elmo-doodle: Heeya! Okay, I know this has been done many times before but I enjoyed the books so much. I sat up until 2:30am most mornings just to read it (less distractions at night!!) and I have never cried so much in one book. Seriously, The High Lord is the only book that has made me cry that much! It was fantastic!! But the ending had me bummed, and I wanted to write my own fanfiction about what happened after the war. It's gonna be AU, obviously =]
SPOILERS: Major spoilers for the series, especially The High Lord. Basically, if you haven't read all three books, I'd discourage you from reading this =]
WARNINGS: None that I can think of right now!
Summary: While the city of Imardin of being rebuilt, the Guild faces the difficult choice of deciding the future of its Black Magicians. Sonea begins to worry when the Guild takes an unusually long time to decide their fate, and Rothen and Akkarin try to keep her occupied with helping others.
Chapter One
Sonea watched with relief as the last Ichani fell to the ground. She sighed as she turned back to Akkarin who was watching her with glazed eyes. His grip on her wrists began to slacken.
"No, Akkarin," she pleaded, cupping his face with his hands. "You can't leave me, not after all this-- not after all we've been through. Please, hold on!" His eyes began to convey sorrow and regret. Sonea felt his energy begin to burn out. "No!"
--Sonea! You have to move! Rothen's voice entered her mind. The Ichani still has magical energy left within him and his body is dying. Get away from him!
--I won't leave Akkarin! Sonea sent back. She felt Rothen's surprise at the intimate use of the former High Lord's name, but ignored it. There has to be a way, she thought to herself. Her eyes widened as she looked at the last fallen Ichani on the ground. He was bleeding from a cut in his hand. Of course!
Sonea ran towards the Ichani and stood over him. The man regarded her with distaste and fear. Sonea placed her hand over the open wound and focused on quickly drawing the energy from him to herself. She was surprised to find that the man still possessed a lot of magical energy. The transaction was quick, and the Ichani instantly died.
Sonea rushed back towards Akkarin, just as Rothen, Dorrien and Lord Balkan began to levitate down to the ground. Akkarin's eyes were beginning to flutter closed.
"Don't you dare," Sonea said through clenched teeth. "I'm not going to lose you now." Sonea placed her hands around the blade in his heart and began to focus on using the borrowed magic to Heal him. She slowly removed the knife as she began to Heal the torn tissue of his heart. When the blade was fully out she placed both hands on his chest and began concentrating on sealing the tear in his heart and body completely. The other three magician's ran towards them.
"Sonea!" Rothen panted, stopping at her side. "Is he-?"
"Sssh," Sonea said. They were silent for a moment longer and then Sonea frowned. "No," she whispered. Akkarin's heart had stopped beating almost immediately after she Healed it. "No, no, no, Akkarin, no!" She moved up to his head and placed her hands on his temples. She closed her eyes and focused on his mind.
"He's gone," Dorrien said, shocked.
"Sonea, come away." Rothen moved forward to try and pull her away.
"Wait," Balkan objected, laying a hand on Rothen's shoulder. The Alchemist frowned but obeyed, and turned to watch what Sonea was doing.
Sonea was in Akkarin's mind. She realised, with hope, that this meant he wasn't completely gone yet. But his presence was faint and still fading. She had to get a grip on his presence and pulled it forward again. Akkarin? She called out, softly. Please, don't do this. You're Healed. Don't give up. Find my voice and focus on it. Akkarin! There was no reply and Sonea continued to chase his presence as it retreated deeper in to his mind.
"What's going on?" Lady Vinara asked as she approached with the other Higher Magicians, and some of the lower ones, too. "Is Akkarin...?"
"We don't know," Balkan said, gesturing to Sonea. Vinara looked down at her. Sonea had a look of intense concentration and determination on Sonea's face.
"What is she doing?" Vinara asked in a whisper.
Balkan shrugged. "I'm not sure," he said. "Akkarin was stabbed in the heart, but Sonea Healed him while he was still alive. He stopped breathing as soon as she Healed it, but I think she believes that she can reach his mind and pull him back." Vinara's eyes widened as she regarded the young former Novice, attempting to bring their former leader back from the brink of death.
Please, Akkarin, Sonea begged as the presence almost disappeared. She started to panic. I swear, Akkarin, if you don't latch on to my presence, I'll--
--Sonea?
Sonea gasped as she heard Akkarin's voice calling out to her. From the murmurings around her, she guessed that her facial expression must have told them something happened.
--Akkarin! Sonea called back. Akkarin, follow my presence! I am not loosing you yet. Relief began to flood through her as Akkarin's presence quickly began stronger as it latched on to Sonea's and she pulled him back towards his mind, back towards consciousness...
She gasped again, this time from the shock of Akkarin's mind propelling so quickly back towards life. She was thrown backwards slightly as Akkarin's bodily shield leaped back in to life around him. He sat up abruptly, gasping for breath as his heart restarted and his body began to live once again.
Everyone around them had their mouths open in shock, or were shaking their heads or looked as if they might faint in disbelief. Sonea had brought Akkarin back.
The shield had propelled Sonea a few feet away from him. She was sitting on her knees watching as Akkarin regained his control on breathing. Sonea felt like she might pass out from shock.
Then she realised that she was definitely too far away from him at that moment. She scrambled over to him. He looked up at her as she flung her arms around his neck, almost sending him toppling back on to the ground. In an instant his arms were wrapping themselves around her waist and she had one leg on either side of his waist, straddling him as he sat up.
