The sound of her voice brought him very little comfort, Gabriel hunched over his study, his eyes concentrating on the possibilities of the union that had been laid before him as a decree. No choice given and yet he knew that he'd not deny God anything, even his only child. He looked up at the beautiful young woman, her long blonde hair moving about her as if it held a life of it's own. He missed the meaning in her utterances, only hearing the timbre of melancholy and yet resolution for completing this task given her. She was her father's daughter if nothing else. His large fingers twirled into the silky trestles as he stood and drew her close to him, wrapping her in a tight hug and kissing the top of her head so carefully. She smelled of spring and roses, grace and hope.

"Father..." Sera moved back and looked up, her violent gaze reminding him so much of her mother. "I said that I'll be fine and when this is over I will return and we'll be back together. Trust me."

A sad smile rushed across his face as he nodded and let himself have one more good look at her, the sound of Malachi clearing his throat brought a growl to Gabriel's lips. Sera patted her fathers arm and gave him one more hug before turning to join their old friend and saying goodbye softly. Her father stood as a statue, his glory and radiance almost blinding as his emotions ran high. Sera wrapped her arm around Malachi's and walked from the house, both of them sighing in relief as they cleared the long strand of golden stairs. 

"Where are we going exactly?" She spoke with confidence and purpose.

He smiled, knowing at once that they'd chosen the right representative. "We will meet up at the edge of time and one of our soothsayers from the yonder will appear at the tree of good and evil and do the joining ceremony, child."

"What exactly is the joining ceremony?" She looked behind her only for a moment, the warm wind brushing her long cream colored dress all about her and bringing into effect her angelic appearance. 

"You shall soon see."