So, I'm a really big fan of the Nancy Drew PC games, and I decided to participate in NaNoWriMo. I didn't end up finishing it in time, but whatever, it got me writing. I had recently played Curse of Blackmoor Manor, and you do get a bit of Elinor Penvellyn's backstory, but not a lot of it. So for my story I decided to write Elinor's story. It is a lot different than most of the stories I usually write. I tried to keep to the facts that we are given in the game, but some of it I had to twist. And some of the diary entries from the Penvellyn family are actually from the game, as some of you will know, just saying so I don't get accused for stealing anything.

Disclaimer: As much as I wish this story could be purely of my own creation, I do have to credit Nancy Drew and HerInteractive for the original idea, the game itself and some of the charecters.

However,Randulf,Charlotte, Hedwig and a few of the other charecters we will meet are my own.

hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 1

The most remembered name from the halls of Blackmoor,

Was a young woman called Elinor.

The trial was unjust, the verdict unfair.

Be wary you must, the beast is still there.

I have always been the strangest person in the town of Blackmoor. People say that all of our family, the Penvellyns, are all strange people. I suppose I was the strangest of all. My father James found me on the doorstep many years ago. Because no one knows where I came from, people say that I am a changeling, or a fairy baby.

I live in Blackmoor England in the large Penvellyn estate of Blackmoor manor. It is a very beautiful house. It has a library, a conservatory, a very large dining room, stables and a garden. Other than that, there was the long moors that gave the town its name. Those moors are rumoured to be haunted, and not just told by children. Living in a land of mystery and legend can also make one strange.

I am Elinor Penvellyn, and I have reached my eighteenth year. The reason people think us Penvellyns so strange. We Penvellyns have a secret, secrecy and strange actions never make one normal in society. My ancestor Randulf the Red found a great treasure. My great-great-great grandfather Charles Penvellyn began a tradition that has been passed down from Penvellyn to Penvellyn, with the help of the Bossiny family. Every Penvellyn must create a puzzle that will further hide our family treasure. I am that lucky Penvellyn, trained by Charlotte Bossiny in the ways of my ancestors. My father also knows about the secret, only because I confided in him. He has agreed to help me with my invention, but it must be my own creation. It is surprizing that the secret has not been leaked, but both the Penvellyn and Bossiny Family are ridged in their traditions. I started my tutoring at twelve, like all other Penvellyns before me. I found the alchemy lab at the ripe age of thirteen. Reading the entries in the Penvellyn book of Charles and Thomas was inspiring. Someday I'll have my portrait in the Great Hall, along with my invention. But I have much to do before then, and many years to do it in.

- Elinor Penvellyn

I looked out of the conservatory window and onto the misty moor. Hearing footsteps coming down the stairs I turned to see my father. "Elinor, darling why don't you go to the town and do some shopping or something. You shouldn't stay cooped up in this drafty old manor all day." He said. I sighed and stepped back from the window. "Don't you give me that young lady. It has been raining all week, you need to get out." Father said. "Alright, alright, I'll go father." I said. I ran up to my bedroom and put on my cloak.

When I came outside, a cabby was waiting for me. Father always did nice things like that for me. "To town mam?" The cabby asked. I nodded and then hopped into the carriage.

It was a brisk summer day; the winter had come earlier this year. The Penvellyns were given all of the lands surrounding Blackmoor Manor when the king gave them to Randulf the Red. Because my father was quite wealthy, and because I was his only child, he had never gotten a governess for me. Though Charlotte eventually substituted for one. This only added to the unorthodox that was our family.

When we reached town the cabby let me off near the square, and I headed towards my favourite dress shop. I wasn't going to buy anything, but it was always nice to window shop there. The dresses they made were absolutely scrumptious, and the jewellery was divine. Pressing my face to the display window glass I saw a beautiful white gown made from satin. It had a lace sash, lace draping sleeves, and lace trimming. I love lace, it was simple yet elegant, and I decided then and there that if I were to get married, I would want a dress like that. It was simple, like me. I wasn't into such gaudy things like some girls like Miss Baker and Miss Collins who lived for things that sparkled. They had a cloak for every minute of the day. I had one, black and practical.

