location : the main hub of activity around bellinzona
status : open to both sides of the peace treaty
he had given her a task, he had entrusted his vision, his voice and his message within her very mouth ( her tongue suddenly thick and heavy behind small pearls of ivory ). the sultan would join her soon, or so he had said. but till then, she would be amiss of her two younger children; her dear husna and habib, who were to be nurtured by the consorts and the sultan himself.
she strayed from the confines of sasso corbaro to take to the common ground, her traditional garments put aside for warmer wear - western clothes pared with her nath piercing worn, a large ring decorated with amber jewels given upon her wedding day by the sultan himself. her older children were left with their nalini, a nanny who both educated and cared for them in gulbadan’s absence.
it was perhaps overwhelming for the consort, as she stepped into a world unfathomable to the loyal people of the mughal empire. and yet, she tried. her mind cast back to the teachings of the goddess lakshmi; for she was the one who would take gulbadan’s hand, guiding her forth to opportunities of the west.
“excuse me,” she announced, her tongue rough and strange around western words as she held her hands upon her belly. “i am gulbadan devi sultan begum… i have just arrived from hindustan, and though i am late… i wish to extend courtesies from the sultan of the mughal empire himself. may i ask, how long have you sought sanctuary within these borders?”
🌹 the best thing about being in bellinzona --- although margaret would never that out loud --- was the variety of cultures that did not follow the standard imposed by the catholic church. she would always look curiously at those she realized were not part of the same culture as herself and the need to talk to them were too strong. yet, most of the times, she would remain at her place, watching them walking away. margot didn’t achieved enough courage to say the first “ hello ” --- the guards following her would always say obnoxious things. she understood the worry her parents had --- david douglas was dead and who could guarantee that he was the only one from the english court ?
but when a woman she was eyeing for a few minutes came into her direction and sarted talking, a large smile, with full teeth, broke into margot’s lips. at least God was seeing her stuggles and blessed her with something she wanted. ❝ oh, you and the sultan are too kind. i am margaret tudor, princess royal of england, and despite being in two opposites sides, i also offer the courtesies of queen anne and the english and scottish court to you and your family. ❞ she would soon be princess of scotland --- if her father were right about her uncle’s health condition --- and wanted to please patrick with new allies. ❝ i’ve been in bellinzona for almost a month, if my calculations are right. and you, your imperial majesty ? ❞