Benvolio informs in Act 2, Scene 4 that Tybalt has despatched a letter to Lord Montague's mansion. "A challenge to my life," Mercutio responds (2.4.9). He goes on to declare his undying love for Olivia and asks her to marry him. Olivia replies with a promise of marriage in the future. But this isn't enough for Mercutio who wants an answer now. So she writes back saying that since they are both young and love makes itself known through words as well as actions she will marry him in three months time when he has grown up a little bit more. Mercutio is overjoyed by this news and they go off into a corner to talk privately about their love for one another. But this doesn't last long because soon after that they hear Tybalt shouting at Romeo for having killed his cousin. With great haste, they run off in different directions trying to escape from Tybalt but it is too late. He has already found Romeo and now they are going to fight to the death. Mercutio tries to stop them but it is no use. Soon after, he dies cursing Romeo out loud.