Title: The Road Behind, the Path Ahead
Rating: T
Summary: Inspired by the episode, "Hartland." To continue on the path ahead, you have to leave the past behind. Richard/Kahlan.
"Lesson #18: Keep to the path ahead, not the road behind." –Zedd
Kahlan sized up the woman from across the square. So this was the mysterious Anna. The one Richard had been talking to when he'd been under the spell of the Lying Moon. She'd known this woman was special to Richard. She just hadn't been able to figure out how special, and Richard hadn't wanted to tell her.
Clearly he still didn't want to tell her. When she'd asked him just now who Anna was, he'd been vague and evasive. His tone had been nonchalant. Too nonchalant.
From Chase's response, Kahlan knew with certainty what Richard had deliberately left out. That he and this Anna woman had been romantically involved before. That he had loved her once.
Perhaps he loved her still. Perhaps he had never forgotten about her.
The thought made Kahlan feel ill.
Dismayed, she remembered how he'd confided in Anna while he'd been under the spell. He'd trusted her so much that he'd been willing to tell her about all his adventures and secrets. He had very nearly revealed where they'd hidden the third box of Orden.
Kahlan couldn't help but feel jealous. She hated feeling that way. It felt so petty. She knew she had no right to feel possessive of Richard. She was only the Seeker's guide and companion. It was her duty as Confessor, nothing more.
The Seeker belonged to the people. He didn't answer to her.
But she couldn't help it. She still felt possessive.
It pained her that she could be so affected. She was a Confessor, for heaven's sake. She should be above all that.
But she wasn't.
She wasn't used to having competition for Richard's affections. She was accustomed to being the most important person in his life and having tremendous influence over him.
She usually felt sure of his love for her, but right now she felt very insecure.
(To be continued in Chapter 2…)