The fire sizzled as the fresh wood was thrown in. The warmth slowly making its way to their bodies. The cool wind pushed past them, rustling the leaves and sending chills through her entire body.
"Are you alright?"
Smiling, she pulled the blanket around herself, trying to block the wind as she turned towards him. "I'm fine. The fire's just starting to get warm enough."
"Here," his long arm stretched out, handing her a bowl of warm stew. "eat this. It will help warm you."
Taking it, she gave a small nod in thanks as she turned back to the fire, leaning forward to soak in more of its warmth. Releasing a soft sigh, Kahlan looked back to the wizard. "Did you make this?" she asked, lifting the bowl up to her nose and taking deep breath before removing it quickly.
Zedd laughed at her reaction, smiling widely at the sight of her disgust. "Cara made it."
"I think she's trying to kill us." she laughed, abandoning the bowl on the ground and rubbing her hands together.
"Who's trying to kill us?" Cara said as she sat down on her bedroll.
"You." Kahlan replied with a smile. "Unless you really would want to eat this."
Crossing her arms, she smiled. "Someone had to make dinner. The wizard was too busy sending word to Aydindril and you and Richard were enjoying yourselves in the river, doing what? Washing each others hair?" she smiled, holding in a laugh. "You should be happy there is anything to eat at all."
"We are grateful for the meal." Zedd said as he dipped the spoon back into the bowl. "We'll stop in the next town and have a warm meal."
"When will we pass through another town?" The sound of his voice, sent a warmth through her body that could never come from anything else. Turning around, she met his eyes for a moment before she looked over to Zedd.
"If we leave early enough, we should be there before sun down."
A smile crossed Richard's face as he walked past his grandfather and sat beside Kahlan by the fire. "Maybe we should stay the night in town as well." his hand slowly moved over to hers, taking it in his and squeezing it gently. "What is that?" he turned his face away from the bowl Kahlan handed him. "That smells awful."
"Cara made it." laying the bowl in his lap, Kahlan smiled, "You should eat something."
"So should you." releasing her hand, he grabbed the bowl from his lap and handed it back to her. "You haven't eaten all day."
"I'm not hungry."
His whole body turned towards her, concerned. "Kahlan, you haven't eaten either. Not since yesterday." his voice was soft, trying to keep it where she was the only one who could hear him.
"I ate this morning."
"No you didn't." he said quickly, leaning in even closer to her. "You were going to, but Zedd wanted an early start." He watched her, a smile on his face as she lost herself in her memory, trying to remember.
Her eyes reconnected with his for a moment before she looked to the bowl in his hands. "Alright." Looking over her shoulder to Zedd she swallowed the sickness within her before speaking. "Is there anything left?"
"Here you are child."
"Thank you." Taking the bowl from his hands, she set it carefully in her lap, keeping her eyes on it instead of Richard.
After a few moments, he reached over and tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, allowing himself to get a better view of her face. Looking over to him, she gave him a warm smile, trying to keep herself leaning over and kissing him. Her desire didn't go unnoticed. Her moved close, not caring that Zedd and Cara were a few feet away. His lips were pressed against hers within seconds and she immediately grabbed hold of his shirt, pulling him closer.
She leaned back, knocking the bowl out of her lap, spilling its contents onto the ground. Moving to his knees, he leaned forward, pressing his chest against hers.
The cough from Zedd, pulled them apart, both turned towards him, eyes wide and arms still around the other. "You two seemed to have forgotten we were here."
Turning her head away from them, she pressed her cheek to his chest and released a soft laugh of embarrassment. The sight of the turned over bowl on the ground made her smile widely. "At least I don't have to eat it."
Laughing, Richard grabbed her spoon off the ground and dropped it in his bowl. "We still have mine."
She sat before the fire long after the others had fallen asleep, her mind spinning with thoughts. The moonlight illuminated everything around her, the light fog made the appearance of a cloud floating around them. She lost herself at the sight.
"Kahlan?" She jumped up at the sudden noise, turning towards the voice. "I thought you would be asleep by now."
Shaking her head, she looked back to the fire. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I would keep watch."
He nodded, taking the few steps towards her. "We haven't had anything to watch out for in weeks."
"I know, but it couldn't hurt." Her eyes stayed on the fire, trying to keep him from seeing the worry in them.
"Kahlan," the way he spoke her name made her heart ache. "what's wrong?"
Closing her eyes, she shook her head slowly. "I don't know." her eyes opened slowly, connecting with his as she looked up. "I have this terrible feeling."
His heart pounded at the fear and panic in her eyes. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and hold her until she felt safe. So, he did. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her as close to him as possible. When her arms wrapped around him, he laid back, hoping she would fall asleep in his arms.
