Beta courtesy of lj user julius12. Enjoy! I can honestly say I've never written anything this depressing.
Happy Ending
"I am not mad." Hamlet said. Horatio looked at him. They were sitting on Hamlet's bed.
"I know." Horatio said.
"The King, he thinks I am mad. They all do."
"I know thou art not."
"Thou dost not believe me." Hamlet turned away.
"Never believe it," Horatio said. "Thou art not mad."
"Nay. Maybe I am."
"Hamlet," Horatio put a hand on Hamlet's shoulder, "I know thee. Thou art not mad."
"Dost thou believe it? Or dost thou simply say it to appease me?" Hamlet turned back towards Horatio.
"Thou art not mad, I wouldst know."
Hamlet smiled slightly at Horatio, then collapsed into him, weeping and shaking.
"I hate this cursed castle," he whispered into Horatio's shoulder. "I hate Denmark. I wish we were back in Wittenberg and my father alive."
"As do I, sweet prince." Horatio shifted, sitting up, wrapping his arms around Hamlet. "This castle with its treachery, 'tis not healthy for thee, my lord."
"Elsinore is a prison." Hamlet said.
"Then we shall escape it." Horatio said.
Hamlet looked up at Horatio. "In faith?"
"Aye. Let us run away. We can leave now." Horatio smiled.
"But where would we go?"
"Wherever we wish to. France, as Laertes did, or mayhap England, or Spain."
"Italy, perchance?"
"Aye, my lord. We shall find a boat and leave, go where the tides take us."
"Thou art brilliant, Horatio." Hamlet reached a hand up to Horatio's cheek, "we shall leave tonight. At the stroke of midnight."
"Sweet Hamlet, by this time tomorrow, we will be free." Horatio tilted his head downward and kissed Hamlet. "Dry thy tears, my lord," he said when the kiss had finished. "Shall we call off thy duel with Laertes?"
Hamlet smiled and stood up, wiping his face with a hand. "Nay, 'twould not do to raise suspicion. This duel, and then we leave."
Horatio stood up as well. "Aye, my lord. To the future."
They kissed again, holding each other tightly. After the duel, they could lose all formality and titles. After the duel, they would be Hamlet and Horatio, not the prince and his friend. After the duel, they would live happily ever after.
