Thanks for the reviews everyone! They are most appreciated! I did some squee moments to off-set the heartbreaking angst. Hope you all enjoy it! :)
Meant To Be (Chapter 7)
They had been at it all day, combing through book after book for anything that might help them find the missing Mother Confessor. They had discovered some bits of information here and there that could eventually prove valuable. Mostly, though, they had only uncovered more information about the history of Benders and how truly unstable they had proven to be over time.
It was sad and yet alarming to read again and again about a race of people whose magic had become corrupted over time, destroying their minds in the process. Benders were a race created by wizards thousands of years ago to be messengers of sorts. The only trouble was that they could only travel short distances with their magical powers, thus limiting their use.
Benders had demonstrated some usefulness during the Great War and gained some importance, but still their use was limited. Many a wizard had tried tinkering with the magic, but it had never proved to be stable and all attempts were eventually abandoned. Having lost their purposefulness, Benders eventually left Aydindril, settling in the southwestern region along the boundary dividing the Midlands and Westland.
Many Benders themselves had attempted to increase and strengthen their magic over time, trying to regain their glory and importance of years ago, but it too had always ended in catastrophe or death. Others had used their magical talents for quick escapes, living a life of crime wherever they went.
They had also discovered that the more that Benders used their magic, the quicker their minds began to deteriorate. Despite this, Benders continued to use their magic extensively to their detriment. Now, their race was thought to be nearly extinct.
Except for Brey whose whereabouts were currently unknown.
"I think it's time we turn in for the day," Zedd finally announced with a noisy yawn, closing his book before stretching his lanky arms over his head.
"You go on ahead; I'll be there shortly," Richard mumbled, his gaze narrowed as he intently read through a passage.
Kahlan still sat on the floor beside Richard, playing with a thread that hung from her ragged dress. She herself had been deep in thought, racking her brain for a possible way out of this, going over every aspect of the incident, hoping that she could think of something that would allow her to communicate with them. The sooner she was rescued, the sooner she could be reunited with Richard and they could be married.
With nothing but time on her hands, Kahlan had also planned out every aspect of her wedding with Richard as well as possible names for all of their daughters. Richard had already made it very well known that he hoped to have a whole houseful of little girls that looked just like her, but she wasn't so sure she wanted quite that many. She was definitely anxious to try for as many as possible and if they all looked like Richard, she would be very happy with a houseful.
"Lord Rahl, you are going to go cross eyed if you stay here much longer," Cara interjected, standing to her feet and stretching. Her red leather outfit creaked with her feline movements. "I can't feel my backside anymore."
"I'm fine…you two go on ahead…" Richard answered without looking up.
He couldn't stop now. There was something he was missing and he thought that he may have just stumbled upon a piece to the puzzle. Besides, he didn't have any reason to return to the Confessor's Palace. His beloved was no longer there.
"Then I'm staying here with you," Cara firmly declared with a frown.
"No, Cara, go back with Zedd. You need to rest. You've been here all day when you should have been resting," Richard said, his eyes flashing with irritation as he finally looked up at the Mord'Sith. She looked tired, her face pale. Dark circles were beginning to form under her eyes.
"I do not need to rest; I need to help you find Kahlan," she replied, folding her arms resolutely across her chest as she stared down her Lord Rahl in defiance.
"Come, my dear, it's time to go," Zedd gently said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Please, Cara, don't make me worry about you too. I've got enough fears to last me a lifetime right now without having to worry about you as well," Richard told her, his eyes softening, fatigue lining his face. He looked like he was about to break down at any moment.
"Fine," Cara finally relented with a huff after several moments. "But don't make me come back here after you. I will not be so agreeable then."
Unable to make her a promise he knew he wasn't going to keep, Richard offered her his charming smile in response instead.
"Come, we need to go check up on Edmond and Aggie, see how they're holding up. It could not have been an easy day for them either," Zedd softly told her as he steered her out of the room.
Richard felt his heart constrict, knowing the duties that Edmond had had to perform today, announcing to Aydindril that their Mother Confessor was dead. He knew all of this was breaking Aggie and Edmond's hearts as well as his. Everything inside of him wanted to run through the streets of Aydindril screaming at the top of his lungs that Kahlan was not dead. Kahlan was missing, but she was not dead and he would do everything in his power to get her back.
Fighting back the emotions that threatened to engulf him, Richard returned to his reading, determined to find his lost love. He didn't think that he could stand another night alone in her bedroom without having her in his arms. It was too painful to be in her bedroom, surrounded by her things, inhaling her scent and not having her there with him.
With a sigh, Richard rubbed his tired eyes before returning to his reading. He had just recently discovered some books containing information on the Ta'all Ruk'tan. Its origin was unknown, but its magic was highly powerful. It would have been very interesting reading if it weren't for the dire situation they now found themselves in.
