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Zedd had just finished yet another apple and was feeding the core to his mount when he caught a flash of movement in the corner of his eye. He turned his head to the left and saw Richard charging towards him. Kahlan wasn't far behind and she had something in her arm. A person? he questioned. Behind the two he could see Cara walking, also holding something in her arms, and cautiously looking around for any possible lurking threats.

"Zedd, she needs healing! Quick!". The old wizard ignored the aches in his bones and stood abruptly, making his way over. "Place her on the grass there", he pointed a boney finger in front of him. The Mother Confessor put the woman down as gently as possible, not wanting to cause her anymore pain, even if she was unconscious. She knelt in the grass and put the woman's head on her lap.

When the Mord-Sith caught up, she carelessly threw what she was carrying next to the woman on the ground. Deep blue eyes gave her a questioning look. That was thoughtful of her. The blonde shrugged, "I found this in the temple for her to wear. Since we can't have her running around half naked. Although it wouldn't be the worst thing ever". She curled her lips into a devious smirk at the last part, causing the brunette's eyes to linger on her full lips before breaking eye contact. Get it together Kahlan.

The wizard quickly got to work hovering his hands over the woman's body. He closed his eyes in concentration. Something wasn't right. It was unlike any energy he had sensed before. It felt both endless and barely there, which was impossible, unless…

"We need to get rid of the raderhaun. I believe it may be creating a blockage in her energy field, i'm not able to sense the true damage". Richard ran his hands through his sandy brown hair, "We couldn't find a key Zedd! How are we going to get it off?". The old wizard smiled, "Never fear my boy, there are other ways. In theory, I can cast a spell to conjure a raderhaun key, it will appear and then we can unlock it".

Zedd closed his eyes and held both of his palms in front of him while chanting an incantation. In a few seconds, a puff of smoke erupted in his right hand, and a bronze key appeared. He opened his eyes, and knelt on one knee to quickly undo the raderhaun, throwing it a few feet into the grass. Once again holding his boney hands over the girl, he sensed the same thing. This couldn't be possible.

Before the others could register the confused expression on his face, he began to heal the woman's injuries starting at her head. As he chanted, wisps of orange light from his hands shone on her body and she began to slowly heal. But something still wasn't right. Her more minor wounds healed, some bruises and cuts were gone, and her eye was un-swollen, but her body stubbornly refused to completely heal.

Kahlan had be admiring how beautiful the woman's face was when it was un-swollen when she looked up, "Zedd.. what's wrong? Why is it taking so long?". The wizard frowned again and stopped what he was doing. "I'm not sure. Her body is rejecting my magic and i'm almost completely drained. I have a theory but-", Cara cut him off, "She's a valkyrie". Grey, bushy eye brows rose slightly, "We can't be sure-", "Yes, we can. She bears the mark on her side". The blonde pointed to a dark spot just above the woman's right hip bone. It was difficult to see underneath the dark purple mark left from countless assaults from an agiel, but if one looked closely enough they could make out a intricate wing with a sword piercing it, wrapped in a circle of flames. Kahlan sighed, "Of course..". It all made sense now.

Richard had be watching the scene in front of him, and was unable to contain his questions any further. "Wait, why isn't she healing? And what is a valkyrie?". Zedd stood from his position, placing a hand on the small of his aching back before continuing, "She's not healing because she's immune to most forms of magic. I was able to heal her to an extent because i'm a wizard of the first order. Don't fear, valkyries heal very quickly. As for what they are, they are essentially a group of women who bring nobel dead warriors to Valhalla. You could say they are guardian angels of warriors. They are also immortal in the sense that every few hundred years they re-begin their life cycle". The wizard paused to let the new information sink in.

Kahlan tucked a stray blonde hair away from the beautiful face resting on her lap. Her chiselled, nordic features were almost hypnotizing. They almost reminded her of another blonde's perfect face. She looked up and exchanged a worried glance with the Mord-Sith, who was looking down at the two women below her. She was seemingly bored with the current conversation going on between the wizard and his grandson, and has decided to study the new woman. The blonde stared emotionlessly into bright blue pools before looking around the field for any signs of danger. I hate it when she looks at me like that. Cara closed her eyes for a moment, scolding herself for caring again. Weak.

Richard furrowed his eye brows in confusion at the new information. "What is a Valhalla?". Zedd took a short pause to process the fact that someone had been foolish enough to hold a valkyrie captive, torture her, and from how bare her neck now was, steal her pendant. "When the creator sealed the underworld with the Keeper in it, she was pregnant with his child. The son she had, Odin, was a perfect mixture of good and evil. She created a sort of warrior heaven, where those worthy would go after death, called Valhalla. Her son looks over Valhalla and created valkyries to transport the noblest of souls. The creator believed that brave, and nobel warriors should be rewarded with an afterlife better then that of an eternity in the underworld. By nature, confessors automatically go to Valhalla", he paused to look at Kahlan for confirmation, and the brunette nodded. "Other warriors are judged by Odin and the valkyries themselves. However, once in a blue moon, a valkyrie may find her one true warrior with whom she bonds with for life. She then stays with them to guard and protect them in their causes until death where they both spend eternity in Valhalla". Richard nodded his head in understanding, but still slightly confused.

Cara shifted uncomfortable at the last part the wizard had said. Kahlan noticed and reached up to place a comforting hand on her forearm. Blue orbs silently questioned green ones. The mord-sith looked away. The blonde, even unconscious, stirred something new and unknown inside of her. She wasn't sure she liked it. The blonde risked a glance at Kahlan and felt something totally different. It was a warmer feeling, but not as strong as the pull she had to the unconscious woman below her. It was all very foreign to the mord-sith. This has to stop. Carefully putting her mask back on, reining in her emotions, she turned her body back fully to the scene before her.

Kahlan finally spoke up, "It's going to be dark soon. We should make a camp near by. Hopefully she comes to by morning". Everyone except Cara nodded in agreement.

After setting up camp a few feet away from the clearing, Cara had gone to hunt, and Zedd was busy trying to salvage the stew the mord-sith started to make. Richard finally had a moment to talk to Kahlan alone. She was by the unconscious valkyrie's side when he came up behind her. "Soo.. I was thinking maybe tonight we could share a bedroll and spend some time together?"

When the brunette looked up he had his signature goofy grin and sported hopeful eyes . She considered shouting at him about how inappropriate that was considering their current situation, or how she hadn't even slept next to him months, or how she felt far more comfortable sleeping next to Cara. But she chose to put her confessors mask firmly in place, not letting her irritation show, "Richard, I don't think that would be a good idea. Besides, i'm taking care of this woman tonight. We can discuss this further at a later time". The seeker was shocked at the cold rejection he had just gotten. Lately Kahlan had been distancing herself from him, and he couldn't figure out why.

Without a word he walked a few feet over to the fire and sat down on a log beside Zedd. His grandfather gave him a sympathetic look, and patted him on the shoulder, offering him some words of advice, "Don't rush her my boy, she will be ready when she's ready". The seeker nodded weakly.