Chapter 6:
Disclaimer: All these characters belong to Disney except the egyptians. The storyline is copyright by me. Thanks
The music poured down the hallway and drifted into Cleopatra's room. Megara was standing at the doors ready to join the big dinner. As she walked into the dining room surrounded by servants, the light shimmering off the gold on her dress, a nervous thought ran through her head that this was the most stupid thing she had ever done. Suddenly the large polished table full of exotic foods came into view and she caught site of Hercules.
"Now tell me about the Nemian Loin," the king was saying, raising a glass. Hercules opened his mouth to say something, but he looked up as Meg came into the room.
"Ah, Cleo!" The king motioned for her to sit down, "Hercules, this is my daughter, Cleopatra." Megara took a seat across from Hercules. It looked as though he hadn't slept in a day or two. She stared intently into his blue eyes, trying to make a connection.
"Pleased to meet you," Hercules said, politely taking her outstretched hand. Meg had to fight the urge to throw her arms around him. Under all of the Egyptian make up and the new hair cut he obviously hadn't recognized her. Suddenly Meg realized the presence of intense black eyes glaring at her from under a head of bushy black hair. Judging by the purple Roman toga, this was Mark Antony. He flashed her a handsome smile and kissed her hand lovingly.
"But the Nemian Lion! My favorite labor to hear about," The king began again as the first course was being served.
Meg looked up and down the table trying to think of what to do. Hercules hadn't taken his eyes off of her since she'd sat down, but on the other hand, neither had Antony. Meg's eyes narrowed and a smirk spread over her face. Hercules had turned his attention back to the king, but he jumped and turned back to Meg as he felt her foot brush against his leg. Meg held her gaze, but Herc was sitting there looking disturbed like he was too afraid to say anything. He looked around, a bit confused, as someone who seemed to be Cleopatra was putting the moves on him.
Finally Megara grinned at him as she felt his feet return her invitation. But her smile quickly faded when she realized that the foot belonged to Mark Antony. He was staring wickedly at her from across the table. Meg cringed and returned his affections with the leg that wasn't busy with Hercules. This was getting ridiculous! She couldn't let Mark Antony think that she wasn't Cleopatra.
Meg was now in an awkward sort of straddle position under the table, and what made it worse was that the king was going on in his usual droll about Hercules, or the building of some pyramid.
Occasionally Megara would have to add in a comment like, "Yes, father," or, "isn't that interesting?" Hercules wasn't as good at sounding relaxed as Megara, because whenever the king would ask him a question he'd grumble a confused, "um, yeah" and try to add in the fact that he was engaged.
Finally Meg moved her foot higher up Herc's thigh to spark his memory, and apparently that wasn't all she sparked, because Hercules jumped out of his chair and announced that he had to use the bathroom, leaving Meg alone with Mark Antony. 'This obviously isn't working,' Meg thought to herself. She decided to take Cleopatra's advice and scribbled a note on her napkin:
Meet me in my room
after dinner. 3rd Door
on the right.
When Hercules got back she waited for him to relax a little before kicking him and thrusting the note under the table.
"Ouch!"
Before she knew it Meg felt two hands under the table and the one that grasped the note first was Mark Antony. He had obviously seen her write it. Megara slapped a hand to her forehead. She should've signed her name!
"Headache, sweetheart?"
"Huh?" Meg asked startled.
"She hasn't been well," the king explained, "Perhaps you should retire to your room."
"I'm fine!" Meg protested, "I-I wouldn't want to be rude to our guests."
"Very well, if you're alright." He raised a hand at the cook, "Bring the desert."
After desert Megara saw her chance. The orchestra began to play and a few lords and ladies got up to dance. The king got up with a tall woman dressed all in gold leaving only Meg, Hercules, and Mark Antony at the table.
"May I have this dance?" Mark Antony asked.
"Well, I would love to, but I haven't yet danced with the guest of honor." She extended her hand to Hercules, "It would please me greatly."
