A week flew by like nothing. Itherael had the new chair settled in his sanctum, but it hid in a small portion of the wall and out of sight. When he went to see Anaurael, he was extremely concerned. She had gotten fairly ill just a moment ago. Imperius was cradling her by a window, as she was rinsing out her mouth with some water.
"Clean up around the ledge," Imperius muttered. "Easy, my ward. It's fine now."
"That...hurt..." she winced and got cradled even closer.
"Let your stomach settle. Then I'll have you eat."
"Until I purge it again."
"Anaurael..." he said with a hint of a stern tone. There were times that he had to enforce his decision. He knew that it was because of her hormones. She just pouted and sighed with defeat. "You need to eat. Our offspring require this. Izarius, get her some fluids."
"Here," her brother said and handed her a mug of warm chocolate milk. This was drunk down with a touch of delight, and another was given over to her when the first was gone. Imperius moved with her to a rocking chair to sit in it with her.
"She is well now?" Itherael asked.
"She is. Her stomach will settle," Imperius nodded. Itherael nodded, squeezed her shoulder, and went back to his Library. He had to check on his Scroll. He had remembered something that he needed to research, and he knew that he would be fetched if Anaurael needed him.
"Do you need to see the troops?" she asked and sipped her drink.
"No. Titharius is handling them just fine. It's odd. When I go to check the troops, they all tell me to come back here!" Imperius said with a soft laugh and a shake of his head. "All of them are concerned for you. The only way that I can train them is if you are with me."
"Did you want to do that?" she asked.
"I am not sure. I would wish to hold you like this," he thought aloud.
"I have an idea. We shall make temporary seating for you," Izarius suggested.
"That may work. See what can be done," he nodded. At the feel of her hand moving to caress his cheek under the helm, he bent down to place a kiss on her mouth. "Drink more for me."
"Okay," she said and took another sip. Then he kissed her again to taste it. He was a bit surprised when some of the drink was taken in. It was only a couple drops, but it gave him a very odd sensation. He wasn't designed to eat or drink. And yet...I can kiss her. It was a different way completely. She noticed something was wrong and asked, "Love? What's on your mind?"
"Oh. You had some of your drink still in your mouth when we kissed. I swallowed some. I'm...not sure if it is bad. It just sent an odd sensation through me."
"In a bad way?"
"Not exactly. It's hard to explain. I'll think of how to word it better later," he nodded and rose up with her to carry her to the training halls. "Tyrael has been gone for some time."
"I know. I hope he's well," she frowned. He glanced at Darius, and the angel vanished away. As Imperius was now seated in a rocking chair on an elevated platform to oversee the troops with her, Darius was able to track down Tyrael.
"Zayl, I need to go back. And you need to see to Anabelle. Isn't she pregnant now?" Tyrael asked. "I thought you said she was."
"No. Not yet. I haven't been able to make much time to put in too much of an effort," Zayl admitted. "And you can shut up, Humbert!"
"What? I was just going to say that you could easily pop back home, do the deed, and pop back away again! You've done it before!" Humbert snorted in his hand.
"But, I'll lose focus!" Zayl sighed.
"Yeah, but once she's carrying something, it's one less thing for you to do. Then you just pop back over to check on her. Done!" Humbert argued.
"He is right, you know," Tyrael grinned.
"Don't get in on it!" Zayl muttered.
"I keep telling him to take a week off," Humbert said.
"One week less is one week more for me to do my work. I can't do that," Zayl said.
"Then stop in to check on her," Tyrael shrugged. At the sight of Darius, he nodded.
"Anaurael purged quite badly. Imperius is watching his troops with her. You were asked for," the angel nodded. Zayl sighed and waved Tyrael off.
"You may as well check on your wife, too," Tyrael chuckled. Zayl gave him a look, but had to agree. Humbert laughed when Zayl chanted the teleport spell to head away from there. Darius brought Tyrael directly to the training halls. Izarius and Imperael nodded to him from where they stood behind them. Imperius nodded at them next and let Tyrael feel over Anaurael's belly. "I was told you got ill earlier. Are you okay now?"
"For now," she nodded. "I am getting hungry again, though."
"Tyrael," one of the hovering guards said. They had always remained with him as silent sentries.
"Yes? What is it?" he asked.
