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The snake and the angel
rating: general

Lemuria has fallen in the fury of a tidal wave;

The cities are drowned; the pitiless, all-prevailing,

Inhuman sea is Numinor’s salt grave.

C S Lewis – The last of the Wine.

He’d been sent to this place by orders, to chase the amphiptere that had made its home in the lush forests of Lemuria; it was a violent beast, rumoured to devour anyone who would cross its path. The angel – Zaphkiel – knew his duty : find the beast if it existed, kill the beast, and return to the Heavenly Host, safe in the knowledge that he’d done what was necessary.
The forest was dark and deep and perfect for a demonic serpent to hide, and Zaphkiel didn’t falter a single step, his sword glinting in the dim light, his armour burnished with heavenly fire. But no matter how hard he looked, there was no sign of the serpent; not a shedding, not a lost fang, not a scale. It all seemed to be just hesitant whisperings of scared humans, those new creatures who were still afraid of the dark and the lightning. So he turned back, taking an instant to pick a blooming rose in the midst of the virgin forest, and that’s when a thunderous noise came from behind him, filling the air with heat and pressure.
Zaphkiel turned, his sword unsheathed, and came face to face with the amphiptere itself : a monstrous serpent hundreds of cubits long, black and shiny and venomous-looking, with wings the colour of midnight and fangs the size of a human forearm. Zaphkiel could see the venom dripping from those fangs, sizzling as the droplets hit the ground, and he spoke with all the strength given to him by Heaven.
– I am here to stop your foul activities, beast! Renounce your evil ways and ask forgiveness!
– What for?
The serpent’s voice was like leather and smoke, the voice of a creature born out of Hell, and Zaphkiel didn’t hesitate for a second.
– For the hunting and eating of humans upon this blessed earth!
– I have done no such thing. I am not the beast you seek, and you threaten me with no proof? I have harmed none, and I only wish to be left in peace!

The serpent came closer, those dark wings encircling the angel. He could have attacked at that instant, but instead, the yellow eyes didn’t look away.
– I ask for reparation. I am allowed that much for your baseless accusations.
– And what do you want from me, serpent?
– I want you to send me the first thing that comes and greets you once you return to Heaven, be it bird, angel or fly. Send me that and I shall consider reparation done.
Zaphkiel knew that truth had been spoken; there had been no proof of any evil doings and it went against all he stood for – all of Light and Good – to strike down an innocent creature. At least, as innocent a creature as this amphiptere could be. Still a creature of darkness, but one that had not yet done any wrong. Yet.

The angel bowed his head, feeling an unmistakable sense of anger swell in the most secret parts of himself. How dare a demonspawn presume to preach to him, an angel…! There would be a time to settle things, he promised himself.
– Very well, serpent. I will send you the first thing to greet me once I return.

Clouds parted as Zaphkiel came closer to the heavenly spheres. The serpent’s words were still ringing in his mind and he instantly scanned the skies to see what would greet him. The first thing…

I want you to send me the first thing that comes and greets you once you return to Heaven

The first thing…

Send me that and I shall consider reparation done

There. There, a bright light was coming towards him, splendid and brilliant and all-encompassing, and Zaphkiel recognised at once the light blue aura. A feeling of elation spilled through him and he held out his hands in greeting the younger angel.
– Aziraphale, well met.
– Zaphkiel, we were all awaiting your return. Did all go well?
– We must talk Aziraphale. I have need of you.

The Hall of the Throne was silent after Zaphkiel finished recounting his meeting with the serpent. Not one angel spoke for or against the situation, and Aziraphale was the only one not standing as a marble statue. He blinked – once – and turned to his brothers and sisters.
– Must I?
– The Law of Surprise must be obeyed, Aziraphale. He is a fearsome creature, we all know, but we all know your bravery as well.
– I understand, but…
– Fear not. You shall not remain in the serpent’s coils for long. You shall travel to Lemuria and seek the demon and you shall remain with him, and report the instant he shows his natural self. At once, we shall travel and slay him. Fear nothing for you are protected.
Zaphkiel spoke with certainty and resolution, and far from Aziraphale’s mind to question an elder angel, or to question anything. The Law of Surprise was as ineffable as the rest of the Great Plan, and no-one questioned the Great Plan.

So Aziraphale nodded and opened his shimmering wings, ready to fly to where he was bidden. He had no doubts as to the nature of his mission. The Law of Surprise would be obeyed, the rules of the universe would be observed, and he would return to his Choir once more. There was no doubt, no hesitation, no questioning.

