Chapter 1: Proposal
Disclaimer: (I'm meant to write this, yes? Please forgive me if I get it wrong!) Yes, sadly, I do not own the Black Magician Trilogy, Trudi Canavan does (lucky her!). I am not making any profit from this.
Okay, this idea is probably very common, but I want to explore it anyway. I'm not sure where the plot is going, but I hope you enjoy it anyway! This is not a random comedy like my first fanfic (see? I can be serious too!). Please review with constructive criticism!
Sonea:
Sonea was holding Dorrien's hand. After she had won the fight against Regin in the Arena, he had announced that he loved her. And now that she had finally graduated as a healer, he had told her he had a surprise for her. Being wanted felt wonderful.
Rain was spattering down the sides of the University. They shielded, and then warmed the air inside the shield. Sonea smiled. Sometimes magic could be very useful.
A black-cloaked figure was walking towards them from the High Lord's Residence. As he neared them, Sonea inclined her head. "High Lord Balkan," she murmured. Dorrien echoed her greeting.
The pair walked through the gardens for a few minutes. It's very peaceful, thought Sonea. She was right. Even though magicians could shield, they preferred to stay indoors in such weather, and the novices had an exam tomorrow, so most of them were studying.
Dorrien squeezed her hand. "Sonea," he started, his cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment, "I do love you, you know."
"I know," she assured him, wondering where this conversation was going.
"Sonea, will you marry me?" he asked abruptly.
Sonea stopped walking. Well, this is a surprise, she thought. How can I refuse without hurting his feelings? It wasn't that she didn't love him, but she had only just graduated, and didn't want to be tied down by marriage when she was finally free to do what she wanted.
"Not now, Dorrien."
He looked crestfallen.
Sonea sighed patiently. "I do love you," she told him, "But I'm not ready for this yet. One of us might change our minds, and by then it will be too late."
"I'll never change my mind over you!" Dorrien protested.
"But I might change my mind about you," Sonea pointed out, and then continued quickly to avoid an awkward pause. "Rothen's expecting me for dinner. I'll see you later."
She leaned forward to lightly kiss him on the cheek, and then disappeared into the rain.
Tania opened the door.
"Sonea! You're late!" she scolded lightly.
Sonea blushed and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry!" she said, "Dorrien kept me." Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.
Rothen laughed. He had been delighted when his son and former novice had declared that they loved each other.
"Come and join me!" he called, "The food's getting cold!"
They sat down and ate. After a while, they started a conversation that led to a discussion about Sonea's beginnings in the Guild.
"Why didn't you ask to have your powers blocked so that you could leave?" Rothen asked curiously, "Of course, I'm very glad that you didn't, but I do want to know why."
"Numerous reasons," replied Sonea, her mouth full. She swallowed, and then continued. "When you took me to see the healers' quarters for the first time, something sparked inside me. I didn't know it at the time, but later on I realised that I was meant to be a healer. Also, when Dannyl found Cery, I was so happy that Fergun was found out. When he was threatening me, and asking me to break my vow and leave the Guild, at first I felt that it wasn't very different from my original plans, but later I felt as if I was being forced to do something I didn't want to do. And then when the trouble with Regin boiled down, I felt proud to be a magician. Or a novice, I suppose.
"I plan to start some free hospices in the city with Dorrien's help, and hopefully I'll persuade the High Lord to start recruiting novices from poorer areas in the city. I'd like to explore the world as well. Maybe my next step will be Elyne," she continued thoughtfully.
Rothen nodded. "Do you think you'll ever reach an important position in the Guild?"
Sonea laughed. "Oh my, no, mister Head of Alchemy Studies. I'm content to be what I am."
"And what's that?"
"An over ambitious dwell healer with big ideas and an even bigger head!" This time, they both laughed.
"I should be going soon," said Sonea regretfully. She hugged Rothen, said goodbye to Tania, opened the door with magic and walked outside, left alone to ponder about Dorrien's proposal.
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