Welcome to Chapta Three!
Thanks to the people who reviewed, it is GREATLY appreciated! Oh, and before I forget:
Pargoletta - Thanks a ton for both of your reviews. I see how you thought Theobald and Tybalt were the same person (I didn't realize it until after you mentioned it!) but they are not. If Tybalt was Allegra's brother, that could cause a lot of problems with the story that you will be able to imagine if you continue reading this fic. Also, "Allie" and the other nicknames do sound a bit contemporary, but "Allie" and "Ricky" are names I used to make it clear that Allegra and Ricardo have a close relationship. ("Tibby" is just a name that Mercutio and Allegra, coincidentally, both like to use to tease Tybalt.) I will admit that I didn't bother to check the correct spelling of ' hors d'oeuvres'. I knew that it was French and I was spelling it wrong. My lazy mistake ... sorry =].
DISCLAIMER - I still do not own anything in this story but Allegra and her immediate family (and their first names).
Enjoy!
P.S. - Reviews = good.
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As soon as Allegra joined her crowd of friends, they, once again, exploded with cheers. After a good two minutes of praising Allegra's unbelievable bravery, the crowd scattered, leaving Allegra with a few of her cousins.
"Allegra, thou art mad!" Juliet cried, although she was laughing. "Poor, poor Tybalt."
"Tybalt deserved it!" said Consolata, a cousin of Juliet and Allegra. "Thou hast seen the way he acts as though he is the Prince, Juliet. He is a conceited and arrogant fool."
"Amen!" Allegra said. "Really, Juliet, thou canst not pity Tibby. He is a tights-wearing she-male."
"Ah me! Don't say that, Allie! What will I do with thee?" Juliet said. "Tybalt's the most gentlemanly of all our cousins, and the most handsome. He would have made a much better Prince than the one we have."
Oria, another one of the Capulet cousins, gasped. "Juliet, let not anyone hear thee say that, lest one of his kin should hear thee!"
Juliet sighed. "I know. Marry, I think I will tell you now, for you all are my dearest friends save for my nurse. I am not happy with the Prince, or with his kinsmen -"
Allegra's heart turned inside out. "Which one?" she almost barked.
"Paris."
"Paris!" Consolata squealed. "Why?"
Juliet bit her lip. "My mother tells me he fancies me, and that he... he wishes to marry me." She sounded as though she could hardly believe it herself.
All of the girls but Allegra and Juliet ooed and ahhed in delight.
"Paris?" Allegra snorted. "Paris and Juliet? Ay me! It does not even sound like a good match!"
Juliet nodded. "Ay, and he's so much older than I am... being in bed with him is frightening to even think about..."
"Ay. There are better kinsmen of the Prince," Allegra said.
"You mean Valentine?" Oria asked. She looked wishful.
"Erm - nay," Allegra said, "actually, I was thinking of..."
She did not finish.
"Who?" said Juliet. "I did not think there was any good kinsman of the Prince but Valentine."
Allegra shrugged. She knew she should have said nothing, but to not answer would just be rude.
"M-mercu -"
"Pardon me, maiden," came a smooth voice from behind her.
Allegra thought she might die. She knew this voice better than any voice.
'Tis him. I knew I had heard him in the shrubs!
Her cousins mimed for her to turn around. Biting her lip, Allegra did.
There before her was a man in a dark green outfit with a brown cape and wild brown hair. He wore a bright green mask that had so many feathers and bits of clashing cloth that it looked pleasantly ridiculous. He bowed low, and, barely believing this was happening, Allegra curtsied. Her cousins behind her were giggling and whispering.
"Help me," Allegra mouthed to Juliet, turning her head to face them. Juliet did not see this as a cry for help, but a cry that meant "Go away and leave me alone with this handsome masked man." She and the other girls, still giggling very hard, left Mercutio and Allegra alone and disappeared into the party.
Allegra faced Mercutio again. Her heart pounded as he smiled in his warm and cunning fashion - this time, he was smiling at her, favoring her! She had only dreamed of this moment. Out of every girl in the world, Mercutio had picked her to speak to...
"S-sir," she stuttered, "thou hast honored me with thy presence."
"Be not so formal," he said with a small laugh. "I did not think thee to be so stiff."
"I am not!" Allegra said. "I am... I am..." She could not go on. She was lost in his smile.
"Thou art as fair as thy skin and thy hair," he said, obviously trying to sound romantic. Allegra found herself swooning, and when he actually kissed her hand, she felt her heart might melt... this was unbelievable! Her beloved Mercutio!
"Thou hast a sharp wit, but thou art not a poet," said Allegra with a laugh.
