Chapter 66.

The first demon Castiel approached in Hell looked at him uncertainly, but power was radiating from him and he allowed his eyes to shine and she asked no questions but led him to Rowena. She sat at a desk, perusing an ancient grimoire. She knew of his arrival. No demon would dare not to tell her, but she gave no sign of it.

After a moment, she drew in a deep breath that she did not need and then raised her head to meet his eyes. Then she stood, as graceful as a dancer, as proud as an empress, possibly unaware that he had seen the flash of terror in her eyes. "So," she said, "The time has come. I am prepared for it."

"Prepared for what?" he said. Her intelligence was generally excellent, but he doubted that anyone outside the bunker or Heaven knew of his mission and the thought of either reporting to her was disturbing.

"I knew it would come, of course." she said, "I'll admit, I had not expected him to send you as his executioner, but I'm glad of it. There is no cruelty in you. It will be swift."

"You mistake my purpose." he said.

"So, Jack has not decided to seal Hell and either kill me or enchain me forever?"

"No. My mission is diplomatic. He sends respectful greeting to the Queen of Hell, in which position he hopes you will remain."

She was surprised. "He does?" she said.

"Jack likes you. He thinks your approach to Hell and his can work in harmony."

"You're here as an ambassador?"

"And a friend." he said, "Sam and Dean and I would appreciate your help on another matter." He took the whisky from his coat pocket. "I brought a gift."

She took it and examined it carefully. "You chose well."

"Dean's choice." he said.

"He must really want my help."

It was a typical assumption for her to make, but he knew it had nothing to do with it. Dean had wanted to help. If he could not stand at his side, he had been determined to make some contribution to the success of the mission.

"Your powers have greatly increased." she said after a while. Putting the bottle on the desk.

"Jack made me an archangel." he said. He was slowly beginning to see that as a good thing.

"It does nothing to diminish your appeal." she said. She moved closer. He found it unsettling.

"You said you were more interested in angels than archangels." he reminded her.

"Darlin', I would have said anything." She looked into his eyes and smiled. "Repelled by my evil ways, or faithful to your lost love?"

"I am not repelled by you." he said.

"Now that your power is increased, surely you can tell me the name. I cannot harm those you choose to protect."

"I think perhaps you could, but I prefer to see you as a friend and you're right that my ability to protect her has increased. Her name is Jules."

"The hunter, Jules?"

"The same."

She paced around the room thoughtfully. "You're together now?"

"We are. When I told you she was in the past, I believed it to be the case."

"Oh, I believe you. You lie about as well as I forgive and you did seem sincerely sad to have lost her."

"I thought I had to let her go because of my deal with the Empty. She declined to leave me. When I came back from the Empty, she was waiting for me."

"Is it love?" she said. Her gaze was challenging.

"Do you need to know that?" he said.

"I like to know everything."

"To have power over people?"

"What power can I ever have over you?" she said.

"Jules and I are forever." he said.

"A waste."

"I do not consider it one."

"When I met her, she seemed intelligent. She's attractive. I hear she's a fine hunter."

"She is all of those things." he said.

"Forever is an odd word to use, for a union of mortal and angel ... sorry, archangel."

"Jack gave his word."

"And on that word, you will build your own forever."

"Yes." he said.

"That child, so unlike his father, means everything to you."

"He does." said Cas.

"And he sent you here to talk of cooperation when I expected judgement and destruction."

"Jack doesn't judge people by what their past was, but by what they do today."

"What an extraordinary young deity he is." she said, "Does he smile on your relationship with Jules because he wants more nephilim to serve as an army?"

"No. He likes me. He likes Jules. He wants us to be happy. Nephilim are not a possibility." He decided the time had come to offer his other gift. "With your permission, I would like to bring someone else here."

"If it's a Winchester, you have no need to ask." she said, "If it's Jules, feel free."

"It's neither." he said.

"You intrigue me. Bring your visitor."

He waved an arm and Crowley appeared beside him. Mother and son regarded each other in a careful silence for a moment, then Crowley said, "Hello, Mother. Did you miss me?"

Her eyes glittered with tears she would sooner die than shed. "I heard you were dead." she said.

"I was. Died for the Winchesters. Heard you did too. Feathers here was remarkably impressed by it. I think he has a soft spot for you."

"Well, I'm glad that you're back here, but if you want the throne ... "

Crowley raised a hand in dismissal of the idea. "My kingdom seems to be in capable hands and to be honest, the prospect of having to adapt to the politics of Heaven's boy king does not appeal. I work with a fine team now, putting Earth to rights. Heaven too, to some degree. No, Hell is yours."

"You work for Heaven's boy king." said Cas.

"No, I work for the Viceroy of Earth." said Crowley, "An angel tarnished enough to be bearable."

"Archangel, I think you will find." said Rowena.

"We're not allowed to call him that." said Crowley, "Jack alone knows why."

She looked at Cas thoughtfully again. "You should embrace your power. I wouldn't hesitate."

"We all know that." said Crowley, "What exactly happened between the two of you when I was not around?"

"That, my boy, is none of your concern." said Rowena.

"That only makes me more concerned. You have a history of terrible choices."

"So do I." said Cas.

"Very true." said Crowley.

"You work with Castiel." said Rowena.

"Is that what you did together?" said Crowley, "You worked?"

Rowena looked at Cas and offered a slow smile. "I think we worked, didn't we, Castiel?"

"Very well." said Cas. He comforted himself with the thought that he could recognise the presence of subtext, even if the nuances of its meaning eluded him.

"I will have nightmares." said Crowley.

"You don't sleep." said Rowena.

"I will stay up just to have them." said Crowley.

"That makes no sense." said Cas.