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Chapter Text

Sophie Hatter was a witch. She lived with the infamous Wizard Howl in a castle that went in five different directions–one way went to her hometown, Market Chipping, where she had once been just the eldest daughter of the local hatter (they were an aptly-named family). The others went out to the wastes, Porthaven, Kingsbury, and one went to the mysterious land that Howl came from called Wales. That was probably the strangest out of all of them, at least it was to Sophie; the land was filled with odd electrical contraptions and devices and moving picture boxes (and multiple lives, apparently, according to Howl’s rather eccentric young nephew). 

It was awfully full of houses so squashed beside each other that everywhere was as dense as the square in Market Chipping, and quite honestly Sophie could understand why Howl had the will to escape that place. 

Not very surprisingly, besides the fact that she was no longer an old woman, the moving castle functioned in the same way it had before Sophie’s curse was lifted. Howl was as much of a menace as he had always been, although Sophie supposed that her being a young girl was somewhat of an advantage to him. Although it didn’t change their proneness to screaming fits at each other whatsoever. If anything, Sophie felt more inclined to yell at Howl now that she was technically younger than him. On the other hand, Sophie supposed that she was no better than any other girl who had fancied him before. She did love the wizard dearly, after all. 

Silence in the castle was often a sweet sort of silence–it usually meant that Howl and Sophie weren’t barking at each other. When it was just the two of them and the storm of their fury had managed to calm, Howl would sit opposite her and arrange some of their flowers. Sophie rather enjoyed watching him work, and he was quite good at it, not to mention that she was glad his hobby benefited their business in some way or another. 

Life in the castle was anything but peaceful in its entirety, but Sophie felt that she was living happily ever after like Howl had promised her. Every day was different in the moving castle, but it always started the same: Sophie would wake a begrudged Howl from his slumber and force him to prepare breakfast for everyone while she got flowers from the wastes. Then, after they’d all eaten, Michael would help Howl and Sophie open the flower shop. 

Sophie might have been a witch, but she liked to consider herself a florist at this point. It put something on her mind, which was always a comfort, and she enjoyed the time she spent with Howl there every day. And it was a great deal more enjoyable to run the flower shop as Sophie Hatter and not as old Aunt Jenkins.

People she knew from grammar school would shout her way, and they’d ask if it was really her, if she was really with Wizard Howl! He eats young women’s hearts! Sophie was always a bit disappointed to answer yes to both queries. 

But she had begun to despise the young women that flocked to the shop when Howl was near, because they sold a great deal more flowers when he was in. It was an insult to Sophie’s excellent work ethic: it wasn’t fair that he should just walk in and make more of a profit that she could on her best day alone.

Sophie had to say that she could understand their fascination. She herself was infatuated with him, even though he had an utterly ridiculous personality and a taste for personal vanity. And he had all but pledged to her, so it was right that Sophie should feel a little tug at her heart when a girl beamed up at him with a desiring smile. 

Every day he felt like it, Howl would sling his apron below his waist (that greatly upset Sophie, because she felt that if he really loved his clothes so much he wouldn’t ruin them) and when he passed flowers to those girls they blushed and giggled in an agonizing tone that made Sophie want to magick their hair off or something. They really should pay more attention to their sign: now, it said Pendragon and Hatter Fresh Flowers Daily . Howl was quite proud of that. And somehow still, the thought that Sophie was perhaps Wizard Howl’s young lover didn’t seem to cross a single mind in all Market Chipping. 

It didn’t help that Howl naturally smiled irresistably when he spoke with those teenaged girls. That put Sophie off significantly, because they would have no idea in the slightest what it was to truly love someone like Howl. 

Sophie pouted at the sign. There was something she didn’t like about it, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. 

‘Sophie!’ Howl wailed from inside the doorway. Sophie rolled her eyes, shouting ‘ What? ’ at him through the heavy wooden frame. 

He opened the door, looking desperate. 

‘Howl.’ Sophie crossed her arms. ‘What?’ 

‘Oh,’ He started, ‘Imagine my panic, Sophie, when I woke and you weren’t beside me! You could have gone missing!’ 

‘I was just outside the door,’ Sophie said defiantly. Goodness, he really coouldn’t be without her for two seconds. ‘Looking at the sign.’ 

‘Whatever is wrong with it, my dear?’ Howl crooned softly. Sophie pouted at him. ‘I think it’s perfect.’ 

‘Well,’ said Sophie, ‘You are not always right, contrary to what you might think.’ She looked back up aat the wooden sign. ‘Something about it is bothering me.’ 

‘What’s there to be bothered by?’ Howl leaned against the doorframe. 

‘I don’t know.’ said Sophie. Howl took her by the arms. 

‘Do you enjoy your life here?’ He asked her, and the look in his eyes was sincere enough to warrant a real answer.

‘Of course I do.’ She started. ‘I just–’

‘Come now.’ Howl said. ‘If it’s Michael’s painting that puts you off, he’s just starting out and I want him to keep practicing.’ 

‘Why would I say that?’ Sophie shouted at him. Howl winced uncomfortably. ‘And his painting is good! You think it isn’t?’

‘Uh–’ Howl started, ‘Sophie.’ 

‘I think it’s the name that bothers me.’ Sophie said surely, and she crossed her arms over her chest.

‘My name? Why, it can’t be Hatter’s Flowers , because that doesn’t make any sense!’ 

‘Howl !’ Sophie shouted. ‘Would you let me finish a sentence? I just don’t think people know that you and I are–’ She sighed. ‘Haven’t you noticed that we sell more flowers when you’re in?

