When Imperius saw her several hours later, she was still sleeping deeply. He sat down on the bed, now that he knew he didn't have to fear of it breaking apart on him, and gently ran a hand through her hair. He was able to remove the bindings that held it together, and he marveled at how each strand seemed to cling and coil around each of his fingers. When he looked over at Izarius appearing with some food for her, the angelic warrior bowed respectfully.
"They have reached the village of New Tristram. The lands are being cleansed, but demons spawn like rats. The Nephalem has much work to do," the warrior sighed.
"That I know. Nor do I care," Imperius grunted.
"Would you still show yourself to the humans?"
"I will, if I must, to protect her. I will not speak with them. There is no need for such useless banters. They will try and fail to impress me. It is not needed."
"Many will question her status with you."
"True. She did suggest in making armor in close resemblance to mine. Ah! I know what I can do. If she wakes, have her remain here," he nodded. Izarius nodded and stood guard when Imperius left. The Archangel went to the part of the Silver City that housed the forge. It was here that he focused on the crafting molds before him and began to select various pieces to put together. Solid gold was going to be his base metal, as it tended to be for him. The metal was provided freely with enough focus. He got that to start melting in the heated kiln, and he began to prepare the molds.
"Imperius?" Itherael asked when he appeared.
"My ward is resting. While she rests, I am making her some armor. And a weapon. Yes, she has such things already. But, many will question her. I shall stop the questions," he said. "Her armor will resemble mine. I may make her a smaller version of Solarion, but not sentient. Just a replica for her to use easily. I may even make her a circlet to resemble my own halo of gold."
"It is good to see you like this again," he said.
"It is good to feel like myself again," Imperius actually admitted. Itherael gave a quiet chuckle. "I merged my Song with hers. It was why I was gone. I sealed off my sanctum."
"What?" Itherael asked, as though he didn't hear what was just said.
"I joined my Song with hers. We are now one."
"And...if offspring should come of this?"
"Is there something that you know that I don't?" he asked now.
"It is foretold from my Scroll that such a thing may come to pass."
"You...knew this...and said nothing?!" Imperius asked in a dangerous way.
"I could not intervene."
"Do you know when?"
"It does not say," Itherael said truthfully. "Only that it may happen in time."
He paused completely in what he was doing to think over what he was told. After a while, he went back to the armor molds. "It is fine. If something happens, then I shall expect it."
"Of course," Itherael agreed and vanished away. He had to tell Auriel. When he found her in the Gardens of Hope, he told her what Imperius admitted to him.
"He merged with her?!" she gasped.
"He did. He is making armors for his ward now."
"Do you truly have no idea if offspring will form?"
"Only that it will be possible. And that this resulting offspring will be as strong as the Nephalem. If not stronger. It does not say when. It does not say how many."
"This is very interesting," Auriel admitted. "Where is his ward?"
"He said she was resting."
"Hmm. She is likely in her new chambers. I shall see her."
"Be wary. If she rests, she should rest," Itherael said.
"I know this," she agreed. They parted ways, and she went straight to Anaurael's chamber. Much to her delight, she saw the ward of Imperius eating some freshly brought grains, fruits, and small parts of meat. She was completely ravenous. A pitcher of water was also in use, too. Izarius had left to check on her parents for her. She always worried about them now. "I give greetings, sister."
"Auriel!" Anaurael smiled. "I was just finishing up."
"You eat much?" she chuckled.
"No. My body was just catching up with me," Anaurael sighed.
"So...the merging with Imperius's Song does this?"
"Oh. You know?" she blushed.
"Imperius spoke of it freely to Itherael. I was just informed. How long did this take?"
"A week. I had no idea of the time lapse."
"Truly?!" Auriel said with complete surprise.
"Yes. I can only assume that, after such an event, my body would need to catch up right away. I felt no hunger, sleep, or thirst throughout it."
"It could be dangerous."
"True. But, if I tend to the needs the moment they appear, I should be all right. Imperius is my strength now. Without him, I fear that I have nothing left. I also believe that it was always like that. After this, it feels as though it is far more intense," she admitted. She smiled at the light caress to her shoulders that her angelic sister gave her now to comfort her.
"You were chosen by Imperius to be the Light that he needs. The two of you are equal parts of a whole now. There was no mistake in this. Our Heavenly Arc always knows what needs to be done. I would not doubt if it was the Arc that gave off the subtle clues that such a thing needed to pass. There was no mistake in this. Do not fear the path that was given to you," Auriel said warmly.
"Thank you, sister," she nodded, and they hugged lightly.
"And, I will not lie to you," Auriel whispered. "There has been talk of other angels thinking of removing their wings to give Sanctuary a new race."
"What?!" Anaurael gasped.
