Phillipe couldn’t sleep either, for the second night running, but now it was fear that gripped his mind. He was sure that something bad was going to happen to Jo, he could just feel it. But it was going to be…he had no idea…but he was certain it would involve Guillaume
The next morning Jo awoke to find sunlight creeping in around the shutters on her window. She climbed out of bed and threw open the shutters to watch the sunrise. She sighed to herself as she thought about what had happened the day before. Phillipe had been acting very strangely and his comments about Guillaume had floored her completely! She couldn’t deny that she did feel something every time her eyes met his and that his touch sent shivers down her spine…but surely Phillipe was over reacting. She shook her head and tutted to herself, no use worrying about things – she was on holiday after all! She filled the basin with water and washed. As she was just straightening her dress there was a knock at the door,
“ Who is it?” Jo called out,
“ Me…Rosie…” came a familiar, quiet voice. Jo smiled,
“ Come in!” She said and the door opened to reveal her friend. “ Good Morning…I…” Jo stopped for Rosie’s face was covered with a look of worry. “ Rosie what’s wrong…?” She rushed over to her side.
“ It’s Marius…” Rosie started, her big brown eyes, bright with concern.
“ What? What’s happened to him…?” Jo’s own eyes opened wide.
“ He’s not in his room…” Rosie started and Jo’s face broke into a smile.
“ Oh Rosie! Is that all…” She laughed and led her friend over to a chair.
“ Jo…don’t laugh…I’m worried about him…” Rosie sat down and looked up at her friend. Jo’s green eyes sparkling as she smiled.
“ I’m not laughing at you! It’s just…nice…” Jo tried to explain,
“ What? Me being worried is nice?!” Rosie raised an eyebrow, her face now holding a smile.
“ You know what I mean…it’s nice that you care so much about each other…you and Marius.” Jo sighed, “ I’ve noticed you’ve been getting very close…you two…” Rosie blushed visibly and smiled. She noticed that Jo’s eyes were now tinged with sadness,
“ You and Phillipe…” she started, “ Things…aren’t going very well…are they?” Jo sighed and sat on the edge of her bed,
“ Well…not as well as everyone thinks they are anyway…” Jo looked up at her friend, “ We’re not…well…we’re not in love you know…” Rosie nodded slowly.
“ I have to admit…we’ve suspected for a while…”
“ Well…I mean , we care about each other…we do love each other we’re just not in love…you know?” Rosie smiled a little and sighed.
“ Oh Jo…what are we going to do with you?” She laughed quietly and was relieved to see Jo smile again.
“ I dunno…” She shrugged emphatically. Rosie’s smile became a little mischievous,
“ Well…I’m sure Guillaume could help there…” Jo flushed bright red and was at a loss for words.
“ Oh god!” She sighed. “ If it’s not Phillipe going on about him…it’s you! What is it?! Please don’t tell me you think he’s in love with me too?!” Rosie nodded, unable to speak for laughing.
“ And….” She giggled, “ We all know….you…you love him too!” she laughed so much she fell off the chair and landed on the floor, still laughing loudly. Jo rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. This was exasperating. Everyone, it seemed, believed the same as Phillipe.
“ Well…I…well…” Jo stammered, “ You’re all wrong!” Jo tried to be cross but the sight of Rosie rolling around the floor laughing was too much and soon she was laughing too. She caught her breath and sat back down on the edge of the bed. “ Well, nice to see you smiling…and not worrying about Marius…” Jo smiled as Rosie picked herself up.
“ Yeah…it’s just that lately…it seems as if he’s going to start talking about something and then he stops…it’s really worrying…” Rosie straightened her hair and dress.
“ Maybe, he wants to ask you something….?!” Jo smirked. Rosie’s eyes snapped back to Jo’s face.
