"Magic Is As Magic Dase"
CHAPTER TWO
In which the big day is cursed with Magic upon Magic upon Magic
Be it moments later, or hours Sophie didn't know, but there soon came a swoosh sound and then a light thud as Calcifer returned to the fireplace, over taking the real flames like they were nothing but dust.
"Alright you two break it up!" The fire demon jested as he reached over to the routinely stocked pile of logs and gobbled one down with a lot of smacking and gurgling and unchecked delight.
Howl and Sophie stepped back from each other and looked over at their friend. Unperturbed by him discovering them in a lover's embrace.
They were after all to be married.
Sophie felt an unaccustomed urge to jump up and down with glee.
Oh, how so much had changed in the last few days. It was hard to believe that just hours earlier they'd all fought for their lives on these very floor boards where Howl and her now stood.
Now they were living those lives that they'd fought so fiercely for.
Happiness beamed within Sophie as she held Howl's hand tight, almost in open secret. Oddly an expression known for its abnormalities. Just like Howl himself.
Such a man that delighted in his identities, his conflicting characteristics. He was kind and yet cowardly and he certainly was vain. All this and so much more was the reason why she loved him.
Who could ever have believed they would be here right now in this moment.
She'd be the first to declare anyone insane to have even suggested it.
Howl laughed lightly at his friend and then turned to Sophie.
"Arr, yes I can see you now, Sophie my dear, when you're old and grey, sitting there with your sewing chastising me for – oh wait that was yesterday."
He laughed at his own jest and Sophie rolled her eyes at her future husband. Just as he seemed unable to resist teasing her, she didn't perturb the notion to swat him one in the chest before leaning in and kissing him tenderly.
"Agh! Get a room would ya!" Markl groaned playfully from the side door as he walked in a basket of items wobbling in his arms. Clearly too heavy for him to master. He beamed like the rest of them from one ear to the next as he struggled to reach the table before losing control of the heavy load.
Sophie broke form Howl with a bashful grin and turned instantly to help Markl.
"What a fabulous idea Markl, say doth anyone know where there maybe a room untouched by your family Sophie?'
Both Sophie and Markl ignored him as they each mastered to lift the basket to the table. It didn't take long for them to be engrossed within its contents.
Like a couple of children on Christmas morning peering into the gifts under the tree they were oblivious to anything else around them.
"Huh."
Howl exclaimed. Before walking over to Calcifer to sulk.
"Give a girl a mysterious basket and she all but forgets about me."
Calcifer said nothing. There was nothing to say. Howl was starved for attention once more and was playing upon the momentary distraction of those around him. Playing up to the fact like they never cared at all for him. He was just doing it to rile them all. Sophie imparticular.
"We can never forget you Howl." Sophie chipped in though not spearing him a glance as she pulled out mysteriously wrapped item after another.
"How can we, he never lets us!" Markl added with a teasing note so like that of Howl. Sophie wondered if the boy wasn't spending too much time in the bad influence of Howl. He began to act so much like him more and more each day.
Though Sophie thought Howl wasn't the the worst influence a young boy could have. It was simply the thought of two Howls being two Howl's too many!
"Were on earth did you get this Markel? There are things in here I've never seen!"
Sophie exclaimed once more forgetting Howls feeble attempts for attention.
"It was left outside the Porthaven door." He informed her reaching back into the seemingly bottomless pit of the basket.
Each item only the size of her palm wrapped in a square cloth of brown fabric with a simple green string attached.
"Whom ever could have sent it?"
"Perhaps it's a wedding gift?" Calcifer offered as he gobbled down another log.
"Impossible no one knows yet." Sophie proclaimed. Unless her sister or mother had overheard Howl's comment…
Even so who did they know who'd be the least bit concerned about their wedding?
The King? Perhaps Miss Fairfax?
Sophie hadn't a clue.
It was a few days later when Sophie began to feel decidedly ill.
She couldn't pinpoint why as such or how but she didn't feel well. Her mother suggested it simply was nerves. The wedding was to take place in the country manor next weekend.
Sophie felt sure that wasn't it. After all she knew she loved Howl what could she be nervous about?
Perhaps it was her doubt that he loved her in return?
That was silly.
Wasn't it?
After lunch that day she decided she didn't care for the cause she just wanted the blasted thing gone.
She tried to conceal her troubles from the others but in such a remotely small castle that was difficult to say the least.
"Sophie are you alright?" Calcifer asked her as she fell more than sat down into the chair in front of the hearth.
