Nigar Kalfa's chamber

I begin to open my eyes using the back of my hand to rub away anything crusty on them. I could hear movements in the hallway and I knew I had to get up. I walk over my cobblestone floor splashing my face in the water I had set out last night.

Dilara knocked at the door

"Nigar Kalfa? Are you awake? I need talking to you.."

On hearing a knock I picked up a towel and dabbed at my face. It was still early so wonder who it was. günaydın young Hatun! Why aren’t you in dormitory, sleeping with other Hatuns?

Dilara entered the room without being invited to enter. She felt so gitated

"I need your help, Nigar Kalfa. I fear that Emperor Charles could keep me prisoner and forcing to leave the Harem. I know our Hunkar will never allow that, but I need your protection as well, Nigar. You have power on Harem.."

I step to the side mouth agape as the young Hatun showed no respect for my personal privacy. Something which is intensely hard to get round here. For a few more seconds I kept standing there in disbelief while I took what Dilara said. If you have been kidnapped from Spain or rather Portugal than yes, our sultan must give you back it will not sit well in terms of trading for spices and such. Secondly, please don't do that again to burst into my room like a bull you're a young Hatun and represent the harem we all do. Let's start from the beginning and tell me why you think you'll be sent to Spain or where the emperor is from. I pulled out my only stool so Dilara could sit down while I instructed a eunuch to let the Agas know that I would be late in my tasks.

Dilara nodded nd she took a deep breath

"I apologize for coming here suddenly, Nigar. Forgive me. But it's a long story. I had a relationship with Emperor Ferdinand. I met him in Bavaria, and I got pregnant. He suggested me to move to France, to his sister Queen Eleanor. But his brother, Charles, hates me. So he kidnapped me, and...and...some of his men even raped me. So I lost my child. But he came here, our Hunkar himself is talking to him. I'm sure he wants to take me away from here.."

She fell upon a sofa a kept on crying

I could hardly believe my ears! This would definitely a scandal and I worried how this would affect the other girls in the harem. Were you given freedom as you are property of Sultan Suleyman? It was a lot of information to take in a lot of trauma for anybody to go through yet everyone who comes here apart from members of a dynasty has some trauma's. You are very fortunate as Hatun to get out of this harem and be able to come back! Maybe our hunkarim will find you a husband and you'll be able to build a life far from here. I put a blanket around her shoulders when she cried and told the guards to get us something to drink. It was Boza, a cereal based fermented beverage. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]


I'll take care of you and you can stay here with me till you feel capable of dealing with the harem again. We don't have to think about this now, and I'm not telling anyone else. With your permission I'd like to check in with our hunkarim about how things are going to progress from here.

Dilara took the Boza Nigar offered her. She had a sip. It was delicious. So she smiled a bit

"Thank you, Nigar. Again, forgive my manners, but I feel so scared. I don't know what our Hunkarim will decide for me. But I'll accept his choice. Because I trust him. And please, no one in the harem will have to know.."

She said looking at Nigar with begging eyes