“ That’s not even remotely funny! I mean…well…” Rosie stuttered, her eyes darted about trying to avoid Jo’s. “ Now who’s jumping to conclusions!!” She smiled. Jo rolled her eyes,
“ I’m just saying…it’s a possibility…” She shrugged as Rosie snorted, “ Fine, don’t believe me…but if someone had told you eighteen months ago you would be sat in Artigat on a summer holiday with Marius Pontmercy…would you have believed them…?” A silence followed as Rosie thought for a moment, Jo glanced back out of the window at the clear blue sky and smiled to herself. “ Anything’s possible…” She said turning back to her friend, “ Especially here!”
Rosie and Jo ate breakfast alone that morning, it seemed they were the first awake (apart from Marius who had vanished) and they decided to do a little more sightseeing around Artigat. It was so surreal. This was a place they heard imagined but had never thought existed. Every so often Jo would sing a random line from ‘Martin Guerre’ and they would both laugh loudly. They wandered out of the village and towards the tree where Jo and Phillipe had spoken the night before. Jo sat down and sighed,
“ Do you miss it Rosie?” Rosie glanced at her friend, confused.
“ Miss what?”
“ You know…home? Your family…college even?!” Jo smiled and Rosie sat next to her. She looked up at the clear blue sky and her brown eyes closed.
“ Sometimes.” She sighed and then looked at her friend, “ But then I think…we’re having the best time I’ve had…well…ever! Even all the scrapes you get us into are great! Better than the ones back home anyway!” Rosie’s smile grew as Jo’s temper rose briefly.
“ Me get us into scrapes?! And just who was it did a runner and got lost in Paris…eh? YOU!” Jo grinned and thought for a moment, Rosie was right. Even though she hated to admit it. Her quick temper and even quicker mouth had gotten them into a few…situations. “ Oh well…I know what you mean…it’s nice not to worry about college…and as for meeting our heroes…” Jo feigned a swoon, batting her long eyelashes. “ Why…It’s like a dream come true!” She spoke in a breathless voice and Rosie giggled.
“ Yeah…college I could live without quite happily!…” Rosie frowned for a second. Jo picked herself up off the floor from where she had swooned and brushed herself off.
“ …What you thinking about now…?”
“ Did you ever tell Phillipe about…you know…you being a…?” Rosie lowered her voice as if she was afraid to be heard, even by Jo. “ A you know?!” Jo sat back down next to Rosie and shook her head.
“ No…never found the right time. I mean, it’s one thing telling him we’ve come from another world…” she giggled. “ But I think telling him I’m a witch might be pushing it slightly!!” Rustling in the bushes made the two girls leap to their feet. Fear flooding their minds. This was all they needed. The bushes parted and Rosie’s pale nervous face broke into a wide smile as Marius appeared, smiling sweetly (as always!).
“ Good Morning ladies!” he beamed.
“ Oh Marius…it’s you…” Jo breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down.
“ You two are out early…” He continued, clearly oblivious to anything except Rosie.
“ Yes…well…we wanted to look around a bit…you know without the locals…” Rosie giggled.
“ Well…I was wondering…” Marius’ gaze moved to the floor and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“…Yes…?” Rosie’s cheeks flushed in excitement.
“ I have a surprise…for you…would you…like to come and see it…?” Marius asked coyly and Jo smiled.
“ My Mother always told me never to go with strangers into the woods!” She laughed, one eyebrow raised. Marius opened his mouth to explain but Rosie stopped him,
“ Just ignore Jo…” She grinned, “ She’s only teasing, you know what she’s like!” Marius smiled once more and Rosie took his arm. They headed towards the trees, turned and waved goodbye before disappearing amongst them. Jo sighed to herself,
“ Oh well…guess I should make the most of this quality ‘alone’-time!” She grinned and as Jo stood and walked away a figure came out of the bushes and sat on the fallen tree. This person had heard all of Jo’s conversation. They waited until Jo was far enough away and ran towards Artigat. The people had to be told. There was a witch in the village.
Marius led Rosie through the woods, his face held a smile that was even more brilliant than usual. Rosie’s face was flushed and her heart was pounding but didn’t know whether it was nervousness or excitement or both! They came to a clearing where he had set out a picnic.
