You know what. Let it be. Let Annabel betray Lenore at the altar. Let her get cold feet. It still fits into the overall concept.
We talked a lot about how Lenore and Annabel switched places after death. One day, Lenore had nothing to lose, so she faked her death, set fire to a mansion, put a lot of people in danger and threw the whole world at Annabel's feet, suggesting that she give up material wealth, a stable position in society and confidence in the future for the sake of a beautiful fairy tale about the escape of forbidden lovers.
But Annabel chickened out. Annabel was not ready to lose her whole life for the sake of a ghostly hope for a better future with a reckless renegade. After all when Lenore first asked to run away together Annabel calls her mad.
Because Annabel in life is different from Annabel in Nevermore, just like Lenore. I think a lot of people forget about this because we hardly saw Annabel's position in flashbacks. However, what little we have shows Annabel as a gambling yet very trapped girl, ready to make concessions to society. Remember the quarrel at the Finger Lakes: nevermore!Annabel would arrange a whole scheme with secret correspondence and fake names just to keep in touch with Lenore, but this Annabel just leaves because apparently it is not appropriate for a married woman to be friends with a madwoman.
It had never occurred to Annabel that you can deceive social norms. She was ready to play by the rules all her life, accept the inevitable, and not go beyond what was allowed. She chose her father, her reputation, and the golden cage. And then it all disappeared, and Annabel died along with Lenore, despite their efforts.
However there is not a single priority in Nevermore that Annabel once put above Lenore. She has no confidence in the future, she has no family, she has no alternative. But she still has Lenore. Now Annabel is the one with nothing to lose, now she is ready to take the risks she feared during her life. Because what difference does it make? Once she got cold feet and lost anyway dragging Lenore down with her, so now she can try the exact opposite strategy. In the end the only alternative is death. Or oblivion, if they become spheres. Yes, in that case Annabel's desperate loyalty is largely dictated not only by guilt but also by the lack of any other choice. She clings to Lenore because she has nothing else to cling to.
And although it's bitter and doesn't really look like beautiful love story, Lenore did the same. For Lenore, there was only one road–the attic and the suffocating loneliness that was gradually driving her crazy. The only way out is to escape and in that case why not invite Annabel with her? Why not take a chance? The worst that can happen is a prison or an asylum, which are hardly different from an attic in the long run.
But in Nevermore, Lenore suddenly has something to lose–friends. People who don't judge her for not conforming to the norms, people who find her recklessness inspiring, and even Annabel couldn't give her acceptance like this. So when Annabel says that they could sacrifice the world to their love and run away, ignoring the feelings of others, it's Lenore's turn to call her mad.
How can Annabel compete with her beloved`s new priorities? After all at the crucial moment Annabel herself did not choose Lenore. Now that Lenore has to make a choice, she has no good reason to choose Annabel either.
As much as I wish Annabel had some kind of ace up her sleeve at the wedding, if she just got cold feet, it's completely in keeping with her character.
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