Sophie had discovered a way to be useful and earn her keep by assisting with potions and kits for spells. While Mrs. Fairfax was certainly not very talented in witchcraft, she had mastered the creation of magical concoctions, especially ones containing honey, her signature ingredient. She sold these kits and potions for a reasonable price to witches, wizards and magical training schools throughout the region.

Sophie was more than happy to assist with most things, except for bee-keeping duties. Those she left to the elder witch who seemed perfectly content to do so, on her own. She also discovered that Mrs. Fairfax produced small batches of a rare and sweet honey wine called mead and sold it at lavishly high prices. It was a delightful drink that made Sophie's face quite numb after a glass or two. Occasionally, a gentleman from a neighboring manor would pick up an entire crate of the golden wine.

Perhaps I could go into some form of business in witchcraft. She thought as she began to stir a simmering cauldron of sweet smelling ingredients. The more that she thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea. After all, she loved to make things and use her mind.

"You certainly are a high maintenance mixture!" She said aloud as her arm began to grow sore from the constant stirring. She deftly reached for a stool and sat down staring down into the cauldron. A hazy daydream came over her and her mind nearly went elsewhere, before she realized that the fire was peeking up over the cauldron and staring at her. This would have frightened almost any other person, but Sophie found herself smiling.

"Why, hello Calcifer."

"Hello yourself -and you might want to watch what you say out loud, because those things have a tendency to come true." Calcifer said with a bit of concern.

Sophie clapped her hand over her mouth. "You are absolutely right, I hope that this batch isn't ruined." It would be extremely inconvenient to have to start again she thought remorsefully.

"I wouldn't worry too much about it, besides; your magic could only improve this mixture." Calcifer flared up and looked down into the cauldron.

"Are we enjoying our newly found freedom?" Sophie asked as she massaged her arm.

"Yes, but I think that the contract with Howl has somehow permanently bound me to him. I feel compelled sometimes to be near him." He seemed to be mildly irritated by this.

"Well isn't he your friend as well? Could friendship be what keeps you together? That is a common bond that we share in this world you know." Sophie said while she tried not to frown from the pain.

"I honestly cannot say…it could be this thing that you call friendship." A long moment of silence followed after Calcifer said this and Sophie decided that it would be a good time to change the subject.

"So what brings you here?" She inquired as she blew a golden lock of hair out of her face.

"I honestly don't know, I think that I miss our conversations. You are much more intelligent than Michael and far wiser than Howl. You really are quite wise for your age and I think that I find it appealing."

"Well I will take that as a compliment then!" Sophie laughed as she continued stirring.

"If you would like. The more I am around humans the more I find them confusing! For example, the shabby looking wizard Sulliman bowed down to your sister the other day, and she began to cry, then she started to laugh which was then followed by a smile. After that, they hugged and twirled about in what looked like sheer happiness, all in the space of a few short minutes! What strange beings you are!"

Sophie stopped stirring and leaned closer to Calcifer. "What did you say?"

"What strange—"

"No! Before that."

"Wizard Sulliman bowed down and asked Lettie to 'spend the rest of her life with him' and then she started to cry-which, if I had such emotions, would probably do the same. The rest of your life with one being, imagine that!" Calcifer laughed at this which came out as popping and hissing sound.

Sophie sat back on her stool in shock."Lettie is getting married? Good Gracious."

Sophie set her spoon down on a shabby end table next to the fire. This certainly was some interesting news, and she wasn't quite sure how she felt about it.

"Did I upset you somehow?" Calcifer asked as he peered at her from behind the cauldron.

"Um—what? No. No not at all! I am just in a bit of shock." Just then, Sophie stood up, took the cauldron off of the fire and began to remove her apron.

"Wait, where are you going Sophie?" Calcifer asked.

"I am going to fetch Martha and then we are going to congratulate our sister on this very important event in her life." Sophie said as she began to walk out of the room. She suddenly stopped however, turning and smiling at Calcifer. "Thank you for telling me! Take care." She then hurried out of the room as if it were on fire.

"Okay, I will just stay here until the rain stops out there." Calcifer said aloud to the now empty room. He sighed as he leaned out of the fire place looking out where Sophie had gone. "I will just stay here with that smelly mixture of yours…good gracious that smells terrible."

