Harem's Courtyard

"She must not be doing well enough of a job if the ladies are so unruly," she replied as she popped a date in her mouth.

My eyes widened even more

My brother looks upon nigar as family you have to remember that these were girls taken from well who knows where and if they are wise enough they shall go far here. They have leasons in Turkish, change of religious views everything is changed for them they will never leave this palace ever you are lucky in two ways that you might get to go home and that my brother's wife has not killed you and dropped you into the sea

Isabella's features darkened at the threat of her own death. "If she were to do that...let's just say your brother would have a war on his hands!!"

My brother is always at war and he likes to set an example but I have certain questions that run constantly through my mind since I have come across youi

"Go ahead and ask, but I can only answer what I know, which is indeed very little." Isabella took a deep drink of wine, much sweeter than Spanish wine she was used to.

Do you believe in kismet! I asked her frankly as I saw her distaste in our wine even though as Muslims we don't drink it I stuck too my sherbet drink'

"Yes, where I'm from we call it 'destino'. What are you trying to say?" She reached for a fig, biting into its fruity, willing flesh.

"Yes, of course we shall be friends. But why should I need to distract your brother?" She had thought herself simply a pawn in a much larger game than she knew.

I thought for a moment My affections of love have fallen for someone but I won't use you as a pawn! I sometimes wonder if my brother knows of true love. Of course I have an extremely close bond with him but the heart cannot help the love it has for someone or is it a matter of mind must we force our mind not to love

"If what you feel, you cannot turn off, then that must be love. Although I would advise not being too risky in love. Only lose what you can afford to lose." She felt honored to give such advice.  She had no sisters who she could have to confide in her. "So, will you tell me the gentleman's name?"

I needed someone who was not my family to understand my feelings

Yes he is my brother's right hand man,best friend and confidant Ibrahim Pascal! It seems weird to my brother I think because he is like a brother to us but I have fallen in love with him and I know that my love for him is true when my brother first became king he had ladies dance for him and when he came to see us in our mother's chamber he said "Ibrahim you shall join me in the dance hall it is about time you found love" I admit that everything went silent to me when my brother said that

"So does your brother know of your love for this Ibrahim? I do not think it would be an impossible task to marry you two lovebirds. Your brother can do whatever he wishes." Isabella tried to instill some hope in Hatice.

I cleared my throat I felt bad that I had to sneak around and keep such things a secret from my brother.

I feel as though I have betrayed my brothers trust for all time now. We are both extremely close my brother is now king and we must live in his court the way he wants it.

She patted her hand. "Of course it makes sense. Perhaps, if you tell him everything that you've told me, he will understand. Surely he cannot refuse you in this."

I smiled for her kind words

you have spent much time with my Ibrahim! Have you ever had an arranged marriage made for you

Her smile disappeared as she thought of her home, her past. "I know my brother the emperor was in the middle of making arrangements for me to marry into the Portuguese line of succession. And then I was...I was brought here," she said lamely.

Oh I see well who knows maybe those plans will still stand if your brother can bargain your release

How odd their was only one princess in Portugal I wondered if she was to marry Isabella of Portugal brother

Have you ever been to portugal

"I feel I've given up all hope of returning. And even if I do, my brother will see me as a fallen woman. I cannot hide from him what I have been doing since I was brought here. And even if I wanted to keep it secret, it would be made known to him somehow." She sighed dreamily as she thought of the past. "I was there a few times when I was growing up, my father wanted to be on good terms with Portugal and so we would spend summers there. The weather was not as hot as in Spain."