Howl was obviously amused by her jealousy. ‘What do you want me to do about it? I can’t help it if I’m naturally dashing. I think I’m predisposed to attracting women.’ Sophie looked at the kitchen, where the window above the sink overlooked the wastes. She could see the sun rising over the hills, which made the daffodils growing there gleam a bright gold color.

‘Why don’t we get married?’ Sophie said, and she looked back at Howl.

‘What?’ He looked properly shocked by that. 

‘Then we can shorten it.’ said Sophie, and she tucked her red-gold hair back over her shoulders. It was quite a practical idea, really. ‘It’d just be Pendragon .’

‘Oh.’ Howl said. His eyes were wide. ‘You mean it, Sophie?’ She almost laughed at the question. 

‘Do you think I go around asking any old wizard I come upon if he’ll marry me?’ Howl laughed, and he took Sophie in his arms and spun her around and around. She squealed with alarmed delight. ‘Howl!’ 

He kissed her, and she would never admit it to him, but Sophie still wasn’t used to the shiver that such a thing sent down her spine. Calcifer made a noise of annoyance, having just floated into the hearth. ‘Would you two warn me when you’re going to do something like this?’ He sizzled. 

Howl grinned, still holding onto Sophie’s waist. ‘Sophie and I are getting married!’ He announced giddily. ‘She asked me, Calcifer! I hadn’t really expected that, I had sort of hoped it would have been some grand gesture on my part, but I suppose—“ Calcifer crackled even louder. 

‘I think I must be going.’ He said, blinking his orange eyes at them. Sophie laughed. 

‘Howl! You’re scaring everyone away!’ She hit his arm, but she didn’t sound angry. Calcifer whooshed himself back up the chimney. 

‘Michael!’ Howl shouted, throwing his arms around the boy as he came down the stairs. He enthusiastically declared that he would be his best man. ‘And you shall walk me down the aisle too, Michael, because you are my closest family!’ 

‘Is he drunk, Sophie?’ He asked nervously. 

‘No,’ Sophie said with a laugh. ‘I’ve just asked him to marry me.’ Michael blinked. 

‘Are we closing the shop for the day?’ 

‘Absolutely not!’ said Howl, his arm still hooked around Michael’s shoulder. ‘Everyone must know!’ He was barely tolerable the rest of the morning; he had clearly taken Sophie’s words to heart, because every time he passed a flower over the counter he sang of his beautiful bride, Sophie Hatter! She’s the one with the lovely ginger hair! Sophie was incredibly embarrassed by it, but she supposed that was what she asked for. He continued in this manner for the rest of the day, and Sophie could barely get him to do his share of the work. 

Of course, she thought, he had to be so happy that he was incapable of being productive. She had just closed the shop and was gathering the remaining cut stems in her arms when she almost tripped over him, kneeling valiantly in front of her. ‘Howl!’ Sophie shouted, clutching the armload of stems closer to her chest. ‘You scared me.’ Howl was holding a bouquet of white and red roses out to her, and it looked as if he’d enchanted them to sparkle in the firelight. 

‘Sophie, please.’ He begged. ‘Just grant me this, darling, because I would like you to know that I would marry you a thousand times if I had to, and I don’t ever want you to think that I didn’t plan on asking you. Because I did.’ Sophie hoisted the bundle over her hip and stepped around him. 

‘Howl,’ She said, turning on the faucet and setting the stems into the sink. ‘I know.’ She took the flowers from his hands and smelled them, taking in the magicked scent. It reminded her of a perfume he had used before. ‘And please don’t die,’ she said to the flowers, ‘I think Howl would lose it if you did.’ 

‘I’m not going to be able to wait.’ Howl mused, still holding onto her hand. ‘We shall be married in three weeks. I don’t know how much longer I can go on without making you my wife.’ Sophie blinked. She could guarantee, based on the past few months, that that was not true. But she knew better than anyone that there was no changing Howl’s mind. 

Fanny appeared very on cue at their door the next morning, her hands clasped together. ‘Sophie!’ she exclaimed tearfully, throwing her arms around her stepdaughter. Howl was behind her in an instant. 

‘Fanny.’ He said, and he set his hand on Sophie’s shoulder. ‘Have you come to seize my bride from me this morning?’ 

‘Oh!’ Fanny let go of Sophie’s arms and stepped in front of Howl. ‘You two are a very odd couple, but if I have anything to say about it, Sophie’s going to be treated like a real bride!’ She sounded defiant, and it was no secret that Howl was the one she thought was odd. He just smiled. 

‘Very well.’ He said. Sophie glared at him. More than anything, she wished she didn’t have to endure this part of wedding planning. But she supposed it was necessary now. She looked at Howl desperately but he smirked even wider, and Sophie scoffed. One of the few times she was hoping to be saved by him, and he was enjoying her misery!

‘Don’t run away while I’m gone.’ she said worriedly, as Fanny grabbed her by the arm. ‘We haven’t even had a chance to talk about anything!’ she said to her stepmother, but Fanny had already pulled the door shut behind them. 

In the days that followed, Sophie found that Fanny had meant it when she said that she would feel like a bride—she felt absolutely drowned in both attention and things to do. Sophie had, in her brief moments of having her own ideas about the occasion, thought of sewing her own dress, but she supposed that the idea was tossed out the window by now. 

Howl had a flair for the dramatic, and Sophie had known that the moment she’d met him, but she hadn’t quite understood what he meant when he wanted a bigger wedding. What he had meant was that this was the wedding of a Royal Wizard, and that such an event must reflect its importance (Sophie found this incredibly insufferable, considering how much he had complained about being the Royal Wizard in the first place). 

