I should say, for every three-arc chapter, there will be a side chapter in between so you can understand the story between the Storyteller, the girl, the Writer, and the book that is recording the fairy tales. Also, only these side chapters will have some narrative. Think of it as if the Storyteller is narrating while the protagonist is actually telling his/her tale. The parts that are narrative will be in italics and the protagonist part will be in normal font. Um... I'm going to give warning (just in case), there will be touchy dialogue and some dark moments. I'm not sure if anyone would feel uncomfortable with THIS chapter, but that is why I have a little warning. Nothing too extreme though since I, myself, can't really handle writing that type of thing. Though, this might as well be counted as a "Dark" Parable.

As for any news for Maiden's Silence and the Cursed Swan, I'll be refraining from updating since I just have to get a terrible Writer's Block. I got the beginning and end, but the middle is just a stab to the back. Anyway, enjoy.


Chapter 4: The Maiden Known as Lorelei

Seiben...

Once long ago, in the land Bacharach, Germany, there lived a girl of royalty. Despite she could have gotten what she wanted, she only wished to live a normal life. However, the Princess didn't get to live the life she wanted because...

I was dead. In this castle of corruption, lies, and deceits, I was the only one who died unhappily and cannot accept my tragic end.

Ah, the ancient story of the Princess Lorelei. Though she could have lived comfortably, she rejected them all for a feeling she called True Love.

Everyday, I was filled with expectations, rules that I didn't want to get accustomed to. My parents used me to gain the attention of many suitors. Although I have certain features that will have me praised for centuries, I rather not be a family pawn.

The girl with her beautiful blonde hair like the sun, blue eyes like the night sky, and skin as lovely as a pearl. She would often sneak out from her home to watch the Rhine from the horizon. It is there, that she will soon encounter the unexpected.

It was in my younger days as a child that I met a boy of my age. Something about him was different. Unlike many of the suitors who desired me, this boy seemed to pay me no mind.

"Hey." I called out to him.

He turned around. His brown eyes gleamed with curiosity as a friendly smile spread on his face.

"Oh, hi!" he responded.

I smiled as a cool night breeze blow against his brown hair. He was dressed in rags, so I assumed he is a poor boy from the streets.

"You don't seem to know me." I laughed softly in relief.

"Should I?" he smiled.

We both giggled until I asked him, "What's in your hands?"

"Oh, it's a necklace." he answered.

"Can I see it?" I questioned.

He nodded as I felt obligated to sit next to him on the grassy area of the cliff. He gave me his necklace which was a silver ring on a twisted linked palladium chain. The stone was a deep ocean blue, like sapphire.

"It's beautiful." I remarked as I gave it back to him. "Where did you get it?"

"From my mother. Unfortunately, she passed away."

"Oh, I'm sorry about your mother."

"It's fine. That's why I come here, to the Rhine." he spoke as he turned his head to watch the horizon. "It's my favorite spot out of this entire land."

I smiled as I followed his gaze, "It's my favorite spot too."

He turned to look back at me, "Really? Why?"

"I often visit here to get away from my troubles." I answered with a smile. "I never introduce myself. I'm Lorelei Von Bacharach."

"Mine is Louis." the boy answered.

"Okay, Louis. Starting today, you and I are friends." I happily replied.

"Alright." he laughed.

It was on that spot that the two would often visit each other every night. Soon, what was known as "friendship" will soon bloom into "love". The lovers who were so young, were unfortunate to not know the way of the Fates.

Sadly, as we grew... We were both burdened by our task. It wasn't soon until dreadful news came. You see, it is expected for young girls to get married off to nobility or royalty. Those are one of the expectation of me from the King and Queen. True Love didn't come. The reputation of one's royal bloodline always come first before the family pawn.

But I didn't want to be married off. I'm in love with Louis. Sadness came when Father realized this. I suspected that he created a draft for all the young men from his kingdom to depart- to fight a war with a neighboring kingdom. Louis, of course, believed that if he returns from the war, he would be considered worthy to have Father's approval. Our last meeting was from the docks.

