4-2. A Rescue Mission
Daye Hatun waits with us for a few minutes in case Nilüfer changes her mind and returns to our suite. While I can't claim to know Nilüfer very well, I doubt she will abandon her mission without at least making an effort to reach Hatice and Gülfem. Only Hürrem knows what promised reward has tempted Nilüfer to undertake this dangerous quest. I hope for Hürrem's sake that it's a good reward, because Nilüfer is capable of simply running away rather than returning to the Old Palace. Most girls would never accept such a quest. Even in normal times, a girl travelling alone in the city would face many hazards, and a runaway slave has little chance of successfully fleeing into the countryside. But Nilüfer is no ordinary girl and escaping the city is well within the range of her talents.
Hürrem suggests we all get some sleep. She doesn't expect Nilüfer to return much before dawn. Hürrem promises Daye Hatun that she will be informed the moment there is any news. I doubt any of us will be able to sleep, but we at least lie down to rest. Despite everything I eventually fall asleep after a few hours of tossing and turning. Esme must have fallen asleep at some point as we both wake up about the same time to the sound of voices in the main room of Hürrem's suite. It is still dark outside and I've no idea of the time.
Hürrem hasn't summoned Esme and I, so she clearly doesn't require our presence. We can't simply invite ourselves into her conversation without risking a reprimand. For all we know, Hürrem's visitor may be the Valide wanting an explanation of Hurrem's audacious plan to rescue Hatice and Gülfem. If Esme and I interrupt a meeting with the Valide, then we could end up in real trouble with the Valide.
Esme and I move closer to the door to our room to try and hear the conversation in the other room. The voices are subdued and I can't make out what is being said. Unfortunately I can only identify Hurrem's voice from the hushed conversation. Esme shakes her head to confirm that she too can't make out any details of the conversation.
Our curiosity is satisfied when the door to our room is opened. Esme and I leap back from the door so as not to be struck by the opening door. Fortunately Hürrem has opened the door slowly with the obvious intent of seeing if we are awake. Behind Hürrem, sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the room is the Valide. Behind her stands her maid, Fahriye.
"Ah, good," says Hürrem. "You're both already awake. Get dressed. There's work to be done."
Esme and I do as Hürrem instructs and we join her in the main room a few minutes later. Hürrem is pacing about as though deciding what to do. I would like to know what has happened, but I don't have the courage to ask in the Valide's presence. Finally Hürrem finishes pacing and turns to Esme and I.
"Esme," begins Hürrem. "You are to go with Fahriye and prepare Hatice Sultan's rooms so that they are ready for use when Nilüfer returns with Hatice and Gülfem."
"If they return," interrupts the Valide. She clearly doesn't believe Nilüfer's mission will succeed.
"When they return," persists Hürrem. "I have faith in Nilüfer's abilities. She will triumph despite the odds against her."
Fahriye and Esme leave the room to carry out their orders. The Valide remains seated with a calm but stern look on her face.
"What is your opinion of young Nilüfer's abilities, Gülnihal?" asks the Valide.
It takes me a few moments to overcome my shock at being asked such a question by the Valide. Even Hürrem rarely asks for my opinion about anything important.
"Nilüfer is very resourceful and she's capable of looking after herself," I reply once I find the nerve to answer calmly.
"Not against a mob of armed men," says the Valide. "Some parts of the city are dangerous at the moment. Particularly at night. I fear you have sent Nilüfer to her death, Hürrem."
"Nilüfer understands the risks," replies Hürrem. "She won't unnecessarily jeopardise Hatice's and Gulferm's safety. She will succeed … I'm sure of it."
"You had better be right, Hürrem," says the Valide with a subtle hint of menace in her voice.
I wait for Hürrem to tell me what duty she requires me to perform. After a while I realise that I am already performing that duty by simply standing here. The Valide always has at least one maid standing ready to carry out whatever task she desires. Now that Fahriye has gone with Esme, I must fill in for Fahriye until she returns.
It's a long and boring wait. The Valide shows no sign of returning to her own suite, so Hürrem is forced to make polite conversation, even though she is obviously very tired. I begin to suspect that the Valide is testing Hürrem. I don't think Hürrem knows what the Valide truly thinks of her. When Hürrem was first called to Sultan Suleiman's bedchamber, all the sultanas regarded Hürrem as a brash upstart who didn't know her proper place in the harem hierarchy. Since the announcement of Hürrem's pregnancy, the Valide has shown no bias in favour of Mahidevran at Hürrem's expense. Of course, the absence of Mahidevran from the Old Palace has helped calm the animosity that had been building. It will be interesting to see whether the hoped for return of Hatice and Gülfem will help or hinder Hürrem's acceptance into the higher levels of the harem hierarchy.
Hürrem and the Valide talk together for over half an hour. At Hürrem's discrete signal I fetch the water jug and pour two goblets for Hürrem and the Valide. They each take a goblet without acknowledging my presence. It's as though the goblets magically appeared in their hands. I return to where I have been standing.
