ACT I

Scene five

Professor Summerlee and Marguerite enter, walking together meeting guests and maskers.

"Welcome, gentlemen!!" Called Summerlee into his great hall, everyone turns their attention to their host.

"A-hem," said Marguerite softly nudging him.

He looked at her questioning for a moment, "Ah yes how rude of me! And welcome dear Ladies of Zanga! I bid you welcome!- Now gentlemen, ladies that have their toes unplagued with corns will have a dance with you. Ah ha, my fair maidens! Which of you all
will now deny dancing?-Haha she that makes dainty, she, I'll swear, has corns; am I come near ye now?" he said stepping toward a group of young ladies who giggled embarrassed and excited coving their blushing faces with their fans.

"Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day when I have worn a mask and could tell a whispering tale in a fair lady's ear, such as would please, Alas 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone:  but you are welcome to, gentlemen! Come, musicians, play. A hall, a hall! Give room! and foot it, girls!!" he laughed merrily spinning his daughter about once.

The Music plays, and they dance . . .

"More light, you knaves; and turn the tables up, quench the fire, the room is grown too hot. Go page young page and make yourself of use," Summerlee says regarding the boy whom he had given the list of guests too much earlier, "Find a young maiden and offer to get her a glass," he laughed at the colors the boy's ears so suddenly turned, nevertheless he ran off.

"This unlooked-for sport comes well.  No, sit, no, sit, good cousin Summerlee," he said regarding an older relation leaving his daughter to fend for herself amongst the guests. "For you and I are past our dancing days: How long is it now since last yourself and I were in a mask such as this?"

"By the death of your beloved wife, twenty or so years," the man replied gruffly but pleasantly.

Roxton enters by the wall as Summerlee and the elder relation speak about fond memories of younger days.

"What lady is that, who does enrich the hand of yonder knight?" he asked the young page who was filling more drinks than he could ever carry, at the table beside the wall.

The boy looked over to where Roxton had motion. It was the mistress of the house, Summerlee's daughter beautiful Marguerite, dancing civilly with the county Fantain.

The boy smiled to himself looking back at the man's stunned gaze never leaving the woman. 'He does not recognize me," thought the boy playfully, knowing that this was the one of the men he had run into on the path that morn.

"I know not, sir," he responded simply looking up at him with his eyes to see his retain as he again withheld his knowledge. He returned to his task of pouring wine for a group of lovely young ladies in the south corner; waiting for the man to do something-anything! But he stood there for a while, still as stone, making not a sound.

'Well that didn't go as I planned' the boy thought shrugging placing the cups on a large tray. 'This gentleman must really be simple,' he rolled his eyes picking up the tray attempting to balance all of the cups as he walked along. He walked very slowly and stiffly; he tripped and almost dropping the tray, he reared off to the left, into a hall attempting to keep the cups from spilling. He disappears from sight, moments later a great crash is heard.

"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in a queen's ear; beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, as yonder lady over her fellows women shows. The dance done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rough hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I never saw true beauty till this night." He stated passionately, all thoughts of Rosaline standing across the hall from him forgotten. He walks off towards the object of his affections entranced by her graceful movements; her curled raven tresses swaying with her as she danced.

Deanna who had been leaning against a large pillar a few meters behind love stricken Roxton hears his words, her eyes narrowing.  Her mask resting on the top of her head, we are able to see her whole face, now the 'mask' she wears is one of hatred, her eyes afire with rage.

"This by his voice, should be a Challenger!!" she cried outraged, throwing her glass to the ground it smashing into hundred of pieces, wine spilling and splashing out over the broken glass onto the stone floor.

She looks around and her eyes widen in anger as she spots Robert entertaining a group of young maidens across the way, he laughs as he juggled three, four, five glasses at once, the ladies encouraging and praising him all the while.

She scowled a growl coming from deep within her throat, 'it all made sense!!'

The page emerges from the left corridor, his clothes soaked with purple wine; his whole essence seems now to smell of the fine liquor.

 Sensing his presence she calls to him, "Fetch me my blade, boy.- What! Dares the slave come hither, covered with an antic face, to fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honor of my kin, to strike him dead, I hold it not a sin!" she raged her voice dripping with venom and hatred.

