forum I'll be the actress starring in your bad dreams

Started August 26, 2023 by @emilyevewrites group

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@Carrots Cleopatra/Caeso

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Cleopatra stood at the bow of the frontmost ship in her armada, despite protests from her general and other high-ranking soldiers. Her advisors worried about her falling over the railing or potentially being targeted as they got closer to the port village. The queen worried about telling them to fuck off.

As a compromise, thanks to her handmaiden's quick thinking, Cleopatra wore her maroon breastplate and appropriately fitting armor. Her hair had been styled by her ladies-in-waiting into braids along the side of her head leading to a bun at the nape of her neck. She looked positively vicious. The fleet that extended behind her was just as powerful, dangerous, and magnificent as she. Only the best would do for the thrice-crowned queen. And the most intimidating, of course.

Soon, the port was within sight, and seeing it, Cleopatra's resolve strengthened. After a proper siege attempt, it would be hers. Without the influx of supplies that this village brought to the Reinerre palace and capital, the people there would slowly begin to become starved. King Hayward and Queen Helena's crowns would submit to hers and she would be one step closer to her goal of a united continental empire. Of course, with Cleopatra as the reigning empress.

"General Nailah!" she called out right before the soldiers prepared to dock her flagship.

The general was at her side immediately. "My Queen." His strikingly blue eyes looked down a few inches at her sharp hazel ones, but that did nothing to deter Cleopatra from narrowing her gaze and inclining her head to the land ahead of them.

"Do tell your soldiers that I prefer to have as few casualties as possible. I can't be the empress of a nation that worships me if I destroy the nation in my wake to becoming an empress."

Nailah dipped his head courteously. "Of course, my Queen," he replied and turned to bark out the orders to his soldiers.

Once Cleopatra's army had taken to the village and rounded up its citizens, the queen prepared to disembark from her ship. Her treasured sword hung in a jeweled scabbard at her waist. She hoped not to use it on any of these people, but if they gave her a reason to lash out… it would be their own lives they were risking. Cleopatra would not fall, and she would not yield until everything in her path was flattened behind her.

The powerful queen stalked across the deck of her ship, heading to the gangplank, but before she could make it any further, General Nailah took a step toward her and reached out to grip her upper arm lightly.

"Your Majesty, are you sure it's wise to disembark first and put yourself in danger?" he asked quietly. "Let my men handle it. With all due respect, my Queen, I recommend you stay back."

The queen barely heard his words. She narrowed her eyes at him and glared down at where his hand was in contact with her clothes. Nailah seemed to realize his mistake, and he instantly let go of her. Cleopatra refused to yield, and the general took a small step back.

"Something gave you the nerve to touch my arm, General," she said in a deadly even voice. "I don't know what it was, but it will not happen again."

Nailah looked incredibly embarrassed and dipped his head out of shame. "My apologies, Your Majesty."

"As for approaching an unknown enemy, the choice in that matter shall be mine and mine alone," the queen continued, her hazel eyes burning with a hidden fury behind them. "Should it murder me where I stand, then I suppose the gods had it coming for me. Let my judgments be my own, General. And never touch me again."

With that, she turned on her heel – she wore tall black boots for her war campaign – and strode over to the opposite side of the town square with her hips swaying confidently. Her general and soldiers followed behind her, trading looks amongst themselves as they went.

Townspeople were already frantic and fleeing in terror. Cleopatra smirked at those who donned weapons and armor to stand in her way. It was so amusing they thought they could make a dent in her army. Hayward and Helena were weak leaders of a weak nation. They would fall to her blade and be remembered as such.

They had seen the army over the horizon before they had even grown close to the shoreline.

Because the King and Queen had sent their army across the land to the small town in preparation for the attack. They had known that Cleopatra was coming, and had anticipated her arrival just in time to send a small army of their soldiers to the coastline in order to attempt to prevent an attack. But the moment that half of the small battalion had seen just how large the armada was that they were going to be dealing with? Half of them had put down their swords in defeat before the battle had even begun.

And that was the issue with being sent with a troop that Caeso had never worked with before.

