Sword Crossed Lovers

Juliet's Song

"Peter, see to it that she is well taken care of by Nurse," orders Tybalt Capulet, standing in the doorway of Juliet's chambers.  Peter, scurrying around to do his master's bidding, can only manage a nod.  He tosses down the blankest beside the princess' bed and looks up at the Capulet Prince.  "Anything else your heart desires, sir?"
"None, you may go for now.  But don't forget to summon Nurse."

Peter takes his leave but right before he makes it out of the door, Tybalt stops him again.  "One more thing, my good man.  Does the Lord and Lady of the House know of my cousin's condition?"
"Indeed, sir.  They are home hence from their ball in the city."
"Good," hums the Capulet, his eyes turning back onto his cousin's body lying in the bed.  "On your way," he urges Peter as he moves out of his master's way and out into the corridors to search for Juliet's Nurse.

Sitting himself down at his cousin's bedside, he rests his hands beside her visage.  The way her eyes sparkled and how her eyelids would occasionally flutter keeps the Capulet calm.  She's alright and he didn't cause her this pain.  Not completely.

"You can do something to keep her company," comes a voice from Juliet's doorway.  Not realizing more than a few moments had gone by, Tybalt turns to see Nurse standing before him.  In her plain red gown with a pink jacket to match the white apron around her large figure, she looked like a fairy of love.  Tybalt can't help but to give her half a smile as she walks in and wraps her arms around him.  "I heard what happened, son.  You had nothing to do with old and worn ropes."
"I know, I know, but-"
"-but nothing of the sort, Tybalt Capulet!  This was unintentional.  The gods above had this in her fate and you just happened to be with her when it did.  Praise them though for any other might have done who-knows what to a poor and helpless maiden in the gardens.  In my books, boy, you've been her savoir once again."
"Once again?"
"Indeed, boy!  How could you forget that time when those Montague rascals were picking on our lovely Juliet?  You were only a wee lad but you showed those older boys good and sure!  I remember you running back with Juliet in your arms, cuts and bruises all over your face.  I was expecting some horrors to be likewise on her image, yet she was as pure as when she left the house that morn.  You refused to speak of the incident directly to me but I heard from Peter that evening what he discovered from you and the town gossip.  Don't you remember how your uncle praised you that eve with a feast in your honor?"
"Ah," nods Tybalt, his memory bringing back violence, sex, and pain.

Those Montague boys were tall, far too tall for a youth like Tybalt was to have challenged.  Yet, he had to.  They were pressing his cousin against the wall, talking to her like she was a common whore, tempting the sin of lust.  That night, Tybalt could not bring back the overall scene to his mind but split moments in vivid detail remain in his mind.  The way all the blood smelled to him makes his leg twitch and how good if felt to plunge his hands into the wounds his knife made, the warmth, the blood, the sounds of his fingers pulling apart their guts, how they screamed and begged for mercy all forced time to be screwed.  The young Tybalt knew only their suffering and how he had to protect his cousin.  All else was lost with the time.

"You remember, don't you?" restates Nurse, applying another cool towel to Juliet's forehead.  Tybalt nods.  "That I do madam, still all too well."
"Well, what we know is that you did the unthinkable for your age, and protected your cousin.  You preserved the honor of this House!"
"As I have done since being taken in here, Nurse."
"And thank the gods for that!" she huffs, patting the Capulet warrior's shoulder.

He nods but doesn't let her kind words get to him.  His Juliet was still safe, yet perhaps needing further rest to heal completely.  Nothing that simple bedrest wouldn't fix, but he fears for her mind when she wakes.
"Play for her, Tybalt," suggests Nurse, smiling at him.  Confused, he looks blankly back at her and prompts her to continue.  "Thy strings, boy!  Play thy strings for her."

Tybalt nods and rises, hurrying to his chambers.  He returns shortly after with a German instrument in his grasp.  He raises the violin to his left shoulder and places his chin gentle on the side.

Slowly and surely, he begins to draw the bow across the strings and lets the music resonate through the room.  With powerful strokes, the Capulet lets the bow glide across the strings and create beautiful sounds, his left hand tapping the strings in rhythm.

Nurse leans back on the chair opposite Juliet's bed.  Her eyes begin to close due to the soft music resonating from Tybalt.  Like a mother appreciating her son's talent, she oozes bliss.  Tybalt senses her peace and as she begins to doze off, he continues.

Hours pass and as Tybalt begins to end his favorite tune, he launches into his cousin's personal favorite.  Since they were children, Tybalt had created songs for his darling Juliet and would pester her constantly to listen and chose which song she liked the best.  In fact, one song stuck with her the most and it was the first song he ever plaid for her.

One night when she was just a babe and her parents were away at a gala, Tybalt picked up his mother's old violin and began to play the song she wrote for him.  He had heard it since he too was just a small thing in a bed, but that night he changed it just slightly to calm his crying cousin.  He softened the battle tune into something of a love song, acting like a promise to her.  Instantly, the little Juliet in her bed ceased her tears and watched her older cousin intently as he plaid.  That night, she wept no more and whenever Nurse could not calm the girl's cries, she would summon him to play that song.  It worked every time.

Magically, as Tybalt begins to play Juliet's song for her sleeping form now, her eyes flutter open.  Tybalt, too seduced by the tune, does not notice.
"Cousin?"  Tybalt ceases playing but Juliet raises her arm.  "Please, continue," she manages to smile, her eyes dancing to his tune.  His heart warmed by her plea, he obeys, indulging in the sweet music.

As the song ends, Tybalt commands his left hand to execute the perfect vibrato, his fingers shivering with musical talent as his brow furrows, eager to get the perfect resonance.  Reaching the last note, he flicks his right arm up and lifts the bow from the strings.  Juliet manages to clap her hands together and Tybalt takes a mocking bow, unable to keep a smile off his face.  "Why thank you, my muse," he gushes, taking a seat beside her on the bed.

Juliet moves to the right to make room for her cousin.  She gestures to the space beside her in the bed and looks at Tybalt.  He nods and slips off his boots.

Slipping into the place where she just was in the bed, he couldn't help but notice the warmth and impression her tiny form made against the soft bedding.  He feels her hand on his chest, inviting him close to her side.
"Somewhere," she breathes, looking into his eyes, "perfection lies..."  She touches his chest, tracing a heart shape, "sewn in your heart, Tybalt.  Never forget it's there.  Promise me."
"I promise, my angel," he coos, letting her nestle her head in the nape of his neck.
"Never."