Lennabel

Lennabel is the femslash ship between Lenore and Annabel Lee from the Nevermore fandom.

History
Lenore and Annabel Lee were the daughters of noble families, from New York and London respectively. After attempting to flee from being married to a suitor, Lenore and her brother Theo get into an accident, which results in Theo’s death and Lenore sustaining a major injury in her hip. Lenore is deemed hysterical and confined to the attic of her home. One day, Lenore receives a visit from Annabel Lee, allowing her to leave the attic for the first time. In their first meeting, Annabel Lee says that she believes they can help each other and wants to be friends with her. Lenore is easily drawn to her and accepts.

One day, Annabel and Lenore play backgammon for the first time. Annabel is able to execute her favorite opening move, the "lover's leap", which leaves a blot (a lone checker) on the board. Lenore questions if Annabel ever gets tired of playing games, and she answers no. Lenore decides to take Annabel's blot from the board, much to Annabel's incredulity since she just explained why that wouldn't be a wise move. Lenore smirks, saying she just wanted to see how Annabel would react.

Six months into their friendship, Annabel sits with Lenore, who is playing one of Theo’s compositions on the piano. Annabel compliments Lenore’s talent, but Lenore replies that she is merely an accompanist at best; In the past, she would accompany Theo’s violin playing. Annabel still believes she makes a lovely soloist, requesting Lenore to write her a song, but Lenore says she can’t. Annabel replies that it’s a shame, and starts to depart with one final goodbye. Annabel explains that she’s traveling to the city for the social season and will never return, as she will have to be engaged afterwards. She vowed only to marry a man who can beat her in a game of chess, which is how she has avoided being engaged for three years, but now the fun must come to a stop. Lenore asks if this is what Annabel truly wants, to which Annabel replies it hardly matters. Lenore insists that it does, asking her again if this is what she wants. Annabel breaks, screaming of course not, that it’s like death. But it is inevitable. Lenore begs Annabel to visit her again, where Annabel reveals that this whole arrangement was because Lenore’s father wanted Annabel to serve as a good, ladylike influence on Lenore. Lenore asks if this was all an act then. Annabel says that everything in her life is an act, though Lenore doesn’t believe her. As Annabel leaves, Lenore screams that she knows it isn’t true.

After Annabel’s departure, Lenore disguises herself as a man, packing a bunch of belongings including a song she wrote for Annabel Lee. She burns the house down and leaves. While Annabel has dinner with Lenore’s parents and her next potential suitor, Lenore’s father is informed about the fire. Annabel asks about his daughter, to which he replies he has no daughter. Annabel, worried about Lenore’s wellbeing, starts having a panic attack, but her father forces her to stop it.

That night, Annabel has a nightmare about Lenore's ghost, feeling partly responsible for Lenore’s supposed death. Annabel insists that Lenore was doomed from the start, that all madwomen die twice. Lenore’s ghost asks how long Annabel has been mad, saying that one day people will realize Annabel is a madwoman too. In the morning, Annabel’s maid says that a mysterious visitor has arrived asking for her. Her father introduces the suitor as "Leo Vandernacht", and Annabel is shocked to see that this man is actually Lenore in disguise. Lenore kisses her hand, saying it's a pleasure to meet her. Annabel faints shortly after, and Lenore falls as well in an attempt to catch her. Once returning to consciousness, Annabel Lee apologizes, saying she's not sure what happened. Lenore smoothly replies that it seems Annabel Lee has fallen for her.

After an unknown period of time, Lenore and Annabel die. It is only known that Annabel died before her wedding, betrayed by someone who loved her.

