Chapter 10: Rose's Love

'What do you think of Laertes?' asked Rose suddenly, when we were alone in my chamber. I looked up and eyed her suspiciously.

'Why are you asking me that? You're the one with feelings for him,' I retorted, annoyed all at once with my cousin, for blushing and looking away from me. She was reading some small pieces of parchment in her hands, which I could see had scrawling handwriting on them. I arose from my chair, moving swiftly towards her.

'What are those?' I asked, reaching out, but she hid them behind her back.

'Nothing,' she replied hurriedly.

I raised an eyebrow. 'Aye, so why are you being so secretive? Surely if it was nothing there would be nothing there. And if thou speakest true, cousin, you are wrong, for there is plainly something in your clutches.'

Rose sighed. 'Alright, I will tell you, if you promise not to tell anyone else.'

I promised.

'They're love letters,' she smiled at me.

My face lit up in a grin. 'From whom?' I asked eagerly, wondering who on earth it was.

'Laertes, of course.'

I felt my mouth drop open. Rose looked furious. 'I thought you'd be pleased,' she said, looking hurt.

'I-I am… I just didn't notice.'

'Well you've been too busy staring at Horatio to notice anything else that's been going on round here.'

I couldn't think of a retort to that, so I just gawked at her.

'Well, I hope it goes well,' I said at last.

'Yes, it will,' Rose snapped. 'I'm going to see if I can find him.' And with that, she left the room, while I collapsed onto the bed in complete shock. Well, that was a bit of an exaggeration. But I'm still confused …

After I told Horatio about this, he did something I least expected him to do. He started to laugh.

'What?!' I demanded. Horatio took a deep breath, controlling himself.

'Laertes loves Rose. Rose loves Laertes. It's fine.'

'But they're total opposites.'

'Aren't opposites supposed to attract?' he asked slyly.

'Well, if that's the case, we wouldn't be friends.'

He eyed me, looking puzzled. 'Are you and I that similar?'

'Well, we like the same things… don't we?' I said, choosing my words carefully.

'Like what we talk about, we feel the same way about literature, and history…' I trailed off. Hamlet had arrived on the battlements, where we were now, and was taking in the situation.

'Am I interrupting something?' Hamlet asked with a knowing smile.

I blushed and shook my head.

'I'm just going to the latrine,' Horatio informed us, then hurried away. Once he was out of sight, Hamlet chuckled and sat down next to me.

'He's taken a fancy to you, you know.'

I looked at him.

'He has?'

Hamlet shrugged. 'Well any young man of his age and position would find you suitable marriage material. Young, virtuous, thoughtful, obedient… fair – '

I snorted. 'Yea, I am fair. And what about Ophelia? She's more – ' but I stopped, for I realised Ophelia had gone. I saw the sadness in Hamlet's eyes at once.

'I'm sorry. It's hard for me to believe she's gone. It feels like she's gone away for a while on a holiday and will be back soon.' I tried to swallow the growing lump forming in my throat. 'But she won't,' I gulped, feeling the tears flow from my eyes.

'But,' I said, wiping my face, 'I don't want to spend my life living under a man's rule and having to obey him and produce his heirs. I want someone who lets me make my own choices and lets me be myself. He has to know me well and respect what I want.'

'Well, Horatio is definitely your future husband then,' Hamlet concluded. 'So what were you talking about before I came?' he continued.

'About how Rose is enamoured of Laertes, and he seems to reciprocate her feelings,' I replied.

'Laertes has challenged me to a duel, a friendly duel of course, and I am compelled to accept the offer.'

I thought for a moment. 'Isn't it slightly suspicious that Ophelia's brother wants a 'friendly' duel with you? Who told you of it?'

'Osric.'

'Oh, that fop.'

'I agree. But you and Horatio reacted in exactly the same way. Shows how alike you are, doesn't it?' Despite myself, I couldn't hide my smile.

'When will the duel happen?'

'In about an hour.'

'I'll come and watch,' I promised. 'See you then,' I said, heading for the exit.

'Julia!' Hamlet called after me. I turned round to look at him.

'I'll talk to Horatio about what you wanted.'

A grin spread over my face, and I left happier than I had been these past few days.