Author's Note: So, yeah, I finally updated. Again, I'm awfully sorry for taking so long. And I thank all my loyal readers for staying with this story. Thank you also to those who have reviewed. Your input means so much to me and just motivates me to continue writing. :D Alright, so, as you can see, I'm experiencing MAJOR writer's block for this story. I mean I've got scattered ideas but I don't know how to string them all together. Not to mention, when you're in university, you're just swamped with work. Like the only time that you're free is the beginning of September. After that, it's just essays and tests until Christmas. The next update will probably be in December when I'm on break. However, I can't guarantee anything. I promise though this will not be an abandoned fic. I will update. The problem is just when :P And second thing. In this story you will see 'something like this' and *something like this* so the former means something that my OC thought to herself while the later means something that she mentally conveyed to Howl or what Howl mentally conveyed to my OC. Thirdly, I have gotten reviews on people wanting to know what Gwen looked like. I tried my best to describe her in this chapter. Not sure if this was what you were looking for or if it was something else. Please feel free to review or message me about it. And yeah, that's about all you should know. Sorry for the really long Author's Note. But yes, please enjoy! And remember, any feedback or comments are always greatly appreciated! Thanks for your support :D
I sat cross-legged on Howl's bed, mind swimming with confusion as I recalled the last few minutes of my life.
'Did that seriously just happen? Did Howl really kiss me?'
Upon the mention of the word kiss, my mind automatically flashed back to the scene in question. I could still feel the warm pressure of his mouth upon my own. His soft, raven locks ghosted between my fingers. My face burned as I recalled the warmth of his hand on my cheek.
Out of the corner of my eye, a golden glint caught my attention. It was the frame of Howl's full length mirror. I stole a quick glance in the reflective glass. My own flustered expression stared right back at me. My amber eyes burned too brightly, as if I had a fever. Jet black bangs framed my almond shaped face, contrasting with my smooth milky complexion. My hair flowed down to my lower back, reminding me that I would need to get it cut soon. I wasn't insanely gorgeous, but I wasn't hideous either. I was just one of those girls, who you wouldn't remember passing on the streets because she blended in with the rest of the general public. Howl had definitely dated far prettier girls than me. I mean the girls he dated were girls you remembered; girls who could turn heads without trying. So, then why did he kiss me? Surely, even he wasn't vain enough to do that.
My musings just caused my confusion to grow in size.
'Why did you have to kiss me?'
I groaned in frustration as I grabbed his pillow and buried my face into the cozy material, desperately trying to dispel my aggravating thoughts.
Bad idea.
The wizard's scent enveloped around me, causing me to blush a darker shade of scarlet.
"Dammit Howl. Do you have any idea what you do to me?" I mumbled in exasperation.
"No, I don't." A low voice answered unexpectedly causing me to yelp in surprise.
I whipped my head up and met Howl's cerulean blue orbs. I was so deep in thought that I hadn't even heard the door open. Normally, I would've foreseen the intrusion, but because my mind didn't register Howl as a threat, I was caught off guard.
"Enlighten me." The wizard continued as he climbed on to his bed and plopped his head right on to my lap.
Forget tomatoes, I was a cherry by now.
"Howl, what are you doing?" I questioned, voice muffled by the cushion as I desperately tried to hide my emotional status.
"Resting. You have my pillow but I like my alternatives." The magician continued, completely unfazed by the position we were in.
But then again, why would he be? He's dated hundreds of girls before, so this was nothing new. If there was one thing I knew, Howl was the biggest tease. He would go to the ends of the earth to make a girl fall for him, but once he had her, he'd dump her just as fast as he made her fall. Who was to say I wasn't just the next one on his list?
My eyes clouded in dejection and I threw the pillow at his face so that he wouldn't see the change in my demeanor.
"You're such an asshole." I muttered as I looked away from him and fixed my eyes on his trinket-filled walls.
He removed the headrest from his face and placed it to the side. I felt his gaze on me and I shifted uncomfortably. Who was I kidding? I couldn't hide anything from him. The silence loomed over us like a large foreboding shadow.
"I know." he sighed finally, "I'm such a big coward, all I do is hide. And all of the rumours and magic is just to keep everybody away. I can't stand how scared I am."
I chanced a glance down at the wizard and my heart nearly melted in the process. He looked utterly exhausted. Between messing with the war and running from witches, he hardly had time to enjoy a decent breakfast, let alone, a good night's rest.
I tentatively placed a hand on his forehead and began smoothing the skin where his frown lines should be. I knew he had them. With the amount of stress he was under, it'd be a miracle if he didn't. He just erased them with magic because he didn't like how they looked.
Howl slowly relaxed under my touch. His eyes slid shut and he let out a sigh of contentment.
