Let Justice Be Done Ch. 65

Viviane couldn't believe it actually worked. 

She had thought her husband was fruitlessly just going around helping others, as some sort of stress relief after everything he heard at the Lake of Idleness. 

"Presenting before her majesty, Lady of the Gleaming Lake, Lady Llyn of Lake Diana and Archangel of Heaven, Lord Raguel." announced the Speaker of the Court.  

Viviane had walked slowly and respectfully wearing a beautiful dress, that she felt was too fancy and too restricting for her. It was nothing new to her, but it's why she didn't like attending the Royal Court unless called. Not just the dress bothering her, it's the atmosphere, the looks, the schemes. Sometimes she entertained Raguel suggested of threatening to burn it all down, so she never has to attend again, before quickly squishing the thought. 

No, be serious. This is no time for jests. Viviane told herself while giving a side glance at her husband in a way that wouldn't be noticed, and finding herself pleased for how things turned out. 

Well...at least all those good deeds turned up for something. It took an effort of will and focus not to have a smug look at how envious and longing the other fae were that Raguel was hers. 

When the date for their meeting had been changed and announced, a lot of the fae Raguel had freely aided came to give him gifts so he would look presentable before the Winter Queen. 

And while Raguel couldn't say 'thank you', he expressed his gratitude with warm hugs that seemed to make the fae receiving it feel the compassion, even if they never understood or felt that emotion fully due to never receiving it before, or with such intensity. 

Of course, Viviane had to threaten a few fae that hugged for too long, or tried to get handsy by levitating swords pointed at them, and visible in a way for the winter fae to see them, but not her husband. They got the message. 

The couple went and stood before the Winter Queen, at the bottom of the stairs leading to her throne, forcing them to look up at her to face her. 

"So, we finally meet...Little Voyeur." Queen Mab said, not showing emotion on her face, yet Raguel could see the amusement she had in her eyes all the same. 

Viviane stilled, as her worries were realized, that the Winter Queen had noticed her husband's soul sight when they first arrived.

"What can I say, no matter where I look, your soul is just...so massive, your majesty." Raguel said in a neutral tone. 

The court was silent. Everyone froze from the sheer shock of that comment. Viviane had snapped her head to look at her clearly insane husband, to see a stoic look on his face. From their bond she could see the daring amusement, and anger slowly boiling quietly under it. 

She knew Raguel didn't like Queen Mab's designs or reasons for summoning them, and the long waiting period, but she didn't think that anger would be something he would act on. 

Looking back at Queen Mab, Viviane could see her face still gave nothing away. 

Suddenly sharp pillars of ice cut through the air faster than anyone could perceive, stabbing the ground around Raguel, coming very close to hitting him. Yet he stood still, thus they never touched him. 

After all Queen Mab wasn't attacking him, just stabbing the ground around him. 

Viviane was about to apologize for her husband's candid comment, just glad he wasn't hurt, yet her magic energy flared up instinctively. She didn't know what she would even use it for. However before any action could be taken, the Winter Queen spoke. 

"I like you," Queen Mab said, and in one of her rare moment, the Fairy Queen let her emotion appear on her face, as she smiled. The ice pillars dissolved. "Viviane had made quite the daring choice, I can see why she was taken with you." She said approvingly, more or less giving her blessing to the union. "But..." And suddenly the chill of the tense situation was back. "She is still one of my personal maidens. A Lady of the Lake. She's not someone I can accept being stolen from me." 

"Please don't oppose on her this." Viviane said to Raguel through their bond. "Please, please, please don't argue with her. Just ask what task she wants to leave us be. Please!"  

Raguel's clenched one hand, took a deep breath, and let it out, opening his hand. 

"And what would you see is an adequate price to allow us our union. To allow me to take, to have Viviane to myself." Raguel said in a tone, that in any other situation would have had Viviane shuddering in pleasure about, but...no she was still feeling her belly doing joy dances at his words about it. "Your majesty." Raguel said with a contemptuous smile.  

Dammit me! Focus!   

