Here's Chapter Five!

Welcome back!

DISCLAIMER - In this chapter I own only Allegra, Theobald, Ricardo, Tancredo and Celestine, but not their surname.

Please enjoy!

Reviews iz gud!

P.S.

Pargoletta - Thanks so much for all your great reviews. You've got a point about Mercutio. He's always been a bit of a show-off, of course, but with Allegra watching him …. Also, thanks a lot for your comment about the whole 'Mercutio in love' idea, really flattering.

Everyone else, feel free to review… please …

Thank you!

. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .

Mercutio did not have time to take in what she had told him, because she had kissed him right away. He had not expected this. It lasted for quite a while - longer than the two of them had planned - and they treasured every moment of it. Allegra was the first to break apart.

"Did you not hear me?" she whispered.

Mercutio was less alarmed than he would expect himself to be. After a loud silence during which Allegra's gorgeous face was tensed up with concern, Mercutio sighed.

"A Capulet," he said, rubbing at his face.

"Mercutio!" Allegra hissed. "When you first saw me, before you knew even my first name, did you turn away? I have not changed. I have always been a Capulet -"

"Whose daughter art thou?" Mercutio asked abruptly.

"Tancredo Capulet is my father," Allegra answered, hanging her head. "He is the brother of mine lord uncle."

"Thou are the sister of Theobald and Ricardo Capulet. If they caught me here with thee, Allegra -"

"I do not care what they would do, for you could always do it better," Allegra said. "I am not afraid of my brothers."

That was not who Mercutio was particularly worried about. "What about your dear coz Tybalt? Will he not be angry with you?"

Allegra stared at him for a moment. "Tybalt? Who's afraid of Tybalt? Mercutio, tonight thou wert the first one to ever defeat him in combat, and thou may'st not know but I have spent my whole life outsmarting him. Tybalt's an ass."

Mercutio had been turned away, but turned back to her now. He had not wanted to listen to Allegra when she had given him that speech about her not being any different than she was before he knew her name, but when she spoke of Tybalt (Tybalt, of whom even men were afraid) with such fearlessness, she reminded him of why he had noticed her in the first place.

"Thou wouldst say this about someone from thy own family?" Mercutio asked.

Allegra shrugged. "I would say this about all the men in my family." Her voice trailed off. Mercutio could tell she had thought she had said too much. He noticed for a moment that she looked a bit lost as she spoke of her family. He could understand why, of course. The Capulets seemed so cold and unloving, and Allegra was not. He had only known Allegra one day, but he knew her very well, and she wasn't like the other Capulets at all. He felt a pinch in his heart, a reminder of another spiritly young person who came from a family of cold people...

"You are so unlike the other Capulets," he said, almost more to himself than to her. Then he said to her, "Be not ashamed." He sat down on the swing. "Come, lay thy head upon my shoulder."

She perked up, and did as he had asked. The view of the sky was clear from where they sat. There were more stars than either of them had ever seen, and a moon that seemed inches away. A pleasant chill flew by them once, and just as they both thought this could not be any more perfect, Allegra spoke.

"Am I really?"

"Really what?" Mercutio asked.

"Unlike the other Capulets?"

Mercutio ran his fingers through her long golden hair. She savored his touch.

"Very unlike them," Mercutio whispered. "Thou shouldst not want to be like them. Thou art the only innocent among them." He hugged her even closer. She was precious, and warm, and having her rest on him gave him a sense of dignity, but also a feeling of extreme comfort, and silent pride.

"Marry, Allegra," he said, resting his head upon her soft head, "I shan't lie to thee. 'Twas only tonight I thought I did not believe in love."

Allegra yawned and huddled in closer in his embrace, her eyes shut. "That's funny," she said. Mercutio thought she had fallen asleep until she added, "Unless thou dost not love me."

Mercutio did not think he would ever say what he was about to. Wasn't he not the type...? Wasn't love a joke to him?

Yet this was so right, so flawless ... she was so right, so flawless...

