#escaline

Look at what I found on Twitter! 

So, apparently I’m not done with this yet, so here’s another bit from Rosaline’s point of view. Part I is here, or read the whole thing on ao3.

“I’ve wronged you before, my Lady. I’ve wronged your family too, and have been wronged by them in turn. But I’m willing to move past all of that if you are willing to do the same. What do you say – will you help me try and save our city, in honour of our beloved cousins?“

Rosaline could not believe what she was hearing. After everything that had happened these past days – days that had made her begin to think that perhaps she was being punished for every little sin she'd ever committed, every unkind thought she had ever harboured towards her aunt and uncle – after all that incredible loss and tragedy and, most recently, that fleeting moment of stolen bliss, the strangest thing to happen was surely that Benvolio Montague had just agreed to marry her.

For what reasons, she could not fathom quite yet, though she was sure it would be in her own best interest to find out. But first, Rosaline needed to reach a decision on what she would do – and that was easier thought than done.

Instinct told her to be mistrustful of any plan that involved a Montague, and the memory of her parents' death made the mere idea of aligning herself with that family unbearable. Her heart burned at the thought of being cast off on another man when the one she had loved, and had mourned so deeply when they were torn apart, was still unwed, still cared for her – but then, it was his wish that she should marry another, his command even.

No, her heart would provide no answer to this conundrum. She'd have to turn to her head instead, a more reliable advisor in any case.

The marriage would thrust her from the fringes of Verona's society to its very heart, and to the heart of the conflict that threatened to tear the city apart. It would no doubt make her a target for those who had more to gain from this constant state of unrest than from the peace the union was supposed to bring. But it might also provide her with the very freedom she'd longed for so deeply. It would mean moving out of Lady Capulet's house, and becoming mistress of her own household. It would mean being restored as a member, an heiress of house Capulet – and as such, would make it much easier for her sister to attract the wealthy husband she so wished for.

If Rosaline was not to be granted happiness, she could at least help her sister achieve it.

With her decision made, her voice was steady when she announced it.

“I will.“

She could practically feel the relief radiate from the two men standing on either side of her – although in both, there was an undercurrent of resignation to it that she would have found insulting, had she not felt the same way.

Rosaline had to admit, in those few silly moments when she had indeed thought about accepting a proposal of marriage instead of taking her vows, she had, perhaps foolishly, assumed that by agreeing she would bring joy to all involved. But no one in the room right now seemed particularly joyful at the prospect – only grim and sober, and determined to see this madness through for the sake of their city.

Oddly, it was this that made her feel a little better: Seeing Benvolio's expression and knowing for sure it mirrored hers in that moment. They were both entering a fight with incredibly bad odds, but for better or worse, they were on the same side going forward. It was a knowledge she should have seen, should have made use of much earlier. After all, Benvolio had been just as skeptical as her about Juliet and Romeo's wedding, and had seemed delighted to find that she agreed. But by then, she had been chafing too much at being called a servant to be able to accept him as the valuable ally he could have been. Pride had stood in her way then and clouded her judgment – she would not make that same mistake again.

Still, despite the rational advantages she could see in the match, the thought still seemed ridiculous. A Montague and a Capulet, side by side?

Rosaline swallowed a hysterical laugh and focused on bringing clarity to her clouded mind instead, which was still in uproar over what had just transpired. Escalus had held her, kissed her, told her how much he cared about her – and yet, now kept quiet as she agreed to wed another man. On the very night she had, in some manner, got the man she had once loved back, she was to lose him again.

She'd make sure it would not be for nothing.

“But I have conditions.“ She paused only long enough to let her words ring through the chapel and lend them the gravity they needed, but not long enough for either man to object. “I will be restored a Capulet immediately, and so will my sister. We will be treated with the respect that has been denied us both since our parents' death. And if anything happens to me, which I am sure is not out of the question now that I am to be bound to a Montague,“ she laid as much scorn as she could into the name, telling herself it was just to see the irked little twitch on Benvolio's face and not because the mere thought of carrying that wretched name made her want to cry and rage, “if any harm should befall me, my sister is to have the full protection of both families.“

Escalus nodded, though much too hesitantly for her taste. “The Lords Capulet and Montague will have to agree to this...“

She cut him off, way beyond caring about the proper deference to his status.

“Then make them. You are their liege, are you not?“ And before Escalus could decide that such a tone could not be taken with him, not even by the woman he had once claimed to love, Rosaline quickly blurted out her last condition. “And when it comes to the matter of my sister's marriage, it will be to a man of her own choosing. A man she loves.“ She looked at Escalus when she said it, but he averted his eyes and Rosaline moved hers on to the other man in the room – only to find, to her surprise, that Benvolio did not shy away from her gaze but met it straight on, with a softness on his face that she did not expect.

She quickly tore her eyes off him and fixed them on Escalus once more.

“Those are my terms. Accept them, and you will have the union you are so convinced will bring peace to this city. Force this marriage without giving me what I want in turn, and the Montague family will have another dead Capulet maiden at their hands.“

There was a startled gasp from Benvolio's direction, which she ignored, too focused on the Prince. The pain on Escalus' face was at the same time hard to watch and a balm to her soul, and part of her wished her threat would make him go back on his order and call the whole thing off.

Instead, his lips tightened as his face turned back into its regal mask.

“Very well. I'll see to it that your sister will have every advantage going forward.“

“Then I have no further objections.“

Here's some fluffy Escalin to make up for yesterday's angst ;w;

...

-This scene happens:

-Me:

*Puts "Frozen" themed Santa hat on*

Ho! Ho! Ho! @bertazsleepyhead You've been more than nice this year! So, here's this special Escalin gift I made for you, my favorite (and only, really xD) Escaelf! You're truly a wonderful friend and I'm really glad I met you!I ♡