My first attempt at a Legend of the Seeker fic, any and all comments are welcome.
Rating: T- adult themes and violence.
Legal: I do not own Legend of the Seeker or any of the associated characters, events etc. Anything not covered by those rights should be considered purely the creation of the author.
A cool breeze blew through the campsite, making it harder for Richard to light the fire. He muttered another curse under his breath as the embers he's managed to set glowing were blown out.
"You know I am a wizard of the first order." Zedd reminded him. "I could light a fire easily."
"Its fine Zedd, I'll handle it!" Richard snapped, rubbing sticks together to start another spark. Zedd just chuckled.
"You know, pride is not always useful." He told him. "Refusing the help of one who has more expertise isn't weakness. It's helpful."
"I can light a damned fire Zedd!" He snapped as Kahlan arrived back in the campsite. Richard couldn't help gasping at her awesome beauty. He did it almost every time he saw her. Zedd watched as his gaze tracked her movements when she walked through the campsite, making her way to the stream to watch.
"You must not torture yourself seeker." He reminded him. "It is a love that can never be."
"I don't want to talk about this again Zedd." He grumbled under his breath. Zedd got little smirk as he heard this.
He got up as Richard muttered something under his breath, lighting the fire with a burst of wizard's fire before coming to Kahlan's side by the lake. She was kneeling by the edge of it, watching the water rolling idly. He could see the tears in her eyes, and feel the frustration in her. She was hopelessly in love with Richard, and couldn't bear to be so close to him, but she knew that it was hopeless. There was no way she could be with him without confessing him, and that would destroy him forever. She could never be with the man she loved.
"It is a terrible burden you bear." Zedd commented, raising her attention.
"I would not be the first woman who cannot have the man she loves." Kahlan stated as she wiped away some errant tears.
"Of course most of those women do not have the burden of knowing he loves her back." Zedd replied in a fatherly tone, putting his arm around her. "Usually that choice is taken from them."
"It isn't fair Zedd!" She whimpered as she launched a stone into the lake. "I never asked to be a confessor. I never wanted it."
"Do you think I wanted the twists of fate life has thrown at me?" He asked her.
"Zedd, it's a different thing." She grumbled. "I can't stop thinking about him."
Just then, Richard came to the edge of the lake, finding them there. He staggered on a few steps, before pitching face-down into the cold water. They saw a small, wooden dart lodged in his shoulder.
"Richard!" Zedd yelled as he grabbed his lifeless form, shaking him roughly. "Richard!"
Just then, another dart flew into his neck. His strength quickly failed, and he slumped to the ground. Kahlan pulled out her daggers, preparing for a fight.
"Show yourselves you cowards!" She roared, scanning the bushes. "Show yourselves!"
Half a dozen men scrambled into view, carrying various shackles and restraints. Kahlan recognised them immediately as slavers. Predators that preyed on small, isolated groups and kidnapped them to be sold into service. Likely they had no idea who they were dealing with, but then they also likely didn't care.
"She's a pretty one." The lead slaver said in a somewhat lecherous tone, taking in her appearance with his one remaining eye. He was almost as tall as her, and thickly muscled through years of combat. He was bald, and had multiple scars across his face, the most noticeable one being the scar running through where his eye used to be. He was wearing leather armour, and many shackles hung from his belt. "She will earn a good price as a concubine."
Kahlan roared as she threw herself into battle, her fury at being thought of as merely an object overcoming her good sense. She was a powerful warrior, and she easily could have overcome a couple of them. However, in their numbers, they quickly got the better of her. A club smashed into her stomach, winding her before another connected with her head.
"Do not mark her face!" The lead slaver told them. "She will be worthless if we ruin her looks."
"I am worthless anyway!" Kahlan spat as they grabbed her, holding her fast in vice-like grips. "I am a confessor."
"Well that does change things slightly." The lead slaver told her, going to his horse. He rummaged in the saddle bag, before pulling out a metal collar. He looked at it, and then to her. "I think this should fit."
Kahlan recognised it. For many years, those with magic had been enslaved and imprisoned by those that feared them. The collar would negate her powers and render her as helpless as any other commoner. She struggled as her captors forced her head down, pulling her hair clear of her neck.
"You don't know what you're doing!" She pleaded with him. "Darkan Rhal..."
"Lord Rhal can do whatever he damn well pleases. I have no interest in his business." He told her as he placed the collar on her. She instantly felt weaker, like a part of her had died. She renewed her struggle as she realised he had not yet screwed a locking pin into place, hoping to remove it before he could lock it.
The other slavers tightened their grip on her, forcing her to remain still. She watched helplessly as he approached her with another dart, ramming it into her shoulder. She fought to resist, but soon her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she passed out.
Her eyes fluttered open as she came to. She had no idea how long she had been unconscious. She realised she was in a wagon as it gently rocked on the dirt track road. Heavy shackles were secured around her wrists and her ankles, holding her in place. She looked around, realising she was alone in the wagon. Seeing a bucket of water in the corner, she crawled over, looking into it. She inspected the collar, noticing that the locking pin was now in place, but it was not a simple screw. It was a rivet that had been hammered and shaped while she was unconscious. It was a permanent lock, meaning that they had no intention of removing the collar. She was powerless to resist them.
As the wagon stopped, the door was pulled open and she saw the slavers crowding around the door.
"Where are my friends!" She demanded forcefully. The lead slaver just laughed.
