Opening her eyes, she sighed, realizing he was still holding her in his arms. She must have fallen asleep, but it couldn't have been for long. The fire was still popping and his hold was just as tight, making her question her next move. His heart was steady beneath her hand. He was awake.

"You must be tired," she whispered, fighting the urge to lift her head and meet his eyes.

"I'm fine," he told her without hesitation. "You were only asleep for a few minutes, I think you're the one who's tired."

Pulling the towel to her chest, she sat up and did her best to avoid his gaze. "I'm going to be able to sleep my fill in a few days. I think I'll manage a night without it."

"Kahlan-"

"Please... There is no denying what's to come." Moving to her feet, she stepped over him, making sure her body was shielded. "Turn away please." Richard closed his eyes and turned his head, allowing her to drop the towel onto him as she stepped into her bath. "Thank you."

"It must be cool by now..." Sitting up himself, he looked at her face, studying the expression he had come to know very well. "Would it be all right if I helped it reheat?"

"It's all right, Richard. I'm fine."

Laying his arms on the side of the bathtub, the Seeker frowned. "You should be comfortable."

Her smile was warm and comforting and for the first time there was no fear in her eyes. "I am, thank you." To his surprise, she reached out and laid her right hand over his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to stay here. I'll be-"

"I know you'll be fine, but I won't. I can't go to my room and lay in bed while I stare at the roof, waiting for morning to come and then... I can't watch you leave."

"And I can't let you watch me die."

"I know."

Without thought, Richard brought his left hand to her cheek and frowned. "I'm sorry, Kahlan. I should have- I should have protected you."

"You did," she whispered, taking in the warmth of his touch. "This isn't your fault. No one could have known what the blade was."

"I should have taken the wound. If I had been faster- Kahlan, if I had fought him instead, he couldn't have hurt you." Closing his eyes, he lowered his head, hoping to keep her from being able to read him clearly as he replayed the battle in his mind. He had seen the man approach and the feeling he had of pride as he watched her spin around fell with his heart as he let his mind focus on his intent. "I love you, Kahlan."

He heard the water move, but he didn't look up, he couldn't. "You know how I feel about you Richard, but you will be able to find someone and-"

"Don't say that," he pleaded softly. "Kahlan, you know me-"

"I know you will find happiness, even if it's without me." Her words opened his eyes and brought them to hers and to his surprise, she allowed him to see her tears. "I'm not saying I'm thrilled about it..."

He knew she was trying to ease the mood and keep herself from revealing too much, but she wore an expression he had never seen before. Taking her face in his hands, he licked his lips as he tried to read it. "I will never love anyone the way I love you."

"You don't know that, Richard."

"I know two things. The love I have for you, I never thought it could exist and if I lose you, I will never allow myself to feel this way again."

Her head tilted in sadness as she reached for his hands and pulled them into hers. "You cannot stop your heart from loving someone. You have your life ahead of you, a family waiting to-"

"You're the only woman I've imagined a family with. Kahlan, how can I start a family with another woman when I know they won't be ours? I know you believe I shouldn't love you and that I will realize that when you're gone, but you're wrong."

Blinking through her tears, she shook her head and leaned forward against the bathtub. "I could never give you a family, but someone else, she can. Nothing could ever come of us."

"I don't believe that's true," he whispered. "I'd give everything for a life with you."

"Me too," she said softly. She was dying and there was no need for her hide her feelings anymore.

His lips were suddenly upon hers and she returned the kiss just as hungry. Releasing his hands, she brought hers to his face and pulled him close, moving up to remove more space between them. With his hands sliding over the silky skin on the back of her shoulders, he found himself wishing for more.

Richard pulled her closer, doing his best to soak in her warmth for as long as possible. Her fingers were wound in his hair, keeping him near as she tilted her head and deepened their kiss. He wanted to touch her, to pull her from the water and lay over her for the rest of the night. He wanted to give her everything imaginable, a night unlike every other and for the first time, show her what they could have. From the passion in her kiss he knew she had similar desires, but he could feel something she wouldn't speak to. She always hid a part of herself away and he felt it sneak away in the first moment of their kiss.

