After everyone had settled down once more, resuming their previous seats for the most part, Caralla sat up and surveyed the room. It warmed her to see that they were all looking interested – she detected no boredom in their faces, and it was so flattering she smiled. Deciding to skip pleasantries as they had a lot of information to go through in a short span of time, she dove back into her tale.
"Before long – well, not as mortals would figure, it having been many many generations since their 'gods' had left them – the Celestials noticed something new in the mannerisms and behavior of the non-eternals. Upon the end of mortal life, where there was once simply an air of survival and continuation, now there was something different. The silence of the watchers returned, colored with shock, with apprehension. The gathered Celestials watched in amazement as their pets developed and enacted what were obviously rituals concerning their dead. The prayers, just now being given voice, resounded in the mortal realm and it was with complete and utter astonishment that they realized the pleas and accolades were directed at them. Every Celestial turned towards the Creator for an answer. Why were the mortals seeking aid for their dead? The answer they received only served to make things more confusing.
"The Creator calmly stated that these mortals feared for their souls.
"Immediately there was an outcry. Why did these creatures have souls? Why were they – who existed only at the whim and for the amusement of the Creator – given the intangible individual self that was heretofore the right of the Celestials alone? For the first time the watchers began to feel something other than awe and devotion. The fires of anger, of jealousy, of hurt and betrayal, sparked and caught on the tinder of indignant fear." She watched their expressions with a slight chuckle. "I see you think they were overreacting. That these Celestials were blowing things way out of proportion, so to speak. But imagine it this way: say you were sole heir to an immense fortune. One day your parents bring home a pet tadpole for you. You care for it, you watch it grow, change into a frog, learn to hop. You were fond of your pet. Now imagine if your parents informed you over breakfast one morning that they had made the frog equal heir to half of their fortune and holdings. Can you imagine how confused and upset you might be? It was the same here. Suddenly the Celestials were faced with the fact that these microscopic lives held equal eternal sway as their own, and for no apparent reason.
"The discord was immense. Most of the Celestials were of the mind that these insignificant insects should be erased – that if the Creator wanted beings with souls a new race of immortals should be created, that such a divine blessing should no longer be granted to a ragtag bunch of pointless mortal animals. The majority felt that an immortal soul should never be so disgustingly shackled to such a frail, fallible shell. However, as the Creator had obviously ordained these creatures worthy of everlasting souls, the dissension was never truly spoken aloud. No one wanted to go against the one that had made them all. At least, not openly. Quietly, however, conversations were had, ideas were pooled – the eventual extermination of the ones seen as usurpers was much discussed." Caralla took a deep breath she didn't need and continued on.
"As time wore on, the fate of the mortal world began to look more and more bleak. So many Celestials had come to share the same belief, that annihilation was the best solution – especially as it was becoming apparent that the souls these animals possessed were being cut adrift completely once the body perished. The immortals were appalled. Bad enough they were given souls, but to have those souls float formless and alone through the realm they no longer belonged to – such a thing was unheard of. Some saw it as just punishment, a deserved fate for aspiring higher than they were meant to. Most saw it as cruel. All of them, though, perceived the ultimate solution to be simple: either relieve the creatures of their souls or destroy them altogether. So determined were the Celestials that they forgot to observe, or if they did they saw only what they had wanted to see. They missed the advances, the accomplishments that the mortals had achieved, the discoveries and feats the perserverent creatures had claimed through their own tenacity. The Celestials, in their own fear and envy, had blinded themselves to the good and admirable traits of the time-bound ones.
"Not every Celestial was blind. The Firstborn saw the mysteries the mortals uncovered, watched with pride as the ones termed 'animal' by the everlasting watchers proved their worth again and again. It was decided that, no matter the cost, the Firstborn would not stand with their own kind, would in fact take a stand against them in favor of the mortals if it came down to it. The Creator, being fully aware of the chaos one simple statement had caused, simply observed.
"The two groups of Celestials came together to debate viewpoints. The majority of the Celestials felt that the Firstborn should be banished from the eternal realm. It was postulated that their previous time spent amongst the animals had somehow warped the immortal fabric of their own existence, that in supporting and protecting the unworthy creatures below they were in fact proving their own lack of worth. The Firstborn countered with pleas that, regardless of their own fate, the mortals be permitted to truly and wholly possess their souls so that they might join the Celestials in everlasting life once the mortal shell had expired.
"The suggestion was..." Caralla said with a wry snort, "...not well received."
"The debate raged on for ages. The Creator stayed mute throughout, choosing neither one side nor the other. It was during this that the entire realm of eternal ones, up to this point still being a single unit despite differing beliefs, intentionally and decisively chose sides. With that one act, the singling out of a dividing line and the concept of individual thought, the very bonds of kinship that held them together disintegrated. Instead of multiple aspects of the same mind, they became separate entities joined by common choice and ideals. Soon the eternal realm was split completely in twain. The Firstborn and those of like mind became the champions of the mortal realm, dedicated to the continuation and development of those they now considered their form-bound brethren, these mortals with immortal souls. The remaining Celestials, on the other hand, were bonded by their disdain and disgust for the worthless animals and determined that the entire realm of life should be wiped out.