It is difficult for me to stand still, listening to the conversation while at the same time making myself seem invisible. I'm in the strange situation of being here, but not. I suppose girls like Fahriye are used to this sort of behaviour. Esme seems to be able to cope with the change in our duties, but I feel as though it is going to take some time for me to adapt.
Fortunately I don't have to wait for much longer. There is a short series of knocks on the door to Hürrem's suite which Hürrem signals I should answer. Nilüfer has returned. Four women wrapped in shawls are with her. I can't see who they are and one of them is injured. I admit them into the room. It is only then that I can see that Nilüfer has succeeded in bringing Hatice and Gülfem, along with two of their maids, back to the Old Palace. The Valide's joy is cut short when she realises that Hatice is the injured person.
"Gülnihal! Fetch the doctor!" calls Hürrem.
"There's no need," replies Nilüfer. "The guards at the gate sent word to Sümbul Aga with instructions to send a doctor here."
Sure enough, the arrival of one of the harem's doctors, Sümbul Aga and Daye Hatun coincides with the return of Fahriye and Esme. It is very crowded in here. Since Hatice's suite is now ready for occupation, and the Valide orders that everyone move to Hatice's larger suite. Everyone except Hürrem, Nilüfer, Esme and I. The Valide is too preoccupied with concern over Hatice's injury to pay us much attention. However the Valide does say she will talk with Hürrem in the morning.
"Well done, Nilüfer," Hürrem, Esme and I say in unison.
Hürrem hands a small bag to Nilüfer, which I presume contains Nilüfer's reward.
"How did Hatice become injured?" asks Hürrem.
"There are groups of men attacking and looting empty houses. Hatice was injured when a stone was thrown through the window of her house as we were preparing to leave. I don't think the looters realised we were there and we didn't wait to find out. We left through a back door and hid in the bushes until the men moved on."
"What did you learn while you were in the city?" asks Hürrem, as though rescuing Hatice and Gülfem was a diversion to disguise Nilüfer's real mission.
"Do you wish for a full report now?" asks Nilüfer.
"The main points will do for now," says Hürrem. "Esme. Gülnihal. There's no need for you to stay. You may go back to bed and get some sleep."
I don't know about Esme, but I for one would like to hear Nilüfer's report. But we have been dismissed and we can't refuse to obey Hürrem's order. I just hope Nilüfer will tell us in private later on. Esme and I return to our room and prepare for bed. We are both tired and soon fall asleep. Neither of us notices when Nilüfer comes to bed.
Esme and I never find out the details of Nilüfer's report to Hürrem. She has obviously been sworn to secrecy. In the end, it doesn't matter. The unexpected arrival of fresh soldiers from Manisa soon restores order in the city. The rebellious Janissaries are confined to their barracks. Gradually the citizens who have fled the city return to their homes. For some, their houses have been the target of looters, but surprisingly few people suffer any serious loss. The families of the pashas leave the harem once it becomes clear that it is safe to do so. Despite their short visit, Hürrem nevertheless manages to make several friends from among the pashas' families.
The departure of the last of the pashas' families means the harem routine is returned to normal. Our three week stay in the Royal Wing comes to an end the day before Mahidevran and Şehzade Mustafa are due to return to the Old Palace. I can't say I'm sorry to leave the cramped quarters of the suite assigned to Hürrem. Unlike Nilüfer I was never allowed to venture very far. My only excitement was accompanying Hürrem to her daily audience with the Valide and Hatice. I don't know if the Valide or Hatice ever rewarded Hürrem for her efforts in rescuing Hatice. Perhaps the Valide considered Hürrem's inclusion in her daily audiences with the sultanas to be reward enough. Gülfem seems more friendly towards Hürrem, but it is clear both the Valide and Hatice still regard Hürrem as their social inferior.
As for Gülsah, I don't doubt she has been making very careful notes about our time in the Royal Wing. I'm sure she will report every detail to Mahidevran when she arrives. I'm just grateful that she has avoided making trouble for us while we were living in the Royal Wing.
Esme, Nilüfer and I are welcomed back into the main harem. Our arrival coincides with the end of the restrictions affecting the routine of the other girls. Few of the girls know anything about Hatice's rescue, which gives Nilüfer the opportunity to regale her adventures to the rest of the girls. I've heard most of her stories before, but I'm happy to join the crowd of eager girls, simply to enjoy the feel of being part of our large community.
Even the return of Mahidevran doesn't dampen the festive mood of the harem. Hürrem doesn't attend the Valide's daily audiences once she returns to the room she shares with Ayşe in the mezzanine. Consequently she has little contact with Mahidevran.
Then, a few weeks later, Hürrem informs me that she is to attend the Valide's audience tomorrow and that I'm to accompany her. There are rumours that news has arrived from the sultan and that the Ottoman army has again been victorious. However, I'm more concerned that Hürrem's letter to Sultan Suleiman has finally come to the Valide's attention. I just hope Hürrem can talk her way out of this one.