Thank you for the reviews cadius-lupus full moon, and tadsgirl

Aerith21: Thank you! I wanted fluff!

Darkwolf 88: He probably will, you'll see why later! Thank you to my other reviewer, DeAth-TeNShI.

Can anyone tell me which colors go with which places? (The little wheel at the door)

" speaking"

'thinking'

Chapter 5: In which Howl receives a surprise

A loud noise shook the windows, waking Markl up. "What's going on?"

"I don't know, the sound just woke me up." Calcifer said, stifling a yawn. After dressing, he and Calcifer exited, their belongings in a pack on Markl's shoulders.

"What's going on?" Markl asked a servant passing by them.

"They say wizard Pendragon is mad at the prince. Why, I do not know, but I'm not going back there," the servant said, hurrying away from the main hallway.

"You bloody turnip head, why? Wait, I know why!" Howl's shouts were getting louder and louder. Running into the main hall, Markl stopped. Prince Justin was hidden behind a huge pillar, dodging an attack from Howl.

"Howl, what are you doing? There's no time to be making scence! Besides, what did he do to you?" Markl said, also hiding from Howl.

"He tried to drug me! And I know why. He wants to be the hero! You thought I didn't see that drawing of Sophie? You want her, don't you?"

"I won't deny that I drugged you, or the fact that I want Sophie! I told you, she should live an ordinary life!"

"An ordinary life? Do you think she wants an ordinary life? An ordinary life is too boring!"

"Master Howl, Justin, we will never find out what she wants if we don't find her! And soon. Who knows what kind of torcher she is going through?"

"Thank you Calcifer for brightening the day," Markl said dryly. "Master Howl, enough of this nonsense, we have to find her! And you, turnip head, you should know better. We all want to know where Sophie is." As Markl said this, he got between Howl and turnip head.

" I know where she is, I don't to look anywhere else," Howl said with a tint of smugness.

"I'm going with you, I must make sure that Lady Sophie is okay."

"You can't come, you stick out, and besides, doesn't a prince need to travel with a guard?" Howl asked, placing some fruit in his bag. "But if you want to come," he said, holding up a book "You're going to have to follow my rules."

Half an hour later…

"Come on, don't act that way, you wanted to come didn't you?" Howl asked from the horse's saddle.

"Why a commoner? Why not a duke?" the prince said, sulking from a top his horse.

"Because you would be in big danger if your enemy found out you weren't protected, and I don't want to look after you when I'm looking for Sophie" Howl said, looking down at his hand. The ring he wore started to emit a strait, sliver line, pointing through a forest, disappearing into the darkness.

"So that's where she is, huh? Markl, take the horse," he said, dismounting.

"What are you going to do? Wait, don't take bird form! Sophie isn't here to save you. And I'm sure no one here is willing to kiss you," added Calcifer darkly.

"For Sophie, I would do anything," he said before disappearing in a flurry of feathers. Taking off, Howl didn't see Prince Justin's surprised look.

"What will Obaba say when she finds out he transformed?" Markl asked.

"Hopefully, she will never find out, or she'll put a curse on Howl. I hope she does, he's getting out of control. And Sophie isn't here to control him."

" Calcifer! How can you say such a thing? After all, Master Howl kept you alive!"

"Yeah, the idiot did, but at his own risk too! If Sophie hadn't saved him, he would be dead right now."

"Enough talk Calcifer, I wonder how Sophie doing?"

"Probably fine, I'm sure of it. And Markl, don't shush me."

Sophie woke up with a horrible headache. She couldn't stop crying once she started thinking about Howl. She was a little afraid, but thinking as well. 'What do they want from me, and why was I kidnapped?' A loud noise (a bolt being drawn took her off her thoughts.

"You're Sophie Hatter, correct?" a man's voice rang through the cell.

"Why do you want to know who I am? I demand to speak to your master, or who ever runs this "place"."

"Come with me then." Sophie slowly exited the door, careful to avoid touching the jailer.

"My master has been expecting you for quite some time."

"Who is he, and how does he knows my name?" Sophie said as she walked down the corridors, the jailer in front of her.

"My master has been interested in you for quite sometime." This statement shocked Sophie.

" I didn't know Howl could do that."

"Your eyes must have been on the back of your head, how do you think Howl and Sophie caught up with us? Wait, you were still a stupid scarecrow huh? You were stupid enough to get caught in my castle."

"Your castle Calcifer?" Markl snorted disbelieving. "If I remember correctly, Master Howl was the one who created it."

"But who was the one who kept it running? If it wasn't for me, the castle falls apart!"

"Oh no! We forgot about Obaba! Calcifer, did you mention where we were going?"

"No, she was snoring her head off! Besides, she's in the flower shop, remember Sophie got kidnapped in Market Chirping."

"Oh yeah, Calcifer, how do you remember these…. Calcifer are you okay? Calcifer!" But Calcifer was in a dream state. After ten minutes, he said, " Where's Howl? Obaba said someone brought a message for him, and it concerns Sophie! But we aren't any close to any door, are we?"

"Well, there's Kingsbury, but I don't want to get any closer to Suilman. She scares me, but I don't know how Howl can stand her."

" You know Madam Suilman, how Calcifer?" Markl asked Calcifer; interested in the fact that someone out there scared the fire demon.

"Well, you know how Howl swallowed a star when he was little? He was still being taught by…"

"Howl swallowed a star?" the prince asked disbelieving.

" Yes, how do you think he bounded me to the castle? Now, as I was saying, Madam Suliman was still teaching him when I appeared. She…"

"But you're a fire demon, how did…."

