Chapter 7
The feel of lips softly moving against hers, a hand tenderly caressing her face gradually began to pull her from her deep slumber as well as awakening other things. She slowly began to respond to his kiss, a throaty moan rising to her lips. Opening her eyes, Kahlan found herself looking into her Seeker's warm brown orbs, his body hovering just above hers.
"Good morning," she murmured with a curl of her lips.
"Morning," Richard brushed his nose against hers. "I just wanted to thank you for last night."
Kahlan smiled with satisfaction knowing that he had found great pleasure with her last night, that she'd been able to give her husband a taste of ecstasy once again. She always enjoyed herself greatly as well. "It was all my pleasure," she whispered, leaning up for another kiss.
"Oh, I highly doubt that," he chuckled softly. "It was beyond amazing. In fact, I thought you were going to kill me off."
"That's what you said the last time and yet you manage to survive every time."
"You really didn't have to do that you know. I was completely fine waiting for you."
"I wanted to," she replied, running her fingers through the hair hanging over his brow. "I haven't been able to do much for you the last couple of months. Besides, I wanted to distract you for a little while, help you forget about all the madness that has shown up here."
"Well, it definitely worked," he smirked, his finger lightly tracing the outline of her face. "And you have done more for me than I deserve. Just being with you any way I can is more than enough for me, Kahlan."
"But you've had to do most of the work lately," she grinned at him.
"Kahlan, making love to you is never work," he shook his head. "It's nothing but unbelievable pleasure."
"I hope you still feel that way when I'm old and wrinkled," she teased.
"I have no doubt about that," he breathed before capturing her lips again in a heated kiss. "I only want to grow very old with you, Mother Confessor. Forever is not nearly long enough to spend with you."
"That's all I want too," she replied, her lips repeatedly ghosting over his, her hands stroking the smooth dips and curves of the muscles that covered his back.
Spirits, she wanted him so badly right now, but it would have to wait until after she saw the midwife.
She loved the feel of him laying over her, pinning her to the mattress, his powerful body shielding her from the world. It was a shelter she never wanted to escape. Her fingers slid up the back of his neck to grip his hair, kissing him with more urgency than she should but she couldn't help herself.
Reluctantly pulling back for air, Richard rested his forehead against hers, fighting to catch his breath again. "Kahlan, we can't…" he softly panted against her face.
"I know…I'm sorry," she relented, biting her bottom lip. "It's just so difficult when there's a very handsome, very naked Lord Rahl in bed with me like this."
"Tonight," he whispered against her lips. "Tonight, you're all mine to do with as I wish."
"Is that a promise?"
"Sealed with a kiss," he murmured, kissing her again.
The sudden wail of their infant son suddenly broke through the intimate moment, causing them to groan in unison. "I was hoping for a few more minutes alone with you before Aiden woke up," Richard admitted, rolling off of her and climbing out of bed.
It created flutters in the pit of Kahlan's stomach to see her newborn son cradled against Richard's bare chest as he returned to their bed. She took her son in her arms, adjusting her nightdress to feed him.
"When will you meet with your father?" he asked as he began to get dressed for the day.
"I was going to meet him for lunch after I see the midwife," she said. "Once I find out the reason behind him being here, I might bring him back here to meet the children then if you don't mind."
"I think that is a good idea. I have a feeling Frederick's visit isn't as threatening as we believe it to be."
"Why?"
"Just from talking to him when I first met him and after spending time with him at dinner last night," he thoughtfully told her. "I think he truly wants to make things right between the two of you."
"You really think so?"
Pulling his tunic on, Richard paused for a moment to watch his wife and his son before finally answering. "I truly do."
"I know I need to see him, but I don't want you to have to deal with Sister Deryn alone. I want to be there with you when you meet with her again."
"I'm far from alone. Nicci and Zedd are working to help unravel her story."
"I know, but I feel that I should be there with you," she frowned. "Sister Deryn and her accusation are far more important than anything my father may or may not be up to."
"You don't know that for certain. The reason for Frederick's visit might be very significant."
"I don't know. I guess I'll find out soon enough," she sighed heavily.
"Everything will work out, Kahlan. I will take care of Sister Deryn and you see what your father wants," he told her as he sat down on the edge of the bed beside her. "And then tonight, it will be just you and me and this very big bed of ours."
"I love the sound of that," she smiled at him.
"Besides, I have a debt to repay from last night," he murmured seductively as he leaned over and kissed her. "And I always pay my debts."
Richard could feel Kahlan tremble slightly as he kissed her, bringing a smile to his lips. By tonight, the truth will have hopefully been revealed and all of this nonsense would forever be behind them.
XXX
Kahlan took a sip of her tea, casting a furtive glance through her eyelashes at her father over the rim of her cup. The conversation between them had been light and informal so far, mostly revolving around his journey here and how Aydindril was when he had been there looking for her.
"It's very beautiful here at the People's Palace," Frederick told her as he looked about him at his elegant surroundings.
