Romeo and Juliet: Alternate Ending
I, Romeo Montague, of the house of Montagues, sat there in pain. Because of that very name. I was by Juliet's side, grasping her hand as if in a tug-of-war between myself and the heavens, and the heavens seemed to be winning. I couldn't just let go that easy. My other hand was shaking and quivering violently. The vile hand that held Apothecary's nectar that would robe me of my pitiful life. But what would ending my love laden and love scarred life do? Did I perhaps hope to catch Juliet on the border of Death? Nay. I could not do this conspicable act and shame her spirit in this way. One day we will be together again. Until then, I shall not love again.
With a tender kiss and a deep sigh, I rose from her side. My time was limited in Verona. Besides my banishment, I just slaughtered Paris, kinsman to the Prince. Looking around like game I ran, my mate already shot down by the arrows of Fate. I stopped as suddenly as I started for I saw them. Outside the charnel-house, many of them, on top of the hill, silhouetted in the setting sun. The Prince and his men. Cradling his dead kin, he boomed, "I bid thee halt, young Romeo!" I stood there and contemplated my choices. Death was laid out before me. It caught up to me even though the Prince's mercy allowed me to outrun it. If I stayed, I'd be put to death. If I ran I would be cut down. My best choice was running.
I whirled around and halted in shock. What beheld my eyes could not be real. "Juliet! You live," I whispered. I knew not if she was a specter, come to haunt me and torture me for bringing this about with my hot anger. She was holding her hands out. I don't think that she saw the soldiers until they came up to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. Two of them came down and a dozen of them stayed up at the hill with the Prince. "No! I must embrace...my Juliet."
Before they could grab my arms I grabbed my long sword with my right hand. My long sword, branded with the insignia of Montagues and with a golden shining hilt. Lately I used it more than ever. But nothing would hold me back. I slashed it across and twirled, getting the man on the right of me across the face, puncturing one eye. I did not look for long; the sight sickened me. I stepped back and lunged, impaling the next man through the chest. And I ran.
I saw Juliet, eyes wide and tearful. And I understood what I had just done. The first arrow hit instantly. The head pierced my left shoulderblade but I ran on. The next one hit me just below the neck. And the next one where my chest would be had I been facing it. And one on my arm. Soon I was home to a dozen arrows, their heads biting, shafts twisting and digging and ripping. Bone and sinew were torn apart. My vision was getting hazy. Suddenly, a spear came flying in. It went in through my back and came out of my chest. I fell to my knees, not able to stay upright. My vision was blurring in and out of focus now. I could hear nothing. My head was light from loss of blood. I saw Juliet, running for me, weeping. Her gown was flying behind her as she ran.
Then she was not running. Her hands were wrapped around him, locking him in a deep embrace. But she was too close. She...she had impaled herself on the spear. We were both skewered. I knew no...
And they died. Together.
I, Romeo Montague, of the house of Montagues, sat there in pain. Because of that very name. I was by Juliet's side, grasping her hand as if in a tug-of-war between myself and the heavens, and the heavens seemed to be winning. I couldn't just let go that easy. My other hand was shaking and quivering violently. The vile hand that held Apothecary's nectar that would robe me of my pitiful life. But what would ending my love laden and love scarred life do? Did I perhaps hope to catch Juliet on the border of Death? Nay. I could not do this conspicable act and shame her spirit in this way. One day we will be together again. Until then, I shall not love again.
With a tender kiss and a deep sigh, I rose from her side. My time was limited in Verona. Besides my banishment, I just slaughtered Paris, kinsman to the Prince. Looking around like game I ran, my mate already shot down by the arrows of Fate. I stopped as suddenly as I started for I saw them. Outside the charnel-house, many of them, on top of the hill, silhouetted in the setting sun. The Prince and his men. Cradling his dead kin, he boomed, "I bid thee halt, young Romeo!" I stood there and contemplated my choices. Death was laid out before me. It caught up to me even though the Prince's mercy allowed me to outrun it. If I stayed, I'd be put to death. If I ran I would be cut down. My best choice was running.
I whirled around and halted in shock. What beheld my eyes could not be real. "Juliet! You live," I whispered. I knew not if she was a specter, come to haunt me and torture me for bringing this about with my hot anger. She was holding her hands out. I don't think that she saw the soldiers until they came up to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. Two of them came down and a dozen of them stayed up at the hill with the Prince. "No! I must embrace...my Juliet."
Before they could grab my arms I grabbed my long sword with my right hand. My long sword, branded with the insignia of Montagues and with a golden shining hilt. Lately I used it more than ever. But nothing would hold me back. I slashed it across and twirled, getting the man on the right of me across the face, puncturing one eye. I did not look for long; the sight sickened me. I stepped back and lunged, impaling the next man through the chest. And I ran.
I saw Juliet, eyes wide and tearful. And I understood what I had just done. The first arrow hit instantly. The head pierced my left shoulderblade but I ran on. The next one hit me just below the neck. And the next one where my chest would be had I been facing it. And one on my arm. Soon I was home to a dozen arrows, their heads biting, shafts twisting and digging and ripping. Bone and sinew were torn apart. My vision was getting hazy. Suddenly, a spear came flying in. It went in through my back and came out of my chest. I fell to my knees, not able to stay upright. My vision was blurring in and out of focus now. I could hear nothing. My head was light from loss of blood. I saw Juliet, running for me, weeping. Her gown was flying behind her as she ran.
Then she was not running. Her hands were wrapped around him, locking him in a deep embrace. But she was too close. She...she had impaled herself on the spear. We were both skewered. I knew no...
And they died. Together.