When a baby girl is born in the Jewish village of Arad during the Exile period, more than 2,500 years ago, it is prophesied that she will be a memorable person who will do extraordinary things and be a savior for her people. Exceptionally intelligent, strikingly beautiful, and graced with wisdom few adults could claim, the girl born as Hadassah is indeed special, but her life is not easy. Her simple life is shattered when the Black Hundred destroy her village and kill her parents, brothers, and friends. Her family is gone, but her faith remains. She vows to seek justice for not only her family, but her fellow villagers. Hadassah's destiny begins to unfold when she enters the palace of the Persian king, eventually gaining the name Esther and becoming his queen. It's here, bolstered by an unusual and wonderful love, that she uses her unique talents to bring justice and prosperity to the land before embarking upon a final mission-a tragic and paradoxical one that takes her back to events painfully similar to the destruction of her childhood village.

Esther

By Danny Rittman

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Danny Rittman
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-6669-8

Chapter One

The village of Arad is not far from Shushan, the capital of the ancient Persian Empire of the Achaemenids. It is late in the Exile period. The Babylonians have taken the people of Judah away from the land promised them and the people of Judah are now living under Persian rule.

"She is so beautiful!" The young mother beamed as tears welled up in her eyes.

The newborn girl was lying on her mother's belly, her eyes wide open. Amazingly, she did not cry or scream. Instead she looked all around and took in her new world. The women who had assisted in the delivery rinsed her small eyes with clear river water and cleansed her body of the afterbirth. She was lovingly wrapped in a soft beige blanket that her mother had knitted months earlier from the downy chins of village sheep. Now her mother held her close to her breast and quietly rocked her, singing to her in a soft voice that the child was learning to love.

The baby had pure white skin—quite rare for babies in the region. Her eyes were another astonishing matter. Clear and sea blue—simply gorgeous. They express such wisdom, thought her mother in fascination. She treasured each of her baby's new moments in the world. She held her to her heart, kissed her gently and just gazed at her in the silent joy of a new mother.

The baby looked straight at her mother. She moved her little head slowly to the left and right, observing her mother for a few minutes, and then another incredible thing happened.

The baby girl smiled at her mother.

The mother's mouth opened in amazement. She could not believe her eyes. There could never be anything as beautiful as that. She had helped many women in delivering their babies but never saw a wide-awake baby smiling so shortly after birth. Newborns simply slept. But not her daughter. Not this amazing gift. Not this amazing, smiling gift. Speechless, the mother offered the baby her breast and she instinctively began thinking of nourishment. Nature guides us, after all.

The baby found her way and avidly took in her mother's milk. Pleasantly sated, she cuddled into her mother's arms and fell asleep in the warmth and safety that lay there. The candlelight flickering in the small tent gave the baby's face a soft, glorious appearance. She is absolutely beautiful, thought her mother with complete fulfillment. She continued gently rocking her baby.

The baby's grandmother quietly opened a flap and entered the tent and smiled at her daughter and the newborn. The mother smiled and pointed proudly though needlessly to the serene baby. The grandmother looked in wonder at her new granddaughter. Her white hair sparkled gently like glimmering stars as the candlelight ebbed and flowed, making the moment even more wondrous.

"There is no one like her," whispered the grandmother. "She is unique." Looking into the mother's eyes, she saw them sparkling in the dim light, speaking to her in a silent way.

"Yes, she is."

"I mean she is special," said the grandmother gently. "She will do extraordinary things. She will be a savior."

The mother looked at her, not quite understanding her.

The grandmother turned again towards the sleeping baby. "She is special, intelligent—and she has a good heart. She will be a leader." She paused a few moments and studied the baby's face. "She will save our nation and she will help many other people as well," she announced as she moved closer to the flickering tongues of fire. "Have you named her yet?"

The candlelight danced along with the grandmother's motion. Entranced by the mysterious prediction, the mother could not formulate a reply. Anxiety raced through her being. Her mother's prediction had surprised her and even unsettled her. She looked at her sleeping baby and calm returned to her heart. She breathed in slowly, smiled lovingly and looked closely at her baby's face.

"No, mother, no name yet."

"Good," said the grandmother as the waves of her long white hair shone. "I might have a name for her."

The grandmother turned to her daughter and the sacredness of the moment seemed to lift her from the hold of the earth. She moved towards the infant and the mother froze in expectation as she awaited her mother's whispered announcement.

"Esther."

"Esther," repeated the mother. "I love the name. It's so delicate."

"Yes," confirmed her mother. "And strong. She will be renown for her strength. She will be given great strength for the magnificent things she is destined to do."

"My little Esther, you have a destiny!" The mother gently smothered the child with kisses as her tears flowed, some raining softly upon the baby. As she gently dabbed the droplets with the soft blanket, a sudden thought struck her with devastating force. Her entire being shook as the realization formed. She looked all around but her mother was nowhere to be found. The flames of the candles grew longer and danced wildly. Her heart raced wildly and she panted anxiously. Sweat formed on her forehead though her body felt cold.

She realized that her mother died last year.

E

"She's waking up," said one of the women as the mother opened her eyes slightly.

"You will feel better now," said one of her helpers. "You passed out shortly after the birth."

The mother could not answer.

Although a name had been offered by the grandmother, the mother could not remember it and so they came to name the baby "Hadassah." Over the following years she and her husband enjoyed their new baby girl and continued to do so as she became a young girl.

Hadassah grew to be smart and beautiful girl, well loved and admired by all in the small Jewish village of Arad.

E

Hadassah was excited. When she reached the age of seven years, she and her friends prepared for an outing to explore the hills and mountains above their village. It was an annual event for the young of her community and the children of her age looked forward to the day. Arad's villagers often worried of children getting lost on such ventures so now they were accompanied by teachers. They'd spend five days in the foothills and on the more challenging slopes, exploring the natural wonders they held for all who ascended them. The mountains were riddled with caves inside of which were magnificent limestone formations. Carved by underground channels long ago, the caves wound through hundreds of miles of rock.

The caves were a long hike away from the village that Hadassah and her family lived in, not far from the prosperous city of Shushan where the king resided. The cave adventure was one of the most exciting events for the children of Arad and all looked forward to it with high expectations.

Imagine the wonder and excitement that a five-day trek holds for us, Hadassah thought excitedly.

It was Friday morning and she was about to help her mother prepare for the Shabbat and also to get ready for the mountain trip the following day. She liked to sleep late on Fridays, but not this one. It seemed to her that the whole world was yearning for Sunday to come.

She awoke with the first rays of sun that crept through the curtains of her room that had been added to the brick and mud dwelling which was her home. No longer did she have to share a room with her two younger brothers. She had long known that privacy allowed her to nurture her own thoughts and she had continuously pressed her parents for her own room. At last her father, with the help of...