Three figures rode in the night as the rain poured down upon them. It was the third day of their journey, with a thick fog that surrounded the area, blocking much visibility. The horses walked as lightening flashed in the sky above them, lighting the surrounding forest to look as though they were in a haunted forest. Soon a great roar of thunder startled them, causing them to whinny in fright. A chill ran through the air, causing two of the men to wrap their woolen cloaks over themselves more for extra warmth. They wouldn't arrive at their destination until the afternoon on the next day.
"I hate this. Baby hates this. Why can't we be back at the bathhouse?" Dean grumbled as another crack of thunder filled the air. He folded his arms across his armored chest under the cloak, trusting his horse to not throw him off her back. The metal that was supposed to trap the body heat, instead trapped the cold, causing him to tremble with shivers. His only consolation for the night was that of the forest on either side of them, and that lightening had not struck them. He suspected the angel had something to do with that. "Can't we stop somewhere for the night?"
"Where would we stop? We're in the middle of nowhere. The nearest town is forty miles." Sam shouted as the rain grew heavier with another crack of thunder andlightening.
"Ah great! Now my armor's gonna rust." Dean barked at no one in particular. Looking over his shoulder, he noticed that Sam looked just as annoyed by the now heavy rainfall.
"It's really not that bad. I am quite enjoying myself." Castiel spoke up, earning glares from the brothers. His dark hair clung to his brow. Trails of rainwater glided down his face like tiny rivers, while his tunic and trousers were soaked.
"Of course you're enjoying yourself. You're an angel. You're not bothered by the cold, or rain." Dean barked, walking Baby closer to the angel and his stallion. He failed at suppressing another shiver from the cold air brushing over him. Closing his eyes, he wished the rain would just stop and go away. He did not notice Castiel observing him with a thoughtful expression.
As if answering his plea, the rain stopped. Snapping his eyes open, Dean was flabbergasted to see the rain still pouring, but not on him. Looking up, his eyes widened at the sight of large dark feathers. Glancing to the side and behind him, he realized that Castiel's massive wing was blocking the fall of rain to both him and most of Baby. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that some of the feathers looked long, perhaps even the length of his own body. He'd have to ask the angel to show them to him another time when it wasn't so dark. He wasn't sure what color they truly were.
"Uh, thanks Cas." Dean gaped, looking up at the dark wing as the feathers shown beautifully iridescent in the flashes of lightening.
"Whoa." He couldn't hide the awe in his voice, not being able to take his eyes from such a sight. Turning to look at Castiel, he noticed that Sam was under the protection of the angel's other wing. He too was enthralled by the beautiful colors as they continued to ride in silence.
Raising his hand, Dean desperately wanted to touch the feathers, but hesitated as he cast another glance at Castiel. The angel's eyes were closed as his head tilted back and faced the crying sky with a content expression.
Lifting his hand more, it felt as if he touched a silk sheet. The feathers shifted beneath his fingers as he ran his hand along the hollow, yet large shafts. They were much softer than the sparrow's feathers had been. His fingers pulled away slightly when the wing twitched at his gentle touch. "Damn, that's awesome." Dean grinned at this opportunity. How many people could say they touched and angel's wing? Sam weaved his own fingers amid the silky feathers, entranced by their softness and beauty.
When the lightening flashed again, he watched as the colors shimmered and seemed to make his hand glow, leaving him to wonder in amazement. "You didn't tell us your wings were so big." Dean shouted, continuing to feel the soft feathers. He didn't know if he could stop touching them. Like Castiel's body, he could feel power in the feathers.
"You did not ask." Castiel replied deeply, shivering at the touches to his wings. It had be ages since a human touched them. Shaking his head to rid his mind of much filthier hands caressing them, he took a deep breath, reminding himself that he wasn't Alistaire's captive anymore.
o0o
By mid-afternoon the next day, the rain had finally stopped, and Castiel's wings had disappeared. He did not want anyone else to see them, especially in broad daylight. As they neared a large, extravagant cottage, the angel could sense the powers of the witch. He'd sensed them since they entered the barrier placed around the property line several miles back.
