A full month passed by now. Anaurael was, once again, in labor. This time it was twice as bad. Her soul was reflecting the pain, too. The moment she found herself clinging to Imperius when he held her, he knew what was happening. The worst thing was that it started in a Council meeting over Horadrim affairs with new trade supplies to reach certain areas. Her sudden shout of pain was quick to end it. Tyrael was concerned, at first. Then realization struck when she began to pant.
"Take her to the Arch!" Itherael instructed. "She must let the one in her soul come forth first!"
"My ward, I'm here," Imperius muttered in his soothing tone to help calm her. "Our offspring need to be birthed. Don't worry."
"Should I get the others?" Tyrael asked when he moved with them.
"No," Izarius said. "It will be too stressful."
"Understood," he nodded and let Izual help take him to the Arch to fully keep up. The angelic partners in Heaven, though, were quick to retrieve their mates. They gathered in a small meeting chamber to talk about everything.
"She is in labor now?" Jozin frowned.
"She is. We shall wait until it is over before seeing her," Sylauriel chuckled.
"I actually need her help," Xypherius sighed when he appeared. "My partner is wounded."
"What?" Xypherael asked with surprise. "How?"
"A rival pack, I think. She's withdrawn into herself. I mean..." he seemed at a loss.
"She will not be tended to until the births happen," Milauriel said from where she was with Skular. "Can she be brought here safely?"
"I may be able to bring her," he said. Xypherael was ready to help. As they underwent the retrieval of Talarine, Imperius was soothing Anaurael at the Crystal Arch.
"Don't let me go," Anaurael whispered.
"I am not," Imperius vowed. "Place your hand on the Arch. Focus inwards for the mental spire."
"Okay," she gasped and closed her eyes. When she appeared in her mental state, Malthael was already waiting for her to help her. The pain was almost too much to bear.
"Try and focus," Malthael soothed when she managed to get into her mind.
"I'm trying..." she whimpered. He squeezed her and helped guide her to the spire in her mind. When she finally touched it, the doors flew open. It was just like what happened when Anarius was born. The angel that appeared was as golden as Imperius was. He was clearly a male and bore his own two-handed spear. His wings resembled those of Imperius's own, and a smaller halo was over his hooded head of gold. The only odd thing about his hood was that he seemed to have an armored mouth piece that covered half the interior of the hood. It showed his hood could become a helmet this way. His armor almost matched his fathers', and his height and stance was just a touch shorter to show he was swifter with his weapon and flight. When he turned to see his mother panting from the other labor pains she had, he was quick to hand over his spear to Izarius and move to her side.
"I'm here, Mother," he said gently.
"What is your name, my son?" Imperius asked.
"Itherius," he said and nodded. Anarius was soon appearing to follow them. The two brothers looked at each other and chuckled. When they got into Anaurael's bedroom, Imperael was quick to approach Itherius to greet him fully. At her cry of pain, Auriel was already there.
"Give me space to work with her!" she said quickly. Izarius and Darius were already retrieving the items she would need. Lilaurael was there to help comfort her daughter, too, and Ilerael was talking to Itherius with complete delight.
"You could call me your grandfather," Ilerael shrugged.
"I could?" Itherius chuckled.
"Of course, Anarius doesn't need to do that," he grinned.
"INDEED!" he nodded. Anaurael shouted and clung to Imperius's hand when the birth waters finally spilled. They were quickly cleaned up, and Auriel was able to guide her breathing once more.
"Mah?!" Mal whimpered from his cradle. Tyrael was forced to move over to him to gather him up and comfort him. Malthael was not in the body to show this was all Mal.
"It's okay. She's going to give you a brother soon!" Tyrael smiled. Mal tilted his head at him, but he frowned again when Anaurael cried out with pain.
"This one isn't as fast, is it?" Izarius sighed.
"No. This one will take time. I shall remain here," Auriel said.
