The other woman

Trips and Rebellion

Before I start this chapterI wanna say thank you to all of you who read my book, those who have been with me from the beginning. You all make me so happy and make me wanna write, you are all amazing and bring such joy to my life. Now a special shoutout PauLa2819  this lovely reader., made such a huge contribution to this chapter, as well as other chapters so I wanna say thank you so much to you and to all my lovely readers. You are all amazing! Thank you. Also please buckle up this may be a long chapter.
The next morning all the girls are excited to go, they were up early going through my closet, however aya had me stay in bed for as long as possible to rest. " you need to rest more" she said. " all I do is rest day and night, I can't even move an Inch without someone coming to help, this is an important day for all of us" I say. " I'll make a deal with you , you can get up when breakfast arrives and then you can do as you please deal ?" She says holding some clothes up to see if they would fit her. "Alright , get my purple one ready, you know which one and make sure all of you have capes no sickness, and dan must be clothed well" I say. " and you think I worry to much " aya says smiling." Oh I'll get you...." I say trying to get up but she ran into the back before I was even sat up. After some time breakfast did come and I was allowed out of bed, with help of course. We ate our meal happily then began to get dressed, the girls truly looked beautiful, I could imagine their wedding days. Finally around 12 o clock baris came knocking on the door to tell us it was time to go. " Im so excited!" Rasha said smiling. " me too, it will be interesting seeing a place besides the palace" Maya countered. " don't get to excited and drop dan " aya said as she held my arm. Dan rested peacefully in rasha arms, I rubbed my belly I would have to thank his majesty throughly for this gift. We walked out the palace to the gates and saw a carriage waiting for us smiling the girls picked their speed to get there faster. " careful now " aya said as we walk arm in arm. I held my stomach feeling a sharp kick but kept walking without making aya suspicious. Baris walked behind us smiling. Once we got to the carriage maya was put in first then rasha handed dan up and baris helped her up, then me and then aya.  Then baris hopped up to the seat with the driver and we were off. The girls look out at the city smiling through the semi covered windows. " wow it's so beautiful look a all the people" maya said. " last time I saw the city was when we arrived it looks the same" I say. " when I saw it I was in ropes " aya said. We look at her shocked and then giggle. " what it's true " she says. " oh we know, the only one who didn't arrive like it was Sofia " maya said. " it's true, I was brought in with a simple gown and that was all" I say. Sumbul after I became a mother brought me back that dress I had entered in as a gift and a reminder of my humble beginnings. Finally we arrived and the girls fixed their veils in front of their faces, I did as well. When the carriage stopped baris knocked on the side and asked if we were ready. "Yes baris" I yelled.  First out when Rasha then maya handed down dan , then baris helped her down then aya then both aya and baris helpe me down.He went and knocked on the door and immediately my father came out and hugged me. " welcome to my home dear guests please come inside " he said. I nodded to the girls to go in. My father turned to baris and the driver " leave the carriage there and I am going to have some backgammon brought out for you both to play as well as food and drink and chairs while you wait " he said. The driver clapped his hand and thanked my father and baris gestured him to join him in the steps. My father walked me into the house our arms linked. " well I hope you haven't brought me these hidden beauties as gifts " he said as we entered the room.  The girls giggled , " no father girls let down your veils" I say and the veils were removed showing 3 smiling faces they all bowed to my father. " this is aya, rasha and maya, and of course your grandson his her arms " I say pointing out each girl. " welcome to my home you will be treated as my daughters while here " he says. " thank you sir" they reply. " what brings you here ?" He asks turning to me placing his hands on my stomach. " a visit his majesty's gift, I'm close to my deliver and he is away so I've been allowed to see you and bring the girls out as a gift" I say. He nods and leads me to a chair and helps me sit down and he sits next to me. " you look good healthy , how is my grandsons ?" He This one is good and crawling and has just got his first big boy bed, and the one to be born is growing fast he is so large it's hard move now of days, I've been on bed rest for a while " I say."that's good you need rest, come my boy let's see you go"he says and shehe puts down dan and the girls get his attention he slowly starts to crawl to him. " come on angel show grandpa " I say. He crawls to my father happily." Ah my big boy my prince, so good" he says picking him up and kissing his head. " how did you ladies like the ride through the city ?" He asked turning to my maids.
