Disclaimer: Nope they still aren't mine…

Author's Note: Well, here's the next chapter. Hopefully it won't be that confusing, I kinda have an idea of how, why, and who an Elementress chooses as her master but it's hard to put into words. So this is my attempt at that. I'm also not sure if I should go ahead and continue this as the series did or go a little bit more along the lines of the book. (Let's face it, for those who have read the books you know that after Shota, and after Kahlan tells Richard about what a confessor is…which again according to the books Kahlan is the LAST one and is the MOTHER CONFESSOR by the time she meets Richard and has been for at least a couple of years…well, next comes the visit to Tamarang to Queen Melina. ) So for those of you who haven't read the books this is where this is headed. You won't really be lost b/c by the time they get to Tamarang in the books everything that has happened in the series has basically already happened…with the exception of Denna and the Mord-Sith. Thanks for letting me rant, here's the next chapter…

Chapter 3:

Richard looked between the other three confused.

"She did what?" he asked.

"She choose her new mistress," Zedd repeated in shock. "Bags Richard did you not listen to a word I said?"

"Yes, but I don't understand. If you can't control her through her collar then how can Kahlan? She isn't a wizard, she's a confessor."

"You don't need to be a wizard to control an Elementress," Zedd told him. "You only need some form of magic and to be chosen by the Elementress in question. What she just did, bonding Kahlan to her collar, that was how they choose their masters, remember I told you that the Elementress essentially controls the collar?" Richard nodded. "Well, she also controls who can use the collar. They find someone they can trust, someone who will guide them and then they place that person's hands on the collar. They use the four natural elements to bind them to that person sort of like you would use a leash to lead a pet. The Elementress is then bound to their new master or mistress until they can be taught to control their powers."

"That doesn't make any sense," Kahlan protested. "We just met today. You said that they choose their masters from people who they trust, from people who can guide them." Zedd shrugged and looked at Dani.

"That's true young one, why did you choose Kahlan?"

"I have always been able to tell if I will like a person or not," Dani replied looking back down with a shrug. "I can tell from the moment I met them. I felt right away that I would not only like all of you, but I felt like I could trust you. I've never felt that before," Dani told them looking back up with tears in her eyes. "Never. I have lived with those men my entire life. I'm the reward for good service. If one of the soldiers did something to make Nass happy then I was given to them for the night. Since the sorceress had me under control they were told that they could do anything they wanted so long as I was alive in the morning. Two nights ago he gave me to one of the soldiers for helping him find the box of Orden," Dani whispered staring off into the dark forest. "The nicer ones want me to clean their equipment or steal something from one of their enemies. Karl was not one of the nice ones. He started by telling me that I was to stand in his tent while he went to eat, when he came back a few hours later he told me that he wanted me to come with him. He sent me into one of the other soldier's tents to steal a knife. Once he had it he grabbed me and drug me back to the tent. There he used the knife to tear my clothes to shreds, then he told me to come over to him. He placed the knife right here," she pointed to a spot just below her collar bone, "and told me to stand still. He cut from there to here," she ran a finger diagonally down to the other side of her stomach. Then he cut from here to here," she ran her finger from just below her sternum to the other side of her stomach. "I thought that night would never end," Dani told them crying in earnest now. "He didn't just cut me," she whimpered. "It's not the first time either," she told them looking up at them. "I knew I could trust you so I took the chance and went with you. I knew I wasn't wrong when you healed me and then started trying to convince me to go to Thandor. The thing is I want to help. I know what's at stake, I know what they'll do to me if I get caught, I know it could mean that I'll die. I also know that if you fail then they'll do all of that and more. I can help you, I want to help you. I would rather die trying to help you than to let Darken Rahl win and go back to being the reward for good behavior," Dani finished looking up at Richard she pleaded. "Let me help."

Richard tried to find the words to say to comfort her, but words seemed meaningless compared to what she had suffered. Who was he to deny her the right to avenge her abusers? While it was true she was young she was by no means stupid, she knew exactly what was at stake. He let out a defeated sigh.

"Alright," he conceded at last. "I don't like putting you in danger, but you've proven your point." Dani gave him a grin that was both reckless and at the same time full of child-like innocence.

"Good, cause I fell much better now that I have a mistress," she said. Kahlan looked over at her concerned.

"But I still have no idea about how to help you with your powers. Maybe you could transfer the control to Zedd or something."

"No, I like my decision," Dani commented with another grin. Zedd studied her for a moment and reached for her collar.

"May I ?" he asked. Dani nodded and he wrapped a hand around the cool ring. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After a few minutes he let go and stared at her in shock.

"That is some power you have young one," Zedd told her. "Tell me, can you call a firebird to you?" Richard looked over at Kahlan, but she didn't notice. Her gaze was locked on Zedd in shock.

"Zedd, no one knows where the firebirds live. One hasn't been seen in over a thousand years," Kahlan protested. Dani grinned and looked from Zedd to Kahlan.

"Watch." She help up one hand and the flames re-appeared. She carefully blew on it and the flames rose up high into the air soaring as if that tiny breath had been a great gust of wind. Out of the flames rose a bird. Long and majestic it was red and gold with piercing eyes the color of embers. Dani looked up at it and then patted her wrist twice with two fingers. The bird landed gently on her arm like a great pet.

"This is Flamestryke. He is a bit protective, but he's the best. He leads all of the other firebirds. They helped to heal my injuries after particularly bad nights," Dani explained. "Their tears…"

"Have healing properties," Zedd finished looking at the bird in awe. "Extraordinary. I fear you may more powerful and difficult than I first thought."

"What do you mean?" Kahlan asked running a hand down the bird's spine when Dani motioned for her to do so.

"Only the High Elementress can control the fire birds. They are her own elite messengers, much as Rahl uses the journey books to communicate with his officers the High Elementress assigns a firebird to each of the elementals. She herself controls them all but they guard each elemental they are assigned, except for the leaders. The two lead firebirds answer only to the High Elementress, she uses them for personal errands, messages, and of course they have healing properties that enable her to be healed."

"So your saying that Dani is the High Elementress?" Richard asked Zedd. Zedd nodded and looked back at Dani.

"However there is more, the High Elementress chooses her master, but that master does little more than give her someone to advise her, she learns to control her powers on her own, it can't be taught. So while you chose Kahlan you will learn to control your powers all on your own," Zedd told her. Dani smiled and ran her hand over the bird on her arm.

"If you say so," Dani replied. She held up her arm. "Circle," she commanded. The bird shot off, leaving a trail of sparks in his wake. "He'll guard the camp. I'm sure after today everyone wants to get some sleep?" Richard nodded.

"I think that's best," he agreed. Dani waved her hands and the bed rolls floated over as if they were being blown through the air by a strong gust of wind. They spread out and Kahlan put Dani next to her and Richard.

"I have a feeling you're going to be a handful," Kahlan informed her playfully ruffling her hair.

"I think your right," Richard agreed watching Kahlan lay down and wrap a protective arm around the younger girl. "And I thought Zedd was trouble."

"Hey, you better watch what you say Seeker," Zedd retorted laying down on his other side. "You never know what may crawl into your bedroll."

*******

Well, that's chapter 3. I hope you liked it. I tried to explain everything as best as I could. I was originally just going to explain about why Dani chose Kahlan, but I thought a little back story would be helpful and I wanted to show just how powerful Dani is. The High Elementress is the equivalent of the First Wizard. Please read and review! Next they should be on their way to Tamarang.

Phoenix