Sechs...

"Please, don't leave, Louis." I begged.

"Don't worry, Lori." he smiled. "I'll come back and when I do... Your father will approve of our relationship."

I hugged him tightly in my arms, "Promise me... Promise me that you'll come back."

"I will definitely come back."

"You must absolutely come back."

"I will. I promise." he then reached into his pocket and took out his necklace. "Here, this is my proof."

I took the ring and looked at it. I recognized the blue stone on the band.

"But... This is your mother's." I reminded him.

"It was." he agreed. "Now it's yours."

"Are you sure?" I questioned.

He smiled, "Princess Lorelei Von Bacharach, with this ring... When I return, I will marry you."

"Then I shall wait for your return." I replied.

We smiled as he gave me a kiss before he left. When he aboard the ship, I immediately ran to the Rhine to see his ship set sail. That was the last time I ever saw of him. We were sixteen back then.


Fünf...

The girl... As she grows into the fabled maiden, her beauty reflects on it. Her hair became more flowy and long with her bangs swept to the sides. The maiden dressed in white and blue. Though she has kept her promise in waiting for him... The boy, however, when he left...

Ah~ My lover has died, along with our promise. What else do I have to live for? My serenade by the sea as it crash against the rocky cliffs. If I'd knew this would have happen, I probably would chosen the end of my life. Four years have passed that I'm no longer a young maiden. My mother and father, the Queen and King, wanted to marry me off to the Prince of that exact neighboring kingdom...

That was when I knew... There was never an ongoing war. The ship that was to take my love to the neighboring land, it was directed to a stormy seas where no one could survive. Realization and the cruel reality came down on me. They have planned it. Everything. Since the day they knew that I was in love with him! But it matters no more for they have succeed. He died because we were in love?

No... Not just him, not just Louis. All the other young men who step on that ship... Their lives were also lost. As far as I know, they could have been sons, fathers, husbands, and fiancés. All of them had perished in that storm. I wondered just how many families were torn apart. It didn't changed the fact that they all died because of my love for Louis. It could be argued that my father caused their death. But it was I who indirectly caused all the tragedy to happen in the first place.

It didn't matter anymore. What's done has happened. Now everything that I had hoped for was gone. Every time I tried, it was useless.

"Please, Mother, Father, I do not wish to marry!" I pleaded with them everyday, but all my attempts fell on deaf ears.

"You will wed this man! I order you as King!" Father told me.

"How could you?!" I felt betrayed by my own parents as I escaped away from this pointless place of luxury.

In the midst of my sadness, I would wait at the Rhine, wanting to believe that there might be a chance that Louis survived and would return home to me. But days passed and everyday was the same page as the next. The same ink writing the same words on every page, nothing was ever different. Everything was always the same... Which was why I was getting sick of it.

As I wait in despair, I would always let the sea calm me down. The sea would tell me many stories. To all of the maidens of a burdened royal life, who are being played off for a married life... Many woman who are so ahead of my time, your situation isn't better than mine. I came from the route of a disastrous outcome. A path that you should avoid at all cost.

My powers to know of the future, of those who are just like me... I can only hoped that you all have a happier ending, even if it resulted in your death. There was one [Swan Maiden] who've accomplished her goal. She died as the result, yet her death caused her to be reunited with her lover in death. How I wished I could meet this woman.

The spinster as she was now called by the many staff of the castle, she kept rejecting advances from other men who offered her a promising life. Yet she would always turned them down to maintain her own vows to her dead lover. Though it was already pointless, she believed that the Fates will reunite her to her love. Because all she wanted...

"Was to see you one last time."


Vier...

Eventually, the King forced her into an arrange marriage. Prinz Reinold Von Rhineland, a man of wealth and high status. Dark eyes, long curly hair, a mustache. Wearing his fancy hat and royal clothes, he was the image of an arrogant person. Worse of all, he believe that women are mere little wives who can't be independent.

