TITLE: Sacrifice

AUTHOR: LOTSlove®

CHARACTERS: Richard / Kahlan

RATING: PG-16 / T

TIMELINE: Anything up through S2 season finale (Tears)

STORY TYPE: Angst / Romance / Adventure

SPOILERS: Anything from Seasons 1 & 2

DISCLAIMER: I love them and love to write about them even though I don't own them or make a dime.

SUMMARY: Sequel to my fic Reborn, Richard and Kahlan are on their way to D'Hara so Richard can claim the throne, but there is a new threat looming ever closer that is out to destroy them.

Chapter 1

The snow crunched softly beneath his boots leaving an obvious trail of where he had been and where he was going. The air was chilly, but thankfully not miserably so. Pulling his cloak tighter, he paused momentarily to peer overhead to take in the black expanse of sky and the brilliant tiny lights that were sprinkled across it. It was a beautiful night, one that he hoped to be enjoying with his wife shortly.

The vastness of the sky above made him feel so small all of the sudden, so unlike the powerful Seeker and Lord Rahl, future Master of D'Hara. He felt so insignificant standing there beneath the blanket of countless stars staring down upon him, so unprepared for what he knew lay ahead for him and Kahlan. He also knew, though, that he would willingly give his life a hundred times over just to keep her safe.

Returning his focus to the task at hand, Richard raised his bow and arrow at the distant sounds of movement rustling through the fallen leaves and snow. He had been hoping for a buck that would provide them plenty of meat, but at this point he would take whatever came though those bushes so that he could return to Kahlan.

Panting softly, his breath came out in swirling wisps that disappeared almost as immediately as it escaped through his parted lips. His gaze narrowed as he focused in on his approaching prey, his head tilting slightly as he strained to hear the animal's exact location.

Time seemed to tick by at a frustratingly slow pace as he waited for the animal to appear. He knew he would have to wait for it to make its appearance instead of chasing after it. Any movement he made now would just alert it to his presence and scare it away.

Aiming his arrow, Richard kept his weapon drawn and ready, his eye staring down the shaft, ready to fire at the first sight of his game. The more winter was settling in, the more scarce food would start to become. A large buck would provide them enough food to get them through the next week on their way to D'Hara. They had plenty of supplies in the carriage they had brought along for Kahlan, but he didn't want to dip into their provisions too soon. If the weather worsened, it would slow them down, taking them even longer to get to the People's Palace.

Even though they could always stop and replenish their supplies, Richard had hoped to limit any appearances in town. The more out of sight and inconspicuous they were the better. He didn't want to leave an obvious trail for whoever was bent on eliminating his wife and children.

Someone was after them and until Richard had discovered more information about who that someone was, he didn't want their whereabouts known. Kahlan was now three months along and seemed to be showing a little more almost every day. The weight of responsibility of keeping her and their unborn daughters safe was growing heavier with every passing day, but he wouldn't trade a moment of it for anything in this world. He was going to be a father…and not just any father, but the father of Kahlan's babies. The thought alone caused his heart to burst with even more love than he thought possible.

Richard was momentarily startled from his thoughts when an owl began hooting from a tree branch high above his head. The bird's slow, lulling call to its mate filled the air with its solitude. Readjusting his position and his arrow, Richard returned his focus back to the rustling that still came from the other side of the thick patch of brush. In the distance, an owl mournfully returned its mate's call, sounding as forlorn as its partner. It created a sense of loneliness in the Seeker, making him miss Kahlan all the more.

Returning to his wait, Richard's thoughts began to slowly drift again. He was glad that he had chosen to bring Garren along with fifteen of his finest, most trusted men. Richard would have liked to have brought the entire Aydindril army along to make sure that Kahlan was protected on the way to D'Hara, but he knew the army was needed in Aydindril to defend the city and the Confessor's Palace from whatever attack still might come there. Not to mention, a larger entourage would most certainly draw a lot of unwanted attention.

He also wanted to make good time. If he brought too many soldiers with them, it would only slow them down. He couldn't be delayed right now with Kahlan's condition and winter's growing strength. Thankfully, the People's Palace in D'Hara lay to the southeast and winter hopefully wouldn't be as harsh as it would be in Aydindril. The weather was already improving after only traveling for a little over a week and a half.

Richard began to feel a strain in his muscles with holding his stilled position for so long, waiting for the deer to break through the brush that separated them. Once it broke through that thick undergrowth, the animal would be his.

He hoped that after tonight they would be able to find an inconspicuous little town that they could spend the night in. Richard hated watching Kahlan sleep on the cold hard ground night after night. He had tried to persuade her to sleep in the carriage, but she had adamantly refused, wanting to sleep on the ground like everyone else, not wanting to sleep away from her husband. She had murmured something under her breath about having to sleep without him by her side for two months and she wasn't about to do it again.

