Yay! We're going to have a baby! Thanks for all the comments everyone! I really do appreciate them and look forward to what you think!

Domination (Chapter 4)

The dark shadows of the room shifted intermittently as the wind blew through the trees, the leaves murmuring softly to themselves. Morning would soon arrive and there was much work to be done. Plans were already underway even though Mistress Kiana had yet to leave D'Hara. She had a very capable Sister leading the army of the Mord'Sith now occupying Glenshire; soon she would be joining them. Until then, they knew their orders and would carry them out to the absolute letter or suffer the consequences. Now was not the time for error or bad judgment. The Mord'Sith were on the precipice of ultimate power and control.

Saul had returned with very interesting news. Kiana had warned Saul not to reveal himself or do anything to the Seeker or Mother Confessor under any condition. He had been sent strictly on a fact finding mission and was ordered to not deviate from it for any reason.

The intriguing news he brought could definitely be useful in her campaign to take over the Midlands. It all depended on how she chose to use it to her advantage. She could make the Mother Confessor and Seeker suffer endless torment if she wished or end their misery with the snap of her fingers. How far would the Seeker go to protect his lover and their unborn child? What would the Mother Confessor be willing to sacrifice for her Seeker and the child she carried? The possibilities were endless.

Fastening the final button on her deep crimson outfit, she ran her hand over the smooth form-fitting leather. Looking back at the man still sleeping soundly in her bed, she huffed in irritation, her mouth twisted into a sneer. Men could be so useless at times. They had their function of course in instances like these, but they were always so inferior in every way.

"If you don't want to feel a cold agiel slammed into your back, you had better get ready now. We leave within the hour," Kiana hissed as she moved past the bed to her dressing table. Wizard or no wizard, Kiana was not about to put her plans on hold for any man, not even one that shared her bed.

Saul grunted his acknowledgement before finally stirring awake. He groaned as he sat up on the edge of the bed, running his hand through his thick black hair. Kiana could take him to the ultimate heights of pleasure, but the morning after always felt like he had wrestled with a gar and lost miserably. Kiana was, however, always worth the pain. It never stopped him from returning to her bed for more.

"Coming, my love," he grumbled, rolling his eyes as he hung his head trying to shake the sleepy fog from his brain.

Kiana strode towards the wizard sitting on the edge of her bed, a smile creeping across her face. Running her finger lightly under his chin, she gently lifted his head to look her in the eye. Moving to stand between his legs, Kiana leaned in close, brushing her lips temptingly against his. Saul moaned with delighted arousal at her affectionate attention so early in the morning. She was usually all business the morning after a long sweaty night of intimacy. He quickly responded, though, grasping her petite waist and pulling her closer to him.

Kiana suddenly bit down on his lip, drawing blood and causing him to jerk back in shock and pain. "You know you're nothing more than a play thing to me," Kiana seductively whispered as she pulled his face back to hers, dragging her tongue across his lips to taste him. Licking the blood from his lip, Kiana pulled back. "I can have you disemboweled at any moment I wish…my love."

Saul internally trembled at the ferocity of her words as he watched her stroll from the room. He did know that she could eliminate him at her whim, but somehow she had managed to seduce him and he couldn't break free from her allure or the pleasure she could bring him. He had always heard that Mord'Sith were the best lovers, that they knew things that other women didn't know in how to bring a man to unimaginable heights of ecstasy. Kiana had managed to prove all those rumors true and then some.

He believed a part of him had truly fallen in love with this beautiful calculating woman. She had fascinated and enchanted him from the moment he had first laid eyes on her. He also knew deep down that she would be his untimely death. He was going to die either way so he had decided months ago that he was going to enjoy himself until that fateful moment arrived.

Groaning under his breath as he lowered his feet to the cold stone floor, Saul gingerly made his way to where he had left his clothes hours earlier. Running a hand over the various bruises that covered his arms and trunk, he knew that if Kiana didn't kill him in one of her infamous furious tirade, she would most definitely kill him in her bed.

A tall, handsome man with shoulder length wavy black hair, dark hazel eyes and broad shoulders, Saul was by no means someone to threaten, being a powerful Wizard of the Second Order. He knew, though, that his magical powers were no match for a Mord'Sith. His handsome good looks could have won him the affections of any woman in D'Hara or the Midlands for that matter, but he had fallen for Kiana and no other woman would ever compare.

He shuddered to think that death could possibly be lurking just around the next corner or that Kiana could dispose of him at any moment. Thirty was such a young age to lose one's life. But, if he survived to see Kiana gain control of all three territories, then perhaps he could convince her to let him rule by her side.

His thoughts began to drift back to what he had seen just hours earlier. The Mother Confessor standing by the water, tears spilling down her cheeks. The Seeker finding her, talking so tenderly to her as he drew her into his arms. Her confession to him that she carried his child.

