Tales of Love and Power

Chapter 9: Mahaila

When the morning came, the two lovers went their separate ways. While Abzalin made his way to the capital Mahaila returned to the harem.

As Mahaila walked through the halls her happiness displayed on her face,

As she entered the sitting room, the concubines quickly overwhelmed her with questions. "What happened Mahaila? Why did the king keep you for two days? How was it, tell us?", It was as if overnight she went from being a stranger to the most popular girl in the palace.

The small crowd of concubines dispersed upon hearing supervisor Astrea striking her rod on the ground. "Congratulations Lady Mahaila, on your night with the king," the supervisor said in a deep curtsy. She took out a small pouch that hid in her sleeve, holding it out to Mahaila. "What is this?" Mahaila said, taking the pouch and looking at the contents inside of it.

"The Mother dowager wishes to reward you on a job well done. This is the first of her gifts. The rest are in your private chambers."

"My chambers?" Mahaila questioned.

Supervisor Astrea nodded her head "Yes, his majesty has favored you, so the dowager will give you a room worthy of your new status." Mahaila smiled as she followed the supervisor to her new room.

"All of this is for me?" She asked, looking around the room. There was a large double bed, a fireplace, a small sitting area, and a set of doors that led to the closet. They had placed the golden chest with her rewards in the center of the room.

Mahaila opened it to find it full of dresses, shoes, jewelry, and pouches full of gold coins. She touched the delicate fabric, mesmerized. "You have been gifted a rare opportunity, Lady Mahaila. Elevation to this floor is only a start. You are a lady now, so you must act like a lady. You must be smart. If you want to get further, you need to focus on your studies, keep your eyes open for rivals, and don't get into fights. You should focus on being a well-learned and well-behaved concubine." Mahaila nodded her head, taking in the supervisor's words.

"Thank you for your advice Astrea," Mahaila said with a smile of relief.

"I wish you luck Lady Mahaila." She spoke before bowing her head and leaving Mahaila with her thoughts.

She heard stories of the royal harem, but nothing could prepare her for what was to come.

It was difficult for her to see the harem as a place of such danger when she was surrounded by a golden chest full of gifts, a beautifully decorated room, and the love of the king. While she still mourned for her family, she was determined to find happiness.

Even in the darkest of places, she wouldn't change who she was. Looking towards her new bed an idea came to her mind. She kicked off her shoe and stripped off the constraining dress until she was in nothing but her underdress. She jumped on the bed, giggling softly, thinking of her home. Thoughts of her and her siblings bouncing on their beds filled her mind. She remembered their giggling voices and how they'd go from one bed to another singing jumping songs.

A knock came at the door and Mahaila shouted for the person to come in. Yuruza entered, curtsying to her newly promoted friend. "Lady Mahaila, what are you doing?" She asked, slightly confused.

Mahaila waved her hand, signaling for Yuruza to join her. "Come, take off your shoes and jump with me", Yuruza didn't protest and the two friends jumped together singing the songs that Mahaila sang with her siblings.

After a few minutes, the two fell back on the bed, smiling at their childish behavior. "Come, we've been here for too long. I must prepare you for class." Yuruza went to the closet searching through the dresses for Mahaila to wear.

"You'll prepare me?" She questioned.

"Yes, I asked the supervisors to let me be your handmaid. Friends should stay together, don't you agree." Yuruza said, picking two dresses and holding them out for Mahaila to see. "Now which dress would you like to wear for your first day as a Lady." Mahaila looked at the two dresses, each beautiful in their own way. One was a vibrant shade of red, while the other was a light pink. Flames and red roses covered the vibrant dress, while the other had small white flowers covering the hem.

"I choose this one." Mahaila pointed to the more understated dress. "Why this one?"

Mahaila picked up the dress and held it to her chest.

"My mother always loved this color on me." She went to the mirror and looked at her reflection. She pictured her mother standing over her shoulders, smiling at her softly. Though she was far away, she felt as if she was right in that room with her.

Yuruza helped her dress before the two joined the rest of the concubines to go to class. As they waited for their teacher to arrive, Mahaila was once again questioned on her night with the king. "What was he like? What did you do? Tell us Mahaila. Please tell us all that happened." They sat in a circle as she shared the less intimate parts of their night, though there were a few details she could actually share. The concubines blushed some picturing that it was them who had the chance to serve the king. While some felt jealous, most seemed happy for Mahaila.

"You're very lucky Mahaila. I hope we may all be that lucky someday." Jasmin smiled as she said the words.

"You won't be that lucky, Jasmin." "And why not Yezevah?"

"Because you refuse to learn. You always sleep in class and forget what they teach you the moment you return to the harem. The dowager would never let you through the golden gates if you continue to be so foolish." Yezevah flicked Jasmin's temple, laughing softly. "If any of you want to be the next one in the king's favor, you should learn from Mahaila. She's smart that's why the dowager allowed her to serve the king." Yezevah's words rang true. The concubines nodded their heads in agreement.

Though it wasn't her intention, the words helped Mahaila realize something. She wasn't the only one who had been with the king. While she knew she was not the first, it didn't come to mind that she might not be the last. This pained her. Growing up, she rarely pictured being married. When she did, she never pictured being a concubine to a king who had hundreds of women prepared to serve him.

She wanted to be a wife. To have a husband whose love for her rivaled that of his need for air. She wanted a home full of love.

She wasn't prepared to give up on her dreams or her love, and she would do whatever it took to make them come true.

After classes were finished, she walked around the harem asking for the man who was the closest to the king. She finally found him standing outside of the eunuch's wings. "Zukul,". she greeted and curtsied.

"Lady Mahaila" he recognized her immediately and gave her a small bow. "How can I be of service to you?"

"I know you serve the king, but I hoped you could be able to help me with something."

"Serving you is serving my king. If it's within my reach, I'd be happy to help you."

"I want Abzalin." Her words confused him. "I want him to be mine. I don't want him to have anyone but me." Zukul had spent many decades in the palace never had he heard such a request from a concubine.

"Why?" it was a simple question with a hundred possible answers. "Because no one will love him the way I do."

Zukul knew that in the palace, most people's words looked like honey but tasted like lemons. He had seen many people who weren't sincere in their words. He didn't see that in Mahaila.

"I can help you but I have terms." "What is it?"

"First, you must never betray the king and second, you must always listen to me. Understand?"

Mahaila nodded her head excitedly. "I understand."

"The first thing you must do is take up the flame. His Majesty is a very devoted man. His heart is hidden in Azlah so to have his heart you must seek Azlah to have him."

She nodded her head in compliance. "I wish you luck on your quest, Lady Mahaila. But even with my help, it'll be very impossible to go against the customs of the palace. "

"It's possible. I know it." While Mahaila was confident that love could conquer all, she knew that love was only the beginning of her journey. She knew it'd require sacrifice, but she could only imagine how much she'd have to sacrifice.