When was the last time he slept? A week ago? I remember Howl once said that when a person lost their humanity they stopped sleeping. Not because they wanted to but because their body physically rejected the notion of sleep.
Fear gripped my heart at the thought of losing him. I instinctively pulled him closer to me, as if that would somehow prolong the time limit of the curse.
Howl cracked open an eye as he regarded me curiously. However, before he could say anything a knock was heard at the door.
"Howl, I'm coming in." Sophie called from the other side. The grandma opened the wooden entryway, carrying a tray with a white cup perched on top of it.
"Oh," the lady breathed as she saw the position Howl and I was in, "Sorry, I didn't realize…"
"No!" I rushed on before she could make this anymore awkward than it already was, "It's fine. Come in."
As Sophie made her way in, I struggled to get Howl off of me. However, the wizard proved to be more stubborn than I thought.
*Get off.* I mentally growled at him.
Howl regarded me with a smugly amused expression.
*No.* he replied simply, his cerulean blue orbs fixed on my amber ones, daring me to challenge him.
*Howl…* I warned as I narrowed my eyes to glare down at him.
*Yes?* the wizard faked innocent.
Before I had a chance to retaliate, Sophie spoke up.
"Um, I brought you some warm milk," the grandma said kindly, "want a sip?"
Howl closed his eyes then shook his head in response.
"I'll leave it here for you then," the old lady replied while setting the cup down by the nightstand, "try to drink it before it gets cold."
"Thanks Sophie." I said as I looked gratefully up at her.
"Don't mention it." She replied with a warm smile.
"I don't mean for the drink." I said softly.
"Oh, then for what?" the grandma asked in confusion.
"For coming back, even after the way this big idiot treated you." I said in response.
I felt Howl twitch.
"Oh that." The grandma replied as realization dawned on her, "Don't worry about it. I just over-reacted. Well, technically, I guess we both did. But I'm fine now, really." A pause. "Turnip helped me a lot."
It could've just been the lighting but I swore her cheeks dusted pink at the mention of the scarecrow.
"I'm glad." I said happily. "It seems you're a bigger person than this retard will ever be."
At this, Howl shifted.
*I'm right here, you know?* Howl's voice zapped into my brain.
I smirked, *Yeah. I know.*
Howl would've rolled his eyes in response if they weren't closed at the moment.
Suddenly, the wizard's entire body tensed up and he expelled a sharp gasp. As a reflex, my arms around him tightened. My hand automatically began smoothing his hair in an attempt to comfort him.
I didn't have to ask what was wrong. My gut feeling told me.
"The witch of the waste is trying to find my castle." Howl said quietly, confirming my suspicions.
"Oh, I saw her henchmen at the harbour." Sophie replied then added curiously, "Why is the witch of the waste trying to hunt you down?"
At this I snickered and Howl mentally flicked my brain causing me to flinch.
"She was once quite beautiful, so I decided to pursue her." The wizard answered, completely unfazed by my seemingly deserved discomfort, "Then I realized she wasn't, so as usual, I ran away."
"As much as I know you want to, you can't keep running forever." I chided softly.
"I know. I have to report to the palace as both Pendragon and Jenkins." Howl responded dejectedly
"How many aliases do you have anyway?" Sophie questioned, eyebrows raised in interest.
"As many as I need to keep my freedom." The wizard replied shortly.
"Just refuse the King's invitation." The grandma suggested as if the matter was as simple as that.
"He can't." I stated glumly.
Howl nodded agreeing with my comment.
"See that," he said pointing at the parchment skewered to the wall, "That's the oath I took when I entered The Royal Sorcery Academy. I must report to the palace whenever summoned."
"You know, Howl, I think that you should see the King." Sophie said boldly taking us all by surprise.
"What?" Howl and I exclaimed at the same time.
"Give him a piece of your mind," Sophie continued as if what she said was perfectly reasonable, "Tell him this war is pointless and you refuse to take part huh?"
Howl sighed heavily, "You obviously don't know what these people are like."
"But he's our King." Sophie proclaimed, "He should want to hear what all his citizens have to say."
"Yeah, only if you're an important citizen, that is." I scoffed.
Just then, Howl gasped as he was suddenly hit with an epiphany.
"I've got it." The wizard said excitedly as he suddenly jerked upwards, causing me to yelp in surprise, "Why don't you go to the palace for me?"
"Huh?" Sophie exclaimed in confusion.
"Just say that you're Pendragon's mother. And your son is such a cowering wizard, he's too afraid to show his face. Maybe then, Madam Sulliman will finally give up on me."
"Oh boy." I said uneasily just as Sophie asked, "Who's Madam Sulliman?"
"Never mind the details," Howl rushed as he sprang out of bed, "We've got work to do."
I sighed in despair as a disheartening thought crossed my mind.
'Why does something tell me that this isn't going to end well?'