Author's Notes:

Hello again, dear readers of this story!

I'm sorry that you had to wait for so long for this chapter, but I'm now working as a freelancing writer and I've had quite a few tasks to finish during the last weeks... and though I'd love to dedicate my time to fan fiction, unfortunately it doesn't pay my bills.

However, the story *is* progressing, and don't worry, I will keep posting new chapters until it's finished. Still, I can't give you any dates, but if you add it to your author/story alerts, you'll get a notification in your inbox as soon as a new chapter is posted (in fact, I know that many of you are already doing that, and I find it very flattering!)

I'm so very overwhelmed by your positive reviews and your praise! In fact, publishing this story on and reading your responses to it is a great inspiration for all of my writing, and your kind words mean so much to me.

Jazzfoxforever, you were asking me about my native language, and don't worry, I don't think it's a rude question at all! I'm flattered by people's curiosity. ;-) But I'd rather prefer not to answer such questions in public, since this kind of writing is very different from the stuff I normally write. Feel free to PM me though, if you're curious of such things.

When it comes to questions regarding this story though, regarding my research etc (because yes, there are *many* hours of research behind this story), I'd love to try and answer them, especially if it can be of help for other writers. Never hesitate to ask!

Well, enough now. Onto the story! :-)

Love ya all, always!

/BoMD

–––

As Howl was trying to tell his story, so exhausted that he barely had the energy to whisper, Sophie sat on the stool by the bed, still holding his hand while gently stroking his hair with her other hand. "Maybe it's just a case of food poisoning then…"

Howl gave a small nod, closing his eyes. "Maybe. But I've been food poisoned before… never felt like this…"

Sophie nodded. "No, but with everything going around these days…" She sighed. "You didn't exactly use the purification spell on that poor woman's food, did you?"

Howl shook his head. "No… how could I…" He winched slightly, let go of her hand and once again clutched at his ribs. "Maybe I should have… but… oh, God, I hope they are all right..."

"Don't you worry, dear," Sophie assured him. "We can always ask Calcifer to check on them."

Howl gave a small nod. "Good idea…"

Bending over, Sophie placed a soft kiss on his forehead. "Try and sleep now, my love. I'll be right here. Maybe it will pass with a bit of rest…"

Howl nodded. "Hope so…"

Sophie sighed. "I don't want to leave you, dearest, but I really should take care of the… downstairs… just for a moment… I'll be right back…"

Another nod from Howl. "And Markl…"

"Don't worry… I'll try and explain it to him… and should things get urgent… try and get my attention, but no magic! You need to save your strength…"

But despite his weakened state, Howl managed to lift his left arm before Sophie hardly reacted, and at the level of her right ear, he flickered his hand.

"I said no magic!" Sophie shouted, on the verge of anger now.

"S-sorry…" Howl gasped. "But r-really, in the long run… this will take less effort than talking… look… if I need you here I…"

Sophie winced at his last few words as they sounded just like he was whispering with his lips close to her ear. "Wizards!" she sighed, rolling her eyes.

Howls lips twitched a little, and normally, she would have given him a playful slap, but now, she just snorted, shaking her head.

Once again, Howl stretched out his hand, reaching for hers, and as he opened his eyes, she saw that they were now very serious. "You are awesome, Sophie…" he whispered. "I love you so much…" His voice was trailing off as his eyes were drooping again.

With another kiss on his forehead, Sophie placed his hand under the blankets, tucking him in. "I love you too. Sleep now… I'll be right back…"

Quietly, she rose from the chair, stepping out of the room, but leaving the door open behind her.

–––

As Sophie came down the stairs, she was surprised to find Markl, Calcifer and Heen almost just where they'd been standing as she left. Three sets of anxious eyes met hers, but it was Markl who spoke up first. "Soophie… what's wrong with Master Howl?"

"Aw, Markl." Sophie swept him into a warm embrace. "Don't you worry… he probably just ate something that didn't quite agree with him. He'll be all right… you'll see… just needs a little sleep."

"He must be really sick…" Calcifer mused, more to himself than anyone in particular. "Last time he got a stomach bug he was moaning and wallowing in self pity for hours, and when he finally threw up things got even worse… he was almost ready to write down his last will..."

Sophie nodded silently, trying to push her darkest thoughts aside.

"Are we all gonna get sick now?" Markl's eyes were filled with concern.

"No, Markl." Sophie stroked his hair. "If this is what we think it is, it's not contagious. But there's no way to know for sure, so we'd better be a little cautious… that's all…" She hoped she was sounding reassuring enough, managing to conceal her worry. She let go of Markl, heading for the broom closet, but eying the floor, she noticed that there were no traces left from the vomit but a few dark spots.

