TITLE: Revenge

AUTHOR: LOTSlove®

CHARACTERS: Richard / Kahlan / Cara / Zedd / Darken Rahl / Original Characters

RATING: PG-16 / Could becomeR / M later

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

TIMELINE: Anything up through S2 Ep 11 Torn

DISCLAIMER: I'm completely obsessed with the show Legend of the Seeker and all things Richard and Kahlan. I love to write about them even though they cancelled my show and now I'm fighting to get it back!

SUMMARY: A sudden attack by D'Haran soldiers results in an outcome that no one could have ever anticipated.

Chapter 1

"Richard!"

Her frantic scream split the air only to immediately be swallowed up in the roaring din of battle. Her piercing blue eyes were locked on the D'Haran soldier and his deadly crossbow leveled straight at her Seeker who was trapped in a deadly melee with three more. Soldiers were suddenly everywhere, seemingly appearing out of the secret shadows of the trees and taking them all by surprise.

They had been walking side by side, laughing at the silly stories that he had been telling her to cheer her up. Richard had quickly picked up on her melancholy mood this morning, prodding her until she had finally admitted that today was Dennee's birthday. He had been telling her ridiculous stories all morning to keep her mind off of how much she missed her sister.

Then, D'Haran soldiers had suddenly poured from the trees like a rushing river, taking them all of guard and quickly separating them from each other. Richard had gotten further and further away from her as the battle had raged on, keeping each of them occupied and from being able to help each other.

But they wouldn't keep her from getting to him now. Not him, not her Seeker, her love.

Kahlan raced towards him, her daggers clutched tightly in her fists, her boots fiercely beating the earth in her desperate attempt to reach him in time. Her blue gaze was fixed only on the arrow now that was intended for her Seeker, but she couldn't move fast enough.

Her breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering against her ribs as she watched the arrow being released. She shrieked his name at the top of her lungs, but still he could not hear her.

Finally reaching him, she forcefully slammed into him with a strength she had never known, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Stunned by the sudden assault, his sword slipped from his hand as he hit the ground hard, the wind being knocked from his lungs. He swiftly rolled up onto all fours, all the blood draining from his face by the shocking sight that greeted him.

"KAHLAN!"

The panic-stricken cry of her name on his tongue pierced her ears as she looked down at the arrow now penetrating deep into her abdomen. Time came to a sudden screeching halt as her heart began to pound like tribal drums in her ears. Trembling hands tentatively fingered the shaft of the arrow protruding from her body as her legs abruptly betrayed her, dropping her to her knees.

She could feel warm wetness quickly blossoming over her abdomen, soaking her clothes. She gritted her teeth, holding her breath as she swiftly yanked the arrow out. A scream of pain tore from her lips, her head falling back from the sharp pain that seared through her like a ball of fire.

Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as she watched Richard leap to his feet, screaming her name again as he grabbed his weapon just in time to deflect the deadly swing of an enemy sword. His gaze repeatedly wandered back to her as he fought back the attack, desperately trying to reach her.

Her eyes suddenly became fixed on the image of a D'Haran soldier coming towards her, looming like a giant before her. A hateful sneer twisted his lips as his arm drew back to finish what his comrade had begun.

Her breaths were shallow gasps for air, the pain blinding as she fought to remain upright. This was it. This was to be her end. She was the last of her kind; there would never be another Confessor on earth. She didn't want to die, not yet. She had so much she still needed to do, things that she had to say to her Seeker.

The battle raging around her became muffled by the rushing of blood in her ears, her vision beginning to tunnel to black pinpoints. She attempted to call his name, but she couldn't make her tongue work. Tears pooled in her eyes at the thought of leaving him, failing him, never seeing him again.

All of the little moments shared with him flooded her mind as she fought for every second of life that she had left; all of the sweet stolen kisses, the glances of mutual longing, the abiding love for her that permeated his eyes. She had to see him just one more time, tell him how he possessed her heart, to feel his lips so tender against hers.

