Chapter Sixteen

'Hannah, scout ahead,' Dean murmured, stopping the group in their tracks. The road was eerily deserted, but they could hear shouts in the distance, and a sickly, smoky odour met their noses on the breeze.

'I can go,' said Sam.

'You move, I kill you,' Dean said sharply. 'Hannah, go.'

Hannah loosened her sword in its sheath and spurred her horse forward in as fast a trot as she dared, while the rest of them shrunk away from the road.

They waited, barely daring to breathe until Hannah returned.

'There's a village up ahead,' she muttered to them. 'They're burning it down.'

'Gabriel's?' Dean asked.

'Raphael's.'

'Damn.'

Dean dismounted and crept forward, watching the smoke curling up the horizon. 'Here's the plan: we circle around the perimeter and stay under smoke cover. It won't be pleasant, but if we all tie our scarves around our faces, we can stay hidden and pass them.'

While the others covered themselves up, Dean surveyed the landscape, watching for the direction the wind was blowing. By his estimate, they would have to veer west and, depending on the wind, could delay their journey by up to half a day. Even the thought of being away from Castiel for longer than expected twisted his stomach. He angrily tied his scarf around his face, and led the way into the smoke clouds.

Immediately, their eyes stung, and the acrid smell burned their noses and throats, even through their scarves, but no one complained. They just pushed on, following Dean as closely as they could through the darkness. Dean felt his chest constricting as the smoke choked him, and he could hear the others behind him beginning to cough. He took as deep a breath as possible and called back to the rest, 'We're almost there, keep it up!'

Thankfully, it didn't take as long as Dean thought, and they emerged a few hours later, spluttering and covered in soot.

'There's a stream just up ahead,' Dean spluttered, wiping his face with his scarf before stuffing it back into the bag it came from.

He led them all to the stream, where the horses quaffed the water greedily. They washed their faces and refilled their skins as quickly as possible, sensing Dean's impatience.

'We should be at the castle by tomorrow night,' Dean said gruffly as he remounted his horse. 'Come on.'

Several times, Dean found himself too far ahead of the others and had to force himself to slow down. They never pointed out his foul mood, they only followed his lead, stopping when he told them to stop, and mounting up at a moment's notice without a single muttered word.

It was dark by the time they arrived at Gabriel's half-finished castle. Dean made them tie the horses out of sight, and cover themselves in red dust so they would blend in as they crept into town.

They peered around the corner of a nearby building and up at the castle. There were torches lit in some of the windows but not all of them, and Dean squinted up at them.

'I don't know where exactly to find Gabriel, so we'll have to split up. Ash, you take the west side, Hannah the east. I'll stay around the center. Alfie, stay out here with Sam and keep watch. Gabriel should be sleeping, so if you find where he is, come find the rest of us first. Don't try and grab him alone, all right?'

'And what if he isn't asleep?' Ash said.

Dean shrugged. 'If you can't avoid it, knock him out and bring him here. The King says he's not much of a fighter, but let's try not to alert the guards.'

Ash nodded. 'We'll wait for that patrol to pass and then go?'

'You got it.'

They stood in silence, waiting.

'What are we waiting for?'

Dean jumped and yanked his sword out of its sheath, whirling around at the sudden voice. The others had done the same, and they were all pointing their swords at Gabriel. 'What - what are you doing?' Dean asked in shock.

Gabriel was holding his hands up defensively. 'What am I doing? You're the ones sneaking around my town, what are you doing?'

Dean blinked, taken aback. 'Well, we're - we're here to kidnap you?'

Gabriel considered his words, then lowered his hands. 'All right, let's go then.'

'Wait what?' said Dean. 'Really?'

'Yeah, I hate this place, come on.'

Dean glanced at Ash, who shrugged and sheathed his sword.

'If anyone asks, I put up a fight.'

'Right,' Dean said, bewildered.

'You did bring a horse for me, didn't you?'

'Well…'

Gabriel tutted. 'We'll have to get mine, then.'

Gabriel directed them to the stables and helped them steal his own horse.

'So, who are you?' Gabriel asked Sam as they left the town. 'I haven't seen you before.'

Sam opened his mouth, but Dean cut across him.

'He's none of your business,' Dean snapped.

Gabriel rolled his eyes. 'You're a lot grumpier than you were before.'

'You're not helping.'

'Who's protecting my dear cousin if you're here?'

'Also none of your business.'

'I can already tell this is going to be a fun trip.'

Dean groaned quietly and mounted his horse.

