Starlight

By Lady Mac

Author's Note: Well, this time I don't have too much to say. I guess just an apology for everyone who's reading "Hitori" or "UICPYF," since those are gonna be on hold until my Howl-mania subsides.

Now playing: "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from Kiss Me, Kate. It's the never-ending song! Aaah! Run! But I got me a white shirt for pit, since they're gonna give us little bow ties because we will actually be seen at one point. And I got a cutie black skirt and wicked shoes. And a blue plaid mouse pad.

"So if it's Christmas Day, and I want pork chops, and it's 4 A.M., I can have them?"

Homer Simpson

"The ESC key was widely used in DOS, but now Windows crashes if you press it."

Pete the Beta

For Crystal56: P.I. grammar beta progress: 5 percent complete.

WARNING: Lime alert! I won't make it a lemon, because with as few stories as there are in this category, I'm sure to get booted for it. I GAVE YOU FAIR WARNING! If you don't want to read it, stop when I describe "his deep black hair moving softly with the breeze."

Please also note the accompanying rating change!

Disclaimer: All of the proper nouns contained herein, as well as several common nouns and verbs, are property of Studio Ghibli and Buena Vista Entertainment.

Chapter Three

In Which Things Are Finally Set Straight

(First revision)

Sophie and Howl both relaxed with a sigh when Markl announced that he was going to bed. Apparently, the need for sleep trumped his new decision that they shouldn't be alone together. And frankly, Howl was glad that his apprentice was still so young. He had followed them around every day since the incident in Howl's bedroom – which was nearly a week ago, Howl noted. It had been immensely irritating, and this was the first time since then that he had been alone with Sophie. Although, he realized, they weren't really alone, since Calcifer was in his perpetual spot in the hearth, and the Witch was in her bed in the corner. But both were asleep, and would likely pay them little to no attention.

When Markl's footsteps faded out, Howl sat back and smiled at the young woman who sat beside him on the green couch near the low fire. "You look positively beautiful this evening," he remarked.

She smiled, and the firelight illuminated the gentle curves of her face. "Thank you. You look very nice, too."

"You know, Sophie," he said, leaning forward and setting his chin on his hand, "you've lived here for a while now, and … well, I'm sure you noticed that things between us aren't exactly the same as when you first got here."

She tipped her head in agreement, wondering what he was getting at.

"I'm happy with the changes that have been going on," he continued. "But there is one thing that … how can I put this? There's on very major change that might take a little forcing, and I want to do that now." He stood up and offered her his hand.

She accepted without hesitation, and he led her down to the door and out into the warm night. "Where are we going?"

"Nowhere special," he said, pulling her close as they strolled through the meadow. "I just wanted to get out for a little bit."

"Now you're confusing me," she laughed.

"Ah, confusion!" He broke free of her and ran ahead in the long grass, his long arms extended and his dark hair blowing around his face. "It makes me feel so alive!" His rich voice echoed only slightly in the openness, and Sophie laughed as she ran to catch him. "Isn't this wonderful?" he enthused, his bright blue eyes sparkling in the low light from the thin crescent moon and stars.

"Yes!" she agreed. "But you're not making any sense, Howl!"

"Oh, Sophie, isn't it obvious?" He fell on both knees in front of her and, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, stared up at her radiant face.

She shook her head slowly, not even trying to rid her face of the grin that had made itself at home when he started shouting. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Sophie, Sophie, my darling girl!" He sat back on his heels, and took her hands in his. "I want you to marry me!"

Time froze, and the clockwork of the universe moved around them. "I …"

"Will you? Please?" He was nearly begging.

The warmth of his hands suddenly penetrated her, flowing from her fingertips into her whole body, melting the last shards of loneliness in her heart. "I … oh, Howl! Yes!"

Before she could react, he had thrown his arms around her and lifted her off the ground. "Howl! What are you doing?" she cried in gleeful terror as he spun her around, both of them careening down the hill away from the castle.

"I can't help it!" he laughed. "I've never been happier in my whole life!"

Their lips touched with an explosion of fire, and they fell to the ground, rolling over and over each other, consumed by passion.

Finally, Howl broke the kiss, leaving her gasping, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. "Sophie," he panted.