"Yes, it is," she admitted. "It took a little time to get used to, knowing that it had all once belonged to someone as evil as Darken Rahl, but we've been slowly working on making it our home."
Meeting her gaze, he smiled thoughtfully. "I can see touches of your influence throughout the Palace."
"Thank you," she replied, setting her cup down. "Richard and I want our children to live in a home that is full of love and peace, not one known for its wickedness or the sins of its ancestors."
"If anyone can do it, it will be you and Richard. He is a very remarkable man, Kahlan. I couldn't have asked for a better son-in-law."
"He is pretty amazing," she said, her eyes suddenly sparkling even brighter at the sound of her husband's name. "His love for me is more powerful than my magic, allowing us to have a life I never dreamed of being able to share with him. He truly is a rare man."
"I can already see that."
Kahlan looked at him long and hard, suddenly very weary of dancing around the topic. "What brings you here to D'Hara?"
Frederick drew a sharp intake of breath, setting down the cloth napkin in his hand. He placed his elbows on the table, clasping his hands together as he leaned forward in his chair. This was the moment that he had been longing for as well as dreading. He knew there was no going back now as he gazed into his daughter's eyes.
"There are several reasons that I came to see you, Kahlan," he slowly began, searching for the words that he had wanted to say to her for so very long now. "First of all, I want you to know that it was not my intention to hurt you in any way or to cause problems for you and Richard by coming here."
He looked into her bright blue eyes that were just like her mother's, the impassive expression that spoke of her title and authority as the Mother Confessor. She was definitely not a little girl any more, no longer someone who could be controlled or forced into submission.
The thought made him internally wince, reminding him of his past aggressions against his own daughters. He had lost all rights to be their father when he had forced them to do such heinous things.
Kahlan patiently waited for him to continue as he worked to find the words he was looking for. She wasn't going to pass any judgment one way or another until she had heard everything that he had to say.
"The first reason that I came was that I wanted you to know that I took your advice," he revealed. "I've started a new life for myself. I moved to Ravenhill in The Midlands and started my own business as a stone carver."
"I'm truly glad to hear it," Kahlan smiled at the news. "I've heard Ravenhill is a very beautiful place to settle down."
He smiled in return at her obvious happiness with the life that he had chosen to make since last seeing her. "It is quite lovely. It's a small town; not much news comes our way I'm afraid and when it does, its months old or more. That was why I didn't realize that you had moved to D'Hara.
"I do like it there, though. It's very peaceful. There's enough business that I've been able to do quite well for myself."
Kahlan listened as he told her about the town, the people there, friends that he had made as well as his flourishing business. She could hardly believe that this was the same conman that she had rescued from prison over two and a half years ago. He truly had turned his life around. It gave her a sudden sense of pride knowing that he had taken her advice to heart.
"Which brings me to another reason that I'm here," he cautiously continued, worried about how his daughter would respond. "I was hoping that I could earn your forgiveness for the past, start a new relationship with you. I would love to be a part of your family, to know my grandchildren.
"Life is too short and so very precious, Kahlan. I've learned that now. I know that I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I hope that you might find it in your heart to give me another chance. I don't deserve to be called your father, but I would like to at least be called your friend."
Kahlan's mind suddenly went numb, her stomach a tightly wound cord. She didn't know what to think or how she should feel at that moment. She had always assumed that her father would never be a part of her life again, that she was the equivalent of an orphan with her mother gone.
When the Sisters of the Light had rescued her and Dennee, she had believed that she'd never see him again, the ties forever severed. The thought of having a father again scared her a little and yet it caused a sudden sense of warmth to spark in her heart.
She felt her throat suddenly burn with hot tears, his words somehow piercing the hardened unemotional exterior of the Mother Confessor and threatening to shatter all the years of training that she had gone through. She swallowed hard, clearing her throat as she fought back the tears.
"I…I would like that," she murmured, afraid to test her voice.
Frederick smiled softly as he watched the impenetrable walls his daughter had erected around her begin to crumble. "We can take it slow. I don't want to push you in any way," he quickly told her. "Kahlan, what I did to you and your sister was inexcusable. I took my bitterness and anger over your mother confessing me out on you girls. I thought that I deserved to be compensated for all that had been stolen from me.
"In reality, I should have stopped and looked at the two beautiful gifts that I had received by being married to your mother during that time. I know I'll never be able to make it up to Dennee, but I'd like to try with you."
"I can see now how life-altering my mother's confession had been for you. She stole your future and your dreams from you," she solemnly replied.
"It still didn't give me the right to treat my own daughters that way. In truth, I was afraid," he admitted much to Kahlan's surprise. "I was afraid of you mostly, of what you could do to me. I knew even back then how powerful you were, Kahlan, and I was scared."
"It's in the past now and that's where it will remain."
"Thank you," he sighed with great relief. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
Frederick felt the sting of unshed tears in his eyes knowing that he had finally gained his daughter's forgiveness. He felt as if a massive weight had just been untied from his heart. Now, he just hoped that he would be able to share with her the other reason behind his visit, the most important reason of all.
