Angelina rode on and kicked the horse's side to make it go faster. She remembered the way to Târgoviște since they had passed it on their way to the Hoia-Baicu Forest. Her heart was beating so rapidly that she felt it would burst. 

She was on a clear suicide mission. The belief that history had been changed was still on her mind. "I HAVE TO DO THIS FOR VLAD! FOR OUR BABY!" The horse was breathing heavily as it was getting exhausted. "PLEASE KEEP GOING! I AM SO SORRY! BUT MANY LIVES WILL BE LOST IF WE DON'T GET TO TARGOVISTE!" 

The ride felt long as they passed vast trees, bushes, and plains. Some small villages were seen, but she knew they had been evacuated due to the Ottomans' arrival. She hoped that the Sultan would arrive, or everything would have been for nothing. While riding, small figures, fire, and smoke were visible in the distance. Angelina knew it was the Ottoman army; relief and fear set in. However, she felt a sense of determination. She continued, hoping not to be killed on the spot.

Angelina was approaching what appeared to be an encampment. As she approached, she commanded the horse to slow down, but it had trouble due to its speed and exhaustion. The horse slipped and fell, causing Angelina to lose her grip and fly through the air, landing hard on the ground. She landed on her backpack, which took the impact. When landing, Angelina heard cracks in her backpack; her eyes widened. "Ow, my back!" She slowly sat up, motioning with her backpack closer and opening it. Looking inside and taking some of her belongings, Angelina was horrified to find that her phone and iPod were broken. "No! No! No! This can't be happening! My phone! I have Radu's pictures on it! No! No! No!" 

"Who goes there!?"

Angelina violently flinched as she looked before her. A large group of Janissaries surrounded her, their swords drawn. It wasn't easy to understand them, but they might have asked about her identity. Dropping the technology, the young woman raised her hands. "I-I mean no harm!"

"You speak of the language of the Wallachians!"

One of the Janissaries understood her; she spoke English, but in a cruel sense, history was a fickle creature. "I-I do! I mean no harm, sir! I-I wish to speak with the Sultan! Please, it is with great urgency!"

"Why do you wish to speak with the Sultan!? Who sent you!?"

"No one! I swear it! I have information about the Voivode! Please! I am just a mere woman! How much harm could I bring!?" The Janissary who understood her spoke with his other comrades; they looked uncertain, but they lowered their weapons and motioned her to stand. 

"We will take you to the Sultan, woman. If you dare try anything, you will be killed immediately. Understood?"

"Perfectly, thank you!" Five Janisaries followed and motioned her inside the encampment. There were many tents, and Janisaries were cooking, drinking, singing, or sleeping in their tents. Moans, groans, screams, and pleading echoed from many tents, making the young woman shiver in disgust. She eventually saw a tent bigger and taller than the rest—the Sultan's tent. Angelina mentally prepared herself for any case scenario; Vlad's safety was on her mind. One of the Janissaries entered the tent and motioned for her to enter. 

The interior of the tent was beautifully designed. There were armor, swords, lit fire torches, an elegant cot, and male servants. In the center was a large wooden table with ten men surrounding it. However, there was one figure who sat apart from them; Angelina knew that she was looking at the Sultan. Everyone became silent upon her arrival. "Sultan, this is the woman I spoke of."

Angelina felt anxious when she saw the Sultan, another historical figure. He wasn't as tall as she would have imagined, but he had a confident aura. He looked at her cautiously but with intrigue. "You wish to speak to me, woman?"

She understood him, but knowing that time was running out, she responded, "Y-Yes, Sultan! I-I almost can't believe that I am standing before you!"

"Fresh coming from a woman of this country. Though you look different; you look to be of my people."

"I-I am not from here, s-sir. I am a traveler and I have some information. Though..." Angelina looked at the others. "I wish to speak to you alone."

The men looked at the Sultan, trying to convince him it could be a trap. The Sultan's gaze never left her; he noticed her nervousness. He could sense that she was afraid, but her eyes contained determination and innocence. There was nothing to fear. "You all may leave us." His men were about to argue, but one look made them silent, and they did as they were told. The two waited until everyone left the tent and were left alone. "What is your name?"

"Angelina. You are Sultan...?"

"Mehmed. I am surprised you arrived to my camp, alone. It would have meant possible death. I would have taken you as a slave."

Hearing the Sultan speak casually reminded Angelina about Vlad; she shook her head. "I-I know. You aren't too different from Vlad."

Sultan Mehmed II raised an eyebrow as he slowly stood up from his seat. "You speak of his name very casually. If I must guess, you know more than mere information. You speak as if you are close to him."

His intelligence amazed Angelina, but it should have been expected, given that he was a Sultan. "Yes, I love him, as he holds the same sentiment."

"Are you his wife?"

Angelina contemplated whether or not to tell him the truth, but if she did, she would put herself in danger. He could send spies to learn more about her and Vlad and possibly their son. It was something she couldn't afford. "No, wanted me to be his mistress since he was still married. I have my self-respect to become a mere mistress. Eventually, I earned his respect, trust, and eventually his love. However, now this is happening, and I am here to plead with you to stop this possible war!"

