–...No…–
–...Stop!--
–...Sins…–
–...Banished…–
Michael's mind clouded, swirling in his unconsciousness. His memories were a blur, the last clear recollection was the agony of the Ruler's assault; the wings viciously ripped from his back. A faded memory of being cast aside through the rift became momentarily clear, and slipped from clarity.
"Michael…Michael…? Please wake up. Please…"
Ravenna's voice cut through the haze, pulling his consciousness away from the depths, toward waking, toward her. His grip on reality faltered, and his mind slid back into the darkness.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ravenna woke up, having fallen asleep sitting up next to the bed, Michael's limp hand in hers. She ran her thumb across his softly. The healer stood and stretched, her back aching from having slept in such an odd position. Teresa slept soundly on another bed in the infirmary, having made a small pad of blankets on the floor for Annie to sleep safely on.
Moving to the kitchen, Ravenna prepared the last of the tea that Teresa had brought, wishing that she had food to offer for her guest. The kettle whistled, and Ravenna poured the tea into the teacups, singing softly as she worked.
"It's nice to hear you sing again." Teresa stood in the doorway, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "It's the little things in life that you don't realize you will miss until they're gone. Did you notice the parcel in the room today?"
Ravenna gestured for Teresa to join her in the parlor, placing both cups on the table. "Parcel?"
Teresa turned back into the infirmary room, and came back with a large bag. "I don't remember seeing this last night when we got here." She placed the bag on the table in front of Ravenna, who frowned slightly at the unfamiliar parcel.
"I have never seen it before, either." The young woman reached into the bag, pulling out a beautifully written note on a white scroll. "Please take care of our Brother. We entrust him entirely to you. He loves you more than you could know. And it's signed by Gabriel and Zerachiel…oh, Teresa. This came from his Brothers."
"I don't understand, where did it come from?"
Ravenna pulled an exquisite white waistcoat from the bag, running her fingers across the gold buttons. "These things belong to Michael. His Brothers must have brought it last night when we were asleep. The signatures are from Gabriel and Zerachiel, they are his two oldest Brothers."
Teresa frowned. "There was a man here while we were asleep? I don't think I like that very much."
Ravenna put a sugar cube in her cup, stirring the tea. "They won't hurt us. They probably just wanted us to have his things. His Brothers are angels, just like he is. I've met Zerachiel for a moment…," she blushed, recalling how the Seraphim had found her lying underneath his shirtless Brother as they kissed. "I haven't met Gabriel though, but I do know he's the oldest Brother."
Teresa sipped at her tea, still clearly uncomfortable with the idea that a man had been in the room while she was asleep. "So what did his Brother bring for us?"
Setting her cup down, Ravenna reached into the bag, pulling out a pair of boots, and a pair of black silken pants. "It looks like…a lot of his clothes. I guess they knew that it would be hard for us to find clothes for him since he's so tall."
Ravenna re-read the scroll that had been left with Michael's clothing. -Please take care of our Brother. We entrust him entirely to you. He loves you more than you could know.– The flawlessly written words made her warm, but incredibly nervous. The letter meant Michael's Brothers all knew about her, and knew they had been close. They trusted her to take care of him, to help him after his Fall. –But he is so badly hurt…–
A shuffling sound alerted the women in the parlor, and Ravenna stood to check on the Seraphim in the infirmary. The healer sighed, seeing Michael still as she had left him. She couldn't understand; she was certain she had heard something. She turned away from the angel, her hopes dashed. She picked up the sleeping Annie, and left the infirmary room.
Ravenna passed Annie to her mother, and the women chatted over their tea. Teresa had asked more questions about Michael, about Ravenna's disappearance. She was fascinated by her friend's tale of being in the UnderKingdom, and how she had found out about Samuel and Anne's deaths from William Reed. Ravenna had been worried that her friend would not believe her story, but the more they talked, the more Ravenna was certain that Teresa knew that her words were the truth.
