The other woman

Meeting of the sultan women

A few months later
I have lived in the harem for a while now and I think I have things down though I haven't met any of the sultans family but that is fine by me. But that all changed one day I was exploring the part of the palace I was allowed to explore I was singing a old folk song my mother use to sing to me when I was young. Suddenly a young voice said "you have a pretty voice " I turned around very quickly to find a young boy maybe 6 or 7 maybe even younger looking up at me with brown eyes . I come down to his level to talking to him . " thank you , you must be prince mustafa " I say smiling at the young boy. " would you sing to me ? " mustafa asked me smiling . " anything you want prince mustafa " I say as I take his hand as he leads me to a room . As the prince knocks on the door the two concubines open to door for him I walk in and he tells me to sit on the pillow on the floor as he sits on the sofa. "What would you like me to sing to you about ?" I ask him smiling . " just keep singing what you were singing before " he says . So I keep singing. After a while the door opens I quickly get up and bow to whoever it is . "Mother ,mother this is Sofia Elizabeth she sings really well listen to her " the prince says to who I assume is mahidevran sultan. "I'm sorry my sultana for being here the prince wanted me to sing for him " I say keeping my eyes on the floor. I slowly walk toward her and kiss the bottom of her robe as I had been taught to do. " if my mustafa asked you to sing that is fine , you may look at me " the woman says. I look up to see a beautiful woman smiling at me. " mustafa I heard her singing from the hall and yes she dose sing very well " mahidevran says "mustafa maybe she will come sing to you tomorrow but we must let her rest and besides valide sultan wants to see us " she says nodding towards me "anytime my sultana " I say as I slowing back out of the room. I slowly walk back to the harem when you heard sumbul talking very loudly to a woman "Hürrem  hatun please be calm ". I slowly turned around the corner when I saw a very beautiful woman with red hair looking as if she may hit sumbul . I lower my head and bow. The woman slowly walks toward me. "What is your name " she asks stopping me . "Sofia Elizabeth " I say. " well have a good day Sofia Elizabeth "she says as she turns back to sumbul. I slowly walk toward the harem. My day slowly continue through lessons and meals till night came. Sümbül came running through the harem till he came to me . "You ! can you serve? " he asked frantically I cocked my eyebrows at him " yes I just learned today sumbul why what's wrong?" I asked . " the girl that usually serves valide sultan was taken ill and I have no one to take her place " he says. "I'll do it " I say smiling . Sümbül quickly hands me off to a kalfa and is given a beautiful dress and instructions. I join 3 other girls and we slowly make our way to valide sultans room with food. When we arrive we bow . As we are placing food on the table I noticed that mahidevran and mustafa were there too . "Sofia !" The prince yells as I start to back away slowly like the other woman. I bow like I was taught " prince mustafa "I said . "Sing please for me " he asks almost whining . "What is your name " the valide sultan asks me . "Sofia Elizabeth valide sultan" I say quietly  keeping my head low I was terrified who knows if I had done something wrong .