Chapter Twenty-One: Winter's Warning

"There are clouds gathering in the east."

Sophie glanced to Howl, who was staring worriedly out the window. He was swathed in a dark blanket that went down to his ankles, looking oddly like a lost child.

"So?"

He spoke without tearing his eyes from the window. "They're headed this way. Might be nothing, but I can't be sure."

She immediately felt his concern, realizing what he meant.

Snow.

Sophie's anxiety rose, but she resolved to stay calm. "I doubt it's cold enough yet for snow, Howl." Her words were more for her own nerves than his, though she dreaded the idea of an anxious Howl.

He muttered a curse under his breath, his eyes flickering to her for a moment. "It could be bad, Sophie," he said, gnawing slightly on his lower lip. "I'm weak – I wouldn't be able to hold off the manticore for long."

"You're fine," she insisted. "Since when has a simple cold kept you from working magic?" The memories of his messy sickness before were still present, but she doubted he'd be the same. At that time, there were no pressing dangers. Now, there were, to say the least.

Rose came up behind them, a steaming mug of tea cupped in her hands. She held it out to Howl, who eagerly grabbed it, a question in her eyes.

"You look worried."

Sophie sighed. "It's nothing, Rose. I—"

"There might be snow on the way," Howl interjected, earning himself a withering look from Sophie.

Rose followed his gaze out the window, eyes instantly fixing upon the stirring dark mass of clouds to the east.

"It's only November," she said consolingly, "I don't think it would actually snow…" She trailed off, doubt written across her face.

"There's a chance, though," Howl stated gravely, though his serious words were made almost comical by the loud sniffle that followed.

Certainly he would think he looked "utterly disheveled", though Sophie would have to disagree. The only evidence of his illness was a slight redness to his face, and of course the loud sniffs he gave every ten seconds or so.

Sophie groaned inwardly. Both Howl and Rose seemed awfully serious. It wasn't going to improve her mood; if anything, it would make her feel even more hopeless.

"It's off quite a ways," she pointed out hopefully. "If it's even coming this way, it won't hit for another couple of hours. Isn't that time enough to draw up a plan?"

Howl shrugged. "Well, normally, yes. But in my current state…" He sniveled pathetically.

Sophie rolled her eyes at him. "In your current state, you'll be just the same, trust me. In the meanwhile, as I see no point in wasting around, waiting for the snow to come, I'm heading out."

Howl's head jerked up, his eyes flashing. "You can't leave!"

"And why is that?"

"If it does snow, and you're out by yourself, you won't stand a chance."

Sophie bristled, crossing her arms over her chest. "You think I'm that useless?"

Howl looked exasperated. "No, I—Anyways, you probably shouldn't be walking anywhere. I don't want you to strain yourself."

"That's ridiculous," Sophie retorted, though she had to admit that walking—waddling, more like—was getting to be quite a pain.

"Please—just stay, alright?" Howl pleaded, looking earnestly concerned for her.

And, because of Sophie's complete and utter firmness of character, she agreed to stay in the castle.

"I'd meant to pay Mrs. Fairfax a visit, though," she remarked, seating herself at the couch in front of the fireplace. Calcifer gave her a measuring look.

"You don't seem worried."

She heaved out a sigh. "You think so?" She leaned back, letting her head sink into the plush pillows. "What a relief."

"Ah, so you're truly anxious," Calcifer said intuitively.

Sophie nodded slowly, not allowing herself to glance around for Howl. He was probably digging around for any useful spells, along with Rose.

"I'm not ready for this," she said quietly, letting the words slip from her lips. "I know Howl and Rose are worried for me, but they just can't understand…Well, maybe Howl can—it's his child, after all, and I…I don't know, Calcifer. When it all comes down to it, I'm really just scared."

"I'm not very good at therapy, Sophie…"

She chuckled lightly, allowing a small smile to form on her face. "That's all right; I'm not expecting counseling." She sat up slowly. "Do you think we're in danger?"

There was silence for a moment, before Calcifer spoke, voice crackly, "Aren't we always?"

Sophie gave him a sharp look for the non-answer.

"To be honest, I'm not sure," the fire demon said grudgingly. "The clouds are too far away to tell. There's a possibility, though. Once night falls, it's even more likely."

