Tangled Hearts

Return to Elsinore

I

The people of Elsinore had woken up early for the arrangements of the engagement dinner. They all did their duties, except Horatio. Early morning, a sailor came to Horatio to leave a letter. The sailor said he was ordered the letter to be sent only to him and make sure no one knows. When he read the letter, he felt a mix of fear and relief. The letter came from Hamlet. The prince has returned but didn't want anyone to know, except him, his only friend. The letter says Hamlet expected him in the churchyard as soon as he receives the letter.

Horatio was discreet to abandon the castle and get to the churchyard. He scanned the place searching for Hamlet. Then he went inside the parish and there he found him. He was wearing the same clothes as the day he left, and he was catching breath like he was tired. He was a bit dirty, and sweaty. His skin was pale like he got a cold. Horatio could assume that the return was not easy. Why did he returned alone?

"Hamlet." He gives him a friendly hug. "I'm relieved you returned. Why you asked me to meet you alone?"

Hamlet was still thunderstruck after last night. He may have a cold but anger burned him. "Horatio...you are the only I have left that I trust," he said, "You would never stab me in the back as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. And...my own father."

Horatio got surprised by these abrupt words. "What has happened?"

"They tried to murderer me in my sleep. They said it was my father's orders. They were really going to do it. I had to..." The tears made Hamlet unable to finish, but Horatio understood. "Rosencrantz said...my father wanted Ophelia. Is it true?"

Hamlet's words were absolute confirmation of Horatio's suspicions. He would not hesitate to confirm the truth to his friend. He wouldn't turn his back on him like his damned friends did. "I'm afraid he does. With Laertes's consent, their engagement is to be announced tonight."

These revelations are causing chaos in Hamlet's head. Apparently the truth is being more painful than the lie. It is not only about the betrayal of his friends, but of his father. If Rosencrantz was honest of what he said about Ophelia, then he was also honest about Gertrude's murder. Hamlet was so onto his frustration, he has a hard time to say his words. "If its true...then what they said...my mother was murdered...it was my father."

"I wish I could say I know nothing. Woefully, I have no doubts," Horatio says in sad tone knowing it would hurt Hamlet. "The night of Polonius's demise, he unconciously confessed the king's crime but refused to say more. It was baffling...with all evidence accusing Lord Jacques..."

Hamlet was motionless but his heart was pounding hard. He felt that he's dying for learning so much despicable truths. He wondered if he really knew his father at all. Being capable to murder his wife and command the murder of his son. Those acts only come from a malevolent like the Devil. So that was what his mother's ghost was referring to. The sin was committed in the Devil's chambers, or rather Heinrich's.

"Oh my poor mother! My father! How could he!?" He yelled, burying his head in his palms.

"Hamlet, do you realize an innocent man was unjustly sentenced to death?" Horatio asked him with the purpose of making him come to reason. "You swore justice on your mother's grave. Let your hate aside and decide what will you do."

Hamlet knows Horatio is right. Jacques is innocent. He was never a murderer, nor was he a rapist. But because of the pride and contempt he feels for him, it is difficult for him to want to fix things. He may as well leave him there in the dungeon for all the humiliation he put him through lately, but he understood he was the first to humiliate him. He will have to pull himself together and decide whether to be carried away by the thirst for justice or revenge.