Mercutio gaped at her, pretending to be insulted. "Well, then! If thou dost not appreciate a good rhyme ..."
"Nay, I do appreciate a good rhyme," Allegra said softly, "but that was nothing like a good rhyme."
Mercutio's gape changed into a fond gaze. He said nothing. Allegra could see that his breathing was very heavy, and thought that maybe his heart was beating just as hard as her's was. She could tell he was tempted to step closer to her. Allegra would have loved to step closer as well, but one fear haunted her...
If Mercutio, perhaps, was thinking of kissing her (which would have been beyond Allegra's wildest dreams), he may, she thought, want to remove her mask, and if he removed her mask, would he recognize her as a Capulet? Would this dream-like moment end forever?
Her worst fear came all too soon. He tried to grab at her mask, but she took a step back, and his usually glad expression vanished ... her dream shattered. The last thing she had wanted to do was offend him! If it had not been for her surname, her awful surname...!
She and Mercutio both jumped as a sharp whistle sounded and a tall man in a purple mask came running through the crowd, breaking up Allegra and Mercutio's sour moment. Mercutio was still staring at Allegra with a disappointed expression when the man spoke to him in a rush.
"Mercutio... look at me, man! Romeo hath been caught! The master of his house hath told Tybalt to leave him be, and Tybalt is being sent away, but he is ready to come after us and start a fight... we must leave, the Prince said -"
"Ay, then! Ay, then!" Mercutio said, removing Benvolio's hands for Benvolio had shaken his shoulders to get his attention. "Benvolio, fear not, for your soul brother Mercutio is here to help you embarrass sweet Tibby." He looked at Allegra, and Allegra thought she sensed him winking at her from under the crazy mask.
Benvolio stamped his foot. Allegra recognized him immediately as the tall man that Mercutio always spent his time with. He stamped his foot whenever Mercutio decided to fight with Allegra's brothers or cousins. "Mercutio, nay! You have never yet fought with Tybalt, only laughed at him! Pick a fight with him and you will have won the hate of every man of the Capulet name!"
"I have been looking to do just so!" Mercutio said, already on his way out of the ballroom.
Benvolio took off after him. "Mercutio, you buffoon! You - what are you doing?" he asked as Mercutio stole a bottle of wine from a nearby tray.
"Just in case I've got to do something crazy," Mercutio said, taking a long drink of out the bottle as he ran away, Benvolio following him and calling, "Mercutio! This is insane!"
Allegra was beginning to panic. Tybalt, though he was a tight-wearing she-male and a remarkably easy target for taunting, was a devilish fighter; Allegra had seen him nearly kill a Montague's servant for bumping into him in the plaza. She had seen Mercutio fight, as well, and he was talented enough, but in a match against Tybalt… If Tybalt was to try and kill Mercutio...
Tybalt came running after Benvolio and Mercutio soon, followed by Allegra's brothers and about eight other cousins. Without thinking, Allegra jumped in front of Tybalt, stopping him in his tracks.
"Ciao!" she said brightly.
"Not now, thou stupid girl!" he growled at Allegra, who was trying to keep a smile straight. "The Capulet name is in jeopardy!"
"Oh, Tibby!" Allegra pretended to laugh. "Can our family name not wait?"
Tybalt looked ready to slap Allegra. "This is why thou art not fit to be a Capulet! Any decent Capulet would understand why we must arm ourselves everywhere we go -" Tybalt pointed to the sword he carried - "and be ready to destroy any foolish Montague that crosses our path. Our uncle has banned me from the party, but we shall chase the filthy Montagues to Rome if we have to. Clear out of the way!" Tybalt called.
Allegra did not move. "Now, coz, do you not want to stay? This is the first party of the season!"
Tybalt groaned. "Allegra, thou menace! Get out of the way! 'Tis as if thou favors the Montague over thy family!"
"Aye, Allegra!" Theobald said, stepping forward. "Step aside! You shame our entire family."
"Maybe so!" Allegra cried, but before she could say any more, Tybalt pushed her aside and led the rest of the men through the ballroom, dodging all the innocent masked people who gave them curious glances.
Allegra knew she had to do something. If she didn't stop her brothers and cousins, Mercutio and Benvolio didn't stand a chance. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she knew she had to try.
She took off after the men, praying she was not too late, and they had not already gotten to Mercutio ….
