In the morning Sienna woke up to the morning chill. She stared at the gazebo wall and remembered where she is. She was so hoping it was a bad dream. She wished the gazebo was the one in the Sand City, in the Sarco's gardens. She burst into tears. She had to face another scary day between spiders." Are you ok, queen Sienna?" she heard Samuel's voice." Yes, escort me to the bathrooms please," she begged. She stood up and ran her fingers thru her hair, then went out of the tent and clenched to Samuel's arms, who led her to the bathrooms. She refreshed herself and brushed her hair, then she went out and walked with Samuel back to the gardens when they bumped into the king walking with Mehrat. The king looked at Sienna clenching into Samuel's arm and stopped abruptly. He felt displeasure and jealousy in his heart." In which manner are you holding a guard queen Sienna?" he asked coldly.
"Good morning my king," Sienna bowed lightly." I did nothing wrong. I'm just a bit weak today. I'm used to holding my bodyguards this way." she looked at the king innocently. Samuel kneeled in front of her."Please forgive her my king, she is very fragile and scared in the harem. She cried in the morning and clenched on me to help her walk. Punish me instead." He bowed his head. Mehrat took out his sword and Sienna felt the wave of fear overcome her body." No!," she screamed. The tears gushed out of her eyes again as she stood quickly in front of Samuel and pushed Mehrat's sword away with her hand, cutting herself at its sharp edge. The blood started flowing down her hand."Please be merciful to one's servant. My heart would break in sadness here, such cruel are the ways of your city."Sienna looked at the king. She looked like a beautiful statue. The king smelled her blood and became to salivate.
"It is inappropriate for a female, he needs to be punished."Mehrat's voice boomed. Sienna did not bulge."I'm a queen, no mere man can claim me. Only a king mighty and merciful can find a way to my heart. Anyone who is not a king is no discourse nor shame to me as it is impossible for me to love one who is not a king of its tribe." She said firmly. Mehrat looked at her. She was right. As a queen, she could not be with anyone but kings. Thurssa watched her curiously and came close to her, lifting her bleeding hand."So fragile, yet so strong." he said poetically and shook his head. He took his silken handkerchief and put it around Sienna's bleeding hand."But my king..."Mehrat still did not stop. Thurssa looked at him."Mehrat, you hurt the queen in my presence." he said with a chilling voice. Mehrat dropped the sword and kneel next to Samuel." I deserve the punishment, my king." He bowed his head. The king held Sienna by her waist."Who I should punish first?" he asked her, holding his sword in his hand lightly.
Sienna turned to him and touched his chest with her other hand." Please my king, let's show mercy to both. The one who broke rules for my comfort and the one who broke your order by his overzealous conduct. The nature of their trespasses actually negates each other." She whispered."Let's not ruin this sunny day with their blood." she tried to smile thru her tears. Thurssa looked at her. Actually, she was right and it was quite an entertaining morning."Ok," Thurssa agreed," you can keep Samuel as your bodyguard, if it makes you feel safer. What do you think about it Mehrat?"Mehrat bowed his head."I heard yesterday that he stopped madame from slapping the queen and freed her from the corset madame tighten so much, the queen almost suffocated. She indeed needs a bodyguard around here, as she is very fragile." Mehrat nodded. Thurssa touched his head, "Oh, lala, I just got you and you already almost died. What a little trouble you are, darhling. Mehrat next time I want the news straight away, not a day late. Madame should be punished yesterday. If she trespasses again execute her on the spot." he ordered. Sienna looked at him with wide eyes He acted like a king now and it actually kind of impressed her. Thurssa checked her gaze and felt satisfied. Sparing the lives of his stupid servants is a small price to pay for her admiration.
Sarcos was watching the Silver City. His armies were ready to attack at any time at his signal, but it looked like Thurssa was confident he will not attack as long as he got the queen. Sarcos was worried about Sienna. How does she feel being held in the spider kingdom? She, who freaks out from seeing a palm-size spider? Sharchan told him the story of how she fell off the tree because of one. It was entertaining to the snake, but Sarcos felt rage in his heart. Nobody has the right to scare his queen!
Sarcos was projecting how Thurssa would change to a huge spider to force Sienna to his will and felt sick to his stomach. He knew Sienna could be really stubborn and even endanger her life in an attempt to escape. Sarcos needed to meet with Thrurssa and convince him, that he will attack the city even with Sienna inside.
"Call me my best architect," he said to his general. He looked at his king in surprise and went. Sarcos had a very dark look on his face, so nobody dared to question him.
Sienna sat near the fountain and watched the concubine perform some weird dance, they were practising all morning till lunchtime. Then the dancers stopped and sat on the cushions on the floor. The servants brought silver trays with small dead animals like little monkeys, squirrels and even rats. The concubines picked up the trays and sucked the liquid from the dead animals with the straws. Sienna watched the weird food the concubines were eating and felt sick to her stomach. She covered her eyes with her hand, but she still heard the weird slurping sounds. She went pale and stood up dizzily holding her mouth. Her stomach was empty but she still felt like vomiting. Samuel, who was watching her, came to pick her up quickly and brought her to an empty room."Are you sick?" He asked her. Sienna nodded. Samuel gave her a glass of water."You don't eat animals?" he asked curiously. Sienna nodded. She was shaking. Samuel went out and asked for the fruit and buns for Sienna. Then he came back to check on her. She leaned on the bed holding her forehead. This kingdom was too much for her. Samuel tried to coax her a bit seeing her distress, talking about his family. Sienna started to feel better. Then the knock on the door disturbed them and Samuel went out.
The cook brought Sienna some cooked rice, fruits and buns. Samuel came inside," Eat Sienna, I need to go for a bit."Sienna shook her head and looked at him pleadingly.
Just stay here, Sienna." Samuel said," I need to see Mehrat, I will be here soon." he tried to calm her. Sienna sat on the bed and reluctantly ate some food."That's a good girl." Samuel nodded and left. Sienna felt wrong. She ate the food slowly and felt sick from it. She looked at the door and expected the scary madame to come with revenge on her at any time.
Samuel went to Mehrat who took him to the king."Tell me more about the queen." the king asked curiously. She is fragile as a child, she got sick by looking at the other females eating."Samuel said."She is very sensitive and kind.She is scared of being in the harem alone, because other females are glaring at her as she is too beautiful."Samuel sighed.
"Should I keep her separate? "The king wondered.
"Would you keep a rare pearl with the rough stones? "Samuel asked.
King smiled."Even the servants noticed how precious she is. Go back to her before she causes more trouble." the king send Samuel off." I expect you to tell me everything about her."Samuel bowed and left.