"I think we all will," Itherael said and checked over Talus'ar. When Xypherael appeared in the chamber, it was Imperael that moved to block him from seeing Anaurael.
"I know she's in labor, but my brother's partner is in trouble," he explained quickly.
"How?" Itherael asked and moved over to him.
"Her mental state is simply...well..." he tried to find the words. "She's withdrawn into herself."
"Not good," Tyrael said from where he was.
"She will not be able to tend to anyone until after she recovers," Imperius grounded out.
"Love..." Anaurael whispered softly to him. "I'm sure the salve will help me heal. I should help her. We'll see how I am after the birth."
"Anaurael..." Imperius seemed to grimace.
"Trust in me. Okay?" she smiled warmly and gasped at another contraction.
"Very well, my ward. Focus on the birth of our offspring," he said gently to her.
"I'm trying," she winced and cried out another contraction.
"They're getting closer together," Izarius said.
"That they are. Anaurael, start to push for me," Auriel urged gently. Anaurael clung to Imperius and began to push. It took another painful ten minutes for her, but Imperius's son was finally born. The blood was cleaned up quickly with fresh sheets placed on the bed. The strong salve was applied to her hips next to heal her. His son was cleaned up gently and handed over.
"He has your hair," Imperius chuckled at the molten-gold coloring.
"And your eyes," she smiled lovingly at the silver eyes that gazed back at them.
"Is that a chin cleft?" Tyrael grinned. Imperius gave off a protective sensation to back down. Tyrael chuckled and continued to comfort Mal.
"Imperius doesn't have a chin cleft. It's a small wrinkle. See? It will even out, as he grows," Anaurael laughed weakly. "Let me nurse him."
"Of course," Izarius said with nod and the others were quick to secure the room.
"After he nurses, I should see to Talarine," she said.
"Are you sure?" Imperius asked.
"I must," she said softly. "She is a powerful ally."
"I will not let you go," Imperius said. "When my son is sleeping, we shall check on the mortal."
"What will you name him? Your offspring?" Itherius asked.
"Ah..." Imperius seemed to pause.
"It could be a mix of mortal and angelic. It would be easier," Tyrael suggested.
"Arthurius," Ilerael smiled. "Arthur as the mortal name."
"Very well," Imperius nodded. Lilaurael was helping set up another cradle, and her husband was quick to help her. Itherius was soon assisting with the task with the others. Anarius stood tall in his own protective way to keep silent watch. Imperael was very much the same. When Gurzick appeared, Greed was delighted to hear that the births happened.
"I shall provide what I can!" Greed giggled from the crown and had Gurzick vanish away.
"So, we can't kill that?" Itherius asked.
"Not that one. Certain ones, yes. That one is an ally. And he's not a true demon," Tyrael said in a wise tone. Itherius nodded and was able to reclaim his spear. He was going to be extremely protective of his mother at all times. All of her children would be.
Of course, the small parade of angels had to appear when it was safe. Xypherius, though, waited along the wall of her room. As anxious as he was, he knew that Anaurael had to recover some of her strength first. He did pause when Myriam came over to him. As always, she insisted to be there to monitor the others around a new birth.
"Celsa," Myriam sighed and patted his large hand. "do not worry so. All will be well."
"Will it?" he asked.
"Of course!" she grinned. "Just give the golden child a little more time to recover. She will tend to your partner in life. Just relax now."
"I wish I could," he admitted. "I just feel so helpless..."
"Such a thing will always happen. That is natural," she soothed. "It shows you do love her."
"Of course, I do!" he retorted to get her chuckling.
"Then go to her side. Be there for her. The golden child shall be there soon," she nodded. Xypherius could only agree and was gone from the room after that. It was an hour later that Anaurael was judged well enough to be moved. Arthurius was sleeping happily in his new, plush cradle. Darius was going to guard over him and Mal with Mithus.
"Do you think you are ready?" Imperius asked her.
