Chapter Three: In Which Sophie Becomes An Aunt
They had gone through a dark swirling nothingness and arrived where they had the last time they went to Howl's world. Sophie saw that she was dressed very peculiarly in a pleated skirt with a very ruffled yellow blouse. Her long hair was a tottering pile, barely balanced on her head. She felt more than a bit uncomfortable on the high-heeled shoes and had a feeling that Howl had intentionally costumed her like a clown. She glanced suspiciously at him. He was wearing a smart blue suit and looked very respectably business-like especially with no jewel hanging from his ear.
It was midmorning and yet hardly anyone was around. Howl beckoned Sophie to follow him as they went towards the house named RIVENDELL. He knocked sharply twice before opening the door. Out of the hallway, his sister appeared with a very distasteful expression on her face. Megan Parry told her delinquent brother that he was late.
To which he only replied, 'Last time I checked, it was quite fashionable to be so.' Megan gave an annoyed sigh and led them to a rather spacious dining hall where a group of people were milling about and chatting. It seemed like there had been a party the night before and it had only ended a little while ago. As Howl went around, several people raised their hands in greeting.
'Tardy as usual, Howell?' chuckled one while another retorted, 'That Jenkins, always needing to enter with a bang.'
'Hallo there, Jenkins!' said a dark man who Sophie identified as Gareth Parry. 'Missed out the pre-wedding bash!'
'Sorry, I've been working rather hard lately.' The room snorted collectively and Sophie laughed. She was then glowered at by her wizardly companion. She did not give him the luxury of a glorious glare though it was tempting. Howl then remembered his manners and introduced her. 'Oh, this is Sophie Hatter. She's one of my novices, learning the basics.' A lady near the windows commented contemptuously, 'Oh really? Just that? Can't believe that Mr Jenkins actually works!'
'Honestly, Louisa, must you always dwell on the fact I jilted you? Get over yourself. Let sleeping dogs lie as they say. Anyhow, where is Marina?' he said gruffly before pointedly ignoring the woman again.
A tinkling voice said, 'Right here, Howell. Happy to see me?' Sophie turned and saw that it was a very beautiful young woman standing near the stairs. She had dark black hair and marvellously green eyes. Sophie noticed the way she said 'Howell' was different from the others, pronounced almost the same as 'Howl' Said fellow grinned and moved to give Marina a kiss. Sophie felt her cheeks go red and a hateful emotion shoot up her spine.
'Congratulations, dear bride-to-be! How have you been, my darling little sister?' Howl chirped while close by in her seat, Sophie paled. Botheration, she thought intensely, she is Howl's sister! Now that she considered it, they had the same features. She soon drifted back into some other fantasy land where her dreams were hazy and not understandable. Then hearing her name, Sophie glanced up. Howl seemed to be telling the young woman about her. Though she noticed that Marina looked at her strangely, she forced a smile.
After a while she walked slowly out of the room to try and find some way out of Wales. It was stifling her and Sophie felt that she would go mad in that sort of environment. Somehow she found herself in the pink-and-green passage and wandering into a white-and-yellow carpeted room from a few months past. She snapped herself back to reality when a small piping voice spoke.
'Who are you, pretty lady, and where do you come from?' Sophie looked down and saw it was Howl's niece.
'Why-oh, my name is Sophie. You're Mari, right?' The girl nodded sweetly and said something that surprised Sophie very much.
'Yes, I remember. You were here before with uncle Howell except you were very old. I wonder how you did that.'
'Magic, don't you know?' replied Sophie jokingly. 'Why are you still in bed? The sun rose many hours ago.' She sat on the edge of the bed where Mari was snuggled up. The child made space and gazed at her with chin in her hands.
'Because Mama told me to stay here until she called. Aunt Marina is having her party. She is getting married to Uncle Cat, but I suppose he isn't my uncle yet-' and Mari went on and on. Sophie was amazed how such a small girl could talk for so long and with great detail. Perhaps the charming way of speech was a hereditary trait?