"If you want to know the whole story, ask Howl. But stop interrupting me turnip head! As I was saying, Madam Suliman never liked me. She would always look at me with an ugly look. She thought I was a danger to Howl, when he was the one who made me! Zip it turnip head!" he said, pointing to the prince, who had opened his mouth to interrupt again.

"Master Howl is back!" Markl said, no longer paying attention to Calcifer.

"No one pays attention to me. At least Sophie appreciated me." Calcifer said to no one in particular.

"Master Howl, you're back! Did you find any clues?" Markl said to a Howl who was breathing heavily. After ten minutes, Howl said, "What's wrong Calcifer?"

Calcifer, who liked having someone's attention said, " Obaba, she says you have to return to the castle! Someone sent a letter concerning Sophie's whereabouts!"

"Really? How, when, who?"

"Slow down Master Howl! We have to think of a way to get back!" Markl said, turning around. But he stopped when he saw Howl drawing a symbol in a tree.

"Come on, we have to hurry! Obaba is waiting, and I didn't find anything!" After ten minutes of drawing, Howl stood up.

" How is this going to work? The castle is several miles away! Kingsbury is closer!" the prince said, looking disbelieving at Howl.

"I don't like Kingsbury. But Howl will this work? I mean I…"

"No time for doubts Calcifer! Turnip, tie the horses to that tree, we'll be back. Once you're done, step inside the circle. There is a good chance it might work Calcifer," Howl said, turning to the demon.

"But I'm not bound to the castle any more! And besides, what if we end up in the wastelands?" he asked, jumping to Howl's hands.

"We just have to try, right? Ready? Hold on." As he murmured a spell, the marks he and Markl drew on the four surrounding trees began to glow. As Howl's black hair flowed in the air, Calcifer began to grow. All of a sudden, Calcifer grew big, and the prince, Howl, and Markl were floating in the air. The next moment, the trio disappeared.

" How long has your master been interested in me?" Sophie asked, determined not to show her suprisement.

"Quite sometime, ever since he found out you lived with wizard Howl," the jailer said.

"How does he know that?" asked Sophie, who didn't like people knowing her business.

"I don't know you are going to have to ask him, Miss Hatter."

"That's Mrs. Jenkins to you!" Sophie said. What she didn't expect to see a surprised look on the jailer.

"So you're married huh? This gets even more interesting," the jailer said to an annoyed Sophie.

With a thump, Prince Justin found himself landed on his butt, while Howl and Markl were standing.

"Ah, so you are back, eh Howl? Why did you leave?" Obaba said, entering the room, leaning on a cane.

"Several reasons Obaba" Howl said while dropping his pack.

"I have never seen a more sorrier sight." Obaba said, peering at Calcifer. Calcifer, who was no longer afraid of her, stared back.

"Obaba, Calcifer said something arrived with news of Sophie! Is it true?"

"Yes Markl, it's over in the table. And Howl, your hair's messy."

"No! It can't be!" Howl said as he ran up the stairs, and into the bathroom.

"Even Sophie can't change Howl's narcist attitude," Markl said with a sigh, as he continued to look for the letter.

"Yes, but he has gotten better." Calcifer said from the chimney. As he ate a log, things got neattier, and the castle got together again. Suddenly, Calcifer started chuckling.

"What's so funny?" the prince asked, joining Markl in the search for the letter.

"Just remembering how Markl, Obaba, you, and me were in the floating wood piece, and how scared Markl was."

"I wasn't scared," Markl murmured. "Be careful turnip head, that's a dangerous substance," he said as he pointed towards it.

"So why do you have it?"

"It has many useful uses," Howl said, coming from the bathroom.

"Master Howl, I found the letter!" Markl said, waving it in the air. Howl came over and took the letter.

"Read it!" Calcifer shouted.

"What does it say?" Markl asked.

"Howl, by the time you have read this letter, Sophie would be with me. You couldn't have chosen a more beautiful maiden."

"Yep, Sophie is beautiful," Prince Justin, said out loud. Soon he had everybody in the room, including Calcifer looking at him.

"Just continue reading the letter," Prince Justin said, turning bright red. After glaring at Justin, Howl looked at the letter, and began to read again.

"But you don't need to worry about her. In three days, she won't even remember you face. You took what should have been mine, so now I am going to take what is most precious to you, your Sophie,

Sorahb.

"What a jerk! And who does he thinks he is, saying Sophie will be his?" Howl said, tossing the letter to Calcifer. Calcifer tried to read it, but he ended up burning it.

"Who is Sorahb?" Prince Justin asked, putting his feet next to Calcifer.

"Someone who is evil! I still can't believe he remembers! It was a long time ago!" Howl said while pacing the room.

"Some people are just so…. bitter! And why Sophie? Why not Markl? Guess Sorahb never forgave you Howl," Calcifer said.

"Yes, Sophie dear has to face him. And he use to be a nice person."

"He was never a kind person Obaba," Calcifer said, while moving away from Justin.

"But who is this Sorahb person?" Justin asked, not noticing his socks were on fire.

"We were both being taught by Madam Suliman, and, it was such a long time ago. I don't want to talk about it. The only thing I'm thinking about is the fact Sophie is…."

"Ow! My toes!" Justin said as he waved a hand over his smoking toes.

"You shouldn't have done that, Calcifer is picky," Markl said, while Howl stifled a laugh.

"But what about Sophie? She's probably fighting Sorahb off," Obaba said, making Howl turn serious all of a sudden.

"I hope she's okay," Howl said, ignoring Calcifer and Justin's shouts.

After being placed in a dark room, the jailer left Sophie. She looked around. Apparently, this was a library. Walking over, she took a book from the shelve, not noticing that someone was looking at her from the shadows, a hungry look on its face.