Disclaimer: I do not own rights to Howl's moving Castle.
Chapter 2
Sophie worked her hardest, crafting hats humble and extravagant. Hats that sold within hours of being placed on the displays. She worked so hard that she rarely spoke to Calcifer, and he seemed content to rest between the logs, only rising to pull another one toward himself on occasion. He didn't even mention that she spoke to the hats more than she did with him.
Sophie worked tirelessly, and grew more excited by the day, and when the morning of the ball finally came, the first thing she did was look for her stepmother. She wanted to get her the money she had earned, so that she could get what she needed. She did not need a tailor-made dress, and would be happy just to pick up a simple and elegant premade dress from the dressmaker's shop. Unfortunately, every time she made an effort to ask about her earnings, she was set to a random task.
Quite a few older women that were going to the ball came to see what hats the shop had, and it left the shop girls busy, so her stepmother had her carry the new stock to the front. It was a little exasperating when a few of the customers insisted upon giving long-winded expressions of thanks for her hats, but it made her happy to know she was appreciated. When she finally escaped and went back to her room to assess a decent pair of Lettie's hand-me-down shoes that made it into her closet, Martha knocked on her door and asked her to reattach a ribbon on her slightly overdone corsage. Sophie's willingness to help and love of sewing pushed her to do it without much thought, and more of her time was lost.
Before Sophie knew it, the sun was dipping below the horizon and she had little time left. She came from the courtyard, carrying firewood for Calcifer, only to find her family being greeted in the shop by a man in a uniform. A coachman.
Her stepmother and stepsisters were all dress with an extravagance that was one feather or frill away from tacky. Had Sophie not been so shocked, she would have taken the time to notice that that their masquerade masks pushed them into that territory. Sophie hurried forward, hands still full of firewood. She dearly hoped there was a misunderstanding, "Stepmother-"
"Oh, Sophie." She interrupted, turning to look at her, and the fabric of her orange high collared dress made a rather rough swishing sound as it rubbed together. "It's time for us to leave and you aren't ready. You don't even have a dress." Sophie gasped in horror as she realized she had been purposely kept too busy to prepare for the ball. Her stepmother made a pensive and remorseless noise and said, "Well, since you are not ready, you will stay and finish the rest of the hats."
All the hats had been finished. She had told her stepmother so when she first started to ask about her pay. She should have known that she never had a chance of convincing her to let her come.
The only thing that kept the wood from tumbling out of her hands was her refusal to let Lettie see how distraught she was. Lettie raised her fan—adorned with peacock feathers to match her green dress—to her mouth, but Sophie could see the hint of a smirk as she gave a dramatic sigh, "It's a shame that you can't go, really. I've heard that the Royal Wizard Ben Suliman will be there and he is eligible. They say that they Great Wizard Howl might be out of hiding, too."
"Well, be sure to lock up the shop." Her stepmother said as the coachman escorted them to the door, and the only one that spared her a glance was Martha, who was the least overdone in her pink ruffled dress and simple butterfly themed mask. Sophie was left standing in the middle of the room, stunned. She slowly made her way over to the door and peeked out the window.
She watched them get into the back of a fancy carriage in dresses more extravagant than what they could usually afford, and it dawned on her that all of the hard work she did was for their dresses, not her own. All her struggle was for them to go to a party and look expensively gaudy, and more important than they actually were. She should have known, since it was no different that every other day.
She walked to the workroom in a numb state and only when her eyes landed on Calcifer, did she let the wood fall to the ground and let her tears flow. She found herself crying hard, and the sound was painful to her own ears. She never wanted to give her horrible relative the benefit of breaking her, but they betrayed her the one time she ever asked for anything.
"Don't cry, Sophie. Wipe your face." Calcifer said, sternly, and she raised her head to see his little glowing mouth set in a firm line, "You have done too much for other people today. You're going to that ball."
"How? They just left me here with nothing to wear and no way to get there. I know my stepmother would be upset if I, not only came to the party, but came looking like this and embarrassed her."
"You're not going to embarrass her the way you think. You're going to put her and those terrible stepsisters of yours to shame. All without them knowing it's you." There was mischief in Calcifer's smile. "It's a masquerade, so you will be in disguise."
"How?"
