Rosaline breathed heavily as she pressed against the cold stones of the wall. The guards had taken Escalus as soon as she and Benvolio entered the palace. Isabella was giving orders, sending him off to the healers and organizing a counteract. She'd ordered Benvolio and Rosaline into a side room. "For their own safety". Rosaline shuddered, feeling the warm wetness of Esacalus' blood, covering her chest. She retched, tearing at her gown.
"Capulet." It was Benvolio's voice, but she couldn't focus.
"I can't..." She managed to get her cloak off, throwing it across the room. "I need this off. I can't...I...I...I." She was covered in the blood of one of her oldest friends. The city was on fire and he had Livia god knew where. She needed to get it off. She needed to regain control. The front of her dress ripped open, exposing her shift. the red of the blood standing out against the white of the material.
"ROSALINE." Benvolio grabbed her arms, stopping her from causing any more damage. She pushed against his hands before looking up at him. Benvolio was worried, he was also covered in blood, but alive...He was alive. She hadn't lost him.
"Benvolio." She whispered, letting herself fall forward. He held her in his arms, breathing into her hair. "You're alive." She warbled.
He nodded. "Yes, Capulet." He whispered. Her heart slowed. She shut her eyes, listening to his pulse pound beneath her ear.
"I can't wear this dress." She whispered. "I wasn't...I can't lose... anyone else."
Benvolio pulled back. He cupped her chin. "Rosaline." He whispered, pulling off his doublet. "Listen to me. Once this is over I swear to you, we will go and find Livia and make Paris pay for...for anything he might have done to her."
Rosaline knew he meant it and though there was no plan and it seemed a completely unattainable goal, she believed he'd do everything in his power to help her. She calmed slightly.
"Now." He said, standing and turning. Pulling off his outer doublet, he handed it to her. "Remove that dress and cover yourself with this. I'll go see if I can get any information."
Rosaline had half pulled her dress off before his words registered. He made his way to the door. She grabbed him. "Are you mad?" She hissed. "Not even a half hour ago you were the most hated man in Verona. Though Escalus may have pardoned you, he lies near death and someone..." Her words caught in her throat, but he seemed to understand.
"Someone might seek to take their revenge on me." He finished. She nodded.
"Stay." She swallowed. "I...I find I can bear not knowing if I have you here. I do not want to have to fear for your safety on top of everyone else I care for."
Benvolio ducked his head, wiping at his eyes. "You care for me, Capulet?" He turned, clearing his throat. She took the opportunity to remove her outer gown and pull his doublet over her shoulders. She pulled it tight around her, sitting in a chair and looked around at the room. It was lavish, one of the guest quarters for foreign noblemen.
"You're my..." She began, fulling intending to say friend, but the word wouldn't come. It somehow didn't seem adequate anymore. She shook her head. "Montague."
He looked over at her, the barest hint of a smile curling his lips. "I'm your Montague?" He sat across from her. "I'm not sure I'd like to retain that name."
Rosaline hesitated. "You mentioned...in the dungeons...something about your cursed name?"
Benvolio sighed, his shoulders slumping. Outside a loud noise sounded and horns blew, announcing the arrival of someone at the city gates. "It's not important now." He said. "My...my aunt, Tessa came to visit me in the dungeon and revealed something to me." He stopped, going no further.
Rosaline decided the best course of action would be to deflect until he was ready to address the subject directly. "I have never met your aunt."
He snorted. "Count that as a blessing, Capulet. She is quite cruel."
"She can't be worse than my aunt." Rosaline remarked. Benvolio looked at her in surprise, then a smile teased the corner of his lips.
"Quite right you are." He murmured. "It is fortuitous that they are from rival houses for Verona would not survive their friendship." A silence followed his words. Benvolio shut his eyes. "I am a fool." He murmured.
"We are all, in our own way." Rosaline played with the frayed edge of his doublet.
Benvolio snorted. "Except you, of course." He mumbled. "You're quite perfect."
Rosaline felt heat rising to her face. She was about to answer when something struck the window. In flash, Benvolio pulled her off the chair and to the far side of the room, covering her with his body. Rosaline quaked, gripping him tightly.
"Do you think the fighting will breach the inside of the palace?" She asked.
"Truthfully?" Benvolio murmured. "I'm starting to think I was safer in the dungeons." He glanced down at her. "Though you are infinitely better company than the rats."
Rosaline snorted. "At least I've lived long enough to hear you say that." She murmured. "Though I suppose it is a step up from harpy."
Benvolio grimaced. They listened the commotion around them, trying to discern who was friend or foe. They moved, sitting so their backs were against the wall. Rosaline gripped his hand, needing something to tether her from the wash of her racing thoughts.
"Do you think he will survive?" Rosaline whispered.
Benvolio didn't respond.
"If he dies..." She said. "Will you..." She didn't know how to organize how she was feeling. She knew her love for Escalus was not as fierce as it once was. She knew she was terrified of losing him, but that fear was also mixed with a raging inferno of terror at the thought of losing Benvolio. If Escalus died, who was to say that his pardon would remain? And if Paris triumphed. Then her life and Benvolio's were forfeit. "Still be safe." She murmured.
"Capulet." Benvolio's voice was raw. "I do not know what the future holds, but I swear to you. I will not allow anything to tear me from you without a fight." He waited until she faced him to add, "because I care for you." He hesitated. "That...that kiss in the dungeon was more than just the last hope of a condemned man." He squeezed her fingers. "You are truly the only person I have in this world."
Rosaline shut her eyes. A sound of clashing metal came from outside. She pressed her face Benvolio's shoulder, letting him tuck her against his side. "As you are the only person I have in mine." Without Livia, she had no one except him. She loved him. The realization made her grip his arm a little tighter. "And that kiss was more than the pity of an emotional woman. I...I find I cannot picture my life without you as a part of it."
They sat in silence, jumping at every noise.
"Poison." Benvolio murmured. Rosaline looked at him in surprise. "That was what my aunt told me. She informed me that my dear uncle poisoned my father for his title." He looked over at Rosaline. "I feel I should be furious or sad or...something, but...I feel nothing." He shrugged. "It seems rather trivial now that Paris is coming to set Verona to fire and metal and that your sister is missing. Who am I to wonder at a death that happened all those years ago."
"Do not say that." Rosaline said. The two of them had lost too much at the whims of more powerful and influential men. "When this is over, we will make sure your uncle pays for his misdeeds and you become the rightful head of house Montague."
Benvolio scoffed. "I want nothing of house Montague." He said. "And as for my uncle. All I ask is that I never see him again." He looked at her. "All I need is here."
Rosaline "Well, I'm afraid I'm rather..." She pulled at the doublet. "Attached to this garment at the moment, so if you want it returned..." She trailed off as Benvolio gave her an exasperated look. He was warm and his lips, parted slightly as he looked at her with annoyed fondness, were so inviting. She leaned closer, feeling the rough taste of his chapped lips against hers. She sighed, pulling him by his tunic so he was more firmly against her. While the world burned outside, the two of them had each other and for a moment, Rosaline knew it would be alright.