Flowers in the Window
Nicole Adamantine
2003
Dedicated to all those fierce hearts who keep wishing and hoping,
May you find your destiny as pleasant as the journey to reach it.
Table of Contents
Chapter One In Which Morning Comes in a Mad House or Rather Castle
Chapter Two In Which Howl Finds a New Apprentice
Chapter Three In Which Sophie Becomes an Aunt
Chapter Four In Which Sophie Changes and a Bookshop Never Ends
Chapter Five In Which Howl Saves and Takes Sophie Shopping
Chapter Six In Which Someone Proposes and Someone Else Leaves
Chapter Seven In Which Howl Does Nothing
Chapter Eight In Which Sophie Finds Her Fortune
Chapter Nine In Which Destiny Leads One Nowhere
Chapter Ten In Which We Find an Ending Most Surprising
DISCLAIMER:
None of the characters, settings, and ideas belongs to Nicole Adamantine. Since this opus is termed in the category of fanfiction, the author claims nothing but Tom the Innkeeper in all his sweetness, Marina Jenkins and her hairbrushes of Doom, the other characters who though unrecognisable are not really minor, and the thing that slightly resembles a plot. Everything else was taken from the excellent works of writer Diana Wynne Jones. The material and other allusions/references were taken from the following books- Howl's Moving Castle, Charmed Life, Dogsbody, and several musical scores. The author of this piece thought the title was completely hers but she was wrong. It is actually one of Travis' songs. She begs pardon and mercy for any grammatical errors and the many plot holes. Have pity, she's still a struggling student, not to mention quite bankrupt. Please don't sue. Thank you and enjoy as much as you can, the quite unnecessary supplement to the marvellous Howl's Moving Castle. Continue at your own risk.
Chapter One: In Which Morning Comes in a Mad House, or Rather CastleSophie Hatter opened her eyes and winced as the bright morning light almost blinded her. Throwing the quilted covers over her head, she tried to get a few more minutes of sleep. However, in the moving castle belonging to one extremely eccentric wizard, such a simple action was most impossible. Already the fire was crackling and a voice was hissing for more wood and breakfast. She could hear the everyday noises of one waking up in the upstairs room.
Strange, she wondered vaguely, my little cupboard under the stairs seems quite different. It was larger, possibly.
And it was. A wall seemed to have grown overnight and an oak door too. The closet was no longer a cupboard but a room, albeit a small one. Then in a flash, Sophie remembered. It was coming back to her now, the hazy cloud that enveloped her mind began to disappear, fading away as the sun rose higher into the sky. There had been a battle in a desert palace, a ride on a gusting wind, and a black lump back where it belonged. She dredged up thoughts of a grand party and a certain pair of green eyes, no longer glassy but fervent. The Wizard Howl finally vanquished that horrible wicked Witch of the Waste.
Sophie realized that any notion of sweet slumber had fled and there was no reason to stay in bed any longer. Washing her face, she noticed the misty reflection in the mirror. It was the pleasant face of the eighteen year-old hat maker in Market Chipping and no longer the wrinkly visage of the Sorcerer Jenkins' housekeeper. Smiling, Sophie was glad that an old heavy burden had been lifted from her in more ways than one. Standing straight in her simple frock, she decided to let her red-gold hair fall in waves down her back instead of tied up in a knot. It was honestly quite wonderful to be young again.
She did not feel so delighted when she saw the state of the castle's main chamber. On her way to the bathroom she had not notice the amount of damage caused by last night's celebration, being half asleep and moving on automatic, as Howl would say. Dirty pots and pans were piled high into the sink; the dusty floor was covered in spills, paper and the odd chicken bone. Fetching a broom and her trusty mop, Sophie began to clean up the outrageous mess. She looked at the silent grate and supposed Calcifer the fire demon had given up shouting and had gone to find his own logs. As she swept up the dust, she slipped into her habit of talking to herself. A talent that sometimes helped, and sometimes made things worse.
'The sad part about all the celebrating is that it must end sometime then the tidying up would begin, don't you think?' Nothing answered and she shrugged, smiling.
Sophie worked her way around the room, often telling the inanimate objects to hurry up, become shinier, cleaner, or spiffier. Before she knew it what would have taken perhaps a whole day was over in five minutes. She had told the mop to absorb a bit more of the mess and the pots and dishes to soap themselves up for once. After she had polished the floor, she saw that the whole room was sparkling. Sophie grinned, wondering whether it was time to find a professor of Magic. After all, she had to learn how to control her magic.
'But it would most definitely not be Howl!' she said under her breath, preparing the typical breakfast of bacon and eggs.
'Why not? I am the best magician around here.' a voice protested from behind her.
Sophie nearly dropped an egg as she turned quickly around. A cheerful Wizard Pendragon stood near the broom closet. He looked younger, much younger than his seven-and-twenty years. Oh horrors! He wasn't dressed in his blue-and-silver or black-and-scarlet suit but clothes like the ones he wore in Wales. Sophie almost fainted when she noticed that he hadn't even combed his hair, how unHowl-like! Was there something wrong with him? An after-effect of last night maybe?
'Why are you goggling, Mrs Nose? Have I said something wrong?' he exclaimed unaffectedly. Howl took a seat at the kitchen table and tilted his doubtfully blond head. 'Come on, Sophie. It's me, Howl Jenkins, wizard extraordinaire, your handsome employer?'
