u/Resident-West-5213

A woman in a medieval village was betrothed to a corrupt lord, which was expected to be a loveless, servile marriage. She utterly refused, fled to another town and took refuge there. Her family and the lord were furious, he hunted her down and attempted to take her by force, the local magistrater intervened, stopped them and whisked them away. The magistrater lusted for her first, asked her if she would consider marrying him someday? Which she also utterly refured. "But what would you do to make a living on your own?" "God will provide. Where He guides, He provides." "And how exactly would He provide?" "He'll educate me to be a healer, I wanna study medicine and save lives." Then she shared some "unorthodox" knowledge and practice, which were at odds with the religious superstition at the time. He doubted her, but impressed at her faith, determination, independence and renegade spirit, he found her an abode to lodge and secretly sponsored her.

Then erupted a ravaging plague, many had fallen dead helplessly, while she followed scientific methods, diagnosing and isolating the sick, disinfecting lesions and instruments, regularly washing her hands and apparels, applying medicinal herbs, etc. So with her endeavor, townsfolks treated by her had a far lower mortality rate than the rest of the population, and this aroused suspicion and speculation. Soon she was falsely accused of witchcraft and apprehended by a mob, organized by some charlatans and clergymen who themselves not only failed to treat the plague, but had actually spread the disease by traveling around. They brought her to the magistrate's court for a show trial. The magistrate defended her, but he himself was falsely accused of fornication with her, his objection was shouted over, and death sentence was declared by a mob leader. Imprisoned and awaiting for execution, she prayed for solace and deliverance of her wretched soul.

Next morning at the scaffold, right at the nick of time, the magistrate arrived along with some of her patients whom she saved. They testified her innocence, with their own survival and recovery, and the magistrate pleaded for mercy and offered to banish her instead. Some relented, others still demanded her execution, one brute grabbed her and tried to drag her away. The magistrate instinctively rushed in, struck down the brute, snatched her and saddled her on a horse. The mob went frenzy, they overwhelmed her witnesses and defenders, coming for blood. As the situation was out of control, the magistrate hopped on the horse and scurried off with her. One mobster, vowing revenge for the brute, aimed at him with a crossbow, fired a bolt and hit him. They retreated to a hut in the wilderness, where she treated his wound and nursed him back to health. He repented for doubting her and lusting for her, asking for her forgiveness; she forgave him and promised to marry him. "But where would we go and how would we live? Now we're both banished!" "God will provide. Where He guides, He provides." The end.