I walked away from the store front, sad to leave the dress behind, and continued down the crowded streets. Though fall was upon us, there were still flower shops here and there, squeezing out all the money they could before the frost. I picked out one I thought looked particularly nice, and walked to it. The old lady that stood behind it looked at me and said, "Hedwig, at your service. What's the pretty rose lookin' for today?" I eyed the arrangement of flowers, and decided upon a nice bouquet of daisies and goldenrod for Charlotte. I paid Hedwig for the flowers and was about to leave, when she grabbed the front of my cloak and pinned something on it. "Fennel and lavender, it will keep you safe." She smiled. Though I found the whole thing strange, I smiled back and continued on my way. It was nearly time for dinner, so I decided to head back. I passed the dress shop and gazed longingly at that dress I had seen before.

Suddenly a hand clamped on to my arm and pulled me aside. I was spun around to face a boy about my age. "What were you thinking, wandering into the road like that? You almost got crushed by those carriages!" he said roughly. "I suppose I wasn't looking were I was going." I replied, quite lamely. "Yes, I suppose you weren't!" the boy barked back.

He let go of my arm to run a hand through his red hair. "Thank you for saving my life." I said, feeling like a scolded child, and I hated that. "It's not that hard to do, I pulled you out of the street." He said, and I could tell he was calming down. "No really, thank you. I'm sorry for troubling you." I added. His brown eyes bored through me. "Saving someone's life isn't a problem, it shouldn't be. The fact that you put it in danger is what bothers me." He said, almost as exasperated as before. I had only succeeded in putting the boy back into a bad mood. So I decided to change the subject."I'm Elinor Penvellyn." I said cheerfully, and extended my hand. The boy's anger quickly turned to pleasantry. "Sorry, Randulf Dunst." He replied grasping my hand and giving it a firm shake. "I help my father with his book selling business.' Randulf said and then added 'and you live in Blackmoor manor that much I know." I scuffed my boat around in the dirt.

The Penvellyn name wasn't the best thing to have in this town, not if you wanted to be normal. I always told my father that it didn't bother me, being a Penvellyn, but it did. Once people found out, they never treated you the same. It also made catching a man next to impossible.

"I have never been up to the manor, then again, neither have most people. But I've always wondered what the moors look like when the fog rolls in. Rather spooky I'd suppose." Randulf said. That was the first positive response I'd heard from him in a while, and I barely knew what to say. "It is sort of frightening to see the fog rolling down the moors every night. I sometimes wonder what strange beasts it brings along with it. Though it is probably not as frightening as it once was when I was young." I explained. Suddenly I remembered that I ought to get back to my home in time for dinner. "I really ought to get back home; my family will be expecting me for supper." I said. "Certainly Miss Penvellyn. Should you be in need of anything literary, drop by Dunst and Sons book store." Randulf told me. I nodded and excused myself.

I could feel a faint heat rising to my cheeks. A gentleman had never asked me to visit him more than once, or in an unsocial setting. So to have Randulf tell me to find him again, it was almost too much. I was never one to search out or extract flattery from a man. Though the occasional flirtatious discourse never put a damper on one's happiness

I returned to the manor considerably late for dinner, and the minute I stepped through the door, Charlotte was on me like a wild cat. "Why are you late? Do you think it amusing to keep us waiting and fretting about what could have happened to you Elinor?" she barked. "I got these for you." I said sweetly, pulling the flowers out from behind my back. Charlotte softened and took them from me. My father came rushing down the stairs. "Where have you been child?" he demanded. "Getting me flowers, and most likely window shopping." Charlotte said, not entirely impressed. "Oh, and did I mention I was stopped by a boy?" I asked nonchalantly. "A boy!" Charlotte exclaimed. "A boy." My father parroted. "Yes, I wasn't looking where I was going and he pulled me out of the street before I was run over by a cabby. We were talking for a few minutes." I said, hanging up my coat. "Well don't play dumb, tell us who he was!" questioned Charlotte, almost at her wits end. "Randulf Dunst, his father owns a bookshop in town." I answered. "Dunst, I believe he owns a chain of book stores, and his cousin is the Duke of Winchester. A very respectable family." Charlotte informed us all. Though she was supposed to be teaching me the ways of the Penvellyns, she was also well versed in the eligible and suitable bachelors in the country. She was quite concerned with my marital status, which is quite understandable; considering the Penvellyn line had to go on to protect our treasure. My father simply smiled. "Elinor must be exhausted from her little trip to town. "I suggest we eat now." He said, heading to the kitchen.

