A/N: I really really really didn't like Trudi's ending to The High Lord. So I figured I would change it. And I figured, why not carry on the story? So here goes… R+R.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, at least not the ones in this chapter… I also don't own the first section of the story 'cause I stole it from THL.

Chapter 1

A smile curled the edge of his lips. His eyes were open, but fixed somewhere beyond her. As she moved the hands about her wrists loosened and fell away.

"No." she whispered. "Akkarin." Grabbing his hands, she sent her mind inward. Nothing. Not even the slightest spark of life.

He had given her too much power.

He had given her everything.

With shaking hands, Sonea ran her fingers over his face, then bent forward and kissed his lifeless mouth. Then she felt it. A spark. Small, but enough. She kissed him again and the spark grew stronger. She pressed her lips to his, and held them there until his eyes flickered open. Relief flooded her every muscle as he sat up and took her into his arms. She threw her arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder. "I thought I'd lost you." She gasped in between sobs, "I thought you'd left me."

"I'd never leave you Sonea. You know that. I couldn't bear to leave you." He moved her face from his shoulder and kissed her, regardless of the watching magicians. As his strength returned, he could sense something. No. Someone. Someone inside Sonea. He took his hands from around her waist and placed them on her stomach. There. Only small, but definitely a life. Sonea's brows knitted together in confusion, but at his half smile, widened with the shock of understanding. She was pregnant. So much for not causing a scandal.

"So what do we do now?" she asked.

"There's nothing we can do." He saw her eyes flicker disappointment. "Come. We'll get somewhere private we can talk." She nodded.

Sonea slumped into one of the chairs in the room they had been taken to and stared pointedly at the floor.

"Sonea?" she looked up to find Akkarin crouching in front of her. "I love you. You know I do. And I like to think to love me too. I'll love the baby too, when it comes along. I couldn't bear to be without you." He said, as he slipped a ring onto her finger. The blood gem. It must have fallen off in the battle. Then the reality of what he was saying sunk in, as she realised which finger he had put the ring onto. She looked at him, and he looked back, love reflected in both their eyes. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. There was a knock on the door. Rothen.

"I just thought I would come and check you were both…" He was cut off as Sonea wiggled the fingers on her left hand. "Oh… I… Erm…" Sonea rushed over and hugged him. "Well… Er… Congratulations!" He added, bemused by the sudden announcement. "I guess I'll leave you two to whatever you were doing." He said as he backed out the door.

"Rothen. Wait. We'll come with you." Sonea smiled and reached for Akkarin's hand.

A/N: hope you liked the first chapter… I think this was a little more cheerful than the original ending, although like I said I will be carrying on. You don't get rid of me that easily!! And I know this is really mean, especially since I haven't actually written the next chapter, but I'm not updating until I get at least 5 reviews!!!! Mwahaha evil smile