Fate's response was immediate and horrified. "No!" They shouted that word together even as the powers that were Creator and Dark Brother flared with magic. "You must choose!" I felt Dark Brother's rejection of my son's choice, His attempt, even in this juncture, to deceive and betray. How His energy writhed with fury and fought against the ruling as though He had planned to win all along. Of course He had. But Gabriel, my Gabriel, was far too strong.
As for Her, the touch of Creator's joy was enough to bring more tears to my eyes.
I chose well, She sent to me as Her magic flared and vibrated, Her form spinning toward Her dark sibling while He snarled and fought against the inevitable. No matter His plans, his vast conniving, not even He could defeat Fate and the Gateway.
Belaisle screamed his agony as Dark Brother took His power back in a jerk of resentful spite, the small form of my old enemy collapsing at last on the cold rock, motionless.