In the summer of June 5th, a wedding took place between the two. They said their vows, but their love will never exist. For it is between two strangers whom wed out of families' personal benefit and alliances, but the Princess still fought back. However, I guess she was no longer a Princess, but an unwilling Queen.

Despite I became the partner of the man whom I despised, that doesn't mean that I allowed him to get close to me. How I wished I could just return to my childhood... With my dearest friend. However, I've already became marred by his possessive love. Even when I tried rejecting his advances, he only find my helplessness to be amusing.

"Why fight me, dear Lorelei?" his sickening tone strike a nerve in me. "We are husband and wife now. So, why don't we... Devote ourselves to each other?"

"You're the last man I'd ever love." I coldly told him.

"Come now, don't be like that." he taunted me. "Why don't I... Give you a kiss?"

His face got closer to mine...

"Get away from me!" I yelled, slapping him in the face.

"Huh, you know, I must admit, I do like a tough woman." he smirked at me.

I hated this life. It wasn't fair! Why did I have to wed someone whom I know little of? It wasn't right! Oh, how I wished I could just escape from this false reality of mine.

Sooner or later, the Queen found out of the child she bears. It was his child. Something that she will never forgive her husband for. However, she couldn't bring herself to hate the child inside her. It didn't do anything wrong. It was... Innocent.

"I promise I'll keep you safe from that wicked man." I told to the little one in my womb.

However, that promise of hers never came to be. On the same year of July 14, she felt something was wrong. She could tell. How? Because she was going to early labor. So, the doctors came as quickly as they could after she fainted on one stormy night. The news wasn't pleasant.

I was worried. What was going to happen to my child? The doctors were very quiet, not giving me any information at all. Finally, one of the servants came in. She was stoic, devoid of any emotions.

"Well? What of my child?" I asked nervously.

"Your Majesty..." she trailed off as she sat on the side of my bed. "I'm sorry, but it's dead."

Drei...

"W-What?" maybe I heard wrong or perhaps it was the fatigue.

"It's dead." she repeated.

'No... No, it can't be!'

Ah, but it is. The Queen has given birth to a stillborn. Her eyes widen as she couldn't hold back the tears in her eyes.

"Is... Is it a him or a her?" I whispered.

"Why asked?" the servant questioned. "It's already dead."

"Is it a him or a her!" I repeated in anger.

The servant scoffed as she answered, "It was a boy. Although, I don't think it matters anymore."

"Leave." I ordered. When she didn't, I yelled. "LEAVE!"

She finally did, but I waited until she closed the door to let out a wail of agony. Why? Why is my life going completely wrong? I keep on losing things that are precious to me. Louis... My son... There is nothing left for me.

Lorelei continued to despair for a few more minutes until she could muster enough strength to stood on her feet. She stumbled as she reached for the door. The Queen walked weakly, trying to find where her child was. Even though she is well aware that he was no longer, she wanted to experience the feeling of motherhood.

Eventually, she managed to reached her husband's chamber. When he turned to face her, her eyes were focus on what was in his arms.

"Ah, Lorelei. Just in time." my despicable husband, Reinold, smiled a twisted smile.

"What are you going to do with him?" I asked in worry and anger.

"What? This?" he gestured to my son. "Isn't it obvious? I'm sending it to where it belongs. A useless creature like it doesn't deserve my pity."

He was turning towards the fire, ready to do the unbelievable.

"No!" I yelled. He threw my son into the fire. "NO!"

I collapsed onto my knees, breaking into tears. Satisfied, Reinold approached me. He knelt by me, looking down at me.

"Oh, don't despair, my love. We could always make more children. After all, an heir is necessary for this kingdom's future." he taunted me.

I responded by slapping him across the face. Nothing could describe my anger towards this sick joke of a *******!

"How could you?! You were his father! How could you burn your own son?!" I spat at his face.

