Fic: Uncharted Territories (9/14) (SPN, Gen)
Chapter Nine: The Architect
Chapter Word Count: 2,501
Total Fic Word Count: 19,406/?
|| Chapter One || Chapter Two || Chapter Three || Chapter Four || Chapter Five || Chapter Six || Chapter Seven ||
|| Chapter Eight ||
Tendrils of fog curled across the path as the travelers made their way through a particularly dense part of the forest, blurring the way ahead and shrouding it in gray mist. It had been dead silent for the past mile or so; even the almost-ever present cacophony of animalistic growls and screeches had died away. The near-silence was starting to grate on Dean, and he could feel himself growing more and more tense with every passing moment. A crumbling stone archway loomed suddenly out of the fog, marking a break in an equally decrepit stone wall that stood ten feet tall at its highest point. Dean felt an uneasy shiver run down his spine as Gabriel led the group through the arch; stones rattled away into the darkness as they came into contact with boots.
They entered what looked like an old graveyard, complete with burial vaults and small tombs; Dean had been in more than enough of those over the years to recognize them at a glance. The low shapes of piles of rubble and broken statues littered the area, making the going slow and treacherous. The sextet picked their way through the rubble-strewn ground in fits and starts, with Ryan occasionally shifting to coyote form and searching out the safest route for the others to take.
Eventually, Gabriel stopped in a circular clearing that sat a good half-mile into the walled-off area. An odd form of ivy grew there, covering the various structures that formed the border of the clearing. Tesaviel helped Gabriel clear the ivy off one of the largest structures, revealing the now-familiar Enochian symbols that marked the entrance to a Haven. The symbols here were worn and nearly faded; it looked like it had been decades, if not centuries, since anyone had refreshed them. Tesaviel cut her left hand and then pressed it against the entrance rune, leaving blood behind. The bloody mark faded slowly, being replaced by an archway that shimmered sluggishly into being.
Gabriel went first, the others following quickly behind him in case the doorway decided to suddenly close halfway through. Castiel was the last one into the dimly lit tunnel; the gateway closed behind him far quicker than it had opened. The light globes that illuminated the path were dim; some had cracked and gone out completely. There was only one set of distance runes to pass through before the travelers reached the main chamber of the Haven.
It was roughly hewn out of the living rock, unlike the main Haven, whose walls had been magically smoothed. A ring of twenty statues stood in the center of the chamber; all of them represented angels dressed in either flowing robes or practical armor. Those in armor stared stoically ahead while those in robes had peacefully contemplative expressions on their faces. A waist-high pedestal stood in the exact center of the ring of angels, with a perfectly spherical orb of glass suspended freely in the air over it. A shallow depression marred the top of the pedestal; it was the exact size and shape to fit the curve of the orb hanging above it. Meriel stepped forward, and, after putting her pack on the ground and extracting a small earthenware jar, poured a measure of herb-laced holy oil into the hollow before lighting it with a long match.
The oil caught alight instantly, sending a flare of flame up before settling into a steady blaze; the herbs contained within the oil let out a sweet smell as they burned. The flame lit up the glass orb, turning it a brilliant gold color. Dean was startled a few seconds later when ghostly representations of each of the statues appeared in front of their respective carved images before all but one winked out. Gabriel stepped forward and approached the remaining projection, a female in robes and with a scholarly air about her. The archangel bowed formally to her, the larger pair of his wings flaring out to either side while the smaller pair stayed loosely tucked against his back.
“Greetings, Archangel Gabriel,” the semi-translucent woman said, returning Gabriel's bow with one of her own. “How may I help you?”
“We have a problem that we hope you can help us solve, Elder Rekasiel,” Gabriel replied as he straightened up. “The Father tasked you to watch over this place and to make Havens for the innocent souls here. Due to an unfortunate incident involving the leader of the Leviathans, two beings entered this realm while still alive. We came to see if there was any way to return them to Earth safe and sound.”
