Chapter 4

They had finished the evening meal, camp was set, and Zedd had taken to lazing by the fire. Cara looked after the horses nearby. .

Kahlan hadn't seen Richard for a while now. He'd gone off to fill the water skins while she laid out their bedrolls. He'd been very quiet after their talk earlier, lost deep in thought for the rest of the day. He was no longer brooding, but she could see something weighed heavily on his mind. She wondered if he would still take her on that walk he'd promised. Getting away from the watchful eyes of Zedd and Cara so she could hug him and kiss him would be a welcome respite, but she would understand if he'd rather be alone with his thoughts, though she wished he would share his burdens with her. Kahlan finished laying out her blanket near to Richard's. Twisting around to retrieve her pack, she saw his big boots planted before her. Slowly, she looked up to his face. His expression was unreadable: serious, but soft. He held a hand out to her. "I thought you might like to go for that walk." The faint pull of a smile touched his lips.

Kahlan felt herself blush. As much as she'd looked forward to this all day, she suddenly felt shy. Casting a quick look in Zedd's direction, she took his hand and he helped pull her to her feet.

The warm light of the fire faded as they went deeper into the woods, shrouding them in the darkness of the forest. They walked in silence, listening to the chirping crickets and the gurgle of a nearby stream. Richard clearly had something on his mind but until he was ready, Kahlan didn't want to press him to talk. When they were a good distance away he finally spoke, giving her hand a gentle squeeze, "We'll be to Aydindril soon. How long before we can be married?"

She liked the feel of his strong hand holding hers. She was still trying to comprehend that she and Richard could be together. Never before had a Confessor been able to marry for love. She smiled in the darkness. "Well…I was going to send for Dennee and Jennsen, so as soon as they can be there…I would think no more than a fortnight by the time we send for them and they arrive."

Richard thought a bit. "I like that idea" he said at last. "But I'd like to send Zedd and Cara ahead now – Zedd for Dennee…Cara can get Jennsen, it'll be faster that way. You and I will continue on to Aydindril. We can take care of whatever needs to be done before the wedding." He looked down at his clothes. "I'll need something to wear. I certainly can't marry the Mother Confessor in this" he said, laughing softly. "As soon as they all return, we'll be married." Kahlan nodded in agreement, she was eager to be wed as well. Richard halted their walking and turned to face her. He took hold of her other hand so he held them both. "Then I'll go to D'Hara."

She corrected him, "We'll go to D'Hara."

He looked at her a long moment. Releasing her hands, he lifted her hair from the nape of her neck, his thumbs gliding beneath its length. His words were gentle, but firm. "No. It's time the Mother Confessor was in Aydindril. You've been gone too long as it is. But the sooner I get to D'Hara the better – before Rahl has a chance.

Even without his powers, just the mention of his name sent a cold chill through her. "And what of Rahl, what do we do about him?"

"Like Zedd said, his influence over the armies is too powerful…he can't be allowed to live. I'll send Cara and any of her sisters loyal to me to find him. Once I've secured the throne I'll return to you."

Kahlan had been so overjoyed in learning they could be together, she hadn't given much thought beyond that. What lay ahead didn't seem to matter, as long as they were together. It dawned on her now the enormity of the dilemma they faced. "Richard, how can you rule D'Hara from the Midlands?"

He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I've been thinking about that. The Mother Confessor certainly can't preside from D'Hara. Aydindril has been home to the Confessors for thousand's of years. Neither can the Master of D'Hara rule from the Midlands." He held his eyes steady with hers, bracing for her response. "Our marriage must unite the two lands."

Kahlan bristled. The very thought of the Midlands being part of D'Hara made her blood run cold…they had been enemies for so long. "Richard, you can't be serious!"

He rested his hands on her shoulders, his reply somber. "I am very serious. I can think of no other way, Kahlan…believe me I've tried. But just as you can't preside from D'Hara, neither can I rule from the Midlands… unless they are united. We can no longer have two separate lands. We must create a land of one people, one law and one command. In joining the two territories, we'll create a new land: the D'Haran Empire."

Kahlan stood mute unable to answer, a thousand thoughts swirling though her mind. How would the people react to such a union?