Then there were Sophie’s sisters, and of course, Fanny to consider! She was insisting on helping Sophie find the perfect dress. Of course, Sophie would have to fit the perfect dress to her size, but that was beside the point. It had been bold of her to assume that she would have any say in her own wedding, after all.

She hated absolutely everything that Fanny had in mind on that first trip. All of the dresses were all too fluffy, or too silky, or too long or too showy! Was it too much to ask, Sophie wondered, for something a bit simpler? She was coming out from behind the white curtain (You’re a bride! What fun!) in her fifth dress when she noticed Michael, sitting beside Fanny and her pile of unused disposable tissues. ‘What is it?’ She asked skeptically, and Fanny beamed menacingly. 

‘Martha has agreed to cater the desserts from Cesari’s!’ She said joyfully. Oh! Sophie was relieved. 

‘Oh!’ She exclaimed. ‘That’s great!’ 

‘They’re making it her first managing job with them, too!’ Michael grinned. ‘Isn’t that exciting?’ And there it was. On the one hand, Sophie was happy for her youngest sister, but on the other—she wondered if her first could have possibly been any other event. Martha was an excellent cook, and Sophie didn’t doubt her skill for a second, but that was quite an undertaking for a girl of barely sixteen. Even if she had been apprenticed to them for almost a year.

Lettie insisted on helping Howl with the decorations since he’d put himself in charge of setting the mood (as well as choosing all the flower arrangements to coordinate. They were the local flower merchants, after all). What “set the mood” meant to Howl, Sophie wasn’t sure, because as far as Lettie had told her she was only working out the magical elements. Howl spent the majority of his time either in Wales or locked in the washroom, and Sophie was barely able to consider what he was doing in there, she was so wrapped up in making sure everything else was perfect. This was all his blasted fault, wanting to get married in three weeks, and now they didn’t even have a venue, since they couldn’t agree on anything.

Sophie had momentarily envisioned getting married in the square in Market Chipping, in a beautiful outdoor wedding with little white chairs arranged around the fountain on the cobblestone. Perhaps Howl’s family could even come! They could have an archway, covered in flowers from their garden. Then, Howl told her, very excitedly, that the King had offered the palace. It was most fitting for their circumstances, he said, and it was perfect for a Royal Wizard’s wedding. He said they could have the reception in the great dining hall, too. Howl had been visiting the King with Ben Suliman when he happened to mention (surprisingly) that he was marrying Sophie, and he apparently had quite enthusiastically told Howl that he would clear the schedule for such an event. 

Sophie was adamantly against it. She could never accept something like that! And she felt that such extravagance lowered the personal significance of it–to her, at least. So then Howl and Sophie weren’t speaking. Now Fanny had to drag her away from the castle so she wouldn’t break the washroom door down and murder her husband-to-be in cold blood. She could barely remember now how long it had been since they were engaged. Three weeks somehow went by so much faster and more slowly than she could have ever thought. In fact, Sophie had decided by this point that these were the worst three weeks of her entire life! 

Every day there was a new selection of dresses to try, and she liked none of them, even though she would pore over each one hoping desperately that something would click. Then she’d have to run to Cesari’s to try more of Martha’s recipes, and check in with Michael since he was really working himself to death… and she had to check in with Lettie and Ben, because they said that they could help her send out invitations so the guests could make it with such short notice. 

Sophie had no problem answering all of Martha’s questions of taste, including those directed to Howl, since he didn’t even care to show up. Sophie knew enough about him to say something about it, but she was so angry with him that she couldn’t bring herself to care. And oh, was Michael wearing himself out, jumping between helping Martha get groceries and assisting Lettie at mastering a firework charm. Sophie was starting to worry about him, too. 

Calcifer was a different story altogether. He had taken up his usual spot in the hearth, but he had been using it as of late to sit and judge them quietly. Howl would emerge, grumping from his solitary cave every morning, and Calcifer would bark at him to speak to someone, anyone , and he never listened. Sophie would glare at him soullessly when he laid beside her in the bed, since they weren’t speaking, and when he began to snore Sophie felt more and more like physically hurting him. She couldn’t, because unfortunately what was important now was pleasing Fanny and her sisters. Even more, they still had to decide on a place to get married. If they didn’t soon, Sophie might actually explode. 

Howl had already disappeared into the bathroom for the day when Calcifer flew down the chimney again, and she could tell that he had news. ‘What is it, Cal?’ She asked. ‘I have to go.’

‘When does anyone stay in this castle anymore?’ He crackled, ‘Well, there’s Howl, but it’s not like I can see how much water he’s using anymore, and that used to be quite helpful for snooping on him.’ Sophie ignored him. ‘Lettie is asking how Howl wants the flowers.’ 

Sophie scoffed. ‘How should I know? I don’t know anything about him anymore!’ 

‘Please.’ Calcifer rolled his beady orange pupils. ‘You know that isn’t true, Sophie. Why, I held his heart for years and I never knew him as well as you do.’ 

‘Your guess is as good as mine, for why he’s shut himself off like this!’ Sophie exclaimed. ‘It isn’t like him to—‘

‘That’s a lie.’ Calcifer laughed. ‘You know better than anyone how he loves to slither out of these sorts of things.’ 

‘Calcifer!’ Sophie gasped. ‘He wouldn’t slither out of our wedding! ’ The fire demon’s green tufted ‘eyebrows’ flared, and he looked unamused. 

‘Who’s to say?’ He said. 

‘You said Lettie wants to know where to put the decorations?’ Sophie was balling her fists tightly, and Calcifer braced for impact. 

