Benvolio and Rosaline

1-A Verone Full of Hate

It's afternoon in beautiful Verona, a weak sun illuminates the city, the citizens' voices resonate in the alleys and many of them run to reach the Arena, where a tournament between two great rival families is about to take place. from each other for several decades.A challenge for whoever will win the royal ring.This competition was wanted by the Prince of Verona to try to calm the clashes that had arisen between the two families.However, many citizens considered this meeting a waste of time...The Arena was decorated with red and blue flags, which recalled the colors of the two houses. The noblest spectators sat on the family stands, while passers-by stopped or leaned against the walls. On the blue grandstand there were Mr. Montague and his wife sitting in the front row. Both sons of noble Veronese families. Next to them sat their only nephew, the master's brother's son, a boy of 16, with curly brown hair, light eyes, pale skin and dressed in a red suit. Attached to his belt was a sword protected by a leather sheath. It was young Benvolio. Behind them an immense crowd ready to applaud. Instead, in the red stands, Mr. Capulet and his wife sat in front and behind them, as if on the side of the rival family, a crowd of people was sitting and starting to cheer. A girl, hiding the left side of her face so as not to be seen by the rival family, was sitting in the left corner of the gallery as if she wasn't even a citizen, looking at both families.The mysterious girl was about fifteen years old, with platinum blonde hair and green eyes.She was wearing a simple blue dress. However, he kept a sword hidden. That was Rosaline.Suddenly a trumpet blast was heard and everyone present began to applaud until the Prince of Verona arrived. He was the only son of a noble family, born and raised in Verona. Almost nothing was known about him, he was a very private person, without any close friends or relatives. He was married to a young woman and was the father of her only son, Count Paris.He approached his throne which was placed between the stands of the two families and after having settled himself he began to speak, attracting the attention of all the citizens."Citizens present here, today you will witness the competition to decide which of the two most noble families of beautiful Verona, the Montagues and the Capulets, will win the royal ring"After his short speech, the crowd applauded and whistled with all their might and a few moments later the trumpets began to sound and, from one of the arches, a male figure entered on the back of a brown horse.The man wore armor, while the horse wore a saddle and stirrups in the colors of House Montague. The knight was the noble Mercutio, a family friend of the Montagues, it was as if he were their relative. A boy of about twenty, curly and dark, with a pair of green eyes that everyone would have envied. He was defined as the soul of the group among the Montague boys.When he arrived, the crowd applauded him and he was given a stick with which he was supposed to pick up the ring.Shortly afterwards the trumpets sounded again and from one of the vaults his rival entered on horseback: Tybalt, Rosaline's brother. He wore red armor and the accessories carried by the horse were also the same color and he was also given a staff.The two challengers positioned themselves on the starting line. They had to go around the entire arena three times and finally take the ring with the pole. First, the two men go on a trip. The crowd went wild, some cheering for the Montagues and others cheering for the Capulets."Come on cousin" shouted Mr. Capulet to encourage Tybalt.The horses galloped at high speed.The challengers held out their sticks ready to enter the ring.The steeds ran alongside each other but Mercutio's ran much further allowing the young Montague the victory.Mister Montague, his wife, and young Benvolio stood up, clapping and cheering with the crowd. Rosalina also applauded, without being seen. But while one family rejoiced on one side, the other looked at it with contempt. Mercutio raised the pole as a sign of victory and was given the ring; he then dismounted from his horse, took off his helmet and went in front of the prince.Tybalt hurriedly dismounted his steed and threw his helmet to the ground. He looked at his family with disdain, spat on the ground and stormed out of the Arena.Tybalt was known for his irascible temper and for being cold towards everyone.Benvolio handed the ring to the prince, then the latter spoke:"I hereby declare Mercutio, of the Montecchi family, our champion. I wish you all a happy day."