Jumping down from the tree, he walked back along the wall. The sun was hitting the Town Square and the scene had changed greatly from the night. Servants and Noblemen alike were turning up the dust as they passed through. Colorful fruits and salted meats were already on display. Benvolio rubbed his eyes, and put his fingers through his hair, he straightened his vest and collar, rolled his sleeves up, and headed into the crowded square. A red apple caught his eye and he made his way to the cart.
"Good morning Benvolio," the Merchant said.
"Good Morning Sam. Just one please," Benvolio said, he paid Sam and turned towards the smell of fresh baked bread.
He followed his nose to a cart filled with steaming loaves.
"I've got a sweet bun drizzled with honey and nuts just for you Benvolio," the Baker told him.
"I'll take it," Benvolio said as he held his apple in his mouth to pay the man.
With his breakfast in hand, Benvolio took a spot on the edge of a nearby fountain wall. Watching the people go about their day, he ate his apple and tried to enjoy his sweet bread. He had made a promise to find Romeo before he could go hide in his room, and make him spend the day in the sun. But at that moment he could not stop thinking about Rosaline.
A flash of silver and the sound of clashing steal brought his mind back to the town square. He looked up, and through the crowd he could see two men dressed in red and gold, his Uncle's servingmen, and they had their swords drawn on men in blue and green, Capulets. Benvolio tossed his apple core and sweet bread, and reached for his sword. Making his way through the crowed to the men, he jumped into the fight with a swift blow bringing down their swords.
"Enough," Benvolio yelled. "You idiots, put your swords down. Do you have any idea what these fights between us mean? Or the amount of trouble they cause?" Benvolio took their silence to mean they had settled, he stepped back to put his sword away, but behind him came a familiar voice full of scratch and wine.
"Benvolio," Tybolt said. "Your sword is drawn among my men." Tybolt circled Benvolio like he was prey, while Benvolio stood silent. "Are you threatening my servants? What a weak move, Benvolio. And why am I surprised? This is an obvious move from a Montague. I don't suppose you're man enough to fight me?" Standing in front of Benvolio, Tybolt slowly pulled his sword from his sheath and examined the slick blade. The black leather sheath jetted down along his tight pant leg and the silver and shiny jewels matched those on his boots. His dark hair was slick against his head with grease, but not one hair was out o place. His lips snarled into a wicked smile at the sight of Benvolio. "You understand the difference between a fair fight of two trained Noblemen, as opposed to attacking my ignorant servants? Oh you're probably just afraid I will kill you?" Tybolt's laugh ripped like a wild cat's scream and a low purr came from his gut as he fixed his yellow eyes on Benvolio.
"Tybolt, I drew my sword to keep the peace between these men, that's all," Benvolio said, his sword down by his side. "Please, only raise you sword beside me if it is to help me stop our men from fighting."
"You can't truly believe that drawing your sword can bring peace among men?" Tybolt stepped towards Benvolio. "Because if you believe that it is the Montagues who are acting in peace, then it is peace that I hate as much as I hate hell. Because I hate all Montagues, Benvolio. I hate you."
Tybolt lunged towards Benvolio with his sword. Benvolio blocked his blow reactively with his sword, falling to his knee, and with all his might Benvolio kept Tybolt's sword above his head. Tybolt swung his sword behind him aiming for Benvolio's open side, but Benvolio rolled behind Tybolt and with the grip of his sword he collapsed Tybolt's knees and stood as Tybolt fell. Springing to his feet, Tybolt turned and with the tip of his sword he lunged towards Benvolio's heart. Benvolio stepped to the side as Tybolt's blade sliced through his arm.
"Citizens of Verona stop!" The booming voice of Escalus, Prince of Verona demanded.
Benvolio's sword fell, as did Tybolt's. The silence rang in Benvolio's ears as he looked through the crowd that formed to watch them fight. His head fell as he kneeled beside his sword. He could see Rosaline's face in his mind, her tired eyes and tear stained cheeks as she set her head onto her pillow, after a night of fighting for him. And how does he honor her? By raising his sword at Tybolt. The Prince began to speak.
