Fidan Sultan

CHAPTER 26

I went to bed that night excited after the day's events, obviously the end of the little French witch Mihrisah, which felt like a little victory against my Sultana aunts. i put on my silk white nightgown, drank some green leaf tea imported from the Mughal Empire exclusively for my use, and went to bed.

I at first was rolling around a lot-- I was restless, and I didn't know why. Perhaps I got a little too excited over what had happened? Maybe I had too much tea? or maybe I shouldn't have told my mother? After all, spies could have overheard.

And now I'm panicking. What if spies did hear? What if they tell my Baba the Sultan, and he throws me and Valide out of the castle, to the old palace, or worse if he takes away our titles, or worst of all: what if he executes us for treason?

"Nafise Hatun!" I shouted. I needed someone to talk to, someone to comfort me ahead of such a potentially drastic event.

Nafise came out of her mini bedroom which was situated next to mine, rubbing her eyes, and almost tripping over herself as she made her way to my bed.

"Sultana Fidan, what kept you up this late at night?" She said groggily. "Do you know what time it is?"

I sighed as I winced. "I don't know what time it is Nafise, but I am very worried right now, as I am sure you can tell."

Nafise lifted her eyes to look at mine and she saw how drained I looked. Her face immediately changed into one of concern, because obviously something was wrong and she as my servant needed to comfort or help me out in whatever manner possible for her.

"What happened to you?"

"Oh Nafise Hatun, I don't know what to do. After what happened with Mihrisah Hatun and her amazing -erm- death, I went and excitedly babbled to Valide. Now I worry, with all my excitement and energy after such a 'tragic' event, or if another harem girl does it, I might get in very big trouble."

Nafise rolled her eyes, which looked very funny considering how tired she obviously was, so am I, and then calmly responded with the patience of an angel,

"Is that all? Don't worry your head with such thoughts. Even if it's true, nobody could prove you said or did anything." She took a moment to breath. "Every action we took went with verbal communication. The girls can 'testify' all they want in your dreams, but in reality they owe their loyalty to you and only you, not your Aunt Neylan or anyone else. Besides, the way ALL the girls were acting yesterday, giddy with excitement, I don't think any would care enough to betray you."

I laughed. "I guess you are right Nafise-"

"For now," She interjected. "We still need to make sure that loyalty continues until we ensure your safety from Sultana Neylan and Sultana Sitisah, and possibly Gülbahar Sultan. You never know who else could turn into a potential enemy."

"You are right on that, Nafise." I nodded. Here in Topkapi, we must always be careful. From the moment of our birth, all Sultanas and Shezades have enemies, and could be in danger by anyone. 

For now I have my Valide to also help protect me. And Nafise, as well as other friends in the harem. But time will tell how long some of these people last, and I must forge as many long term alliances and safety nets as I can.

"Well, I hope I helped you my Sultana. If you need any help, I am a hop, skip and a jump away from your bed!" Nafise bowed smiling. 

I giggled. "Who taught you that one?"

"Well," Nafise declared proudly, "An English girl in the harem taught me, and since I used to live in Scotland, I understood the quote, though I didn't previously know it, and translated it to our Ottoman language."

I chuckled. "I might use it sometime. But for now, yes you are dismissed. Goodnight Nafise Hatun."

Nafise Hatun bowed once more and then departed back to her own bedroom, not too far away from mine as I settled back into my own, for I have yet another 7 or 8 hours left of the night to sleep, and a Sultana, just like British princesses from the stories I read, absolutely must get her beauty sleep. A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book, as Nafise once told me.

I crawled back under the silky covers of my bed as I yawned. What to dream about now? Nafise reassured me the best she could, but that couldn't stop me from thinking about something else that impacted the course of the empire, or at least the course of my life.

Hanzade Mehmet Giray.

I tried to escape such thoughts as much as I could, for it isn't proper for a Sultana to romantically think about her cousins, and much less her Crimean prince cousins. But a Sultana did, and that Sultana is unfortunately, or rather fortunately, me.

Could it be his smile, his laugh, or his good looks that attracted me? His charm, his energy, his cunning and smarts? Or a combination of all of his amazing traits I have seen? Whatever it was, it was drawing me to him, and I don't know what to do.

My Valide is minorly aware of my feelings towards him, and she is forbidding it. But she also wants me to marry an ugly old man, so I should probably not take her words into consideration on that matter. But Nafise understands, she has seen the way I talk to him, and she is sure to give good advice on matters of life and love under the landscape of the harem. Before I had any further doubts or thoughts, I called out,

"NAFISEEE!!!!"

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A/N: yesss I finally updated Fidan Sultan after several months. Are you guys proud of me? I am sure proud of myself. I hope to update again soon. See for me, I need to write one chapter after a long period of time and I get back into the mood of the book and update more often. And now Fidan sultan chapter 26 is done, with another 15-20 more to go. what do you guys think will happen next? Comment and like please, and a new update is on the way. For now, check out my other books. i might update Zevki again soon too.