Chapter 16

After Cara had defeated her fears, The Abandoned Forest blurred around the three women until they had magically reached the other side to safety; more or less in once piece. It was decided that the matter in Aydindril was urgent, so Richard was to travel with Zedd to D'hara to claim his throne and raise an army. After parting ways, the three women travelled in uncomfortable silence until darkness fell. They were only one day travel from their destination.


Kahlan and Rhea were left alone by the fire as Cara went out to hunt. The awkward silence quickly becomes too much for the Valkyrie, and as the blonde begins to stand from the log she was sitting on, her vision starts to turn black. She tries to step forward, but loses her balance for a moment, so she catches herself and stands still. Kahlan notices and quickly stands, placing an arm around the other woman's waist. "Hey, are you okay?". Her perfect brows furrow in concern. The unexpected contact quickly brings Rhea's other senses back and she takes a step away from Kahlan. "Yeah I'm fine. Just a little tired I guess". As The Confessor begins to look the other woman over she notices how pale and gaunt she is becoming. Her skin tight clothing now hangs looser over her body. "You don't look-". "So how about Cara? Have you told her you have feelings for her yet?". Rhea shakily takes a seat on the log, and lets out a deep breath. Dodged an arrow there.

Taken aback by the abrupt question, the Confessor has to think it over for a moment. "I-I don't know what there is to say. Cara doesn't want to speak with me". The blonde rolls her eyes, and pats the spot beside her. Kahlan takes a seat next to her. "She's never done this before. She hasn't felt love since before she became Mord-sith. This new feeling is literally her greatest fear. She probably thinks that it makes her weak. You just have to be patient, and give her time to unlearn everything that she was forced to believe". "You're right. But can I ask you something?". The smaller woman's body tenses for a moment, "Yeah...what is it?". "Back in the Forest, you carved a symbol into Cara's hand and it glowed. What was that?". "That's something I have to talk to her about first, and reverse it if she wishes". Kahlan nods her head in understanding.

Cara returns a short while after with two small rabbits. Wanting to give the women a bit of privacy, Rhea stands and makes up an excuse about going out to search for more firewood. She takes a deep breath and begins to walk, ignoring the black spots clouding her vision.

The Mord-sith curiously watches the other woman walk away, noticing the slight fumble in her steps before she kneels over the rabbits with her knife. "Cara, I think we need to talk. I've had feelings for you for a while, but I didn't think you felt the same. It's usually so easy for me to read others and tell what they are thinking. Ever since I found out at the rift that I couldn't confess you..I've been thinking about it nonstop. You might not feel the same and I would understand. I know this may be a lot for you to-". The blonde pulls Kahlan into her as their lips crash together. The kiss is somewhat sloppy, but passionate, and Cara's hands begin to trail down the confessor's body. "You had to stop talking". Breathlessly the confessor replies, "I won't say another word". Cara guides Kahlan to the log and gently pushes her down. She straddles the confessor's lap as she did at the Inn. Kahlan begins to claw at Cara's leather clad body, wanting more contact.

"Stop. Something's not right". Kahlan tries to pull Cara back into her, "Feels right to me". The blonde pries the other woman's hands off of her and begins to walk straight into the darkness towards the sensation.


Rhea makes it far enough out of site before her legs finally decide to give out. She hadn't eaten in 6 days, not for lack of trying, but she just couldn't bring the food to her lips. Every time she did she heard a voice telling her she didn't deserve to eat, and that she was weak for letting Barbas do all those things to her.

A tidal wave of nausea hits her, and she puts her arm out to try to brace herself against a tree before the blackness finally takes over.

The moonlight is bright enough to illuminate the path ahead of her. Cara's eyes only take a moment to adjust to the limited light. A few feet ahead her she sees a dark silhouette slumped at the base of a tree. Her steps quicken. "Cara wait, where are you going? Are you that afraid of your feelings?". The closer she gets to the lump on the ground, the stronger the tingling sensation in her chest.

The blonde kneels as she reaches the base of the tree, and removes one of her gloves. She quickly check's Rhea's pulse. Weak, but she's alive. Barely.

When Kahlan finally reaches the scene she gasps, "Spirits, what happened? Is she okay?". Cara knows exactly what happened. "Go get some water and bread if you have it". The brunette can see the seriousness in the other woman's emerald eyes, and doesn't question it. She heads back to the fire to retrieve the requested supplies.

Rhea's grey eyes begin to crack open, "Fuck. I...must have fallen asleep". She can tell her lies aren't believed in the slightest. "I-". "Listen. I don't know why, but I understand. I know why you aren't eating, and if you want to live you will at least try. Don't you want to see Barbas suffer?".

The Valkyrie pulls herself up to lean against the base of the tree. She places her hand out to Cara, showing her scarred palm. "At the Forest, I marked us. A Valkyrie is forced to die and be reborn to live countless lives until they find their true warrior. Only then can they live in Valhalla for the rest of days after they die for the last time. I had a feeling you might be mine, so in the Forest I marked you. Partly to see if I was right, but also because you needed help. It can be reversed if you don't feel the same way...".

The other blonde takes a moment to digest the new information. "Is that why I can feel...more. Ever since we found you I've felt something different". "Part of the bond is feeling what the other feels. It's why you knew I needed help, and how I knew what you needed in The Forest to break you from it's hold. Cara... It's okay to feel love. I can feel that battle within yourself-". "And I can feel your pain". "I'm sorry that you have to feel that too, but if you take the bond... you will go to Valhalla when you die. You can be with Kahlan forever". Cara doesn't hesitate before answering, "I accept".