‘…Yes?’ 

‘Howl!’ She screamed, storming up the staircase. She banged her fist on the bathroom door. 

‘ What? ’ He sounded rather ungrateful, for someone who was pretending to be so considerate. 

‘Let me in!’ Sophie shouted. 

‘No.’ Howl said, sounding evilly somber. Was he taunting her?

‘Howl Jenkins!’ Sophie yelled, pounding even harder on the door. ‘If you want me to be your wife, I’d suggest you open this door!’

‘Oh, be serious.’ Howl hissed at her. ‘You wouldn’t.’

‘I would! It’s your fault we still don’t have a place to get married, Howl, and poor Lettie is doing all the decorating with no building? She’s been practicing with Ben on nothing! ’ Howl swore in Welsh. ‘Don’t you swear at me, Howl Jenkins!’ Sophie screamed at him. 

‘How do you even know-‘

‘You think I can’t tell? Goodness, if you think you’re going to get away with this, you’re surely more stupid than I ever thought you were!’ Sophie was screaming at the door panel as if it were Howl himself. ‘You haven’t done anything to help me, and you’ve spent every waking moment obsessing over your looks, which I’d say is a pretty despicable way to treat the woman who’s agreed to marry you!’ 

‘Ah,’ said Howl, from his safe space behind the door, ‘So we’re calling me despicable now.’ Sophie kicked the door.

‘Good riddance!’ She yelled, and she ran back down the stairs.

‘So?’ Calcifer said. 

‘He will not slither out of our wedding!’ Sophie shouted. ‘I am going to the bridal shop with Fanny, and I am going to find a dress!’ And she passionately slammed the door shut behind her. 

‘Fanny!’ She panted as she barreled into the shop in a manner that was decidedly unladylike. Her stepmother was sitting daintily on the velvet cushion, their usual attendant poised in front of her. ‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ Sophie began. ‘Howl—‘ 

‘Darling,’ Fanny cut her off, ‘I very sincerely hope you’re attached to one of these, because you’re getting married in three days.’ Sophie was as white as a sheet. 

‘Three?’ She said. Sophie hadn’t realized, not in the slightest. She was still heaving uncomfortably from her run. She might have expected such an urgent situation to produce the real perfect dress, one that perhaps fit both Sophie’s style and size, but as usual, things didn’t work out the way she would have liked. This batch of dresses was no different than the others, and Sophie most definitely still hated all of them. 

Lettie arrived a few dresses in, and even though it was her third or fourth time seeing her sister dressed like a bride, tears welled up in her eyes at the sight. ‘Oh, Sophie! ’ She exclaimed at every option.

She eventually settled for a dainty little lace dress. It had a too-high neck of laced florals, and a distastefully low bust, but the train was short enough so it wouldn’t drag unnecessarily and it wasn’t as heavy as the others, so Sophie conceded to that. She had to get to work on fitting it to her size right away, so she put on a face and made it seem like she was absolutely in love with it. 

Fanny clapped her hands together with delight. ‘Oh, Sophie!’ She said, her icy blue eyes brimming with tears. ‘See,’ she said to Lettie, ‘It was worth the wait, because she just looks so beautiful in her perfect dress, doesn’t she?’

Sophie looked herself up and down in the mirror. It did look like it was supposed to, and she did look objectively lovely in it. Sophie closed her eyes and imagined the day, and she thought that this could go fairly well with all the other plans. She covered her mouth with her hands in false surprise, for good measure. ‘I love it.’ She lied. Fanny stood triumphantly, clapping her hands. Lettie was now sobbing messily into her palms, her makeup running down her cheeks in rivers of colored goop. It was all a bit dramatic, Sophie thought. 

She was still in the midst of hemming the dress when Howl eventually returned to the bedroom, looking awfully tired and sickly for someone who had been in the restroom all day. Sophie turned her back to him as he deflated on his side of the bed, and she accidentally pricked her finger with the sewing needle. ‘Ow!’ 

‘Are you alright?’ Howl said coarsely. 

‘’Mhm.’ Sophie sucked her finger. It seemed almost as if Howl was going to say something for a brief moment, but he just yawned and buried himself underneath the sheets. Sophie furrowed her brow, preparing to shout at him again-

‘I’ve gotten the Grand Chapel, in Porthaven.’ Howl’s voice was muffled by his pillow. 

‘What?’ Sophie was confused. Howl sighed deeply, but he didn’t move a muscle. 

‘For our wedding.’ He said obviously. Sophie sat in silence for a moment. 

‘Really?’ She said, stunned. He didn’t answer—he must have fallen asleep.

Chapter Text

With one great burst of fear, a freshly awoken Sophie realized that it was her wedding day. She could smell strong perfumes wafting in from the hall, undoubtedly Howl testing out a variety of scents in the restroom. 

Sophie slipped out from under the covers and crept into the hall. Fanny would be over soon, she thought, and she wanted nothing less than to alert her of her presence. 

‘She’s not up yet,’ Calcifer was saying, and fearfully Sophie realized that Fanny was already here. She had hoped to secure a moment of peace before she was forced to ready herself for the ceremony. Her stomach had begun to twist into all sorts of knots just at the thought of this blasted day, and she was somewhat glad her nervousness had woken her so early. 

‘It’s her wedding day!’ Fanny argued. ‘She needs to start getting ready! It’s terribly–’ She looked straight at Sophie, who tried to duck behind the wooden banisters of the staircase. ‘Sophie, thank goodness!’ She said. ‘This demon of yours was trying to keep me from waking you, but I see that was pointless!’ 

