Tyrael was still in Caldeum. Lilaurael and Ilerael were sleeping in their beds. The others were mainly asleep, too. He couldn't sleep. He was staring out over the city in complete silence. The moon shone a rather pretty silver light over the buildings and towers. The sight would have been inspiring, but his mind was filled with thoughts. At the sound of a soft sigh, he looked over and paused. Anaurael was standing at a distance in her own thoughts now.
The gown she wore was spun golden silk, as agreed on, and it clung to her like another skin. An overlay of gold lace delicately lapped over the solid silk in the form of a cloak-like shawl to cover her shoulders and down her arms. The dress, itself, covered over her shoulders and down to her feet in a modest, yet rather attractive way. Her circlet that resembled Imperius's halo reflected the moonlight perfectly, and her mark glowed softly like a brilliant, burning star in the midst of the desert surroundings. She looked otherworldly and very beautiful. But, when she looked at him, there was an intense sadness in her topaz eyes. He found himself walking over to her to find out what was wrong.
"Is Imperius here?" he asked.
"No," she said softly. Even her molten gold hair seemed to reflect the moonlight in a shimmery effect. It was held back with small, gold and emerald hair pins to keep the front of her hair away from her face. Her circlet was able to hold the rest of her hair back neatly. "He watches, though. From the High Heavens. I have come to speak to you. The Angiris Council has made a choice. They need your help. As you know, Malthael lives in my mind again."
"I know this," he nodded.
"He can speak through me now. He needs to consult Chalad'ar. The Chalice of Wisdom. But, because he is no longer Wisdom, it will not speak to him. So, he would like you to speak for him. In return, he will train you on how to use Chalad'ar effectively. So that it will not harm your mind. He knows how to help you."
"He is willing to help me?!" Tyrael gaped.
"Yes. I do not know what questions he wishes to have answered, though. Such is the case with him. But...there is another matter that he brought up. Imperius knows of this. However, I am not allowed to speak of it yet. The Chalice needs to be seen to first. Will you help us? Will you help Heaven? You have my vow that none will slander you or attempt to harm you. As the champion of Imperius, my word is as valid as his. Tyrael, Aspect of Wisdom, will you help us?" she seemed to plead. On gazing at her, he realized why Imperius wasn't there. It was to show that there was no challenge. They did need my help. They sent her down to show that no malice was intended. With her, he could be reasonable. He also knew that Imperius was stepping aside for this. There was no choice for him.
"I will help, but only for a condition," he said gently.
"What would that be?" she asked.
"I have questions of my own, too. I need them answered."
"You shall have your questions answered after mine," Malthael spoke from her. This had Tyrael back away slightly with surprise. "Yes, brother. It is me. What is left of me. I will help you after you help me. You have my vow."
"Is the Angiris Council truly in trouble?" he asked.
"Yes. There is much corruption, as you have witnessed. This is our chance to purge it. A way for me to have my own redemption with the High Heavens. To try and make things right," Malthael said and looked over the expanse of the city. "But...tell me. Have you slept? If you have not, then you will not have the proper focus for this."
"I have not," he admitted. "It is...difficult to sleep in such times."
"This bodes ill. Very well. Where is your bed? I will have the girl help you sleep," Malthael said. Tyrael seemed to glare at him, but she was given back control.
"What do you mean?" Tyrael frowned.
"Nothing as bad as you may think," she smiled softly. Now that it was her again, he cleared his throat and nodded. "Come. Show me where you rest."
"I suppose..." he sighed. Why do I feel nervous? Or rather warm? He led her to his tent, and she sat down on the bedroll. She gestured for him to lay down.
"Rest your head in my lap. It is all you need to do," she said. He seemed to blink at her with uncertainty, but she gestured again for him to lay back on his bedroll. He had a bed, but it wasn't properly set up yet. He was too busy with other tasks, and Lorath was handling more recruits and scout reports. Even her parents had been too busy with preparations for other things. He was used to sleeping on the ground when he had to.
Sighing with a touch of defeat, he took El'druin off his side carefully to place nearby. If he needed his sword right away, it had to be as close as possible. He managed to get down on the furs and soft fabrics slowly. With a bit of awkwardness, he rested his head in her cross-legged lap. When his neck showed discomfort, she shifted so that the top of his head was resting slightly against her belly. When her hands came up to lightly rub under his neck towards his broad shoulders under the armor and cloth, he gasped, but it wasn't with surprise. She was able to loosen the tension that was built up there. It was one of the reasons he couldn't rest. He didn't realize how bad it was.