Dean snored as he slept in a sitting position since the early morning hours. He'd spent the entire night with his hands buried in Castiel's dark feathers. After a while, the angel grew annoyed by the constant attention and put the elder Winchester to sleep.
"Welcome to Rowena's, Cas." Sam smiled when they stopped outside the cottage. Dismounting, Sam walked over to Dean and shook his brother's leg. "Dean. Wake up, we're here."
Waking up with a snort, Dean fumbled in his saddle and nearly fell off Baby. Sam steadied him, allowing his brother to make his dismount safely. As soon as Castiel was on the ground, the door to the cottage opened, but no one was at the threshold. The angel glanced at the brothers quizzically, watching Sam smile and head towards the door. "She knows we're here." The younger Winchester beckoned the ebony to follow.
Once they were inside, Castiel observed the interior of the room with awe. The walls were filled with mounted heads of magical creatures, old relics, ancient and magical weapons. Shelves were filled with old books falling apart at their bindings. Glass cabinets and hooks were filled with fetishes* and other forms of jewelry that filled Castiel with a sense of the powers they possessed. The floor was covered by various carpets and animal skins. There were many tables in the large room that were covered with open tomes filled with spells and magic circles drawn on the wood. Ingredients for different spells littered the tables, such as owl skulls, different forms of blood in jars, rat tails, dead ravens, herbs, bones, hex bags, dolls, and much more. When he turned his attention to the large desk, he noticed a thin woman with long red hair, and brightly colored eyelids and lips, sat. She was busy scrawling notes from an old tome when she spoke with a thick Scottish accent. Castiel had met a few witches from that region, but he never beheld such an elegant one as this red head before him.
"What do you want this time, Winchesters?" Her tone told the angel she was unimpressed and didn't bother to look up, because this happened often. He began to understand Dean's words of 'spit fire' to describe this beauty. When there was no answer from the brothers, Rowena removed her eyes from the tome and observed the Winchesters with a raised eyebrow. "What?" She asked with a smug look. "Cat got your tongue?"
Without a word, Dean pushed Sam forward, grinning at his brother's bitchface thrown his way. Rowena leaned back in her chair, raising her other eyebrow. "Well?" She asked again, watching as Sam cleared his throat and looked at the third person in the room nervously, turning his attention back to her.
"Uh...you see..." Sam began awkwardly, causing the witch to roll her eyes and look at the new man in her 'office'.
"Oh my." Rowena breathed, standing up quickly but elegantly, her eyes trained upon the ebony who stood near the brothers. She quickly made her way to him and circled around him like a prowling lioness, looking him up and down with a smirk. "You're not human, are you?" She asked in her thick accent stopping in front of him as she raised her hands to touch his chest.
"Mmm. So firm!" She breathed passionately as she squeezed his pectorals before sliding her hands down to his stomach. "I've never seen anything like you before. I might have to...exam you further in...private." She looked at him through her eyelashes, making Castiel blush.
"Rowena! We didn't come here so you could flirt." Sam growled gaining the witches attention from sniffing the angel, while Dean giggled behind his hand. "What Samuel. I'm a woman. A very old and powerful one at that. But I have needs, too. What am I supposed to do when you wave a piece of such...delicious meat in front of me." She smirked, slapping the angel's ass and causing Castiel to grunt uncomfortably. Dean couldn't hold himself back anymore and let out a bark of laughter.
"Dean? Is it really necessary to be here?" The angel asked, giving Dean a pleading look as the witch walked around him some more, her hand sliding along his firm back and shoulders.
"Oh, you bet your wee bottom is it. I'm the best spell castor in all the kingdoms." Rowena purred to the angel, grabbing his ass and squeezing it.
"Okay, Rowena. That's enough. Let's get down to business." Dean barked, growing annoyed at the witches actions when he saw how uncomfortable Castiel appeared.
