“But where is the purpose in trying to prevent evil, when it must exist for love and compassion to exist?” Theodore would reply, confused and in need of answers.
“Without evil what would we know of goodness? It acts as a balancer, an accountant must balance the books and so must our God.”
“But then what is the point in fighting shadows?”
“We may not be able to rid the universe of evil but we can control its strength, we can keep it at bay, we can weaken those who wish us harm,” Lier replied tenderly, “no this is not the answer you are looking for, especially as here on earth you have witnessed many battles all in the name of peace, but my dear friend after a battle is ended another begins.”
“So what you are saying is that we cannot diminish the darkness but we can control it?” quizzed Theodore pensively thinking this thread of information through deeply.
“Yes, for as soon as one enemy is ended another stands to take its place and so it is wiser to keep that enemy alive, especially when you know its character so well, but that does not mean we cannot weaken that enemy and its followers to such a point where they can mean no real harm,”
Theodore sat, slumped against the pillar remembering that long ago conversation smiling weakly. As a young angel, he had been fiery and impatient, unable to understand Heiden and to understand his mind. Lier had taught him an important lesson, no Lagar would most likely not be defeated and if he was one of his followers would take his place. Theodore understood Lier’s wisdom as he grew older and witnessed acts of evil, real victory was in weakening the enemy to such a point where he still existed but could mean no harm. Theodore was not alone in his doubts, but what united the angels was a sense of purpose, in overcoming darkness, in following a God that was not only an authoritive figure but a figure of compassion and mercy, there was no other likeness to Heiden, bar perhaps his long lost granddaughter. Hope, it was hope that enriched Theodores need to protect Eveline, hope and love. All angels hoped that through love and compassion, humans and the likes could find the light. Humans unlike angels, mortal as they were, were destined to find their way to heaven.
“Does God have a master?” Theodore asked Lier on his coming of age day.
“What do you believe?” Lier replied curiously.
“I believe He must come from something as all things do,” Theodore answered honestly. Lier smiled faintly at his reply.
“As do I friend, but the question you must ask yourself is this, does the future alter because He does?”
“Maybe, wouldn’t you like to know how it all began?” Theodore asked pensively, gazing up at the night sky.
“I often think on it, but it does not alter the present and it has not altered the future in the way I thought it would, what is certain is Heiden, what is certain is you and I and the rest of the universe that is alive and beating…,” Lier began following Theodores eyes, “ what is certain is that we go on serving our King, that we encourage love, justice and mercy and most of all that we banish the darkness, that our eyes are guided by the light and that we guide those who are vulnerable to the darkness.”
“We could waste our time wondering or we could use it to ensure our future,” surmised Theodore, thinking out loud.
“Even, we angels have an ending, though we may live light-years beyond our human companions, we too end, to give way to new life, which is just the way it is Cael, even the sun must give way.” Lier answered warmly.
“What happens to us? I mean you and I when we die?” Theodore asked, intrigued and yet fearful of the answer.
“We join the stars, when our work is done, life begins and it ends.” Lier replied with certainty, showing no traces of fear. “You will understand when you are my age and you will be glad of it.”
“How is it that angels such as Gabriel, live beyond our years?” Theodore sighed a little jealous.
“Gabriel and those of the high council are different from you and me, I do not know how, maybe they share the blood of Heiden or his ancestors, I do not know, only they know.” Lier answered, lowering his eyes in frustration, for he too had questioned the life span of Gabriel and his fellow councillors, and still had no answer.
“Maybe Heiden needs them, maybe he has blessed them with eternity?” laughed Theodore.
“Maybe you are right, but as I have taught you, it does not alter the future the length of years they live, it is our actions that do.” Pondered Lier, rubbing Theodore’s hair gently.
“I know, is it wrong to question your existence? Your heritage? And the mind of God?” moaned Theodore, impatient and young.
