The Story of the Three Sisters

The Beginning

Long before European settlers arrived in Australia, the Gundungurra people lived in harmony with the land. They told stories that passed from generation to generation, their legends entwining with the fabric of the mountains and forests that surrounded them. Among these tales was that of the three sisters, the daughters of a mighty Gundungurra elder.

Meehni, Wimlah, and Gunnedoo were renowned for their beauty and grace. The sisters were close, bound not just by blood but by a deep sense of loyalty and love for one another. They lived in a village nestled at the foot of the mountains, where they were cherished by their people. Each sister had a unique gift—Meehni was known for her wisdom, Wimlah for her kindness, and Gunnedoo for her strength. Together, they balanced one another, forming a bond that could never be broken.

However, as they grew older, the sisters began to dream of lives beyond their village. They yearned to explore the vast wilderness that stretched beyond the mountains, to experience the world that lay beyond their reach. Their father, a wise and cautious elder, warned them of the dangers that awaited beyond the safety of their home. But the sisters were undeterred, and their longing for adventure grew stronger with each passing day.

The Forbidden Love

One day, while wandering near the edge of the forest, the sisters encountered three brothers from the neighboring Nepean tribe. These young warriors, handsome and skilled in the ways of the land, were immediately captivated by the sisters. The attraction was mutual, and it wasn't long before the sisters and brothers began to meet in secret, hidden from the watchful eyes of their elders.

As time passed, the bond between the sisters and the brothers deepened, and they fell in love. The sisters’ hearts soared with happiness, but they knew their love was forbidden. The Gundungurra and Nepean tribes were often at odds, their relationship marred by old rivalries and disputes over hunting grounds. If their love were to be discovered, it could spark a conflict that would bring great sorrow to both tribes.

Despite their fears, the sisters continued to meet the brothers, their love burning brighter with each stolen moment. They dreamed of a future where they could be together, unburdened by the constraints of tribal boundaries. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

The War

One fateful day, a disagreement between the Gundungurra and Nepean tribes escalated into a violent confrontation. The brothers, fierce and loyal to their people, were called upon to fight. The sisters watched from afar, their hearts aching with fear and sorrow. They knew that their love had no place in a world torn apart by war.

Desperate to protect the sisters from the dangers of the conflict, their father took them to a wise and powerful shaman who lived deep within the forest. The shaman was known for his ability to harness the magic of the land, and the elder hoped that he could keep his daughters safe until the war was over.

"Please," the father begged, "use your magic to protect my daughters from harm. I cannot bear the thought of losing them to this senseless conflict."

The shaman nodded, his eyes filled with sympathy. "I will do as you ask, but magic is a powerful and unpredictable force. Once unleashed, it cannot always be controlled." The shaman raised his staff, chanting an ancient incantation as the air around them crackled with energy. A blinding light enveloped the sisters, and they felt themselves being lifted from the ground, their bodies transformed by the shaman's magic.

When the light faded, the sisters were no longer flesh and blood. They had been turned to stone, three towering pillars standing side by side, overlooking the valley below. Their father wept, his heart breaking as he realized that he had lost his daughters forever.

The Brothers’ Quest

The brothers, devastated by the loss of the sisters, vowed to find a way to break the spell that bound them. They traveled far and wide, seeking out shamans, elders, and wise men who might have the power to restore the sisters to their true form. But no matter how hard they searched, they could find no one with the knowledge to undo the magic that had been cast.

Years passed, and the brothers grew older, their once-youthful faces lined with the weight of their sorrow. But they refused to give up, their love for the sisters driving them onward even when hope seemed lost. They climbed the mountains, stood before the stone pillars that held their beloveds captive, and whispered promises of eternal love. The sisters could not hear them, but the wind carried their words through the valley, echoing through the ages.

The Shaman’s Warning

As the years passed, the story of the sisters and their tragic fate became legend. The Gundungurra people would look up at the Three Sisters, standing tall and proud against the sky, and remember the sacrifice that had been made to keep them safe. But the shaman who had cast the spell grew troubled. He knew that his magic had not been meant to last forever, and he feared what might happen when it began to fade.

He visited the pillars one last time, standing at their base as he whispered words of warning into the wind. "One day, the magic that binds you will weaken," he said. "When that day comes, you must choose your path carefully, for your actions will determine not just your fate, but the fate of all who dwell in this land."

The Return

Centuries passed, and the Three Sisters remained unchanged, silent sentinels watching over the valley. But one night, a great storm swept through the mountains, lightning flashing across the sky as thunder rumbled in the distance. The wind howled, and the ground trembled as the pillars began to crack, the magic that held them together finally starting to unravel.

As the storm raged, the sisters felt themselves awakening, their stone forms crumbling away to reveal their true selves. For the first time in countless years, they could move, breathe, and speak. But the world they had returned to was not the one they had left behind. The tribes had long since vanished, replaced by strangers who did not know their story or understand the magic that bound them.

The sisters stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing out over the valley as they tried to make sense of their new reality. They were free, but they were also alone, cut off from the world they had once known.

The Choice

As they stood there, a figure emerged from the shadows—a man, tall and lean, with eyes that shone like the stars. He was the last descendant of the brothers who had loved them so long ago, and he had come to fulfill the promise that had been made centuries before.

"I am here to free you," he said, "but you must decide what you want. I can break the spell that binds you, but you will have to choose between returning to the stone or living as mortal women once more."

The sisters looked at one another, their hearts heavy with the weight of the decision before them. They thought of their father, the shaman, and the brothers who had fought so hard to find them. They thought of the life they had lost, and the future that lay before them.

Finally, Meehni spoke. "We choose to live," she said, her voice filled with determination. "We have been bound to this land for too long. It is time for us to write our own story."

The New Beginning

With a nod, the man raised his hand, and the last of the magic that bound the sisters faded away. They stood before him, no longer stone but flesh and blood, ready to face whatever lay ahead. They would always be the Three Sisters, but they were no longer bound by the past. Together, they stepped forward, their eyes fixed on the horizon as they walked into the future, side by side.

Their story would be told for generations to come, a reminder of the power of love, the strength of family, and the magic that dwells within the land. And as the sun set over the valley, the sisters knew that they were finally free.