The night grew late, and Ravenna's eyes grew heavy. The day had been long; caring for Michael, the visit from Teresa's family, and the shock of the angel's story of his time in the Kingdom. She scrubbed the dishes from their dinner, and forlornly cleaned up the Seraphim's attempt at cooking.
As she finished her nightly cleaning, Ravenna headed to her room, and changed from her dress to her nightgown, and tied a robe on top of her thin nightgown so she could say good night to Michael. She crossed the small cottage, her bare feet padding softly on the wooden floors. She leaned in the doorway of the infirmary room, and smiled at Michael, who sat on the edge of the two beds that were pushed together for him.
"Are you ready for bed, or do you want me to change your bandages before you sleep?"
"It can wait until morning, my dear, thank you." Michael grimaced as he tried to pull his legs up onto the mattress, the stitched laceration on his thigh stinging as he tried to move. Ravenna grabbed his ankles and helped him get onto the bed properly, and apologized as he hissed from the pain.
Once Michael was rolled over onto his stomach, with none of his major injuries touching the bed, he motioned for Ravenna to join him. "Are you coming?"
"Oh! I…I was going to…I mean…it wouldn't be proper…" Ravenna stammered, as she wasn't prepared for him to expect her to share the bed with him.
The angel's face showed clear disappointment. "Oh…that's okay, I mean, we always, when we travelled…"
"It wouldn't be proper, Michael. People from the village can come here at all hours of the night looking for my help, and since we're not married, it would be improper. We were always in hiding when we travelled, so nobody knew…I'm sorry. That must be confusing to you. I left a bell beside your bed, if you need anything in the night, please let me know so I can help you, okay?" She ran her fingers through his golden hair, brushing it back from his face, kissing his forehead, and blew out the candle next to his bedside.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Samael and Azrael flanked him. Their swords were drawn, their grins grew wider and more twisted as they stepped toward him. Azrael's sword pierced his skin, and pain shot through his body. He struck out at Samael, and the Arch dodged the strike. Samael's shield slammed into his back, and everything went black.
His chains rattled as he moved. The metal bit into his skin, and he saw the shadows of the Twin Archs extend, lengthening down the hallway that led to his cell. The footsteps echoed hauntingly, slowly, dauntingly toward him. The cramped jail cell door room creaked open, and Azrael laughed before his boot came in contact with his face.
His Brothers surrounded him as he stood, chained in the Great Hall. He watched the Reflecting Mirror show his Brothers everything, but the image seemed to stick on two Reflections in particular: the moment he snapped Peter Jones' neck, and the moment he lowered himself, shirtless, over Ravenna.
The Ruler loomed over him, His enormous frame shadowing him. He watched his chains shimmer and disappear, as the Ruler's voice echoed. "...Banished…banished…banished…" The wings were ripped from his back, and he screamed.
"Michael?" Michael! Wake up!"
Michael jolted awake, a small shadow reaching out toward him. Ravenna stood next to him, lighting a second candle from the candlestick holder that she carried. She set down both candles on the chair next to his bed, and her slender fingers wiped away tears that he didn't know he had cried.
"Are you okay?"
Michael rolled to his side, and sat up, rubbing his face. "I…I guess I was dreaming about the Kingdom again, did I disturb you?"
"You screamed, you sounded so terrified, like you were in the worst pain imaginable. Are you sure you are okay?"
Michael rubbed his face again. "I'm sorry I woke you. Go back to bed, my dear, I'm okay."
Ravenna sat on the edge of the bed. "You know, you're right. If anyone comes by needing my help, they won't know where I was woken up from. Come here, Michael. Come get some sleep." After blowing out the pair of candles, she slid down the mattress as Michael looked at her with relief in his eyes, his shoulders relaxing.
"Are you sure? I don't know if the nightmares will come back, and I don't want to…"
"You were there when I needed you. The nightmares can't hurt you as long as I'm here."
Michael gingerly laid down next to Ravenna, and she propped herself up a little higher with a second pillow. He laid his head on her chest, listening to her heart as it lulled him back to sleep. She ran her fingers through his golden hair as he drifted off to sleep, her comforting movements coming to a halt as his breaths slowed, and her own heavy eyes closed.