“I believe not, I generally think it strengthens our allegiance to Him, I may not know the whole truth, I may not understand His mind, but I choose never the less to follow Him, to act against evil and protect His people, I know Him as a loving and merciful King, He is just and kind, qualities that are worth serving.”
“I agree, I have no evidence to prove he is unjust and cruel, He is my beginning and He will be my end.”
Theodore gazed at the stained glass window letting himself ease back into the now, he served love, mercy and justice. Getting up from the ground, Theodore leaned into the pillar, wrapping his arms about the marble and casting his eyes across the cathedral towards the Bishop. Theodore had only met Gabriel several times in all of his life, and yet with each time he was equally as struck with the angel’s beauty, he stood at least three feet taller than most ordinary angels, and commanded everything within his presence, it was incredible and scary at the same time. Theodore was glad not to cross him, he feared the repercussions.
“Cael, come,” commanded Gabriel, turning his silver eyes to him, Fisher following suite. “Do not be afraid angel, you have spoken to me before, come I need your help.”
“As you wish,” Theodore replied, treading through the pew and making his way toward the altar, offering the Bishop a look of apology. Gabriel stood beneath the large, stain glassed window, adorned in a fine cloak of silver, his long, white hair flowing down his back. Gabriel looked down at Theodore and smiled, holding out his hands.
“Come,” he commanded gently waiting for Theodore to take his hands. Theodore anxiously, kept his eyes lowered as he placed his hands, much smaller than Gabriel’s, into the large and beautiful hands of his commander. “I am sorry for your loss, I know Lier was indeed a very close friend, but he did not die in vain young one.”
“Then why do I feel so discouraged,” Theodore whispered quietly so that only Gabriel could hear him.
“We all mourn those we love, you mourn not only the love of Lier but the information in which he shared with you, he has left you burdened.” Replied Gabriel, calmly and yet with a hint of authority in his voice.
“What do we do?” begged Theodore, feeling very small and insignificant against the mighty Gabriel, defender of Heaven.
“You must bring Eveline to me,” Gabriel ordered, “she will not fear me for she has met me before.”
“Where?” asked Theodore abruptly a little thrown. Gabriel smiled down into the young angel’s face.
“In her dreams.”
Theodore frowned slightly, was it possible that Gabriel could infiltrate a person’s mind? Maybe that was why Galean could, maybe it was a gift handed down from Gabriel.
“Oh,” he blurted out, unable to find the proper words.
“Cael, you must go back to her at once, Lagmar has found her, he has poisoned her, you must bring her to me,” Gabriel ordered, looking over Theodores shoulder towards the Bishop. “You know what to do.”
The bishop merely nodded in reply as he turned away, leaving the cathedral at once, making haste to find his guardians.
“Why have you not gone to her?” Theodore asked, his eyes burning with frustration, “Why have you left her unguarded and alone, why must I bring her to you? Why can you not go to her?”
“If I go to her now, I will only cause her more harm,” Gabriel replied firmly.
“What do you mean more harm? You are
stronger, older and wiser than Lagmar and his pack, surely you can see the flaw in your plan?” Theodore erupted, forgetting himself as the thought of Eveline dying without his protection or that of Gabriel’s filling his mind.
“Lagmar is my equal in strength Cael, only here in this abbey can I heal Celestine without the fear of him attacking me,” Gabriel replied bluntly. “I am not God, even I have my equals. Celestine will need my help, she will need me as alive as we need her.”
Theodore lifted his arms in frustration, why? Why was everyone so useless?
“Cael, you will obey me,” Gabriel ordered sharply, “do not question my orders, I am as you say older, stronger and wiser.”
“I am not questioning you, I am frustrated.” Replied Theodore quietly.
“You are letting your love for Celestine blind you,” Gabriel commented gently not wanting to push Theodore anymore.
“I do not know what it is you speak off,” Theodore replied quickly, turning away from Gabriel.
“You do know, I have been watching you from a distance, a fool can see how you love Celestine.”
“I love her no more than Galean, Ada, Bram and Peter.”
