The Writers' Circle

The night air cooled from the heat of the day as the sun descended.  A light breeze fluttered the loose flowing fabric that hung along the opening to the terrace.  As I gathered up my garment that hung loosely about my body, I reached over to one of the containers on the dresser that held a peach colored potion.  The cooling breeze invited me out into the night to cleanse myself of the timely woman flow.  The camel rug felt refreshing to my bare feet as I walked toward the opening, then stepped on the warm bricks that were uncovered by the entryway.

I walked out of the aperture and opened the container and watched the peach flow come out of the flask as I turned it gently toward the water.  I lifted my garment up and put my toe in the cooling water and stirred the blend of oils I poured into the water.  Looking up into the sky, the stars laughed in the night as they played hiding games with me from behind the clouds that floated to the East.  Pleased with the feel of the water, I took the flask back.  Picking up a lighting stick from the table that was in the bed chamber, I lit it from the lamp on a small wooden table that was beside the bed.  I took the ember and lit two lamps that were on the dresser.  The burning of olive oil filled my nostrils as I blew out the lighting stick.  The gentle breeze caressed my hair that was up on my head as I walked back out into the breeze that called for me.

The thought of the cool water on my body quickened my pace.  I sat the lamps down, each on one end of the pool.  I stood by the stairs that descended into the refreshing liquid, the light from the flames danced in the ripple reflection, I could see the stars were still playing games with me from the mirror that was in the pool.  I laughed out loud at the twinkling eyes in the sky, as I pulled at the strips of my garment that held it closed and untied its lock and let the garment slip down my body slowly.  The water reflected my image as I saw the garment gracefully coming off of my shoulders as it hung for a brief moment over my abundant womaness.  I continued watching it slide down my body and rest for a moment on my hips, with my hands I helped it over my hips and let it fall down in a small bundle around my feet.  I stepped out of my frock and dipped my feet in the water, it was still the perfect temperature for bathing.  The water enclosed around my feet and legs as I descended into it's blissful welcome.

I unhooked the jeweled clip that held my chestnut hair in a bundle on my head, then put the clip down by the edge of the bathing pool and ran my fingers through it's thickness while releasing all the tightness in my head.  I lifted my head up and looked at the moon as I shook the rest of my hair which softly caressed the lower part of my back.  I sat down on the lower steps which made the water lap up onto my arms.  The soft breeze that blew cooled the water on my arms and the heat of the day was forgotten.  The water swirled about my legs as I moved them slowly in circles.  I closed my eyes and slid down into it's refreshing grasp.

A spasm of shuddering came over me as the water touched the nape of my neck.  Relaxing fully in it's richness, the oily mixture softened my skin as smooth as a calm sea.  Opening my eyes I saw a man leaning over the terrace of his apartment roof gazing at me with a wistful expression on his face.  I went under the water and came up fully in his direction.  Turning slowly around in circles, I let the water twirl around with me.  I stopped full facing the man.  I held his hungry gaze then he turned back inside to his chamber.  I laid back into the pool and rested my head on the edge of the smooth brick.

Looking up where the man had stood, I longed for that hungry look to be shown me one more time.  I turned around and faced the other direction, loneliness engulfed me as his image played in and out of my minds eye.  When was the last time that look had been given to me, or had it ever?  One small tear fell from my eye as I got out of the pool and slipped the frock back over my wet body.  The night was still young.  I went back into the chamber and dried my body of the water.  I picked up another flask that had oils in it, I loved the fragrance of this mixture for it sent me in a mood of love, no harm of feeling this emotion for tonight.

The thought of arms wrapped around me made my heart flutter with excitement but it was no use, my husband was not here.  A smile was apparent on my face for this thought.  My father had arranged this marriage.  I did not like him, his eyes showed no sign of love at all in them and was harsh when I looked into them.  When a command was given it was expected to be followed no questions asked, I was not even sure if I was married to him or was I just his slave for convenience.

The oils soothed my torn soul and made me feel better.  The fragrance now filled the whole room I was in and also drifted out into the night.  I walked about my room which became my dance of desire.  His wistful gaze came back in front of me, an apparition appearing before my eyes.  I reached out to him, but he vanished.  The longing and desire for a brief union filtered into my mind and the very soul of my being.  With one look he has done this to me, no man has put such a desire in my mind as this brief stranger's stare.  Did magic flow from him?  I didn't see anything.  He only looked at me for a brief moment.  Maybe I am just letting my thoughts get the better of me, or maybe a true desire was unspoken just by a look.  A soft knock on the bed chamber door broke the reverie.

"My Lady!  A King's man is at the door.  He told me, he was not to leave before he has word from you." said the servant girl.

"He is looking for me?" I asked.

"Yes!  He says he has a letter for you."

"For me." I said more aloud to myself than to my servant.  "Tell him I am coming."

She left to give my reply to the king's man.  What does this mean?  Is my husband dead?  My mind leaped for joy at the thought of the bondage I was in with him.  Riches meant nothing to me, I liked the oils and my frocks but I did not like the times that we had spent alone.  Times of a strong hand given me, times of longing to run but alas to where?  I put a covering over my gown and went to see what news would be given, surely it would come of no good.

