The eager guards

Sarcos was trying to stay cool. He heard it was soft leaves inside and calmed down a bit. He looked at the young king. He decided to help him to get rid of the old mage.

Sharchan fell into soft leaves. He held Sienna coiled up, so she felt just a light thump. The ditch was filled deeply with soft dried leaves, so Sharchan noticed this trap was meant for Sienna. Sienna did not see anything, it was too dark.

"This will not happen with Sarcos," she said a bit bitterly.

"How so?"Sharchan asked curiously.

"He can walk on air!"Sienna bit her lips.

"Well till I live, they can't get to you," Sharchan said confidently.

"Yes, I know, have no worries. We will get out."Sienna said. There are always some options. Tell me, what does it look like, around us, I can't see anything.

Sharchan put Sienna down." Stay here, I check the walls."

Sienna stood in the soft leaves, it was very fluffy and she sank down past her knees. "I hope there are no spiders here." she sighed.

"I protect you."Sharchan chuckled. She had always silliest thoughts for him.

Sharchan tried to climb the walls, but it was impossible, they were from a shiny glass like crystal." There are crystal walls, said Sharchan."

"Try to break it, "she asked him."But look for a formation of crystals, and try to follow the lines in them if there are any.

"I have one line!"Sharchan called.

"Follow the line and smash it like trying to separate the crystals apart," Sienna called. Sharchan slash it with his tail and separated the big crystal piece from the wall. The crystal behind it cracked under the pressure, it was full of lines, and it could not withstand it. The stream of water came gushing in." The water came in." Sharchan said."Is actually clean, I think there is an underground river here."

Sienna nodded."Make it bigger, we flow up and you can smash the top. Sharchan broke the crystals more. The water level started to come up steadily. Sharchan floated with Sienna to the top. He smashed the top desk with his strong tail. It broke to pieces and sink into the water.

Sharchan pushed Sienna thru the opening first, so she don't drown. Sienna was wet and cold. She felt her body shaking in Sharchan's snake coils. As she tried to get out of the top entrance she was taken by the strong hands fast. They somehow managed to untangle Sharchan's strong coils really fast. She saw only the crocodile masks moving in front of her as in a dream. The masked warrior held her on his chest really tight. His body was warm and Sienna felt safe. She did not understand why.

Masked Sarcos brought her to a room and lowered her to the hard stone floor. Sarcos decided to watch Sienna in secret and ordered Bran to talk to her at all times. He does not want to reveal himself yet. He wanted to find out what is Crodius up to.

Sienna was soaking wet. The warrior went out straight away. He did not even look at her. She was a bit confused. When she looked up, she saw the guard with cold blue eyes. He reminded her of Marco, he did not look like a crocodile at all, apart from the crocodile mask. He gave her a towel, and a dry white dress, "Change, don't get sick." he said softly and closed the door behind him.

Sarcos and Bran stood in front of Sienna's door and guarded it. While they were at the Throne room, Sarcos heard the gushing water and breaking noises, so he figured out Sharchan will break out shortly, so he was ready to snatch Sienna first. Sarcos took her straight as she appeared in the opening.

He opened Sharchan's coils with ease and Sienna was too cold and dazed to resist.

The mage was pleased to have such great guards, so he sent them to the room upstairs he prepared for Sienna before. Crodius knew she will come. Sarcos decided to play around, watch Sienna in secret and teach Sharchan a cruel lesson.

Sienna changed the dress quickly, she was shivering from cold again as the guard put her down. She was a bit shocked at herself. She felt so familiar in his embrace, she felt her heart hurt as he let her go. Sienna shook her head. "This was ridiculous!" She adjusted the dress on herself. The dress was made from white silk, it was not very warm but it was dry.

Sienna dried her hair in the towel. Her hair were really wet and tangled." I really can use the hairbrush." she sighed. Sienna looked around the stony room. It was clean and dry. It had a simple bed with furs on it and some fruits in the bowl. Sienna was hungry, but she wanted to get out first.

She tried to open the door. They were not locked but, the two tall guards with crocodile masks stood there. One was watching still away from her and one turned to her kindly."What are you doing outside? Your hair are still wet. Don't get sick."

"Let me pass, please," she asked nicely. His cold blue eyes reminded her of Marco really strongly. She felt somehow calm around him.

"And where would you go?" he asked her quite gently.

"To find my mates." she looked at him pleading.

"You will just get lost. Stay where you are and eat something. Rest a bit, you look exhausted. We will take care of you till your mates will find you." he said.

" Why would you help me?" she asked him.

"I don't like it here." he shook his shoulders." We both." he pointed at another guard who was standing motionless and watching the corridors.

"What is your name?"Sienna asked.

