Chapter 6
Word of my presence in Valide Sultan's private feast spread through the harem like wild fire, Servants talked, so did those commanded to attend the evening as entertainment, like the musicians. They were all brought from the Harem, and their eyes had been on the Sultan and his family all night long. They saw me dance, they saw us interact. Their words reached far, from the Cariyes, to the Kadins. If there was resentment before, it became worse after another token of preferment from the Valide Sultan towards me. More than once I heard snappy insults directed at me when favourites spoke to one another, not caring to speak in hushed tones as some did, while Cariyes were more frontal, demanding to know what I had done for such favouritism from the Sultanas. I shrugged and carried on with my tasks, giving little importance to what was being said, and giving them little as excuse to why I was set above the rest. Nilüfer was my pillar of strength, really. She stuck to me, throwing nasty looks to those who dared speak insultingly in her presence, causing her to snap twice when some of the more jealous Gözde were particularly offensive. Fortunately, neither kalfas nor aghas had to intervene. Another token of luck was the lack of offensive strikes by the kadins. For some reason (and I believed Valide Sultan had something to do with it), there had been no warnings or attempts to sabotage me from either Mahidevran or Hürrem.
"Wait for it, when they find a way around Valide Sultan, you'll find something unpleasant." Efsun warned, not bothering to lower her voice. Nilüfer glared, not liking the way the other spoke. Husni and Fatma exchanged worried looks. "And trust me, they will. Especially Hürrem!" We sat huddled around a table, working in mending clothing. Efsun sat frequently with us, yet defended she was not like us. We let her speak, giving each other secret smiles. We enjoyed her presence, as well as her sharp tongue, we took no offense in her words. She often sought to comfort us, although she did remain aloof most of the time. Efsun was Efsun, there was no help for it. We took her friendship in stride and worried little about her way of talking.
"Don't be spiteful." Nilüfer snapped, tugging at the fabric violently, in barely concealed anger. "Just because you're jealous, doesn't mean you have to openly wish her ill." I smiled at Nilüfer's bickering. She had good intentions, but I wondered why.
"She's not wishing me ill, Nilüfer." I chided gently. She was, after all, defending me, being harsh would accomplish nothing. "She's simply stating the obvious." I turned my eyes to Efsun, who looked embarrassed. She didn't expect gratitude, and, for one brief moment, I saw a shy smile. I took it as a victory. The more allies, the better. "Better be forewarned than being caught unprepared." A wise advice from one of my mother's ladies. I had never taken the advice to heart, but now, I wouldn't risk anything without having my back protected. Hürrem was an immediate threat to my possible success. She had the ear of the Sultan, in spite of Valide Sultan's attempts to dampen her power directly or indirectly. Hatice Sultan was on friendly terms with the russelana, yet, she was aware of the power struggles between her and several of the Sultan's loyal retainers and family members, even against her own husband, Ibrahim Pasha.
"Well said." Husni cheered, making us all giggle, disregarding the nasty looks our group received from everyone around us. We waited, eagerly inside but cool and indifferent on the outside, for the summons we were certain would come. In the meanwhile, I was called to Valide Sultan's presence, to serve her for one afternoon. Mahidevran Sultan visited, bowing respectfully before taking a seat on a pillow, all the while throwing dark glares my way. As befitted a servant of the Valide Sultan, even though temporary, I remained aloof and indifferent, standing slightly behind Daye Hatun. Gülfem tried her best to pretend nothing was out of the ordinary, despite the tension caused by Mahidevran. Valide sipped on the sherbet I had prepared for her.
"This is quite good." She complimented, smiling in my direction. I simply bent my knees briefly, in acknowledgement of her praise. Gülfem smiled up to me, and I smiled back.
"That dress is very becoming." She said, admiring the embroidery I had added to my silk gown. Hatice Sultan had gifted it to me after the feast, saying I would need a better outfit in case Sultan Suleyman called me to walk the Golden Path. It was a simple, peach coloured gown, with lace sleeves. It lacked decorative motifs, so I added them on my own, bringing the gown to life with flowers and birds. Since I only owned the one dress, I used it for the afternoon in Valide Sultan's chambers, in order not to look out of place as I would wearing the blue and white uniform dress Cariyes wore in the harem on daily basis.
"Indeed, you have quite the hand for stitching." Valide comments. "My Aslan was very pleased with the kaftan we gave him, and your work blended well with ours." Mahidevran looked up, surprised. She hadn't been called upon to participate in the preparation of the gift, Valide, Hatice and Gülfem had shared the work, leaving me a small spot in the bright silk for my work. I watched as they embroidered, only adding my touch around the end. It was fun.
"Valide Sultan, you let this slave to embroider something for our lord?" Her tone was respectful, but incredulous and resentful. I wanted to giggle, thinking we were the same, both slaves given by their families to the powerful Ottoman Sultan. In insulting me, she insulted herself.
"Yes. Her work in mending and handkerchiefs were praise worthy, I gave her a small task in the gift to my son." She confirmed, speaking lightly. She made no case of how she had left Mahidevran and Hürrem out of the gift. It irked the Bas-Kadin.
"She's a lowly Cariyes!" Mahidevran spoke harshly, glancing darkly in my direction. "Are you really going to replace me with this…simpleton?" She sneered, trying to get a rise out of me and failing miserably. Why would I give her the upper hand, by speaking back? Like the other women in the harem, I gave her no reaction she could use against me.
"The Sultan is the one who chooses his women, and you should keep your peace, for he's the one who has the say. Nothing you say will ever change that." Valide Sultan retorted, bad mood replacing her previous cheery demeanour. "I'm not looking to replace anyone." Except Hürrem. Was left unspoken. "And you're the Bas-Kadin. Your behaviour is unbecoming, Mahidevran." Valide's reprimand hit the target. Mahidevran lowered her head, submissive before the head of the harem. But from the look she gave me, I knew she wouldn't give up.