The staff was intended to increase the magic of whoever wielded it, infinitely multiplying their power. It truly was a dangerous weapon if it fell into the wrong hands…and it had. Zedd had told him that he thought the staff had been locked away in the Crypt of Secrets at least a thousand years ago to keep that from happening. Unfortunately, Brey had gotten his hands on the powerful staff, his magic combining with it and transporting him and Kahlan, Creator only knew where.
Sitting on the stone floor by his feet, Kahlan was deep in thought, staring at nothing in particular, still winding and unwinding the piece of thread that hung from her dress. Wrapping the string around her finger for at least the hundredth time, she considered her current predicament. There had to be a way out of this, a way to communicate with Richard, letting him know that she was not dead, but was instead trapped in the Keep in some void between life and death where time did not exist.
Although the Wizard's Keep had always been a place filled with great memories, memories of playing with the Wizards, learning from them, studying the wealth of knowledge held in the countless volumes that resided here, it had suddenly become her prison. She had never felt so small, so lost and vulnerable in her entire life. She was the Mother Confessor, one of the most powerful women in the territories and now she was completely helpless.
Richard's head began to pound from the panic and grief that consumed him, the lack of sleep he'd had as well as all the extensive reading he'd been doing. Pushing back his chair, Richard momentarily closed his eyes as he attempted to refocus his thoughts once more.
Standing to his feet to stretch, a book slid off of the table, landing on the stone floor with a thud. Bending over to retrieve it, Richard was startled to see something carved into the edge of the table he'd been sitting at all day, but had not spotted.
Noticing Richard's sudden change in demeanor, Kahlan sat up straighter, scooting closer to her crouching Seeker to see what he was doing. Leaning in close, Kahlan peered over his shoulder.
Staring intently, Richard ran his fingers lightly over the etching he found in the wood. Carved in small letters were the initials 'K.A.'. His lips turned up into a surprised smile as he affectionately ran his fingertips back and forth over the familiar initials. He could just picture Kahlan as a girl sitting at this very table, studying the same books he was now reading as wizards taught her what she would need to know to become a great Mother Confessor one day.
Richard chuckled softly to himself. Kahlan had always seemed so perfect, always doing the right thing, never getting into trouble like he always seemed to find. He had occasionally seen hints of the mischievousness that glinted in her bright blue eyes, always hiding just beneath her dutiful demeanor and the authoritative face of the Mother Confessor. Seeing her initials inscribed deeply into the edge of the wooden table reminded him of something that he had done as a boy once. He wondered if she had gotten into as much trouble for doing it as he had. It was amusing to see that Kahlan had done the very same thing, especially since it seemed so unlike her to do it.
Seeing the smile on Richard's face, Kahlan felt a sense of happiness for the first time since waking in the crypt. She had forgotten about carving her initials into that table until Richard had stumbled upon it. She remembered it like it had happened just yesterday.
She had been sitting in the exact same chair as Richard had been all day. It had been dreary outside and the long, lecturing words of the old wizard who was her instructor for the day had bored her to tears. When the wizard had turned his back to find a particular book, Kahlan had taken the point of a small knife she'd hidden in her pocket and had carved her initials into the table. She had finished just as the elderly wizard had turned around, almost catching her in the act.
Although no one ever knew about the initials she had carved, Kahlan had felt bad about it later. She'd just been so bored and was irritated that she couldn't be outside practicing drills with Edmond. She loved being outdoors, practicing her battle skills and learning how to fight. There was something about it that made her feel so alive.
Reaching up now, Kahlan placed her hand over Richard's larger one, yearning to touch him, to feel what he was feeling right now. Spreading her fingers to settle between his, Kahlan closed her eyes, focusing her thoughts on the one she loved most.
Tilting his head to the side, Richard stared intently as his hand rested on Kahlan's initials for a moment before finally closing his eyes in resignation. "I love you, Kahlan…wherever you are…I promise I will find you…" he murmured to no one, hoping that she could somehow hear him.
"Richard, I'm right here; I haven't left you," she said, scooting even closer to him. The deafening silence her words received further widened the chasm that separated her from the man she loved despite the fact that she was close enough to feel his breath on her skin if it hadn't been for her current state. A tear slipped down her cheek as she sadly stared at him and then at her hand placed lovingly over his, the ache intensifying in her heart.
Richard gasped as he felt a sudden, unexpected sense of hope; a feeling of comfort abruptly washed over him. It was like the sun suddenly breaking through a storm; it was as if Kahlan had suddenly just entered the room, had reached into his broken heart and began putting his world back together. Anxiously looking around, Richard found himself still very much alone in the room.
Sitting back on her heels, Kahlan felt hope flicker anew as she watched the sudden change in Richard's expression. "Yes, Richard! I'm right here! Can you feel my presence?" she asked, her voice pleading.
