It was all quiet on the Porthaven Marshes.
A warm wind rushed softly through the reeds and grass, playing with the blossoms of moonflowers scattered throughout the swathes of undisturbed terrain. Dispersing the milky grey clouds in the dark sky, it glided over the silvery water surface of a small lake and set adrift a few of the lilac petals. They, like small boats, wobbled on the ripples and sailed from the middle of the lake, and from there they moored themselves on the shore, where a young woman sat contemplating their fragile beauty.
She smiled faintly and dipped her graceful palm into the water to fish out a couple of the blossoms. So beautiful and delicate, like little butterflies... It seemed to her she could just blow, and they would grow wings and take off. Perhaps they would soar up and fly far into the sky, over Howl's resting castle behind her, toward the cold moon and the alluring night... She rose, gently dusted her dress from any last sweet grass blades, and turned to the open door of the moving castle, still caught in her evening dreams and fancies. It was so nice to dream in a moment of calm—
"Blast it all, Calcifer! Don't be so stubborn! Just fry the bacon already!" Markl fairly shrieked, trying to pile a few pieces of meat on top of Calcifer's frying pan. Apparently, the demon didn't like it very much. Not at all. He puffed and snorted and flared up, not allowing Markl to get any closer.
"I won't! Leave me alone!" The stubborn flame showed the boy his tongue. "Pbthbth! I won't fry your bacon! It's not even for your breakfast! Sophie, save me! He offends me!"
Hearing all this loud and clear, Sophie looked up and wished Howl were home. Calcifer sat atop a pile of firewood, waving away Markl with literal tongues of fire. The boy was fighting back with a kindling stick in his right hand, at the same time trying to lower the frying pan with bacon on top of the demon's head.
"Sophie, don't mind us. Go and rest. I'm on my own!" Markl shouted to the girl before immediately switching his attention to Calcifer. "You know what? You're a nasty fire demon! Yeah, I said it. Hey! Give me back my stick!" When the boy's head had been briefly turned, the demon managed to get his mouth around the weapon and chew it to charcoal.
"Pretty fire, don't be stubborn," murmured the old woman sitting in a rocking chair, who was also observing this funny picture. "You're a good demon, aren't you? Frying bacon for you is a piece of cake." In confirmation of these words, the dog-eared mutt sitting on her lap sneezed with amusement.
Calcifer shrank back into his hearth slightly and eyed the granny. A moment later, and he dutifully allowed Markl to put the frying pan on him, grumbling to himself the whole way. After all, it was never a good idea to quibble with a witch, and the one of the Waste at that. Sophie hid a giggle behind her hand. The fiery demon must have put his pride and stubbornness on the back burner because he obediently began frying the bacon slabs in the now sizzling pan.
"I see we're all having fun here," sounded a velvet voice.
"Howl, you're back!" Sophie called over her shoulder. As soon the words left her mouth, she immediately felt the touch of her husband's arm around her waist.
"Good evening, darling," the young man said affectionately, drawing them both to the table to sit. "How've you been managing?"
"Evening, Howl," Sophie replied. "Everything is fine with us. Markl told me to rest and he would take care of dinner himself."
The mage chuckled. "And how's that going?"
"As you can see, it's already better." The girl smiled. Until a few years ago, when they all first banded together, they were at war with each other, and now it seemed even Calcifer had simmered down right into the family.
"Markl will out-stubborn anyone," Howl answered and glanced at his wife's open palm, on which two lilac petals still lay. "Moonflowers?" said the young man, more like a statement than a question.
"Yes," Sophie said, "I like them. Their petals remind me of butterflies."
"Butterflies?"
"Yes... Are you going to start repeating me now? They're so light and tender... It seems that they are about to sail into the air at any moment."
The young man smiled slightly and covered the girl's palm with his. "Look," he said and removed his hand. Instead of petals, Sophie's palm held two butterflies with pale lilac wings. They immediately fluttered and flew toward the open door and into the night sky, toward the twinkling stars. Sophie rose to follow them, never taking her eyes of the magic for a moment.
"So beautiful," Sophie whispered into the night air, looking up after their fading wings. "And it's a beautiful night, too... Cloudless, warm, and gentle." The girl leaned into her lover, who had followed her, and put her head on his shoulder.
Howl hugged her tighter and, smiling a little, said softly in her ear, "You can describe how joyful the radiance of the evening sun is, how soft and gentle the touch of a light wind is, how mysterious and heavenly the light of the moon is... But no one can describe how beautiful my wife is. ...And how much I love you."
The girl tightened her hold on his sleeve, and a faint blush spread to her cheeks. "And I love you, Howl..." she answered just as quietly. The young man smiled wider and touched a reverent kiss to his wife's lips, which immediately responded in turn.
The idyll was interrupted by Markle's indignant cry:
"Calcifer, fry more quietly! You'll ruin their moment! And don't be so snappy about the heat! You're going to leave nothing but embers from the bacon!"
Hearing this, Howl and Sophie exploded into merrily laughter. No longer was it all quiet, but Sophie was more than alright with that.
A/N: Thank you so much for taking the time to read my antics. As always, reviews are greatly treasured and are replied to. Or, if you'd prefer to comment or critique more privately, feel free to shoot me a PM. Cheers, + KVP
