They kept him in the infirmary for two days after that. He remained obedient and quiet beneath his nurse's – whose name was Adele – watchful eyes. On the first of those two days, Sophie came to visit him once more. Kind and perceptive Adele excused herself to allow the pair a moment of privacy, under the pretense that she had to make sure she had enough medicines in her supply.
"How's married life treating you?" Howl inquired bitterly, once they were alone.
"Howl, please don't do this," Sophie requested, tucking a wisp of silvery hair that had fallen free of her strict bun behind one ear, "You know this is hurting me as much as it hurts you."
"Somehow I doubt that," Howl answered, scoffing. His eyes grew kinder as he gazed upon her sad face. "But really, is he treating you well?"
Sophie nodded, uncomfortably wringing the white gloves that she'd peeled away from her fingers. Howl hesitated a moment before asking his next question.
"Are you happy?" he muttered softly, averting his eyes. He felt Sophie's small fingers immediately curl around his hand.
"How can I possibly be happy?" she demanded. Though he could not see her anymore, he could hear that her voice was choked with tears. "Knowing that you're locked in here, alone and hurt? No, Howl, I'm not happy at all."
He looked up at her again. It had been so long since he'd been able to see her up close like this. Dark circles under her eyes signaled lack of sleep, and the eyes themselves were dulled with despair. He wondered for a moment if he looked the same to her. He couldn't bear to see her look so distraught.
"I'm sorry," he apologized softly, turning his face away again. A few locks of hair fell heavily over his forehead. Closing his eyes, he felt Sophie's tender touch as she brushed it aside.
"It's not your fault," she whispered, her face unbearably close to his now. He turned to look at her, his eyes boring deep into hers. He didn't know when he would see her again. He had to act now.
Carelessly, he looped one arm around her neck and pulled her into a hasty kiss.
She was shocked and unresponsive at first, but gave in after a few moments. Howl felt hot tears slide off her face and fall onto his own. She was thinking the same thing he was; that this could be goodbye.
A-hem.
The pair pulled apart, and turned to the doorway. Adele stood, looking completely calm and unsurprised. The young nurse bowed her head respectively to Sophie.
"My dear lady," she addressed formally, "His highness is searching for you in the courtyard."
"What? Oh! Yes," Sophie quickly composed herself, straightening up into proper posture, "Thank you Adele."
She rushed from the room without so much as a second glance at Howl. Once she was gone, Adele laughed knowingly and sat down at Howl's side, instructing him to remove his shirt so she could check and make sure his wound was healing properly.
"You must be careful, wizard Howl," Adele advised, stripping away the bandaging gently, "His highness already has half a mind to have you executed. It won't help your case if you're discovered behaving inappropriately with his dear wife."
Howl looked over his shoulder at the peculiar girl that treated him. "Is it not your duty to report such goings-on to your master?" he inquired stonily. To his surprise, the girl met his gaze and smiled sadly.
"I know your situation," she replied, turning her grey eyes back to the wound to examine it, "I once loved a man above my station. When his family discovered us, he was disowned. He was ruined, forced into poverty. He killed himself out of sheer despair, and I came to the palace as my last resort."
Howl blinked, still staring at the strange girl. "Why are you telling me all this?" he asked. She met his gaze head-on once more.
"Because I don't want you to suffer," Adele explained, "So, therefore, I shall keep your secret, wizard Howl."
Gratefully, Howl seized the woman's hand and politely kissed her fingertips. She smiled again, laughing slightly.
"A prisoner and a gentleman," she remarked as she re-dressed his wound, "That's a new one."
And thus, Howl gained an ally. When returned to his normal cell, it was Adele who visited him each day to deliver his meals and make sure he was healing properly. She would kneel beside him, and tell him what was going on about the palace. Occasionally, she was even able to deliver messages from Sophie, which kept his hope up as the weeks dragged on.
Then, one day, Adele did not come. Howl was met by a gruff, impatient soldier who tossed an apple to him and departed without a word. Howl paced worriedly about the small room, wondering what had befallen the poor girl.
The next day he learned from a guard that Adele had been violently dismissed, as the Prince had suspected her of assisting the prisoner in plans of escape. In addition, he was punished for such suspected plans, and denied food for three days. He caught a glimpse of Adele from his window, as she was escorted through the front gates by a pair of guards. He prayed she had somewhere to go, and swore that the day he escaped, he would see to it that she was taken care of.
With the absence of his kind nurse, Howl's life became unbearable again. He not only had Sophie to worry for now, but Adele as well. He felt responsible for ruining both of their lives. Each day dragged on slower than the last, as the world continued to go about as usual outside his window.
One soldier, in particular, had been extremely fond of Adele. This soldier went out of his way each and every day to deliver some form of physical torment upon his helpless prisoner. Be it a swift kick in the side or a punch to the jaw, Howl had come to expect it whenever his door was opened.
Many times, a small mouse of bird would find it's way into his cell. For a few hours it would provide meager company. But the mice always scampered away eventually, and the birds always departed as well. A few managed escape, but the majority met the same fate as the first.
And sometimes, Howl would hear Sophie's voice just outside his door. He'd listen hopelessly as she argued with whatever guard was on duty, commanding to be allowed in. But whomever she was dealing with, they always answered that the prisoner was to be kept in complete isolation. These debates could last hours, but they always ended with Sophie being summoned away by the high and mighty Prince Turnip.
Then, she stopped coming altogether.
She was never seen on her balcony again, or out in the courtyard. The curtains were always drawn over the windows of her room now, so Howl was not permitted even a passing glance at the woman he so adored.
It was soon after this that he stopped eating. Only at times when he was in danger of passing out from hunger that he spared himself a few bites. Otherwise, anything he was brought was given up to the mice.
Days dragged on.
Howl stopped even looking out the window, knowing any hopes of seeing Sophie would only be dashed. Eventually he decided that there was no use setting himself up for disappointment every day.
Weeks.
The abuse from the guards continued. Howl lost the will to fight back. He would lie still as he was beaten, sometimes to the point where he started spitting up blood.
Months.
And then, the door was opened.
He was bound once more, the charm placed around his neck. Led like a dog, he was taken from the tower.
He was a broken shell of a man now. His eyes were sunken and emotionless, his skin chalky, marred by bruises. His clothing hung limply from his thin body. He stumbled often as he was taken away from the palace, essentially dragged to the outmost edge of the city. He kept his eyes down, not looking up at people he passed by. The only time he looked up was when he heard a familiar voice, and saw Adele watching him from where she was hanging clothes for a well-to-do family. She offered a sympathetic look, before disappearing as he was hauled away.
They took him far out into the Wastes, far beyond the city limits. When they put enough land behind them, they stopped. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as his chains were removed. One guard was reading from a piece of parchment, but Howl only caught bits and pieces of the words.
"Hereby banished..."
"...never to return..."
"...killed on sight, if seen again..."
"...by order of the Crown Prince Justin and his bride, Lady Sophie."
At the same time her name was uttered, the charm was lifted from around Howl's neck. He gasped loudly as all his former power surged into him once more. He was once again reminded that he would be killed on sight if ever seen again, but at that point he was ignoring them.
He flung his wings out broadly, shooting up into the air with a shout of rejoice.
The soldiers retreated frightfully as Howl spiraled through the air, taking in the full joy of having his freedom back. Flying had never felt so invigorating.
He was free.
And soon, he would free Sophie, as well.
