Thread: The Witch and the Alchemist (closed)

She listened carefully and quietly to the priests accusations. He was a smart man. He figured it out and he even figured out lots of evidence against her. She was lucky that she only had to make people doubt him enough to spare her life and not have to totally discredit the man. As far as Landon's testimony went she could not help but smile. He was a good man and there was not a word that he spoke that was a lie, well, not to him at least. He could not lie if what he said was believed to be the truth. when it was finally her turn she nodded to the judge in a serious fashion and she stood form her seat and she turned to address the people that sat behind her since it seems that they were her jury. Father Justin is a good man, she began her speech to the people. They liked this man and by claiming not to be a witch she was almost calling him a liar. She wanted to make sure that her claiming innocence and calling him a liar remained two very separate and different things. He is more then a good man, he is a great man. This man brought the word of god to this town, this man has held your hands and this man has opened your eyes to the words of god! she emphasized, knowing religion played a big part in this, ??But this man, this good man, is still just a man.? The she paused to let him think. ??Men are not perfect, not without mistakes. The only man that ever walked this earth that be without fault would be Christ himself. We cannot fault Father Justin for his mistake.? She said, then she walked up to the salt and looked up at the people. ??But it is a mistake.? And with that she crossed the line. This was a simply task for her but she heard the gasps from the people. ??Father Justin is a smart and well learned man. That salt circle is meant to hold a witch, and it would probably hold a witch if there was a witch in this room to hold. It would have held me if I was a witch but it did not.? She spoke to the people, her tone was confident, as if she was convinced that she was not a witch but she could not hide the pain from her face with her steps. ??He has made many good points, my staff, book, hair and clothing must seem strange for a woman to be carrying alone, they are but I simply could not leave them.? She admitted. ??My hair... well... I am ashamed to admit, especially in front of so many people but...? she looked down, not looking at the people as she said this. ??I am a horribly cook.? Then she looked at the people with a sad smile. ??I burn so much and the last time I tried to make bread my hair got caught in the flames. By the will of god I managed to survive unmarked but my hair was lost.? Then she straightened herself. ??While he says that it is a point of escaping someone??s justice that my hair was burned I must ask something,? and with that she turned to one of the men that brought her here. ??You, Sir I am sorry I do not know your name, but please answer me this, how is it that you burn a witch?? The man looked confused for a second then he straightened up, realizing he was asked something important. ??Well Miss, first you have to catch the witch.? He said, acting as though he was an expert. ??Oh, and I imagine that must be very difficult with the devil assisting her.? ??It sure would be difficult!? The man said with a strong nod. ??Yet you caught me rather easy?? She asked him. He man laughed, ??Miss it was too easy. You were sound asleep when we grabbed ya. Then all we had to do was drag you here.? She wanted to get mad but she held her temper and kept it from her face, ??And what did I do when I was dragged here?? The man looked as if he was in thought. ??Well, you sure yelled and screamed a lot. You struggled too.? ??Really?? ??Yup, we nearly lost hold of you but we kept it. Ain??t no girl getting away form us easy.? ??But a witch might, right?? The man responded quickly without thinking. ??Some of the guys were thinking we should??a covered your mouth so you couldn??t caste a spell on us while we was dragging you.? ??So you think a witch would curse you if she was being dragged form her bed?? The man laughed, ??Well of course! Being evil and all she would have cursed us into toads or something, called her broom and flew away on it.? The man said as if he was so sure of it. ??Did I do anything of that?? The man paused and looked very confused. ??Well.... no..... You just yelled and struggled. Ain??t curses or toads or broomsticks ??bout it...? ??Well, lets get back to what I asked. Supposing you catch a witch how do you take care of her?? ??First you gotta tie her up so she can??t escape, then you gotta tie her to a big wooden stake. Then you put lots of fire wood at her feet and set the stake up in the middle of town so everyone can watch. The you gotta light the fire at her feet and she??ll burn up.? He seemed pleased with his explanation. ??So, you light the fire at her feet, right?? she asked, sounding unsure. ??Yup, then the fire goes up.? ??So the whole witch is burned? Right?? ??That??s right miss. You??re left with a nice crispy witch.? Then she paused to let the people think. ??So, if I was burned there my body would be burned pretty badly right?? ??Yes it would miss.? ??My face and hands would be burned to right?? ??Right along with the rest of your body.? ??Well do they look burned to you?? she asked him. The man stopped and she held up her hands, he looked over her hands and face since they were appropriate to look at. ??Well.... no... No they don??t...? ??So would you say I was burned at a stake?? ??Well... No.... None of you looks burned at all, just your hair.? ??Thank you very much kind sir.? She said with a smile before turning back to the people. She was sure that might have them but she couldn??t take a single chance so she went on. ??My staff is a family heirloom, it once belonged to my great grand father, he used it to save the live of my great grand mother and because of that staff I am here. The book, like your doctor so well put, simply has many different languages in it. I can barely read it but it was very special to my grand mother and she was special to me so I could not bring my part to part with it. As far as the hat...? she paused and looked down, taking a deep breath as if this was difficult for her to bring herself to say. ??The hat was there when I awoke.? Then she whipped her eyes as if they had begun to get teary and snuffled slightly. ??Father Justin may be wrong about me. I am not a witch. But he was certainly right about one thing.... These are dangerous times for a woman to be traveling alone in....? with that tears began to fall from her eyes but she tried to wipe them away. ??I was traveling to a new town... In my old town no one wished to take me as their bride. I could not cook or care for a house. I was hoping to go somewhere no one knew me and learn from a good wife how to be one but...? She sniffled again and turned her bloody back to the people, allowing them to see all the blood and know she was hurt. ??Something happened... These men.... they stopped me... a-and they took me...? she began to cry. ??What they did.... it was horrible... so horrible....? she sobbed the words. ??I don??t remember it all... But my body is covered in bruises... my back is covered in wounds made by a whip... and my body....? she sobbed, Abigail came to comfort her but she held up her hand and forced herself to see it. Her eyes were sad and raining tars as they looked out at the people. ??Abigail has examined me... She believes I was raped...? she heard the gasps ring up in the audience. ??I don??t remember what happened, I wish I did...? She wiped her eyes and tried to regain composure. ??I don??t remember exactly what happened. But I woke up in those strange cloths... with that strange hat... I was in a wagon in the middle of the desert and I was abandoned there with no food or water.? She looked out at all of the people then at the sky. ??Out of all of the directions I could have walked I walked this way. Sure God must have decided to help me and guided me towards this town.? She then looked at the judge. ??Your Honor,? she addressed him in the formal manor, ??Would The Lord help me find this town if I was a witch. Surely he would have pointed me to nowhere and I would have died in the desert. If I was burned at the stake my body would be covered in burns. Had I the magic to defend myself I would have not been caught by those men, I would have not been tortured or raped.? She stopped to breathe and try and calm herself, saying it was difficult but she needed to in order to save her life. ??And even so,? she pointed at the circle of salt, ??If I was a witch I would not have been able to cross that salt circle.? Then she looked at the father while she addressed the people. ??Father Justin is a good man, but he is a man and men make mistakes, as do women and children and anyone but the lord our savior. I am just a girl who??s had some bad luck and wished for a new start.? And with that she sat down, hoping that what she said was enough to save her life.