The depth of love that he saw emanating between them had caused him to stand mesmerized; watching in amazement the love that surrounded and enveloped them. He had never seen a love like theirs. It was so complete and absolute, so pure and beautiful to behold.

Even though disguised as a raven, Saul had felt like an intruder who had been granted an uninvited glimpse into the deep passionate love that smoldered between the two lovers. In that moment, he had forgotten that it was the Mother Confessor and the Seeker, that these two people were his sworn enemies. For a brief second, Saul even felt a twinge of regret for the agonizing horror that was looming in their near future.

Shaking off the momentary guilt, he had quietly made his escape as the Seeker began to kiss his lover. While making his way back to D'Hara and Kiana, Saul had wondered what it would be like to experience a love like the Seeker and Confessor; to feel that intimate, all-consuming love with Kiana. Did he truly love Kiana the way the Seeker did his Confessor? At times in the past, Saul felt that he did, but now after seeing it displayed so openly before him, he wasn't so sure.

Did Kiana feel anything for him at all? Saul knew that she did not possess the magnitude of love that the Mother Confessor held for her Seeker, but did Kiana feel anything for him? They had been together for several months now so he must mean something to her, something more than just a lover to occupy her bed.

Fastening his belt around his robe, Saul began to wonder what it would be like to have a child with Kiana. Would she be the least bit excited? Would she marry him if that happened or even keep the child? Feeling a sudden warm rush in his heart, Saul was startled to feel the happiness that sudden washed over him at the thought of having a child with Kiana. It was something that he had never thought about, had never occurred to him. It was something he would have to consider, but not now.

Choosing to cling to a future with Kiana rather than an untimely death, Saul hurriedly found his boots and put them on. He surely didn't want to infuriate his lover or keep her waiting. That would certainly speed up his demise. Although, if he was the father of her child, would Kiana be so quick to eliminate him? He just hoped in the end that he knew what he was doing.

XXX

Richard kept a vigilant eye on Kahlan who was walking ahead of him with Cara. They were still a good three days walk to Aydindril, at least a day or more to Glenshire. The Seeker's mind was swimming with so many thoughts and emotions. Elation, amazement, shock, love, fear, worry. He wanted nothing more than to be a good husband to Kahlan, to take care of her and love her for the rest of their lives; to be a good father to their children. Kahlan deserved nothing but the absolute best. Could he really give her what she deserved?

Casting a sidelong look at his grandson, Zedd smiled to himself as he noticed Richard deep in thought, his gazed focused on Kahlan, his brow furrowed with worry. Zedd had begun to suspect that something more that ayon poisoning was going on with Kahlan when she had started vomiting yesterday morning. During their day of travel, he had been able to walk alone with Kahlan and talk to her privately about her symptoms.

Kahlan had initially scoffed at the idea of being with child, but had begun to consider it more as the day had wore on. When they had been left alone to set up camp, she had asked Zedd to use his magic to see if she was pregnant. When he had told her the news, Kahlan had become upset as worry about Richard and continuing with him on his mission gripped her. She knew that Richard would never allow her to continue the quest if she was pregnant.

Zedd had told her that she couldn't continue on with the quest in her condition and was going to have to tell Richard soon. He knew how fiercely protective Kahlan was of Richard and how difficult it would be for him to continue his search for the Stone without her. Richard would never allow her to continue with him, the necessity of protecting Kahlan being foremost in Richard's heart. Zedd had reminded her that as one of only two living Confessors, the need to continue her line was of dire necessity.

Zedd had been overjoyed for Richard and Kahlan and the child they were going to have, but his happiness was mixed with overwhelming sorrow. These two loved ones deserved a chance to build a life and a family together. They had both sacrificed so much for the welfare of others, had put themselves in the face of danger and potential death countless times. He hoped they would still have that chance with so much peril lying in wait for them in the days to come.

"You're going to go cross-eyed if you keep staring at her like that, my boy," Zedd chuckled as he clapped his grandson on the back, startling Richard out of his thoughts.

"Sorry, I can't help it, Zedd," Richard smiled broadly at his grandfather. "I can hardly believe Kahlan and I are going to have a baby." The Seeker's face practically glowed with love and excited anticipation as he spoke the words.

"I'm truly happy for you both," Zedd replied. "Was Kahlan sick again this morning?"

"I'm afraid so," he muttered still absorbed by his thoughts, questions barraging his mind. "How much longer do you think Kahlan will be sick like this?"

"It's difficult to say. Confessors react differently than a normal woman when it comes to being pregnant. I'm afraid there can be a wide range of symptoms that can go along with this. We'll just have to wait and see how Kahlan reacts to it."

"Isn't there anything you can do for her?"