'-But I am not very sure why. Can you not give me a story? Uncle Howell always tells me one. He makes most wonderful ones though Mama says they are too ridiculous. Besides you haven't answered my other question!' Mari beamed and Sophie was very sure that the way they got what they wanted was a Jenkins characteristic.
'Well, I come from the Land of Ingary, so very far away. You need to pass an enchanted portal to get there and when you do, you will arrive in the middle of a castle. The strangest thing is that this castle moves and in this place, a wizard lives. This sorcerer is the most careless, selfish, lying, bratty one that ever strode the earth. This certain wizard loved to take young girls' hearts and steal souls...'
Sophie was not sure how long she told Mari stories that were really not stories at all. It was, however, much more fun than being downstairs, a stranger in a sea of people. She was amused with the questions the small girl asked. Why did the enchanter have to bargain with a fire demon? Isn't that the silliest thing? I suppose, the girl who became the ancient lady was sort of like you then? How nasty that wizard fellow was being!
She enjoyed listening to Mari too. The child spoke relentlessly of the evils of her brother, (Why couldn't the Witch of the Waste scrambled his body up instead!) chores, and the magnificence of Uncle Howell who she clearly adored. This happened after Sophie had run out of things to say and her throat was feeling parched. She gigged when she heard about the time when Howl had apparently tripped and dropped a vat of paint on Megan as they made Mari's school project. However, Sophie was soon to be violently shocked.
'You are so much nicer and lovelier than all the other ladies that Uncle Howell has brought home. Are you getting married soon?'
'I certainly hope not, for your sake and mine.' a low hammering voice said from the passage. Sophie who was blushing fiercer than she ever did and about to protest, spun around and saw the lady from the windows. Louisa, wasn't it? She narrowed her eyes and was about to tell her to mind her own business when Mari retorted from the pillows,
'Why not? She is absolutely fantastic, better than you, Louisa Pizza. I think I shall call her Aunt Sophie. I may, right Aunt Sophie?' Sophie did not answer but got up from the bed. Feeling that a major predicament was approaching, she wanted to spare Mari from it. Louisa uttered a soft yet menacing growl. 'Shut up, you tiny brat. You don't know what you're babbling about.'
That certainly made Sophie's blood boil. The nerve of this Louisa person! Just wait till the niece tells her uncle! But Howell Jenkins was nowhere in sight and it seemed that it was up to her to settle this or at least postpone it for some other time. Sophie raised a delicate eyebrow and stated very loftily,
'And I suppose you do, Madame Pizza? Rather pretentious of you to even be here. Depressed, demented? Don't take it out on the six-year old, dear woman.' With that she shut the door on Louisa's face and latched it. She went to Mari and told her to change out of her nightgown. Lounging around in bed was no good for anyone. They were going downstairs for some breakfast.
By the time Sophie successfully dragged a reluctant Mari off the bed and changed into a simple fresh blue dress, they went down the stairs. Mari was chattering about all the objects that lay everywhere. (That came from Australia, my Daddy says it is very hot there. This is a Mexican sombrero which is a hat. That is like this except it is purple elephant-ed...) Luckily, there was no sign of that horrid woman. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, they saw that most of the people had gone to the next room. Sophie asked where they ought to go now. Mari led her through a door and into a bright garden filled with white and yellow flowers. They sat on the swing set which she had so often espied from Howl's bedroom window.
'Hmmm... when is breakfast?' asked Mari. She was answered with an I-don't- know. They stayed there for a while, gazing at the butterflies that flitted to and fro. Yes, what exactly are we waiting for? What was am I waiting for? Wondered Sophie. Mari decided to show her how to play hopscotch. But before Sophie could take her turn, a tall figure in a flowing white long- sleeved shirt and black trousers came marching towards them. It was Howl. Sophie marvelled at the way and speed he had changed his outfit. It was very... unexplainable.
'Mari! Sophie! What are the both of you doing out here?' he shouted, smiling. Mari ran towards him, speaking rapidly in that foreign language of theirs. Sophie followed, unnaturally demure. Howl gave her a grin and just as Mari's beam did, she was mollified. She slapped herself mentally and told him their problem.
'Hungry, are you? Why didn't you come down earlier then? Silly cariads.' he laughed and took them back inside the house.
