It was close to sunset in Sanctuary by the time she was able to approach Tyrael in Heaven. He was looking out over the Silver Spire and gazing at his former home with a sense of sadness. As memory after memory assaulted him, he didn't even hear Anaurael move up to him to stand at his side.
"You look so upset," she whispered. He glanced at her and could only nod. She was still wearing her golden gown, but she lacked the lace shawl. Her hair was looser from the lack of hairpins, but that was fine. She still wore her rings, though. She could never remove those. Or her circlet.
"Whenever I come here," he said softly. "I remember how I used to be. How I didn't have to feel so trapped in a mortal form. Yes, your parents also cope with the same pain. They understand everything that I am going through now. They helped me work through the worst of it. They helped me gain a new form of understanding, too. They were simply a bit more prepared than I was."
"My Father spent a year preparing, from what I was told. It was the same year that he was sent to look for you. He spent much of that year making a safe place for himself and Mother."
"He wouldn't have found me, anyways. I had to recover in Pandemonium."
"Did you?"
"I did. My angelic form was obliterated by the Worldstone's destruction, but I was more than just a warrior angel. I was able to recover myself. But, it took twenty years to do so. I had no choice in what I did, either. Baal had touched the Worldstone. It was fully corrupted. It would have been a direct link to the Burning Hells. I did what I had to do."
"I know you did," she nodded. "Imperius does, too, but he felt that it could have been salvaged another way. I am not sure what way, though."
"There was no other way. It was tainted."
"What's done is done. Would you like to show me the Courts of Justice? You did promise me a tour," she chuckled. He smiled and nodded. When Izarius appeared, he blinked in thought. Do I know this angel? Izarius now stood a good foot taller than Anaurael at six feet in height. Even his wings looked a touch more massive. "Izarius! What brings you to me?"
"I was told to walk with you in case any try to hamper your tour," Izarius said softly.
"Ah. Yes. Please do," she nodded. "If Darius, Azarius, and Mithus wish to join, please let them. I would be honored with their company."
"I shall fetch them," he nodded and vanished away.
"That is Izarius?" Tyrael asked.
"Yes. Imperius made him into a lieutenant. He comforted me as a brother would. He always had when I was troubled. I...also had him touch my mark to leave his essence within me. I wanted him to," she said with a sad smile. "I could not bear the thought of him falling in battle with no way to return to me. It was important to me."
"But...you know how he would have to come back..."
"I know this. So does Imperius," she nodded. "Oh, that reminds me. Have you eaten?"
"I have," he said. Then his gut growled. "This morning I did."
She clucked her tongue and tossed him an apple that she tended to carry with her in a small side pouch. "Eat that as we walk. Toss the core over the side. Maybe it will hit a demon on the top of the head! Then the filth can blame whatever is around it."
"Really?" he mused, but he chuckled all the same. He finally relented and bit into the fruit, as they walked. When a group of angels spotted them, her mark seemed to flare out in warning. The Light of Imperius was felt, and they minded their own business. Imperius was keeping constant watch over her. Either in a viewing pool or from her mind. He was always with her.
"I have been curious," Malthael finally said from her. Tyrael tensed and looked over warily. "Why did you tear your wings from you? For what true purpose?"
"I did that, because, even though humanity was half demon, they were also half angel. There is no justice in watching others die for naught. There was enough suffering going on everywhere, as it was. There was no need to see more happen for no reason. A demon invasion was imminent. The angels here did nothing. Imperius couldn't care less about life on Sanctuary. He'd rather see the whole race of humanity destroyed. But, it was humanity that also turned the tide against the Evils before. Yes, there are many that would result in evil natures. Easy to corrupt. But, there are those that can resist the forms of temptation. That only want to help others and live in what peace they can. Those are the humans that I trusted and confided in. It is what the Horadrim is all about."
"Yes. We all know of the Horadrim..."
"As do you, since you slaughtered so many of them in front of me!"
"I was purging demons. I did what I had to do."
"You killed innocents!"
"Stop!" Izarius said when he reappeared with his fellow warriors. "Enough with this talk! You will both harm Anaurael! Should Malthael remember this part of his past after his rebirth, you can speak to him of it then. Not now. There is no need for this talk now."
"He will also be your son. You can spank him for his insolence," Darius mused. That had Tyrael pause and bite back a laugh at the reasoning. Malthael seemed to scowl, but he let Anaurael take control again. At her sigh of irritation, Izarius moved over to her to squeeze her.
"It will be done soon," he said.
"I know. I'm sure that not all are like this. I just...I don't like it. Even then, will he be absorbed in the new offspring when it develops? Or only when it gets close to the time for him to be reborn? I have so many questions!" she winced.
"I do have a question," Tyrael said. "I saw in the Chalice that Malthael had corrupted your mark. That he blocked off the connection to Imperius. You told me that Izarius was able to touch your mark, and you seem to be fine."
"Think on this," Izarius said. "Malthael was formerly the Angel of Death. His touch corrupted and killed all things. If he was still the Archangel of Wisdom, then that would not have happened."
"That's true!" Tyrael said with clarification.
"Finish eating your apple," Anaurael said with a small smile. Tyrael gave her a look, but she only glared at him back. "If I am to bear an offspring from you, then you had better listen to me!"
"I..." he started with disbelief. At another mild glare, he relented and stopped walking to finish off the apple. But, instead of throwing the core over the ledge, Darius took it from him to dispose of it.