" oh sir it was wonderful, thank you for having us your home is beautiful " maya says dreamily. " im glad hatun, it's a treat to have such lovely girls here " my fathers says. " I hope you are all hungry I will have the kitchen make up a fine feast for you all, now the cooking is not as good as the palace I'm sure but I sure enjoy it " fathers says. " I'm sure it's lovely sir, a home cooked meal reminds me of my childhood " aya says. " tell me where are you all from" he says. " I'm from Crimea" aya says. " I'm from Egypt sir" maya says. "And what about you my dear ?" Father says Turning to Rasha. " Belgrade sir" rasha says. " well if any of you remember your family's name and the town they are from I can always see if your family still exists to let them know of your safety if you wish " father says. " oh sir your too kind" maya says running over and hugging papa. They all tell them their information and he writes it down" next trip I'll send envoys to each town and I'll send word through Ibrahim to get the info to you all " he says." Thank you" they all say. "Papa your to kind " I whisper. " it's the least I can do I can tell you cherish them all, family is important and if there families are still alive one day they might be reunited" he says. " how do you " I start and he looks at me and smiles " i know you darling, you will that they are married properly and when that happens they would want to see their family one day " he says. I kiss his temple and smile. " now let's eat " he says rising and calling for the food to be brought in. We feast and enjoy heartily I can tell they are enjoying themselves very much. " and then I turned to the girls in the hammam and say well, we definitely be smelling like roses now " rasha says as she finishes a story of how she ended up smelling like roses for two weeks along with some other girls when the soap was infused to much. Everyone is laughing very hard. I noticed the sun was going down and I was just about to say we should leave when a several knocks come from the door. Papa gets up and walks to it and opens to see who it is. It was baris breathing hard. " pasha, sultana the soldiers they have rebelled, they destroyed the bazar and now they March on the palace we can't go back" he says. I turn to the girls and see terror in their eyes. " tell the carriage to go to end of the street quickly and go down the alley and turn into the back court yard I'll send servants to open it right now quickly go now baris" he says. He yells down to the servants with his orders. " my girls I'm going to have the house locked I will have the doors guarded, you will all stay here you will be safe I promise" papa says as I sand up. "This can't be happening, his majesty is gone and they take a chance to harm the city...... how dare they I could kill, I could ...." I say until a pain hits my side. " ah " I scream out as I clutch my side. " sultana ! " they all rush to me and my father holds me steady. " the baby is coming, he is coming now "I say. " lord save us, my darling don't be afraid, I'll have hot watered boiled and towels brought up immediately" papa says rushing down stairs. " I can't have this baby now, not here we have no midwife" I say as they help me to a sofa." You have done this once before, I was there we can do this " aya says kneeling at my side." You have us too, we will not let anything bad happen to you or him " maya says. " what about dan" I say. "Your son will be fine" rasha says rocking him. Papa comes back " girls help her up this is not the place she should give birth in come you will come to my room " he says. I nod and they help me up as the contractions hit very hard. The parlour was just across the hall from papas room, once they get me into bed my pain gets worse. " dan where will you put dan" I ask. " dan will not leave your side, give me one minute " he says as the girls rub my back. He goes off and I see climbs to the 3rd staircase to the attic. He comes back with a large cradel that I recognize as my brother and mine. " you saved it " I ask. " he may not have used it but you did so it will do just fine for dan" he says. He places it on the floor in my eye line and Rasha places dan in it. " I will go check on the water and towels" he says. " sir we also need a clean knife or scissors" aya says. He nods and goes off " why did this happen to me why was I so stupid " I cry out. " it was his majesty's gift it's not stupid, the stress of everything just brought on labour a little quicker , you were due soon anyway" aya says. Maya nods as I scream again. " let's get sultana out of these clothes and have her just in her under gown" maya says. Once my clothes are off papa and baris brings the hot water, towels and scissors. " sultana I will be guarding the door, don't worry " he says. I nod and he runs off. " my darling I will wait outside the door with a sword you will do good , be brave" he says and kisses my head then leaves. The night seems to go one forever my contractions getting worse by the hours. " Sofia I'm going to check you again, i know its painful but with pain comes your baby " aya says. I nod and let her check me. "Sultana your crowing you will soon have a baby" aya says. At this point I'm crying from the pain. " alright sultana it's time now push" aya says. Maya and rash hold my hands as I squeeze them and push as hard as I can. " good girl again " she says. I push hard again I feel the sweat down my back. "Almost there come on " I push as hard as I can once again. " I can't do this " I say. " you always say that but you can come one more big one " aya says. Rasha and maya nod and I nod back and push one more time very hard and finally feel the babe leave my body and the pain stop. Soon a loud cry fills the room. Quickly Rasha let's go and helps aya with the cutting and cleaning. " is it a boy" I ask and maya rocks me. " no sultana it's a girl a beautiful baby girl" aya says handing her to me. "I have a sultana ?" I say. She nods through her tears. "Oh look at you, like a sweet jewel, Allah is good " I say as I kiss her head. " you are worth all the tears I have cried tonight " I say. " sultana you truly have been blessed " maya says. " I have indeed" I say smiling.