…
Allegra's fears, for now, were uncalled for. At the moment, Mercutio was doing well, having taken his time exiting the house through a door in the back while Benvolio was trying to run out of the Capulet's territory as quickly as possible. Mercutio paid him no mind. Mercutio walked lazily along, going as slowly as possible, waiting for the Capulets to come out and join him. He took a few sips of wine and the world began to buzz a bit, and he (almost) forgot all about that pretty maiden, who had come so close to actually insulting him…who had given him a moment of feeling as though he loathed himself…
Benvolio, who was about fifteen feet away from Mercutio, finally stopped to take a breath. He turned around and called to Mercutio, "Honestly, Mercutio, the Capulets are after us! Haven't you had enough?" He started back in Mercutio's direction.
"Hmm," said Mercutio, "nay. I believe I can hold more than this." He belched and patted his stomach.
Benvolio pulled at his own hair, something he often did when Mercutio was not cooperating. "You're drunk! Ugh, this is the last thing we need! Now when you should be running, you may faint, or vomit -"
"If I vomit, I will be sure to aim for Tibb -"
"THERE THEY ARE!"
"DOWN WITH THE MONTAGUES!"
"Oh bother," Benvolio whispered. He tried to run away and pull Mercutio, who was indeed slightly buzzed, over to the wall that went all around the orchard, but Mercutio would not budge.
Mercutio kept a steady grin on his face as he approached Tybalt. "Good evening, Tibby. Have we met before?"
Tybalt gritted his teeth. "Nay, but I have heard of thee. Thou art a menace, a fool, and a friend of the cowardly Montagues." He wrinkled his nose when he said 'Montagues', and glared at Benvolio as though he were a dirty swine.
"Ah," Mercutio said. "I see you have not been denied the truth about me." He bowed. "I have only heard the best of thee, my fellow fool Tybalt. Thou art a fool of fools, a fool that a lowly fool-in-training like my foolish self can only dreaming of living up to the foolishness of. Here, have a sip, fool." Mercutio held his wine bottle out to Tybalt, who looked completely awe-struck. (A/N - Cornadopia's favorite hobby = making people tick off Tybalt.)
Benvolio scrambled in between Mercutio and Tybalt and grabbed the wine bottle away. He glanced at Tybalt, terrified, and stood a few inches behind Mercutio.
Tybalt made a very disturbing growling noise in this throat, and said, "I challenge thee, Mercutio, to a duel." He slapped Mercutio across the face. Benvolio gasped, and a few Capulets laughed.
Mercutio, though, did not reply with anger. He simply struck Tybalt back, and replied with a bright smile, "I accept."
….
Allegra had tried to follow her cousins closely. She had hidden behind a bush or column every time someone had looked back, and she had run on her toes the entire time she followed. Soon, however, she found dress was too heavy and she was sweating too much to go on. She had found a bush and undone her dress so she was in only her under dress. She had no time to worry about how inappropriate this was, or how ridiculous she would look, or how angry her family would be; this could be a matter of life and death.
She had kicked off her pinchy shoes (but kept her mask on) and corset and left them in the bush, figuring she would return to put them on as soon as she had saved Mercutio, which she knew she was going to do. Peering through the night, she finally spotted her cousins and brothers near the front of the orchard. She scowled, still panicked. If she simply ran up to them and attempted to get them away from Mercutio, they would only laugh at her, and Tybalt would surely tell her parents… and what would they say?
Allegra knew that there were far worse things than being a family outcast. She worried, though, because she had so many friends in the family who respected her, and losing that respect, she knew, would surely be scary… she shook the thought away. Now was not the time for silly ideas. There were lives to save.
She stuck to the side of her uncle's home, where the shadow of the roof created darkness. On the side of the house nearer to her cousins, there were a few shrubs that Allegra had always found useful for hiding behind. As she came closer, she was sure to stay behind them. When she had made it to the last shrub, she breathed silently and peeked over the top. Her heart sped up a bit when she realized her cousins had already found Benvolio and Mercutio. Mercutio had just slapped Tybalt and said he accepted something when, to Allegra's horror, her brothers advanced on him.
"Thou hast made a fatal mistake," growled Theobald, who was so big he looked like he could eat Mercutio.
Mercutio was not afraid. "Ah, Theobald. I see you are back to lose to me and shame the Capulets yet again? And your little brother, too?" he asked when he saw Ricardo.
"We claim this our kill, Tybalt," Ricardo said, while still glaring at Mercutio.
"Thy kill?" Tybalt fumed. "Ricardo, I have already claimed this my kill!"
"Well, someone do it! I do not have all night," Mercutio said.
"Wait, I've got it!" Allegra's cousin Fernardi called. "Theobald, Ricardo and Tybalt, canst thou not all kill him at once?"
Benvolio stepped forward. "That would be a cheat!" he cried, but when Tybalt shot him a death glare he stepped back again.
Tybalt and Allegra's brothers circled Mercutio, swords ready. Allegra's mind went back into panicking mode. Was this the end for Mercutio?