"It is only speculation," Auriel said gently. "and not many will do so. But...after seeing you and your parents...and what Tyrael has done...many have spoken of this. But not openly. Granted, Tyrael removed his wings to show that he was upset at how we did nothing. To him, his action was justified. As for the others, they are curious as to what they can do. However, nothing is cemented, as of yet."
"Do not remove yours!"
"Oh, no! I could never do that," Auriel chuckled. "I am the Hope that the Angelic Host needs. I am the Hope that keeps Sanctuary alive. For me to remove my wings would bring much sorrow to all."
"I told Izarius this," she sighed. "That...I would have never wished to remove my wings, if I had them. It would seem horrible to me."
"And that is fine," Auriel soothed. "Like I have said, some may do so just to see if they can. If they do, they may join the ranks with Tyrael. But, many are also afraid to do so. To succumb in a mortal shell. They are very unsure."
"I've been doing this all my life, as I was born this way. It is instinctive for me to know what to do. They would have to get lessons from my parents."
"That they would," Auriel agreed. "It is good to see you again. I need to check on the Host."
"Of course," Anaurael nodded. Right after she left, she sighed and drank down some water. Then she blinked at the massive, golden tub with pearl inlays that suddenly appeared by a window. The Greed Goblins were very busy. Lush soaps and shampoos were brought in next, and Gurzick plopped down with a small sigh of exhaustion. At her look, he beamed.
"Greed find!" he grinned.
"Greed found this tub?!" she gaped.
"Yes. Use magic. See things," he nodded.
"And the soaps and cleaning supplies?"
"Yes. All find."
"Thank him for me," she smiled. Instead, the crown glowed on Gurzick's head.
"You can thank me, yourself," Greed giggled. "As much as I hate departing with my treasures, I must admit that I find you to be another treasure. Your hair of gold is so delightful to see!"
"Oh," she smiled. "Well, you don't have to do so much."
"Child, you don't need to worry so much. I get more from what you have done, anyways. I seem to find more after each place you leave behind! Also, your room will now become a new treasure vault."
"Greed, I must admit, I have been giving some of what you gave me to my parents. There is much that I don't need. I hardly have space to move," she admitted.
"Oh, that's fine. I know all about that. I take it all back after they use it to pay debts. No matter where it goes, it's still mine. I found it first, and I always think of it as, oh, on loan. When it is not needed, I just, eh, find it again," Greed chuckled wickedly. That got her gasping with laughter. She had no idea. "And that place you used to live? I gained more things there than I thought possible!"
"You robbed the whole village?" she gaped.
"Yes! And, remember! I don't steal. I find. When you say rob, it sounds so...brash. So, I find my things. Humans always leave stuff out for me and my followers to find. It's a habit that will never break. I make good use of it. And, you will like this. Those humans in your last place of dwelling went to your last place of residence to pull blame. When they saw the destruction done, and that it was abandoned, they could only blame each other! Oh, how I laughed!" Greed continued to giggle. She found herself in complete shock. When she composed herself, she sighed.
"Well, I do thank you for all you are doing. It really does help," she said.
"And you are welcome, child. Hmm. You lack other articles of cloth? I have noticed this."
"Well, this is all I have to wear, really. It would be nice to wear something else now and then."
"Hmm," Greed mused. He seemed to be judging her figure. "Ah! I will have Gurzick bring you something. If it works, then I will know."
"Okay," she smiled. The crown stopped glowing, and Gurzick seemed to snap out of his trance. It seemed to be a mild form of possession. Harmless, but necessary for Greed. Gurzick vanished and came back moments later with a slender dress. She sighed, moved behind a set of sheets that were designed to be like a barricade, and put it on. As much as it fit over her hips, it didn't work for her bust line. Another dress was brought, and this fit much better. It was a creamy blue in color with a dramatic plunge. A royal ball gown by most speculations, but the fit was perfect.
"What are you wearing?" Imperius asked when he suddenly appeared.
"Oh..." she blushed. When she turned, she saw that he was holding various armors for her. "Greed wanted to see what garments he could find for me."
"And he brought this?"
"Well...it was to test what I could fit into, really."
"And...he watched you change?"
"No. I went behind the cloth barricade," she said quickly.
"Good. And...I do admit...I like this..." he muttered. He set the armors on the ground carefully and moved to her side. "Yes. I do..."
"I'm glad then..." she said and gasped when he ran a hand over her hip. "Um...what is it that you brought for me? That you set aside?"
"Of course," he nodded. "Your armor."
"You made me armor?!" she gasped with delight.
"I did."
"Why?"
"You mentioned to me," he said, as he pulled her closer. "that many may question who you are to me. I hope that, with this armor, there will be no confusions."
"That depends on how it looks on me," she muttered and shivered when he pulled her up to rest on his shoulder. "Should I try it on?"
"Later," he growled and began to move her into his sanctum.
"But..." she frowned.
"It won't be as long as before," he vowed.
"Okay," she nodded and kissed him, as the sanctum shut them in again.