The Fight between Mercutio and Tybalt (Benvolio’s P.O.V)

Mercutio and I were walking together down the streets of Verona. It was an extremely hot day in Verona, and me and Mercutio were commenting on the weather.

“I think we should go take a break Mercutio, it is to hot today, and the Capulets are wandering around. If we bump into one of them, I am almost certain that it will cause a fight. Hot day’s like today, make people irritable and wanting to fight” I told Mercutio.

Mercutio rolled his eyes at me “Your like, one of those guys who would walk into a bar, slap his sword on the table, order a drink, and kill the bartender without any reason at all.

I looked at Mercutio, slightly worried “Am I really like one of those men?” I asked.

Mercutio sighed at me “You can get, just as angry as any man in Italy when your in the mood for it. When someone does the tiniest thing that makes you mad, you’ll get mad. And when your just angry, you try to find something to get angry about” he answered.

“And what about it…?” I asked him, slightly confused.

“Well, if there were 2 guys like you, there would soon be no one left standing, because you will have ended up killing each other” Mercutio explained, like it was the simplest thing in the world. “You’d fight anyone who would challenge you, you’ll fight with a man cracking nuts with hazelnut colored eyes! Only you would pick a fight like that! Weren’t you the one who tried  to kill a man for lacing your shoes with old lace! And weren’t you the one arguing with a tailor for wearing one of his suits, before the season?! And yet, you are the person talking to me about restraint!” Mercutio continued speaking.

I rolled my eyes at my friend “If I had fights like you, my insurance would be as high as space!” I retorted.

Mercutio blinked “Your life insurance? That’s just stupid” he said.

I sighed at him, and turned around, spotting the Capulets “Oh darn! Here come the Capulets”

Mercutio turned around with a huff “Yeah, like I care!” he muttered in reply with a pout.

I saw the Capulets getting closer. I heard Tybalt tell the others “Watch and learn, I’ll do the talking” then he turned to us “Good afternoon Montague’s. I’d like to have a word with one of you” he said to us.

I wanted to punch him in the face, who did he think he was, talking to us Montague’s in such a way?!

Mercutio glared at Tybalt “You only want a word with ONE of us?! Make it a word with a blow!”

Tybalt in a calm voice, replied “I would do that, sir” he said, sarcastically “If you give me a reason to do so”

“You can’t find a reason, without me giving you one?” Mercutio asked.

“Well Mercutio, you do hang out with Romeo” Tybalt answered, in a cool voice.

Mercutio looked at Tybalt, offended “’Hang out’?! What do you think we are, musicians in a marching band?! If we look like musicians to you, then we will play music for you!” Mercutio snapped, wrapping his hand around the hilt of his sword.

I interrupted before things got ugly, because I could see things were going to get very, very, VERY ugly “This is a public place guys!” I said, trying to keep the note of desperation out of my voice “Either, go out and fight in a private place, or, just talk about it, without any fighting!”

Of course, they just ignored me. I hoped that Romeo wouldn’t just, come along, because they would be in seriously big trouble if a fight broke out!

Suddenly, I froze when I heard Tybalt say “Well, I don’t need to know from you guys, here comes my man now!”

Mercutio growled “Alright then, walk around a field, and wait ‘til he chases you, then you can call him ‘your man’!”

Tybalt ignored Mercutio, and turned to Romeo “Romeo, there is only one title that suits you. You are a villain”

Romeo shrugged “Tybalt, I have plenty reason to love you, so, I will just ignore that insult, and push aside the anger that you want me to feel. I am no villain, so just leave me alone. I can tell you, you don’t know who I really am”

“Your words are not an apology to the harm that you have caused me! So now, pull out your sword Romeo! We shall fight to the death!” Tybalt exclaimed, pulling out his sword.

Romeo shrugged “As far as I can see, I haven’t brought you any harm. I like you a lot more then you realize, Tybalt. And so, good Capulet, you should be satisfied in what I just said”

“This talking is just stupid, and evil! My sword will silence everyone!” Mercutio pulled out his sword “Now Tybalt, will you come and fight me?”

Tybalt blinked at Mercutio “What do you want from me?” he asked.

Mercutio growled “King of the cats, I’d like to take one of your nine lives with my sword, and if I feel like it, I’d like to beat up the rest of your eight lives! So, pull out your sword, and let us fight!”

Tybalt shrugged “I’ll fight you then” he said, drawing out his sword.

Romeo looked at Mercutio “Mercutio, please” he said “Put back your sword, there is no reason to fight!”

Romeo looked just as panicked as I felt.

Mercutio and Tybalt started fighting, a clang of metal on metal ringed through the air.

Romeo looked at me “Draw out your sword, Benvolio! We must stop their fighting, the Prince has banned such fighting!” he turned to the fighting people “Please stop Tybalt, and Mercutio!” he begged them, moving in between Tybalt and Mercutio, but, to late!

