Before The Storm

Act One Scene One

"Antonio!"

"What?"

"There, her, see her?"

"Who?"

"The pretty one- Sycorax."

Even saying her name caused Prospero to abandon all royal sense he possessed and stare after the girl, slightly slack-jawed. Antonio followed his gaze, seeing the young girl walking down the street, and had to question his brothers taste in women.

"She's not- awful," said Antonio weakly, unsure of exactly how to put it. "But you'll do better, father will find you a royal wife, not some beggar girl with no dowry." Her garments classified her as 'poor', among the street merchant class. However, her eyes were quite striking- Antonio quickly snapped out of that. She wasn't worth the time or attention of the royal class.

Prospero frowned, Antonio's statement unusually harsh. And not only that, but he disagreed fully. "Brother, you know I love you and normally agree with you, but this woman is of incredible beauty- she wouldn't be out of place in the royal court."

"Look at her, she can't be younger than fourteen, she is nearly at the end of her prime. Most princesses are married off at twelve, or younger. She won't retain this beauty."

Prospero faced Antonio, tearing his eyes away from Sycorax with some difficulty. "She's had time to mature," he snapped.

""Great, so now she's fine wine."

"More than fine wine, she is the wealth of all the world incarnate. She is worth everything to me."

Antonio rubbed his face. "Fine, lust after a beggar girl. But remember, she's old and poor for an unmarried woman. That's not a good combination." Antono walked away, not waiting for Prospero to answer. He could tell father, but he would rather just let Prospero toil away in vain trying to marry the Sycorax girl.

Prosper watched him go and shrugged, not a big deal. Antoio wasn't going to be a part of his courtship of Sycorax. He smoothed his hair back and brushed himself off, just in case there was dirt on his tunic. He turned, facing in her direction, and strode briskly towards her, biting back a curse as he noticed she was walking quickly away. He couldn't miss her again.

"Hey!" he called to her, and she turned. Her face lit up when she saw him, much to his releif.

She stopped and waited for him to catch up. While he was catching his breath she said, "Hi, do I know you? I've seen you around but-"

"yes, yes I'm Prosper," he said extending his hand. She put her in it and he kissed her hand gently. She giggled.

"Sycorax," she responded, clasping her hands back together.

"I know- I mean- pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Sycorax giggled again, a very good sign.

"Did you want to, um, go for a walk?" she asked innocently, gesturing at the path she had been following.

"Oh, yes, I would," Prospero said, pleased with the progress they were making. "So, Sycorax, that's a unique name. What does it mean?"

" 'Deceiver'," she said with distain. "Isn't that an ugly meaning?