As the morning passed, the women prepared to head back to Canden. Teresa was wanting to stay to be sure Ravenna was safe with the Seraphim, but her friend had insisted that she would be fine. Ravenna tore a small piece of Gabriel's scroll, leaving a note next to Michael on the small chance he would awaken during her trip to Canden. –I would hate for him to wake up alone, confused about where he is. I want him to know that he is secure here, and that I will be with him again.–
The women left the Hawthorne home, making their way back to the village. Teresa had convinced Ravenna that it was time to make her return known, as many of the villagers had been on the watch for her after her disappearance. The healer was not quite ready to face the people of Canden, but knew that Teresa was right; it was not fair to allow the villagers to continue to worry about where she was. Approaching Canden, they decided it would be a nice transition back to Ravenna's regular life if she met with the elderly Quills first; the older couple being warm and kind. Ravenna wanted to see Thomas as well, knowing the small child would be delighted to see her again.
Teresa knocked on the door to the Quill home, and Oliver soon greeted them. "Teresa! My dear, your husband picked up Thomas last night, and stayed home from work with your son tod– goodness! Miss Hawthorne! What a delight to see you again! Where have you been?"
Ravenna gave a small, anxious smile, and tried to politely dodge the question. "What truly matters is I am happy to be home and to see my friends and villagers again, Mr Quill."
The old man sensed that something was amiss, but that the young woman did not wish to talk about her disappearance. He reached out and grabbed Ravenna's hand, smiling at the healer. "I know we have greatly missed you. My wife has been so worried about you." He turned, calling for Audrey, who soon made her way to the door. The older woman embraced Ravenna, and invited her inside for tea.
"I would love to, perhaps another afternoon, Mrs Quill. I already have a patient back home…"
Oliver quickly remembered the farmer from Brackenridge with the man on the horse cart. Surely, the man the farmer had found was the one Ravenna referred to. "Yes, Audrey, we will have to have her another day for tea; we know that the Hawthornes take their job very seriously."
Ravenna gave a genuine smile, the anxiety fading from her grin. "Thank you for understanding, Mr Quill. I wanted to be sure Teresa got home safely, and to pick up some supplies while I am here. Speaking of, do you happen to know who was responsible for rebuilding my home? I truly am eternally grateful that after the…," Ravenna sniffled, her loss surfacing in her mind. She swallowed, trying to keep her composure. "After the fire, I had my home again."
Audrey looked at her husband, and then the healer. "It was the villagers, dear. The men got together and decided that it was the right thing to do, after the Hawthornes have taken care of Canden for decades. It was your kindness that built your home. Everyone contributed what they could, and I know that they eagerly await you back in our lives."
Ravenna teared up, and embraced the elderly woman again. "We all take care of one another. But this kindness was truly something special. Canden has given me my home during a difficult time, and I will never forget this."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Michael blinked, his swollen eyes resisting opening. He tried to sit up, his muscles failing him. With the pain in his body, he instead remained laying down on the bed, choosing to take the time to figure out where he was from what he could see.
He noticed the room's simplicity; the opulence and elegance he was accustomed to was replaced by a cozy feeling. Pain shot through his back as he tried to move again. –Right; the wings.– He slowly recalled the agony of the dismemberment of his wings; passing through the rift as he Fell. He remembered a storm; –or was that just what Lucifer had told me what he had seen as he Fell?– Michael noticed a slip of parchment near his face, and struggled through the pain to grasp it.
–Michael, I have gone to the village to get supplies. You are in my home, you are safe here. Please wait for me if you wake up, I will return soon. Ravenna.–
Ravenna. – She was here? She has found me? I know I must be terrifying to see right now…would that scare her away?– Michael desperately hoped the woman he cared for had not seen his wounds, the shame of his beatings. He could not let her see the humiliation, the disgrace he had suffered at the hands of the Ruler. Michael traced the letters on Ravenna's note with his finger before shutting his swollen eyes, resting before Ravenna could return.