Caterina spent her whole life being underlooked and misunderstood.
Hatice spent her whole teenage years chasing a man who loved another.
But Hüsniye became more than a pawn. She became a queen. She conquered the heart of the Ottoman Sultan, the hear...
The quiet of the night felt unnatural. The air in my chambers was heavy, suffocating even, though I couldn't place why. My children were sound asleep, their soft breaths a lullaby that should have calmed me, but an unease gnawed at my chest.
Was it the arrival of Princess Fakriye, who seemed to have changed her religion along with her name to fit in better? Or, was it Safiye, her silence unsettling? Could it be my children's future as the sultan's offspring?
Süleyman and Abdullah in their cribs on either side of me, their tiny hands clutching the folds of my gown even in sleep. Mihrimah and Rukiye lay on the divan, tangled in each other's arms, while Selim kept watch over Hanzade on the carpet below, protective as ever.
I stared at the ceiling, willing myself to find rest, when the first tendril of acrid smoke crept into my nostrils. I froze, my heart pounding.
Smoke.
At first, I doubted myself. Perhaps it was a stray scent from the kitchens or a torch outside. But then came the shouts—distant but unmistakable.
"Fire! Fire in the harem!"
I shot upright, the movement jostling Süleyman and Abdullah awake. Their whimpers cut through the growing chaos outside.
The door burst open, and Gülbahar appeared, her face pale and glistening with sweat. "Hatice! You must leave! The fire—" Her words were drowned by the distant roar of flames.
Panic surged through me. "Hanzade! Mihrimah! Selim! Rukiye!" I called out, rushing to gather my children.
"Valide?" Selim's voice trembled as he rubbed his eyes.
"Quickly, my lion. Wake your sisters," I ordered, grabbing Süleyman and Abdullah into my arms. "We must leave now."
The children scrambled to their feet, groggy and frightened. Mihrimah clung to Selim, her wide eyes darting toward the door where smoke began to seep in.
"Hurry, follow me!" Raziye urged, her voice rising in panic as she woke as well. "I know a way out!"
We stumbled into the corridor, where the full force of the fire hit us. The heat was unbearable, the smoke choking. Flames licked at the far walls, casting a hellish glow. Screams and frantic footsteps echoed as cariyes and servants fled in all directions.
I tightened my hold on the twins, their tiny arms clinging to my neck. "Stay close to me!" I yelled over the chaos, my voice hoarse. "Do not let go of each other!"
Selim grabbed Mihrimah's hand, pulling her along, while Hanzade clutched Rukiye's arm. The children's faces were pale, their eyes wide with terror.
As we moved toward the courtyard, Hanzade tripped over the edge of a rug. She fell hard, letting out a cry as she hit the floor. "Hanzade!" I screamed, turning back. Her small form was nearly engulfed by the haze of smoke.
I couldn't reach her with the twins in my arms. Before I could act, a figure emerged from the shadows. Halil Agha.
Without hesitation, he darted through the smoke, scooping Hanzade into his arms. His movements were precise, as if he had done this a hundred times before.
"Go, Kadın!" he shouted, his voice firm despite the chaos. "I will bring her!"
Relief and terror warred within me as I turned back to the other children. "Come on!" I urged, dragging them toward the open air.
The courtyard was a haven of chaos. Survivors gathered in clusters, their faces streaked with soot and tears. I set Süleyman and Abdullah down, pulling Selim, Mihrimah, and Rukiye close.
When Halil emerged moments later, cradling Hanzade, I felt my knees weaken.
"Halil," I breathed as he handed her to me.
"She's unharmed," he said, his voice steady. His face was streaked with soot, but his eyes burned with determination.
I hugged Hanzade tightly, tears streaming down my face. "Hanzade'm, are you hurt?"
She shook her head, though she clung to me as if her life depended on it. "I was so scared, Mama." She murmured as she called me when she was younger, making my heart clutch.
I was so close to losing her a second time.
"You're safe now, my gem," I whispered, kissing her forehead. "You are so brave."
Selim stepped closer, his young face a mix of fear and determination. "Valide, what will happen to the harem?"
I glanced toward the palace, where flames still roared. "The harem can be rebuilt," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "But you are my heart, my soul. As long as we are together, nothing else matters."
Halil lingered nearby, his sharp eyes scanning the courtyard for signs of danger. When our gazes met, I nodded. "Thank you," I said softly, my voice trembling.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"It is my duty, Kadın," he replied, bowing slightly. But there was something in his expression—a quiet, unspoken bond that passed between us.
As dawn broke over the charred remains of the harem, I sat with my children nestled around me, their small hands clutching at my gown. The fire had taken much, but it had also revealed something precious: strength, loyalty, and hope.
For my children and for this empire, I would endure anything.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Once again being inspired by the magnificent ladynurbanu
Who could've started the fire?
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 5K+ READS AND 400 VOTES ILYSM
family tree thus far:
Sultan Murad + Safiye Baş Kadın ⸺Hümaşah Sultan (16/05/1564) ⸺Şehzade Mehmed (8/07/1566) ⸺Şehzade Mahmud (22/01/1568)
Sultan Murad + Fülane Hatun ⸺Rukiye Sultan (31/05/1566)
Sultan Murad + Hatice Kadın ⸺Mihrimah Sultan (29/10/1566) ⸺Şehzade Selim (29/10/1566) ⸺Hanzade Sultan (15/1/1569) ⸺Şehzade Abdullah (17/12/1573) ⸺Şehzade Süleyman (17/12/1573)
Sultan Murad + Şah Hatun ⸺Fahriye Sultan (8/1/1568)
Sultan Murad + Nazperver Kadın ⸺Şehzade Bayezid (28/11/1574)
