Author's Note: Not much of an author's note to this accept that my friend Erek and I are thinking about trying a Fallen RPG. If you're interested, please drop me a note. I'm formating the forum right now. Also in my LiveJournal there are links to two Kamelot songs. One is, of course, "Across the Highlands" and the other is "Farewell" from the CD Epica (the same CD that the Ariel and Helena story is from). As I was writing this, I realized that that the lyrics of that particular song fit Camael really well. The link to my LJ is in my profile. Well, last part of this fic is here, so please enjoy.

Part III

It wasn't like this was anything new for him. When one was in as much constant pain as he was, any additional torment seemed like nothing more then one extra cut on an already broken battered body. Still, the Powers' blows were enough to send him into the blissful embrace of dark oblivion.

And in this state of unconsciousness, the Morningstar saw an image that filled his heart with warmth. He walked through the unending darkness of his mind, but now there was another presence in it, a light that grew and took form. He saw a woman, and though he couldn't quite make out specific features, he knew that she was amazingly beautiful. She seemed to give off a glow, something distinctly human, and for a second, Lucifer saw her as his Father saw all of humanity: fragile yet with infinite potential for growth. He saw the potential for both good and evil and how they struggled with it everyday. Everything that the creator meant for them to see, he saw in this woman.

As he approached, Lucifer noticed that her arms were folded in front of her as if she was holding something. He blinked and saw a child cradled in her arms, whose gender he couldn't see because the baby's legs were crossed and tucked close to its body. The child cooed softly, nuzzling its face into the woman's breast, and she smiled, bending down to kiss the baby's forehead. They didn't notice Lucifer as he stood right before them, looking in wonder at both child and mother. He reached out and touched the soft mess of black baby fuzz on top of the child's head, and this time the baby turned its head and blinked a pair of wide dark brown eyes at him. The first of the fallen felt a smile spread across his face.

"Happy birthday, little one," he whispered, and though it was clearly too young to do so, the child's toothless mouth released something that sounded akin to a giggle.

In the back of his mind, Lucifer remembered that he had on occasion had prophetic dreams. It was a gift granted to the most elite of angels, and he was surprised to discover that the ability was not taken away after his expulsion from Heaven. Somehow he knew that this was the Nephilim the seer spoke of, the hope of all fallen angels. He only wished he would remember this after consciousness returned to him. That too was part of the punishment; he was granted visions of the future with no power to influence it.

Strings of pain began to tug at him, and he knew that the real world was calling him back. As much as he wanted to remain within his vision of hope with the woman and child, consciousness was slowly creeping up on him. Before the figures faded completely, he looked up at the woman.

"Thank you," he bowed his head deeply. "Thank you both."

The figures finally disappeared, and darkness engulfed him once more.

When the Morningstar opened his eyes, he expected it to be daytime and to see the hash desert sun above him. As it turned out he was only half right. It was indeed midday, but the brightness of the sun was dulled by the think sheet of a tent above him.

Confused, Lucifer sat up, groaning as the wounds inflicted upon him by the Powers reopened when his muscles and skin stretched. As surprised as he was to find himself inside the tent, he was even more surprised to see that his wounds has been treated and neatly bandaged. Before he could consider his state further, the flap of the tent was pulled open, and he saw that things did indeed see work out in an interesting way.

"Ah you are awake," the wrinkled face of the man he met the previous night in Egypt. "We did not expect you to recover so quickly. You took quite a bit of punishment, my friend."

"Yes," Lucifer was at a loss of how to explain his wounds. "I crossed paths with some former friends I did not expect to see."

"A rather rough reunion," Aaron knelt before him, handing him a bowl of water which he accepted with thanks. "Take this as well. It's not much but it will help replenish some of your strength," Lucifer frowned as he received a piece of a flat brittle sheet that he could only assume to be some sort of food. "It's dried flour and water, nothing more. I'm afraid we hadn't the time to bake proper bread before we left. Around the camp they are calling it matzah."

