"Grab my hand," Howl whispered to them urgently. Markl complied without complaint, looking at Prue's hesitant face.
"Can I ask why?" She asked awkwardly, still looking at his outstretched hand. Howl opened his mouth to speak, but was beaten by Markl.
"Master Howl is going to transport us back home. It's too far to walk in the dark with all this stuff," Markl gestured to all the boxes and the basket. Prue looked at Howl again and he nodded quickly, moving his and Markl's hands towards her. She looked thoughtful for a moment, then hesitantly placed her palm on the back of his hand, curling her fingers so they were touching Markl's. Howl nodded, a little put out. Prue grasped the basket close to her side whilst revelling at the feel of his skin underneath hers. It didn't seem real to her, it was far too soft, they felt like women's hands. Howl looked in frustration at her hand resting on top of his. He longed to put his other hand on top of it, but it was holding all the boxed dresses to his side. He mumbled a spell rapidly, insuring that their sudden disappearance wasn't seen by the people on the pier, and then got onto the main spell. Markl looked at Prue excitedly, as if something largely anticipated was going to happen. She smirked back at him and looked back at Howl, who was glaring at their hands and then behind the bench anxiously. She blinked, and they disappeared. Her eyes widened in terror as she was enveloped in a bright white light. It was as if all her senses had been pulled out from beneath her feet and she was tumbling, tumbling into this bright white abyss. She tried to put her hands in front of her face so she could see them, there was nothing there, she was gone…she didn't even exist. She cried out in fear, non-existent tears running down her non-existent face. Out of nowhere, something grabbed the wrist that wasn't there very hard. She gasped in pain as she fell hard on a floor that instantly appeared before her. She curled into a ball, trying to capture the breath that had been knocked from her lungs. She heard something stir next her. Howl was on his knees, panting heavily with the boxes tossed all around the immediately familiar living room of the castle. All of their ribbons had gone. An orange rolled past her face from the basket not so very far away from her.
"Damn it!" Howl shouted, making her jump. He turned on her his eyes blazing. "Why the hell did you let go?!" She looked at him reproachfully.
"You didn't specify what was going to happen when you all of a sudden, launched into this transportation," Prue said angrily, trying to get up. She fell back down again, there was no strength in her at all. She felt small hands on her arms.
"Prue?" Markl asked cautiously. She put her hand on top of one of his, trying to breathe. Howl stared at her, his eyes desperate.
"I…," he began breathlessly. "I…nearly…lost you…" He looked at her for a few moments, relishing the precious face he had nearly let slip into the void. Prue tentatively watched his pained expression as he tried to catch his breath, glaring at the floorboards beneath his hands. She struggled for a moment and lifted her hand off Markl's. She touched Howl's fingers delicately and closed her eyes, not wanting to see his expression.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. Howl flinched for a moment, and then softened at her touch. He held her hand hard and brushed his lips across her fingertips.
"Forgive me," he whispered, before collapsing onto the floor beside her. Prue's eyes shot open as he thudded, unconscious, on the floor beside her. He still held her hand tightly. Her eyes scanned his face desperately. She used all her strength to crawl closer to him, just to make sure he was breathing. Sure enough, she heard and felt his breath flowing strongly. She sighed with relief before passing out herself. He still held her hand, and the tip of his nose barely touched her forehead.
CALCIFER
The stupid fool. I can't believe he did something so idiotic. I tried vainly to see over the couch to see what they were doing. I huffed in anxiety, sending out sparks with my scalding breath. Markl stood up and I looked up at him expectantly. He paused for a minute before answering.
"They're both sleeping," he said quietly. "I've never seen Howl so tired." I huffed.
"He should have told her about what would happen if she let go, the…the…" I failed to come up with a good enough word. Markl came round the couch and sat down heavily on it.
"I thought she was gone forever, she just disappeared…We nearly lost her…I was so scared Calcifer." He sniffed and I looked back at him. I could see he loved the Princess even after a few days. My expression softened slightly, then he smiled.
"Howl lost almost all the ribbons in the void," he said cheerfully. "But at least we have all the food. Oh! I'll get you your fish Calcifer, she got a wood smoked one especially." I grinned at him. As he got up to go over to the basket, I glimpsed the corner of Howl's foot. I glared at it, I wished it would burst into flames. Why did he travel through the void? Why the most dangerous. He must have wanted to get away, get away fast. What had he seen that was such a threat to them? I brooded darkly until Markl shoved the fish into my face.