"Telanya is searching for you," the guard said.
"How do you know?" Tyrael asked.
"Because one of our own just informed me," the guard pointed to a smaller angel that only nodded before vanishing away to survey Heaven again.
"Point made," he chuckled. "Fine. Let her approach."
His hovering pair of guards readied their weapons warily. As the female angel made her way over, Mithus and Azarius were already setting up a small table with a suckling pig dish for Anaurael and Tyrael to devour. Imperius had Anaurael casually ignoring everything by letting him taste what she was eating. When the female angel approached even more, Imperius distracted Anaurael with a rather intense kiss. He didn't want her to get stressed over anything, and he even shifted so his back was mainly seen with her hidden from view. Tyrael was quick to take the hint and rose up to greet with her calmly.
"Tyrael, I had a question for you," Telanya said.
"Ask it," he nodded.
"Inarius and I have started to become close," she said and seemed to falter with a touch of embarrassment. "We wanted to know if we could try to create offspring."
"How do you intend to do that?" Tyrael asked now. Imperius seemed to stiffen at this.
"We would try without removing our wings," she said.
"No!" Imperius snapped and glared at her. "That is not allowed!"
"Wait," Anaurael said and caressed his cheek. He glanced down at her, but he sensed what she was doing. He nodded and held her close, as she contacted Anu. A moment later, she sighed and looked at Telanya. "Anu spoke with me. I was told that what you want to do is very dangerous. That...if you proceed down this path, expect severe repercussions. Not all will be as it should be, if it happens. It should not be done."
"Oh. What would the repercussions be?" Telanya asked.
"If Anu said no, then it is a no!" Imperius growled. "Do not argue!"
"Love," Anaurael whispered as close as she could to his helm to keep from being overheard. "Anu also said this. For you. Do not let hatred consume you. Do not slip. If they ignore the warnings, then they will deal with the burdens. If all turns out well, then it will be accepted. If it is for ill, you can cull what occurs. They mean well. But, Anu will have mistrust, if they do not heed the warning."
"So...Anu is testing them?" he muttered softly.
"That he is," she chuckled softly and kissed him. "So don't worry."
"Then I will not," he muttered and kissed her back. He looked at Telanya and said, "Remember the warnings. If you choose to ignore them, then you will answer to me! Now go. And think hard on what you wish to try."
"Of course, Imperius," Telanya nodded. As she left, Malthael appeared.
"She is as stubborn now...as she was before..." he muttered with distaste.
"They are being watched," Tyrael said and moved to sit back down to eat.
"They must be watched," he snorted with a grumble. Then he thought and went to Itherael. On watching the Archangel hover with his wings above him wavering slightly, he walked over calmly. "Itherael. Did you know that Inarius and Telanya wish to copulate and reproduce as angels?"
"What?!" Itherael asked now and turned to swerve at him. His Scroll didn't show him this.
"Anu said that...repercussions...would be given if it was done. What do you think?" Malthael asked. Itherael already had his Scroll opened, as he skimmed over the lines.
"There is a chance that the offspring will be well. There is also a chance that it could be tainted. Due to their pasts, that is. It is what humans would call a 'coin toss', apparently. If the offspring is tainted, we will know. It must be culled instantly. But, if there is no taint, then all will be well," Itherael said, as he read out the threads that appeared.
"Hmm...would it depend on where they chose to make this offspring?" Malthael asked.
"Not necessarily," Itherael said. "Because Telanya willingly lost her Light as your follower, and because Inarius went against all that Heaven stood for, they are both repressed this way. You could say that, yes, Anu granted them reprieve, but they are under constant watch. Izual is a major exception. He had all of his tainted memories removed. He is pure once more."
"As is Erelus from being trapped for so long..."
"Very true. There was something that you wanted to do that has caught my interest. Talus'ar revealed this to me," Itherael said. Malthael nodded for him to continue. "A dream with her?"
"Oh. To see how...it would have been if I...well..." Malthael faltered. It was rare for him to feel nervous about such a thing, but Itherael knew it was to keep Anaurael calm. She could sense Malthael's distress if he wasn't careful, and Itherael rose up his hand to stop him.
"I see. Hmm. You would need to tread carefully. If Imperius found out, he could see the dream. She cannot come to any stress within it. You have to keep her calm."
