The Merry Widow – Chapter 7 – The Pilgrimage – February 1511
Suleiman had come to visit. His auntie was always happy to receive him. She had taken up a new passion of tasting the new teas the traders brought from Asia. Green, black, blue, red, and even some flavored with different herbs made caught her interest.
Today she was serving Oolong, a blue tea with a nutty flavor she seemed to be fond of. She poured the tea from a pot she had warming over a candle. She poured herself some.
He was intrigued by the cup. There was no handle to it and she smiled lifting it with her fingers, showing him. He nodded and did the same sipping the tea.
There was a moment of silence. He looked at his aunt. She had aged some. Her face was lined with disappointment now and she seemed to have lost weight. He well knew she was not happy, though she found pleasures enough to at least keep her smiling. He knew that his uncle was not an easy man to be married to, especially when it was rumored that he liked to raise his hands to her, though the man was smart, no longer bruising her where it could be seen.
Perhaps it was to keep the janissaries from being more infuriated with him. Suleiman also knew Tarik, the janissary captain had come to her rescue after her husband's last brutal beating. It apparently had been more words and making sure she knew who was in charge of the household. It was slowly wearing the spirit of his auntie down and he did not like it.
"I have asked grandfather to go on a hajj." He said softly.
"A pilgrimage." She nodded. "I would like to explore those roots myself, but I am confined to the palace…again."
"Perhaps we can convince grandfather to allow you to go. Technically as sultan, you are a member of his harem as head wife to his eldest son." He said.
She chuckled. "The harem is nothing like I thought it was."
"Oh?"
"I thought it was a place of scantily clad women always wanting attentions from noble lords." She smiled and drank more tea.
"And the reality?"
"Women learning and studying to be the equals of their life partners in science and culture. There are very few of the concubines who are there merely for the pleasure of the sultan or his sons."
He chuckled. "Indeed." He watched her eyes wonder to the window. "Are you unhappy, Auntie."
"I am a princess. I am not always happy, but I am content, Suleiman." She said.
"That wasn't really an answer."
She looked back. "You will understand in time." Her eyes looked down to her lap.
He touched her cheek. "I would see you smile more."
She looked back at him. "You are such a clever boy. I hope the woman you chose to marry is beautiful and charming and knows how to please you."
"Ahmet is not an easy man."
"No." She said.
"Father has told me that if he managed to find you first, he would have married you and saved you this torment."
She looked at him sharply. "I have been dealt my cards, Suleiman. I must live with it." She cocked her head. "What must I do to prepare for the hajj?"
He leaned forward glad of the turn in conversation to speak to her.
ZzZ
Two weeks later the weather was pleasant and the breeze from the sea made the day beautiful.
Ahmet read the letter as he looked at his wife who was doing embroidery on some cloth. The woman looked pensive as she worked, but her nimble fingers were sure as she moved the needle and thread. He came to her.
She looked up expectantly.
"It would seem my father has an errand for you."
"An errand?"
"He wishes you to go on the hajj." He said. "It is something Suleiman is doing. With affairs in turmoil here, I cannot escort you, but he can with his men." He looked at her, his eyes watchful. "Would you like that?"
"If it pleases you."
He watched her. As much as he liked being dominate over her, he did like her spirit. He gently lifted her chin and looked at him. "I think it would be good for you. It is also a Pillar of Islam." He then kissed her cheek.
She looked at her embroidery. "Do you like it?"
He nodded. "Yes. Now go make ready. You will be joining Suleiman in Kefe in a few days' time."
She rose to her feet and he caught her to him. She stiffened and he smiled at her trying to reassure her. He knew his violence against her had changed their relationship. He had not meant it to, but that smirk she wore angered him.
He kissed her softly his hands going to her middle. He had heard rumors from her maids that her courses had not been upon her in more than a month. He wondered. He hoped if there was a child in her womb that it would bind them closer. He swore he would not lay a hand on her again if she gave him such a gift.
She looked at the look on his face as she pulled back. "You want a child?" She asked.
"Yes. I have not fathered any children." He said. "I would love for a prince to come from your womb. It would insure the stability of the kingdom I am planning."
She looked at him. "I do not know if I can." She said.
He took her hand and led her to her bedchamber. "We shall see. Well-tended gardens bear fruit. I have been cruel and remised in my duties to you, beloved. I will see you off. Perhaps a child will grow or already is within your womb." He began to strip her of her clothing.
His gentleness caught her off guard. She had not enjoyed his lovemaking in the better part of a year. She was surprised as he gently entered her that she was enjoying it. After he lay with her gently caressing her lower back and pressing tender kisses to the scars from being whipped from years ago.
They rose for dinner and then returned to the bedchamber where he seemed determined to make her think on him fondly while she was on the hajj.
ZzZ
The next morning she traveled to Kefe. On her travels she arrived at a palace that was the middle ground and she was startled to find Selim there, waiting for her in the shadows of the princess's bedchamber. She was rumpled from travel, but he did not care. She was there and his for now.
He had arrived the day before, but that did not matter as she fell into his arms happily. Qadr caught them as they lay together speaking and she brought her mistress tea. She merely smiled. She had taken in her mistress's look of joy as she looked at Selim who was protectively holding her to him as he stared threateningly at the young woman.