"Because that thing isn't my son. I advise you to forget about it." he suggested. "Have a good night sleep, love."

I glared at his disgusting smirk as he closed the door. Quickly, I crawled to the fireplace to take back my son, before the devil can take him. I didn't care if I got burn in the process. I have to save him. Once I pulled him out of the fire, I quickly smother the flames before embracing my dead child.

"It's okay, sweetie. It'll be alright. Your mother is right here." I muttered to him as if he was alive.

Heh, how foolish of me. To think that my son was still alive. Am I losing my mind? Because I was sure that I've become mad. I was sniffling and couldn't breathe calmly. My heart felt like breaking into more pieces. What could I do?

The poor woman was at a loss, not knowing what else to do? It was after half an hour that a name came to her mind.

'Walter. That's it! He can help me.'

Ah, yes. The servant of her old home, the only person in her life who ever was the father figure to her. Knowing that he would be able to help her, the Queen returned to her room with the body of her child in her arms. After locking herself in her room and placing the corpse in a cradle, she started writing with ink and paper.


Zwei...

The next day, Lorelei sent her message through a messenger bird. It wasn't long until she gotten a reply. He had agree to meet with her and they planed for the location. It was at the Rhine where they met. With the dead [Kind] in her arms, the two prepared for his farewell.

My sweet child whom never gets to see, what the world has to offer anymore

This final farewell is your destiny, you'll be missed by your mother

I sang as I place flowers in my son's cradle-like coffin. Closing the lid, I gave the little box a push as it floats away in the ocean. It continued to rain, but I didn't care. I wanted to stay in this place, the Rhine was where everything happened. My first meeting, my first love, my partings, my son's funeral. But, eventually, I'll have to return to that awful reality of mine.

It didn't get better when that man tried to have me bear any other children. Unfortunately for him, I couldn't anymore. When he realized this, he was sent to a rage.

"Why can't you have any children?!" he demanded, growing more angry with every second.

I knew that an heir was vital to rule the kingdom in the future, but I couldn't help but hide a small smile. Finally, he wouldn't get what he wanted.

The King, filled with rage, went to the Queen's old home and complained to her father and mother. Sooner than later, he decided to sue his unfortunate wife, making up false stories to cover up his pride of being wed to a useless daughter of a wealthy King. He believed that a "spinster" like her will never marry nor give him the rights to brag about his royal blood or his alliances. In trial, the proud King won and was now divorced with his wife.

The Queen's parents didn't spare her any sympathy. She was disowned in that very room. Stripped of everything, Lorelei could only pack a few of her belongings before getting kicked out from her home.

"You are a disgrace, Lorelei. You think you can return home after humiliating us? GET OUT!"

And so, the woman, who was still young of age, was left to live among the common people. However, she didn't mind. Because in reality...

I was FREE.

Two years has passed and I've turned twenty-two. I thought I would continued to enjoy my life being free. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Despite I was stripped of my position, titles, and birthright, that didn't stop me from drawing attention unintentionally. A man who was actually married once tried to forcefully woo me.

The outcome wasn't desirable. When his wife have heard of this, she accused the beauty as an enchantress, seducing her husband and the other man into being disloyal to her and the other wives. People began to become suspicious and suspect that the maiden wasn't even human at all.

Most of the men commit suicide after I reject their advances. It didn't did me any good.

The poor woman was judged and trialed for the suppose "crime" she committed. The judge was a man who despise the supernatural. Anything that seemed to be unusual is treat with great disgust and hatred from him. As the crowd booed, yelled, and cursed the maiden, she just simply waited for her sentence. It was death.

Ha, how comical is this? Despite everything that has happened to me... It seemed that I can never be at peace, whenever alive or not. I didn't do anything wrong, but still... This was what I got in return? Even though my life doesn't seem fair, I decided not to blame anyone. I will simply, quietly accept my fate... And welcome Death into my arms.

