What Happened?

(A/N- I not own Shakespeare. I don't even know if that's possible. But the words are of mine own creation, and were gifted unto me by my Muse.)

I actually don't like insulting people. It's right up there in my list of things I don't like to do the most. I only do it because it's what people (Like Iago) tell me to do, and I am not rebellious. Butwhen Iago asked me to incite Cassio into a drunken brawl, I was a bit apprehensive. Even though I agreed to help I had no desire to quarrel with Cassio. It's true I hated the man for getting Iago's position and cheating with Desdemona and Emilia, but there must have been a better way to get revenge.

I also knew that he kept a small dagger in his boot, and I had no desire to feel that blade on my skin. I almost voiced my opinion to Iago before, but he had such a steely hating unmerciful look in his eye that closed my mouth. It was a choice between Cassio and Iago, and Iago was my longtime friend and compatriot. We had gone to school together, and I sat in the desk that was in front of his. We whispered to each other behind the teachers back.

Iago had supported me whenever I had been denied company with Desdemona, and he had occasionally slept in my house when he and Emilia had a falling out. Why would I risk that friendship for a man I barely knew and hated? So I hid behind a tapestry and waited in the hallway for him to come pass by. He was drunk, you could easily tell by his staggering stumble and his slurred voice. I walked out from my hiding place and said to him words I regret to this day,

"Cassio, fiend from the mouth of Hell thinks he can do whatever he pleases." He just stared at me for a few seconds, his mouth agape. Drawing a breath of courage, I plodded on.

"Thou have thieves and knaves for lineage, and thou art also a wretch whose natural gifts are poor. Weasels and rogues surround thee, Demon, and you are their lover and friend."

"How dare you!" He snarled at me, rage filling his once blearily drunk eyes. My heart started to pound in my chest, but I continued to insult him.

"Thou had a pot-ridden wench for a mother and an ass for a father." At that he roared at me and charged, his fists clenched. Thinking quickly, I dodged his first attack and ran back to the revelry, hoping to find Iago and Montano. It went against everything I was taught as a gentlemen, never had I run away from a fight before then. But I could hear his pounding footsteps behind me, I could hear him angrily cursing me, my family, my future wife, and even my descendants.

Then, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. Bursting into the mess hall, I ran towards Iago and Montano, who looked at me in bewilderment. I stopped and tried to speak, but my breath ran short. I don't think I had ever run that fast before. Then I heard Cassio making it to the door. He yelled,

"Zounds, you rogue, you rascal!" And he struck me a blow, squarely hitting my chin. Iago had said that Cassio was more of a scholar than a warrior, but this punch hurt like nothing I had ever felt before. I staggered back and felt Iago catch me as I fell. I looked up at him and murmured,

"Mission accomplished?" And he smiled at me with that wry, one-sided smile of his and replied,

"Most excellently."

(A/N- Did I mention that I love reviews?)