She would swallow fire to protect him and her magic was no different. She feared the loss of his soul and would do anything to keep him safe. With the thought in his mind, he lifted until they were both standing. He expected her to step back, to break their kiss and rethink, but she didn't. Pulling a breath away, he pressed his forehead to hers and held his eyes closed. He knew she was looking at him and he didn't have to look to see the embarrassment and confusion in her eyes.

"I love you, Richard." Her words were soft and breathless, spoken in a tone he had rarely heard.

His lips pulled into a wide smile as he tightened his arms around her. He could feel her chest pushing into his with each of her deep breaths and he began to wonder if she could feel his heart thumping rapidly. There were so many things he wanted to say to her and knowing the words she spoke were rare made him bring his eyes to hers and say the only thing meaning as much, "And I love you. I always will."

"I know you don't want to talk about this, but I-"

Shaking his head, he took hold of both her hands and held onto his smile. "Come lay down with me."

"Richard-"

He knew where her mind went, where her thoughts lingered and before she could continue down their trail, he stepped forward. "I won't look at you, I promise."

She hesitated for a moment, opening her mouth to speak before thinking it over and deciding against the action. Her heart raced in a way she could never describe and being completely naked before him did nothing to help. "You don't want to?" she whispered in a mixture of embarrassment, shame and desire.

Confused, he tilted his head and fought his instinct to do what came naturally. "The desire is not something I lack Kahlan, but I assure you, my imagination is running wild."

Her breath caught in her throat. There was something in his eyes and he gave no effort to hide it from her. Licking her lips, she bought herself a moment to find her voice. "You can put it to rest..." His eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't look away from hers. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that." Looking down, she pulled her hands from his and attempted to cover herself in embarrassment.

Taking hold on her arms, he stopped her movements. "Don't do that. I know what you're thinking, but I also know how much fear you are holding onto right now. Kahlan, you don't have to be afraid. I'm not going to-"

"I want you to," she whispered suddenly, needing him to know the truth. "I will be dead in days, this- This is the only chance I have to know what you think of me."

"You're beautiful," he replied. "I don't have to look upon you to know that. I know you, Kahlan-"

"Please..."

"Come with me," he said tenderly. Taking her hand, he stepped to the side, giving her room to step out of the bathtub easily. He led her to the bed, moving slowly to be sure she wouldn't slip. "Here," he whispered, turning them both so that she stood before him and against the large bed. With a gentle motion, he lowered her onto the thick blankets, easing her farther up until she was fully laid out before him. Crawling onto the bed himself, he held her eyes as he moved to straddle her, making sure she had time to change her mind. His mind raced in anticipation, imaging how the night would go on. Coming to a stop just below her hips, he licked his lips. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." The word was breathless and soft as a secret.

His eyes moved slowly, leaving hers and coming to her lips, taking note on the way she parted them for a breath. Looking from her jaw to her neck, he found himself wondering how such perfect skin was created and as he continued to explore, he found his gaze upon her chest, so close to her breasts he couldn't breathe. The sight before him was more perfect than he could imagine and he had tried more times than he was able to remember. Lowering his gaze further, he did his best to keep his eyes from lingering on the scars, one in particular. Her stomach was tight and fit, but held signs of war and pain. Her stomach raised higher as she began to breathe heavier in fear.

Bringing his eyes back to hers, he licked his lips. "I'm afraid words are unable to describe how beautiful you are." Tears began to fill her eyes at his words covering a small portion of relief within them. "Don't cry."

Moving slowly, she sat up and reached forward, touching her right hand to his face. "You are..." As she wiped her thumb across cheek, she found herself more comfortable than she had ever been and there was a safeness she had never known to exist. There were no words to describe what she saw in his eyes. "Richard-"

"I'm sorry," he interrupted, slouching his shoulders forward. "I should have protected you. I should have taken the blade myself and saved you from-"

"No. You cannot do this to yourself. This is not your fault. Richard, please... You can't hold onto what happened. I do not blame you."

