5-2. A special day.
It soon becomes apparent that my special day is going to be special for all the wrong reasons. At first I attribute Hurrem's failure to return by mid-morning as an indication that she and Sultan Suleiman are still locked in each others arms. That would be a bad omen for my chances tonight. I'm starting to brood when Esme comes into the harem and walks over towards me.
"Hürrem has been attacked," says Esme quietly. "Daye Hatun has told me to bring you to the harem infirmary."
My mounting jealousy and anger immediately evaporates. I follow Esme as quickly as I can without running. Running in the harem is regarded as ill-mannered. Besides, it would only alert the rest of girls to the presence of something wrong. Hürrem has enemies in the harem and I don't want to give them a chance to gloat.
We reach the infirmary to find Daye Hatun and Nigar Kalfa sitting with Hürrem behind a screen. There are scratches and a large bruise on Hürrem's face, but she otherwise seems uninjured.
"The doctor who examined Hürrem says the baby is unharmed," says Esme. "Unfortunately the same can't be said for Hürrem's face."
"What happened? Who did this?" I ask.
"I arrived back here just after breakfast. I was walking along the corridor to the harem when I was set upon from behind," says Hürrem.
"Was nobody with you?" asks Daye Hatun.
"No. Sümbul Aga forgot to arrange for two girls to accompany me last night, so he escorted me to the New Palace himself. But he didn't stay. One of the New Palace agas escorted me back this morning, but we parted company at the west door."
"Did you see anything which might help us identify your attacker?" asks Daye Hatun.
"It all happened so fast," says Hürrem. "There were at least two of them. One of them was wearing a grey and white harem uniform and the other a green silk dress."
"I shall inform the Valide," says Daye Hatun. "You can return to your room when you are ready. Gülnihal … Until the culprits are caught, you are to stay with Hürrem at all times. Nigar Kalfa will relieve you when necessary."
My chances of walking the golden path tonight have taken another blow. However, I don't dwell on the thought. I silently berate myself for thinking of myself while my closest friend is injured and in need of my support.
Hürrem is reluctant to walk through the harem and let the other girls see her injured face. There will be a few girls who will be happy at the sight, but most will be alarmed that such an attack has occurred inside the harem. Her assailants may even be among the girls living in our wing of the harem. I don't doubt that suspicion will fall on the new girls, but I know none of them have silk dresses to wear.
"Your face will heal soon enough, but you can't hide in your room until then," I say to Hürrem. "It is better to show the other girls that you remain strong despite the attack."
Hürrem comes around to my way of thinking and we walk sedately through the harem towards Hürrem's room. I watch the girls for their reaction. What has happened should be a shock to everyone. However, those responsible for the attack may give themselves away by failing to react with surprise.
By the time we reach Hürrem's room, I'm convinced that the attackers aren't among those present in our wing of the harem. Even Fidan reacts with genuine shock at Hürrem's injuries. I'm sure Nilüfer would be able to track down the culprits if she were given the task. But she is busy with her work duty elsewhere in the Old Palace.
The Valide and Daye Hatun arrive in Hürrem's room a few minutes later. Both women examine Hürrem's injuries before deciding what to do next.
"You are lucky Hürrem. The injuries could be worse," says the Valide. "This is undoubtedly the handiwork of some of the new girls. We were warned to expect trouble. You should have stayed at Hatice's house. You have put yourself at risk and must suffer the consequences. Daye. Question the new girls. Have the culprits brought to me when you find the ones responsible."
"Should we inform His Majesty?" asks Daye Hatun.
"No," replies the Valide. "I see no need to trouble him about this matter. He has more important issues to attend to this morning."
I find the Valide's reaction unsettling. Her conclusion that some of the new girls are the culprits is at odds with the evidence Hürrem has provided. I suspect there is dirty politics at play here. It is even possible that the Valide had prior knowledge of the attack on Hürrem. Sümbul Aga's apparent forgetfulness in failing to provide an escort for Hürrem now seems suspicious. Unfortunately the Valide has given a direct order which we are compelled to obey.
The Valide and Daye Hatun leave Hürrem's room. I sit quietly with Hürrem while we wait for Daye Hatun to complete her investigation. It takes her until midday to interview every new girl. Her quest proves futile and each of those interviewed is able to provide a least one witness to confirm she was in our wing of the harem at the time of the attack on Hürrem.
"What will happen now?" asks Hürrem when Daye Hatun returns to our room.
"I shall inform the Valide that those responsible for the attack on you are still unidentified," replies Daye Hatun. "In the meantime Gülnihal will remain with you."
I resign myself to my fate. It is clear I'm not destined to walk the golden path tonight. My already slim chance of going to the sultan's bedchamber tonight takes a further blow when Ayşe returns to the room she shares with Hürrem.