Then she sniffs the air the heavy scent of liquor coming to her senses, she turned abruptly to the boy, giving him a strange confused face upon seeing him drenched in wine. Her mouth opens slightly as if to ask 'what in the world!' but she cannot find the words in her state of exasperation.

He just shrugs back at her annoyed face, 'bad day' written all over his features.

She shakes her head about to comment, as he stared at her unintelligently, she growled,

 "GO! GET MY RAPIER BOY!" she shouted at him unable to control her frustration. His eyes grow wide and he bolts back off down the corridor from which he came.

A squeaking sound it heard, a shout and then a thud. "Oh nuts!" the boy shouts from the place where he lays unseen on the hall floor, from having slipped on the same wine 'he' had spilled there just moments before.

Deanna shakes her head slightly brow furrowed in disbelief the rest of her body tense with frustration.

"Why, how now, dear heart! Wherefore storm you so?" said Summerlee coming up behind her cheer spread over all his features, he places his arm around her tense shoulders.

She looked at him a second then regained her composure-"Uncle, this is a Challenger, our foe, a villain that is hither come in spite, to scorn at our solemnity this night." She said motioning to where Roxton was crossing the hall.

Summerlee ponders it a moment running his hand over his white beard. "Young Roxton is it?" he asks passively

Deanna breaks away from him looking at him with a 'like it matters!' face.

"'Tis he! That villain Roxton," she said nodding once dramatically.

 "Be content, my dear, let him alone; he bears him like a well-mannered gentleman; and, to say truth, Zanga brags of him to be a virtuous and well-governed youth: I would not for the wealth of all the town here in my house do him disparagement:  Therefore be patient, take no note of him:
It is my will, the which if you respect, show a fair presence and put off these frowns, an ill-beseeming air for a feast." He smiled brushing the hair from her face.

The page runs carefully back from the hall carrying the sword, a large bump forming on his head.

"It fits when such a villain is a guest." She spat taking the sword, "I'll not endure him-"

"He shall be endured!!" Summerlee said harshly grabbing her arm taking the sword from her grip, "Take this back there is no need of it here!" he said thrusting it back at the page. Who fearful and confused takes it and backs up a few paces, then with furious motion of his master's hand runs off down the hall with the sword.

Remembering the whine he spins around backwards avoiding it, "Haha," he laughs in victory before backing quickly into another servant who had been carrying several heavy pans, plates and platters that went flying into the air as the two people fell with a crash, The other servant's foot caught the sword stabbing it on the way to the ground causing him to shout out in pain, the kitchenware falling mercilessly on top of them echoing loudly throughout the hall.

Summerlee and Deanna both have the same irritated confused look on their faces, unable to see anything as they stare down the dark hallway.

Summerlee shook his head bring his attention back to the matter at hand his temper flaring again just as Deanna's does, something they apparently have in common.

"What, goodwoman girl! I say, he shall be endured: Stop this! Am I the master here, or you? Go on. You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul! You'll make a mutiny among my guests! You will start trouble! You'll be the woman!" he warns, scolding her at the same time waving a finger at her strictly.

"Why, uncle, 'tis shame." She snaps looking back across the floor at the enemy she spoke of and then at Robert again, fire of hatred in her eyes.

"Go to, go to! You are a saucy girl: isn't it so, indeed? This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what: You must contrary me! Marry, 'tis time. Well said, my hearts! You are a rude young one!! Go! Be quiet, or--More light, more light! For shame! I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly, my hearts!" he raged on her, Deanna staring her eyes wide and her mouth open in shock, her tongue lost.

He glares at her once and takes off down the left corridor hearing more shouting coming from within it.

She stood solemnly; stiff, and sharp, her lips pursed and her eyes narrow anger, grief and pain swimming within them.

"Patience perforce with willful anger meeting makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall!" she vowed stamping her foot once growling in frustration. She pulled her mask down over her eyes stomping off onto the floor crossing the crowded hall.

Robert looked over his brow furrowed, watching the figure of a woman quickly cut through the cluster of people. He knew that figure, that walk, that everything, even with the mask he could picture the face perfectly. He thought a moment deciding whether or not to trudge after the clearly angered woman. But he thought better of it, anger burning in edges of his soul. He then spotted Roxton and the lady's sharp glance toward him, as she quickened her pace and headed out of the hall, grabbing something off a table on her way out.