Without thinking, she cupped hands around her mouth to create a faraway sound, and called, "Theobald! Ricardo! Où sont vous?*" She spoke French and imitated her mother.
"Mama?" Ricardo said, surprised. Theobald nudged him.
Allegra grinned; they were falling for it. She called out again. "Le prince a défendu le combat!**"
Theobald and Ricardo swore to themselves and dropped their swords on the ground. Mumbling sincere apologies to Tybalt and the others, they ran in the direction of their 'mother' calling.
"Mommy's calling, boys?" Mercutio called to them, waving. Allegra saw that Benvolio was actually laughing, and another death glare from Tybalt did not stop him. Allegra ducked lower, biting her finger to stop herself from laughing as well.
"Thou art not finished!" Tybalt yelled at Mercutio.
"Ay, good Tibby," Mercutio said, picking up a sword, "but thou art."
Allegra watched, wide-eyed, as her secret beloved and her idiot cousin began to fight. As she had always known, Tybalt was very talented, but so was Mercutio… even if almost everything he did was incredibly risky and cocky. He had Allegra staring at him. Sometimes, Allegra thought, when he fought, that was what reminded her that she was so in love with him. Not only because he made her laugh, or that he was obviously so loyal (even if it was to her family's sworn enemy). He was brave. Surely he never doubted himself, never thought he couldn't do well. Allegra had never dared to tell anyone of her secret admiration, but now, as she watched him prove himself better than Tybalt, she wished she could tell everyone she knew…
At one point, Tybalt found he had to stop for breath. The other Capulet men all looked enraged.
Mercutio did not wait a second after Tybalt had stopped before he said to a gaping Benvolio, "I think I shall consider this a surrender on Master Capulet's part, would you not, Benvolio?"
"Mercutio," Benvoilio said, "you have just defeated Tybalt!'
"Well, then! Look at that! I have, haven't I?"
With an agonized breath, Tybalt straightened himself up and exclaimed, "Nay, thou hast not, Mercutio! I have never lost to anyone, and I shall never lose to the likes of thee!"
"How are you without a sword?" Mercutio asked with a smirk.
Tybalt was taken aback. "What?"
"I think you heard. I have seen thee without thy sword, Tybalt, and without it even a maiden could outwit thee."
Allegra gasped, and then regretted it. Perhaps, she thought, Mercutio had suggested that he had seen her at one point tonight, teasing Tybalt? It sounded quite like it. Why did she have to gasp that way? The thought of Mercutio seeing her could not have scared her so much! She tried to duck behind the shrub, but it was too late; she knew Mercutio had seen her… but oh please, not Tybalt!
"What was that?" Tybalt called out, glancing around.
A few of her cousins and Benvolio were glancing around as well. Allegra took long and silent breaths, trying her hardest, her very hardest, not to be seen or heard, not to end up revealed to her cousins… to her beloved…
"Why, Tibby, what do you speak of?" Mercutio asked.
Allegra covered her mouth, blocking another gasp; was Mercutio actually protecting her?
Tybalt clenched his fists. "'Tis that idiot girl!"
"I see no idiot girl but thee," Mercutio said.
Tybalt did not answer. He crept in Allegra's direction. Allegra felt herself quivering, but no, she couldn't move, that would give it all away, that would be so terribly humiliating in front of Mercutio…
Allegra got ready to run. Without making any noise, she moved her feet so they were flat on the ground, so if she had to stand up and run, she would not injure her ankle. She knew that running was the only option. She had always been far quicker than Tybalt. She would find her clothes and return to the party as if nothing had ever happened…
She did not run. She never had to, for Mercutio jumped in front of Tyablt and held him back. "Really, Tybalt, I thought even a coward like yourself would not pretend to hear things in order to get out of a good fight."
"Coward! Tybalt Capulet, a coward!" Tybalt cried, throwing his sword to the side and almost hitting a few of Allegra's cousins. "Thou hast done it! Thou hast asked for a fight with no swords, and thou shalt lose to me like a man!"
"I wait!" Mercutio said.
Tybalt dived on top of Mercutio. The Capulets cheered for Tybalt, and even quiet Benvolio was cheering for Mercutio. Allegra was caught between fondness for Mercutio and fear for Mercutio. Eventually Mercutio ended up on top of Tybalt, but Tybalt, being larger than Mercutio, flipped him over again. This went on, and they rolled around in the grass with all the other men cheering and booing around them. It took about two minutes for Mercutio to pin Tybalt. Mercutio held Tybalt's arms down. Allegra could tell he was using all his strength, and was all the more proud of him.
