The Queen asked specifically for Susanne to bring refreshments for herself and Ramier Dueien (Doo-een), who reported to the Queen once a year on the condition of the prison work camps. He also reported to her any time there were concerns he felt required her attention. Today she would hear him out in the arboretum. If she had to discuss such depressing affairs concerning such a depressing place at least it might ease the mood a little to be surrounded by beautiful flowers and luscious smells. She requested Susanne bring her a tray of her favorite cookies, freshly baked.
As Susanne poured the fresh-squeezed pineapple and strawberry juice over ice in a large chilled goblet, Her Majesty asked, “What do you think, Susanne?” “Ma'am?” Susanne responded.
“Ramier tells me that over the past several years there has been an amazing change in what once was our worst and roughest prison camp. To this particular camp, in the far eastern quarter, the most vile and hardened criminals are sent. It required very severe discipline to keep some semblance of order and actually get some productive work out of these reprobates. Still, there were often reprehensible outbreaks of violence. Mr. Ramier now informs me that this camp has not only improved gradually and steadily for the last few years but has become the most productive of all the camps and seems to function with little occasion of conflict.
“Do you think it would be a good thing for the Queen to reward the commander in charge of this facility and perhaps give the inmates a rest day as a reward to them or do you have another thought on the matter?”
Mr. Duien shifted uneasily. He was not comfortable seeing the Queen asking the opinion of a mere maid who had no knowledge of such things. His time, he thought, was being wasted.
“I am merely a maid, Your Majesty.” Ramier lifted his eyes and suppressed a desire to smirk.
“Yes, Susanne, that is your position, but you are a very efficient maid who has been a comfort to her Queen and who I've learned, over the years, is a woman of wisdom. I want to hear your opinion.” Susanne bowed and thanked the Queen for her kindness, then asked, “Has the same commander been over the camp from the time it began to improve?” “
A good question. What of it Ramier?” “No, there have been three.”
“Perhaps,” offered Susanne, “the Queen might consider visiting the camp herself, unexpectedly, to observe what is taking place and whether or not Her Majesty approves of the methods being used to induce this productivity. If Her Majesty does find these methods to be agreeable, she might wish to instruct the commanders of the other camps to follow suit. “If such a visit were to be advertised among the people, after the fact, it might serve as an encouragement to your subjects to have even greater faith that their Queen is interested in all that concerns her kingdom, thus increasing their trust and affection for her. This may also boost their morale. After such a visit, Her Majesty may decide what, if any, reward best pleases her.”
“A prison camp is no place for our Queen!” Mr. Dueien said disgustedly. “Others can take care of such things for her. How can you suggest Her Majesty go into such a vile place?”
“I thought you said it was greatly improved, Ramier. I'll thank you to speak with respect when you speak to Susanne from now on. I asked for her opinion, did I not?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, you did.”
“Susanne, you have spoken to me with more wisdom than I've heard in a long time.” She looked at Ramier, narrowing her eyes and frowning, a look that in itself reproved and put him in his place. “Even if I do loathe the thought of actually observing a prison camp, such a move could well be worth the discomfort. Surely I am not Queen purely for the comfort of it, but hopefully to serve the people.
“I'll tell you what, Susanne. You accompany me. Your company will comfort me and I could use someone with your insight and wisdom at my side. What do you think of that?”
“I am honored, of course. I would love to accompany you.”
The Queen smiled. “It's settled, then. Ramier, we'll leave on Monday. Do not inform the camp of my intentions. I expect to find the place as it normally is without any special preparations for a visit from the Queen. Stick around here this weekend and be ready to accompany me early Monday morning. Be prepared to take notes on all I tell you. Oh, and Mr. Ramier, from now on, when Susanne speaks to you it will be as though it were I speaking. Do you understand? You will treat her with the utmost respect as my representative. Now you are dismissed.”
Susanne did not know what to think. As the door closed behind Ramier, Natasha looked at Susanne with a twinkle in her eye.