"Another brawl between the houses of Montague and Capulet," The Prince addressed the crowd while circling Benvolio and Tybolt. "We men of Verona only arm ourselves to keep the peace. You Montagues and Capulets bring disgrace to us all when you use your weapons to harm your neighbors. We speak to you like men, we speak to you like citizens, like neighbors. Will you never hear us? You men have become beasts, your rage is painting our city with blood and we will have no more of it. Throw down your weapons and hear the sentence of your angry Prince. This is the third time your fighting has disturbed our streets. And for what? An ancient fight given life by a rumor. Enough! If you ever disturb the quiet of our streets again you will pay with your life. For now everyone must depart. You Capulet, you will come with me, Montague you will meet me at Old Free-Town Court of Law this afternoon to know your punishment in this mess."
Benvolio looked up. He didn't know his Uncle was there and had seen him fighting. He grabbed his sword and stood, he dusted off the dirt on his knees and faced his Uncle. He put his eyes back to the ground when he saw that his Aunt was standing with him. She looked tired with worry Her hair was gray and falling gracefully from her bun. Dark circles had taken over her eyes. She held onto her husband for a bit of support.
"Who started this wicked fight up once again?" Lord Montague asked Benvolio. "Please tell me, Nephew, were you here when it began?"
"I was," Benvolio said, as he grabbed his bleeding arm. "Your servants and the servingmen of the house of Capulet began to fight. I noticed it from across the town square. Uncle, I only drew my sword to keep the peace between them, I swear, but Tybolt came and you know how angry he is. He is always looking for a fight, I tried to tell him that I was only keeping the peace but he didn't believe me. He didn't want to believe me. He came to town this morning wanting to fight. He swung his sword at me and I blocked it, he continued to fight me, and I kept defending myself. I didn't realize that the people of Verona had taken notice of us. I was only stopping his sword, Uncle. And that's when the Prince came to part us all."
"And Romeo?" Lady Montague asked. "I am grateful he isn't here in this fight, but Benvolio have you seen him today? He was not at home this morning."
"Madam, I did see your son this morning, before the sun had even hit the sky. I was out because I couldn't sleep last night and I find comfort walking through the town, and anyway, I saw Romeo in the sycamore grove west of the city. I wanted to join him, but when he saw me, he hid among the trees and walked away from me. I understood, he wanted to be alone so I let him be. I think that was what he wanted."
Lord Montague stood tall with his large belly pushing at his vest buttons. His cheeks were flush with the excitement of the fight, but his eyes were focused with worry. He looked into the crowd.
"I have heard that Romeo walks around the sycamore grove all night and into the early morning," he said. "I hear that his face is wet with tears, his heart is as heavy as the clouds are gray. I have seen him come home once the sun rises, only to hide in his room with the curtains drawn, keeping the sun out and making it as dark as night. Benvolio listen to me. Romeo might be turning away from everyone, but I truly believe he has never needed anyone as much as he does now. I need you to talk to my boy, and I need you to try this time even if he walks away from you again."
"Uncle, do you know why he's acting this way?" Benvolio asked.
"I do not know and I can't learn from him why he is acting this way. He will not talk to me."
"You've tried talking to him?"
"I have. I have tried. I have sent in many friends as well, but he will not talk to anyone. He councils himself I suppose, but to be alone in your darkness makes you so far away from reason and truth. He must turn to someone. If I could understand what started this, I would do whatever it took to cure it."
"You would do whatever it took?" Benvolio asked with a deep breath. "Look, there's Romeo, Uncle, I will go and talk to him. Both of you can return to your day and please give us space. I promise I will find out what is troubling Romeo and stop all of this."
"I wish to stay, to understand my son," Lord Montague said with a heavy sigh and a soft touch from his wife. "But no, you're right, you will have better luck without us around. Come Madam," Lord Montague took the hand of his wife. "Let us get back to our day."
Benvolio turned from his Uncle towards Romeo. He straightened his vest and rolled up his sleeves to hide the gash on his arm and brushed his hands through his hair. His brown locks fell back into his eyes.