"I've never...felt so..." he whispered. He winced at a sore spot she worked out.
"Relax. Close your eyes," she smiled. "I may not be here when you awaken. It will be expected. I am here to only help you sleep to gain your focus for the Chalice. Shut your eyes and sleep, Tyrael."
"I want to...but..." he yawned. He found his eyes getting heavy. The constant massaging and her soothing tone was starting to get to him. But, it wasn't enough.
"There you go," she chuckled warmly. Then she did what Imperius did for her. She began to take in and release deep, even breaths. This pushed him over the edge. He succumbed to sleep within a few passing seconds. When she knew he was in a pleasant sleep, she waited for ten minutes to ensure that he was fully out of it. Then she reached over for a pillow, but found it far too hard. "No wonder you can't sleep! This pillow is horrible! And your bed isn't even set up! Your back must be a frightful mess. I need my parents to ensure that you get more rest in decent bedding from now on."
Gurzick had appeared, but showed he was being quiet. She gave him the pillow, and he thought for a bit. He vanished away and appeared shortly after with a much softer one. Nodding her thanks, she was able to ease her legs out from under his sleeping form, and the pillow easily took her place.
"Tired?" Gurzick whispered. He was looking at Tyrael.
"Yes. He will need some good food, though. For when he wakes up," she frowned. When Izarius appeared, she beamed at him. He had some fruit and hardy breads to set aside for the morning. "Thank you, brother. His pillow was awful!"
"That would explain it," Izarius chuckled. "Imperius asked me to bring you to him."
"I was planning on going straight to him," she laughed softly. "But, please escort me to his side. I do miss being away from him for even a short amount of time."
"Of course," Izarius nodded. Gurzick chuckled and teleported out. Izarius soon teleported away with her to let Tyrael rest undisturbed, but she did leave a single item behind to show that his meeting with her was real. She left him a small golden hair pin set with an emerald on his breast. It was well into the morning when he finally woke up. He found the softer pillow under him.
"Did I dream?" he mused. When he saw something fall off him, he picked up the hairpin and paused. "No. I did not. She came and helped me rest. She needs this back."
He closed his large hand over the delicate pin, and he stood up to stretch and crack his neck. He actually felt much better than he thought he ever did. He was able to wash up, and he glanced over at the platter of fruit and bread. He found himself laughing softly and was quick to eat his fill. There was just enough there to keep him from over-eating and harming himself. He was amazed. He took up El'druin to respectfully place back on his hip. When he walked out of his small tent, Lilaurael was already up and cooking some stew.
"You look well!" Lilaurael smiled.
"Yes. Um...your daughter spoke to me last night. Not in a dream, either," he said.
"What?" she frowned. He showed her the hairpin and told her what was going on. "Malthael?! He lives in her?! And no one told me? Or Ilerael? We have a right to know!"
"I know. It's why I am telling you. I need to go up to Heaven to see what can be done. She helped me rest. She had me rest my head in her lap. I had to sleep deeply to be fully focused for Chalad'ar. Malthael even stated this," he sighed.
"Now that I can understand. Very well. My husband and I will handle things here. Go to Heaven. Heal the Council," she said. They clasped hands, and he teleported away.
When he got to the Angiris Council chamber, he found it empty. I am here early. Taking in a deep breath, he stood tall and prepared to wait.
"The mortal, Tyrael, graces us again?" an angel seemed to sneer. Tyrael turned to confront the massive angel. He knew that Imperius's prior lieutenant had joined with Malthael's forces and was destroyed. This one could be the replacement. It was true that Tyrael had been around after Malthael's defeat. It was even proven recently.
"I am here from a decision of the Council. I was asked to be here," Tyrael replied.
"Is there a problem?" Anaurael asked calmly. She was still in her gown of gold silk, but she had bathed and tended to herself before placing it back on.
"Ah. The mortal disgrace from Sanctuary. The one that our leader shows his affections. I believe it is a waste of time. It is better spent in the training room of the Halls than with a mortal female," the angel snickered. Then he seemed to falter, as her mark flared out with a valorous pulse from the insult. She only glared, and he found himself silenced. Only Imperius had the ability to silence lesser angels. His Light within her allowed her to do the same thing. Now he was in trouble.