The image of Rekasiel turned to look at Dean and Castiel, both of whom stepped forward after a moment's hesitation. Castiel sketched a short bow, nudging Dean gently in the side in an effort to make the hunter emulate his actions. Dean did so grudgingly, readjusting the set of his jacket as he stood straight once more. Rekasiel examined the two of them for several long moments before she nodded.
“There is a way, but only you--” and here she pointed at Dean “--may undertake the trials that unlock the path home.”
“What? Why?”
Rekasiel merely smiled at Dean's sharp outburst. “To undergo the Four Trials, the one attempting them must have an anchor in this realm, one whom they trust completely with their life and soul. Both of you possess the needed strength of trust in one another, true, but if you wish to have the best chance to succeed, your angel has to be your anchor. The presence of his brethren will bolster his ability to tie you to reality, which is an advantage most attempting the trials do not have. Only a very few have made it out of this realm through the Gate of Souls; the rest escaped due to an outside ritual pulling them out; I can only assume that this is how the Leviathans made it to Earth.”
Dean took in all of this, mind racing. It made sense in a way, but he still felt confused. Admittedly, he hadn't stopped feeling at least mildly confused the entire time he'd been in Purgatory, so it was nothing new. He ran a hand over his face and then sighed.
“You said something about trials,” he said eventually. “What sort of trials?”
“Ones that will test your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” Rekasiel told him solemnly. “They will not kill you, but you will be tested sorely. The trials are not for the weak of will. You will be given time to prepare, but you may only bring with you what you can carry on your person. Will you undertake the trials, now that you know this?”
“Both Cas and I will get to go home?”
“Yes, if you are successful.”
Dean looked at Castiel, who held Dean's gaze and then nodded firmly. Dean turned his attention back to Rekasiel, his posture straightening unconsciously as he provided his answer.
“Yes.”
~/~
Rekasiel took them through a winding tunnel that had been initially hidden from view when the travelers had first entered the Haven, her ghostly form gliding serenely at the front of the group. She shimmered with a slight iridescence whenever she passed a light orb. They stopped in a cave that opened out onto the surface; a chill breeze blew in through the entrance, ruffling the feathers in the angels' wings and making Dean turn his collar up against the cold. Rekasiel stopped just before the entrance of the cave, briefly looking out before turning to the others.
“Through there,” Rekasiel said, one slender arm extending to point at a tall archway standing on a stepped platform some twenty feet away, “is the entrance to your trials. When you are ready, approach the archway, state your name and that of your anchor, and then wait until the gem set into the keystone flashes three times. Within the trials, there are four pieces of the key to the Gate of Souls; they will be very obvious as to what they are. Now, your anchor must stay within the grounds of this Haven-- the boundaries are marked by the stone walls along the border.”
She looked at Gabriel and the other Purgatory residents. “You are welcome to send supplies to your brother, as well as keep him company here. Quarters will be provided for those of you who wish to stay.”
“Thank you,” Gabriel said, and then looked at Castiel. “Are you going to be okay with this, Castiel? You haven't said much on the matter.”
“I'll be fine, Gabriel,” Castiel replied. “I'm willing to undergo some discomfort if it means being able to return to where we belong.” He paused momentarily. “I would like to see the provided quarters, though.”
“Of course,” Rekasiel said. “Dean Winchester, you should take this time to prepare your resources. Gabriel, you will be provided a transport link between our Havens to allow fast and efficient transport of supplies and personnel.”
“That's very helpful. Thank you again.”
Rekasiel nodded and then motioned for Castiel to follow her. Ryan accompanied them at a subtle motion from Gabriel, leaving his pack behind. Dean took his pack off and started to sort through it, trying to figure out what he would need to keep and what he could leave behind. Meriel, Gabriel, and Tesaviel did the same, picking through the pooled supplies and setting aside those that would best aid Dean in his trials.
The others returned ten minutes late while Gabriel and Tesaviel were putting the finishing touches on Dean's pack; Meriel and Dean were eating a quick meal and chatting quietly. Rekasiel stopped in front of Dean and looked down at him. The hunter got to his feet, stretching out the kinks in his muscles before settling into an easy stance.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, noting Rekasiel's expression.
