I promise I'm not neglecting this story out of laziness! I'm sorry for this update taking forever. In the past few weeks I've been writing four scholarship admittance essays for my future college and I've had two Comp II essays due. The holidays are always pretty insane for me and this year I have more stuff going on than usual. I shall try valiantly though! And I'm grateful for your guys' patience!

Chapter 7: Ab Aeterno

On a brisk winded January morn I woke with a strange weight settled on my chest. The sky was clear and bright, and the castle was bustling with life. I washed in a copper tub by a stone hearth with mint and clover scented water before dressing in a sleeveless ceremonial sapphire tunic, cinched with the silver v shaped Angelus belt over black trousers and knee high leather boots. My fingers shook as I snapped the claps of my cloak to the shoulders and sheathed my sword against my thigh.

The ceremony was not to be a public affair. The only people in attendance were the Archangelum royal family, and the members of the Angelus guard. Sam was allowed as a rare exception, though I suspected only because of Bobby. We met in the great hall, the Angelus guards lined the pillars though the royal family stood to the side as Castiel and I stood across from one another before the marble throne.

Bobby poured a deep silvery concoction out of a crystal beaker and into a bowl of crushed herbs that smelled of cinnamon and willow. He stirred the mixture with his fingers as it began to waft a fine smoke and murmured an ancient Enochian incantation.

Castiel looked calm and placid across from me, dressed in a matching sapphire tunic and wearing his sword belted at his side. His wings were groomed to perfection and reflected light from the stained glass window though his hair was wild and tousled, half plated into a braid behind his ear and weaved with Enochian beads. He caught my nervous glance and smiled faintly, his Grace glinting behind his eyes with an unnatural blue light.

Bobby turned to me and marked Enochian sigils onto my forehead, the mixture felt icy on my skin and smelt of burnt ozone. He did the same to Castiel before we clasped one another's shoulders and Bobby stepped back with a proud smile.

"On this day in January, on the day of Dean's twenty first birthday, you Castiel Archangelum and you, Iustus Dean Winchester are to be bound by soul and spirit. You have trained for many years and strived through many trials to reach this day upon which you will be linked in a bond of eternal brotherhood and protection."

Castiel's eyes were swirling and pulsing fully with the power of his Grace now. He was pulling his power to the surface, preparing for the bond.

"Dean, from the moment I saw you I recognized the light of Alae within you, this light reflects the power of your liege and gives you the ability to withstand and accept the Grace of your bonded protected. Does the light of Alae within you, accept the Grace of Castiel?"

"I fully accept the Caelestis bond and acknowledge the intertwined fate of Princep Castiel's Grace, and my light of Alae."

With those words Castiel's eyes flashed as bright as lightning and I could feel his Grace wash over me like a bucket of ice water. I closed my eyes and concentrated as I had been instructed, making sure not to shove Castiel's presence out. I could feel him in my mind, brushing against me, his blue light mingling with my own like mist.

Unconsciously I could feel part of myself drift outward, to wrap around the globe of light within Castiel like a thin shroud before being absorbed and mingling within him, much like seeing ink dissolve within a goblet of water.

His emotions and thoughts nudged against my mind, I tugged him forward and felt as he did, just as he did for me. Far in the distance I was aware of our surroundings, that my shoulder burned fiercely and the murmuring of the crowd around us.

For a moment I lost hold of everything, I ceased to know of who I was, rather, where the line was drawn between where I ended and where Castiel began. We were one entity, one brilliant blazing light of perfection, of seamless melded minds. It was ecstasy, it was finding a part of myself I had never known was missing, like filling a gaping hole in my soul.

I could feel myself shaking as emotions I could barely describe welled within me. It was a plain of higher existence and perfected peace and happiness. Castiel's soul against my own washed a gentle presence of complete content over me. But in the back of my mind it wasn't enough, there was the smallest piece of the puzzle missing. I pressed forward, wading deeper within his light before being gently seized and nudged back within myself.

