Chapter Seven? Doesn't time fly!

Anyway, welcome!

DISCLAIMER - In this chapter I own nothing but Allegra and her immediate family (and their first names).

Warning - You may find one thing wrong with this chapter, and that is the fact that Mercutio is not in it. That's the one thing that bothers me. Oh, well. He'll show up in the next chapter, I promise. I certainly missed him while writing this.

Without further adieu, 'Mercutio and Allegra', Chapter 7. Reviews are (much) more than welcome.

...

Half-past eleven at the home of Tancredo Capulet and his family found much of the Capulet kin gathered in the hall. Tancredo stood proudly in the midst of the chaos with his lord brother; his wife, Celestine, managed the servants and guests, all the while worrying aloud in French.

Their two sons Theobald and Ricardo did not know what to make of this situation. It had not been entirely their fault, of course, that their younger sister was missing. They knew Allegra was flighty, and somewhat air-headed, but she was not brainless by any means. She could get out of trouble for stealing a candied nut or giving cheek with smooth talk, but the streets of Verona were dangerous at night, especially for Montagues and Capulets – and certainly for a maid. She had never been in any situation when she had needed to shield herself from harm, and if she had been harmed, her brothers had not been there to defend her. She could have been harmed or violated (by a Montague, surely) or dragged off by kidnappers into the ghetto. If only she had stayed at the masque, where she had been safe!

Allegra was popular among the Capulets, as she was considered to be the prettiest maiden in the family. However, the Capulets (even if they did not realize it) were not very good at accepting the fact that there was a problem. This had always been a fault of theirs. Today was no exception. They found that Allegra's being gone was a good excuse to gossip and drink and continue last night's party.

Only Juliet, the first daughter of the Capulet house, remembered the real reason of this gathering. She zipped around, asking her family members if they had any ideas about where Allegra had gone, but they did not take it seriously. They acted as though Allegra was only not there because she had slept in, or this was a joke. Juliet knew Allegra would not joke about her own alarming disappearance. Something strange had happened.

She approached Theobald and Ricardo. Theobald was drinking and joking, but Ricardo was biting his lip. Juliet knew he was as worried as she was.

"Ricardo," she asked, "hast thou any idea where Allegra might have gone?"

Ricardo shook his head. "I know as much as thou dost, coz. Hast thou asked yet?"

"Ay," Juliet said, twisting a nervous finger around a lock of dark hair. "No one doth care much. I suppose they hath forgotten she is missing."

Ricardo sighed. "Allegra's never had to defend herself. She could be dead, and we do not know it -"

"Oh, don't!" Juliet wailed. "I am scared enough as it is."

"'Tis true, though!" Ricardo said. "A Montague could have harmed her."

Juliet, to that, had no comment.

Meanwhile, only a few feet away, Celestine had just begun a frantic conversation with her husband.

"'usband, you send out for Tee-balt, did you not?" Celestine asked. "I thought you did ages ago. Mon dieu, time does move so slowly! Where is Tee-balt?"

Tancredo had only been half-listening to his wife, as usual; he ordered a servant to go check the pastry and jugged his ale.

"'usband!" Celestine cried.

"What, lady?" he asked, now turning his stern face to look at his wife, who repeated herself, louder this time. "Oh me! Marry, I sent out for Tybalt an age ago. He will come if he doth wish! Be collected!"

"If he doth wish!" Celestine repeated, holding her head. "Do not say zat! Tee-balt must come, 'usband! 'e is stronger zen any young man in ze family! If 'e does not come, finding Allegra shall be 'opeless!" She said this all very fast. "Quelle horreur!" she added after catching her breath.*

Tancredo answered her as calmly as he could, "Wife, worry not. If Tybalt cometh not in another hour's time, I shall send our good Theobald and Ricardo to find her."

Celestine eyed her sons. "Will you send for zee Prince?"

"The prince!" Tancredo sniffed.

"Oui, zee prince!" Celestine cried, her husband's violent glare meant the conversation was over.

Thankfully, Tybalt did come; just as a servant announced his presence, he showed himself. His family surrounded him immediately, praising him for this and that. He was used to being the center of attention, as he was so strong and handsome. For a moment, he looked as though he had forgotten he had been summoned there because of trouble.

"Pray excuse me," Celestine said, pushing through the crowd delicately. "Tee-balt, sank you for coming 'ere today. Will you please 'elp us find my daught-air?"

Tybalt blinked. "Pardon me, aunt. Allegra? You have summoned me here because of Allegra?"

"Ay, Tybalt," Ricardo said. "Allegra hath been missing since last night. We think a Montague might have found her."

