Norwegian troops led by Fortinbras’ have exited the castle; early reports indicate that both Claudius and Hamlet (heir to the Danish throne) are dead. It is expected that Fortinbras will make a speech and claim the throne. Horatio, a friend of Hamlet, has just exited and is making his way to the podium.
Horatio: Today, a tragedy occured. A good man died. My good friend and the heir to the Danish throne is dead. Hamlet was murdered. Hamlet was murdered by the king.
This is a critical moment for Denmark; Fortinbras is now exiting the castle.
Horatio: This sick and twisted tail began long ago, when King Hamlet was murdered by Claudius. But this tail, this tail ends today. Fortinbras, King of Denmark will now make his statement.
Even without immediate evidence, this statement carries weight; Horatio is a known associate of Hamlet. This speech was obviously assembled rather hastley; Fortinbras likely intends to solidify his power before other actors get involved.
Fortinbras: Today was a tragedy. And yet, it is an opportunity. An opportunity for Norway, yes, but also an opportunity for my beloved Danes. I gladly accept the crown of Denmark.
Fortinbras has just re-entered the castle. Although short, this speech enshrines him as the new monarch of Denmark, making him nearly as powerful as King Hamlet, who took away his future kingdom years ago. Fortinbras has quickly gone from a nearly forgotten son to major power, one of the fastest turn-arounds in recent history.
Choices / Thought Process
This is a rather dull expansion of the story. I chose to incorporate “expert analysis” to add some extra commentary and highlight Fortinbras' journey, which is in many ways more intriguing than Hamlet’s plot.