That night I was kept awake by the thought of the Penvellyn treasure. I ought to start my addition to the manor very soon, or at the least begin planning it. But nothing came to mind. Only one thing I could think of. Hedwig. She gave me a pin of flowers, and I was protected. By Hedwig's charm or by what, I wasn't sure. Perhaps it was a coincidence that Randulf pulled me to safety, perhaps it would have happened with or without Hedwig's charm. But what if it was magical? Then what would make Hedwig? A witch? A fairy? Either way, I would be wary of her for days to come. Now that I thought of it, Hedwig was not the only thing on my mind. There was Randulf too. Should I go to see him, and would I ever see him again? After a half an hour of fretting about this, I was finally able to fall asleep.

"Today we must renew the ritual." Charlotte told me after we had finished my arithmetic. I loved the ritual. Though it could be simply done by pouring oil down the hole in the Grand Hall, it was the complexity that made it enjoyable. We put on the headpieces and grabbed the pitcher of oil Charlotte had prepared. The most exciting thing of the ritual was that it was done in the dark. I started down the steps and began the chant.

"No key without toil, no fire without oil. No key without toil, no fire without oil." I stopped in the middle or the room and said in a low voice. "My actions ensure that my name will endure….to the end." And then I poured the oil, slowly, down the the drain. "Penvellyn." I uttered solemnly. I had been perfecting my tone each time. I loved the mystery and the glamor if the Penvellyn traditions and I wanted each time to be perfect.

"You did very well Elinor. You are very serious about your family's tradition, which is good." Charlotte said, as we ascended the steps. I smiled; it felt good when Charlotte complemented me. I sometimes felt I had to prove myself, because I wasn't a true Penvellyn. But my father assured me that the family would be proud of me. We paused outside of my room for tomorrow's instructions. "Don't forget Elinor, tomorrow we are reviewing the family history." "Yes Charlotte." I said. Frankly, I loved the family history, or rather everything about the Penvellyn's. They took me in and raised me, which was more than most people would have done. Charlotte took my head in her cool hands. "You must never forget that tradition is the most important thing. You are a Penvellyn, and it is your duty to be a Penvellyn." Charlotte said gravely. "I have faith that you'll do what is right." She added. I smiled lightly. "I will, I promise." "And good job with the Dunst boy. "She said, and I blushed. Charlotte then walked down the hall to her room, and I went into my own.

I looked out onto the moors. The nightly mist was rolling in, and I wondered if those stories of monsters and spirits who prowled the moors were true. My father had never told me not to go walking on the moors at night, but it wasn't a common practice of anyone in Blackmoor to do so. But curiosity burned inside me. It was as if I would die if I didn't find out what went on in those rolling clouds of fog every night. I vowed to myself that I would find out, but not tonight. No, you didn't run into dangerous places. Tomorrow I would see if I could extract anything from Charlotte or Father. And I'd at least test Hedwig's charm. It would be of use to me, if it worked. I crawled beneath my warm covers and fell asleep thinking of my plan.

The next morning I took a cab to town, and I found out where Dunst and Son's bookshop was. I wouldn't chance Randulf seeing me and running to save me before I could test my theory. I picked a section of town that was less busy, and with a deep breath, I stepped out onto the road. I quickly made sure that Hedwig's charm was securely fastened to my cloak, and waited for trouble to come my way.

I waited and waited, perhaps for thirty minutes. My feet began to ache from standing so long. I began to think no cabbies came this way, that I'd have to find a completely different spot, when a cab came rocketing down the cobblestones. I steeled myself, but was quite ready to jump out of the way if need be. I walked directly into the path of the carriage, and waited for something to happen. Just as I thought the carriage wouldn't slow down for me, the horses reared up and stopped completely.

The passengers inside were jostled about, and I heard one of them growl in annoyance. A man's head popped out of the carriage, all red and puffy. "Why did you stop like that, you incompetent beggar." The man yelled. The cabby, not saying a word, pointed to me. I suddenly wished that I hadn't tried out Hedwig's charm. I wanted to be invisible right now. The man stepped out of the carriage and towered over me. "What were you thinking you stupid wench, walking out on to the road like that?" He roared. "Now I'm late for my meeting with the Duke of Canterbury!" he yelled. I finally gathered my courage and spoke back. "I was merely crossing the road milord, when your cab almost ran me over." "I am Lord Cromwell; you have no right to talk to me like this. Insolent girl!" Cromwell barked, and his hand flew back in preparation to strike me.

"Stop!" yelled a familiar voice, and Randulf ran between us. "You do not have and business here boy!" Cromwell yelled. "This is Elinor, daughter of Lord Penvellyn, rightful owner of the lands of Blackmoor." Randulf barked back. Cromwell's arm fell to his side, a bit unwillingly, and he went back into his carriage. "Those cursed Penvellyns." I heard him mutter before the horses plodded on.