"We do not all think so," Juliet muttered.

"Anything could have happened," Theobald said. "Allegra's quite stupid, you know. She cannot care for herself."

"No, not stupid!" Celestine shot her son a look of shock.

"Ay, stupid," Tancredo hissed with another glare. "Stupid and young and helpless. We have taught her ne'er to go unaccompanied, and ne'er to stray out at night. 'Tis a shame."

"Ay, my good uncle, ay." Tybalt was unsure what to say. He did not want to spend all day searching for one of his least favorite people in the world, and yet, she was a Capulet, and he was the strongest of all his cousins. He wondered if maybe someone would speak for him, but they all stared at him; he was supposed to have all the answers.

Eventually, he cleared his throat. "She will turn up," he mumbled.

Ricardo was the first to reply. "Tybalt, you jest! You must lead us out to find her now! She could be in the hands of a thief, or a Montague!"

"Marry, coz, what would a thief or a Montague want with thy sister?" Tybalt snorted.

"What else?" said Jacqueline, Juliet's mother. "Ransom, rape …maids so comely of houses dignified as ours are sought out after dark by the scum of the night."

"Oh, Jacqueline, pray, do not exaggerate!" Tancredo erupted. "Thou talk'st of Allegra, dost thou not? My brother, surely, hath told thee Allegra's mother doth see fit to educate her like a boy, and she is a third child – not nearly so dear to our house as is your only living one, Juliet."

Juliet looked at Ricardo, who dropped to his knees. "Father, I beseech you -"

"Family, fret not!" Tyablt said, beginning to regret ever coming. "Uncle, I have known thy daughter her entire life. I am sure if I were a thief, or a rapist or -" he cringed - "a Montague, and I kidnapped Allegra, I would eagerly return her straight away, ransom or not."

"What might zat mean?" Celestine cried.

"It means no one of sound mind would chose Allegra to abduct," Theobald said. "She would drive them mad."

"'Twould drive me mad, either way," Tybalt growled.

"Charming, Tibby," said Allegra.

"Oh, good morning Allegra - Allegra?"

Allegra did not think she had caused such a crowd to form. Everyone crowded her as soon as they realized she had entered the hall. It seemed as though a thousand people hugged her at once, and for a moment, she could not breathe. Juliet rescued her from the clump, pulling her out. Before Allegra could speak, her cousin hugged her tightly, so for a moment again she could not breathe.

"Oh, Allegra! Oh, where were you? Ah, I was so terrified!" Juliet wailed, finally loosening her grip on her cousin.

Allegra gathered her breath. "Terrified, for me? Ha! Wherefore were you terrified?" Allegra's grin was too bright to look like that of a sane person. In fact, she looked quite delirious.

Juliet raised his eyebrows. "Allegra, art not thou well?"

Allegra opened her mouth to say she was feeling absolutely fantastic when a sharp, differently-accented voice pierced her ears.

"Allegra Liat!"

Not fully prepared for a lecture, Allegra turned around and curtsied to her mother, who was certainly not looking as cheerful as her daughter. She marched toward Allegra with clenched fists, but her face had an expression that was more of sadness than anger. Allegra was not alarmed by this; her mother was not a relaxed lady by any means.

Celestine wrapped her arms around her daughter, who was tiring of embraces but accepted her mother's anyway. Her family crowded around them, waiting for information. The only questions asked now were those of Celestine.

"Where were you?" she exclaimed. "You could 'ave been dead, and we did not know! Ah, my poor daught-air! You could 'aven gee-ven your mother a 'eart attack! Ah, Allegra! In God's name, where were you, mon cherie? Are you injured?"

"Nay, mother!" Allegra said. "Not at all. I have never been less injured." She had a strange kind of spark in her eye.

"Well, get on with it!" Theobald demanded.

"With what?"

"Thou hast some kind of story to tell," Juliet said. "We were all so very worried for you."

"I meant not to worry you all," Allegra said, feeling a bit guilty all of a sudden.

"Where were you?" Ricardo badgered, putting his arm around his sister and kissing her forehead.

Allegra had hoped they would not ask that, that perhaps they would be too busy being happy she was well to worry about what had happened, but of course that was impossible. Of course they would want to know what happened! The question was how to tell them.

"Well, erm.." Allegra said. "'Tis a long story, I am sure all of you do not want to be bored with the details."

"Allegra, stall not!" Tybalt cried. "Thy family wishes to know!"

"Oh, forgive me, I was distracted by that hideous wart on thy face," Allegra said, even though she knew Tybalt's skin was free of blemishes. Theobald nudged her, but no one else objected; all eager eyes were on her. She knew she had better tell them.

