"'I said,' Michael shouted, 'that Calcifer's come back!'
That did get Howl's attention, and Sophie's too. They looked at the grate, where, sure enough, the familiar blue face was flickering among the logs.
'You didn't need to do that,' Howl said.
'I don't mind, as long as I can come and go,' Calcifer said. 'Besides, it's raining out there in Market Chipping.'"
Sophie chuckled along with everyone else and Howl threw his head back and laughed heartily, showing how happy he was. "Well, my friend, since you're back, how about you and I make dinner for all of our guests? I'm sure Sophie would be pleased to spend time with her family without having to worry." Howl smiled. "Would you all like to stay for dinner?"
Prince Justin bowed and properly declined, "Perhaps another time. I don't mean to be rude, but I must get back to my brother, as I am sure he is worried sick about me. But I must thank you for saving me and my friend. You are welcome at the castle for a meal anytime. Please drop by soon to visit."
Sophie blushed and Fanny took the opportunity to speak for everyone, "I'm sure they will drop by soon. Maybe taking their family along?" Fanny was always one to take advantage, as she bluntly suggested. "I'm afraid that I will have to refuse dinner also, as my husband has a nice evening planned. But Sophie, my dear, you can expect to see me more often now that I've found you. I'll miss you my dear, tata!"
And just like that Fanny was out the door. Prince Justin jogged behind, asking if he could possibly get a ride to the palace.
Everyone else had agreed to stay, including Wizard Suliman, because he saw this dinner as a wonderful opportunity to convince Lettie to become his pupil. He looked toward the retreating Prince Justin. "Well, considering the prince will be back to the castle soon, I suppose I can stay." Even Martha convinced Mrs. Fairfax to stay with them for dinner, even though Fanny had already left.
"It's settled, then!" Howl said joyfully. "Sophie, dear, would you set the table for our guests?"
Sophie could not see how this would be easily done, because they might not have had enough dishes, let alone spaces for a dinner for seven. But Sophie miraculously managed to successfully set it all up, with Howl at the head of the table. "He'll like all of the attention," Sophie muttered as she pushed the chair from the fireplace to the end of the table.
As they all sat down, Wizard Suliman started, "I have a proposition for everyone. As many of you know, at the edge of the Waste, I attempted to start a flower garden. Obviously, Howell here has made it very grand indeed. But the point is, now that the witch is gone for good, I think we should all clean up the waste and make it habitable once more, instead of the barren landscape it is right now."
Everyone murmured their approval, "What a marvelous idea!" Martha told Michael. "That will do very well," Mrs. Fairfax turned to Lettie. "Yes, quite," she replied. Sophie smiled. "I would like that very much," she said. Howl gathered everyone's attention. "I should think that every other weekend we can all gather and work on it. Especially those of us that are talented with magic. And eventually, the Waste shall become a beautiful place for all of Ingary to enjoy."
"I quite agree with you, Wizard Howell. Considering how drastically you have changed the edge of the Waste in such a short time, I'm sure that we'll be done in no time at all." Suliman replied.
"But the Waste is so vast!" Sophie said to herself. Surely it would take years to fix it! Especially if they were to work on it so infrequently. But Sophie was not going to doubt Wizard Suliman's word.
The rest of dinner went along well. Everyone had a lovely time. Wizard Suliman got Lettie to agree to become his pupil, with some nudging from Mrs. Fairfax of course. "This is your chance, dear!" she told Lettie, knowing she could learn so much more from Suliman and become quite a prosperous witch indeed. Martha and Michael seemed to be in their own world, just as Howl and Sophie were. After their meal, Lettie, Mrs. Fairfax, and Wizard Suliman departed. Only after properly thanking Howl and Sophie for their hospitality, of course.
Howl, Sophie, Michael, Martha, and Calcifer were all that remained in the roughed up castle. Howl called for his apprentice as Sophie and Martha chatted.
