I know that this is a short one! There will be more to come, I have just been busy during the past few days with strict deadlines and writing some fiction that I actually own. Once again please enjoy and let me know what you think!
Take care dear reader.
Sophie had been out in the garden terrace thumbing through a spell book on magical sewing when two royal messengers arrived to deliver a letter. They waited rather awkwardly for her to open and read it aloud to them so that they could confirm that she had received the message. The script was so elaborate, that it was rather difficult to read. Sophie stumbled through it carefully.
Ms. Sophie Hatter,
It is to my understanding that a display of gratitude on my behalf is in order which I would like to deliver to you in person. I am requesting your presence next Saturday at a Royal Gala that is being thrown in honor of my dear brother and High General Prince Justin for his safe return.
The signature was replaced by the royal seal. When the messengers left, Sophie sunk down into a chair feeling sorry for herself.
"Not again!" She exclaimed to the shady trees around her
"What have you done now?" Called a voice from behind. Sophie turned to find Howl leaning on the trunk of one of the cherry trees, giving her a knee-buckling smile.
"It would seem that someone has told the King that I had a part in Prince Justin's rescue." Sophie gave Howl the most accusing look she could muster.
"Well it is true, isn't it?" Replied Howl as he seated himself on a lawn chair under a pergola of Inglish Ivy.
"I really don't want any credit Howl, honestly." Sophie leaned against a tree and looked back at the handsome wizard earnestly. "Were you the one that said something about it?"
"Actually no." Said Howl and he seemed to mean it.
"I suppose that it doesn't really matter now." She looked worried, almost frightened. Howl laughed.
"Why are you so afraid of being noticed? Believe it or not this is a good thing Sophie. You deserve to be recognized for all that you have done."
"And what is that exactly?" Sophie inquired while folding her arms.
"Oh I don't know, being willing to risk your own neck for your friends and loved ones, being persistent and having faith in those who did not believe in themselves, facing the Witch of the Waste at least three times, saving Calcifer's life as well as my own? The list goes on love." He ran his fingers through his dark hair before continuing. "I think that it is time to face the solemn reality that you were destined to succeed. I know that this is disappointing to you but do try to put your chin up."
She chose to ignore his sarcasm. "I don't think that I could possibly handle the pressure of standing before the King now. Being an old woman was another thing entirely, I seemed to have less care of what people thought of me."
Howl laughed. "Look at me Sophie, I am a love-challenged, tone-deaf Welshman with a terribly dull name and absolutely no common sense. Yet, here I am as wonderful as I could ever be. It is okay to love yourself you know, maybe not to the extent that I do, I certainly wouldn't recommend that."
"I do love myself. I am just not as enthusiastic about it as you are." Sophie said feeling her ears begin to burn.
Howl rolled his eyes before replying. "For a vast majority of the time that you were under that aging curse, you were in control of it. You chose to wear that curse as a disguise because you felt that it gave you freedoms that you did not have before. I hate to break it to you my dear, but you have had those freedoms all along and you still have them."
Howl leaned forward clasping his hands together on top of the open spell book as he continued. "If you ever want to be successful in magic, you have to believe that you are as powerful as you are…because you are quite powerful."
Sophie sighed. "I want to learn more about magic Howl."
"Do you now?" Howl folded his arms, looking decidedly smug.
"Yes I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and—"
"You don't choose this path by thinking about it Sophie. That is your first mistake." Howl held up a scolding finger. "You choose it because you can't imagine doing anything else."
Sophie rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here anyway?" She replied shamelessly changing the subject.
"Well I was going to ask if you would be interested in being my apprentice, but now I would like to ask you if you would be interested in going with me to the Gala?" Howl gave her the smile that a child would give if they were their parents for a dog or a pony. He then pouted when she hesitated.
She sighed. "I don't see why not, since I am going to be there anyway. Perhaps you can show me the ways of the High and Mighty." She raised her chin high as she said this.
"Good! Then it is settled. So let us see…that is a week from now." Howl started to walk away and then stopped turning back toward Sophie.
"So that will be plenty of time for you to work on your posture, because Sophie, it is an awful sight." He hunched his back mockingly and then laughed.
Sophie growled at him. "Go away Howl, I will see you next week." She waved him out of the garden with both of her arms as if she were chasing a dog out of the kitchen.
Howl winked at her and then vanished in a very wizardly fashion. She shook her head and then smirked.
"My dear who were you talking to?" Inquired Mrs. Fairfax who had just emerged from the house holding a tray of tea.
"I was talking to Howl who departed rather quickly." Sophie gestured to the empty spot where he had been standing.
"Oh well then, I brought out three cups just in case." The elder witch shrugged and set the tray down on the table.
To Be Continued….
