Heyyy Readers! Finally I posed chapter eleven! I think its eh. okay. But I wanted to update soon. Cause I just love you all so much! :D
Once again, I thank all of you who have supported me throughout this fanfiction. I am proud of what I've accomplished and I really appreciate the support.
And, Once again, I do not own the Crucible. It is all Arthur Miller's.
Hope you enjoy the chapter! Read and Review!~
Poppets.
Natalia ran along Francis Nurse and Giles Corey, hurrying along to the Proctor house along side the carriage that held Rebecca and Martha captive. She knew her face was probably drenched with tears but she didn't care. She looked towards the carriage up at Martha and Rebecca, who had told her earlier to go away. As if she would do that, she thought.
As they approached the house, she stopped short at the sight of John Hale's carriage. She cursed, fixing her hair and wiping the tears before he could see her in such a mess and then caught up to the others. She looked over at Hale, who she hadn't seen since their kiss in the forest, who was looking at her with sad eyes. She smiled at him, and he looked away. Natalia frowned. It was going to be awkward, it seems.
"John, they took Martha! And his Rebecca!" Giles cried, pain evident in his old face.
"On what charge?!" Hale asked, shocked.
"For the supernatural murder of Goody Putnam's babies!" Francis replied exasperated.
Proctor looked at Hale skeptically, "Now do you believe this, Mr. Hale, Rebecca Nurse murdering babies?!"
"Remember, two hours before Devil had fallen God thought him beautiful in Heaven." he replied.
"Are you comparing Rebecca Nurse to the Devil?!" Natalia hissed.
Hale looked over at her, slightly put off, and shook his head."No, no. I didn't mean it like that—" he started.
Suddenly the carriage finally caught up to them, and they looked up at the several women who were accused. Giles walked over, looking up at his wife."Everything will be okay, Martha, we'll get you out of this." he told her. "Pity Cheever, not us. He's the one that will be going to hell." she told them. Ezekiel Cheever then walked out before them, ignoring Martha and going towards Proctor."Good evening, Proctor," he said, then looked around, "All. I have a warrant for your wife." he bluntly stated.
"I know nothing of this," Hale told Proctor, who was glaring at him in contempt, "Who charged her?"
"Why, Abigail Williams charged her." Cheever told him.
"For what crime?! And what proof?!" Proctor exclaimed.
Cheever sighed, "I like not to search another man's house…but by law I must enter."
Proctor sneered at him, but stepped aside, allowing him and the others to enter his house. Natalia entered behind Elizabeth, keeping a distance between herself and Hale. She didn't really feel quite comfortable since their little episode in the forest. She had a feeling that he was still shaken and upset with himself after their kiss. Although, she had to admit, she wanted nothing more then him to embrace her and let her cry in his arms.
"Please give me any poppets that your wife may have." Cheever said, taking his hat off and walking around the room. Natalia sneered at the man. It was as if he thought he owned the place.
"I have kept no poppets since I was a girl." she replied, somewhat snidely. Albeit, Natalia had to admit he rather deserved it. Cheever looked around until he caught a small poppet on the desk across the room."Oh." Elizabeth murmured, "That belongs to Mary."
"Mary come down here!" Proctor called. Cheever took the door, examining it. He lifted the dress of the doll, taking out a small needle from the belly."I had my doubts, Proctor. But this is calamity." Cheever announced, then looked toward Hale, "You see it, sir, it is a needle."
Hale frowned, a crease muddling his young face, "Why, what signifies a needle?"
"The Williams girl, Abigail. She come home with a needle stuck three inches into her belly, and she testified that her familiar spirit pushed it in!" he exclaimed. All of a sudden, Mary came bounding down the stairs towards Mr. Proctor, "What is it sir?" she asked politely. Natalia never really liked Mary. Too mild mannered for her own tastes. Though she preferred her over the entirely opposite Abigail any day."Tell us how this poppet came into this house!" he demanded. Mary's eyes widened, shook. "What poppet?" she asked.
Proctor rolled his eyes, "What poppet. This poppet!" he said, thrusting the doll into her arms."Why I made that and gave it to Goody Proctor yesterday." she replied.
"Mary, a needle has been discovered in that poppet." Hale spoke up, walking towards her."Oh, I never meant no harm by it, sir."
"So you have placed it there yourself?" Proctor asked. "For safe keeping!" she exclaimed, "I must have forgotten to take it out."
"Are you sure this be a natural memory? That you aren't possessed by some unnatural spirit? " Hale asked.
"No, sir, I am entirely myself." she replied, "Let you ask Abby! She was there when I made it."
"That girl is a menace, she must be ripped out of the world!" Elizabeth exclaimed. Natalia's eyebrows widened in shock. Sure, she hated Abigail as much as the next person, and she had to agree with Elizabeth on that one, but she didn't think it was wise for her to say that when she is being testified for harming said girl.
"Did you hear that, Herrick? Ripped out of the world!" Cheever cried, looking towards his large companion.
"Leave my house!" Proctor yelled, his face turning red with rage and anger, "And you with them! You are a broken minister!" he pointed at Hale.
The younger man walked towards him, pleading."Proctor, I swear, if she is innocent, the court—" Hale started.
