Author: Raven Shadowrose

Title: Fated Propehecy

Rating: Mature

Pairing: ?/?

Disclaimer: I do not know or own any of the characters from Legend Of The Seeker, any original characters and the story are my property.

A/N: This story is the sequel to the one shots I have been writing; Tides of Time, Somewhere, When You're Alone and I Know Where You Sleep. I would help you to read those first, so you can understand what has happened before this story.

Chapter Four... General Egremont.

Lord Rahl had given me my orders and then he disappeared, he has been doing that a lot lately, nobody knows where he is going and why. His mood has been pensive today, it all started when that woman showed up. I've seen how he looks at her, she interests him, I was proved right when he gave me the order that she was not to be touched. Lord Rahl likes virgins, he takes pride in being a woman's first lover and knowing that she will never find another that will equal him. Once he has had her she will mean nothing to him and he will discard her, I have seen it many times.

Lord Rahl is very adept at making women fall in love with him but he never loves any of them, he is not capable. If this woman holds out and doesn't give him what he wants she might keep his attention for a bit longer but I doubt it, they all fall to his charms in the end. He is going to great lengths to ensnare this one, giving her younger sister access to a scholar and buying the woman many dresses. I heard that she was to sing for the guests at the next party, how did he know that she could sing? Perhaps that is where he has been going at night.

I was disturbed from my thoughts by a voice echoing around me. 'General Egremont, kneel before your Keeper.'

'Yes my Lord, how may I serve you?'

'I want to know everything that goes on inside this palace. Darken Rahl has betrayed me and I want your help to bring him down.'

'I cannot kill him, I do not have the skill.'

'I am not asking you to kill him, not yet. You are to be my eyes and ears and give me the information I require when I ask for it.'

'Of course my Lord, I will do as you ask. Lord Rahl has hired a woman to sing for him, he is acting strange around her though I do not know why.'

'Keep watching them. Is there anything else?'

'Lord Rahl disappears at night sometimes, I do not know to where.'

'Find out. Do this and you will be richly rewarded.'

'Yes my Lord.'

'I will return in a few days and when I do I will expect you to have some information for me. You are my instrument now, do not fail me, the penalties will be harsh if you do.'

'I will not fail my Lord.'

'See that you don't.' The Keeper left with those words, he had offered me a reward for spying on Lord Rahl, if he caught me then I would be dead. Being Lord Rahl's general meant that I had access to areas that others didn't, I could see why the Keeper had come to me. Lord Rahl wouldn't be suspicious as all his orders came through me, until it was too late for him to do anything about it.

I would tell the Keeper everything that I could find out, he had personally come to me for my services and I'd rather it be Lord Rahl getting the wrath of the Keeper than myself. The Keeper's eventual goal would be to return Lord Rahl to the Underworld where he would torture him for eternity. I didn't really care about that, I would have power and the Keeper on my side, no one would oppose me if I made a play for the throne of D'Hara. Once Lord Rahl was dead and being tormented then I would take my place as rightful ruler.

I heard my name being called from the hall, it was one of the servants. 'General Egremont, Lord Rahl wishes to see you immediately.' He must be back from wherever he went.

'I will be right there.' I followed the woman down to Lord Rahl's private chambers. 'Lord Rahl, you wished to see me?'

'I do. I assume the security for the party has been organised. Many of the nobles of D'Hara will be there and we can't afford undesirable people endangering them now can we Egremont?'

'I have assigned the guards myself Lord Rahl, they are the best ones we have. I assure you that everything is going according to plan.'

'Excellent. What about the border patrols?'

'There have been a few disturbances along the border, nothing major, just peasants that are trying their luck.'

'Any sign of the Seeker?'

'No, if he is around then he is lying low. Perhaps he feels that as he has defeated the Keeper you are no longer a threat to him.'

'Perhaps, if he returns then the order is the same.'

'As you wish, Lord Rahl.'

'The Keeper has not been defeated permanently I can assure you of that, he will return.'

'You will return to your rightful position as his right-hand man once he does won't you, my Lord?'

'I am sure of it, I have been his servant for many years after all.'

'To the benefit of all Lord Rahl.'

'It is good that you think so Egremont. Is there anything that I should know about?'

'No, Lord Rahl, that is all.'

'You are dismissed.' I bowed to Lord Rahl and left the room, he didn't suspect anything, I breathed a sigh of relief and went to supervise the changing of the guard.

I had served Lord Rahl for years and in turn he had served the Keeper, I watched him gain more power and riches while perfectly good men died, they were expendable, of course, more would always be found to take their place. In the past no one would turn down the chance to be in Lord Rahl's army but there have been soldiers disappearing since he returned from the Underworld, whatever thrall he once held over them appears to have lost its power. There are some who still serve in the army willingly, if I were to let the numbers slide and spread dissatisfaction in the ranks then Lord Rahl would be left with no one on his side. I would run the plan by the Keeper the next time he contacts me.

It was a clear, cold night, the soldiers were stamping their feet to keep warm, the view from the very top of the palace allowed anyone to see enemies from miles around. It was also unpopular as it got very cold up here, the guard was changed frequently to prevent anyone having to be up here for too long. If I was to lengthen the time that they had to spend here secretly every so often then that would annoy the soldiers, I could make it sound like Lord Rahl's orders. They would never question his faithful General after all, until they started to get fed up and when nothing was done a few would desert and the ranks would be even less. Of course, they would spread the word to other men that life in the D'Haran army wasn't worth it and it would get harder and harder to find men to join. I would pull Lord Rahl's throne right out from underneath him, with the Keeper behind me, no one will dare challenge me.

The Mord'Sith are the only people that could challenge me, their loyalty to Lord Rahl was the only real obstacle that stood in my way. The Keeper could get them on side, they would be a powerful ally and one that he would be glad to have I should think. I would see to it that any of the Mord'Sith that joined the ranks of my new army would be given power. Their fighting skills were something I could use to damp down the resistance in the world. The people would learn to bow before me or die, those that stood in my way would be taken care of, especially Lord Rahl.

There is much work to be done in the coming days, I did not know when the Keeper would contact me again and I would have to have some information before then. I would have to be careful not to arouse suspicion, Lord Rahl was very suspicious, it was how he had stayed in power all those years until the Seeker came along and made the prophecy come true. Maybe if I handed the Keeper the Seeker then it would double my reward. The possibilities were endless, I could take over every part of the world and unite them all under one rule, my rule. I could see them all bowing before me now and it impressed me, I could taste power and I wanted it for myself, I would have it.