Dear readers;

I'm so terribly sorry to have kept you waiting for this long! Spring has been a very busy time for me, and I've recently started a new job, which takes some getting used to. There are just a couple chapters left to write of this story-in fact, I'm currently working on what I *think* might be the last one (it has to be followed by an epilogue, though). For every written chapter, I'll publish another, and it won't be abandoned.

In fact, I do have other fanfics in the planning. They're set in completely different fandoms, but for those of you who like non-slash hurt/comfort stories, they might be worth checking out, still. Nothing new will be published until this one is finished, though!

I can promise one other thing for sure–you will *not* have to wait for months until the next chapter of this story. Can't say exactly when, but... not too long!

Thank you, once again for all your kind words and reviews!

Love,

BoMD

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Sophie woke from her slumber with a start, vaguely aware of Calcifer's voice, calling for her from the kitchen. She didn't even remember falling asleep. Or had she actually been sleeping at all? Maybe it was just her mind that had been drifting. As she rose from the bed, she realized that her right hand was still tightly clasped around the sponge she'd been using to moisten Howl's cracked lips. Despite the light that was filtering through the curtains, she couldn't tell whether it was morning, afternoon or even in the middle of the night.

During the last couple hours–or how much time that had actually passed–Howl's condition was steadily deteriorating, and she felt him fading by the minute. He appeared unconscious, but his breathing was still heavy with pain. Lying motionless on the bed, his body was frequently convulsing with weak, dry heaves, sometimes producing a small trickle of blood. But even the heaves were getting weaker now, and though he was feeling a little bit cooler to the touch, Sophie knew it wasn't a good sign–his body was starting to shut down.

The mark under his ribs had definitely grown in size, screaming red and swollen against his pale, almost transparent looking skin. Sophie could actually feel it throbbing under her hand. Even the magical link between Howl and Sophie had weakened so much that she could no longer feel him reaching out to her subconscious. She got no indication that he was aware of her presence at all. Still, she remained constantly by his side, offering him all the comfort she could provide; stroking his hair, holding his hand, and occasionally sponging his feverish skin.

"Sophie!" she heard Calcifer calling out for a second time. "Someone at the Market Chipping door!"

With a heavy sigh, she made it down the stairs, and opened the door, finding Lettie standing outside.

"Oh sis…" Lettie's brows were creased with concern, her voice strained with compassion. "You… you look terrible…"

Sophie sighed anew. "You're probably right… things are not looking too bright over here…"

"How is he…?" Lettie bit her lip, obviously fearing the answer.

"Not so well…" Sophie drew a shuddering breath, but managed to compose herself. "In all honesty…" She tried to speak, multiple times, but her voice was gone.

"Oh, God, sis… I'm so sorry…" Quickly putting down the basket she'd been carrying, Lettie drew her into a long embrace. Sophie felt she hardly had the strength to hug her back.

"Can I come in?" Lettie inquired as she eventually released her.

"Of course." Sophie stepped aside, and they both walked into the kitchen.

Sophie sank down at a chair by the table, and Lettie seated herself in front of her, after putting down her basket on the kitchen counter. "I know it must be hard for you… but have you managed to eat any of that food I left you?"

Sophie shook her head. "Not too much, I'm afraid…"

"When did you last have anything to eat?"

"Honestly… I don't even remember…" Sophie rubbed her eyes with the backside of her hands.

"That's what I thought. I'll prepare some tea and biscuits for you. They're nothing fancy, but there's some real butter and flour in them, at least… Calcifer?"

The fire demon was reaching for a teapot even before Lettie had voiced the question.

"How is Markl?" Sophie's eyes were locked on the table surface.

"He's fine. But he's worried sick about Howl. Many people have seen your note on the door, and Markl's had quite a few customers… what a sweet boy he is." Lettie shook her head. "You have many loyal friends here, Sophie… and they're trying their best to find another doctor… and so are we. Markl even sent a letter for that… Prince Justin of yours. But I reckon you haven't seen today's paper?"

Sophie shook her head. "No. I haven't read the newspapers for quite a while now, you know…"

Lettie sighed. "Sorry… Well, apparently the flu has struck the royal court a couple days ago, and according to the news, even Prince Justin himself has taken sick."

"Oh…" Sophie's weary eyes met Lettie's. "Is it serious?"

"No fatalities have been reported, according to the newspapers, at least. Had they not been royalties, they'd probably managed without medical treatment. But since they are…"

"Yeah." Sophie sighed. "Medical attention around the clock, probably one doctor for each member of the court…"

"I'm sorry…" Lettie's chin was trembling, and for a moment, Sophie was afraid she'd burst into tears.