Hercules timidly took her hand while Antony slumped back in his chair looking a little put out. But just as they had set foot on the dance floor, and Hercules was protesting that he wasn't much of a dancer, one of Cleopatra's serving maids tapped her on the shoulder.
"You remember the king's orders, your highness. To your room "directly" after desert."
"But!" Meg tried to think of an excuse, but the servant was pulling her out of the room faster than she could think (which was pretty fast) and Hercules was left on the dance floor looking bewildered and a little relieved.
Megara sat on the bed in Cleopatra's room feeling extremely depressed. She had lost what was possibly her only chance for freedom. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Meg jumped to her feet. She had forgotten all about Mark Antony! He was her only hope now.
"Antony?" Meg whispered as she opened the door a crack.
"Oh my darling!" Antony managed to mutter as he pushed through the door, embraced Meg, and passionately kissed her all in one quick motion.
"Mmmm!" Meg struggled to get him off of her.
"You were very clever at dinner. Not attracting any attention to us. I almost couldn't sneak in here." He said between kisses, "Your father is keeping a close watch on me."
Antony backed Megara, who was still struggling, against the wall and they both sank down onto an ottoman. "Apparently he thinks I might do something ungentlemanly," he laughed sarcastically. He reached down and started to pull the top of her dress off and Meg's hand slapped him hard on the cheek.
"OW!" Antony pulled away and put a hand to his face. "What the hell did you do that for?!"
"To get you off me, slick! I'm not Cleopatra!"
"...Ooh! This is the game you played on your father! Tricky tricky! They all think your nuts." He put both hands on her chest and leaned in to kiss her again.
"Dammit! Would you think with your brains instead of your balls for just one second!?" She put her foot on his stomach and kicked him off of her.
"Mmph!" Antony gave a little laugh, "Cleo! Come on!...Playing hard to get, it's very sexy. I promise no one will hear us." He reached for her again and, panicking, Meg did the first thing she could think of and kicked him in the groin. "I'm NOT Cleopatra!"
Antony gave a scream of pain and collapsed in a heap on the floor. "Holy shit! You're telling the truth aren't you?!"
"What was your first clue?"
"Well, actually it was that Cleopatra would never have that good of an aim," Antony squeaked.
Meg smiled sympathetically. "Are you alright?" She extended her hand, "I'm sorry I kicked you, but you didn't give me much choice."
"I-ahem I'm fine," Antony took her hand and struggled to his feet. "Mind explaining who you are?"
"The name's Megara, call me Meg. There's been a big mistake."
Meg explained everything while Antony stood there gaping at her in disbelief. "And you just happened to look exactly alike?" He finally said after Meg had finished.
"I guess. I've never met her before in my life."
"That's extraordinary!"
"Yeah, and it's creepy!"
Mark Antony sighed, "Well that would explain the way you were looking at Hercules tonight."
"Yeah," Meg smirked, "Not to mention what was going on beneath the table."
Antony blushed a deep scarlet, "Ooo, sorry about that."
"Yeah, well weirder things have happened since I've been here."
"Alright….look, we can't tell anyone who you are, they might have you executed…we've got to get you out of here quietly. Anymore tension between Egypt and Rome could ruin everything that Cleo and I have been working for...Leave Hercules to me. I'll explain everything to him. In the meantime, we've gotta find a way to get you and Cleo to trade places."
"Well that's the easy part. Once I'm in the dungeon Hercules can rescue me, and you and Cleo can get back to Rome. But you'd better be careful, Egypt doesn't exactly trust Rome anymore."
"I know. After Caesar's death Rome has been restless for war. The people are urging me to conquer Egypt and gain power. I'd hate to think what they would do if I weren't there to reason with them."
Their talk was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. "Cleopatra? Are you in there?"
"It's the king!" Meg gasped, "Quick, out this way." She pulled back the tapestry revealing a door.
"Don't worry," Antony assured her, "I'll get you out of here."
Meg smiled, "Thanks Antony, I owe you one."
"Cleo? Who are you talking to in there?"
"Please, go quick! If he finds you here we're done!" Antony nodded and disappeared through the darkness.
