Chapter Nine
Raphael quickly flies off to happily join his horses and Michael and Gabriel stand together, the sun making their feathers shine as bright as their armor. Chamuel exits and she looks at Michael, nodding to Gabriel and then she flaps her bright wings. "That was a lovely breakfast, as usual. I shall be taking my leave now and I shall be in the library reading to the slaves if anyone needs me, dears. Have a beautiful afternoon." Gabriel nods and Michael smiles, watching her take off to the blue sky above.
He softly sighs, closing his eyes for a moment and he turns to Gabriel. "She knows, Gabriel. When Chamuel touched my forehead, she must have seen an image of us being affectionate with each other." Gabriel's eyes slightly widen, turning his head to his brother. "She knows?" Michael glances around and he touches his shoulder. "Yes, brother. What she said in the dining hall was not about Uriel, it was directed towards us. She will not tell a soul and she understands."
Never in an eternity of knowing each other have Gabriel's eyes held a flash of fear in them. He takes a step back, moving out of touch. In one swift motion, Gabriel takes to the sky and Michael follows him. The blue stillness is cold, time seems to freeze and Gabriel tries to elude Michael in the clouds, ducking low and then flying high. Michael does not lose him for a moment and he keeps close but out of sight. When Gabriel glances behind him, thinking that he has lost Michael, he lands in the woods, walking into a clearing where the silver lights beam down.
He paces back and forth like a caged lion, tormented by the thought of someone already finding out about the forbidden love and he lowers himself on a smooth marble bench, covering himself with his massive wings.
Behind some thick trees, Michael quietly lands and he wanders through the woods, searching for the familiar heartbeat he fell asleep to last night and then he sees him. Michael cautiously approaches him, highly aware that Gabriel is deadly if he is angry enough or provoked to some point and Michael steps into the silver light, placing his hands together. "Gabriel."
He glances up, hearing his name and the razor tips of his wings slip out of his feathers, a warning. Michael takes a step back and waits patiently, silent. Minutes pass by, excruciatingly long ones and Gabriel eases the razor tips back under his soft fathers, folding his wings over the back of the bench. "Michael, she knows. That is one soul too many for my personal comfort. If she found out so easily, then what stops the rest of the kingdom from knowing the truth? Go ahead, brother. Lie to me."
Michael's eyes soften, they always do and he slowly comes forward, kneeling below his brother. "You are frightened, Gabriel. And that is the truth. It was my fault that she found out because my mind was not locked. I was unprepared and of all things she had to see, it had to be that." He goes quiet, gently smiling and he touches Gabriel's knee. "I couldn't stop thinking about this morning. I hoped that we could have had more time together."
Gabriel looks down at his hand, touching it and he sighs. "Michael, would you like to spend the afternoon and night with me? I would like to explore these feelings together with you." Michael looks up into his eyes, holding his hand and he stands up, slowly pulling Gabriel to his feet with him. "Yes, Gabriel. Perhaps a walk in the garden, a swim in the pool and have a romantic dinner."
His wings flutter, excited and he straightens his shoulders, staring at the sky above. "A walk in the garden would be grand." He looks at Michael, smirking. "I shall race you there, like when we were boys with wings." Michael smiles and they clasp their hands together in a warrior's grip, looking into each other's eyes and then they both take to the sky.
The clouds part as their wings cut through them together, the brothers take to the clear sky, racing to the garden. Gabriel spreads his black wings, soaring high and he dips down, slowly folding his wings back to speed like a bullet. Michael stays close to land, flying among the buildings and he reaches the garden, resting his wings behind him. "Some things never change." The bushes rustle behind him and he touches his sword, turning around. Gabriel pulls a twig from his hair and he softly clears his throat, stepping out. "And not everything remains the same."
Michael looks at him, tapping his foot on the grass and he shakes his head, coming towards him. "Well done, brother." Gabriel glances around and they look at each other and smile, walking through the garden together. The discuss the earth, the slow destruction of it, the marble painted green, blue and brown in heaven's eyes and how it will one day fade to nothing. They laugh, remembering holidays and happy times, enjoying one another's company.
They continue to walk around the endless garden, the sun blazes in the sky and Michael softly sighs, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. His eyes narrow to the sun, turning his gaze to the pool at the center of the garden. "I believe now would be a perfect time to go for a swim, wouldn't you say?" Gabriel nods and they head to the pool, passing rose bushes and maple trees, bright colors everywhere.
When they reach the pool, white rose petals and floating candles are lit, the cool water trembling before their eyes. Michael begins to remove his armor, placing the pieces of them on the rock bench and he unties his cotton shirt, slipping off his leather boots. Naked, he crouches down and touches the water with his fingertips. "Michael." When he turns around, Gabriel nudges him into the pool with a smirk, sitting down to remove his leather boots. Michael emerges from the water; wiping his face and he splash him. "Very funny, Gabriel. You are lucky I didn't take you with me."
Michael swims around, using his wings as giant paddles to move and he touches a candle, twirling it away from him. Gabriel unclips his leather kilt, folding it up and he rolls down his leggings, stuffing them in his boots. He walks down the steps, naked into the water and he swims near Michael, resting his back against the stone curve of the pool.
Their bodies begin to cool down and the rose petals stick to their wet chests, the candles float around them and Gabriel stares at Michael, thinking about everything that happened for the last few days. "What do you fear, brother?" Gabriel raises his eyebrow, brushing the water with his fingertips and he rubs a petal between his fingers, resting his elbows on the edge. "I haven't been asked that question in fourteen-hundred years. " Michael swims to him and Gabriel slightly raises his chin, glancing around. "Michael, we are in the garden. The balconies are just above."
He slowly nods, pausing a few steps in front of him and he slowly reaches out, peeling a white rose petal off Gabriel's chest. "Has your answer changed since then?" The clouds sail above them, silence fills the garden and Gabriel sighs, moving his eyes over Michael's body. They lower their eyes at the same time and Gabriel heads back to the steps. "Come, Michael. Let us dine in peace."
The water drips off his glossy wings, the garden turns cooler around them and the sun slowly begins to sink out of sight. Torches are lit around the garden, slaves wander about and one approaches them. "Master Gabriel. Master Michael. May I do anything for you?" Gabriel grabs a robe off the steel hook, covering his body and he nods. "Take our armor to our chambers and have a large banquet prepared for me in mine. And send a bottle of wine to Chamuel with warm regards." Michael looks at the small slave over Gabriel's shoulder and he feels his brother's eyes on him.
The slave bows and Gabriel touches his shoulder. "Go to the dining hall and tell the chef to prepare you a meal, tell them that I sent you." The young boy looks up at him, parting his dry lips in awe and he shivers with joy. "Thank you, Master. Right away." Michael smiles and Gabriel glances over his shoulder, motioning to their armor. "Very well, gather our armor and be on your way."
The slave gathers their armor and he leaves to tend to his duties. Michael wraps himself in a robe, tightening it around him and he touches Gabriel's shoulder, smiling. "That was very kind of you, Gabriel. He will be very happy."