"Of course," Mercutio said, as he too shut his eyes, "I do..."

The next thing he knew, Allegra was again on top of him, her soft rosy lips on his. It was light enough to be a dream, but Mercutio knew it was not. Dreams could not imitate exactly what Allegra felt like. The two of them could not tell how long it was before Allegra fell back on Mercutio's shoulder, now fully asleep. He had never realized until tonight that a lady sleeping had a certain effect on him. There was something sensual about it that he had never thought about. Mercutio wanted to fall asleep as well, here with her, and wake up to see she had not left. He was about to give in to that overpowering urge when he heard a noise from the distance. Careful not to have Allegra fall off of him, he glanced behind him.

Theobald and Ricardo - Allegra's brothers - were marching toward him.

Mercutio struggled not to panic. Of course, he was more afraid of his own reflection than Theobald and Ricardo, but if they saw Allegra, she would not hear the end of it from them.

Mercutio slid up from the bench and gingerly lowered Allegra's head so she lay down. He ripped his long velvet cape off (even though it damaged the outfit) and covered her with it. He kissed her head, thinking that may keep her dreaming, and readied himself to fight.

"'Tis it not past your bedtime, gentleman?" he asked.

Theobald and Ricardo crowded him.

"We thought you'd left, nuisance," said Theobald.

"Thought I would wait for you two to come and avenge Tibby -"

"No games!" Ricardo said. "We seek our sister."

Mercutio tried to look as confused as he was nervous. "Sister?"

"Ay," Theobald barked. "She's yellow-haired. Blue eyes."

"She is called Allegra," Ricardo added. Both brothers glared at Mercutio, suspicious.

Mercutio struggled to keep up his smug grin. "Allegra? I know none by that name - BENVOLIO!" he called, then regretted it, for Allegra had stirred. He coughed into his hand as to cover the noise.

Theobald jumped and pointed at Allegra under the cape. "Did that speak -?"

"- did what speak?" Mercutio asked too quickly. "'Tis only you two and myself hear who can speak... and Benvolio!" he added. He was getting aggravated. Where was Benvolio? He could not shout too loudly, because if Allegra woke up, she would reveal herself...

Theobald squinted at him. "What are you hiding-?"

"Sir, you hallucinate," Mercutio said, knowing his answers were coming too quickly.

Theobald would have slaughtered Mercutio right then and there, but his brother held him back. "No time, Theo... we've got find Allegra, Father was right, 'tis dangerous, with Montagues about..."

Mercutio actually sighed in relief when Benvolio climbed down the wall and ran up to him, giving Theobald and Ricardo a scared glance. Mercutio had never been happier to see him.

"Ah, Benvolio, so glad you could join us," Mercutio said. Then he asked the Capulet brothers, "Now that we've two men on each side, shall we have a go?"

Theobald and Ricardo pulled out their swords. Benvolio handed Mercutio his sword and backed away so he stood just in front of the bench. Mercutio glared at him, but Benvolio stood his ground. Benvolio was no fighter.

"Afraid, Montague?" Theobald sneered.

Benvolio dared not look either Capulet in the eye as he answered, "Law-abiding."

"So I am a man short," Mercutio said, hiding his nerves.

"Ay," Ricardo said, looking Mercutio up and down. "Short."

"Very well," Theobald said, ignoring his brother, "I will fight you alone. We Capulets are fair men."

"Pfft, tell that to Tibby," Mercutio said. He glanced over at Allegra quickly. Benvolio was standing right over her, and was about to sit down on top of her.

"DO NOT SIT!" Mercutio yelled urgently. All three of the other men gave him puzzled looks.

"Ehem," Mercutio said, still looking at Benvolio out of the corner of his eyes. "Well, Theobald, shall we get on with it so you two can find your sister, wherever she may be -" he gestured with his head toward Allegra, half-praying Benvolio knew what he meant - "and I can go home?"

Benvolio gaped. Mercutio understood he got the message, but judging by Benvolio's face, he did not look like he approved. Mercutio couldn't say be blamed him. This would probably take a lot of time to explain.

