Juliet Capulet looked out at the riverside near her bedroom, and sighed. Why couldn't she be free like the river? Her Mother, Lady Capulet, wanted her to stay in her room and practice sewing all the time, but Juliet had other wishes—to swim and run and play to her hearts content. She was always hearing tales about the brave men that went into the mountains to find all sorts of adventures, some even coming home with sacks of gold and beautiful ladies' dresses. There was also a rumor about love… if you go into the mountains, and find a tree that bends towards dawn, the only person you could ever marry was your true love. Juliet knew that Paris had begun to court her, but she had no interest in him. And yet, she was positive that another one was out there for her.
"Juliet, I hope you have started your sewing!" Juliet mothers' voice ran clear and sharp through the big house. "Yes, Mother!" Juliet called, picking up the needle, thread, and dress she was practicing on. She heard a knock on the door. Her mother entered. "Juliet, look at you! You've barely started sewing. Have you been daydreaming again?" Juliet slowly shook her head no, even though she had been daydreaming. Lady Capulet gave an exasperated sigh. "Juliet, what on earth are we going to do with you?! Come now, we must pick a dress for you for the ball. Paris will be there."
Ball? What ball? "There is a ball, Mother?" Lady Capulet nodded. "Yes, and everyone who is anyone shall be there! It is a masquerade. What shall you go as? Ooh, I know… a butterfly! That should make you look beautiful for Paris. "Maid, come here!" Lady Capulet called the maid up from the first floor, and Juliet rolled her eyes. Her mother seemed to have no understanding hat servants were people too. "We shall need yards of blue and purple silk, and a mask of butterflies, with…" Lady Capulet continued to rattle things off a list of accessories. But Juliet had other things on her mind. Will her true love be there at the ball? And would Lady Capulet accept him? Juliet hoped this ball wasn't a while off. Patience was a virtue, but one that Juliet did not possess, but all the same she would have to wait to see what destiny would bring her.