"I… I turned it into water…" Markl started in a hesitating voice. "But I didn't get near… as you told me not to. And Calcifer helped me with a purification spell…"

Sophie sighed with relief. "Thank you so much, boys. We'll have to try and help each other out for a bit now… until whatever this is, has passed."

–––

With a quick mopping of the floor, Sophie changed her dress and apron, and after a brief cooking session, ensuring that neither Markl nor Calcifer would go hungry for the rest of the day, she returned upstairs. Howl hadn't been calling out to her while she was downstairs, but as she got back to the bedroom, it was clear that he had suffered another bout of nausea. He was lying curled up tightly on his side, clutching the basin, that was now beside him on the bed. It was empty, though, and he appeared to be dozing.

Her heart aching, she gently unclasped his arm from the basin, talking in soft, encouraging words as she started tucking him back in. But suddenly, he jerked awake, and she saw what was coming. Helping him sit, she placed the basin on his lap, supporting his head as he once again was retching violently. He was quite empty; the attack only resulted in a mouthful of bile and saliva and left him soaked with sweat. Furthermore, as the retching finally ceased, he found himself to be in dire need of the chamber pot.

Sophie did her best to soothe him, but as she cleaned him up afterwards, Howl was sobbing from pain and humiliation. It was only with the greatest of efforts that Sophie managed to restrain herself, knowing that she mustn't break down in front of him.

Howl was hardly able to sit as she temporarily had to move him from the bed to the nearby chair. Hesitating for a moment, she headed for the linen closet. She had been told that when Markl first arrived, he still had problems staying dry during the night. The rubber sheets that Howl once had made for him had mysteriously survived from the old castle, and now, Sophie mused, they might once again be of some use. Having to clean a stained double sized mattress in the middle of the night, in case of an accident, didn't seem too appealing. Besides, Howl shouldn't be out of bed for long periods at a time…

Quickly, she stripped the bed, draped it with the rubber sheets, and remade it. Then, she helped her barely conscious husband to lie down again, covering him up with the blankets.

–––

The last attack of vomiting left the wizard so exhausted that he was hardly able to move, but all the same, he was in so much pain that there was no way he could succumb to a restful sleep. Finally dozing off, he was obviously hunted by feverish dreams, turning and whimpering, clutching and rubbing at his ribs. Sophie sat by his side, talking soothingly, but the pain was almost unbearable, making it impossible to relax.

However, as a few hours passed, there had not been any new attacks of severe nausea. Fearing that Howl might be on the verge of dehydration, Sophie knew that she would have to try and coax some liquid into him. With the help from Calcifer, she brewed a light infusion of ginger tea., waiting for it to cool until it was lukewarm. But as she approached him with the cup and a spoon, Howl promptly turned away his head. She sat beside him on the bed, trying to place an extra pillow behind him, but he kept squirming away.

"Listen, dear… just a spoonful… you have to get something down, now…"

Howl shook his head. "Can't…" he said in a soft whimper.

"Please, Howl… just try… just one spoonful…"

Eventually, the wizard gave in, and opening his mouth slightly, he accepted the spoon, swallowing the liquid that trickled between his chapped lips.

"There, see… you'll be all right," Sophie soothed, offering him another, and another after that. Slowly, but steadily, he'd managed to finish about half the cup… but suddenly, he pushed her hand away so briskly that the spoon spilled its contents on the blankets. Sophie hardly had the time to put the cup down and grab the basin before he was vomiting again. The attack didn't ease until he was all empty.

And this time, the vomiting just wouldn't stop. At least twice an hour, sometimes even more frequent, Howl would suffer another episode of retching. There was nothing to bring up whatsoever, and it was now clear that he was becoming quite dehydrated. But every attempt at trying to administer fluids to him was unsuccessful. Just a few drops of water was enough to make him gag, and even the thin ice chips that Markl had created on Sophie's request were immediately rejected, before they had hardly melted at all.

Before Sophie started preparing for bed she eventually made up her mind–Calcifer had to try and get the doctor, never mind Howl's opinions on the matter. The fire demon complied without a shadow of an objection, and vanished through the chimney with a swooshing sound and a puff of smoke. Before he left, he also made a promise to find the family that Howl had helped with the warhead the night before, to see if they were all right.

Just as Sophie had put a reluctant and worried Markl to bed, trying her best to answer all of his questions, Calcifer returned, all out of breath. Sophie fed him some of the best firewood available and also the large amount of leftovers from their evening meal. As he eventually was able to speak again, he told her that yes, he did find the doctor who had agreed to make a house call, but wouldn't be able to make it there until the early hours of the morning, no matter how much they were willing to pay him.

