Hamlet: A Lesson in Espionage

Chapter 5

A/N- Yea, here it is. No point in doing it though, because no one seems interested in reading it. Whatever. It'll be here anyway. Enjoy.

Polonius stood off to the side in the king's private chambers and bristled. He had found the players, and had spent no more than a score minutes in their presence before a messenger had found him and informed him Claudius needed him, at once. He knew he was needed, but it still irked him that he was called so soon.

"So, you cannot tell me, from any of the times you met with him, why he acts so strangely?" Claudius looked at Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in turn, fixing them with a penetrating stare. He had called the Twins, Polonius, and Ophelia to this meeting, and was now interrogating the Twins as to what they had learned. So far it was not going well and Claudius was close to losing his temper.

"He did confess to being unsettled, my lord. But we could not fathom why," the Twin Polonius had designated Rosencrantz for this meeting said meekly, eyes downcast.

"We did not find him eager to be questioned, and when we would have maneuvered him into some kind of confession, he employed a crafty madness to sidestep our questions," Guildenstern added.

The Queen, who had decided she wanted to sit in on this one, looked troubled. "Was he so rude to you?"

"Oh no, madam! He acted very much the gentleman," Rosencrantz said.

"But he was very forceful in his disposition," Guildenstern added.

"He was hardly inclined to talk, but most willing to reply to our questions."

The queen looked even more troubled and a touch confused. "Did you invite him to any pastime or sport?"

Guildenstern perked up at that. "Madam, it has so happened that a troupe of players has found its way to Elsinore. When we enlightened him to their presence he seemed pleased. They have already been lodged here in the castle and I believe there is to be a performance in the great hall tomorrow evening."

Claudius' gaze flicked to Polonius for confirmation. "Oh, yes, my lord. Hamlet bid me see them safely stowed. And he beseeched me ask you that you hear and see the play tomorrow evening." Polonius watched his lord's face carefully. It seemed the players hadn't been their majesties idea at all. It was interesting for Oliver had said it was a member of the royal family as had contracted them, but it seemed their majesties had not, and Hamlet seemed surprised to see them. If it was not a true member of the royal family, then who was it?

"Then tell him that with all my heart I would hear him so inclined. And the prospect of a player performance does content me. Go, and sharpen his desire for such delights." Rosencrantz and Guildenstern bowed low and left. When they were out of earshot, the king turned to his wife.

"My dear, would you leave us as well. We have sent for Hamlet, and set it up that he should come upon the lovely Ophelia as if by accident in the hall. Her father and I will hide somewhere about the hall and watch the encounter closely, to determine if it is truly the withdrawal of her affection that had driven our son to distraction."

Gertrude glared at her husband but obeyed anyway. "As you wish, my lord," she said acidly as she stood. She turned to Ophelia. "My dear, I hope that it truly is your good beauties that drive my Hamlet to such wildness. And I hope that your virtues may bring him back to his normal ways. Good luck."

Ophelia curtsied. "I hope it may, my lady." With a small smile the queen left, sweeping her skirts behind her.

Polonius then stepped forward and gently grasped his daughter's shoulder. He guided her out the door and into the hall. Down the corridor a bit was an intersection of halls, and they had planned it that Hamlet must pass through the intersection to reach the king's chambers, where he had been summoned. It was there he stationed his daughter.

Sitting her on a stone bench in the intersection, he pulled out a book and gave it to her. "Here, sit here and pretend to be reading. That will give you excuse enough to be alone that Hamlet will not suspect you." They had gone over what she was to say already, so he and the king bestowed themselves in their hiding spots.

The king had had a servant scout out this intersection, and he had found two alcoves set into the wall on either side of the hall. They were now hiding places. Wall hangings had been moved from other rooms in the castle to hang in front of the alcoves. This was where Polonius and the king now waited.

No sooner had the king and Polonius settled themselves to wait than angry strides echoed through the corridor. He listened as they got louder, hoping it was Hamlet, and not someone who would question Ophelia. When the footsteps abruptly stopped he guessed it was Hamlet.

He could not resist sneaking a peek through the hanging. Folding back a flap of fabric ever so slightly, he could just make out the form of Hamlet, standing in the hall. He seemed surprised at seeing Ophelia. Looking closely, Polonius could see Hamlet's lips moving, but no sound reached his ears. The boy was speaking to himself again, and he wasn't hearing it.