"I've been laying low and saving magic, since I expected this. Now place that wood up here and stand back. I'm going to tap into my powers." Sophie did as she was told, looking at him in confusion. A low shake began in the room and a Sophie's attention was drawn away when one of the flower baskets fell to the floor.
When she turned back, she was shocked to see a blue blaze, edged with purple shooting high above the hearth, revealing a sinister fanged face with slit pupils. Sophie's eyes widened in slight fear and she felt the heat roll over her. As quickly as it happened, it was gone, and regular little Calcifer was on his log, breathing a sigh. He said, "Have a look at yourself."
"Look at myself? Cal, please tell me the heat did not ruin my-" She went to the corner mirror and jumped back. The masked person looking back at her was not plain little Sophie. It was almost as if she was being greeted by the lady of an estate in her finest, yet most simple.
Her usually tightly plaited brown hair was in a half-updo with ringlets that shined like silver cascading over her partially bared shoulders. She gently pulled at a curl to make sure it was hers and brought her hands to her lightly glossed mouth.
Her dress was still blue, but its colors were deep and rich, and the fabric swept the floor when she moved. No feathers. No high collar. No overdone lace. Though the ball-gown's skirt had multiple under-layers and flared out from her body, it seemed to be light due to Calcifer's magic.
Though her mask covered little more than the area around her eyes, with a piece that angled down to the tip of her nose, it was the most elaborate part of her outfit. It was a deep blue with silver patterns vining intricately over it. It winged out a short ways from her face on either side, and had gleaming blue stones on tiny silver chains dangling from it, with similar smaller stones that ran along the bottom of the mask in intervals.
Even she would not have suspected that she was herself.
"This," she reached out to touch the mirror, "This is me?"
"Yes. I know, I did a great job." Calcifer said, as she came back to him.
"This is so much more than I deserve." She felt tears prick at her eyes, "Oh, Cal, this is wonderful."
"Don't you dare cry, Sophie. I don't want to have to make your eyes clear with magic again. It's time for you to go, but there is one thing." He said, "You will have to leave by the time the clock strikes midnight. It's important."
"Why midnight?"
"It is a delicate spell. You'll change back." Calcifer said, "Since you are far from the hearth, I can only do so much."
"It's more than enough. Thank you." She stood, and the smile on her face faltered, "How will I get there?"
"Open the closet door. And it will let you out in one of the closets in the palace. You can return the same way. That's all I can do." He said, giving the directions slowly, so no mistakes could be made, "Just make sure you remember the way you came."
"I will have some bacon bits for you tomorrow." Sophie said with a smile, as she went to the closet.
She steeled herself against the nervousness and walked through. The door closed behind her and she was in darkness, with only the slight hint of light from a crack in front of her. She felt around in front of her, moving what seemed to be coats aside, and pushed outward. When she stepped outward, she found that she had come out of a wardrobe in a nice room. Luckily, it seemed to be a rarely used guestroom, since the furniture was covered.
She left the wardrobe door open the barest amount, out of concern that the way might close if she shut it completely. She peeked her head out of the door to the room and was happy to see that there were no guards.
She slipped out of the room, and crept down the hall towards the music, being sure to memorize unique portraits and marks to remember her way back. On her way, she passed a large glass wall, where she could really only see the dark outline of trees, but there was a door sitting open in the center. She hurried passed it, to where there were guards on either side of the door where the music was coming from. They did not move when she approached and she was glad they did not ask who she was. She looked into the lively room from the entrance.
It was magnificent! The grand hall was at the bottom of a staircase filled with people dressed in all colors. The hall was decorate in golds and reds brighter than anything Sophie had ever seen. The vining patterns on the floor must have been made of solid gold. Or maybe it had been enchanted to look that way.
There were clearly wizards and witches present. She could see two magic users that clearly stood out, with their extravagant dress and grand way of carrying themselves, but who knew what others were mixed in the crowd. There were people mingling and vying for the attention of the royalty that sat apart on the far side of the room. She could see who she could only assume was the Royal Wizard Suliman standing beside the king, watching the festivities. He was rather young and did not wear a mask like the others, but his hair was as red as the stories said it was.
