I'm so sorry for updating only now! I just happened to leave for the Xth Century and stay there a month, and when I came back it was just not the right moment to write... I have to admit that I kinda lost my motivation. Fortunately I chased it back, and I'm glad to present the 9th chapter of Junkie Proposal!

Disclaimer: As much as I whish I did, I do not own The Black Magician Trilogy, nor any of its characters.

9- Making Resolutions

Two weeks later, Sonea had still not asked to know about his secret. She knew she should have: the situation was truly dangerous and if the man she saw was sent to kill Akkarin, whoever sent him may try to use her against him. But she could not bring herself to ask yet, her peace was too young and she did not want to do anything that could jeopardize it. She was thinking hard, knowing that whatever Akkarin would tell her will weight a lot on their relationship, and that there was no turning-back. She knew he was surprised by her apparent lack of curiosity, and so was Rothen.

The latter had visited her a few times since the first, but the experience of the "familial dinner" had not been repeated, Rothen still categorically disapproving of her choice of man. Thus, when in the residence they would sit in the hall and chat together, about her studies, her future and her family. Sometimes they would have dinner together, but in Rothen's room at the Magicians' Quarters. Before Dorrien left, a week before, they would be discussing the life of a village Healer compared to the one of a Healer in the Guild, and he would have helped her with her homework if there was a point she didn't understand during her classes (Akkarin might be very clever and know a lot of things, Healing had never been his favorite matter. Plus, she would never thought of asking him some help with her homework. It would just make their different position more blatant). But this didn't happen often, for Sonea was very skilled and quite eager in her studies.

One subject however was never brought up: Sonea's and Akkarin's engagement. It had become an unsaid rule, therefore the name of her current guardian only spoken if necessary.

Tonight had been one of those dinners. They had discussed a book Rothen had given Sonea (one of Dorrien's books treating non-magical Healing), and they had planned a trip to Sonea's aunt and uncle, who were to be parents a second time.

When she had come back to the High Lord's residence, it was already dark outside and Sonea was enjoying the thought that the morrow would be Freeday, when Takan had told her that the High Lord had left and that she would not see him tonight. As he refused to tell her where he was, she concluded that it was connected to his extra-activities, as she inwardly called them. It had been two hour or so, and he still hadn't come back. She knew it for sure, because, tormented by her questioning and, she had to admit, the fear that he might not come back at all, she had been unable to sleep.

Then she heard it – heard him. Her relief faded quickly when the sound of him stumbling on something and of Takan rushing to help him climb the stairs reached her.

She was already had her hand on the handle, when she wondered whether he would rather see her or not after what he had been up tonight, whatever it may have been. Then she heard him groan in pain and couldn't take it anymore; she rushed out of her room, to find him half-standing half-carried by Takan. Seeing what Sonea let a brief shout out.

"Akkarin, what happened?" The cloak he was wearing above his slum outfit had been torn apart, and one of his sleeves had disappeared, letting Sonea notice a long wound bleeding on his arm, just under his shoulder.

"Sonea." He said, and her eyes flashed from his arm to his face. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Oh, I just happened to wait for my husband-to-be to come back from having a duel with a rabid lion." She answered sarcastically, but without managing to hide every trace of worry in her voice. She saw him opening his mouth and cut him before he could say anything.

"Come here, rather than asking silly questions." Coming to Takan's level, she asked him for a bowl of clean water, and, taking Akkarin's good arm, led him to her room. He protested.

"Wait, my room is just –"

"At the other side of the corridor and you need to lie down now." She replied, while lying him down on her bed authoritatively. She began examining his wound, when Takan came back with water and a piece of clothes.

"Thank you Takan, I'm taking care of him. You should go to bed, I'm sure you didn't sleep much tonight."

He hesitated a little, but Akkarin gave him a nod, and he bowed before taking his leave.

The young woman turned to her fiancé.

"I have to take your shirt off. Given its state, I guess you won't mind if I cut it into pieces?"

As he shook his head, she proceeded, taking more time than it would normally take, because she was suddenly very conscious of their positions: him resting on her bed, her cutting his shirt off, revealing too much of his bare skin for her to be completely at ease and fully concentrated. At last, that was done, and Sonea could clean the blood on his arm. The wound looked bad, but unlike what she thought at first, it had stopped bleeding. Even then, if Akakrin's still face was any indication, it was quite painful. Trying to forget the man's half-nakedness, she put her hands on his arm and sounded the cause of Akkarin's pain, sending him Healing power the way she had learnt during her classes. It was not totally healed when she stopped, but Lady Vinara often said that it was not good to force the body into healing too fast. And Akkarin definitely looked better now. He smiled at her.

"Thank you. That's much better. And now –" He tried to stand up, but Sonea pushed him back – gently – on her bed.

"And now, you should not move until you've recovered a little. Stay here and sleep." She rose and headed towards the door, but stopped when he asked her.

"Where are you going to sleep of I'm here?" She moved her hand dismissively.

"There's a guest room over there. I'll borrow it for the night." Akkarin's sudden laughter startled her.

"Oh no! It won't be said that I've driven my novice away from her bed!" Half-sitting, he reached for her hand and, before she understood what was happening, he pulled her down against him. "Besides", he added, "you'll notice that this bed is definitively large enough for two."

She struggled a bit, but found her resolution weakening as he kept her close to him, her back pressed against his bare chest. They disappeared totally when Akkarin whispered, the head buried in her hair.

"Stay with me. Anyway, I'm too weak and exhausted to do anything but sleep."

"If it's just to sleep…" Sonea said, feeling suddenly very shy. She relaxed in his arms, still dazzled by how good it felt.

As she was falling asleep, a thought came to her which took her out of the blur she was in.

"Akkarin?"

"Hmm?"

"You'll have to tell me everything about what happened tonight, and the one two weeks ago."

"What do you think of tomorrow, for the explanation?" He answered in a sleepy voice. Sonea yawned.

"Tomorrow sounds good."

As you may have noticed, it's quite short compared to the previous one, and I was wondering: would you prefer short chapters updated more often, or longer ones which would take longer to write and publish? Also, from now on I'm going to the university again, so I will not have so much time to write.

Ladylilia : That no one would ever imagine Akkarin running as he does in the first chapter is the very point of this chapter: it is supposed to make obvious the fact that he's not in his normal state, and it is one of the things which lead Sonea into understanding that he has taken drugs. Sorry if I didn't made it clear enough.

Lily1992 : In most fanfics i've readen about Sonea and Akkarin, I noticed that the story tends to be less interesting once they're married - or rather, let's say that I'm less interested in it. So I don't know if it is really worth it. I don't see my story going so far. I'm not saying that I won't do it, jut that it is not in my projects for the moments.

And to all other reviewers (and readers-but-not-reviewers, of course), thanks a lot! It's good to know that some people like what I write =)