A/N: Hey, sorry that I haven't updated in AGES but I've had exams and then my arm got infected and I was at home without my laptop for ages. It was a nightmare! Anyway I've written quite a few new chapters now so I'm getting round to posting! Enjoy this one!

Chapter 15

'Father no!' Calder said heatedly across the table. 'Think of the people who will die! Do you want that?' His father had just announced that he intended to take Zemira to war for the first time in 150 years, and Calder was passionately against this plan.

'The country is threatened. We need to respond or we look weak.' His father stated matter of factly.

'You're going to kill innocent people so you appear strong.' He shot back feeling the volume of his voice increase.

'And what would you have me do Calder, let Hoyt steal our land.' He said in the same tone of voice as before.

'Of course not.' Calder replied, trying to remain calm, 'I think we should talk to Hoyt, maybe peace can still be made.' Even as he said it he saw that he was fighting a losing battle.

'And what is the price of peace? Losing land. Losing peasants? Marriage? I'm not sure your Mage would like that.' Hakon laughed at his son's surprised face, 'What? Did you think I wouldn't know? Keep at it son, uniting the Mages with us will make us the most powerful country around!' Calder looked around as if hoping someone was around to save him from this conversation, though with such a sensitive issue at discussion they were of course alone in the audience chamber.

'This isn't because she's a Mage!' Calder insisted.

'That's neither here nor there. Mages could win us this war.' His father responded. He turned to leave.

'War is not the way.' Calder responded. His father left the room. Calder started pacing up and down, thinking there must be something he could do to stop this pointless war. 'If only I could get all the power transferred onto me.' He mused aloud.

'That's not the way to get what you want.' A voice said from behind him. 'That won't make the people love you. The Prince who usurped his father, stole his power. It would cause more trouble and that would destroy you, and I can't let you do that.' She had walked towards his still turned back as she was speaking and placed her hand on his shoulder, he lifted up his own hand and held hers, feeling comforted by the gesture.

'And what would you have me do?' He asked her dejectedly. She moved round to face him, her brown eyes boring into his blue ones.

'Keep trying with your father. Send an envoy to Hoyt.'

'And offer what? Marriage?'

'If you have to.' The pain in her eyes but she carried on none the less, 'what's one heartbroken girl compared to the safety of a country?' He gave a short pain filled laugh.

'One heart broken Natural Mage you mean. We both know what you're capable of.' She shrugged slightly.

'Oh Calder.' She sighed, 'I'd know you wouldn't be marrying for love.'

'Even if she's beautiful?' He teased. She laughed.

'She's pretty at best, she's only 16. And blonde I hear.'

'I may have a thing for blondes.' She stepped even closer to him, pushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. She laughed very softly and whispered in his ear;

'We both know that's not true.' And she kissed him, softly at first but then with more and more urgency, as if she was truly scared that she would lose him.

A few days later, as the early afternoon sun streamed through the window, they lay in bed, tangled up in the sheets. Maia's head was resting on his chest, and though he had never been happier, something was bothering him. 'We should stop doing this.' He said. Maia lifted his head slightly and looked at him sleepily.

'Why?' She asked, a confused look on his face.

'The gossip, your reputation, the war.' He listed. She laughed slightly.

'There was gossip about us before we even knew who each other really were.' She replied, 'and I have no reputation to save. Even if I did, I'm still one of the most powerful people in Zemira. Plus Hoyt's already said no to the marriage so there's no harm there.' She smiled and kissed him briefly on the lips, 'so why should we stop?'

'And if you get pregnant.' He mumbled quietly, running out of things to say in his attempt to clear his conscience. A strange smile passed Maia's lips.

'I'm one of the most powerful people in Zemira.' She repeated. 'There'll be no children until I want them.' At first he was confused by what she had said, but after a few moments he realised; she was using magic to stop them having a baby.

'Til you're ready, not until we're married?'

'Well yes. We need to face the possibility that we can't marry. And if we don't then I still might want a child.' He looked at her in shock.

'So if we can't marry then you'd be my mistress?' He asked, visibly upset by what she was suggesting.

'Obviously I hope not to be. But if that's how things need to be…' She left the rest hanging. The future sacrifice she might have to make determined Calder's resolve to find a way to marry her.

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