Her attention was drawn away, when a slender woman stood up on one of the platforms in the hall, drinking what Sophie thought might be champagne. She hiccupped and exploded into a flock of brightly colored birds that flew toward the ceiling and disappeared into a cloud of bubbles. There were sounds of awe and claps from the regular people, but other magic users looked unimpressed or cynically amused. Sophie was not sure if she was unaccustomed to these things since she had not been to any parties since her mother died, but this was by far the strangest party she had ever been to.
She was caught by surprise when one of the guards spoke, "Miss, are you going to go inside?"
"Oh, not yet, thank you." She turned away and resisted the urge to run back in the direction she come before they could ask more questions. She realized that she really wanted someone to talk to. It was so bright and wondrous that it overwhelmed her. She was sure to draw attention since she was arriving alone.
She moved away from the grand hall entrance and back toward the open door she had seen. She stepped out into a beautiful, gently lit garden, but did not go far, out of fear of getting lost.
"I sense magic on you." She heard an unmistakably smooth voice behind her, and turned quickly to come face to face with a bird beak mask in the dim glow. She jumped away and the man chuckled, "I suppose this mask would surprise you." He tapped his finger on it and it morphed into a simple metallic black mask, with diamond patterns engraved on one half.
"Better?" He asked, with a small smile. It was the man who asked her to tea, and he had just used magic. This realization amazed Sophie, though she thought she should not have been surprised. Maybe that was why no one had seen him on the street, even though she had. His hair—now black—was more visible with the smaller mask, and her attention was drawn again to his blue eyes, "I don't think I am mistaken about you being that lovely lady from the festival."
"What are you doing here?" She asked, still holding a hand to her chest, as she tried to steady her breathing.
"So it is you. I was invited. Most of the magic users were." He moved his mask up toward his forehead, allowing her to see his handsome face, "You look beautiful tonight, though it seems magic has made you more so than you were before. There is a spell laid over you. Would you mind telling me who made your hair like starlight?"
"I-" She did not think it was a good idea to reveal Calcifer's existence to a magical stranger, "I don't know what you are talking about."
"So it is a secret? That is fine." He slid his mask back down and extended his arm toward her, "Would you care to join me inside?"
"I really-" She was drawn forward against her will, and he was leading her with him before she could completely protest
"Come. Don't be shy. You're here to have fun, so we should go in." He brought her back inside and toward the grand hall, and she couldn't tell if it was his magic, keeping her from protesting, or her own desire to see what was happening. As he passed the guards, he greeted them casually, "Gentlemen."
He waved away the man that came toward them as they came to the top of the stairs overlooking the ball. Sophie looked at him in question and he said, "You were hiding away, so I didn't think you'd want to be introduced."
He gently led her down the stairs, smiling at her and she watched her feet, praying she didn't trip. The grand hall did not fall completely silent, but everyone's attention seemed drawn toward them.
"I didn't think we would draw so much attention. Maybe I should have come in first, so they wouldn't stare.
"They are looking at us both. They are wondering who such a beautiful pair could be. I have changed my mask after all, but I suppose they can still tell who I am." His blue eyes sparkled with mischief, so there is no point hiding my hair, I suppose. Suddenly, his hair tones started changing from black to purplish pink and lightened its way to blond. Sophie found herself as interested in the simple trick as the crowd was, but was brought back when he started to speak again, "Then there is you who they have not seen yet. You were quite adorable before, but whoever cast that spell did an excellent job."
"I still don't know what you are talking about." She raised her head with an arrogance that rivaled Lettie's, who she had noticed amid the crowd. She turned her head toward him, so that neither her stepmother nor stepsisters could see her face very well, but all the wizard did was smile. She realized suddenly that he was leading her to the dancefloor, "I am not so great at dancing."
"Where is that confidence you just showed me?" He teased, then said, "It is fine. I will lead, if you will allow it." He stepped out on the floor, where the dancers had stopped their motion to stare at them. Although he phrased it as a polite request, he was already placing one of her hand on his shoulder, and his on her waist, as if he had no intention of hearing protests. Once he took her hand, they began spinning to the music. "You know, I felt the magic on you when you arrived and wanted to see you. You're lucky I found you first."
"Why?" In her curiosity, she didn't bother to deny it.