“A word of warning before you enter the trials, Dean Winchester,” Rekasiel said, holding up a hand. “Time does not flow at the same rate within the trials as it does here, much like how the flow of time between Earth and Purgatory is not concurrent.”
“It isn't?”
“No, it isn't,” Gabriel said, wings shifting idly as he spoke. “How long has it been since I died back in the real world?”
“Just about three years,” Dean told him, “give or take a few months.”
“It's been twenty-six years since I got here,” the archangel continued on. “As far as we can tell, it's roughly about a one-to-eight ratio between Earth and Purgatory in regards to units of time. So, one year Earth-side is eight years Purgatory, etc, etc.”
Dean did a quick bit of conversion in his head and let out a disbelieving huff. “So, what, it's only been a day or two for Sam? Well, damn, that bites.”
“It's encouraging, though,” Castiel interjected, “that not much time will have passed on Earth and you can return to your work without too much interruption.”
“You mean our work. Sam and I aren't going to want you out of the picture, Cas, especially not now; not with everything that's happened recently.”
Castiel inclined his head slightly to the side with a small but pleased smile. “Of course. My mistake. I won't make it again.”
“Damn right you won't,” Dean affirmed, and then turned back to Rekasiel. “How bad is the time difference?”
“I am not sure,” the shade admitted. “It seems to vary for each person. I apologize that I cannot tell you much more than that.”
“We'll keep an eye out for you, Dean,” Gabriel promised. “I don't think Castiel's going to want to move far, and I sure as hell am not going to leave him alone here, even with the shelter provided.”
Dean gave the archangel a grateful smile. “Thanks,” he said. Gabriel nodded.
“Of course.” He gave Dean a look that told the hunter all he needed to know: it was the fiercely protective look of a big brother prepared to look after his younger sibling with all of the resources at his disposal. Dean recognized that look; he knew he'd worn it more than should probably be healthy in regards to Sam.
“Here, Dean; your gear is ready,” Tesaviel said, picking up the pack and handing it to Dean. He put it on, adjusting the straps to better settle the weight across his shoulders. It was heavier than it had been originally, but not so heavy as to be detrimental. Most of the weight belonged to the food and water he was carrying, as no one knew if Dean would be able to get edible supplies within the trials.
Dean took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly in an effort to steady himself. He let his eyes slide shut momentarily and then, after a moment's pause, opened them once again, his gaze clearer than it had been before. He turned his attention to the archway just visible outside the cave, resolution settling into his very bones. He could do this, he knew he could. Well. He hoped he could.
“Okay, right,” he said, squaring his shoulders. “Let's get going. I want to get this over as quickly as possible.”
“I wish you all the luck in the world, Dean Winchester,” Rekasiel said solemnly. “I am sure that you will be successful in your endeavors.”
“Thanks,” Dean said. He looked at Castiel. “You ready, Cas?”
“Yes.” Castiel fell into step next to Dean, his pace unhurried and measured. The two of them exited the cave, Rekasiel following along until she reached the threshold of the cave's entrance. She seemed to be bound to the caves, and couldn't go past the sharp line where stone abruptly turned to dirt. Dean ascended the short flight of steps up the platform, stopped in front of the empty archway, and then spoke both his and Castiel's names, making sure to specify that Castiel was his anchor. The large green gem set into the keystone of the arch flashed three times when it registered what Dean had said. The hunter felt a sharp tug behind his breastbone, and, judging by the surprised noise Castiel made, something similar had happened to him as well.
A shimmering curtain of light formed in the archway, glowing the same lime green shade as the gem in the keystone. Dean looked at Castiel one last time, taking in the angel's face before smiling lopsidedly at his friend.
“See you on the other side, Cas.”
“Good luck, Dean.”
Dean nodded and then turned to look at the curtain. He drew in a deep breath and then stepped forwards, disappearing from view. Castiel sighed and then returned to the others, hoping that all would go well. Unfortunately, only time would tell. It was all up to Dean now.
