She stood at the door, watching as he ran his hands over the twigs with a smile on his face. It had been over a week and they had yet to run into anyone other than old friends. Richard, working swiftly, had promised to make her a rocking chair, even after she told him that there was no need. Keeping his hands busy was the excuse he would give everyone, but she knew the truth. She had many times, offered himself something other than work to keep his hands busy.

"You shouldn't stand there all day." He smiled up at her, watching with delight as he mind traveled back to her.

"What?" she shook her head, blinking as she looked down at him.

"You've been standing there for a while. You should sit." He stood up, grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. "Come with me."

"Richard," she looked past him, staring over his shoulder. "We have to get to Shanan."

He spun around quickly, eyeing the trees around them. She wrapped her arms around him, grabbing hold of his chest, pulling him backwards into the house. "They will have us surrounded within the hour." He whispered back to her as he shut the door. "I have to get you both out of here." He turned around, when she pulled away from him.

"I'm not going to go anywhere without you."

"Kahlan, I have to-"

"You promised." She said softly. "You promised that you wouldn't leave me, that you wouldn't send us away."

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Kahlan, I know, but I have to protect you."

"You promised."

"Alright."

"They're surrounding us." Kahlan jumped at her voice, closing her eyes as she took in a deep breath. "I brought this one back." She pushed the D'Haran soldier to the floor before them, "Tell them what you told me."

He looked up, his green eyes, meeting Richard's in fear. "We were given orders to bring back the child of The Mother Confessor." He said, attempting to lift himself up, but Cara's hand pushed roughly down on his shoulder, being sure he was unable to get up. "Lord Rahl, he wishes to raise the child as his own. It is his blood." He looked to Kahlan, a small smile crossed his lips. "You are also to be taken to him. He has very pleasant plans for you."

Kahlan heard the growl of anger escape Richard's throat as he leaned stepped closer. He grabbed onto the man's armor, lifted him up and then slammed his fist across his face, letting out a yell of fury as he did so. Blood splashed onto the floor as the soldiers body fell against it, landing with a clang as the armor hit the floor. When he reached back for him, Kahlan grabbed his arm, pulling it back, making him stumble as he moved towards her.

"I want to kill him!" Richard shouted, trying to pull away from his wife. "You can't expect me to let him live!"

"Of course not." Cara said in a huff, "He may have more information."

"Kill him." Kahlan said softly, looking at her friend with pleading eyes. "Please Cara."

She nodded, pressed her agiel to the base of the soldier's neck and waited until his body stopped squirming. Richard stared down at the man, his hands balled into fists, his knuckles white from the force. The moment Cara pulled the agiel from his body, he looked away, releasing a sigh and walking into the bedroom.

"We have to go." Zedd followed Richard from the room, stuffing something into a small pack. Holding Shanan against him, Richard continued around the room, grabbing things and tossing them to Zedd to stuff into the bag as well.

The door flew open and Chase emerged. "They're all around you. Even in town." He breathed out, I had to kill a few of them that were following me. You have to leave now."

"I know." Richard huffed out, as he grabbed his sword. "Let's go."

"I tied two horses right outside the back door. They didn't see me."

"We only need one." Richard said as he handed their daughter to Kahlan.

"Richard, you can't protect yourself if I'm sitting in front of you."

"I can't protect you if you're not." He said as he pulled her along behind him. "We have to hurry."

He opened the door, and stopped, making Kahlan bump into him. She looked around him. There were too many of them. She knew there was no chance they would be able to leave without being killed or captured. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him back, getting him inside the door, just as an arrow flew into it.

She let out a soft cry as she looked down to their daughter. "We're trapped." She said mostly to herself. He turned around, wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"I'm going to protect you. Both of you." He pulled back, grabbed her arm and pulled her back through the house. "We're surrounded. There's no way out now." Pulling Kahlan into their bedroom, he turned to leave, "Stay here." Just as she was about to protest, he closed the door.

"We need a plan." Zedd said as he walked away from the window. "There are too many of them."

"We're going to kill them all. Then we're going to find Darken Rahl and kill him too."

They stared at him, "Richard,"

"That is the only way Kahlan and Shanan will ever be safe. I will not allow him to live when he will never stop coming for the people I love. I am going to kill him."

Leaning back against the wall, Cara smiled. "How are we going to do this?"

"We're going to kill every D'Haran soldier outside this house."

Sitting on the floor, Kahlan leaned against the back wall, directly in front of the door, her daggers laying beside her. She could hear them talking on the other side of the door, hear the anger in Richard's voice as he yelled. Clinging to her dress, Shanan stared wide-eyes towards the door, crying each time her father would raise his voice.

