Chapter Text
It was raining the day his father died, it rained the day of his mother’s second marriage to Duke Gabriel, and even now the rain could be heard as the young prince sat at the side of his mother’s death bed. The queen had been one of the most beautiful and fair women the kingdom had known, but when a mysterious illness came over her, the queen looked no more than a hollow shell of a human being.
Aziraphale held one of his mother’s hands rightly in his own, pressing his lips to kiss it as tears fell from his face. His heart was breaking and he wasn’t sure he was ready to live in a world without her.
“My dear boy, my little angel, it is time for me to and be with the angels in the sky. I need you to promise me that you will be brave and show kindness to all, especially those most would shun. You will be a wonderful leader one day,” she said, her voice raspy.
It seemed to Aziraphale that each breath was causing his mother pain, so he nodded his head and squeezed her hand gently.
“Just rest mother. I won’t forget what you’ve taught me.” Aziraphale watched as his mother closed her eyes and took a final breath. He could feel the eyes of his stepfather burning on his back; but he didn’t move.
Tears fell from his eyes and down his cheeks in rapid succession. He remained at her bedside, weeping in silence for his mother until he felt a cold and firm grip on his shoulder. Aziraphale turned around and looked up at the stony expression on Gabriel’s face.
“That’s enough, I need you to go inform the staff of this and then you can see if they need any help.”
Aziraphale blinked away his tears and nodded, standing on shaky legs.
“Of course Stepfather,” the young prince said before walking to the door.
“Oh and Aziraphale,” Gabriel called out before the blonde left the room.
“Yes Stepfather?”
“You will call me Your Highness from now on, the queen is dead, and you are no son of mine,” Gabriel smiled.
Aziraphale nodded, his heart shattering into tiny pieces. “Of course, Your Highness.”
That had been three years ago, and in that time Gabriel made sure that Aziraphale was kept within the castle walls, working as a servant in his own home. He never truly liked the prince, the young blonde had always been too soft for his liking.
Gabriel had fond memories of day dreaming of battle and sword fighting lessons in his youth, and while Aziraphale had taken some lessons in sword fighting, the idea of violence seemed to turn his stomach, he much preferred reading books or trying new recipes and foods.
It was a sunny day that saw Aziraphale sitting under an apple tree on the castle grounds, a book in his hands. He enjoyed quiet moments like this when he could escape into the world of his books and pretend that even if it was for a few hours, everything wasn’t horrible. The leaves swayed in the gentle breeze while the prince read, unaware that of the strange magic going on in his stepfather’s study.
Gabriel stood before his large magic mirror, violet eyes eager to see what Metatron would tell him.
“Magic Mirror on the wall, tell me who is the fairest of them all?” He asked. Gabriel was certain that the face in the mirror would smile and the deep voice inside would tell him that he was the fairest both in beauty and manners in all the kingdom. Metatron has always told him this, and he hadn’t asked in years; but Aziraphale worried him. The young prince was kind to all, even those who certainly did not deserve it and there was a strange beauty to Aziraphale that Gabriel could not quite describe.
Metatron’s face appeared in a swirl of silver smoke. “You my king are indeed fair in beauty, but I see one whose fairness surpasses your own. He has a kind heart and a forgiving soul.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed and he felt his hands clenching into fists.
“Alas for him then, reveal his name,” he said coldly.
“Hair soft and blonde, eyes the brightest blue, curls at top his head like a halo..”
“Aziraphale.” Gabriel turned his back to the mirror and stalked to the window from which he could see his stepson. A small smirk formed on his lips as his bright violet eyes darkened. “It seems then that it is time the prince joined his mother in death.”