A/N The story isn't over yet!! I told you one or two more chappies in my last A/N you guys have to read these things, heh, I tell you stuff like that. Sorry about the wait.

Sudha: This one's longer. And yes Johnny Depp is amazing, I am going to marry Capt. Jack Sparrow, he is just too sexy.

Fairy Asphodel: That wasn't the last chappie, neither is this one. I'm glad you love the story!

Ivy Dragon: Ya that was a confusing area, the thing is I think I took so long with that chappie that everyone forgot that Liam took a battalion of the Kings Own to the border to help Tobit out. So when Tobit and Kiké were fighting Liam got between them. So it isn't random, just I probably should have reminded you guys that Liam was in the battle too. And ya Keira rocks! She has such good taste in choosing her movies.

Alia: Nope not over yet. Glad you like it though!

Nesuto: Sorry the Tobit/Kiké/Liam thing was confusing, see Ivy Dragon's note for that to be explained. There are still one or two more chappies left, don't worry.

Lady Trickster: Thank you for the review, and compliment! The story isn't over yet.

Dragonwing51: It isn't over, one or two chappies still to go. This chappie's also longer than the last one.

Rymira Sedai: Ya I killed Liam, as to why he was there see Ivy Dragon's note. The fact that you haven't seen Pirate of the Caribbean is deplorable you must go now!

Thanks everyone for reviews! Read, review and enjoy!

Chapter XXXIV: Peacemakers

King Jonathan stared at the young queen. Her hair was tangled, and her clothes stained with sweat and dirt. Her eyes met his.

"What have you done?" he asked.

"I have saved my people," she replied simply.

"But the Jewel" he trailed off.

"It was never truly yours," she said. "You had it for a time, be grateful for that," she paused. "Just as Antitheos was never yours." Jonathan looked at her steadily.

"Are you just asking me to return Antitheos to you?" he said skeptically.

"Yes," she replied.

"You are a ruler."

"Without a country," she interrupted.

"You are a ruler, you must know that that is impossible for me."

"Why?" she asked, he amber eyes cold. "You took it from my father, it is only fair to give it back." Jonathan ran his fingers distractedly through his hair.

"It is all about politics. If I just give you back your land then the other countries that I have conquered will want to rule themselves again too. Oh I know that sounds great, but not all the countries are like Antitheos. Most are lawless, and brutal. We have installed roads, schools, and libraries. In many of them the quality of life has improved so drastically that the people are living twenty even thirty years longer. If I start a precedent with you then the others will try to follow it. Zira, I can let you have regional control, but it would be an impossibility to return it to you fully." She fought back tears.

"So all I've done. All I've worked for. All I've suffered for, has been for what?!" her voice rose. "Do you know what I have done?" Jon shook his head.

"I am sorry, but the return of Antitheos is impossible. Zira, I would do it if I could, but I can't. I have my own people to look after."

"Perhaps," a voice came from the open doorway, "if it were a wedding present." Jasson walked up beside Zira, and put his hand strong hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him. His eyes were fixed on his father. "You wouldn't leave your youngest son without a kingdom if he were marrying a foreign queen?" Jon looked from his son to Zira and back.

"Zira, do you wish to marry my son?" he asked. Zira smiled and turned to face Jasson. He stood tall, and firm.

"It was I who asked him," she replied. "I accept his acceptance." She laid her hand on his.

"Well giving my own son a kingdom would not have any adverse effects"

"Oh Jon, shut up!" Alanna cut in. "Be a father for once, the politics can be worked out later." She turned to Zira, who was looking at her strangely. "Zira, we have never seen eye to eye, which is something I regret."

"I am at fault for that," Zira said quietly. "I thought that if I became friends with you then I would be taking part in my mother's death. I still see her when I look at you, but I also see you, see your reasons. I" she broke off. "I'm sorry." They looked at each other for a moment. Alanna awkwardly held out her hand, and Zira reached out and shook it firmly.

"I respect you for that," she said, "I also respect the fact that the past will never allow us to be friends, but perhaps it will allow us to be no longer enemies?" Zira smiled and nodded.

"Maybe with time even that could change," she said quietly. Alanna bowed, then left the room. Jon looked back at his son, and Zira before he also went through the doorway. Numair stared at Zira.

"After things settle down," he said with academic fervor, "could I study your breed of magic?" Zira nodded, and he also ducked out of the room leaving the prince and the young queen.

"Thank you," She said turning to Jasson.

