awake, arise, or be forever fallen - SN fic - PG, gen
So, first I made a secret. Then I wrote a fic.
Title: awake, arise, or be forever fallen
Fandom: “Supernatural”
Disclaimer: not my characters; just for fun. Title from Milton.
Warnings: re-imagining of angelic lore; blasphemy; spoilers for aired season four; speculation
Pairings: none stated
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 1170
Point of view: third
Notes: thanks to sadelyrate for reading over this
You know how many angels have seen the face of God? Four. And I’m not one of them. - Anna, “Heaven and Hell”
The first angel created is not named as such. He is cradled close by his Creator in the new night, simply called Hey, you. Eventually, as dawns and dusks pass, that is changed to Sammael. He is the first, the greatest, the beloved of Heaven.
The second, his first brother, is named Michael as their Creator fashions him from stardust. You must teach him, Creator says, stroking Sammael’s face. It is your duty. Sammael is pleased with the responsibility and leads his brother Michael through the skies.
The third, his second brother, is named Gabriel as their Creator molds him from cloud and water. You must teach him, Creator says, hands spinning him out. As you did Michael. Show your brothers how to be. Sammael preens beneath the trust, so very glad.
The fourth, his third brother, is named Azrael as their Creator wills him into existence from His own spirit. Azrael is different; he requires no instruction.
After him, Sammael’s brothers and sisters are formed by the dozens, until they people the skies in a multitude. The Creator sends them out in droves to care for the newly created Earth and the creatures there. Sammael and his three brothers, the first and the greatest of all, remain at Creator’s side, the only four to speak with Creator, to see His face.
Once Sammael questions Creator, demands more respect of the younger sets, leads his rebellion and falls from on high, only three angels see Creator’s face. Azrael never says anything about Sammael, but Gabriel asks the Creator if He’ll create another, to complete the gaping wound left by the absence of their eldest brother.
No, Creator replies. One day, once he has learned his lesson, he will return.
Michael is tasked with visiting the humans, after their disobedience, teaching them how to survive. Azrael is the one who seals the entrance to the Garden of Eden. Gabriel instructs the younger sets.
There is never a mention of Sammael. Soon, the younger sets have forgotten his true name, only thinking of him as Satan or Lucifer or one of a dozen other things they call him.
Only once does Michael ask, Could we have saved him?
Gabriel has no answer, but Azrael says simply, He made his choice.
After countless dawns and dusks, Gabriel is sent to Earth with a message for a simple human girl. While he is there, checking over one of the younger sets, a shadow greets him by name.
Brother, the shadow calls, almost joyously. Brother, it’s been so long!
Gabriel is caught up in excitement at seeing Sammael again, before Creator’s command comes back: Sammael is to be shunned.
I must go, he says softly, turning away.
I understand, Sammael replies. Tell our brothers I… Gabriel looks back as Sammael finishes, I miss them.
Gabriel tells their brothers; Michael looks away, out over the heavens and Earth, and Azrael merely nods.
Azrael is sent to collect the Creator’s Son, delivering his soul to Sammael in Hell. The brothers exchange nods and that is the extent of their interaction; even when Azrael fetches the Son and brings him to Heaven, Sammael merely watches from a distance.
One morning, Michael does not arrive at their daily meeting with Creator.
He has been given an assignment, Creator tells them. Do not seek him out.
The skies are lonely without Michael. Azrael is always so serious, so solemn. Gabriel misses his brother, a sharp ache that not even Creator’s song can fully erase.
And he still misses Sammael.
Not long after Michael is sent on his mission, one of the younger sets, a female called Ananchel, brings word to Gabriel that there has been no sighting of Sammael in a span of human months.
He is usually there to taunt us as we guide the humans, she reports. But recently, nothing.
Gabriel thanks her for the news and wings his way to Creator, who tells him, Do not be troubled. I have everything in hand.
Gabriel cannot help but worry as human years pass and there is no news of either Michael or Sammael. The Creator comforts him, but always Gabriel’s mind races with thoughts of what his brothers might be doing, and where-he cannot sense either of them at all.
And then, finally, one of the younger sets, Castiel, meets him on a mountaintop and says, I have word on Michael. He pauses, looking away. And Sammael.
No one but Gabriel has used that name in years.
Where are they? Gabriel asks. He can feel Creator’s desire that he refrain from gleaning Castiel’s knowledge, but Heaven has been so lonely.
They were born as humans, Castiel says. I was tasked with the Raising of Michael from Perdition.
Gabriel flinches. Michael went to Perdition?
Castiel nods, meeting Gabriel’s eyes; his expression is filled with adoration and wonder. He went there to save Sammael.
Gabriel confronts Creator, demanding, What is the plan?
Creator is serene on his throne. They will save existence, child. Or they will destroy it. And I will watch as it plays out.
Closing his eyes, Gabriel whispers, I’m going to Earth.
If you leave, Creator says, you will Fall.
Gabriel throws himself from the heavens.
He finds them in a human diner, eating human food, locked deep within two human men. Castiel and a demon watch from inside two other humans.
Gabriel’s back aches. His eyes itch. But being in the presence of his brothers eases away the pain of being torn from Creator’s goodwill.
Castiel greets him with a smile, offering him a place at the table. Michael looks at him warily and Sammael asks, “Are you another angel?”
The demon stares at him. “Messenger,” she murmurs.
He nods. “I am Gabriel,” he tells his two elder brothers, the greatest and the beloved, the first of them all. “I’m here to help.”
“Gabriel?” Michael asks. “Like, the Gabriel?”
Again, he nods, studying his brothers in turn. They look nothing like they did in the heavens, or after Sammael’s fall.
“Yes,” Gabriel answers. Directing his question to Castiel in the angelic tongue, he asks, Will they remember?
Castiel replies, As the last Seal breaks.
Sammael says politely, “I’m sure you know this already, but I’m Sam and he’s my brother, Dean.”
Gabriel smiles as Castiel continues, Michael is sent by God to stop that from happening, by any means necessary. I am here to aid him, and to do what must be done, should he falter.
“It is good to meet you, Sam and Dean,” Gabriel tells them, remembering Sammael and Michael and the endless skies. They had been the first, the greatest, most beloved of the heavens. And now they are human, so very fragile, mortal and dangerous.
You do not have the strength to kill the first of us, Gabriel says simply. Only Michael was ever so strong.