“ Oh Marius…this is lovely…” Rosie gasped as she looked around. The clearing was surrounded by wild flowers, a bunch of which was lying amongst the picnic.
“ And this isn’t all of the surprise yet!” Marius laughed.
“ My you are spoiling me today aren’t you!” Rosie smiled gently at him and squeezed his hand. He looked down into her eyes and all at once there was a feeling in the air. Rosie swallowed nervously as she looked up into his face.
“ Rosie…I…” Marius began,
“ What…what is it…?” Rosie’s voice grew very quiet.
“ Well you see…there’s something I want to…I’ve been meaning to ask you…” Marius spoke quietly as he slowly bent one knee and knelt down in front of her.
“ Martin wants to join us!” Lucy announced with a big grin on her face as Martin and her found Jo and Phillipe wandering through the village square early that evening.
“ Us or you?” Jo spoke half under her breath. Lucy’s eyes narrowed briefly at her friend’s playful comment and she continued.
“ He’s always wanted to travel and he’s never been to Paris so…” Jo smiled at Martin.
“ That’s great Martin!” She shook his hand, followed by Phillipe. “ It’ll be nice to have you with us! Hey, don’t suppose you two have seen Marius and Rosie have you…saw them earlier but they’ve been gone hours…” The friends giggled amongst themselves. “ Come to think of it…haven’t seen Mark today either…he sleeping off all that wine he drank last night!” Jo smirked.
“ No, he and Bertrande went on a stroll through the countryside earlier and then came back to the Inn, we bumped into them on the way out. Haven’t seen them come out mind…” Lucy raise an eyebrow and Jo rolled her eyes.
“ What is the world coming too?!” She laughed.
“ What have I missed…?” Jenny walked over to the group of friends.
“ Not much!” Grinned Lucy. “Where’ve you been all day anyway…”
“ Chatting to Benoit…” Jenny smiled.
“ Oh yeah?!” Jo laughed.
“ Not like that…” Jenny scolded her friend, “ He’s really quite witty you know!” Jo grinned and her smile broadened as Marius and Rosie appeared at the far end of the village. Both of their faces positively glowing. “ And where have you two been?” Jo adopted a motherly tone.
“ Oh we went for a walk…” Rosie started,
“ And a picnic…” Added Marius,
“ We had a great day…” beamed Rosie, clutching his hand tightly Jo noticed.
“ And…well we have an announcement…don’t we…?” Marius looked down at Rosie and winked.
“ Well you see…” Rosie spoke breathlessly, “ Marius and I…well…” She glanced up at him and he nodded. “ Well, we’re engaged!”
“ Oh Rosie…” Jo dashed forwards and hugged her friend tightly. “ I’m so happy for you…” They parted and she walked over to Marius whose smile was almost blinding. “ And you’re a very lucky boy!” She hugged him and laughed. “ What a perfect end to the day!” They all started to head back to the Inn, smiling broadly. Then the group stopped. It seemed that the whole of Artigat was stood outside their Inn. They were stood, stony faced, blocking the doorway.
“ What the…?” Martin started. Jo wandered forwards but Rosie caught her arm.
“ What did I say to you earlier about your mouth and scrapes!” she hissed. Jo moved her arm and smiled quickly,
“ I dealt with them before…didn’t I?” She winked and carried on, walking forwards. She scanned the crowd for Guillaume’s face but couldn’t see it. She hadn’t seen him all day. She smiled at the villagers, “ Good evening…is there a problem?”
A large man carrying a torch stepped forwards, his face held no expression and when his eyes met hers, Jo felt very nervous.
“ Sadly…there is…” He spoke in a monotone voice but Jo was sure she could hear a tremble of fear.
“ Well what seems to be the problem…?” Martin had walked forward to join Jo.
