling scrolls from the archives. If I was going to do this right I needed to find the chronicles of Queen Esther.
Princess Raquel POV
Isaac and I have finally made it to Jerusalem. I had sent letters ahead of our arrival to inform Uncle Reuben that I had to speak with him and it was urgent. As was the protocol whenever we visited there was a royal procession.
"Welcome back to Jerusalem, your highnesses. I received your message, let us speak within the privacy of the temple." Reuben said.
"I know our visit was very unexpected but I thought it appropriate since we are family to tell you myself. My mother has passed." I said receiving a very shocked expression from him.
"My deepest condolences Reuben, I know she was very close to your family." Isaac said.
"Thank you both for informing me. I just can't believe it. She sent me a letter a few months ago saying how she would love to come back. I was hoping to have the chance to see her dancing in the streets again." He said as fought back tears.
"Uncle its okay to mourn for her, the entire kingdom is doing so. Susa is especially somber since she was once queen." I said.
"Well I will indeed make sure she is remembered properly here as well. Excuse me please." He said before leaving the room.
A short time later I heard the bell of the temple sound. The once lively streets of the city were now at a stand still. I walked over to the window and saw the people bowing their heads. The men had removed their turbans and placed them on the temple steps. I heard footsteps behind me and saw Uncle Reuben return in sackcloth and ashes carrying a bunch of lilies. He stepped outside and placed them upon the steps.
"Jerusalem hear me, our dear friend and queen of Persia Hadassah has departed this life. There shall be a period of mourning in honor of her life." He said.
An extremely loud wail cry was now heard throughout the city. Isaac and I decided to step outside as well. The people bowed before us and I fought back tears of my own. The sight before me was almost too much to bear. Instinctively my husband placed a protective arm around me. He has been my comfort through all of this.
Hadassah POV
I watched from above as the entire kingdom and Israel mourned me. The sight of so much pain and anguish was unbearable. However I was comforted by the fact I was no longer suffering with all the ailments I had. Xerxes stood beside and watched with me.
"My love they will be just fine. Its customary for this to happen when a monarch dies." He said.
"I know but to see our children so distraught is hard." I said.
"Just like it was for me to see you this way when Mordecai and I passed on. I see you left our son the necklace." He said.
"Yes, I did he needed a reminder that we were always present. Sarah, especially needs to know how much he loves her. Benjamin is a lot like you were in the beginning of our marriage." I replied.
"He also knows that I was very much in love with you, my queen. Don't worry he will cherish her more now than he ever has. She embodies you, the first love of his life." He spoke.
I smiled at those words and continued to look down on my family. All I could do now was hope that my children remembered everything I taught them.
"He also knows that I was very much in love with you, my queen. Don't worry he will cherish her more now than he ever has. She embodies you, the first love of his life." He spoke.
I smiled at those words and continued to look down on my family. All I could do now was hope that my children remembered everything I taught them.
- Writer