Coming to the foyer of the house the king's man handed me the scroll that was in his hands.  The parchment was fresh and new.  I looked at the red seal, the emblem was from the king of Israel.  Is this the news that I have waited for?  Am I a free woman at last?  I went to the table beside the door and picked up the seal knife.  With great ease I slipped the knife under the seal and open the parchment without tearing it.

	Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam,
		I have been deeply captivated by your beauty.  My soul will not let me rest until I have had the opportunity to behold you for myself.  I pledge to you my love.  Your beauty surpasses any woman that I have ever beheld before.  Come to me.  My love for you are young and tender.  I will love you with a gentle hand and give you any request that you may ask of me.  I have the power to give you anything your heart desires.  Come to me and let me make your desires come true.
	The king of Isreal,
	David, the son of Jesse.

What should I say?  I am married did he not know that, surely my husband fights for him and he does not know the wife of one of his captains.  He will give me any request if I come to him, but what is to be my fate if I go.  I wrung my hands.  I walked back and forth in the foyer of my husband's house.  My servant came to me and placed her arm on my shoulder thinking that I was grieving over the loss of my husband.  Did she not know that I would be rejoicing over his death?

"Telah, leave me!"

I looked back at the king's man who stayed waiting for my reply.  He looked at me with an expression that he did not know what the parchment carried.  What is my reply?  Can I turn down the king?  I hung my head.  The silence in the room disturbed my soul.  Looking up to the messenger before me I told him, "Leave me!"

"But my Lady!  I was given strict orders not to leave without a reply.  My Lord would not understand if I came back without word of any kind.  What do you wish I should tell my Lord?"

"Give me time, I need to think.  That is all I wish for you to tell him."

"Yes, my Lady," with that the king's man turned and left.

I went back to my bed chamber and laid down on the softness of the bed.  The light from the moon and the stars filtered into my dark chamber as I closed my eyes and tried to sleep soundly.  I would not come to an answer tonight.  I don't yet know what my answer will be.



The next morning I came down to breakfast and ate with Telah.  I left for the market like I do every morning, nothing enticed me so I went by the king's house.  One look won't hurt me.  I looked at the well kept yard.  The yellow flowers came into my vision.  Oh!  Such lovely little flowers, it's perfume could be smelled over the wall as I finished passing in front of the gate.  I turned around at the corner and walked back one more time in front of the gate.  The guard at the gate gave me a queer look but I continued walking past him.  I couldn't turn around again so I walked back to the market to make my way home.

Telah met me at the door with a package.  I took the package from her and went up to my chamber to see what it's contents might hold.  I set it on the bed and looked at it.  The ribbon around it was of velvet purple, while the paper was a shade lighter.  I untied the ribbon and took it off.  I turned the package over and took the paper off.  I beheld a royal blue gown with a yellow flower tied to the front of it.  I untied the flower an took it's fragrance into my chest.

The same fragrance from the flowers in the king's courtyard.  I lifted the gown up and touched it to my cheek.  It's softness was like nothing that I have ever felt before.  I laid the gown back down on my bed and took three steps back away from it.  Come to me.  His words echoed into my mind.  What can I do?  I haven't even heard his voice, yet his words twine around my thoughts so that I can not even get them out.  A white flutter caught my attention that laid on the floor in front of the bed.

I reached down and picked up a letter.  My heart fluttered as I picked it up from the floor.  I opened the page.

	Bathsheba,
		You can say that you need time to think, but I see that you are all alone.  I see it in your eyes that you are hurt and afraid.  I will be there when the storm comes and the wind blows, I will be the rock that will give you shelter and does not move.  I will risk everything, I will lay my life down for you.  When the fear rises up, I will hold you all night long and not let go.  When the smoke comes I will be the wind that drives it away.  I will be there with every beat of my heart.  Every second I live this is a promise I make.  That's what I give if that's what it takes.
			David

Oh!  I have never had such words spoken to me.  David you have woe my heart to you.  What can I do but say yes?  I went to the bed afraid I would fall over from the over whelming feelings that flooded my heart that I have never felt before.  Is this what true love feels like?  My mind swirled around as I clutched the letter to my bosom.  I lifted the flower in my other hand to my nose and drank in its scent.  Tonight I will see him.

A light knock on my chamber door brought me back from my thoughts.  Telah entered my chamber just as I hid the gown.

"My Lady!" she said to me as tears ran down her face.

"What is it my child," I said to her.  She ran and fell at my feet.  I reached down and picked her up.  She looked at me with hurt and haunting eyes.

"Oh my Lady!  I just had word from my mother that my father has died.  I don't want to leave you alone in this house but my cousin said my mother can not function and is over come with grief.  What am I to do?" wailed Telah.

"Go to your mother.  I can manage myself.  I will send for you if I need you.  Go my child and may God give you peace at this time." I replied to her.  She kissed me.

"Thank you my Lady.  Thank you so much." she said as she departed my chamber.

I went to the kitchen and took out some bread and wine.  I put them in a basket and gave them to Telah just as she was leaving.

