Anastasia stands in front of the rioters. The disrupters of peace. She called out to them, "Our Padishah lives! I was with him only moments ago. I tell you he lives! As does Sehzade Mustafa! I swear to you!" She places her hand on her heart.

A rioter yells, "She lies! They wouldn't have dressed up someone as him if he was alive." He protests. There is a mumble of agreement among the crowd.

"Yes, he is ill! But the physicians are taking care of him, and he should be up on his feet any day now." Anastasia protests. She can feel the mood of the crowd change, they are being swayed. The rioter notices it too, and she can see him become infuriated.

"Charge!" He hollers, but no one moves. He yells once more, "charge!" Once again no one moves. He fires his gun.

It hits her chest, and sends her onto her back. She touches her chest. She doesn't feel any blood. Anastasia pushes away her amazement, and lifts herself off the ground.

"A witch, she is a witch!" The rioter screams.

"I am no witch, and no one needs to die tonight! Go home to your families! Our Hunkar will soon be well! Now is not the time for violence, but for prayer. If you continue like this, you will face the wrath of our Padishah!" She exclaims.

"She lies!" The rioter yells once more, but no one listens. The crowd disperses, and leaves the courtyard.

Anastasia returns to the Harem, holding her chest. "How did you survive? That shot should've killed you." Handan Sultan asks in amazement.

"The amulet from Hudai Efendi saved me." She pulls it out. A bullet is lodged in it.

"Praise Allah!" Remarks Haci Aga, who stands at Handan's side.

"Praise Allah indeed." Comments Handan, looking over the amulet. "Thank you for what you did Mahpeyker. You saved us all." Anastasia bows to her, as Handan turns and walks away.

"Golge!" Anastasia calls to Golge Hatun, who has been standing behind Haci. She's starting to feel light headed. "Help me, it hurts." Golge rushes to her, as Anastasia loses consciousness.

Anastasia wakes the next morning in her bed. A white gown is laid out for her. She dresses herself, and quickly leaves. Anxious to see if there's any news on Ahmed.

As she walks past the main room of the Harem. Cennet Kalfa looks at her in admiration. While she hears Bulbul Aga tells the other girls of the Harem what happened.

"Mahpeyker was an angel. She descended from Heaven to save us! All of you must thank Allah for sending her to us. She even survived death! A traitor shot her, and yet here she stands!" He exclaims.

"But how?" One of the girls ask.

"The bullet hit her amulet." Cennet speaks up. Anastasia smiles to herself, and continues to Ahmed's room.

She sees Handan sitting outside Ahmed chamber when she arrives. "You shouldn't be here, you're injured."

"I have to be here for Ahmed." Anastasia looks longingly through the window.

"Do you truly believe he will live?" Handan asks, her voice laced with worry.

"I have to believe he'll live. If not, I lose my reason for living. He's all I have." She confesses.

"Sultanim, Halime Sultan has brought a women who says she can cure our Hunkar." Dudu Hatun interrupts,

"Bring her here immediately." Handan orders. "Allah, let this cure my son." She lefts her eyes to the sky. Anastasia repeats the prayer in her head.

The woman is brought to them. She is old, with grey hair sticking out from under her scarf. She wears various beads, and layers of clothing. A wooden stick helps her walk.

"Halime says you can cure Ahmed, like you did Sehzade Mustafa." Handan says to her. Wasting no time with formality"All sicknesses can be cured. As can this one." She pulls out a walnut. "Inside this is magic that can cure him."

"Magic!" Handan exclaims. "You mean witchcraft! You will not come near my son with your evil. If I had know you cure was unnatural, I never would've met you. Now begone!" She commands, as she turns as her heels and whisk away.

Anastasia approaches the woman once Handan is out of sight. "I'll give him the cure secretly. Name your price."

"I need apart of you." She says bluntly.

"What do you mean?" Anastasia asks, confused. The old woman takes her hands.

"This is magic. If you do not give a part of your heart, blood, soul...then it won't work."

"What can I do? I have to save him." The desperation is evident in her voice.

"To save him, you walk on these hot coals all of your life. You will witness the death of all those who you love and who love you. Will you put yourself through that?" The woman asks.

"Yes. Anything to save him." She answers without hesitation.

"I don't believe you truly understand what you're agreeing too. If you decide to do this, then everyone who you love will die in front of your eyes. You will mourn for all of your life. Do you accept?" The woman asks once more.

"I accept."

Anastasia returns to Ahmed's chambers, with the cure in hand. "I retrieved the cure from that woman."

"No! What if it's some sort of poison?" Handan exclaims.

"He'll die either way. At least if we give it to him, he has a chance." Anastasia argues. Handan exhales,

"Do it." She commands. Anastasia passes the cure to the physicians, as they enter the room.

"Now all we can do is pray." Anastasia comments as they watch through the window. She glances at the cut on her hand from the old woman, as her words echo inside her head.

If you decide to do this, then everyone who you love will die in front of your eyes. You will mourn for all of your life.

Anastasia spends her days on Ahmed's balcony. Waiting for a sign he'll recover. She glances into his room, and sees he woken up. She picks up her skirt and runs to Handan's chambers.

"Sultanim! He's awake!" Anastasia declares. "I saw it myself!"

"Dudu, tell everyone. Our Padishah lives!" Handan commands. "Praise Allah!" Handan quickly leaves her chambers with Anastasia in tow, to see Ahmed.

The enter the room, and see Ahmed sitting up. "Oh Ahmed," Handan cries as she rushes over to him. Forgetting all protocol, she hugs him as she cries tears of happiness. Anastasia starts to cry herself, from the joy of Ahmed being alive.

As Ahmed takes his place on his throne in the courtyard, Anastasia returns to the Harem. She climbs up to the top of the balcony and proclaims, "Sultan Ahmed lives! As does Sehzade Mustafa! There is no more need for fear or tears. Today is a day for celebration!"

Bulbul Aga is standing with the group of girls beneath her. "I told you, what did I tell you? Like an angel ascending on the face of the earth, she cured our Padishah with her own hands. I swear she rises like the Sun over our Palace. She brightened our lives with her light! And she did what no one else dared...she saved our dynasty and even us! She saved each one of us from disaster. She became the crown on our heads. She became our Kosem! She showed us the way like a Kosem. O our Kosem! May you live long! Long live! Kosem! Kosem!" The other girls join in on his chant. Anastasia smiles at them, joy radiating through her.

Kosem, she thinks. I am now Kosem. No more Mahpeyker, or even Nasya. I am now, and will forever be Kosem.