"Good morning Cousin," Benvolio said.
"Oh is it still only the morning?" Romeo mumbled.
His head was hanging and hair was somehow perfectly falling to hide his brooding eyes. Though he had been in the woods all night his shirt fell perfectly crisp around his broad shoulders. His face was soft, not shining with the heat of the morning sun.
"Yes, it's only nine o'clock."
Romeo sighed heavily. "Every depressing hour creeps by so slow. Was that my father that went away so quickly?"
"It was, Romeo he's worried about you, and so am I. What is so depressing that it makes this day so long already at nine o'clock?"
"Not having that which makes time fly."
"Romeo, are you in love?"
"Out-,"
"Of love?"
"You wouldn't understand, Benvolio."
"Give me a chance," he said.
Romeo began to walk. "It's just that the woman who I love, the woman who has stolen my heart, is not mine to have."
"Right, I mean I actually do understand. You mean you are able to see and know of her beauty, but there are obstacles that stop you from ever truly being with her. For whatever reason, I do know how painful that can be Romeo."
"Yes, that kind of love. Love that is never given the chance to be seen clearly, or given time to find a path to make it work."
The summer's heat was already beating down in the early morning. Romeo lied in the mist of the fountain to cool down.
"I'm hungry, where do you want to eat?" Romeo asked, as he lazily turned his head and looked at Benvolio for the first time. "Stop," he leapt to his feet and grabbed Benvolio's arm. "What is this, Benvolio? Were you in a fight? No, I don't want to hear it. I have heard it all before. You all think this fight has to do with hate but you don't understand how much it has to do with love. Why then, why fight love, or love hate? Or what, Benvolio, because I don't get it. Which was it that came first? You say you understand the love that is in my heart and still you draw your sword."
"To keep the peace." Benvolio said.
"You fight to keep the peace? Do you kill to live, do we all fight this fight for good reasons? Is there ever a good reason to fight? A hateful reason to love? Well placed chaos, feather of led, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health. You ask me what my problem is, well what am I supposed to make of this?" He grabs Benvolio's arm. "What am I supposed to make of this love that I feel if nothing around me makes any sense, is there no love to feel then? What? Benvolio are you laughing at me?"
"No cuz, I am crying."
"You are laughing, fine if you are crying then tell me why."
"I am crying at the pain you're feeling. You do understand all the chaos that is around you. I think you are the only one who can make sense of it all."
"Why would you laugh or cry at the pain of love. I am in love and this pain is what love is, it is my pain to feel, and now I must add to it because of your act of violence. Now I must feel your pain as well because I love you, and I will take that burden. At least until you can truly understand what it means to feel love. Then you might understand why you should stop fighting. Because love is smoke made with the fume of sighs. When that love is truly expressed it is a fire sparkling in lovers eyes. When a lover is angered it is a sea filled with tears. I have to go." He turned and walked away towards Montague Manor.
"Wait," Benvolio said, following him. "I'll go with you, you can't just leave me like this."
"I can and I must. I'm not myself now Benvolio."
"You have to tell me, Romeo, who is it that you love so much? What has happened to you that makes love so painful for you? You can talk to me."
"What, you want me to start to cry once more just so I can speak her name. Because that is what it will cost me."
"No more crying, just talk to me, please tell me her name," Benvolio said, chasing Romeo through the crowded streets.
"I am a sick man in this sadness I call love. Every word I speak about this love is ill because of it, so in my sadness I will tell you. I do love a woman."
"No way, Romeo!" Benvolio said as he grabbed Romeo's arm and stopped him from walking away. "I would have guessed as much."
"Oh well good guess then. Ah she is beautiful, the woman that I love."
"Ok, beautiful is good, so what happened to you to make you so sad about her? What did she do to you, what is her name?"
"In her case it is her beauty that will keep her from love."
"It's her beauty that will keep her from love?"
"She has Dian's wit, and with it she too will live chaste."
"She has what? She will live chaste? What makes you say that?"
"Throughout her life she will remain untouched by love's spells. She will not be the object of men's affection, and she never will be allowed to enjoy their attentions upon her. She will never know the feel of a lover's touch."
