Fallen Stars [Howl's Moving Castle Fanfiction]

Chapter Nine - Trouble

Chapter Nine - Trouble

"Howl? Now that you say it, that name does in fact sound familiar..." I mumbled curiously. That name is pretty famous around where I lived, which always seemed to be brought up in conversations. Though, since my family isn't so much for wizards, I have no clue who the person is behind that name... from what I remember at least. But it feels like I should know the one with that name, but why would that be?

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled sheepishly. "Is there something he's really famous for that I should know?" 

Richard chuckled for a little moment. "You've never heard of Howl's moving castle?"

Suddenly a pang of memories washed over me. "Right! Actually, I have heard of that name! Figure, the person behind the moving castle must have been a wizard, mustn't it?" I said as my palm hit my face. How could I not remember that? Of course it was Howl, now that I think about it! It was like the puzzle pieces came together now!

I raised a eyebrow at them. "So, you're going up the whole way to the mountains to meet Howl?" 

They shared a quick glance with each other before nodding. "Yes, that was the plan... Though it seemed a bit more difficult than we thought. However, that doesn't matter, since we need his help. He is the only one that has the power to help us." 

 I nodded at them. I felt a little curious, but it didn't feel like they wanted nor could explain further what it was about, and my parents always said that no good answer will come if being pressured to answer. Jacelyn and Richard nodded back at me and pointed a the clouded sky. "We'd better get going, won't we?" 

 My eyes darted to the sky and noticed that the good weather would soon turn in to a bad wheather. I rubbed my eyes and nodded at them. "Yeah, we better hurry before that storm sets in." 

They agreed and we started walking through the little village, with the destination in our sight. As we closed in to the end of the village and the quite neglected trail by it, we noticed that people took their chances to give suspicious glances at us. Unobtrusivly, they whispered to each other as they glanced at us and pretened as if nothing when we noticed. I furrowed my brows and shared a look with Richard and Jacelyn. They hummed a little and shrugged their shoulders. "People around here usually doesn't walk this little path nor up to the mountains, as we said before, it's dangerous up there. You'll never know what awaits you. So the ones here... would probably think that we're out of our minds. Bit probably just a little bit." Richard answered with sheepish smile as Jacelyn agreed with him. I scratched the back of my neck unconciously. "Is that so?"

Suddenly I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned around to face the person, only to meet a sceptical face of a elder lady. Actually quite alike Mrs. Darwin. "Excuse me, but what do you think you three are doing? Don't you know that it's dangerous to travel up to the mountains like that? It certainly wouldn't be the best experience for a young lady in the age of yours." 

I stared at her with a confused expression and sneaked a glance at the nodding audience behind her. That's strange, so everyone was actually talking about us going up to the mountains... I sighed but smiled at her exhaustedly. "Is that so? But, I and my friends need to travel up to the mountains, it's like a mission!"

She tilted her head at the side and scrunched her nose. "Mission?"

I smiled at her formally. "Yes, a mission! The mission is to get up there! It might be risky if one alone decided to travel up to the mountains, but if there's more, doesn't it make it just a bit safer?" I said to the elderly woman and glancing to the people walking by slowly. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "We'll see about that!" 

My gaze landed at Jacelyn and Richard. Why does it feel like these people won't let us travel up to the mountains? I nodded at the two, meaning that we should get going. They took the hint and began walking just as I did, though another hand brought me back. I sneaked a peak behind me and saw that it was the elderly woman again. "No, you three really shouldn't!" Before I could react, the group of people around us started coming closer to me and Richard and Jacelyn. I lost them in the crowd of people, as I tried to get out of the grip from the elderly woman. What is this? 

"Excuse me, but could I maybe ask what this all is about? Who've said that it's very dangerous to travel up to the mountains?" 

Everyone talking sileneced themselves as their attention shifted to the new voice. I glimpsed through the tall crowd of people, barely getting the view of anything because of my short height. I sighed, me and my height sometimes.... it doesn't make things easier. Though, it did make me have a chance to escape from the crowd and search my way to Richard and Jacelyn. The elderly womans grip on my shoulder weakned as the unknown person continued to talk, so I lightly started to sneak my way out of the group of people. 

But of course, to my luck, it seemed like when I tried to sneak away, it turned out that I got dragged further in to the crowd. It seemed like I just happened to appear in the middle of their attention... again. 

"So, could anyone please explain to me what's so dangerous with traveling up north to the mountains?"

I knew that voice, too well to just make it a coincidence. I stared up at the now visible person in front of me and stepped back. I know that face... but who was it now again? Someone with shoulder-leight navy blue hair and light blue eyes? Hm... Why do I get a feeling that I just recently talked about him?

"It's Howl!" The elderly woman yelled with enormous eyes. Everyone stared at him and then down at me and then up at him again. I glanced at him too. Howl? Howl Jenkins, the great wizard?

He glanced down at me with a faint but formal smile. "Might it have been you?" 

I shook my head nervously. "No, actually pretty much the opposite." 

His eyes then left mine as they darted out over the crowd of people, until they landed on a specific elder woman. Also the woman who may or may not have started arguing with me about going the mountains. He smiled at her. "I'm guessing it's you then, way over there, right?" 

She gasped and furrowed her brows. "No! Well, yes! But it was for their own safety?" 

"But who are you to say it's safe or not, if you haven't even traveled up there?"

Everyone was silent as they quietly stared at the wizard, who in return had a bright smile upon his lips. You could see almost immedaitely that it was a fake and untrue, but he also made it seem sincere. I tilted my head at both him and the crowd. Thinking about it, I didn't feel as shocked that things like this happened after the last few weeks that have passed by. 

"Alice!" I heard Jacelyn and Richard shout as they walked up to me. Carefully they glanced at the wizard standing beside me, who still had that smile on his lips and a obvious facial expression. Jacelyn grapped the sleeve of my arm and pointed at Howl. "Is that really Howl?" she whispered doubfully. 

Howl placed his light blue orbs on us and tilted his head. "That's correct, my name is Howl Jenkins." 

I took a deep breath when that was confirmed. So then he was Howl? Then that means, while collecting all info and gathering all puzzle pieces, that he is one of the ones I searched after? Besides that field, the moving castle from my memory always seemed to stand there. It was after all Howl's moving castle, which mean that it must have been. Really, what was I searching after? The field seemed like a good plan, and there's something with that field. Though, besides the field, there must be something else, now that I can't return home. What could that be? 

My gaze landed at my fingers, and instantly my eyes widened. Now I know a reason. Maybe the trouble of traveling to the mountains wasn't needed?

"Mr. Howl?" I turned to the taller man, as he nodded at me to continue. "I would like to ask you something."

"Yes? What could that be?"

I closed my eyes tightly and clutched the hem of my jacket. "Could you please take me in as your apprentice!?"

Once again, everything turned in to silence in the little village.