Of all men else I have avoided thee, Macduff. Now it is you that brings me here to my castle walls, forcing me into my battledress. .
All I can do now is sit and wait for you and to contemplate the events which led to my being the target of your blade rather than your ally in battle. .
It started that night on the heath when Banquo and I came upon the three weird sisters. So foul and fair a day that was. Glorious from battle our spirits were high although the thoughts of the many that had fallen kept our talk solemn, despite our victory. .
We knew not if the sisters were mortal or just supernatural apparitions but the words they spoke appeared real. Real enough for me to consider their divinations rather than ride on and dismiss the whole encounter. They addressed me as both Thane of Glamis and Cawdor. Thane of Glamis I knew to be true due to Sinel's death, but surely the Thane of Cawdor still lived. It was their third prediction that shocked me most of all when they claimed that I, Macbeth, would be king hereafter. Before I had time to consider this further, a message arrived from King Duncan pronouncing me Thane of Cawdor. Two of the foretellings were now confirmed as true, leaving only the third. .
Even at this stage I believe Banquo was aware of my thoughts. As much as I attempted to conceal the terrible thoughts that entered my head, the encounter with the sisters left an uneasiness between us from then onwards. .
For the rest of the journey back to Inverness, my thoughts were clouded with evil doings. Ideas that would result in the untimely death of King Duncan and my crowning as king in his place. .
I needed to share my thoughts and so sent word to Lady Macbeth explaining everything. I described the encounter with the weird sisters and of the greatness they had predicted would fall upon us when I became king. I only hinted at what must be done to allow this third prediction to come true as I could not bear to put on paper the whole evilness my thoughts bore.
