"Cara, we both know nothing will keep Richard from going after her."
Releasing a sigh, the Mord-Sith leaned against the wall, facing the wizard, "He's going to kill himself and we will have no one to take the throne of D'Hara."
"He doesn't want the throne."
"He doesn't have a choice. He is the heir and he is the last Rahl."
"The child Kahlan carries could-"
"Will be a Confessor. She will not be taught to lead D'Hara."
Nodding, Zedd smiled, "She won't need to be taught. As a Rahl, she would have claim to the throne, should she want it."
"If she wants it? D'Harans would not allow a Confessor to rule them." she said as her tone hardened.
"Kahlan?" he whispered, gently laying his hand on her belly. It had grown while she and Cara had attempted to return to Aydindril, and now he felt he was watching as the child grew within her.
"Mmm?" she smiled as she turned her head towards his voice, laying her hand over his.
A smile came to his lips as her eyes opened, connecting with his. "I'm going to go after her today."
"What?" she asked, sitting up, pulling the blankets to cover herself.
"Verna said I would be able to leave the palace without the headaches or a Rada'Han." he said softly, "I can go after her. I can kill her."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she nodded, knowing it was of no use to argue with him. He would do anything to be sure she wasn't in danger and as long as Nicci was alive, as far as he was concerned she was in danger. "All right."
Leaning forward, she pressed her lips against his, slowly pushing him backwards onto the bed. Just as she started to move over him, a loud knock came from the door.
"Mother Confessor, your sister just sent you a message by journey book."
Pushing herself off of him, Kahlan grabbed a blanket and walked towards the door.
"What?" she asked as she opened the door and saw Sister Verna's face.
Lifting up the book she handed it to Kahlan, who took it eagerly. "Richard," she said softly, turning her head towards the bed behind her. "my sister was taken out of Aydindril by Michael." Looking back to the book, she released a sigh, "He's working with Nicci."
He didn't have to look at her to know she was holding back tears, "But she is safe?" he asked standing and wrapping himself in the last blanket.
"She doesn't say she is in trouble."
Excusing herself, Sister Verna walked down the hall leaving them to alone.
Taking the journey book from her, he read it in silence. "He was working with her the whole time. We searched for her before we left, and he knew where she was the whole time!" The anger built up within him as he thought, "He knew, Kahlan. He knew she hadn't lost all of her han and that she would come after you!"
"It wasn't me she was after." Kahlan said softly, lightly touching his forearm, trying to calm him down.
"She used you to get to me." turning, they locked eyes. "She knew the only thing that would get me to give the han, would be to go after you."
"You're going to give it back to her aren't you?"
"I can't. If I give it to her, I won't be able to kill her. I have to kill her."
Quickly, she wrapped her arms around his waist, her blanket falling to the floor before she pressed herself against him. Slowly his arms wrapped around her, tracing along the bare skin of her back. Looking into her eyes, he watched them grow darker with arousal, a smile crossing his features as he pressed his lips against hers, walking them towards the bed.
Her heart raced as his hands slowly roamed over her body. Arching her back she held his head to her chest, needing more contact. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she pulled him impossibly closer to her. The feel of his hands on her was quickly bringing her closer to ecstasy. Her mind slowed as her eyes blackened and her magic threatened to burst through her, giving her a moment of bliss she knew wouldn't come again for a while.
Laying in his arms, she wished he wouldn't leave. The comfort of his embrace was something she could never live without. Slowly, she traced her hand over his chest and down his stomach until she was stopped by the blanket.
"You keep doing that and we will never leave this bed." he said with a soft growl.
"I wouldn't mind." she replied as she moved herself over him, her hair cascading down around them as she kissed him.
The heated wind blew past her, blowing her dress around her, as she stared at the man she loved saying his goodbye's to his grandfather.
"He's not going to be away for eternity." Cara said as she noticed her friend staring at the man in front of them.
"I know." she said looking over to the Mord-Sith and forcing a smile.
"This is a stupid idea."
Nodding, she returned her eyes to Richard, "He doesn't think so."
"He also thinks he doesn't want the throne to D'Hara." Cara said loudly, being sure he heard her.
"I don't." Walking towards them he sighed, "Cara, we've gone through this."
"I'm not going to stop until you realize how stupid this choice is."
