"I don't like sending her away." Richard said softly as he and Kahlan watched two of their best worriers ride off through the trees with their daughter.

"She couldn't stay here."

He turned around, instantly grabbing her shoulders and pulling her close. "Maybe you should go with her. You can protect her. You can-"

"We've gone through this. Richard, I'm not going to hide. Emma will be safe with them. You've hidden them from everyone but those whom they are to find. She will be safe."

"But you may not be." He said as he gave her a gentle shake. His body frustrated as his thoughts were consumed by the fear of losing her. He had already, more times than he could stand, come so close to losing her and he knew if it happened just once more, he wouldn't survive. He didn't want to. "Let me hide you." He whispered, his eyes filling with tears as he awaited her answer. She opened her mouth and he knew what she was going to say. Her eyes said it all. "You don't have to leave, but I can hide you from them. They won't be able to hurt you."

Suddenly she realized what he had done. "You already have." She breathed out softly. Her heart was pounding in anger at the thought of his betrayal. "You've already hidden me. That's why- Richard!" She pushed him away from her. "How could you? Undo it." She said sternly. Her eyes locked on his and for the first time since she remembered who he was, she read him. "This was not your decision to make. Undo it."

The look on her face tore him apart, but he couldn't bring himself to do as she asked. Each moment that he spent with her only made his mind grow darker in fear. Each night, he had awoken covered in sweat after the nightmares of watching her die. He would roll onto his side and pull her into his arms, needing her against him, just to help him breathe again. He didn't know why he feared this fight, but he was sure he wasn't going to risk her life. Hiding her from all the enemy was the only thing he was able to think of to protect her and he only wished that she understood.

"I can't." He whispered softly, allowing the tears to fall freely down his cheeks. "I can't bare it."

She nodded her head, turned around and walked out of the room, leaving him standing alone in tears. Rushing down the hallway, Kahlan searched for the blonde woman, hoping that there was a way to remove the spell Richard had placed on her.

"I'm sorry." Nicci said as she turned towards The Mother Confessor. "His magic is too powerful to be removed by anyone other than himself." Seeing the look on her face, she stepped closer. "His nightmares, they are the reason for the spell."

"How did you know about his nightmares?"

"He came to me, days ago. He needed to know how to do the spell to protect you from them coming to pass."

"He dreamt of my death?" She questioned breathlessly as she began to understand why it had been so hard on him. "Why didn't he say anything?"

Nicci smiled, it was one of the few times Kahlan had seen her smile in such a comforting way. "He knew you would not listen. You are like him. If your roles were reversed, would he allow you to do as he has done to you?"

"No."

"He did what he thought he had to. He put the spell on you yesterday and he did not have the nightmare last night. He believes he has protected you."

She hated herself. Instantly, she reached up and pushed the hair from her face letting out a soft sigh of frustration. "Do you believe in the nightmares?"

"He does and that is all that matters. They hold power over him in the fear that they will come true, if he believes that they will, fate will find a way to make it happen. If you are to die in this battle, his spell will not protect you."

"But you didn't tell him that, did you?"

"No. If I had you would be unconscious and tied to a horse on your way out of the city with your daughter. As long as he believes that you are safe, his dreams have no power over him."

"Don't you see? By putting the spell of me, they have taken over him. He is in their power because he is doing what he can to keep it from happening. If I am to die, he must let me."

"That was the first thing I told him and it nearly killed him. So we made other arrangements. He could let you die, no more than you could him. Your feelings for each other weaken your ability to survive."

Kahlan turned around, her white dress flowing around her legs as she rushed out of the room and back down the hallway. Richard had feared his dreams would come true so much that he had gone to Nicci, the one woman, who he had said he couldn't trust. Maybe he was right. She walked through the halls quickly, turning herself to move through the guards and servants that prepared for the battle that would soon take over the palace. She tried to imagine what Richard had dreamt and why she hadn't pushed him to talk to her about it when he had woken her in the night as he pulled her into his arms.

Part of her had hoped that he would tell her on his own, but when the morning would arrive, she found herself waking alone and just in time to see him walking quietly out of their bedroom. She knew once they left the room, their conversations were only on what was to come and never about something that went on during the night. What if he had told her? She wondered for a moment. Even if he had, she knew that she wouldn't have understood, not like she did now.

He was standing where she had left him, almost an hour ago. His shoulders hung forward as he stared out of the window. She slowed her pace for a moment, reconsidering her own thoughts as she came closer. Dismissing her fears, she grabbed him and turned him around, kissing him the instant she was able. He stood frozen in shock for a moment, his mind trying to understand why she wasn't angry with him any longer, but the way her lips moved over his caused his thoughts to flee his mind. Wrapping his arms around her, Richard pulled her roughly against him as he turned them. Pushing her back against the window, he moaned into her mouth as she pulled him impossibly closer.

Breaking their kiss, Kahlan grabbed his face in her hands, holding it in place as she pressed her forehead against his. "I'm sorry, Richard." She said breathlessly. "I'm so sorry."

Shaking his head, he closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he rubbed his hands up and down her arms, his mind needing the contact as proof of her life. "I should have told you." He whispered as he realized where she must have gone. "I didn't want to worry you." Lightly running her fingers through his hair, she sighed. "I won't do it, Kahlan. I won't remove the spell."

"I know."

Opening his eyes, he pulled his head from hers so that he was able to look at her. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't. Not this time."

Her word choice didn't go unnoticed. "Not ever." He corrected her softly. "Kahlan I can't lose you."