Calcifer also told Sophie that he'd been able to locate the family, and that everyone were doing well, but had expressed a deep concern for Howl. The woman had begged Calcifer to return as soon as possible and report on his recovery.

–––

Sophie made her half of the bed with another set of blankets, curling up beside her ailing husband. Howl was silent, apparently trapped somewhere between awareness and unconsciousness, but definitely not asleep. The only way to keep his lips from cracking until they bled was to try and moist them with a wet sponge at regular intervals. But he seemed hardly aware of her presence… there was little or no response to her touch.

Despite the throbbing knot of worry in her stomach, she soon found herself drifting off into an exhausted sleep. But suddenly, she sat up with a start, her heart pounding. Howl was still silent, but she knew that she'd been awakened by a sound. Yes… there it was again, a faint whimpering followed by a weak knock at the bedroom door, and then a scratching noise. "Soophie…"

Sophie leapt out of bed, softly opening the door. "Markl…? What's the matter?"

The boy was shivering, and even in the faint light from the bedside kerosene lamp she could tell that he was very pale. Heen was by his side, as usual, but moved aside nodding in Markl's direction as Sophie knelt down. "Soophie… I… I feel s-sick, Sophie…" Markl whimpered in a faint voice.

His words sent shivers of dread along Sophie's spine, and she felt her heart beating hard. No. Not Markl… oh God… not him as well…

Swallowing the lump of nausea that was rising in her own throat, she made a great effort to speak and sound like her usual self. "You poor dear… need to go to the bathroom?"

"Yes… no… yes…" Markl lifted a trembling hand to his lips, and Sophie promptly swept him up, rushing him to the bathroom. She placed him in front of the toilet, leaning him over, but as she placed her hand on his forehead, she was relieved to find that although his skin felt clammy, he was definitely quite cool to the touch.

"Just relax boy," she cooed. "Take a deep breath and let it come if you need to… there…"

Markl complied, and took a deep, shivering breath, and Sophie braced herself for what she thought was a certain onset of a vomiting attack… but instead, to her surprise, Markl's little body just went limp. Half a breath later, he tensed anew… though this time, he was convulsing with deep, heavy sobs.

She'd seen him sad before, but never, ever like this. "My sweet boy… what's the matter?" she whispered close to his ear, even though she suspected she already knew the answer.

"M-master H-Howl's… is g-gonna die… i-isn't he?"

"Oh, Markl…" She embraced him softly, kneeling on the bathroom floor. For a moment, she hesitated, but gave a resigned sigh. "Markl… we… we don't know. Howl's been through a lot… and he's always pulled through… but he's sick, very sick…" Her voice was trailing off a bit as she continued. "The doctor is due tomorrow… and we'll see what he can do… but we'll have to be strong, Markl… we'll have to be strong…"

She hugged the boy tightly, stroking his back until the sobs grew fainter, and he was just leaning heavily on her shoulder. "There, now," she soothed. "Feeling better now?"

Markl gave a little nod, his face still buried in the fabric of her nightgown sleeve.

"We should get back to bed, then…" Sophie slowly rose to start leading him toward the door, but he refused to move, hugging her legs. "Noo…" His voice was a whimpering whisper. "Please… Sophie… I don't wanna sleep alone… I'm… I'm scared..."

Sophie gave a deep sigh, and bit her tongue. She knew she mustn't blame him. But despite the fact that there were still no signs that whatever Howl was suffering from was contagious, there was no way she could allow the boy to share their room. All the same, her heart was aching at the thought of leaving him alone. Heen, however, seemed to have read her thoughts, since he snorted loudly from somewhere close to her feet, as if to remind her of his presence.

"I'll sit with you until you've fallen asleep," she assured the trembling boy in her arms, stroking his hair. "And you're not alone. Heen's staying all night, and if there's any trouble at all, he'll fetch me… won't you?" She nodded at the dog, and got an affirmative hiss for an answer.

Retrieving another basin, she slowly rose from the floor, helping Markl standing up in the process. He was leaning against her leg walking wobbly as a very young child, as they were moving toward his bedroom. Sophie helped him up on the bed, placing the basin on his bedside table. "Just in case, but I'm certain that you won't need it…"

Heen placed himself on the child's feet, and as Markl laid back on his pillow, Sophie tucked him in, wiping his cheeks with the sleeves of her nightgown, and as she sat down on the bed, he grabbed her hand from under the blankets. "You'll be all right now, boy… just sleep…"

In fact, Markl's eyelids were already drooping and within just a few minutes she felt his grip loosen around her hand. Almost simultaneously, she heard a groan in agony and pain that seemed to originate from just above her shoulder. Howl needed her again, and she knew it was urgent. She hurried out into the corridor, leaving the door opened behind her, and dashed toward their bedroom.

To be continued...