As Castiel hesitantly pulled away, so that we could remember he was himself and I was me, I realized we were gripping each other violently and panting out harsh gusts of breath between our teeth. I blinked my eyes open; the back of my throat ached and I swallowed thickly. Castiel opened his, which were still emulating with his Grace, though the light pulsed with my heartbeat throbbing in my ears.

I loosened my hold on his shoulders, where my fingernails were diggings white indentions into the skin and his palms slid down my arms. I hissed as his hand drug over raw throbbing skin and glanced down to the angry red handprint raised against my shoulder.

Bobby's voice suddenly rang out, though he sounded wary.

"The both of you alright?"

I glanced up to him and then around to the rest of our audience whom I had forgotten before turning my gaze away with embarrassment. This was far too much of an intimate moment and I could not bear to meet anyone's eyes. Castiel gave a diplomatic smile that bespoke calm serenity, though I could feel his inner stress as acutely as my own.

I let out a heavy gust of air and shook my head in a short nod before stepping away from Castiel and raked a shaking hand through my hair. Bobby stepped forward and pinned the silver wings of the Angelus against my breast and patted my non marked shoulder with an assuring smile.

Sam careened forward to beam at me, damn him, he was beaming down now.

"My brother an Angelus! Father would be proud."

Sam's words rested heavy on my chest for the rest of the day. I was suddenly aware of the metal amulet resting beneath my tunic like a hot brand, which had always served as a memory, but now felt like a weight.

Midday drew on and I saddled Ignis and rode out into the streets. It was not often that I ventured out into the city. Through the years training at Regnum Dei and Urbs de Astra I had never had the need. Besides, they carried haunting memories from the time before Bobby found Sam and me.

Riding through the streets now, felt as if staring through another man's dreams. Townsfolk easily swept aside and bowed their heads respectfully, and the ordinary military soldiers prowling the streets that had terrified me as a boy cast me awe filled gazes as I galloped past. I rode Ignis through the higher ordinances and through the lower districts. The streets grew smaller and dirtier, the people poorer, and the awe filled gazes bled to either gaping enraptured praise or terrified fear.

I rode till the streets grew more familiar and I recognized the dingy pub at the outer city wall squatting low and solid against the dirt street and beside what was once Winchester's Mill. I dismounted Ignis and led him to the stables even as he flicked his ears in annoyance at the smell of new stall mates. The stableman's man's eyes widened as he took the leather reins and two gold coins.

"If my horse is not here when I return I'll have you dying at the borders of Infernus in the name of the King," I warned, putting on my finest scowl.

He looked near to pissing himself so I considered my point well engrained before entering the pub. It was just as I had remembered, low beamed ceiling and a large hearth. The tables were ancient and sturdy, scrubbed clean with salt and the air smelt of smoke, sweat, ale, and musty straw stomped several layers thick into the ground across the floors.

I approached the bar where I had spotted a familiar figure, just shy of curves verging into plumpness, blonde hair far grayer than I remembered and a frightening, yet kind smile. Ellen Harvelle was pouring a frothing tankard of ale as I approached her, before she slung the lead mug down the bar, froth sloshing across wood.

She paused and gave me an evaluating stare for a moment while drying her hands on her ale stained apron.

"I'm righ' fair shure I'hve seen you b'fore, though I'm gettin' old an' I can't quite reckon where."

"Dean Winchester m'am."

I winced slightly, noticing for the first time how my accent had changed. I sounded much as Prince Balthazar had to me when we first spoke, the rough lower district accents sounding by far harsher than I ever remembered.

Her face lit up and she bustled around the bar to grab me by the shoulders and sling me down to her height for a fierce hug.

"Dean Winchester! I thaugh' I'd never see tha' likes auve you augain'!"

She drew back and raked her gaze up and down my form, eyebrows near meeting her hairline.

"An' by the looks auve ya' you got a few stories ta' tell."

"I was rather hoping that you had a few to tell me."

Ellen turned and untied her apron as she yelled through the pub.