"Oh, you're no fun, Mr. Winchester. It's not fair that you get to keep him all to yourselves." She grumbled at Dean before looking up at Castiel once more. "What are you anyway? You're not a demon. Nor a monster. Not even a wizard. I sense that you are something infinitely...more powerful." She trailed her fingers up his chest and neck, before burying them in his soft ebony hair.
"I am an angel of the Lord." Castiel replied proudly, watching as Rowena took a step back in surprise, removing her hand from his hair. "An angel? I didn't think they existed anymore." She paused, biting her lip as if she wanted to ask a deeply personal question. "Is it alright if I get a few ingredients from you, my dear? Angel feathers are very powerful in casting spells." Dean threw a scowl at the witch's audacity to ask. Sam just widened his eyes in shock, before glancing at the angel for his reaction.
Castiel simply nodded. "In exchange for helping us, I will give you some feathers. Wait for the cover of nightfall." In any other circumstance, he would have refused. But because Sam and Dean trusted her, he would too. Rowena grinned, extending her hand to shake his, feeling the rush of power. "You've got yourself a deal, Angel." Turning to look at the brothers once more, she smirked. "Now, be gone with you. I shall see you tonight." With a snap of her fingers, Sam and Dean found themselves outside the cottage, with the door locked and windows darkened. They stared at each other, realizing Castiel was still inside to be 'examined'.
"That bitch!" Dean leaned his head back with a deep groan, rubbing his hands over his face in an frustrated manner. Beside him, Sam sighed as he leaned against the wall of the cottage. He was not in the least surprised by Rowena's actions.
o0o
When nightfall arrived, Rowena stood outside her cottage, watching as the Winchesters and their angel were illuminated by the torch lights from their trek in the darkness.
"Sam. Dean. Step away please." Castiel muttered, watching the boys' nod and move to stand beside the witch. With a deep breath, the angel closed his eyes and relaxed his body. The Winchesters smiled at Rowena's gasp when two enormous, black folded wings shimmered into existence from thin air. They were huge as they extended above the ebony's head slightly. Rowena scanned her eyes down the wings to the tips brushing the ground. As the firelight flickered across the feathers, she could see iridescent colors shining as the wings extended to their full length, taking her breath away. The wingspan appeared to be 30 feet.
"Oh my. They're magnificent." She whispered, her eyes dancing with excitement. Castiel hooked one of his wings around him to better reach the feathers. He pulled four small pinions loose, gasping sharply at the sudden pain coursing through the appendage, causing the wing to quiver. A moment later, the wings disappeared from sight.
"Here you are, Rowena." Castiel held out his four feathers to the witch, who took them with gentle hands, examining the fine pinions in the fire's light. Each feather was about ten inches long with a large and iron-like shaft running the length of the plumes. She gasped at the iridescent colors shimmering as she shifted the feathers about. "Absolutely stunning." Holding the quill, she felt the fluff shift between her fingers as she ran them down its length. She inhaled at the sheer power emanating from the feathers, almost terrifying her at the virtue they possessed. They were so pure and the ideas of potential spells ran through her mind like wildfire. With power like this, she could become a queen.
"I shall put them somewhere safe, so no one will find them." The witch smiled, holding the feathers against her chest, safeguarding them. "Can't have anyone asking where I got them."
"You do, and you'll regret it." Dean growled, feeling protective of his friend's well-being. He barely noticed his hand holding the hilt of his sword at his side, until Sam put a hand on his arm. "Dean. Settle down."
"Rowena. Can I ask you to make something for me?" Castiel asked politely. Sam and Dean watched as Castiel pulled the necklace from under his tunic, examining it momentarily. When he looked up he noticed Rowena looking at him thoughtfully.
"Anything for you, my Angel." She cooed, stepping forward to take the amulet in her fingers to look upon its exterior. "This is a magical amulet, used for blocking one's presence. I take it you're wearing it to keep someone from finding you." Rowena lifted her eyes to look into the angel's blue orbs, watching him nod. "Do you want me to do something with it?" She asked, setting it rest gently upon his chest.