"I feel I am," Anaurael smiled. "Just be with me."
He nodded and rose up with her in his usual gentle way. She rested a hand on his cheek to show that all was well. He was told where the Druid was, and he teleported to her with Anaurael. In the small room the Druid was resting in, a chair was brought over for Imperius to sit in with Anaurael in his lap. She was too weak to stand, but she was strong enough to focus.
Much to her surprise, Talarine was human right now. She hoped it would be all right. She had rather pretty blue-black hair, too. Imperius was still very wary of this, but Anaurael's smile reassured him that she would be fine.
"Be careful, my ward," Imperius said. Anarius was quick to appear to show that he was going to help back her up. Itherius was next to appear to show his support. Xypherius was grateful for the support there, but he kept his focus on his partner. Anaurael moved to carefully place her hands on the sides of Talarine's sleeping face. Then she focused and closed her eyes.
She saw Talarine standing on a marble balcony. There was a field of pale moonflowers before her that seemed to be reaching for her. It was a twinkling night sky with a full moon here. It was clearly mystical and beautiful. Anaurael was a touch surprised to find herself standing next to Talarine, but, unlike the dark sapphires and obsidian stones that decorated her, Anaurael's golden presence was much like the sun appearing in a nightfall setting.
"Everyone is worried about you," Anaurael said with a soft smile, as she walked over to the banister to rest on it. "You sleep so deeply right now."
"What?!" Talarine blinked and gaped at the sight of her. Anaurael's glowing mark of molten gold seemed to flare out like a small sun of itself. Talarine was surprised to see it.
"Xypherius was frantic to get you to me. Even when I was giving birth to Imperius's son!" Anaurael laughed softly. She knew she had to remain cheerful here. Everything was so gloomy!
"But, how are you here?" Talarine asked.
"I am the ward of Imperius. The mother of Anu reborn. A healer of angels. Even I don't know how I can get here. But, here I am!" she smiled. "Come now. Don't you want to see Imperius's son? I'm sure that Xypherius would be relieved to see you wake."
"But...I'm hurt! I'm wounded!" she started.
"A salve was given to you. Your body is mended," she soothed like another sister would. "Your mind is clearly in turmoil. Tell me what is wrong. It will help."
"I don't know if I can. Only because I don't even know what is wrong," she sighed hard.
"Then...maybe you should wake to speak of it with Xypherius," she suggested.
"How do I wake?" she frowned.
"Like this," Anaurael said and waved her hand to reveal a stairway behind them. The marble stairway seemed to lead up and away. "Are you ready to climb?"
"I...I don't know if I am..." she trembled.
"Then talk to me," Anaurael said and led her over to a marble bench to sit. "It's why I'm here."
"Well..." she frowned. "Apparently I'm the last of an ancient line of moon wolves. There are others, but I'm different."
"Truly? How fascinating!" Anaurael beamed.
"And it's why I'm hunted..."
"Oh? By what?"
"Other things. I mean..." Talarine sighed hard. "It's so hard to explain!"
"Well, think of it like this," Anaurael mused. "What do you do as a hobby?"
"I make things. I'm a blacksmith."
"Okay. Can you make something to counter this problem?"
"What do you mean?"
"Sure, blacksmithing is all about metals. But, sometimes metals aren't enough. Sometimes you need more than that. Words can also be weapons, too. Anarius marked your mind, so nothing vile can get in. But, you think you cannot get out? Your mind is your own! You can make whatever you wish here! I made the stairs, because you let me. You can make something even more. This place can become your place of safety. Not your prison. Let me show you."
"Please..." she seemed to beg. Anaurael took her hand to raise her up to her feet and over to the balcony again. She gestured out to the field of moonflowers.
"This place lacks a lake. Make one," she said.
"Make one?!"
"Yes. What do you want it to look like? It can be anything at all. Try it."
"Okay..." she frowned and focused. Very slowly, a rippling pool of water emerged. The land shifted, and she found herself floored that it worked.
