Whoo! Well, I think that's the end to this story. And of course, this single epilogue is nearly as long as the rest of the story combined! Thank you all for your patience, and happy reading. :)

Epilogue

Lightning cracked deafeningly overhead as the rain-soaked, iron hull of Howl's castle trudged on its metallic chicken legs across the gloomy countryside. Sophie shook with her windows as the boom of thunder set them rattling in their frames. She was crouched with her back against the wall, hugging her knees to her chest and waiting the storm out with all of her might. Howl… a small voice in her head whimpered conspiratorially. Sophie snorted and shook the thought away. She didn't need Howl – she could perfectly handle a silly storm on her own, even if it was her first thunderstorm while in a moving castle. She couldn't, however, keep a shudder from running through her as she replayed their earlier argument in her head.

The day had begun well – bright and sunny with a faint breeze tickling the spindly evergreens clustered near the shores of Star Lake.

"Walk with me." Howl had gently issued after breakfast, grabbing her hand. Sophie had to tear her eyes away from his hypnotic blue gaze to address Markl.

"Look after Calcifer 'til we get back?"

"'kay!" The little boy piped around a mouthful of pancakes. He was practically bouncing up and down in his chair. Sophie would never have expected it, but Markl seemed ecstatic the more time she and Howl spent together. It warmed her to see him feel so secure in his happiness. She turned to the door as Howl spun the colored dial near the window.

"The secret garden?" she murmured. Howl nodded vaguely, a thoughtful grin on his face, as the dial stopped at the bright pink sector of the circle. Seeing that grin, Sophie found herself bracing for anything. Her apprehension was correct; the second the door hinges swung Howl's arm gripped tightly around her waist.

"Let's go." He spoke close to her ear. In one swift movement they swooped into the spring green marsh as the door slammed behind them. Sophie yelped, surprised by his enthusiasm. Howl usually started out slowly when it came to flying together, but sometimes he still shocked her.

Suddenly, the ground beneath turned hazy, and the grass billowed violently, though there was no breeze. Suddenly sick, Sophie glanced up at the horizon line in the distance, where the fluffy marshland met with the cloudless blue sky. That thin line tilted crazily in her field of vision, scaring her even more. A wet, shaking sound reached her ears. With a start she realized it was her labored intake of breath.

Howl had carried them both twenty paces before Sophie raised a hand to weakly tug on his arm.

"Wait, Howl!" When he didn't look at her Sophie dropped her hold on everything but his arm, dragging them both back down to earth. "Stop!"

Her urgent tone finally got through to Howl – he looked down, immediately dropping them both to the ground.

"Sophie?" He caught her as her knees buckled. Sophie saw two Howl's circling above her. They both looked horribly confused. If she hadn't been feeling so queasy she would have rolled her eyes at him.

"Just…give me a minute." Sophie panted. She struggled free of his grip so that she could stand on shaky legs. Her spinning head, however, she kept weakly pressed against the crook of his pale neck. After a moment, she pushed away.

"Sorry." She shook her head, feeling a little silly. Then she turned up to him, playfully trying to glare. "You just move too fast sometimes, it takes all I have just to hold on."

The smile faded from her lips, however, as Howl's expression sunk in. His beautiful, chiseled face looking down at hers carried a countenance of what Sophie could not describe as anything but extreme disappointment. His black eyebrows were pulled together in frustration. He looked almost as if he held her in contempt for something – she knew not what.

"What is it?" She whispered. She laid tentative fingertips on his cheek.

"You're just, so…" He dropped his hold on her and stepped away, visibly thinking. Sophie felt the absence of his body immediately, and wrapped her arms around herself, trying her best not to look as unsure as she suddenly felt. He turned back to look at her, then grimaced. Sophie's jaw actually felt in danger of dropping to the ground. Howl had grimaced at her – she couldn't recall him ever being so rude, not in all the time that she'd known him. A sting of rejection, fresh and true, pooled in her gut. At the same time, however, a slow, creeping vine of indignation wound its way up to her tongue.

"I'm so what?" She asked hotly, hands on her hips.

Howl ducked his head. "I probably shouldn't say." He listlessly offered her his arm. "Come on, let's go back."

