Inevitable Fate (A Tragic Romance)

      There was once a ship that sailed gently through the seas. Boarded were hundreds of people and among them were the two infants, Benedick and Beatrice. They were together for some unknown reason but danger struck. A hard-blowing, strong-raining storm greeted them and cut the ship in half. Unfortunately, the two babies were separated but thankfully, two ships came to their help. Benedick was rescued by Montaboat, owned by the Montagues, and Beatrice was rescued by Capuship which was owned by the Capulets.

     The Montagues and Capulets have been rivals for years and it seemed that their rivalry wouldn’t end without blood. Years passed, both families had loved their own adopted child like they were their own. Beatrice was given great care and grew as a gorgeous maiden, while Benedick grew as a brave and handsome young man. Never did they saw each other, but after 20 years, their lives met a life-changing turning point.

      Three witches came to visit Montague to tell him about their prophecy. With their ugly faces and crooked teeth, together with their long, sharp and dirty fingernails, Lady Montague wished to send them away but Montague disagreed after finding out that their prophecy was of great news for his own power. The three witches called forth 3 spirits. The first spirit showed a knight wearing a crown, signifying that Montague would be the new king of Verona. Eager to make this true, Montague plotted a plan to kill King Escalus. He succeeded and like what the prophecy said, he became the King.

      However, his felicity was short-lived due to the prophecy of the three witches given by the remaining spirits. The second was an infant in a pool of blood, showing that he would be killed by a man not born of woman. The third was an armored head with blood dripping out of its opening. He didn't seem to mind the prophecies at first and went on with his plan to kill his rival, the Capulets. Battles were fought but at the end, Capulet confesses that he was untimely ripped and he beheaded Montague with a triumph smile on his face.

      Benedick was distraught and wanted revenge for his father. He promised never to marry and to spend all his remaining years avenging his father holy. But fate never seems to run out of surprises. Benedick and Beatrice's lives would meet a bittersweet turn.

      As the days near the 21st birthday of Beatrice everyone helped in the preparation for this grandest occasion. They spent days on preparation. While passing the market, Benedick overheard gossips about the beauty of Beatrice and became eager to see her himself but probably just for his revenge. The big day came, and Benedick wore a disguise and went to the party. There he saw Beatrice staring at him with an awe expression on her face. Their eyes met and it seemed like the world just faded away and left nothing but the two of them alone. They fell in love at the first sight and Benedick's crave for revenge for his father and his belief that he'll never marry vanished into thin air. He forgot about the anger he felt for the Capulets.

      Days passed and the King Capulet wanted Beatrice to marry a nobleman named Paris. Beatrice refused to and told her father that she's in love with Benedick. The King Capulet turned red with fury. He told Beatrice that if she would disobey his command, he'll have her either executed or sent to the monastery to be a nun. Beatrice went to Friar Lawrence for help and was given the potion that would stop her pulse for 48 hours. She told Benedick of the escape plan. When the night came and Beatrice's body was transferred in the family tomb, she finally woke up and ran into the forest with Benedick. However, Paris saw what happened and followed them into the forest.

      Paris allies with Puck, a mischievous fairy, and ordered him to pour a love spell on the lips of the sleeping Beatrice while Benedick was out hunting. Puck followed Paris, and when Beatrice woke up, she immediately fell in love with Paris and they kissed thoroughly. Benedick saw what happened and got so enraged but chose to hide it first. When the spell faded, Beatrice couldn't remember what happened. They decided to go and get married on a small village. During the marriage, Benedick proclaimed and told everyone that Beatrice was a whore. He was so furious with Beatrice and his initial desire for revenge returned.

       He left Beatrice on the village and ventured back to Verona to kill King Capulet. After arriving, he immediately sought the senators and other officials and convinced them to conspire against the King.

      Before the planned assassination, while Benedick in his room, a spirit named Ariel came to visit him and deliver news that would surely twist and crush his soul. Ariel told him that he(Ariel) is the spirit guardian of his parents and that when they died, he had watched over Benedick all through the years. Ariel also told Benedick about Beatrice's innocence and that it was all Paris and Puck's fault. Benedick immediately felt guilty, sorry, and horrible all at the same time. He had left Beatrice alone; he had accused her of being a whore yet the truth she was innocent and faithful all those time. He realized that he never stopped loving Beatrice and that he was just consumed by his rage. He changed his mind about assassinating King Capulet. He was about to go and stop the other senators when he freezes on his feet and felt the world crashing down on him as Ariel told him the truth that had been buried together with the shipwreck 21 years ago.

      After being left by Benedick, Beatrice went to Verona in hopes of explaining and proving her innocence to her beloved. But as she stepped foot on the castle, she felt something very wrong. So she ran. She ran so fast and at last, she saw the dead body of her father. She cried and wailed. But then something struck her and she suddenly feared of what might have happened to Benedick. She stood up, and moved her numb legs, not even quite noticing of fast she was running. She saw the door on the ballroom where she first saw

Benedick slightly open. Her heart was drumming inside her chest. She picked up her speed and alas, she reached the door and opened it.

 

      She stood there and saw the greatest horror she could ever imagine. In the center of the room was Benedick lying limpwith blood pooling over his body. She didn't skip a beat; she quickly darted toward him and fell on her knees. She cradled his head on her lap and asked him to wake up. Slowly and weakly, Benedick opened his eyes and tears started to fall from them.

“It's my fault. I didn't save him.” he said weakly, barely a whisper.

“No, it's not. I love you.”

“I love you too. Much more than life. But our love more powerful than the stars is also more impossible to touch, for it is forbidden. It is forbidden, my dear twin sister...”

He took his one last breath and died in her arms.

     Beatrice, painfully shocked of her love’s dying message, took the dagger out of Benedick’s body and said “Oh, sweet dagger, take away all of the sorrow. Let my body be your sheath…” Without second thinking, she stabbed herself and her body lay above the body of Benedick.

      The citizens of the kingdom went inside and saw the dead bodies of Beatrice, Benedick, and King Capulet. They found a note that was seemingly glowing saying the events that perspired for the last days. Paris, who also entered the castle, saw light figure over the bodies. Paris doesn’t know why but he feels that the light figure is crying.

      The figure then walks of out of the door, its true appearance revealed. “It’s finally over; I guess it’s time, after 21 years, our family can be reunited again, in the sky. Benedick, I hope you don’t get mad at me for not telling you the truth sooner, I had my reasons but at least now, we can enjoy the happiness of forever.”