"Sophie, I'm so glad you're okay now. And it looks as if you're finally happy. I'll be by as often as I can to check on you, so if he doesn't treat you right I'll put him straight! Or perhaps, I'll call Fanny on him." Sophie remembered how hostile Fanny became when she thought wicked Howl had mistreated her step-daughter. "No, no!" Sophie replied. "I'm sure we'll be just fine. Calcifer has Howl's heart no longer. It's all mine!" Sophie smiled, and Martha giggled at Sophie's boldness.
Michael and Howl joined them at this time. "And she had better take care of it, too!" Howl said. Sophie was startled by their sudden appearance and blushed a little.
"Michael, since it's getting dark, you had better walk Martha home. Don't worry, you can spend more time with her later. I should think we can take a week off after what we've been through." Sophie was a little shocked at how considerate Howl was being. "He's just being lazy," she concluded, so softly that no one could hear.
"Good idea," Michael said, before Sophie could even finish her thought.
"Goodbye Sophie!" Martha said as she gave Sophie a tight hug. "I hope to see you soon."
"Martha, be good, okay?" Sophie told her. Martha smiled and nodded. "Goodbye!" She waved to Martha and Michael's figures as they retreated into the darkness.
"Well, Sophie," Howl finally turned his full attention to Sophie. "I think, perhaps, we're going to need to change the castle a bit. Don't you think?"
"Why ever would we?" Sophie blinked. "I think it's fine just as it is."
"I think I'd like the Kingsbury and Porthaven entrances back. And we might need more space if we're going to have so many visitors all the time."
"But what about the flower shop and the mansion?" Sophie protested. She rather liked the new entrances that Howl had recently moved them to.
"Sophie, dear, who said we could only put the castle in four places?" Howl took Sophie's hand in his and led her to the chair by the fire. As he pulled up a chair for himself, he turned to Calcifer. "Isn't that right, my friend?"
"If you're lucky enough to get my help!" Calcifer scoffed.
"Yes, of course." Howl patronized him. "But I do believe Sophie just gave you life. It's the least you could do for her." Howl smiled, manipulatively. No, Sophie mused, he most certainly hasn't changed a bit!
"And Sophie, since we're in Market Chipping, I can't see a reason that Martha couldn't move in. That would give Michael and Martha more time together." Howl started planning, enthusiastically.
"I should think not!" Sophie said. "They're much too young. And both still in apprenticeships."
"Martha could have her own room..." Howl trailed off. "Well, maybe it's best to wait until they're done anyway. But Sophie, what would you like to add to the castle? I'm planning on a total of four bedrooms and two baths. It should fit exactly in that Market Chipping house. Right now, some of it is missing."
"I'd like a larger kitchen." Sophie smiled, letting Howl excitedly plan the new home. She thought it would be best to give Howl her input. It would make him happy, and she truly did want a nice kitchen.
"Perfect! I believe that house has a nice place for just the kitchen you want. It'll be lovely, Sophie! I know you'll love it!" Howl said. "So it's settled. We'll fix it up tomorrow."
"Howl," Sophie said after a minute, "tell me about Wales. That's where you're from, right?"
Howl looked surprised, but his features softened quickly. "Yeah, that's right. Wales is where I'm from. It's strange that I'm here because Wales is- well- it's... it's like- an alternate..." Howl stumbled, "The best way to explain it is that if you walked out any one of those doors other than the one that leads there, you would never be able to get to Wales."
"That's incredible!" Sophie gasped, "It was rather peculiar when we visited."
"Wales and Ingary are so very different, Sophie. For one thing, there is no magic in Wales." Howl told her.
"What?" Sophie's eyes widened significantly. "But how come you had a magic gift? And Wizard Suliman had one too!"
"Yes," Howl said, "but I'm not sure why we were both given magical gifts. Ben Sullivan was not from Wales, like me, but he did come from the same world. The only reason that we made it here was our magic."
"What is Wales like, though?" Sophie asked.
"Well, Sophie," Howl's eyes lit up as he explained about his world, "Wales is magnificent. There's technology for one, like cars. You rode in one, remember? It was that motorized vehicle that-"
"You mean that terrifying horseless buggy that went much too fast!" Sophie cut him off.
