An hour later, Tyrael was once again walking with Anaurael to the Courts of Justice. He was a touch slower from the bruising, but Auriel was able to help him with the pain, though it wasn't by much. He did lean on Anaurael every now and then when it got to be too much, and she was very concerned.
"Tyrael, are you sure it is only bruising that happened? It almost looks as though a rib or two may have been broken," she frowned. "You appear to be in so much pain."
"He really...did a number on me..." he winced.
"Hold on to me," she said. He clung to her, and she teleported them both to the inner sanctum of the Courts of Justice. In here, she noticed the heated bathtub ready for them. "Undress. If you need help, I will help you. We'll both take a bath."
"What?" he asked. He was weary from the pain now. She began to carefully remove his breastplate and upper armors. He cringed and gave out an actual whimper from the pain. Now she saw the true nature of the bruising. If it wasn't for his armor, his ribs would have been crushed from the blow against the wall. It was far worse than anyone feared.
"Lay down on the bed, Tyrael," she grimaced. There was a bed placed in here for now. It was very soft and luxurious. It was what he needed. The nasty black and blue mottling spread from his chest and along his left side from where Titharius slammed him into the wall. When she barely touched it, he almost screamed from the pain.
"What happened?!" Izarius said when he charged in. When he saw the cause of Tyrael's pain, he paused with complete shock. "It was worse than we thought..."
"Yes. Can you...find something for him...?" she asked.
"I know where Xavian is. He is with the Horadrim. He may have something," Izarius nodded and quickly teleported away. On Sanctuary in Caldeum, he found the youth training with a spear on his own in one of the camps. He was wearing the traditional brown, hooded robes with a cloth mask over his face, as he sparred with a training dummy with his newly appointed two-handed lance. When Izarius approached, he rose up his hand. "It is I, Izarius. Guardian warrior of Anaurael. I need your aid."
"Izarius?! Well, it's been some time! What can I do for you? And...I can see you?" Xavian asked. He was filling out even more from his training and turning into a promising warrior.
"Yes. I no longer need to be invisible. But, Tyrael was severely injured."
"What?! That...well...how?"
"There was a rogue angel that attacked him. It was resolved, but he may be suffering broken ribs. It's what it looks like," Izarius sighed. Xavian thought and ran quickly to where his supplies were. When he ran back out, a small, ancient jar was in his hands.
"Give this to him! I don't know if any more can be made, but this salve will heal almost anything. Just put it on him, and let him rest. Ancient magic, I think. One of my Great-Grandfather's things. I learned of it through his diary. I don't know if there are any other jars left. If we can make more, it will help," he said. "I kept it on me in case I ever needed it. I only used a little for small cuts from glass work. This is more important. Give him as much as needs. And keep it in Heaven for him. For any of us to use. It will be safer there."
"Thank you! If it works well, I may request for you to have the option to visit the High Heavens. I will try not to use all of it," Izarius nodded.
"If you have to, then you have to. This is Tyrael. We can't let him die," Xavian frowned. Izarius clasped his hand, nodded again, and teleported back to the High Heavens with the precious medicine. He would make sure to give a sample to Itherael. The medicine needed to be replicated, if it worked.
When he returned to the inner sanctum of the Courts of Justice, he found Anaurael comforting Tyrael with his head in her lap. He was taking on a mild fever now. The small, ancient jar of salve was given to her. "Put this on him. It's from ancient Horadric healers. Try to save just enough to see if we can make more. Xavian had this on him."
"Thank you," she nodded. She opened the jar to be assaulted with sweet and bitter herbal smells. It was oil based, but had quite a bit of plant matter all through it. Dabbing her fingers into it, she steeled herself for any sounds that Tyrael may make, as she began to carefully apply it to his mottled skin. Izarius was amazed at how it seemed to foam over the wounded areas. Tyrael stirred and gasped painfully.
"I know this...healing...I think..." he muttered.
"Rest," she soothed and looked at Izarius. "Can you help me remove the rest of his armor?"
"Yes. I can do that," he nodded. As his leggings were removed, a light cloth was placed over him for modesty. Izarius was able to carefully apply more of the oily salve over the rest of the bruised areas. They wouldn't be able to get the rest of his back until he was fit to turn over. For now, the worst of it was on his chest and side. "I'll reheat the water when he's able to move."
"Okay," she nodded. Tyrael was in a deep healing sleep now. She wasn't planning on disturbing him. She simply ran a cool cloth over his forehead to collect any sweat that formed. Izarius moved to guard the chamber while he healed. For a solid hour, all Tyrael did was sleep. When the foaming on his skin started to dissipate, the bruising was gone underneath it. She was amazed.
"Ugh..." Tyrael grunted and coughed.
"You're not done healing. How do you feel?" she asked.
