155 Dinner with the crocodile

Gaius led Sienna out from the temple to his palace. Sienna breathed the fresh air eagerly, it was nice to be outside, even though it was very moist in there. The streets were bustling with life and Sienna watched in awe mingling crocodile tribe people. They were tanned dark with black hair, and sneaky eyes, tall and burly, they looked predatory with something wild in them. Even a few females Sienna spotted looked strong as warriors. "The people wild as their king!"Sienna thought and glanced at Gaius.

Gaius's palace was a big building, covered in green and black scaly tiles decorated with gold and black ornaments. It was definitely a palace fit for the Crocodile King! Gaius showed Sienna his Throne Room with a huge throne covered in crocodile leather. Gaius touched the leather with enormous respect." This leather is from my ancestor's backs, so the old kings' rule is still with us. "he said proudly.

"How is that possible?"Sienna asked curiously.

"They changed to crocodiles just before they died. I will do the same."He noted. Sienna felt a bit of a cold shiver. The scale patterns on their skin were huge!

Gaius showed her his favourite rooms. Sienna really liked his library, it was a quite small room, full of old books with cosy window seating. It looked stony with green decorations, "It looks like a library of an old dwarf or fairy."She chuckled in her mind.

Then Gaius took her to his office, which was all in crocodile skin again with a few huge crocodile heads with glassy eyes hung as trophies. Sienna stared and glanced at the young king.

"These are from wild crocodiles," Gaius chuckled. " Come, let's have that dinner." he took her hand. He led her to a big stony dining room on the ground floor. It had a wide table with water running thru the deep slab in the middle of the table. The huge marble table was on one side attached to the wall, where was a decorated pipe with running water and an opening for the servants to let in the fish from the tank which was behind the wall in the neighbouring room. It was like a tunnel for fish, opened at the top, so you can see them!

The big fish swam thru the half-meter-wide stream in the middle of the marble table. The guests could pick the fish with their hands and eat them raw. At the table's end was a big pool. The water from the table formed a small waterfall and the fish left alive were falling into the pool, which led outside to the fish pond again!

The crocodiles really liked to eat the fish and this was the best dining for them. Gaius sat Sienna at the table. She stared at the fish floating around. "Yeey, how beautiful, what a great idea for decoration," she smiled innocently.

"It is not just for decoration," Gaius smiled. He was entertained by Sienna's cuteness."It is the dinner too." he noted.

Sienna looked at him surprised. Gaius picked a life salmon with his bare hands and smacked it hard at the stone table a few times. The fish was still twitching when he took a knife, opened it and started to eat its raw flesh as normal. Sienna stared with a small heart. She will not do that!

"Should I catch one for you too?" He asked cutely, his will eyes gleaming with entertainment at Sienna's pale face. The crocodile females were able to eat like this as well. It was normal in his tribe and it was a great honour to eat fresh fish at the king's table.

Sienna watched the fish." These are amazing. But I do not eat raw fish. I prefer fruits, buns and rice." she bit her lips.

"Come, just try mine then." he offered her a piece of pink flesh at the end of the knife.

Sienna sunk into the heavy wooden chair and shook her head. She was like a naughty child which refuses to eat. Her face was pale white and tears were at the end of her eyes. She was very sensitive and she felt a bit sorry for the fish. She really did not watch even her mates eat, because she would be not able to stomach it at all.

"I really could not," she almost sobbed. It was too much for her.

Gaius smiled cheekily. "I know, your guards told me. They help me to put together a meal fit for the queen," he chuckled. He took a covered plate from a small side table, put in front of Sienna and opened it. Sienna smelled the food. "It is my favourite mushroom rice."She called in excitement." And figs, apples and peaches." she touched her cheeks cutely.

Gaius looked at her satisfied," How happy she is with the simplest things," he shook his head.

"And some mint water!" he gave her the jug," Now, we can start out dinner together."He said smiling.

"Thank you, Gaius, that is my favourite, I really appreciate it." Sienna was really happy. She felt so good eating familiar food and relished it.

Gaius glanced at Sarcos. He was glad he left the food up to him." He surely knows how to make his queen happy." he thought with a bit of jealousy in his mind. Gaius decided to be very gentle and sweet to Sienna.

Sienna felt he was really respectful, so she relaxed and chat with him about different themes. Gaius liked her, but she was quite complicated for him.

Sienna found out that Gaius liked swimming, fishing, hunting, reading books and making nets. He rarely trained in fights, because Crodius do not let him. Gaius had to exercise in secret with his friends.

"Do you think you can like a man like me? he asked carefully.

"I do like you as a friend, " Sienna nodded."If you have children and I have kids, they can be friends too."The smiled.

Gaius nodded. He knew what she meant."But being a friend is the first step." he thought.

" Look, I want to show you something."Sienna showed him a golden coin from Ramse.

Gaius pick it up and stared at it."I want those too!"He said in a daze, staring at her picture.

"Sure, I can draw you a portrait and when you became independent, you can send it to king Sarcos. He will mint you the same coins with your portrait." she smiled.

"This man, he is your mate?" Gaius studied Ramse's handsome face.

"No, he is my..., he is king Sarcos's friend," Sienna smiled."A friendly nation. You can be part of my world too."She smiled sweetly.

"Draw me a portrait tomorrow, please."Gaius held Sienna's hands excitedly.

"Ok, tomorrow morning in my room." she smiled.

Gaius looked at Sienna's face on the golden coin, "But I like to have the back of the coin the same. Can I?" he asked scanning her face.

"Of course."Sienna smiled sweetly. "We are friends."She pressed his hand gently.

Gaius felt his heart beat loudly. Her touch was so pleasant. He felt her happiness and excited energy. She was full of life.

"Tell me, as a friend, the truth, what did Crodius want to do with you in his laboratory?" he held her hand tight. The hard question on his face.

