A/N: Thank you for the awesome reviews. And thanks to my beta, Leeese! The Naley wedding will definitely be in the next chapter.
Disclaimer: Only own the plot.
Chapter Twelve
Trial by Magic
Haley stared helplessly at the mice cage as she heard footsteps behind her and she looked up to see Nathan. He could see that she was upset and quickly walked over to her, before he embraced her in a tight hug. "Don't worry, Hales. We'll get your parents turned back to normal. Then they can be at our wedding before we take them to a more protected place away from Brooke, ok? I promise."
Haley sighed. "I know. I'm just nervous. What if this doesn't work?"
"A contract may be binding, but so is a marriage," Nathan pointed out. "She can't break us apart." They then jumped as the mice started making noises from the cage. "See, your parents agree with me."
Haley laughed before she heard a familiar voice inside her head. She listened to it closely as the voice started to speak. Don't trust them. They aren't your parents. They are Brooke's spies and are trying to find out about the bracelet. Your parents are safe. Call them and you'll know the truth.
She ignored the confused look on Nathan's face as she moved out of his embrace and walked out of the room. Nathan followed her as she walked into the kitchen. "Haley, what's wrong?" he asked her. He was getting a little worried about her.
She hurried into the library, where Karen was looking through books again. She looked at Haley when she came through the door. "Karen, I think you are going to have to talk to the Witches Council after all," Haley told her as Nathan followed her in the room.
"What? Why?" Nathan asked her worriedly.
"Because those mice aren't my parents. They are just Brooke's spies," Haley replied.
"How do you know that?" Karen asked her.
"Because there was a voice inside of my head telling me that they weren't," Haley replied. Karen and Nathan exchanged looks. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. I hear it once in awhile when I am making a really bad decision about something."
"But that's impossible. We blocked dark magic from coming into the house," Nathan protested. "That's why Brooke can't get in."
"That may be, but you know Brooke. She always seems to find a way in," Karen gently reminded him.
Nathan realized his mother was right. "I'm going to kill those mice," he exclaimed angrily.
He was about to leave when his mother stopped him. "Calm down, Nathan. We have to do this carefully or whoever they are will get away and tell Brooke about the wedding. And that's the last thing we need right now."
"So what do you want to do then?" Nathan asked her.
"Let Haley talk to them and see if she can reason with them," Karen replied.
"What if it's Brooke herself?" Nathan asked with a worried frown.
Haley shook her head. "I know her. And she always sends somebody else to do her dirty work. So it's either has to be the guys or worse, a couple of Brooke's friends."
"Well, you should probably get back in there before the mice escape," Karen told her. Haley nodded as she headed out of the library. "We'll be right outside the door if you need us."
She then heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Nathan again. "Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" he asked.
Haley nodded. "Yeah, I think it will be better if you stayed out in the hall. After all, I'm used to dealing with them." Nathan wasn't convinced. "Look, I'll talk to them and somehow convince them not to tell Brooke about the wedding. Then we'll hurry up and do the wedding before they can change their minds."
"I'd rather just have the wedding," Nathan replied.
Haley sighed. "I know, but I have to take care of this first. I'll be right back." She reached the living room and took a deep breath before walking back into the room. She was relieved to see that the two mice were still in their little cage. "Ok, the jig is up. I know that Brooke didn't turn my parents into mice. They are safe, aren't they?"
Haley wasn't surprised as the two mice changed back into their wicked selves. However, she was surprised when she found out who the mice were. "I told you that she would figure it out," Carrie told Renee as she rolled her eyes. They were two of the witches that were also in Brooke's coven.
"Brooke sent you two?" she asked them horrified. Carrie and Renee were almost as bad as Peyton and Rachel.
Carrie just smirked at her. "Well, Brooke talked about Nathan so much that we couldn't help but check him out. I can see why you picked him. But as I recall, you can't marry him because of your agreement with Brooke. Besides, you don't love him."
Haley gave her a look. "What do you know about love? After all, you witches are all about torturing innocent mortals with your curses and spells. Or killing them."
"Do you love Nathan?" Carrie asked her. "Or are you just marrying him to try and get away from Brooke?"
Haley didn't answer for a few moments. "Make yourselves comfortable. You'll be here for awhile," she replied as she walked out of the living room.
"A loveless marriage won't last very long," Carrie called after her.
