The descent to Earth was swift, the celestial glow around Gabriel fading as he neared the mortal realm. He could feel the pulse of the human world growing stronger, the faint hum of life and chaos drawing closer. But just as he prepared to pierce through the veil between heaven and Earth, a figure of radiant light appeared before him, blocking his path.
It was Uriel, the Angel of Wisdom and the Watcher of Divine Laws. His wings shimmered with an otherworldly brilliance, and his stern eyes bore into Gabriel like a beacon of truth.
"Gabriel," Uriel said, his voice calm but firm, "you cannot proceed."
Gabriel halted mid-flight, his heart sinking. "Uriel, I have permission from the Elders. This is my mission, one I must fulfill."
Uriel raised a hand, his expression unyielding. "The Elders may have granted you leave, but the Lord of Hosts has commanded otherwise. You are summoned to His presence immediately."
A cold dread gripped Gabriel's heart. The Lord of Hosts, the supreme authority of heaven, rarely intervened directly. If He was calling for Gabriel now, it could only mean one thing: his mission was in jeopardy.
Reluctantly, Gabriel nodded, allowing Uriel to lead him back to the celestial throne room.
The throne room was a place of incomprehensible majesty, its light so blindingly pure that even the mightiest of angels could barely look upon it. Gabriel knelt at the center of the room, his head bowed low. Around him, legions of angels stood in solemn silence, their wings folded in reverence.
From the throne, a voice spoke—not loud, but resonant enough to shake the very fabric of existence.
"Gabriel."
The sound of his name from the Lord of Hosts was both a comfort and a reprimand. Gabriel clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure.
"You seek to descend to the mortal realm," the voice continued. "Why?"
"My Lord," Gabriel began, his voice steady but tinged with desperation, "I felt a disturbance, an evil threatening someone I believe to be of my blood. If this girl is connected to me, she is under my protection. I only seek to fulfill my duty to her and to the balance of the realms."
The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of the Lord's gaze pressing down on Gabriel like a mountain.
"Have you forgotten your transgressions, Gabriel?" the Lord of Hosts asked, His voice gentle but laden with authority. "A thousand years ago, you defied the laws of heaven by loving a mortal. You were given a choice—to remain in My service or to forsake your place among the angels. You chose heaven, but the scars of your actions remain."
Gabriel's head sank lower, shame washing over him.
"For your disobedience," the Lord continued, "you were banned from interfering in the mortal realm for a thousand years. That time has not yet passed."
Gabriel's heart sank. He had forgotten—no, he had hoped the ban would be overlooked in light of the circumstances.
"My Lord," he pleaded, "if this girl is my blood, she is also connected to heaven. I have seen the darkness that seeks her, and I know it will only grow stronger. Please, allow me to protect her."
The Lord of Hosts was silent for a long moment, His presence filling the room with an overwhelming sense of power and sorrow.
"Your love for this girl is noble, Gabriel," He said at last. "But love must be tempered with obedience. Your ban remains. You will not set foot on Earth until the appointed time."
Gabriel's shoulders sagged, defeat washing over him. But before he could respond, the Lord's voice softened.
"However, I will not leave her unprotected," He said. "If she is truly of your blood, My light will shield her. Your presence is not required, for My angels will guard her path."
Gabriel's chest tightened. He wanted to argue, to beg for a chance to see her, to explain the urgency he felt. But he knew better than to defy the Lord's will.
"Yes, My Lord," he said quietly, his voice heavy with resignation.
The Lord of Hosts spoke no more, and the light of the throne dimmed slightly, signaling the end of the audience. Gabriel rose to his feet, his heart weighed down by the burden of his ban.
As Gabriel left the throne room, Uriel appeared by his side, his expression unreadable.
"You are troubled," Uriel said simply.
Gabriel nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I only wish to protect her. If she truly is my blood, then I owe her that much."
Uriel placed a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "The Lord's will is absolute, Gabriel. But take solace in this: if she is of your blood, she will carry your strength. And if the Lord has deemed her worthy of protection, no darkness will touch her without His permission."
Gabriel sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Thank you, Uriel. I will trust in His plan, as I always have."
But even as he spoke the words, Gabriel couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he was needed on Earth—that his presence, his strength, might be the key to saving her.
For now, he would wait. But deep within him, a fire burned—a fire that would not be extinguished until he found her, no matter the cost.
---