Several hours had passed. I had for the most part stayed in my room, and attended to various small tasks around the castle, and yet, I could sense that something was amidst. One would find what had gone down to be of most disturbance, and yet, the disturbance and fear I had felt within me when I found out the truth for myself was incomparable to other incidents that had happened before. As I heard a huge ruckus coming from downstairs, I initially took refuge with the other handmaidens under me in an upstairs closet area. Most of them had only been here for a year at most. Some had been here for longer (I had been there the longest at the time at just over 4 years). Most of them were scared as to what was going on, and many of them feared about what the situation was with Macbeth. Some fear something serious could be going on. As I was considering what to and not to do, one of my most loyal seconds, Isabella Markinson, approached me, and before she began to speak, I had a feeling exactly what she would tell me to do.
"Daniella, you must help our King!" Isabella exclaimed.
"I don't know about this..." I trailed off.
"You're the most knowledgeable and experienced person out of all of us. If anyone is to help him, it shall be you," Isabella said.
"The truth is what you speak of, Isabella, but should I intervene with whatever may be happening?" I asked.
"But of course you should. You're Daniella Miller, one of the finest and most famous handmaidens in all the land. Surely you are up for the challenge," Isabella said.
I then thought about what Isabella said, and decided that she was correct. Someone had to help our King, and if anyone was going to me, it was probably going to me.
"Then I shall go and help him. I shall return when the threat is over," I said.
"Do be careful though, Daniella," Isabella said.
"Of course. I entrust that you will get everyone else here safe?" I asked.
"Of course," Isabella said.
"Good. I shall return, you can count on that," I said.
I then scurried down, but only to the point where I could see what was going on, without those at the bottom of the staircase being able to see me, and what I found was something that I never even thought would have the chance of happening.
"Why should I play the Roman fool, and die on my own sword? While I see lives, the gashes. Do better upon them," Macbeth said.
I then looked over to see who he was speaking to, and I couldn't believe it. Macbeth was currently face to face with a man that he deemed a traitor when he had fled to England, Macduff.
"Turn, hell-hound, turn!" Macduff exclaimed.
"Of all men else I have avoided thee, but get thee back; my soul is too much charg'd with blood of thine already." Macbeth said.
"I have no words. My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain, than terms can give thee out!" Macduff exclaimed.
Then, to my shock and amazement, they began to fight. Each man was strong, both physically and mentally. Each had the will to fight, even when the room around them was partially lit and partially pitch black (we were having issues with our candles and lighting that particular day). Each man had the capacity to fight for a rather long time, and fight they did, and for some time at that. No man could seem to get an advantage over the other, and then, just as when it seemed like this would go on forever, Macduff was finally able to gain the upper hand, and he was able to knock Macbeth to the ground, and he had him at his mercy, and he was preparing to give the final, and killing, blow.
"Thou shall wish you never messed with thee," Macduff said.
"You are a traitor. I attempted to deal with you as such," Macbeth said.
Macduff and I then made eye contact, as I had ventured further down the stairs to get an even closer look as to what was going on, which he had taken notice of.
"The only person here that is a traitor is you. You've betrayed not only yourself, but you have betrayed the people in which you are now a public servant of, and you have also betrayed your wife's beautiful and famous handmaiden," Macduff said.
It was then that I came all the way down the stairs, and came directly face-to-face with Macbeth and Macduff.
"Miss Daniella, you must be of help to me. He now has me, at his mercy. You must help!" Macbeth desperately voiced.
"I think you've said enough, sir," I replied, with a stone-cold look in my eyes.
"I beg your pardon?" Macbeth asked in confusion.
"Macduff is correct, sir. The only person in this room that is a traitor is you. At least Mr. Macduff over here has not resorted to killing his enemies, unlike you. You've betrayed all of us, including me," I said, with slight tears coming out of my eyes.
"I did what I had to do," Macbeth stated simply, as if it was obvious.
"No, you did what you wanted to do, and not what you had to do to be a good person," I said.
"Then you too are now a traitor in my eyes. Thou shalt leave my castle at once, before I have you executed," Macbeth said, angrily.
"Me? I am the traitor of the day? I am the one that should be executed for "being a traitor in your eyes"? Thou's mind must be clouded with many thoughts about your conquests for power if you are accusing me of being a traitor after four long years of serving your wife and yourself. It is you who has betrayed me, and the people of this fine castle and this fine land," I said.
I then turned to face Macduff, with great sadness, anger, and grief now swelling up within me like a big balloon that is just waiting to burst if something is not done to contain it.