"I'm fine Calcifer, just tired."
That much was true. She'd yet to move from her cubby hole under the stairs her mother's instance at propriety now that she was no longer an old woman. Sophie felt it was ridiculous, even so she didn't dare question her mother in that department.
Now that the kingdom knew How didn't heart hearts and that he wasn't a monster as Markl and Howl spent so long trying to make people believe they really had become the focus of society.
Every night she'd awoken form a hideous nightmare and been unable to return to sleep. She'd grown to resent sleeping as much as she did this aliment.
"Howl!" Sophie jumped at the sound of Calcifer calling out Howl's name.
There came a small whish and a crackling pop and Howl was standing in his elaborate patch work suit his eyes void of all humour at the sound of urgency in his friend voice.
"Yes, what is it Calcifer?"
The blue and yellow eyes of Cal looked over to Sophie.
Howl gave a sharp intake of breath as he knelt beside her. His hand upon hers as it lay weakly upon the arm of the chair.
"Sophie?"
"I'm fine Howl. Do go away."
Had she been able she'd have noticed the weak smile that curved his lips before disappearing in a frown of worry.
"Not a chance, my dear."
He raised a hand to her forehead and pulled back as if he'd put his hand into the bright flames of Calcifer.
"Sophie you really are not fine."
Feeling rather weak she tilted her head up to him. Her eyes seeming to flutter down unbidden.
"Who are you and what have you done with my Howl."
The briefest of smiles returned.
"Sense of humour still in tack." He mummed sharing a concerned look with Cal.
"Master Howl where di-" Markl burst through the door with the handle green down but stopped abruptly when he saw them all gathered around a poorly looking Sophie.
'Sophie! Are you okay?" He asked racing up to her.
"I do wish people would stop asking me that!" She grumbled and felt quite unlike herself.
Even when she'd been old it had not felt so ghastly as this. Whatever was wrong with her.
In a daze she sense pixy-like dust was gathering around her and she opened her eyes, not knowing she'd even closed them at all.
There like little clouds of pink dust was a complete cycle of glittering magic rotating round her in a big wide circle.
"Howl what are you doing?"
For a moment she felt like he'd not heard her then the ring vanished with a slight puff and he lowered his hands.
"Trying to find out what is affecting you. Sophie."
"..and?" she asked feeling weaker by the minute.
Nothing.
Long moment lingered on and no one said a word.
Sophie felt a sudden surge of anger.
"I'm not going to sit here and have you ignore me Howl Pendragon!" she tired to lift herself up out of the chair but the moment she stood upright the whole castle tilted and she fell.
She knew she'd have collided with the floorboards of the castle floor were it not for to strong arms laced in fine white cotton hadn't reached out fluidly and with rapid speed to catch her.
"Sophie…" The sound of her name drifted softly off into a batch of darkness.
She woke feeling positively wired. Looking up she saw an array of paintings and childlike scribbles attached to the ceiling. There were soft pillows beneath her head and all around her were books and toys. Ink, quilts and parchment.
It was like a smaller, slightly cleaner version of Howl's room.
It was then she realised she was in Markl's bedroom.
How on earth did she get in here? The last thing she recalled was standing up from the chair.
END
Eliana Robinson
5/6/19
CREATION DATE – 31/5/14
PUBLISH DATE – 5/6/19
Be Advised My Howl's Moving Castle Series are a mesh (like that of the Castle itself) of both Book and Film. I like to refer to Michael as Markl and the Castle in my stories is a many magical blend of the structure designs of the Book and film adaption. Its advised to be a fan of both books and the film before reading my fanfics for better comprehension.
Though it's not a must.
"Magic Is As Magic Dase"Disclaimer
"MAGIC IS AS MAGIC DASE"- is a Fanfiction of HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE I do not own the characters or original plotline.
PLOTLINE: The day of the wedding dawns and Mother Nature's not the only disruption to the lover's plans. Can Howl prevent an evil incantation over taking his bride again? Or could it be that a truly magical event is taking place already, messing with the thoughts in his head and those of his, newly returned and yet altogether, lost heart?
This story is NOTfor official publication or profit.
"Magic Is As Magic Dase"is a short tale in an unofficially link series between all my HTTYD fanfics and is purely meant as entertainment.
CREATION DATE – 31/5/14
PUBLISH DATE – 5/6/19
NEXT CHAPTER IN THE SERIES COMING SOON!