In Tiger's winter settlement, the circle of warriors was formed in the small plaza. Everyone was deadly quiet. Sienna held onto Tyrell's strong arms biting her lips. She watched in awe how two strong warriors dragged the still-fighting female who offered to kill her in front of Tyrell. They pushed her to kneel on the ground in front of him. Sienna watched in shock. They were really rough with her!
Tyrell looked at the wild tigress seriously.
"Tara, what did you say to my Queen?"Tyrell asked firmly. There was not even a hint of kindness in his words.
"Nothing!" she said.
"Don't lie."Tyrell told her off sternly.
"I just offered he to kill her...by accident..." Tara hissed and her eyes glittered wildly.
"How dared you to say this to my Queen?"Tyrell asked coldly.
"She did not deserve you! She is a weakling! She does not care about us anyway! She lives in your castle and just spreads her legs for you." Tara spitted out in disgust." I would be so much better Queen than her! I'm best at climbing and fighting! Just let me duel with her for your hand and we will see who wins...Is it not the ancient tiger law...!" she called out challengingly.
"Watch your tongue!"Tyrell said coldly. The ancient Tiger laws are not valid anymore! We are not in the past; we are not our ancestors! We need to move forward to make our tribe stronger! We have new laws now!" His words emitted the fierce power of a King and leader.
"Yes, the Scorpion law!"Tara chuckled bitterly. She knew she had nothing to lose anyway, so she tried to move her tribe against Tyrell in vain hope, that he would see how ridiculous it was.
"Sarcos is my brother and we share the Queen," Tyrell noted firmly. He would not go openly against Sarcos because they were one family, one powerhouse with one Queen but four different kingdoms to run."You know your fate. Go say your goodbyes," he said seriously.
Sienna watched as Tara stood up and hugged a few people standing behind her, presumably her mother and father. The guards were watching her closely.
"What is going on?" Sienna pulled Tyrell's arm asking him a bit confused." Why is she saying goodbyes for?" she furrowed her brows.
"She is to be executed for treason," he said coldly.
"What?"Sienna opened her mouth in shock.
"She threatened to kill you so she has to be killed for it! Sarcos order!"Tyrell explained to Sienna firmly.
"But I do not want her to be killed, she is just young and foolish...and a bit proud... and rude for sure, but killing her will not change her or teach her to become better! Is it not too rash?"Sienna asked shocked.
"It is the law. What is your point?"Tyrell said a bit firmly. He would kill anyone who threatened Sienna anyway.
"I do not want her to be killed!"Sienna said resolutely as the people of Tiger Tribe were watching the first argument between the Royal Couple ever with shock.
"Do you want to defy Sarcos's orders?"Tyrell asked a bit roughly. The whole tribe stood deadly quiet! The soft Queen was quite strong and stubborn suddenly!
"No, but I can beg for her, surely?"Sienna asked firmly. She was feeling angry because she wanted to have a nice day and not watch some rude female lose her life. Sienna wanted to stop this and come back to enjoying her visit.
Tyrell looked at Sienna thinking for a minute...He saw the people standing around them watching were confused. The Tiger King's power should be final but the Queen dared to protest. They had never seen anything like this! Tyrell did not want to be forced to punish Sienna for disrespecting his power or sadden her so he decided to step back.
"It is up to you, she offended you. You have the right to beg Sarcos for her if you wish."Tyrell finally spoke.
"Great!"Sienna nodded eagerly." Please, let me send him a letter. "she said hopefully. Sienna was sure Sarcos would grant her anything and could not wait to resolve this situation peacefully.
"You have time till dusk to sort it out with King Sarcos."Tyrell said seriously." I do not want to bring his wrath to my family tribe," he looked at her firmly.
"But can't I just forgive her?" Sienna asked."Maybe she could be just banished with her family if they want to go with her?" she asked."I think she just wanted to be silly. Why are you so strict?"Sienna asked curiously.
Tyrell turned Sienna to the big black obelisk-like shiny stone in the middle of the plaza, it was full of writing.
"Read here, my Queen."He pointed his finger at the middle of the stone. It was written at eye height, so it was the most visible of all golden writings.
Sienna glanced at the golden scorpion mark on the top of the stone worriedly.
"Whoever threatens to hurt Queen Sienna will be punished by death immediately or the entire tribe will be wiped out." Sienna read in a whispering voice as in a bad dream.
"So?" Tyrell looked at her firmly.
"Did Sarcos write it ?" she looked at him worriedly.
"Yes, it is valid for all our people."Tyrell nodded seriously.
"But, I'm Sarcos's Queen, I can beg him for her!"Sienna looked at him pleadingly. She started to understand how serious the situation was.
"I said you may!"He nodded."Come, you can write to him at my parents's house." Tyrell took Sienna's cold hand into his big warm palm and turned with her to face his people. He glanced at the condemned female still kneeling on the floor.
"You are so lucky, my Queen is so kind, Tara. For now, you may live till dusk. Go home and wait. Enjoy it. We will let you know King Sarcos's decision."Tyrell said coldly.
Tara stood up with a confused facial expression. Her father and mother hugged her tightly and the two guards escorted them home.
Tara sat in the living room with her shocked parents and thought if it was all worth it. Instead of the new Tiger Queen, she was condemned to death! Her clever plan backfired!!! She only wanted to provoke the Queen, to force her to fight, then she would show off as the best fighter and become Tyrell's Queen. Tara listened to ancient legends way too much and it clouded her thinking. She started to awaken into her new rash reality when she heard her mother's voice.
"Tara, I'm so glad you will live."Her mother hugged her again with tears in her eyes and wiped her messed up face caringly.