"I blame myself, Kahlan. I couldn't protect the woman I love and because I failed, I'm going to lose her. I will feel the loss with my every breath." Closing his eyes, he took in a slow; deep breath, "There will never be a moment where I won't think of you and what I've lost. To say it is a tragedy would not come close to the truth of it all."

"My death is not a tragedy, Richard. Look at me, I need you to understand." When their eyes met, she smiled and it almost spread across her face. "My life before you, had I died then, it would be a different story. Since I met you, everything has changed. I have had the chance to experience something I never thought I could. I've- I love you and in my final moments, my thoughts will not be on a battle I could not win, but on you. I leave this life with far more than I ever thought possible."

"It's not your life that should be lost."

"And it is not yours either. We cannot speak for the plans the spirits have and we can't change what is done. Everything we have ever faced and those we have fought, they brought us here to this moment. Though it is different than I would like, I am glad to be here."

He could see her calm before him and he knew there was nothing he could say that would change anything. She was preparing herself for what was to come and it pained him to know it had reached that point. There was so much she was going to miss and she was letting it happen without fight or truly living. Pushing his fingers into her hair, he moved her hair back behind her ear to show more of her face. He would never tire of the view. Her eyes closed as she allowed herself to feel his touch completely.

Taking advantage of the moment, he leaned forward and grazed his lips against hers, testing it. She returned his kiss in full and went with him as he pushed them onto the bed. Laying above her, he eased part of his weight onto her, removing any space between them. She shifted, instantly allowing him access to her completely as her arms wrapped around his neck. Their kiss deepened as they hungrily responded. His left hand slid down her side to her leg and gently pulled it upward, giving her a small amount of pressure where she didn't know she needed it.

Her head pushed back into the thick blankets, breaking their kiss and he wasted no time in continuing his actions. Moving his lips over her jaw and down her neck, sliding his tongue across her skin for a few breaths. Her fingers found their way to his hair and held him to her, soaking in every feeling he gave her. He covered her chest with his lips, kissing over every inch of her available. A loud gasp left her lips as he ran his tongue over her right breast. Her skin was soft and he could never describe the taste; the arousal that filled him.

Richard continued to move his hands, one squeezing her left breast while the other teased down her stomach. Her breaths came out in pants, her fingers switching between pulling on his hair and pushing into his scalp. Her body screaming for more while she tried to push her desire and needs down. He didn't stop as he switched between breasts, being sure to give them both the same amount of attention. His teeth grazed her skin gently as his fingers moved over her, bringing her to shove her arm into her mouth to muffle the scream of his name. The action didn't stop or slow him, only pushed him on to give her as much pleasure as possible.

His body ached for her, painfully restrained in his pants, but he did nothing to aid himself. Bringing his lips back to hers, he pushed forward, testing her. Her body accepted him instantly, tightening around his finger and pulling a long moan from deep within him. Her hips shifted, her body responding without delay and instinctively, she acted for more. Her leg lifted, pushing against him, making it more difficult for him to focus. His movements sped, though his intentions were to ease her into it.

Kahlan reached between them, unable to keep herself from acting. She unlaced his pants quickly, relieving the pain he felt from the restraint. He wanted to give her what she wanted, what her body cried out for, but he couldn't. He knew how it would make her feel, how her heart would break as her magic flew through him and if he entered her, he wouldn't be able to stop until they were lost together. Breaking their kiss, he buried his head in the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent as his fingers continued to move.

She would come undone soon and he knew she would hold on with everything she had. Within breaths, she withered beneath him, gasping his name as she tightened her hold, not only on his head, but his fingers as well. Her breathing began to slow, her arms loosening around him and as he lifted his head to meet her eyes, he felt himself panic for a moment at the sight.

Easing off of her, he pulled his hand back and reached to her face with his other. She was pale and her nose was bleeding, bringing his first action to be wiping his thumb beneath it. Her eyes could barely stay open, but she did her best to hold his as he shifted beside her.

"I love you," he whispered. Wrapping his right arm under her left, he rolled her onto her side and pulled himself against her, his face against her chest. He felt her body relax against his as she drifted to sleep, exhaustion and stress taking their toll.