“If you wish to protect her, you must protect her from yourself Cael, she is not of your bloodline, she is Heiden’s granddaughter, and it is forbidden that you and Celestine should enter into any marriage without Heiden’s consent, you will be condemned to death.”
“Does she have no choice?” cried Theodore, why was everybody against him? Why was he not good enough?
“Everybody has a choice, even Celestine, do you not think Heiden would want her to marry a man of her choice? Do you not think Heiden wishes her eternal happiness? Happiness he found with his wife?” Gabriel argued aloud. “Heiden has his reasons.”
“Who can she marry if not I or any other angel?” Theodore replied curtly, really who else was their?
“She is destined for someone else, their paths have been intertwined by fate itself, and he is her equal in every way,” whispered Gabriel.
“But if she loves me? Doesn’t fate alter?” pleaded Theodore, his heart pained.
“Your love for Celestine has kept her safe, your love for Celestine has kept her alive maybe that is your fate?” Gabriel counter argued without spite.
“I do not understand, I do not agree.” Theodore shook his head wanting to find Eveline and take her away, to keep her with him always, and to never let her go.
“Cael, fate never changes, it alters yes, but the end does not change. Heiden has no quarrel with you, he judges you not that you should love Celestine, but it is written law that you cannot bind yourself to those of Heiden’s blood; if you do you will feel the consequences of such actions, if you marry her you will die, she will be left alone, bitter and without your protection.” Sighed Gabriel trying to reason with Theodore but getting nowhere.
“But I will have loved her,” he cried painfully out loud to all those who could hear him, “no matter what I do, she cannot be mine.”
“No, she cannot.” Gabriel replied firmly. Theodore stood alone on the steps of the altar, tears running down his cheeks, flushed as they were with anger. Gently he felt a hand upon his shoulder. “The love you both share cannot be replaced, but it cannot last, it will separate you one way or the other.” he stepped down and looked into Theodore’s eyes. “You have to ask yourself this, will you be selfish and lead her down a path of grief and loss or will you be selfless and let her follow fates path, being by her side always?”
“Do I have a choice?” murmured Theodore.
“Yes you do.” Gabriel answered softly, “but for now, you must get her to me at once, she needs you, your love for her can protect her Cael, you may see no purpose or feel relief in what I say but I hope that in time you will.”
“I must go to her at once,” replied Theodore bitterly, standing up straight and looking at Gabriel blankly.
“I will be waiting.”
Chapter VIII
Darkness
Eveline and Belle entered the breakfast parlour holding hands and chatting lightly before breaking away and sitting down to breakfast with Estelle.
“We have an invitation to a fundraising ball tomorrow evening,” announced Estelle, waving a letter in her hand.
“Oh how lovely, will you go?” Eveline asked, buttering her toast.
“Off course I shall, can’t be letting that oaf of a neighbour near Mrs. Patmore, she is a beast with claws,” spat Estelle, jealousy tinged in her eyes.
“I am guessing Mrs Patmore has an inclination towards your enemy?” smiled Eveline, taking a sip of tea and winking across at Belle who sniggered behind her hand.
“Inclinations! Ever since that mad man of a husband passed away she has been making pretty eyes at every single man in Bath!” replied Estelle hotly.
“And it wouldn’t be jealousy?” Eveline remarked noticing Galean’s absence.
“Jealous? Me? I? Don’t be so ridiculous, anyway you are coming,” coughed Estelle, choking on her bacon.
