5: Walking the Golden Path
5-1. The sultan's inspection
The Valide's words shock me. I cannot deny I have sometimes dreamed of walking the golden path, but I never thought it would really happen to me. While many girls are trained to be concubines, we are taught that less than half of those who complete their training are ever chosen to walk the golden path. To be summoned to the sultan's bed is both an opportunity and a curse. If the union results in the birth of a child, then the mother's future is assured. If she's clever enough, she can gain wealth and live in comfort for the rest of her life. However, should the sultan be displeased with the union, or the concubine not prove to be very fertile, then she is forced to make a choice … she can continue to live in the palace as a servant, or she must allow the Valide to find her a suitable husband and leave the harem.
One one hand I could become a member of the Ottoman dynasty … like Hürrem will be soon. Or, I could become like Ayşe, and end up waiting for a husband to be found for me. The prospect is both thrilling and frightening at the same time. My immediate concern, however, is how am I going to tell Hürrem? She is very protective of her relationship with Sultan Suleiman. I don't think she'll take kindly to my news, even though I've had no say in the matter.
Everything is ready for this afternoon's celebration by the time I return to the harem. The sixteen new arrivals who had been sent to the dungeons have returned. It appears five minutes in the dungeons was sufficient time to break the resolve of the troublemakers. I decide I should tell my news to Hürrem as soon as possible before she hears it from someone else.
The look on Fidan's face suggests she has been told of the sultan's decision regarding her. Some of the girls around her are teasing her and making fun of her. Given Mahidevran's previous support for Fidan, I suspect those girls are going to regret their behaviour at a later date. But if it distracts them from my predicament, then I'm not going to complain.
"Where did you disappear to before?" asks Hürrem when she sees me.
"The Valide summoned me to her room," I reply.
"Is she causing you trouble about our return to the harem?" asks Hürrem. "Don't worry, I'll use my influence with the sultan to protect you."
"Thanks, but I don't think that will help," I reply, suddenly realising why I've been selected to walk the golden path. "I suspect she is trying to drive a wedge between us. She wants you to become isolated and more vulnerable to her schemes and those of Mahidevran."
"There may be some truth in what you say," replies Hürrem. "She has assigned Esme to work in the hospital, and Nilüfer has been warned to behave herself or suffer the consequences. So, how does the Valide propose to drive you and I apart?"
"I'm to walk the golden path tomorrow night," I blurt out before my courage fails me.
"You're what?!" cries Hürrem in alarm. "Hah! I thought the Valide had capitulated too easily when she told Fidan her services won't be required tonight."
"Are you angry with me?" I ask.
"No. Not with you," replies Hürrem. "Sultan Suleiman may have many women in his life, but only one woman in his heart. I shall become haseki in the fullness of time, and my son will be the next ruler of the Ottoman Empire. As long as you remember that, then there is no need for us to be enemies."
Hürrem's words provide me with very little comfort. If my union with Sultan Suleiman results in a new şehzade, then I will do my best to ensure my son is the next ruler. I cannot do otherwise. If he doesn't become the ruler, then the son who becomes the new sultan will have all his half-brothers executed to prevent civil war. As bloodthirsty and wasteful as fratricide is, it is the Ottoman way. I wish it were otherwise. It is the fear of losing her son which drives Mahidevran to the extremes that she goes to at times.
Conceiving a new sultana would be safer, but my daughter and I would most likely be sent to a palace in the provinces until she is ready for marriage. Failing to conceive at all would be seen as being my fault, and I would have to make the choice between a life of servitude in the palace, or accepting an arranged marriage. None of the possible outcomes are really to my liking. Whatever happens, I cannot see how my friendship with Hürrem can survive.
Hürrem and I join the other girls as the final preparations for the celebration are made. When everything is ready, all the girls of the harem are formed into two lines facing each other on either side of the central aisle of the main harem. By tradition the favourites and hatun should stand at the farthest end of the lines from the harem entrance, while the newest girls line up near the door. Unfortunately the influx of so many new girls has caused confusion. Sultan Suleiman and the Valide will be arriving soon to inspect the girls of the harem, and Nigar Kalfa decides to simply allow the new girls to stand where they are now.
One of the agas announces the arrival of Sultan Suleiman and the Valide. The whole harem drops into a curtsey as they enter. Even the new girls have the sense to follow our example. Perhaps the weeks of travelling have provided the opportunity to train them in a few of the basic rules of Imperial Harem behaviour.
The sultan walks along one line of girls, greeting each girl with a few words before moving onto the next. The Valide follows a few paces behind, seemingly disinterested in her son's words, but in reality watching each girl's performance like a hawk. Sultan Suleiman takes his time with his inspection and a few minutes pass before he reaches the end of the first line. He then crosses over to the line where Hürrem and I stand. The first women he encounters in our line are Hatice, Gülfem and Mahidevran. He says only a few words to each of them since he has undoubtedly met them earlier in the Royal Wing.