"It came to a head when the Firstborn learned of the covert groups the Celestials had been sending amongst the mortals with the sole purpose of convincing the animals to destroy themselves, speaking in shadowy riddles and fermenting discord. The Firstborn were furious and descended upon their Celestial kin like an avenging army, and of course they met with resistance as their opposition fought back.
"The battle – for that is what it had become, the first battle of immortals – had drastic fall-out. While the majority of the forces of each side engaged each other, splinter teams from each faction descended to mingle with the very creatures they were fighting over. Those sympathetic to mortals encouraged them to heal, to help, to learn, even encouraging them to build structures – temples, in common parlance – to gather in to ask assistance in the event that the 'destructive ones' might attack. The others worked with the mortals as well, convincing the animals that the only way to survive was to take, to push others down to become more prosperous. They developed the concept of greed from an abstract idea to an art form and taught it to those they deemed most able to bring down the entire realm from within.
"It was chaos. Though the realm in question saw almost no physical repercussions from the conflict, the fact that they were not immortal acted as a catalyst, spreading the concepts of both peace and war across the world far more quickly than either side had anticipated. The eternal realm, on the other hand, was virtually destroyed. With both sides giving no quarter and refusing to compromise, it looked as though they were deadlocked for all time. It was then that the Creator chose to intervene."
With an enigmatic expression, Caralla turned to Jess, and though she addressed the room in general it was obvious that she was speaking to the pregnant teen when she spoke.
"This seems a good point for an intermission. I myself have...something to take care of, so I shall return momentarily." Without another word the ancient immortal rose and sauntered out of the room and out the back door, disappearing into the dark too quickly for the humans in the room to register. Just then, Jess' stomach growled loudly, and she looked around in embarrassment.
"I think...I might get some seconds on dinner," she said, causing most of the room to chuckle as she, Angela, and Jake made their way to the kitchen.
Bella turned in Edward's arms and glanced at Esme where she was still leaning against her husband.
"Esme, you said you've studied religions over the years?" she began. The dark-haired vampire nodded. "Does this mesh with any of them?" Esme was quiet, thoughtful for a moment, before responding.
"It lines up with quite a few of them, though it is rare for human belief systems take into account anything that happened that didn't directly affect them. Caralla has never told me any of this, but I can see where things line up."
"Such as?"
"Well, the building of temples as gathering places to ask for assistance is standard in almost every belief structure, as is the concept of a war between gods, higher beings, whatever. The stories of angels and of demons could easily be parallel to the groups of benevolent and harmful Celestials. Overall, this seems fairly standard, if unusual." At about that time Carlisle placed a light kiss on her head and murmured something Bella couldn't hear before walking out of the room as well. Figuring he would tell her if it was anything important, and feeling nothing through their bond that spoke of apprehension or worry, Bella turned her full attention back to her discussion with Esme.
"Are you sure it is wise to tell them all so much? It's a lot to process, Cara," Carlisle said easily as he leaned against a tree a few yards from where his former teacher was stretched out on the grass. Her hair was tossed backwards, the long dark strands shifting and shining in the moonlight, the constant rain caressing her gently. Her eyes were closed, and she didn't bother to open them to answer.
"There is more building than even you are aware of, darling," she murmured. "And I feel strongly that every bit of information I can share will be one more piece of armor against the war that is coming." A small sound of agreement was his only answer, and she rolled languidly to lay on her side, mahogany eyes opening and fixing on him with a direct gaze that was nonetheless caring.
"So, it is a war? You are certain?" he asked, leaving his tree to drop to the ground beside her. She nodded.
"As sure as the sun rises in the sky, there is war coming. And this group, these amazing people – your family, Carlisle – are the front line. There is so much building, so much...I can feel..." she broke off slowly, whispering. "War is coming to the mortal realm in a very big way. All I can hope for is that we can end it without most of the world knowing it even began." She looked almost...weary...Carlisle thought, and reached out to draw her into a hug.
"I know this is hard on you. I won't presume to say I understand or empathize, because honestly not even I have a concept of what this is like for you, but you have us here. All of us." As though comforting one of his children, he placed a gentle kiss on her hair and felt her smile. She sat up and regarded him with a smirk.
"As the elder, shouldn't it be me comforting you?" she said. He looked at her, forcing an innocent expression, and she remembered vividly the lost, despairing immortal she'd met so many centuries ago. She was so proud of the man he had become.
"Even old ladies need comfort sometimes," he said, unable to keep a cheeky tone from his words, and she gasped in mock affront and slapped his shoulder.
"Old lady, am I?" she snapped playfully. "Well, this old lady could still teach you some things, whippersnapper. Like manners." Laughing, happy he'd gotten her to laugh along, Carlisle stood and offered her his hand in an unnecessary gesture that was nonetheless reflexive. Together the two friends walked back to the house.
Author's note: So. It is war. Not that it wasn't coming anyway, but something about hearing Caralla say it makes it...real for them, somehow. I find myself wondering how the rest of the Cullens and assorted strays will take the announcement?