The following morning, Lettie arrived to personally deliver the good news to her sisters and step mother in which they proceeded to fawn all over her with tears of happiness. In fact there was a great deal of fawning until Martha had to report to work in the bakery and Fanny had to run to a ladies meeting to which she had already committed. This left Sophie and Lettie alone together for a much needed chat. They decided to walk along a path in the valley outside of town while discussing the events of the summer. When they finally decided that they had had enough, the two of them lay out in the sun in a rolling field of small alpine flowers with the tops of their heads touching as they gazed at the blue sky. They were silent for quite some time before Lettie decided to break the silence with a question.

"Sophie, are you aware that Howl has assumed nearly a dozen false identities?"

Sophie sighed deeply. She was not aware that it was that many, but she knew that he had a lot. "Sadly, yes, I am aware that he has quite a few."

Lettie was quiet for a moment. "Why in the world would you suppose that someone would do such a thing?"

"To keep his privacy, I should think." Sophie replied rather absentmindedly.

"I just don't understand why a man so vain would be so concerned about privacy." Lettie said curiously.

"Why are you so concerned about how Howl chooses to live his life? Besides, shouldn't we be talking about you and Ben?"

Lettie sighed. "I am concerned because he seems to be rather fond of my sister and I would like to know what kind of man he is before I even consider giving my approval."

Even though Lettie could not see, Sophie rolled her eyes. "I can take care of myself Lettie. After all, I am—"

"The eldest. Yes I know Sophie, and you are also the least likely to do the right thing for yourself." There was something distinctly maternal in Lettie's voice.

"Don't you think that you are being rather harsh with me?" Sophie retorted feeling slightly cornered.

Lettie sat up and looked down at Sophie blocking her sunlight.

"Do you love him?"

"What?" Sophie said astonished at her younger sister's boldness.

"Do you love him?" Lettie said again smiling down at Sophie.

"Lettie, I don't know why you are asking me this—" Sophie grumbled feeling irritated at persistence.

"Sophie Hatter, do you love Wizard Howl or not?" Lettie shouted in an almost teasing way.

Sophie stared at her sister for what felt like many long minutes.

"Yes—no. I don't know!" Sophie covered her face in frustration.

"You absolutely love him. I can tell. I could tell on the day you returned his heart and I can tell now." Lettie sounded resolute in her conclusion.

"You presume too much." Sophie said her voice sounding muffled under her hands. Lettie grabbed both of her hands and pulled them away from her face.

"You need to tell him that you love him you know." Lettie's maternal voice said in a scolding manner.

"Absolutely out of the question." Sophie stood up and stomped off over the hill. Lettie began to follow close behind.

"The two of you are so stubborn it amazes me! Whether you like it or not, that man brings something out in you. He brings out this strong, courageous woman that has always been there, but just needed to have a bit of coaxing. Have you ever stopped to think about why Howl sent you before the king when that obviously wasn't the simplest solution?" Lettie stopped and put her hands on her hips.

"Oh I don't know Lettie, perhaps it is because he is a giant coward." Sophie shouted back waving a butterfly out of her face.

"Or perhaps he wanted you to gain some fortitude, of which you have plenty now by the way."

Sophie stopped and turned to glower at her sister. Lettie smiled and put both of her hands on Sophie's shoulders and stared into her eyes.

"You have this rather unfortunate tendency to miss the most obvious things and as your sister and your friend I am tell you to snap out of it and look around for a change! You have so much to see and so much to offer." Lettie's eyes began to well up with tears as she said this.

"Well thank you for the lecture my dearest little sister, I do miss your criticism at times." Sophie said angrily.

Lettie smiled again. "Sometimes, I am convinced that the two of you were made for each other. Never before have I seen two people slither out of expressing their feelings the way you two do. It is almost legendary."

"I just don't trust him to not flee for his life if I choose to return his affection." Sophie said hoping that this excuse would satisfy her little sister.

"What has he done to you personally that would lead you to believe that?" She said calmly.

"Well he—botheration! The list is so long I can barely keep track!" Sophie said as she pulled away and continued to walk back toward home again.

Lettie laughed. "You are impossible, my dear sister. Completely, utterly, impossible!" Then she ran to catch up with her sister and they walked together arm over shoulder for the rest of the way back.