AS SOON AS we got inside the harem a lady led us to the hammam and we got washed and given the most ugly gowns to sleep in.

We were assigned into learning groups and taught all the rules of the harem and the lady explained why we are here and what we need to do.

I got into the same group with Elizabeth and we also sleep beside each other so thankfully I wasn't separated from her, I need someone to throw at the evil spirits that will surely surround me in this palace.

After finishing our chores I and Elizabeth flopped down on our harem mattresses with little energy in her bodies— so tired from all the work we've been doing for the past few days day we've been here.

I have yet to meet the great Hurrem or her princes but Mihrimah sultan came by to pick a girl to spend the night with poor Sehzade Cihangir but the girl came back in tears because the prince instantly sent her back.

"Elizabeth come massage my shoulders–" I order as I begin to take my hair out of the braid it was in.
Elizabeth nods her head and jumps up and comes behind me and begins messaging my shoulder most perfectly.

"I have a plan but I need your help making sure it goes perfectly and nobody decides to get in my way, " I blurt out making Elizabeth freeze for a second before hesitantly continuing.

"What's the plan?" She asks with caution surrounding her words.
I let out a big sigh and I tap her hands signaling for her to stop.

"Come sit down and I'll explain it all to you, " I say. Elizabeth has been loyal to me so far so I do think it's about time I reveal my master plan to her so she's not completely in the dark.

Elizabeth sits in front of me with a child-like grin on her face. One thing I like about Elizabeth is that she tries to make the best out of every situation even if she did just get ripped from her parents and taken to be a concubine—

"I am going to be a sultana and have many princes, and hopefully if God allows it, my son will be the sultan with me as his valide sultana–" I explain very quickly not leaving anything important out.

Elizabeth's jaw drops and her eyes widen giving her the look of a deer in the light— "you want to become a sultana!" She exclaims a little too loud making me put a finger over y lips to shush her up.

"Quiet down!" I whisper/shout. "I don't want the entire harem knowing this plan!" I hiss frustratedly.

Elizabeth nods her head and slaps her forehead, "im sorry but it is so strange just to think about having a friend who is a sultana!" She happily exclaimed in a quieter tone than before.

I roll my eyes with a faint smile placed on my lips. "Yes, and prince Mehmed will be the one to help me get exactly what I want–" I say with a smirk on my face just imaging it all fall into plan.

Elizabeth giggles, "you are so sly Francisca! I believe in you completely and you definitely can do it–" she says cheerfully but when her words come to an end her happy look fades and turns into a serious one.

"But watch out Francisca— there will be evil people wishing and praying for your downfall if your plan works out—" she seriously says trying to put the slightest amount of fear into my body but of course me being me I don't get scared.

"There is no if– my plan will work out and I will be a sultana!" I hiss once more getting frustrated with the girl sitting in front of me.

Elizabeth nods her head and puts her happy smile back onto her face.
"Oh, how fun it will be to–"

Her words are cut short with the announcement of someone important arriving in the harem.

The other girls scurry to get up but me and Elizabeth stay seated being clueless idiots.

I examine my nails and Elizabeth plays with my hair trying to put it into a braid. I hear whispers all around me making myself roll my eyes.

These girls always find something to gossip about—

I hear a women's voice talking and the footsteps of her walking around.
I continue to pay attention to my nails until I hear footsteps stop in front of me and when I glance up I see the most beautiful women covered in the most amazing jewels.

"You two don't stand up for the Haseki sultan of this palace? The women who could destroy and build your life?" The older woman standing in front of me says in a cold but powerful voice sending a wave of chills down my back.

Elizabeth instantly stands up and then helps me stand up but if honestly, I was rather comfortable where I was.

"Why must we stand for you?" I blurt out making many of the harem girls who were eavesdropping gasp in shock—

The older women's face turns red with anger. "I won't allow this kind of disrespect in the harem! Agha take her to the dungeons until she can get her act together and just maybe she'll be let out!" She woman shouts before storming out of the harem and three agha's come and try to grab me and take me to the dungeons but I, of course, put up a fight.

"Don't touch me you filthy animals! I know how to walk I am not an idiot!" I shout angrily as Elizabeth tries to get the agha's to forget about this whole thing and let me stay in the harem but they keep on pushing and pulling me out.

____

AS I AM BEING dragged away from my comfort to the cold dungeons the agha accidentally bump into a woman that radiates power and anger from head to toe.

"What are you doing agha's?" She says with frustration in her tone—

"Sultana your mother ordered us to take this hatun to the dungeons because she was being disrespectful–" the agha tries to explain but the woman cuts his words short by holding her hand up.

"Release the girl– my mother is angry with the world lately so she maybe took it too seriously and besides–" the woman stops and looks towards me.
"I am Mihrimah sultan– follow my order and let the girl go–"

If she's Mehmed's sister then the old lady who ordered me to be thrown in the dungeons is Hurrem Sultan!

The Agha's nod and release me from their tight grip and walk away after bowing to Mihrimah Sultan.

I smile happily and bow for Mihrimah sultan. "Thank you so much sultanim— I don't think I would survive in the cold dungeons!" I exclaim cheerfully.

Mihrimah sultan softly smiles and nods her head. "Now go back to the harem before my mother finds out about this, " she says quickly.

I nod my head and turn back down the path where agha's almost taken me to the cold dungeons.

Although Mihrimah sultan saved me from being forgotten in the palace dungeons it doesn't mean she'll be on my side during my journey to the spot of valide sultana— I don't need too many eyes watching my every move and Elizabeth tells me that Mihrimah sultan and her mother are close and that could cause trouble for me in the future—

My thoughts are cut short when I hear the laughter and joy of the harem girls. As soon as I step into the harem the laughter dies down and the attention goes to me.

Elizabeth notices that the laughter died down and she looks up from her sad state and as soon as she sees me her mood changes from sadness to joy and relief— Elizabeth hops up from the place of sadness she was in and walks over to me.

"Francisca!Francisca!" She shouts with joy, "I can't believe your back! I was so scared for you–" Elizabeth says with giggles.

I cut her off by holding my hand up–
"Stop rambling Elizabeth– it's unattractive, " I blurt out.

Elizabeth nods her head and pretends to seal her lips and toss the key away.
I roll my eyes at her childish behavior. "We must stop playing around and began working on my plan–" I say in a soft tone making sure no one else can hear what im saying.

"The woman who sent you to the dungeons was Haseki Hurrem Sultan and she was picking girls to dance for her son Sehzade Mehmet in his chambers tonight!" Elizabeth explains quickly.

I tilt my head slightly. "Well, where are his chambers?" I ask earning just a shoulder shrug from Elizabeth.

"Well, I am going to sneak in and give the Sehzade a real show and then sneak out again leaving him wanting for more–" I explain the first step in my plan with a smirk on my face.

Elizabeth giggles, "you are so smart, Francisca! This plan is incredible!" She happily says.

I nod my head, "indeed it is, but I need something breathtaking to wear– something new and never seen before, " I explain making Elizabeth gasp in shock.

Elizabeth pulls me closer to her. "I was walking around the palace late at night one day and I found a secret wardrobe that looked as if it hadn't been seen or touched in years– it still had jewels and dresses in there that looked new and so beautiful!" Elizabeth explains with a smile.

I chuckle happily, "You are truly amazing Elizabeth!" I exclaim in a hushed tone. "You must show me where this is–" I say.

Elizabeth nods her head and grabs onto my arm dragging me out of the harem to take me to this secret wardrobe she speaks of.

My plan is falling into place, everything is going so perfectly so far but I must play it safe I don't want to mess up anything...

____