"I am no ordinary mortal female. My parents were originally angels from here, you know. After they fled to Sanctuary to create me, Imperius felt that something was off. He came to Sanctuary to find me on the night I was born. The mark on my forehead is from his direct touch. I am his missing Light. All of this he has confessed to me in his inner sanctum," she said. Then her eyes narrowed, as she challenged and pointed at him, "I am his champion! And for you to slander me as such is as blasphemous as insulting the one that has come to give us his aid by an Angiris Council vote!"
"I'll just...stand aside..." Tyrael muttered and stepped back along the wall. She was furious, but she paused when Imperius appeared behind her to rest his hands on her shoulders. He did not look pleased. He was going to call for her when he felt that something was wrong. His mark told him what he needed to know. The angel was at fault this time.
"Be grateful that I am not wearing my armors, angel. If I were, you would not be standing here now," she seethed. Imperius gave his new lieutenant a look of complete disapproval.
"Go back to my Halls of Valor. Go train the new recruits. If you attempt such unworthy remarks towards my champion again, I will not hesitate to reprimand you. Tyrael does have his faults. But, he is here, because of a Council vote. Your actions have displeased me," Imperius said calmly.
"Oh, yes. I shall have Chalad'ar see what possible reason you have for this assault on the girl that is assisting me in retribution," Malthael seemed to smirk from her now. That scared the angel. He didn't know that Malthael lived again in her, and he now knew that she truly was no ordinary mortal female. "Flee to the Halls, lieutenant of Imperius. Flee to the safety of your nest."
The angel was gone without another moment to spare. Imperius kept her calm by squeezing her shoulders gently. She glanced up at him and smiled softly. Then she pat his hands to show that she was well. Tyrael felt a strange touch of jealousy now. It wasn't there before. Not since she helped me rest. He shoved the emotion aside and cleared his mind. I am here to help the High Heavens.
"I shall retrieve Auriel and Itherael. Remain here," Imperius said. She nodded, and he teleported away. When she looked over at Tyrael, she nodded to him with respect.
"Thank you for being here. I trust you slept well?" she smiled.
"I did. Better than I can ever recall," he admitted. "Ah. This is yours."
"Thank you," she smiled and took back her hairpin. She placed it back into her hair and thought. "Where did you used to reside? Before you lost your wings?"
"I resided in the Courts of Justice. I...could show you where they are at some point," he said. That strange, warm feeling was back again. He shook his head a bit to remove the sensation.
"I would like that," she smiled. "There are many parts of the High Heavens that I have not seen yet. Imperius is always busy. So, I try to remain in my chambers when I can. As much as I could leave to see my parents, he calls me back."
"He calls you?"
"Yes. My mark lets him call to me from vast distances. He likes knowing I am somewhere safe or at his side. And...with me bearing offspring now..."
"As your parents have said," he smiled gently.
"But...Malthael stated that the offspring is in my soul. Not my body," she said in a troubled way. Now Tyrael seemed to look at her with disbelief. "It's what I mentioned last night. I couldn't say anything there. It is fine here, and, you would think, it would make sense. Imperius's Light is a part of my soul. He is able to Sing with my soul this way. My physical body is untouched."
"So...he couldn't actually..." he blinked. Lyndon was able to mildly tell him some details when he was able to. Tyrael had found himself ignoring him after a while. Much of it still escaped him.
"He does not have flesh, Tyrael. How can he?" she shrugged. "But, I am fine with this."
"How will you give birth?"
"Through the Lightsong when it is time."
"I see..." he frowned and looked away. A part of him did miss being able to help call new angels into the High Heavens. At the feel of her hands on his arm, he looked at her.
"When it is time for my offspring to be born, I would like you there to witness it," she said.
"I will plan to be there," he nodded and smiled. When Imperius appeared with Auriel and Itherael, he nodded to both of them to show he was ready.
"It is time to consult Chalad'ar. We need to go," Malthael said lightly. "We cannot wait any longer. We need to see what can be done."
"I agree," Itherael nodded. Auriel also showed her anxiousness, and Imperius only moved to scoop Anaurael up into his arms to take her to the Pools of Wisdom. Answers needed to be found. And, as much as he detested Tyrael, the mortal angel was their only choice in getting those answers.