Hamlet seemed to have made up his mind about something, for he started forward again. Ophelia, who had actually been reading, looked up and greeted him.

"Good afternoon, my lord. How do you do?" she asked coolly. She closed her book and set it on the bench.

"Very well, thank you," he replied just as coolly.

Standing up, she searched through the pockets of her apron. Finding whatever it was she needed, she brought it out and held out her hand to Hamlet. "My lord. I have a few remembrances of yours I wish to give back. I need them not." She looked him squarely in the eye as she said it. Hamlet looked startled at her demand. He took a half step back and pushed her hand away.

"Not I, my lady. I have never given you anything," he looked away as he said it.

Ophelia didn't look away, flinch, or show any sign of hurt. Polonius was proud of her, and at the same time very glad that women were forbidden to act, for he secretly thought she missed her calling as a player.

"But my lord," she continued calmly. "You know you did. And with your sweet words you made them all the more valued. But they have lost their luster. Here take them again, for rich gifts wax poor when the giver proves unkind." She took his hand and placed a few trinkets in them.

Hamlet looked shocked, he had not truly expected her to give back his gifts. His demeanor changed in an instant. His face turned hard and cold. "I did love you once," he whispered, not looking at her.

Ophelia raised her head proudly. "Yes, my lord, you did make me believe so." Hamlet's head snapped around to look her in the face. His face flushed red with the rising tide of anger. "You should not have believed me," he snarled. "For virtue may be grafted onto sinful human nature, but the sinfulness of it will remain and the fruit tainted. I loved you not."

Only not did Ophelia look hurt, but she kept her head held high. "Then I was the more deceived for it." She could not keep the hurt from her voice, if only a little.

Realizing he was still peeking, Polonius slowly let the flap fallback into place. With the way emotions were heating up, it would be best if Hamlet did not know he was being spied on.

As if he had heard his thoughts, Hamlet suddenly asked, "Where's your father?" The tone of his voice suggested that he knew he was around here somewhere, rather than he was asking out of interest. Polonius held very still and kept his breathing to a minimum, fearing that any sudden movement or breath would betray his position.

"My father?" Ophelia asked, sounding confused. Polonius' heart surged, he was so proud of her. "He is at home."

"Good," Hamlet spat. "Let him stay there and play the fool in his own house and bother not the rest of us."

Polonius heard Ophelia's sharp intake of breath, then, "O help him, you sweet heavens." She no more than whispered it, but Hamlet heard and he rounded on her once more. "If you marry, I'll give you this for a dowry: be as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, and you shall not escape any calumny. If you need marry, marry a fool, for wise men know what monsters you make of them. Now go and find yourself a nunnery." He paused for breath and started anew.

"I understand it not, why you must twist and contort what features God has granted you. Are you so ungrateful, or are you disgusted with yourself? I am sick of talk of marriage and I'll have no more of it. Of all the married couples, all but one shall live, and the rest continue on as is. Now, I'm at quits. Get to a nunnery, go!" He was fairly yelling at the end of his tirade. And with one last disgusted grunt, he turned on his heel and stalked back the way he had come.

When the last of his echoed steps had died, Polonius and Claudius emerged from behind the tapestries. Ophelia was staring down the hallway after the prince, eyes lost and confused.

"Love?" Claudius asked skeptically. "It did not sound as if he loved her at all. But more that he hated her. And the way he speaks, it does not come off the way a mad person does. But there is something that sits over his soul, tormenting him." He broke off, thinking. "I will send him to England, to collect our neglected tribute. Perhaps a spell away from here will do him good. What do you think, Polonius?"

Send Hamlet away from here? Polonius could think of no better way to solve his problem. With Hamlet not around there would not be any more disturbances and no more court intrigue. With Hamlet away in England, things could continue on as normal, and King Claudius need never know his brother's spirit wandered about Elsinore.

"My lord, I think it would do nicely. I still do believe the cause of his behavior springs from love of my daughter, but perhaps a time away from her would mend the wounds caused by her withdrawal. By all means send him to England, but first let's see if my daughter cannot tender anything more from him."

Claudius nodded. "It shall be so."

A/N- there, act three starts. Don't know why I'm asking, but, please review! It would mean ever so much to me. Thanks!!