"I know, but Richard, you can't stop-"

"I will try."

Smiling, she leaned her head back against the window. "I don't doubt it."

His heart pounded as he stared at her, the way her hair fell around her face, covering her shoulders, made his hunger for her grow. She continued running her fingers through his hair, watching the way his eyes moved slowly over her. The warmth of his breath hit her chest and she lost herself. Closing her eyes, Kahlan pulled him close, inviting him to devour her the way she needed him to. Reaching up, he pulled at her dress, pushing it from her shoulders the moment he had the laces loose enough.

The window was cold against her back as her dress dropped to the floor, revealing her to him. Quickly, he lifted her feet from the floor, pressing her harder against the window as she wrapped her legs around his waist. His eyes opened for a brief moment, seeing that she would be exposed to those who walked on the other side of the window. Pulling her forward, he took a few steps to the side, taking her with him and removing her from anyone's line of sight. Quickly, he pushed her backwards into the marble of the wall as she pulled his shirt over her head.

Her nails raked across his back, over his shoulders as she pulled him closer to her. Using her legs, she tried to push his pants from his waist, growing frustrated when she realized they weren't going to budge. With a soft growl, she pushed him back and reached between them, pulling loose the strings of his pants, grateful that he hadn't worn his belt. She pushed his pants to the floor, leaning back against the wall to make it easier for him to step out of the cloth. The coolness of the marble against her back was countered by the warmth of his body pressing her to it. Their lips crashed together, bumping teeth and tongues as they tried to get even closer to their lover. Her legs tightened around him as they moved together, her body growing weak as her magic built up within her.

Kahlan held him to her as he lowered them to the ground. Her eyes at last regaining their blue color as he rested his head against her chest, his arms pressed firmly to her sides. Once again, she ran her fingers through his hair, messaging his head slightly as she stared up at the ceiling, trying to find her breath. Turning his head, Richard began pressing his lips to her chest, giving her chills as he blew over the sweat that covered her. Sliding her eyes closed, she leaned her head back as she pulled his face closer, her body already begging for his.

Reconnecting their lips, he rolled them over, smiling at the sudden look of surprise on her face. "What's wrong?" he asked as she looked behind her.

Looking back to him, cheeks red Kahlan shook her head. "I didn't close the door."

His smile widened as he looked over to it. "Yes you did."

Shaking her head faster, she closed her eyes, trying not to laugh. "No, I didn't. Someone else must have."

"Are you sure?"

Nodding, she reached up, pushing the hair from her face as she closed her eyes embarrassed. "I did not close the door."

Running the back of his hand over her stomach, he let out a soft laugh. "At least they didn't interrupt us." Her eyes met his instantly, her cheeks red as she wondered what they may have seen. "They closed the door, no one else saw us."

Dropping her hand to his chest, she traced her fingers over his skin. "Then they will not see us now."

Blood splattered onto her face as she pulled her dagger free of the neck of the man before her. Though she would never tell him, the spell Richard had placed on her to hide her from their enemy had made it easier for her to stay close to him. He kept her in his sight at every turn, making sure that she was safe. She was invisible to everyone she came against. Walking cleanly before one of their opponents, she simply reached out, cutting their throats open before they had a moment to think. The fire and lightning that Richard used to inflame those who surrounded him, gave the area a light fog from the ash, the smell burning itself into their noses.

Suddenly realizing there was someone upon them, who they were unable to see, the army began plunging their swords out into the air, hoping to kill the one who surprised them. A sharp cry brought his eyes back to her in time to see a sword being pulled from her shoulder. Rushing forward, he cut through the men that rushed towards him and towards the cry of pain coming from his wife. The blood that dripped from her body trailed down to the floor, making it clear where she was. Ducking to avoid the swords and fists thrown in her direction, Kahlan moved backwards, trying to regain her step.

"The Seeker has hidden one!" A large man cried out as he swung his sword around through the air, hoping to hit her. "It must be his wife!"

The moment he had spoken those words, Richard slammed his body against his, knocking him to the ground as he looked to Kahlan. "Run!"

"I'm not leaving you." She said softly as she jumped to the side to avoid another swing of a sword. She could hear him screaming for her to run and hide, but his voice faded into her mind as she turned, cutting down the three men who reached out for her. One minute she was pulling her dagger from the chest of her enemy and the next she was standing in the center of the clearing that was only known to her and Richard.

Instantly, she rushed to the trees, trying to get to back to him, but was unable to force herself through the brush. Stomping her foot into the ground, she walked along the edge, trying to get through anywhere she was able. She could hear the cries of the battle raging on without her, the clash of the steel from their swords and the crackle of lighting; she had come to know as Richard's.

"Mother Confessor." She turned quickly, shocked by the familiar voice.

"I thought you had left. You had no reason to stay."

Shaking her head, Nicci stepped into the clearing, reaching for the other woman. "Come, there is a battle to win."

"I can't. Richard-"

"Sent me for you. I am not to bring you back, but we both know better. Come, we must hurry." Grabbing her arm, Nicci pulled her into the trees. "The spell on you has been broken; he was not able to keep it after transporting you here."

"Why did he-"

"He did not explain, only returned to me a portion of my magic and sent me to take you away."

Confused, Kahlan shook her head as she pulled her arm from the other woman. "What? When?"

"We do not have time for your questions, if you wish to have answers; you will miss the opportunity to protect the ones you love."

"Let's go."