Ruth: Reimagined

Enticed

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Enticed
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I have a request. I hope you take it into consideration, Sir Barak. I'm writing down because I do not want my presence to influence you, for you to be intimidated or feel like you can not deny me even if you wanted to. She is your daughter. I simply ask to go on walks with Ruth every afternoon, I'd like to speak with her on a number of things. I will not defile your daughter,  I respect you, I respect her. I see the future of Moab in her eyes, and I'd just like to hear her thoughts.

~🍁King Eglon

Your majesty, I trust you with my life! I trust Chesmosh. The interest you have taken on my daughter is unexpected. My wife is quite hesitant about it all…she thinks differently. I do nothing without her, yes, and she's agreed only on the terms you bring her back before the sun sets. My daughter Ruth is not used to all the attention, so forgive her silence and her flustered state.

~🍁 Sir Barak.

Thank you, sir Barak! I want to be frank with you, I feel like I haven't been completely honest with you. I am in love with your daughter, Ruth, and I plan on marrying her. I plan on making her Queen of Moab. I know you well, Sir Barak, and I know you'd never agree to a thing like this, without knowing that she would be the only wife, and I promise she will. I will cut myself from the ties with the wives I have. I only want Ruth.

~🍁King Eglon.

Two weeks later…

In the midst of a field of flowers, as the sun set against the pink tinted sky, Ruth stared at King Eglon’s  dark, dark eyes; he had never been as close as he was now. The full beard looked good on him. It matched well with his black curly hair. Without the crown and the compressing royal clothes, he looked different, he looked… human.

“Ruth.”

She snapped out of her daze, looking away from his eyes, to stare up at the sky. It was getting late.

“Did you hear what I said?” he asked gently.

She shook her head, her cheeks burning. She hadn't been paying attention, she got lost, she fell into the void that was his dark eyes, it  frightened her, as well as—

“I'm sorry, your majesty.”

He smiled, shaking his head, “I have no problem repeating myself, Ruth.”

Again, the way he said her name, it wrapped around his lips, like something he enjoyed to utter.

“What do the nights bring for you?”

She was left in a state of stupor. It wasn't just the question he had just asked, but it was all the afternoons  spent with him, how he spoke, the conversations he led her to. It was all so—

Ruth couldn't help it any longer. The whole thing was unbelievable,  absolutely beyond comprehension. The laughter burst out of her, softly at first, restrained. In the midst of asking King Eglon for forgiveness, the laughter continued, stronger.

King Eglon, to her surprise, laughed too, as deep as his voice, but frighteningly gentle. It made her think of the clouds that were above her.

They both stopped at about the same time, holding each other's gaze, as the sighs teared out of their lips.

“It is quite good to hear you laugh, Lady Ruth. Music to my ears.”

Ruth remained silent.

“My question, was it too forward?”