"That magic is very unique, and you look lovely. That combination could make you some enemies. The woman up there is not fond of beautiful women." He gestured to a red-haired middle-aged woman watching them from a raised platform in a circle of, what Sophie assumed, to be her magical guards.
She looked like a wealthy woman who had been very beautiful and was not used to sharing attention. Her dark fur mantle wrapped around her shoulders and a roll of fat from her neck laid over her expensive necklace like a shirt collar. Though her face was hidden behind a fan, and an elaborate and expensive mask, Sophie could feel an iciness from her gaze that might have put her stepmother's to shame.
Sophie looked to him again, "The room is full of beautiful women. Why am I so interesting, even if I'm with you?"
"There is something about you. Something more than a simple layer of magic coating you. You are special, and I can't help but wish you'd dance with no one else tonight." The smooth sound of his voice and the fluid grace with which he moved her almost lulled her into a trance, to the point where, when she shook herself from her thoughts, she realized that everyone had left the floor. They were the center of attention, dancing alone in a wide circle of people.
"Why did everyone leave the floor?" Sophie asked.
"You are too amazing to look at. They want a good view."
"You are too kind, but I don't like being watched." She thought about pulling away, but she could not bring herself to when he gave a reassuring smile.
"I will give them something to be distracted by." Gasps and sounds of awe could be heard behind her and she looked back and saw flowers blooming in the places they stepped. The blooms spread and they seemed to be dancing in a field of flowers.
"Are you doing this?"
"Yes. Some are real. Some are illusions. I just don't want them to get in our way." He shifted his hand further around her body to pull her closer, "My dear, I wouldn't want you to trip."
"Won't you get distracted?"
"Looking at you is much more worthwhile than looking at the flowers." Sophie lowered her head. She did not think the mask covered enough of her face to hide her blush.
At one point during a turn, she noticed that the flowers were gone, and someone had signaled others back onto the floor. She saw her relatives making their way onto the floor, bringing their partners unnecessarily close to where they were dancing.
"Can we dance in that direction?"
"Anything you wish." His smile made her heart pound, but it pounded for a different reason when he asked, "What is it about those three ladies that bothers you?"
"I-" Sophie started, "That is none of your business."
"My apologies." He said, though he was still smiling in his disarming way, "I just thought I might help if it was what you wanted."
"There is nothing you can do." She averted her eyes, only to have them land on the middle-aged woman on the platform, who was still glaring at her. Sophie drew her eyes away, and noticed that Lettie was ignoring her partner and looking in the direction of the king's platform. She turned her attention to Martha, who seemed more interested than she'd ever been, in the skinny teen she was dancing with, who looked eccentric enough to possibly know magic. However, her stepmother was trying to catch a glimpse of her, over her partner's shoulder. To Sophie's relief, the wizard spun her past a few couples to a place where only he would be tall enough to be seen by the older woman.
Since she was now focused on him again, she realized he had kept his attention on her since he found her in the garden. She said, "I haven't asked much about you. Do you know many of the other magic users here?"
"Try as I might, I can't avoid them. They are always asking me to do things, so I almost didn't come."
"Why did you come?"
"I was hoping you would be here."
"You must charm all the ladies like that." Sophie said, hoping not very deep down, that it was not really the case.
"I am being sincere, and not for a long time have I thought of charming anyone. Between you and me, I learned my lesson a while ago." Sophie's eyebrows rose, as she wondered what he meant. She realized she didn't actually know anything about him.
"I'm sorry. I just realized that I never asked your name. I was here late, so I didn't get hear it, if you were introduced." Then she remembered that it was a masquerade, and wondered if he would tell her, "If you aren't trying to mysterious, will you tell me."
He smiled and said, teasingly, "Why don't you guess."
"Guess? Have we met before the day of the parade?" She asked and he shook his head, still smiling. "Then why would I know? It crossed my mind before that you might be a visiting prince, but I've never heard of princes doing magic."
He gave a low chuckle. "I knew there was something about you that I liked."
"What's so funny?"
"I did not come in disguise, so it is nice to be able to surprise people, but it was rude of me not to introduce myself earlier." He said, as he raised her hand gently to his lips and kissed it. Sophie could not look away as he slowly brought both their hands down and continued on with their dance. "I am addressed by many names, my dear, but most know me as the Great Wizard Howl."