Lucifer nodded, remembering what was supposed to have happened in Egypt. "Then your people are free?"

"And safe," Aaron nodded. "After crossing the Red Sea, we have finally passed beyond Pharaoh's domain. We face a few days journey towards Mt. Sinai where my brother, Moses is to converse with the Almighty and receive further instructions for our people. You are welcome to travel with us, at least until you heal."

"Thank you, no," his tattered cloak lay on the ground and Lucifer grabbed it, slowly rising to his feet. "I must go. I have already caused enough trouble here. Thank you once again for your hospitality. I will not forget your kindness."

He emerged from the tent and saw the once empty desert now teemed with the families of freed slaves. People who a day ago feared for their lives under the rule of tyranny now danced and calibrated, thanking God for their freedom. He saw Miriam, Aaron's sister, singing to a group of children, who laughed and clapped their hands at her song. The first of the fallen smiled.

"I am truly happy for your people, Aaron," he looked back at the man behind him. "Indeed God's blessing goes with you." His attention was drawn away to the mountain whose peak was covered by clouds.

"I am truly happy for your people, Aaron," he looked back at the man behind him. "Indeed God's blessing goes with you." His attention was drawn away to the mountain whose peak was covered by clouds. "You say He dwells there?"

"For the moment," the man watched his face carefully. "If you seek guidance or perhaps forgiveness, you may have some luck if you seek it in that place."

Lucifer's eyes lingered on the mountain for another moment, but then he shook his head. "I am not yet ready to face Him," he admitted, "but I do believe that perhaps He heard my prayers and granted me some..." the word was so foreign to him that he had trouble saying it, "hope."

Camael sat perched atop Mt. Sinai, his wings folded neatly behind him. His presence was unknown to the people camped at the foot of the mountain since he was well hidden by the clouds and did not wish to be seen. No one but his second-in-command even knew that he was there, because he had explicitly asked his troops to be left alone to think. Verchiel had given him a dubious look but said nothing. Camael was their leader and was under no obligation to explain his decisions.

Being what he was, an angel of the host of Powers, Camael had no special gift of foresight, and until now, he hadn't wished for it. He had seen how those of his brethren who bore the burden suffered under visions of futures they could not control. The mighty Archangel Gabriel, who bore the title of Revelator, had been plagued by nightmares just before the Great War shattered the tranquility of Heaven. To know the future was to be trapped by it, and even then, visions tended to be tricky things. There was no guarantee that what one saw would be interpreted correctly. Camael was sure that if Lucifer realized the terrible consequences of his actions, he would have never raised a hand against God. There were reasons those who were gifted with foresight tended to keep what they saw to themselves.

Which brought him to the point of here and now. He was still very much angered by the human seer's words. If what he said was true, then their entire mission, all that they did in His name, was not only invalid but completely contrary to God's wishes. It was the king of thing Camael wasn't sure he was willing to accept. Still he had to admit that there was a certain elegance to the prophesy: the end to the violence and killing, and the reunification of God with his first-born children. It was a simple, beautiful vision, not to mention that Camael had long ago begun to tire of the blood shed.

Conflicted, he had sought solitude and time to think on the holy mountain, where the presence of God was particularly strong. "Heavenly Father," the angel closed his eyes. "I am in great need of guidance. Whatever be Thy will, I will do my duty. If it is Your will that I continue my present course, I shall do so, but if there is another way… Please help guide me to the path of light. Show me a sign that my hopes for peace are not in vain."

He opened his eyes and was more than a bit surprised to find himself face to face with an old man in red and blue robes. He was holding a long staff and though Camael had distinctly remembered willing himself invisible, the man looked directly at him. The angel was surprised, until he realized just who this was.

"Moses," he bowed his head, recognizing the Hebrew as someone worthy of respect.

"You are of the first-born?" the man asked. Camael nodded. "Have you come to converse with the Almighty as well?"