"Your friend is close. We simply had him in a separate wagon." He informed her. "We just wanted to give you a wagon to yourself."
She was only a little relieved to hear this. She now knew that Richard was safe, and that he was nearby, though a thought came to her.
"Why am I being held by myself?" She asked him.
"You are a confessor, so we knew you couldn't be with a man without confessing him." He reminded her. "Of course once we confirmed you were...pure...your value just increased."
She pulled into the corner, hugging her legs as she realised where this was going. He gave her a lecherous grin.
"You will command a high price as a harem girl." He told her. "We plan to sell you and your friend as soon as we get to the next town. Your price alone should make us rich men."
"What will happen to Richard?" She asked him.
"He is a strong man; I imagine he will make a fine gladiator." He commented. "I would be more worried about what was going to happen to me if I were you."
He reached in, unlocking the chain leading from the shackles on her wrists and dragged her out into the town square. She looked around at the patrons gathered around her, inspecting her like a calf at auction.
"Here we have a real prize, a confessor whose virtue is still intact!" The slaver announced. He grabbed her hair, forcing her to look up, showing her face to the crowd. "She is a beauty isn't she? Such soft, delicate skin, she will be a real prize addition to any harem. Who will offer me 50 gold pieces?"
"I will!" A man roared, throwing his hand up.
"70!" Another announced.
"90!" Another stated. Kahlan looked around nervously as they bid for her.
"1000 gold pieces, my final offer!" A lofty voice stated. The crowd all turned to look at him. It was Lord Helbrandt, the feudal ruler of the region. He was by far the richest man for miles around, and no one would be capable of outbidding him. He was only a little older than Kahlan, and had long, curly blonde locks that were vaguely feminine. Only his moustache and beard marked him as a man. Icy blue eyes surveyed Kahlan's body thoughtfully. "I will buy her for 1000 gold pieces."
"Sold to Lord Helbrandt!" The slaver announced, handing over the chain connected to her shackles. "I trust you will enjoy her."
"I heard you picked her up with a warrior." He stated. "I want him too, and I don't expect to pay any more for him."
The slaver simply nodded in understanding, before gesturing one of his men to fetch Richard. Kahlan watched him go, hoping to see the man she loved once more, but her hopes were dashed as she felt a tug on the chains restraining her.
"Take her to be cleaned up and prepared for my harem." Lord Helbrandt commanded one of his guards. "I want to see this gladiator."
Early in the evening, Richard was sitting in his cell, his hands secured by chains. He was alone in his cell, but he could hear that he was not alone. Lord Helbrandt owned many slaves, most of them gladiators that he forced to fight to the death for his amusement. Richard knew many languages, but even if he didn't, he could guess what they were saying. All of them were praying to whatever Gods they believed in to spare them, either by guiding Lord Helbrandt's gaze to other gladiators for the evening's entertainment, granting them victory, or at very least a swift death.
He looked up as he saw someone approaching the door of his cell. He beheld Kahlan in all her glory, unable to breathe. She wore almost nothing, her modesty barely concealed by a couple of light, silk shawls. She had thick bands of gold on each of her wrists, with rings attached to them in order to make her easier to restrain. Similar bands also adorned her ankles. The collar around her neck moved as she swallowed, choking back her tears as she beheld him in his imprisonment.
"Richard, thank the gods you're alright." She stated, rushing to the bars. He came to her, reaching through and cupping her cheek with his hand.
"Kahlan, what have they done to you?" He asked her, more concerned with her predicament than his own. She wiped away a tear.
"I'm fine Richard, they haven't harmed me." She told him. "Are you alright?"
"They whipped me to show me what would happen if I tried to escape." He told her. "Trust me, Denna makes these guys look like children."
She smiled a little, seeing that his fortitude was still with him. He was strong, and he was obviously already thinking of ways to escape. He caressed her face gently. "You haven't answered me."
"I said they didn't harm me." She whispered, taking comfort in his soft touch. Richard looked deeply into her eyes.
"That is not what I asked." He reminded her. "I asked what they have done to you."
"Nothing yet." She told him. She drew back a shawl around her waist, showing him a sturdy, golden chastity belt, held in place by a secure lock. "Lord Helbrandt wants to ensure that I am only his prize."
"If he's touched you..."
"He hasn't taken me." She told him, looking deeply into his eyes, a few tears leaking from her crystal blue eyes and her lip quivering. "My collar negates my powers. I cannot confess anyone. I am helpless to stop him, please believe me!"
"I believe you Kahlan." He assured her. "I know you would never allow anyone to treat you this way."
"Richard, I am a harem girl." She told him weakly. "It is only a matter of time..."
"I will never allow that to happen." He told her. "Not while I have a breath left in my body."
He leaned through the bars, kissing her deeply. Her heart raced as he kissed her, feeling the depths of his passion, before her head was snapped backwards. The chain attached to her collar was pulled sharply, ripping her away from the door of the cell. She glared at the guard hatefully.
"You are Lord Helbrandt's property now confessor." He reminded her. "You should save that for his pleasure."
He pulled the chain again, dragging her roughly from the room. Richard could only watch as they left. His first thought was for Kahlan and how he could free her from this torment, but he knew it was pointless to think that way. He could hear Zedd's voice in his head, quoting one of the many lessons he was sure he made up on the spot. A slave cannot free another slave. If he wanted to help Kahlan, he needed to free himself first.