A/N
Hello Dear Readers (I hope you're out there).
I started this story ages ago and have recently decided to start again and finally finish it (one more check on my list of lifetime accomplishments, eh, ehh?) Apologies if my writing is a bit rusty, I recently graduated from University and got used to more scientific writing. Anyway, enjoy, flame, review, drench your computers in lighter fluid and set them on fire (or give them to me free of charge!) Cheers!
P.S. I included a character guide at the bottom for those of you that haven't read the book.
Disclaimer: This fiction is based on Diana Wynne Jones' book Howl's Moving Castle as well as her series Chronicles of Chrestomanci.
Chapter One: An Unfitted Fit
Howl fingered the small drop pendant dangling from his ear with a distracted sort of look on his face. His glossy black hair reflected the bright sun beating over Market Chipping. Michael shifted anxiously next to him and gave Howl a worried glance. "Do you think we should go in there?" This thought obviously did not please Michael, as he shakily wiped a few drops of sweat off of his forehead.
"Heavens no," replied Howl, "Do you wish us to be torn to shreds?" At that Howl took to pacing back and forth in front of a smallish wooden door that read "Wedding Apparel" in shiny gold lettering. On the other side of Howl sat a rather pale looking Wizard Suliman.
"Lettie must have found something by now, it's been two hou—" The wizard was cut off by a loud bang as the door to the shop slammed against eroded brick. Lettie stormed out in a fiery rage, Fanny and Martha trailed after her in a fit, and Sophie slowly emerged.
"Well, that's it," she sighed, "Nothing fit to her liking. She's terribly upset, thinks it's some sort of sign." Sophie leaned against the door frame and began waving herself with a small paper fan. "I'll have to begin a dress straight away if we expect to have this wedding." Wizard Suliman gave out a queer, gasping shriek.
"But it's just a dress!"
"Lettie's been acting rather strange ever since Prince Justin married that foreign countess last month," Michael chimed. Sophie winced and looked over at the wide-eyed wizard.
"What are you driving at; she couldn't possibly have feelings for the prince!" Michael realized what he had suggested and began to stutter.
"Well of course, Ben, I…I'm sure it's just a coincidence."
Under normal circumstances, Sophie would have snorted and made some comment about how impossible it would be for Lettie to have feelings for a gentlemen so intangible as the prince, but these certainly were not normal circumstances. Ten months ago, Lettie had been in love with both Wizard Suliman and the Prince as they were combined into a single being who called himself Percival. Poor Percival had been put together and enslaved by the Witch of the Waste after both the wizard and prince attempted to pursue and eradicate her from the area. Being taken apart and put together again with new parts tends to make one forget who they are, so during Lettie's and Percival's odd courtship, he had no recollection of his past or the fact that he had two identities. After the Witch's demise, Howl put Wizard Suliman and the Prince back to rights, but not before the two young men and Lettie had gotten themselves into a veritable love triangle. While Martha, Sophie's youngest sister, and Fanny, Sophie's step mother, joked to Lettie how lucky she was to have two formidable men at her disposal, Lettie was a sensible girl. She rejected both of them after only a few day's consideration, insisting that her studies were vastly more important than any matters of the heart. The Prince, while having genuine feelings for Lettie after the Percival debacle, left to attend to his brother and his duties in Kingsbury when Lettie's intentions were made clear. Wizard Suliman, on the other hand, had insisted to see to her studies since she claimed them to be so important. He realized she would be too proud to follow him to Kingsbury for training, so he spent every other week with her at Mrs. Fairfax's. They did the natural thing of course, which was fall in love for the second time. The pair became engaged only two weeks before the prince returned with his new wife, and sure enough, the day the newly wedded couple returned to Kingsbury, Lettie became very peculiar.
"Surely," Howl grunted in a grand, reassuring voice, "Surely she's just worried about the wedding, Ben." He shot a menacing look at Michael, who was now sweating bullets and nervously twisting a moist handkerchief.
"Surely, indeed," Ben huffed as he turned on his heel and marched away down the street.
Michael sighed. "What a mess. I'm going back to the castle." He slumped away, leaving Howl and Sophie standing alone outside the wedding apparel shop.
"I better go after her. She's really not acting herself, Howl. She can be vain and stubborn, but she loves Ben. A wedding dress wouldn't keep her from marrying him." Howl put his arms around Sophie, drawing her into his broad chest. Sophie felt comforted, but it did not put her past Lettie's troublesome attitude. It wasn't only that, even her presence had changed. It was as if someone who looked and sounded just like Lettie had replaced her. But I don't sense any magic, and Howl surely would have said something, and I'm certain Ben would know if his own fiancé was enchanted.
"She just needs time, my love." Howl's attempted reassurance sounded more like a placating lie, but Sophie knew he was just trying to protect her. He must know something unpleasant. But he'll never say a word if he thinks I'll get my nose in it. So she buried her face in his chest and said in a muffled murmur,
"Let's go back to the castle for some late lunch." They turned and walked arm in arm through the afternoon hustle and bustle of Market Chipping.
Character guide (based on the book)
Sophie Hatter – Eldest Hatter sister (around age 19). Cursed by the Witch of the Waste to take the form of an old woman. Worked as Howl's maid while under the curse. She broke the curse herself when her own magic overpowered that of the Witch's.
Lettie Hatter – Middle Hatter sister (around age 18). Sent to work at Cesari's (the local pastry shop) but switched places with her youngest sister Martha. Studied as an apprentice under Mrs. Fairfax (a witch) where she met and fell in love with Percival.
Martha Hatter – Youngest Hatter sister (around age 17). Sent to apprentice under Mrs. Fairfax, but switched with Lettie to work at Cesari's. While working there, she met and fell in love with Michael
Michael Saunders – Age 18, Howl's apprentice, wizard-in-training.
Percival – Slave to Witch of the Waste, composite of Wizard Suliman and Prince Justin. Percival was transformed back into the two men after the Witch of the Waste's demise.
Fanny Hatter – Step mother to Sophie and Lettie, mother to Martha.
Howl Jenkins – Mischievous Wizard rumored to eat girl's souls.
