Author's Notes: Well here it is finally finished I know I said I would be getting a few chapters up over the Holidays but I do have the next chapter written up and it only needs editing so it shouldn't take too long. A huge thank you to those of you reading this especially my lovely reviewer Kermitty and I hope you all enjoy this one.
Disclaimer:I do not own any of the characters from legion nor do I claim any, I do however own the characters I create also I am not implying that anything in this story is true so please do not take offence at anything that comes up.
Michael stepped out of the portal back onto the familiar balcony of his own quarters it was good to be somewhere that hadn't changed since the father decided it was time to start acting up. He was sick of holding back now, all he wanted were answers from him or at least something that made sense. He sighed sitting himself down on the plain simple bed leaning forward to catch his head in his hands.
Everything was such a mess.
No matter how hard he tried he still couldn't make sense of anything that was going on. Why the father would want to destroy humanity and why would say he was expecting Michael to stop it by rebelling the way he had. Then there was his brother, Gabriel, he still needed an answer from him as to why he had done the things he had and Michael still had to decide what he was going to do about the information Lucifer had given him. He was still unsure whether or not to trust what Lucifer had told him as truthful but for the time being it was the only explanation he had for the father's strange behaviour that he had to hold onto.
"Something troubles you brother" Raphael said quietly, concern lacing his voice as he moved to sit next to Michael resting a hand on his arm as a comfort.
"It's nothing" Michael sighed cringing at the judgemental look his brother gave him, knowing full well that there was in fact something bothering him. Raphael had always been the most in tune with the deepest feelings of those he was close to, it was almost as though he had a way of seeing the emotional turmoil in them just as well as he could see the physical.
"What Gabriel did to you is unforgivable" Raphael soothed giving Michaels arm a squeeze "He will be punished for what he has done"
"Where is he?" Michael asked sharply trying to avoid the subject of his brothers actions Michael knew his brother would be punished for what he had done, he didn't need reminding of it. He needed to speak to him, to find out exactly what it was he could have done that caused Gabriel to feel so much hate towards him. He heard the words Lucifer had said to about Gabriel being sick of seeing Michael always forgiven for his disobedience, sick of him being 'the honoured rebellious son'. Could that be the reason for Gabriel's betrayal? He felt a shudder rolling through his body as he began to sob, if he had paid more attention to his brother he might have noticed the way he was feeling or Gabriel might have at least felt he could have discussed his feelings with Michael.
"He is in the throne room awaiting judgement" Raphael sighed shifting his weight to wrap his arm around his brother's shoulders holding him as he released a choked cry. Michael sat sobbing in his brother's arms for what felt like hours, unable to calm himself even though he could feel the tension building in his brother the longer he remained overwrought.
"Tell me what troubles you" Raphael whispered grabbing Michaels face gently in his hands looking into his eyes intensely.
"I spoke with Lucifer" Michael choked out as he began to seize control of his emotions once again.
"You know he's only ever looking to cause trouble" Raphael warned looking at Michael with a seriousness he had never seen in him before. He knew what Raphael was thinking but the question still lingered of why Lucifer would tell him what he had if it was only to cause trouble and how did it manage to explain so much if it was nothing more than a lie?
"I am fine Raphael" Michael said giving his brother's arm a reassuring squeeze deciding that taking time to consider how and exactly who he should reveal the information to if at all was the best course of action. Now was definitely not the best time to be discussing Lucifer with any of them not with the impending judgement, it would only cause Raphael to carry the same burden as Michael.
"If you are sure" Raphael replied looking him over sceptically as Michael felt a relief wash over him as his brother didn't seem willing to press the issue any further.
It was customary for all the archangels to be present at the judgement of one of the brothers and he knew that none of the others would be prepared to defend Gabriel for what had been done. Michael knew he had to fight to keep his brothers place, he knew he was the only one that would.
Michael stood walking out of the door heading down the corridor towards the throne room barely registering his brother calling after him as he strode away. If he could just get the father to see that there was a valid reason for what Gabriel had done, that he had thought he had no other choice, then he could perhaps persuade the father to forgive him.
He turned the handle on the door once more pushing it open to find Gabriel kneeling on the floor, his hands bound behind his back and his wings drooped to the floor in a pool of blood. His breathing was ragged and Michael cringed to think of the pain his brother must be in as he wished he hadn't inflicted the wound that was now staining the beautiful marble floor. Michael felt a slight hate for Raphael for not at least healing the gaping wound but Michael knew how much it hurt his brother when he was forced to stand by and watch any creature suffer no matter what crime they had committed and he knew there was no way he would leave Gabriel to suffer willingly.
He could see the remaining archangels all standing together on the other side of the room looking over at Gabriel in contempt and disgust. Uriel stood in the centre of Jophiel and Heniel a stern look set on his face as always, anger filling his ocean blue eyes. He had his wings spread slightly behind the two girls protectively as they both huddled closely so his sides. Michael walked over to stand next to Heniel who reached out her hand to touch his arm in comfort, starting as Michael pulled himself away from her suddenly, returning the look of contempt she had been offering Gabriel. Her pale green eyes flooded with confusion and hurt as she backed closer to Uriel who puffed out his chest, flaring his wings in warning. Jophiel did nothing more than look quietly down at her feet fidgeting with her hands uncomfortably as Raphael walked through the door walking over to stand next to Michael, both sides now clearly separated, not even taking the time to acknowledge the presence of the others. It made his stomach turn at how easily they were willing to turn against one of their own and he now knew that Raphael felt the same as he.