'So that is what has you so infuriated my dear,' he thought cruelly with a pleased grin 'good show Roxton,' he said raising his glass in the direction of his friend, 'Good show.' He chuckled to himself turning back taking a sip from his glass.

------

Roxton hesitantly approaches the woman, watching her as she stood contently by the window twirling a single red rose in her fair hand.

"If I disrespect with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, this is the sin of a gentleman: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." Roxton said to her gently, slowly coming up behind her.

She didn't move, but looked back with her eyes delicately fingering the petals of the rose in her hand. She smiled slightly looking again to the rose as he came to stand next to her.

"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this; for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss." She said sweetly extending her open hand looking up into his eyes as he pushed his mask to the top of his head, exposing his face.

He moves his hand touching hers palm-to-palm, looking into her beautiful face, her pale blue-gray eyes holding his in a tender stare.

"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" he asked softly, grinning pleasantly keeping her gaze.

"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer." She said smirking to herself at the slight fall of his confident smile.

But he quickly recovered himself,

"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; they pray, grant you, lest faith turn to despair."

"Saints do not make the first move, though grant for prayers' sake." She grinned becoming quite fond of the handsome man and his clever wit.

"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged." He smiled slowly moving his lips to hers, kissing her tenderly.

"Then have my lips the sin that they have took." She whispered slyly as the kiss was broken.

"Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again." He chuckled moving his head kissing her again.

"You kiss by the book," she smiled self-consciously as she blushed slightly looking deep into his warm green eyes.

"Madam," Veronica called walking over.

Their loving gaze broke and Roxton pushed his mask back down over his face.

"Madam, your father craves a word with you," Veronica informed the woman.

With a glance back at Roxton the pale-eyed beauty walked off into the crowded hall.

"Who is her father?" Roxton asked fervently.

Veronica glanced at the clearly smitten young masker, "Marry, bachelor, Her father is the master of the house, And a good man and wise and virtuous he is. I grew to my age with his daughter, that you spoke with; I tell you, he that can lay hold of her shall have the wealth." She replied proudly and with a small bow walked off to attend to her duties.

Roxton stood horrified unable to move, "Is she a Summerlee? O dear account! My foe now owns my life."

Malone came up behind him, unaware of what crisis has recently arisen for his friend.

"Away, be gone; the sport is at the best." He says slapping his Roxton on the back, who still stands in shock.

"Yes, so I fear; the more is my unrest." Roxton groans putting his holding his head in his hand it shaking with anxiety.

"Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone;" came Summerlee's happy voice from behind them.

Roxton spun around in alarm standing face to face with his enemy and the father of the captor of his heart. He feared if it weren't for his visor he would be found out and then surely be killed. He prayed he not do something to give himself away.

 "We have a trifling foolish banquet in preparation. Is it even so? Why, then, I thank you all I thank you, honest gentlemen; good night. More torches here! Come on then, let's to bed. I will go to rest." He said shaking Malone's hand and cheerfully walking off down a dark hall.

Malone turned to Roxton raising his mask, wiping the sweat from his now pale face some of it's color slowly beginning to return, he breathed a heavy sigh of relief panting slightly. he gives Roxton a 'thank god' look and then laughs putting a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"We are safe, but had better make ourselves scare while we still have the ability to do so." He chuckled nervously replacing his mask over his face and patting Roxton on the shoulder walking off toward the exit.

-------

Marguerite stopped on her ascent up the stairs.

"Veronica, come here, What! Veronica!." She called to her friend who upon hearing Marguerite's cry came and stood under her place on the stairs.

" What is yond gentleman?"  Marguerite asked pointing

Veronica looked,  "The son and heir of old Tiberio."

Marguerite nodded and pointed again "What's he that now is going out of the door?"

Veronica looked at her puzzled but turned again, " That, I think, be young Petrucio." She answered not turning back to her but continuing to look out into the hall.

Marguerite smiled "What's he that follows there, that would not dance?" she asked almost whimsically leaning on the stair railing.

Veronica's brow furrowed confused she looked up at her once and then back to the man, "I know not," she said shaking her head, "Why do you wish to know?" she asked thinking this questioning uncharacteristic for her friend.

"It matters not!" she snapped back defensively.

Veronica put her hands up in surrender, chucking slightly at the mistress's jumpiness.

