Day 304: Meeting of the Queens

The Prompt: Queen Esther and ex-queen Vashti meet.  What do they say? Esther 1

Esther was walking through the village streets, greeting her people and hoping to visit some of her old friends, when she stumbled into a haggard cloaked woman.  "Forgive me.  I didn't see you come out from behind the stall."

The woman set down the cloak from her hood and studied the young queen.  Esther noticed she looked Persian.  Her face, once youthful and treated with beauty products regularly, showed faint wrinkles around her mouth and eyes.  Her hair was frizzled.  Her clothes looked worn, like she traveled often.  Aside from the few fine jewels she wore hidden beneath the cloak, Esther thought she was poor.

"You don't know who I am, do you?" she asked accusingly.

"No, should I?"

"No, you probably wouldn't recognize me anyways," the bitter voice answered.  "My name is Vashti."

Esther couldn't help but gasp, causing the woman to snicker sarcastically.  "Didn't expect that, did you?"

"Are you sick?" she asked quietly.

Vashti scoffed.  "This is what happens when your king dumps you."

"I'm so sorry th-"

"You're prettier than I imagined," Vashti interrupted, obviously not paying attention to her.  "Of course nothing finer for his Majesty.  I suppose he acts like he loves you."

"Well yes-"

"Don't believe him.  He'll get tired of you soon enough, just as he tired of me.  Then you'll be disposable."

Esther's eyes mirrored the hurt Vashti displayed.  "If you need anything at all, Vashti, my ladies and I would be more than willing to help.  I can get you food, a place to stay."

"I don't need handouts from my replacement," she scoffed.  "I should be on my way.  Lovely to meet you, Highness."  She gave an exaggerated curtsy and left.

Esther watched where she walked, making a mental note when she would need to deliver something to Vashti later.  "I'll be praying for you."