"You idiot!" Sonea almost shouted, as she pulled back to look him in the face. "How stupid are you?!" Akkarin watched her with mild amusement and affection. He ran a hand through Sonea's hair. "You're always telling me how dangerous it is to give too much energy and then you go and do exactly that."
The magicians around them watched the scene with raised eyebrows. Sonea's words were strong when directed at Akkarin, and their current position was questionable.
Akkarin smiled grimly. "Sonea, I--"
"Let me finish," she cut him off, but her anger had subsided to sheer relief. "You almost died. You would have if that last Ichani hadn't had some energy left in him. Akkarin... what would I have done without you?" She swallowed back a sob but a few tears escaped her.
"Oh, Sonea," he sighed, cupping her face. "I'm so sorry I had to do that to you. But you brought me back. We're both alive."
Sonea nodded meekly. Then, she threaded her hands through his hair and pulled his head towards hers. Their lips met in a desperate kiss. The gasps of the magicians surrounded them, but Sonea ignored them, especially as Akkarin's hands began to run down her body. She moaned and pressed herself closer to him.
Someone behind them cleared their throat loudly. Akkarin and Sonea broke apart, and Sonea realised that the position they were in was hardly appropriate in public. Sonea's face turned impossibly red as she removed herself from Akkarin's lap and stood up. As she looked around the circle of magicians, she saw that Rothen was regarding her with a look of utter disbelief. Akkarin, chuckling at her, stood too and then wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Rothen's eyes widened even further.
"Akkarin." Balkan spoke first. He regarded the two black magicians in speculation. "Sonea. By returning to Kyralia, you have both broken the law that was set upon you in your exile. But, we must acknowledge that if it weren't for your return, Imardin would surely have been lost." Balkan paused. "No doubt, the King will expect a Hearing in the near future to discuss where you stand among the Guild. But, I wish you to know that you both have my support."
Lady Vinara nodded. "And mine." The same expression was murmured by the dozen or so magicians standing around them. Sonea smiled at them in gratitude. She looked up at Akkarin.
"It's over," she told him. "It's finally over."
Akkarin looked at Sonea and gave her her favourite crooked half-grin. "We might still have a future in Imardin," he said, tightening his hold on her. Sonea grinned at him and then she began to sway as a wave of exhaustion hit her. Akkarin placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her. "Sonea? Are you alright?"
Sonea nodded but she fell forward against Akkarin's chest. "Tired," she mumbled. All the stress, anxiety and shock of what had happened was catching up on her and she suddenly found herself drained of all energy. "Been a busy few days..."
Akkarin smiled at her and then scooped her in to his arms, bridal-style. "Sleep, love," he said.
She smiled a little as she rested her head in the crook of his neck. "Love you," she mumbled, and then she passed out.
Akkarin watched her for a second more and then turned to face the others. "Is there anywhere she can rest?"
Lady Vinara nodded. "Bring her to the Healing wards," she said. "I would like to examine you both for injuries."
"Thank you," Akkarin said, and he followed the Healer.
Balkan turned to the others. "Come on. Let's alert everyone else. Then perhaps we can restore some order to the city."
**
Akkarin stood by and silently observed as Lady Vinara searched for any internal damage in Sonea. Akkarin refused to be checked by the Healer, claiming that Sonea had done a wonderful job on repairing him. Vinara had tilted her head up at him but didn't argue further.
He sighed. Akkarin was beginning to think that Vinara was taking way too long to check Sonea. He watched the woman's face for any sign of trouble in Sonea. After a few minutes, Vinara frowned. Akkarin straightened up. "What is it?" he asked.
Vinara shook her head and then concentrated again on Sonea. After a few more minutes, she pulled away, her eyes wide with astonishment.
Akkarin was beginning to worry. "Lady Vinara, what is wrong?"
She looked up and met his gaze. "Sonea is pregnant."
He could tell that the colour had drained from his face. "Pregnant?" he whispered.
Vinara nodded. "I believe that it's safe to assume that you are the father?"
Akkarin nodded, then sighed. "How? I mean, I know how, but I thought she..." He cleared his throat and a small blush appeared on his face. "Sonea was taught how to take care of things... wasn't she?"
It was Vinara's turn to look a little embarrassed. "Actually... I don't think Sonea was approached by any of the Healers. She was unpopular and didn't show any interest in the boys, so nobody must have thought to take her aside and talk." She watched Akkarin. "You assumed that she was taking care of things?"
Akkarin nodded. "I never thought to ask her..." He ran a hand through his hair. "Pregnant," he mumbled.
Vinara gave him a sympathetic look. "I'll give you some time alone," she said. She bowed to Akkarin (to his amusement and confusion) and left the room.
Akkarin moved to the bedside and sat down on the chair. He reached out and entwined his hand with one of Sonea's. She was breathing slowly, indicating that she was in a deep sleep. Akkarin placed one of his hands on her stomach and concentrated. He drew his hand back.
It was faint, but there was a tiny spark of energy in there. He put his hand back on Sonea's stomach. He smiled. That little bit of energy was made by him and Sonea. He couldn't wait to tell her when she woke.
Akkarin frowned. What if Sonea didn't want a child? What if it was too early for her? Just because he was ready to be a father, didn't mean that she was ready to be a mother. Would she resent him for this? He took a deep breath to calm himself. Yes, this was unexpected, but could he really tell if Sonea would be upset. She might be ecstatic.
Well, he thought, stroking a strand of hair out of her face, I won't know until she awakes.
elmo-doodle: Yaay, chapter one! =] Your opinion means the world to me, so please drop me a review! I'll be updating every Thursday. You can send me threats if I forget to update, m'kay? Until next week!