XXX
"I demand to see Richard right now."
"Miss, the Lord Rahl will come and see you when he is good and ready and not before then," the guard growled at her.
"I am the mother of his son. I deserve to be treated better than this!" Deryn shouted, crossing her arms against her chest in defiance.
"Lady Kahlan Rahl is the Lord Rahl's wife and the mother of his children. You are nothing more than a fraud," he spat out.
Hearing the argument from down the hall, Richard quickened his pace, Zedd and Nicci following close behind. He didn't know for certain how much power Sister Deryn actually possessed just yet, but he didn't want to find out the hard way.
"Kahlan Rahl is nothing but a vile whore who stole Richard away from me. She turned him against me," Deryn yelled. "I will get him back."
"How dare you speak that way of Lady Rahl," the soldier scowled in disgust.
"Deryn, stop it!" Richard ordered as he approached. He clenched his fists, fury pounding through his veins with the things that he had heard.
"Richard!" Deryn cried with sudden glee, her entire countenance brightening at the site of him.
She tried to push past the huge guard blocking her path, but he refused to move. She leaned around him, gripping the man's arm, needing to see more of the one who possessed her heart. He had finally come to see her. Now was her chance to make him see that he still loved her. She just had to make him realize that Kahlan had corrupted him, blinded him to the truth of his feelings for her.
"It's alright, Ian," Richard reassured the guard, placing a calming hand on his back. "Thank you, I'll take it from here."
With a sneer on his lips, Ian glared at the Sister of the Light as he backed away, allowing Lord Rahl entrance into the guest quarters. Deryn immediately backed away, welcoming Richard and the others inside.
"Richard, I'm so relieved you finally came to see me," Deryn gushed, excitement threatening to overwhelm her as she absentmindedly smoothed her hands over her dress. "We have so much to talk about, plans that we need to make for our son."
"Stop it, Deryn," Richard bit out between clenched teeth, his barely contained anger simmering just beneath the surface of his control. "I never made love with you and Michael is not my son."
"I know that you believe that now, but…but once you realize the truth, I know you'll remember that you still love me," she cried, panic welling up inside of her.
"Deryn, I have never loved you," he growled, emphasizing every word. "I have never had any feelings for you."
"If it weren't for Kahlan's interference, I know you would have come back to me," the Sister of the Light glared at him. "This is all her fault!"
"Don't you dare say another word about Kahlan," Richard hissed, coming to stand before her.
Deryn looked up at him, his brown eyes like a violent thunderstorm. She felt her stomach quiver with desire, her insides becoming like molten lava trembling inside of her as she stared at him. His fury was palpable, his authority glaring her in the face.
And yet, she couldn't help herself. She was too desperate to make him see the truth.
"But Richard, Kahlan has been playing games with you in order to keep you with her. She doesn't love you like I do, can't be what you need like I can," she tried again.
Richard's chest began to heave as he clenched his jaw, his nostrils flaring. It was all he could do not to run her through with his sword. The sudden feel of Nicci's hand lightly coming to rest on his back quickly began to draw him back from the precipice, reality coming to bear down on him.
"Kahlan has nothing to do with this and you know it," he softly stated with a deadly resolve that sent shivers down Deryn's spine. "Do not say another word about my wife or I will have you personally escorted back to the Palace of the Prophets, never to return."
"I…I'm sorry, Richard," Deryn stammered as tears brimmed in her eyes. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just want you to remember so badly. I know that once you remember that special night we spent together, had a chance to get to know your son that you'll never want us to leave us."
"Deryn, nothing happened between us! Why can't you believe me?"
"And I don't understand why you won't believe me? Why you don't want to remember being with me in my bed?"
Turning away from her, Richard rubbed his face in frustration. His head was already beginning to pound and they hadn't even really started yet. This was not going to be easy.
He had been wracking his brain, trying to remember something, anything from his time at the Palace of the Prophets that might help him get to the truth of all of this. He remembered a lesson that he'd had with Sister Deryn in her room one night, but his mind had been too preoccupied with Kahlan, worried about how she was doing, wondering if she ached with loneliness as deeply as he had for her. It had kept him from being able to focus on touching his Han.
Deryn had suggested that they call it a night and try again in the morning, but that meeting never came. He'd gone back to his room with plans of his own, plans that involved returning to Kahlan and his friends. The next day he had escaped the Palace of the Prophets and ended up in the Valley of Perdition.
Memories from that nightmare caused a cold chill to creep up his spine. He was so thankful that dream had never become a reality. The idea of Kahlan marrying another man…being with another man…it made him physically ill to even think of it.
He could only imagine what Kahlan must be going through right now, wondering if he truly had slept with Deryn. He knew that she believed him, but he also knew there had to be questions still lingering in the corners of her mind and he couldn't blame her.
"Momma?"
Richard turned at the sound of the little boy's voice as Michael wandered into the room, his brown eyes fixed on the Seeker looming large before him. A shiver raced through Richard as he looked at the little boy who looked just like him.
What in spirits had really happened that night?