He could see her dismay. "Kahlan, this is a new day. This is you and me now. I will be Lord Rahl. You are the Mother Confessor. This union of lands is not an invasion or occupation…it will be a joining made in peace, created out of our shared love and respect, not only for each other, but for all life. Together, we'll provide rule and justice for all people.

The jumble of thoughts swirling through her mind suddenly fell away. He was right. Of course it would be different. It would be Richard who would lead them…not some evil tyrant like Darken Rahl. It would be her husband – the Seeker, who would guide their way.

Her people would be willing to follow the Seeker. And if not, she would have to convince them. Together they would ensure peace and justice throughout the lands. She apologized and shook the uneasiness from her bones. "You're right, Richard. You just caught me off guard." Still, she turned over a myriad of thoughts in her mind. "This will be a shock to many of them. What will they think?"

"They will think that the leader of D'Hara and the Mother Confessor - ruler of the Midlands are joined in marriage…and that it makes sense to unite their lands as well." Still she held a faraway look in her eyes, trying to reason within herself that this made the most sense. She knew it did. She just wasn't sure how to convince the citizens of the Midlands.

"I tried to think of another way Kahlan, I swear I did."

"The Council of Confessors….what do I tell them?"

"Tell them that Lord Rahl, mate to the Mother Confessor, says there is no more us and them. We are united. We are now one."

Now that he had made his decision, his conviction was solid. He had looked inside himself and found what she had seen…just as she had asked him to do. He truly was a leader. He was the Seeker. She wouldn't have believed it possible, but it made her love him all the more; he was suddenly even more handsome in her eyes. She wondered if he could see her beaming in the darkness. She let out a throaty rumble and nuzzled his neck. "Mmm….Mate to the Mother Confessor…that won't be soon enough. Are you sure you want to wait until we're married to be together?"

"No" he answered honestly. With her lips on his neck he wasn't sure of anything. "But I want our first time to be in that big bed of yours."

"We've already been together, Richard. You do remember, don't you?" she teased.

He would never forget it. "Yes, I do" he pressed a finger to her nose, "but you don't." Scenes from that night flooded his mind but he pushed them aside. If he wanted to wait it was best not to think of them right now. Besides, that was different somehow. They had thought it could be their only chance…ever, so they took it. He hadn't known at the time it was only a magical fragment of Kahlan, a splintered shard of her whole being. He knew it would somehow be different now – that in a way, it would still be the first time for them. He held her close as he looked in her eyes, stroking a finger down her cheek. "This will be fully you..." his lips softly touched hers, "fully me…" he kissed her again. "Forever. I'd like us to be in that bed of yours. Like ordinary people – just like we talked about."

"Sounds perfect" she whispered, pressing her mouth to his.

xxx

Nicci lay on the hard stone of the temple floor. She realized the soft whimpers floating through the air were her own. Katrina had tortured her mercilessly and the pain from the Agiel wracked through her body still, even as she lay alone in the dark, hours after her tormentor had gone. She was grateful to have enough chain to lie on the ground. It was hard, but at least the stone was cool and somewhat soothing to the endless ache in her bones. For days she had been forced to stand, Katrina's Agiel finding its mark whenever she tried to rest her weary legs.

The heavy scrape of iron announced someone's arrival as her cell door sung open. She hadn't even heard the approaching footsteps. Whoever it was, they were already there, stepping inside.

Nicci squinted, unaccustomed to the light. A sudden deluge of ice water hit her with the force of a thousand needles. She gasped for breath through the cold sting of it. When she at last blinked away the blur she saw one of the Mord-Sith, Liliana, standing over her holding a bucket.

Katrina stood back near the door, away from the mess. "Lord Rahl wanted you cleaned up. Get up."

Nicci tried but she couldn't move. She didn't want to feel the touch of the Agiel, but she couldn't make her legs work. Liliana held the chains around her wrists and yanked her to her knees. "You were told to stand."

The sorceress had no choice but to obey. Her skin was raw and sore from the shackles making her wince with the pain. As she struggled to her feet, she saw Rahl step into the cell, her fearful eyes sweeping over him.

His cold gaze took her in. "You've had quite a time here Nicci. Unfortunately for you, it's only just begun."

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