"Now that we are all present, we shall commence with the judgement" the father boomed looking down sorrowfully at Gabriel who kept his head hung looking defeated, as much as his betrayal had hurt Michael it still broke his heart to see his brother in such a tattered state. He looked to his right at Raphael who stood with his wings drooped looking sorrowful and felt a pang of guilt for ever thinking bad of his ever caring brother, the recent turn of events was clearly hurting him as much as it was Michael.
"Gabriel you have been brought here to be judged for your disobedience, Do you have anything to say in your defence?" the father asked standing in front of Gabriel letting his chin drop to his chest as Gabriel shook his head, his body shaking as a choked sob escaped his lips. The father looked up walking over to where Michael and the other Archangels stood together stopping and turning to face them.
"Uriel, my son, what is your judgement?" the father asked glancing at the others as he awaited Uriel's reply. Michael already knew exactly what the judgement from Uriel would be as he watched him twitch his dark wings in agitation. He had never been close to Gabriel and the two had always fought over who had the best battle strategy when plotting attacks.
"He has betrayed us all" Uriel snarled "He should receive the same treatment as Lucifer" He finished as the father grimaced at the mentioning of his banished son. There had been so many of the angels lost that day when Lucifer was sent from the heavens never to return with almost a third of all the angels choosing to follow him, none willing to leave the families they had started with their human partners. It was forbidden for the Angels to mate with the humans but when Lucifer and the others were sent to live among them as punishment for their jealousy they had inadvertently fallen in love.
Heniel nodded to signal that she agreed with Uriel's judgement shooting Michael a guilty look before looking down at her feet in shame. Heniel had always been closest to Uriel always finding him the easiest to find comfort with and confide in.
"You Jophiel?" the father questioned emotionlessly standing back to wait for her answer.
"What Gabriel has done is infinitely worse than Lucifer…" Jophiel began before being cut off by Michael.
"How can you say such a thing, he is our brother" Michael screamed at the top of his lungs finally snapping under the pressure of watching the others slowly turn against Gaberiel. All of the Archangels and the father stopped looking at Michael in astonishment.
"Thank you Jophiel" the father spoke softly to Jophiel before turning to face Michael "and you?" he questioned Michael choosing to ignore his outburst.
"You need to forgive him father, we cannot lose him like we did Lucifer, you said yourself he is sick, he has not been himself lately, father, please!" Michael jabbered frantically trying his best to make the father see sense reaching out to grab his arm as he pleaded for his brother's sanctity.
"Michael, please, calm down" Raphael said softly trying to diffuse the situation, as always, his eyes pleading with Michael not to push the matter further. Michael decided his brother was right, anger would not help solve anything and would only succeed in fuelling the already roaring fire that was currently consuming Gabriel's faith. Taking a deep breath Michael released his grip on the father's arm who was staring at him blankly.
"Please father, do not do this, I beg you, it does not have to be this way." Michael pleaded once more for his brother's forgiveness his wings falling low at his back as the father looked at him, a sorrowful look grasping his weathered features.
"You have always been the most forgiving of all the angels my boy but I am afraid this time forgiveness is not an option" The father soothed resting his hand lovingly on his sons shoulder.
"I live only by your own heavenly virtues father" Michael sighed, defeat crushing his soul completely. He knew there was no way to change Gabriel's fate, all he could do was hope the punishment would not be too severe. The father looked over at Raphael giving him a questioning but warned look waiting for him to voice his opinion.
"You know how I feel about this" Raphael said avoiding eye contact as tears began to fall on his cheeks. Michael looked between the two of them confused, wondering what could have happened to cause Raphael to behave so abrasively towards the father.
"I expected you to at least understand" The father stated sternly at Raphael before walking over to stand in front of Gabriel once again "This is your last chance to repent Gabriel" The father cautioned waiting for Gabriel to make some form of response.
"Why should I?" Gabriel asked finally looking up at the father "My brother and sisters believe I should be banished, so banish me" He finished dropping his head once more to look at the floor.
"Then it is done, you are banished to their world to live among them eternally, your soul wandering the earth alone once your mortal life is extinguished" The father spoke reaching down to remove the collar from Gabriel's neck as his body began to convulse from the deep loud sobs escaping him. Michael screamed and ran for his brother's side, he couldn't bare the pain his brother was to suffer, if he couldn't persuade the father to stop this then he would go with his brother and wander the earth aimlessly with him whether he wanted him or not. He felt Raphael grip his wing and cry out in pain when the sharp feathers penetrated his skin as he yanked hard pulling Michael backwards, grabbing his arm to hold him back. Uriel moved to his other side grabbing his left arm helping to hold him as Michael fought blindly to reach his brother. Heniel and Jophiel huddled in the background in fear of his behaviour as he screamed at the father tears pouring down his face as he watched his brother sobbing alone in the middle of the room.
Michael watched in horror as Gabriel dropped to the floor convulsing in pain from the wound on his abdomen as the powers of the heavens drained from his body and the true agony of mortality flooded through him. The father opened up a portal behind Gabriel as he walked forward grabbing his armour behind his neck and throwing him through the portal himself which closed off just as Michael broke free of his brother's grip and ran in an attempt to follow his brother into purgatory.
"How could you?" Michael screamed at the father falling to his knees before him. Not only had the father fully banished Gabriel but he had also killed him by sending into their realm with a mortal wound. Michael looked up at the other's snapping as he saw Uriel's grinning face looking down upon him smugly as he felt the poison of wrath creeping through his veins. It made him sick to think that these were the creatures sent to guide the mortals away from the deadly sins when they were all as guilty of tasting their addictive poison as Lucifer and his men had been.
Notes: If you have gotten this far then thank you so much for reading! If you do have a spare few minutes just drop me a little feedback please let me know what you think good or bad. The next chapter I am hoping to get up at the start of next week as a little way of making up for my epically hectic life taking time away from my writing!