Chapter 2: Rambling, Worries and Wizards
"Don't come up here Soph, I don't want you to see where I'm going to hide it…"
"Well I expect to know. Where are you going to keep it now?"
"If I told you it wouldn't be a secret." Howl said as he stepped into his room, clearly looking for something in one of his dressers filled with glamorous magical items of who-knows-what.
"I think it's best if I know." Sophie insisted, although she could tell he was doing one of those things where he absently listened and did what he wanted to do anyway.
"And why's that Sophie?" He dug a little deeper.
"Because its dangerous and I think I should help you hide it."
"Ah, but you can't get involved in this Sophie…it's not safe."
"Yes well all these secrets aren't too safe nor becoming either…"
"I have a past. I'm a wizard…or a sorcerer, whatever you'd prefer to call it…you should only expect-" He began throwing things out of the dresser drawer in his pursuit for this unknowable object.
"Yes well," Sophie said cutting him off, her voice raising, "If you want me as part of your future you better start filling me in on them. How can you start a relationship based off of lies? No wonder you break so many girls' hearts…if this is just another game to you then-"
"Sophie, how could you say that?" He paused. "Found it!" He took out a box, with an sapphire colour gem on the top. He turned to Sophie. "After all that's happened, I don't want you to know so you don't get hurt. The least you know is better for now. When I now danger is farther than nearer I will make sure to tell you everything, but considering he may have seen something's with that god awful eye of his, you are a liability Sophie and I'd rather not have to worry about you."
"Oh, don't lecture me! I can handle myself just fine. I'm the one who saved you and Calcifer…"
"Maybe, but against a powerful sorcerer?"
"I handle you just fine. Mostly." She said trying to keep up her stern tone.
"Yes well I'm afraid, unlike the Witches of this world, a spell of old age isn't just the worst jinx this Wizard Alasthorn can do."
"Why? What else could he turn me into? A frog? Oh, I daresay you wouldn't love me then, why a frog is even uglier than an old woman..."
"Sophie, please. I'm being serious. He's a wizard I regret getting my fingers into, and mainly all it did was bring me closer to the nagging King's court of sorcerers. Ultimately I don't fear of you becoming a frog, I fear of you becoming…something a little less lively and a little more permanent. If he gets this thing he could use the dragons' of the mountains powers to awaken them and start a whole other war against the Sorcerer's and the Kings Men. Honestly I'm quite over those."
"So what your saying is your worried because he might kill me?
"Well you don't have to put it in such blunt terms Soph…" He cocked his head and slipped the gemmed box into his cloak.
"Well you don't have to make them so lavish." Sophie said. "I appreciate it I do, Howl. But what if he does get it. Or get close to it. I don't want to see you getting hurt either."
"Well let me do what I have to do to keep it safe. If he does come after it, you can stay safe because your rather clueless about it. His vendetta will be with me. And I won't have to worry too much, because without it, he'd give me a pretty fair fight considering I've got a demon star on my side."
"Oh yes, Calcifer's flames of fury will last lavishly with a good old pail of water."
"So there, you look after Calcifer again, and I will look after you." Howl said pulling her in closer.
"Once again, who will look after you?" Sophie said looking up at him.
"Oh well you and Calcifer can…but Markl is coming along too…I should give credit where it is due.."
"Howl!" Sophie scolded, before Howl stole a kiss.
"Come on, if we're up here alone for too long they might start to wonder what we're doing up here…" Howl said as he ran to the stairs and spun down them smoothly, to do who knows what with that strange wooden box.
"Howl!" Sophie said again, her cheeks warm. She really wondered what she'd gotten herself into with him…however it was too late now. She'd sealed that deal the moment she'd gotten onto the Moving Castle almost a year ago…now she'd just have to try to handle the life of a Sorcerer's girlfriend. Much more exciting than a hat-maker…if exciting was the word for it.