Cleopatra
Dec 21, 2022 23:17:13 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Dec 21, 2022 23:17:13 GMT -5
Cleopatra
By Francisco Maldonado
Born 2008, M, from Nuevo Leon, Mexico
CLEOPATRA
Aswan, 48 B.C.
The sun rose across the bustling, ancient city of Aswan, lightly painting the sand-colored stone buildings and walkways with warm, yellow streaks. The Nile River, just across from the main plaza, was shining and glistening, gently moving along the Egyptian plain. At 6:30 am sharp, Aswan started to wake up, as roosters sang their loud songs, and people got out of their homes.
The men were getting ready for the long, arduous day ahead in the palm oil fields, while the women got ready for bargaining at the market. After the traditional breakfast of dense freshly baked bread, the people of Aswan headed out.
By the time the women arrived at the plaza, the market stands were already set up, their sleazy owners ready for the influx of angry and bargaining customers. The plaza is quickly filled up with women from all over Aswan, from young 13-year-old girls to old grandmothers whose faces looked more like dried prunes than actual skin.
“3 Shebeen and 2 Dat for a loaf of bread!” a baker screamed.
“Crazy fool! Mrs. Papadakis sells it for only 3 Dat, I’ll take my business elsewhere!” a woman replied.
“I’ll buy it for 2 Shebeen,” another woman answered.
“Deal!”
The reckless and loud bargaining continued as the hours passed by, the harsh sun beating down on the white dresses worn by most of the women.
Suddenly, trumpets started playing, and all of the attention turned to the marble palace overlooking the plaza. The massive wooden doors opened up, revealing a squad of four men that were carrying a wooden carriage with white curtains on their bare backs. These men were followed by around 4 or 5 barefoot women in golden and white dresses, holding palm leaves. Their heads were decorated with grandiose golden tiaras. As the men laid down the carriage, the grand music halted, and a dainty silhouette emerged.
The women rushed to her aid, helping the mysterious figure out. It was a woman in a golden dress, adorned with massive feathery wings and dark, sharp makeup on her face. Her sparkling, blue eyes were accentuated by piercing blue eye[-]shadow and thick black eyeliner. Her porcelain white skin glistened under the Egyptian sun. Everyone was looking at the interesting woman, who looked like Isis, the goddess of healing and magic.
“All hail Pharaoh Cleopatra, daughter of Isis and ruler of all Egypt!” said one of the men as the women kneeled, praising their queen. Cleopatra stepped forward and stopped at the stone balcony overlooking the palace.
“Women of Aswan, you may stand now,” she stated in her soft and educated tone. “I have an important announcement to make. Inform your men [that] I am leaving for Alexandria to retake the throne!”
The crowd of women started to murmur. Cleopatra, going to Alexandria? That surely meant death. Cleopatra’s younger brother, Ptolemy, was currently ruling Alexandria and all of Egypt. He exiled his disloyal sister to the depths of Aswan, a second-class city in the rural south. Cleopatra could not stand this, [since]she considered herself to be the rightful ruler. Once she got [arrived] at Aswan, Cleopatra worked with the few tools she had and quickly adapted to the city. She ordered a palace to be built[,] and quietly started building her army.
“Do not worry my dear citizens, I am well[-] prepared to deal with my brother’s army[,] I will make sure to succeed in our mission. For Egypt!” she shouted. The crowd erupted in applause as Cleopatra elegantly walked away from the balcony and into the carriage. The bare-backed men swiftly carried her back to the palace and closed the door behind them.
During the rest of the afternoon and during the evening, the atmosphere in Aswan was electric. Women gossiped about Cleopatra’s return, while the men betted on who would ascend to the throne. Meanwhile, Cleopatra was as calm and relaxed as ever, lounging in her grand spa room. Her servants were fanning her with palm leaves, feeding her grapes, and refilling her cup with red wine. Her face was stoic, her mind cool. After spending five years mapping the Nile Valley, and meticulously planning her return to Alexandria, she and her advisors came up with a master plan. Cleopatra and her army of guards would travel up the Nile River. Cleopatra would then head north towards Alexandria, where she would find the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar on a diplomatic mission. Caesar was the supreme leader of all of Rome, the most powerful empire on Earth. Egypt was a close ally of Rome, as it supplied the massive empire with wheat and palm oil, making them valuable to the Romans.
