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Chapter Seven
"The royal family started with Queen Gwen, she was the first even elf to have silver hair. Her twin sister, Drei had the typical black hair of the moriquendi and it was not until they were older that Drei began to resent it. Melkor, Morwen and I were only children then and we were best friend with the twins. We saw how Gwen's special treatment was affecting her sister." Eol paused and looked to the throne before continuing. "I remember the day well, Gwen was outside with us playing a rough game of tag. Drei was in the woods. Scouts came to report that there were orcs out there and the twin's mother sent out more to find Drei. Gwen was ordered to stay inside and stay safe. We went with her to keep her company. The next morning the scouts came back to report that they had not found Drei. Gwen was very upset and locked herself in her room. All that day Morwen and Melkor tried to reason with her while I sat and watched at the window. Thus it was I who first saw the red haired elf maid creeping towards the great doors. I should have said something but I didn't, I was frightened. Instead I followed her. By her stance I knew her to be Drei, but instead of her hair being black, it had become a rich red. Through some magic she caused the death of the queen and for Gwen to become the next queen. Years passed and the two sisters grew apart. Melkor and Gwen grew closer and eventually Melkor became prince. They had one silver haired daughter whom they named Aredhel. Drei had a son, though the father was unknown. He was called Turgan. The children played together but it was noticeable that a shadow lingered over the royal family. Then it happened again. Gwen was walking in the woods and never came back. Later that night some scouts found her dead. Not a mark was on her to show of her death, just a great sadness on her face and in her eyes. So once more we were with a young queen. Aredhel had three children but she too died early as did one of her children leaving on silver haired and one with red hair. Drei had died with her son in a Orc raid. Aredhel's red haired daughter fled into the woods while her silver haired one became queen. Thus it went on for two more generations then came Idril and Guinevere. Those too girls were very close, running in the woods and climbing trees. Then Idril got married and Guinevere seemed to be happy. Then one day Guinevere came to the palace carrying a baby boy, she called him Turgan and handed him over to Idril to raise with her own dark haired daughter, Teal. Guinevere seemed troubled. Often she would go into the woods for days and not return. Then one day, shortly after the birth of Idril's youngest child, Guinevere came to ask if she could take Turgan and Teal into the woods. Always trusting, Idril said yes. Morwen was worried and mentioned her fear to the queen. But Idril loved and trusted her sister and refused to listen. Orcs captured them and beat them. Guinevere was near death and Turgan suffered only a broken arm, it was Teal who came worse off. She only had the one stab wound for Guinevere had been protecting her, but that one wound contained poison. Three days later the little princess died. Idril was distraught. She and Guinevere had their first fight and a tearful Guinevere fled to the woods." A door opening made the listeners and storyteller turn. Aredhel flashed a small smile a beckoned for Deladrieng to come with her. The young elf maid hesitated but the went to her mother and the two left the room arm in arm. Eol smiled and continued with his story. "Several years passed and Idril's daughters, Aredhel and Rian grew to love each other as their own mother loved her sister. Morwen could sense that something terrible was going to happen and told me. We were too late. Idril took her daughters into the woods to show them where she and Guinevere had run when they too were captured by orcs. Orcs that took them to Saruman, the white wizard. For three weeks we tried to rescue them. Turgan helped as much as he could for they were his cousins. Never once did we see Guinevere and nor did we try to find her. Idril died by the hands of the wizard. During the escape, Rian and Turgan were hurt and Aredhel was lost. She was not with the wizard and she was not with the elves. Turgan died along with Rian. Both had poison in their wounds. The shadow was slowly loosing its battle. A red haired daughter had died and the silver haired one was missing. For weeks did we search until we found her in Rivendale. She came with us freely for she knew whom we were. Morwen and Melkor helped her trough her grief and she became the current queen. We were all surprised when she had triplets, and Melkor was very happy. For now the royal family can be free of this strange enchantment that has been over them since the days of Drei. For it was she who called forward a long forgotten god of the earth to make her feel better." Eol traced a pattern on the ground and looked at it sadly. "The god of revenge is not easy to defeat, but with the lasting love between sisters and the company of true friends, I am sure it can be sent back to whence it came. I have studied it and found it preys on the red haired sisters, taking then and giving them children, giving death to the young queens and killing the royals young. It gave Guinevere a son and two daughters. The son died and now she is left with her daughters. She has left it but she cannot leave her daughters. For witches they were named and like witches they will kill any intruder on sight. They were aiming for Deladrieng for she is the dark haired daughter in this family. The failed. They are strong with only Guinevere to control them, but she is still deep in her grief over the death of Idril. I ask you to help us, please!" A long silence remained after Eol had finished his story.
On the edge of the woods, identical elf maids with long red hair watched as a girl with dark brown hair and grey eyes made her way into the trees. She paused and looked behind her, eyes full of sadness and regret. Then she sighed and continued walking. A slight sound made her look to her left. She stared in horror as she saw two arrows headed straight for her. The horror turned to sadness as she saw the identical elves holding their bows. Not a sound did she utter as the arrows found their mark. As if watching herself in slow motion, she fell to the ground and lay there, deadly still. A single tear appeared in the corner of her grey eyes. Morgan and Nimue felt tears come to their eyes as they saw the girl fall. Deep in their hearts, something had been freed…something was happening to them…sadness was creeping ever closer…
