Macbeth Rewritten

Chapter 2

      They already knew what it was, just not why. Macbeth embraced himself to hear the words officially.

       "What is it?" He asked.

       "You're the new Thane of Cawdor," Ross answered.

        "How come? Isn't he still alive?" Macbeth pushed.

         "He confessed on the last minute, that he was feeding information to the rebels." Ross read his eyes, "You seem disappointed." He knew something was up.

         Macbeth put his hand through his hair, "I'm not. I'm very honoured. Just a bit light headed."

         "Well, either way, congratulations.  I need to go now and tell Angus you're here. Bye!" Banquo and Macbeth watched as Ross left.

          Banquo waited until he was sure that Ross was out ear-shot, "Do you think it's too late?"

            "I think...it's out of our hands," If he was honest with himself, Macbeth didn't really mind the good fortunes. He was curious about the witches and he trusted his friend's judgement but he knew himself; he would never let his back turn from the light. 

        "Perhaps there are two paths and I have to make sure I'm on the right one. Let's just celebrate," He pleaded.

         "Okay...let's go then."

         He understood Banquo only worried for his sake but he felt it was unnecessary. He knew that the witches were trying to trick him into a dark path. If they went back to their lives and stopped thinking about those witch prophecies then maybe things would solve itself. Somehow.

~~~

          Lady Macbeth sat near the fire relieved, her husband's letter in her hand. It had been a while since he wrote her one and when the war ended she was terrified of finding her husband to be one of the deceased.

         She was so ready to go back to the status quo; Macbeth going out and doing whatever it is he did as a Thane while she ordered servants to do housework or go out and buy a few things and talk to some friends. In the evening they both would be home eating dinner and talking before they go to bed.
 
        She'd always joke about how she was the man of the house; her say was the last, if she wanted food that wasn't from the servants, she'd make Macbeth do it and she felt sometimes that she could be a better politician than Macbeth, but she didn't want to bother with the headache that came with it.
    
         Macbeth let her do all that without complaint. Most people would consider them odd or mentally ill if they knew their dynamic and a select few people did. She felt honoured, her husband was a firm man but when it came to the king or nobility he respected, he was almost obedient. It meant she was a strong woman.

    Lady Macbeth looked at the letter:

          To Lady Gruoch

     She told him many times to not call her by her first name and she thought he stopped. During the entirety of the war he sent his letters to her by her real name because he thought he could get away but she would make sure he didn't. She still opened all his letters as she did with this one.

           Hey, love
           I'll finally come back home. The war's over but you already know that. I have some weird news. I promise I didn't take any weird herbs and even Banquo can testify that what I'm about to tell you did happen.

      Lady Macbeth was speechless. She didn't know what to think. It was all crazy and hard to believe but if it were true...
 
       Her mind went to dark thoughts but she shut it out. She had to make sure that this was real and talk to Macbeth personally; see what he plans to do in case he screws it up. Whether or not they choose to eliminate Duncan and his sons, she was going to keep those dark thoughts just in case she needed them. At the moment, all she could think of was what Macbeth was doing. 

      She looked through the letters again and found something else.

                                                                             ~~~

       Macbeth sat in the quarters provided by Duncan. All they talked about was the matter of being Thane of Cawdor and celebrations for three occasions; His new position, the victory of the war and Malcolm, Duncan's eldest son, taking the title of Crown Prince. The party would be four days from then.

        He could only think of how he would become the king. Maybe with patience, things would go back to normal but the witches said soon. How long was soon? 

      Maybe if Duncan abdicated and Malcolm died from some disease. He could argue for Donalbain, he was 15 and still was far behind on his studies. His mind explored different possibilities, even ones where he played...an active role.

        He felt dirty for it. This was his cousin and his children he was imagining things that could put them out of comfort and life. Even after everything Duncan did to him. It was wrong of him to think this way. The more time went on, the more he thought about it more. Banquo was right to worry but he could still contain himself.

         He wrote to his wife about what happened and along with the letter was an invitation to the party Duncan was throwing; Most nobles and a few citizens would come to the celebration. He very much needed to forget about all this. He decided he was going to take a bath and rest his mind.   

                                                                                           ~~~

           Lady Macbeth packed her bag herself; she wanted to keep her mind off of killing until she reached Duncan's place but then she looked at the chair with the letter.

          She took a knife and kept it at the bottom of her clothes. She picked up Macbeth's letter and read through them again before she threw it in the fireplace. She watched as the fire ate paper turned it into black ashes. Is that what will happen to her soul if she keeps plotting misfortune? 

          "My lady!" Lady Macbeth jumped. It was just one of the maids, "Your carriage arrived."

          "Uh, yes. Thank you," Lady Macbeth replied, "Carry my bag to the carriage."

           "Yes, my lady." 

            She walked outside to the carriage with the servant close behind. The cold wind of autumn kissed her skin. She climbed and sat in the carriage. The maid gave her the bag and she kept it next to her.

          "Make sure you take good care of the house while I'm gone. It will only be a few days though and put out the fire in the fireplace in my room," She ordered.

           "Yes ma'am," She replied.

           Lady Macbeth looked at the driver from her seat, "Now to the King Duncan's palace."