'Don't worry, I'll make it more interesting,' Gabriel grinned, slapping Dean on the shoulder from atop his own horse. 'Ew, why are you all dirty, don't you ever bathe?'

'It's camouflage,' Dean said testily. 'We were blending in.'

'Oh yeah, you did a great job,' Gabriel smirked. 'Come on, hurry up.'

'Do you think he ever stops talking?' Dean muttered to Ash.

'Oh, Dean, Dean, Dean,' Gabriel said, apparently overhearing him. 'Talking is my talent, and I imagine you're hoping I have something specific to talk about if you've come all this way.'

Dean prickled. 'It's not me that wants you to talk. Personally, I couldn't care less what you have to say.'

Gabriel tutted. 'What's got you in such a twist?'

'Nothing,' Dean snapped.

Gabriel took a moment to survey him, looking him up and down. 'I see,' he laughed eventually. 'Well, I want to get away from here, so don't worry, we'll get back to him soon.'

Dean's cheeks blazed, and he spurred his horse forward, away from the group.

'Touchy, isn't he?' he heard Gabriel say to Sam.

Normally, Sam would agree, but Dean was grateful to hear Sam tell him to back off.

Dean made them ride longer than he normally would have, despite Gabriel's very vocal complaints, fuelled on by his sudden anger at Gabriel's words. Eventually, it was chased away by fatigue, and he turned around to see almost everyone else slumped in their saddles. He felt a twinge of guilt and had them all stop. They were too tired to set everything up, and it was a warm night, so they spread out their bedrolls under the stars, ate a quick snack, and quickly fell asleep. The only ones left awake were Dean and Ash.

'You all right?' Ash murmured.

'Yeah, why wouldn't I be?'

'I just know how tough this is, that's all.'

Dean sighed. 'I can't stand not knowing if he's all right.'

Ash snorted quietly. 'Trust me, we'd know if he wasn't. Besides, he's perfectly safe. He's got our entire army around him, not to mention Charlie, and no one gets past her.'

'I know, I know, I just…'

'I know,' Ash said. 'We'll be back soon.'

Dean was the first to wake in the morning, but he allowed the rest of them to sleep a little longer, though the waiting was agony. He led the way again, and Sam took the brunt of Gabriel's chattering.

At long last, Dean spotted the mountain and the castle on the horizon. His heart skipped a beat and he encouraged his horse faster, desperate to return as quickly as possible. He didn't even notice he'd left the others behind until he reached a group of soldiers on the outskirts of town. They looked haggard, exhausted, but still straightened up when they saw Dean.

'Who are you?' one of them demanded.

'I'm the King's Lionheart,' Dean said, irritated at being stopped.

'No you're not, Lady Celeste is,' said another one.

Dean blinked in surprise. 'Where were you stationed?'

'The north east, why?'

'I don't have time to explain, but there are two Lionhearts now, I'm one of them, just let me through.'

'Prove it. Where's your pin?'

Dean groaned. 'I left it inside, come on, I have to get past.'

The first soldier laughed. 'Yeah, come right on in, we don't need to know for sure that you're no threat to the King.'

Just then, the others finally caught up with them.

'What's going on here?' Ash said.

'Ash, is that you?' the first soldier said.

'Yeah, it's me. Why are you stopping the Lionheart? He has to get back to the King.'

'Sorry, Ash, we didn't know.'

'You do now, so move.'

The soldiers parted and allowed them to pass into the town.

Dean had never seen it so crowded, not even during the blessing celebrations, and the atmosphere was very different. People were crying and shouting, armed soldiers marched through the courtyard, and Dean had to force his horse to slow down, which frustrated him further.

They broke through the crowds in town, but it was no better on the castle grounds. People were camped at the base of the castle, milling around with nowhere to go. Dean jumped down from his horse when they reached the entrance.

'Get him downstairs,' Dean ordered Hannah and Alfie.

'You're not putting me in the dungeon, are you?' Gabriel complained. 'I came willingly, you know.'

'And gag him,' Dean added, walking away from all of them when he saw Charlie emerge from the castle carrying a pile of blankets.

'Hey, you're back!' she said when he approached her. 'Did you-'

'Yeah, yeah, where is he?'

'He's in the throne room, but-'

'Great, thanks.' Dean hurried past her, through the crowds inside the castle, and pushed through to the throne room.

It had been completely transformed. Makeshift beds had been set up, filling the room, the throne itself pushed as far back against the wall as it could go.

