Sword Crossed Lovers

The Forbidden Kiss Under the Stars

With that, the Montague lover reveals himself to his woman, stepping forwards onto the balcony under the light of the moon. Juliet can't help but smile and throw her arms around the man, bringing him in close. She feels his heart begin to pick up as she squishes her chest into his. The soft tuffs of his hair kisses her cheeks as she nuzzles her face into his neck. She stands on her tip-toes to reach the most of him, overjoyed at the feeling of his arms around her waist.

"I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes- love me, let them find me here. My life were better ended by their hate than death proroguèd, wanting of thy love," he breathes against her face, leaning in closer and closer.

Hearts racing fast and their skin hot with anticipation, Juliet murmurs, " Who told you how to find this place at such an hour? There are patrols and-"
"Love showed me the way. She lent me counsel and I lent her eyes. I am no pilot. Yet, wert thou as far as that vast shore washed with the farthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise," he grins, leaning in to claim his prize.

Gaining her bearings, Juliet pulls back. Romeo is made aware of her hesitation and pulls back. His soft and confused eyes tempt her to forgive his haste but she regains her control. She pulls her breathing back to normal and the aching pain in her back aids her regain her senses without the high of her youthful hot blood.

Taking a moment, she draws farther from his warm embrace. With stern eyes she looks into his gaze. "Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek for that which thou hast heard me speak tonight. Fain would I dwell on form. Fain, fain deny what I have spoke?" she asks herself, feeling her heart rap against her chest.

Romeo's eyes are soft and forgiving, perhaps a little nervous. He too can sense her uneasiness and hesitation to give into what they both desire. Finally, she speaks her mind. "But farewell etiquette! Dost thou love me?" Just as she spoke, she stops and as Romeo inhales to answer her, she places her tender finger on his soft lips. "I know thou wilt say "ay," and I will take thy word. Yet if thou swear'st thou mayst prove false."

Juliet retreats again, fighting against herself. One part of her wants so badly to rebel, to taste what is forbidden not only by her family but also by her age and womanhood customs. Another part of her wants to appease her father, love her family, and respect what is known. "At lovers' perjuries, they say, Jove laughs." Romeo extends his hand in a friendly manor and Juliet blesses him enough to take it in her own. "O gentle Romeo," she continues, "If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully." She draws back. "Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won, I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, so thou wilt woo. But else, not for the world."

Romeo nods and slightly leans away from her. Is she too much? Is all this worth her, the ultimate prize? What are his motives behind chasing her to her balcony? What does this Montague even want with a Capulet?

All these thoughts begin to plague Romeo's mind as he sees the fear reflected in her eyes.
"In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, and therefore thou mayst think my 'havior light. But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true than those that have more coying to be strange." She laughs, "I should have been more strange, I must confess, but that thou overheard'st, ere I was 'ware, my true love's passion. Therefore pardon me, and not impute this yielding to light love, which the dark night hath so discovered. So now, if thou dost love, pronounce it faithf-"

Romeo places a finger against her lips and kisses her with his eyes. He speaks but stops himself as his mind rethinks the words he is about to speak. Mercutio's vow still breathes life. Now, Romeo replies, "Lady, by yonder blessèd moon I vow-"
"O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon, that monthly changes shows for our love prove likewise variable," she moans, releasing him from her grasp.

Together, the two lovers look into each other's gaze under the moonlight. Romeo laughs and replies, "Then what shall I swear by my love?"
"Do not swear at all. Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self and I'll believe thee," she gushes happily, trusting him with her eyes as he takes her hands in his.
"If my heart's dear love-" begins Romeo, only to realize he has been silenced by Juliet's lips against his own.

Their kiss is passionate but brief. Romeo senses her apprehension to being with him in the darkness and her bedroom chambers just beside them. He can feel the muscles of her back twitch and her face grimace in the slightest hint of pain. In his heart, he feels something pang every time he catches her hiding her pain. Something inside him wants to promise her that she shall never feel pain if he is with her.

Juliet Capulet parts first from the holy kiss and Romeo's face is torn with passionate hunger. "Do not swear to me yet, Romeo. Although you bring me joy, I have no joy of this contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, too like the lightning, which doth cease to be ere one can say "It lightens." My sweet, good night. This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet." Romeo holds her back from retreating inside and forces her to go on. "Good night, good night! As sweet repose and rest come to thy heart as that within my chest," she smiles, granting him another precious kiss. He smiles at her and sees her blush reflect his own desires. "O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?" he moans, kissing her hands and trailing his lips higher.

"What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?" she asks innocently, praying he didn't notice how her eyes made a dash towards the bedroom beside them. Romeo smiles and pretends he doesn't notice her innocent act. "Th' exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine."
"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite. I do love thee, Rom-" she pauses, hearing something within her chambers.

Realizing her time is up and Tybalt will be returning, she places another kiss on Romeo's lips and slips off her jewel on her finger. "I hear some noise within. Dear love, adieu. Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little. I will come again."

With this he grabs her close once more before she returns to her chambers and kisses her lips once more. He holds himself back from ravaging her love and allows her to return inside. Filled with passion from such a teasing night, Romeo exclaims softly to the stars, "O blessèd, blessèd night! I am afeard, being in night, all this is but a dream, too flattering sweet to be substantial."

Suddenly Juliet appears once more from within, returning to the balcony. She smiles and holds in a laugh as she sees his shocked and gleeful expression. "Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed," she manages before he kisses her once more. "If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow by one that I'll procure to come to thee where and what time thou wilt perform the rite, and all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay and follow thee my lord throughout the world."
"Juliet?" calls the familiar gruff voice of Tybalt.
"I will be right there, dear cousin," she calls to Tybalt. Juliet then swiftly turns to her love. "But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee—"
"Juliet! Who are you speaking to?" asks the Capulet Prince, his tone more urgent and his footsteps approaching fast.
"By and by I come, cousin!" Juliet snaps, placing a quick kiss back on Romeo's desperate lips. "-To cease thy strife and leave me to my grief. Tomorrow will I send."
"So thrive my soul-" Romeo begins.
"A thousand times goodnight, gentleman!" she giggles, leaving him standing alone on the balcony.

Romeo lingers only for a few moments longer, his eyes feasting on Juliet as she slips back into her fine bed and Tybalt arrives at her side. He watches him place a kiss on her forehead and whisper sweet things to her. He looks at her smile and sees how happy she is, how happy she is with another Capulet. "Argh, my name. What's in a name?" he curses under his breath, leaping off to scale the tree beside her balcony.

All the way down he curses himself and his family, cursing God for granting him this blood in his veins. He curses his french heritage, his french nose, his french jaw, and the blue. All of the blue on his family's crest and name, all of the blue and how it can never mend together into the Capulet red. It would be like the sky crashing against the red earth. The two would always be inseparable, they had to be. The Earth cannot yield plants and life if the sky is crushing it.