"That could be tricky," Malthael admitted. "I would have no way to know. I have not done this before. I am...unsure."
"It does state here that I could assist. I can hold her physical body and be there to help. Tyrael could, too. As long as she can feel her physical form as being safe, then all will be well," he said.
"Very well. I shall ensure that either you or Tyrael are within her means. Hmm..." Malthael sighed and shook his head. "She sensed me. She wishes for my presence. I need to see her."
"Then go," Itherael nodded. Malthael vanished and got pulled again to her mind. At the kiss she gave him, he realized why she called him. She was sleeping quite deeply in Imperius's arms, as he oversaw the troops. Malthael was quick to give her the mental comfort she needed. A good twenty minutes later, he was relaxing on the ground with her.
"I missed you," she whispered and lightly played with a silver-white strand from his hood. He had her resting against him, as she was on her side to keep her pregnancy safe.
"I know you did," he whispered back and kissed her gently.
"It's funny," she mused and continued to play with the strand in her fingers. "When you first revealed yourself to me, you were so brash and overconfident."
"It comes with my personality," he shrugged. "Not much else to say, really."
"Is that so?" she chuckled and leaned into his neck. He only nodded and gently squeezed her. "And...I am starting to become curious. Of what it would have been like if you did find me..."
"Not now," he muttered.
"I know," she agreed. "but the idea is starting to grow on me. Slowly."
"You may need to be held physically. To help you remember that you are safe," he said and traced a finger down her neck. He tensed at the smile and gaze she gave him now.
"So, you're saying that I'm not safe with you?"
"No...not at all..."
"Ah. So, I would be best with another?" she grinned. Now he realized he was being teased and found himself laughing silently. He never felt so at ease before.
"You are...simply amazing..." he sighed.
"Am I?"
"Yes. I have never felt such...emotions..." he said and pulled her closer. "It is...different."
"Is it?" she asked and nuzzled under his invisible chin. He grunted and nodded. "I just find it funny that you spent so much time trying to get close. That I was, naturally, rejecting you. Now, instead of me being at your beck and call, it's the exact opposite."
"Must you remind me?"
"You know I must," she smirked and poked his armored chest. At the yawn she did, he only cradled her. When she began to play with the long strand of cloth again, he tilted his head at her. "Since you find my hair so fascinating, I feel the same way with this part of your hood."
Now he barked out laughter and shook his head. When he saw her studying the strand again, he watched how she delicately traced a finger over it. Then she noticed that he could feel it from the shiver he gave. Then his mind went blank when she brought the strand to her lips to gently run her teeth over it. An involuntary gasping growl escaped him now. At her wicked grin, he muttered, "I see...you found something to amuse yourself with..."
"At your expense?" she chuckled. "Well, your armor is your skin. I am not surprised that you can feel this. But, now I'm curious of other things I can try."
"What?" he asked with surprise. She gave the strand a soft, nibbling lick. At the jolting sensations he felt now, he couldn't respond.
"It seems...that I found a weakness..." she grinned. Now that she was happily tormenting him within her mind, Tyrael was being informed on what was going on with Inarius and Telanya. He was not pleased at all with what he was learning.
"They will both answer to me," he growled and rose up from the chair. "Get me Izual. I'll need him to help be my support."
"Of course," Agrius nodded. The hovering guard waved over to one of the smaller angels in hiding and word was sent. Tyrael could have gone through Anaurael, but he had to start using the guards around him. That and she was sleeping. He didn't want his thoughts to wake her.
"What's going on?" Imperius asked.
"Inarius and Telanya plan to flee the Heavens," Tyrael growled.
"They would be marked as rogue and hunted," he muttered.
"I know. So, I need to speak with them now. Before they leave," Tyrael nodded. When Itherael appeared, he nodded to him. It was only obvious that Itherael found out.
"I must accompany you. Erelus will also meet with us. We cannot have them leave the High Heavens. If we must, we will grant them a small residence outside of the Silver City within the High Heavens. That is what we must do," Itherael said. Imperius snorted his disgust, but he knew that Anu was watching them incredibly closely. As much as it wasn't wanted, the curiosity was there to see if such a union succeeded. He was only concerned on the outcome.