"What are you talking about Mother? I might still die at dusk if the Queen is not as powerful as she thinks. What can she do to convince that wicked Scorpion King? She is not strong enough!"Tara shook her head. She was ready to die there and then and watching her parents and home was making it worse, she wanted to live badly now!
"Have hope my child."Her mother petted her head. The love of King Sarcos for his Queen is legendary. Surely she could soften his heart."
"That is unlikely."Tara's father shook his head. He was a strong respected warrior and he felt so disappointed in his daughter. He started to question his decision to train her as a fighter now."Our daughter is a traitor. She embarrassed our all family and tribe." he said bitterly."How could I look Tyrion in his eyes now? You offered to kill his precious daughter-in-law...you stupid thing! If you wanted to mate his son, you should say before..." he gritted his teeth angrily.
"Shhh, she was just a child when Tyrell left the tribe. How could she?"Her mother shook her head."Let's hope for the best."She started to pack a big leather bag for Tara.
"What are you doing?" her mate looked at her with wide-open eyes.
"Getting her bag ready."Tara's mother nodded.
"Save your work, there is no chance..." her mate shook his head.
"I trust in the Queen, she is kind," she replied.
"She does not even know us. I mocked her. Just make me some nice last meal Mother, "Tara bit her lips. She wanted to cry now and break something to ease her fear and frustration.
"I have to trust in her! Her eyes do not lie."Her mother bit her lips. She knew her daughter got her rash and strong personality after her mate. She knew Tara was always proud and wanted to be the best. But it was too late now. Her only chance to live lay with the soft Queen of four fierce Kings.
Meanwhile, in the cosy dining room behind the suspiciously sturdy table, Sienna was writing a quick letter to Sarcos;
"My dear Sarcos,
I'm visiting Tyrell's family now and a young female foolishly offered to kill me by accident. She was just childish and rude, but Tyrell said she committed treason and would be executed because of your law. I like to save her life and give her a chance to become a better person. Can I spare her, please?
Love you so much, your Sienna."
Sienna drew the heart symbol, pressed her hot coral-red lips onto the letter and folded it neatly. Tyrell attached the letter to his fastest falcon and sent it to find King Sarcos.
"Be fast, please."Sienna waved to the falcon and the sleek bird of prey whistled as if he could understand her. She sighed at the window and went to sit next to her mate.
"I hope he will grant me this. Thank you for letting me write the letter."Sienna turned to Tyrell worriedly.
"Well, you tried. Let's see his decision. "Tyrell hugged her around her waist. He did not want to see her sad and hoped Sarcos would agree.
Soon enough Ellaine came inside the dining room. She brought in the food with the help of her mate. Tyrion placed the raw cut of fish and meat on the table and went to greet his daughter-in-law.
"Sienna, this is my father," Tyrell stood up and introduced him as he came closer.
"Call me Tyrion, I'm not so old yet," he noted firmly looking into beautiful Sienna's face. "This Queen is worth dying for."He thought secretly pleased for his son.
"Sure, you look like Tyrell's older brother anyway, Tyrion."Sienna smiled politely.
"What about me?"Ellaine arranged the soft buns and steaming rice on the table and turned to her daughter-in-law curiously.
"Mothers never get old."Sienna nodded eagerly.
"You are such a good child."Ellaine smiled satisfied. She really liked her daughter-in-law.
"Thank you for trying to help that foolish girl outside," Tyrion said to Sienna as he sat on the head of the table. Tara was the daughter of his best friend and he appreciated Sienna trying to save her.
"I hope for Sarcos's mercy..."Sienna bit her lips.
"Let's leave the unpleasant things outside and let's eat together."Elaine tried to lift the mood in the house."We will worry about it when the reply comes back." she smiled gently.
"Sure," Tyrion noted.
Sienna tried to enjoy the food. It was fragrant and tasty, but she somehow could not stop thinking about the girl, whose life hanged on the Sarcos's reply.
"Is everything to your liking, my dearie?"Ellaine looked at Sienna softly.
"Yes, thank you Ellaine. You can cook amazingly. You are very talented."Sienna smiled politely but Ellaine saw her mind was somewhere else.
"Do not worry that much dearie, life is sometimes cruel, you need to get used to it."Tyrell's mother tried to cheer her up.
"No, I will never get used to it. Young girls are not to be killed for talking rubbish."Sienna shook her head.
"Oh, my dearie. I wish it to be true, but to oppose King Sarcos is very dangerous for all of us..."Ellaine whispered to Sienna.
"I know, but I have to try. I can't let her be killed. She is too young. She can have a nice life."Sienna bit her lips.
"I know you are kind, but not everyone can be saved."Ellaine sighed..."Come, my dear, let's open the present from you, hm? I was looking forward to it all day."
"Sure."Sienna nodded and watched as Tyrell's mother opened her packet. She put the scarf on her neck and it suited her very well."Thank you, my dearie, I will cherish it."Elaine kissed Sienna on the cheek motherly.
Tyrion was pleased with the sword from Tyrell as well, but the mood in the house was a bit dented. it was not as happy as in the morning and Sienna was feeling a bit uncomfortable. If she doesn't tell Tyrell about it, she could have a nice day!
Suddenly the falcon screeched and flew through the opened window. He landed between Sienna and Tyrell and started to eat the leftover cuts of raw meat.
"Hush him, rude bird".Tyrell's father chuckled.
"He must be so hungry after flying so fast."Sienna pet the falcon's back carefully and Tyrell took the letter packet from his leg. Sienna opened the letter quickly with a beating heart and read it whispering;
"My beloved Queen Sienna,
No bending the law, even for you. Let the female pay for her words like she deserves. No one will threaten you. She should be happy to be executed with the sword because I would burn her to ashes if she did that in front of me.
Love you the most Sarcos"