Sophie's True Love – Chapter 2
Sophie made breakfast for Markl and the Witch of the Waste, but the entire time she was lost if thought; if anyone had spoken to her she would not have even noticed.
She placed their breakfast in front of them on the table, and took her chair near the Witch of the Waste; in cause the old women ended up needing any help eating.
Markl and the Witch of the Waste starting eating right away, as they always did; they never hesitated at meals.
"Why isn't Master Howl eating breakfast with us, Sophie?" Markl asked when he finally realized Howl's extended tardiness.
"Just finish your breakfast, Markl", Sophie quietly spoke without look at the boy.
Sophie collected the dishes when the pair was done, and started cleaning up when Prince Justine entered in through the front door.
"I'm sorry I missed breakfast", he bowed to Sophie.
"Would you like me to fix you something to eat?" Sophie inquired.
"No thank you, I am quite alright as I am", the prince humbly replied.
He walked up to Sophie, coming within inches of her and gently took her by the hand.
"Would you please come with me", Prince Justin asked as he slowly pulled Sophie's hand in his direction.
She didn't object, nor did she reply, the pair simply started to walk toward the front door, still holding hands.
That was when Howl walked in. He entered through the front door with one hand behind his back and he closed the door behind him before he even realized that Turnip was holding Sophie's hand.
Everyone paused and the room became still. Howl and Sophie stared into each other's eyes for a long while, not showing any sign of anger or shock, but merely gazing into one another.
It was Turnip who broke the moment. He looked down at Sophie and whispered near to her ear; "We should get going before we lose the day".
Sophie nodded at the prince's statement, without breaking eye contact with Howl.
Once again, Prince Justine and Sophie started to make their way to the front door, brushing past Howl as they went.
"I'll be back later", Sophie said to Howl as the pasted him, her eyes tilted down at the floor.
"But what about breakfast?" Howl asked a tad too loudly as Prince Justin opened the door for Sophie.
Of course, Sophie got slightly irritated with him, the fact the he could be thinking of his stomach at a time like this, and she yelled at him that if he wanted breakfast, he could fix it himself. And then she left with Turnip, slamming the door behind her.
Howl plopped down in the chair in front of Calcifer and let the box in his hand fall to the floor.
Markl, who had been watching the entire scene from the stairs, came down and opened the box.
"Wow", Markle exclaimed at the site of the pastries, "these are from the new bakery that Sophie loves so much. You must have been in line all morning to get these. That place is always sold out by this time of day. Oh, and you got a bag of tea too".
Markl raised the bag to his nose and inhaled its sweet scent; "This is the tea Sophie used to drink. She hasn't been able to find it in any store for months".
"They just got a shipment in this morning", Howl told Markl with his eyes closed and head tilted back.
"Master Howl", Markl said softly, "Don't worry. Sophie loves us, Turnip won't take her away".
Howl turned his head and looked at the small boy, and managed to give him a small smile to show Markl that he understood. Then, he got up from his chair and started marching up the stairs.
"Calcifer", Howl shouted down, "heat me up some water for my bath".
"Oh sure", Calcifer complained, "I barely have my egg shells digested and you want me to work!"
"Cacifer", Markl looked at the fire, "how can you digest food? You don't even have a stomach?"
"Don't you have something better to do", Calcifer snapped at the boy, "go practice a spell or something".
Markl shrugged off Calcifer as always and scampered off, while Calcifer continued to mutter to himself.