"No!" Sophie stepped back, more irked now that ever. "Not until you tell me what you were going to say!"

"It'll only upset you." Howl countered brusquely.

"Well I still want to hear it!" she snapped.

Howl groaned and raked a hand through his charcoal hair. "I mean, you're just so…so…"

"What?!" Sophie nearly shouted.

"Delicate!" Howl shouted. "Delicate, alright! And, god, Sophie - I don't know what to do about it! I mean, I always thought that you were a strong person, and you're by far the bravest person I've ever met…but if just a little flying can make you that queasy…" He shook his head. "I don't want to hurt you. But I really don't know what is going to make you sick or what's going to hurt you, and I just…" For a second he seemed unsure how to continue. It didn't matter – Sophie wasn't even looking at him anymore. She was crumbling. Howl had always told her all the many things she was to him – a friend, a love, a light in his weird world of magic and secrets. Never a burden. But, to her ears, he'd all but just asked her to leave. Hot, angry tears welled up, but she couldn't raise her eyes to meet his just yet. Still, her rage didn't allow her to stay silent.

"Maybe it has escaped your attention in the past month and a half, but I am human!" She articulated. "I'm not a wizard that you can just fly off with at the spur of the moment! And another thing!" Now she did look up, and she hoped the hurt in her eyes would make him ashamed. "I am not some delicate little girl. I can handle much more than you can – and I can do whatever I want without your help!"

"That's difficult to believe!" Howl retorted. Sophie could see he was beginning to boil.

"Believe it! I can do whatever I like without you – in fact, I don't know why I even came out here with you in the first place! I can go walking anytime I want by myself!"

Sophie spun on her heel, keeping her chin high and aloof. She intended to sweep dramatically away, but at her third step her whole leg was suddenly sucked into the ground! Walking with her eyes aloft, she'd been completely unobservant of a marsh pond in front of her. With a yelp, her whole body was sucked down into the murky waters.

Cold, silent blackness crowded around her instantly. The icy water stung her eyes shut and stole most of her breath. Sophie struggled madly against the thick mud that held her boots captive, but only managed to sink herself deeper. Her lungs were screaming when two broad hands grasped under her arms. With a great heave she was free of the mud, and then she was airborne. Colors and shapes passed faster than she could register before she crashed into the hard wall of Howl's chest as they both fell backwards on to the damp grass. His hands still gripped tightly under her arms like she was a child, and she felt his fingers trembling against their iron hold. As she gasped for air she could faintly feel, beneath her cheek, his heart's uneven staccato beating incredibly fast. Feeling more than a wanton fool, she shoved clumsily up from his chest to her knees.

"Are you alright?" He asked immediately. Looking at him, Sophie couldn't help but be embarrassed. While she sat soaking wet, shivering, and with her hem thigh-deep in mud, Howl had not a hair out of place, nor any dirt on him at all. He was, however, breathing hard like her.

"Of course." She answered him. The tremor in her voice was unmistakable, but she rose to her feet with some semblance of certitude.

"This is what I'm talking about, Sophie!" Howl rose also as he spoke. "I just don't know when you're going to be hurt. You can't even walk by yourself!" Sophie squinted up at him in complete disbelief. He actually looked like he was addressing a toddling infant unable to stand on its own. It was unbelievably infuriating. She opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. "I can walk just fine, Howl. And without your help! If you're just going to stand and look down your selfish nose at me, then you have got another thing coming!" With that, she stormed off, back towards the castle door. Howl's hand reached out to her, unsure, as she passed. Sophie ignored it. Delicate? Delicate?! What a conceited, thick-headed…argh! She couldn't even think of a bad enough name to call him!

The sound of glass breaking brought Sophie back to the present. The sound had barely registered when slices of crystal clear window glass scattered all around her as the lightning struck dangerously close to the castle's side. Sophie couldn't bite back her scream as glass hailed over her. She scampered away from the windows as quickly as she could, throwing herself against the far wall of her room. She bit back another scream when the following thunder shook the foundation and rattled around in her ears like an ill-tuned percussion band.

Her own fears were forgotten, however, when a horrible wailing sounded from upstairs, above her head. Markl! Her own fears all but forgotten, Sophie lurched to her feet and raced out of her room.

