CHAPTER
Twenty-one

The day of the wedding had Esther out of bed with the dawn. She stretched for the last time—truly the last time—in the bed she had occupied for a year, and went through all of the routines she had gone through hundreds of times before. This time it was not Hegai who saw to her gown, but Xerxes’ own mother, Atossa.

The week had flown by, with servants scurrying like chased rats through the palace halls, sewing and baking and decorating the banquet hall in gold and purple and more hanging lamps than she had ever seen. Mordecai had even been elevated to a palace official, and during the rush of preparations all of the virgins who were still waiting to visit the king were transferred to his other harem. None had been given the choice he had offered to her, to return home. They might never see his face, but they belonged to him.

Esther stepped into the gardens one last time and gazed at the pink hues of dawn with the billowy white clouds. Thank You. She knew that somehow God saw. He understood her emotions, and He had placed her in the king’s life for a reason. She searched the heavens, but there was no answer to be drawn there. If God still spoke as He had long ago, she did not hear Him. No prophet had spoken during their exile, though she had heard tales of Daniel and Ezra, who seemed to have God’s ear.

Do You see me? For her, a mere woman, to expect an answer seemed futile. And yet, had not God spoken to Rebekah and Deborah and others of long ago? Could He not speak to her before she entered into marriage with a pagan, uncircumcised king?

She waited, listening. A slight breeze kissed her cheeks and birds twittered their greeting as she at last moved back into her rooms, where her maids frantically accosted her.

“Where have you been?”

“We need to get started. You cannot be late for your wedding.”

“You’re marrying the king!”

Esther listened to the same delighted chatter and giggles she’d heard all week and simply smiled, then allowed them to bathe and pamper and feed and at last finally dress her. They set jewels in her ears, at her throat, and on her arms and finally placed golden sandals on her feet. They did her hair with jewels and combs and declared her ready.

“Let me look at you,” Hegai said from the doorway.

She turned for a last glimpse of her mentor, her friend. “Do I please you?” She smiled as she turned in a circle.

“It is impossible for you to not please me, my queen.” He bowed. “If you will come with me now, your father is waiting to escort you to the banquet hall.”

Esther’s heart beat hard at the realization that she would at last have access to Mordecai in a way she’d only hoped to have again. She walked with Hegai and her maids to the bend in the hall where Mordecai waited, and took his arm as they walked the rest of the way to the banquet.

“You are ravishing, my daughter,” Mordecai said for her ears alone.

“Thank you, Abba.” She offered him a bright smile. “This is so much more than I ever expected.”

“It is exactly as I believed possible . . . hoped would happen. You are blessed, Ha—Esther.” He coughed at the near mistake of using her true name, but she merely laughed lightly to cover the sound.

“They have given you a position as a palace official. I am glad.” They drew close to the banquet doors now.

“I will still work at the city gate, but I will also have an office in the palace, working between the two.” He patted her arm. “You should know that the king asked me to place my seal on a document of marriage for your sake. He did not need to do so since you already belong to him, but he seemed to think this would please you.”

She stopped. Looked at him and briefly touched his cheek. “Thank you for doing as he asked. His gesture makes me even more aware that God has allowed this for a purpose.”

“Perhaps you will do much good for the people.” He walked them to the doors, where guards waited to announce her presence.

She glanced back and saw that Hegai and her maids had disappeared, probably finding another way to watch and help with the festivities. She had requested her maids follow her into her marriage, and Xerxes had readily agreed. Hegai could deny her nothing. She only wished she could have kept him as her eunuch.

“It is time,” Mordecai said, releasing her hand.

“Yes.” She drew in a breath as the doors opened and the trumpets announced her arrival.

Servants took her from Mordecai’s side and escorted her to a seat near the king’s throne. Mordecai was seated at a table with the king’s nobles. The king’s throne remained vacant, but Esther knew that he would appear last.

Her nerves betrayed her as a slight shiver worked through her. All eyes were on her until the louder trumpets blared and the king followed his flag bearers into the hall. Her breath caught at the finery he wore, an ornate robe with purple trimmed in gold, fit for the monarch he was. How could he have possibly found her desirable? She was Hadassah, a simple Jewish girl. But he did not know that.

He took his seat upon the gilded throne and extended the scepter to her, bidding her to rise. She stood and walked gracefully up the steps, then took the throne placed there for her to sit beside him.

He rose from his seat once she was settled, and a guard brought a royal crown resting in an alabaster box. Xerxes lifted it out and placed it on her head. “Now, my sweet girl, you are officially my wife and my queen.” His whispered words spoken with intensity matched the passion in his green eyes. He was indeed handsome.

As he took her hand to lift her to her feet, he turned them to face the crowd. “Behold, today Persia has a new queen! Queen Esther!” His voice boomed in the hall, which quickly erupted in cheers.

Xerxes smiled at the effect of his words. Once the noise quieted, he led her to a table where the two of them ate, facing the people who also indulged in the king’s plenteous feast.

“Tonight cannot come soon enough,” he said, leaning close to her ear. He lifted his cup and offered her a drink from it.

She sipped and smiled into his eyes. “No, it cannot,” she said, cheered at the ardent fire in his gaze. For a moment, she wondered if he would whisk her away from the feast before it could end, but he was a gracious host and allowed the celebration to last long into the night.

When at last most of the guests were besotted with wine, he took her hand and they walked together, surrounded by guards, toward his suite of rooms. “Are you afraid?” he asked as they crossed the threshold, the question he had asked her a week ago.

She looked at him and gave him a slow, sultry smile. “No longer, my lord.”

He laughed. “How you delight me, Esther my queen.” He removed her crown and placed it on a table, then slowly undid the belt at her waist and set the garment over a chair. He moved her up the step where the canopied bed sat, its curtains opened to show flower petals on the pillows and sheets made of the softest silk.

He bent low to kiss her, pulling the combs and jewels from her hair. She waited, spellbound, uncertain. But at last she reached for his robe and pulled it from his shoulders. Servants should hang up such a rich garment, but he did not allow her to carefully drape it anywhere. She dropped it where they stood.

He lifted her in his arms and set her among the flower petals, then sat beside her and took her face in his hands. His kiss deepened, and she felt her heart race as his finger traced her chin, her neck, and stopped at the pulse at her throat. “You are beautiful. My most favored one.”

He closed the curtains before she could say a word in response.