"You should have tossed it over the side," she mused. He looked at her and shook his head with a small laugh. When they got closer to the Courts of Justice, a change came over him. He seemed to droop a bit, as though burdened with a silent guilt. She noticed this right away and frowned.
"I can't go any further than this," he whispered. They were at the threshold. Two massive statues of regal, angelic warriors graced the entrance.
"Yes, you can," she said and reached for his hand. "I will be with you. Izarius. I thank you and the others for escorting us here. We shall continue on alone. Just make sure that none others appear to disturb us. Tyrael has some mental demons he needs to overcome, it seems."
"As you will," Darius nodded.
"We shall let none enter," Mithus agreed.
"They will answer to us first," Azarius vowed.
"I shall continue with you, but at a respectful distance. Imperius did not wish for me to leave your side. If any do linger here, I will need to help confront them," Izarius said.
"On a condition," she said. "you need your weapon upgraded. The others may keep their hammers. But, you need a better weapon for your new station."
"I understand. I shall get a replacement weapon after I know you are well here," he said.
"No. Get one now," she said with a hint of challenge. As the champion of Imperius, her rule overrode his by instinct. At his stiffening of instant respect, she softened and said, "Please, my brother. It would make me feel that much better. Please do this for me."
"Remain where you are? I do worry about a confrontation," he admitted.
"We shall wait. It will help Tyrael gain his courage back," she nodded. When he vanished, she turned to Tyrael. "Now. As for you. Why do you pause as you do before your old domain?"
"It is the guilt," Tyrael admitted. "All of my warriors fell when I vanished. When my wings were gone, the rest had no leadership in Justice to turn to. I feel that I disgraced them."
"And now they haunt you?" she asked.
"Yes," he winced.
"Well, you have done enough grieving. You are here for me. To show me something that you said you would do. Make a new memory with me. A happy one. You are showing me a place that used to be your home. There should be no reason for you to feel such sorrow now. In time, it could be your son living here to revive this Court. As Auriel has always said, do not lose hope."
He looked at her with sheer wonder. As he gazed at her, his Wisdom seemed to click in, and he studied her further. Now he made a realization. Could this girl be the full embodiment of all aspects?! Of Hope, Valor, Wisdom, Fate, and Justice? And, could she be the one to truly give a second chance to angels that have passed unjustly? At this thought, he said, "At some point, I would like to show you the Arch of Heaven. I will speak with Imperius later."
"I have not seen that yet. I would like to see it at some point," she smiled.
"We will plan for it," he nodded. Izarius had appeared with a newly appointed two-handed spear. That had her smile, and she embraced him fondly. She also noticed that his helmet had changed to a cloak-like hood. It signaled that he was now stronger than most angels.
"Do you like the change?" Izarius chuckled. "It happened when I got my weapon. I was a touch surprised, but, well...what do you think?"
"I do like it! It suits you very well," she beamed. He squeezed her and prepared to follow them from a distance. "You should have my Father train you in stealth. If you are to follow me around, you could be the silent guard. Would you like that?"
"I will definitely look into that!" he nodded. "I did study some of what he taught you. I will learn more from him when I can. It will prove beneficial."
"Good! Now, Tyrael, will you please escort me into the Courts of Justice? I would really like to see what is in them," she smiled. He took a deep breath and offered his arm.
"I can do that," he nodded. She accepted his arm, and they walked into his old domain. Izarius waited until they got twenty paces in front of him before following them. The other three moved to fly about the outer areas to ensure that none could get past. They would soon be joined by others. Imperius wanted no other meddling angels to get in. As much as he hurt over the thought that his champion was going to be touched by another, he also knew that it was needed to get Malthael out of her mind.
Now that they were in the Courts of Justice, Tyrael felt the bombardment of guilt on the deaths of his fellow angels. He remembered how they used to stride his Courts with a sense of justice and pride. The honor and righteousness they all had was overwhelming before. Now that chambers and halls lay empty and barren, it began to affect him again. Anaurael saw all of this. She encouraged him to keep going. To tell him what each chamber meant. Where each hall led. When they were about to reach where his own inner sanctum would be, she stopped him.
"We are about to enter your true place of retreat. Can you do this?" she asked carefully.
"I can," he said with a sharp nod.
"Are you sure?" she asked again.
"Yes," he nodded again. She nodded back to him, and they walked into this circular chamber. Unlike Imperius's chamber with fountains, a throne, and a show of valorous displays, Tyrael's chamber was filled with imposing angelic statues all around. There was a chair here, but it seemed to be one that sat behind a judge's desk in a massive courtroom. It was tall, slender and bore the weight of him easily before. There was no dust in Heaven, so it seemed to be waiting silently for a new owner. On seeing it, he finally felt tears sting his eyes.
He fell to his knees before it, and she moved to hug him tight. "It is safe to grieve here. You know that none can see you. Izarius waits outside. Imperius cannot even see us. Be yourself here. Let the emotions finally come free of you."
"I didn't...mean for...!" he gasped, and she only rocked him in the same manner that Izarius rocked her before she came to Tyrael's side. She knelt down and let him cling to her, as he let his grief rage on. He held onto it a lot longer than he knew. After a while, she knew that it was time to let a new pain come to pass. To let a new memory take root. She tilted Tyrael's face up to hers and kissed him deeply.