Benvolio and Rosaline

6-Deadly scratches

Rosaline, still sorry for Benvolio, returned home and told her cousin about what had happened but saw that she was not who knows how interested she was. She was thinking more about getting pretty for something important, maybe for her beloved Romeo. When he finished lunch, he sneaked into Tybald's fighting room to train and put Benvolio's strategies into practice.When her brother also entered the room Rosaline tried to make him reason and change his mind about that fight. But as an answer he got a resounding <no>. She still tried to talk to him but what came to her was a slap in the face. Rosaline, shocked by that gesture, took her brother's face in her hands and looked for answers in his eyes. They were lucid and sad, as if he wanted to cry. Rosaline remembered her brother well before their move to Verona... and Tebaldo wasn't that.The girl then gave him a kiss on the forehead and then left the room.

Towards the hottest hours of that day Benvolio, Mercutio and the Montague boys went towards Old Bridge."Please Mercuyio, wouldn't it be better to let it go; the Capulets are around: if we meet them we certainly won't avoid a fray" said Benvolio."You are one of those who, when they enter a tavern, put the sword on the table shouting <God shate I don't have to use it> and at the second glass they put it out for no reason against the innkeeper""Are they really like that?""Go go, you are the biggest hothead in all of Verona, no one is like that in all of Italy. How can Rosaline put up with you""Maybe because he's my opposite""Or maybe because opposites attract. I saw her, a lady so refined and polite that she knows how to handle a sword with such ease next to a hot head like you. It wouldn't be bad, you know"And anyway if I was as ready for fights as you are, anyone could buy the property of my life for an hour and a quarter""A really meagre piece!"But between laughter and discussions, the Montagues did not realise that the Capulets were on their trail, led by Tybald. While Rosaline stood at the bottom of the crowd with a disappointed and worried look."For my soul, here are the Capulets" said Benvolio. When he saw Rosaline in those conditions he had the instinct to throw himself into her arms to make her feel his closeness. "For my heels, I don't care, let them come as well" said Mercutio.Tybald approached the Montagues with an air of defiance: "Gentlemen, good morning, a word with one of you""A word with one of us? Add something more: a word and a punch""You will find me quite suitable for that, sir, if you give me the opportunity""Because you don't know how to take the opportunity on your own" Mercuzio replied, starting to laugh."MERCUTIO! Do you have agreements with Romeo?!" Tybald shouted."Deals?! What? Do you take us for minslings? If you make these of us, make sure that we don't go out of tone; here is my violin bow, this is what will make you dance" Rosaline, seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, went towards the two boys trying to divide them. "We are here in a public place, either we retire to a private place and speak calmly and as civilised people or it is better to separate. Here everyone is looking at us""Slot up sister, they are men's speeches"Benvolio, hearing the conversation, approached the girl, standing behind her."The eyes were given to men to look at, so let them watch"While they were about to start fighting from behind the boys Montague was seen Romeo coming in the saddle of his horse. "Well, here's my man coming" said Tybald.Romeo approached the crowd, trying to understand what was happening."Romeo, the love I bring can't suggest a better word than this: you're a cowale" he continued and then spat close to the boy's feet."Tybald, the reasons I have to love you make me excuse this fit of anger. I'm not cowardly; goodbye, I see you don't know me" Romeo concluded and then turned to his friends."Romeo, this will not erase the outrages you have inflicted on me; turn around then and take out your sword" said Tybald inciting him to fight."Oh, turpe moderation! Unworthy submission! To the sting!" Mercutio intruded on that conversation and, unsheathed his sword, urged Tybald to fight:"Good king of cats, nothing, except one of your nine lives, which I intend to take in all freedom""I'm ready," said Tybald, unshearing his sword in turn."Dear Mercutio, put the sword back" said Romeo."Come on sir, let's see your past" replied Mercutio.From there the fight began. The Capulets advanced on the Montecchi pulling out their swords and the enemy family did the same thing.Rosaline, while fighting and dodging some boy, tried to get to Benvolio to talk to him.The boy understood her intention and helped her, then took her