"It's all right," Sophie said, taking her hand. She realized how cold and numb her own fingers felt as Lettie placed her other hand on top of hers, squeezing it gently.

They sat in silence, until Calcifer broke in, announcing that the tea water was hot. Sophie made an attempt to rise, but Lettie stopped her. "Please, let me…"

Sophie sat down again, with a resigned sigh. She didn't have the energy to argue.

It didn't take Lettie and Calcifer many moments to prepare a couple of buns and a cup of tea for Sophie. Lettie placed them in front of Sophie with a demanding gesture.

Sighing, Sophie nibbled the bun, and put the piece in her mouth. Actually, it didn't taste too bad: Lettie was a true talent when it came to turning even the stalest of ingredients into delicious bread or pastries. But Sophie's mouth was all but dry and she had to muster up all her strength even to force down a mouthful. "Look, Lettie… you have no idea how much I appreciate all your help… but I really need to check on Howl before I…"

Lettie nodded. "I understand, but please, promise you'll try and finish this…"

"I'll try…" But Sophie couldn't meet her eyes, and had to look away.

"Listen, big sis', I'll be back tomorrow… or whenever you need me… just send Calcifer for me if…"

"I will…" Rising mechanically from the table, Sophie pulled Lettie into a hug, fighting to control the feelings of despair that threatened to overwhelm her at the touch.

"Let us know if there is any development…"

Sophie managed a nod. "But of course… And tell Markl that I love him, will you? Well… that we all do…"

"I will…" Lettie hugged her once more, and walked to the door. "Take care, sister…" She was unable to conceal the tear that was starting to make its way down her cheek as she turned around.

With heavy steps, well aware of that Calcifer was following her with her eyes, Sophie started walking up the stairs.

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For a moment, her heart raced in panic as she saw Howl on the bed. He was still lying in the same position as when she'd left him, curled up on his side, and didn't appear to be moving at all. But as she got closer, she noticed that his back was still heaving with heavy breaths, and his jaws were tightly shut. His face was lined with pain, and as she gently put a hand on his forehead, she noticed that the towel she'd placed under his face had been stained with blood. Shuddering, she wiped his mouth before replacing it with a fresh towel. Howl gave a barely audible whimper, but otherwise he remained unresponsive.

Straightening his blankets, she stroke his bangs away from his forehead. She tried to speak, but not a single word came over her chapped lips. Suddenly, she heard Calcifer's voice from the kitchen, calling her name. She placed a kiss on her husband's cheek, feeling its flaring heat against her lips, and started to move toward the door again.

Walking through the hallway, a thought that she'd been trying to fight for too long suddenly struck her with full force. If Howl didn't make it… what would actually happen to the castle? Would Calcifer be able to keep its structure together on his own? Maybe Markl had the skills to help him out to a certain degree, but still? This castle was mostly created with Howl's magic… what if it actually were to collapse with his death? And all the maintenance tasks that he usually performed… there were so many of them that she wasn't even aware of. The fresh water tank had to be refilled on a regular basis, and purified with a proper spell.

Before she got to know Howl, Markl and Calcifer, her general belief was that wizards simply used some magic trick to make all the waste products from their household disappear into thin air. Now, she knew that it wasn't quite that simple–there were specific rules that everything taken from nature had to be recycled in a proper way. On a regular basis, Howl and Calcifer did perform some kind of ritual to restore all waste water and litter and turn it back into dust. But how often did these things have to be done? And where? And how? She had no specific memory of when she last saw them do it. What happened if they waited too long? Would it pose a danger to Markl, perhaps for all of them, maybe an increased risk of bacterial infections and disease? How did they even know when it was time?

Sophie's thoughts were abruptly cut off by Calcifer, as she entered the kitchen. "Sophie… Lettie was right. You mustn't let that food get to waste. No one would benefit from that, and you really need to eat–please? I don't care whether you bring the food upstairs, but…"

"Oh Calcifer…" Once more, Sophie sank down at the kitchen table, almost feeling like her legs were buckling underneath her. "Calcifer…" she heard herself bursting out. "What is a septic tank… and how does it work?"

For a moment, the fire demon looked positively bewildered. Then, he suddenly seemed to understand. Silently, he slid across the kitchen, placing himself in front of her, hovering over the table. Gently, he reached out his fiery hands, placing them on top of hers, careful not to scorch her.

To be continued...