A/N: I know it's been a while since I've updated this story... and I apologize. No excuses... I actually had this completed a very long long time ago and I have been focusing my attention... elsewhere. Truth is... I hit a wall. Not literally. I'm almost finished with this story but I haven't posted the other chapters because... well, I am not happy with them yet. I'll keep at it until I am...

All the normal disclaimers apply. No infringement is intended… transformative piece of fiction… don't make nada from my efforts… don't own any claim to Supernatural or characters...

A/N: I apologize for the annotated prophesy below. It is meant to have the flow of a textbook with marginal notes. For some, it may be off-putting.

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Annotated Prophesy- Notations made by Journeyman Warlock Gabriel of Sentinel Host (Overseen by the Master of the Prime, Michael of Sentinel Host)

Excerpt of the Prophesy of the "Fire in the Middle of the World" regarding "The Calling of the Swords"

"There will be a great Calling.

"There will be a time of upheaval and death when all the Callers of Power will be hunted (Magic Users are often called Callers of Power. Does this mean that Magic Users will be hunted?) even though they will wield all the power in the land. The great temples and governing bodies will defer to them (All civil and religious entities currently defer to the judgments of Sentinel Host, the literal and metaphorical center of magical Power. This line may point to a nexus of events that may be approaching) and they will be unbending (Unbending? Has there been a request that has been denied? Will there be one? Maybe it refers to the unwavering dedication to the way of life we have created for ourselves. Maybe it refers to the lifestyle of rigid Law and unwavering dedication to having only full-blooded, fully-trained humans of Master and Adept potential designated worthy of training at Sentinel Host)- full and arrogant in their own self-righteousness. They will not see the weak and untrained as a threat or an ally (This has been my argument to my Master in our discussions about the children with little latent power that manifests as minor magic use. Eventually, we will have alienated the potential users and made of them great enemies. It is important to note that even a drop of latent potential may manifest into use of magic that can accomplish much if the user is imaginative enough. We need to bring these users into the fold of Sentinel Host. We need them to take the Oath and register on the Rolls as Users.) until one will Call to the very depths of Hell and pull from the burning ashes of despair He Who Will Begin The End.

(I am finding contrasting theories about whom or what will be the Caller of the End. Some scholars have argued the Caller of the End is a figurative name like the names of the Swords. They believe the Caller is a treasure much like the Swords. The pronoun used in the ancient language is ambiguous.

Other scholars argue that the names of important people to our history are written in the constellation because the names we use as humans are fleeting. The true names of beings of import have designations beyond the mundane. I tend to ascribe to the philosophy of the former. It doesn't seem likely that the prophesy is to be taken literally but, instead is an allegory. In this, Master and I tend to disagree- at length- but we both agree that there may be answers in the written words that are prophesied).

The demon will call the swords of Heaven and Hell to the place where the veil is thinnest. (There are many "soft spots" in the fabric between worlds and universes. Many theorize that the whole of creation is one among many in what may be termed "multi-verse". We know this to be, at least in part, true since we are able to summon creatures and beings from beyond our own world. In this, Master and I are in accord. In this we also discuss the possibility that the Prophesy is referring to a "Calling" or summoning of a being from another multiverse) In the reaches of the world (Though the original prophet did not capitalize the Reaches of the World, many speculate that the term is referring the Reaches of the Empire. I find this to be the height of hubris. The Empire, despite all opinions within the Order, is not the center of this universe, let alone others.) will he bid the swords come to him. (This passage is the one most quoted to argue in favor of the idea that the Swords are creatures or beings and the term "Sword" is a figurative name to represent a being and not a treasure. The "calling" here is also interchanged with summoning magic). One will require no invitation, for it will deliver itself into the hands of the demons. The other will be brought before the Beast by Need and Purpose (It is unclear what Purpose would Call the Sword or which Sword will come. Since the next passage refers to the Sword of Heaven, the scholars believe the one Called by Purpose will be that one. )

The sword of Heaven will wage a war against all the hosts of Heaven, all the minions of Hell and will be aided by am ally who wields the Power of Hell in his hands. (This is the first mention of this "player" in the Prophesy. There is belief among all Prophesy scholars that there will be a knight or Caller who will wield the Sword of Heaven and will be a Warlock since it specifically discusses the "ally" wielding the "Power of Hell". It could also mean that the person will duel wield both weapons against an army of magic-users. Here is the place of the most contention and disagreement among scholars.

(Empire Scholars disagree whether the hosts and minions are an invading army and the prophesy discusses a hero that will save us all from foreign invaders. This has been the basis of many of the Empire's isolationist policies. Conservative policy makers insist that the prophesy is heralding time of upheaval brought about by the introduction of ideas and attitudes influenced by foreign visitors and cultures. Others believe that the time of upheaval is caused by general dissatisfaction among the population of the Empire and heralds a civil war of some kind. I am inclined to believe that the policy makers read what they want to suit their own agenda and don't really understand anything the prophet wrote. They are not inclined to look beyond the words and discuss the prophecy in terms of the culture and times in which it was written. That is another discussion for another time.)

