Sultan Mahmoud was the most lustful sultan the Othman empire has ever known since it rose from nothing to the strong dynasty it is now. He was a womanizer and the whole dynasty knew that but they didn't care as long as he was leaving for campaigns t...
I stepped down the carriage with a soft smile on my face. The view in front of me was to die for, a forest that stretched for many many yards, a beautiful palace standing tall in front of me.
"Careful" I turned around as my maids helped my children down the carriage. I smiled at Ahmed and pushed some of his hair out of his face, he needs a haircut soon.
"Why did we come here, mommy?" The seven years old asked looking around him with a small frown on his face.
"To relax and have some fun" I answered. Ahmed smiled brightly and turned to Suleiman who was just as excited as his older brother.
"Careful with her" I eyed the maid holding Sahihuban. She bowed with her head low and made her way into the palace to put the baby to sleep in the palace.
"Do you like it?" Mahmoud asked walking over to us from where he had stopped his horse.
"It looked very beautiful here, I am a little disappointed that we didn't come here before" Mahmoud let out a genuine chuckle and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. Ahmed and Suleiman made their way to the small pond and started playing with the fish in it. Selim and Orhan began running around trying to catch each other. The carriage and horses were taken to the stables away from the garden.
"I have some news to share with you" I stopped walking a little further away from the pond. Mahmoud turned to me with worry on his face.
"What is it, my beautiful sultana?" Mahmoud asked raising my hand and placing a kiss on my knuckles not caring that we were surrounded by maids and aghas.
"I am with child again" I grinned up at him. I was a little worried about his reaction since his mother had been gone for barely a month and I'm already pregnant.
"That is the best news I could receive at a time like this" Mahmoud whispered with his hands on my biceps squeezing it as if he was afraid this was a dream or that I will disappear. I noticed tears well up in his eyes. I grabbed his face in my hands and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
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"Don't cry my love, I'm sure she's happy in the afterlife, you should be happy for her" I whispered so no one would hear and notice the vulnerability of their ruler.
"Are you an Angel?" Mahmoud asked kissing the palm of my hand that was placed on his right cheek. I blushed and shook my head with a soft smile.
"No? Then why are you always there to heal my wounds?" Mahmoud asked cocking up an eyebrow.
"Allah sent me for you and only you," I said. Mahmoud pulled me in for a hug and kissed the side of my head. I felt happy in his arms, I felt happy that his mourning was slowly subsiding. I was happy with my children surrounding me. I was purely happy for more than five minutes for the first time in years.
"I love you my sultana" Mahmoud whispered in my ear. His words made my heart flutter and my insides felt like they were being invaded by some being.
"I love you too" I looked into his beautiful steel-colored eyes. The eyes that made me melt with a glance. His lips curved up in a smile that could win him battles, this man was truly a work of art.
"I told the eunuch to spread the news throughout the dynasty, I want every man, woman, and child to know that I will be getting a son soon," Mahmoud said cheerfully the next morning as we sat for breakfast. My smile fell and my eyes moved to Sahihuban laying in her crib with her arms flailing.
"What if it's a girl?" I asked in a low and small voice. Mahmoud swallowed the piece of bread and cheese in his mouth and turned to face me.
"It's a boy, I know it. I've seen it" Mahmoud's words gave me enough courage to look up at him spiking my confusion and wonder.
"I saw a dream last night," Mahmoud said. His dream sounded amazing and made me feel hope that this child will be a son.
_Mahmoud's Dream_
Mahmoud walked down the dark corridor with his full armor on. He held his sword tightly not letting his fear consume him. He must win this battle. He rounded the corner leading to the council room, inside he saw a man sitting on his throne proudly with all his viziers tied and on their knees in front of him.
Mahmoud couldn't take the scene in front of him much longer and pushed the doors open barging in like the soldier he was. Everyone turned to look at him, his viziers were pleading him with their eyes and the man on the throne only laughed in his face.
"Sultan Mahmoud Khan," the man said sarcastically. A dagger was suddenly held to Mahmoud's throat from behind holding him in place.
Mahmoud was about to lose hope when a lion appeared from behind him and jumped on the man sitting on the throne. The lion tore the man up like he was a mere piece of meat. The dagger was pulled away from Mahmoud's throat giving him room to move again.
Mahmoud watched as the lion walked back and forth in front of the throne as if guarding it. Mahmoud stepped closer to the throne which made the lion snap its head in his direction and when it saw that it was him the lion bowed its head and moved back letting him move closer and sit on the throne. Mahmoud placed his sword on the throne beside him and turned to his viziers eyeing the lion as if he were a threat and not a hero for helping the sultan get back on his throne. The lion looked like he didn't and care and sat beside the throne and leaned its head on its front paws still alert and eyeing everyone in the room except Mahmoud. Mahmoud had a strong feeling that he knew this lion and reached over to pet him without fear or hesitation.