"Now, I understand what my lady was speaking of that fateful night at the funeral. She knew exactly how and in what manner Banquo died, and that means you certainly had something to do with it as well, and you may have even been the one who committed such an act in the first place. While I am not sure about that, there is one thing that I am most sure of. I've served you both for four long years. I've given you my respect, dedication, and loyalty, and I have given you an oath of allegiance and service until the day I die or the day I would no longer be able to serve, and this is the manner in which you decide to repay me for all the time that I have served you? Mr. Macduff, I hereby renounce my loyalty to the Macbeth's, effective immediately, and I hereby pledge my service and loyalty to you, for you seem to be a lot more respectable and honored than the Macbeth's will ever be," I said with great confidence.
I knew what murky waters I could be by going down this path, but I knew it was the right decision for me, and Macduff and I seem to be of the same mind.
"Miss, Daniella Miller is it? I accept your pledge, and I offer you the opportunity to be the loyal head servant for myself, to keep my castle, and all those who work for me within it, organized and loyal, as they always should be," Macduff said.
I then took a cold-stone look at Macbeth, who was still laying on the ground, at the mercy of Macduff, and then I took another look at Macduff.
"I accept the offer that you have given me, Mr. Macduff, but first, there is one thing that I must do before I formally come and join you," I said.
I then took Macduff's sword, and much to the horror of Macbeth and to the surprise of Macduff, I plunged it right into Macbeth's chest, killing him instantly. It's something I felt like I needed to do.
"I now will venture with you, for whatever awaits us," I said.
"Indeed. Come, and we shall see where the winds take us," Macduff said.
"I require one last thing. Isabella, come! Bring the others with you! The threat is over," I said.
Isabella then brought herself and the rest of the handmaiden group with her. To their shock and horror, they saw Macbeth's body sitting on the ground. Then they saw Macduff, and they began to incorrectly connect the dots.
"The traitor! He killed Macbeth!" Isabella exclaimed.
Isabella then began to charge towards Macduff, but I was able to successfully hold her off and I was able to prevent her from doing any harm to Macduff.
"Why must you hold me off from such a menace? Was he not the one that killed Macbeth?" Isabella asked in confusion and anger.
"I am the one that ended his life," I admitted.
"What?" Isabella asked in disbelief.
"He's the one that betrayed us! He killed His Majesty, King Duncan, and he was the one behind the murder of Banquo! He has covered his tracks and told us lies about what really happened! I ended his chances of doing that again!" I babbled, not knowing whether the others would believe me or not. I sighed in relief when Isabella squeezed my hand in reassurance.
"So now what are we to do?" Isabella asked.
"I have pledged my allegiance and service to Macduff, for he is an honored man, and would never resort to what Macbeth and his wife did to King Duncan, Banquo, and he would never resort to the scheming and lies that have been fed to us like dogs. I'm not asking any of you to come with me. You can be free now to do whatever you please if you so choose. However, if you want to continue to dedicate your life to service, then I ask that you come with me, for there may not be another option out there," I said.
I was fully expecting everyone, apart from maybe Isabella, to say that they would want to be free. I know that's what I would probably do if I wasn't as experienced and loyal as I was. However, much to my surprise, everyone stepped forward and said they would be willing to come with me.
"Are you all sure about this?" I asked.
"Of course we're sure," Isabella said.
"But you could have any life you want now. You don't have to join me. This is something I am doing for me, not for all of you. You all do not have to come with me," I said.
"We may have been loyal to Macbeth before finding out what happened here today, but besides that, we were all loyal to you. We were all dedicated to helping you. We all looked up to you and your expertise for advice. You have been of most help to us all. We want to continue on with you, no matter where it takes us," Isabella said.
I was taken aback by how much kindness was being shown my way, but that to me just re-confirms exactly who Isabella was.
"Then if you all come with us, let us all see what the future holds." I said.
And from that point forth, I became the most loyal servant that Macduff had ever had during his time in power, and I was able to train and lead a big group of handmaidens, and show them everything that they would ever need to know. Macduff even offered me personally some training in several areas, such as learning to fight both hand to hand and with a sword, making a very skilled, all-around, and capable young woman out of me. He even had an idea about the two of us tying the knot, though that remains to be seen whether I am to go through with that or not. All I know is I am now happy, knowing I am truly serving someone who represents honor, respect, and dignity, and not people that represent the very opposite of everything I have ever represented and stood for.