Chapter Word Count: 2,501
Total Fic Word Count: 19,406/?
|| Chapter One || Chapter Two || Chapter Three || Chapter Four || Chapter Five || Chapter Six || Chapter Seven ||
|| Chapter Eight ||
Tendrils of fog curled across the path as the travelers made their way through a particularly dense part of the forest, blurring the way ahead and shrouding it in gray mist. It had been dead silent for the past mile or so; even the almost-ever present cacophony of animalistic growls and screeches had died away. The near-silence was starting to grate on Dean, and he could feel himself growing more and more tense with every passing moment. A crumbling stone archway loomed suddenly out of the fog, marking a break in an equally decrepit stone wall that stood ten feet tall at its highest point. Dean felt an uneasy shiver run down his spine as Gabriel led the group through the arch; stones rattled away into the darkness as they came into contact with boots.
They entered what looked like an old graveyard, complete with burial vaults and small tombs; Dean had been in more than enough of those over the years to recognize them at a glance. The low shapes of piles of rubble and broken statues littered the area, making the going slow and treacherous. The sextet picked their way through the rubble-strewn ground in fits and starts, with Ryan occasionally shifting to coyote form and searching out the safest route for the others to take.
Eventually, Gabriel stopped in a circular clearing that sat a good half-mile into the walled-off area. An odd form of ivy grew there, covering the various structures that formed the border of the clearing. Tesaviel helped Gabriel clear the ivy off one of the largest structures, revealing the now-familiar Enochian symbols that marked the entrance to a Haven. The symbols here were worn and nearly faded; it looked like it had been decades, if not centuries, since anyone had refreshed them. Tesaviel cut her left hand and then pressed it against the entrance rune, leaving blood behind. The bloody mark faded slowly, being replaced by an archway that shimmered sluggishly into being.
Gabriel went first, the others following quickly behind him in case the doorway decided to suddenly close halfway through. Castiel was the last one into the dimly lit tunnel; the gateway closed behind him far quicker than it had opened. The light globes that illuminated the path were dim; some had cracked and gone out completely. There was only one set of distance runes to pass through before the travelers reached the main chamber of the Haven.
It was roughly hewn out of the living rock, unlike the main Haven, whose walls had been magically smoothed. A ring of twenty statues stood in the center of the chamber; all of them represented angels dressed in either flowing robes or practical armor. Those in armor stared stoically ahead while those in robes had peacefully contemplative expressions on their faces. A waist-high pedestal stood in the exact center of the ring of angels, with a perfectly spherical orb of glass suspended freely in the air over it. A shallow depression marred the top of the pedestal; it was the exact size and shape to fit the curve of the orb hanging above it. Meriel stepped forward, and, after putting her pack on the ground and extracting a small earthenware jar, poured a measure of herb-laced holy oil into the hollow before lighting it with a long match.
The oil caught alight instantly, sending a flare of flame up before settling into a steady blaze; the herbs contained within the oil let out a sweet smell as they burned. The flame lit up the glass orb, turning it a brilliant gold color. Dean was startled a few seconds later when ghostly representations of each of the statues appeared in front of their respective carved images before all but one winked out. Gabriel stepped forward and approached the remaining projection, a female in robes and with a scholarly air about her. The archangel bowed formally to her, the larger pair of his wings flaring out to either side while the smaller pair stayed loosely tucked against his back.
“Greetings, Archangel Gabriel,” the semi-translucent woman said, returning Gabriel's bow with one of her own. “How may I help you?”
“We have a problem that we hope you can help us solve, Elder Rekasiel,” Gabriel replied as he straightened up. “The Father tasked you to watch over this place and to make Havens for the innocent souls here. Due to an unfortunate incident involving the leader of the Leviathans, two beings entered this realm while still alive. We came to see if there was any way to return them to Earth safe and sound.”