‘Thank you, Cal.’ Sophie said to the fire demon, and she turned back to Fanny as she descended the stairs. ‘Fanny,’ she smiled nervously. 

‘Have you finished your dress?’ She said, and Sophie was relieved to have an answer to her question. 

‘Yes.’ she said. ‘Let me get it.’ She had made a few more alterations to it than she had originally planned, and she still didn’t love it, but it was good enough. Sophie had the dress folded messily in her arms and was walking back down the staircase when she suddenly stopped in her tracks, because Michael had just run through the door and was saying something in hushed tones to her stepmother. 

‘What is it?’ Sophie anxiously hugged the dress to her chest. 

‘Nothing!’ Michael yelped. ‘It’s fine, Sophie.’ he added rather unconvincingly. ‘Everything’s fine!’ 

Fanny frantically grabbed her daughter by the arm. ‘Let’s go, Sophie.’ She said, far too happily. This was a bit concerning, Sophie noted, considering that she knew how Fanny felt about Howl in the first place. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Sophie to be happy–in fact, it was entirely the opposite. She just didn’t understand how dearly Sophie loved him. 

Sophie flipped the dial to blue-down and swung the door open ahead of her stepmother. Fanny’s husband happened to have a lovely estate that overlooked the ocean in Porthaven, and Sophie was very glad about that. It was certainly proving to be quite useful, and it was the grand sort of mansion. 

Fanny’s new husband was filthy rich, which she hadn’t hesitated to say to the girls, since she so loved to spoil them. As Sophie entered the grand mansion, she was equally stunned as the first time she’d seen it. 

The walls were trimmed with fascinating little gold-leaf accents, and the wallpaper that was laid around the sitting room was delicate and looked as if it’d been hand-painted rather than pressed, like the ones that had used to be in the hat shop. There were paintings of delicate little cherry blossom trees with birds of all kinds flittering in the branches. It was a calming scene, but Sophie wasn’t feeling very calmed at the moment. 

Fanny set all her things on a cushion in the center of the sitting room. She had various little sets of makeup in a foldout box that Sophie was surprised wasn’t magical. She’d never had that many substances on herself at once, but Fanny insisted. 

And Fanny had her work cut out for her, since Sophie was so picky about how these sorts of things felt on her body. She hated feeling the cakiness of foundation over her skin, and the brushes near her nose made her sneeze. 

She was feeling particularly sensitive today, for whatever reason, and she didn’t think she was the sort of girl who cried on her wedding day. Not in this manner, at least. But as Fanny did her makeup Sophie felt an odd rush of emotions well up in her chest, and just the quickest thought of anything to do with her wedding made her want to simply break down and cry.

Once her stepmother finished dusting the dense powders over her face and Sophie was sure she looked identical to a porcelain doll, she started helping her put on her dress. That was easy enough, but the ties in the back were like the laces of her boots and she couldn’t quite reach them from the back. 

Fanny had Sophie turn around so she could see herself in the full-length mirror, and the sight was surprisingly startling to her. Her face felt hot, and all of the stress she’d been feeling suddenly felt missing. She didn’t like this sort of tranquility, and she didn’t know why she was feeling so strangled in the lace turtleneck. Her throat felt as if it was tightening strangely, and she fanned her eyes to keep herself from crying.

When Lettie opened the grand, dark oak double doors, Fanny was in the middle of retying Sophie’s dress for the second or third time. Just like boot laces, they had to be done in a very specific way, which ended up being difficult to get right on the first go. 

Seeing Sophie all done up, her hair still loose and her wedding dress on, Lettie clasped her hands over her mouth. ‘Sophie, you look beautiful.’ She said, and Sophie instantly sank down to the expensive woven carpet and burst into tears. Lettie exclaimed something in surprise and knelt down beside her sister, and Fanny quickly tended to the makeup that was flowing down her face as she wailed. 

‘Sophie!’ Lettie said. ‘Oh, darling, what’s wrong?’ She just sobbed louder and louder, crying into her lace skirt, which she’d now balled into her fists. Sophie didn’t quite know what she was crying about, but she did know that she needed very desperately to cry about it. 

Lettie ran to find a handkerchief to dry Sophie’s tears, and she seemed to insist with incoherent hand movements that Fanny finish doing up her hair. Sophie could not stop crying, and when Lettie returned, a circle-shaped handkerchief embroidered with Fanny’s new initials in her hand, nearly all the makeup was washed off her face. Lettie tended to her hysteric older sister while Fanny tied it up in a rather fashionable low-hanging bun. 

‘Oh,’ Sophie exclaimed sadly, taking the handkerchief from Lettie’s hands and dabbing at her own eyes with it. ‘I’ve gotten tear stains all over my dress…’ she sobbed. 

‘No one will notice.’ Fanny assured her softly. ‘They’ll all be looking at your lovely face.’ She had already begun to cover the redness on Sophie’s face with more powder. She sniffed. 

She was almost certain that this wasn’t true, but she figured she shouldn’t fight that. Perhaps the makeup would be useful now, to cover such huge upsets. 

Sophie suddenly remembered that the King would be in attendance. She had already met him countless times, of course, but somehow it was a thousand times worse imagining him attending her wedding. She’d just had a crying fit all over herself before she was essentially to be presented to the most important people in Ingary. And, she had no idea in the slightest why .

It was almost like the Witch of the Waste was still lingering and intermittently cursing Sophie. Perhaps she’d had some sort of emotion amplification spell cast on her. That would certainly be typical. So when Michael ran in and told the girls that Martha wouldn’t be ready in time for her ceremony, Sophie resigned to her unluckiness. She almost cried again, but instead she managed to take Michael’s hands and tell him that they could wait. 