"I've heard rumours that Sultan Suleiman is very angry," says Ayşe. "The Janissary regiment which rebelled a few weeks ago marched to the palace to present their grievances to Sultan Suleiman. The sultan listened to their complaints and then personally executed the leaders of the revolt as punishment for them endangering his family. Apparently there was the threat of more violence, but the rebellious regiment backed down from their threats. The immediate crisis is over, but the sultan is still angry. The city pashas have been summoned to the palace."
I let out a silent sigh. The sultan isn't likely to want my company tonight after all this upheaval. Perhaps it will be for the best. I'm nervous enough at the prospect of spending time alone with the sultan. Doing so while he is in a bad mood only makes my task more difficult.
Ayşe obviously plans on staying in the room for a while. It's her room as well as Hürrem's after all. Hürrem has fallen asleep and I'm tempted to ask Ayşe to stay with her while I go to find Nilüfer. The more I think about it, the more I realise that the attack on Hürrem was not a chance encounter. Nilüfer is the ideal person to find out what is going on. But my eagerness to leave the room is countered by the uncertainty surrounding the whole affair. Daye Hatun has specifically told me to stay until Nigar Kalfa relieves me. While I doubt Ayşe has had any involvement in the attack on Hürrem, I have no means of knowing for sure. If I left Hürrem alone in the hands of an enemy then I would likely face the wrath of the sultan himself.
My dilemma is solved when Nigar Kalfa arrives a short while later. She checks on the sleeping Hürrem and returns to the corner of the room where I am sitting.
"You had better go and prepare yourself for tonight," says Nigar Kalfa to me.
"Am I still going to walk the golden path, then?" I ask.
"Have you received any instructions from the Valide or Sümbul Aga to the contrary?" asks Nigar Kalfa.
"No. I just thought after what has happened today, His Majesty would not be wanting my company tonight."
"Don't presume to know what Sultan Suleiman wants or does not want. He doesn't know about the attack on Hürrem. If you are smart, you won't be the one to tell him. Now, get a move on. You had better remind Sümbul Aga that he needs to arrange an escort for you tonight. We don't want you to suffer the same fate as Hürrem."
I leave the room and go to find Sümbul Aga as Nigar Kalfa suggests. He is rushed off his feet but he has arranged for Fatma and Efsun to help me prepare, and to escort me tonight. Both girls have been in the harem longer than I have, but neither has completed her training to become a hatun. I suspect Sümbul Aga has selected them to give them the opportunity to add to their training. Unfortunately, I think he is being optimistic. Both girls are mild mannered and pleasant company, but neither shows any inclination to advance beyond being an odalisque.
I go to find Fatma and Efsun, and the three of us go to the baths. It is fortunate that my experience in helping Hürrem means I know the correct sequence of tasks for my beautification. Neither of my two assistants seems to know which procedure should follow each stage of the preparations.
The Valide has allowed me to have access to a large collection of clothing and jewellery reserved for just such an occasion. Fatma and Efsun help me choose my attire, and eventually I'm happy with my choice. My dress needs to fit both my posture and personality. I look at myself in the mirror and silently congratulate myself on my choices. I just hope my nerve doesn't give out when I reach the New Palace. Throughout my preparations I have been afraid that a message might arrive cancelling my visit to the sultan's bedchamber. No such message arrives and before long I'm walking the corridor of the New Palace towards Sultan Suleiman's bedchamber.
Ibrahim is standing outside the door to the sultan's room. He walks towards me as I approach the room, forcing me to stop a short distance away from the sultan's door. We are far enough from the door that our conversation cannot be overheard by the two agas standing guard outside the sultan's bedchamber.
"You are looking exceptionally beautiful, Gülnihal," says Ibrahim in a low whisper.
Ibrahim's pleasantness takes me by surprise. I have had few previous dealings with him, and I have always been suspicious of his unwavering loyalty to Mahidevran and the Valide.
"Thank you, Master of the Royal Bedchamber," I reply, uncertain whether I should address him by his name or his title.
"His majesty has had a very difficult day, so you will need to work extra hard to help him relax," continues Ibrahim. "To be honest, I was in two minds whether to request that a more experienced girl come to his room tonight. Unfortunately His Majesty would undoubtedly have wanted Hürrem, if I had suggested that. So the honour of the harem must lie in your inexperienced hands."
I now realise that Ibrahim's words are designed to unsettle me rather than boost my confidence. His comments clearly indicate that he is aware of the attack on Hürrem. Either he had a hand in organising the assault, or the Valide has told him what has happened to Hürrem for some reason.
"I shall do my best, Master of the Royal Bedchamber," I reply.
"See that you do," says Ibrahim. "It would be unfortunate for you if His Majesty is displeased tonight."
Satisfied he has intimidated me enough, Ibrahim walks to the bedchamber door. He knocks and enters the room. I can hear my name being announced and I take a deep breath before walking into the room. I don't notice Ibrahim leave the room because my eyes are frozen on the sultan standing before me.