A
LADY’S LETTER
ACT
ONE
SCENE
FIVE
SUB
ACT ONE
“My
Lady, a letter arrived for you.” The chambermaid called out when she walked
into the chamber. Elleanor heard the call, and in her heart was the dreaded
feeling.
MacBeth
dead? Or worse maimed for life? Elleanor feared the worse. She had waited for
him at every battle but to which will his luck holds. She feared losing him as
dearly as she did …...Wait, she had none. She loved the few close to her, but
never had she denied her love for MacBeth was more personal. She could not
reveal it for she was the sister of the lover of MacBeth.
“Men
can have many lovers but a lady was to be discreet. We cannot jump from the
windows or patios but cower in the bed sheets or cupboard to avoid been seen.
We cannot duel with the sabres but stoop to gossips.” Elleanor told her
chambermaid that day. “Is it not fair that ladies are to be meek?”
“I
will not know, my Lady. I am ……” The chambermaid was dismissed by Elleanor. She
once wore the frock of the men, and watched her reflection in the mirror. She
felt it was no different from her own bed frock; shapeless and coarse. She
turned her back and pulled the back hem of the frock up.
“Well,
at least I could reveal expose my bahoomie (Scottish slang) but do they, do
it?” Elleanor sniggered. “Maybe they do it from the front. They need to lighten
their water bags with their banger. At least we seat ourselves on the pot.”
“My
Lady, your letter.” Elleanor was told of the letter then. She picked it up and
read the contents.
“Dear
Elleanor, I am writing to share with you of some news.”
“First,
I am alive and defeated the rebels, the Irish and the Danes. I am well, though
I have some wounds that needed healing. The most important part is that was to
meet the Angels.”
“Angels
as person; they looked elegant and heavenly. They told me of my destiny. I was
sceptical but it soon overwhelmed me. I am to be King. Yes, they told me so and
then vanished. I was puzzled and then the other news came. It was from the King’s
messenger. I was made the Thane of Cawdor. Imagine that, Cawdor which is huge
and wealthier than Gladis”
“My
dear sister to Mary, how much of this news surprised me and I need it to be
told but to the one that shared so much of my life. I owed it to you and from
you to Mary. God bless her soul.”
“Yours
dearly, MacBeth.”
Elleanor
put down the letter on her laps. Tears flowed from her eyes and the Maid asked
her of the contents.
“He
is alive, and well. He is made Thane of Cawdor too.” Elleanor told the Maid.
She knew that the news will spread in Gladis.
“That
is good news, my Lady. You will be …...”
“Leave
me. I need to be alone.” The maid left her and then her emotional state took
over.
“He
loves me not.” Elleanor sighed. “He speaks to Mary through me.”
“MacBeth,
she is dead. I am here. Do you not see me at all? I …… love you.” Elleanor was
upset. “You are Thane of …..., Gladis and now Cawdor. There will be others who
will come patronising you with their hands ....... to seek your favour. The
ladies will bow to you displaying their bosoms that you may suckle onto them.
All of these for you are now the ……. The Thane yet you held no heir. I fear so
much for you.”
“Now
you said you will be King. How can you be King when you hold not your character
of Thane well? You may think a sabre can hold your rank, and fought with your
life. Does the King need to do that?”
“Not
with any King, they command the Lords and Thane to fight their battles. They do
not lack only virtues and goodness but they hold more. They hold ambitions and the
mind to stay ahead of their commands. You may not have that. You were at the
calls of others who did not ask of your destiny. You need a …... person to
confide in and to confide. You need a …... master of the destiny.”
“Come
home, MacBeth. You are Thane and now to be King, let me be your …… Queen. I can
whisper in your ear and criticize you so that you cease to be affected by
everything that’s keeping you from taking the crown …... which fate and magic
both seem to want you to have.”
“I
am true to you, my King.” It was then the maid made her entrance again.
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