"It would be too dangerous for the baby; it's best to stick with herbal remedies for now."

"Once we stop Kiana, I would like you to stay with Kahlan in Aydindril while Cara and I continue the search for the Stone. I don't want Kahlan in any more danger than she has to be," he breathed heavily with the weight of his concern.

"I will protect her with my life," he reassured his grandson.

"I know; thank you, Zedd," he replied. "I've asked Kahlan to marry me."

"And what did she say?"

"She said yes," he chuckled as he stopped to eye his grandfather, initially startled by Zedd's question. Seeing the mischievous gleam in the old Wizard's eye, Richard shook his head as they continued following the Mother Confessor and Mord'Sith.

Walking in comfortable silence for several minutes, Richard finally revealed to his grandfather the fears that he had been harboring in his heart. "Zedd, what if I can't protect her?" he softly asked, not taking his eyes off his lover as she walked ahead of them talking with Cara.

Watching her walk, the fluid movement of her hips, the uplifting sound of her laughter, the twinkle in her eye as she cast a glance at him over her shoulder – she was just so mesmerizing to behold, taking the very breath from his lungs. He had never felt such an intense overpowering love for anyone until he had met her. And now she was with child…his child.

"Richard, I have no doubt in my mind that you are more than capable of protecting Kahlan and your child. Just remember, you are not alone. Cara and I will do everything in our power to keep her safe," he promised, patting his grandson's back.

"Hey, you two!" Cara called out to them. "The pregnant Confessor needs to rest. We're stopping here for lunch."

Discovering they again had come to a stop as they talked, Richard and Zedd turned at the sound of the Mord'Sith's voice to see that Kahlan and Cara had taken a detour from the trail to rest along a quiet river lined with trees. Richard smiled to himself at Cara's sudden protectiveness of Kahlan which had grown considerably since making their announcement just earlier that morning.

"I'm going to hunt for some game I saw over towards that forest. Make sure she rests," Cara instructed them before heading out.

"Yes, Ma'am; I'll personally see to it," Richard smiled as he shook his head in disbelief. Cara had abruptly become so mothering. It was an interesting transformation to witness to say the least.

"I'm sure you will," she huffed, rolling her eyes.

"And if you'll excuse me, I believe I saw an orchard with some very delicious fruit growing over in that direction. I'll be back shortly," Zedd hungrily announced as Richard made his way towards Kahlan who was kneeling down at the river's edge to fill the water skins.

"How are you doing?" Richard asked as he knelt down beside her to help.

"I'm fine; just a little tired that's all," she looked up with a soft smile.

"Here, let me take care of these while you rest," he offered as he took the skin from her hands.

"Richard, I'm pregnant, not helpless," she lightly chuckled at his over protectiveness. This was going to be a long nine months if he kept this up.

"I know, but I can't have my future wife thinking that I'm not taking proper care of her," he teased, love shining in his brown eyes.

"I would never think that of you. Why don't you help me fill the water skins and then we can both rest together while we wait for Zedd and Cara to return."

"Bargain struck," he quickly decided, more than delighted at the thought of holding Kahlan in his arms under the comforting shade of the tall trees lining the river.

Settling his back against the trunk of a large tree, Richard held his hand out to Kahlan. Taking his hand, Kahlan settled down close beside him, leaning into his waiting arms. Resting her head against his chest, Kahlan smiled to herself as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, curling up into his warm embrace. Nuzzling her nose into the crook of his neck, she breathed deeply, inhaling the woodsy scent that was her Richard, her future husband and the father of her child.

Kahlan thought that she had never been happier than she was at that moment. As Richard gently stroked her hair and held her in his arms, Kahlan could scarcely believe she was going to marry the man she loved more than life and that she was carrying his child.

As sleep rapidly began to claim her, Kahlan sighed contentedly despite the wave of nausea that assaulted her at any given moment. All they had to do was stop Kiana, find the Stone, seal the rift and defeat the Keeper. Then, she and Richard could be married and raise the family they so desperately wanted together.

Richard closed his eyes as he pressed his lips to the top of Kahlan's head. He gently stroked her long, beautiful hair that he loved, his hand gliding over the soft silky strands. Leaning his head back, he couldn't help the smile that crept to his lips. He had never been as happy in his entire life as he was at that moment. The woman he loved was sleeping in his arms, the child they had lovingly created developing within her. He could hardly believe that she was going to be his wife.

As sleep began to claim him as well, Richard couldn't fathom what he had ever done to deserve a woman like Kahlan. Whatever it was, he steadfastly resolved to treasure and protect her at any cost.

As the Seeker and Mother Confessor slept contentedly under the shade of the trees, they were unaware of the eyes that were watching their every move…

* I can never leave them alone and let them be happy, can I? :)