The blade of the D'Haran's sword glinted brilliantly in the afternoon sun as it came arching down towards her throat. She knew in that moment that she'd never get to tell him what she felt for him, that she loved him with every fiber of her being, with her every beat of her heart.

"Time to meet the Keeper, Confessor!"

A sudden cry of rage split the air like a violent crack of thunder as the tip of a sword thrust through the soldier's chest, a look of sheer surprise taking over his face. The man dropped his sword before he could even finish her off.

The D'Haran was forcefully thrown to the side, revealing the enraged form of her Seeker standing so large before her. The look of sheer rage burning in his eyes would have been frightening to behold if she didn't know and love the man behind that dark raptor gaze.

She tried to reach out for him, but her body refused to cooperate as she watched his sword fall from his hands as he fell to his knees before her.

"Kah-lan," he choked out as he gripped her shoulders, his voice cracking as tears stung his eyes. "It's alright. I'm right here."

Feeling his powerful hands taking hold of her, she knew that she no longer needed to be strong. He was here. He would take care of her now, be her strength, her everything just like he had always been since meeting him that fateful day in the Hartland woods.

There was no other person she wanted to spend her life with more than him. And now…now that it was swiftly coming to a sudden end, she was so glad that he was here with her, holding her before she entered the Underworld. It was his eyes that she wanted to lose herself in as her life slipped from her body, his arms she wanted to feel circling her.

Her body suddenly went limp in his arms as he drew her close to him. Pulling her into his lap, he cradled her against his body, protecting and shielding her as best he could from the battle still storming around them.

"Stay with me, Kahlan," he heatedly begged her.

"I'm so…sorry…" she whispered as she fought to keep her eyes open, forcing herself to focus on his handsome face.

She reached out a weak hand covered with blood, touching the side of his face as she tried to memorize every single fleck of warm light in his beautiful brown eyes, the curve of his lips, the strength of his jaw. "I love you…Richard…"

"No, Kahlan!" he angrily growled as he stroked her cheek. "Stay with me!"

He pressed a hand on her abdomen in a frantic attempt to stop the bleeding, but it was no use. Her clothes her soaked, her skin now a ghostly pale against her dark raven hair.

The scorching smell of wizard's fire filled the air, the cries of D'Haran soldiers falling to the pain of the agiel all went unnoticed as Richard cradled his Confessor in his arms. A tear slipped unchecked down his cheek as he pressed his lips to her forehead.

"I'm so sorry, Kahlan," he pleaded with her. "Please…just hang on."

"I love you…Richard…" she murmured again, fighting to keep her eyes open.

"Spirits, I love you so much, Kahlan," he pledged to her, kissing her softly. "Just stay with me, alright? Don't leave me."

Kahlan softly nodded her head in acknowledgment as her eyes slipped closed. The overwhelming tug of unconsciousness on her body was becoming too hard to fight, the need to just sleep too demanding as a peaceful sense of warmth began to wash through her.

"Keep your eyes open, Kahlan," he ordered her, furious with her for risking her life for him.

He knew deep inside that it was an irrational anger, but it should be him laying on the ground right now, not her. Never her. She had put her life in harm's way time and again in order to save him and he knew that she would again without hesitation. Nothing would keep her from trying to protect him. She was his Confessor, his beautiful brave warrior.

"I've always loved you…my Seeker…never forget that…" she whispered, her face turning into his chest as unconsciousness won out.

Richard pulled her even closer, burying his face in her hair as he failed to contain the strangled cry of anguish that rose up from his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut, clenching his jaw against the heartache and rage that coalesced in his core, threatening to erupt like a deadly volcano.

"ZEDD!" he yelled for his grandfather, knowing that he was losing his Confessor. He could practically feel her life draining from her body with the blood quickly seeping from her wound.