"Better than before," he admitted.
"Turn over onto your belly," she said.
"No."
"Why?"
"This stuff...will get on the sheets..."
"Sheets can be washed, if I remember," she mused. He looked up at her and sighed.
"I'm sorry to put you through this."
"Do not be sorry!" she growled. "Now roll over so I can get your back!"
He sighed, nodded, and eased himself onto his belly for her. He didn't want to move, only because he lost her as his pillow. A real one was placed under his face now to cushion his head. On feeling the oil being carefully applied, he grimaced. "Titharius really hated me."
"No. That was the corruption. Although, he did threaten to kill me when Itherael and Auriel confronted him before the gates of Pandemonium. He...threatened to break my neck," she shivered. "But...I did forgive him. All of that was in the past."
"Wait...he did what?!" Tyrael said with complete shock. When he turned to look at her, he ground his teeth from the jolt of pain he received.
"You did not hear what Auriel said? In the Council chamber?" she asked.
"I heard...but...I did not understand," he admitted and forced himself to relax again. At the feel of her hands moving to massage the undamaged part of his back, he let out his breath slowly. "I was ready to hurt Lyndon, though."
"Were you?" she chuckled.
"Yes. I've never felt so angry at a man before! The way he tried to talk to you just..."
"Tyrael? Is that jealousy in your tone?"
"It seems to be that way. Doesn't it?"
"And...Imperius does not make you jealous?"
"It's different with him," he said lightly. "He and I have an agreement. A truce. Lyndon is just...he makes me feel like I need to hurt him to make him back down."
"So, instead of being the Aspect of Wisdom, should you become an aspect of jealousy?" she teased. At the silence she got, she was concerned. Then she realized he was laughing softly to himself.
"I may consider it," he finally said. When she began to slow down in her back rub, he scowled softly. "Don't stop that! I like that!"
"Is that so?" she laughed and worked on him again.
"I do," he mumbled thickly and closed his eyes. "I think I remember how to make the salve you're using. But...the ingredients are very hard to find. I will need to rally a search team for it."
"I'm saving as much as I can."
"Good. Oh, by Anu's Light, that hurt!" he winced at a knot that was worked free in his shoulder.
"Even I need this treatment," she said and continued to smooth out the irritated muscles.
"I'll help with that," he promised. "Oh. You said you had something you wanted to ask me?"
"I did. I still do. But, we will wait until we bathe," she said.
"And you're still dressed?"
"You're still healing."
"I feel well enough now."
"No. You are waiting until this foaming on your skin is gone."
"But..."
"No! We will wait!"
"The water will get cold."
"Izarius plans to reheat it."
"Fine," Tyrael muttered with defeat. When he started to get drowsy again, he fought it. He didn't want to sleep anymore. Then, before she could protest, he moved to sit up and pull her to his chest. "Tell me. When Titharius took you to Pandemonium...what did he threaten to do to you?"
"He wanted to kill me," she frowned. His gaze hardened, and he crushed her to his oily chest. "You're getting oil on my gown."
"It can be cleaned," he muttered and kissed her with a form of burning desire. "And, if you don't want any more oil on it, then take it off."
"So demanding," she mused and stood up to remove the gown. "Ack! I can never get this off right! It's so clingy! And with the oil, it just sticks to me even more!"
"Then let me help you," he said when he was right next to her. A shiver of excitement actually ran up her spine at the tone he used. It hurt her. Imperius was the one for her, but she was reacting to Tyrael this way. When she closed her eyes to refocus, Malthael was in front of her with a hand on her cheek. At her distress, he only nodded.
"You are doing this for me. Remember that..." he said gently.
"How much longer?" she whispered.
"I don't know. When it comes to mortal copulation I...didn't pay attention. It was their souls I wanted. To know how to separate angel from demon. But...I will learn through you..."
She dropped her jaw with shock only to find his invisible mouth on hers. What was he doing?! She knew that he wasn't going to sway her heart from Imperius. He vowed not to do that. But, to act like this to me in such a fashion? When she finally opened her eyes, Tyrael was gazing down at her with concern. Her dress was off, but she was unresponsive.
"Anaurael? What happened?" he asked. The salve was finally disappearing to show the healing was nearly done. All that she did was tremble.
"Malthael kissed me..." she winced. Tyrael's gaze hardened to one of intense mistrust. "He vowed not to sway my heart from Imperius, but for him to do such a thing..."
"We need to get him out of you. Before he tries something dangerous," he growled. "And, I thought that he was going to treat you like a sister!"
"I think he's curious of how things work," she shivered and found herself held against his chest. "That he feels that he can learn through me."
"If he remembers any of this as my son, his bottom will get an intense tanning!" he mumbled. That actually got her to laugh a little. "Anyways, let's take that bath."
