Hi Guys,

Like all of you, I love the black magician trilogy. This is my own alternate ending, as I too was disappointed by the swift killing of Akkarin and abrupt ending to a really fantastic trilogy. I decided to write it from another's perspective, as we don't ever see the world from behind Akkarin's eyes. I also think that the character has had a bit of a rough time, first being enslaved in Sachaka, watching his first love being sexually abused by his master, having his strength taken by the Ichani daily, and then killing every other slave and then his master and fleeing the country, only to be exiled back there with Sonea and having to save the world. So, a few things have been changed. I hope you like it...

"What now?" Asked Sonea, as Akkarin paced the room. He thought of their options, and smirked dryly; the answer was obvious.

"Follow me," he said, and strode from the room, Sonea having to jog to keep up with his long strides. He led her through the university, to the portrait behind which she had hidden from Regin and his gang, all those months ago, and opened the secret passage, gesturing for Sonea to enter. She stepped inside, and Akkarin followed, glancing around one last time to see if they were being pursued.

Sonea needed no direction in the navigation of the passageways. Akkarin was impressed, she'd obviously evaded him much more than he had thought. Well, she always had an affinity for mischief, he thought, thinking back to the nights they had shared, of the times she had defied him, and the guild. He was pulled out of his musings when the door appeared at the end of the tunnel that led into the High Lord's residence.

"Sonea," he murmured. She turned to look at him, anxiety plain on her face. He searched for the right words, staring into her beautiful eyes and forgetting the phrases as they formed in his mind. Eventually he could only say,

"Stay safe. And promise me that if I get hurt, you'll run. Forget about Kariko and the Ichani." He smiled and ran his fingers down her cheek. "But don't forget me." She smiled wearily, and suddenly started to cry, tears soaking into the front of his robes. He hugged her tightly, her body racked with sobs. He pressed his lips firmly against hers, and felt the rush of passion between them strengthen his courage and resolve. He bathed in her touch and when they pulled away, he breathed,

"Let's go." He opened the door and crept up into the main area of the residence. They went out through the front door, and through the forest towards the arena. He raised his shield, and Sonea followed suit. Just in time. A powerful blast hit them from behind, and Kariko's cackle cut through the silence, and he and two other Ichani came striding round the university. Akkarin and Sonea attacked together, making their way to the arena. Kariko made to intercept, cutting them off. Akkarin kept forward, determination set into his features. Kariko also advanced, until the edge of their shields touched.

All five were thrown backwards off their feet, and the sand of the arena was churned up into a cloud of dust. Akkarin was separated from Sonea, and the sounds of strikes were everywhere. The dust blinding him, he staggered to his feet, and saw, a few metres away an Ichani, lying unconscious. He went over to him, and quickly took his strength. The man didn't move as Akkarin took everything, feeling the body slump against his own as the unfortunate man died.

As the dust cleared, he saw another Ichani collapse under Sonea's relentless strikes, his shield shattered and his body broken. Then, a flash of metal, a wet thud, and Sonea's gasp. Akkarin went cold with terror, and ran to her. All was quiet.

Laughter, cruel and humourless, cut through the silence. "So that's where I left my knife," Kariko crowed. "How good of you to find it for me."

Sonea stood swaying in the arena, disbelieving gaze set upon the knife in her side. Her face was a deathly pale, stark contrast to the line of blood that dribbled from the side of her mouth down to her chin. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the sand, her blood soaking into the parched ground.

No! Akkarin cried, overcome by grief. He fell to his knees beside his love's broken body and held her head to his chest, no longer caring if the Ichani cast him into oblivion. His shield wavered, the magic pulsing randomly around him, no longer directed into any sort of order. Sobs racked his body, and still Kariko laughed, mocking him and the guild, of Kyralia, of the king, and lastly, of Sonea.

Akkarin was suddenly overcome with a piercing rage, a rage at the unfairness of it all, a rage of hope, love, lies, revenge and death. He brought his gaze slowly from Sonea's unseeing eyes to Kariko's cold, menacing stare. Kariko stopped laughing. He had seen that look before, through his brother's eyes years ago. He backed off, suddenly wary.

Akkarin stood, and his robes flowed around him as he rose into the arena. Kariko quickly followed suit, rising out of the dust and drawing power from the arena. They faced each other, and Akkarin spoke,

"You are going to regret taking the lives of my guild, my friends, my family and my love," He thundered, his voice terrible with wrath. As he said this he attacked, sending strike after strike after strike at Kariko. The air was full of magic, strikes flowing in every direction, and in the middle of a golden shield hovered Akkarin, his eyes full of hatred and loathing. Kariko was just about holding him off, using the power from the arena.

Akkarin grimaced and increased the flow of magic between the arena and him. The power was nearly depleted, and he glowed with a blinding white light now in the centre. He felt the space in his head containing the magic expand into every corner of his body and beyond. He saw it, pure magic, as it hovered around his skin. It was so beautiful... Kariko realised what he had done, and, using the last of his strength in a desperate attack, he slumped to the ground, defeated.

Akkarin dropped out of the air, landing next to him. As Kariko looked up with pleading eyes, he was overcome by hatred and kicked him in the face, sending the Ichani sprawling in the sand. Kariko got onto his elbows, his nose broken and face streaming with blood. Akkarin lifted him off the floor, slamming him again and again into the arena pillars, breaking every bone in his body, and healing it again, and Kariko screamed again and again in agony. For every magician he had killed Akkarin broke him twice. At last the list was exhausted, and he held the bedraggled man in the air, and walked up to him. Eyes blazing, he whispered,

"For Sonea," and sent power coursing through the Ichani, and his final scream was cut off as magic ripped through his body apart and staining the arena floor red forever. The light in the arena died, and he ran to where Sonea was lying unmoving.

He gently pulled the knife from her side, tossing it away. He sent his mind inwards, and, using the magic he had gained, healed every cut, every slight imperfection, mending torn organs and tissue, reconnecting blood vessels, and encouraging the heart to beat again. He felt a slight presence stir inside her, but ignored it. Her loss of blood was considerable, but her heart was beating and she was breathing. He opened his eyes, and realised how weak he was. Unable to remain conscious, he collapsed next to her, and let oblivion take him.

When he awoke, lady Vinara was leaning over him, and he could feel her healing his many injuries. She stopped immediately as she realised he was awake, and opened her eyes. He saw fear, then a powerful barrier surrounded him and he saw the higher warriors standing nearby. Balkan stepped forward.

"Sonea. Where is she? Is she alright?" He pushed hard against the barrier, and the warriors turned pale, sure he would strike.

"She's fine. In fact better than fine. You poured almost all of the arena's magic into her when you healed her. She is completely and utterly healed of every tiny malady and injury. The tiniest imperfections have all gone. You, on the other hand, are considerably weaker. You didn't save yourself enough magic." Vinara frowned down at him disapprovingly. "You gave her far to much. You should know better."

"Ever the healer, eh, Vinara?" He smiled wearily. The last words he heard before he fell asleep were Balkan's. "I can see no traitor in him." He smiled, and slept.

When he woke, he found himself in a bed, soft and warm. He heard breathing and opened his eyes, and saw Sonea sleeping. He reached out to stroke her cheek. Vinara was right. She radiated health and beauty, and her skin was silky to the touch. She opened her eyes and smiled, and her eyes held a depth of that mystery that fascinated him. They came together, and held each other through the long hours of the night, neither needing to speak. That would come later. For now, there was only each other.