Awesome Fanfictions

Trial

As she hurried off, Willow caught a glimpse of her joining a small group of females, no doubt gossiping about what Willow had just told her. This was how people were lynched, burned at the stake under accusations of black magic. Small talk and whispers passed from person to person, until there was a mass of torch wielding townspeople at your door, yelling witch and heretic as they kicked down the door to swarm the unfortunate 'witch'. If Willow was clever enough, information would be planted in enough people's heads that poor, witch Elisabeth would be burned by tomorrow morning.

When Willow arrived at her home, there was a small crowd of people waiting at her door. A little twinge of fear struck her, but it was quickly stamped out as a young boy ran up to her with wide fearful eyes as he cried out in a hushed voice,

"Ms. Murdoch, is it true that Ms. Waetts is a witch?"

Willow led the boy back to the small crowd, and in a tone that silenced the whispers, announced,

"As I'm sure all of you have heard by now, Elisabeth Waetts is undoubtedly a witch. She twitches and writhes during sermons as though the devil himself is torturing her, and her neighbours' animals have fallen ill from her evil whims."

A horrified gasp swept through the crowd, and mothers clutched their children. One man surged forward, eyes glinting.

"We'll gather a mass, and take the witch to burn."

Willow nods approvingly, and another male jumped in,

"We shan't let the judge hear of this, we must burn her without a trial, before she infects our children and our sick with her witchcraft!"

The others murmured in agreement, and soon the crowd sparsed out, leaving to inform others of the witch, of the night's plan. They'd attack under the cover of night, to catch the witch off guard. Willow and her hound returned inside her home, as the brunette prepared a basket of food to bring for the pastor; she would take a trip to inform him of the burning, and to ask him to attend. A simple basket of homemade breads and fruits, with an apple for herself to eat on the way. She left her hound to stay, hoping the dog would perhaps eat the disgusting mess of chicken rotting in the yard behind her house. It would be safe, it didn't have any bones to harm her hound, anyways.

Willow makes her way back through town, and it is not hard to find the pastor.

"John,"

She greeted, brandishing the basket to him. The young man took it gratefully and with a smile,

"Ms. Murdoch, what is it you sought me out for?"

"There is a burning to take place tonight,"

Willow says with an air of simplicity. John nods wisely, and ventures,

"May I ask which 'witch' we are burning under the moon?"

"Elisabeth Waetts,"

Willow chimes, tossing her apple core aside. It looks almost rotten even before it hits the muddy ground.

"The twitchy girl at the sermon?"

"Yes. I'm quite shocked she manages to get out of bed with problems like those."

Willow sniffs, and John gives her a look. She raises her hands in defence, but doesn't say anything else. The young pastor sighs, but thanks her for the basket, and reassures her that he would indeed show up to help with the burning. She thanked him in return, and then went on her way. She took a walk through the town centre, where she could see James the Blacksmith, hammering away at what looked like a set of new tools for Peters at the edge of town. The old farmer was always misplacing and breaking his tools.