Howl's Twisted Castle

23: Into the depths below

Drops of water tickled my cheek as they rolled down the side of my face and dripped from the end of my ear. I reached out blindly swiping the air to stop the water from hitting my face again and I groaned in protest as another drop hit my cheek with a plop. 

Why couldn't I just sleep in peace?

"Wake up sleepy head!" A familiar voice sang into my ear as she flicked more water on my face.

Lettie. . ?

As I pulled myself into a seated position and rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I realized two things very quickly. First, I remember distinctly going to sleep in my room in the inn, which was in Port Haven I might add, and second, I was no longer in said inn, or even in Port Haven, for that matter.

It didn't seem to bother me one way or another because the sun was working wonders on my body. I dug my feet into the sun-warmed sand and gazed up at the underside of the trees from my vantage point on the beach. Lettie leaned over me and blocked my view. She flicked more water at me, but it did little convince me to move. 

"Earth to Sophie! Are you going to get up? Or do I have to get Markel over here to pick you up?" Lettie pouted, standing over me with her hands on her hips. She had on a swimsuit that I hadn't seen her wear in years.

"Markel?" I squinted, shading my eyes from the sun, to get a better look down the beach. I could see Markel waving to us in the distance, and he too was wearing a swimsuit.

Lettie pulled me up off the ground which gave me a chance to get a better look at my surroundings. Everything had a familiar feel to it, from the sand smoothed pebbles on the beach to the little island in the middle of the lake, there was no mistaking it. I was back in Ingary.

I followed my sister as she made her way over to Markel. She spoke to me, but I couldn't hear her because my mind was at war with its self. Last night I was dancing in Port Haven. I distinctly remember that happening. Howl had won a competition and had drunk so much ale that Hamish had to put him to bed. Maggie showed me to my room, and it was a lovely room at that. I remember that I had undressed down to my underwear so I could slip under the cozy goose down comforter. 

So what was I doing here?

My hands instinctively touched my body, and I was terrified that I might still be in my undergarments. To my everlasting relief, I was still wearing the dress Howl had given me the day before. Although it wasn't an ideal choice of clothing and I felt out of place next to Lettie and Markel.

As Lettie pulled me along by the hand, I saw that Markel was standing next to two canoes. They had been pulled far enough up the shore that they weren't likely to move, but close enough to the open water to be launched. Markel flashed me a brilliant smile when he noticed me staring.

"Sophie! You've made it! We thought you wouldn't show," he said, lifting the last of his supplies into their boat. Kissing Lettie on the cheek, he held her hand as she stepped into the canoe.

"I don't understand, what's going on? What am I doing here?" I asked, entirely vexed by the situation.

Markel straightened up from his work and dusted the sand from his hands.

"Howl told us you needed help, so that's why we're here," he said, gesturing to the lake with open arms.

"Why would he say that?" I argued. "--and what exactly do you think I need help with?"

Markel simply shrugged. "You're supposed to know the answer to that, not us."

Lettie chimed in. "Howl said you would understand once we brought you here, so it's up to you now." Her legs dangled off the edge of the canoe as she leaned back, letting the sun bathe her skin.