"Beautifully done! Now, do you want something by the lake?"
"Ah...well..." Talarine frowned. She focused again for a small, elegant gazebo to appear.
"You see?" Anaurael chuckled. "Your mind is your safe haven now. Not your prison. And, if you so choose, Xypherius can also be brought here to be with you. The two of you share an unbreakable bond. Let him in! Trust in yourself."
"I see now..." she whispered.
"If you cannot trust yourself, then you only limit yourself."
"But...I'm a creature of the night!"
"And what type of creature do you want yourself to be?" Anaurael asked carefully. "You can be one that protects. Or one that can harm."
"I protect!" she growled.
"Then protect yourself from your own thoughts," she said in mild warning. "You can make this place your sanctuary. Or you can make this place your prison. It can also become a poison, if you let it get that far. What is your choice?"
"My mind should not be a poison or a prison. It should be..." Talarine whispered out. Now Anaurael smiled and nodded. When the Druid finally opened her eyes and sat up, she looked over with surprise to find Anaurael being cradled by Imperius. The two girls blinked at each other before hugging. "Thank you, sister! Thank you so much!"
"Of course, sister," Anaurael smiled and watched Xypherius walk over now to get hugged by his partner next. Now that the two girls could finally heal both mentally and physically, another mission was being undergone on Sanctuary.
"Why are we here again?" Lyndon grumbled, as he stood outside the spider caverns near New Tristram. Moolara was there with Mirdael and many of the Fetish following with her. The Nephalem was nearby with Kormac and Eirena as back up.
"For once, my thoughts agree..." Kormac said with a small cringe at a spider web.
"I need to do a study," Moolara said, as she had them walk into the ancient tunnels with her.
"What type?" the champion asked.
"The spiders here are very intelligent. I noticed this before when I had to come here for venoms. I wish to train a few to help us," she explained. She clicked to the Fetish around her, and the small warriors giggled and began to pounce on any small spiders they found to fill up a jar. Other jars were set down to be filled up, and these were carefully sealed and stowed away. At the sight of a larger spider skittering over to them, they readied to attack. "Wait!"
"Just step on it already!" Lyndon scowled.
"Not this one," Moolara said with a wry smile and carefully walked up to it. "Ah. It is wounded. I shall heal it."
"What? Why?!" Kormac frowned.
"Odd friends in odd places remember such acts of kindness," she chuckled and carefully bandaged up one of the mangled legs. The spider remained perfectly still for her. "Ah. You are a young queen, are you not?"
A chitter was given with a small foreleg placed on her shoulder. Kormac was clearly showing his discomfort. Eirena thought the whole thing was cute. Mirdael simply hovered behind his partner in his usual, silent fashion.
"If that's a queen, we should kill it," the Nephalem frowned.
"This one is...different," Moolara said and rose up to stand. The spider didn't budge. Instead, the purplish spider queen moved to where an empty jar was and filled it with eggs. "Ah! So, when they hatch, there will be more! Very good! I know that Sohar uses such pots, but I may request for him to lend me the weapon he has, if this young queen is to help me."
The spider chittered again and seemed to follow Moolara out of the cave. A path of webbing seemed to spin out to trap any unsuspecting victims behind her, as she moved. At the sight of an enemy spider appearing, the spider queen was quick to attack. Moolara took up a jar and threw it to let it shatter and spread the little spiders all over the larger one.
"So...they eat each other?" the champion seemed to grin.
"Yes," Moolara chuckled. The spider queen skittered right back over to Moolara happily. "I thank you for your help. I shall call on you, if I need you."
A small fang was given over with gratitude before she skittered off. Moolara placed the fang in a special pouch. She would make sure to leave several empty jars around to get filled. The spider queen would likely be lurking nearby to help. New allies were always appreciated. As much as Kormac was clearly repulsed by the creature, any bit of help was welcome now.