Muhtesem Yuzyil Imagines ♡

Ch. 1 - Old Friends {Gulnihal} (By I_WriteSins_And_Tragedies)

Intro

Gulnihal thought she'd never see the Topkapı Palace again, after the late Valide Sultana sent her to Erdine to get married she thought she'd live life as a free woman, have a family of her own.

But after her husbands sudden death she found herself back in Istanbul and by fate Sumbul aga found her. Never in a million years did she think she'd get pulled into Hurrem's games, nor the Harem drama.

Maybe this time it would be different?

Ch. 1

Hurrem looked up from her current embroidery project that she'd just started and exhaled when there was a loud and quick knock on the door. It was late, it had been a long day, she had a headache and for just once she wanted a quiet night. "Nazli, ask who it is," she said frowning as she looked back down and continued the stitchwork, it was for Mihrimah. Unless someone was dead, dying, or something else serious had happened.

She couldn't care less.

"It's Sumbul aga, Sultana," Nazli said.

She didn't even bother looking up this time, "Tell him to come back in the morning." Not even a second later Nazli came back, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The woman didn't have to say anything, she knew. "He's insistent isn't he?" She looked up, her eyes narrowed.

She wasn't in the mood for this.

"He said it was important, Sultana." Nazli kept her eyes trained to the carpeted floor. "He wouldn't leave, he's most insistent."

Hurrem let out an irritated huff, "Very well, let him in."

"Of course Sultana," Nazli quickly curtseyed and headed back to the door and opened it. Sumbul nearly glided in it seemed, he was so fast it's like his feet didn't even touch the floor for a second.

He didn't seem upset, he seemed overjoyed?

"I didn't want to be bothered, Sumbul," she said through clenched teeth.

"Sultana," he bowed and looked up, smiling widely.

"Can I not go one night without someone bothering me?" For someone who should be able to get everyone to do what she wanted when she wanted...it sure seemed impossible to get them to do the easiest things!

"There's someone here, and I know you're going to be very happy-"

"It's late, Sumbul!" She shoved her embroidery aside and was seconds away from throwing it right at his face. "Can't this wait?" Her head was pounding, and his voice really wasn't helping her. "Unless it's his Majesty at the door," in which she knew it wasn't, "I don't care!"

"Sultana, if you are not happy with who I have waiting in the hallway, behead me."

She scoffed.

Maybe she would.

"Fine." She motioned for him to go, "make this quick."

He bowed before rushing back out, Nazli stood there watching and turned to Hurrem Sultan her eyebrows raised and in return Hurrem just pinched the bridge of her nose. "Nazli, after this go get me something for my head." Nazli nodded.

Hurrem fixed her posture and kept her eyes on the door, after a second Sumbul walked back in, a woman in a hood behind him. "Sultana," he said, smiling as he stepped aside.

So far she was far from impressed. "Hurrem Sultan," the woman said as she lowered her hood.

Hurrem felt her heart jump to her throat and she shot to her feet, "Gulnihal?" She asked in disbelief, the Valide Sultan had sent her away years ago after her near death experience. She thought she'd never see her again.

Sumbul headed out of the room, Nazli not far behind them and the door closed. Leaving the two women alone in Hurrem's chamber. "How is this possible?" She approached her, she wanted to pinch herself, this couldn't be real. She reached out and Gulnihal smiled softly.

She hadn't changed much, besides a few wrinkles, this was the Gulnihal she'd remembered. "My husband, he passed away, I'm a free woman." Hurrem led her to her couch and the two sat down, Hurrem's headache quickly faded. "I came back to istanbul as soon as i could."

"But how did you get here?"

"I was in the market, I ran into Sumbul by chance, we caught up. And he offered to bring me here, to see you, oh Hurrem I've missed you," She grabbed her hand, no one else had the right to touch her. But Gulnihal was the exception she always was. "I thought perhaps life outside of the palace, as a free woman..." she trailed off. "Would be peaceful, away from the hostility." She shook her head, "But I felt so empty, so lonely. So bored, I couldn't become with child." She frowned, "And I missed the shezades and sultana so much." She'd been there for Mehmed, Mihrimah, Selim, she had loved them as if they were her own. "Being apart from them has killed me."

"Oh Gulnihal," Hurrem said softly, "being apart from you has killed me." She'd been stuck in a pit of vipers, she had no friends, no one she could completely confide in. "I'd been such a poor friend to you," the fact she came back was..

She didn't understand.

"Hurrem, I saw how much you went through to get where you are. I understand, I-I'm proud, and I am lucky that I got to consider the sultana of the world my closest friend." Not many got that privilege.

Hurrem pulled her into an embrace, "Please stay," she said when the two parted.

"Is it possible for me to?" She was a free woman, she couldn't stay in the harem.

"When it comes to me dear Gulnihal, anything is possible," Hurrem said smiling. "Stay in here with me tonight, I'll have Nazli set up a bed for you, in the morning I'll talk to his Majesty." He'd do anything for her, plus this wasn't the craziest of her requests.

It would be nice to have an ally back in the palace.

Gulnihal was beaming, "It'll be like old times?"

She laughed, "It'll be better than that, I'm the Sultana of the world, don't you know?"