"No. I would like you to make a different item that will block my entire angelic presence from all things supernatural." Castiel insisted, seeing the brothers step closer to him with thoughtful expressions.
"Oh, deary. That will require a massive amount of power to perform. Luckily for you, we've got an excellent source of power. I can do this for you, but it I will need to use a fresh feather. These one's won't hold as strong, since they've been plucked for your wings for a few minutes already. The fresher the better, Sweetie." She mumbled, watching the angel nod.
"Alright then. Do you have a piece of jewelry you would like to use, or do you want to pick from my collection?" She motioned towards her house, walking to the door with the feathers nestled safely in her hand. The Winchesters and Castiel followed her into the house, feeling the warmth rush upon them, a contrast from the chilly night air outside.
"Alright, my dear. What kind of item are you thinking of? I have rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings."
"Why would he need earrings?" Dean barked, furrowing his brow, watching Rowena smile as she raised an eyebrow at him. "You never know, Deany boy." Turning her attention back to the angel, she watched his thoughtful look as he decided.
"What about these?" Castiel asked, picking up a pair of leather wrist gauntlets. "With these, they will be useful and will not stick out. I will resemble you." He pointed towards Sam and Dean's wrist gauntlets around their forearms, making Dean grin.
"Oooh, aren't you a clever boy." The witch smirked at Castiel, causing him to smile with a soft chuckle. "Hand em over, and I shall hide your presence from all things, supernatural, just as you asked. Even from me." She held her hands out, grabbing the wrist gauntlets and laying them on her table. She then took up a piece of white chalk and drew a magical design on the wood, placing the gauntlets in the center when she finished. Grabbing a piece of parchment, she scribbled a few ancient runes upon it, placing it on top of the gauntlets. Taking a dagger from a nearby table, she cut into her palm, allowing her blood to drip onto the parchment and the gauntlets.
"Now I need your feather, deary." She held out her bloody hand to the angel, who had summoned his folded wings into view. Reaching out, he pulled a feather loose, before his wings disappeared again. Handing it to her, they all watched as she chanted a spell, dropping the feather onto the items in the magical circle, creating a a small explosion.
"Woah!" Dean shouted, stumbling back in shock, gripping Sam's cloak beside him.
"All done." Rowena smirked, picking up the guantlets and opened them to reveal the runes that were previously etched on the parchment now carved into the leather's interior. "As long as these runes touch your skin, all your angelic powers will be hidden from all things supernatural. Now you can still use your powers of course, but unless anyone sees you actually practicing them, they will simply think that you are a mere human."
Castiel took them from her gratefully, muttering his gratitude. Sam and Dean assisted in strapping the leather pieces onto his forearms. Castiel felt uncomfortable with them on, his memories of being cuffed in chains resurfacing. With a deep breath, he was able to push them down, instead focusing on the idea that they will hide him.
"One more thing deary." Rowena spoke up, grabbing a silver band from a cup on the nearby bookshelf. "Perhaps it would be wise to use this as a diversion piece to replace the amulet. Wouldn't want your friend to suspect your new gauntlets, now do we?" She smirked at the men nodding their heads. "My gift to you, Angel. Free of charge." She kissed the band and whispered a spell to make it glow momentarily, then motioned for Castiel to give her his hand.
Sam and Dean watched as Rowena gently slid the band onto the angel's index finger. "If you ever need anything, just call upon me through this ring, and I will hear you." Dean frowned at the statment. She never did anything like that for him and Sam.
"I thank you for your kindness, Rowena. I am indeed grateful." Castiel smiled, grasping her hand in his and bowing his head to kiss the back of her hand, causing her to blush.
"Oh, I knew I liked you for a reason." She breathed seductively, then glared at Sam and Dean. "Why can't you boys be grateful like this sweetie over here?"
o0o
* Fetish- object with magical powers, or containing a spirit.
Also, as I reread this story, I wanted clarify about Sam and Dean's armor. I realize I just write that they are wearing armor. In my mind, I imagine it to be light and smaller, not like the thick and heavy armor old knights wore. Only the breast plates and shin guards are armor.