Chapter Text
Ophelia ran from there, towards the castle, in search of Hamlet. What was her lover, her husband, doing? How long before the duel began?
With short hair and men's clothes she hoped she could pass for one, but she wasn't sure how far. Still, did she have any other choice?
She arrived just in time, everyone posted on both sides of the room, her brother already prepared for the fight and Hamlet on the other side, about to leave, realizing that perhaps he was about to lose his life. . She stood next to him and said, seeing that he still hadn't noticed her presence.
“You can be animal or you can be better"
The boy froze for a moment, before turning to her. Several emotions flared up inside him simultaneously.
"Ophelia, what are you doing here?"
“Hamlet, we can go…to France, to that convent. I just need you to drop that gun"
Hamlet hesitated longer than he would have liked. On the one hand he was gnawed at by his sense of duty, his responsibility, his honor, while on the other he wanted to go with Ophelia and disappear, abandon everything.
"Hamlet? Hamlet? Are you going out now, Hamlet?" they urged him out, everyone.
"Ophelia, I..." He stepped forward and turned to the rest of the people. The young woman thought that she had lost him forever when she felt him pull her arm and show her to everyone.
"Hamlet! Hamlet! What are you doing?! " Let go.
"Ophelia?" Laertes seemed to have seen a ghost.
Ophelia stared at her brother for a moment, intently, but then she doubted no more. She jerked free of Hamlet and ran off, with the young man after her.
The girl immediately located her horse as she left the outside, which she instantly got on.
"Hamlet! Come up with me!"
Hamlet complied with the orders and from one moment to the next they sped out of the fortress, mounted on the animal.
As expected, many people went after them, when absolute chaos ensued. Fortinbras, prince of Norway, had arrived at the royal court.
Then, as everything Hamlet and Ophelia had ever known faded away, they both found their chance to run, perhaps their only chance.
They rode on for a long time, even when Ophelia could take no more and she fell unconscious, at which point Hamlet took the reins, until practically nightfall.
Then the young man couldn't take it anymore and stopped the animal next to the shadow of a tree, next to the road. Then he got off, first himself and then Ophelia, who although she had partially regained consciousness of her still seemed vacant.
"Ophelia, Ophelia," asked Hamlet, "are you still there?"
The girl moaned softly, but she seemed far from real, so Hamlet did as she saw fit. He rummaged in the horse's saddlebags until he found a canteen, from which he gave Ophelia a drink.
The young woman immediately accepted the water and drank more and more, until she emptied its contents. Only then was she able to straighten herself up a bit and speak.
"Hamlet, Haml..." she sighed, as if she found it hard to speak, "why did you show me my brother?"
The young man did not answer, because he did not have any answer for his beloved Ofelia either. However, he helped her to her feet. At that moment he did speak:
"I'm sorry, I got really nervous"
Ophelia seemed to be aware of him this time, for she smiled and gently caressed his face.
"It's okay, even though I wouldn't have wanted him to see me."
"Well, now Laertes is..."
"Dead. My brother is dead."
"Yes, but we don't. Ofelia... In France a new life awaits us"