"What you said, Zira," he replied firmly meeting her eyes, "was true. I'm no Prince, but you will make me one, won't you?"

"You don't need help. You just need guts." She laughed, and ducked, as Jasson's hand flew towards her head. "You also need to improve your aim." She ran, and he chased her. Wildly they moved and spun across the room, ending with them in a pile on the floor, laughing. They lay there a moment.

"I will always be jealous of him though," Jasson said quietly, as he kissed the top of Zira's head. She sat up, and looked him in the eye.

"Don't be. You have me now." Jasson shook his head.

"No he does," he said quietly. "He always will, but I might worm my way in there someday." He leaned in to kiss her, but Zira turned her head at the last moment, and his lips landed on an amber tear rolling down her cheek.

~*~

Tobit looked down at the fallen body of Prince Liam. He had saved his life by giving up his own. Tobit sat down in the wet grass, and laid the dead prince's head in his lap. He had been so young, so full of life. Tobit began to cry, such a different feeling from the pure rapture of just a few moments ago. All around him, the survivors looked after the dead, and the joyful singing turned into keening.

Only one Antithean soldier, though, sat with a Tortallian's head in his lap, and that soldier was Falkin. He looked down into William's still face. He couldn't cry, he was beyond tears. He had lost everything, Zira, his honour, his country, his friend. He bowed his head but healing tears would not come. Some of the soldiers had started digging a pit for the dead, and soon people from both sides were working together to create a final resting place for those they had loved, and those they had killed. Falkin sat there on the battlefield though. Two shadows came over his shoulder, and he saw Kiké and Tobit standing above him.

"Will," Tobit breathed, and fell to his knees. "What happened?" Then his eyes grew wide as he looked at Falkin.

"He was going to kill me," he said quietly. Tobit placed his hand on William of Ikors face and closed his eyes.

"You can't undo it, Falkin. Let him go." He then stood, and saw Kiké for the first time. He stared at her in disbelief, and Kiké's green eyes met his firmly. "You killed Liam," he whispered.

"He wasn't who I was trying to kill," she replied glaring. "He had no place getting in my way."

"By Mithros I'll make you suffer," Tobit replied, and his hand reached for his sword. Falkin stood. His broad shoulders between his two friends.

"Tobit," Falkin said, "if you draw your sword here you will undo everything. Leave it in its sheath. This is Kiké; she saved my life. She is my friend."

"All very well for you to say, you hated Liam. I don't know why I even bothered to be friends with both of you. It was too hard work. Always defending one from the other keeping the peace. Well I'm through being peacemaker." He was trembling looking into the eyes of his remaining best friend.

"I'm sorry," Falkin said desperately, not knowing what else to say.

"You're sorry?! You never tried. Everyone lost a friend here, you are the only one who killed one." Tobit's hand gripped his sword tighter. "What does it feel like, I can imagine it now, I can imagine holding your head in my lap, crying over what my own hand did." His voice reached a quavering peak, but he let his hand fall from the hilt of his sword.

"Tobit," Falkin begged, but his friend had already turned heel and left.

~*~

Shae felt that Zira was back almost the moment her friend crossed the threshold, but she waited for Zira to come to her. She didn't have to wait too long. Zira entered her room looking tired, but happy. She fell onto the bed.

"The war is over," she said, "and I am Queen of Antitheos." Shae threw herself down next to Zira, and hugged her.

"What happened?" she asked. Zira rolled onto her side so she could look her friend in the eye.

"I destroyed It," Zira replied simply. Then she went on to tell her the whole story.

"So you will marry Jasson?" Shae said tentatively.

"Yes, it won't be bad. He is wonderful, and will grow up. You are the one who can marry for love," she said brushing a strand of hair out of Shae's face.

"We aren't the same people," Shae said quietly.

"I know," Zira said with a short laugh, "but we take comfort in what the other has. I know that my children will not be king or queen, that curse will move to another family, but I also know that even though my royalty is fleeting it is there, and I can't ignore it."

"You never have."

"Back in Antitheos I almost did, and would have. Falkin wouldn't let me though, and that means more than any other thing he has done for me."

"You still love him," Shae said.

"You still love Tobit," Zira replied. Shae rolled off the bed onto her feet.

"Yes," she said back turned to Zira, "I love him, but can he still love me?"

"Go to the border, and see," Zira replied, she stood and wrapped her arms around Shae's neck. "I have always seen you and Tobit as the two people who will bring true peace. You are full Antithean, and he is full Tortallian, and you understand each other."

"I'm scared to see him again."

"Don't be."