"Well," she said, "last night, I ... I left the party for a breath of fresh air. Men were fighting in the orchard . It was very bloody, and when I saw it, I fainted."

Celestine gasped.

"Were you hurt?" Ricardo put Allegra's face in his hands.

"Nay, Ricky," Allegra said, lowering her brother's hands away. "I came around in a home of ... of one of the Prince's kinsmen, and I rested there until morning."

"Why, Allegra, which kinsman?" Juliet asked.

Allegra's stomach turned inside out. "V-valentine," she said, for that was not a lie. She tried to smile, and as she was thinking of Valentine's brother, this was not hard.

Theobald raised an eyebrow. "Allegra, you lie."

"I do not!" Allegra said. Her voice shook.

"Ay, you do!" Theobald said. "'Twas a Montague, wasn't it?"

Allegra stepped out of Ricardo's arms. "Theo, how dare thee?"

"Hear how her voice shook, and how she smileth that way?" Theobald demanded, pointing at his sister. "She lieth! 'Twas not 'Valentine's' home! She hath thought up such a name even now."

"Nay, Theo!" said Allegra again. "'Twas the home of Valentine!"

Theobald's glare said he still did not believe her. "Swear it."

Allegra crossed her arms. "'Twas Valentine's home!" She left it at that. The thought of Valentine's home still clouded her mind, and so did the thought of Mercutio, whom she was missing already. Celestine's face softened.

"Why, daught-air," she said, holding both of her daughter's hands. "You look quite 'appy!"

"I am, Mother," Allegra said, feeling herself reddening.

"Oh, you blush! 'usband, you see what zis means?" Celestine cried. Her eyes were glazed with tears, exactly the opposite of the way they had been before. "Allegra 'as fallen in love! Ah, my daught-air, a bride as beautiful as Italy has ever seen!"

The Capulets all began to talk at once. Tybalt groaned and hit himself in the forehead, now regretting coming more than ever.

Allegra's brothers did not understand.

"Why do you think so, Mother?" Theobald asked, seemingly looking into Allegra's mind (as he always seemed to do). "She looketh no different to me."

"You are not a woman!" Juliet said to Theobald, while smiling at Allegra. "Oh, Allegra!" she said to Allegra, "who is it?"

Juliet, Jacqueline and Celestine all stared at Allegra as if the news she was in love was the best news in the world. Allegra had been amazed that her mother had known she was in love, but the fact that the other laides were so interested made her a bit uncomfortable. She had hoped no one would ask who it was.

Tybalt spoke before Allegra could. Allegra had never been happier to hear Tybalt's voice.

"Oh, what doth it matter who 'tis!" Tybalt exploded, alarming everyone. Allegra's mother, aunt and cousin looked a bit startled. They started their own giggly conversation away from the men.

"We came here to-day to find her, and now that she is here, we do not need to hear about her childish fancies!" Tybalt went on.

Allegra turned to him. "You are the most childish here, Tibby, so if I were you, for once I would not speak," she said.

"Deny it if thou wishest, girl, but as much as thou might think thou love'st, thou art too young!" Tybalt retorted.

Allegra froze for a moment. Usually she was not insulted by Tybalt. She tried not to seem as though it had bothered her. "He loveth me more than an oaf like thyself could e'er imagine," she shot back.

Tybalt drew back, but then scoffed. "Ay, but will he love thee still when he discovers the size of thy brain?" He laughed at his own joke.

Allegra only smiled. "I assure you, he will love me longer than your lover will when she discovers the size of thy -"

Theobald placed his hand over Allegra's mouth and pulled her to Juliet, who was staring at her feet, trying to keep a straight face.

Ricardo pretended to laugh, eyeing Tybalt with fear. "Allegra is quite a teaser."

Tybalt was clenching his teeth. "Little monster."

Tancredo placed a hand on his nephew's back. "Tybalt, waste not thy hate on my daughter. She is a foolish little thing, thou knowest. We must talk, men, about another matter."

"What?" Tybalt snarled.

"The Montagues," said Juliet's father, Lord Capulet.

"What of them?" Theobald asked.

Tancredo narrowed his eyes. "First, what of you? Are we to understand that the three of you fought last night, despite the Prince's orders?"

The three young men had no answer, so the two older men knew immediately that they had been fighting. Yet they were not angry.

"Good men," Lord Capulet said.

The three younger men all exchanged glances.

"Father, you wish for us to disobey the Prince?" Ricardo asked.

Tancredo glanced at his youngest son as he spoke to all three of the young gentlemen. "Not always, my sons. The Prince is a good man, but not a Capulet. He knoweth not the true story of our family's sworn hate, or the Montagues' foul ways. If he had been born a Capulet, he would hate them as we do."