"He took me there to show me his experiments with cosmetics. He was thinking using my blood will make it better, but I convinced him it is stupid, so we made an agreement, that I will help him to create a cosmetic range. That is what I'm working on now."Sienna said in one breath.

Gaius's face had a horrified and upset expression somehow. He glanced at king Sarcos standing as a guard at the door. But Sarcos was calm, so he took a breath to say something when Sienna interrupted him with a pleading gaze.

"Please, just let him go as a tradesman. He will make for you a crowning ceremony or something. You will be free to reign."Sienna smiled. "Your people will trust you more if they see he lives and acknowledges you as a ruler."

Gaius nodded slowly." She is a clever queen indeed. Kind and clever." he thought."How can you forgive so easily? Don't you want to kill your enemies and revenge a bit?" he asked her surprised.

"I don't like to hold a grudge. I feel the best when my heart is free of anger, resentment, hate and whatever else. Forgiveness will give your soul wings to fly free. "She smiled, spread her hands a bit crazily and stretched her back.

"I'm feeling a bit tired after the lovely food you prepared for me so nicely here." she chuckled."Shall we go sit on the cushions?"

Gaius swallowed hard. He looked at Sarcos, but the scorpion just watched.

Gaius and Sienna sat on the soft cushions near the fish pool. Sienna touch her belly gently." My belly still hurts a bit." she sighed, "Let's just have a little rest and chat. Do you have something sweet?"She asked and stretched on the cushions, half sitting, half laying.

Gaius stared at her and nodded, he brought her a sweet honey cone. It was like a smallish ice cream cone filled with crystallized honey and crushed walnuts.

"Aww, this is what I needed!" Sienna bit into it in satisfaction.

Gaius stared. She was cute as a child, but complicated as well. He bit his lips." It will be better to stay her friend and get to know her better." he thought.

Gaius saw the sweetness in her eyes. She was close but far away. He felt she is a bit worried and needed a friend. In her presence, he felt light and excited. Sienna's arrival moved his stagnant situation forward. Sienna finished the cone and looked outside the long windows. Outside the darkness fell, it was night. Gaius lit up a few candles. Sienna stared at the flames."Can I play with one?" she asked.

"The candles are from the vax from our beehives, my tribe keeps the bees as a trade," Gaius said proudly as he placed the beautifully decorated candle on the small table.

"It smells so lovely, "Sienna nodded and breathed in the honey smell. Her golden hair shone in the light of the candle. She looked mysterious and so alluring. She dipped the tip of her index finger in the melted wax next to the flame like it was not hot.

"Don't burn yourself!" Gaius called a bit worriedly. Sienna smiled and run her finger thru the flame, making it flicker.

"I have cold hands tonight, I do not feel any burn."She said a bit sadly.

Gaius looked into her dreamy face. She looked thinking about something longingly."Do you miss your mates?" he asked gently.

"Yes," Sienna said quietly, "Very much."

"Tell me more about them. How they are?"Gaius asked curiously.

Sienna smiled sadly and looked into the fire."Tyrell, the Tiger King is very strong and sweet but very busy with his city, he is very responsible and hard-working.

Sharchan, the Snake King is handsome but domineering, so we clash sometimes. He would prefer to have me locked in a golden cage in his cave I guess."She chuckled a bit satirically.

Marco, the new Eagle King is very cold and stern but his heart is good. He loves me dearly and will do anything for me." she smiled gently.

Then she sighed and put her hand over the fire for a bit, till she could feel the burn."Sarcos, the Scorpion King is the most amazing man in the world. He is strong, brave and clever, you should try to make a deal with him when he comes." Sienna sighed.

"What kind of deal?"Gaius asked curiously.

"The one I told you about before, to become a friendly nation, have your golden coins, to be free to trade with the other tribes," she smiled. Sarcos can really help you to make your city prosper and become a strong king." she smiled gently.

"I will do as you said, "Gaius said and glanced at Sarcos, who still stood by the door.

Sarcos felt a bit guilty, that Sienna called him the most amazing, and he still did not let her know, he is there. But he wanted to find out more, so he kept playing the game.

Sienna dipped the tips of all her fingers in the wax and then she peeled it off as she chatted with Gaius. It looked like tiny petals, so Sienna made a little rose from them, just pressing it together. Then she pressed the rose on the candle between the decorations.

"Why are you doing it?" Gaius asked.

"I just like creating things," Sienna said as in the dream. The smell of honey filled the room and she was in a daze. Her heart felt a bit heavy and sad.

"I think, I will need to go back," she smiled sadly." It was so refreshing to have dinner with you. You are really nice to me. Thank you, Gaius. I'm so happy you are my friend."She smiled at him sincerely." Please, help me to stand up," she stretched her hand.

Gaius took her hand and checked her fingers for burns first. It was fine and Sienna chuckled. Then he pulled her up." Thank you." she kissed his cheek. It felt warm and pleasant. Gaius felt his heart pounce excitedly.

"I will let you rest, so you recover well." he nodded. He led her out of his palace and they all walked back to the temple. Gaius gave Sienna farewell at the temple gate. Sienna clenched into Bran's arm and waved to him goodbye cutely.

Gaius felt his heart protesting. He didn't want her to be there. She should be in his palace, it would be safer for her. Gaius did not trust the mage. He glanced at the Scorpion King's eyes as he walked behind his own queen. Sarcos turned around and nodded approvingly to him. Then they all walk away.

Sienna walked to her room with Bran and Sarcos. Sarcos kept his face hidden as always and stood straight to watch in front of the door. Bran opened the door for Sienna and let her in her room."Thank you for coming with me, Bran and Scar, I had a lovely night," she said.

" Would you take him as a mate?" Bran asked curiously.