The beds were occupied by those injured on their flight from the outer villages, most of whom were soldiers. Volunteers were running between the beds with water and bandages. It took Dean a moment, but he finally found Castiel hurrying around the outside of the room, wiping the blood on his hands off with a cloth. Dean couldn't help it. The tightness in his chest loosened, and he approached Castiel. Up close, Dean could see that he too was dishevelled, still wearing his silver band, though it was crooked on his head. Dean smiled, but Castiel continued walking.

'You're back,' he said simply, bending down at a bed to heal the gash in a soldier's forehead. He struggled to stand again, but pushed onwards. 'Did you bring him?'

'I did, he's downstairs.'

'Good,' he said, relieved, bending down at the next bed. This time, he swayed violently when he stood up again.

'Hey, slow down,' Dean said, concerned.

'No time for that,' Castiel said, shaking his head and moving on. He went pale after the next person he healed, and fell into the wall. Before Dean could stop him, he pushed himself off again.

'You're going to hurt yourself,' Dean protested.

'So what?' Castiel snapped. 'These are my people, they need me.'

'They need you alive,' Dean said. 'Just - just stop a minute.' Dean grabbed his arm, and gasped. Suddenly, he could feel everything; the bone-aching fatigue, the empty stomach, the shoulder injury that still bothered the King. Then just as quickly as he felt it, it was soothed away.

Castiel gasped and yanked his arm away. 'How did you do that?' he demanded. The colour had returned to his cheeks, the sparkle to his eyes, and he was standing up straight again.

'I - I don't know,' Dean said, slightly dizzy. 'I thought it didn't work.'

Castiel dragged Dean over to the next bed, and Dean reeled at being able to feel so much of him. 'Can you heal her?' the King asked, directing him to the woman nursing a burned arm.

Dean bent down and put a hand on her uninjured shoulder, but nothing happened. 'No,' he said, puzzled.

'But you can heal me,' Castiel said slowly. Then, his expression brightened, and he smiled a pure smile that Dean had never seen before, and he thought he might melt before it. Castiel pulled him to one side, still smiling.

'Dean, when you were performing the ceremony, what were you thinking about?'

Dean shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Castiel's eyes.

'Because when I did it,' Castiel continued, 'I was thinking about how much I loved my kingdom, the people in it… How much I wanted to protect them…'

'Oh,' Dean said. 'See, I was thinking about what I was going to eat when we got back.'

'Right,' Castiel smirked.

'I didn't get to eat anything at the feast, you know.'

'Mhmm.'

'Maybe a nice sandwich…'

Castiel laughed. 'I see. Help me finish up in here, then we'll go and speak with Gabriel.'

They made their way around the room, Castiel healing the people in their beds, then Dean healing Castiel as needed.

'It doesn't hurt?' Castiel asked as they went.

'No,' Dean said. 'It makes me dizzy for a moment, but that's it.'

'I'll admit, I'm a little jealous.'

'I don't think you'd be happy only being able to heal one person,' Dean said.

'That's true,' Castiel mused, 'but you are?'

'If the one person is you, then I'm more than happy,' said Dean.

Castiel gave him a startled look. 'What's gotten into you?'

Dean shrugged. 'I was gone too long.'

'You were only gone a few days,' said Castiel, rolling his eyes.

'Exactly.'

They did another circuit of the room, until Castiel was satisfied that no one else was seriously injured, and he could safely leave for a while to question Gabriel. Then Dean accompanied him down to the dungeon, where Gabriel had been locked up.

'Oh wait, here,' Dean said, fixing the King's silver band for him before they went in. 'There. Much more intimidating.'

'Thank you,' Castiel smiled.

'Is all of this really necessary?' Gabriel asked as they sat him at a table, his wrists bound. 'I chose to come here.'

'Why?' Castiel asked, sitting opposite him.

Gabriel tapped his fingers on the table.

'Now's the time to use that talent of yours,' Dean prompted.

'Oh now he's funny.'

'Answer the question, Gabriel,' Castiel said firmly. 'Last time I saw you, the idea of giving up the north was laughable, yet here you are. What changed?'

Gabriel leaned back in his seat. 'My father tried to kill you and Millennia. That's what changed.'

'How did you know I wasn't dead?'

'I didn't until he turned up. It's a very Castiel move. Why bother with all that army, when you can send a few of your best men and get straight to the point?'

Castiel narrowed his eyes. 'You don't know me.'

'I know you well enough, we're family, remember? Although, I don't remember you being this tense when we were children.'

