Three hours later, he found himself coming to on the floor of the chamber. His armor was in scattered pieces all around him. El'druin was resting on the chair in a respectable way. Her dress was draped over the side of the chair elegantly, but her circlet was still in place. Her slippers were even set near the chair, too. He didn't remember what happened. All that he recalled was that she kissed him and something primal took over. A need that I didn't know I needed. Even at her cry of pain, he barely had any focus at all.
All he did now was gaze up at the vaulted ceiling set with a single circular set of arches of gold in the center from the walls meeting at the top. The ends then curved outward slightly in a fleur-de-lis way at the very top. Suspended in the center of this small decoration was a foot-wide drop of solid gold that was held on with slender threads to the hooked edges. It was from this droplet that the room held light to see with. There were no windows here. This chamber was made for privacy and secrecy much like Imperius's sanctum. Rooms like these were private retreats.
When he tried to move, he found her sleeping against his bare chest. Now his jaw dropped at the state they were both in. Locks of her molten gold hair were draped over him as though stating a touch of possession. He eased himself back down carefully and closed his eyes to think. He felt calm, though. It was almost as though I could finally forgive myself of everything that happened.
He shifted to rest his head on his arm, and he felt her move to press into him even more. Holding her to him with his free arm, he knew that Imperius was going to be taking her back. He winced, but he sighed. It was part of the truce. The only good thing that he did know was that this may have to happen again. As much as he wanted it to happen on Sanctuary, he knew it had to be done here. In my old inner sanctum. He mused, as he lost himself in his thoughts. It was the only safe place. I could go to the Pools of Wisdom, but it's safer here. Many thought this area was abandoned. It would likely remain as such until the Courts could be revived.
Sanctuary didn't hold the same amount of energy needed to sustain such a joining. There was no other choice in the matter. That and I could be intruded upon. The last thing I want is for Lorath, or, even worse, Lyndon, to barge in on me unannounced. It tends to happen, if there was an emergency. Of course, I need to tell her parents about this. They deserved to know.
"Huh?!" he asked when he heard movement. Then he relaxed when he saw it was Izarius.
"You both will need nourishment. I'm only setting up a small table for you. It's what I have done for Imperius when she is with him," he said lightly. "Did you want me to gather up your armors?"
"No. It's fine. What...happened?" Tyrael asked. "And I'm in need of a pillow."
"I waited outside, so I don't really know what happened. But, I can easily guess by your current state," Izarius mused and shrugged a bit. "I did hear her cry out, though."
"Yes. I was...informed by others...of the cry a virgin can give. Not that I wanted to hear it, but, when you travel with a man that loves to be surrounded by wealth and women on a daily basis..."
"I can understand that," the powerful angelic warrior sighed. "You have my sympathy."
"Thanks," Tyrael chuckled. Izarius vanished and reappeared shortly after with a couple pillows and a soft blanket. "And thanks again. I guess I should rest more."
"If you haven't been sleeping well, then you should," Izarius agreed. He draped the blanket over them and helped adjust the pillows. "Just rest. Take as much time as you need. Imperius has myself and various other warriors watching over the outskirts. None will disturb you."
"I can't remain here for long. I do have other duties to see to," Tyrael said. Then he yawned. There was something about Anaurael resting against him that made him drowsy again. Izarius nodded and left the chamber. Tyrael relaxed his head on the pillow and found himself dropping off to sleep again. It was something his body was demanding of him now.
Two more hours passed, and he woke to Anaurael stirring at his side. He turned to look at her and sighed at the caress she gave his jaw.
"Feel better?" she smiled.
"I do," he admitted. "More than I care to admit."
"Good," she sighed and reclined against him. "I'm too exhausted to do much of anything right now. I am hungry, though."
"Izarius left us something," Tyrael nodded and gestured to the table. At her stretch, he found his hand traveling up her side. She blushed at him and paused when he asked, "Can I? Again?"
"No need to ask," she muttered and pulled him close to kiss. Twenty minutes after that, they were able to recover to stand and eat. A basin with cleaning supplies weren't far off, too. It was likely placed there while they slept. Tyrael casually looked away to give her some form of privacy. When she was done, he was able to make use of it next. Then, to their mild surprise, Izarius came in to retrieve it.
"You don't have to do that," Tyrael grimaced.
"It's needed. It's also fun to dump over the side of the railing," Izarius shrugged. That got Tyrael laughing with amusement. "But, I don't do that. I tend to wash it out in a river streambed on Sanctuary."
"It makes me feel like you still seem to change out my cloth diapers," she grimaced.
