Here's another attempt at a Legend of the Seeker fic. Hope you all enjoy it.
Rating: T – some adult themes.
Timeline: Shortly after Leo's funeral.
Legal: I do not own the rights to Legend of the Seeker, or the associated characters, events, places etc. Disney owns the rights to the series. Anything not covered by the above rights is to be presumed to be purely the creation of the author.
Cara sat alone in some woods, looking out over a gently flowing brook. It had been four days now since they had cremated Leo, but still she found her heart aching to think of him. She was a Mord Sith, trained from childhood to master pain, and was able to endure almost any pain without the slightest protest, but this was different. The pain she felt in her chest whenever she thought of the irritating, babbling and overbearingly friendly man she had begun to feel for mere days after meeting.
A chipmunk leapt out of a nearby tree as she held some nuts in her hand for it. Despite the tear rolling down her face, she found herself smiling as it started to eat from her hand. She could still recall the night he had prattled on and on about chipmunks, teasing her about her abilities as a Mord Sith by claiming she couldn't break the heart of a chipmunk and train it, proclaiming the mighty chipmunk to be the mortal enemy of the Mord Sith. The idea was so farcical, so ridiculous that she couldn't help but laugh. It was the first time she could remember laughing as anything other than a mocking gesture to a prisoner of Lord Rahl in many years. In truth, she couldn't remember a genuine laugh since before she had been taken.
Leo was the first man to make her smile. She was no stranger to men, she had trained many, possibly hundreds when she served Darken Rahl, but something about him had been totally unlike any she had experienced before. He constantly tried to befriend her and talk to her, even when she had made no effort to be anything but rude to him. He was an attractive man, that had not escaped her notice, but over time she started to notice little things about him that had made her begin to believe that it was more than a mere sexual attraction. The cheeky, boyish smile he seemed to have permanently etched into his face was infectious, forcing those around him to do likewise. His constant prattle managed to break through even Cara's barriers. Although she was able to withstand the agony of pretty much any of Lord Rahl's most creative tortures, she couldn't shut out his voice, and found herself compelled to listen.
The night they shared together had been unlike any she had ever experienced before. She could still remember the warmth of the fire as they dried themselves after the rainstorm. Looking over at him, she had felt herself overwhelmed by the feelings that had built up in her. Kissing him with a passion she had thought she would never feel, she made love to him in that cave.
The chipmunk jerked its head up, before running away as fast as its tiny legs would carry it. Cara looked around seeing Kahlan coming through the bushes. She snapped her head away, wiping her eyes quickly. She didn't want anyone to see her moments of weakness.
"Another chipmunk?" Kahlan asked her softly, smiling as she remembered overhearing their conversation. "I suppose it is one way to honour his memory."
"It was hungry." Cara replied with a shrug, looking out over the brook. Kahlan had slowly but surely started to get used to Cara being around. Despite her initial reservations about bringing her, she had trusted Richard's judgement on the matter. She knew that Kara had grown close to Leo. She had tried to convince her that her feelings for him were not a sign of weakness, or anything to be ashamed of. She had tried to get Cara to admit her feelings to Leo, but she knew that he had been killed before Cara had the chance. She had noticed since they had left him on that pyre a few days ago that Cara had been spending more and more time by herself. She could swear she saw her wiping her face with her hand when she arrived. Clearly she was still mourning Leo's passing.
"You know, tears are nothing to be ashamed of." Kahlan told her sympathetically. "We all miss Leo, but I know that what we feel can be nothing compared to your loss."
"He is dead." Cara said matter-of-factly. "There is nothing more to say on the matter."
"Cara, what you felt for him is not something to be ashamed of." Kahlan reiterated.
"We should be getting back." Cara told her. "The Seeker has many enemies in these parts."
Just then, they heard a metallic ring splitting the air, the distinctive sound of swords clashing in battle. Cara snapped to her feet, gripping an agiel in each hand, feeling the familiar pain coursing through her body as she broke into a run. Kahlan was close behind her, drawing her daggers as she did so. They both knew that the sounds of battle were coming from the camp.
They arrived to find Richard and Zedd battling a horde of banelings. Richard's left arm hung limply at his side, but even with one arm, he fought with the ferocity and strength of all the seekers that had been before him. Zedd burned as many as he could with streams of Wizard's fire.
"They came from nowhere!" Richard roared as Kahlan and Cara joined them, taking down the living corpses as they went. Cara looked at his arm, seeing a long, deep wound had opened up, dripping blood at a worrying rate. His shirt was already soaked in it. Now the four of them were reunited, the tide of the battle turned. Cara quickly dispatched the last of them, incapacitating it to allow Zedd to incinerate it, preventing it from coming back once more.
"Richard, your arm..."
"I'll be fine Kahlan." He assured her, looking into her eyes and cupping her cheek with his one good hand. "This is far from the worst injury I've suffered since I left Heartland. I'm sure Zedd will be able to..."
"This is my fault." Cara interrupted him. The others all looked at her, stunned by her statement.
"Cara, you weren't even here..."