"Upstairs!" Calcifer shouted from where he was slaving in the hearth as she sprinted past him and took the stairs two at a time.

"Markl! I'm coming!" she called as she cleared the staircase.

She'd just turned round the corner into the hallway when she slammed face-first into a solid, warm chest. Two arms caught her and kept her from falling as she found herself face-to-face with a pair of liquid blue eyes. A few streaks of raven hair stuck to a forehead glistening with sweat, and his hands shook where they gripped her arms. Howl was breathing harder than she was, and for a split second both simply stared at each other, saying nothing. Without asking, Sophie knew he'd heard the screams as well.

"Come on." She croaked and grabbed his hand, leading him with her to Markl's door.

"Markl!" She called as she shoved the door open with one hand, dragging Howl with her into the room. She surveyed the normal clutter of toys and books scattered across the floor. A row of tin soldiers aimed to fire on the writing desk, and a stuffed bear stood guard on the empty bed. Hundreds of pieces of glass from where the far windows had shattered caught Sophie's eye. In the corner, surrounded by the reflective pieces, Markl sat huddled in a ball.

Sophie dropped Howl's hand only to lurch towards the boy. Disregarding the glass, she knelt beside him and rubbed his back.

"Markl? Markl, say something!"

The little boy whimpered, and looked up with teary eyes. "I…I cut my hand…on t-the glass, Sophie. I'm s-sorry…"

"Shhh, shhh." Sophie crooned as she cuddled him in to her.

"Sophie, be careful." Howl, who seemed to have found his voice, reached out his hand from where he stood outside of the window mess. Sophie looked up, and instantly gauged that she couldn't reach him from where she sat with Markl in the corner. The poor boy didn't look ready to move, and she wasn't sure she could lift him herself without stumbling. She was just about to ask Howl to come get Markl from her when he stepped across the glass and lifted them both up from the floor. Sophie gasped and clutched Markl tighter, but there was no need – Howl held them both safely against him as he maneuvered across the room to the bed. He gently lowered Sophie to the edge of the mattress, and briefly their faces were inches apart. His eyes on hers were like a hot flame in Sophie's stomach, and she quickly looked to down to assess the boy.

"Let me have a look at your hand." Shakily, he reached up to show her the wound. Across his left palm, the glass had rendered a thin, crimson slash – long, but not very deep. Sophie exhaled in relief. "It's not bad – Howl, could you get me some bandages and the pouch of poultice from the bathroom cupboard?"
"Yes." He answered immediately, and in seconds he'd returned with the items.

"Don't worry Markl – it won't sting a bit, and in a couple days your hand will be good as new." Sophie soothed as she wiped herbal paste across the gash.

"I hope so." The boy murmured. Then, looking up, he hugged her tight with his free arm. "Thank you so much, Sophie! You're amazing!" Sophie giggled, embarrassed at his high praise. She grabbed the bandages and began wrapping up the hand from wrist to fingers while his curly brown head came to rest on her shoulder. Occasionally, Sophie would glance up from her wrapping and find Howl's eyes transfixed on her. Each time, she'd lose her concentration and have to rewrap back over the hand, making the task take longer than necessary. Within seconds of each incident, however, her eyes would somehow find their way back up to his, and she'd have to once again fix a bad wrapping. Finally, Sophie pinned the bandage in place with a hairpin and the deed was done. She had no idea how much time had passed, but she could no longer hear lightning crackling outside, and Markl's head lolled on her shoulder, sound asleep. Only the pit-pattering of rain on the wooden floor broken the stillness of the night as she cautiously lifted him up and turned to Howl.

"I don't think he should sleep in here with all that glass over there and the window open." She looked up beseechingly. Howl smirked.

"Hold on one moment." he said quietly, and sauntered over to the window. With a slow, steady wave of his hand, the fragments flew up from the ground and, one by one, realigned themselves into two perfectly sealed windows, locked tight. A puddle of rainwater on the floor was the only evidence of any incident. Sophie raised her eyebrows, impressed despite herself.