Nevermore
After their deaths, Lenore and Annabel Lee find themselves on the shore with no memory of their lives. Lenore saves Annabel from an orb of a dead soul. The two introduce themselves and Lenore helps Annabel up, blushing as she takes her hand. They run towards a building at the top of a cliff, hoping to find help there. On the way, they encounter a monster. Lenore shields Annabel, saying she'll protect her. The two continue to run, as the orbs warn them not to, and make their way into Nevermore Academy. Lenore is worried from a vision she saw. She voices her worries to Annabel, who replies that this is merely a dream. Lenore and Annabel make a promise to watch out for each other until they wake up. Inside, they're met by two deans, who inform them that they're enrolled in the academy, and that they're both dead. The Deans take them to their class. To demonstrate spectres to the class, the Deans whisper to Annabel how she died, which transforms her into her spectre. Lenore yells at the them for putting Annabel through such pain.

While Annabel is recovering, Lenore makes friends with her roommate Morella and fellow delinquent Duke. In the common room, Lenore asks where Annabel Lee is. Ada, Annabel’s roommate, questions if Annabel even wants to see Lenore. Lenore insists that they are friends. Back in the dorms, Morella requests for Lenore to stay here, where it's safe. Lenore concedes, because she won’t leave this place without Annabel Lee.

Maze Arc
The next day, Annabel Lee starts teaming with Morella and denies being friends with Lenore. Upon seeing Lenore in class, Annabel blushes. But she acts distant, kindly telling Lenore that she didn’t mean to give the impression that they were friends and to leave her alone. Duke comforts Lenore saying that Annabel Lee is too much of a priss to keep up with people like them anyways.

The next lesson is a maze trial, where students encounter different phobias. Lenore partners with Duke and Annabel with Ada. In a room with monsters, Lenore saves Morella, though finds herself being attacked by the monsters. Annabel and Prospero help Morella fight them off, telling Morella that her friends can flee. As Lenore is running, she gets held down by monsters again, and Annabel immediately swoops in to destroy the monsters and bring Lenore out of the room. Annabel lightly scolds Lenore for getting injured so early, for if she failed that would abandon their promise. Lenore demands an explanation for Annabel seemingly replacing her with Ada. Annabel tells Lenore to meet her at midnight at the arboretum, and she'll explain everything.

After their conversation, Annabel invites Morella to join her team, and Lenore wonders what she's planning. Lenore and Duke ask for information on how they manifested their spectres in return, where Prospero explains their theory that it requires you to feel the feelings you had right before death. Lenore asks Annabel Lee if the Deans whispered to her how she died. Annabel confirms so, and that she was murdered by someone who loved her above all else.

In the dementophobia room, Lenore has flashbacks about the aftermath of her accident, her time in the attic, and meeting Annabel Lee for the first time. Pluto saves her from staying in the room for any longer. She realizes that Annabel was the one who brought her back to life long before she died. Back in the maze, the trio finds that they're at the end but they're way is almost completely blocked. Pluto and Duke consider giving up. Lenore is tempted to, until she remembers her meeting with Annabel. She resolves that they can't give up, they'll fight to the end.

Post-Maze Arc
Lenore, Duke, and Pluto barely pass the maze. Later, Morella runs in crying saying that she can't find Lenore. Annabel departs her group with a calm façade, before running in a panic searching for Lenore.

At midnight, Annabel goes to the arboretum calling for Lenore. She says that without her, she doesn't know what to do with herself. When Lenore never responds, Annabel starts crying, asking what the point is if she's not here. Just then, Lenore responds, sitting on a tree branch, teasing that she's starting to think Annabel might actually like her.

Lenore explains that she didn't respond because she wanted to know where Annabel truly stood. Annabel frets over Lenore's injuries, while Lenore is mad that Annabel left her in the maze. Annabel says she wanted to give Lenore an opportunity to manifest, to which Lenore says none of her group manifested. Annabel remarks that this might be better for her plan, which she explains is that they'll play the parts everyone expects of them. This way, both can form their own opposing groups, where Annabel can gather intelligence and Lenore can find the exit. Then, they will escape together. Lenore asks if she can tell Duke and Pluto, but Annabel insists that they can't tell anyone; Lenore must keep her allies at a distance. Lenore questions if it bothers her that Annabel is playing with her friends like this. Annabel declares that Lenore is the only one she is loyal to, because she knows Lenore was dear to her in the past. Lenore responds that she remembers their first meeting, that they were friends. Annabel, flustered, responds that they were indeed good friends and thanks Lenore for not forgetting her. She reveals that she can only recall "the end", though doesn't elaborate whether she and Lenore died together. Lenore also asks why Annabel calls her "pet" when she calls everyone else "love". Annabel responds that its a term of endearment that she uses only for her.

