Both Malek and Babbar had held Rami back before he could do anything stupid. Rami couldn't bear it seeing Jurie get hurt. He tried to struggle out of their grip, but it was like quicksand. The more you struggle the firmer it gets.

Every time Jurie's father inflicted a blow upon her Rami's body screamed murder and lunged forward to protect her, but Malek and Babbar held him back. He actually wanted to get out his old hunting knife and skin Lord Capulet alive.

Once the Capulet clan was gone Malek and Babbar let him go. He turned to them full of rage and hissed.

"Why didn't you let me go?!"

"You were only going to make the situation worse." Answered Malek in a stern serious tone. Malek was hardly ever serious, he was one of those people who managed to crack a joke in the face of danger. So when he was serious you knew it was life or death.

Because of this Rami's rage quietened. He nodded before turning his attention to his family.

They all gave him looks of disbelief.

His mother walked up to him. She looked very queenly and stately in her deep blue robes lined with rich gold. She wore beautiful Hijab of the same color with beautiful intricate gold spangled in the shape of flowers.

When she walked, she walked with firmness. Her imposing figure made much more imposing by her very livid expression.

"What were you doing with the Capulet girl?" She asked as his father stood beside her. Her calmness was barely even a thin layer over fury.

Rami couldn't take it anymore.

"Are you going to hit me like old Capulet hit her? If you do that I swear, I will disown you as my mother."

He regretted those words as soon as they came out. He didn't mean to disrespect her in that way. When he saw how shocked and hurt her expression was he wanted to burst into tears. But he didn't instead he gave her a cold hard stare.

"I assure you my son," started his father. "It is nothing of that kind. But you have to understand we can not sully our family name."

"I understand, father."

His mother then burst into tears and pulled him closer to her.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt!" She sobbed.

Rami wrapped his arms around his mother and held her close.

"Mother please do not be silly, you are talking to the most feared Assassin in the world. The very man took fifteeen bullets to his body, who defeated a whole army solo, who..."

"Rami this is not a time to boast!" Exclaimed his mother laughing. She then pulled away. Raihana rushed up to him and threw her arms around his neck. Before kissing his cheek.

"Oh Rami! I thought you'd never come."

Rami was slightly flustered he turned to his parents who merely smiled. Then it dawned upon him. A few months ago he would have been the happiest man alive, but now all he felt was a cold sinking in his heart.

"It was decided that you and Raihana are to be married." Said Babbar, confirming Rami's thoughts.

"Oh Rami isn't it wonderful!" Exclaimed Raihana smiling, in obvious ecstasy.

Rami stood there in disbelief. There was only one woman on his mind. An that was Jurie.

Suddenly he felt the wizened dainty hand of his grandmother's. She lead him away from the clan.

He turned to her, her dark eyes filled with amusement she leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"I saw how you were looking at that Capulet girl, you love her don't you? But for your sake and especially hers, I suggest you keep quiet. For now at least. You two may be the bridge between the families."

"But grandmother I thought you hated the Capulets."

Ajlal shook her head "Everything must come too an end, besides I'm sick of this ancient grudge. I have no idea how our ancestors kept it up."

~~~~~

Jurie winced as her arm made contact with her still healing stomach.

"JURIE!" Takashi yelled out, running up to her. He pulled her backwards just as Kenji reached them and gave her a once over. He scowled, scrunching his hands into fists. "I'm sorry. I should have done someth-"

Jurie held up a hand. "You know there's nothing you can do."

His scowl darkened. Kenji pulled Jurie to him. "Let's go."

Walking forward with Takashi and Kenji flanking her, Jurie relaxed her hunched shoulders and took a deep breath. Wincing at the prickling sensations that danced up and down her body.

The French Palace was just as grand and elaborate as she had seen in the paintings. Gold shimmered on the outside, ornaments decorated the interior and exterior of the Versailles, it was a palace far grander than described in all the princess books she'd ever read and could imagine.

Their French escort, walked them into the waiting room, gesturing for them to sit on the luxurious plush sofas. The tension between the two families was chilling. The Capulets occupied one half of the room and the Montagues the other. Kenji and Takashi ensured that Jurie sat nowhere near her still fuming father. She, her cousin and Kenji were the only ones not dressed in their traditional Japanese kimonos.

It wasn't long before the crown Queen and King of France made their appearance. Jurie bit back a laugh as she took in the Queen's gown. It very much made her look like she had a very generous butt. And her hair-do was fashioned in such a peculiar manner that no matter how many times, it brought a grin to her lips. What a load of exaggerated questionable "fashion".  

The King and Queen smiled warmly at them and they all rose to their feet, dipping their heads in a polite greeting.

"Walk with us, Montagues. Capulets." The Queen inclined her head in the left direction.

Together, the whole entourage followed the two members of royalty for a short tour around the palace before they settled at the courtyard where elegant outdoor furniture was set up around a large dining table.

Except there was one problem, which both families clearly weren't happy about.

They were all to sit at the same table with each other and the King and Queen.