They had gone through a dark swirling nothingness and arrived where they had the last time they went to Howl's world. Sophie saw that she was dressed very peculiarly in a pleated skirt with a very ruffled yellow blouse. Her long hair was a tottering pile, barely balanced on her head. She felt more than a bit uncomfortable on the high-heeled shoes and had a feeling that Howl had intentionally costumed her like a clown. She glanced suspiciously at him. He was wearing a smart blue suit and looked very respectably business-like especially with no jewel hanging from his ear.
It was midmorning and yet hardly anyone was around. Howl beckoned Sophie to follow him as they went towards the house named RIVENDELL. He knocked sharply twice before opening the door. Out of the hallway, his sister appeared with a very distasteful expression on her face. Megan Parry told her delinquent brother that he was late.
To which he only replied, 'Last time I checked, it was quite fashionable to be so.' Megan gave an annoyed sigh and led them to a rather spacious dining hall where a group of people were milling about and chatting. It seemed like there had been a party the night before and it had only ended a little while ago. As Howl went around, several people raised their hands in greeting.
'Tardy as usual, Howell?' chuckled one while another retorted, 'That Jenkins, always needing to enter with a bang.'
'Hallo there, Jenkins!' said a dark man who Sophie identified as Gareth Parry. 'Missed out the pre-wedding bash!'
'Sorry, I've been working rather hard lately.' The room snorted collectively and Sophie laughed. She was then glowered at by her wizardly companion. She did not give him the luxury of a glorious glare though it was tempting. Howl then remembered his manners and introduced her. 'Oh, this is Sophie Hatter. She's one of my novices, learning the basics.' A lady near the windows commented contemptuously, 'Oh really? Just that? Can't believe that Mr Jenkins actually works!'
'Honestly, Louisa, must you always dwell on the fact I jilted you? Get over yourself. Let sleeping dogs lie as they say. Anyhow, where is Marina?' he said gruffly before pointedly ignoring the woman again.
A tinkling voice said, 'Right here, Howell. Happy to see me?' Sophie turned and saw that it was a very beautiful young woman standing near the stairs. She had dark black hair and marvellously green eyes. Sophie noticed the way she said 'Howell' was different from the others, pronounced almost the same as 'Howl' Said fellow grinned and moved to give Marina a kiss. Sophie felt her cheeks go red and a hateful emotion shoot up her spine.
'Congratulations, dear bride-to-be! How have you been, my darling little sister?' Howl chirped while close by in her seat, Sophie paled. Botheration, she thought intensely, she is Howl's sister! Now that she considered it, they had the same features. She soon drifted back into some other fantasy land where her dreams were hazy and not understandable. Then hearing her name, Sophie glanced up. Howl seemed to be telling the young woman about her. Though she noticed that Marina looked at her strangely, she forced a smile.
After a while she walked slowly out of the room to try and find some way out of Wales. It was stifling her and Sophie felt that she would go mad in that sort of environment. Somehow she found herself in the pink-and-green passage and wandering into a white-and-yellow carpeted room from a few months past. She snapped herself back to reality when a small piping voice spoke.
'Who are you, pretty lady, and where do you come from?' Sophie looked down and saw it was Howl's niece.
'Why-oh, my name is Sophie. You're Mari, right?' The girl nodded sweetly and said something that surprised Sophie very much.
'Yes, I remember. You were here before with uncle Howell except you were very old. I wonder how you did that.'
'Magic, don't you know?' replied Sophie jokingly. 'Why are you still in bed? The sun rose many hours ago.' She sat on the edge of the bed where Mari was snuggled up. The child made space and gazed at her with chin in her hands.
'Because Mama told me to stay here until she called. Aunt Marina is having her party. She is getting married to Uncle Cat, but I suppose he isn't my uncle yet-' and Mari went on and on. Sophie was amazed how such a small girl could talk for so long and with great detail. Perhaps the charming way of speech was a hereditary trait?
'-But I am not very sure why. Can you not give me a story? Uncle Howell always tells me one. He makes most wonderful ones though Mama says they are too ridiculous. Besides you haven't answered my other question!' Mari beamed and Sophie was very sure that the way they got what they wanted was a Jenkins characteristic.
