The world to be.
She inhaled a deep breath of fresh mountain air. This time of the day was always her favourite, just as the sun has risen, cresting the edge of the near distant mountain tops. The mountains, just tainted with drifts of snow, always took her breath away, as he knew it would when the course to this destination was set.
Long fingered hands encircled her waist, bringing her into a back to front embrace, so that the hard set muscles in his stomach were felt in each contour of her back, sending a shiver up it. She closed her eyes as she took another breath, this time of his scent, which always, no matter what, gave a whiff of shampoo (fruit based?) and the fresh scent of recently laundered clothing hung out to dry by who used to be called turnip head.
''Sophie'' Said the husky voice of her partner, Howl, into her ear. That whisper always said so much, no matter the volume or context. Sophie smiled and turned around; opening her own eyes, to look into the dazzling blue eyes that still held her spell bound from time to time. Not from any spell, but for the fact that he was hers.
The fact that this man, a wizard, a kind hearted and lovable, and sometimes beauty conscious man was awed by a simple hat maker girl from town still baffled her. How could she be so lucky, not to just meet the famous 'Howl' but to come to understand him, and become such a part of his life. A life that now had extended to include three other members of their small, but contented and blazingly different family.
Howl stroked the silvery light hair; reminiscent of the curse the witch of the waste had cast upon her, causing her to grow old before her time. The curse had been lifted when she found true love in Howl, the same way turnip head (the prince of a neighbouring city) had been released from a curse for the love he felt for Sophie.
Sophie lent her head against his chest as his hands tightened against the small of her back, arms encircling her back.
''Are we nearly there?'' She asked in her delicate but strong voice.
''Yes.'' Howl replied, stroking the back of her head, loving how her hair was growing out of the short cut she'd gotten when Calcifer needed something of her to help move the remains of the castle, just a small shell, what looked like eyes, and some spindly legs with a wooden floor.
''I've missed Markl so much.'' She said with feeling. ''It's been so quiet without him here. I've missed Granny just as much. Heen hasn't been quite himself without them.'' She smiled against his shirt for a moment before they both turned to see the old dog, sitting comfortably in a corner near the open fireplace that Calcifer usually took residence in his not so fire demon form.
''He's getting on in years now, just as much as granny.'' Howl said, glancing out to the wide open spaces of the valley they were gliding over. ''Even as a witch, once all her powers are gone, there's only so much she can do now, or how much energy she has. I'm surprised it's been five years as it is, and she's still quite sprite.''
''Markl loves her, despite what she did in the past.'' Sophie said, her smile fading slightly. '' And though I found it difficult being an old woman, and being so self-conscious because of it, I love her too, in my way.'' She sighed.
''Some things are difficult to understand.'' Howl told her, as he felt the flying castle begin to descend to the spot that they were to meet the witch of the waste and Markl after their most recent trip of magical spots. ''Even forgiveness.''
They made their way to the door, ready to disembark, when raised voices made them halt for a brief moment, before Howl let go of Sophie and swung the door dramatically open. Markl, now thirteen, looked panicked stricken as he raced up to the door.
''Howl, Sophie, come quick, something's wrong with Granny.'' Sophie and Howl hurried after Markl, leaving the door wide open. Heen, sensing something was amiss, trotted after them at a steady pace. Within minutes, they'd come to the nearest towns limits, and was soon passing the edge caused by the buildings, following Markl as he navigated the winding streets and pathways.
It infuriated Sophie, as they pushed through groups and crowds of people in their rush.
''What happened Markl?'' Howl called over the din of the crowd, and they crossed a busy market square with bustling stalls and calls of the owner's wares and food stuffs.
''She collapsed as we were coming to meet you.'' He called back over his shoulder, quickly looking back forward as he squeezed through a group of heavy set women chattering and squawking about how much a silken woven hat was. '' She went blue and breathless. I was so worried. Some people came and helped us and took her to the medical centre. That's where I just came from when I ran up to you.''
They soon were bursting through the centres doors, Howl keeping the door open for Heen, who had kept up the pace and was now wheezing and settling down the side of the wall, probably sensing that they were where they needed to be, catching his breath.
''Excuse me.'' Markl called at the empty desk. A man appeared behind the screen set a little behind the desk, peering around it to see them.
''Yes?'' He asked politely.
''We've come to see the heart attack patient brought in about twenty minutes ago.''
''Ah yes.'' The man replied, walking around the edge of the screen towards them. ''This was please.'' He told them, flexing his fingers at them to follow him as he walked down a slightly narrow hallway on the left.
''Heart attack?'' Sophie asked faintly, feeling the world shift at those words. The man looked over his shoulder and nodded grimly.
''It seems so.'' He said solemnly, as he opened the door about a third of the way down on the right. 'We've been running some test, and all the evidence seems to point in that direction, though they've only been rudimental tests to help us identify what the possible cause of any problem could be.''
Sophie was breathing heavily as they walked through the door, Howls arm around her waist as they walked through to see Granny on a bed, with needles in her arms, sleeves pulled back. She seemed shrunken, pale and even more wrinkled than before. This presented a shocking sight, even to Markl, who had been there at the first incident. They all stopped, catching their breath. Heen had followed them slowly, and now was peeking around the door frame, whimpering slightly.
''Is there anything you can do?'' Howl whispered in the slight silence, the only sound being Heen and the sound of people in the streets, carrying on normally, not aware of how one small family's life was changing in a room not so far away.
''We'll do our best.'' The man replied kindly. '' It's early days yet, but we'll keep an eye on her day and night and make sure she's comfortable, whichever way things go.'' Sophie started crying as Markl whirled around and buried his face into her shoulder, almost like he used to when he was younger. He might be growing, but he still was only three quarters of the height of Sophie.