Rose was just a normal girl living her life with her loving family as any normal person would, that is until the barbarians attack her village and kidnap her and sold her to the Othman's.
Sultan Ahmed has just been ascended to the Othman throne jus...
"They said that they wanted only one thing" Ali pasha said. It was the wedding day because I refused to postpone the wedding again even though I was almost assassinated yesterday. The men we sent to the rebels came back and informed Ali pasha who's now my son in law and I only have to take my daughter to his castle.
"And what is that?" I asked fixing my headscarf for it to not fall off my head.
"The leader wants the hand of your daughter, Handan Sultan," he said looking down. How dare he?
"Sultana if I may, I see this as the only way out of a rebellion and if the sultana wasn't comfortable she could always divorce him" he suggested. I sighed closing my eyes, I've always hated the idea of having to force any of my daughters into marriage.
"We'll see. But I won't force her if she refuses"I said looking down before moving my gaze to my balcony where Handan was standing with Gevehran waving me to come over to prepare for the wedding.
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"I'll tell you what happens when you're back to work next week," I said. He bowed as I walked away and back into the castle. My mood was already sour and now this.
I walked into my room where all of my daughters were and Ibrahim and Beyazid being the only two still too young to be with the actual men. My children were grown up so fast, Osman and Mehmed would've been twenty-one this year. The triplets just turned twenty and Murad is nineteen while Orhan is sixteen soon to leave for his Sanjak. Kasim was thirteen and insisted on being with his brothers and that's the only reason I let him be with the men. My Ibrahim and Beyazid were twelve being only one year younger than Kasim.
I heard a commotion coming from downstairs. I told the girls to stay inside and I went out on the balcony that shows the harem. There were a couple of girls fighting with Ayse. I said a "astakhfour Allah" under my breath before walking down the side steps from the balcony to the harem. When I walked in through the doors they all stopped and bowed to me.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop your jealous quarrels?" I asked strongly. Karla told me that the maids have been making up rumors about me after I was almost assassinated, they've been saying that I'm weak and that I've been bedridden from the fear.
"Sultana-" I raised my hand cutting the girl off. I glared hard at her which caused her to cower back in fear.
"Today is Zahra sultan's wedding and I won't let any of you ruin that for my daughter. Is that understood?" I asked. They all bowed as their apology.
"And for Ayse hatun, she's now sultan Murad khan's chief favorite and could be baring his child any minute so I advise you to keep your relationship with her good," I said. I could see some of the girls glaring at Ayse but she only ignored them and looked at me. I only winked at her and left the harem.
I walked back into my room where all of my daughters were fully dressed. I ignored their questions and walked over to Zahra who was only missing her crown/vail. I placed it over her head and pulled it over her face to cover it up.
Murad came in and gave her a present before she did the harem walk. The harem walk consisted of her walking around the harem and gold will be dispatched after her steps for the girls to take after she walks past. She was taken to her room to wait for the right time to leave the castle and as a way for her to bid her childhood goodbye.
"Handan, you stay with me" I held my daughter's hand as the rest left the room. She looked at me in confusion but sat back down anyways.
"Ali pasha received back the wants if the rebels" I started. She nodded and listened carefully I could see in her face that she already had an idea of what will be happening.
"They wanted nothing but your hand in marriage to their leader, Husain agha" I explained. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath as she let my words sink in.
"I won't force you into anything and you have the right to say no" I immediately reassured her. She nodded before opening her eyes back up and looked at me strongly. I waited for her answer patiently with a small frown sad that I was doing this to my own daughter.
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"I will do it. I will do anything for this dynasty" she said before excusing herself to go see her sister. I granted it to her before also leaving to Murad's room.
When I walked over I saw Silahtar pasha standing there, he was about to speak but I cut him off by raising my hand up.
"I do not wish to speak about the incident that accrued yesterday, it is a happy day I do not want to ruin it" he nodded in understanding and moved to the side to let me walk into my son's room.
"Murad" I smiled when I saw him. He looked magnificent in his royal robes. He walked over and took my hand placing a kiss to the back of it followed by his brothers that were also there.
"Can you please leave me with your brother?" I asked the boys. They looked at each other in confusion but left nonetheless.
"Murad, I have a serious matter to discuss with you," I said moving him to his bed that was previously his father and grandfather and every sultan that rules this dynasty after Mehmed the conquerer who won this dynasty many wars.
"What is it, mother?" He asked worriedly. I patted his cheek taking in a deep breath before speaking.
"I got word back from the rebels and they informed me that they only wanted one thing from us to not cause a big rebellion" I informed him. He nodded listening to every word I was saying very carefully.
"The leader, Husain Agha wants to marry your sister Handan" I finished. He clenched his fists but I immediately unclenched them for him.
"I asked her and she agreed. The only thing left is for you to announce the marriage if you agree of course" I patted his hair to look better than it was done.
"What should I do mother?" He asked. I could see how much the power weighed down on his shoulders. He was too exhausted already. My poor lion.
"Announce the union at the wedding," I said. He nodded letting his head drop on my lap trying to hold himself very hard from crying. My son was crumbling down from the weight of responsibility and I will do anything in my power to take that weight off of him to give him his best life. I've already lived mine with my loved that past way too early leaving me a widow in only my thirties but I will do anything for my children to not live this pain ever.