"Howl …"

He was lying on top of her in the tall grasses, his deep black hair moving softly with the breeze. His cheeks were flushed, and the sight of him and the weight of his body were flooding her with emotions she couldn't place. "Sophie, I … I wanted to wait longer for this, but … God, I really want you. I mean, really, really want you."

Her heart jumped inside its cage. This was very strange indeed. "You … what? What do you mean?"

"Sophie." His face was almost pained as he looked down at her, gently touched his fingertips to her cheek. "I … I need to touch you. To touch your body."

"My body?"

He shifted then, and when something firm poked her in the belly, the strange feelings exploded all over again. He seemed to sense it. "You're feeling what I feel," he insisted, and she believed him. "This is lust, Sophie. Carnal desire."

Her eyes widened. "But … but that's a deadly sin!"

He shook his head. "No. Not always. When it follows love, it can be wonderful, beautiful. Magical." She seemed to understand, her fears assuaged. "I want to have that with you, Sophie."

Surprise registered on her delicate features. "What? You mean now?"

"Yes," he purred, coming suddenly down on her and ravishing her mouth. She clung to him in the madness as he pulled her dress open, letting go only when he stripped it from her upper body, exposing her flawless flesh to the moonlight.

"Howl, wait."

His hands paused in their exploration of her figure, and he looked at her.

"We … we can't do this out here," she insisted.

"You're right," he agreed after a long pause. He lifted her in his arms as soon as she had slipped her sleeves back on, and in a moment they were soaring through the air towards the castle. His hand was warm on her bare back, and she laughed as she clung to his neck. He came to rest on the railing of a balcony, and set her gently down before stepping off himself. He smiled as he pushed the door open, and escorted her into his bedroom with his hand on the small of her back.

"Before we … uh …" He stopped, blushing. "Before things get crazy, I want to give this to you." He stepped briefly to his desk, and when he turned around he held a small, silver ring.

"Oh, Howl, it's beautiful!" she whispered. The three stones set in it sparkled as he slipped it on her finger – the startling blue stone in the center perfectly matched his eyes, and the smaller black ones on either side had the same dark luster as his hair.

"There's a protection spell on it," he explained, still holding her hand as they both admired the jewelry. "The most powerful one I could manage, and that's considerable, if I do say so myself. And it will show you wherever I am, or Calcifer. Just like the one I gave you before. Try it."

Smiling, she stepped back, and reached for him with her heart. A blue beam, as intense as laser light, shot from the center stone, landing in a tiny, precise circle on his left chest. "Looks like it works perfectly," she said, and he moved to her again, then lifted her and set her gently on his bed. She sank into the lush, soft mattress, and he climbed up on top of her, staring down into her eyes in the low light.

"You sure about this?" he asked softly, his voice deep and husky.

She sat up slowly, then pulled his shirt over his head. "Yes," she said, kissing him hotly but quickly. His body was even more beautiful than she remembered, his lightly-tanned skin radiant and vibrantly alive. But the waist of his pants was maddeningly high, obscuring everything below his navel. She quickly unfastened them, and he slid them quickly off his hips before removing them with his shoes, seemingly as one. They hit the floor, and he knelt before wearing nothing but his skin and a pair of dark grey shorts that couldn't hide his arousal.

"Now this is kind of unfair," he said, his eyes deep and dark as they watched her. "We've got to get that off you."

"Be my guest," she whispered, and before she even knew he had moved, the dress was gone and he was pressed against her, kissing her with an intensity she hadn't known was possible. "My … my shoes …"

But he couldn't stop touching her, so she undid the laces herself, and managed to get her boots and stockings off just as he was beginning to pull desperately at her bloomers. She untied them quickly, and moments later he had claimed her, completely and undeniably, forever.

Ende Kapitel Drei

Author's Note: Wooh-yeah! Great reviews! I so heart you all! Now time to answer some questions or share funny (kind of) anecdotes:

Actually, I kinda accidentally deleted all the reviews off this computer. Oops. But they're still on the worldwide inter-webber-net. All I remember is yes, that was German, congrats on anyone who can read it! For those who don't know German, I recommend babelfish (dot) AltaVista (dot) com. And they have this cute little yellow fish mascot.

Now playing in iTunes: "Hey Jude" by the Beatles.