The image of Rekasiel turned to look at Dean and Castiel, both of whom stepped forward after a moment's hesitation. Castiel sketched a short bow, nudging Dean gently in the side in an effort to make the hunter emulate his actions. Dean did so grudgingly, readjusting the set of his jacket as he stood straight once more. Rekasiel examined the two of them for several long moments before she nodded.
“There is a way, but only you--” and here she pointed at Dean “--may undertake the trials that unlock the path home.”
“What? Why?”
Rekasiel merely smiled at Dean's sharp outburst. “To undergo the Four Trials, the one attempting them must have an anchor in this realm, one whom they trust completely with their life and soul. Both of you possess the needed strength of trust in one another, true, but if you wish to have the best chance to succeed, your angel has to be your anchor. The presence of his brethren will bolster his ability to tie you to reality, which is an advantage most attempting the trials do not have. Only a very few have made it out of this realm through the Gate of Souls; the rest escaped due to an outside ritual pulling them out; I can only assume that this is how the Leviathans made it to Earth.”
Dean took in all of this, mind racing. It made sense in a way, but he still felt confused. Admittedly, he hadn't stopped feeling at least mildly confused the entire time he'd been in Purgatory, so it was nothing new. He ran a hand over his face and then sighed.
“You said something about trials,” he said eventually. “What sort of trials?”
“Ones that will test your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” Rekasiel told him solemnly. “They will not kill you, but you will be tested sorely. The trials are not for the weak of will. You will be given time to prepare, but you may only bring with you what you can carry on your person. Will you undertake the trials, now that you know this?”
“Both Cas and I will get to go home?”
“Yes, if you are successful.”
Dean looked at Castiel, who held Dean's gaze and then nodded firmly. Dean turned his attention back to Rekasiel, his posture straightening unconsciously as he provided his answer.
“Yes.”
~/~
Rekasiel took them through a winding tunnel that had been initially hidden from view when the travelers had first entered the Haven, her ghostly form gliding serenely at the front of the group. She shimmered with a slight iridescence whenever she passed a light orb. They stopped in a cave that opened out onto the surface; a chill breeze blew in through the entrance, ruffling the feathers in the angels' wings and making Dean turn his collar up against the cold. Rekasiel stopped just before the entrance of the cave, briefly looking out before turning to the others.
“Through there,” Rekasiel said, one slender arm extending to point at a tall archway standing on a stepped platform some twenty feet away, “is the entrance to your trials. When you are ready, approach the archway, state your name and that of your anchor, and then wait until the gem set into the keystone flashes three times. Within the trials, there are four pieces of the key to the Gate of Souls; they will be very obvious as to what they are. Now, your anchor must stay within the grounds of this Haven-- the boundaries are marked by the stone walls along the border.”
She looked at Gabriel and the other Purgatory residents. “You are welcome to send supplies to your brother, as well as keep him company here. Quarters will be provided for those of you who wish to stay.”
“Thank you,” Gabriel said, and then looked at Castiel. “Are you going to be okay with this, Castiel? You haven't said much on the matter.”
“I'll be fine, Gabriel,” Castiel replied. “I'm willing to undergo some discomfort if it means being able to return to where we belong.” He paused momentarily. “I would like to see the provided quarters, though.”
“Of course,” Rekasiel said. “Dean Winchester, you should take this time to prepare your resources. Gabriel, you will be provided a transport link between our Havens to allow fast and efficient transport of supplies and personnel.”
“That's very helpful. Thank you again.”
Rekasiel nodded and then motioned for Castiel to follow her. Ryan accompanied them at a subtle motion from Gabriel, leaving his pack behind. Dean took his pack off and started to sort through it, trying to figure out what he would need to keep and what he could leave behind. Meriel, Gabriel, and Tesaviel did the same, picking through the pooled supplies and setting aside those that would best aid Dean in his trials.
The others returned ten minutes late while Gabriel and Tesaviel were putting the finishing touches on Dean's pack; Meriel and Dean were eating a quick meal and chatting quietly. Rekasiel stopped in front of Dean and looked down at him. The hunter got to his feet, stretching out the kinks in his muscles before settling into an easy stance.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, noting Rekasiel's expression.