Moments dragged by like days as he waited for someone, anyone to help him save his Kahlan, but the battle continued to explode all around him. How had he missed the ambush? How could he have not known that they were here waiting for them?

The sudden feel of hands roughly grabbing hold of him from behind broke through the trance-like anguish that had seized hold of him, causing Kahlan to slip from his arms as he was forcefully yanked to his feet by several large D'Harans.

Breaking free, Richard swiftly snatched his sword, swinging it with deadly precision. His rage, his pain consumed him, fueling his need for revenge for what had been done to his Confessor. The embittered wail that suddenly escaped his lips as he thrust his sword vibrated through the air, nearly shaking the leaves free from the trees with the heat of his anguish.

In the next instant, he abruptly found himself on the ground, the world spinning around him. Dazed, he grabbed his head, the feel of warm blood oozing from a wound revealing what had just happened. Getting up on all fours, he attempted to gather his senses, clawing aimlessly at the ground in a futile attempt to find his sword.

A sudden boot slammed into his back, shoving him down onto the ground. He fought to draw air against the weight that held him fast. Hands abruptly wrenched his arms behind his back, rope being roughly tied around his wrists.

His fury exploded inside of him as he was hauled to his feet, his eyes focused on his Confessor who was lying on the ground before him.

"Someone is more than anxious to meet you, Seeker," the D'Haran sneered in the Seeker's ear, his breath hot against his skin.

"Should we take the Confessor with us?" one of the men asked.

"No…she's dead," the soldier in charge stated as he kicked the Confessor's body with the toe of his boot, causing her to roll onto her back. "We need to get the Seeker out of here. He's waiting."

"Kahlan!" Richard yelled, growling like a caged animal as the soldiers started dragging him away.

There was no response from her as she lay so still on the ground. She needed Cara and Zedd now if she was ever going to survive her injuries. Through the battle, Richard could see them fighting to get to them, but soldiers still stood in their way, keeping them from reaching her. They were still too far away to help.

He didn't care about himself or what these men did to him as long as Kahlan was alive. Everything in life was a very distant second to her. He could live, survive anything as long as he knew she was going to be alright.

He struggled against the rough rope that held him fast, the large hands hauling him away, but it was no use. He caught a glimpse of his sword lying uselessly on the ground next to Kahlan's body. He had allowed himself to be captured, Kahlan to be killed. This was his fault and now he'd never see his beloved again.

As they dragged him into the thick knot of trees, Kahlan's lifeless body was the last thing he saw.

XXX

"Lord Rahl!" Cara yelled as she watched him disappear into the woods.

The Mord'Sith slammed her agiels into the neck of the D'Haran in front of her, grinding her teeth in rage at having been unable to protect her Lord Rahl. The bones in the man's neck splintered with a sickening crack as he collapsed to his death at her feet.

Her chest heaving, she tore into the next one, bent on ending this once and for all so she could track down the Seeker and save him. Wizard's fire shot past her like bolts of lightning, engulfing one soldier after another in flames.

Finishing them off, Zedd raced across the field to the fallen Mother Confessor lying still on the ground only to be hindered by more hulking D'Harans determined to keep him from getting to her. With an angry growl, he released another blast of magic, tossing them all aside as if they were nothing but chaff in the wind. They weren't going to keep him getting to her.

Finally reaching her, Zedd winced at the gruesome sight of her. A large pool of blood soaked the earth beneath her, staining the grass bright red. Her face was a ghastly shade as she lay so lifeless before him. The Wizard immediately set to work, fearing the worse and abruptly sinking back on his heels in defeat when he confirmed it.

Kahlan was dead.

"CARA!" he yelled as he watched her send the last of the soldiers to the Keeper.

The Mord'Sith took off in a dead run towards him, sliding to her knees beside Kahlan. The grisly sight of her friend that greeted her nearly made her nauseous, but she ignored it as she leaned over her, holding back her hair as she parted her lips. A faint vapor passed from her mouth into Kahlan's, providing her with the life saving breath that she so desperately needed at that moment.

