Hi readers! I feel like it's been forever since I've posted this (I started working on a new novel), but I knew I needed to post today, as it's Shakespeare's birthday (or so we think).

Thanks to all my great reviewers and readers. I love you all!

DISCLAIMER - I'll give Shakespeare a good disclaimer today as a birthday present. I own nothing in this fic but Allegra, her brothers, her parents, their first names, Bruna, and Simon.

Note: You've realized this is Rated T? It certainly is. Language wise, it's liable to even go past. My apologies. Keep this in mind while you enjoy.

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The candle light made Allegra's head spin. After the longest day of her life, she wished she could just go to bed, but the Prince was still there, and no one had dismissed her. Ignoring her aching head and avoiding her father's stern face, she rubbed at the bandage on her arm to distract herself from the booming voice of the Prince. A thought pained her; she did not know what her father's face had looked like when the Prince had told him about her and Mercutio. She thought it probably should not bother her so much, what he thought - and anyway, should her father not just be glad a kinsman of the Prince favored Allegra? Being a friend of the Montagues didn't change who Mercutio was, did it?

She raised her head a bit to look at her father. Did it...?

The Prince's voice was loud as ever in the darkening sitting room. "...innocent maiden," he had been telling everyone. Tybalt, who had joined them earlier, cleared his throat at this. Tancredo had given Allegra an angry look earlier, demanding she left Tybalt alone. Allegra couldn't believe it. Tybalt had just tried to kill her! She wanted nothing more than to charge him and punch all the hate out of him, but her arm still stung a little, she was exhausted and it would not be appropriate in the Prince's presence. The Prince was already so fond of her, so it seemed.

"What say you, Capulet?" the Prince said, suddenly turning his direct attention to Tancredo. "Do you think 'tis right for your kinsmen to harm your sinless daughter? Do you believe this is a triumph for the Capulets?"

Tancredo was holding back a snarl. "Nay, my lord. I would expect my kinsmen to defend the maidens of our family and not harm them."

"And you shall keep in mind your nephew Tybalt is on his final chances," the Prince asked, "and that your daughter's further harm is punishable by death for Tybalt or anyone with him?"

"I shall," said Tancredo, biting his tounge.

"Then I am no longer needed here," the Prince said in a final tone, gesturing for his followers to stand. "I thank you all for your time. Allegra Capulet, remember, thou art forever welcome in the sanctuary of the palace or the home of my brother and his sons my nephews."

"Thank you, my lord," said Allegra, cringing slightly as he mentioned his brother's sons. She wanted more than anything to talk to Mercutio now. She had left him so quickly. After what he had done to protect her, she thought he was the most amazing man in the world, even more than she had before today.

After the Prince left, Allegra, Theobald, Ricardo, Celestine and Tybalt all waited for Tancredo to speak again. Allegra's insides all morphed into one tight little ball that pained her when she breathed. To her, and everyone's, surprise, Tancredo's face was solemn.

"Thank you, Tybalt," he said, and Tybalt left. Allegra went back to picking at her bandage, feeling her nerves calm. Everyone expected to be dismissed.

"Stupid girl," Tancredo said clearly.

Allegra looked up. She had been so sure he would not blame it on her. He took the side of his family for everything, but this was different. Allegra had been completley innocent. "Father?" she said as loudly as he had spoken.

Tancredo shot up, his face reddening. "You have shamed our entire family disgracefully to-day, you idiot girl!"

"How, Father? What have I done?" Allegra snipped, standing also. She had never spoken this way to her father before. It was entirely inappropriate, but she had never been so angry.

"You have embarassed -"

"I have embarassed the Capulets? Have I really? Oh, I am so sorry!" Allegra cried, clenching her teeth. "I am sorry I was not thinking of the Capulets when some savage man was trying to finger me, and when mine brothers thought nothing of't. And I suppose they do not embarrass the Capulets, but I do for nearly being raped and killed?"

"Daught-air, si vous plait, go no further -" Celestine cried, but Tancredo shushed her.

"You shamed us before to-day, girl! What is this, 'Mercurial' -"

"Mercutio, Father," Theobald muttered.

"'Mercutio', a Montague's friend? And Tybalt's only defeater?" Tancredo fumed. "And courting you?"

"And a bastard, Father, a crazy bastard," Theobald added.

"Damn you, Theobald, shut thy mouth! He defeated Tybalt only because he is better than Tybalt!" said Allegra, and Celestine gasped. "He is a better fighter and a better man and he would never hurt me and I love him!"

"He is practical kin with the Montagues! I shall die before you see him ever again! You will stop with him before you go a step further –"

"We have gone further than you know, Father." Allegra's brothers gaped at her.