"Give up, Tibby?" Mercutio asked.
"Never," Tybalt grunted.
"Beat him down, Mercutio! Beat him down!" Benvolio yelled. He looked as though he was enjoying this.
Mercutio stared down at Tybalt. "How about now?"
To everyone's surprise, Mercutio licked Tybalt's face. Tybalt cried out in disgust and let go of Mercutio's arms. A few of Allegra's cousins actually snorted, hiding laughter. The rest of them drew back, alarmed. Allegra smiled to herself. She had, perhaps, never been more in love with her glorious Mercutio.
Tybalt, for a change, was not angry. He was in shock.
"You… you… ?"
"Defeated you?" Mercutio sniggered. "Ay, that I did. What a very good time 'twas." He and Benvolio began to run toward the wall.
"This has not ended!" Tybalt shouted. "This has not ended! The Montagues will die! Thou shalt all die!"
"Oh, go to bed, Tybalt!" Benvolio called, much to the surprise of Mercutio, who laughed and patted his best friend on the back.
Benvolio and Mercutio grabbed onto some vines on the wall and climbed away, still laughing.
Tybalt was glaring at them, as though thinking of a comeback. When no comeback crossed his mind, he let out a short scream of rage and stomped away, followed by his cousins, who were whispering amongst themselves and pointing at Tybalt behind his back.
"Find him! Find them all!" Tybalt yelled as he ran away.
Allegra felt as though she would faint. She still thought of Mercutio, and what he had just done. It was amazing, unlike anything she had ever seen… she had felt unlike she had ever felt. She knew Juliet and her parents would be looking for her, but she was weighed down with infatuation. She did not want to leave. She knew Mercutio had noticed her, but would he forget her soon?
…
Mercutio, in truth, had forgotten her, but only for a moment. The fight with Tybalt and had distracted him. Right when he and Benvolio had climbed down the wall and landed on the other side, out of Capulet territory, they had called for Romeo, but Romeo was nowhere to be found.
After trying for about five minutes, they had called it a night and decided to go home. They were heading down the lane back to the plaza when Mercutio finally remembered that maiden who had been hiding behind the shrub, the maiden who had not let him remove her mask -
"I must away," he said suddenly. He jumped onto the orchard wall and climbed up again.
"What? Did you not just say you were leaving?" Benvolio called after him. "Mercutio, this has ended! Whatever you need to do, can it not wait till to-morrow?"
"Ah, Benvolio, my chaste friend," Mercutio answered once he was on top of the wall and ready to jump off, "in this wild world, love has no time to wait."
Benvolio was stunned. "Love? What love? You said love was non-existent!"
"So I did, but that was when I was young and ignorant," Mercutio called.
"That was just tonight!" Benvolio cried.
"Then I have grown remarkably fast. Stay there, Benvolio, whilst I reunite with my lady friend."
"Nay! 'Tis late!" Benvolio called. "Tybalt and the others will be looking for us!"
Mercutio scoffed. "Tybalt, I do not doubt, is afraid of the dark, Benvolio, and anyway, you have a sword. If you see Tibby coming, Benvolio, be a man, be a Montague, and give him a beating for me -"
"But the Prince said -"
"Benvolio." Mercutio was quite annoyed now. "The Prince is my cousin. I see him every week. I believe he will understand my hate for Tybalt. Now pray stay here and watch for any sign of danger. I will be over by the side of the house, see? Where those shrubs are."
Benvolio sighed. "Mercutio, this is insane."
"Maybe," Mercutio said, jumping down onto the other side of the wall.
"Wish me luck!" Benvolio heard his friend cry from the other side of the wall.
"You're an idiot!" Benvolio called, and he heard no reply from Mercutio, who had probably already gone to find the maiden. Benvolio sighed, leaning against the wall. Mercutio was his best friend, but a very tiring person with enough energy for himself, Benvolio and Romeo put together. Mercutio, Benvolio knew, had teased many a maiden before, but of course had never believed in love, and had laughed at the very idea. Though this sudden talk of love was new for Mercutio, Benvolio knew how Mercutio was. Even at night when his friends were exhausted, a joke never tired. An idea for a good tease could stay awake all night with the wild Mercutio.
Tonight, though, Benvolio had noticed a different sort of glaze in his friend's dancing eyes when he spoke of that young lady…
Nay, Benvolio thought. Mercutio's only joking. He said only tonight he didn't believe in love…
However, the thoughts that passed through Mercutio's mind this evening were very serious.
End of Chapter 3
333
* French for 'where are you?'
** I used a translator online for the French, and I am sure it is not accurate. This is supposed to mean "the Prince has (hath) forbidden fighting".