Chapter 2
With our new names established, we were introduced to the daily life of the haremlik. We were Cariyes, or imperial court ladies. For the first few days, we were given tasks to accomplish, either tidying up the main room, help in random tasks like changing the bedrolls, or one of the Mistresses of the household. One morning, we were told our Turkish lessons would begin immediately. Nigar Kalfa led us to the classroom where she taught us the rudimentary knowledge of the language. Older Cariyes and some of the Gözde, the kinder ones, often aided us outside classes, either with speaking, or our tasks. Through this, I became acquainted with Nilüfer, a Cariyes from the previous batch of slaves the harem had received. Fatma, Leyla, Halime and Husni were from my group, new to the daily court life and unaccustomed to the troubles and the language. The favourites, or Ikbal, we learned, were the ladies who dressed luxuriously in silks and expensive jewellery. Our lives were filled with lessons and tasks, having a bit to spare for our own devices. One of those days, we went to the baths, for relaxation and to clean ourselves after toiling the day away. Fatma, Leyla and I had arrived later, due to some errand Nigar Kalfa had sent us in the afternoon. I looked forward to bathing, I eagerly walked in and took a place near Nilüfer. She waved and smiled.
"I was wondering whether I'd see you." She teased, waving to Fatma and Leyla. Other girls gathered around her as they washed. I picked up one of the water pans and began pouring some over myself and Fatma, who giggled in thanks.
"You're just in time!" Halime said, grinning. "Nilüfer is telling us about harem life." Husni giggled, stopping in her motion of rubbing herself with soap.
"And Sultan Suleyman!" Efsun, another of the older Cariyes, scowled Husni, for speaking over Nilüfer, who had been about to restart her speech.
"Shhh, let her speak!" Efsun scolded, earning giggles from the other girls. "Speak, Nilüfer." Said girl nodded in thanks, smiling.
"As I was saying, at first, you have to attend lessons. You'll learn all you need to provide good company to the Sultan." Fatma waved away her words, gesturing, pan in hand. Leyla dodged the erratic pan in time, unbeknownst to Fatma.
"We have been told that already." She pouted. "We'll learn Turkish, both spoken and written, Ottoman history, poetry, music, dancing, other…arts." She wiggled her eyebrows while saying the last words, causing us to laugh outrageously. Other women using the baths at the same time eyed us suspiciously, others openly scowling at us.
"Fine, I'll move on." Nilüfer put her tongue out childishly, but continued. "Only when completing the training will you be considered Hatun. Then you can be called by Sultan to walk the golden path. Those who do, will earn rewards for providing good company and will be Gözde. Be called several times and you might be elevated to Ikbal and live in the mezzanine, dress silks every day and not participate in the daily tasks the Cariyes and Gözde must perform. If you find yourself with child and said child is male, then you are elevated further to Kadin, and can call yourself Sultana. As Sultana, you'll live in the Royal Wing and won't have a care in the world." We were all raptured by her tale. "But only Valide Sultan will choose girls to walk the golden path. She's the one who rules the Harem for the Sultan."
"Who are the Kadins now?" Fatma asked.
"Mahidevran Sultan and Hürrem Sultan." Efsun answered, giving Nilüfer no chance to speak "There are only two. Mahidevran has the first Sehzade, Mustafa. She's the Bas Kadin. Hürrem Sultan has Mehmed, Selim and Mihrimah Sultan."
"We see the kadins rarely." Nilüfer explained us as we bathed, aiding each other rinsing our skin and hair. Leyla tilted the basin she held over my head while I ran my hands through my hair. "They are reserved and tend not to mingle with us, only in days of feast and celebrations in the harem. They meet daily, but tend to do their own things. Mahidevran Sultan and Hürrem Sultan mostly stay away from the harem and each other's faces, preferring to spend their time solidifying their position and that of their children."
"And the Sultan?" Fatma asked, from behind Halime and Husni. She looked excited about the prospect of entertaining him and becoming one of the royals. Efsun laughed from where she bathed, as Fatma had told a great joke.
"You think you have any chance of ever walking the golden path?" She asked, disdain dripping from every word. "Don't fool yourself. We're here because we're slaves, you'll learn the ways of the concubines, then you'll do nothing else but wait until your years of service end to be found a worthy husband." Efsun shrugged. "Hürrem Sultan has the Sultan in her claws, almost no one is ever called to walk the golden path, nowadays." We all looked to Nilüfer, who confirmed Efsun's comment.
"It's almost impossible for anyone other than a kadin to walk the golden path." Nilüfer replied, sadly. "We're being taught for potential future husbands, I guess…" That dampened our already gloomy mood. A harem without use is the breeding grounds for trouble.
"We'll be here forever, without service or task, other than cleaning?" Fatma was aghast. Her face was twisted in disbelief and grief. I felt the same. To be stuck in the haremlik for the rest of my life, knowing no other life…Nilüfer giggled.