Unsurprisingly, Sultan Suleiman spends slightly longer with Hürrem than with the any of the preceding girls. Hürrem plays her part to perfection. She is both enticing and demure. The Valide will be hard pressed to find any fault in her behaviour.
Then the sultan moves to face me. I drop into the required curtsey and say the formal words of greeting. I wait for the sultan to reply with one of the many standard phrases normally uttered on these occasions. He catches me unaware when he breaks with tradition and instead places his hand under my chin. Then he gently lifts his hand forcing me to stand up. I try to keep my eyes averted from his face. It would be a serious breach of etiquette if I were to look into the sultan's eyes without permission. The Valide is eagerly waiting for me to make just such a mistake. I just need to remain calm and composed. Unfortunately, Sultan Suleiman is not going to let me off so easily.
"Look at me, Gülnihal," commands the sultan.
I instantly obey Sultan Suleiman's order and raise my eyes to meet his. Inside, my emotions are doing somersaults, but outwardly I manage to keep my composure. I wait for him to say something, but he simply studies my face.
"I am pleased that you have looked after Hürrem so well in my absence," says Sultan Suleiman.
"I have only done my duty, Your Majesty," I reply, not certain what he is meaning.
"More than your duty, I think, Gülnihal," says the sultan. "You and Hürrem are a valued members of my harem. Isn't that so, mother?"
"Umm … Yes. Yes," replies the Valide.
The sultan moves to the next girl in line. The Valide gives me a frosty look as she passes me. I realise that Sultan Suleiman's words were carefully chosen to warn the Valide against trying to punish Hürrem and I for foiling whatever plan she and Mahidevran had concocted.
The music and dancing begins as soon as Sultan Suleiman has finished his inspection. It doesn't take long before the news that I'm to walk the golden path tomorrow night becomes common knowledge. Esme and Nilüfer congratulate me when they join the group around Hürrem and I.
"Enjoy your one and only night with His Majesty, Gülnihal," says Fidan when she comes over to where we are sitting. "The Valide has told me that I'm to walk the golden path the following night."
"Sultan Suleiman will decide who shall enter his bedchamber," says Hürrem to Fidan. "I suggest you prepare yourself for another disappointment."
Fidan dismisses Hürrem's warning with a laugh and returns to her group of friends. While Hürrem's words were directed at Fidan, I realise that they could equally apply to me. Hürrem may pretend that she is indifferent to Sultan Suleiman entertaining other girls, but I know otherwise. She will do everything that she can to dissuade the sultan from the planned course of action.
Hürrem and I leave the celebration early and go to the baths. Hürrem must prepare for tonight and, as her friend, I volunteer to assist her. I secretly wonder if the roles will be reversed tomorrow night, or whether I will need to call on Esme or Nilüfer for assistance. The preparations take a couple of hours and the celebration is over by the time we return to the main harem. As with previous celebrations, our wing of the harem has been left in a mess. The new girls have been tasked with tidying up under the supervision of the more experienced girls. Even the girls who are hostages rather than slaves are assigned work.
Hürrem and I go up to her room. Her room-mate, Ayşe, is busy downstairs helping restore the harem to a fit state. Hürrem applies her perfumes and selects her jewellery with great care. I make a mental note of her preparations for my own use tomorrow. Of course, I will need to rely on the perfumes and jewellery provided by the Valide.
An hour or so later we are ready to be taken to the New Palace. The coach is due to arrive in fifteen minutes, so I take the opportunity to grab something to eat. I recall my previous trips to the New Palace as Hürrem's escort, and I remember the long wait without food.
Hürrem should be provided with two female escorts for her visit to the New Palace. In all the muddle and excitement of the celebration and the new girls arriving, Sümbul Aga appears to have forgotten to arrange for a second girl to come with us. Strictly speaking nobody has instructed me to accompany Hürrem. I've simply volunteered myself for the duty. Sümbul Aga doesn't realise his mistake until he comes to escort Hürrem to the coach. I'm sure Esme or Nilüfer would gladly come, but Esme must attend to her duties in the hospital, and Nilüfer is confined to the main harem in punishment for some minor breach of the harem rules. Sümbul Aga only makes matters worse when he insists that I must remain in the harem. Some little known harem rule apparently forbids a girl chosen to walk the golden path for the first time from leaving the harem.
Sümbul Aga tells me to return to the main harem and that he will look after Hürrem from here. I say a quick farewell to Hürrem and do as Sümbul Aga has bid. I don't see Hürrem again so I presume she leaves the harem through the door linking the rooms in the mezzanine with the Royal Wing.
The next morning I wait anxiously for Hürrem's return. Part of me wishes that she has had an enjoyable night and that she has pleased the sultan. Part of me hopes Sultan Suleiman hasn't changed his mind and is looking forward to my company tonight. Perhaps both wishes are possible.