After tucking Markl in, Howl held the door as they both walked out. As soon as the bolt slid shut behind them, Sophie leaned heavily on the wall and tilted her head back, letting out a heavy breath.

"Hey, you okay?" Howl asked. He sounded concerned. Sophie looked over at him and smiled at his appearance.

"I'm fine," she whispered as she reached up to affectionately brush his sticky bangs off of his forehead, "but you're quite a sight."

She dropped her hand as her grin faded. "I'm so sorry Howl, for yelling at you this morning."

"Sophie– " he began.

"No, please let me finish. I'm sorry I yelled – I am. But I…"

She sniffed, suddenly rushed with emotion at what she was about to profess.

"But I am human, Howl. I'm perhaps not as delicate or refined as the girls you've loved in the past, but I will never be as enduring as a wizard, or a witch. I…" her voice quavered, "I don't completely fit to you, in a sense. I'm weaker – physically." To show him, she reached out and grasped his hand. She squeezed as hard as she could. Howl stared at their hands entwined, but never flinched

"See? You can hardly even feel that, can you?"

"Nope – not even a little." Howl smiled and took her other hand before she could pull away.

Sophie's palms began to sweat. Out all of the responses she'd anticipated him having, amusement was not one of them. Embarrassed, she tried to pull away again.

"Um, Howl?"

"Yes?" He asked as he took a step closer, backing her against the wall. Sophie, to her complete mortification, felt herself begin to quiver at his close proximity. She began talking marginally faster, as she was prone to when backed into a corner by an incredibly attractive wizard.

"Well what you did to Markl's window, I would greatly appreciate it if you did that to mine. The glass broke about an hour ago and I don't know how to fix it but…" She paused when Howl didn't look up yet, then continued hurriedly. "Not that I couldn't fix it myself – I could! I would just need you to tell me where I could find a board to cover the opening, a hammer too, and some – "

At that second, Howl raised his eyes to hers and kissed her soundly, effectively ending the sentence for her. He gathered both of her wrists into one hand, while the other captured her face, cradling her jaw. His body pressed against hers urgently, pinning her where she was. For a split second, Sophie fought him. But then his tongue darted between her teeth, and she lost all thought. Her protest became a heady moan as his silky hair tangled with hers and his lips moved slowly against hers. After only a few seconds, he pulled away. Sophie's eyelids fluttered open to glimpse the strands of hair tangled between them; silver over black, like the moon on the back of a raven.

"You're the strongest person I've ever known." Howl said hoarsely. "You keep me rooted to the earth, Sophie. You're sturdy and warm and brave – everything I want to be."

"But, you said…" Sophie began.

"I know what I said, and I was wrong. So wrong," Howl stroked her cheek emphatically. "You saved Markl while I stood staring. And you've already saved me once before." He cracked a smile when she did, remembering. "I can't believe that I nearly forgot that. I won't again, I promise."

Sophie saw a thought suddenly occur to him. He backed away from her, leaving only his hand outstretched. "Let's go."

"Go?" Sophie asked, puzzled.

Howl only gave a mischievous smile before flying them both down the hallway, and through a gilded door. Then he very, very gently set her down upon his bed.

"I don't want the strongest person in the house to be away from me if that storm comes back." He winked.

For a moment Sophie only stared at him, thunderstruck. Then she jumped up and raced straight into his chest, wrapping her arms around him and hiding her face in his shoulder, so that he wouldn't see the tears of gratitude glistening in her eyes. She had chosen well this man whom she was to spend the rest of her life with. No matter their differences in opinion, upbringing, even height – he had managed to convince her that she was the most important person in his world. A verity that she would not soon forget.

Late in the night, Howl rolled over, starting awake when he ran straight into Sophie. He snorted as he looked at her. Clad from the neck down in a Victorian night gown, she looked every inch a proper lady. However, she slept in a most undignified manner - on her stomach with her limbs splayed all across the bed, taking up most of its expanse. One arm was flung across Howl's waist, while her leg had become hooked across his calves, successfully trapping him beside her. Her face was pressed against his chest, and he could feel her warm snuffling breaths warming his shirt. Chuckling to himself at the absurd mix of vulnerability and dignity that lay beside him, Howl couldn't remember ever being happier. In fact, he never had been.