Board Thread:Dark Souls II/@comment-16047389-20140411184512

If you talked to Milibeth, then you probably learned that the old women (Strowen, Morrel, and Griant) are sisters and used to be Fire Keepers. You may have also learned that there was a fourth sister at one time. Now, when I first saw Melentia, I thought she might have been the firekeeper. First off, she's old enough to be their sister. Second, she has the same laugh as they do "Keh heh he", and it even sounds about the same. But playing on NG+, I've developed a new theory.

-SPOILERS!-

Upon reaching the bottom of the pit in Majula, you will find a wooden plank bridge that you must drop down from to reach the Gutter. You are attacked by 6 Mummified Hollows that attempt to leap at you and explode. After dealing with them, there are two paths you can go on. One leads to the scaffolds that you drop from to reach Gutter, but the other leads to a dead end. On New Game, there's nothing there but an item, but on NG+ you encounter two Black Phantoms. One of them appears to be a Faraam Knight, but the other is wearing robes. After killing her, she drops a full set of Dingy armor, along with a Blood Stained Skirt. The Robes say they were once white, but have been turned gray from soot. I believe the fourth sister to be Anastacia of Astora, and that Anastacia has become the Black Phantom in question.

In Dark Souls, dialouge with Anastacia reveals her faith in Frampt's words that once the First Flame is linked again, that the curse of undead would be broken and that she could die human. Imagine how she must have felt when she realized this was a lie (whether or not the Chosen Undead linked the flame or not is irrelevant, as we know that it has been linked numerous times between Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2). She had put her faith in the Gods, and possibly even willingly become a Fire Keeper to support their plans. And in the end it was a lie. The curse continued regardless. Why she is in The Pit or being accompanied by a Faraam Knight is a mystery in and of itself. 