Tales of Love and Power

Chapter 17: Aizora

Hazeda's wide smile and pleasant disposition told Dowager Aizora all she needed to know of how her evening had gone. She recognized that smile all too quickly as she wore it often when her late husband was alive. She was his most favored woman in her youth. The late king had a relatively small harem compared to past rulers. At its peak, the king only had three favorites whom he would see often. When Aizora came to the harem she was only twelve and she was a handmaid to the previous dowager, Dowager Merazda. When Aizora became sixteen she was gifted to her husband as a concubine. She was his first concubine and the mother to his only surviving son. When Dowager Merazda fell ill, it was Aizora who ruled the harem. She learned much from her predecessor and it became very useful when she became so determined to ensure that her son was the crown prince. The things she did were her secrets to live with. To carry to heaven or hell. All Dowagers held secrets. She did, the ones who came before her did, and Hazeda would too if she were smart enough or cruel enough to do what it took to make Uzma Abzalin's heir.

She looked down at the smiling Hazeda wanting to prepare her for the journey that lay ahead. For the crown, she would wear a Dowager. But it was much too early especially considering that nothing is constant in the palace. Situations change within seconds and there was no predicting who would be the most promising. So she resigned herself to let Hazeda enjoy this temporary moment of happiness. "I'm happy to see you smile again Hazeda. I hope this helps you know that no one-night concubine can replace you." She reassured her. Hazeda smiled even brighter believing that now Abzalin would forget about Mahaila.
"Thank you Dowager for showing me the way. I won't forget your wise advice." The two continued their conversation as they had hundreds of times before. With such normalcy, Hazeda felt as if Mahaila hadn't arrived at the palace.
"How do you feel about this pregnancy Hazeda? Do you think I'll hold another grandson in my arms by next spring?" The Dowager asked while smiling.
"If Azlah wills it, I'd be most joyful to have another prince for His Majesty."
"May it be so." The dowager replied.
A knock came at her chamber doors and the dowager answered for them to come in. Two servants came carrying a full breakfast table and placing it at the center of the room. "Come, I have ordered that a delicious and healthy breakfast be made for you." The dowager stood and led Hazeda to the table.
"I've already eaten Mother Dowager."
"No such thing as too much food when you are carrying my future grandson. Sit down and eat." With the Dowager insisting, Hazeda couldn't refuse. They sat and ate together until Hazeda felt so full that she thought she could no longer eat. As the servants took away their breakfast tray the mother dowager suggested they go on a walk through the gardens. Hazeda quickly welcomed this idea and the two were off to the gardens within a few minutes.
"Mother Dowager," Hazeda chimed in.
"Yes, my daughter. What's on your mind?"
Hazeda knew that what she was going to say would be crossing a boundary but she felt emboldened by her pregnancy to attempt to speak up against Mahaila's presence.
"The concubine. Mahaila."
"Yes, I've heard quite a lot about her." The dowager spoke suspecting where the conversation was leading to.
"Mother, I would not hide anything from you. I have been most troubled by her presence. If it is possible I think it'd be best if she was sent away to the old palace."
The mother dowager halted in her steps and turned to face Hazeda.  In turn, Hazeda lowered her eyes avoiding Aizora's gaze. She knew that one look in her eye would strip her of all her confidence within a single look of discontent."If you see fit of course. I will resign myself to whatever you decide Your Highness." Hazeda could feel herself beginning to tremble under the Dowager's stare.
Aizora let out a small laugh as she spoke. "And what would I tell my son when he asks me why his favorite concubine has been banished?" She questioned Hazeda while waiting for an answer.

"I...I don't know. I didn't think this through. Forgive me for bothering you with such unimportant matters." Hazeda spoke shame emitting from her words. 
Aizora could see the disappointment in Hazeda's expression and pitied her. She lifted her chin and made her look up. "Hazeda, His Majesty is a King. Neither you or I can question his decisions. Things have changed. You are no longer the woman of a prince but a King. Nothing will be as it was before. The things you are used to doing in the past will no longer be optional."

"Yes, Mother, I understand," Hazeda spoke reluctantly. 

"If you want to stay in my son's favor then you must learn to ignore his dalliances with the other women of the harem."

"Sharing his majesty pains me. I can't breathe when he's in the arms of another. " Hazeda stopped walking the moment she realized what she had spoken. "Forgive me, mother dowager, I know that jealousy is a sin an.."
Aizora let out a laugh stopping Hazeda from finishing her words.
Hazeda expected that the dowager would fault her for what she had said but instead, Aizora turned to her with a full smile. "If anyone were to fault you for having the heart of a woman then it would certainly not be me." The dowager came to a stop as she reach a garden chair and sat down. She extended her arms to Hazeda inviting her to sit down. "Jealousy is a feeling as old as love itself. I was younger than you when I felt it try to take hold of me. His Majesty, the Late King Razdor favored me greatly but that never stopped him from smelling the other roses in the garden. All the women of the harem have to deal with this feeling." Aizora could see his vision now as she spoke of her late husband. The joy she felt in his presence and the sadness she felt without him. She loved him, the way many concubines love their royal husbands. But she was never free to love him the way a woman could love a man.

"How did you do it, mother?" Hazeda asked the dowager with defeat in her voice.

"For a while, I didn't know how. On more than one occasion I found myself openly hating my rivals. Attacking them in any way that came to mind. I quickly realized that behaving that way would only bring me more misfortune than good. After one particular incident, I was nearly kicked out of the palace."
Hazeda gasped in surprise at the dowager's words.
"If it wasn't for the love his majesty bore me I would not have returned at all."
"What happened after you returned mother?" Hazeda asked curiously.
"I decided that to survive and win the Game of Thrones everything within me would have to yield to those who controlled my fate. I bowed my head to my husband the king, I bowed my head to his mother, the Dowager Merazda, and lastly, I bowed my head to the other concubines. Though the feeling of jealousy never went away I kept quiet. I conformed to the rules of the harem. I was loving and attentive to my husband, I was respectful to the Mother Dowager, and I was gracious to the other concubines. I left no room for anyone to find fault in me. I was perfect." The dowager turned to Hazeda and placed her hands on her cheek. "You must be perfect too. You must learn to push aside your feelings. Your husband is the King. You are the mother of a prince. You cannot act like an inexperienced concubine. His majesty will have countless women in his favor and you will have many rivals. You have to be smart. Keep your tears only for yourself otherwise, this palace will devour you." Aizora spoke exuding calm and seriousness in her.

Hazeda listened to the dowager attentively taking note of her every word.  It was wise of her to listen as Aizora was most certainly the wisest of the palace women. She transformed herself from a simple concubine to the most powerful woman in all the land. 

Once she was powerless to the point where couldn't decide her own fate. Now she controlled the fate of all within the royal harem.
Her place in history was determined with the rise of her son but Hazeda's fate had yet to be known.

Royal Dowager Aizora had won the Game of Thrones.
She was invincible.
She was powerful.
Concubine Hazeda was neither of those things.