Because the Captain of the King Guard had been told to remain at the capital in order to prevent an attack on the city itself, with majority of his army had been sent to the other side of the country. But he had been ordered to stay, and he couldn't help but wish he had been sent with his men to fight. Instead, he was bracing for an army that was too great for the small number of men that he had been told to take with him, and now that number was even smaller when half of them were giving up before the fight even started.

Donned in his usual attire, with his gold armour from head to toe, the usual navy blue cape around his neck in the signature colours of his kingdom, and the deep blue sapphires that accented the outfit. Caeso drew his sword, the one he had had since he was a child first learning to wield a weapon, with the hilt in the shape of snake, he was one of the very few that stood in the square ready to fight.

He spotted Cleopatra instantly. Considering she walked with such swagger and confidence, well, arrogance, it was difficult to not to see her as her men invaded the town. But Caeso didn't falter. He didn't move. He would not fall to her without a fight. If she was to kill him then so be it, but the Captain of the King's Guard wasn't a weak man, and he was stubborn as hell. The only thing that would break him was death.

Cleopatra swore low and under her breath at the sight of soldiers already in the town. It wouldn’t surprise her if the coward king and queen of Reinerre had attempted to infiltrate her court with a spy. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have known of the attack. She’d have to weed them out and take greater precautions, as if what she was already doing to keep her court protected wasn’t enough.

Still, as she took into account the soldiers that stood for the village, the powerful queen nearly laughed. Their numbers were few compared to hers. She would easily win. But one of the soldiers caught her eye. His gold armor glinted underneath his navy cloak. His sword was drawn, and his expression was unwavering. Him. She wanted him.

“Round up the people in the square,” she commanded. “Those who fight will meet their end.” Then she paused, a wicked glint in her eye. “And leave the commander to me.”

Nailah hesitated. “My queen, are you sure that-“

Cleopatra ignored him and was already striding toward the man. He was clearly the leader. Dressed the most handsomely and standing with true soldier’s strength. She would have the time of her life bending him to her will. But first… a bit of swordplay.

She had her own blade at the ready as she approached. Her soldiers swarmed the area around them, but with their queen’s orders, they kept their distance from the duel.

Caeso didn't know what he was getting himself into, but it wasn't good considering the woman was headed straight for him. If he died here that would be a blessing, but there was only so much that he could do against a woman as powerful as her. He was a good soldier, yes, but so was she. The stories told of a woman who was able to fight so wickedly and take down men as easily as slicing through paper and he wouldn't lie to himself when he thought himself to be only a little worried. The captain had taken on enemies both great and small, men and women alike who had forced his hand before begging for death at the end of it all, but this would be his greatest battle yet.

A soft, warm wind billowed around the square, that navy blue cape swaying with the motion. He stood a perfect soldier. Warrior. Fighter. With his gold sword glittering at his side and grip nearly white as he took a few steps forward to meet her in the centre of the cobbled square. If he died he prayed for it to be quick, if he lived, he hoped the fallout would be easy to deal with.

Around them the army rounded up his own men, some tried to fight and ultimately died quickly, crimson bleeding out over the floor and flooding the streets. Caeso hoped he wouldn't end up that way. Some tried to run, dying shortly after the attempt. The townsfolk were only rounded up and captured to stay in the square and watch the fight that was about to happen.

The captain tried not to swallow, and instead drew his sword in an invitation. He wouldn't attack first, he never did. Instead he only circled the princess as she approached, keeping his distance as best he could. Caeso could hear his heart thumping in his chest, burning in his ears. He could feel the rivers of blood rushing through his veins as anticipation welled in his chest and ate away at him like a rotting wound.

Cleopatra wasn't intimidated by the sight of him. In fact, it really only made her more desperate to sink her blade into his flesh. The same wind that billowed his navy blue cape around him made her red and maroon cape sweep out behind her. She reached up to her throat mid-stride and unclipped the garment. It would only slow her down in the fight.

The scent of the sea was carried through the square on the breeze around them. Cleopatra nearly gagged. While Allikos bordered the ocean and had a fine navy, it was the salty waters of Renierre that made her stomach twist. She hated pirates, and this country was crawling with them, practically infested. Another testament to the horrible leadership of Hayward and Helena. They were so godsdamned weak that Cleopatra wouldn't hesitate while killing them. She would be a much better leader than they were.

