Light within the Harem

First glance.

It had been a few weeks since Anastasia had settled into the life of a slave though she really wouldn't call herself that, as a slave had a master or mistress to serve and from what Anastasia was told- the Kalfas were once Cariyes who served out their years and wish to remain in the palace, some were even still untouched and hoped that Valide Sultan would choose a suitable husband for them.

Anastasia was tasked in helping set the main room up for dinner, once her small task was complete, she headed towards the baths- taking a spot next to another Cariyes, who came on another ship.
"I was wondering where you disappeared too." Fatmä teased, waving her hand towards both Halime and Ayşe. "Come, Ayşe Hatun was just about to explain the life of the Harem."

"And of the Sultan!" The girl, beside Anastasia spoke, eyes wide with excitement.
"Hush, now! Let Ayşe Hatun speak!" Halime narrowed her eyes, scowling at the girl who quiet down, nibbling on her bottom lip. "Ayşe, please speak."

Ayşe cleared her throat, as Anastasia began to wash herself with the soap offered by the girl that got scolded by Halime, giving her a quick smile- Anastasia tuned into the story that Ayşe began to tell.
"As we all know, that we all attend lessons that we will in need hopes of serving good company to the Sultan, if given the chance to do so." Her words were waved away as Fatmä reached for the pan, to rinse herself off.
"We already know that, Ayşe." She groaned, earning a small annoyed look from the dark haired beauty, who threw some water at her from the pan. "We learn Turkish, both written and spoken. We also learn the Ottoman history, poetry, music and other arts"
With a small wriggle of her eyebrows at the last words, Fatmä earned a small slap from Halime as the rest of their group laughed.

The other groups of young and old Cariyes and some Gözde glanced over at the group, some were curious others were annoyed.
"As I was saying," Ayşe continued, rolling her eyes at Fatmä's childish antics. "Only when completed the training, you will become a Hatun. Only then will you given the chance to walk the Golden path to the Sultan. Those who do will earn the rewards for providing good company and be elevated to Gözde, be called on several times and your position may elevate even further to that of Ikbal and you'll be moved to the mezzanine where you'll share with other favourites, such as myself. You will be dressed in silks everyday and will nothave to participate in the tasks that the Cariyes and Gözde are required to do, if you find yourself pregnant and that child turns out to be a Şehzade then your position changes to Kadin and only then can you call yourself Sultana. As a Sultana, you will be moved to the Royal Wing and won't have a care in the world."

There was a slight paused in her tale as Ayşe washed her face, removing the excess water with the corner of her towel and then continued. "But only the Valide Sultan chooses the girl that is lucky enough to walk the Golden path. She is the one that rules the Harem for the Sultan."
"Who are the Kadins now?" Anastasia asked, rinsing the ends of her hair.

"Mahidevran Sultan and Hürrem Sultan," Another older Cariyes spoke, Fülane answered, giving Ayşe no time to speak. "There is only two, Mahidevran had the first Şehzade, Mustafa therefore she is the Bas Kadin. Hürrem has Şehzade Mehmed, Selim and Mihrimah Sultan."

"We rarely see the Kadins," Fatmä explained, as they continued to bathe, aiding eachother with rinsing off the soap from their skin and hair. "They tend to keep to themselves and do not mingle with us, only in the days of the feasts and celebrations. Mahidevran Sultan meets with Valide Sultan daily and Hürrem keeps to herself as the Kadins prefer to spend the time successfully occupying themselves with their position and with the children."

"And what of the Sultan?" Anastasia asked, earning a loud, sarcastic laugh from Fülane, which annoyed Anastasia a lot.
"Do you honestly think you have a chance to walk the Golden path?" Fülane spoke, scoffing once. "Do not fool yourself, we are here because we are slaves, you will learn the ways of being a perfect concubine and do nothing until a worthy husband is chosen."
Fülane rolled her eyes, before adding. "Hürrem Sultan has the Sultan in her claws, I highly doubt she would release her grip long enough for a lowly Cariyes to get a chance. Almost no one had been called to the path since Hürrem rose to Sultan."
"It is almost impossible for anymore than a Kadin to walk the path, even Mahidevran Sultan is finding it hard as Hürrem has a higher favour since she has given birth to two Şehzades," Fatmä spoke, with a small sigh. "Mahidevran Sultan suffered a miscarriage and Hürrem saw her chance to rise, rumors spread that even Mahidevran attacked Hürrem on the Golden path in a fit of anger and she was greatly scolded by both the Sultan and Valide. She was even threatened to be exiled to the Old Palace."