The Prophecy (The Guardians)

Chapter TWENTY



The day was here, Gabe could hardly believe that it had only been a week since he asked Rachel to be his wife. The planning had been rapid, a whirlwind of chaos. Gabe was grateful Dina and Rachel had taken to one another so quickly. In recent days, his time was consumed with planning their journey. Her help meant he had more time to pour over maps and status reports. They would leave tomorrow. Michael suggested the sooner they left Iron Gate, the more likely they would remain safe. The clerics were barely maintaining the safety spells as it was and with more refugees arriving every day, it was only a matter of time before the compound would be detected.

Gabe had thought of everything. With the help of Uri and Haim they had options of safe havens all across the globe, dozens of places rich in copper. If Uri was right and the trackers had caught his scent before he came to the valley to retrieve him and Rachel, then there was a good chance they had discovered Gabe’s cabin. It would not take them long to figure out Gabe had been using the copper to shield himself from tracking. He knew Baal would use that knowledge and their search patterns would shift, they would know the type of places Gabe was looking to hide. He needed to have options. If there was even a chance Baal knew where to search, Gabe knew he needed to have a plan on where to go next.

The gear was packed; they would only be able to bring with them what the four could carry on their backs. Gabe knew the wedding was bitter sweet for Rachel, she had been reunited with Damon, only nights earlier, and now she would have to leave him again. Rachel was no fool and Gabe was confident she knew the safest place for Damon was far away from the two of them. They would be running, every moment of every day, looking over their shoulders. Even though Damon had resisted the idea of letting his sister leave without him, he eventually relented.

Gabe made sure the boy was nowhere near him and Uri as they planned their routes in case he had some idea of tagging along anyways. Dina was clever enough to help out by insisting she and Rachel needed help with the wedding preparations.

“Gabe?” Michael’s voice called out behind him.

Gabe turned, a little surprised by Michael’s appearance. He appeared to be a dashing, wealthy English country man from another time period in his tuxedo.

“My goodness sir, you clean up nicely.” Gabe complimented.

“Why thank you son, you don’t look so bad yourself.” Gabe looked down at his deep gray suit. There hadn’t been time for him to get a suit of his own, but much to his surprise and delight, one of the guards at Iron Gate was eager to allow Gabe to borrow his. The ivory tie he wore had been given to him by Dina, made from a piece of Raimie’s family flag. Gabe remembered fondly how Raimie had always been quite proud to learn of his family and their history in The Guardians. Dina knew all too well how much it would mean to Gabe to have a piece of his friend with him that day.

“Thank you, sir, let’s just hope Rachel thinks so.” Gabe replied.

“Something tells me it doesn’t matter what you are wearing. When she sees you, I think it will be one of the greatest moments of her life.” Michael offered with a warm smile.

Gabe felt his breath catch in his throat. He had hoped one day he and Michael might be able to speak like this to one another again. There was no disappointment in his voice, Gabe noticed, only warmth.

“Gabe, I have been wanting to talk to you.”

“Yes, sir, what is it?”

Michael looked at the crowed that was gathering in the courtyard. “A lot of things happened at Rampart I wish I could change now.”

“Really, there’s no need to—”

“If it’s ok with you, this is something I do need to say.” Michael interrupted, waiting for Gabe’s nod to continue. “I know we kept a lot of secrets from you. At the time I thought it was necessary to keep you and everyone safe, but that doesn’t mean it was right. I meant what I said then, though, about everything being your choice and that we would all still care about you no matter what your choice was. That hasn’t changed, we all care about you so deeply and I’m proud of the journey you took to figure out who you are. I am greatly honored to be here, to see the man you’ve become.”

“Thank You.”

“I don’t know Rachel very well, but from what I can see she is an amazing woman.” Michael continued.

“She is—” Gabe interjected.

“I will do whatever it takes to keep the two of you safe, just know that.” Michael added before turning and joining the crowd.

Gabe gasped, his head spinning from the words he had just heard. After all those years nothing had changed. He still had a place among the Guardians; there was no need for him to hang his head in shame. They welcomed him home with open arms.

“Sophie, don’t!” Gabe heard Dina shout in the distance.

Hearing the commotion in the distance, Gabe made his way around the outer edge of the courtyard, trying to get a better view of what was unfolding.

At the far end near the great oak tree, Gabe caught sight of Dina and Sophie arguing. Pushing through a group of bystanders, he came closer so he could more clearly hear.

“I don’t care, it’s not right.” Dina snapped, staring intensely at her friend.

“He loves me, Dina, not her.” Sophie insisted in an angry voice.

“Christ, Sophie, if he loved you then he wouldn’t have ever asked her to marry him. For that matter, if you love him as much as you say you do, then you wouldn’t ruin this for him.” Dina pleaded.

“That’s not fair! Don’t you get it? He was just with her to forget about me. I am the one he is meant to be with, the Oracle said so. Now he is only staying with her because he’s trying to do the right thing. He can’t possibly be happy with her.” Sophie pushed on.

Gabe went hot with anger. He wanted to rush up to Sophie and shake her wildly, how dare she try to destroy what he had with Rachel. Gabe took a step forward, prepared to set Sophie straight once and for all. Before he could take another step, a figure moved into view near Sophie.