At least they had one highly-trained soldier in their ranks. If she played her cards right, the thrice-crowned queen might even be able to corrupt him and convince him to be her soldier instead. Cleopatra smirked at the thought. His golden sword caught her attention, as did his incredibly tight grip on it. But he did step to meet her, and it was more than the queen thought he would do.

Cleopatra hardly spared more than a glance to make sure her troops were following orders. Bodies of those who fought were strewn across the ground, and the rest of the terrified people were huddled together and guarded by her army. Perfect. There would be no one to interrupt them, and Cleopatra did love to put on a good show.

She watched lazily as he drew his sword. Hers already lay in wait, clutched in her hand with its name engraved on the hilt. Bloodseeker. Only such a wicked, violent name would do for Cleopatra's weapon of choice. She followed his little dance, indulging him in the game of cat-and-mouse they were playing. She'd lure him in soon enough. Why not have a little fun first?

"Come now, warrior," she taunted, her voice carrying over the nearly silent square. "Do you not seek to defend these people? Or is that blade only meant for decorum uses?" Cleopatra's eyes glittered, hoping to entice him to her instead of taking the first move. She would, if it came down to it. But the fear and hesitation of her enemies to come at her first always made Cleopatra's excitement grow.

Caeso didn't often grow scared. He had faced armies larger than the one that Cleopatra had brought to the shoreline and come out victorious. Had won battles by fighting tooth and nail with blood under his skin in order to defend the people that he so desperately cared about. And he would do the same now. He would do it for the people who were huddled in the corners of the square and watching him as the two warriors circled one another like vultures, eager to see who would make the first move.

And even now with her taunting, Caeso didn't step forward to bring his blade down against her own. He knew that was what she was expecting. Knew that her words were meant to entice and draw anger and fury to have him make that first strike. Attacking first, especially out of anger, always led to bad outcomes. He had seen it first hand, hand seen men go down by letting their emotions get the better of them.

But he was experienced. Caeso had years and years and years of training under his belt and the skill to show for it. He would take this seriously, just like any other battle, where something was at stake. And there were lots of things at stake here.

If he lost this, then Cleopatra would march her way to his King and Queen and take their heads. She would rule the people just as she had all the other kingdoms she had taken in her life time before moving onto the nest. He couldn't let that happen. He would do his damned best to stop that from happening because the people deserved someone better. Someone who was able to take care for them. And Cleopatra didn't seem like the type to give more than two shits about it.

Caeso swung his sword around in front of him once, positioning it in front of him in a challenge, but still, he did not attempt to fight, "My blade has been the downfall of many warriors," He replied, "It is not for decorative purposes, unlike yours. You have your men doing all the work here, are you too afraid to get your hands dirty?"

Cleopatra watched the man intently. She knew how to spot fear in her enemies' eyes, but surprisingly, she found none in his. It would make it all the better when he was begging for his life at the end of it all. Pleading with her to spare him. Just the thought sent a bolt of arousal down her spine. That moment would come, in time. But she needed to focus now.

She eyed the way he moved and the way he still held back from striking the first blow. He was more intelligent than she'd thought him to be, she would give him that. But that didn't mean that she wouldn't still obliterate him with her own weapon. Bloodseeker was named appropriately for the amount of lives that had fallen to its blade.

If only they could just get on with it. Cleopatra had every intention of cutting off Reinerre's capital city from their main supply route. Blockade them behind their own walls until they cursed the names of their monarchs. How wonderful it would be to take this kingdom without a show of force and simply wait until the people were weakened enough she could waltz through the gates and place the crown on her head.

The words of the other soldier drew her back to the moment, and her eyes narrowed. However by the end, her expression had faded into a smirk, and she laughed out loud. The sound carried around the square as she pointed her blade directly at his chest. "My blade has been the downfall of nations," the thrice-crowned queen crooned. "And trust me, I'm not afraid to get my hands… dirty."

Her pause was intentional, leaving room for many interpretations as she swiftly moved across the square. "Let's see just how well you can fight for where your loyalties lie, soldier," Cleopatra purred as she brought her blade up and swung it toward her opponent's side.