Lemuria was lush and green and full of life; Aziraphale had heard of it, of course, what angel hadn’t? It was a slice of paradise on Earth, and one of the most beautiful, and he walked through the rainforest barefoot and wings outstretched. He breathed in deeply and a whole myriad of unique smells greeted him, things he didn’t knew he had missed, and as he made his way deeper and deeper, he listened to the birdsong and the chirping of the insects, and wondered where this amphiptere could be found. But he shouldn’t have worried, because a low hissing came suddenly from his right, and the giant serpent stared at him from the foliage, golden eyes unblinking and glowing.
– I have been sent to obey the Law of Surprise, and here I am. My name is Aziraphale.
There was no answer, just those eyes that almost froze him in place. Zaphkiel had assured him that the serpent could speak in the tongue of men and angels, and yet – yet there was nothing. Until the beast slithered slowly away, slow enough for Aziraphale to follow with ease. It could have been his undoing, for he was without sword nor armour, but a strange sense of trust had filled him. Perhaps it was nothing more than his naiveté, but he was willing to trust in Fate, in Destiny and in Providence. So he followed, brushing aside the leaves that strayed in his face.
– This is a beautiful place you live in, serpent.
No reply came, so he tried again.
– The Halls of Heaven are pure white, I have never seen as many colours as you have here.
The serpent still didn’t answer, and Aziraphale found himself speaking out aloud to simply chase the silence away. It was awkward at first, but the serpent didn’t seem to mind. Aziraphale was certain that the amphiptere could have crushed him with one swipe of his tail at the very second he pleased, but instead he followed to a cave half-hidden behind a waterfall.
Words fled him as he surveyed the cavern in front of him. Something so beautiful couldn’t have existed outside of the walls of Eden, and yet here he was. In front of him, flowers of all shapes and colours and sizes were growing on the walls, and fireflies that flitted around like tiny stars. He stayed unmoving, looking at the walls around him.
– It’s beautiful…
– Do you think so? Compared to your silver halls?
It was the first time the serpent had spoken. His voice was low and melodious, a voice that no-one could have thought to come from such a creature, and Aziraphale came closer, looking with angel eyes at his companion. A fearsome creature, indeed, and yet he hadn’t felt any fear since arriving on Earth. He was...curious, in fact. Something that uncoiled in him from time to time and that he had to quench. Angels were not curious.
And yet.
– I know all of the halls of Heaven. Here I know nothing, I recognise nothing, so it’s all beautiful to me.
– And you don’t intend to harm me?
– Me…? Why would I do that?

The serpent looked at him with intense eyes, coiling around the angel, tongue flicking out. By angelic standards, this one certainly didn’t stand out. No halo of divine fire, no burnished armour of blessed righteousness, no sword of heavenly wrath. Just a slightly pudgy, blonde, blue-eyed man-shaped being in a long white tunic, barefoot on the ground.
– It’s what they want. It’s what they do with rebel angels.
– Rebel angels…?
– Oh you sweet child…
He bit down on the questions. Either this Aziraphale was the best liar to come out of Heaven, or he truly was innocent. And in his experience, angels were anything but innocent. But he’d learnt what happened when you asked questions, so he simply uncoiled around from Aziraphale.
– You can use this cave as you see fit. It’s yours for as long as you need it.
– Will you at least tell me your name?
– Crowley.

The days went by slowly, each one resembling the other, but for Aziraphale, it was truly magical. He’d heard about Earth without ever seeing it, and now he was living it. At morning he would sit and watch the sun rise, and at evening he’d watch it set, filling the sky with reds and pinks and oranges. The flowers and the grass and the smell of earth after the rain...he had begun to love it all, fiercely. He tasted things, smelled things, saw things – things that he’d never imagined before. The simple pleasure of bathing in the water of the crystal waterfalls was nearly as pleasant as eating fruit.
One day he followed the serpent – Crowley – into the undergrowth. Curiosity was tugging at him and he needed to know more about his companion. A quiet and discreet companion, who nonetheless kept his golden eyes on him each day, and who spent the rest of his days coiled up on a rocky mountain, his head in the stars. Slowly, the angel climbed up towards him, his dew-stained tunic brushing on the grass and the bracken.
– Crowley…? Am I disturbing you?
– What do you want?
– What’s up here? What do you see?
– Stars.
Crowley moved a bit, his wings relaxed behind him, and Aziraphale sat down next to him. Something in Crowley’s voice was so bittersweet…
– Crowley? What about the stars?
– They’re so small seen from here. I remember … –
His mouth snapped shut, but Aziraphale nudged him softly with his wing, feeling the warmth from the serpentine body fill his feathers.
– You were an angel… ?
– Seraphim. Highest order of angels. Those that made the skies and the stars and the moon dust.
– What happened?
– I fell. No – they pushed me out because I asked too many questions. And here we are.
– …What happened to you, Crowley…?