Somehow, that split-second decision made Sophie feel a bit better, but of course, Lettie had to run off to finish helping Ben with the decorations. Sophie was decidedly very miserable then. Fanny said that they could be very comfortable waiting in her husband’s home–now everyone was treating her like she was a piece of glass that could shatter at any moment!

‘I can’t just sit here,’ begged Sophie, and she held her arms out desperately towards her stepmother. She was nearly threatening to cry again. ‘I need to help someone, because I don’t feel right sitting here drinking tea while my wedding falls apart!’ Her eyes were welling up with tears again.

Fanny was resistant. ‘Sophie, I think you should relax. Lettie and Martha have it handled, and I don’t want you going out there all prettied up like this! There’s absolutely no sense in getting this worked up just before the ceremony! ’ Fanny said. She was sounding frantic. 

But it wouldn’t be too long, Sophie was sure of it! Not if she was able to help, at least, and she shouldn’t have to change out of her dress to do that. Maybe if Martha had an extra set of hands, everything could go along faster. 

Sophie ran, quite impulsively, out the door of the mansion and out towards the chapel across the street—she had barely made it halfway there before Fanny stopped her, her skirts bundled rather awkwardly in her arms. 

‘Sophie!’ Fanny called after her. Sophie was in the midst of rolling up her lacy sleeves. Martha was in the basement preparing, and Sophie nearly fell down the stairs trying to find her. 

‘Sophie.’ Fanny grabbed her arm and saved her from falling flat on her face. ‘Please, dear.’ She said, rather worriedly. ‘You’re panicking. You should let yourself rest. It’s a big day!’

‘I have to do something!’ Sophie said desperately to her stepmother. Sophie’s face was feeling unbearably hot again, and she added ‘Everything is going to be fine!’ mostly for herself. ‘Fanny.’ she pleaded. 

Martha poked her head into the stairwell at that moment, and she carried an unmistakable scent of strawberry cake with her. ‘Martha!’ Sophie gasped. ‘Tell your mother that I must help!’ She sounded rather accusing, and Martha was instantly concerned. 

‘Mother,’ she looked at Fanny. 

‘I think she should sit down.’ She said. ‘She’s putting herself in quite a pickle, here.’ They were talking like Sophie wasn’t right in front of them, which was incredibly annoying. Martha’s eyes kept darting from Fanny to Sophie back to Fanny and then Sophie again. 

Fanny eventually conceded to Sophie’s wishes, and thankfully Martha had a need for someone to box the remaining cupcakes while she finished baking the sheet cakes. 

Michael was so startled to see Sophie there that he almost dropped the cake he was balancing in one hand. Sophie tried her hardest to ignore him. This wasn’t about her, she tried to convince herself, this was such a big day for Martha! 

Sophie was already feeling calmer when she finished the first box. She really didn’t know what to feel. Sophie was really just afraid that she would cry again, and she wasn’t even sure what time it was anymore. When was the ceremony supposed to start, anyway? She didn’t care to ask anyone, because she already knew that they would be late. On another note, which she’d barely even thought about until then, Howl was still stuck in the washroom. (That was at least what Calcifer had told her the last time he’d cared to update her)

She hadn’t imagined he was trying too hard to ‘set the mood’, whatever that meant, so it was incredibly hard for her to understand how he could be having a hard time and locking himself in the bathroom. 

It helped her to count: there were fourteen cupcakes in each box. Four green and eight pale yellow. They were the colors Sophie had requested, since she liked them best at the moment. Sophie began to like setting the four greens in the center, in a little decorative square. She was just starting to work on another when Calcifer appeared beside her and made her jump. 

‘Calcifer!’ She yelled. ‘Can’t you see that I’m in the middle of something?’

‘Isn’t it your wedding day?’ Calcifer flickered. 

Sophie pressed her lips together. ‘Well, it’s been pushed back to much later, as you’ve undoubtedly noticed.’ She paused. ‘How are the guests?’ 

‘Ben is keeping everyone in order.’ He said. ‘But I’m here to get you. It’s Howl.’ 

Sophie blinked. ‘What?’ 

‘He’s been crying.’ said Calcifer. ‘It’s bad.’ Sophie just stared at the fire demon. ‘I think he reckons that I can’t hear him, but I’m fairly sure he’s been crying on the floor all morning.’ 

Sophie was stunned, in an incredibly worried sort of way. There were very few things that could make Howl that upset, and she was afraid of all of them. 

Sophie was also quite miffed that it was happening today , of all days, because that meant that it almost certainly had to do with her. Perhaps Calcifer had been right when he said Howl was trying to keep himself from slithering out. Maybe he was unsure about marrying her, about throwing his life away while he was still so desirable. Sophie couldn’t bear the anxiety that was starting to seep into her chest. 

‘Sophie,’ Calcifer flashed urgently at her, and she blinked. ‘I think you should speak with him.’ He said it gently, which made Sophie even more nervous. Martha had come to stand beside Sophie, and she set her hand on her shoulder. Sophie was nearly shaking. 

‘It’s alright.’ Martha assured her. ‘I’ve got it now. Thank you.’ 

Sophie sighed, setting the box down. ‘Okay,’ she said, sounding exhausted. Calcifer followed her back outside to the Porthaven door, and as soon as Sophie entered the castle he could tell that a weight dropped off of her chest. Sophie took a deep breath. 

‘You do look lovely,’ Calcifer said, and Sophie collapsed by the hearth. 