"Well now," Queen Mab found herself enjoying the byplay. While the angel could theoretically be a threat in a fight--Mab doesn't believe he could replicate the First Light he used in the Battle of Orkney, but her subject do, which allows for another hook in ruling them--he understands not to make enemies needlessly. And it is because of his divine senses that he understands how much of a disadvantage a fight with her can be. "I do wish to have good relations with Heaven, I would say an easy path to that is a betrothal of your firstborn with one of my maidens."

"I humbly decline." Raguel made sure to keep his voice stoic. 

"I thought so, although I do still to wish to be their for the birth of your future child. That would be a momentous occasion. Why, a child of a fairy and an angel, such a thing has never been seen before."

"If there is...going to be peaceful coordinates between our people, I suppose it would do my child well, to learn who the Queen of the Winter Fae is." Raguel chose his words carefully. Neither agree nor disagreeing. 

Queen Mab smiled, and raise three fingers.

"Three things," she began. "You must do three things, be it favors or tasks for me to wholly approve of your taking my Lady of the Lake. I need a clear answer, Archangel Raguel."

"..." Raguel sighed. "I will bring my child to visit you when he comes of age, on the condition that you bring neither harm nor blessing to him. Just conversation."

"Rejected," she said, mimicking his earlier response. Her smile widened in seeing his struggle. "I wish to see them once they're born, and grant them my blessing and protection. I couldn't rest if my dear Viviane's child was to be left weak and defenseless in this harsh world." 

"Only our firstborn," Viviane spoke, surprising the court with speaking unprompted. She had grabbed Raguel's hand before he could reply. She didn't turn to him, her gaze toward the queen, but the emotions from their bond, her pleading to not drag this out, made him hold his tongue. "We would be honored to have Queen Mab see our firstborn child once they come into this world, on your word that no one would take them, use them, or allow harm to come to them from the Winter Court." 

"If that is what my Viviane wishes, then so be it." Raguel's hand squeezed Viviane's in irritation. "Do you accept?" Queen Mab said to Raguel. 

"Yes." He understood why Queen Mab was making a show of this in front of the court. To further show her power in making an Archangel concede to her demands, and to show what threat she is to Raguel. Not in a battle sense, but a political one. After all, he wasn't so arrogant as to draw Heaven into a war without consulting Father and his siblings. 

"Very well, that's one down." Her tone was almost playful. "The second thing, an important meeting with many gods and spirits of time is coming up soon to discuss a situation, I think you should be familiar with," Raguel blinked, taken aback by this change in topic. "Yes, that. As one so favored by the Biblical God, I wish for you to convince Him of siding with my position."

"That's literally impossible." Raguel instantly replied, shaking his head. "I can not promise such a thing. Ever." He said in a tone to stop any argument or suggestions. "I can not, nor will I ever tell Father what course of action He is to take. The only thing I can do is request him to attend and to consider what position you have on the...situation." His lips thinned, as he wondered what Mab wanted to do about Merlin's time travelling. "That's all."

"Hmm, very well. I suppose that's acceptable." She said, as she saw the seriousness of his answer. He would likely come to blows with her if she pushed the matter, which would lose her more interesting future investments, than just agreeing. Besides, she only needed the perception that the Creator was on her side. That should be enough to get other time spirits to side with her and Titania. "Third..." Queen Mab looked to the wider court, then waved her arm. 

Understanding the gesture, as one the ladies, lords and other fae began leaving the court room, till only Raguel, Viviane, Lady Maeve and Queen Mab were left. 

"Archangel Raguel," Queen Mab spoke, and something in her tone changed. There was an eagerness in her eyes. "Recently there have been certain beasts roaming my lands and the lands of Britain. Beasts with a unique...feel to them."

Maeve raised her hand, and a giant ice crystal formed, showing multiple odd and varied beasts in them. 

A heavy armored aquatic creature that looked like a knight. A giant cat with multiple legs. A monster that had the head of a snake, the body of a leopard, the hindquarters of a leopard and the feet of a hart. A seven-headed monster, and many others, all numbering ten in total.   

Raguel's eyes widened as he understood what those monsters. The Impure Beasts created from Pandora's Box.       

"My third task for you is to bring me one of those beasts." Raguel looked up to see Queen Mab's smile showing teeth upon seeing his understanding. "In what manner, I'll leave that to you. Don't disappoint me." She said, and a chill was felt throughout the room. "I so want to celebrate yours and dear Viviane's momentous occasions."