Handmaiden (Kyrenaian)

Kyrenaia has a long tradition of employing, in times past owning, **handmaidens**, ***alkhadima*** in Kyrenaian,

One of the most popular books, both in Kyrenaia and abroad, about the Kyrenaian Handmaidens is *Silent as a cat, beautiful as a rose, mysterious as the moon. Kyrenaian Handmaidens from the times of Nudinmud to the modern day* by Damir Fams, first published in 1953. Since then, a number of new editions were published, with the newest from 2018.

Handmaidens are usually trained for two years at Handmaiden Academies, then spent a year as a novice and trainee at a House before being 'released into the wild'.

## Dresscode

### *Altanafus min la Shay*

   Handmaidens typically wear the *Altanafus min la Shay*, the Breath of Nothing, as their dress is called. While the exact details differ from household to household, there are a few general guidelines. Colour, generally, is white, but other colours are not unheard of.

The five courts of the different Ilkhans wear their white silk enwrought with thread in different colours, the Palace of the Azure Hall with barely noticeable silver thread, the Palace of the Golden Hall with orange-gold, and so on.

### Sworddancer's Dress - *Fustan Raqis Alsyf*

   The other, less typical dress of a very special league of Handmaidens is the *Fustan Raqis Alsyf* or Sworddancer's Dress.

## Kyrenaian Handmaidens today

Some restaurants and hotels in Kyrenaia, or Kyrenaian-styled establishments of that kind in the whole world, still call their maids and waitresses Handmaidens, oftentimes also including the dress.

The male equivalent were the Menials in times long past. Butlers, if a household employs male servants, or people preferring their respective occupation's name (for example stable hands), is the term used today.

### Handmaidens Rule

The Handmaidens Rule is a matter of Kyrenaian Diplomatic Protocol and indeed culture. Arriving without open escorts, leaving that to the host, is seen as a sign of trust and friendship - however, if the guest is accompanied by Handmaidens, who are, by sheer coincidence, also trained members of the Tabardariyya, no one will bat an eye. Acting against that rule, be it by Kyrenaians abroad or by others visiting Kyrenaia, will be seen as a huge breech of protocol and trust and bodes not very well for future relations.

Of course, despite being named the Handmaidens Rule, it is also applicable to male personal attendants.

### Special Positions

Handmaidens can attain or simply have positions of special purpose or consideration,

* Tea Maid: Within the Kyrenaian Tea Ceremony, the Tea Maid is one of the most important actors as it is her who makes and serves the tea. It is not uncommon for households to employ one of the daughters of the household as Tea Maid.
* Personal Handmaiden: The Personal Handmaiden is assigned to a Prince or a Princess personally as escort, friend, confidant, helper, teacher and many more things. Unlike foreigner belief, their duties do not include mollycoddling the Prince or Princess, but to aid them - one famous example would be Prince Mahmut ibn-Idris and Shirin Bayd, the latter quizzing the former on the subjects of tests coming up. The Personal Handmaiden is usually a few years older then her charge, posing as a sort-of older sister type of person. Usually, Personal Handmaidens are members of the Order of the Tabardariyya and fully trained in their arts, as well as in combat with Type 5 Sabres and the ACS-3 Handgun.

### Sexuality

Contrary to foreigner belief, Kyrenaian Handmaidens were never sex-slaves (there were dedicated sex-slaves, but they were not Handmaidens). Much rather, the Handmaidens were held in high regard and esteem, experts in their fields and expensive, far too precious to be wasted like that. In addition, ever since the establishment of the Order of the Tabardariyya, Handmaidens came under their protection.

Rumours that the majority of Kyrenaian Princes had their first sexual experiences with Handmaidens are widely overstated.

## Notable Handmaidens

*Also see: Category:Kyrenaian Handmaiden.*
Several modern Kyrenaian Princesses were members of the Tributes of their respective academies to the Courts, either for a short time or for their entire school time at the Academies. Other then that, there are the following:

* Saida Adib, Personal Handmaiden to Princess Fara bint-Dardan.
* Shirin Bayd, Personal Handmaiden to Prince Mahmut ibn-Idris.
* Sarina Eahira, Personal Handmaiden to Princess Aurelia bint-Damir.
* Tara Harir, Personal Handmaiden to Prince Damir ibn-Razia.
* Alaya Sikadidia, Personal Handmaiden to Princess Alya bint-Sarah.
* Fadwa Madan, Personal Handmaiden to Prince Elian ibn-Sarah.
* Aynur Naem, Personal Handmaiden to Khana Amina bint-Karim.
* Dilara Turi, Personal Handmaiden to Princess Marla bint-Amina.
* Fara Kabir, a.k.a. Lady Fara, Tea Maiden to Razia-Sultana Umm Albilad.
* Shermin Eijlatan, Chief of the Car Pool and best driver (and driving instructor).
* Alya Mumrada, Personal Handmaiden to Prince Okan ibn-Dardan.
* Tariqa Misardia, Personal Handmaiden to Princess Dschamila bint-Fadi.
* Marla Sahrar of the Tribe of Wicklow, Handmaiden of the Palace of the Azure Hall.
* Neele Kuumara, Handmaiden of the Palace of the Ruby Hall.
* Nesrin Alaharu, Handmaiden of the Palace of the Azure Hall.
* Shirin Waradra, Personal Handmaiden of Former Grand Vizier Mahmut al-Zahir at the Darqaeidin-Palace.
* Lyra Tasarabat, Leading Handmaiden of the Altinyarat-Palace.
* Alya Firash, Personal Handmaiden to Idris, Ilkhan of Sarepta.
* Tara Saraba, Personal Handmaiden to Prince Atif ibn-Walid.

## See also

* Selkie-Handmaidens.
* Fistan Alshams, Traditional Dress of Kyrenaian Men and Women, which is close to the *Altanafus min la Shay*.
* Hausmädchen, the Teressien Version.