"What do you mean Romeo?"
"Oh she is so rich in beauty, only poor, because when she dies, her beauty will not live on in the face of her children."
"Romeo, are you telling me that you have fallen in love with a woman who has sworn to live chaste?" Benvolio was so confused. who was Romeo talking about? This did not sound at all like Rosaline.
"She has sworn, and with that vow she is wasting all that God has blessed her with. Her beauty will starve without my love."
"So you are sad because you realized you were chasing the love and affection of someone who has promised herself to god?" Benvolio couldn't figure out who Romeo was talking about now. Had he actually found another love in the short time from the night? Or was Rosaline's part in it all just confused? But he knew of no woman in the Capulet Manor who was sworn to live chaste.
"She is too beautiful and yet too wise," Romeo said. "She has turned her back on love, and with that vow I die. Benvolio, I am a dead man talking to you now."
"Romeo, listen to me. You must forget to think of this woman, whoever she is. Who is she?"
"Teach me how I should forget to think at all, because she is my every thought."
"I will teach you Romeo, open your eyes and look around at all of the beautiful women of Verona. You can't have this love of your's but you can have her," Benvolio said, pointing out a woman. "Or her, she is very, um, nice looking?"
"This is not working, Benvolio. With every passing face I am only reminded of her beauty. There is no hope for me. Soon my love will hide her brow in a black veil and promise herself to God. Oh you could blind me and I would still see her and only her. There is none as glorious, or as pure, as my love. Maybe you can show me another beautiful woman, but with every face you show me, I can show you another man who has touched that beautiful face. So good bye, I would never want to forget my love, and you can't teach me to."
"I will take that as a challenge, Romeo. I will teach you or I will die trying."
"How will you?"
"First tell me more about your love."
"I have told you everything."
"Romeo you have told me of her beauty. Tell me of her soul, what do you do to make her laugh? Her favorite food? Tell me why you love her so deeply. Tell me her name?"
"You're talking like a lover, Benvolio."
"Right, what is her name?"
"I can't say it because it is her name that has given her this dreadful fate."
"Her name is why she is becoming a nun?"
"A name can be very powerful, when the name is that of your enemy."
"Stop Romeo, look at me. Is your love a Capulet? Romeo tell me, what is her name."
"A Capulet yes. I don't care about this fight between our families, how can I when love is always more powerful than hate?"
"I agree with you, cousin, but this is very important. Look at me, you are telling me that you are in love with a Capulet, and it is her will to become a nun? Who do you love?"
"I am telling you Benvolio, that because my lady is blessed with such beauty, it is decided that the safest place for her to live is the Nunnery. Only there, can she live without the eyes and hands of the many men who desire her."
"The woman you love has chosen to become a nun because she does not enjoy getting attention from men?"
"No, it wasn't her choice at all."
"It wasn't?"
"Upon hearing word of my love for her daughter, as well as a stranger's love and, I am guessing the servingman's love, Madam Capulet banished her daughter to a Nunnery."
Benvolio froze, Romeo continued to talk beside him, Benvolio took a deep breath and decided to jump to action.
"Come with me, Romeo," he said.
"Where are we going?" Romeo asked as he ran after Benvolio.
"We have to do something."
"Save my Rosaline from her wicked fate?"
"All right look," Benvolio stopped. "Your love for Rosaline will burn out and before you know it another fire within you will burn with passion. The pain you are feeling now will lessen when you feel this love for another and the pain of that love will overpower this."
"Benvolio?" Romeo stoped him.
"Yes?"
"This isn't helping."
"Right look, I just want you to be happy, and by turning this around, your grief can be cured by loving someone else."
"I really don't think that will do it."
"Just fall in love with someone else, and I promise the pain of this love will all fade away."
"This sounds more like a bandage, not a cure for my pain," Romeo said.
"A bandage, Romeo, really? Is your heart that broken?"
"Your shin's will be soon if you keep trying to make me forget my love."
