Little miss Montague

Chapter 2

The scene fades into a bright room filled with statues. A man is within this room.
Benvolio strides in with elegance. "Good afternoon my cousin." his voice rings out.
"Is it so? I thought it should be night." a deep voice follows. "Almost past fall," Benvolio informs. "Then I am sad the hours seem long." the man wallows.
"What sadness lengthens Romeos hours?" he questions. Romeo looks up. Romeo, son of Montague. "I lack the thing that if I had it would make them short."
"I see, you're in love!" Benvolio smirks.
"How was the tournament?" he changes the subject.
"It served its turn to launch another clash the Capulets."
"So you must fence with hate and I with love." Romeo sighs.
"Love is a harsh tyrant where he rules," Benvolio spoke as if he knew the feeling.
"Love is smoke raised in the fume of sighs and madness drenched is syrup and choked with rage!"
"May I not know who it is you love?"
"I love a woman," he replies.
"That much I found unaided."
"Who loves me not."
"Sweet cousin says not so, but may I have a name?"
"Rosaline."
"Rosaline?!" Benvolio gasps.
"The niece of Lord Capulet?!" he says unable to believe his ears.
"The same."
"Be ruled by me and forget to think of her!"
"Oh, teach me how I should forget to think. Besides, from what I hear you have no right to judge as you are in the same situation as I. You are in love with y/n, are you not?"
"That is different cousin, for she is not a Capulet. Love will not call on you but once nor stay forever when he comes. Release your eyes, be glad she does not care! Examine other beauties!"
"To what purpose?"
"Cousin I pray you change your mind," Benvolio begs.

Later that day the two boys can be found at a weapons stall in the market. As Benvolio examines a blade a servant walks over to them. "Pray you, sir, can you read?" he asks Romeo.
"Ay, if I know the letters and the language." Romeo teased. As the man goes to walk away Romeo pulls him back.
"Stay, fellow I can read. Senior Martino and his wife and daughters, count Anslem and his beauteous sisters, the lady widow of Vertravio, senior Perchentio and his lovely wife, my nephew count...Tybalt and Lucio and lively Helena, my beautiful goddaughter... y/n" he looks at Benvolio "my fair niece... Rosaline. What assembly is this?" Romeo reads.
"A mask gathering tonight at our house."
"Whose house?" Romeo inquires.
"My master, the great Lord Capulet. If you not be of the house of Montague you right welcome for your help. I bid you thanks." and with that, he takes his leave.
"So Rosaline steps with Capulet this night. Do but compare her face with some I know, and I'll make you think your swan a crow."
"As if there could be fairer than my love. I'll go tonight but only to rejoice and worship in the glory of my choice. And to see you blush like a maiden haven just had her first kiss stolen from her virgin lips, at your love y/n." Romeo smirks and walks off.

The scene changes to Juliets room where the two girls are getting ready. The nurse shows them a looking glass and they both smile at the way they look.
"Heaven's child, what are you thinking? Make haste! The guests will be long gone by the time you two are ready to receive them!"
"What is it my lady?" y/n says as Lady Capulet sighs.
"Girls, you're women now."
"Not women." the nurse giggles.
"Well, they are nearly women."
"Nearly but not yet!"
"Nurse I know my children's age!"
It fills y/n with joy to hear her claim her as her own.
"I think of Juliet's birth as if it were yesterday. I remember, two, one day when she would fall and cut her brow, my husband (rest his soul) picked up the child 'why do you fall on your face' says he. 'You'll fall backwards when you have more wit.' and looking up at him the young child said yes!"
Y/n bit back a laugh at this. Juliet took notice of this and elbowed her in the side.
"Enough of this, I pray you hold your peace." Lady Capulet chides.
" ye- madam I must laugh that a child could stop crying like that and then say yes to Jack!"
"Nurse!" Exclaims Juliet. "I pray you stop. I beg."
"Peace I have done. But I must say you were the prettiest babe I ever nursed, you and y/n till now. If I could live to see you two wed I'll have my wish!"
"And that is the very theme that I came to talk about. Tell me daughter, what do you think of marriage?"
"I never think of it."
"Well think of it now. Younger than you a mothers, I was your mother too when I was your age."
"I know it."
"Count Paris wants you for his wife and love."
"Count Paris?!" y/n gasps.
"So daughter, can you love the man?"
"I hardly know him!"
"Then learn to know him at the feast tonight."
"Study his eyes. Read the message there."y/n whispers.
"Yes. See if you can be happy with him."
"I'll look and try to like him if that is my parents wish." Juliet answers almost miserably.