"That is exactly my point." Cara interjected again harshly, feeling the shame of her failure. She was Mord Sith, honour bound to protect the presiding Lord Rahl. She had gone with Richard, swearing fealty to him as his bodyguard. He had been injured while she was at the riverbank, feeling sorry for herself and crying like a weakling. People died, it was that simple, and yet she had indulged in the petty weakness of mourning the man she loved. Her tears had almost cost Richard his life. "I am sworn to protect you. I should never have left you alone."
"Cara, you can't be by my side every second of the day." Richard said sympathetically. Kahlan had respected Cara's privacy enough not to explain to him what Cara did during these frequent absences, but he had already figured out that she cared deeply for Leo. He could imagine that it was hard for her to deal with his death given her upbringing. She had never lost anyone she cared about before. "This is nothing, Zedd will fix this..."
"I have failed in my duty to protect you." She replied, rolling up her bedding roll and gathering her few belongings into a canvas bag, throwing it over her shoulder.
"Cara, where are you going?" Richard asked her. She paused at the edge of the tree line.
"Cara, we all understand how you feel." Kahlan told her. "You only lost Leo a few days ago. None of us expects you to just shrug that off and get back to normal."
"I'm Mord Sith, if I can't detach myself from my emotions and serve my lord, then I am of no use to him." She stated flatly, thankful she was facing away from them as her tears began again.
"Cara, it's alright to grieve." Kahlan assured her, running over and putting a hand on her shoulder. "It's only natural."
"Not for me." She replied, shrugging her hand off. "I'm leaving, and I won't be back."
"What about your vow to serve me?" Richard asked her, realising that trying to convince her to stay for emotional support was not going to work.
"I am serving you." Cara told him. "If I cannot fulfil my responsibility as your bodyguard, then the best thing I can do for you is leave."
Kahlan tried to go after her, but Zedd stopped her.
"Zedd, she shouldn't be alone at a time like this." Kahlan protested as she tried to go. "She needs us."
"It has to be her decision to return to us." Zedd assured her. "Cara is no fool. She will figure out that she needs us in time. Until then, all we can do is continue with our quest."
"How will she find us?" Kahlan asked him. Richard put his arm around her.
"Cara's resourceful. If she wants to find us, she will." He said quietly. "Now Zedd, you should probably see to this arm."
In her keep, far from prying eyes, Shota watched events unfolding in her fountain. She smiled as she saw the Mord Sith leaving the encampment.
"Just as I saw in my visions, she has left her friends." She stated with a smile. Her servant came into the room, coming quickly to her side. She handed him a letter. "Take this to the tavern in the next village. There you will find Ulric and his band of mercenaries. Give them these orders."
"I will do as you command mistress." He replied. "Mistress, forgive me, but I must ask. Why are you doing this? What business do you have with the Mord Sith?"
"I have felt the pain of her agiel." Shota informed him coldly, remembering when Cara tortured her into assisting the party in returning Zedd to them. "I have been waiting for just this kind of opportunity."
"But mistress, I thought your visions were the most important thing." He commented. "Why would you distract your attention with such a trivial matter?"
"My grander schemes are still my primary concern." She replied, looking to a heavy, iron-bound chest in the corner. "However, when the opportunity to square debts without interfering with the larger plan, why deny myself? Even I am not above such petty concerns as revenge. She will pay for daring to touch me with her accursed agiel."
It was beginning to grow late as Cara arrived in a village far from the forest where she had left her friends. She strode into the town, getting the usual reactions from the populace. Her leathers inspired fear among the citizens. Women hurried their children into their homes, closing the doors in the hopes she wasn't there for them. Men watched her, some in fear, hoping she would not harm them, others giving her slightly lustful looks. She couldn't even take her usual amusement in the fear she inspired in others as she went into the local tavern. The pain of not only losing the man she loved, but the crushing shame of her failure in her duty.
She went in, making her way to the bar. The room fell silent as she approached the barman.
"What can I do for you?" He finally managed to stammer in his terror. Cara threw a few coins onto the bar.
"I'd like a room." She told him, looking around at the premises. She saw someone sitting with a large plate of meat, and pointed to it. "What is that?"
"Wild boar." The barman rushed out, taking the coins. He was stunned to have a Mord Sith in his tavern, willing to pay. Such was their reputation, they never paid for anything. Under Lord Rahl's rule, they would simply demand whatever they required from the citizens of the midland when they were away from the keep, and expected to be given whatever they needed. No one would dare question them. This one though seemed to be willing to pay.
"Make me some." She instructed him. "I'd like a drink too."
The barman nodded, waving to his kitchen hand to begin making her meal. He poured Cara a tankard of ale, his hand shaking in fear as he poured it from the pitcher. She hadn't asked for ale, but looking at the establishment, she doubted there were any alternatives. She took the metal tankard, raising it to her lips.
"The ale here's pretty strong." She heard someone state from behind her. Cara turned around on her stool, smirking as she saw the men before her. There were about a dozen men, all armed facing her. They had a rag-tag appearance, made up of mismatched pieces of chainmail, leather armour, and the occasional armour plates, obviously scavenged from those they robbed or murdered. The man who addressed her seemed to be the leader, having the best equipment, likely as a result of having first pick of the spoils.
