Title: Lacunae - Chapter 4
Rating: M + - R / NC-17 / T+
Author: Collins Amnell aka herblueeyes aka redheadednursey
Note: 2 chapters in one day *SHOCKHORROR* I truly hope it makes up for the fact that its been so long since the last post :) I hope you all enjoy.
They left the tavern beneath an overcast sky after another night in the tavern. Rain sat heavy in the clouds as they rode out of the town. Roads slick with mud, streams had formed alongside the track, in places gushing across the road. They made good timing, stopping briefly to rest and stretch before continuing on towards Kahlan's home.
They reached a ravine late in the afternoon, a raging torrent of water cutting through the chasm beneath a long bridge that stretched across the divide. Pausing on the edge of the bridge, Richard dismounted, a frown creasing his forehead as he passed his reins up to Kahlan. He stepped up to the edge of the bridge, bracing his arms on the hand rails and testing its strength. It looked stable enough – but the supports that were holding it up were well under water and being pummelled by the raging torrents.
"I'll cross first." He called back, searching the bridge for weaknesses. The water was a turbulent rush of debris. Its tossing surface almost level with the bridge as it tore through the ravine. Turning back, his eyes met Kahlan's and he smiled. "Send the horses after me, and then follow once they are on the other side." Her return smile was strained as their gaze held. Be careful, her eyes told him. He nodded to her, his own eyes reassuring.
Cara's voice suddenly cut across the roar of the water. "The quicker we make it over the quicker we get to the other side." She looked bored from her seat on her mount, but Kahlan saw the way her whole body was tight with uncertainty.
They dismounted as Richard started out, slow but steady as he crossed the ravine. A sudden creaking and shuddering of the bridge caused her heart to stutter as she saw his fingers grip the holds tighter, but within moments he had crossed and stood safely on the other side. He motioned with his hands to send over the mounts and one by one their horses crossed, hesitating and pawing at the edge of the bridge before rushing across. Zedd went next, Kahlan and Cara close behind as the raging waters tumbled only inches beneath them.
Kahlan paused when she realised Cara was not following her and looking over her shoulder, the Mother Confessor found the Mord'Sith frozen in the middle of the bridge, one ear turned in the direction of the way they had come.
"Cara?" she called, stopping and turning back towards her friend, body tensed for flight should the bridge begin to fail. "What is it?" her own eyes scanning the bank behind them. Cara looked up, meeting Kahlan's eyes.
"Kahlan?" Richard's voice suddenly cut across the constant roar of the river. She waved a hand to him and flashed him a small, reassuring smile. Zedd stood with him too now, both on solid ground.
Stepping towards her, the Mord'Sith spoke. "Someone is following us." Eyes turning sharp, Kahlan took a step past Cara and searched the tree line. "You feel it too then?" she asked, facing Cara once more.
"You mean you knew we were being followed?" Anger flared and she held back a mad urge to hold the Confessor by her ankles over the raging torrent. She knew her eyes must have portrayed some measure of her anger because Kahlan took a step back before answering.
"No." She turned back briefly to give the tree line a sharp glance over once more. "I thought I felt someone watching Richard and I leave the campsite."
"Whilst you were?–" Letting the question hang in the air, the Mord'Sith watched the blush that rose up the Mother Confessor's neck with little amusement. She disliked the idea of someone invading the Lord Rahl and the Mother Confessor's privacy in moments such as that. Cara took comfort in the pain that lanced up her arm as she wrapped her fingers around the agiel at her hip.
"I don't think so."
Richard's voice suddenly cut through the air. "Kahlan! Cara!" they both spun at the urgency in his voice before the bridge shuddered beneath them, forcing them to their knees as the water surged up to meet them. There was no time to think, no time to regain their balance before a surging wall of water and debris collided with the bridge, knocking them both into the turbulent water.
"Kahlan!" his voice was the last thing she heard before the mass of water swallowed her and she sunk beneath the surface.
Her world become brown as the water buried her and threw her to the surface over and over, her eyes searching the surface for Cara when she sucked in a lungful of air. Another wave crashed over her so that she was once again surrounded by icy turbulence that dragged her downstream. She collided with debris, her body being battered. It was as she was tossed to the surface once more that she caught sight of the red leather of the Mord'Sith ahead of her.
"Cara!" her body hit something painfully hard, driving the air from her chest and forcing her beneath the surface once more. Lungs burning, arms flailing, the Mother Confessor fought to the surface. Gasping and heaving, Kahlan heard Richard's voice over the roaring of the water, and turning towards it, saw her Seeker bent low over his mount, racing alone and along the edge of the ravine, a rope over his shoulder. Attention caught on him, Kahlan didn't see the log over hanging the raving and slammed into it alongside the Mord'Sith.
The force of the water on her back almost washed her beneath the build up of debris before Cara's hand gripped her arm painfully tight and hauled her up. Water streamed from her eyes, from her ears and nose as she struggled to catch her breath. Cara was much the same, a red mark on her cheek spreading to include her right eye where she had obviously collided with something.
Richard's voice called to them again and both Mord'Sith and Mother Confessor turned just as the end of the rope sailed towards them. They both caught it, fingers holding tight as the current threatened to drag them beneath the surface at any second. The other end of the rope was secured to the horse and once the Seeker saw that both women held it he jumped the mount forward and began to drag them towards shore.
Cara reached the muddy bank first, leather clad fingers grasping at any hold to haul herself up onto the bank. The moment she was secure she turned to Kahlan, grabbing at her wrists to haul her up beside her until they were both on solid ground once more, breaths coming in loud pants as the panic fled their bodies. It had all happened in a matter of moments that both of them struggled to catch up. They heard Zedd come to a stop beside his grandson but neither of the women turned. In a silent thank you, Kahlan stretched her hand towards Cara's and gripped it tightly for a second, finding comfort in the way that her hand squeezed hers back for a heartbeat before the Mord'Sith pulled away and rolled to her feet.
"Kahlan!" His voice cut above the roar of the water once more and she didn't even get the chance to roll before she felt his hands lifting her into his hold. His fingers were almost desperate, brushing away dripping strands of hair and peppering her eyes, cheeks, neck and lips with soft but passionate kisses. She braced her hands on his shoulders to keep herself up, heart still hammering as his hands now slid across her body, not just to check for injuries but for the joy of having her back in his arms.
"Richard, I'm alright." She managed eventually. Noticing that Zedd was passing a hand over Cara's rapidly swelling cheek before turning back to her Seeker. Looking up into his face, she was somewhat shocked to find his eyes overbright with tears and his face pinched with emotion. Lifting a hand, she brushed back his own locks before resting her head against his chest, arms going around him. "I'm fine, I promise." He didn't say anything, not trusting himself to speak as he held her to him.
He wouldn't tell her that he thought he had lost her again. He didn't need to, his eyes said it all. With a deep breath and a kiss to her forehead he pulled away, but not before he ran fingers down her cheek. I thought I had lost you. She grabbed his hand and pressed her lips into his palm.
I'm alright, those blue orbs reassured, I'm right here beside you.
"The clouds are clearing." Cara announced suddenly, eyes upturned to the sky. The Mord'Sith had pushed her hair from her face and had started down the path that Richard had raced down. "We still have a few hours left in the day." Zedd shook his head with a grin before leading his mount after the dripping woman.
Taking the reins of his horse in one and Kahlan's hand in the other, the Seeker and Confessor followed slowly behind, fingers holding the others tight enough to bruise but neither caring. Only taking comfort in that small touch.
Hope you all liked it 33