My first attempt at a novel began as the result of the
FaithWriters Writing Challenge - and a relatively minor Bible character by the name of Michal. This is one of the challenge entries I wrote featuring her - and probably one of my favorites.
Hope you enjoy it as well :)
Smile
"His bravery knows no bounds, it seems," Jonathan muttered. "It seems I was right about him."
"He has certainly caught the king's eye." Ahiram helped his master
remove his armor and hang it on the proper hooks in the armory. "First a
musician, then an armor bearer for the king, and now a giant slayer."
Jonathan nodded. "He has caught my eye as well." He bit his lip. "God is surely with him."
Ahiram nodded. "From what I have seen, his faith in the Lord never falters. He is quite an example to the other armor bearers."
Jonathan nodded, leaning against the armory wall. "David is certainly a
courageous and Godly man. He is a man to befriend for certain. I have no
doubt he will play a crucial role in the growth of my father's kingdom,
and I would like to be beside him in this. It seems he can only do good
for Israel."
The two men heard shuffling outside the armory door. Jonathan looked out
to see his younger sister walking--no, skipping--away down the hall. He
almost called after her, but turned back to Ahiram instead.
"The next time you see him, Ahiram, send him to me."
**
"Oh, Rivka. Did you hear? He did it. It was David, Rivka!" Michal sank
into her bed, cheeks flushed and a broad smile overtaking her entire
face. "I'd heard the giant was killed and the awful Philistines
defeated, but he did it, Rivka." She sighed. "David--
my David--killed him."
She snickered. "Your David, child? Have you spoken to him even once
since Jonathan introduced you that day?" Rivka winked. "I don't think
he's yours, dear, and he may never be."
Michal's face turned a deep crimson. "But Father said whoever killed the
giant would get his daughter's hand in marriage. And I am the king's
daughter, after all."
Rivka sat on the bed and put her hand on Michal's back. "This is true,
dear. However, Merab is yet unmarried, and you know that traditionally
she must be married off first."
Michal gasped, and buried her head in her hands. "But Merab couldn't
care less about him. Father wouldn't do that, would he?" Michal looked
into her servant's eyes and knew exactly what Rivka thought about that
proposition. She began to weep softly.
"Now, now, Michal. One never knows." Rivka rubbed Michal's back. "Don't lose hope, dear. God works in surprising ways."
She leaned into Rivka. "Jonathan did say he would put in a good word
with father, didn't he? And Merab is already being courted. Perhaps it
will happen."
Rivka smiled. "Yes. Perhaps it will. But it will not likely happen on
this day. So today, Princess Michal, you must prepare for the women's
victory banquet. Your mother will be expecting you and Merab to look
your best."
Michal popped out of bed and opened her wardrobe, rifling through the
dresses hanging there. She pulled out a ruffled blue gown and placed it
against her front side.
"How about this?" Michal's eyes sparkled. "David smiled at me when he saw me in it at Father's throne room a fortnight ago."
Rivka raised her eyebrows. "It's a lovely dress. But you likely won't
see David, I'm sure you realize. You know as well as I that the men's
banquet and the women's banquet are separate."
"Perhaps not." Michal gazed out her window. "But one never knows, does one?"
"I suppose not, Michal. I suppose not."
**
Michal glided through the palace toward the women's banquet hall,
stopping in the garden when she noticed her brother Jonathan standing
beside a sycamore tree.
"Congratulations, Brother. God was with us once again."
It was only once she was standing right beside him that she saw he was
not alone. Just to the other side of the tree was another of her
father's fighting men.
Michal willed her face from reddening as she gazed at the giant slayer, then dropped her eyes quickly.
But not before she saw him smile.
Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths