Not your Romeo and Juliet

t h i r t e e n

As soon as I get out of the hall, I think of a place to hide the stone.

Should I hide it easy for the king or at an extremely difficult place for us.

The king couldn't even keep his promise. This is the only chance we get to stay in Verona and see the hatred between our families go away.

I've long wished for that.

I sense something strange. Before I turn, I notice five masked men encircling me.

I try to avoid them and run but they trap me in the centre.

"Let me leave." I say calmly.

"What makes you think we will?" One of them answers.

"It's an order by the Queen. " I answer with authority.

"What might this little Queen do?" Another one replies.

"Separate your head from your body." I shout back.

"Isn't she too bold for a lady?" The first one laughs at his own joke.

"Well I'm the Queen."

"You don't say that." One of them tries to come closer.

"What do you want?" I try to keep my voice sharp, but I cannot.

"Isn't it obvious? The spiritual stone, ofcourse." The man approaching me answers.

I try to think of an escape. It isn't easy. They are all surrounding me. That's when I notice a sword hanging on his waist.

Time to use some sword fighting I've learnt.

When he is closer in my proximity, I grasp the box containing stone hard near my chest and let out the sword.

"Too brave for a lady." Another one lunges towards me.

"Too talkative for a thief." I shout back.

I dodge the few strikes he makes and fight back.

"Defence is better than Attack."

I make that my strategy. I defend myself pretty well, much to my shock.

But suddenly, someone unexpectedly swings the sword behind me and the noise makes me lose my balance.

I compose myself after the Attack and swing back, holding the box with all my life.

"Give up already!" A man strikes so hard that the force vibrates through my hand. I don't let go but the push becomes harder with time.

"Is that how you're taught to behave infront of a lady ?" I hear a familiar voice.

Romeo.

The grip loosens as the man searches for the owner of the voice. Once he spots Romeo, I take my chance.

I turn him around and point my blade on his throat. The blood gushes out of him and reddens by blade.

"Distraction is a key to failure." I tell.

"Using my words then." Romeo smiles at the distance.

I push the man onto the ground and run towards Romeo.

I stand behind him for quite some time, hiding myself so that only my dress is visible from front as I face by back on Romeo's.

"First deadly duel. Ready for it?" He asks from behind.

"I was born ready." I answer turning around.

We both lunge forward and fight with our whole power. Few of them fall down, others fight more. By the end, I'm tired.