"Josephine, I needja' ta' watch tha' front love."

A thin wisp of a blonde girl, or woman rather, as she was Jo Harvelle and only a year younger than me, whisked through the maze of tables. She had the same fine colored hair as her mother, though she looked more like her father. Ellen nodded to her, and then me.

"An' ole' friend's dropped in. Ya' remember Dean Winchester?"

I had played away many a summer day with Jo while we both avoided work at the mill and pub. During harvest she had helped me with threshing the fresh wheat sold to us by local folks just outside the city. She had packed a sharp tongue and an equally sharp bight. She beamed a radiant smile my way, just as lovely as her mother.

"Course' I do, he was my first kiss af'er all."

Ellen clucked her tongue as I grinned and Jo laughed while leaning against the counter easily before ushering me to a corner table and placing a tankard of bitter amber ale before me.

"So, wha' stories were ya' wantin' to hear?"

I fingered the weight of the amulet for a moment.

"My father…"

Ellen hmmed knowingly and flicked a stray lock of hair out of her eyes.

"Twas' a tragedy, tha' fate of ya' mother and father both, I woulda' taken both you boys in, but those were some mighty hard t'mes."

"I don't blame you or any of the other folk, I ran away with Sam because I knew this."

"How is the boy?"

"Ridiculously tall and still growing."

She grinned and nodded as if she expected nothing else.

"I'm afraid I can't tell ya' much abou't ya' parents tha' ya' don't already know Dean. They were good people. I loved ya' mother like a sister an' not many new how fierce ya' father really was. I'm afraid I'm a' bahd source when it comes ta' this."

The window by the door was closed with an oiled skin though I could see the fading light signifying the sun would be setting behind the silhouette of Regnum Dei soon.

"Don't trouble yourself Ellen; I came for Sam more than anything. I should be taking my leave, my prin…I should be at my charge's side come nightfall. The evening revelries will soon be coming to an end."

Ellen stood and winked at me, " Lisen' ta' ya' talk of revelries an' prince charges!"

I laughed at her slurred imitation of my altered accent. As I drew away from the table her eyes lit up.

"Now jus' wait a moment, God how I've grown' old, I do have somethin' for ya'."

She was gone no longer than a minute before she reappeared pulling a dark brown leather book from an oiled cloth pouch. The once cream parchment was faded a deep yellow with age and the leather was cracking, the hand sewn spine worn loose.

"I saved this from tha' mill b'fore those damn collectors came callin'. Belonged to ya' mother, passed down through tha' family. I can't read so God knows wha' it is, but it's yours."

I carefully rewrapped the book in the oiled cloth and hugged Ellen.

"Thank you Ellen."

She drew back and placed two fingers against my cheek, in the farewell symbol of the outer ordinances, one I hadn't witnessed since my father's pyre burning.

"God be with ya' Dean."

Words not spoken in Regnum Dei. I mirrored her action and placed a gentle kiss where my fingers had been.

"And with you Ellen."

~oOo~

I road back through the streets as the sky bled into brilliant shades of crimsons and golds. Behind me to the east along the silhouettes of the Lerulien Mountains, the sky had faded to a deep purple and midnight blue.

After a stable boy took Ignis Sam appeared, arms crossed over his broad chest and one eyebrow arched in judgment.

"And where have you been all day. You ruffled quite a few feathers ignoring the feast Michael held in behalf of Castiel and your official bonding."

I quietly handed him the oil skin wrapped book.

"What you said earlier…I went the Quarter District."

He glanced up to shoot me a confused look as he unwrapped the book.

"What is this?"

"Ellen Harvelle, you probably don't remember her, gave it to me. She was a family friend, said it belonged to mother."

Sam's hands gentled as he turned it about in his hands and ran his fingers down the spine reverently.

"Ellen was William Harvelle's wife right, the pub owner?"

"Yeah, why don't you take it, read it over and relay any interesting bits to me."

He rolled his eyes, "Castiel was asking after you earlier, I think he wanted to speak with you."