Howl started laughing so hard and uncontrollably that he started to have tears stream down his face. Sophie did not feel her statement was that ridiculous. "Stop, Howl!" She said, embarrassed of herself. "I'm starting to doubt you got your heart back after all!" Sophie blushed a deep red.
Howl looked momentarily hurt, but recovered and said playfully, "I'm sorry Sophie, I know it's not something you're accustomed to, but it is rather funny."
"I guess if someone asked me what magic was, I would look at them as if they were crazy." Sophie acknowledged. So far, Wales sounded like a strange place indeed.
"There's also electricity, and all sorts of developments that have just never happened in this world. The roads are all paved and there's television, radio, colored film, mass production," Sophie listened to Howl go on about things that most of which she did not understand.
"I suppose I'll have to show you. It's rather difficult to explain." Howl said, after seeing Sophie's expression. "This must be more than confusing to you."
Sophie laughed, "Yes, it rather is." She smiled. Just as Sophie was yawning, Howl noticed that Calcifer had drifted off. "I suppose it's time to go to sleep. We don't need to stay up to wait for Michael, he'll be fine." Howl stated. "Get ready for bed, Sophie." Howl instructed, going off to do the same.
Sophie carefully went over all of the events of that day in her mind as she got ready for bed. Goodness it's been an eventful day! It's unbelievable that one can fit all of that in such a short amount of time! As Sophie left the bathroom, she noticed Howl finishing cleaning up the dinner table. Sophie went to crawl into bed.
"Wherever are you going, Sophie?" Howl asked as he walked over to Sophie's room.
"To bed." Sophie said quizzically. It didn't seem very questionable as to where she was going.
Howl sat on the end of Sophie's bed and placed his hand on her leg. "What's wrong with mine?" He asked.
Sophie looked shocked, "yours!" She blushed deeply. "But- wha- that's- it's... not... really... appropriate." Sophie finally stuttered out.
"Sophie," Howl looked at her "you love me, right?"
Sophie looked down, holding her sheets in her hand. "Yes, isn't it obvious?" She said. "I mean, after what has happened. Ever since..."
Howl interrupted, "I know that, of course. I'm trying to make my point. And you know that I love you."
This caught Sophie's attention, very much. Her head rose and her eye's locked with Howl's. She thought to earlier today when they were holding hands and smiling and the world was perfect as it seemed to stop just for them.
"You look surprised." Howl mused. He stood and took her hand in his. "I fell in love with you when you were a crazy, nosy, stubborn old woman. Isn't that enough?" He pouted. Just like a child.
Sophie glared, "I still can't believe you knew the whole time! You knew I was the girl you met last May Day, didn't you!"
Howl took the covers off of her and scooped her up. "Well, I had hoped." He smiled wickedly.
"Hey!" Sophie screamed.
"You did say that you loved me!" Howl grinned from ear to ear. He carried Sophie upstairs while humming the silly saucepan song as Sophie protested. "We aren't done talking about this!" She yelled.
"I'm sure I'll regret it later!" Howl said loudly. It sounded much like the night he came in drunk. Sophie was glad that Michael was not there to see this. Howl plopped Sophie down right on his bed, and she even bounced twice.
"I'm still not sure-" Sophie got cut off by Howl, "Don't be silly, my girl, I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you. As far as I can tell, you've got my heart for as long as I live."
Sophie smiled sweetly. "Happily ever after, then."
Howl got comfortable and pulled his sheets down. "Lie down, then," he told her.
Sophie did as told and the lights dimmed out magically. She felt Howl put his arm around her and he pulled her in close. "I love you, Sophie." Howl said after a minute. Although Sophie couldn't tell if Howl had really said anything or if she was imagining it because she was so close to sleep already. In that middle ground between reality and the world of dreams.
End of Chapter 1
Author's note: I was very frustrated writing the end of this, because I couldn't quite word anything the way I wanted to. It was just very difficult, and I know I can write much better than that! Anyway, I'm sorry it's such a slow start, but every story has to begin somewhere. Thanks for reading, and please review. I love suggestions and constructive criticism! I promise chapter two will be better!