Looking to Kahlan, he smiled as he took her hands, "We will be back.
"Before or after she gives birth?" Cara said crossing her arms. "We don't even know where she is."
"She'll find us." he paused, allowing himself to get lost in her blue eyes, "I'll be back as soon as I can. Kahlan, please don't leave the palace."
Thinking about it for a moment, she realized she hadn't planned to leave. Her life was in Aydindril, but she couldn't imagine living there without him. "I promise."
The sunlight beaming down upon them as they stood at the doors of the palace. Pulling her into his arms, he hugged her tightly, burning the feeling into his mind before pulling away. "I love you." he declared after noticing Cara had already started walking.
Holding back her tears, she pulled him back to her, kissing him passionately. "I love you." she whispered as he ran to catch the Mord-Sith.
"He will be back in a few days." Sister Verna said from behind her.
Releasing her tears as Richard disappeared through the trees, she lowered herself onto the ground, keeping her eyes where she had last seen him. "He shouldn't go."
"He has to. Kahlan, it's been a month since the Mord-Sith carried you back and you continue to bleed without explanation. She holds some powerful magic over you. She will kill you if he doesn't go. She's waited almost a year."
"She would wait forever to get Richard's han."
Sitting down beside her, Verna sighed, "She knows the only reason he gave it to her was to get to you."
"She's going to use me to get it back." Kahlan said softly, her eyes moving to Zedd as he came towards them.
"There is more food in the kitchen." Sister Verna said with a knowing smile.
Smiling widely, the wizard hurried through the doors.
She sat there until the sun started to set. She had not even noticed when the Sister of the Light had gone inside. She wondered how it was going to happen. Nicci was going to try everything to get the han.
"This is where we were." Cara said as she looked around them. Their bedrolls, still laying forgotten, were now covered in dirt and leaves, "Kahlan slept here." she said stepping over the one closest to her. "I went through there," she point into the trees across from them, "when I returned, Nicci held her here." Moving around Richard, Cara found the place Kahlan had fallen. Blood stained the pack and the rocks next to them.
His heart pounded as he imagined what had happened. The images flooding his mind filled him with anger.
"I knew you would return." Nicci's chilling voice came from the air, "You will give me what I want or I will kill everyone you care about." She laughed, making the wind colder as it pushed by them, "I will kill the one person you care about."
Looking around for her, the anger built up within him, his sword glowing as flames. "I will not give you the han!" he shouted.
"You've already lost someone. Are you prepared to lose another?"
Confused, Richard took a step into the wind. "What?"
"You're child."
"She still carries my child!" he shouted at the wind as it laughed around them.
"How can you be sure?"
His heart stopped, looking to Cara, he could see she was trying to understand. "What are you talking about?"
"You will give me what I want!" She shouted back, making the trees shake with the force.
"I can't give you anything when you are hiding!" He shouted, his hold on the sword tightening.
Stepping closer, trying to protect him, Cara looked around, "I don't see anything."
"She's here." he whispered, stepping closer to the trees.
"Are you all right child?" Zedd said from the door, making her jump. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
Smiling softly at the wizard, she walked towards him. "He didn't take it." she said softly, holding out her hand towards him, "Why wouldn't he take it?" Looking down at her hand, he found himself wondering the same thing, "He never takes it off."
"Maybe he wanted you to have it." Zedd said before realizing what he said.
"He knew he wouldn't coming back." she half cried as she pulled the necklace to her heart and held it against her.
Pulling her into his arms, he tried to comfort her, "He'll come back for it."
Nodding, she sighed into his shoulder, hoping he was right.
"Richard!" Cara shouted as she ran through the trees. One minute, he was standing beside her and the next, he was gone. After following the smoke for almost an hour, she saw figures moving a head of her. Slowing her pace, she moved through the trees, trying to get a better look. Silently she approached the clearing.
"You will do anything for her, even though she carries Darken Rahl's child?" She smiled widely.
"That won't work on me." he said looking around them.
The smile fell from her face, "She told you?" she asked surprised.
"Yes."
Walking around him, Nicci thought or a moment. "She told you she carries Darken Rahl's child and you continue to stand beside her."
It wasn't a question, but he answered her anyway, "I will never stop loving her."
Standing directly in front of him, she smiled again. "You love her, knowing another man has touched her?" His face betrayed him, making her smile widen. "It must be so hard for you. Keeping you awake with images of your brother's hands on her."