“That made the proud man uncomfortable and put him in his place, I'm sure!” she chuckled. “Susanne, I could use a friend who I can trust. Someone who will be honest with me, rather than just flatter me as most people feel they must, to keep out of trouble and gain my favor. You have known me since I was a child and helped me out of many a scrape. You are older and you are wise. “However, I know that a friend cannot be appointed, hired or purchased. It must be a choice. If you would consider being a friend to me, you will certainly be treated as you deserve.”
“You want me to serve you in my regular capacity and yet be your friend?”
“Just as I must be your Queen as well as your friend. Perhaps I should give you an official position as my personal confidant or advisor. However, that title in and of itself could require a need for added protection for you. We'll have to figure some things out as we go but I'm sure we can. The truth is Susanne you are both older and wiser than myself and would be better at this job than I am. If only I could just give it to you, but alas I cannot. You've helped me out with your wisdom since I was a child. I get lonely and sick of never even hearing my own name. Will you at least consider it?” Susanne had certainly not expected all of this when she entered the arboretum to serve cookies to the Queen but she was thankful to have her trust. She bowed and said, “Of course. I would love to be a friend to my Queen. I care what happens to Her Majesty and would be honored to serve in any capacity she needs me.”
“Well then, when we are alone, no more bowing and no more of this, 'Her Majesty' stuff. I have a name and I want to hear it used. To you I am Natasha and I grant you the favored position of friend. Soon I may make it official that you are my advisor. Yes, I think that is what should be done and soon. This means you are free to speak your true feelings and opinions to me even if it is not what I want to hear. I need someone to be real, honest and upfront with me - a real friend. I think you will be able to do it best.”
Susanne felt herself blush, then did exactly what she felt she should do even if she was taking a chance. She walked up to Natasha, gave her a hug and said, 'Thank you for trusting me, Natasha.” Natasha looked surprised for a second or two, then laughed and said,
“You are more than welcome. Now go take the day off. You've just been given added responsibilities which means you will also have some added privileges. We'll go over the details later. But for now take some time off. I think we'll have some fun, too. Heaven knows I need a little diversion now and then and so do you.”
“If that's what you want then we will,” Susanne assured her, then excused herself.
Walking back to her room, she felt honored, excited and nervous, too. She had agreed to this new position without knowing what all it might entail.
“Oh, Lord,” she whispered, “please show me the way and give me wisdom. I feel you are in this so I place it all in your hands. Guide me and help me be what Natasha needs me to be.” She went to her room and spent some time in prayer. As she left for lunch she noticed how alone she felt. She was so used to talking things over with David and now she missed him. She wondered what was going on in the states and if he was having a good time. She felt something good was happening and was anxious to hear all about it. Having an unexpected afternoon off, she decided to spend it in town. The palace felt large, empty and cold with David gone. She realized now that he was her only close friend. Of course she knew a lot of people, like the other kitchen workers, who she worked around on a daily basis. Most were pleasant and friendly but usually very busy and, for the most part, preoccupied with work and their own lives on the outside, which did not include Susanne. There were the people she worshiped with, who she felt a special bond to. But she never opened her inner self to anyone the way she did to David. He had become a very important part of her life. She realized this, especially now when she found herself feeling so very alone.
My, she thought, imagine how Natasha must feel all of the time. And so young to be in such a position! Well, I'll just get myself busy, she said to herself, and have a nice afternoon of shopping. I'll even eat supper out. This w ill be a pamper-Susanne afternoon. This idea put her in a more jolly mood, so off she went.
The day did turn out to be both fun and relaxing. She bought herself a few new outfits; something she rarely took the time to do and last but best of all, friendship rings for herself and Natasha. Early in the day she found a lovely gold band with two small diamonds in it and had a duplicate made. It was ready to pick up at 7 that evening. So after a delicious supper she picked it up, feeling quite excited. If Natasha didn't find the ring elegant enough to wear she could at least keep it as a token of their friendship. Susanne returned to the palace feeling nearly like a teenager after a fun day in town until she stepped inside the palace doors. Immediately she wanted to go to the kitchen, get a piece of pie and something to drink, sit at the little wooden table in the corner and share her day with David. Oh well, she thought, I'll have pie and a drink in my room and turn in early. I'm already tired.