I turned to Cornelius, who had a roguish look on his face. "Looks like that is twice I've saved your life Elinor." He laughed, his brown eyes sparkling. I fingered the charm and replied, "Yes it looks like you have." Hedwig's charm had worked. Not only had it saved me from being crushed by the carriage, but it had also saved me from Cromwell. I had even made sure I was far away from Randulf's bookshop, and somehow he had found me. "What are you doing over on this side of town anyway?" I asked him. I could see a moment of panic flit over Randulf's face before it regained its usual confidence. "I was taking a walk to the market to buy lunch for father and I." he said. A laugh bubbled over my lips. "The market is the other way you know." I said, trying to hold my laughter in. Cornelius's face turned slightly pink. "I like taking the long way!" he defended. I felt a bit sorry for him, so I decided to change the subject. "How could I ever repay you?" I asked him. Cornelius had composed himself at this point and he replied "If you could arrange for me to come up to Blackmoor Manor, I would be most appreciative." I was not the least bit surprized by his response. I nodded in acceptance "I will ask my father when would be the most appropriate time, and you will be notified shortly." I said, and with that I excused myself.

I made my way back to Blackmoor feeling ecstatic. Charlotte would likely scream with delight, and my father would agree immediately. When I returned and told them of the news, they both reacted as I had predicted. "We haven't had a young man in Blackmoor for so long." Charlotte sighed.

She was probably planning the wedding in her head. She was like that.

"When would you like to have the young man over?" my father asked. "How about tomorrow for lunch?" Charlotte suggested. My father looked at me for confirmation. "Dinner, he wants to see the fog come in." I replied. "Is that so?" My father said in a tone I didn't understand. "I'll have the cook prepare something special for his visit." He added. I blushed "Oh father, there's no need for that, he just met me." It seemed much too early to set anyone's feelings in stone. We barely knew each other. "Any guest is a special occasion in Blackmoor. Especially such a nice young lad as Mr. Dunst." he said with a wink. He left for his room. "Well, now that this excitement is over, let's get started on your lessons. Today we're going to focus on the poems written by Josephus Penvellyn. Go to the library and find the book called My Hearts Song. We are going to look at his diction and the inspiration behind his writing." Charlotte instructed.

I groaned, history I liked, literature analysis I disliked.

I crossed the hall and opened the maple door. The few rows of books were lightly lit, and there was the musty smell of dust and old paper. I headed to the back of the room where the Penvellyn literature was kept. I picked out the one that charlotte had told me to get out. Beside it I noticed a book by Randulf Penvellyn on Norse runes. That was something that I never had learned about, and it sounded rather interesting. Something that many people wouldn't take the time to learn now a day. I decided that I would pick that up later. I rushed up to my room before Charlotte came to get me.

A few minutes after Charlotte had went to bed, and I was sure that my father was asleep. I snuck downstairs into the library. I pulled out the book on Norse runes and took it upstairs with me. The first chapter explained the history behind them, and how some of them were more than just a letter, but a group of letters, or a sound. Some of them even represented other objects, not just a letter. I quickly found out how to spell my name, and wrote it down in my diary. Who would know when I would need to use it next?

I looked out onto the moor again. I had found Hedwig's charm to be real. Now I needed to know if I would need to use it. I decided that bringing up the subject at dinner would be the most natural time. Randulf would likely ask questions about it anyway as he was so interested.

I awoke to find myself in the Great Hall, but it was as if someone had dimmed the lights, so I couldn't see as well. One of the windows was open, and the curtain fluttered in the cool night air.

Barely audible, a voice floated in from outside.

Elinor.

Elinooor.

Eeelinoooor.

I opened the door and walked outside. I couldn't see anyone there. The moonlight gleamed off of the front gate.

Elinor.

The voice came again, as if someone was there in the fog. I cautiously walked down the steps.

Elinor.

I squinted, trying to see if I could see a figure on the moors. I didn't see anyone, so I continued on.

Elinor.

The voice called, stronger. The further I walked, the louder the voice became. I realised that I didn't know where I was, or how far I had come. When I turned back, I couldn't see the manor. I walked on, very frightened now, almost on the verge of tears.

Elinor!

The voice sounded like it was shrieking now. Suddenly the moor around me turned blood red.

ELINOR!

The voice screamed. I dropped suddenly, into the blood-red moor. It was sucking me in like quicksand! I clawed at the ground, trying to stop myself, but I was pulled under and the world went black