A Magical Addition

Chapter 5

Thanks for reviewing and for all your thoughts. Please keep them coming and I'll do my best to update whenever possible. Enjoy chapter 5.

That evening, as Sophie washed thoroughly at the dishes, her ring sitting on the windowsill so as not to get covered in dish water, there was a knock at the door. A young man dressed in maroon and gold from head to toe stood holding a scroll, he handed it to Markl with a smile and a bow before getting back into his coach and disappearing.

As the door closed Howl appeared from upstairs smelling sweet of hyacinths.

'Who was that?' He asked curiously pushing up his shirt sleeves and approaching Markl at a quickened pace. He held his hand out to receive the scroll, his eyes fixed on his apprentice as he awaited an answer.

'I'm not really sure. He looked like one of the king's men only he wasn't wearing the correct colours.' Markl replied handing over the scroll. He waited for a moment, watching as Howl scanned over the letter, his eyes flashing back and forth. Sophie, being her nosy self, let out the dish water and dried her hands on a tea towel before slotting her ring back onto her finger. She then approached Howl from behind, reading over his shoulder.

Dear Wizard Pendragon,

Your assistance is required by his Royal Highness Prince Justin in the regenerating of the towns and cities that have been severely destroyed by the war. Please make an appearance at the palace of Strangia as soon as possible.

Howl suddenly released the end of the paper allowing it to coil back on itself once more. He let out a short breath giving the scroll back to Markl and turning swiftly to face his fiancée.

'I guess, being the new Howl, you'll be going.' Sophie almost groaned. Howl raised his hand to her cheek letting it settle there as he glanced quickly at her lower stomach and then back at her disappointed expression hoping that she hadn't noticed.

'Yes…but there'll be other sorcerers helping so it won't take long. Don't worry Sophie I shan't neglect you.' He chuckled, but Sophie didn't seem amused. Howl sighed and followed her forlorn gaze to her ringed finger. He grabbed her left hand and held it tightly in his. 'Soon we'll be bound together forever!...You should enjoy your freedom.' Sophie smiled a fake smile.

'And before you know it you'll-' Calcifer piped up being quickly cut off by Howl.

'Feel as though we've…been together for years!' The wizard blurted out throwing a glare that would curdle milk at the fire demon. Calcifer however looked a little confused.

'Howl…you didn't tell her?' He tried to whisper, but Sophie heard. The wizard closed his eyes slowly and shook his head. What was coming next wasn't going to be good.

'Tell me what Howl?' Sophie asked pleasantly at first, but when Howl failed to reply her heckles soon got up. 'Tell. Me. What. Howl?' She repeated sharply.

Howl heaved a sigh. He didn't have time to come up with a lie, but why didn't he want to tell her? She if anybody needed to know!

'Why don't we go upstairs.' He finally said glancing at Calcifer and then Markl who both stared at the couple, the young apprentice completely confused as to what was going on.

Sophie nodded, Howl letting go of her hand and turning towards the stairs. As the young woman followed she wasn't sure whether to be worried or excited. Her day had already been so emotionally draining she wasn't sure she could take much more, however whatever it was she had a feeling it was important for her to know. Also the fact that Howl was clearly hesitant to tell her made her even more curious although he had always been terrible at giving news of any kind.

He held open the bedroom door, his face pale with a fake smile plastered over it. Sophie narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him as she passed, but his expression was unchanged.

She threw herself at the bed, scooting back a little and then sprawling out like a starfish, her head falling to one side in order to watch Howl as he closed the door behind him and minced across the room kicking trinkets and stuffed animals discretely out of his way. His light blue eyes glinted like jewels as he paced back and forth fitting in perfectly with the many other gems which lay on the floor and clung to the walls and ceiling.

After a few moments Sophie sat up, her hair tousled, her dress pooled out around her.

'So…' She spoke up 'What is it you have to tell me?' She asked innocently, her gaze following his every movement. He eventually stopped pacing and came to sit next to her on the bed pulling his long spindly legs up in front of him, a particular feature that for some reason Sophie had always loved.

'Sophie…' He said turning towards her their gazes locking in a loving stare. After a few more moments of silent gazing Sophie's emotions overpowered her as they usually did when they both sat on the bed together, but recently they had been a lot stronger. She suddenly flung herself at him wrapping her arms around his neck, their lips meshing together. They kissed passionately for what seemed like hours, Howl's hands moving swiftly up and down her back causing her to arch slightly. She straddled him, pushing him backwards into the sea of pillows and cushions that surrounded them. There wasn't a word spoken until the moment when Howl would usually use his powers to pop the long row of buttons on the back of her dress, however this time, when Sophie gave him the look of approval, he was forced to restrain himself.

