Benvolio and Rosaline

8- By candlelight

After the Prince's convocation, Rosaline went to theMarket to buy medicinal herbs to treat her throat scratch. While she was on her way home, she saw the Nurse passing through the streets, trying not to be seen, towards the church of Friar Laurence.Rosaline realised that it was Juliet who had sent the Nurse, maybe to know how Romeo looked.So the girl ran home to understand how her cousin felt after the terrible news.When she arrived home,  immediately went to Juliet's rooms, avoiding some servants and balies that were circulating in the rooms.Slowly she stretched his face towards the inside of his room and saw her lying on the bed crying holding the pillow to herself.Her parents thought she was crying for the death of his cousin in Tybald, when instead she was shedding tears for his beloved.Rosaline slowly entered the room calling Juliet's attention."See out!" The cousin shouted."And why not, I came here to see how your mood was after the terrible news""How do you want me to be! It sucks because of you! You allowed, like my parents, the Prince to exile my beloved Romeo. Damn you Capulets!""Shut up Juliet!" Rosaline shouted furiously.Juliet looked at her and realised she had exaggerated."I tried to defend the Montague and Romeo, going against our family. So don't blame me for something I tried to put peace in," Rosaline said, raising her voice."Rosaline I didn't want to make you angry. I exaggerated and I recognise it. I'm just very worried and sad about Romeo. Please forgive me" Juliet said, looking for answers in her cousin's eyes."Juliet, I forgive you without a shadow of a doubt" Rosaline said calming her down and sitting on the bed next to her."And then I couldn't defame the Montaue family. I could, how to say, have to deal with it," she continued with a different tone of voice."Wait, are you telling me that... you're dating... a Montaague?" The surprised cousin asked. Rosaline smiled and nodded. Juliet was very shocked but also very happy for her cousin. He had always hoped for a happy marriage for his cousin."Come on Rosaline, tell me his name""He is... Benvolio Montague"Juliet jumped for joy and hugged her cousin."I'm so happy for you, dear cousin," she said."I hope one day that this love can become something more""Why hasn't Friar Laurence already made you husband and wife?" "Not yet, let some time pass""she seems to hear my father talking""Yes, but who was the only Capulet who knew how to stand up to him, this blonde in front of your eyes dear"The two cousins then laughed."Rosaline, what do you think your mother will say?" Juliet asked, changing the tone of voice, becoming more serious."You didn't tell your mother that you're dating Romeo, and why should I tell mine""Maybe because your mother will be here in days?" She said confused. "WHAT?!" Rosaline exclaimed in surprise "How do you know? Why didn't you warn me?""I thought my mother had warned you of her arrival" Her mother then entered the bedroom door, still a little destroyed by the news of Tebaldo."To tell you what?" The woman asked."Dear aunt, you didn't tell me that my mother had left to come to Verone" Rosaline said worried."Well, now you know," she replied drily.Rosaline thought about what to do, she knew very well why her mother was heading to Verone, and she had to do something.She ran out of her cousin's room and headed towards the exit, not paying attention to the calls of her aunt and Juliet. Rosaline wanted to get out of that prototype of life and live one of her own: with Benvolio, outside the walls of Verone, away from her mother and free. Free in any sense: free to express herself, free to wear what she wanted, free to live a life of her own.Rosaline had always imagined what her life would be like, and now she had a very clear picture of it: her and Benvolio, together.As she ran towards the exit, he saw the Nurse returning after being in the city.She stopped her and asked her if she had gone to Friar Laurence and she nodded. She then asked her if she had seen a boy dressed inA dark red suit and Nurse replied that she had seen a boy with curly brown hair near the Friar's church. Rosaline thanked her, took her cloak and left the house. She mounted on his horse and headed towards the city centre. The alleys were not full of citizens as in the previous days; the reason was due to the fact that most people had decided to protest the too much blood spilled on the streets of Verona and the conflicts that disturbed the peace in the cityRosaline got off her horse and sheltered him in one of the many public stables that the city offered.She put on her hood and ran towards the church.She knew that Benvolio was still there, she believed it and hoped for it but her run was interrupted immediately when she saw the boy talking to his uncle right in front of the church.The tone of their voice was high enough that Rosaline could listen to their conversation."Dear nephew, can you remember the name of that lady present today at the Prince's hearing?" Mr. Montague asked."As far as I can remember her name is Rosaline Capulet, sister of the deceased Tybald""Who knows how sad that girl will be" he said in a sorry tone, very unusual on his part."Are you getting attached to her?" The boy asked in surprise. He would never have expected such a comment from