'Well, I come from the Land of Ingary, so very far away. You need to pass an enchanted portal to get there and when you do, you will arrive in the middle of a castle. The strangest thing is that this castle moves and in this place, a wizard lives. This sorcerer is the most careless, selfish, lying, bratty one that ever strode the earth. This certain wizard loved to take young girls' hearts and steal souls...'
Sophie was not sure how long she told Mari stories that were really not stories at all. It was, however, much more fun than being downstairs, a stranger in a sea of people. She was amused with the questions the small girl asked. Why did the enchanter have to bargain with a fire demon? Isn't that the silliest thing? I suppose, the girl who became the ancient lady was sort of like you then? How nasty that wizard fellow was being!
She enjoyed listening to Mari too. The child spoke relentlessly of the evils of her brother, (Why couldn't the Witch of the Waste scrambled his body up instead!) chores, and the magnificence of Uncle Howell who she clearly adored. This happened after Sophie had run out of things to say and her throat was feeling parched. She gigged when she heard about the time when Howl had apparently tripped and dropped a vat of paint on Megan as they made Mari's school project. However, Sophie was soon to be violently shocked.
'You are so much nicer and lovelier than all the other ladies that Uncle Howell has brought home. Are you getting married soon?'
'I certainly hope not, for your sake and mine.' a low hammering voice said from the passage. Sophie who was blushing fiercer than she ever did and about to protest, spun around and saw the lady from the windows. Louisa, wasn't it? She narrowed her eyes and was about to tell her to mind her own business when Mari retorted from the pillows,
'Why not? She is absolutely fantastic, better than you, Louisa Pizza. I think I shall call her Aunt Sophie. I may, right Aunt Sophie?' Sophie did not answer but got up from the bed. Feeling that a major predicament was approaching, she wanted to spare Mari from it. Louisa uttered a soft yet menacing growl. 'Shut up, you tiny brat. You don't know what you're babbling about.'
That certainly made Sophie's blood boil. The nerve of this Louisa person! Just wait till the niece tells her uncle! But Howell Jenkins was nowhere in sight and it seemed that it was up to her to settle this or at least postpone it for some other time. Sophie raised a delicate eyebrow and stated very loftily,
'And I suppose you do, Madame Pizza? Rather pretentious of you to even be here. Depressed, demented? Don't take it out on the six-year old, dear woman.' With that she shut the door on Louisa's face and latched it. She went to Mari and told her to change out of her nightgown. Lounging around in bed was no good for anyone. They were going downstairs for some breakfast.
By the time Sophie successfully dragged a reluctant Mari off the bed and changed into a simple fresh blue dress, they went down the stairs. Mari was chattering about all the objects that lay everywhere. (That came from Australia, my Daddy says it is very hot there. This is a Mexican sombrero which is a hat. That is like this except it is purple elephant-ed...) Luckily, there was no sign of that horrid woman. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, they saw that most of the people had gone to the next room. Sophie asked where they ought to go now. Mari led her through a door and into a bright garden filled with white and yellow flowers. They sat on the swing set which she had so often espied from Howl's bedroom window.
'Hmmm... when is breakfast?' asked Mari. She was answered with an I-don't- know. They stayed there for a while, gazing at the butterflies that flitted to and fro. Yes, what exactly are we waiting for? What was am I waiting for? Wondered Sophie. Mari decided to show her how to play hopscotch. But before Sophie could take her turn, a tall figure in a flowing white long- sleeved shirt and black trousers came marching towards them. It was Howl. Sophie marvelled at the way and speed he had changed his outfit. It was very... unexplainable.
'Mari! Sophie! What are the both of you doing out here?' he shouted, smiling. Mari ran towards him, speaking rapidly in that foreign language of theirs. Sophie followed, unnaturally demure. Howl gave her a grin and just as Mari's beam did, she was mollified. She slapped herself mentally and told him their problem.
'Hungry, are you? Why didn't you come down earlier then? Silly cariads.' he laughed and took them back inside the house.