Maggie Helfrich
English 9
1A
Romeo and Juliet: Their Happy Ending
“Juliet! My daughter, my pride and greatest joy, is now my greatest shame. A
Montague! A secret marriage to the Montague boy!”
Juliet bowed her head, accepting her father’s tirade. If this is what it cost to be with
Romeo… she’d gladly accept it.
“Leave my sight. Do not return to me or contact me until you have more self respect.”
Juliet gasped, tears welling in her eyes. She picked up her skirts and ran out of her
father’s study, out of the house, the Nurse wailing after her. She knew not where to go. The
Montagues… no, she could not set foot there. They would loathe her. Nor could she go to the
Friar… But the Prince of Verona? He might take pity upon her plight. She smiled wanly, hope
rekindled. She started off, keeping to the back ways and less known streets. When she arrived
at the Prince’s building, her arrival was announced.
“My Lord Prince. Juliet Capulet.” The Prince acknowledged the herald and turned to see
Juliet.
“What brings you here, young Capulet?”
“My father has cast me out.”
“Ahh. What did you do to rile his anger so?”
“I… I told him something to stop my impending marriage to County Paris. I told him that
I… was married to Romeo Montague.”
The Prince carefully held back a gasp and a smile. This was exactly what he’d been
hoping for. Well, not precisely what he’d wanted… but Romeo’s banishment was to be lifted!
Now! He turned to a squire. “Go to Mantua. Tell Romeo Montague his banishment is lifted.
Ride under my colors, so they do not deny you entrance. Hasten to him!” He turned back to
Juliet. “You and I shall ride to the House of Montague. They are reasonable people, and shall be
open to the idea of you once I speak to them.”
Juliet burst into a smile and curtsied to the Prince. “Oh, how I thank you, Lord Prince!”
Juliet gently slowed her stallion to a walk and then a halt as she, the Prince, and his
entourage approached the Montagues’. “Lord Montague!” the Prince called. As he was calling,
the doors were opening, and the Lord was hastening out.
“Lord Prince. What brings you here today?”
“This Capulet girl who rides beside me. She is married to your Romeo. I have brought
her in hopes that you could take her in until Romeo receives word that his banishment is lifted.”
Lord Montague’s eyes widened. “Oh, girl, we must bring you to my wife. She is
bedridden with grief. Quickly now!”
Juliet jumped off the horse and one of the men took the reins. She followed the
billowing robes of the Lord to his wife’s chamber. One of the maidservants was tending to her,
giving her a cold, wet cloth and changing it when it was warm. Montague motioned Juliet to go
to the bedside. “She grieves for Romeo.”
Juliet softly took Lady Montague’s hand in her own. “Lady, Romeo is returning to the
city. The Prince has lifted his banishment to mend the rift between the families of Montague
and Capulet. Romeo and I are married in secret, and my father wished me to marry the County
Paris. I told him, and he cast me out. The Prince brought me here when I went to him to beg of
his aid.”
Lady Montague stirred. “Lifted Romeo’s banishment, you say? Girl, what is your name?”
Juliet bowed her head and clasped her own hands together respectfully. “Juliet Capulet
was my name. Juliet Montague is my name now.” Lady Montague reached out for Juliet’s hands
and tugged the girl closer.
“We are indebted to you, Lady Juliet of my house.”
“Romeo Montague! The Prince summons you to Verona!” Romeo heard the herald and
burst out of where he was staying. He ran to the stables and saddled his horse, leaping onto its
back and running to meet the herald. They raced back to Verona. It was not far, about an hour
by horse. When he arrived at the Prince’s building, the Prince stepped out.
“To your family house, young Romeo. Your banishment is lifted! Your wife rests there
now!”
Romeo’s face brightened considerably and he swung his horse around, taking off at a
speedy gallop. When the final strides were taken, Romeo leaped off and Balthazar caught his
stallion. “Juliet!” he cried. She emerged from the broad doors and ran to Romeo, who picked
her up and spun her around.
“Oh Romeo!” his lady cried. Lord Montague looked on, appeased. Maybe old Capulet
would give it a rest. Then again, it was more likely not. He had sent his daughter from his sight;
cast her onto the streets for being married to Romeo. A rustle from behind startled him, and he
whirled to see his wife standing in the doorway. He pulled her into his arms and they looked on
as the young lovers greeted each other. They both smiled, lost in memories. Romeo made one
last noise of happiness and turned to his parents. He ran to greet both of them, his mother
pulling him into a close hug and his father resting his hand on Romeo’s back. And just when it
couldn’t have gotten any better, it did. Two more sets of hoof beats were headed towards the
Montague house. Lady Rebekah Capulet and her late brother’s servant rode to find her cousin.
Rebekah dismounted and handed her reins to the younger boy. Juliet spun around and
saw her cousin standing there. And here she was, with the killer of Rebekah’s brother.
However, the rebellious 16 year old smiled. “Hello, Juliet. Miss me?”
Juliet’s smile emerged and she and her cousin embraced. “Rebekah, this is-”
Rebekah interrupted Juliet. “Romeo, your secret but now not so secret husband.”
“How did you-”
“Never underestimate my ability to find stuff out, cousin. I’ve known since it happened.”
The three Montagues looked on with interest. Romeo spoke up. “Lovely Juliet, who is
your kinswoman here?”
Juliet shifted and replied, “This is Rebekah Capulet. She is the figurative black sheep of
the family. Which makes absolute sense. She is also Tybalt’s sister.”
Romeo tensed. “Uh-“
Rebekah laughed. “Relax. All’s forgiven. An eye for an eye, yeah? I miss him a lot, but
now we know he’s where someone can finally put a lid on him. The Good Lord knows I wasn’t
around enough to do it.”
The Montagues’ eyes widened. She was… a bizarre girl. Except for their faces, one could
hardly believe she and Juliet were related. Their faces were almost identical though.
She shrugged and continued. “But I think we should plan you two a big wedding. All the
bells and ribbons.”
Lady Montague took to the idea, predictably. “Oh, my lord, could we not… draw
something up?”
Lord Montague rubbed his temples. “Alright. Alright. If we must, we shall. Lady Rebekah,
Juliet. My lady. Romeo. I shall take my leave. I have a wedding to plan.”
True to his word, old Montague had the wedding planned for seven days later. He had
sent out invitations to the Capulets, but the only confirmed attendee was Rebekah. Romeo and
Juliet were as in love as ever, and Rebekah absolutely fawned over them. And when the
wedding came, nothing was more beautiful. Rebekah, the normally solid, stoic girl, cried. Happy
tears, of course. Lady Montage was a mess. None of the other Capulets attended. However,
after the wedding, Benvolio and Rebekah seemed to click very well. It was a wonderful affair,
with dancing and singing and merriment all around. Everyone laughed, grateful for a
celebration after all of the mourning.
In a dark, candlelit room in a grand house, a man sat hunched over a single paper. He
finally stood up and turned toward the door. “I was wrong,” old Capulet said almost silently,
and swept grandly out of the study to find his daughter and niece.