Lord Capulet took over. "As your kinsmen, we demand that you go on fighting with the Montagues. Look not so shocked!" he added; "'Tis who are the true rulers of Verona."

"Why do you tell us this now?" Theobald asked.

Tancredo looked over at the ladies, who were all interrogating daughter. Then, he said to the men, "I do not believe my daughter telleth the truth."

"Ha!" Theobald said. Tybalt shushed him.

"I believe," Tancredo went on, "my daughter hath been threatened. A Montague did indeed have her last night -"

"That is why she did not swear," said Theobald under his breath.

Tancredo nodded. "Ay. Allegra is an honest young lady, after all – quite too stupid to lie." Tybalt smiled.

Ricardo asked, just to be sure, "You wish for us to fight?"

"We wish not," said Lord Montague, "but bid you so. You shall make the Montagues fall on their knees and beg for mercy." The other men all beamed, and he continued, "You shall beat the Montagues down, and for no reason in the world shall you back down. We are stronger than all Montagues."

"Why, Uncle! You speak as if 'tis a war!"

"It is a war, my nephew, 'tis all a war, to see who is the greater kin."

The Capulet men all burst into a fit of cheering. The victory their family had deserved for over a century was coming, and the Montagues, for whom all of them shared a burning hate, would fall in shame. No Prince would order them differently. The Capulet name would rule Verona!

...

"Ladies, pray come hither!"

Lady Capulet and Celestine excused went to join their husbands. Once they had gone, Juliet's smile fell a little.

She asked Allegra, "Allegra, why didst thou not tell them who thy love is?"

Allegra groaned. "Thou could tell?"

Juliet nodded in pity. "Every time we asked, you spoke of something else and we spoke of that." She paused. "But you will tell me, will you not?"

Allegra sighed. "Juliet, 'twill surprise thee."

"Marry," Juliet said, "if thou tell'st me of thy love, I will tell thee of mine."

"Thou hast one, too?" Allegra said, perking up. "Is it as unbelievable as mine?" She wrinkled her nose. "Or is it Paris?"

"Euw," Juliet said. "Nay." She took a deep breath. "Come, let us say both their names at once. We must to know!"

"Marry," Allegra said; "Now."

"Romeo."

"Mercutio."

Both of them clasped their hands over their mouths.

"Mercutio?" Juliet asked. "The kinsman of the Prince?"

"Romeo? Allegra cried. "Romeo?"

Juliet put her finger to her lips. "Ay, a Montague! Is not it wondrous strange?"

"Nay," Allegra said. "He is a wondrous handsome Montague."

Juliet nodded excitedly. "Oh, Allegra, he is angelic!"

"Far better than awful Paris?" Allegra giggled.

Juliet shuddered. "Pray, do not remind me of him. What of Mercutio? I have only seen him with the Montagues, and heard of him from our cousins, but he is a kinsman of the Prince, is he not? And Paris's cousin? And…mad?"

"He is NOT!" Allegra exploded with laughter, and Juliet joined. "But he is the cousin of Paris." Allegra had not thought of that, and it was shocking; Mercutio was nothing like Paris! She supposed she would forget about it, as Mercutio had done when he had learned her surname. She supposed this is how he had felt - except he was probably even more surprised, she thought.

"That is he," Allegra said, "but he is nothing like Paris."

"Not boring?" Juliet asked.

"Mercutio is the least boring person the world hath e'er seen!" Allegra cried. "And, mark me; last night, outside at thy father's orchard, he even defeated Tybalt at the sword!"

Juliet gaped. "Why, Allegra, he must have some talent!"

Allegra pictured his face, his kiss. "More than some!" she cried.

They both were quite for a moment, thinking of their loves fondly.

"There is one problem," Juliet said after awhile.

"Hmm?" Allegra said, not fully out of Mercutio la-la-land.

"How are we to tell our parents?" Juliet asked.

This caught Allegra's full attention. "I believe they think my love is Valentine, which I suppose is close enough."

"What about mine?" Juliet said, her face grave. "If I should tell them, they will surely be rid of me."

Allegra thought for a moment.

"I've an idea," she said.

"What?" Juliet brightened a little.

"Do not tell them," Allegra said.

Juliet had no expected this, but by the apologetic look on her cousin's face, she knew Allegra had no ideas.

"My ladies, come!" Allerga's nurse called. "Let us break our fast."

The two cousins took their time following their family down the hall. Each of them still had so much to tell the other.

*French for 'what horror' (woe is me, etc.)