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Journal of Dean Winchester, Silver Arrow of the Western Reach at Wyrmfire Crag

My brother was in the wilderness and I had at my disposal a dozen magic-users of master or adept level, including the Master of the Prime and his brother, a premier Infernalist of the Order. I also had the entire contingent of the Crag containing Rangers personally selected by me over the course of five years as the Silver Arrow. All of this was pointless unless we knew in which direction my kid brother and the little demon went.

Castiel believed that Meg was helping to shroud Sam and that was why he'd have a hard time narrowing down in which direction they went. I saw how badly this betrayal affected him. His eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot. He hunched over the saddlebow as he sat upon the tamest of our mounts. He barely seemed capable of sitting upright. I worried about him.

And when the Hell did that happen?

I think it may have started the minute he walked with my kid brother through the gates of the Crag. Castiel was attentive and protective of Sam. That earned him points with me right there. He was patient and kind, listening and answering with care whenever my kid brother asked the weird questions that would pop into his brain at seemingly random moments. Gabriel was right. There really couldn't have been a better teacher for Sam. Too bad the little nerd took it into his head to trudge himself, his apprentice and the little demon up here in the first place.

I felt worry for the Infernalist mixing with apprehension for my brother. Should I be angry at Castiel? Should I blame him for what Sam did? All I could do was feel bad that my brother betrayed him. I looked at Castiel and realized he didn't do this, Sam did. I've always wanted to help and protect Sam because I've been doing it all my life. But, because of the protectiveness and paternal feelings I have for Sam, I also want to take this horrible mistake out of his hide. I want him to know what he did was wrong.

Then, there's Gabriel. I knew what he was going through. Cas is his little brother- the same as Sam is mine. I'd been riding next to the Master of the Prime and noticed the frequent glances back through the column to find his little brother. I wondered if the look I saw on his face was a mirror of mine. I suspect the others didn't even see the emotion all over him the way I could. Of course, I'd known Gabe for a very long time. We'd been through more than either of us felt all together comfortable discussing—even among each other.

Neither Gabriel nor I knew in what way taking of the Oath of the Emissary to Serafree would change me. The magic that binds me to the land is the only reason we have a decent relationship with our one-time-adversary. The drawback to the Oath-taking is that I don't tolerate crowds well at all. The exposure to so many minds and spirits that inhabit cities affects me in a way we could not have anticipated. So, I am the one that acts as a liaison between Kingdom and Empire. Gabriel wanted a free exchange of ideas and cultures. What we got was a bit more than either of us realized.

I sometimes think Gabriel regretted not knowing what I was headed to beforehand. Awarding me a posting on the furthest border from civilization was a way to make things right with me. Apprenticing Sam with Castiel was a further attempt to help make it right with me.

Good job, that. I'll have to send him a gift or something. Or a punch in the face after all this is done.

The benefit of having an Earthbinding is I could feel the stain of the demons in the dirt beneath my feet. I could feel the disturbance of the unnatural in the air. My skin prickles with the absence of creatures usually active in the day- the songs of the birds, the creeping of the insects over the loam, creatures moving between the trees and among the boughs—are all missing. The one thing I couldn't detect, the presence of my brother.

We moved on and I began to really feel sick to my stomach. Castiel spurred his complacent animal to trot in order to come even with his brother and me. We both knew we approached a part of the forest that had the strongest sense of demonic energy. There was death and despair in the air. We silently agreed that if Sam wasn't already here, he would have to wait.

We regrouped the column and the three of us and Jess spoke about a plan of action. I sent three scouts out to reconnoiter. When they returned to give their reports, we had a plan.

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I could sense Castiel before Master could come to a conclusion regarding how we would proceed. This was what Master had proclaimed he did not wish to happen. He and I knew that coming out here with 3:1 odds in the Ranger's favor might win them the day… or not… but, there was an increased chance that both Castiel and Dean would be put in very real danger. They might possibly die in this excursion.

I could see the fear for his brother on Sam's face before it pounded at me through our bond. When he watched the column move into the forest and then "disappear", we knew that the Rangers were being aided by magic users and that they had decided to make war plans. Master's jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed as he contemplated his next move.

"You can still shroud us, right?"

I nodded. He gestured to his left and we advanced parallel to the track, following the smell of sulfur to the demon encampment.

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A/N: Research "Lorentzian traversable wormholes" if you want to completely blow your mind! I love the idea of multiple universes as posited by theoretical and experimental physicists following Einstein's theories of general relativity and black/white holes. Crazy stuff, but infinitely interesting. I often have to call my buddy, who is a physicist, to explain this stuff to me once I've read it… Sometimes, I need a "Dummies Guide" just to follow what comes out of his mouth… I love it, though. I'm such a nerd.