Sophie was immediately brought out of her wonderment and glared fiercely. This only caused Howell Jenkins also known as Sorcerer Jenkins, Wizard Pendragon or just plain Howl, to become even more cheery. After all there wasn't anything more fun than teasing his cleaning lady/housekeeper/sort of friend. Sophie promptly decided to ignore him and continued cooking. But that did not stop Howl who seemed to be very talkative this morning.
'So what are you whipping up? Eggs? How are you going to fry it if Calcifer's not here? I am definitely not eating anything raw or remotely alive. Well, I might eat sushi. Do you have sushi here? We have it back in my world. Do you even know what sushi is?'
Still she did not reply. He continued, 'I say, your sister Martha seems to be quite lovely perhaps even more than Lettie if that's possible. Do you think she'd like if I called-'
He was cut off by Sophie wielding the pan over his head, which was a very frightening position indeed. Yet this did not stop Howl from grinning wickedly from ear to ear. This was the reaction he wanted, they both knew he had won. She gave an exasperated sigh and sat on the chair across him. The frying pan lay forgotten near the fireplace. Sophie looked crossly at him.
'Morning, Howl you absolutely horrid vain little boy.'
'Good morning, Sophie you irritating cleaning maniac! Don't be mad. I was only joking about Martha, besides Michael is quite in love with her. Why would I do such a thing to a very helpful apprentice though he hides my money from me?' he replied merrily.
When Sophie asked how did he know that, Howl retorted that he wasn't an enchanter for nothing. They spent a few minutes chatting or rather betting on the reactions of the populace on return of Prince Justin and Wizard. Howl was promising to stay in the bathroom for no longer than five minutes a day if Michael did not ask Martha to marry him before Tuesday next month when a great swishing noise came from the hearth.
It was Calcifer. Most definitely him, with his flaming blue and purple self smiling evilly from the fireplace. He had a look on his face as he watched them both that Sophie did not like at all. He roared gently, demanding why had she not come down a while ago. She did not need to say anything because Howl answered for her.
'Don't be ridiculous, fire demon. I thought you were on your own now? You have no need for us filthy humans?' he joked.
The flickering flames in the hearth glowered at him but it was an unspoken fact that Calcifer was welcome any time in the castle. Howl was only baiting the demon just like he did with everyone. Sophie laughed at the both of them as they tried to stare each other down. They did not get mad but only smiled before returning to their staring contest. Minutes later, Sophie decided to end the puerile game and told Calcifer to bend his head so she could cook. The eye-to-eye contact was broken and an I-won-no-I-did argument ensued.
The three just finished breakfast when Howl looked at the clock over the stairs. He remarked that it was almost eleven and Michael still did not come down. Sophie looked worried and without a word, they went up the stairs. As they reached the door, Howl knocked sharply. There was no answer. Twice more he knocked before he opened the door. Sophie shivered, the room was freezing and the windows were banging in the cold March wind.
'Michael? Michael, are you in here?' she said frantically. A low groan came from the bed and the two rushed towards the bundle of white blankets. Howl tore the sheets away, revealing a shaking sixteen year-old in blue pyjamas. The boy looked absolutely awful, his usually neat hair was unkempt and his eyes were red-rimmed. Sophie put her hand to his forehead and noticed that his teeth were chattering. He was so cold and blue. She glanced at Howl who was muttering an incantation.
'Calcifer, Calcifer! Get Michael's room heated up quickly! Miss Angorian seems to have left us a goodbye present!' he yelled.
They spent the rest of the day trying to cure poor Michael's ailment. They took him to Howl's room, which thanks to the valiant efforts of Mrs Fairfax and Fanny was spotless. As Sophie pressed a warm cloth carefully around Michael's face and put hot water bottles under the covers, Calcifer disenchanted the charms in Michael's room and Howl tried to discover what was plaguing the boy.
It was almost dusk when the chamber warmed up and Michael had returned to normal temperature. He slept peacefully on the four-poster bed while his friends rested and sipped raspberry tea. Howl tossed the fire demon another log before turning to Sophie.
'What I don't understand is why Michael? I doubt he has ever done anything to her!' Sophie said sadly.
'Yes, I was wondering about that too. The curse was concentrated inside the chamber itself. Any person who slept in there would freeze to death without knowing it. It was a good thing we got Michael out.' Wizard Pendragon commented.
'I suppose she must have cursed the room before slipping into the guitar and waiting for howl to return.' Sophie added, ashamed as she remembered that it was she who let the Witch of the Waste's fire demon inside the castle.
'Ms Angorian probably thought it was your room. It certainly was cleaner and more of an enchanter's chamber than your own. She was here before, you know.' Calcifer snorted from the hearth. Howl gave an angry groan but agreed on the truth of the statement.
Before anyone could say anything else, short rapping noises came from the door. 'Market Chipping,' remarked Calcifer. Sophie got up and turned the knob. She was pushed aside as the door slammed open fiercely. A very hysterical Martha Hatter ran in, tears falling from her face.
'Michael, what has happened to Michael? I dreamed something horrible must happened! Michael, so chilly, oh where is he?" She cried, bursting into heart-wrenching sobs. Sophie embraced her sister and tried to console her.. As Martha grew calmer, Howl led them into his room where the boy was. At the sight of him lying like dead, Martha ran to his side. She took Michael's hand in hers and whispered for him to return to her.
Howl and Sophie stood at the entrance, watching the scene play before their eyes. Sophie never knew that Martha had loved Michael this much, never even entertained the thought. She glanced at Howl who had a strange pensive look on his face. He paused and taking Sophie by the elbow ushered her out. Then he closed the door.