Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: GLUTTONY (overindulgence and overconsumption) (01/15/15)
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TITLE: Between the Lines of History | Previous Challenge Entry
By Frankie Kemp
01/22/15 -
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“Bring Eustace to me at once,” Henry barked to the two guards who stood at the top of the staircase.
He had watched the man all evening, careful never to let the uncomfortable fellow catch his glance. Henry had purposely ignored him. Eustace had too long delayed meetings and excused himself from banquets while delivering unsatisfactory answers to probing questions in formal, impersonal letters.
“Good evening, Your Majesty.” Eustace knelt and kissed the proffered ring of his king.
“You may retire to the foot of the stairs,” Henry directed the guards before pulling Eustace to his feet and encircling him in a rough embrace. “Now, this is a greeting worthy of a brother and fierce ally.”
Eustace returned the embrace. “Hello, Henry. It has been too long, now, since we have last spoken.”
“You have missed many a fine party, and I have missed your counsel. Strangely, I have watched you tonight, missing even this feast. You have barely eaten, and surely the Eustace that I have known since my youth would never limit himself to only one goblet of the finest wine in all of England.”
“Henry . . . I . . .” Eustace looked down at his trembling hands, sighing before looking up to meet the firm gaze of his king and life-long friend. “Henry, I have wanted to talk to you for such a long time now, but I haven’t known how . . .”
“Come now, Eustace, what could you possibly have to say to me that would cause you such miserable angst? What has happened to my fierce champion, the brave friend who was going to ensure all the new cardinals and bishops of the Great Church of England would honor their king and lead the people in this new era?”
“Henry, I am not the same man I was the last time we were together . . .”
“Don’t tell me that you have discovered some newfound piety.”
“Not piety, Henry. I have been found by Christ Himself.”
Henry’s careful calmness exploded as he slammed a hand against the balcony railing, “Eustace, speak plainly. Why do you stand before me like a dog who has ruined his master’s rug?”
Eustace’s hesitation vanished, “It’s amazing, Henry. When you commissioned me to work with your scholars to study the Bible and search out scriptures on which to build your church, everything changed for me. I changed. I see truth now, Henry. Jesus is as real to me as you are. His promise of redemption and wholeness. His Grace. His Church.”
Henry’s gaze hardened and his voice lowered, “Have you been consulting Luther? I NEVER advised that, nor will I ever!”
“No, Henry. I have been reading and studying the Bible and the works of many scholars.”
“And why does this change who you are and your work on behalf of the Church of England?”
“Knowing Christ has changed me. He is the head of the Church. No man can ever be that, not even the great Henry VIII. You are as dear as a brother to me. Because of that and because of the love of Christ, I must speak truth to you and the people of England.”
“A brother would not betray me. Have you forgotten what happens to those who do?”
“There is a fate worse than death, Henry—to die without truly knowing Christ. I am not afraid of your executioner’s axe.”
“Not death, Eustace. I will cut out your tongue and feed it to the hounds. I will exile you forever from my presence. History and the people of England will forget you, but I will be remembered forever.”
“Oh, that you would see, Brother! It is Almighty God who is doing a great work for the sake of His kingdom. I fear if you do not learn that only the love of Christ can satisfy the hunger of your soul, history will remember you as a brooding, bloody tyrant who murdered those he once loved while never finding enough food to fill his ever-growing but empty belly.”
“Guards! Take this treasonous traitor to the Tower!”
Henry returned to the feast without ever looking back at Eustace.
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That's a good thing. :)
God bless~
God bless~