"Go.  Don't worry about me.  Your mother needs you more than I do at this moment."  I said to her and she waved to me as she reached the road outside my husband's house.  I watched her as she walked down the street and silently prayed that she would be a comfort to her mother.

I went back into my chamber and prepared myself for the visit I was to pay to David.  I went back into the front of the house to check for a night wrapper to disguise myself from the world outside.  I jumped as I heard the bell to the door.  I went to the door and peered out the hole.  It was the same messenger from last night.  I knew my answer so I opened the door.  He handed me a curled cloth and I took it from him.

"My Lord said I was to stay until you give an answer my Lady." said the messenger.

"Yes, I will give you an answer."  I said to him as I unwrapped the cloth.

It contained pink a flower.  It's perfume emitted from it very strong.  I looked at it further and could see that it had been broken evidently just for this purpose.  I felt weak just from its fragrance and tingled with ecstasy at the thought of his voice on my ears.  A small piece of paper was wrapped around the stem of the flower.  I uncurled it and read its contents.

          My messenger has instructions as how to bring you to me my dove.  Don't worry all precautions have been taken with great care.  Trust him.  He is one of my personal guards and will guard you with his life just as he guards me.
				Love,
				David

I looked at his messenger.  He was very strong, I had not noticed him before.

"Give me a few minutes and I will give my Lord his answer in person.  Will you take me to him?" I asked knowing that he would.

"Yes my Lady.  Eve has set and time for leaving will be very soon." He said.



We set out from my husband's house a short time later.  He had told me to put a hooded wrapper over my body so as to disguise myself.  I followed his instructions.  He led me through allies that I would not take at night.  No light was given and I had to hold onto his arm in order to keep up.  We came to a gate and he opened it's lock with a key and we went inside.  The garden was beautiful even in the night.  Torches were put here and there on the walls to shed a little light around the garden.  We went around a tall bush and looked like we would walk right into the wall but we turned sharply to the right and descended a flight of stairs.  We paused at the bottom until the messenger opened the door.

Inside the light was dim and small torches could be seen in the tunnel far apart from each other but giving light to show the way.  We walked through the tunnel and he told me we were going to the other side of the house were his Lord was.  I let go of his arm as my pulse started to race the closer we came to the far end of the wall.  We turned as we reached the end and went up another flight of stairs.  He opened another door and bright light hit my eyes with such intensity that I had to shut my eyes because I couldn't see.  I reached out again to the messenger and he put his hand in mine.  When I opened my eyes I saw that it was not the messenger's hand that held mine.  I looked into his blue eyes that shone like the sea.  They twinkled as he smiled at me.

A crashing wave went through my veins and crested at the base of my heart.  He held my gaze with such intensity that I could not look at nothing else.  I didn't care what else would happen.  I only wanted him to continue looking at me with those beautiful sea blue eyes.  He stepped back into the room and with his other hand he outstretched it before me beckoning me inside still not saying a word.

I walked inside and he shut the door behind me.  I took off the wrapper that had covered the gown he had given me.  He led me to a couch that laid by the opening to his terrace.  I could see a feast had been prepared for him.  I sat down on the couch and he let go of my hand and poured deep red wine into a large goblet.  He handed me the glass and I took a drink.  It's sweetness lingered in my mouth as I handed it back to him.  He then took a drink out of the same cup.  The wine went down smooth and tickled my stomach as it settled there.  We ate of the meat that had been prepared.  He started feeding me the tender grapes that he plucked away from the bunch.  My lips kissed his fingers after he fed me five grapes, on the sixth one I took it from him.  I started feeding him the grapes.  As I came to the sixth one he took my hand in his and held it to his mouth after he plucked it out of my hand.  He kissed each of my fingers, then picked up my other hand and kissed it also in the same fashion.

He reached out to my face and cupped my cheek into his hand.  My heart was already given to him when I had looked into his eyes earlier.  We stood up and he kissed my lips like a feather floating on a gentle breeze.  He lifted my body like picking up a small child and he carried me to the bed.  He sat me down.  He kneeled down on the floor before me and laid his head in my lap.

"Please tell me I'm not dreaming.  If I am, never let me wake." he said.

I reached out to the thick wavy brown curls that was on his head and smoothed them back.  He looked back into my eyes and I melted into his presence.  I laid back on the bed and he undressed me.  I reached out to undress him but he steeled my hand gently with a kiss.  He undressed himself and he looked at me.  He reached out for me and I welcomed him.  Such passion I have never felt before.  He was the sun and the rain that made this flowering bud bloom.




Epilogue

It has been a few years since that one night.  I became pregnant from that night and I found out later that month.  My husband was killed in a battle and after the grieving period was over I married David.  The child that was conceived on that night died later after he became very ill.  David comforted me after the child died.

Lord, I had grieved over the son that I lost.  He was conceived in the wrong soil.  You have shown favor on me.  Once more a small bud has been sown, this time in good soil and I know this flower will bloom in radiant light.  Let this child be a son to replace the one David and I had lost.  He will be yours.  Thank you for showing mercy on me.