Alright, I know I said I'd make this longer but I ran out of ideas, and dudes, this was posted two days after the first chapter so come on! :')
Just a little more before I get my account on AO3 hopefully, then I'll get back to writing Fanfiction, I'm sorry if this chapter is a bit shabby.
Also, Claire is inspired from this drawing by Pheberoni: cf97/i/2015/290/0/6/pirate_queen_by_ I realise it's Isabela (I'm Dragon Age trash) but Claire is slimmer than Isabela in that drawing. written listening to: watch?v=csbIYfagLzs
Thankfully, the castle wasn't too far from the town Marceline was in. It was only half an hour away, but it made Marceline look back on her previous travels and
contemplate getting a horse, it would be easier getting around that way.
Finally reaching the castle, she approached the guards and asked for directions, seeing as the gate was wide open. Walking through the gates the warrior noted that there weren't many people there yet, it was fairly early in the morning, but she was grateful nonetheless. Marceline headed towards the place the guard pointed out, it was where the fighters signed up, and a few steps away from it was a little stall set up by a merchant, no doubt knowing that the fighters would pay to get their equipment fixed or to buy new ones.
The now one-of-the-fighters (after signing up) headed towards the stall and asked for a steel helmet, something that could cover her face and protect it during the tournament. Marceline walked to the arena after purchasing and wearing her helmet, she was asked by a short man to sit down on a bench, and to "wait for the other stone-brains to join her so the tournament could start".
After nearly 2 hours of waiting, playing with pebbles, and constant sighing, the short man was back again. He shouted at the fighters present to stand up and go to the middle of the arena, forming rows. Surprisingly, there were only five rows, with 15 people each; but it was better this way. The lesser Marceline has to fight, the more control she has over her..."less human" side.
After another boring 15 minutes, the King and the Queen made their entrance, and sat at their respectable thrones.
"My lord! My lady! I present to you the brave men and women, who are ready to lay their lives here today in order to join your side and protect you, they are an eager bunch if I may say."
"Thank you, my loyal subject. I will be sure to reward you for preparing these brave people today, yes?" Marceline rolled her eyes, the man didn't do a thing except yell at them to go to the center!
The man nodded, grinning and bowing then moving out of the way so he wouldn't get caught up in the fight that was inevitable.
"We fight for your honor, my King and Queen!" the small army shouted, Marceline was confused, she wasn't from around here so she didn't know what she was supposed to be doing. Thankfully, that salute was all there was to do, and the King and Queen stood, clapping once to signal the start of the tournament.
Once the Royal Couple clapped, all there was to hear was the clashing of steel and screams, Marceline didn't know if it was coming from the crowd or the competitors themselves. Marceline proceeded to run and slash through anyone she encountered, it was clear to her now: the crowd was roaring and cheering, they were clearly impressed.
She's managed to kill half the people there in half an hour, killing those that were already caught up in a fight and then finishing off their opponent made it much easier for her. She looked around, you couldn't see anything thanks to the dust the fighters made when they ran around. The warrior opted to smell the air and detect whoever was heading towards her, she remained in place; seeing as it wasn't wise to attack without being able to see WHO you're attacking.
Marceline closed her eyes and started sniffing the air, "It smells like blood..Dust..And roses?!" She knew that smell, it must be her..!
The warrior turned around, only to have her axe meet a sword. Her opponent didn't have a helmet on and despite the dust Marceline was able to identify her, Claire, her old friend was going against her in the tournament. She contemplated telling the girl about her identity but then decided against it, she would just knock down the other fighter and finish the others off, without having to kill Claire.
Marceline pulled back, using her axe to strike her opponent's head; hard enough to knock the girl out. Marceline caught her before she hit the floor and placed her on the ground gently, she then started running and finishing everybody off, not caring who it was, just that she needed to win.
Another half an hour, and everyone was either dead, bleeding to death, or trying to run away. Marceline decided to spare those who ran away, they wanted to keep their lives and they were conscious long enough to limp through the gates. The dust cleared off after a short time, and Marceline saw that she was the only one left, standing in the middle of the arena, the crowd cheered and Marceline was basking in the glory, the King was laughing heartily, but the Queen seemed uninterested in the goings-on of the tournament.