His wife's stubbornness never ceased to amaze him sometimes. Kahlan still refused to be treated any differently than everyone else just because she was three months along with the twins or because she was the Mother Confessor. It was one of the things that he loved about her, though.

When he had first met her, Richard never really understood who or what Kahlan truly was. He had known that she was a Confessor, but never completely grasped the extent of what that meant or the authority she held.

Someone in her position should have never been traipsing all over the Midlands, sleeping on the ground, digging for roots, searching for berries, or doing any of the hundred other trivial little things that she had gladly done. Never once, though, did she ever complain or let on as to the status that she actually held.

It wasn't until after Denna had told him exactly what Kahlan was capable of that things started falling into place, that Richard actually began to grasp the full extent of her power and authority. He had spent countless nights watching her sleep after that, astonished how truly unassuming and selfless this amazing woman was. Despite the promise to bury his feelings for her, Richard couldn't help the fall his heart had already taken, plunging further and deeper in love with her. Nothing was beneath her doing and yet no one would have ever guessed that none was above her.

Thinking of his wife, Richard could feel his heart begin to beat wildly with the familiar stirrings of love and respect that constantly flowed through his blood. It was a feeling that he never grew tired of, completely relishing every thrill it brought.

He still was unhappy with Kahlan's decision to not sleep in the comfort of the carriage, but he had to admit that he loved being able to sleep with her in his arms every night under the warmth of the blanket. He loved when she fell asleep in his arms, her face nestled so tenderly in the crook of his neck. Her warm breath on his skin, the soft brushing of her lips against his neck with every breath she took always sent shivers down his spine. He also loved it when she slept with her back nestled against his chest, his arm draping over her side, his hand resting over the swell of her belly.

It brought such excitement knowing his daughters were growing inside of her there just beneath his palm and at the same time aroused an intense hunger for her that he was dying to satisfy if but for only a few intimate moments; thus the other reason for hoping to find a tavern to stay in tomorrow night.

The rustling of the branches brought Richard out of his rapidly arousing thoughts. He was becoming quite warm despite the chill in the air. He was growing anxious to get back to Kahlan, to pull her aside to somewhere private where he could just kiss her, touch her anywhere he pleased, holding her firmly against his body without everyone watching them. They hadn't had a moment of privacy since the night before they had left Aydindril.

They'd had some stolen kisses here and there, a stray hand seductively caressing his thigh eliciting a soft moan or a hand brushing against the side of her breast bringing about a faint gasp as he passed by. A couple of times a goodnight kiss had grown rather heated, drawing a throat-clearing reprimand from Cara who seemed to always be standing guard annoyingly close by.

Just then, Richard heard his game finally begin to break through the brush. Tensing his muscles, his finger was itching to release the arrow, his heated need pleading for release just as much as his arrow. With a huff of annoyance, though, the Seeker lowered his weapon just as he was about to release it.

Cara and Garren suddenly broke through the brush, a smirk dancing on the Mord'Sith's lips visible even in the moonlight. Richard released an aggravated sigh, relieved he hadn't prematurely released his arrow.

"Cara!" he growled in annoyance. "I almost killed you!"

"You couldn't kill your most trusted protector, Lord Rahl. You know that you couldn't survive without me," she grinned as she approached him, Garren following closely at her heels.

"Any luck?" Richard asked.

"I landed a very nice buck back over that way," Cara proudly announced. "Some of Garren's men are already taking it back to camp so Kahlan can start preparing it for dinner."

"Well, at least one of us got it," Richard conceded as he shoved his arrow back into his quiver, slinging his bow over his shoulder. Now at least he could get back to camp and Kahlan.

Falling in step beside Garren and Cara, Richard felt a measure of comfort having Garren and his men along, giving added protection and allowing Richard the luxury of relaxing even if just a little bit. The men rotated taking watch during the night with Cara and Richard, allowing Zedd and Kahlan uninterrupted sleep which had been the source of another argument with his wife.

She had not been the least bit happy about not being allowed to take a turn at keeping watch. Richard, however, had been unyielding in his stand that she got a full night's sleep. She was still recovering from the poison and being with child was draining on top of the long days of travel. She was still painfully thin and fatigued easily, never once complaining or letting on that she was struggling, but Richard knew her better than anyone. He could see it in her eyes. Though she tried so hard to conceal it, Kahlan could never hide anything from him.

He'd had to pull her aside that first night, trying to calm her down and explain his reasons. In the end, Kahlan had finally relented, even though she was still visibly upset about it. He knew that despite how happy and excited she was about having children with him, she was frustrated with how much it limited her now. She was never one to let anything stop her or hold her back, but now she had no choice. She had to be more careful because she couldn't risk the wellbeing of their twins.

"Have there been reports from the men about anything suspicious?" Richard finally broke the silence as his mind continued to churn with possibilities of who was hunting them.

"Nothing yet, sir," Garren informed him, confident that if there was anything, his men would most definitely find it.