I nudged his shoulder as I brushed past him.

"Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone little brother."

"No that's more of your forte," He called out as I made for the inner wall.

The halls were cast in soft shadows as I made for the royal quarters in the East Wing. Candles and torches had been lit down the major halls and the air hung heavy with the scents of burning tallow and clover scent.

Caelestis Hospes Guards were posted throughout the Wing, though the hall with Castiel's chambers were absent of soldiers. Once the member of the Archangelum family had bonded with their personal guard the number of soldiers kept to closely guard the family member was cut back.

As I drew nearer to his suite I could feel Castiel's presence humming in the back of my mind. It was a strange sensation though not entirely uncomfortable. The powerful thrum of his Grace pulsed warmly in a steady rhythm akin to a heartbeat. But just as I approached the door to his chambers the sleep steady and calm haze of his power and mind up ticked and rolled with sudden distress.

His mind was still clouded, no clear or precise thoughts filtered through the back of my mind and I wrenched open the door as a bright piercing white light flooded beneath the wood.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!"

I drew my sword and screamed as his distress swirled into a confusing swirl of brilliant flashes of light and images. The blinding light was flooding the room and I stumbled forward shielding my eyes.

"PRINCE CASTIEL!"

It was Castiel emanating the effulgent blaze and I yelled past the rushing of blood in my ears at the sight of him. He was twisting in his bed sheets, naked muscles bulging and strained, writhing and contorting, back arched and wings bristled out and thrashing high above his head.

He clenched his teeth and grit out a guttural suppressed scream as he dug his heels into the mattress and arched high, neck stretched taught as his entire body convulsed.

His wings flapped and he rose from the bed several feet, still contorting and jerking about. I ran forward, screaming his name as I reached out for him. Just as my arm and fingers extended, nearly reaching where his leg was bent down, to wrap around his ankle, when his eyes flew open.

They shown with golden white light and were devoid of his pupils and irises. He threw his head back and his entire body arched impossibly as he grit out through clenched teeth. But his voice was wrong, so terrifyingly wrong, as it reverberated throughout the room.

"Do not touch him Dean Winchester."

An agonizing pain seared through the back of my skull as images and sounds flashed by, too quickly to identity what they were. My stomach rolled with nausea as I fell to my knees and clutched my head with a scream, dropping my sword with a clatter of metal on marble. My vision blurred into pained pinpricks of light before Castiel fell to the bed and the room was engulfed in darkness.

For a moment the only sound was of my harsh panting as I fought to my feet, trying to ignore the ache deep in my bones and the urge to collapse. But then in the darkness Castiel opened his eyes and they shown out like beacons in the night. They were pulsing with his cerulean blue Grace and when he spoke, it was his voice again.

"I have received a message from God Iustus."

"Cas," I croaked out as I stumbled to his splayed and sweat drenched form on the bed. He rolled his head limply to cast me a dazed stare.

"We go to Infernus."

So that just happened! OhmyGod I'm so excited! The plot has officially started and now we can really start getting into the meat of the story. Within the next couple chapters I'll have some other points of view, Sammy is going to be spotlighting as a main character in a couple of his own chapters. I'll have a sneak peak soon at what our antagonists are up to.

Ab Aeterno- From the Eternal

Historical Terms and facts:

Tallow-Fat from sheep or cattle separated by melting from the fibrous and membranous matter naturally mixed with it, and used to makes candles, soap, ect.

During medieval periods lead was used in tankards and other eating utensils. The metal would react with the alcohol and cause poisoning and other ailments that led to beliefs of "cursed" drinks and led to other medieval vernaculars.

Straw was used on floors, even in houses of nobles and "great halls". The straw was used in place of actual floors, or in the case of flooring to trap grossness. They would clean the straw out regularly, the richer the person, the cleaner and fresher their straw. A place such as Ellen's pub wouldn't have been able to afford fresh straw often, thus the damp and dank smell.

Review and let me know what you think!