The sudden quiet scared her, she reached down, tightly grasping a dagger in her hands as she waited. She hated it. She hated feeling useless and unable to protect herself. Straightening her back, she stretched her neck, trying to see out of the window that was across the room. The sight was unmistakable. Richard, running full speed towards three D'Haran Soldiers, swords in hand; a loud cry being released as the Sword of Truth ran through one of the men.

Cara, running past, a smile on her face as she tackled one of the men about to strike Richard. The sound of Zedd's magic echoed through the house, making it impossible for Kahlan to determine where it had come from. Richard's voice hit her ears, bringing her attention back to him as he shouted for Cara to duck down. An arrow flew just over her head, barely missing her as it past. Lifting his sword, Richard blocked it from running through his face. Quickly reaching up, he wiped his face, smearing the blood from his hand onto it before running through the trees.

Straining, Kahlan leaned forward, trying to see what was happening. Trying to find out if they were still alive. She jumped up as the door flew open before her. She moved quickly throwing the dagger into the soldier that appeared before her. Moving to the door, she grabbed the man with her right hand, clinging to her daughter in her left and drug the man inside, closing the door quickly. She pulled the knife from his shoulder, holding it against his neck as she waited for him to move. Pushing the dagger into his throat, she watched with a small smile as he fell to the floor.

She hadn't seen him at the door; he wrapped his arms around her waist, trying to keep from making her drop the child.

"You're coming with me."

"Alright." She said calmly, keeping her body still in his arms.

The moment he loosened his hold in her she turned, pressing her dagger against him, pushing him back against the door. "Killing me will not stop them from taking you back to him."

Her knife pressed harder against him, "I'm not going anywhere." She replied softly, her voice filled with malice, dropping the blade and replacing it with her hand, instantly releasing her magic into him. She stood, surprising herself that she was able to move with ease after using her magic. "Protect us." She said as she looked down to her daughter, gently rocking her in her arms as she started to cry. "Shh."

"They were going to send more if I did not return, Mistress."

"Then return and kill them all." She said coldly, turning her back on the man. "Go now."

He rushed away as she walked to the window, eager to do as she pleased. Standing a few feet away from it, she stood in the shadows, looking out to see any sign of the people she loved. The red leather of Cara was clearly seen moving through the trees, but she couldn't see any sign of Richard or Zedd. Her heart stopped for a moment as she realized the red leather in the trees were not that of Cara alone.

"Move and I will kill you."

"You were ordered to bring us back. You will not kill me." Kahlan said as she turned around, looking the Mord'Sith in the eyes.

She was tall, almost taller than Kahlan and her green eyes seemed to burn through her. Stepping towards her, she smiled, it was a wicked smile, a smile with triumph of having caught what she had come for.

"I can always kill your husband." She said coldly, knowing it would get the reaction she wanted. "Good." She said softly as the woman before her sat down on the edge of the bed. "My sisters will be done with your friends in a few minutes."

"Leave them alone, and I will go with you."

"You are in no position to make demands." She snapped, putting her agiel away, "I may not be able to kill you, but I am not going to let you give me any demands."

"I am very much in a position to make demands. I have something that you want and I am willing to give it to you."

The Mord'Sith stared at her for a moment, thinking about the offer, looking down at the bloody body on the floor a few feet from her. "It would be a shame to leave your friends alive. They would come for you."

Nodding, Kahlan stood up, walking towards the woman. "Let's go."

Confused, she stepped in front of the Confessor, blocking her way to the door. "Sit down." She sneered, not liking the thought of Kahlan out smarting her. "We'll leave when my sisters return."

She laughed, "They're all going to die. Richard will kill every single one of them."

"Shut up." she walked to the door, sticking her head out, to see what was happening. Leaning further, she pulled on the door frame, using it to hold her body weight. "No one is coming for you."

Standing quietly, she laid her daughter on the bed, praying to the spirits that she would be quiet for a few moments. Slowly, she took a step towards the door, keeping her eyes on the woman in red before her. The moment she saw her move, Kahlan jumped forward, throwing herself onto the woman, bringing her to the ground. Grabbing her throat, she held her down, using her knees to keep her arms from moving as she sat down onto her stomach.

Picking up one of her daggers, Kahlan debated for a minute on whether or not she was just going to confess her and give her a more painful death. Deciding, she tightened her grip on the dagger and grabbed the woman's hair, holding her head to the floor as she slowly ran the blade across the woman's neck. Blood dripped onto her hands and clothes, bringing a slight thrill from the sight and the pounding of her heart. Standing, she pushed the body across the floor to lay beside the D'Haran's body.

Taking a deep breath, she wiped her hands on her dress, not wanting to pick up her child with bloody hands. Bending down, she wrapped her up in her arms, pulling her to her and holding her against her chest. Walking back to the door, she stood beside it and waited.