Caeso had been readying himself for an attack the moment she had stepped into the courtyard. Cleopatra didn't seem like the type to let others do her dirty work but the captain wasn't going to strike first. And the only way to get her to do so, was by making some sort of comment that would drive her to make the first blow. It had worked. Easily so, considering how the queen had brought her blade up and down not a moment later.

The captain blocked her attack with ease. Metal struck metal and Caeso couldn't help the way his teeth gritted together as he pushed back against her and moved out of the way, "How well I fight has nothing to do with who I am sworn to."

He had seen many kings and queens come and go. Some far before their time had been close to being up due to many circumstances, others due to illness that had befallen them. He was older than he looked, had seen more than many would assume he would have. But Caeso wasn't about to let this woman get the best of him. He would do it for his kingdom. The people. They at least deserved that he tried.

It was why he didn't hesitate to make the next attack. He bought the gold and steel up and aimed to attack her over head, his navy cape billowing behind him as he did so. People watched on, and he hated the thought that there would be children watching him. If he died here, or if he lost while so many were expecting him to win, what kind of an embarrassment would that be? What kind of a message? If their king and queens captain couldn't take down one person? Granted, she was probably the most powerful woman there was, but Caeso didn't let himself think like that.

Cleopatra knew when he’d avoided her bait that she would be the one to initiate the fight. And she had no problems with that. Getting it started meant getting it over-with sooner. The sooner she could make these people kneel before her and acknowledge her as their new rightful queen, the better off Cleopatra would be.

It wasn’t her strongest attack, she the queen wasn’t surprised when her sword was blocked. Though she smirked at the effort of him gritting his teeth. “So you admit your loyalty to your country — your own king and queen! — inspires you not?” she cooed. When he stepped back, Cleopatra took the opportunity to sweep her sword in a grand gesture to the people watching them. “These people… do you not fight for them?”

She then watched the movement of his sword carefully. When he lifted his blade, Cleopatra smirked. Her own weapon raised to knock his up higher, and with his body now exposed, she kicked him hard in the chest. Her eyes glittered wickedly, more than satisfied by looking at the dirty imprint her boot had left on his chest plate.

“And here I thought I might have some decent competition for once,” she taunted, slicing her blade through the air in front of her in a testing motion. “But you’re clearly nothing more than an under qualified and poorly trained man in fancy armor.”

Caeso stumbled backwards, taking a moment to collect himself as he glanced down at the dirty boot mark on his now dulling armour. He looked back up to Cleopatra, and his gaze was hard as he met her own, "You do not get to question who I fight for when you're the one invading."

She was taking their land. She was taking the people's land. He didn't know how much would be left of it when the queen was done taking everything that she wanted and then some. Caeso could only imagine the fear that would ensue if she were to be crowned ruler of this kingdom, too. Fear practically radiated off the people of the small seaside town, and he swore in his head, swore to himself, that the most he could do for them was to go down swinging.

The captain unbuckled his cape from behind his neck and it drifted in the soft wind until it hit the floor, painting the ground in the same blue as the waters beyond them. He took up arms again, only this time he didn't let fury over take him and swing out of anger. Instead, he rallied two hands on the weapon and took a few steps back, putting more space between him and his opponent so he had more time to collect himself.

Cleopatra would not get the best of him, "I have a duty to the people. To my king and queen, to protect. That is what inspires me. You seem to lack that quality, considering all you do is take."

Cleopatra snickered as she looked at the boot mark on the soldier's chest. It dulled the shiny armor and made the queen immensely pleased. She smirked, and it grew as he leveled his determined stare at her. "Oh, is that so?" she mused, twirling her sword through the air to beckon him.

The queen knew how the people saw her. When she would stride into a new capital to claim the heads of the monarchs, she was well accustomed to the stares of hatred. But even more plentiful were the stares of fear. Occasionally, a few were stares of awe. She'd seen all of those emotions and more both on the battlefield and in bed. She wanted to be loved, maybe, but her desire to be feared?

