Sun drifted through the window, waking Sophie up from her short sleep. Getting up, she looked around to see that she had fallen asleep in the living room (place with the hearth and the breakfast table.) again. She had been busy the night before reading an interesting book that she now picked up, marked the page she was on and put down on the breakfast table. Sophie couldn't hear any noise, so she figured that everyone was still asleep.

"Well, I better get breakfast ready." She said to herself. She got the bacon and eggs, and went over to the hearth to wake up Calcifer. She was not surprised to see he was awake already, looking very alert.

"Morning, Sophie. Making breakfast already?" he asked as she approached with the bacon and eggs.

"Yes. Did Howl come home last night?" Sophie asked and she picked up the frying pan and put it on top of Calcifer. He didn't complain, but he looked worried at the question. Howl hadn't come home last night, and he knew that if he told Sophie, she'd worry because she loved Howl so much, but if he didn't tell her, she would worry even more when Howl didn't come down to breakfast.

'Damn this war. I thought the Witch of the Waste was the only villain around here, but I was wrong. Better tell her the truth.' He thought before answering her. "No, he didn't, but don't worry, Howl's a strong magician, he can take care of himself."

"Oh." Sophie said dejectedly. "He promised he would come home though." She remembered the day before.

Flashback

"Sophie, the King wants me to go to the palace and put up wards to protect his family from the war, and I might be back late." Howl had said while putting on his cloak. He hated having to leave her and Michael (Markl) all alone, but they would be safer in the castle than anywhere else.

"Howl, the King is working you too hard. I never get to see you anymore." Sophie said, hugging him at the door, hoping he would come back alive and safe. It had been a month since they had broken each others curse, and had told each other they loved each other. Now they barely had time to see each other, since this new war had started the King had been running Howl and Wizard Suliman ragged trying to keep everyone safe.

"I know, love, I know. I hate it, but this war is worse than the last one. I'm just trying to keep you safe." He said, returning the embrace and kissing her on her hair. He hated seeing her so depressed, but he knew that she understood.

"Promise you'll come home tonight." She said into his chest where she had buried her head. She knew that making him promise something wouldn't do anything, but it would make her feel a little knowing that he would at least try to keep the timeline.

"I promise, I promise." He said, letting her go and turning to Calcifer. "You better keep an eye out, or else something will happen."

"Got it, and you better look out, as well just incase." Calcifer said as Howl turned around and walked out the door. He turned just outside the door, and blew a kiss to Sophie before he continued down the street. Sophie watched him until he was out of sight, and then closed the door.

Flashback ends

"Sophie. Sophie. Sophie!" yelled Calcifer, finally getting her attention. She shook her head out of the clouds, and looked at Calcifer. All he said was "Kingsbury door."

She went over to the door and opened it. She screamed as she stepped back and let Howl stagger in covered in cuts and bruises. She helped him over to the hearth and down into a chair before going over to the sink and getting a bowl of water and a rag to clean his injuries with.

"Howl, what happened to you? Where did you get all these injuries? Are you alright?" she asked as she came back to the hearth, sat down next to him and started to clean him up. When she didn't get an answer she looked up at his face, only to see that he had passed out.

Getting very worried, she ran upstairs, woke Michael up, and brought him downstairs to help her get Howl up into his room. As they made their way upstairs, Calcifer just stayed in the hearth and thought to himself 'Who was able to attack Howl? Whoever they are they must be strong to get a punch in at Howl, they must be trouble.'