"Have at thee," Theobald said, drawing his sword.

"Eat him alive, Theo," Ricardo said, patting his brother on the back.

"Mercutio," Allegra murmured in her sleep.

Mercutio was touched by this - but of course, could not show it. Benvolio pretended to sneeze.

"God bless you," Mercutio said, and then began a fight with Theobald.

Mercutio swung first, but was careful not to harm Theobald. Fighting too hard, he knew, could result in injuring Theobald, and then Allegra would be angry with him. Mercutio, for the first time ever, tried to fight modestly. He had fought Theobald many times before, and Theobald's fighting never threatened him. He had always triumphed over Theobald. Tonight, though, as Mercutio was not trying to embarrass him, he realized that Theobald was not a bad fighter by any means.

Just as he was beginning to realize this, Theobald seemed to get stronger. A few times, he nearly slit Mercutio's stomach; once, he missed Mercutio's head by inches. After a while, something came over Mercutio; he began to tire, and that was when Theobald was able to trip him.

Mercutio fell backward. He was ready to pick himself back up when Theobald swung at him. Mercutio's heart skipped a beat.

"Nay, Theo, do not kill him!" Ricardo called. "He is a kinsman of the Prince!"

Theobald looked back at his brother. This was stupid of him, for when he did, Mercutio picked himself up in a matter of seconds.

"Ay, Theobald, he said for you to eat me, not kill me," Mercutio said.

Theobald grunted, and got his arm ready to kill Mercutio.

"Sheath thy sword, Theo!" called Ricardo again. "It matters not any more! Make haste, we have got to find Alleg - what is that?" he asked Benvolio.

Benvolio certainly looked strange. He was grinning, but his smile was too wide to be real. He had his back turned to the other men, and seemed to be holding something that they could not see.

"What?" Benvolio asked. Mercutio saw that he was sweating, which was typical of Benvolio.

Ricardo eyes Benvolio suspiciously, but then shook his head. "Marry, it mattereth not what the idiot Montagues do. We must seek out Allegra. Come, Theobald."

Theobald had not stopped glaring at Mercutio. "The name of my fathers will cease to die."

"Dare to dream," Mercutio said.

Theobald and Ricardo bit their thumbs at Mercutio and Benvolio and took off into the night, calling Allegra's name as they disappeared into the darkness.

As soon as they were gone, Mercutio's smug smile vanished and he stumbled over to Benvolio.

"Oh, God, thank thee for existing!" he breathed.

Benvolio nodded. "Always."

"Where has she gone?" Mercutio said.

Benvolio revealed that he had been holding Allegra around the waist. She appeared to be sleeping.

"Allegra," Mercutio said. "Allegra!"

"She cannot hear," Benvolio said.

"What, is she fainted?" Mercutio asked urgently.

"Ay," Benvolio said. Mercutio looked sickened. "She saw Theobald atop thee, and she fainted onto me."

"What shall happen?"

"Hush, Mercutio. I know not." Benvolio sighed. "Look, she will come round eventually. The thought of thy death shook her. She may not wake until morning. We must tell her parents ..."

"Tell her parents she was out at night in her underwear in the midst of a fight? Benvolio, do not joke! We will take her to thy father's house, she will rest there until she cometh round -"

"My father will not allow a daughter of Lord Capulet's brother into his house!" Benvolio cried.

Mercutio groaned. "Ay. We will take her to mine, then. Her parents do not know I know thy father."

Benvolio picked Allegra up in his arms. "Mercutio, this is not wise -"

"Benvolio, dost thou make it a point never to agree with me?" Mercutio hissed. "Now, go hence. We must go before her brothers come back round, looking for her."

"Mercu -"

"Go!"

Mercutio took off running, and, knowing his friend was right, so did Benvolio, still holding Allegra.

Although Allegra had fainted, Mercutio, as he ran, knew this hadbeen a wonderful, wonderful night, that he would never be the same again, that he did indeed love Allegra Capulet.