“ Stay out of this Guerre!” A voice from the back of the crowd shouted. “ Unless you want to be counted with…her type!” The last words were spat out and Jo’s eyebrows raised, as did her temper. The villagers started to move towards her. Jenny and Lucy noticed that other villagers had appeared separating Jo from them.
“ Hey! What are you talking about?!” Jo spoke loudly and tried to sound confident. Martin looked as baffled as she did but he stood back nevertheless. “My type!?!” A wind picked up, dark clouds began to cover the sky.
“ Jo!” Jenny called out, she turned to find that she was now surrounded by less than happy looking villagers. She swallowed and turned back.
“ What do you want?” She spoke quietly.
“ We have only one question…” A voice rang out.
“ We have reason to believe that you…you are…” Another voice piped up, this one less confident.
“ Are you a Catholic?” Shouted one woman.
“ …No…but…what…?” Jo answered even quieter than before, suddenly realising where this may be going.
“ Are you a Protestant?” A man nearby called out.
“ Not exactly but…why on…?” Jo tried to sound chirpy and not in the least bit concerned.
“ Then what faith are you…?” Another woman spat, Jo turned to face her. Lucy, Rosie and the others could see the anger and fear on Jo’s face.
“ Jo please…!” Lucy shouted.
“ For God’s sake don’t….” Rosie started but it was too late. Jo had already begun to speak, her voice loud and clear,
“ I am a witch…is there a problem?!” Jo looked around as a gasp ran around the villagers. Some stepped back in fear, others dropped their torches to the floor. Phillipe’s mouth dropped open and he could only stare.
“ We’ve got to help her…” Jenny tried to break through the crowd.
“ Then….y-y-you confess…?” Father Dominic, the Priest spoke quietly.
“ I confess nothing. There is no crime in having a different faith!” Jo announced.
“ Jo please….stop talking!” Lucy yelled as she tried to fight her way through the villagers.
“ She has admitted to the practice of the Back Arts…” Father Dominic spoke to the crowds.
“ Hey wait a minute!” Jo shouted.
“ We must rid ourselves of this evil!” He span around to face Jo, who (in all fairness) had heard enough.
“ You must be joking!” She half laughed. The villagers closed in on her, she looked to the others who were trying desperately to reach her. “You might want to help me here!” She shouted. Two men caught hold of her arms, she struggled to break free. “Let go of me!” Jo shouted, she pulled her arm free and elbowed one man in the face. “ Help!” She called to her friends, as she tried to fight off the villagers. Soon they had gotten a firm grip on her. “ Let…me…GO!” She yelled and a bolt of lightning split the sky in two and hit a tree next to the Inn, a few feet from where they stood. A few villagers let go of Jo as if they had been stung, others tightened their grip. Jo yelped.
“ She is trying to use her magic against us!” Father Dominic yelled above the increasing wind.
“ You can’t be serious…” Jo started as they began to drag her away, she tried to turn back to the others but the villagers were holding them back, no matter how hard they fought, they couldn’t get past them.
“ Jo!” Rosie called out as her friend was dragged inside a building. The thunder rolled above them as the door was slammed shut. The villagers ran back to their homes, leaving the friends stood in the pouring rain. Tears ran down Rosie’s face. Lucy and Jenny hugged each other in shock. Marius and Martin stood open mouthed next to Phillipe who was as amazed as he was. Mark appeared from inside the Inn with Bertrande and jogged over to them, smiling.
“ Hey what you all doing out here?” He grinned, “ Getting and early shower…?” he started but then his eyes met Rosie’s and he stopped dead in his tracks. “ W-w-what’s wrong…?” He glanced around and noticed Jo wasn’t there. “ Where’s Jo?!” The friend’s stood in silence. “ Where’s Jo?!” Mark demanded, his voice growing panicky.
“ She’s…The villagers…they…” Jenny started.
“ They found out she’s a witch…” Rosie’s voice was a shaky whisper and Marius enfolded her in his arms, her big brown eyes full of tears. “…I think…I think they’re going to burn her…!”
PART FOURTEEN
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