'A lot has changed since then.'

Gabriel puffed out a breath. 'You could say that. My father went mad, your father got angry, my father went mad again. Life is strange that way, don't you think?'

'What do you mean, your father went mad?'

'Do you think a sane person would try and destroy the source of the blessing?'

'Not at all, but I'm sure he has some reason for all this.'

Gabriel rubbed his face with both hands. 'He thinks he is a god, and that you and Millennia are preventing him from accessing his full power. To him, killing you both won't end the blessing, it'll just transfer it to him.'

'Is that also why he killed Era?'

Gabriel nodded. 'He used your father against her; convinced her he wasn't fit to rule any longer. Getting to keep her power just convinced him of his delusion more.'

'Why are you telling us all this?'

Gabriel sighed. 'I never wanted to be a leader, I'm terrible at it, but my father made me sit there in that awful castle he was building and pretend I was a king. This is the one good thing I can do for the people in the north, and - and maybe you can start blessing the land again?'

Castiel's eyebrows rose in surprise. 'Do you think I'm doing that on purpose?'

Dean's stomach dropped and his hands twitched. He didn't think Castiel should be sharing this information, but he'd learned his lesson about questioning the King in front of anyone.

'You're not?' said Gabriel.

Castiel shook his head. 'There was a - problem - with the blessing. The border has been creeping further and further south for years, not that you noticed.'

Gabriel snorted. 'I already told you, I'm bad at this. Not like you, you're amazing at it.'

'I wouldn't be so sure about that,' Castiel chuckled. He leaned forward and untied Gabriel. 'So how do we stop him?'

Gabriel rubbed his wrists and smiled. 'I thought you'd never ask. Now that Era is dead, there's no way to renew his power. He thinks he's invincible, but I don't think he's got much left. He stopped using it a while ago, unless he had to.'

'Then all we have to do is force him to use it until it's all gone,' Castiel said, nodding to himself.

'Shouldn't be too difficult,' said Gabriel. 'He's not himself these days. Easily provoked.'

'What are his next steps?'

Gabriel shrugged. 'He wouldn't tell me directly, but from what I could gather, he's going to march south and take the castle. He's not expecting much resistance.'

'How many men?'

'Twenty-five thousand, give or take. A nice show of strength to force anyone left to yield.'

Castiel took a deep breath and got to his feet. 'Thank you, Gabriel. I'll have someone show you to your room.'

'Really?' Gabriel said, his face lighting up.

'Of course,' Castiel smiled. 'This is hardly appropriate accommodation for a member of the royal family.'

'Thank you, Cas.'

Castiel started. 'No one's called me that for a long time,' he said softly.

Gabriel grinned. 'You've been stuck in your Kingly affect for far too long. I still remember the quiet little Cas who couldn't even hold a sword. Don't forget who you are, cousin.'

Castiel smiled again and left the room, Dean close behind him. He walked a little way down the corridor, then stopped and leaned against the wall.

'Are you all right?' Dean asked. 'Are you sure you can trust him?'

'This has to end somewhere, Dean,' Castiel said quietly. 'He trusted me first, now it's time for me to extend a hand.'

Dean nodded, but what really concerned him was the defeated look in his eyes. 'What aren't you saying?'

The King looked down at the stone floor. 'We're outnumbered,' he murmured. 'We have half the forces he does, if that.'

Ice filled Dean's veins. 'What do we do?'

'We march. Our army won't last, but hopefully we can stop Raphael before we're destroyed. And we should send a message to Balthazar. Once the dust is settled, I'd rather he take the kingdom than Naomi.' He sunk to the floor and held his head in his hands.

'But - but that can't be it,' Dean said, stunned. 'We can't just give up!'

'This is not giving up,' Castiel said firmly. 'This is all we can do to prevent him from getting to Millennia, do you understand? She's all - all that m-matters.' His voice cracked as he struggled to hold back his tears. He sniffed and wiped his eyes. 'If you don't want to do this, I understand. I can release you from your vow, and you can go wherever you want to go.'

Dean knelt down in front of him. 'Never,' he said. 'I'm right where I'm meant to be; with you. Until the end.' Dean reached out and held his hand, feeling his heart racing.

Castiel let out one single sob, then pulled himself together and climbed to his feet. 'Come, I need to give the order.' He let go of Dean's hand, squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. With all the dignity he could muster, he climbed back up the stairs and summoned the generals.

'I need everyone organised immediately,' he said. 'No civilians. We march at dawn.'

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