After a few minutes, she started to lift herself out of his arms. He moved quickly, his arms tightening around her, holding her in place. "Kahlan. Everything is fine."
"For now."
"What do you think is going to happen?"
She stayed quiet for a moment, thinking about what she was going to say. "Something terrible. Richard, I can't shake this feeling."
"Alright. What do you want to do?"
"I want to leave this place." she spoke softly, her muscles tightened all through her body as she attempted to keep from crying.
"We'll leave in the morning. I'll stay awake and make sure you are alright."
"I don't think tomorrow is soon enough."
"Sleep." he whispered,running his fingers through her hair trying to give her some comfort. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Lifting her head up, she gave him a small smile. "Thank you." her lips pressed against his for a brief moment before she returned her head to his shoulder and closed her eyes.
It was almost an hour before he felt her body relax as she drifted off to sleep. With his eyes wide open, he stared out into the night, praying to the spirits that he would be able to protect the woman laying peacefully in his arms.
She woke as the sun rose and immediately began packing her things.
"Kahlan, we'll leave as soon as they wake up."
"Zedd will want breakfast." she replied, looking up at the sleeping wizard. "I'll get something for-"
"You're not going alone." he interrupted. "You were awake most of the night afraid something was going to happen and you think I'm going to let you wonder off into the forest all by yourself?"
She met his eyes, with a soft sigh. "You- I kept you awake all night, you shouldn't have to come with me because I was afraid-"
He stood up, moved quickly to her side and gently grabbed her arm. "Kahlan, listen to me." he waited for her to look up to him before he continued. "You must be afraid for a reason. I'm not going to risk anything happening to you."
Kahlan pulled her arm back slowly, "I know, but you shouldn't have to-"
"I don't have to. I want to."
She smiled, unable to keep herself from his arms, she pressed herself against him in a hug. "Thank you." she said into his chest before pulling back and kissing him passionately. "I'll be quick." she ran off, leaving him breathless as he watched her move through the trees.
After a few seconds, he ran after her, quickly catching her. "You kiss me like that and run away." Laughing, Kahlan pulled him to her, kissing him again.
"Zedd will be up soon." she whispered as his lips covered her neck, his tongue lightly grazing over her flesh. "Mmm, Richard." He held her against him, tightening his hold around her waist as his lips moved over her chest. A soft growl escaped his lips when they met the fabric of her clothing, making her give a light giggle at the sound of his frustration. "Richard, we can't do this now." she said as he reached up to the strings of her dress.
He looked up, giving her a childish frown as he pulled on the laces. "Zedd can find his own food."
"I don't want to stay here." her voice lost it's seductiveness as it filled with fear.
He dropped the stings of her dress and took a step back, grabbing her hands. "Kahlan, I won't let anything happen to you."
"It's not me I'm worried about." she gripped his hands tightly and turned back towards their camp. "We should go back."
"Kahlan-"
"We should wake them. We can leave sooner." releasing his hand, she sped up her pace, trying to get back sooner.
They jump up at the sound of battle screams. Kahlan's bloodstain dress swirled around her as she ducked to avoid the axe flying towards her. The sound of Richard screaming her name echoed through the trees, bringing her attention to the man coming from behind. Pulling her dagger from the chest of one of the men laying dead at her feet, she turned just as he ran into her, sending her to the ground.
His sword came back to him red, covered in the blood of the enemy. Looking around, he saw Cara wiping the blood from her face as Zedd healed the wound on her arm. "Kahlan?" he shouted, frantically looking around. Using his foot, he shoved over the bodies he last saw her standing over, thankful her body wasn't among them. "Kahlan!" He ran to the trees, straining his eyes, hoping to see her. "Did you see Kahlan?" he half shouted and half cried as he returned the sword to its scabbard.
Cara and Zedd both shook their heads before looking around them.
Running his fingers through his hair, Richard turned around in a circle, re-scanning the ground. "I'm going after them."
"Richard, you don't even know where she went."
"She didn't go anywhere!" he shouted at the blonde. "They took her!" His face red with anger, his fists white with the tightening hold on the hilt of his sword.
"Calm down, Richard. We have to think-"
"No!" the anger within him was overwhelming, he had promised he would protect her and he didn't. He failed her.
Picking up his and Kahlan's pack, he turned back to his friends. "I have to find her. I promised her I would keep her safe."
"Safe? Why would you promise her-"
"She was afraid something was going to happen. I didn't think it was anything to worry about. Nothing has been a danger since we sealed the rift. I should have protected her. I told her we would leave first thing today, but then we got-I got carried away and on our way back, they-they just attacked." He stared at them, his heart felt as though it would burst through his chest. "I'm going to bring her back." he stated firmly, looking over to the trees. And then he was gone.