Haley just ignored her as she ran into Dan, Karen and Nathan out in the hall. They looked at her and waited to hear who the mice were. "It is Carrie and Renee, a couple of Brooke's friends."
"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on them while you guys go to the Witches Council," Dan told her.
Haley looked at Karen confused. "I called an emergency meeting of the Witches Council. They are all waiting for us right now," Karen explained. "So we should probably get going." Haley just nodded. "Are you ok?" she asked her concerned.
"Don't worry. There's nothing to fear. I'll be right next to you," Nathan promised her and gave her a comforting smile. He then extended out his hand and she happily took it. They quickly said good-bye to Dan before Nathan snapped his fingers and he and Haley disappeared.
Dan then turned to Karen. "Do you really think that you will be able to convince the rest of the Witches Council to break the contract between Brooke and Haley?" he asked her.
"Even if I can't, we're going through with that wedding," Karen replied. "I don't care if I get kicked off the Witches Council. Haley is not going back to Brooke."
Before her husband could answer, there was a pop and Victoria appeared in front of them. She was relieved as she saw Karen. "Good, you're still here. We have a slight problem with Haley's biological parents." Karen and Dan looked at her, ready to hear what she had to say.
There was silence in the court room. Haley and Nathan were sitting at a table on one side while the table on the other side remained empty. Haley had been relieved when she found out that Brooke had not been called to the emergency meeting. However, they were still waiting for Karen and Victoria to show up.
Haley nervously looked at the members of the Witches Council in front of her. Nathan had warned her that Charlene Rimkus and Miranda Stone were the ones who she would have to convince. Ellie Harp, Victoria and Karen were sure to be on her side. She could see why those two were going to be the toughest. They looked so serious and unfriendly.
"What is taking Karen so long?" Haley whispered to Nathan.
Nathan shrugged. He too was getting worried about his mother. He could tell that the members were getting impatient. Charlene turned to him. "Nathan, where is your mother? After all, she is the one who called this emergency meeting."
Nathan stood up before he spoke. "I don't know, your honors. But I'm sure she will be here momentarily. Is there any way we can start without her?"
The members looked at each other before they turned back to Nathan and Haley. However, nobody had a chance to say anything as Karen and Victoria popped in next to Nathan and Haley. Haley was amazed that she looked exactly what she had looked like in her dream.
Charlene didn't look impressed. "It's nice of you to finally join us," she said.
"I'm sorry that we're late, but I'm afraid this meeting has been canceled," Karen replied. Nathan and Haley looked at her shocked. So did the rest of the members of the council. However, there wasn't silence for very long.
Charlene looked at Karen and Victoria confused. "Karen, you are the one who called this meeting. Now you want to end it before it even begins? What is going on?"
"We've found new information regarding this case and we had to make sure that it was legit before presenting it," Victoria replied as Nathan and Haley exchanged looks. They wondered what she was talking about.
"However, we would rather discuss this in private first," Karen added as she looked at Haley.
Haley knew something was wrong. However, she refrained from getting up out of her chair as Charlene spoke up again. "Very well. Mr. Scott, would you please take Ms. James out of the room?"
Nathan had no choice but to take Haley out of the room. They couldn't help but look at Karen and Victoria as they walked past them. They went out into the hall before the doors magically shut behind them.
Haley immediately grew nervous. She looked at Nathan worriedly. "Did you hear what they said? They said that they found new information. Whatever that is, it wasn't good. I could tell just by the looks on their faces."
Nathan had to agree. "I know," he admitted. He tried to comfort her as she went into his arms. "But don't worry. If all else fails, we'll just get married and live in the cabin. I love you and I'll protect you, always and forever."
Haley looked at him and gave him a smile. "That's so sweet." Nathan looked at her confused. "The 'always and forever' part. From now on, that's our saying."
"That works for me," Nathan said, returning the smile.
They then heard a voice and turned towards its owner. "Excuse me, is the Witches Council still in their meeting?" an elderly man asked. He gave them a smile as he waited for an answer. Nathan and Haley nodded. "Thank you." He was about to go past them when he stopped for a moment. "Don't worry. You two will have your wedding. I will make sure of that."
Before either could ask, he hurried into the court room. Nathan and Haley exchanged looks before looking towards the court room in amazement. "I wonder who that was," Nathan said.
"I don't know, but he looked familiar. It's almost like I know him from somewhere," Haley replied as she frowned slightly. "I just wish I knew where."