Disclaimer: All these characters belong to Disney except the egyptians. The storyline is copyright by me. Thanks
The music poured down the hallway and drifted into Cleopatra's room. Megara was standing at the doors ready to join the big dinner. As she walked into the dining room surrounded by servants, the light shimmering off the gold on her dress, a nervous thought ran through her head that this was the most stupid thing she had ever done. Suddenly the large polished table full of exotic foods came into view and she caught site of Hercules.
"Now tell me about the Nemian Loin," the king was saying, raising a glass. Hercules opened his mouth to say something, but he looked up as Meg came into the room.
"Ah, Cleo!" The king motioned for her to sit down, "Hercules, this is my daughter, Cleopatra." Megara took a seat across from Hercules. It looked as though he hadn't slept in a day or two. She stared intently into his blue eyes, trying to make a connection.
"Pleased to meet you," Hercules said, politely taking her outstretched hand. Meg had to fight the urge to throw her arms around him. Under all of the Egyptian make up and the new hair cut he obviously hadn't recognized her. Suddenly Meg realized the presence of intense black eyes glaring at her from under a head of bushy black hair. Judging by the purple Roman toga, this was Mark Antony. He flashed her a handsome smile and kissed her hand lovingly.
"But the Nemian Lion! My favorite labor to hear about," The king began again as the first course was being served.
Meg looked up and down the table trying to think of what to do. Hercules hadn't taken his eyes off of her since she'd sat down, but on the other hand, neither had Antony. Meg's eyes narrowed and a smirk spread over her face. Hercules had turned his attention back to the king, but he jumped and turned back to Meg as he felt her foot brush against his leg. Meg held her gaze, but Herc was sitting there looking disturbed like he was too afraid to say anything. He looked around, a bit confused, as someone who seemed to be Cleopatra was putting the moves on him.
Finally Megara grinned at him as she felt his feet return her invitation. But her smile quickly faded when she realized that the foot belonged to Mark Antony. He was staring wickedly at her from across the table. Meg cringed and returned his affections with the leg that wasn't busy with Hercules. This was getting ridiculous! She couldn't let Mark Antony think that she wasn't Cleopatra.
Meg was now in an awkward sort of straddle position under the table, and what made it worse was that the king was going on in his usual droll about Hercules, or the building of some pyramid.
Occasionally Megara would have to add in a comment like, "Yes, father," or, "isn't that interesting?" Hercules wasn't as good at sounding relaxed as Megara, because whenever the king would ask him a question he'd grumble a confused, "um, yeah" and try to add in the fact that he was engaged.
Finally Meg moved her foot higher up Herc's thigh to spark his memory, and apparently that wasn't all she sparked, because Hercules jumped out of his chair and announced that he had to use the bathroom, leaving Meg alone with Mark Antony. 'This obviously isn't working,' Meg thought to herself. She decided to take Cleopatra's advice and scribbled a note on her napkin:
Meet me in my room
after dinner. 3rd Door
on the right.
When Hercules got back she waited for him to relax a little before kicking him and thrusting the note under the table.
"Ouch!"
Before she knew it Meg felt two hands under the table and the one that grasped the note first was Mark Antony. He had obviously seen her write it. Megara slapped a hand to her forehead. She should've signed her name!
"Headache, sweetheart?"
"Huh?" Meg asked startled.
"She hasn't been well," the king explained, "Perhaps you should retire to your room."
"I'm fine!" Meg protested, "I-I wouldn't want to be rude to our guests."
"Very well, if you're alright." He raised a hand at the cook, "Bring the desert."
After desert Megara saw her chance. The orchestra began to play and a few lords and ladies got up to dance. The king got up with a tall woman dressed all in gold leaving only Meg, Hercules, and Mark Antony at the table.
"May I have this dance?" Mark Antony asked.
"Well, I would love to, but I haven't yet danced with the guest of honor." She extended her hand to Hercules, "It would please me greatly."
