It was just before the choosing ceremony and she was having cold feet, not wanting to go, lest she make the wrong choice, and that was not something she wanted to put herself and others through, indecisiveness cut through her like the sharpest blade. A groan escaped her as the final set of curls would fit just right in the braid she was weaving and she pulled it apart once more, it was behind her, and she always struggled with the braids on the back of her head without the aid of anyone else.
Choosing meant leaving what she already knew, leaving what she was comfortable with, and that scared her the most. She didn't want to think about possibly messing everything up, not choosing what she was meant for, she didn't know what she was meant for, how did one figure out what they were meant for!
"Need help?"
The deep rumble of her oldest brother's voice came from behind her and she looked over her shoulder pleadingly, "Please."
He chuckled and stepped into the Morningstar's room, taking the stubborn section in hand and weaved it tightly with well-practiced hands, he reached for the band to keep it in place and she passed it over her shoulder. The archangel leaned over her, leaning on her shoulders, and their eyes met in the mirror.
"It is hard to believe that you are old enough to choose today."
"What would happen if I didn't?"
The archangel frowned, "Then you would stay with the flock you were created to." He rubbed her shoulders lightly, "Why do you ask?"
"What if I choose wrong."
"There is no wrong choice.", he assured her softly, "Just follow what your heart tells you."
"But my heart doesn't know what it wants!"
"It will." He smiled at her in the mirror, "Trust me when I say this." He stroked a hand to the back of her head "And no matter where you choose, you will always have a place in each of our flocks, if you decide that your choosing was not the right fit you can be transferred to a new flock." The elder helped her to her feet, her fine dark blue robe sweeping the floor, "You look beautiful, little star." And turned her around to stand face to face, caressing both of her cheeks, he kissed her on the temple, "And no matter what you choose, no matter, we will always love you."
She hugged him, diving into his arms for what felt like was going to be the last time, and he hugged her close to him.
"Do not worry on it, little star, you will know what to choose when the time comes."
He guided her around, "Come, I have a gift for you." She followed him to sit on the Morningstar's bed, and he held out a small box, it was a simple box with a bow tying it closed. She looked up at him curiously and pulled the end of the bow to release the knot, gingerly pulling the top away, to reveal the two fine daggers she'd been allowed to use as a small fledgling, with supervision of course.
She looked up at him with wide eyes, "Why-?"
He smiled, "I've been waiting for this day to gift them to you, I knew they were yours the moment I let you use them the first time, wherever you may go you will need to ensure you can protect yourself and with these you will." He brushed a knuckle under her chin, "And don't look so down. I promise we will not stop seeing you even after choosing, we are quite taken with you, you won't be rid of us that easily."
"You promise?"
"May Father strike me down if I don't."