"Bran, be good and let us help you." he pushed her inside gently and closed the doors again.

Sienna sat on the bed and ate the fruits. She was starving. Her head was dizzy and she felt weird. Her heart was fluttering and she could not get that warm guard out of her mind, she just felt so good and safe on his chest. She craved that feeling again strongly.

Sienna held her head, "I'm crazy, what is going wrong with me!" she thought." I need to find Sharchan and Tyrell soon. Is Sarcos looking for me? Sarcos, he felt so safe as Sarcos! Why he felt so safe as Sarcos?Aaa! I have to find out who is he. I should see if he smells of neroli flowers too." she sighed."Why is he stuck in my head? I'm just crazy."

Sienna went to find the hairbrush or at least some comb, there was a little bathroom with a mirror. She stared at her bewildered expression in shock, but she found a comb made of carved wood."At least something, she sighed and finally brushed her tangled long hair.

Downstairs the huge snake slithered out of the water. Sharchan raged and started to destroy everything in his path mindlessly, breaking the temple to pieces. Destroying cities was his speciality, so he rushed out and started."You will bring me my queen and Tyrell or I turn this place to ruin."He called to Crodius.

" What now? You enraged the snake!"Gaius glared at Crodius. He will flatten our city to the ground."

"Stop, king Sharchan, I will make a deal with you." Crodius lift his hands."If you recognize your queen in the mirror reflection, I will give her back to you, together with king Tyrell. "

"Keep talking. " Sharchan stopped and a big pillar hit the ground."What next."

"If you do not find her out, she stays here. And you with Tyrell will serve me." Crodius needed strong bodyguards.

Sharchan laughed proudly."I can surely recognize my queen anywhere."

" Come with me then." Crodius invited Sharchan politely.

Gaius watched and held his forehead, "The snake is a bit dumb but strong. I need to get him to my side to get rid of Crodius."

Sharchan went with Crodius curiously. The mage took him into a dark room full of mirrors." Wait for your queen here, she will be coming shortly." he stood next to him confidently. "Bring the queen, here."He ordered a few of his warriors.

The crocodile warriors came to bring Sienna to the mirror room. "We will take the queen, "Sienna heard the strong Bran's voice."She is our responsibility. Thank you for telling us." The crocodile warrior nodded and went first. The guards were too formidable to argue with them.

Bran knocked on Sienna's door and came in, "Come, they want you to see the snake."

Sienna bit her lips worriedly and backed off to the wall. Bran stretched his strong hand," Don't worry, we will stay with you at all times. We protect you with our lives." he nodded his head. "Thank you," Sienna nodded and took it.

Bran took her out of the room, Sienna glanced at the other guard. The one who carried her. He was standing with his face away from her. Sienna glanced at his wide back and muscular shoulders under the rough fabric cape. Her heart fluttered as crazy. As he walked he kept turning his masked face away from her. He felt so familiar to her, she followed in a daze craving his warmth. She felt pulled to him strongly. He led her to the mirror room. Bran walked behind her. When they entered the dark room, he held her arm gently."Stay here. Your snake mate is in this room, we see if he will recognise you."Bran said to her.

"Recognize me?"Sienna sighted."Do you know what they want to do with me?"

"Have no worry, we will protect you."Bran said."My friend is the strongest warrior here."

"Thank you," Sienna whispered, but her body was shaking a bit.

"Do you miss your mates?"Bran asked.

"Yes, I really wish for king Sarcos. I never want to part with him again." she sobbed a bit.

"But why did you not come with him then?"Bran asked.

"He was out for a day, we got the letter and Sharchan just took me, he did not want to wait for him, he was worried Tyrell is dying. I just got 5 minutes to get ready."She whispered."I hope he will come soon."

"But how can Sharchan just take you? Are you not his queen?" Bran asked curiously.

"Sharchan is too proud. I can't argue with him, he just doesn't mind what I think."She said."Without Sarcos, I'm just a weak female, anyone can do anything to me." she sighed.

Bran nodded." Just stay still. We will see if king Sharchan will be able to find you."

Sarcos, who was acting as a front guard felt his heart clench as he heard her. But he had a plan in his mind, he wanted to find out what is Crodius up to and punish Sharchan.

Sienna stood as Bran said and saw Sharchan coming." Sharchan, "she called sadly. Her soft voice broke down and sounded in echoes all around the room. Bran signalled her not to talk. It was a test. Sienna breathed heavily, she hoped Sharchan can hear at least the heartbeat.

Suddenly countless fires gleamed and illuminated a room full of folding mirrors. It was a trick. Sienna was behind a fake mirror glass, and Sharchan could not really see her. It made finding her almost impossible.