Realizing that an hour has past, Annabel says that they should leave. Lenore voices her qualms with the plan, not wanting to pretend, but Annabel apologetically responds that the lines have already been drawn. Lenore kisses her hand, and they say goodnight. Lenore thinks that she should be happy Annabel remembers her, but she's not, because she'll have to leave her friends. She resolves that even if it's more difficult, she'll find a way to get Annabel and everyone else out of here. Her next dream is a flashback to her and Annabel's first game of backgammon. In the morning, Annabel stays true to her role and treats Lenore with pretend contempt.

Lenore reveals to Annabel's group that she and her friends actually passed the maze without manifesting. Montresor recognizes Lenore's potential as a threat to their group. Annabel is unable to prove Montresor wrong when she can't convince Morella to leave Lenore's side.

Lenore gains more friends, Berenice and Eulalie. Under Lenore's lead, they sneak into the Forbidden Wing and establish their own hide out spot. While Lenore appreciates her new friends, she wishes Annabel were with her as well. "Well, fancy that. A misfit militia. You were dead on, Annabel. And I get the sense that they won't be going down without a fight. Does your group feel the same way, I wonder. Are you having any fun today? It must get tiresome, playing the queen. I wish you were here with us instead. That's the only way this afternoon could have been more perfect."

At dinner, the Deans reveal that only one student among them will be chosen for a new life. All the students are shocked and horrified, including Lenore. In the chaos, Annabel is the only one who remains calm. This adds new tension to Annabel's group, who were only people uniting for their own ends from the start. On the way back to the dorms, Lenore drags Annabel into a storage closet to talk.

Lenore asks how this new revelation will affect their plan. Annabel isn't concerned at all; In fact, she was anticipating something of this sort, because in her eyes, everything in life has a price. Annabel is confident that Lenore will find a way to get them both out of there. Lenore is still doubtful, so Annabel embraces her, asking Lenore to do the same. Lenore again asks about her friends, and Annabel apologetically says that they're fodder. Then Lenore questions if she should trust Annabel, if she is just fodder to her as well. Annabel is hurt that Lenore sees her this way. She takes Lenore's hands and puts them on her throat, giving Lenore the choice to kill her if that's what she truly believes is best. Annabel doesn't want to live a new life if Lenore is not in it, which Lenore replies makes no sense. The two separate once they hear the curfew bell. As she leaves, Annabel reminds Lenore not to forget that this is all pretend. Lenore questions, "which part of it, Annabel Lee?"

Moments

 * When being overwhelmed by vines, Lenore wonders if she'll never see Annabel again (Episode 23).
 * While being brought to the infirmary, Lenore gazes at Annabel in the dining room. When someone mentions that there were some who failed, Annabel startles, worried about Lenore (Episode 25).
 * Lenore invites Annabel to sit down, but Annabel doesn't want to stain her nightgown, so Lenore lays her blanket on the ground for her (Episode 28).

Quote
"Charmed to meet you, Lenore."

- Annabel Lee, Ep. 1 and 22

"I don't know much about my life yet. Who I was, how exactly I died. The few memories I have now are confusing. But one thing I am sure of is that you were... dear to me. And... well... I hope that I was dear to you, too."

- Annabel Lee to Lenore, Ep. 28

"Well… it appears that you’ve fallen for me, Annabel Lee."

- ”Leo”, Ep. 65

Fanon
As the main romance of the webtoon, Lennabel is the most popular ship in the fandom.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * Lenore and Annabel Lee, like all of the students, are named after Edgar Allen Poe poems. Both Lenore and Annabel Lee (as well The Raven, which mentions a Lenore) are about a dead lover.