in the dying of the year - SN ficlet - PG

[tigriswolf]

Title: in the dying of the year
Fandom: "Supernatural"
Disclaimer: not my characters; just for fun.
Warnings: spoilers for 4.2
Pairings: none
Rating: PGish
Wordcount: 666
Point of view: third
Notes: forsmilla02

 

 

Castiel.

He flinches.

Little brother, the voice croons, caressing and frightening in turns. I thank you... but what are you doing?

As the Lord commanded, he replies, turning in place, searching.

She fades into view before him, dark wings flared above her. I think not, Castiel, she says. I think you wish to pay your debt, and my son is your tool in that quest.

I do owe you a deep debt, he says, holding his hands out in supplication. You saved me from the Pit, from... Lucifer. The Lord commanded me to retrieve one pure soul, a martyr. He left the choice to me.

She steps forward, wings lowering to fold over her shoulders. She cants her head, clearly assessing his words. You were a good boy, Castiel. Her voice is soft, ancient. She was among the first, one of Lucifer's own sisters, back at the very beginning. You were young. Every child should be given a chance to fail without consequence.

He waits.

I thank you, she repeats. I understand that there is a plan I cannot yet fathom. I have not been one of your kind in millennia, long since lost from His grace. Her gaze sharpens; he straightens to his full height, knowing again why she is still among the most feared. My sons are part of this plan, Castiel. I do not approve, and I will have words with Him. You rescued Dean, when even I could not. You Raised him.

She touches his cheek with one calloused palm; he lowers his head for her gentle kiss. Into his mouth, she murmurs, You will have to choose again, Castiel. He who shines Above... or He who reigns Below.

Castiel pulls back, meeting her gaze. I cannot speak of such things! he hisses in shock. I am Arch.

Yes. Her voice is gentle again, old and full of knowledge. Full of regret. The time will come, little brother. Every angel will be offered a choice when the final Seal is broken.

You know, he says. About...

She smiles. I have always known, from the moment he first kicked in my womb. He is not a bane or a curse, Castiel. All things have their purpose.

He shakes his head, backing away, out of her reach. Do not speak to me of this. I owed you a debt; I have paid. We are finished.

For all your bravado and surety, you are still very young. You still think your Father and Creator has all the answers, that His plan is... what is that term? Ineffable. Her laughter makes him shiver. My sons are the future, Castiel.

She nods to him serenely and smiles again. You will choose. All must choose. She vanishes as quickly as she came, one last sentence dangling on the air around him. Castiel... I do thank you.

He shivers, wishing with all his will that the Lord had not heard their conversation. Her words border on insurrection, and the Lord is not as forgiving of such a deed as He once was.

Castiel chose Dean because the Lord needed a pure soul. He chose Dean to repay a debt.

He hopes that choosing Dean will not prove to be a mistake, and that Dean can return his brother to the proper path.

If he cannot... the final Seal will be broken and the Beast walk free once more. The Beast, Lucifer, he who was once the most beautiful and beloved of all angels. The Beast, who tempted Castiel and nearly caused his Fall.

The Beast, locked away inside that human boy, Samuel, Dean's baby brother.

Ah, Mariel, he whispers. What have you done?

Her laughter echoes in his memory, vibrant and knowing. Plans within plans, twining and intricate, impossible to follow back to the beginning. How long has she had it in the works? He will probably never know.

He will have to choose, before the final Seal is broken and Lucifer erupts in Samuel.

He's already chosen Dean.

Comments

[noybusiness.livejournal.com]

You're one of my favorite authors online, probably the favorite, and I just love your take on the boys' relationship and specialness.

[iamstealthyone.livejournal.com]

Nicely done. Intriguing look at what Mary's place in the overall storyline could be, and Sam and Dean's places, too. I really do get the feel from what we've seen so far this season that Sam might be a big part of why Dean's been handpicked, that Dean will be asked to save (or maybe kill) Sam at some point.

[dotfic.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is fascinating, and wonderful Castiel pov.

[monicawoe.livejournal.com]

This is very close to what I hope might happen this season. I hadn't considered Castiel being related to Mary though, that is a really nice thought.

[soxykitty.livejournal.com]

Awesome.

[tigriswolf]

*blushes* Thank you so much!

[noybusiness.livejournal.com]

The best thanks would be to hear what you think of those pieces of music from the Doctor Who Proms. But don't rush through them.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[tigriswolf]

Thank you!

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[tigriswolf]

Thanks!

[smilla02.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow! WOW! I love what you did here with Mary's role and Castiel and paying up his debt - it was exactly what I wanted from you: you never disappoint.
Thank you, darling!

[tigriswolf]

*twirls you*

[wizefics.livejournal.com]

I have goosebumps. This was awesome.

Very nicely done!

[missqteeone.livejournal.com]

ooooh!!!!
very interesting concept. i will ponder this. lol
:D

[talk-back.livejournal.com]

I love how you manage to put a suspicion into words, so beautifully. This is perfect.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you so much!

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. That's very, very intriguing, esp your take on Mary.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[empressnerd.livejournal.com]

Wow, excellent! I have to say though, I hope they don't make Dean take Sam down, erhm, permanently. . .they just did that plotline in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (Did I just admit that I read those novels??) where Jacen Solo turned all Vader and Jaina his twin was a Vaderhater.

Guh. I really liked your inclusion of Mary, though. That saucy minx knew more than she let on :)

Thanks for sharing

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[aja-evenstar.livejournal.com]

Man, i get so excited everytime you post a story. This was so good i could just cry. Not because it was sad! Although if things turned out so badly, i probably would hahaha. But i mean because you can express things so perfectly, and have the reader wondering what is going on for just long enough, before they realise what you are getting at, and what that would mean.

AMAZING.

[tigriswolf]

*twirls you*

[eternal-dolor.livejournal.com]

This was a pleasure to read. Thanks for writing and sharing

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[roguemouse.livejournal.com]

Me reading this is totally aja_evenstar's doing - I should be cleaning my apartment :P

But man, am I glad I read this. I have to remember to give you both some cookies or somethin' :]

This was amazing.
Trully, a beautiful piece of writing. And just the idea that Sam could be...youknowwho? Just... BRILIANT *nods furiously*

Awesome job, hun *iz in awe*

hugs,
M.

[tahirire.livejournal.com]

*shivers*

Very cool. I do think that, in spite of everything, Dean really is a pure soul, and a martyr, and even though he has maybe a bigger part to play than we thought; it all still boils down to Sam.

*eyes Kripke warily*

:-)

[tigriswolf]

It's my pet theory that Sam is Lucifer. *hee*

Thank you so much!

[tigriswolf]

Thank you so much!

[tigriswolf]

Also, is that yellow-eyed Sam in your icon?

[tahirire.livejournal.com]

*hides*

no, it's white

[tigriswolf]

Okay, now that? For some reason, is even more awesome.

[tahirire.livejournal.com]

*shifty eyes*

It's his destiny (http://tahirire.livejournal.com/41521.html)

*giggles*