'S-Sophie.' He managed to choke out as she moved her face away from his, normally the moment when he would suck on her neck leaving a blotchy mark that Sophie would do her best to hide from the others, but Howl was still frozen. Sophie sat up a little, her breathing heavy, her hands resting on his chest. 'Sophie you're pregnant.' He whispered, his expression unchanged.

'…' Nothing, had she heard him? She continued to stare down at him, her beaming grin slowly fizzling away like the end of a sparkler. She'd heard him, but she was beginning to wish she hadn't.

'Sophie?' He repeated writhing about a little as he tried to sit up but she held him down whether that was intentional or just the strength of her building anger. 'Sophie did you he-'

'I'm not pregnant…'

Oh God, denial! Howl thought worriedly.

'S-Sophie yes-'

'But we took precautions! I-I can't be!' She rolled off him lying on her back once more, her rapidly tear filling eyes staring at the ceiling in dismay. Howl hauled him self up stiffly leaning back on his hands.

'Actually, there was one time when we got in from-'

'Howl!' She whined sitting up suddenly one hand clasped to her forehead, the other on her cheek. 'Howl I don't want to be pregnant!' A few tears wobbling on her bottom lids, threatening to spill at any moment.

Howl chuckled sheepishly.

'I kinda guessed that!' She shut her eyes tightly, those tears leaking around the edges and rolling down her cheeks. 'I'm so sorry Sophie, I wasn't sure how to tell you-'

'How long have you known?' She snapped sitting up suddenly, her eyes springing open. Howl's lips parted slightly as he watched her tears flow in a steady stream.

'W-well a couple of days but-'

'A couple of days! And you didn't think to tell me sooner? You went on as if things were totally normal not taking into consideration that in that two day period I could have consumed alcohol or or or I could've been careless when mopping and fallen a slap!' Howl was speechless. He knew what she was saying was right but he was scared. But then something the wizard hadn't even considered occurred. A lunar chime shot a beam of light towards them reflecting of Sophie's engagement ring. Her eyes widened in anger, her cheeks getting considerably darker. 'And this!' She began once more holding her left hand up in front of his face and pointing a finger towards the ring 'Do you actually want to marry me or did you just feel marriage was the only way to fix things?'

Howl scooted back slightly, practically falling off the edge of the bed as she lurched towards him.

'Sophie you're being ridiculous!'

'Am I? You've said it yourself! You're a coward, you're afraid of what people might think if I had a baby out of wedlock…wait, what am I saying? You weren't thinking about me, you were thinking about yourself! What would people think if they found out you'd actually gotten somebody pregnant before marriage?'

'Sophie please…' Howl said softly, he knew the others would be able to hear her yelling but it was obvious Sophie was past the point of caring.

'Tell me the truth Howl…had you been considering marriage before you found out?' Her brown eyes burnt into his, her sour words leaving a sting in his heart. She wanted the truth, and he was going to have to give it to her.

'Maybe not just as soon b-but eventually of course darling!'

Sophie shook her head pushing herself off the bed and storming towards the door, hesitating before exiting. She took a deep breath using all her strength to hold back the tears that were ready to start again. Her gaze dropped to the ring, the fingertips of her other hand forming a circle around it, squeezing the band carefully. Howl's eyes widened.

Surely she wouldn't? We only got engaged today!

But she did, she pulled the ring off her finger forcefully and threw it at the bed watching it bouncing a few times in Howl's direction and then settle on the duvet.

'You Howell Jenkins, are a selfish, egocentric, insensitive man and until things change drastically you'll find me at my mother's house.' And the tears came, in fact they poured. She ran from the bedroom, her hands hovering over her eyes as she flew down the stairs clattering across the room past Calcifer, Markl, Heen and the old witch who froze half sitting, half standing to watch the distressed girl flee the castle in a sobbing blur.

Upstairs Howl slowly reached out and took the ring, a green slime tantrum imminent. He had just lost the one thing that truly meant something to him, as well as his unborn child. Things were going to have to change…things were going to change. He knew he couldn't live without her, heck, he couldn't go an hour without her. He loved her and he would do whatever it took to get her back.

Thanks for reading. That was quite a short chapter and one of the genres is drama so little things like this will happen throughout however hopefully there won't be anymore fights. Please review, reviews are love, oh and also all my disclaimers go on my profile just if you were wondering. More to come soon.