However, just as the sentence was about to be passed...

"Wait!"

A man stepped out to reveal a not so merciful minister. He had gave me an offer to become a nun. But I knew that this man was simply offering this just so he can have me to himself. I didn't want that. So I agreed to his offer, only to asked for a small request.

"I wished to see the Rhine one last time. After all, it will be the last I see before I disappeared from the world."

Rather then living the rest of my days alone with the horrid minister, I'd rather end my life short and be with the ones I loved. As I looked towards the horizon, I was shocked to see a man. He has black hair from afar... Could it be him? Could that be Louis? But... What was he doing with another woman? It couldn't possibly him, could it?

As the woman, conflicted with her own thoughts, she continued to despair even more. Unfortunately, the man who she saw was not her lover, but a man whom she has mistaken.

I have nothing else to live for... But it was fine. Even if he betrayed me, strained out friendship, and broke my heart, I'd sill love him.

Even on that very moment, in the moment of complete suicidal thoughts, she still lives knowing that he wouldn't be happy if she died.

The blue sky that reflect the colors of my eyes. There, she is filled with eternal joy as rays of hope shined on her. This girl has found a place of ever-lasting light called paradise.

The blue sea where I shed my endless tears. Here, I am lamenting with complete sorrow as grains of sand runs low. I will soon sink to the place of never-ending darkness called abyss

And so, the maiden known as "Lorelei" danced for her late beloved, singing in her mind of the difference lives between her and that [Swan] Maiden. As she took each step, she was dancing near and close to the cliff. When she finished her dance, a hooded figure approached her from behind. When the maiden turned around, she let out a gasp.

Eins...

STAB

The woman looked at her attacker as the hood fell over. It was the wife, the same one who had accused her a few weeks ago. Despite the blood that it coughed out from her, Lorelei pushed herself to find answers.

"You..." I recognize the woman. "Why?"

"Why? Because I wouldn't let an evil enchantress like you live, not while I'm alive." she seethed.

I coughed more blood in an effort to warned her, "There will be consequences for your action. It will not only affect you... But the entire world."

"I don't care because you committed more crimes than I. After you bewitched my husband... H-He took away his own life! We could have been happy if you never came. No, if you were never born, you d***ed wretched woman!"

The words hit her harder than the wound, but that didn't matter much after. As the wife pushed the knife further deep into the maiden's chest, she made sure that Lorelei fell off the cliff. As the woman looked up to see her murderer turning away, her eyes turned to look at the sky. Before she could be embraced by the dark waters, she apologized to Louis as her body sank deeper into the abyss.

The blue sky where the white swan resides, her life is filled with eternal bliss

The blue sea that I am forever bound, never understanding the feeling of love

The feeling that trembles from her long love is Lorelei, the one who is drenched from her sorrows is me

My gift to you all is a curse that shall be born, I shall aid those who've suffered

This was how I died as "Lorelei". Because Lorelei is no longer who I am. As she died, I was reborn. But that's begs the question: who am I? I am nothing more, but a girl. A girl who have lost her innocence and wisdom. One who've lost her future. Just as the woman has lost her childhood and free choice. Her past.

I guess you can say that I am what remains of that once kind hearted woman. I am someone who merely follows her desires. As the last happy moments of "Lorelei" fades away, I took her place. The last thing I could only remembered from my old life was the thing that disgusted me. Men. I hated all of them except for the one whom I once loved. It was only he who had treated me like a true friend. All the others were just the same. All wooers and so, just to gain my affection. I swear that it shall be their downfall.

Human beings... There are two types of such creatures. The kind who are innocent, but have their lives snatched away and the ones who are sinners, but live their own happy fantasies. Well, I say that sinners should not go without punishment.

Soon, I shall dedicate myself to help suffered people get their happy endings... Even if their own story turns dark...

Null...


I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And congratulations for reading this dark tale. Fun Fact, this story was inspired by the German legend of Lorelei.