Tales of Love and Power

Chapter 16: Mahaila

She did not notice his presence when she had awoken. Mahaila stretched her arms above her head and yawned attempting to take the sleep away from her eyes. "Sunrays upon you," Her hands quickly came down as blood rushed to her cheeks from embarrassment. "my love." He spoke to her brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
"Your majesty, I didn't mean to fall asleep." She quickly explained. Though she did not know all of the rules she was sure that it was not encouraged for concubines to use the kings room for their own uses. She rambled on about how she came to sleep on his bed as he smiled at her amused by her embarrassment. He gave her a quick kiss on her lips causing her to stop her long-winded speech. As their lips parted, he wrapped his arms around her placing a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm glad you've recovered." He said truly thankful. When he remembered how she looked when he found her in the cells his heart felt as if it might break.
For a few minutes, there was a sweet silence as they held each other. His fingertips ran along her arm as she listened to his heartbeat. "Were you frightened?" He asked. There was no need for him to explain what he was asking.
"Yes," Her eyes locked on his. "I was scared that I might never see you again. But I knew that you'd come and save me." She smiled at him sweetly giving him the reassurance he needed.
"I never wish to see you suffer again."
Mahaila sat up and turned to face him. "As long as you are in my life I will never suffer." She kissed him passionately before a knock came to interrupt them. Abzalin walked to the door receiving a message from Zukul. "Call the members of the council. Inform them of the situation. I'll come in a few minutes."
Mahaila stood from the bed hearing the urgency in his voice. "I can tell that you must leave me now, Your Majesty," she said pouting
"I must meet with the council. But I will see you tonight." He placed a kiss on her brow and smiled at her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Tonight's so far away." She whimpered.
"Think of me and the time will go quickly. And then come ask me for whatever your heart desires and you shall have it."
She smiled eager already knowing what she wanted. Though it was expected for her to ask for dresses, or jewelry what she had in mind was intangible.
"I'll have Zukul bring you some breakfast. Stay and eat before you return to your chambers." Abzalin spoke bringing Mahaila's hand to his lips. "I will think of you until you are in my arms again."
"As I will think of you." Mahaila watched as he turned and left. He was gone for only a few moments before she found herself missing him. She was not alone for long as two servants soon entered the chambers with a tray of breakfast. Mahaila thanked the two servants who stayed to wait on her. She did not like being waited on so she ate quickly so that she could leave sooner. When she finished eating the eunuchs had brought her a new dress for her to change into. Though they asked if she wanted a servant to come help her she insisted that she could manage on her own.
While Mahaila made her way back to her chambers and approached the sitting room she stopped by the door eavesdropping on the conversations the concubines were having. In the sitting room, concubines fawned over Hazeda congratulating her on her night with the king over breakfast. "His Majesty's heart has always resided with Lady Hazeda."
"We pray that your pregnancy has been well."
"We heard that you called for healers last night, was your highness feeling ill?" The concern for her was only partly genuine. Many of the concubines cared only that Hazeda favored them. Though she had no power now one day she would rule the harem. She would hold the power over whether the harem was heaven or hell.
Mahaila made her way inside the sitting room Hazeda turned to look toward Mahaila. Hazeda smiled a wicked smile as Mahaila stood at the entranceway. "My pregnancy has been trying at times. But after spending the night with his majesty I feel much better." Hazeda spoke loudly.
Mahaila heard this and tried not to react. She paid no attention to them as she walked through the aisle of the room to her chambers.
"Lady Mahaila," Hazeda called out smugly. The whole room was watching Mahaila now. She stopped almost reaching the doors that could allow her to escape into the resident part of the harem. "You've yet to congratulate me on my pregnancy". The whole room sat in silence waiting to see what she'd do. Some believed she'd explode, giving Hazeda the right to send her to the dungeons again. Mahaila knew that this was a test and unlike last time she would not fail. She put on a smile that seemed close to genuine and turned to face Hazeda and her entourage. She curtsied and congratulated her trying to seem sincere. "Congratulations Concubine Hazeda. May peace be upon you and your child."
She made no mistakes. An entire room had witnessed that. Her execution was so flawless that all Hazeda could do was give up on her mission of humiliating Mahaila.
As Mahaila rose from her curtsy a proud-looking Yuruza stood from her seat and walked to Mahaila's chambers. "You've been learning." She said. Mahaila looked at her confused as they crossed the threshold of her room.
"It's clear that concubine Hazeda was trying to find a reason to punish you. But I saw how calm you were, I almost believed it when you congratulated her." She smiled at her friend. Mahaila sat on the couch as Yuruza continued to speak. "No one else in the palace has done what you did and lived. It's no wonder His Majesty's in love with you."
"If he's in love with me why did he spend the night with Hazeda?" Mahaila had not realized what she had said until the words had left her mouth. She did not hide her insecurity well. Yuruza could see how much it bothered Mahaila that he spent the night in another woman's bed. For the girls who'd long called the harem their home, they were accustomed to its harsh reality. While they called themselves Concubines, Ladies, and Favorites, the truth was that they were all alike in the sense that they belonged to a man who would never belong to them. Yuruza only then realized that Mahaila believed she was different. She grew jealous of her at that moment. Not of her being favored by the king, but of the fact that she still holds enough memories of life outside the palace to believe that such things were possible.
"He spent the night with Hazeda out of duty. She is the mother of his son and for that, he must always care for her well-being and her reputation. But when he spends time with you, it's because he wholeheartedly wants to be with you. You and Concubine Hazeda cannot be compared." She wasn't sure if her words were completely true but she hoped so, for the sake of her friend. Mahaila smiled as her friend comforted her.
"Wait, since he spent the night with Hazeda, why didn't you return until now?" She asked out of curiosity. Slightly embarrassed Mahaila looked down slightly avoiding Yuruza's gaze. "There is a chance that I might have fallen asleep waiting for him."
Shocked Yuruza couldn't help but break out into a fit of laughter. "The King, calls for you to serve him and you decide to sleep in his bed as if it's your own." She laughed at how maddening the idea was. Captivated by her laughter, Mahaila also began to laugh uncontrollably. They laughed and joked until the supervisors began to call the concubines for their classes. They walked to their classes together not noticing that Hazeda was watching walk away. Their happiness was their victory and there was nothing that Hazeda could do or say to take away their joy.