He was a tall man, taller than even Zedd, and heavily muscled. His armour was covered with a deep crimson surcoat, though the coat of arms had been covered with dye, likely because it wasn't his own. A long, heavy sword hung from his belt. His face was clean-shaven, surprisingly unblemished for one who obviously made a living from violence, and handsome. His hair was long, extending to his shoulders. His emerald green eyes locked with Cara's in a cold stare and his mouth slipped into an arrogant grin.
"I think I can handle it." She replied, taking a long gulp.
"We were told you'd be here." He informed her as his men moved to surround her. Cara just looked around, and snorted in disgust. "We've been paid handsomely to find you."
"Well you've found me." She replied, taking another casual drink. "So who do I have the pleasure of saying found me?"
"My name is Ulric." He informed her, drawing his sword. His men all pulled out a variety of weapons, ranging from maces and warhammers, through to a few sabres. Cara calmly finished her drink, placing the tankard on the bar before getting to her feet and pulling out her agiels.
"Keep that boar on the fire." She told the kitchen hand. "I'm just going to work up an appetite."
The first of the men rushed for her, swinging a sword which she parried easily, before ramming an agiel into his abdomen, causing him to scream in agony before collapsing. The next one was dispatched with a hard blow to the face, but the third was too quick for her, slamming a mace into her rib cage, driving the air out of her.
As the men descended on her all at once, she fought valiantly, many of them falling to the pain of her agiels, but eventually their numbers overwhelmed her. She found herself being held fast, her arms pinned in place while they hammered her mercilessly with fists and boots. She was dragged up, her weapons now on the floor out of reach, and forced to look into Ulric's face. She could taste her own blood, and could feel that her injuries, while extensive were not intended to be lethal. They had her at their mercy, if they wanted to kill her, they had the opportunity. Now though, she was beginning to get the impression that wasn't why they were hired. They forced her to her knees before their leader.
"You killed two of my men." He hissed angrily. "If I wasn't getting paid so much to catch you alive, I'd run you through myself."
"Who's paying you to commit suicide?" Cara asked him. Ulric just clenched his fist, encased in an armoured gauntlet, and drew his fist back. As it connected, with her face, the world faded to black.
Cara woke up later, presumably hours later since she could see daylight through the nearby window. She was shackled to a cold stone wall, her arms and legs held in place allowing no escape. A furnace was burning a little way from her, a few tools in it, obviously heating up. She recognised the room as a torture chamber. She had used one just like it many times. Looking down, he realised she had been stripped to her underwear. She heard the lock in the heavy oak door being triggered, before it swung open. Ulric stepped into the room, carrying an oak chest, followed by Shota.
"The mighty Shota, reduced to hiring thugs to do her dirty work." Cara quipped dismissively. Shota just snorted in response.
"Sorry about the lack of imagination, but as you know I couldn't bring you in myself." Shota responded as she moved in front of her. "My magic doesn't work on a Mord Sith, and I'm not exactly a master swordsman."
"I hope you've spent the money she paid you." Cara warned Ulric. "You can't spend it when you're dead."
"I remember you know." Shota whispered, moving closer. She looked to a table a little way off where Cara's leathers were folded neatly, her weapons belt carrying her two agiels laid on top of it. "I remember how you tortured me."
"I remember too." Cara said with a little smile. "I remember you screaming like a newborn."
Shota slapped her hard across the face, before gesturing to Ulric to open the chest.
"Ever since then, I've thought of nothing but how to exact vengeance on one who can turn my magic against me." She told her, reaching inside. She pulled out a Rada'Han. "This is the result of my latest experiments. I have magically altered the properties of this Rada'Han to quell the abilities of a Mord Sith."
She placed the collar around Cara's neck, locking it with the only key. She took a few steps back, before firing a blast of lightning at her. Cara tried, but failed to reverse the energies. She felt the Rada'Han suppressing her powers, rendering her just as vulnerable to the witch woman's power as any other person. Shota gave her a satisfied smile.
"It looks like my experiments are a success." She commented. She picked up Cara's clothing, using her leathers to carry the agiels without needing to touch them, and placed them all inside the oak chest, locking it.
"Take this into the forest and bury it." She ordered the mercenary. "Don't bother remembering where, just make sure no one finds it. Do not let anyone see you bury it."
Ulric left the room, taking the chest with him. Cara looked back to her captor.
"So this is your plan for revenge?" She asked her. "Steal my clothes? Even without my abilities, you know I'll kill you the first chance I get."
"This is only the beginning for you Cara." Shota told her, putting the key to the Rada'Han and the key to the chest into a melting spoon, before putting it into the furnace. Cara could only watch as the keys slowly started to melt. "When Ulric gets back, he's going to take you to the slave markets in the next town. With the number of people who have been wronged by the Mord Sith, I imagine the thought of having one helpless to exact vengeance on will be very desirable. I have no doubt Ulric will get a good price for you."
Shota turned and left the room, locking it behind her. Cara turned back to the furnace, and watched helplessly as the key to her Rada'Han formed into a useless pool of molten metal.