–The Ruler doesn't trust the Seraphim Brothers anymore. He knows that they're angry. I don't think they're going to do anything drastic, but knowing the Archs are becoming more active...I need to get Ophelia out of here.–
Uriel forced a smile to his pallid face, and bowed to Sandalphon. "Well, I hope you and the rest of your brethren have the best of luck with your training sessions. It is getting late, and I promised my date I would still take her to the Palace Gardens. We should be getting going, and let you get back to your patrol."
"Best of luck to you with your courting, Uriel. You are a good man and a friend to me and my brethren, we hope the best for you." Sandalphon gave a polite nod, and disappeared into the forest, continuing on with his patrol.
Uriel rushed back to Ophelia, who still trembled from her encounter with the Archangel. "Ophelia my dear, are you alright? He didn't hurt you, did he? It was a mistake to bring you here, I am so sorry!"
"I'm... I'm okay, he didn't hurt me. He just... he just scared me. Really, I'm okay." Ophelia tried to stop her voice from quavering, trying to convince the messenger that she was fine. She couldn't have the man she had admired from afar for a long time think of her as fragile.
"We should get out of here. I don't want them to scare you again. My mistake shouldn't ruin your day. May I?" He opened his arms to the maidservant, and she eagerly drew closer to him. Easily lifting her, Uriel stepped between the realms, taking them back to Zerachiel's home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Exhausted and covered in sweat and dirt, Zerachiel and Victoria finally sat on the ground next to the nearly-empty garden. They had almost dug up everything at Michael's old home, and both were spent from their day's labors.
"Are you two nearly done making fools of yourselves? I've been bored for hours." Azrael drawled, picking at his fingernails with a knife.
"Haven't been done that for a thousand years, don't expect to be anytime soon." Zerachiel stood and stretched, his wings flaring out behind him. "Victoria, if you can prepare these plants, I'm just going to travel back and forth between here and our home so we can get them to your new garden quicker."
Azrael grunted. "Sure. Now he cares about speed."
"You could have helped. You still can."
"Pass." Azrael rolled his eyes, and leaned back against his tree.
"That's what I thought. Victoria, if you don't mind passing me some of those pots?" Zerachiel took the plants that Victoria offered, and stepped between the realms back to his home, crashing into Uriel.
"Woah! I was not expecting you in my yard! Sorry, Uriel!" The Seraphim put the plants down, brushing off the dirt from the messenger angel he had nearly knocked over.
"Sorry, Seraphim Zerachiel. I brought back Ophelia a little early, I wanted to speak with you... is... is Azrael around?" Uriel's grey eyes darted around, looking for the Arch.
"He is not, but he will be soon if I don't... one moment. As long as I make multiple trips for plants, he won't suspect anything." Zerachiel disappeared, and shortly reappeared with new pots in his hands. "What is going on? Speak quickly."
"We ran into Archangel Sandalphon and he thinks I am a friend and he says the Ruler does not trust you and your Brothers and He has the Archs training extra in case you all try to rise up against Him!" Uriel blurted his news in one long sentence, taking a deep breath afterward.
Zerachiel's face showed concern for a moment, before blinking twice. "One moment. I don't want you caught." Again, he disappeared, returning with new plants. "The Ruler thinks my Brothers will come together to overthrow Him?"
Uriel nodded hastily. "Yes! He doesn't trust you after your Brother Fell, and since the Archs have been assigned to you!"
The Seraphim repeated his process to keep Azrael at bay, returning to his home with more flowers. "I mean, we are angry, yes, but that seems drastic. Do not mention this to the others, Uriel, I do not want you to risk your safety. But if you hear anything else, please, let me know."
Zerachiel returned to Michael's cottage, before stepping between the realms back to his home. Uriel twitched his wings, and looked at the Seraphim with hope. "Is it alright if Ophelia and I continue on to the Palace Gardens?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes, of course. If that is her wishes, please, enjoy your day. You have done enough for me today." The silver-haired man set down the pots in his hands, before disappearing again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As Zerachiel left, Uriel nervously kicked at the grass. He was anxious that Ophelia wouldn't want to continue their outing after her encounter with Sandalphon, and his shoulders dropped. A faint flush crept to his cheeks, and he summoned his courage to ask.
"...well, ah, Ophelia, did you still... perhaps... want to go to the Palace Gardens...I-I understand if you don't..." He stumbled and stuttered over his words, frustration causing his wings to twitch. He squeezed his eyes shut, angry at himself. – You're wrecking your own date!–
A small hand grasped his. Opening his eyes, Uriel looked down, seeing Ophelia smile up at him. "I would love to go."
Momentary shock crossed Uriel's face, quickly replaced by relief. A smirk that could only be rivaled by Zerachiel's spread across his lips, and he lifted Ophelia with ease.
"Ready, little doll?"
The couple soon appeared in the Palace Gardens, which seemed nearly abandoned. The day was growing later, and only a few servants remained behind to finish their tasks. Uriel held on to Ophelia in his arms, savoring the feeling for an extra moment before letting her down to the pathway.
"I know we're very close to the Palace... but did you mean... the things you said to my master?" Ophelia chose her words carefully, trying to keep Uriel's secrets while also attempting to understand why an Archangel had approached her armed.
"Yes. The man in the forest told me everything, as his... his friends think I am also a friend of theirs. They forced me to celebrate with them after..." Uriel trailed off, certain she would understand. "For now, I let them believe they are right. I am a messenger and it is my job to deliver messages." The words felt stupid, but he had to think quickly as they walked past a worker in the Gardens. Arousing suspicion, especially so close to the Palace, would be detrimental.
"I could never do your job. I couldn't imagine the stress... my hair would fall out just trying to keep everyone happy and keep everything together. I don't know how you do it so well!"
"Decades and decades of practice, little doll. Besides, I'm glad I now have you to help me rescue your master from his bad ideas. Once he feels a little more like himself again, I'm sure there will be plenty of his mischief to save him from."
The pair had circled the elaborate Gardens, and the sun began to cast its colors across the horizon. The last of the servants had left, leaving only Uriel and Ophelia behind.
In front of the ornate Prayer Fountain, Uriel bravely placed his hand on the middle of Ophelia's back, dipping her slightly as he kissed her for the first time, their wings flaring in the sunset.