"No, silly. Women in the harem only serve for 7 to 9 years. After that, they are given a trousseau and married off, or given a pension and sent back home." Nilüfer shrugged. "Depends on your choice. Most just marry, others remain in the Palace as servants, becoming kalfas or servants to the kadins and the Valide Sultan." That brought relief to us, but my relief was short lived. What would become of me? Would I be married off? I can't see myself returning to my family. I would be cast off by the rest of the Catholic society, regardless of being here against my will.
Turkish classes took most of our days, in order to force us to become proficient quickly. During our tasks, we were encouraged to speak in the new language only, to force us to forget our previous languages. Once we had good grasp of Turkish, did our classes begin in earnest. I was amazed by the quantity of subjects offered to Cariyes. Besides languages, we were taught Ottoman history, poetry, music, other arts, and the Koran. All we were taught were the basics of the arts. Those who showed skills in particular areas were further schooled, for mastery in said area. The rest were given instructions in everything in general. I was taken for dancing classes, seeing as my moves were graceful and well executed, but I had no luck with poetry. I had excellent voice for reciting and singing, but no creativity to produce anything of worth. Our routine continued for quite a long time. Weeks passed, classes and tasks and gossiping were all that occupied our time. One day, however, we were called to order by Nigar Kalfa, while we dined. She called for attention and, immediately, our eyes were on her.
"Valide Sultan has called for celebration tomorrow." She announced, causing a buzz to rise. "She will announce the reason in the feast. Prepare yourselves accordingly." While people gossiped and tittered around me, Nigar Kalfa called me and few others aside. I was apprehensive, but she put us at ease right away. "You are to dance and play for Valide Sultan, Hatice Sultan and the kadins during the celebrations. You'll be excused from classes and tasks to prepare and practise. I'll trust you won't disappoint me." I nodded, mind going through all my movements I had learnt so far. Depending on the melodies the musicians played, I'd change accordingly. I couldn't allow myself to be distracted. Fatma and Husni were giddy with excitement and anticipation. Husni danced as well as me, while Fatma had a gift with the santur, playing sweetly, like her personality.
"I'm so nervous!" Husni trembled, voice cracking. "This is such rare opportunity." Fatma giggled, twirling around.
"Do you think the Sultan will attend?" Fatma gasped, suddenly thinking of the possibility. I shrugged, it was his harem, he could come and go at any moment, although he never did.
"Perhaps." I spoke, excited at the prospect of showing off. "But we should do our best, regardless of who's watching."
"Of course!" Husni agreed. "Sultan or not, an opportunity is and opportunity." We shared a mischievous grin and went back to our dinner, sharing the infectious good humour that took hold of the inhabitants of the harem. The night went by quickly. Sleep was shorter, as we woke up earlier than the other girls to prepare our part. First, we practised our music and dance. Around the middle of the day, we had a light snack and were told to dress up accordingly. We bathed quickly and went to the wardrobe area, where shared silk clothing and jewellery were stored for these occasions or when the Sultan called one of the Cariyes or Gözde. I dressed in a light blue dress, which would look like moving water as I danced, and matching jewellery. Husni dressed in provocative red, while Fatma wore a forest green silk dress. Nerves began to affect me as time approached. Fatma tuned her santur, Husni and I danced around one another, like water and fire circling. Eventually, we sat down and waited. The wait was short, for Sümbul Agha came to call and lead us back to the main room. Then we saw Valide Sultan and Hatice Sultan, already sitting on their divans, along with the kadins, Hürrem and Mahidevran, occupying pillows by the royal ladies. I didn't spend much time looking at who else sat in the places of honour. The musicians began playing, cuing us to begin our part. Listening to the flow og the instruments, I wove my dance according to the rhythm, and maintained a slow pace, to allow the others to keep up and not ruin our performance. Still, it was hard not to dance as I pleased. We continued like this for long, until Valide Sultan called for the entertainment to stop. I tried not to frown. Were we unpleasant to look at? I found the reason was one altogether different. Instead, we heard the reason we were called to celebrate.
"Today, I'm proud to announce my dear daughter, my Hatice, is expecting a child!" Valide Sultan gushed, holding her daughter's hands in hers in hers. Hatice glowed, irradiating happiness. "We shall pray daily to Allah for an easy birth and much happiness to both you and the child." We all cheered, and entertainment resumed promptly. In midst of my dancing, I noticed both Valide Sultan and Hatice Sultan staring directly at me. It threw me off momentarily, but I managed to recover. I wondered why I was under such scrutiny, I forced myself to block off all distractions, putting all my mind to the dance.
That's why I didn't notice the agha calling attention to the Sultan's arrival and I twirled around, ending up face first against his chest. He looked down at me, eyes twinkling in amusement as I stared up dumbly, until I gathered my wits and scurried away to the line of Cariyes, mumbling clumsy apologies while keeping my head down. I felt my face heating up in embarrassment, how could I be so stupid, I thought to myself. His hand touched my chin suddenly, pulling my head up to face him.
"You dance beautifully." He complimented me, before releasing my chin and going to his family. My eyes were glued to his back, shock the strongest emotion I felt at that moment. So strong were the mix of emotions, it went unseen the glares sent my way by the kadins, or the speculative looks I received from Valide Sultan, Hatice Sultan and Gülfem.