Calcifer flickered quietly beside her as she collected herself. Sophie picked herself up and took a shaky breath. ‘You alright?’ The fire demon asked with concern. Sophie glared at him.

She made her way up the staircase, holding onto the wooden railings for support. ‘Howl!’ she said, slumping against the restroom door. ‘Howl, please!’ she sounded uncharacteristically desperate, and her breathing was shallow. Goodness, Sophie thought, she was having another heart attack! ‘Do you not want to marry me?’ She had meant to sound accusing, but her throat felt so tight that she said it more like a wounded child would. 

Howl immediately swung open the door, and he caught Sophie’s arms as she fell backward. ‘Ow!’ she exclaimed, through gasps for air. ‘I’m having another heart attack!’ 

‘Sophie.’ Howl said. He took her in his arms, and held her tightly to his chest. ‘Deep breaths.’ He said, and Sophie flailed frantically. 

‘I’m having a heart attack, Howl!’ she gasped, and her face felt hot with oncoming tears again. ‘I can’t!’ she cried. 

‘Sophie!’ Howl yelled. ‘Look at me!’ She did, still breathing heavily, and Howl grabbed her shoulders. ‘Take a deep breath, Sophie.’ He said, and she was so focused on her near-death experience that she barely noticed how unkempt he was looking. Sophie closed her eyes and followed his lead. ‘That’s my girl.’ said Howl. 

‘Why are you not ready?’ she managed, as soon as she was able to muster enough strength to speak.

‘Oh, so I help you out and the first thing you do is criticize me?’ He was looking quite annoyed. Sophie found that infuriating. 

‘Help me out?’ she leaned away from him. ‘You’ve helped me out?’ She laughed evilly, and Howl coiled back in fear. 

‘Sophie.’ He said warningly. ‘You do look beautiful,’ He tried nervously, but Sophie was still laughing darkly. 

‘You –’ She started, and her eyes were incredibly wide. ‘Have spent the past two weeks torturing me. I’ve barely seen you since you’ve been gallivanting off to Wales and leaving me alone with everything! ’ Tears were streaming down her face. ‘What sort of husband are you trying to be, anyway?’ She sobbed, and she buried her face in her hands. ‘You’re not even ready now! Do you care about being married to me, Howl?’ She was crying even harder into her palms now.

‘Sophie, this was never about you.’ He said gently. ‘I’ve never had any doubts about you, cariad.’ 

‘Then what is it?’ She cried at him, fuming angrily. ‘Why did you leave me ?’ Sophie whimpered. Howl bit down on his lip. 

‘Sophie.’ He said. ‘I’m sorry.’ 

‘You have to take me.’ She cried, and she shoved him off of her. ‘You could have just said something.’ She wiped her eyes. ‘ Anything, Howl.’ 

‘Well, I was under the impression that we weren’t speaking.’ Howl replied dryly. 

‘What a couple we are.’ Sophie grumbled through her sniffs. ‘Why didn’t you come out when Calcifer and I asked?’ Her tone was still coated in anger, but her words were shaky. ‘Didn’t you know it was our wedding day?’ 

‘I was still testing out some things.’ He said. ‘I’m really very sorry, Sophie.’ He said. ‘I didn’t know you were feeling this way. I could have helped you.’

‘But you didn’t!’ Sophie wailed. ‘I’ve been miserable this whole time!’ and she added quietly, ‘I needed you.’ Howl frowned, and he sighed reluctantly. 

‘It’s my sister.’ He said. ‘She refused to come.’ 

‘What about your niece and nephew?’ Sophie wiped her eyes and sat up a bit straighter. Howl shook his head. 

‘I don’t think she quite believes me.’ He said solemnly. ‘She won’t let Mari and Neil come out here, and I think she isn’t convinced that you’re…’ Howl took a deep breath. ‘That I could really love you right.’ Sophie looked at him with some degree of sadness. 

‘I don’t understand why she thinks about you like this.’ She whispered, and certainly from her perspective as the eldest sister Sophie could empathize with Megan, and having Howl as a younger brother certainly couldn’t be easy. But Howl loved his niece and nephew dearly, and he was very capable of love in his own strange way. Sophie knew that all too well.

Sophie felt it when she looked at him, and his dark green eyes glazed over sadly. ‘Howl.’ She whispered. ‘I’ll marry you as many times as you want.’ She hugged him quietly. ‘But now I need you to stand up and fix your hair and your clothes this instant, because I know you can. And then we are going to get married now, like you wanted, because I am not letting all this work go to waste!’ Her anger had piqued again. ‘Howl!’ she shouted, and he jumped up beside her. 

‘Yes?’ 

‘Finish up!’ she yelled at him. Howl, who was very afraid of Sophie’s wrath, had no trouble obeying her. He snapped his fingers and his hair instantly un-frizzed. Everything suddenly smelled remarkably like hyacinth. Which was clever, Sophie thought, since that was how he’d been when they first met. Howl smiled at her, and Sophie felt embarrassingly like melting. 

She wondered momentarily how that Sophie would have felt about this whole ordeal. She probably would have been disappointed in herself, for falling for his tricks.

‘Calcifer!’ Sophie yelped. ‘You should be Howl’s tie, so you can keep an eye on him!’ She looked back at Howl. ‘I don’t want you slithering out,’ she added. 

Calcifer appeared over Sophie’s shoulder. ‘I’m fairly sure the wedding’s almost over by now.’ He said, and Sophie narrowed her eyes. ‘Or, it hasn’t even begun!’ he said. Howl laughed, but since Sophie had concentrated Calcifer instantly turned into Howl’s necktie, to both of their chagrin.

