Oh, it would have been a disaster, but Thesues came along and said they'd have to have a proper war over Emily, and he'd provide the soldier. Which I think is incredibly unfair, because Emily didn't want to marry either of them. But I think Thesues just wanted to get them both killed, maybe.

Emily wished to not have to marry, or if she did, to marry the man who loved her best. Palamon wished to get to be with his love. And Arcite wished to win.

Well, the war was fought, with swords and shields and bows and arrows and-- Well, everything. People lost limbs and even their heads! It had to end eventually, though, and while both men survived, it was Arcite's army who won.