 "Go ask his name: if he be married. My grave is like to be my wedding bed." Marguerite sighed eagerly, her eyes not leaving the man.

Veronica nodded, seeing the strange air about her friend, the same, as had been the man's when he had asked her the name of her mistress. She chuckled shaking her head walking across the hall. 

Deanna stopped her as she went, "Where do you go so quickly dear friend?" she asked taking a gulp from her wine glass.

Veronica looked at her before answering, she was leaning against the wall almost in the shadows a bottle at her feet and the wine cup gripped tightly in her hand. Her face was set her eyes narrowed unkindly looking at something across the hall.

"I go to find the name of yonder masker," she said motioning to the man Marguerite had pointed out to her.

Deanna looked at her startled a minute, then glanced behind her at Marguerite waiting anxiously on the stairs. Then looked back at Veronica who stared at her concerned.

"Deanna?"

Deanna swigged down the last of the liquor in her glass standing up from the wall.

"He is a Challenger, the villain's name is Roxton," she spat, throwing her empty glass angrily to a servant passing through the hall.

Veronica stared shocked and looked back at the man as Deanna stormed out a side door kicking it open, the long cut pleats of her coat blowing behind her as she walked off across the dark yard toward the tree house.

"Oh dear," said Veronica gravely biting the fingernail of her thumb a moment in thought. She turned and hastened off back to Marguerite.

"Well!" she said impatiently while Veronica quickly climbed the stairs toward her.

Veronica looked past her and then met her anxious eyes, "His name is Romeo, and a Challenger; the only son of your great enemy." She said gravely watching all of the color drain from Marguerite's face. She walked up the stairs past her watching for someone who may be listening.

"My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy. " Marguerite gasped not moving from her place on the stairs her hand moving to her bosom in distress, looking back at Roxton as he exited the hall.

Veronica looked back down at her worried "What's this? What's this?!" she asked quickly coming back down the stairs toward her.

"A rhyme I learned even now of one I danced with." She answered in a daze, unmoving, clasping the banister firmly.

"Marguerite!" comes Summerlee's call from upstairs.

"  Anon, anon! At once!" Veronica answered back, " Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone," she said taking Marguerite's arm bringing her from her trance, leading her up the stairs.

Marguerite and Veronica disappear up the steps as the room fades into darkness, with the exception of a beam of moonlight in the center of the room.

End of Scene V

Well, well, well what have we here?

A bit of lover's conflict I fear.

Separated by the walls of hate and shame,

Will these two star-crossed lovers let their hearts go lame?

The actions of one may serve for tonight,

But it's not till ACT II that we'll see who fights for what's right . . .

Author's Post ACT I Notes:  WOW . . . .ACT I completed!!

*Happy dance*

*Muse appears*

"Don't do that you'll scare them away," Garlend says

Since when they like this,

"Right,"

You're just mad 'cause you're not doing the happy dance,

"Am not!"

Are too!

"Am-" *Muse is suddenly interrupted by Evil snapping her fingers causing her body to suddenly uncontrollably join in the happy dance*

"Hey!! Hey wait! I-weee!!!" *Goes spinning across the room*

*Evil laughs sitting back down at the computer*

Well while Garlend enjoys herself . . .I think I'll continue with my author's notes . .what do you think? That was enough happy dance for one day? . .yeah me too . .

"WAAHOO!! * Garlend comes spinning across the room *

Anyway back to focus . .

To be completely honest though the hardest part of this was writing those sad little rhymes at the end of each scene. I mean how many things rhyme with five . .not very many . .I mean I sitting here going . . .five . .chive . .dive . .live . . LOL

But really . .

How do you like it so far? Are we pleased?

 I would really love some input. . .

Questions?

Comments?

Criticisms. . *gulp*

I truly enjoy hearing what you think!!

So please!! Review, Review Review!!!

I think I'm going to post the rest of this by ACT like I did with the first because doing it by scene would be more than just a little tedious I think . .like a fic with very short uninformative chapters . .. AH!! CAN'T STAND IT!! LOL

I hope you are enjoying this because I'm really having a grand ol'time writing it . . and it's just for YOU!!

So just wait till you see what Evil's planned next . . !!!

But you know what I'm going to say now right?

Those famous little words of mine that tell you just how to get what you want from me . . .

Remember, Reviews are Motivating . . . . and you want me to be motivated right?