With all that had taken place that morning with Natasha and her busy afternoon, she felt ready to rest. She did just that, falling asleep nearly as soon as she laid down. Almost as quickly, she began dreaming a most unusual dream. She found herself standing in a place she did not recognize. She was out of doors in a very dusty place facing a large rocky hill. There was a somewhat stocky man of
medium height, hard at work digging rocks out of the side of the hill. His back was to her. To the man's right was a large rock with a flat, smooth surface, on which lay a black Bible. She watched as another man walked toward him from his left. The first man stopped, went over to the large rock, picked up the Bible, handed it to the man who had just arrived, gave him a pat on the back, then resumed his work. There was instantly another Bible on the rock.
A few seconds later, another man coming from another direction walked toward him and the same thing took place again. One by one, men of all sizes and shapes took their turn approaching the busy man, who always stopped, gave them a Bible and a pat on the back. Some of the men would clutch the Bible to their chests and fairly skip or dance for joy. Others would run, shouting joyously as they left the man, who always went right back to his work.
This continued until the sun went down, when the man stopped his work, walked over to the rock, lay his head upon it and rested. Susanne began to walk toward him as he lay there, resting very still beneath only the light of the moon and stars. When she was close enough to see his face he opened his eyes and smiled at her. She woke with a start, sitting bolt upright, her heart beating rapidly. She knew that face!
Now she was wide awake, but the dream still felt so real. It was as though she had truly experienced the entire episode.
“Oh, David...” she whispered. She got up and walked to the window seat, opened the window and sat looking out. The breeze felt good on her face and the sweet aroma of hundreds of roses in the garden below wafted through the air, filling her senses. She was glad to have this room where her window afforded such a beautiful view of the garden, which David kept looking like a touch of heaven.
“I wonder if you will always be in this lovely setting, David,” she spoke into the night. “I wonder if God has work for you beyond this place, in a place of great need.”
As she sat looking out at the grand gazebo which was kept lit up at night, white, trimmed in gold, surrounded by scarlet, white and yellow roses, her thoughts went back to the day when a young carpenter arrived to build that gazebo.
In so many ways he made her think of the carpenter, born in Bethlehem so long ago, to be her Savior. He had indeed been an unusual man. Never before had she seen such love and assurance in any man. God reached out to her through that carpenter and revealed his love for her. It was the beginning of a life change, occurring from deep within her. David had changed too. Now he was the most loving men she knew.
The memory of that long ago day warmed her heart. Looking into the serene night sky, Susanne talked to God as one who was very familiar with him until sleep began again to press in upon her. When she lay down she was peaceful and sleep came easily. In the early morning, however, she dreamed the same dream, detail for detail and again she woke with a start. It was only 6:30 and she wouldn't be leaving for worship until 9 o'clock. So she lay awhile longer, pondering what the dream might mean or represent.
This was not the first dream she had had, that she knew had meaning, but she was very disturbed emotionally and moved spiritually by this one.
“I know, Lord,” she prayed quietly, “that your Word brings life and peace. Does the rock represent you who are the rock of our salvation and the cornerstone of the church? Is this dream just an example of what I should be doing in my own life?”
"No, she said to herself. I mustn't deceive myself. My spirit knows there is more to it than that. I must pray as God leads and listen carefully even if I do not yet understand all that is to be revealed.
As she walked to her friend's home a little later where she joined other friends for worship, she again noticed how alone she felt. The walk usually seemed much shorter as she and David walked together, talked, laughed and even sang.
My, how different the world is, she thought, when only one person is missing!
David would be home on Monday but she would be gone with Natasha, probably most of the day. She was glad to be going except for missing David and Mirah's return. Her emotions were mixed with wanting to go and yet not wanting to be gone on Monday. Part of her was glad and quite anxious to go with the Queen. Surely God was up to something with all that happened yesterday in the arboretum. But she wondered just what it might be and what might happen on their trip tomorrow. Did I agree too quickly without taking time to pray first? she wondered. I reacted according to the immediate need. No, I do feel the Lord was guiding me. If I have made a mistake, I will trust him to show me what to do. But I do feel I am on the right path, at least for now. Well, I'll just have my brothers and sisters pray for me concerning this today at worship. I do wonder what my role w ill be like tomorrow .
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