Light within the Harem

Suleiman's gift

[Notice: Again I am not fluent in Italian, and I can't be bothered using Google Translate because I may end up butchering the language. So Italian will be in Bold Italics]

Her plans were going to ruin, she pretended to be the humble and devoted concubine of the Valide and was gifted to the Barbarian Sultan, only for his bastard spawn Şehzade Mehmed to fall into the water, she prayed that the child drowned but, sadly she wasn't that lucky.

Then she had the opportunity to be used against Hürrem Sultan, but the Venican bitch stole her chance.

Her third chance was when the Sultan visited his sister, Hatice Sultan and her husband, Ibrahim Pasha, but Şehzade Mustafa fell ill and the Sultan returned to the Palace without even glancing back at Sakdia.

Now here she was again, the spy of the Hungarian King said that she had one more chance to fulfil her mission otherwise she would be trapped in Istanbul with the infidels and their pit of snakes.

She used the murder of Ayşe Hatun to frame Hürrem Sultan, as those two had issues in the past, but rumors speculated throughout the Harem that a witness was discovered, and Hürrem Sultan was innocent.

Sakdia bit the inside of her cheek as the Kadins, their bastard children, the heavily pregnant Gulfem Hatun, and the Valide Sultan enjoyed the warm weather. She still had to play the role of the humble servant of the Valdie, though she doesn't have to sleep with the rest of the girls as her place was as favourite, even though Sakdia did not sleep with the Sultan.
Melekşima watched with keen eyes at Sakdia's sour mood. Her smirk was hidden behind her goblet of sherbet, Halimë's eyes connected with Melekşima's and nodded in agreement.

Sakdia was responsible for Ayşe Hatun's death. They just need concrete proof of this, and the Bulgarian concubine would be dealt with according to Ottoman laws.

____

Melekşima snuggled up to the Sultan in his chambers, Osman was left in the care of Halimë, as Işmilah and Eşmahan were outside the Sultan's chambers.
"I have a surprise for you." Suleiman spoke, earning a small look from his Kadin. "Come."

Taking Suleiman's offered hand, he escorted her down to the stables with his Aghas, guards, and her small entourage following close behind.
There standing beside another Agha was a beautiful white mare, Melekşima let out a small gasp of surprise. "She's beautiful, my Lord."

He let out a small laugh, motioning his hand for the horse to be moved closer. "She would need a name."
Melekşima touched the mare's head, smiling as she leaned her forehead against the horse. "Kösem."
"Kösem? Do you know what that means?"
"Leader." Melekşima replied, smiling at Suleiman. "For she will lead me back to the love of my life if I ever seemed lost."

Suleiman lets out a booming laugh. "Bali Bey, the other gift if you please."
Melekşima arched an eyebrow at the mention of another gift, but she never voiced her opinion as a gift from the Sultan was special, no matter how small or large it was.

"Daughter?" A woman's voice spoke, making Melekşima freeze as the voice sounded familiar, turning around to face the woman. "Is that you? Light of my heart. "
Melekşima blinked. "M... Mother?"
Her mother reached out for Melekşima, who ran into her mother's embrace. "How... How are you here? Why are you here?"
"That Bastard Lorenzo his new whore of a wife cast me out of my home, they left me penniless as they took all funding your father left for me. And so, I set sail for Istanbul because I remembered you were offered as a gift to the Ottoman Empire."

Melekşima then remembered that they were not alone. She then turned to face Suleiman. "Mama, this here is Sultan Suleiman the Great."
Her mother's eyes widened as she quickly curtsied. "Why did you not say so earlier? Goodness, he may think I look like a slob."
"Mama, I do not think he cares what you look like." Melekşima replied, rolling her eyes as Suleiman helped her mother to rise.

"Where are you staying?" Melekşima asked, knowing that it goes against the Harem's rules and laws to allow her mother to be in Melekşima's service.
"Do not worry, my child, I am well looked after." Her mother replied in Turkish, patting Melekşima's hand lightly. "I have converted to the Muslim faith, I have also married a nice man. He is a merchant, a favourite of the Sultan's."

Suleiman allowed Melekşima to have some time with her mother alone, but under watch of Rüstem Agha and Melekşima's entourage, she promised to return to her chambers if she feels overwhelmed.

"Stefano told me that you are here, in Istanbul, and had a child... A Prince?" Her mother spoke, as they walked in the gardens together.
Melekşima laughed. "We call them Şehzades here, mama. And yes, I had given birth to a son. Şehzade Osman."

They sat in the shade, hidden from view as Mahidevran Sultan and her entourage were spotted walking towards the stables, perhaps searching for the Sultan.
"Who is that?"
"Mahidevran Sultan, Suleiman's Bas Kadin. Mother to Şehzade Mustafa."
Her mother eyed Mahidevran for a few more seconds. "She seems like trouble."
"We have had our differences, mama. She was not overly excited about having another woman to share the Sultan with or another Şehzade to compete with her son for the Ottoman throne."
"Does the Sultan not have another... What did you call her- Bas Kadin?"

"Şehzade Mustafa is the Sultan's firstborn, Mahidevran Sultan is his mother, so she is known as the Bas Kadin, mother of the first Prince. Hürrem Sultan is his second Kadin, she is the mother of Şehzade Mehmed, Mihrimah Sultan and Şehzade Selim. Hürrem recently returned from the Old Palace as she was wrongly accused of murder. Both Mahidevran and Hürrem absolutely despise each other, the Harem was divided between loyalty towards both Kadins until I arrived and became the third. Hopefully, this peace within the Harem stays."
"Ah."
Melekşima began to shiver as dark clouds began to slowly block out the warmth the sun brought. Her shivers did not go unnoticed by her mother.

"You should return before you catch a cold, my love."
Melekşima agreed, watching as her mother was escorted out by Rüstem Agha.

____

Mahidevran Sultan was in a slight sour mood, with Hürrem's absence Mahidevran could breathe a little easier, but since Hürrem was proven innocent, the Crimean witch returned.
One thing that had hoped that being on friendly terms with Melekşima Sultan would show Suleiman that she had changed since her exile, but sadly it had not changed a thing.

When Gülash Hatun told her that Suleiman was spotted with Melekşima, heading for the stables, she hatched a plan to bump into them with Mustafa as a way to get Suleiman to actually speak to her.

When they reached the stables, both Suleiman and Melekşima were not to be seen, a small sour look danced across her face. The Bas Kadin paused in her short walk as her eyes landed on an Agha escorting an aging woman out of the Palace gates, the woman was not a Kalfa or a concubine as she was too old, she was around the same age as Daye Hatun or younger.

Who was she?

Observing the woman's facial features closely from where she stood, Mahidevran's mouth dropped open in shock, the woman's features looked identical to Melekşima.

Was this Melekşima's mother?

Her thoughts turned grim to think that Melekşima invited the woman here without the permission of the Sultan.
"My Sultana, the Valide must be told of this."

"I know, Gülash." Mahidevran replied, sighing. "I know. For Melekşima Sultan's sake, I pray to Allah that this is all a big misunderstanding and that she will not be punished for this."

Mahidevran turned on her heels and headed back towards the Royal Wing but decided to visit the Valide as Gülash and her entourage quickened their steps to keep up with the pace of their mistress.

When Mahidevran was given permission to enter the Valide's chambers, she curtseys deeply. "My Valide, I come with worrying news. It is about Melekşima Sultan."