"Good," Richard muttered absentmindedly. Something continued to nudge the back of his mind, however, telling him to stay alert.

"Why don't you take a break from taking a turn at watch tonight, Lord Rahl," Garren offered. "My men and I are more than capable of keeping watch. We can alert you at the first sign of trouble."

"And me," Cara indignantly retorted as she smacked her hand against Garren's shoulder. "I'm not about to sleep while Lord Rahl and the Mother Confessor are being hunted."

"I never meant to leave you out, Mistress Cara. I know how protective you are of them," Garren smiled broadly at the Mord'Sith by his side.

The look exchanged between Cara and Garren did not go unnoticed by the Seeker. They had been spending more and more time together, growing closer since leaving Aydindril. Richard had hoped that she would one day find love like he had with Kahlan and he couldn't be happier that it was Garren. Life was empty without someone to love, someone to love you in return.

"Just make sure you get rest too, Cara," Richard reminded his friend. "I need to have you at your best especially when we reach the People's Palace. We still don't know what we're up against."

The concern and apprehension was very evident in her Lord Rahl's voice, causing the Mord'Sith to cast a nervous glance his way. His brow was creased, his eyes distant with worry as he stared straight ahead.

"Don't worry, Lord Rahl. I'll not let anything happen to you or the Mother Confessor," Cara softly reassured him.

"Thank you, Cara, but it's not me that I'm worried about."

Before Cara could respond, they broke through into the clearing that was their campsite for the night. Richard came to stop as he caught sight of Kahlan. She was wearing her green traveling cloak that Chase's daughter had made her what seemed to him like another lifetime ago. As fitted as it was, he was surprised that she could still wear it, but he knew that wouldn't last too much longer.

Kahlan was bent over, working with a couple of the soldiers who were preparing the deer Cara had caught. Richard smiled to himself as he watched her laugh about something one of the men must have said.

She was so at ease, always trying to make others feel comfortable around her all the while knowing deep down how terrified everyone really was of her. He knew how much it truly hurt her that people feared her so. She always brushed it off as nothing, but he saw the hurt that often flashed through her eyes.

He felt his mouth suddenly go dry as he watched Kahlan hook a strand of hair behind her ear that had fallen into her face. Never one to sit back and be served, his wife was down there with the men, helping them. Even though he'd seen her do it before, she never ceased to amaze him.

"Lord Rahl, your mouth is hanging open," Cara murmured impishly in his ear as she strode past him.

Completely unaware of it, Richard immediately closed his mouth as he continued to watch his wife. Kahlan straightened at that moment, revealing the proof of their lovemaking and setting his heart to hammering. Her bump was so very obvious in her travelling cloak and it turned him on even more knowing that he had planted his seed there.

She suddenly looked up at him, flashing that smile that belonged to no other but him, lighting up her whole face. Richard grinned back at her, his eyes conveying what he felt inside for her.

"There you are, my boy," Zedd exclaimed as he came up behind the Seeker, clapping him on the back as he came to stand beside him. "Wondered when you would be back. Kahlan and the men will have dinner ready soon."

"I see that," Richard murmured, his eyes never leaving the thin form of his wife. "I wish Kahlan would rest more."

"I'm afraid that you'll never be able to keep her down, Richard. Not even a war wizard could rein in that one," Zedd chuckled in response, giving his shoulder a squeeze.

"I wouldn't want to. She's perfect in every way."

"I was pretty sure that you already thought so," Zedd grinned broadly. "Come; let's get ready for dinner."

Momentarily taking his eyes off of his wife, Richard watched Zedd as he made his way to sit by the campfire. Richard could already smell the delicious aroma of the meat as it cooked over the flames. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until now.

Turning his attention back towards Kahlan, he saw her walking towards him. Coming to stand before him, she eagerly leaned in for a kiss.

"I'm glad you're back," she murmured against his lips. "I missed you while you were gone."

"Well, I guess I'll just have to make it up to you then," he huskily told her as he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer to him. He dipped his head, capturing her lips with his. The sweet warmth of her mouth was better and more satisfying to his appetite than any food could ever be.

"Kahlan! I think the meat is almost done!"

Richard could feel Kahlan begin to giggle against his lips at the sound of Zedd's voice. Pulling back, she brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. "I better go check on dinner before your grandfather dies of starvation."

"I'm starving too, you know. Will you come back and check on me as well?" he enticingly teased as he held her close, rolling his hips to emphasize his need for her. He watched a soft blush rise to her cheeks, causing a flutter in the pit of his stomach. Spirits, she was so gorgeous.

"You find us a private room and I'll attend to your hunger all night long, Seeker," she seductively purred as she brushed her lips temptingly against his before pulling away from his embrace.

Richard groaned deep in his throat at the thought of a room alone with Kahlan, meeting each other's every urge hour after blissful hour. He watched as she walked away from him, taking in the sway of her feminine curves. He knew he had to find an inn soon before he exploded…