Tangled Hearts

Secret Entrances

I

Horatio had the order to bring Ophelia back at any cost. If Horatio does that, it means that Ophelia could be punished or she'll marry the king against her will. He knows it will disturb him forever if he let that happen. Besides Hamlet would want him to do whatever to keep Ophelia safe. It will only depend if he decides to obey the king or not.

Like Ophelia, he had a hard time to find Margareth's place. But he managed to find a wooden door in the end. When he entered and saw Ophelia, he felt relieved. Ophelia didn't know if she should be relieved too, or concerned.

"Horatio? What are you doing here?"

Horatio cautiously closed the door. "The king said I would find you here."

Heinrich knew she would be found in Margareth's and it alarmed Ophelia. "The king sent you?"

"He said that you trust me and I must do whatever to bring you back."

Ophelia breathed hard, fearing Horatio, another friend of Hamlet, would be as treacherous as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

"Do not fear. I will not do such thing."

But Ophelia was no more trusting. "How should I believe you?"

"I can only swear by heaven, I have no intention to return you to the king. He gave me chance to come alone. But if I don't return soon the king will sent soldiers. I ask you to find another place to hide. The king has gone mad when you left. It went worse when word reached him Hamlet left the ship-"

"Hamlet left ship?" Ophelia interrupted, staring at Horatio in confusion, "But I- How? Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had orders to betray him."

"The captain found them dead in the cabin, we were told. Hamlet killed them in self defense and went overboard. He returned and told no one but me." Horatio approached to a still confused Ophelia. "We know the truth, Ophelia. Hamlet has discerned his mistake. He knows his father is the true murderer."

Ophelia scowled, tears running down. Everything is happening fast. Hamlet is alive, but who knows if he really changed his way of seeing things. Now it turns out that he believes in Jacques's innocence? Shamefully, she admitted to herself she still had resentment towards him after he murdered her father and, in a way, collaborated with the death of Jacques.

"Of what avail is it!?" Ophelia shouted in sob, "Jacques is dead! He died for a crime he did not commit. For a guilt that did not belonged to him!"

"No, Ophelia."

"You killed him!" She kept shouting, throwing all the blame on everyone. "You did this! Heinrich...Hamlet...all of you!"

"No. Please listen," he almost shouted but calmed, "You are mistaken. Jacques is still in his cell. I healed his wound overnight."

Ophelia stopped the frowning at the revelation. "What?"

"Jacques has not yet been executed."

She feared it was an illusion. "You are lying to me."

"No, I swear. It was deadly but he's quite a fighter. Your name was only what he repeated."

Her depressive life turned into a blessing again. Tears of heartache turned to tears of hope, the soundness of mind was restored, and her broken heart pieced together, aware that it was happening due to Horatio's words.

She turned her eyes to Margareth. "He lives," she repeats in sobs of happiness.

Margareth had put distance to let them talk, while she was still mourning. But she stopped and became heedful when she heard the name of her son. She raised her gaze upon them when she heard Horatio that he is not dead. Even more relieved to see Ophelia turned to see her and confirm her son is still alive.