“A word of warning before you enter the trials, Dean Winchester,” Rekasiel said, holding up a hand. “Time does not flow at the same rate within the trials as it does here, much like how the flow of time between Earth and Purgatory is not concurrent.”
“It isn't?”
“No, it isn't,” Gabriel said, wings shifting idly as he spoke. “How long has it been since I died back in the real world?”
“Just about three years,” Dean told him, “give or take a few months.”
“It's been twenty-six years since I got here,” the archangel continued on. “As far as we can tell, it's roughly about a one-to-eight ratio between Earth and Purgatory in regards to units of time. So, one year Earth-side is eight years Purgatory, etc, etc.”
Dean did a quick bit of conversion in his head and let out a disbelieving huff. “So, what, it's only been a day or two for Sam? Well, damn, that bites.”
“It's encouraging, though,” Castiel interjected, “that not much time will have passed on Earth and you can return to your work without too much interruption.”
“You mean our work. Sam and I aren't going to want you out of the picture, Cas, especially not now; not with everything that's happened recently.”
Castiel inclined his head slightly to the side with a small but pleased smile. “Of course. My mistake. I won't make it again.”
“Damn right you won't,” Dean affirmed, and then turned back to Rekasiel. “How bad is the time difference?”
“I am not sure,” the shade admitted. “It seems to vary for each person. I apologize that I cannot tell you much more than that.”
“We'll keep an eye out for you, Dean,” Gabriel promised. “I don't think Castiel's going to want to move far, and I sure as hell am not going to leave him alone here, even with the shelter provided.”
Dean gave the archangel a grateful smile. “Thanks,” he said. Gabriel nodded.
“Of course.” He gave Dean a look that told the hunter all he needed to know: it was the fiercely protective look of a big brother prepared to look after his younger sibling with all of the resources at his disposal. Dean recognized that look; he knew he'd worn it more than should probably be healthy in regards to Sam.
“Here, Dean; your gear is ready,” Tesaviel said, picking up the pack and handing it to Dean. He put it on, adjusting the straps to better settle the weight across his shoulders. It was heavier than it had been originally, but not so heavy as to be detrimental. Most of the weight belonged to the food and water he was carrying, as no one knew if Dean would be able to get edible supplies within the trials.
Dean took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly in an effort to steady himself. He let his eyes slide shut momentarily and then, after a moment's pause, opened them once again, his gaze clearer than it had been before. He turned his attention to the archway just visible outside the cave, resolution settling into his very bones. He could do this, he knew he could. Well. He hoped he could.
“Okay, right,” he said, squaring his shoulders. “Let's get going. I want to get this over as quickly as possible.”
“I wish you all the luck in the world, Dean Winchester,” Rekasiel said solemnly. “I am sure that you will be successful in your endeavors.”
“Thanks,” Dean said. He looked at Castiel. “You ready, Cas?”
“Yes.” Castiel fell into step next to Dean, his pace unhurried and measured. The two of them exited the cave, Rekasiel following along until she reached the threshold of the cave's entrance. She seemed to be bound to the caves, and couldn't go past the sharp line where stone abruptly turned to dirt. Dean ascended the short flight of steps up the platform, stopped in front of the empty archway, and then spoke both his and Castiel's names, making sure to specify that Castiel was his anchor. The large green gem set into the keystone of the arch flashed three times when it registered what Dean had said. The hunter felt a sharp tug behind his breastbone, and, judging by the surprised noise Castiel made, something similar had happened to him as well.
A shimmering curtain of light formed in the archway, glowing the same lime green shade as the gem in the keystone. Dean looked at Castiel one last time, taking in the angel's face before smiling lopsidedly at his friend.
“See you on the other side, Cas.”
“Good luck, Dean.”
Dean nodded and then turned to look at the curtain. He drew in a deep breath and then stepped forwards, disappearing from view. Castiel sighed and then returned to the others, hoping that all would go well. Unfortunately, only time would tell. It was all up to Dean now.