“Oh, I’m not sure grandmamma, I am tired,” moaned Eveline and it was the truth she acknowledged, biting down on her bacon. In all honesty she had barely slept in the last week, night terrors and confusion kept her awake. Eveline had in fact been feeling quiet weak of late, her face looked a little weathered and truthfully she felt weathered to her bones. Little activities such as getting up and getting dressed never seemed to be a problem to Eveline, who was always an early riser, but in the last two days she found herself becoming slightly limp, her bones aching, her chest sometimes gasping for air and on some occasions she found her eyesight blurring. Eveline had thought of making an appointment to see a doctor but waved it off, it was just stress she would argue to herself whilst willing herself to get up in the mornings. Off course it made sense, all the events of the last week including the night terrors were bound to cause a reaction anyone with a brain could see that. Why then did Eveline fear it was something else entirely? Her mind was trying to disguise the real problem and she just couldn’t get to it, ever since she had been bitten in her dream her body changed, and yet it was only a dream, the snake wasn’t real, but, she wondered as she watched Estelle chat away to Belle, the figure at the end of her bed, the figure she awoke to each night, felt real.
“Eveline did you hear me?” Estelle asked loudly, snapping her fingers at Eveline, arousing her from her thoughts.
“No what did you say?”
“I was saying that you need to find something formal to wear, I have told Galean he will need a suit,” Estelle went on, wiping her mouth with her napkin and setting it down on her lap again. “That is why he is not here presently eating with us, I made him go down to James Taylors they do rented suits.”
“At this time in the morning?” frowned Eveline looking across at the grandfather clock that stood in the corner. It was only ten in the morning.
“Off course! Better now than later,” Estelle said taking a sip of coffee and smoothing back her silver curls.
“I only have my blue church dress,” Eveline smiled, “will it do? I don’t think I will be dancing anyway.”
“What that old thing, no, no, no!” squeaked Estelle, raising a hand dramatically to her heart. “The very best of Bath society will be there, no doubt ninety percent woman, but still Eveline they will be in their best dresses and so should we.”
“But I don’t have any fine dresses for ball’s, I’ve never been to one,” moaned Eveline the idea of an upper middle class ball making her want to bolt. “Everybody just stares at me, it was hard enough going to the Christmas Fate last year, and I had to basically hide behind everyone.”
“Oh hush now! I will ask Mary if she has any dresses to spare, you are about that same size,” ordered Estelle happily, “she does have a brilliant wardrobe if I say so myself, sometimes when she is asleep I find myself in it, you know inspiration for my female characters.”
Eveline stared at her grandmother with a mixture of mirth and shock, she nev
er was one for rules Estelle and she never would be.
“Without permission?” Eveline asked trying to hide her laugh behind a napkin.
“Permission? Why should I need permission? Mary hardly wears her clothes anymore, she is always in black now, if I wasn’t observing them for research, well!” she humped loudly, rolling her eyes, “They would be eaten by moths, moths Eveline!”
“Just admit it grandma, you are nosey.” Eveline laughed, resting her elbow on the table and leaning her head into her hand.
“One has to be when one is a writer dear, we need inspiration, daily!” Estelle chirped confidently completely oblivious to the fact that trying on others women’s clothes without the said woman knowing was indeed very bad.
“Can I go?” Belle asked hopefully putting down her glass of milk and licking her lips innocently.
“No pet it is just for adults,” Eveline smiled, Belle looked beautiful in blue, and in fact she had bloomed in the last week, she spent much of her time with Galean in the play room and barely spoke of her parents, which worried Eveline. Belle did not speak much of her parents, but Estelle explained to her the strictness of their behaviour and rigidness of Belle’s life as a lonely child. Eveline couldn’t imagine why any parent could treat a beautiful child thus, but she quickly learned growing up in Keswick that all families were different.
“Oh, I really want to put on my dress and dance,” Belle groaned looking downcast and disappointed. Belle rarely showed vulnerability she was a happy and content little soul. Eveline was aware that Belle showed anxiety when she looked outside the windows aware of the men, now doubled in numbers, standing around the street outside, watching. Eveline had taken to closing the curtains and letting Belle play in the back of the house, even letting her bake with Hannah. Eveline stood for lengthy periods of time upstairs in Belle’s room looking down at the men, unmoving and daunting. Trying to put the problem to the side didn’t help to relieve Eveline’s worry. Estelle had threatened Galean with the police, but he firmly refused, promising Estelle that he and Theodore would put an end to it soon.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 17