"My, you brave soul! you have vanquished almost every fighter that set food in the arena today. I believe you are deserving of atleast one request, besides the position in the King's guard ofcourse. We haven't seen a fight that glorious in years! So, what shall it be, warrior?" Marceline finally got a good look at the King and his wife, the King looked like he was in his mid-thirties, blond hair and a beard to match. His eyes were a pale blue, that looked like they held something in them, what, Marceline wasn't sure. But something was definitely there. The King wasn't fat, unlike those nobles that spent all their time gobbling fancy sweets and expensive wine, but he had quite a belly. "Seems like a lazy one." Marceline remarked, her face twisting in disgust under her helmet, "I don't like his eyes, even IF the people think he's kind-hearted." Marceline averted her attention to the Queen, who was now looking at her. She seemed to be in her mid-twenties, "Definitely younger than the king." Marceline thought; She had long, blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Now, this one truly seemed kind. She had a slim but very feminine body, fair skin, and lips the color of blood. They both had their crowns on top of their heads. The King's was adorned with jewelry all over unlike the Queen's which had a simple blue jewel in the middle of it, but despite being simple, it seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.
After hearing the King clearing his throat, the warrior noted that she took quite a bit of time looking at them, and so she answered: "My King, I want nothing more than to serve you as your loyal guard. But I do have one humble request." Marceline knelt while she spoke, removing her helmet in the process, she was thankful for her manly features, or she would've been forced to paint a beard so she could continue passing as a man.
"Speak, my new citizen, what is your name?" The King asked, "Marshall, your majesty." Marceline answered, still bowing her head, "Very well, Marshall. Let us hear your request, and I give you my word, if I'am able, I will grant you whatever it is you wished." The King spoke against, authority clear in his voice. "I have spared one of the fighters earlier, my King. And I wish for her to join the guards with me, if you would allow it, my King." The King rubbed his beard, thinking. And while Marceline was talking to the King, Claire stirred awake, but couldn't move due to the throbbing in her head.
"Hmm. Very well, I gave you my word, and it shall be so, whomever it is you spared will join the guards with you, but after enough months of training, you're the only one that's allowed to claim the position of my Knight. I only choose the best." Marceline smirked, quickly wiping it off and standing up, only to look straight in the Queen's eyes.
Silver met blue and something deep stirred within the Queen's heart. "This lad is..." She shook her head, she mustn't think such things; for she was the Queen. The King's wife, his closest friend, the mother of this land she ruled. But the Queen, despite denying it time after time, knew that the fighter woke something within her.
After Marceline finished devouring the Queen with her eyes (and she noticed the Queen looking back) she turned around and headed towards Claire, whom she found awake, "Hey you little shite, glad I spared your life?" Claire immediately broke into laughter before bursting into tears when she noticed Marceline. "Shh, shh, I'm here now. Shh don't cry; you know I hate it when you cry.." The warrior scooped the woman up in her arms and walked out of the arena, walking toward a healer's house nearby.
Marceline waited outside while the healer tended to Claire's wounds, and only after a good hour was Claire out again, as good as new.
"Hey-" Marceline was cut off by a slap across the face, coming from Claire. She was surprised when she was quickly pulled into an embrace by the same woman who struck her, Marceline stood with her arms wrapped around Claire, dumbfounded.
"Uh-What-?" Marceline was interrupted again by Claire, "Don't you dare say anything, it's been five years since I've seen you. And after leaving like that, you deserve more than a slap, Marceline." Marceline's eyes widened and she quickly grabbed Claire by the shoulders, looking into her eyes. The woman in front of her was gorgeous, to say the least. She had dark skin and dark brown hair to compliment it. Freckles all over her face and body, piercing amber eyes and full lips decorated by a piercing under them; right in the middle. Marceline remembered the day she's had Claire, mostly due to her being Marceline's first. She looked breath-taking under the pale moonlight, sweating and panting- and Marceline started to feel like her trousers are getting a bit tighter, so the wise decision was to stop thinking about that for the time being.
"Keep your voice down! Claire, I'm sorry I left like that, but I had to. You know I don't like being a burden and even if you say I wasn't, I will still feel like it. But I need you to know that I'm Marshall for now, not Marceline." Marceline smiled sheepishly "Oh so you want to pass as a man now huh? Worry not my dear, you're doing well enough...Body and hair and all..." Claire remarked flirtatiously, looking Marceline up and down, lingering for a moment when she looked between her legs before continuing back up to see a blushing Marceline.
The warrior cleared her throat in an attempt to get rid of the lump in it and the heat in her cheeks, "Uhh, t-thank you, I'm glad to know that I, at the very least, look believable."
Claire winked then moved past Marceline , slapping her bottom and earning a yelp from the 'lad' "Oh these next few weeks are going to be a LOT of fun" Claire thought to herself as she headed towards the barracks, leaving Marceline to go take care of a problem that "came up".