‘We are incredibly late.’ She said to him, and she grabbed his arm. Her dress was absolutely ruined by now, but from far away it still looked nice enough. It was a good thing that Sophie didn’t care for it much anyway. 

The suit Howl was wearing was a rather tasteful mauve color in various shades–it certainly complimented his light blonde curls. As he ran after Sophie he magicked a pair of sparkling green earrings that perfectly matched his eyes. That was just like him, Sophie thought! 

She could see the sea from where they were running—she still wasn’t quite used to how it shimmered. Sophie had read all sorts of books about sailors and mermaids when she was younger, but she had never imagined she’d make it to see the ocean. (Now here she was, getting married to Howl by the sea in Porthaven!) 

The tide seemed oddly high for this time of day, but Sophie shook that off. All she had to do was get there with her dress in one piece, then everything would be fine. 

‘Sophie!’ Howl panted after her. ‘Sophie, hold on!’ She stopped in her tracks, and she realized suddenly that they were nearly at the chapel. ‘Sophie.’ Howl braced himself against his knees. ‘Shouldn’t I go in first?’

Sophie looked at him. Oh, she supposed he should. The bride was usually the last one down the aisle. These weren’t really usual circumstances, but that was at least what everyone inside was expecting. 

‘Wait.’ She held up her hand. ‘Calcifer,’ she started. ‘Only I can hear you now. I want you to keep tabs on everything for me. Just make sure that everything’s going as I planned it.’ Calcifer turned back into himself again. ‘First, go in and tell everyone we’re coming. If Howl just barges in without warning, everything’s going to be amok!’

 Calcifer glinted in response. ‘Alright.’ He said, and he streaked around to the front entrance of the building. 

‘How late are we?’ Howl asked Sophie. He was smiling, like an idiot. 

‘I don’t know.’ She said. ‘It’s surely noon by now.’ Howl reached forward and wiped a few dusts of dripping mascara from her cheeks. ‘Is there something on my face?’ 

‘You look beautiful, Sophie.’ He said sincerely. ‘As lovely as ever.’ 

Sophie kissed him, and she was very glad at that moment to have him there with her, as late as they were. ‘Oh, how I love you.’ She whispered with a smile. 

‘How I love you , Sophie Hatter.’ He said, and he kissed her again. ‘That’s the last time I’ll say that. You’ll be Mrs Pendragon, the wonderfully fearful witch wife of horrible Wizard Howl.’ He smirked. 

Sophie rolled her eyes. Suddenly, Calcifer’s voice rang out in her head. Everyone’s settled, he said, and Michael’s waiting at the door for Howl. ‘Ow.’ Sophie said. ‘Can you lower your voice just a bit when you speak into my head?’ She looked back at Howl and nodded her head toward the chapel. ‘Your turn,’ she said to him, and he grinned. 

Howl stood and kissed Sophie on the top of the head. He practically skipped around the corner. She was really doing this, wasn’t she? She was marrying Howl. She was marrying the heart eater she’d so disliked, listening to gossip about his antics in the hat shop–and he had just happened to steal her heart.

Sophie stood and made herself wobble to the doors. She was feeling oddly sick again, like she might throw up. And was that another heart attack? Sophie didn’t quite understand why she felt like this, but she just wanted to get this over with so that everything could go back to normal. She leaned against the wall and heard Howl’s voice in her head, telling her to breathe. She took a deep breath, in and out. 

‘Sophie, there you are!’ Martha said, and she slid through the crack between the doors. ‘Do you want me to walk you down?’ She asked with a smile. Sophie opened her eyes. 

‘Yes!’ she said. ‘Oh, thank you, Martha.’ she gasped, and she pulled her arms around her sister. 

‘Okay!’ Martha laughed, and Sophie had to keep herself from crying again. Martha sighed. ‘It’s okay.’ she said calmly, and she swung open the doors as she took Sophie’s arm.

The aisle looked much longer than it really was when Sophie stepped in front of it, it seemed to get much larger. Sophie felt incredibly small. Howl was smiling at the end, and he looked as if he was crying. Sophie almost laughed, because Howl didn’t cry all that much, especially when it was appropriate. 

She could feel all of Howl’s important dignitary-related people and most everyone that she grew up with watching her every move, and she almost thought that she’d tripped over the carpet several times. Martha held onto her tightly, so Sophie still felt like she was real. 

Thankfully, she made it to the end unscathed. Sophie took Howl’s hands and she suddenly felt a bit more grounded—albeit, still a little annoyed with him—but for now she felt alright. Howl squeezed her hands reassuringly, like he knew what she was feeling. 

The royal officiant began by making some quip about the long wait, but Sophie barely noticed. Howl was breathing slowly, and she was focusing on the rise and fall of his chest. 

Uh, Sophie? Calcifer said inside her head. Sophie, there’s something going on .

She was choosing to ignore Calcifer and let herself be lost in Howl’s eyes when Lettie suddenly screamed from her seat. Sophie turned her head to look at her sister, and that’s when she noticed the formidable-looking blanket of water spreading quickly across the floor. She gasped. The crowd began to devolve into commotion, and Howl swiveled to look at the scene too. 

That’s what I was saying, said Calcifer. 

‘Drat!’ said Sophie, still gripping one of Howl’s hands. The doors burst open and a flood of water rushed in, rising nearly up to Lettie’s waist! 

‘Sophie,’ Howl said, ‘Get behind me.’ She stepped closer to him. 

‘No!’ She yelled, but she was still holding on tight to his hand. This was just her luck, Sophie thought, and just as everything was about to go right!