his uncle. He had always been a man faithful to his home and hearing a speech of appreciation towards his enemy was, according to him, very unusual."I don't know, my mind is confused: a Capulet who defends us Montague. I thought it was a nice gesture, defending my only son and going against his family""Maybe is a sign""I hope so. Verone will be reborn" the gentleman concluded and then left.Rosalina smiled at that conversation. She finally felt accepted.She then saw that Benvolio returned to the church and decided to follow him. She glanced inside the room and found it near a bench. The girl made herself heard by calling his name and, to hear it, the boy turned around going to meet the girl hugging her tightly and then going together to sit on the bench where the boy was before. "I was...praying for the noble Mercutio before you arrived""Were very fond of him, weren't you?" Rosaline asked looking for answers in the boy's eyes."A lot, he was the only person who could make me and Romeo joy" he replied almost in tears.Benvolio turned his gaze to the girl and noticed that there was something unusual in her eyes."Rosaline, are you okay? Your gaze seems thoughtful" "A Bad news has come to me. Remember when I told you about my mother, that her only ambition was to find me a good husband. Here, in a few days She should arrive here in Verone and her visit will be to tell me that she has found someone with whom I can marry" he concluded."And...do you want this wedding?" Benvolio hesitant churches."Of course not, I only want you. Please help me," Rosaline replied.Benvolio smiled and stroked the girl's cheek. "Aren't you sad about your brother's death?" The boy asked, strangely changing the subject.Rosaline waited a few moments to answer:"Yes, of course I'm sad, despite his bad character he was still my older brother. I try not to show too much when I'm sad or crying, I don't want to be weak"Benvolio, sorry for Rosaline, took her hand and said to her: "Don't keep everything inside, it's not good for you. Unfortunately I don't know if I can help you with the marriage story, but I can distract you from this situation""What do you mean by <distract >?" She said doubtfully. Benvolio stood up, held out his hand to Rosaline, took it and then they left the church together, realising that it was evening and it was about to rain."Come on, follow me, my love," said the boy, accompanying the girl to the Montague's house. "Why are you taking me to your house? Don't we risk being seen?""No, don't worry. You will soon find out why I brought you here"(Hi guys, I'm the author, again. I suggest you, from this point of the chapter, to listen to the song "Come, gentle night" by Abel Korzeniowski, which you can find in the playlist. Good continuation <3)Arriving at the entrance of Montaague's house, Benvolio led Rosaline to his room, which was lit by candles that created a romantic atmosphere.Rosaline complimented Benvolio for the room, but she couldn't finish because she was interrupted by the clash of her lips with those of Benvolio. It was a kiss full of passion, a sincere kiss full of love.When they broke away, Rosaline fell into the eyes of her beloved and there she realised that she was really in love with him. "I love you Rosaline" said the boy with a low tone of voice.Rosalina smiled at him, gently stroked his cheek and left another tender kiss on his rosy lips."I love you too Benvolio"Benvolio looked at her with a loving look and with his hand he put a strand of hair behind the girl's ear that fell on her face. But his hand was not limited only to this: with his index finger, after removing it from the lock, he ran it along the girl's neck and then reached the knot that held the mantle tied.With the help of the other hand he untied the tie, making the mantle fall on the floor.Then Rosaline did the same thing: with the slow movement of her hand she reached the boy's jacket, taking it off and making him stay only with a white shirt that showed part of his chest.Then he took the laces of his shirt and untied them, leaving his chest and belly uncovered.Rosaline blushed. It was the first time she saw a boy like that, showing parts of the body that only a wife can see."Are you red, Countess?" The boy asked. The girl hinted at a smile, but without answering the question. "You know you're even more beautiful" he whispered and then took off his shirt completely, letting it fall. Afterwards Benvolio's hands stretched towards RosalinE's jacket and he untied the braided laces like a corset, took it out of his body to leave it close to the cloak.She then had a green robe tied with a belt that the boy untied and took off, leaving her with a single band that covered her breasts.Rosaline approached the beloved once again making her lips join in another intense and passionate kiss. During the kiss, Benvolio sat on the bed, running his hands over the girl's hips, while Rosaline's were fixed on the boy's neck.Then the girl sat on the legs of the messenger, girding her legs around his waist."How come I didn't notice you before" Rosaline thought in a loud voice, breaking away from Benvolio's lips."Maybe because you thought I was an enemy" he replied as he caught his breath."Now I know for sure that I want you next to me, for the rest of my life" she said losing himself in the eyes of his beloved.