"I have," the Powers commander replied, "though I am uncertain that the conversation is not ill born. I fear I have lost my way."

"Does that happen with angels as well?" Moses sounded surprised. He leaned heavily on his staff then sank onto the nearest rock. "I am sorry to disturb your solitude, but I must rest."

"Of course," Camael nodded. "Yes, our kind is just as susceptible to sin as you are. We all walk under God, but sometimes we refuse to hear Him. Somewhere along the way, His voice became lost among my own doubt."

"We cannot always be told what to do," Moses smiled. "Otherwise, what would be the purpose of free will? All we can do is act within the boundaries He sets for us." He pulled out two stone tablets from underneath his cloak, and Camael was once again reminded of the seer in the hut. "These are the laws that God gave me to present to His people."

"Only ten?" the angel glanced over the words quickly. "A more than reasonable expectation."

"Yes, one would think," the Hebrew laughed, "but do you really think they will adhere to each and every one of them all the time?"

"No," in Camael's experience humans were nothing if not capricious, "but He has shown your kind infinite forgiveness."

"Then if both our races are His children," Moses reasoned. "If both are bound by Divine law, but granted free will, is it not reasonably to assume that even first-born sinners may be forgiven?" The angel's eyes widened, but before he could ask how the human knew of his troubles, Moses smiled. "The Almighty told me that you would be here and of what plagues your mind. He also said to show you these," he tapped a finger on the rim of the stone tablets, "and that you would understand."

Camael studied the words carefully and slowly. At first they appeared to be nothing more than rules of simple morality, some that he considered not even applicable to angels since their society structure was not even similar to those of humans. Then slowly, the warrior had up to now existed solely for battle realized something. Above all, even paying homage to the Creator, there was but one rule: though shall not kill.

The angel looked up at the human who bore God's message, and saw in the old man's eyes that he saw what he was supposed to. "If you wish it," Moses offered, "He has granted me the power to allow you to help your fallen brethren through whatever way you see fit. This comes at a great sacrifice, and therefore must be your own choice."

Camael took a deep breath. He knew what had to be done, and it filled his heart with sadness. He raised his face to Heaven, trying to get one last glimpse of his home or feel his Father's presence. Then his wings unfurled to their full span, and he looked straight ahead, his features turning grave and serious.

"I, Camael, leader of the host of Powers, do hereby relinquish my place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Until I atone for my sins, I shall share the fate of my fallen brethren and find atonement when they do."

"I hear your words, Camael, of the Powers," Moses' voice was loud and booming. "May your journey bear the blessing of God. As you have spoken, so it shall be."

The man raised his staff over his head and brought it down hard upon the ground at Camael's feet. There was a blinding flash of light, and though an immense momentary pain short through his body, for the first time in a long time Camael felt like his Father was genuinely proud of him.

As the initial pain faded, a million thoughts rushed through the angel's head. What would happen to the Powers now that they would be under Verchiel's command? How would they – and the fallen for that patter – react to his decision? He thought of the long journey that he faced. The world was a big place, and Camael briefly wondered if he and the Morningstar would ever cross paths again. Somehow the prospect was no longer too terrible.

Lost in time,
there's no place
for my soul
in His embrace.

For I am damned
if life itself is condemnation.
I am immortal
and I can't escape my destiny,
bound to live eternally.

Author's End Note: Well, that's it for "Across the Highlands." I think I covered quite a bit here. The prophesy, Camael's decision to leave the Powers. Not too bad for a three part fic if I do say so myself. So now a few notes for the readers on The story of Camael's fall I actually managed to get through some research, and I read in several places that he was thrown out of Heaven by Moses' hand. Of course, I changed it a bit to fit the story, but I like that it originates from a real legend. I have yet another three part fanfic pre-Fallen coming up, though it won't feature too many of the angelic characters. For this next fic, I'll be working with Taylor, Aaron's mother. There might be a few vague links to either this story or "We are not Separate" in it but I'll see. Till next time.