Elinore and Anne

Written by Patricia C wredeand as told by Baen Skall

Let me tell you of a tale, of deception greed and hate, of love and gile of death ond phantoms.

A tale of sorrow indeed, for a kingdom who was to fall from thier greatests of hopes

Its is a tale of long ago, of 3 sisters, but of the third, she has told me the tale, and never revealed her name, but of her sisters she held no such reserve, for thier names were Elinore and Anne

Elinore fair and tall, of golden hair, her fair skin as pale as the moon herself! Anne of raven jet black hair and eyes as cold as the deepest curelean ocean.

Each was a beautiy to behold, the eny of every suitor, for they were the daughters of a mighty king who ruled over rich vast lands.

the monarche and the queen loved thier daughters more than the sun loves the earth, but of eachother both hated with a white hot passion that threatened to tear the kingdom assunder! For on thier shoulders rested he hopes of the King and Queen to wed nobly and thus expand thier rule.

yet Elinore and Anned held such animosity that they did not care for naught but themselves and worked tirelyessley to bring one or the other down.

One spring, when Anne turned 16 and was thus old enough to join her family at court and have suitors of her own, her Father bought her a magnificent red dress, of the finest silks and sewn with the finest jewels.

But Elinore could not see her sister rise to the court and take from her the attentions of her suitors.

For Elinore had entertained many and one in particular, Edward, was most noted among them. it was rumored that he would ask her hand in marriage, and it was rumored the the King approves exeedingly.

But that day in spring, where Elinore had so long held Edwards eye, he soon forgot the golden Elinore and placed his eyes upon her sister Anne!

Resplendent in red, Anne came to court, her hair held fast with jeweled chains, her dress flowed about her like a river of molten crimson,and Edward was swept away.

Enraged Elinore stormed from the suare, her heart broken by Edwards attentions to Anne. That night she crept through the palace to her sisters room and stole the dress of red.

When morning came the cry went up, Anne was heartbroken for her dress. She loved the dress more than anything and to find it missing had her undone!

Soon the maides and the stablemen and all the servants were searching, and when they found the dress, torn to shreds within a brair patch by the river, Anne was unconsolable.

the days passed and Edward came again, as was his usual habit to visit once a month. And elinore waited beside the gate, enthused by his arrival, but to her horror, he swept past her on his stee of silver and black, and instead called for Anne.

And Anne came to the door, amazed and bashfull, flattered by his attentions, and seeing the look fo rage upon the face of her sister, took sweet revenge in riding off with him into the woods.

Days passed and Edward left, and Elinore simmered her fury within her breast and it was on the third month of his visit that Elinore changed.

After thier ride in the woods, which Elinore had shared many a time herself with the shameless Edward, Elinore met Anne at the gate.

"come with me, oh sister, and walk with me. i would speak to you of many things"

Anne was wary, but intrigued, in her mind she thought to play a nasty trick upon Elinore and elaborate the time she and Edward spent, telling her of the sweet nothings he spoke to her and wanting to see Elinore rage as so often she had done.

So tehy walked, down the garden paths to the river. And there they were for many a long hour before Elinore came running back, her golden hair muddies and her ivory skin blemished by soot and mire.

She told a tale to the guards of a brigand in the rushes. She told of how he had come from the reeds and took poor Anne away!

The king was summoned and in a furious rage, he called upon his men to search for Anne, but to no avail. No trace was left behind.

even Edward came, his face hard as stone as he looke dupon Elinors face. he searched day in and day out for two seasons and no one found poor Anne.

And Elinore wept, nightly by the fire, recanting the tale as if memoriizing it would make it real.

For those who believed her, thier hearts were heavy, for those who did not, thier minds were weighed down by thier presumptions.

And the winter came, followed by spring, then came the summer, and fall came like fire and red and the King fell ill.

Edward stopped his search, and sent word of his not returning. he had lost hope and desire for thier family and what he called his lost love, Anne.

And whinter came. Bleak and cold. Like the fingers of Death gripping the world.

No tales were told beside the fire, not songs were sung for cheer and finally one night a messenger came from a kingdom far from thier own.

It was a message that Anne had been found and to this news the King and Queen rejoiced!! they summoned fro thier daughter, and prepared a lavish feast!! Entertainment was planned and musicians from all walks were called to join the foray!

Even Edward dared to come, his eyes shining with newfound hope!

And then the day arriveD, for Anne to return. The King sat upon his throne, weak he was by his illness, but eager to see his daughter once more, the Queen likewise in her finest gown, awaited the arrival of Anne.

And beside them sat Elinore, her face hard as chiseled stone. Unreadable, her eyes were like deep casms, dark and chilling.

And entered the procession. banners were flown, trumpets sounded as a red carpet was laid at the Monarchs feet.

As the excitement quiteted, footsteps were heard beyond the door and through it walked a single man.

he was a tall fellow, blonde and eyes of emrald green. In his arms he carried a harp, carved with runes and made of shining bone.

the great hall was silent as he walked the red carpet and knelt at the feet of the King. his eyes rested momentarilt upon Elinore, flashing with an unknown sinister light.

"what is this?!" Demanded the King. "Where is my daughter??!" the tall man stood and presented the King with the harp.

"Dear King, I will tell you of Anne, for this harp has a tale of eerie words, and when plucked will tell the tale of your daughter and her demise."

The King stood, his face red with rage. "I recieved a message my daughter had been found, i demand you produce her at once!"

"I am but a minstrel," the tall man said quietly, "Of the lands of magic and Elves. i know the secrets of the dead and often speak to them."

"A year ago, i found the body of a beautiful young maiden, her hair as dark as jet, her eyes, though lined with death, were as clear and as beautiful as any jewel."

"I found her by the river, drowned. And from her bones i fanshined this harp, and from her hair the strings, and from her fingers I made the tuning knobs."

The king advanced, his fingers shaped like claws, intending to choke the life from the man. but the tall stranger ran his fingers across the delicate strings.

"father......." A voice whispered. Where music should have played, a quiet whisper floated up, just loud enough for the King to hear.

"Anne??" the King asked, in mid stride. the Queen gasped in suprise. "Anne, is that my sweet daughters voice??"

the tall man strummed the instrument again and the voice continued.

"Dearest father, dearest mother, a sad tale i would tell thee. of treachery of hate, of deciet and cruelty!"

Elinore stood, her face white, as though death had touched her skin.

"oh father, whilst walking beside the river, my sister hath pushed me in, and though i cried for help, she did nothing to save me and i was lost..."

The words from the harp rung like thunder in the Kings ears. The Queen looked as if she wuld faint and Elinorse stood like a stone, her fist balled tightly at her sides.

"Liar!" She whispered. And in a few quick steps, she crossed the room, took the harp from the stranger and shattered it upon the floor.

Elinore was never seen again. She lef tthat night and never returned. the King succomed to his illness and the queen soon followed. Edward never visted again, nor did he seek the hand of the last daughter remaining. She, instead took the throne and ruled with justice and peace, but from that day, she often wondered....

Where Elinore ahd been cruel, Anne had been decietful. Did Elinore truley push Anne into the river, or had Anne taken a last revenge upon her hated sister??

No one could know, but for the bones of Anne.