Her eyes sharpened as she watched him abandon his cape. She'd left hers go earlier for this exact reason. It hadn't gotten in her way when they'd begun dueling. Cleopatra lifted her chin as he took his blade in both hands again. Every step away from her that he took, the queen advanced a step toward him. He would not get any further away from her than she wanted. And soon, she would have him right where she wanted him.

She laughed at his last comment. "I may take, but I still protect what is mine." With that, she advanced quickly toward him, jabbing with her sword and unleashing a barrage of quick strikes against him. He would fall beneath her blade. Cleopatra saw no other option. Unless…

Caeso was usually a man who kept his composure during battle. He had to keep a level head for his people, for his men. Without him they had no one to follow, no one to look to when times were tough and the battle grew harder and harder to reach. There was no other choice for the man but to remain calm in those situations, without it, he would have lost more times than he would have ever liked to. But now, with Cleopatra, he couldn't help but feel his rage shimmer under his skin and burn to the surface.

She was so cocky. Arrogant and bullheaded and thought that she could just take and take and take and do whatever she wanted to the people, fight her way to the top without earning it? Who did she think she was? It was bullshit, is what is was, in Caeso's mind, and he was already fed up with the woman standing in front of him. It was why, when he looked to the side of the square and saw his men and the townsfolk being ushered around and away, he couldn't keep a hold on the anger he tried to contain.

"It isn't yours to fucking take!" Caeso blocked all of the strikes that were advanced his way but was quick to return his own. Swing after swing he bought his sword down in an attempt to strike at the woman in front of him. His race was bared in a snarl as metal on metal clashed and rang throughout the town. There were children crying in the distance and it only spurred him on more to try and win the damn fight, for them. If not for himself, then for them.

Cleopatra watched the soldier's expression carefully. And the moment the anger began to visibly appear on his face, she smirked. Finally, a real fight. Not one where he was backing away, but instead charging to meet her. A test of steel and strength and willpower. There was nothing the thrice-crowned queen enjoyed more.

The flicker of his attention to the people rounded up did not go unnoticed. Cleopatra knew her men had it under control. Anyone who attempted to fight their way past her army at this point wouldn't stand a chance. Not that she wanted a massacre, but… if the people wanted to play with fire, they would surely burn.

Her blade met his as he blocked her strikes, and when the soldier retaliated with his own, Cleopatra quickly showed off her skills to block them. But he was coming at her with more aggressiveness than she'd thought he would bring. The queen's eyes narrowed. Time to stop the casual swordplay and really fight him.

So the next chance where he swung at her, Cleopatra caught his blade against hers and shoved him back. Counting on his footing being uneven, she advanced quickly, slashing her blade low toward his leg. Anything to keep him off balance would work perfectly fine. Drawing blood would be even better. How lovely it would look running down his uniform. Marring the navy blue and white colors of the kingdom soon to fall.

The townsfolk would not attempt to fight back, they had not been trained to do so and his own men? Well, they could only do so much. They were good soldiers, good men whom he had trained and grown close with over the years but they weren't as good as they should be, and that was mostly down to the King and Queen not providing him with enough resources to train them to the standard that they needed to be at. It was why the clanking of metal that rang distantly through his ears, the men he knew were trying to fight back, were falling. But Caeso would not go down so easily. He was supposed to be better than them. There was a reason he was captain, a reason he was appointed the title, the reason people knew his name. He could do this, he had to do this, for them, for the innocent people that might be hurt in the crossfire.

Caeso had been trained since the day he could walk to wield a sword. It was in his blood, sang to him and called to him before he knew what the calling was. He had given in to the feeling when he was able and had trained and trained until he reached the top of the ranks. Now he was faced with the biggest challenge of his life. Steel met steel over and over again and it was only an added scream to the world around him, the roaring in his ears. If he was to die here, at least he had attempted to fight rather than simply surrendering like so many others had done time and time again.

The captain stumbled back when he was shoved, losing his footing for the briefest moment. Anger was always his downfall, now that he had unleashed it into the fight there was no turning back. Cleopatra swung at his leg and Caeso barely had a chance to move out of the way and the blade met his leg causing him to hiss as it hit skin and he began to bleed. He stumbled, losing his footing and the captain using the momentum from the fall to roll out of the way and regain his footing as best he could.