There once lived a traveler, who walked among the people, but never mingling with them. He had a wife, one who followed him on his journey across time. The land of her birth was to the north and when the time came he would fetch her and they would begin their lives again. But life is not always so predictable, even to those that can see ahead. He lost her and spent many years in those lands searching for her, until he stumbled on a woman with the same name and similar bearing.
"Traveler, you have been to and fro across this kingdom in search of your beloved. You say her name is Elizabeth and that she is the daughter of a man named Henry. Are we not the one you are in search of?"
"My lady you are indeed called Elizabeth and many can vouch that your father was named Henry, though you share these and the similar redness of hair with my love, you are not the one I seek."
"Perhaps we are good sir. Need we recall the events that have led to us being here? You may not acknowledge it, but know that we are smitten with you."
"And for that I know you are not my wife."
"Your wife is she?"
The traveler remained silent, refusing to let the lady lure him into revealing more.
"Your eyes look about like that of an old man in search of the home he has lost."
"She is the keeper of my heart."
"Our lands are vast, you will suffer much in your search of her. Our reach is wide and we have many at our disposal. Grant me three wishes and you wife will be found."
The traveler considered her offer for a moment. He had spent the last five years roaming the land in search of his wife and did not find her. The lady's offer, though crafty would benefit him. He accepted.
"I hold you to your word lady. What are these wishes of yours?"
"Be my husband."
"I will not wed you."
"Then be my lover"
"Your court would not approve."
"They need not know it."
"...Very well."
"My second wish, is that the monarchy may endure after my passing."
"I will see to it."
"My third wish, is that my life may be long, that my people have the stability of rulership."
"Many years will you live."
"Then come, take me as your lover."
The lady kept the traveler near her and many nights they shared in secret. He was her confidant, her secret pleasure, her haven. Many times she tried to sway him towards her, but he refused. Five years he spent in her service before he felt the passing of his wife. He knew the lady had found her, had hidden her away. He believed if he remained in her service a little longer she would release them both.
He was wrong. The lady sought to have him to herself, his wife was an obstacle to that end. The more he refused her the more jealous she became of his wife. The woman had been imprisoned on false charge. Knowing only that it was her husband's love for her that led to her state of affairs, she loved him more. The Lady sought to convince the traveler's wife to reject him. But like her husband the woman refused.
They both tested the limits of the lady's patience, and at it's peak she ordered the wife beheaded in secret. Upon his wife's death the traveler issued the lady a curse. For five years he had done as she wanted, but the lady refused to hold up her end of their deal, instead she took his wife from him.
"You have taken from me that which you promised to deliver. I curse you, you will birth no heirs even by the lovers you take. You will be the last of your line. I will return again and I will see my wife returned to me."
Right there, in the secret chamber they met, he killed himself. He slit his throat and left her not only with the image of his death but also his curse hanging over her. Soon after the lady fell into a deep depression. Many things were given to her, many not so easy, but the one thing she desired most in the world, that which should have been easiest to acquire was gone from her by her own doing. She remained unmarried and many of her court worried for the future.
But the lady would still have her revenge. The traveler refused to accept her, he cursed her, she would curse him for as long as she could. She passed an order in secret, her hidden hands would continue searching for the traveler's wife. Like him, she too would return again under the same circumstance. She need only find the woman before the traveler and keep her from him. Tormenting him as he had done her.
Thirty- four years later, the traveler returned and was granted an audience with the lady. Happy she was at his return, he stood before her the same as he had before. Young and handsome, everything about him a clear copy. This amazed her as she had seen his death, yet here he stood not a different man, but the same. Her joy overwhelmed her and she approached him.
"Be my lover again."
"Where is my wife?"
"You still reject me. All these years and you still refuse me. You will not see your wife again!"
"I promised you the throne would not fall, now I give you your second curse. The throne will indeed not fall as I have spoken, but when another Elizabeth is crowned, her years will mark the end of the crown, those that follow her will fall quickly as they struggle to hold the throne."
"You have no right!"
"This undoing is your own. You took my wife from me and you have hidden her away, I know of your order to keep her from me. The third and final curse I give, you will not live to meet this time next year. Two lifetimes you have lived and you have wounded me in both. For the three wishes I granted you, I have given you three curses."
The traveler left with the lady cursing him as he did. His first and third curses came to pass in less than a year, for the lady died as the last of her great house with no blood heirs. His second curse is still waiting to be fulfilled just as he waits to find his wife again.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf5LAqrIpo