"Do not threaten me! You are a stupid virgin and you know nothing of love!"

"JESUS CHRIST*!" Allegra yelled, and Celestine cried, "Allegra Liat!", but Allegra went on.

"Drop dead, then, for I side with the Montagues and they are the stronger family, and I am not a virgin and I love him more than you love anything in the world!"

Allegra was out of breath. She would have gone on, but was silenced by the most horrible glare she had ever seen from her father. His face was so red and he breathed so hard - Allegra was not afraid, even though she knew she had said too much.

"You..slept...with...a...MONTAGUE ALLY?" Tancredo screamed. "YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED AT THE PLAZA TODAY, YOU HELL-CHILD! HOW DARE YOU ASSIOSIATE WITH ANYONE OF THAT CROWD? HOW DARE YOU SAY THEY ARE THE STRONGER FAMILY?"

"THEY ARE THE BRAVER AND THE BETTER MEN!" Allegra yelled at the same time. "AND YOU KNOW THAT! THEY TRIED TO DEFEND ME WHEN SIMON HAD ME ON THE WALL, THEY TRIED TO DEFEND ME AND MINE BROTHERS DID NOT! YOU ARE A BEAST!"

"Scum!" Tancredo yelled. "Whore, disgrace, dunce ... Go to your bed chamber and stay there until I say to leave! You will stay there for a year, for all I care!"

"I would as well die than stay in this room!" Allegra held her ears and fled to her bed chamber, blocking out any more of her fathers' harsh words or her brother's disbelieving gasps, or her mother's horrified squeals. She had said all she had felt. She had wasted her hope on wishing for her father's sympathy. She flung herself onto the bed and, for the first time she could remember, cried as though she were four years old until she was left out of breath and had to fall asleep.

She woke some time later, still shaking from the fight with her father and all the sobbing. She had thought that maybe sleeping and crying would help her feel better. That had been childish of her, she thought. She had felt like a disgrace to the Capulet name her entire life, but never like this. She curled herself into a ball on her bed. She had known her father did not like her and had wanted a third son, not a sickly daughter. She wished she could have born into another family, like the Montagues. Surely they would not mind if their daughter loved Mercutio.

Allegra sighed. She recalled a few weeks ago, when they agreed not to marry but still to one day go away together to Venice. If it meant leaving Verona forever, Allegra thought she would love to go to Venice, with Mercutio, who she had never loved more, who would hold and protect her...

She felt a tear run down her cheek again, and wiped it away. She did not want to see herself crying again, or whining for her pain; she was stronger than that. She distracted herself and went to her window. The moon was on the river, and it looked later then she had thought. No one was on the street that she could see. She gasped to herself as a new idea entered her mind. The vines beneath her window were easy to climb; she had climbed them multiple times throughout her life. The Prince had offered her sanctuary, hadn't he? And her father had said she would be here for a long time. He had never struck her before, but Allegra had a feeling she would be starved. Without another thought, she gathered her courage and climbed down the tower, untangling her bandage as it got stuck to the vines.

Once she was safe on the ground, she began to run. The palace was closer than Mercutio's home, and while she could easily go there, something told her not to cross the plaza; it was large, and dark and deserted, it would look empty and frightening. She wondered if the Prince would be angry with her for coming at night, but doubted he would if she told him why.

"There!" said a familiar voice.

Allegra's heart skipped a beat as a cold hand covered her mouth. That horrible feeling of helplessness entered her again, and she fidgeted as she was brought into a dark alleyway. She screamed as she was thrown against the wall again, in the same way as before -

"Simon!" she yelled.

Simon bowed, as did Tybalt. There were other men as well. All of them wore hoods, as to disguise themselves. Allegra was too shocked to be afraid.

"What are you doing?"

"Why, kidnapping thee, sweet," said Simon in a mocking tone, "and shouldst thou protest, I shall do the honor of killing thee."

"Thank thee, Allegra, for making this so simple," Tybalt said as he tied her hands. "We were going to come to thy window."

"Tybalt! Thou art mad!" Allegra yelled. "Wherefore dost thou do this?"

"Ah," Simon said, "but to everyone in Verona, I assure thee, 'twill be the Montagues doing it, not us."

Allegra's fear finally kicked in as she understood. She knew her father would believe them that the Montagues were doing this, never her.

Unable to use her hands in any way, Allegra kicked Simon as hard as she could. Simon did not look phased.

"I was not planning to do this quite yet," Tybalt said with a horrible mocking smile, "but I think we should now, shan't we, Simon? We needn't wait! 'Tis all the Montagues' doing, after all, and there are no rats here to beg us to spare her."

"I shall do the honors," Simon said, drawing.

Allerga could no longer protest. The world in front of her blackened.