Gabe froze, staring in awe and disbelief at what he at first thought must be a daydream. Standing directly in front of Sophie was Rachel, her hair wavy, though beautiful in its natural state, was adorned with a small littering of white flowers. The dress, in its simplicity, made her beauty shine. Layers of white satin hugged her body, revealing the curves of her ample breasts and divine hips. Her exposed shoulders, skin glowing with an alabaster quality, made Gabe wish he were standing next to her so his lips could touch them. The dress flowed out in billowing layers just under her hips, causing the illusion that she was floating on a layer of clouds.

As he watched her approach she didn’t look angry or hurt, simply determined.

“Sophie.” Rachel said warmly.

“Look, I don’t know you and I don’t want to hurt you, but this has to be done. Gabe could never be in love with you, not while he knows there is a chance to be with me again. We’re destined to be together, the Oracle told me.” Sophie argued.

“I understand,” Rachel continued, her voice still soft, laced with sympathy. “Gabe is amazing. I wouldn’t want to let him go either. As far as the Oracle, from what I understand, everyone still has choices in life that can alter your path.”

“Well, he chose me already. Beside’s, who are you to tell me anything? You have no idea how much I love him.” Sophie yelled, angry at the calmness Rachel displayed.

“You’re right, I don’t know you and you don’t know me. I had a life that I thought I was happy in, family and friends, a real life. When I met Gabe, he made me so angry I wanted to scream, I wanted to go running back to my real life.” Rachel smiled, remembering the early moments of their relationship.

“But while I was with Gabe, he opened up, he showed me how much there was to him, how amazing he is. That’s when I realized I hadn’t been happy. It’s like I had been in a desert my whole life praying for rain, then Gabe came. He was the storm I needed. Since him I haven’t been thirsty, so I understand. I know how hard this must be for you.”

Sophie said nothing; she merely stared at Rachel, her mouth slightly agape. Rachel was describing the exact way she felt. If she felt the same way about Gabe, how could she possibly argue with her, tell her she didn’t understand when it was clear she did.

“You’re welcome to go talk to Gabe, I won’t stand in your way. He told me about your discussion the other night,” when Gabe heard Rachel say the words he held his breath, afraid Sophie might erupt in anger. “I think he hesitated to tell me at first, and I’m sure part of that is because he still feels something for you. I know he cares a lot for you, but he’s marrying me today. No matter what he might still feel for you, he loves me now. So, please, if you want to go ask him feel free to, but can you hurry it along? I have a groom waiting for me.”

Sophie huffed, realizing the amount of onlookers that had surrounded them. Gabe stayed out of sight, listening with great pride at the way Rachel stood up for their relationship.

“Just forget it,” Sophie snapped, pushing past Dina and rushing off towards one of the nearby buildings.

Gabe didn’t linger, wanting to make sure Rachel did not know he had just witnessed what had unfolded. Rushing around, back up to where the priest stood, patting Uri on the back as he did, Gabe took his place.

“Everything ok?” Uri whispered leaning in.

“Couldn’t be better. Do you have the rings?” Gabe asked, checking his tie to ensure he looked his best for his bride.

“What kind of best man do you take me for?” Uri asked as if he were seriously wounded by the question.

Gabe simply laughed in response and waited as the music began. He thought his feet might lift off of the ground, causing him to levitate where he stood. He couldn’t stop smiling; thinking about the amazing words Rachel had spoken only moments earlier.

Gabe looked around the courtyard, friends surrounded him, some familiar and others he had never seen, but he knew without a doubt they all wanted him to succeed. A feeling he was not used to having. They were all there not to look on in judgment, but to show support, to wish him well in his marriage. The wooden chairs were full of onlookers. Surrounding the courtyard, individuals stood shoulder to shoulder. Some were dressed in fine clothes, others tattered rags, showing the wear and tear of war.

Gabe took a moment to take in all of the hard work his bride had put into making sure the day was beautiful. Surrounding them were white flowers on the chairs, on the ground, at the edges of the aisles, and along the arches at the front and back of the courtyard. The weather was far too cold for the flowers to grow naturally to their current state; he could only imagine how many clerics Dina must have enlisted to make everything look so beautiful.

The music sounded, queuing Dina to start her bridesmaid walk down the aisle.

“Ready for this, man?” Uri asked, clearly more nervous than Gabe.

“More than I have been for anything in my life.” Gabe replied confidently.

“Just breathe, ok? Remember to breathe; at least that’s what they say, right?” Uri added, not really listening to Gabe’s response.

Gabe laughed and looked over his shoulder at his best man, “I mean it, I’m good. I’m so ready for this.”

Like a light entering the courtyard, Rachel approached and everyone stood. She smiled as she walked, one foot then the next. Gabe felt like a warm fire was burning in his chest. No words came to mind, just a fuzzy and overwhelming feeling of joy. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. A year ago he only sought to survive and be alone, now he was about to marry a woman who made him whole, something he never thought he could be.

“Hi,” she whispered to Gabe as she reached out and took ahold of his arm.

“You look beautiful.” Gabe whispered in response.

“Thank you.” Rachel replied, her eyes sparkling.

The vows came and went, and as he would one day recount the memory, it was not the words they spoke that he would reflect on. It would be the sight of her when she walked down the aisle, when she took his arm, the way she glowed, almost floating as she glided to him.

“You may now kiss the bride.” the elderly gentleman said raising his arms into the air.

Without a word, Gabe reached out, and cupping Rachel’s cheek he pulled her close, their lips meeting, softly and gently, a moment of hesitation lingering between them as they both tried to memorize the moment. The next instant they both gave into it, lips parting and sealing their union with the connection of their tongues. When they pulled away both opened their eyes, unable to stop staring at the other. It had not been a dream; they were now husband and wife.