The Mord'Sith sat back on her heels, her emerald gaze focused on the ashen face of the Mother Confessor as they silently waited. With a sudden gasp, Kahlan arched her back as she sucked in air, her eyes fluttering open.

"Kahlan," Zedd breathed a sigh of relief.

Kahlan began to look around, searching for her Seeker. She sat up, needing to find him. All she saw was the clearing littered with dead D'Haran soldiers. Her gaze finally settled on the Sword of Truth lying on the ground near her. There was no sign of Richard anywhere.

"Richard!" she screamed.

Zedd and Cara grabbed hold of her arms, keeping her from getting up. "Careful, Kahlan," Zedd warned. "You need to take it easy. You've lost a great deal of blood."

"We have to find Richard," she cried, desperation blossoming deep in her core.

"You need to rest, Kahlan," Cara insisted. "I just brought you back from the Underworld. You're in no shape to go running off in search of Lord Rahl."

Pulling from their hold on her arms, Kahlan sat up despite the dizziness that rattled her brain, reaching for Richard's sword. She held it against her chest as she drank in the bloody scene that surrounded them. So many soldiers had been sent to ambush them.

Someone wanted Richard…badly.

XXX

He could feel the warm seeping of blood from his head and down the back of his neck as they dragged him through the woods. His head throbbed relentlessly, but it was nothing compared the agonizing pain that consumed his heart. Nothing else mattered in this world now.

Kahlan was dead.

The soldiers didn't seem to care if they were being followed as they made their way through the darkening forest. They weren't doing anything to cover their tracks as they half-dragged, half-carried him to spirits knew where or who.

Darken Rahl was dead. Richard had refused to claim the throne. No one had been ruling D'Hara for months now, but someone had obviously stepped in and taken control. It was probably that same someone that he was being taken to now.

Twisting his wrists, he could feel the ropes biting into his skin as he attempted to break free, but it was no use. His empty scabbard gently bumped against his thigh as he moved, reminding him that he was without his weapon too.

He had to find a way to escape, to get back to Zedd and Cara. Maybe they had been able to get to Kahlan in time. The sudden thought caused a faint flicker of hope to spring anew in his heart amidst the unbearable anguish that swam in his soul.

Richard knew that he was going to have to hold onto to that hope with all that he had if he was ever going to survive this. Without her in the world, nothing made sense. Life held no meaning, no color, no joy, no hope. It brought a suffocating emptiness.

Cutting through a thick tangle of bushes, they entered a small clearing where horses waited patiently for them to return. Richard knew that he was going to have to break free soon; this was going to be his only chance. Once they got him on horseback, it was going to be that much more difficult for Zedd and Cara to find him.

Seeing a large tree root jutting out of the ground, he suddenly dug his boots into the dirt, catching hold of the root. The two D'Haran soldiers dragging him lost their grip on him with his abrupt stop, causing the Seeker to fall to the ground. He quickly rolled onto his back, kicking his legs to get back up onto his feet.

Richard took off through the trees, back in the direction he had just come from, desperate to get back to the others. He had to know if Cara had been able to get to Kahlan in time to save her life. The thought of her spending even one moment in the Underworld with his vile brother caused his rage to blaze anew through his veins.

Keeping his head down, he ducked under low-lying branches, avoiding thorny bushes as he raced past one tree after another. He could hear the thunderous stampede of the soldier's boots behind him as they chased after him, knowing that losing their prized catch would result in all their deaths.

He zigzagged his way around enormous tree trunks in an attempt to avoid any more deadly arrows. His breath came in exerted pulls for air, his lungs burning for oxygen as he dashed around a thick cocoon of brush. He stayed stone still, waiting and listening as he did his best to catch his breath.

The forest was suddenly eerily quiet, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. He just prayed he could escape without a fight because right now, he had nothing to fight with…or, for that matter, to fight for anymore.