In Which Howl Meets a Little Gray Mouse
Chapter 7
A/N: Wow guys – seven chapters: this is a first for me! ^o^ Thanks for all the kind reviews from last time, especially Lurker and being Unknown, summerbirdy, and That girl (since I can't PM you as you don't have an account *sad face*) I was so surprised that the majority of you thought Howl was a player/rascal – he, well…it just sort of happened that way. ^^; What can I say…he's Wizard Howell Jenkins (I think this speaks for itself).
I'll shut up now. I really will. Hopefully you enjoy this installment .
Disclaimer: Sadly I own nothing. T.T
In Which Sparks Fly
Howl had been tugging eagerly on Sophia's arm, keeping her in tow, ever since the two of them had left Cesari's. It came as a complete surprise, therefore, when Sophia suddenly stood rooted to the spot, refusing to be pulled any longer. Howl had been nearly running (he really wanted to dance, you see) and his momentum caused him to skid. As there was no charming officer to save him this time around, and Sophia was not about to render the same service, Howl plummeted face-first into the ground.
"Sophia, what is the meaning of this?" Howl sprung up to his feet. "I fear I have dirt on my nose." Promptly Howl pulled out his hand mirror to check. "Yes, just as I feared; and on the very tip too – I look quite absurd – Sophia?" Howl had finally noticed something was wrong.
Sophia had not moved an inch and was staring intently at the ground as she addressed him. "Howell, I'm not really up for dancing right now."
These were incomprehensible words to Howl, but he could be persuasive if need be. "Are you sure?" Howl asked sweetly. "I took you as the kind of girl who would love to dance." This was a lie, at least in part. He didn't think Sophia would love to dance; he thought Sophia would love to dance with him.
"Well, I do – or at least, I used to." Sophia looked sadly up at Howl. "My dad and I danced all the time, but I haven't since he…well, you know."
If Howl still had his heart, it might have broken just then; but since he didn't all he could think of was how the air of sadness around Sophia was suffocating him. She needed to cheer up fast. In short, she needed a dance.
"Come on, Sophia," Howl said kindly, wrapping his arm around her waist. "The best things happen while you're dancing." Howl then proceeded to hum a song Sophia did not recognize.
As if to agree with Howl's wise words, the musicians started up a new tune – not too fast, but not too slow either. Couples surrounding them began to sway and twirl; shouts of mirth filled the air. Indeed, it was hard even for Sophia to not want to join along.
Once Howl reached the middle of the Square he turned and took a step back to properly face Sophia. He smiled, then proceeded to bow.
"Sophia, may I have this dance?"
Sophia scoffed at his gallantry (albeit blushing slightly) and gave him her hand in consent.
Howl then gently took her left hand in his right and placed his remaining hand firmly on her waist. That same mysterious force of magic Howl had felt earlier that day coursed between them. Sophia seemed oblivious of it, but it made Howl nervous. He didn't like feeling unsure of himself.
Howl soon forgot his worries as they began to dance. They flitted this way and that – always touching and never breaking eye contact. His glassy emerald eyes bored into her creamy hazel ones*. Occasionally Howl, being his flamboyant self, would lift Sophia into the air unexpectedly. Whenever this happened, Sophia would emit a surprised laugh, which Howl would follow with one of his own. Soon they were both laughing delightedly – at who knows what – and that's when it happened.
But first it is necessary to describe the rest of the Square a bit. Ever since Howl and Sophia began to dance they had been the center of attention. Other dancers could not help but admire the happy couple jealously and cringe at their obvious enjoyment; they gave them space. Onlookers delighted in watching the couple's lithe movements as they gracefully waltzed about the Square; they flocked toward them. Thus, before long a large circle of people had surrounded Howl and Sophia – unbeknownst to both. Normally Howl would have been thrilled to find himself suddenly the center of admiration, but he was slightly preoccupied and had not even noticed (a very big deal, mind you). Seeing that they weren't distracting the couple in the least, the onlookers felt free to proceed to talk loudly about them.