Kneeling on the floor by the table, Richard felt a sudden chill inexplicably tingle down his spine, making him shudder. He sat there for several moments just absorbing the intense feelings coursing through him. His bond with Kahlan was suddenly surging intensely through his heart, threatening to take his breath away.
"I'm right here!" Kahlan screamed as loud as she could, clutching her broken wrist tightly against her body. Desperation shot through her as she scooted closer to him again. She had to make him see that she was still alive. "I'm right here, Richard! Please, see me…feel my presence…I'm right here…" she begged.
Just as suddenly as it had appeared, the strange sensation was gone again, the strong current of love being replaced once more by overwhelming loneliness. Hanging his head, Richard kept his hand on the carving, desperate to feel the sensation again. It had to have been Kahlan.
Reaching into his pocket, Richard brought his small pocket knife out. Flipping it open, he carefully began to carve his initials into the wood right next to Kahlan's. Blowing on his work, tiny curls of wood floated gently to the floor. Sitting back on his heels, Richard inspected his handiwork. He slowly ran his fingers over the 'K.A.' and 'R.C.' that now stared back at him. Closing his knife, Richard shoved it back into his pocket before getting up and settling back down in his chair again.
Swallowing back the sudden assault of tears, Kahlan felt her heart swell with the love she held for Richard as she stared at their initials side-by-side, forever imbedded in the wood of the table. She knew he would not give up on her even when everyone else believed that she was dead. She had also found a possible way of getting through to Richard. Although brief, he had definitely sensed her presence. Maybe she could get through to him yet. Kahlan felt that things were finally beginning to look brighter despite the fact that she was somehow caught in a world between life and death.
XXX
There was nothing but eerie silence that surrounded him, holding him tightly in its powerful grasp and putting him on edge. Something was wrong. Very wrong. He felt like his skin was crawling, like bugs were scurrying all over him. Every nerve in his body fired relentlessly causing a tingling sensation to wash over him. He had to find a way out of this cell that held him prisoner.
He slowly opened his eyes, his head pounding furiously unlike anything he'd ever experienced. His throat was dry, his tongue felt thick. He tried to adjust his vision, but all he saw was bright light. He dragged his tongue over his dry cracked lips, trying to wet them. He felt as though every bone in his body had been shattered; he felt like he was death come back to life.
With great effort, he sat up only to find it difficult to even draw a breath. Gasping, he quickly realized that some of his ribs were fractured. Supporting his head in his hands, he tried to piece together where he was and what had happened, to focus his thoughts through the relentless pain in his head. Everything seemed so surreal, like waking from a terrible nightmare that never seemed to end.
After sitting there for several moments attempting to collect himself, he finally stood to his feet. His legs felt weak, the muscles and ligaments trembling under his weight. He reached out to grasp the nearest object he could find in order to steady himself. His hand passed right through it, causing him to stumble and fall on his face.
Looking about in surprise, his vision was still blurry, the bright light still blinding him. Rubbing his eyes repeatedly, he tried once more to focus his vision. Gradually, the light began to recede, his vision becoming sharper and more focused.
There was a rushing sound in his ears, a strange humming sensation in his body that he could not recognize. He hissed as he drew another deep breath, the pain in his side causing him to wince. He was sure that he wasn't dead, but probably should be.
He slowly stood to his feet once more, waiting several moments before attempting to take another step. He took shallower breaths which helped ease some of the stabbing pain in his ribs, but did little help his head. Looking about him, recognition slowly washed over him. He was still in the Crypt of Secrets right where he had wanted to be from the beginning.
The crypt was in shambles; artifacts, books, and glass were strewn everywhere. He gradually made his way through the crypt, unsure of what was going on or what had exactly happened. Many of his thoughts and memories were still scrambled and disconnected.
Bracing his broken ribs with his arm, he wandered past overturned cases, stepping over piles of fallen books. While he remembered this place, he could not remember why he had been here or what he had been after. He remembered that it had been very important to him that he find whatever it was he was after. Besides that, there was something else that even more important to him. No, not something…someone. Someone he loved more than anything in this world.
Stopping he closed his eyes and attempted to focus his thoughts. He remembered holding a staff tightly in his hands, rage pounding in his veins. Then he felt someone's hand on his arm, their fingers wrapping tightly around him trying to stop him. He turned and looked into the bluest eyes he'd ever seen, eyes that had haunted his dreams ever since the first day he'd met her.
He felt a swift rush of warmth flood his soul despite the chill that had seeped into his bones. He loved those beautiful eyes. But more than that, he loved the woman. He was determined to make her his forever no matter the cost. It had been his life's goal since the day she arrived in Thandor. He had always known they were meant to be together despite her powers and her protests of loving another.
Like being in the murky depths of the ocean and finally rising to the surface, it all suddenly came rushing back to him. Kahlan…he had to find her, to make her his. But first, he had to eliminate the Seeker…