In Cleopatra’s mind, the plan was simple: intercept Caesar during his diplomatic mission, and with his support, dispose of Ptolemy entirely.
Five massive ships would make the journey to Alexandria, their interiors outfitted with lavish decorations tailored for Cleopatra’s grandiose tastes. 150 men would row and steer each ship, while 20 female servants would cater to the Pharaoh’s every wish. Cleopatra was ready for her journey, and as dawn broke across the arid Egyptian desert, Cleopatra discreetly boarded one of her ships and parted for Alexandria.
====================================================
1 Day Later, Aboard the Apis, the Nile River
The massive Apis rolled across the river, violently swaying from side to side as the waves lulled on underneath. A storm was raging, lightning shooting through the landscape. The ship was struggling to advance along the churning and intense currents of the Nile.
Down below the deck, Cleopatra’s large stateroom stood out from the rest of the plain wooden interior. The walls were decorated with gold leaf, ancient scriptures and hieroglyphics were plastered against the walls. Silky rose-colored mattresses imported from Persia sat in a U shape around the room. In the center of the room sat a massive bed, adorned with four polished bedposts and a satin drape, as well as a jet-black painting of Isis on the wall.
Although grand and imposing, the most striking figure in the whole room sat on the bed, Cleopatra. Her delicate facial features were accentuated by the soft candlelight that dimly lit up the room. Next to her, an interesting-looking man with a pointy chin and a [funny nose] was intensely staring at a map of the Nile. He was Charmion, her closest advisor.
“My queen, it seems like the storm is getting worse, we should go on deck and inspect the ship,”
“Alright, if you say so,” she replied as she climbed out of her comfortable resting position.
It was hell on Earth on deck, the rain battering the ship, the men struggling against the powerful waves, screaming a mixture of exhaustion, pain, and agony.
“Dear god!” shouted Cleopatra.
“My queen, we have to go back! The current is too strong, we’re going to sink!” Charmion desperately replied.
“Silence Charmion, we will stop at nothing, for I will succeed! Full speed ahead!” she commanded. Charmion didn’t mutter another word. As the ship rolled on, most of the men increased the pace of their rowing to battle the current. Those who didn’t were brutally whipped by their superiors, until they complied. Cleopatra was determined to get to Alexandria, no matter the cost.
5 Days Later, Alexandria Harbor
Sunset glimmered across the pristine crystal blue harbor of the Egyptian capital. Its orange glow reflected on the warm undertones of the beautiful stone buildings lining the city center, like a curtain being draped across a grand room. The grand palace stood to the right of the main plaza, with its menacing steps that lead up to a grand terrace, where Pharaoh Ptolemy sat on a wooden chair.
He was a tall, young man with olive skin and dead brown eyes. He was wearing a white, airy skirt, no shirt, and a richly decorated golden headpiece that resembled a wolf. Ptolemy stared intensely into the horizon, thinking about many things, but mostly, he was thinking about how to murder and destroy his disloyal sister.
As the Apis arrived in Alexandria, it was completely dwarfed by the grandeur of the massive city. A huge cream-colored stone lighthouse towered over the boat, sitting on a small island adjacent to the port. Gigantic ships were docked as far as the eye could see.
As Cleopatra continued marveling at her city, a small grin formed on the edge of her lips.
“Home,” she whispered.
Charmion slowly approached her, donning a nervous look on his face.
“It’s time my queen,” he said as a giant white carpet was unrolled before her.
“Alright, I’m ready,” she replied.
Cleopatra slowly laid down on the carpet and was gently rolled up.
3 Hours Later, The Royal Palace of Alexandria
As Julius Caesar basked in the luxury and commodity of his room, he quietly sat down on his wooden desk, mapping out and correcting his aging Roman maps that detailed the Egyptian territory. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Caesar ignored it. It followed by another, and another.
“Come in,” Caesar [shouted annoyingly.] The door creaked open and a servant dressed in red clothes appeared. In his arms was a white carpet, beautifully woven, but strange in its appearance. The middle part of the carpet was sagging, while the edges were firmly propped up. This captured Caesar's attention and [he]ordered the rug to be put down on the floor. The servant complied.
“Open it up!” Caesar ordered. Gently, the servant unrolled the rug, revealing a woman in a [flowy] white dress and dark makeup. The mysterious woman stood up with the help of her servant, and boldly stated,
“I am Cleopatra, daughter of Isis and Pharaoh of Egypt!”