"Okay," she nodded. He tested the water first, though. Judging that it was starting to get cold, he put a towel over his waist and had her do the same up to her chest. Calling for Izarius, he gestured to the water. Then he whispered what Malthael did.
"Imperius will need to know," Izarius said sternly.
"I know it," he nodded back. Darius was sent in to help with the tub and change out the water. After the newly heated water was replaced, the angels were thanked. Then the towels were discarded, and Tyrael eased himself into the tub first. She was next, and she could only gasp with a form of relief at the heat. Only after the heat settled in, Tyrael pulled her close to spark another heated fire between them.
Once that fire blazed out, he was resting with his back against the tub. She had her back against his chest. On gazing up at him, he smiled and looked down at her. She smiled softly and said, "I want to ask you my question. Can I?"
"Yes," he nodded. "I want to know what you wish to ask."
"Well," she said and pressed into him a bit more. "If you had the chance to...become an Archangel again...would you take it?"
"Hmm..." he thought. This was a tricky question. "Let me build up to the answer."
"Okay," she nodded and let him wrap an arm around her, as his other arm rested on the top of the tub. He thought about everything for a while. Then he looked away.
"When Imperius confronted me about meddling with the lives of humans, I stood my ground. You know this. And, yes, I called him a coward. That he hid behind his throne and did nothing. I will not apologize for saying that, since, to me, it was true. Demons were invading, and he should have stepped in to stop them. But, he did not. I now understand why he did nothing, but it's not the point. As Justice, I had to uphold it. To defend the innocent. To protect the weak. To uphold the law of all things. I saw potential in humans. To murder an entire race for naught was not something I could do."
"As you told me before."
"Yes. The first night on Sanctuary in my mortal form...it was Hell. So to speak. El'druin was broken in three pieces. I had lost my mind and memories when it was separated from me. I had lost all of my residual energy when I fell from Heaven. I slammed down hard into the cathedral that Deckard Cain was in with his adopted niece, Leah. I'm lucky they both lived. But, when it came to my sword, the pieces were scattered in various parts of the land near New Tristram. Deckard Cain gave his last breath to repair it. I was caught and nearly killed by that witch, Maghda, and her Coven. The Nephalem was able to reunite me with El'druin. I was able to regain myself. El'druin also healed my wounds.
"While I fought with the Nephalem and learned my hardships, I found myself struggling to cope. I really wish I found out about your parents sooner, but how could I have known about them? And, with Imperius keeping his own secret about you...well...not many would have understood. When I learned about you through Gurzick and Greed, I was shocked. To know that he kept this secret about you and actually confronted you on Sanctuary..."
"He's still surprised at himself for that," she agreed.
"I would think so," he chuckled. "But...well...I'm still coping. I still forget to eat. To sleep. To do things that are ingrained in every mortal. I'm still struggling."
"My parents were able to catch on much faster."
"Because they were prepared. At least, your father was. Lilaurael had some trouble for a year, but he was able to help her through that. As much as I have the Horadrim to aid me, I just...I still feel lost. I forsook my true home. I can no longer truly survive in Heaven. I am not even truly accepted here anymore. I'm only tolerated. In a way, I sort of...judged myself that day. When I removed my wings. To show that I could stand with men as a mortal instead of an angel. As much as I know that the decision was justified then...I hold a lot of regret for doing it now. Would I change my decision? To change what was done in the past? No. I would not. But...if I had a chance to regain my lost wings...to ask that question of me..." he winced and squeezed her. "I would take the chance."
"You would wish for your wings back?"
"Yes. I would," he said with a bleak look in his eyes. "As much as I fight alongside all with everything I have...I still feel that I have no place in Sanctuary. As much as the Horadric order looks up to me as a leader and strives to see what they can do for men and myself..."
"Tyrael," she whispered. She moved to face him, and she kissed him gently. Her dry, molten gold hair seemed to float over the water easily. Her mark flickered with an energetic Light within her circlet, as she took his large hand and pressed it to her forehead. He gasped when he felt a piece of himself connect with her. A part of his ancient angelic self was able to bond with her mark.
"What...did you...?!" he gasped. Then, as she did with Izarius, she moved his hand to rest her cheek into it. The look she gave him was intense and caring. His heart actually ached.
"You will not be lost if you fall in battle. This way, you can live on in my mind, and, should a way arise, be reborn as an angel once more. Hopefully with your memories intact. The moment you said that you would take the chance to become an angel again, it sparked something in me to try and see if I could do this with you. I may ask the same question to my parents. But...you are not to say anything to them. They need to do as you just did. To think hard. To know what they really want," she said gently.
"Anaurael..." he whispered. He pulled her close and kissed her deeply.