"It kept you clean and happy," Izarius pointed out. She rolled her eyes and chewed on a plum. He vanished with the basin and appeared moments later with it nice and clean. "How much longer?"
"Less than an hour, I figure," Tyrael said when he started to dress.
"Well, you'd better eat some of this before I eat all of it," she chided at him. He gave her a look that clearly meant 'give me a minute', and he finished dressing. She did save him enough to curb his hunger, and she was able to dress next. Izarius helped her carefully as he always had.
"Darius and Mithus will clean up the sanctum. The moment you go back to Sanctuary, I need to take her to Imperius. He is anxious for her," Izarius admitted.
"That's fine," Tyrael nodded. She finished dressing, and he hugged her to him. "Thank you. For having me come back here. Not for...what happened. That was inevitable. But...to help me reconcile my thoughts. It was sorely needed."
"You are very welcome, Tyrael," she smiled, and he kissed her gently.
"I will likely be back tomorrow night. We need to make sure that my son forms properly."
"I know," she nodded.
"I want Malthael out of you, too. He causes more harm than good in your mind. We will get him out. It's just going to take time. I'll take my leave now. Go to Imperius."
"Of course," she nodded again. She watched Izarius take him back to Sanctuary. When he got back, he hugged her tight. He knew she was close to crying again.
"I am taking you to see him now," he said gently.
"I didn't...want to..." she trembled in a small voice.
"I know. You know I do," he hugged her to him. When she couldn't move, he finally picked her up in his arms to take her to Imperius. He was waiting in his inner sanctum. Only after she was safely in his arms did he bow and take his leave.
Imperius said nothing. Neither did she. All he did was crush her to him. Then his sanctum sealed up, and his core emerged. She cried out when his Song assaulted her. He didn't care that she was still dressed. She needed this as badly as he did. It seemed to affect her even more thoroughly now. Since her body was touched, his Song was able to fully seep into her. This was something he didn't know, but he took advantage of it. For ten minutes, he had her in a state of profound joy. She panted when he finally relented to simply hold her. She pressed herself into his form. Then she burst into tears.
"Hush," he finally whispered, as he cradled her.
"I...don't...want...to...!" she gasped. He felt the sadness she gave out and only hugged her more. Around Tyrael, she had to be willing. To keep him from feeling sorry for her. When he was gone, her true emotions rang out. She detested being with another. Imperius was the one she truly wanted to be with. He planted a kiss on her mouth to steal away her breath and senses. Then he breathed in and out evenly to have her calm down. His wings made a gentle swaying to calm her even further.
"I know," he whispered softly. "I don't want you to, either. When it is done, he will not touch you again. There will be no need for it. I made a truce with him for this. He will honor it. As will I. At least he is a full angel and holds no demon blood. I will tolerate him for doing this. Will I ever forgive him? I am unsure. He is honoring everything so far. I will do the same."
She swallowed and coughed a bit, but he only cradled her now. She trembled and said, "I feel like I betrayed you. I can't help it."
"You did not," he muttered and ran his mouth over her throat. "This was an agreement to get my brother out of your mind. As much as I would rather see him gain peace in true death..."
"He's your brother," she mumbled. He could only nod and continue to hold her. "Tyrael had much grief going through his old Courts. When we got to his prior inner sanctum, he fell to his knees in tears. I did feel horrible for him. He went through so much. He still is."
"He grieved for his lost comrades?" Imperius frowned.
"He did. He couldn't stop grieving. Not until I had him focus on me."
"There were a lot of deaths in his domain. We lost a lot of warriors."
"Many abandoned him, too."
"That they did. It was...a terrible blow to all of Heaven. First we lost all in the Pools of Wisdom. Then the Courts of Justice were torn asunder. The Heavens were never the same after Sanctuary came to be. There was much...discontent."
"And when Tyrael went missing?"
"Unanswered questions, really. A lot of them," he snorted. He felt her run a finger over his head and across his cheek. "I really hope that this offspring happens quickly."
"He plans to be with me when he can to ensure it. Every night to every other night, it seems. Most likely in his Court sanctum," she whispered. "He wants Malthael removed from me, too."
"At least we share a common goal. Other than the culling of demon filth," he muttered.
"I told Izarius to have my Father train him in the ways of silent attacks."
"That would be beneficial! Hmm. I should have your parents train in my Halls again. And train others, too. Lilaurael was a superb marksman with the bow and arrow. She could assist in that."
"We can tell them together," she smiled. When his Song vibrated out to catch her in its grip, he simply chuckled and held her tighter.
"We will tell them later. I missed you far too much."