He said nothing, looking past her into the trees, trying to remain calm. Wishing he still held his sword, he imagined running it through the blond before him.
"She may have even liked it." His eyes met hers, anger filled them as he grabbed her arms, pulling her to him.
"You don't know what you are talking about!" he shouted loudly, tightening his grip on her arms, making her laugh.
"I knew you thought about it. I can help you, Richard." she said softly. After he released her, she smoothed out the black fabric on her arms, before looking back up to him. "She doesn't have to know." she spoke so softly, he hadn't heard her. Throwing herself forward, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, hard and rough.
"What is wrong with you?" he shouted as he attempted to push her away.
"If you wish for me to allow you and your Confessor to live, you will lay with me."
"I can't." he said softly, as her lips brushed against his.
"You will soon find that you will do anything for the person you love. Your Confessor has already proven her love for you. It is your turn. You should be honored, Richard Rahl. Not may are able to be with such a powerful woman."
"She is more powerful than you will ever be." he said softly.
"You are a fool to love her."
"I would be a fool not to." he replied as ran her hands over his chest. "The spell-The magic you have on Kahlan, why-"
"The curse was my assurance that you would come to me. I couldn't allow her to come back to you without harming her." smiling widely, she snaked her hand under his shirt.
"You cursed her?" he almost shouted.
"Keep your voice down. Your Mord-Sith will be here soon." she said as her other hand moved under his shirt as well. "She is cursed and only I can remove it and I will after you have made love to me."
Reaching up, she pressed her lips against his once more, kissing him. "You will remove it? Kahlan will be all right?"
"I give you my word."
Nodding, Richard pulled her back to him and kissed her. "You will have to get rid of your Mord-Sith. Meet me in five minutes or your Confessor will be dead. Tell your Mord-Sith anything and Kahlan will be dead." she said before walking through the trees.
"What happened?" Cara said as she stepped forward.
"Nothing. Go back to Kahlan. Keep her safe."
"What-"
"Go!" he shouted loudly pushing her backwards, "Go!"
Confused, she turned around and ran through the trees.
Being sure she wasn't seen, Cara moved carefully through the trees, trying to get a better look. Coming to a stop, her mouth opened widely. Shirtless, Richard removed his sword, laying it on the ground beside him. Nicci, who was removing her clothes stood a foot in front of him, smiling. Their eyes locked on eachothers. Reaching forward, he eagerly helped remove her dress, his eyes falling with the black cloth. Confused, she took a few steps forward, trying to be sure of what she was seeing.
Slowly she started walking backwards as Richard pulled the other woman into his arms and kissed her, lowering her down to the ground, covering her body with his. Shocked, she turned and walked slowly back to the palace. How was she going to tell Kahlan?
"What's wrong?" Kahlan asked Cara entered, closing the door behind her. "Where's Richard?" she asked clinging to his necklace.
Taking a deep breath, Cara looked around the room, "He's with her."
"Nicci? You left him with Nicci?" She said loudly, walking towards her.
"He asked me to."
Shaking her head as she tried to understand, she sat down on the edge of the bed in front of the tired Mord-Sith. "Why would he-"
"He's probably still laying on top of her." she said through a huff of discuss.
"What?" she spoke so softly, Cara wasn't sure she had spoken. "What happened?"
Throwing her arms up, she began to pace, "I found him, he told me to come back to you. Come back and keep you safe. I waited a few minutes before I followed him." she looked to Kahlan, who was leaning towards her, holding his necklace tightly in her hands. "He kissed her." She came a stop before her friend, waiting for her to look up at her. To scream. To do something. She didn't move. It felt like hours as she stood there, waiting for her to say something.
After a few minutes, Kahlan looked up, "What did you see?" she asked softly, looking up with tear filled eyes.
"They didn't stop."
Nodding her head slowly, she let loose the captive tears. Trying to keep herself from imagining what had happened, she grabbed Cara's hand and place the necklace in it, before she allowed herself to fall back onto the bed.
"Cara? Are you both back?" Zedd asked from the other side of the door, making Kahlan cry louder. "What's going on?" he asked as he pushed the door open and found Kahlan pulling her knees to her chest in tears. Looking to Cara, he walked towards them. "What happened?" he asked concerned.