One night, as Aziraphale was walking along the river, a shimmering, shining light appeared before him, and out walked Zaphkiel, halo on his head and smile on his face.
– We were expecting a call, Aziraphale.
– Oh. There was no need to give one, all is well.
– We were expecting a call.
The other angel’s tone left no question. There was order and expectation and obedience. And yet…
– Why?
Aziraphale stood before his elder brother, feet bare in the silver water and eyes bluer than sapphires, and asked the very first question he’d ever asked. He felt no fear, just a strange sort of elation and – what was that other feeling? – that coursed through him.
– Why was Crowley expelled from Heaven?
– Aziraphale, do not say another word. I’m warning you.
– Answer me, please. Why was Crowley expelled from Heaven? Why do such a thing?
– Because he asked questions. And he was cursed for it.
The implication was clear and Zaphkiel disappeared, giving him one last meaningful look. It was obvious, Aziraphale was summoned to rejoin the ranks of the angels.

But before he could think of that, he heard a familiar slithering and turned to see Crowley behind him.
– They’re calling you back.
– Yes. Did they really just throw you out for asking questions?
– Didn’t you know? Angels aren’t supposed to do anything but obey. And I didn’t want to follow orders without knowing why. And here I am.
– Zaphkiel said you’d been cursed.
– Yes. Like all demons were, for daring to speak out. Cursed to live like this until something breaks the magic.
– What would break it?
– Love. And who would dare to love a beast?
Snakes couldn’t cry, and yet Aziraphale imagined that he saw tears shine at the corners of those golden eyes. He reached out, but Crowley moved out of reach.
– You should return to them. Don’t let them start to wonder about you. About if you’re going to start asking questions too.
– I already have.
– Well, they’ll put it down to my bad influence and leave it at that. You should go, if they want you that badly.
– But Crowley…
– Go.

The halls of Heaven were white and pristine and echoed with song, and Aziraphale walked through them, his thoughts far, far away. The other angels had welcomed him back with smiles and open wings, back into the familiar patterns of his life, the familiar sights, sounds and ideas. But he felt that something was missing. Something warm. Something – golden. It tugged at him and he fell asleep at night wondering about his friend in the lush gardens of Lemuria. And one night he came to the highest point of the angelic spheres and looked out over the human world, his sight falling upon that small forest in Lemuria.
What was Crowley doing? What was he thinking? He could take care of himself, he’d been there for so long, and nothing had happened, but now – now Aziraphale was worried. What would happen to his friend if he was left alone? He couldn’t leave him alone, he couldn’t!
– I…!
– Beware, Aziraphale.

Zaphkiel was standing behind him, holy righteousness in his eyes. He knew – Aziraphale had no doubt – about the new questions and the dilemma that was raging inside him. All the forbidden things that had caused Crowley to fall and be cursed. But Aziraphale could no longer contain it, the unbidden surprise of it all burning his lips and his heart.
– I love him. I love him!
– Aziraphale! You have no idea what you’re talking about, I suggest you stop it.
– I – I can’t leave him. I won’t leave him.
– Then you shall meet the same fate as him. You poor angel.
– But I won’t.
And with a small smile, Aziraphale disappeared from sight, flying back to Lemuria.

A shooting star was all that Crowley saw before Aziraphale enveloped him in his shimmering wings, the feathers soft as clouds. And he was smiling.
– I won’t go back, Crowley. I’m staying here.
– ...Why?
– Because, my dearest friend, I wouldn’t want anything else. I do believe that you’ve waited for this for so long, and I’m honoured to be the one to bring it to you.
Crowley didn’t understand, even as he felt scales fall from his face. He didn’t understand, even as Aziraphale held him tightly and brushed bare skin that hadn’t felt the kiss of the wind for aeons. But he understood when he held out his own hands – hands that he barely remembered having at all – and took Aziraphale’s face, softly, gently. There was no need for words, they needed nothing at all at this moment, just two sets of wings wrapped around two silent forms.

The tale is always the same, no matter where or when it comes from, only the details change. The monstrous beast takes the lady hostage and her love for him transforms him back into the handsome prince he always was. That’s how everyone knows this tale, a tale old as time. But sometimes, the tales are prettier, made more palatable for audiences who wouldn’t or couldn’t understand just how strange the real story is. The real story.
The real story comes from the mists of time, from a long-forgotten place called Lemuria, long before people forgot what they used to know. They don’t remember it, they never will. All they have left are whispers.
And this is the real story.