Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
…Must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour.
– William Shakespeare
Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 1. At the end of this scene, Macbeth chillingly explains to the murderers that not only must Banquo die, but his young son Fleance should share the fate of that “dark hour.” As it turns out the boy is fated to survive Macbeth’s hired thugs.