The maid commented as Noor went to her that she would never betray her mistress, especially when her mistress was far more happy than she had been with Ahmet. Noor nodded and returned to Selim who had been waiting for her. He had been quite willing to cut out the girl's tongue, but Noor spoke with gentle words.
The maid left them and he immediately claimed her once more and she laughed in joy as he kissed her and whispered words that made her blush scarlet. He kissed her neck and continued.
She looked at him, panting and grinning, "Do we have that much honey?" She asked.
ZzZ
They traveled together to Kefe where they were greeted by Suleiman who was surprised and delighted to have his father join them and see them off. Selim and his son had always been close. Selim knew his son had inherited much of his personality and he hoped the boy would prove a good leader. He was already doing well as the governor of Kefe.
Selim helped Noor from her horse and held her hips a little longer than was necessary and then he stepped back allowing the groom to take her horse.
She embraced Suleiman who smiled at his father as they walked to the palace.
Suleiman and Noor went horseback riding. Selim was impressed that she rode so well on the tall Arabian horses. She rode sidesaddle, as a princess in a long riding habit dress would be required. However, she rode with a grace that neither man was expecting. She had adapted well to the Ottoman culture.
Suleiman watched as she sent a bird of prey out to hunt for her. The majestic creature returned with a duck for the feast.
At dinner Selim explained that he was busily gathering support. His father did not wish to name him over his elder son, however, Selim had the support of the army and the Janissaries. Suleiman listened and was surprised by such a bold action.
They spoke well into the night. Selim knew his son was intelligent and he also knew that his son supported him as did the woman in their presence, though she could not make that publically known.
When all was quiet, Selim came to the princess's rooms and she was again transported to one of the happiest nights of her life since Gilberto had died. Selim told her that he was planning to free her from his brother as well. She would not be his captive long.
She had just smiled sadly and allowed him to hold her.
ZzZ
It was early, with the tide when the pair and their small entourage left by the boat. It would more than a week to reach the holy cities. They dressed in the plain white clothing of pilgrims and did all the prayers required.
Suleiman was the first to notice how pale and ill his Auntie was, but she refused to comment and stuck with the practices. She did not eat well in the mornings and was ravenous at night. Suleiman consulted with his physician and the man confirmed that perhaps, as he had also observed, the princess was perhaps carrying a child.
Noor, however, was clever herself and when she realized she was being watched she collected the blood of a chicken and used it to soak the rags under her clothing. This of course was observed and she bathed every day to wash clean of her blood with her maids who had not noticed that it was not her own. Her time was shorter than many women, but most of the maids and men passed it off to age. Perhaps such things did not last a full five days in sway to the moon when on was older.
Outside the city of Madinah she remained in the red tent, delaying the progress of her nephew, though Suleiman did not mind.
They visited and prayed at the tomb of Mohammad before they traveled further to Makkah where they performed all the rituals of the Hajj.
For her part, Noor felt accomplished.
It took a month of the Hajj duties before the pair was ready to return home. Every day was a different part of the ritual. She participated and Suleiman helped her read from the sacred texts and preform the tasks that were required of her.
However, Noor wished to see the sea before returning to Konstantiniyee. They sailed from Damascus to Rhodes. There they boarded a more heavily fortified ship. Though they had few attendants, the boat was more suited to fight off pirates and to keep the royals safe, though they traveled under assumed names.
Noor was often on deck enjoying the air. She was veiled and wore a headscarf looking like several of the women on board. There was a red haired Italian woman whom she had noticed, but the younger woman seemed to keep much to herself.
Several men were there including one stranger who had the air of someone who lived in the shadows. He had his cowl up constantly, but Noor found him of interest. He did not speak, but she watched him from across the deck even when the seas were light enough for her to play chess against her nephew.
She had taught him the European version in which castling was legal. He was a good player and she was only a mildly good player. She was learning from Suleiman and at least was good enough to hold his interest.
Now fluent in Turkish she knew well she seemed to look and seem as any of the many Ottoman's on board. The stranger seemed to take little notice of her, but he did often spend time reading from an old book her had in his possession.
However, when they were alone, Suleiman encouraged her to teach him Italian. She willingly spoke to him and helped him learn how to write in the Romanized letters. He wrote his name and her name. He was amazed when he watched her write her old name with a flourish. He smiled and watched her write in Arabic.
"It is a beautiful thing to watch you Auntie. You do every detail with such care."
She smiled at him. "Age has tempered my impatience, Suleiman."
He laughed. He had the slightest bit of a mustache on his lip. His dark brown eyes watched her in the light from an oil lamp.
Soon they would be back in the great capital of the Ottoman Empire. There would be much work for them there, but for now, they could be themselves. It was a rare thing for a royal and they relished it.
From the corner, the stranger in the cowl watched and listened to them, not truly understanding, but he liked the lady's voice. It reminded him of someone in his past. He had been told she had been murdered by Templar Byzantines when she had come to Constantinople for trade. He hoped to one day find her grave and lay flowers for the woman he had loved as a sister most of his life. She knew him and he missed her gentle, but fiery spirit. Now she was gone…
Someone he dearly missed.