Tybalt sword moved under Romeo’s arm, and stabbed Mercutio, right on the chest!

I watched in horror, not daring to believe what had just happened.

“Lets leave Tybalt” said Petruchio, and they left us behind.

“Darn, I’ve been hurt! I hope you die a painful death! Well, it looks like this is the end for me. Did he leave?” Mercutio asked.

I blinked at him, slightly worried “Are you hurt?” I asked.

Mercutio shrugged “Its just a scratch, but its enough. Someone, go get me a doctor!” Mercutio said.

“Don’t worry Mercutio, be brave! The wound can’t be that bad…” Romeo said, trying to comfort Mercutio.

“Well no, its not that deep, and its not that wide. But, I’m sure its enough for me to die. Call me tomorrow, and I’ll be in a grave. I hope a curse will follow that rat to his grave! I cannot believe that he managed to scratch me to death!  Why in the world did you come between us?! He stabbed me from under your arm!” Mercutio said, his voice growing noticeably weaker.

Romeo sighed “I thought it was the right thing to do” he muttered.

“Just take me into some random house, Benvolio, or I’ll probably pass out. I’m done for, curse your families!” Mercutio yelled, as I dragged him into the house.

I passed by Romeo, overhearing him say “This man Mercutio, the relative of the Prince, and one of my best friends, is dead, trying to defend me from Tybalt, who was my cousin for only one hour! Oh Juliet, your beauty has made me weaker, you have softened my bravery, which used to be as hard as steel” I heard him whisper.

I laid Mercutio down on the floor, but I felt his body grow limp. I gently shook Mercutio, and put a hand over his nose. But I felt no breath, and he was growing steadily colder. I blinked in horror, and ran outside “Romeo, oh Romeo!” I yelled “Mercutio…He is dead!” I sobbed.

Romeo sighed “This event will change our futures. Today is the start of a string of unfortunate events”

I heard someone approaching, and turned around “Here comes Tybalt!” I growled, angry at him.

“He is alive and well, but Mercutio is dead? Enough Mr. Niceguy! Tybalt, you called me a villain, yet, the thing you did before, is even worse! Mercutio is dead, and he is waiting for you to come and join him, right now! Either you, or I, or the two of us will come and join him!” Romeo said, growing angrier.

Tybalt looked at Romeo. He looked slightly amused as to where all this was going “You were his friend, I think you are the one who should die” he told Romeo.

“This fight will choose who dies!” Romeo growled, and started to attack Tybalt.

I couldn’t watch, it was too terrifying, too violent. Then, I heard a thud, and I cautiously opened one eye. Tybaltlaid on the ground, dead. Romeo’s sword was stuck in his chest, and his eyes glazed over. Blood forming a pool around his body.The Prince came, and he was very angry. He looked around “Who are the men that started this fight?” he asked. But I think he was about to explode in any second. I swallowed my fear, as I said “Prince, I can tell you everything about this fight. Tybalt is lying dead, over there. He killed your cousin, Mercutio, and then Romeo killed Tybalt” I explained.

Lady Capulet cried out “Oh no, not Tybalt! Tybalt was my cousin, the son of my brother! Oh, my dear nephew is dead! Oh Prince, do something about it! You are of high authority, take revenge for this MURDER by killing one of the Montagues!”

I gave Lady Capulet a look of disgust, she was obviously going into hysterics.

The Prince ignored her, and turned to me “Who started this fight?” he asked, in a cool and calm voice.

I explained “Tybalt started the fight, before died. Romeo tried to reason with him, saying that the argument was pointless. He said all of this calmly, without any hint of agression, or fury. But Tybalt would not listen to Romeo. Then, Tybalt and Mercutio started fighting each other, until Romeo tried to stop the fight. Then, he jumped between them, but Tybalt reached his sword under Romeo’s arm, and stabbed Mercutio, which killed him, and Tybalt ran away” I said, carefully “Then, Romeo and Tybalt met each other, and Romeo killed Tybalt. Then, he ran away, I am telling the truth, I promise!” I added.

Lady Capulet didn’t believe me “Prince, Benvolio is one of the Montagues! He must be lying! It must’ve taken 20 Montagues, just to kill ONE Capulet! Romeo killed Tybalt, so Romeo must die!” she announced.

The Prince looked angry “But what about Mercutio?! Who will be responsible for his death?!” he shouted.

Lord Montague stepped up “Not Romeo, Mercutio was Romeo’s friend. He killed Mercutio’s murderer, Tybalt!”

“And for that crime, Romeo must be banished!” Prince yelled. “And from now on, I am part of your rivalry! It was because of this battle, that my relative, Mercutio lies dead! I’ll punish you so harshly, that you will regret killing Mercutio! Tell Romeo to leave Verona, or else!” and he marched away.