Hercules timidly took her hand while Antony slumped back in his chair looking a little put out. But just as they had set foot on the dance floor, and Hercules was protesting that he wasn't much of a dancer, one of Cleopatra's serving maids tapped her on the shoulder.
"You remember the king's orders, your highness. To your room "directly" after desert."
"But!" Meg tried to think of an excuse, but the servant was pulling her out of the room faster than she could think (which was pretty fast) and Hercules was left on the dance floor looking bewildered and a little relieved.
Megara sat on the bed in Cleopatra's room feeling extremely depressed. She had lost what was possibly her only chance for freedom. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Meg jumped to her feet. She had forgotten all about Mark Antony! He was her only hope now.
"Antony?" Meg whispered as she opened the door a crack.
"Oh my darling!" Antony managed to mutter as he pushed through the door, embraced Meg, and passionately kissed her all in one quick motion.
"Mmmm!" Meg struggled to get him off of her.
"You were very clever at dinner. Not attracting any attention to us. I almost couldn't sneak in here." He said between kisses, "Your father is keeping a close watch on me."
Antony backed Megara, who was still struggling, against the wall and they both sank down onto an ottoman. "Apparently he thinks I might do something ungentlemanly," he laughed sarcastically. He reached down and started to pull the top of her dress off and Meg's hand slapped him hard on the cheek.
"OW!" Antony pulled away and put a hand to his face. "What the hell did you do that for?!"
"To get you off me, slick! I'm not Cleopatra!"
"...Ooh! This is the game you played on your father! Tricky tricky! They all think your nuts." He put both hands on her chest and leaned in to kiss her again.
"Dammit! Would you think with your brains instead of your balls for just one second!?" She put her foot on his stomach and kicked him off of her.
"Mmph!" Antony gave a little laugh, "Cleo! Come on!...Playing hard to get, it's very sexy. I promise no one will hear us." He reached for her again and, panicking, Meg did the first thing she could think of and kicked him in the groin. "I'm NOT Cleopatra!"
Antony gave a scream of pain and collapsed in a heap on the floor. "Holy shit! You're telling the truth aren't you?!"
"What was your first clue?"
"Well, actually it was that Cleopatra would never have that good of an aim," Antony squeaked.
Meg smiled sympathetically. "Are you alright?" She extended her hand, "I'm sorry I kicked you, but you didn't give me much choice."
"I-ahem I'm fine," Antony took her hand and struggled to his feet. "Mind explaining who you are?"
"The name's Megara, call me Meg. There's been a big mistake."
Meg explained everything while Antony stood there gaping at her in disbelief. "And you just happened to look exactly alike?" He finally said after Meg had finished.
"I guess. I've never met her before in my life."
"That's extraordinary!"
"Yeah, and it's creepy!"
Mark Antony sighed, "Well that would explain the way you were looking at Hercules tonight."
"Yeah," Meg smirked, "Not to mention what was going on beneath the table."
Antony blushed a deep scarlet, "Ooo, sorry about that."
"Yeah, well weirder things have happened since I've been here."
"Alright….look, we can't tell anyone who you are, they might have you executed…we've got to get you out of here quietly. Anymore tension between Egypt and Rome could ruin everything that Cleo and I have been working for...Leave Hercules to me. I'll explain everything to him. In the meantime, we've gotta find a way to get you and Cleo to trade places."
"Well that's the easy part. Once I'm in the dungeon Hercules can rescue me, and you and Cleo can get back to Rome. But you'd better be careful, Egypt doesn't exactly trust Rome anymore."
"I know. After Caesar's death Rome has been restless for war. The people are urging me to conquer Egypt and gain power. I'd hate to think what they would do if I weren't there to reason with them."
Their talk was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. "Cleopatra? Are you in there?"
"It's the king!" Meg gasped, "Quick, out this way." She pulled back the tapestry revealing a door.
"Don't worry," Antony assured her, "I'll get you out of here."
Meg smiled, "Thanks Antony, I owe you one."
"Cleo? Who are you talking to in there?"
"Please, go quick! If he finds you here we're done!" Antony nodded and disappeared through the darkness.