Mehmed II was about to speak, but someone else entered the tent. "Radu? Why are you in here?" The young woman flinched and turned around to see and finally meet Radu, Vlad's brother. She was amazed at how handsome he was.

Radu looked at Angelina with concern. "I heard from your commanders about you speaking with a woman who has information about my brother. I wanted to see her for myself." He walked closer to the Sultan's side, his eyes still glancing at Angelina. 

"You should not meddle too much, Radu. You-"

"So you are Radu. Vlad spoke a lot about you; he still loves you."

Radu raised an eyebrow. "Are you my brother's mistress?"

"No, I am too prideful for that. We were getting closer after his wife killed herself."

"What? Minah killed herself?" Radu had met Minah several times when he was allowed to visit his brother in Wallachia. She was respectful to him, but her committing suicide was a shock; a sin.

"Unfortunately so. She was not mentally well, but I wanted to speak with you both to stop this war. I know that deep down, Vlad doesn't want this. He feels that he's doing this because there is no choice. Also because of his trauma during his imprisonment within your country."

Sultan Mehmed II was silent while Radu looked confused. "What are you speaking of? My brother and I were treated with respect. My brother had difficulties accepting the Ottoman culture he-"

"You don't know, do you?" Radu's confusion intensified; Sultan Mehmed II was silent. Angelina noticed, and her eyes widened in surprise. "You knew what Vlad went through during captivity, didn't you?"

"I heard things, but it wasn't my place to speak against my father or his decisions. I was thinking about my survival." Radu then looked at him, and the Sultan looked away slightly.

Disgust filled her being. "Yet, you didn't tell Radu on what your father and all those other men did to Vlad! You could have made a difference to help him! Is he to be blamed to turn out the way he did!? After your father and those grown men raped him!"

Radu violently flinched as he focused on Angelina. "What?"

"It's as I said. Vlad finally told me what happened to him as a child and during his adolescence. He was forced into captivity by your father and the Sultan's father. He wanted to keep his way of life, but was punished for not having the freedom to choose. Vlad was violated, and that can destroy a person's sense of worth and mental health. Why do you think he deeply hates the Sultan and his people, Radu?" The young man remained silent as he tried to process everything he had been told. "Vlad tried to protect you from the many horrors that were going on; he felt that you needed protection! He was convinced to try to make peace! A letter and money were sent to you, but you took the money and attacked Vlad's territory."

Sultan Mehmed II immediately looked at Angelina, confused. "What is it that you speak of? I never received a letter nor money."

Angelina felt her stomach drop; one of her suspicions came true. "A letter and the debt that Vlad owed was sent to you for peace. However, there was no response. Also, Viscri Village was attacked and two priests were killed. Proof was found that your men made the attack. Henceforth, Vlad responded with attacking your territories."

The Sultan was speechless; he couldn't believe peace was possible. However, there was a possibility that she could be lying. "How do I know if you speak honestly to me? You could-"

"I heard Alexandrei is with you. You ask me if I am honest but Alexandrei was a spy for you."

"Not entirely. He has been in contact with my commanders but I did not know much of it until Alexandrei's arrival."

"It doesn't matter. Vlad had every reason to distrust him. Did he tell you the other reason why he ran away?" When neither man responded, she continued, "He had an affair with Vlad's wife."

The Sultan massaged the bridge of his nose, trying to soothe his anger. "It makes sense, my suspicions of him being dishonest were justified." Then, a possibility came up. "Is there a possibility that he..."

"That he could have taken the money and letter? Now, that we're here, then there is a possibility.  Alexandrei is a lying snake! He probably did this on purpose to have you both kill each other while he comes out on top. That is how he works! All of this could have been prevented but his greed for power is what he cares about!"

Radu looked at Mehmed II. "Alexandrei needs to be questioned. We all agreed that he could not be trusted but he might have done something even more dire that could cost the lives of many. This cannot be ignored."

"Very well, I will ask my men to look throughout his tent and to have him questioned. As for you, you-" 

Sultan Mehmed II was interrupted when another Janissary entered and bowed. "Sultan, forgive me for the intrusion. An old woman arrived to our encampment. She says that she is here for someone named, Angelina."

Angelina gasped. "It's Ioana! She followed me!"

"Ioana is here?" Radu asked, surprised.

"I came here to talk with you both but she must have chased me, worried that I could have been killed. Please spare her!"

"Mehmed, Ioana is someone dear to me and my brother. She took care and protected us; she is like a second mother to me. I also wish to see her."

Sultan Mehmed was silent, contemplating his next action; he sighed. "Radu, I will leave you the responsibility of the women. I want them both out of this camp. Meanwhile, I will handle Alexandrei."

"W-Will you stop this war if Alexandrei is found guilty?"

Mehmed II walked toward the tent's exit, looked at her, and said, "Only if proof is found. I appreciate you risking your life for this. I am sorry it had to turn out this way." He walked out, giving Angelina a sense of hope.