"If we can set aside a separate residence for them, then fine. Since Telanya is from the Pools of Wisdom, and Inarius is from Courts of Justice, we should make a residence that can overlap within those boundaries. We should do this for any angels that decide to try being together to ensure proper chances of offspring," Tyrael said. Imperius seemed to cringe with distaste. He hated the thought of Heaven being turned into a breeding ground. He completely detested it.
"Love," Anaurael said and caressed his cheek from within the helm. Malthael had her wake up to help calm him. "They are always watched. Even Anu is unsure of this. Let them try. We will give them two chances to make proper offspring. If both fail, then we know it cannot be done."
"I just...detest this..." Imperius muttered and pressed his mouth into her palm. "It is different with you. You are the Light that I lost. You save me from slipping. From losing myself."
"And you do the very same for me," she smiled and let him kiss her.
"I love you," he said and hugged her to him.
"And you know that I love you," she smiled warmly and rested against his chest in his embrace. "Now help me eat a little more."
"Very well," he nodded. When she gasped at rather hard shivering sensation, he pressed his thumb to her mark. "I see. All of this talk and negativity is upsetting my offspring in your soul. Tyrael. Take Itherael away from here! She cannot be around such talk any further!"
"A repercussion..." Itherael sighed.
"Talk like this upsets her?" Tyrael asked.
"It is because Anu is unsure. That is why," he explained. "It affects her."
"Then you should move from here," Imperael nodded. "We will keep her safe."
"Izual is waiting for you in the Library," Izarius said. "He just reached through to me."
"He is? Hmm. Odd. Very well. Let us depart," Itherael said. Tyrael let Itherael take him to the Library, and Imperius began to relax. Anaurael continued to caress his cheek, and she noticed that he started to appear restless. She soon found herself lifted in his arms.
"I need to rid this anger," he muttered to her.
"I have an idea of what you can do," she smiled and whispered into his helm.
"Hmm. Izarius. Imperael. We are going flying. Stay close," Imperius ordered. Both angels nodded and soon found themselves flying with them. Now that Imperius was focused on holding her close and his flight pattern, it was easy for him to forget all that transpired. It wasn't so easy for Inarius and Telanya when they were approached.
Erelus and Izual were quick to track them down with other angels. When Inarius realized that they were found out, he could only wait to see what was said. Telanya was very nervous, but they would come to no harm if there was honesty involved.
"The two of you cannot leave Heaven with what you plan," Tyrael said. "Anu forbids this. So, we will set up a special area for the two of you. If what you try does work, we know that other angels may try this, too. But, we don't know what will happen."
"You would set up a place for us?!" Inarius asked with disbelief.
"Yes. Just remember, we don't know what will happen. You will have to be watched," he said.
"This is fine. It is more than we could have hoped for!" Telanya said with a form of joy.
"If the offspring is tainted, we will have to cull it. You know this," Itherael warned.
"I understand," Inarius said with a nod.
"Give us some time to construct a small building structure. Do not tell anyone of this yet. If any ask, you tell them to report to us. Until we know more, this is what must be done," Itherael said.
"We understand," Telanya nodded. The two hovering guards around Tyrael both looked at each other silently. Izual clearly didn't like this, either. As they watched Inarius walk off with her, Itherael was also showing his own mistrust.
"I know that Anu regards us all as offspring," Itherael sighed. "and I know that any that come back are given reprieve. It just...puzzles me on how some are still shown acceptance..."
"It is because Anu sees all of us as sons and daughters," Malthael said when he appeared. "Even I asked why Inarius was allowed back. And he said...that Inarius was as much a son as I was."
"I can believe him saying that," Tyrael nodded. "So, I guess the next step is to find suitable places to build these new structures?"
"Auriel and I will handle that. I shall speak with her now," Itherael said. At the sight of Imperius flying over them, he chuckled. "Correction. I shall do that after I fly."
"Elaine has not yet experienced flight with me. I'll fetch her," Erelus said and flew off to do just that. Tyrael shook his head and seemed a bit disgruntled. Now Itherael looked at him with concern.
"I wish I could fly again," Tyrael sighed.
"If you don't mind me carrying you," Izual chuckled with a hint of amusement. "it can be done."
"I can tolerate that. Just this once, though," Tyrael smiled.