Sophie glanced to the window. The sun was beginning its descent.

She stood up. "Well, I suppose we'll just have to hope for the best."

…

Raindrops pounded against the roof, jolting Sophie from her sleep. She glanced to the window, muttering a curse when she remembered it looked out on Wales, not Ingary. To make matters worse, the rain wasn't from there—from what little she could see in the darkness, it was a clear night in Wales.

So the clouds had come to Market Chipping. Sophie couldn't help but feel a sinking in her heart; some part of her had been holding on to the hope that the night would remain clear, cloudless.

On the positive hand, it was only rain—fat, heavy drops that plopped loudly onto the roof. But who knew if it would stay rain? It was borderline frigid in the bedroom. It would take only a slight dip in the temperature outside for snow to form.

And then what?

Would the manticore appear out of thin air, demanding for her baby? Or would it come running from the Waste, and wait, like a sentinel of death, at the castle door? Which would be more terrifying? She doubted the manticore would wait for her to come to it, and there was sure to be no running away. Where was there to go, anyway? The manticore would find her, wherever she went.

Howl stirred in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible.

Sophie sighed lightly, gazing at him for a moment. He looked so peaceful, so unlike how he was while awake. The worried creases on his forehead had vanished, his anxious expression replaced with a calm one, his mouth curved slightly upward.

"I'm sorry, Howl," she whispered. "If it weren't for me, none of this would be around to worry you."

His eyes opened, nearly causing her to jump. He smiled tiredly at her.

"Don't apologize," he said softly. He looked up at the ceiling, as if visualizing the rain above them. "If anything, it's my fault. I should've known this would happen."

"It hasn't happened yet, really."

He smiled. Despite the darkness in the room, Howl's eyes sparkled with a light of their own. "That's true, Sophie. I'm glad someone is here to keep me from drowning in my own despair."

She laughed at his melodramatic tone. "I'll always be there to pull you up."

"I know."

She snuggled in closer to him, relishing the heat he gave off.

"It's freezing in here," she muttered, nestling her head into the crook of his neck. The feel of his chest moving steadily up and down soothed her jangled nerves.

"I know," he said. "But the bed's nice and warm."

They smiled, and lay in companionable silence for a moment. The pounding of the raindrops on the roof was a steady tattoo, and an ominous reminder of the danger they were in. It filled the silence of the room.

"I love you, Howl," she said suddenly. "So much. I just want you to know that, in case the worst happens."

"As do I," he responded, an obvious smile in his voice. "So much that it's almost too much to bear, sometimes."

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying not to sound hurt.

"I can't stand the idea of your suffering, your pain. It's difficult, having a heart in sync with someone. In some ways, it makes you weak. You're suddenly experiencing another's emotions—another's sadness, another's grief.

"But in other ways, it makes you stronger. Now that I have you, I'm never alone. I have a reason to keep moving forward, even when I'm not sure where to go. And nothing is better than sharing your happiness, your triumphs, your love."

Sophie was speechless. An "I love you too" was as much as she'd expected from Howl. He'd never been one for grand speeches, except at unexpected times—like now, or when he spoke as they flew with the wind back to the castle, after escaping the Waste.

"We'll get through this, I promise you," he said, staring up at the ceiling still.

"Of course we will," Sophie agreed firmly, actually believing her tone of confidence. "We're Howl and Sophie Pendragon, wizard and part-time sorceress, respectively."

Greetings!

I actually feel really happy with this chapter :3 HUZZAH!

Though, I'm wondering, was some of that too sappy/lame? I'm not sure...hmmmmm

ANYWHOWHATWHENWHEREWHYHOW

I know you'll all be uber-disappointed and heartbroken (that's called sarcasm, my dear children) to hear that this story is finally drawing to a close.

Of course, we haven't exactly reached the climax yet, BUT it's soon. I've got about 3 more chapters to go! Yuss!

I'm also working on a really creepy, cracky fic. It's a No.6/Pokemon crossover. /facepalm I know it's weird ok. I might publish that, once I've finished it.

Mehhh this note is long. Sorry! Well, until next time you awesome people!