"Would you look at her dress – where did she get such a thing? Oh, I wish I knew!" a gaggle of girls questioned as Howl twirled Sophia, making the blue skirt spread out elegantly.
One of these girl's escorts was an officer who mused: "Why does that man look so very familiar? Perhaps he has a sister who is here…" For this was the very officer who had saved the lady Howl from a nasty fall earlier that day.
Another of these girls wondered: "They are both so very handsome – perhaps they know the king or are royalty themselves!"
Her burly escort chided her. "The more pressing concern is that that man is much too slight to be lifting that lovely lady. If he is not careful he will drop her, which would be a real shame."
As if to defy this man's opinion Howl once again lifted Sophia – which is when the peals of laughter had started.
Cerulean, magenta, gold, jade, and violet streaks filled the air. These sparks flew –yes quite literally flew – all around the oblivious couple. They seemed to correlate with their laughter: whenever Howl and Sophia laughed in unison the sparks appeared. Just when the couple seemed about to be swallowed up into the magnificent colors, Howl would twirl Sophia. Then the colors would briefly disappear, only to start building up again. The alarmed crowd had taken a few liberal steps back and had since begun to murmur.
"I say, would you look at that –"
"Sparks, I tell you! –"
"Quite some magic –"
"He's a wizard, I'd say –"
"That must be Wizard Howl –"
"Be careful he'll eat your –"
"It's Wizard Howl!"
It wasn't long before the entire Square was convinced of the identity of the dancing gentleman. In fact, the remaining dancers and onlookers crowded around to get a better look – most had never seen a real wizard before.
Seeing as the majority of people had lost interest in dancing, the irate musicians abruptly stopped playing. With no music, Howl and Sophia swayed to a stop, breathing rather heavily. Their audience burst into applause for the young dancers. Both looked bemused, as if they had somehow managed to forget they were in the middle of a loud, noisy Square.
A gentle wind swept through the Square, earning of few exclamations as it ruffled the ladies' dresses. Howl reached over to fix a piece of Sophia's hair that had escaped. But he froze mid-action, his hand hanging limply just below a strand of red-gold hair. The two stared awkwardly at each other, not saying a word. Howl leaned in closer (the surrounding crowd drew a breath); he registered Sophia's alarmed eyes, but ignored them. He only wanted to–
"NO!"
Howl jumped back, shocked. It was a woman who had shouted. He swung his head around, trying to find the source of the sickening cry. He had an eerie feeling – the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. As if on cue, Arabella stepped out into the middle of the circle. Except she wasn't Arabella – she looked quite demented and not at all beautiful or charming; clearly, the Witch of the Waste was losing hold of her disguise.
She swiftly lunged for Howl at the same time Howl lunged for Sophia. Howl wrapped his arms around Sophia's shoulders (in what could be taken as an embrace) and murmured a few well-chosen words.
There was a blinding flash – and then a resonating crack. The Witch howled and the crowd dissolved in confusion: the couple had disappeared.
*insert your preferred Sophie eye color here :D
A/N: Sooooooooo, I was going to write some more…but I didn't…besides this feels like the natural place to end. I've actually had this written for quite some time, it just needed editing (heh heh).
Send your thoughts my way please ^^ This chapter gave me some trouble while writing it…I'm not sure I did it justice. Review and you may very well be rewarded. It IS a long weekend after all and exams are over…(hint hint nudge nudge)
Questions, comments, cantankerous statements? XD
What do YOU think will happen next? ^.^
PS I've got this song stuck in my head:
"The best things happen while you're dancing
Things you would not do at home
Come naturally on the floor
For dancing soon becomes romancing
When you hold a girl in your arms
That you've never held before
Even guys with two left feet
Come out alright if the girl is sweet
If by chance their cheeks should meet while dancing
Proving that the best things happen while you dance"