Benvolio knew he was pushing his cousin too hard. He stopped and looked up. Without meaning to, they had both made turns through town that led them to the gates of Capulet Manor. The gates stood open to make way for the business of the day. Benvolio stared at them.
He wanted to run to Rosaline. He wanted to scream about the news of the Nunnery. He wanted to shake her father's hand and slap her mother. But he was already on the list of men forcing her into the nunnery. He realized there was nothing he could do at that moment and turned to Romeo. He could still help his cousin.
"Come on Romeo," he said, he turned to Romeo and talked softly. "Have you gone mad?"
"Not mad, but tied up tighter than a mad man, I am shut up in prison, kept without my food. Whipped and tormented and- Good after noon good fellow," Romeo said to the odd servingman who had walked up to them.
"God gives you this good evening," he said. "Can you read?" He asked Romeo.
"Yes, I am fortunate enough to be miserable at it," Romeo answered the servant.
"All right sir, maybe you have learned to read without book, but I beg you, can you read anything you see?"
"Sure, if I know the letters and the language."
"I get it, thank you anyway."
"Stay fellow, I can read."
Romeo took the letter from the man and began to read name after name of the most pompous and arrogant citizens of Verona. Benvolio lost interest and looked back to the Capulet gates. Standing in the glow of the sun was Rosaline. She was looking right at him with her playful smile. Her hair was shining gold in the sunlight, her skin glowed and cheeks were rosy. Her dress looked funny, it was plain black with out the shimmer of blue or green. Benvolio stepped towards her but she stopped him with a look to her Mother. How could he miss her Mother standing beside her, trying to be her double only lacking greatly in beauty, and making up for it with her fancy shinny dress. Surrounding her Mother was a circle of Ladies all hanging on her every word, laughing as if she were wonderful. Rosaline turned her sullen face back to Benvolio, she smiled at him and pointed behind him. He looked back and then back to her. He didn't understand. She pointed again and then moved her hands and eye's like she was reading a list. She smiled, and he could see she was laughing at him. Once more she pointed to Romeo, pretended like she was reading a list of names, pointed to her ears then brushed him away towards Romeo. He turned back to Romeo who was still reading the list and finally understood.
"Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces," Romeo was saying. "Mercutio and his brother Valentine."
"Mercutio?" Benvolio interrupts. "What is this a list for?"
Romeo shrugged in confusion and continued to read. "My Uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters. My fair niece Rosaline and Livia."
Romeo looked to Benvolio who again froze. He couldn't let Romeo see him look back at Rosaline.
"Interesting, keep reading Romeo," said Benvolio.
Romeo kept reading. Benvolio looked back to Rosaline but she was gone, and so was her Mother.
Romeo had finished reading and handed the list back to the servingman "This is a fine list of people. Where are these people supposed to meet?"
"Up," answers the servingman.
"Right, but where, why? For supper?"
"To our house."
"Who's house?"
"My Master's."
"Indeed, I should have asked you that first."
"Well now I will just tell you. My master is the great and rich Capulet, and as long as you are not a Montague, you should come and have a cup of wine. Have a great day."
He bowed and walked away.
"Rosaline will be at this party," Benvolio said. "I mean we should go to this party because Rosaline will be there, and then I will be able to show you beauties that are far better than her in comparison. I promise you will realize she is not so great," he looked around once more to make sure she was not around.
"My eyes will never see another woman, for I am devoted to my love for Rosaline. If my eyes betray me as you say they will, I hope they burn out. I mean, come on, Benvolio, have you seen my love? To show me anyone that is more beautiful than her is impossible. Please that makes me laugh. Never on this earth has a woman walked that is more beautiful than my Rosaline."
He couldn't agree more. "Come on Romeo," he said. "You say she is beautiful but what are you comparing her to? She is probably beautiful if all you see is her, looking at her through eyes that have not begun to see the beauty of the world. So all I ask is you come with me to this party tonight, and compare her beauty to those I show you. Though she seems like the only beauty in the world, she is not."
"I will go with you, but I will see no other beauties. I will go only for the chance to be in the presence of Rosaline once more."
"Right, well come on then. We have to find Mercutio if we want to get into this party."