Sophie felt terrible!

Like she had just been dragged over 5 rocky mountains by a team of Belgian horses!

She groaned as she tried to move, but felt as if a blue whale was on top of her and was pressing her down trying to make her into a pancake.

Her eyelids felt as if they were being weighed down with blocks of lead. After some time however the blocks were removed and she could open her eyes and see again.

Well, not so much as see as well as she would have liked.

Everything was blurred and spinning about as if she had just taken a ride on a tornado.

She closed her eyes again hoping the lack of light would ease the pounding that was going on inside her skull.

Suddenly something warm, and somewhat soothing, tenderly touched her cheek.

Slowly, painfully, she raised her hand to grasp what ever it was.

It was a hand. A soft warm hand, and the owner of said hand began to speak to her.

"Glad to see you're finally awake Sleeping Beauty."

Sophie turns her head towards the voice and opens her eyes slowly, dreading to confirm the fact that she knew who this person was.

It was Howl. He looked as though he hadn't slept in a week but it was him.

"Sleeping Beauty?" Sophie asked, her voice hoarse and rasping. Her throat felt as if she swallowed a boat load of sand.

"I think the name suits you very well. Considering you have been asleep for the last six days."

"Six days?"

"I'm afraid so. The palace guards shot you with bullets Madame Sullivan made filled with poison. You were unconscious and wracked with a high fever for days."

"Oh. Well, that explains why I feel as if I had been tortured on a rack or maybe a breaking wheel." Sophie replied turning away from Howl.

Her entire body tensed however, when she was finally able to feel her legs. Only she didn't feel her legs.

She felt her tail!

'Oh No!'

Oh Yes. Now that she was getting the feeling back in her limbs she could feel the cool, soothing water all around her.

And that means.

Sophie slowly turned her head to look at Howl.

He stared back at her calmly with a very small smile on his lips.

"Yes, I know. And I am glad that I do. You were in a rough spot Sophie. Madame Sullivan used three types of poisonous plants that should have killed you in the first few minutes. But because you are what you are, you survived. You had healing powers that saved your life Sophie. And I never thought that I would ever even consider this, but I am glad that there is a girl that is more powerful in the ways of magic than me. And I am glad that it was you."

Sophie's first two thoughts were that of 'I was poisoned? I have healing powers?'

Her third thought that she spoke aloud was "How did you know about me?"

"I over heard Calcifer and Michael trying to come up with a way to save you without telling me your secret a couple of hours ago. Calcifer said that you had extraordinary healing powers when you touched water. Since the night of my so called hallucinations, I have been doing a bit of research on mermaids. It didn't take much to put two and two together. Seeing you heal yourself and change just confirmed what I already suspected."

"I see."

"Don't be so hard on him. He didn't know I was listening, but I am glad that I was. Otherwise I would have never been able to give you the presents I made for you if you died."

"Presents?"

"Yes, presents. Do you want to see them?"

"Uh." Sophie murmured, unsure of where this was going. Why was Howl being so nice to her?

"Come here." Howl said softly, as he picked her up, almost tenderly, and carried her bridal style up a hill.

Sophie was still to weak to complain too much, so she stayed quiet promising herself that if howl tried anything then she would get him back for it later.

There are so many prank options available now that she doesn't have to keep her powers a secret.

Howl stopped at the top of the hill he was climbing, and slowly turned around so Sophie could look around.

Sophie was in awe!

The colors of the setting sun seemed to turn the mountains to sapphire and set the valley a fire. The cottage looked like a single white diamond that had been set within a one of a kind setting. Thousands of flowers were a glow and the river looked as if it was made of liquid gold.

It was a beautiful sight. A treasure trove more beautiful than any kings treasury.

Howl looked down upon Sophie's smiling face. He knew that she would love it, but felt the need to clarify a few things.

"My uncle who was a wizard gave me this place as my own private study when I was little. I have a deed that proves I own all this land within this mountain range. And I want you to have it."

Sophie looked up at him in shock.

This? He was giving her all of this? The land, the river, the cottage that was large enough to be a house? Why?

"Why?"

"You gave up a lot for me. The witch of the wastes ran you out of your own home. You cleaned up my castle, treated Michael and Calcifer like family. You went along with the story that I made up for the King's guards even though you could have cried kidnap and let the likes of Madame Sullivan have me."

Sophie shuttered softly at the thought of that cruel woman.

"For all the good you do. You deserve all this and more. Which brings us to your next present back in the castle." Howl finished cheerfully as he turned around again to walk towards a small structure with a large door that Sophie assumed lead straight to the castle.

It did. Or at least she thought it did. Everything looked different.

The kitchen was larger with newer utensils and cooking supplies, as was the living room and Calcifer's supposed fireplace.

But when she saw the happy fire demon as well as her basket of Myrtles in the corner, she knew that this was still the same castle she had cleaned everyday and had been living in.

"I used a few spells here and there to do some remodeling. Made the place a little bigger since our makeshift family seems to keep growing. Added a few more rooms, including a bedroom for you."

"For me?"

"Yup. I put where your old bed used to be. Right over here."

And at that, Howl stopped in front of a beautifully carved wooden door. The carvings took on the form of a rose garden with dancing butterflies.

The door silently opened before them to reveal Sophie's new room.

It was even more beautiful than the door!

The walls were decorated with murals of a forest and flowers. The trees covered with blossoms looked as if the were real and blowing in a gentle breeze. The soft carpet across the entire floor was the same shade of green of spring grass.

The bed was large and soft looking. It would have looked out of place in a forest if it's covers didn't make it look like a small flower cover hill. With giant tree trunks on either side that had cabinets carved into them. Each shelve within them filled with books.

Opposite the bed was a willow tree painting with actual blanches that were a curtain for an open door way.

Howl walked across the room and through the curtain to show off Sophie's new private bathroom.

For some reason that Sophie couldn't figure out, the bathroom had been split in half.

The toilet, sink, and cabinet were on one side of a glass partition that appeared to have been frosted over with ice.

The door hidden in the frost opened to them to reveal the bathtub.

If you could call it a bathtub?

It was more of cross between a hot spring and a small lake with a waterfall.

Steam lightly rose from the water contained in the tub made of smooth, black stone. The waterfall coursing down the wall that had been painted to look like real stone behind a waterfall.

Along the edge of one side was a water lounge with black waterproof pillows that blended in with the environment.

And next to the doorway were a couple of fragrant lilies that perfumed the whole room with their scent.

"What do you think?" asked Howl ask he looked down at the astonished Sophie that was still a mermaid in his arms.

"It's, this, this is all too good to be true. Like I'm still asleep and this is all some sort of wonderful dream."

"This is all very real Sophie. It is real and it will still be here tomorrow." Howl said as he carried her gently through the warm water and tenderly placed her on lounge.

"But for now, you need to rest. We'll see you in the morning." Howl said as he lightly caressed her cheek, before leaving the room closing the door behind him.

Sophie couldn't believe it.

Why was Howl acting so nice?

Was he up to something?

A large yawn interrupted her thoughts.

She was still weak and tired from being poisoned.

For the second time that she could remember, Sophie really did fall fast asleep.

She could wait till tomorrow for her answers.