It didn't take long for the summon to arrive. The following day, as I sat among my friends in the harem, mending clothing and chatting briefly, after the morning lessons, a great commotion spread through the room, both on the ground floor and the mezzanine area. One of the Cariyes ran to where we sat, Nilüfer on the tip of her toes to look over the heads crowding the middle of the room, Fatma by her side, being taller than Nilüfer gave her the advantage the other lacked. Her eyes shone, grinning like a maniac.
"Mihrişah Hatun! He's coming!" She gushed, forgetting her rudeness in the excitement. "Sümbul Agha is coming!" Husni cheered, Efsun smiled, while ignoring the victorious looks from Nilüfer. They could hear his voice as he walked in, telling the women to go back to their work, stop acting like a flock of geese! I rose, seeing him coming in my direction, and the rest followed suit, to bow reverently.
"Mihrişah Hatun!" He drawled, in that peculiar way he spoke. "You've been called to walk the Golden Road tonight. Go and prepare." He turned to Nilüfer and the girl who had warned me. "You two are exempted from today's chores, you'll be accompanying Mihrişah Hatun this night."
"We hear and obey, Sümbul Agha." The three of us intoned together, watching him leave. Nilüfer squealed and hugged me tight.
"See, see? I was right!" She gushed, spinning me hard. Efsun hmph-ed.
"It's a start." I told her, grinning victoriously. "Now, let's go! There's much to do!" We bid the others goodbye and headed for the hammam. The girl, Metike, chattered happily, grateful for the chance, despite not being her called to walk the Golden Path, it was no light chore to accompany those who do. I was pampered, washed and perfumed, by Nilüfer, Metike, and two kalfas assigned to aid us. Since neither Metike nor Nilüfer knew what to do, it fell on the kalfas to teach them, and me (in case I was called upon to perform the same duty in the future) how to proceed in the preparations. Leaving the baths, Nilüfer ran to fetch my gown, while the rest of us went to the treasury for jewellery. I chose simple gold pieces, to complement the gown and not overshadow it. My hair was brushed to a sheen, then curled with heated iron rods in elegantly wrought braziers, carefully handled by the women, using thick towels and leather sheathes to avoid burning their hands. One of the kalfas retrieved a tray of perfumes. Small bottles for us to pick and keep, apparently. We delighted in the different aromas, bringing them to our noses and giggling. For a few hours, we forgot our worries about the harem and the upcoming event that would change my life. I forgot the anxiety and stress of facing Suleyman, the kadins, the world within the Topkapi Palace and enjoyed playing with my friends and the two smiling kalfas, who joined our makeshift little party. But it didn't last. Once we decided on the perfume, completing my ablutions was quicker than I imagined. I was served a small snack and sherbet, more to settle my nerves than fill my belly. I would have dinner with our lord, it would not do to go in a full stomach. I heard the commotion once again, in the main area of the harem. The kalfas rushed us out of the kitchen and back to the harem, where Sümbul Agha and Daye Hatun stood waiting for us. I was taken aback, it wasn't her duty to escort the women down the Golden Path. The older woman smiled upon us benevolently, as if to reassure me.
"Come, Mihrişah Hatun." Sümbul Agha called, moving nervously and twisting his own hands. "Our Sultan awaits his pleasure!" He beckoned us to walk, and guided our small procession down the halls. Daye Hatun walked by my side, a comfortable, calming presence I needed to ground me, lest I panic and run back to the harem. The path seemed endless, stretching into infinity in front of me. But, alas, we reached the door to Sultan Suleyman's inner sanctum soon. Ibrahim Pasha stood in front of the door, to my surprise, as a sentinel. We bowed reverently to the Grand Vizier.
"Mihrişah Hatun." He greeted, cheerful voice contrasting with the serious semblance.
"My lord Pasha." I murmured meekly, keeping my eyes lowered.
"I hope you find and bring happiness to our Padishah." He said, before he stepped aside, freeing the door. I swallowed hard. Daye Hatun's hand caught my arm. Another surprise.
"Be calm and respectful. Be yourself." She advised kindly and squeezed my arm. I bowed my head and thanked her for the kind words, following Sümbul Agha to the door. The Guards knocked and opened the doors, giving me entrance. I looked back one last time, before they closed the doors behind me again.
Suleyman's room was spacious, almost as big as the harem's main room. I must've looked weird, staring in awe at the elegant furnishings and beautiful Persian rugs littering the floor liberally. Candles burned in several places, filling the room with a dim, yet soothing light. A low table, surrounded by a myriad of colourful pillows surrounded it, and was covered with delicacies only served to the members of the Dynasty. I was so in awe with the room, I failed to see Suleyman standing by the door to the balcony, watching me in amusement. His chuckles brought me back to reality. 'Oh Alah!' I wanted to burn with the shame filling me, as I fell to my knees. Steps slowly echoed through the magnificent room, stopping when his feet filled my eyesight. I did the gestures taught in the lessons, reaching for a fold of his kaftan, brought it to my lips then to my forehead, releasing it right after. His hand tenderly tugged my chin up, and I took it as the sign to rise. He was taller than me, a head taller, I had to look up to see his full, bright face. His blue eyes twinkled merrily and I found myself smiling shyly back at him.
"My lord Padishah." I greeted in a sensual tone.
"The sun has risen for her lord." He recited in a low tone. "I was waiting for you, Mihrişah. You owe me a story." He gestured to the low table. "But, first. Let us eat."