The Highland Tale; The King Act One Scene Four Sub Act One

 KING DUNCAN

ACT ONE

SCENE FOUR

SUB ACT ONE

 

Unlike the palace of Gladis, King Duncan was a traditionalist. He much prefers his décor to be real, not illusionary. He requested that the drapes be of fine silk material and the portraits be painted.

“Nothing of mine is an illusion.”

The King was seated on the real high back seat, adorned with the lions’ cravings. The manner in which you can describe the King was regal. He was covered by the huge coat sewn with bear’s skin and lined on the seams by the fox’s skin, and beneath the coat was his royal frock, red in shade with the golden neckwear that covered his chest. He wore the fine lemmings fur boots, and his headpiece was the golden crown with the intricate designs of the lions. The King himself was heavily bearded, and his fingers were seen as callous from the handling of the sword in battles.

King Duncan was not one to remain behind in battle, but his age had slowed his fighting prowess.

“Sit yourself well, Donalbain.” King Duncan looked to his youngest son. The prince was accustomed more to riding and archery than to waiting at the hall. He was dressed in the green shade, and his feet were covered by the sandals made by the monks for him. He was young but looked more like his mother than the King, making him taller than the King but smaller in build.

King Duncan looked to Malcolm, the elder son, and was pleased. The prince was dressed in the dark blue frock with the leather belt that held the sheathed dirk, the favorite dagger of the Highlands. His son was a mirror image of himself as young, brazen, and at times lacKing in finesse in the battle strategy, but the Kingdom was defended more by the former than the latter.

Lennox Mac Laine, the trusted adviser of the King, stood behind the princes. He was tall like Donalbain, dressed in the gray frock, and held the annals to record the King’s words. He was Duncan’s friend for a long time, but he was not the one to do the fighting, although he planned the strategies well. It was he who told the King to send MacBeth to battle the Irish.

The others gathered there were the Thanes and nobles, many of whom the King had not met yet, although he was the King.

“Father, are we not allies with the Irish?” Donalbain asked.

“Donald, we signed a truce on the borders, but now they have crossed it. We are to defend ourselves.” The King replied. “The Hebrides, long influenced by the Gaelic, had seen to take on our lands. Their islands are many, but they lack sustenance for growth and herding. They had allied themselves with the Irish to take on us.”

“Brother, I know of your affinity for the Irish, but we are to protect our land. If not, the Danes will come, and so will the English.” Malcolm looked to his brother. Donalbain was once an emissary of the King to Ireland; he was sent to foster the relationship and was said to have fathered a child there.

“I still think we should have called for a truce." Donalbain added.

“Whatever it was to be, we won and the enemies were routed. So were the Danes to sneak on our back.” King Duncan roared out. “What of the traitor, Thane of Cawdor?”

“His death was false. He was surrounded by his men; though wounded gravely, he was rescued.” Lennox replied. “The co-conspirators of the false news were detained.”

“Were Ross and Angus included?” Malcolm asked.

“No, my prince. They were not. They were told the same tale by the conspirators. They are innocent of the treason.”

"Am I facing something more treacherous on my land?" King Duncan was furious. “Whose head then shall I remove from now?”

“My King, they are no more to my count.” Lennox assured the King. “I spoke with someone who saw Cawdor die.”

“Die? It seems like a rumor that never seems to die.” King Duncan sneered at the adviser.

“The one who told me reported that Cawdor confessed his treason, begged your Highness’s forgiveness, and displayed deep regret for his actions. That was on his dying breath.” Lennox said. The previous Thane held nothing but regrets for his action. Nothing he did in his entire life was as noble as the way he died. He died like a man, completely prepared to throw away the most precious thing he owned as if it were a worthless trinket.”

“Did he? A man dying when he was to face his creator will confess anything lest his sins be absolved. I shall accept those words with... pain.” King Duncan sighed. “Thousands died in that battle.”

“I stand to say that it is impossible to tell what’s in a man’s mind by looking at his face.” King Duncan looked at the gathered. “I knew the Thane of Cawdor very well. Or so I think I did. He was a gentleman whom I trusted completely. I shared my wine with him here. Yet he betrayed me.”

“Why would anyone do it, though they are like brothers to me?” King Duncan sighed.

“Our allegiance to you, my King.” The group all spoke in unison.

“Announcing the arrival of the Thanes’: the Thane of . Cawdor, the Thane of Cambria, and... Gladis.” The palace servant announced with the last name mumbled.