Castiel stood with Balthazar in the assembly room, as they and the rest of the angels waited for the archangels to arrive. Today, the angels who attacked Sam would be sentenced. Normally, when angels were judged, it was privately, but Lucifer wanted to make an example out of them. He wanted to make sure no one ever attempted something like this again.
"How do you reckon this is going to go, Cas?" Balthazar asked.
"The last angel that went after Sam was relieved of most of his Grace and sent to a human prison. Another was set to Hell to be tortured. This is unlikely to be any better. Lucifer will not know mercy after what happened to Sam," Castiel said. He didn't blame the archangel either. Those angels hadn't shown Sam any mercy when they attacked him. What they'd done to him was reprehensible.
"I doubt it's just him either. Gabriel's likely to be livid. He won't rest until he has their heads, I'm sure. I've even heard that Michael is less than pleased. There's a rumor he went down to the prison and promised vengeance to all five of them," Balthazar said. He wasn't sure if that one was true. After all, it wasn't that long ago that Michael agreed with those angels regarding the young fledgling."
Castiel nodded. He'd heard that rumor as well. He'd also seen for himself that Michael was indeed angry about what happened with Sam. He'd heard a few things come from the archangel when he'd go to check in with Lucifer. "It appears that Michael's views have changed. That's likely another reason why this hearing will be public. They went everyone to know where Michael stands."
"It's going to be bad, Castiel. Harming a fledgling has never been something to be taken lightly," Balthazar said. He'd never seen it personally, but he'd heard the stories about what would happen in the rare occasion when someone was stupid enough to go after a fledgling.
A snort could be heard next to them, followed by a sarcastic voice. "Yeah, a fledgling."
Balthazar peered over at the angel who spoke and glared. "No one asked you, Metatron."
"The little abomination got what he deserved," Metatron said.
Castiel narrowed his eyes and took a step towards the angel. "You've been told not to use that word. Sam did nothing to those angels!"
"Existing is enough," Metatron sneered.
"You know, I'd suggest you pay very close attention to what happens to those idiots today. It's angels like you that the message the archangels are about to send is meant for," Balthazar said.
Metatron glared and walked away from them.
"Why'd they bring that idiot back? He was better off where he was," Balthazar said to Castiel.
"He was unjustly driven away. Lucifer wanted to rectify the situation. He's hardly the only one to have that opinion about Sam. He's just one of the more vocal ones," Castiel said.
Just then, Sam and Gabriel walked over. Gabriel was dressed unusually formal. He had on a dark blue business suit. "Hey, guys,"
"Hello, Gabriel. Hi, Sam," Castiel said.
"Brother, little nephew," Balthazar greeted.
Sam nodded to them and then looked around the room. Pretty much every angel was staring at him, just like they always were when he passed them. It was more unnerving to see so many of them though.
Gabriel put a hand on his son's shoulder. "You don't have to be here if you don't want to be. You can go home."
Sam shook his head. "I should be here. This entire thing is about me."
"Alright. I need to go find Michael and Lucifer. Stay with Castiel please," Gabriel said before walking away.
"How are you, Sam?" Castiel asked.
"Okay. Dad's barely letting me out of his sight though. I think he's still scared about what happened," Sam said.
"What happened was frightening," Castiel said.
"What do you think will happen?" Sam asked. He didn't like this whole thing. He didn't want some big commotion made about what happened. For that reason, he'd tried to ask his dad to show some kind of mercy. He just didn't want people scared and suffering because of him. Needless to say, he'd been shot down. Neither his dad or his uncles were very forgiving right now.
"I don't know, but with three angry archangels, it won't be pleasant for those involved.
Sam sighed and nodded. "Dad said you saw Dean. Is he okay?"
Castiel was a bit surprised. He didn't think Gabriel had any intention of telling Sam about what happened with Dean. "Yes. He was very angry about what happened to you though. He too wants those responsible to suffer. I promised him that no mercy would be given out.
"Attention, Everyone!" a voice suddenly boomed.
Everyone turned to see Lucifer at the podium. Michael and Gabriel stood directly behind him.
Lucifer snapped his fingers and the five angels awaiting sentencing appeared to his left in shackles. "Thank you. Unfortunately, we are all here today because a great injustice was performed against a fledgling.
While his brother spoke, Gabriel stared venomously at the five angels that attacked his son. It was taking every single piece of Grace that made up his existence not to torture and kill them right now.
Michael placed a hand on his younger brother's shoulder, both to restrain him and to comfort him. He just hoped Gabriel wouldn't pull away.