"If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers?!" Proctor yelled, "I'll tell you what's walking Salem-vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! I'll not give my wife to vengeance!"
The whole room grew silent after that giant speech, and Proctor was glaring murderously at Hale. Hale eyes glanced briefly at Natalia, who shrugged at him, and looked away. Then, as if to melt their hearts even further, the two Proctor boys came quietly downstairs, their dark eyes wide and fearful. Elizabeth sighed, walking to her small boys and embracing them for one final time."I fear I must go, John." she said, hugging her boys and whispering soft comforts in their ears. "Mary, there will be bread to bake in the morning." she instructed the young girl, who sniffled and nodded.
"I will get you home soon, Elizabeth." Proctor said quietly, staring at his wife as in a daze, "I will fall like an ocean on the court!"
"Please do get me home, John." she said, giving her boys one last kiss, before getting up and walking bravely towards the door, "I will fear nothing."
Natalia had nothing but the greatest respect for Elizabeth Proctor. She walked bravely to her doom, without so much as a flinch or worry. Cheever then had Herrick chain her up, much to her husband's despise, and Natalia watched three of her good friends head off into the distance. It was too much for her to of a sudden she was running. Where to, she had no idea. The night had turned dark and the only source of light she had was the soft glow of the moon. She entered the nearby forest, crashing into branches and hearing the harsh crunch beneath her feet every time she stepped on a twig or leaf. A howl was heard in the distance but she ignored in, intent on running until she could no longer run anymore. Nothing made sense anymore. Everyone who she knew and considered as pure and good were being condemned as witches. Elizabeth, Martha, Rebecca! She didn't understand it. And then all those she had known to be corrupted and tainted were considered holy, and praised throughout the village as saints. All of a sudden Abigail Williams was treated like a saint, and Reverend Parris was suddenly well regarded and praised. And Lord only knew about the Putnam family…She panted, finally settling against a tree and breathing in the cold night air. During her little mad sprint into the forest tears had managed to escape from her eyes. She breathed in heavily, closing her eyes and intent on resting here for the rest of the night.
"Natalia?" a voice 's eyes flew open as she looked around, only to find John Hale walking slowly towards her. She frowned, quickly rubbing the tear stains off her face for a second time that night.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, snidely. She admitted it probably wasn't the nicest thing to do in the current situation, but she was a bit pissed at him. He leads her into a forest, kisses her, runs away in shame, then follows her into another forest. That guy is too confusing for her own well being.
He looked down, as if sensing her anger and resentment towards her, "I'm sorry if I alarmed you—actually, I'm sorry for many things."
She raised her eyebrows cockily, "Want to start listing them off?" she asked.
He sighed."I know I've done wrong by you, Natalia." he said, "But I am truly, deeply sorry about your friends. I cannot imagine how you must be feeling."She remained silent, observing him. His brown hair seemed to be flying away in a disarray, and his green eyes pleaded towards her very soul. He was a broken minister, she decided. And it only made him appear even younger and more hopeless. Poor boy, she thought.
"And I'm sorry about the other day." he replied, "I should not have done that to you. If I had only thought—I understand how you must feel about that as well." he told her, and her face softened, "I should never have kissed you. You must think me a fool. I—"
"Wait!" Natalia stopped him, her face becoming hardened again, "I thought you were apologizing for leaving me."
"What?"
She rolled her eyes, "John, I am not mad at you for kissing me! Get that through that thick skull of yours!" she replied. Hale frowned, "Then what—" she interrupted, "I am mad at you because you left me in the forest and broke what was my first and most amazing kiss! And that you regret doing it! Cam you imagine how THAT makes me feel?"
He stared at her, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. He had a confused and startled look on his face, and Natalia had to giggle a little. His eyebrows knotted in confusion and he cocked his head a bit to the side. "…I don't understand…" he murmured.
"Oh, God, John, you are dense." she said. She walked briskly towards him, put her arms around his shoulders, pressed up against him, and planted a sudden, hard kiss on his mouth. He tensed again, but to her relief did not pull away like last time. He kissed her back, his hand moving up to cup her face. Her stomach did a summersault as his kisses started to travel down her collarbone, as his hands moved away her thick hair from her neck. He then stopped, looking up at her as she looked down.
Natalia swallowed, taking a deep breath and trying to focus. Which was, at the current moment, hard to accomplish. "Why did you stop?" she whispered. He smiled up at her, leaning in close to whisper in her ear.
"I do think it wise to continue any much further." he murmured. She blushed, but did not reply. "Now is not the time to be too hasty." he told her. She nodded, her forehead brushed against his. She leaned into his body once again, sniffing.
"Do not make me think about what is to happen to my friends, John." she said, tears forming once again in her eyes. "I cannot bear it." He embraced her.
Yay! lol. Once again, they make out, only to have Hale ruin it for the two of them. Poor, stupid Hale XD but you got to admit, if Hale was to make out with a girl, I dont think he'd be very proud of himself. He'd defffinatley be ashamed. Because hes a stupid minister
Well, I hope you liked it! I dont know what time the next update will be. We'll just have to see.
Thanks for reading!
-Soldier of Passion