Chapter Text
Mahidevran focused on her task at hand, embroidering a kaftan for Mustafa, since her beloved son was almost at the age to go on his first campaign, obviously she would ask Ibrahim Pasha to keep an eye on the heir to the Ottoman’s throne.
She began to feel the effects of Sulieman pulling away from her, even after her pregnancy was announced, though he could not ignore their son, Mustafa.
This was all her fault.
Melekşima.
If she had kept her nose out of proving Hürrem’s innocence, then none of this would be happening! The Crimean witch would still be exiled and she will still have the Sultan’s love and affection. Now all that is ruined because Hürrem is back…
Footsteps approaching made Mahidevran look up, offering a small smile to her concubine, Fatmiä, who stoked the fire, awakening the dying ambers so that her Sultana would not get cold.
Though it was not the cold that bothered her, it was the never-ending pain in her back that started a while ago and she was afraid to mention anything to the Harem’s doctors for it may be the pain of childbearing, as she experienced this before with Mustafa.
Mahidevran rubbed her pregnant bump, soon she will birth another Şehzade, then Sulieman would have to pay attention to her as she show that she was just as successful as Hürrem in giving him multiple Şehzades.
“My Sultana,” Gülşah spoke, making Mahidevran look up from Mustafa’s kaftan again, annoyance was clearly written across the Bas Kadin’s face.
“What is it, Gülşah?”
“Daye Hatun is here,” She whispered, making Mahidevran’s eyes widened in excitement.
Has the Sultan called for her? She knew he would not ignore her for long!
Her excitement soon turned sour as it was the Valdie Sultan that requested her presence to join Hürrem, Melekşima and Gülfem Hatun for refreshments and embroidery.
The Bas Kadin felt utterly alone, now that Mustafa had his own chambers and a few of her loyal concubines were married off, this child would be her saving grace from the snakes of the Harem.
Mainly Hürrem.
Mahidevran could swoop to her level and flaunt her pregnancy in Hürrem’s face, like the Crimean witch had done multiple times before, she was grateful that at least Melekşima did not flaunt herself when she was pregnant with Osman.
Just as soon as Mahidevran was granted entrance into the Valdie Sultan’s chambers, curtseying low as her pregnant belly would allow, the older Sultana clutched her small bump letting out a cry as she felt stickiness between her legs and a sharp pain she had never experienced before as her body coiled into itself.
“Mahidevran!” Melekşima called out, catching the Sultan’s Bas Kadin before she could fall to the floor and hurt herself, it was as if time had stopped, and everyone just froze at the sound that Mahidevran made before Valdie Sultan took charge and yelled for Mahidevran’s concubines to help their mistress.
Hürrem was at a lost at what to do as she just stared at Sulieman’s Bas Kadin reach under her skirts, tears shining brightly as dark crimson blood coated her fingers, several gasped echoed as Gülfem covered her mouth in shock.
“No…” Mahidevran cried out, sobbing into Melekşima's hold. “Please, Allah. Not my baby.”
"Someone fetch the physician, quickly now!" Melekşima commanded, as she had little experience of what to do in such a situation, since her mother had several miscarriages during her childhood, Melekşima knew they must act quickly if they were to save both Mahidevran and the child she carried.
It was surprisingly Hürrem Sultan that helped Melekşima in getting Mahidevran to her feet and towards the Valdie’s bed as there was no way that Mahidevran would make it back to her chambers or to the Harem’s infirmary without risking the safeguard of herself or the child.
It was now a waiting game to see if the babe in Mahidevran’s womb could be saved, everyone was standing around awaiting the news and some, like the Valdie and Melekşima were praying that the child would live.
Sulieman was at a lost when he first heard about the commotion in the Valdie’s chambers and that the physician was called, when he was told that Mahidevran had miscarried one of their children, he was saddened by the news until he realized what that had meant.
Mahidevran was pregnant with twins, it was no wonder what why Mahidevran’s belly was slightly bigger than before or why she was tired and fatigued more than late, she was carrying twins.
According to the Harem’s physician, the twin that Mahidevran miscarried was the smaller of the two and it was confirmed to be a Şehzade.
He stood at Mahidevran’s chamber doors, watching as Melekşima brushed her fingers through Mahidevran's hair while they laid curled up in bed, Melekşima whispering a small lullaby that Sulieman remembered the Valdie singing to him when he was a child, the room was dimly lit and Şehzade Mustafa stood at the side of the bed, with Gülşah Hatun and Halimë Hatun.
Mahidevran’s other concubines were scattered about, tending to their duties, twice there was a pretty concubine that caught his attention, but he barely remembered her name.
She was one of the girls that the Valdie had arranged to walk the Golden Path during Hürrem’s pregnancy, but he had turned her away even before setting his eyes on the girl and now, the girl was in Mahidevran’s service.
Melekşima fell silent as her eyes landed on Henry, she moved from her position in the bed where she had been comforting Mahidevran to offer a curtsey to the Sultan along with the others in the room, Sulieman placed a hand on Mustafa’s shoulders to show that he appreciated the support he showed his mother.
"I lost one of our children," Mahidevran whispered, her voice hoarse from crying and she could not even bare to glance at Sulieman. "They said it was a boy."
“Yes,” Sulieman spoke, confirming her fear. “I heard.”
Melekşima approached Sulieman, placing a hand on his shoulder and whispered to him. “Go to her. She needs your affection now more than ever.”
Sulieman watched as Melekşima left the chambers with Mustafa and Halimë Hatun, Gülşah stayed behind in case Mahidevran needs attending to, she ordered that the other concubines do not disturb their mistress or the Sultan unless it was an emergency.
Sulieman did not say a word as he pulled Mahidevran into his embrace, producing a necklace that he made for her in hopes that would bring her some cheer, but nothing could ever replace the lost of a child, especially a son.
They both laid there in absolute silence, the only sound was the little sobs from Mahidevran.
Hürrem sat in her own chambers, holding her beloved Şehzades and Sultana close as she remembered her first miscarriage, it was painful and for weeks there were cramps as if the babe was still there.
But unlike Hürrem, Mahidevran was pregnant with twins and only miscarried the smaller twin, even though that child was a boy there was a chance that she still could give birth to a Şehzade.
The Russelana wondered when Mahidevran would start pointing fingers towards her, placing blame on her for the lost of her child since Hürrem was blamed for Mahidevran’s first miscarriage back when Mahidevran was barely pregnant with her second child and Hürrem was in the Sultan’s company for nearly two whole weeks.
It was a wonder with how many times she shared Sulieman’s bed that she did not become pregnant earlier, though she was grateful for giving birth to her Şehzade Mehmet, which raised to being a Kadin. Hürrem’s thoughts turned dark as she remembered that the Valdie Sultan trying to marry her off to the son of some Pasha what if she was not pregnant back then?
Would Sulieman have searched for her?
No, this was no time to think back on what could have been.
Hürrem was back where she was meant to be, with her children and with Sulieman.
Even though, he barely glanced her way anymore.
Sulieman was no longer persuaded by her tears, captivating poems or letters of love, though he did not send the poems or letters back but being ignored still her pride in Sulieman’s love for her was hurt more than anything.
There was Russian concubine that had arrived earlier, mayhaps Hürrem could use her to regain the favour she had lost by making Sulieman remember the love he once had for her, though she was sure to not allow the girl to believe herself above her station.
She already had issues with Mahidevran Sultan, Gülfem Hatun and Melekşima Sultan, she did not need to be worried about another lowly Cariyes rising.