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[wizard_howell]

Oh, dear. He's had a fitful night with the strangest dreams, and he's not sure if that's supposed to mean anything or not, but he has a tendency both to pay close attention to dreams and pay them no attention. They're difficult to pin down once one's eyes open, but the only thing he knows for certain is his dream had something to do with cheese.

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[talkstohats]

Fortunately, the castle isn't all that big - and sound does carry.

"Howl!"

You'd think Sophie would be able to stand up by this point, and, truth be told, she probably could, if she tried - but she thinks she's justified, this once, in making her husband come to her.

"Howl, I'm - I'm down in the bathroom!"

Her voice sounds a litle shaky, still.

[wizard_howell]

In the bathroom? Sounding like that? How long has she been down there while he slept dreaming about cheese of all things? As quickly as he can he slips into his trousers and throws on his shirt, buttoning it unevenly as he makes his way down the stairs. At the bath he knocks once then pushes the door open to find Sophie sitting by the tub looking terribly forlorn.

"Sophie, cariad. What are you doing down here? Are you all right?" The day is just starting to make sense to him even as his dream does not. "Here, put your arm round me. I'll help you." Gently, he touches the tip of his finger to her chest, just above her heart, like he used to do when she was old and her heart gave her trouble. This time, though, he's listening as nonchalantly as he can. There ought to be two heartbeats: Sophie's, loud and strong, and another, tiny and fluttering.

[talkstohats]

"No - no, I'm all right, really."

But she reaches out and puts her hands on her husband's shoulders, fingers wrapping tightly into the loose material of his shirt, and holds him at half an arm's length from her so she can look into his face.

"Howl -"

She takes a breath - how do you even say this? - and a dozen fears fly into her mind about how he might react. Each, she tells herself sternly, more ridiculous than the last.

Still, it's hard. They've never talked about this, though she can't think, now, how they neglected to.

"Howl, there's something -"

[wizard_howell]

Their eyes meet and study one another simultaneously: what is she thinking? Her own heart is beating so rapidly that he can't hear anything else, especially not while she's speaking. But still... no, he can't.

Of course, no matter what, it will wait a moment.

"What is it, my dear?" Regardless of what she tells him (even though he thinks he knows what it might be), he won't love her any less. He couldn't possibly. Calm. A wash of that is sent out like a blanket to the whole room. She doesn't look all right.