( 3 Months past )

With Howl knowing where Sophie is, he is determined to find a way in, any way, he has been tracking the ship hoping not to lose it but the real problem was how to get past the shield. He had learnt from previous studies that every shield as a weak spot, but where was the weak spot on this shield, Anya had been helping by flying round the ship, she could get in because she wasn't Howl, maybe she could drop the shield, but Howl didn't want to risk it, she could be killed. Madame Suliman was always smart with shields and usually got what she wanted, except when Howl wouldn't join in the war. Howl spent most of his time in his room looking at different spells to create a shield or thinking abut Sophie, was she really alright, he was missing her every day and every night, Howl's head was beginning to hurt and he was going mad, if Sophie died he would never be whole again, but that is what Madame Suliman wants, to break him. He was never going to let that happen, he was going to find Sophie alive and be there when his child is born, he didn't care if he had to kill, which he would never do, he would do anything for Sophie, be anything, just to be with her. Howl heard a knock at the door which made him jump, "come in" he said, the door opened to find Markl, he came in the room,

"having any luck" Markl said, Howl shook his head,

"no, I'm looking at different shields but none of them are like the one I felt, these are all shields that can either be broken after an attack or ones that last only for a hour, this one is on 24/7 and I just don't get it"

"maybe there are other shields" Howl looked at Markl, "you know, ancient kind, these are all modern, and you know Madame Suliman has always had a connection with the ancients" Howl nodded. He got off of his bed towards a pile of books,

"Markl" Markl stood up straight like he was ready to take orders "look at every book in this house, find something to do with the ancients, I remember I had a book when I was small but I have completely forgotten what it looks like or where I have put it"

"yessir" shouted Markl before running out of the room. He ran down stairs to the table where books had been piles, Markl saw the mess and sighed, "this is why we have Sophie" and began picking up a book one by one, reading the content to see if there was anything, the pile was huge and it would take at least a year, "well, better start reading." Calcifer was behind him trying to see what Markl was doing, he changed into his ball of light and zoomed round the room trying to see what all the reading was about,

"what you doing, what you doing, what you doing?" Calcifer chanted, Markl sighed and closed the book with a slam making Calcifer stop.

"I'm currently trying to find a book about the ancient, maybe you know where it is" Markl said, Calcifer went back to his fireplace and pulled a thinking face,

"I remember Howl had one when he was a child but I haven't seen it since" he said, Markl sighed then turned back to the books. Upstairs in Howl's room he was also looking over his books,

"how many books do we have in this castle anyway" he wondered, it was a good point, books were flying everywhere making his room more of a mess than it already was, there was nothing on the ancients, "where is it?" he shouted, what was he going to do, without that book, Sophie had no chance of survival.

Sophie was beginning to trust Sen, when ever her stomach hurt, he was there, he told her that he was he big brother and would always be there to help, it made her smile, the first smile in months. Sophie had barely gotten any sleep, the child was due in 4 months, which made Sophie scares, and her belly was really starting to grow and the baby had been kicking a lot, was this really what being pregnant is like. While Sophie and Sen were taking, Madame Suliman made he first visit in the last 2 months, "how is the child?" she said, Sophie looked away from the witch,

"fine no thanks to you" Sen smiled at Sophie's attitude then went into his role as her Dr and got behind Madame Suliman, Sophie understood, Suliman began to walk closer to Sophie, Sophie did't move a muscle, she wasn't scared of Suliman.

"You just remember that that child belongs to me" she said grabbing her chin with her long fingers, Sophie slapped them away,

"you will not touch this child, I will make sure of that" Sophie said glaring at Madame Suliman, the witch was the desperation in Sophie's eyes and smiled,

"we'll see" and she walked out of the room, Sen followed her but pulled a thumbs up to Sophie before closing and locking the door. Sophie knew she had to stay calm,

"oh Howl, where are you? I need you" she said and burst into tears, at this rate both Sophie and the child were already dead.

Howl had literally turned his whole room upside down and Markl had recked the kitchen, there was no sign of the book, even the witch had joined in trying to find it, they looked everywhere, Howl even went to the field to see if it was in the cottage but still nothing, he wasn't giving up hope, he knew there was still time and by god he wasn't going to give up on Sophie just like that he was going to fight for her even if it meant her living and him dying, she meant everything to him and now that she was pregnant he was determined to get her back. He knew he had about 4 months left and was starting worry, to think out it, Howl doesn't have much time, if he finds the book, the shield could take a long time to take down and Howl hasn't got a clue where it is, the cottage has been searched, his room has been turned upside down, the kitchen is a reck and the witch is still looking. Markl suddenly came charging through the door, "have you found it?" shouted Howl,

"I was about to ask you the same thing" he said, Howl fell back onto his bed and covered his eyes,

"what am I going to do Markl, without the book Sophie has no hope, god, why does Madame Suliman have to get my family into this mess, why does she connect with the ancients, why, why, why?" Howl said, Markl sighed and walked over to him,

"don't you dare lose hope Howl, remember you made me a promise to protect her and I just know you will" he said, Howl looked at Markl and smiled,

"you're right but I can't protect her without that book" he said, Markl looked down and became depressed,

"I'll got look in my room then" Markl said slouching out of the room, Howl laughed, was his room that bad.

Sophie is still in trouble, without that book she is dead, and is Markl's room really that bad. I'm still waiting for reviews, I get lonely you know and reviews make me happy, a happy writer equals a great story.

I said I would update tonight, aren't I a great person, not keeping you waiting,

Well until next time

Bye