Chapter 13: Factions

The other women are already assembled for this afternoon’s celebration by the time Hürrem and I return to the harem. None of them are aware that Hürrem and I have spent the last hour with the Valide and Daye Hatun. Because of the war, this afternoon’s celebration is to be a more modest affair compared to the one held before Sultan Suleiman departed. However the level of excitement is just as great, and everyone seems determined to have a good time. Esme has saved spaces for Hürrem and I around one of the low tables.

Mahidevran’s scheming has divided the women of the harem into several factions which coexist in an uneasy peace. In one faction are those who support Mahidevran’s vendetta ... voluntarily or otherwise; and in the others are those who aren’t intimidated by Gülsah’s threats, and either support Hürrem, or remain neutral. The women who remain neutral look to Ayşe for leadership, while Hürrem carefully looks after her own supporters. It is fortunate that both Ayşe and Hürrem are natural leaders, even if neither of them asked for the role.

Since Mahidevran rarely enters our part of the harem, and Gülsah only comes to bully and intimidate the new arrivals, leadership of Mahidevran’s faction within the main harem is in the hands of an odalisque called Fidan. Until recently Fidan was one of Hatice’s maids, but she remained in the Old Palace when Hatice returned to her own home. Hatice probably suspected that Fidan was one of Mahidevran’s spies, and Hatice took the opportunity to remove Fidan from those around her. Being a personal maid to a sultana is a coveted role because it increases your chances of being noticed by the sultan. Ayşe owes her position as a favourite through just such an encounter while she was Gülfem’s personal maid. Being dismissed as a sultana’s maid would normally spell disaster for an odalisque’s future, but Fidan seems quite content with what has happened. She is clearly being well looked after by Mahidevran, and Fidan treats her dismissal as little more than a minor setback.

Mahidevran and her maids accompany Daye Hatun and the Valide when they join the celebration. Their arrival is the signal for the music and dancing to begin and the food to be served. Hürrem and I remain seated and wait nervously for the Valide to announce her decision about our future to the whole harem. Unfortunately for us, the Valide doesn’t seem to be in a rush to make her announcement. Perhaps the Valide is getting her revenge for the inconvenience Hürrem caused when she said that she was pregnant. As strange as it may seem, neither of us know the outcome of the midwife’s inspection of Hürrem in the Valide’s suite. The Valide sent us both out of the room before the midwife told the Valide whether or not Hürrem is pregnant.

Everybody is having a good time and the conversation at our table is light and friendly. We watch the dancing and eventually I give in to Esme’s urgings to join her on the dance floor. Hürrem is too nervous about the outcome of the midwife’s inspection to want to dance. Perhaps I’m the more fortunate of the two of us. Whatever the outcome, the change for Hürrem will be much greater than for me.

We spend the next hour or so enjoying the party. Even Gülsah doesn’t seem inclined to spoil the fun. I suspect her relatively good behaviour is because she believes the Valide is about to announce Hürrem’s discharge from the harem. Unfortunately I’ve no idea what the Valide has decided. I’m busy dancing with a dozen of the others in the centre aisle of the harem when I notice Daye Hatun has taken Hürrem aside so that they may talk in private. I sense that the critical moment has arrived and that the Valide is about to make her announcement.

The Valide calls for silence as soon as Daye Hatun and Hürrem return to their respective places. The music stops and the dancers return to their tables. Daye Hatun quickly confers with the Valide while the harem settles down to listen to whatever the Valide has to say.

“I have an announcement to make,” says the Valide. “Today seems to be a day full of news. I’m pleased to tell you that Hürrem is expecting Sultan Suleiman’s child. As is customary, one of you will have the honour of being assigned to tend and support Hürrem during her pregnancy. Hürrem has requested that Gülnihal be given that honour. Do you accept, Gülnihal?”

“Yes. I accept,” I reply, both surprised and relieved at the announcement of my role.

I add a thank you to Hürrem for saving me from the possible fate of being discharged into the harem of the young pasha on my own. I suppose the Valide will now need to find both a new husband and a maid for the pasha. The news that Hürrem is pregnant has the expected results. Mahidevran and her cronies are alarmed and thrown into confusion. Hürrem’s supporters, together with many of the women who have remained neutral in the clandestine battle between Mahidevran and Hürrem, seem genuinely pleased. Even the Valide seems happy at the news, despite the disruption to her carefully prepared plans. I suppose it means that Mahidevran’s hold over the Valide is weakened, although it won’t disappear entirely unless and until Hürrem gives birth to a new Şehzade ... an imperial prince. Giving birth to a girl would secure Hürrem’s place in one of the imperial harems, although not necessarily here in Constantinople. Only the birth of a boy would elevate Hürrem to a sultana, and entitle her to a room in the imperial wing of the Old Palace’s harem.

The Valide has nothing further to announce and the party gradually winds up. As usual the sultanas leave the clearing up to those of us who live in this room. Even the odalisques who live in the other wing of the harem are sent off to their regular duties before they can help us. The rest of us set about clearing the food and restoring our living area to its normal state. By bedtime we have completed the task. Mahidevran’s supporters are quiet and subdued. With the prospect of another Şehzade in the harem I suspect a few of them are wavering in their support for Mahidevran’s vendetta. Gülsah and Fidan will have to work hard to keep their toadies loyal to Mahidevran.