by the hand and walked away from the fray.Rosaline hugged him: "O Benvolio, I tried to make my brother reason, but he is deaf to any kind of excuse and plea. And then I feel guilty about this morning's scene, and...""Rosaline calm down, you did your best and that's fine with me. And then for the story of this morning I already told you not to worry, you couldn't know" he replied.Rosaline smiled and a tear was down her cheek, but the girl saw that from behind Benvolio a Capulet was coming who, surely, had no good intentions.Fortunately, Benvolio managed to turn around in time to stop the blow and defend himself. Meanwhile, Rosaline fought with a Montague a little further away from the boy.While they were fighting they heard Mercutio complain about something and this attracted everyone's attention, but the boyCapuleti took advantage of it to wound Benvolio's face. He made a cut on his cheek just below the eye.Rosaline saw the scene and punched Capulet and ran to Benvolio to ask him how he was.The blood was coming out of the wound, so Rosaline tore a piece of her shirt and dabbed the wound trying to stop the blood.But while this was happening, Mercutio's lament became louder. Tybald had hit him during a scrum between him, Mercutio and Romeo."I'm hurt. I'm doomed" said Mercutio trying to stand up. Meanwhile Rosaline and Benvolio approached the group."What, are you hurt?" Romeo asked."Yes, yes, a scratch. Just a scratch. And that's enough" Rosaline knew that for Mercutio there would be no chance of survival, but she wanted to hope for it.Thebaldo, after realising that he had mortally hit Mercuzio, called the Capulets to himself and they tried to leave with their legs up."ROSALINE, come here right away" Tybald shouted to his sister. The girl shakes her head and stayed with the Montague. Tybald, furious, approached her, drew the sword wounding the girl's throat. Rosaline collapsed on the ground trying to stop the little blood that came out of the wound.Benvolio ran up to her and handed her a piece of cloth from her shirt.Tybald, seeing that scene, pointed his sword at the boy: "Get away from her immediately"Benvolio looked at her brother, stood up towards him and punched him in the face: "Go away from her, you only hurt her" and Tybald ran away reaching the others. "Coer up friend, the wound can't be that serious" said Romeo to Mercutio."It is certainly not as deep as a well as a well, nor as wide as the portal of a church; but it is enough, and it will produce its effect. Come and ask about me tomorrow, and you will find me in a grave" he said and then fell to the ground. Romeo lowered himself towards his friend trying to lift him up. "Cursed to your families! They took away all my days!" And so it was that the noble Mercutio exhaled his last words, and his last breath.Rosalina, like all the Montecchi, was shocked by the boy's death."The good Mercutio is dead. His soul has flown to the sky," Benvolio said in tears.Romeo wied his tears and stood up: "Benvolio remains here, with the noble Mercury. I have an outstanding account that I have to finish," he said and then ran in the direction of the Capulets.Benvolio got up and tried to stop his cousin but to no avail. Rosaline approached him and together with the other Montagues they began to follow Romeo and Tybald.They found them in a square where there was no living soul but the sound of their irons resounded and the anger of both was on the rise."Now, Tybald, take back the name of the vile that you have given me. Mercury's soul is not far above us, and is waiting for you to keep her company; either you, or I, or we should both follow him," said Romeo."You, wretched, who were his friend on earth, you will go with him" replied Tybald."Now we'll see"They started fighting again and all the boys were focussed on the outcome of the clash.While they were fighting, Romeo fell to the ground but managed to stop the enemy's blow. He got up in a hurry and managed to distract Tybald, hitting him from behind on the back.Rosaline widened her eyes and collapsed to the ground, while the other Capuletes hurried to try to rescue Tybald, but for him there was nothing left to do because his soul was reaching that of Mercutio."Fled, Romeo fled! The citizens are needed, and Tybald is dead. Don't stay there impaled. The prince will sentence you to death if you are taken... Save yourself... run away! Run away! " said Benvolio.Romeo then ran away.Benvolio saw that Rosaline was slumming to the ground with tears in her eyes and, regardless of who was present, he sat next to her hugging her to console her. "Go away, they're all looking at us," said the girl through tears."I don't care if I'm looking at us, because I'm consoling the person I care about the most"