Catalina shrank back. What if her Hamet were to be taken away from her? This was all she could think of, and the thought tortured her. She did not consider the fate of her people. She considered only herself and what she would do, were Hamet to leave her.
A short time later, Granada did indeed fall before the Christian rulers. And upon that fateful day when the palace was seized, Hamet was obliged to ride away from Granada with Boabdil, his leader.
Outside of the city, the vanquished Boabdil handed the keys of Granada to King Ferdinand. Then he and his followers rode off into the hills. The story goes that as they reached a certain hill, Boabdil stopped to gaze down upon his beloved "Red Castle," which he would never see again. And the Moor wept.
His mother chided him, saying, "You do well to weep like a woman for what you failed to defend like a man."
The hill upon which this happened is still known as "The Last Sigh of the Moor."
But to go back to Catalina at the palace. Left alone without Hamet, she did not sigh, nor did she weep. Oh, but she did storm and rage and stamp her feet.
| BOABDIL SURRENDERING TO FERDINAND |
Catalina's temper was well known in the palace. When a servant came to summon her to dance before the new rulers, his knees shook with fright.
"Fair d-dancer," he began, "w-will you c-come—?"
"I will not!" screamed Catalina, and threw her shoe at him.