Gabriel eyed Michael gratefully. He had so many issues with his older brother, but right now, he was glad Michael was there helping him.
Lucifer, meanwhile, went on speaking. "The last thing I want is to rule you all with fear or to punish harshly, however, I cannot allow this to go without severe consequences. Actions need to be taken to ensure that nothing like this happens again. I was very clear on the subject of our nephew. No one would hurt him, and if they tried, they would be punished.
Lucifer turned and gave the accused angels a withering glare. "Apparently some of you didn't believe me."
"May I speak, brother? After all, I carry some responsibility here," Michael said.
Lucifer nodded and stepped away, allowing Michael to take his place.
Michael stepped up to the podium. "I feel that may not have happened if not for my own views on the matter. I told all of you to stand down and follow Lucifer's law, including regarding Young Sam. However, you all knew it was mostly show. You knew my feelings on the matter remained the same. I am certain that is why these traitors decided they had the right to attack him. Perhaps I am as guilty as them, and I must live with that"
Michael stopped for a moment and stepped towards the angels on trial. "Despite my mistaken views on the matter, you knew you were to follow Heaven's rules. If you thought I'd save you from judgment, you were gravely mistaken. In fact, I was the one who suggested your fate," he said before going back to the podium. "I no longer wish to be misunderstood. Sam Winchester is my nephew and I love him. I will not allow anyone to harm him again!"
Sam stood shocked at Michael's words. Michael had said he accepted him the last time they spoke, but he never said he loved him. Was it just show for the angels? Sam found that hard to believe. Michael's words seemed sincere.
Gabriel stepped up next to address those that attacked his kid. "I would love nothing more than to see all of you die painfully. That would've been my first choice for your punishment. But I realize now that that would be too easy. You die, you go to the Empty and there's no more pain. You don't get to get off that easy. I want you to suffer. You will damn well suffer!"
Lucifer motioned for his two brothers to step back and took his place once more. "As I said, I have no desire to entice fear in all of you. While the punishment of these five angels is steep, it is reserved for the most heinous of crimes. In fact, it is a punishment I would never have thought to dole out before. It was not an easy decision to make to do so now." When Michael had first brought this idea up, he'd shot it down. It was very harsh. But after thinking about it, he realized he needed to be harsh. He needed to make a point out of these angels.
The five seraphs looked terrified. They hadn't yet learned their fate, but if a punishment seemed almost too harsh for the devil, it had to terrible.
Lucifer turned to the guilty angels. "You've all admitted what you've done, some even gleefully, so there's no need to determine innocence or guilty. You are guilty, and you will face dire consequences. As punishment for torturing a fledgling, you will spend the next century in Purgatory."
Sam listened as shocked and terrified whispers rang out throughout the room. No one was unaffected by the announcement. "Cas, what's Purgatory?"
"The most awful place you can bloody well think of," Balthazar said in bewilderment.
"It's where most supernatural creatures go when they've been killed. No angel has ever been sent there," Castiel said. He too was shell shocked. He knew the punishment would be severe, but he didn't imagine this. Those angels deserved it, but he just didn't see it coming. At worst, he thought maybe they'd be sent to the Cage.
"What will happen to them there?" Sam asked.
"They'll be at constant war. Those things won't take angels in their paths lightly," Balthazar said.
"Quiet please!" Lucifer said. He waited for everyone to quiet down before addressing the terrified angels to his right again. "At the end of your sentence, if you are still alive and have repented, you will be welcome to return home. I suggest you consider this during your punishment. Should you have a moment of piece in such a warzone, that is."
"No!"
"You can't!"
"Please, don't!"
Lucifer ignored their pleas and snapped his fingers, sending them back to their cells until he could send them to their new destination. Then he turned to his audience. "Again, this isn't something that was decided lightly, but I hope you will all remember this moment should any of you think of committing the same offence. That's all."
The frantic chatter began again over what had just occurred. Everyone seemed shocked and frightened.
Even Metatron seemed sort of nervous. He never expected this outcome when he convinced Vashti to make a move on the Nephilim. He didn't particularly care about what happened to those angels, but it did make him overly grateful that he wasn't caught. It also made him realize that he'd have to be careful with anything he might try in the future.
Meanwhile, Gabriel made it back down to Sam. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "You ready to go home."
"Dad, I don't want this. I don't want people to get hurt because of me. Is this really necessary," Sam said.
"Their fate is on them, not you. They know how seriously harming a fledgling is taken. And, yes, it had to happen. An example had to be made. Come on, let's go home. We can talk about it more there if you'd like," Gabriel said before leading his son away by the shoulder.