Disclaimer: If we owned it, the waterfall scene would have been much more graphic.
"They're here," Akkarin muttered. His arms slid from her shoulders.
"The Arena?
He shook his head. "Only as a last resort." His expression was hard as he strode across the room to the door.
Sonea stared at his retreating back in disbelief.
"Akkarin, this is a last resort! What the bloody hell would you call a last resort? We're all going to die if we lose, which we will if we don't have enough power!"
Akkarin stopped in his tracks. "You're right! Let's go." He walked out the door.
Sonea straightened her shoulders, drew in a deep breath, and followed.
Something sliced up the side of Sonea's calf. She stumbled and heard Akkarin gasp. Looking down she saw the leg of her robe flutter up to reveal a long cut. Akkarin grasped her arm, but instead of supporting her he let his full weight drag her to the ground. She turned to look at him and her heart froze. He crouched beside her, his face white and twisted in pain. Bright red drew her eyes to his hand, which was wrapped around the glittering handle of a Sachakan knife. The knife was buried deep in his chest.
"Akkarin!" she cried. Turning furiously to the Ichani, she sent waves of strong magic towards them, drawing on the massive reserves gleaned from the Arena. The Ichani, completely shocked and helpless to withstand such extreme power, crumbled before her. Allowing herself a momentary triumphant grin, she turned back to Akkarin.
She examined his wounds with her mind. It was serious, but due to the power she had taken from the Arena, it was nothing she couldn't handle. She took out the knife buried in his chest and used her healing magic to sew back together the various wounds inflicted by the bejewelled knife.
She let out a sigh of relief and helped him to his feet. The mix of adrenaline from the battle and incredible releif of them both being alive was overwhelming. With shaking hands, she ran her fingers over his face and then leaned forward and kissed him passionately.
Rothen stared at the entwined couple.
"Huh. That was unexpected." He looked at his son, who seemed completely unsurprised by the turn of events, and Balkin who was gaping at them, apparently shocked by either the immense display of power or the frightening display of affection.
Rothen walked over to his former novice, and stood awkwardly off to the side. He cleared his throat loudly, and they broke apart.
"Rothen!" Sonea exclaimed joyfully, running over to embrace him. "I thought you were..." He hugged her back tightly as Dorrien and Balkin walked over, Balkin still gaping disbelievingly. Sonea blushed when she saw the way Balkin was staring at her.
Suddenly, the entire group became aware that Balkin was still sending out images of the pair to the remenants of the guild. Akkarin, politely inclining his head towards the man, asked him to please desist. Balkin's mouth shut with a snap, and the images ceased.
There was an awkward silence until Rothen suggested that they go look for the remaining guild members. Sonea grinned ruefully.
"We don't need to search, we know exactly where they are."
A few weeks later...
Sonea and Akkarin, now re-instated High Lord, stared at the healer in disbelief.
"I'm what?" Sonea shrieked.
A/N: Akkarin shouldn't have died, he just shouldn't have! This ending's much more user friendly.