Their people rushed to help as they entered the city, surrounding them in worry until the Mother Confessor's eyes opened and revealed the darkness of her magic. While the others stepped away, Richard brought her closer and buried his face in the crook of her neck, whispering softly as her magic tore through him with a cry of anguish. Laying her down on the ground, the Seeker shouted for someone to help them, his anger turning into fear as she grew paler. The crowed watched in sadness as he hovered over her, begging her to open her eyes and look at him. He caressed her face, kissing her cheeks and forehead as though it was the last time he would be given the chance.

"Richard?"

He pulled back in shock, meeting her eyes instantly. "Spirits, I thought I had lost you." Smiling weakly, Kahlan blinked and reached down to her side, trying to look at the wound. His eyes followed her hand and then quickly pushed it away. "I don't understand," he whispered in disbelief. "It's gone."

Tears filled her eyes as she looked around them, knowing what would happen when she explained. "He saved me. He has your magic, Richard."

The people who stood around them gasped and stepped back, each whispering to another in words the couple couldn't make out.

"He?"

"I'm so sorry, Richard."

He pulled her shoulders from the ground and hugged her to his chest. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"I cannot give birth to a son."

"Mommy!" Hope's voice echoed around them for a moment before she pushed through the crowd.

The young Confessor ran into her mother's embrace with a cry of relief, squeezing her tightly as though she knew how close she had come to losing her. Richard brought his eyes angrily to the blonde, who stepped forward. Cara's face was scratched and stained with her own blood, proving to have been through a short battle with someone smaller than herself.

"You were supposed to keep her away from here."

"She threatened to confess me if I did not bring her back."

"I'm sorry, mommy," Hope whispered as she moved back. "I-"

Gabriel coughed and dropped to his knees, bringing everyone's attention to him as Hannah eased him to lie in his back. Hope crawled away from her parents and pushed between the other couple, grabbing one of the bolts and pulling it out of his shoulder before anyone could stop her.

"Hope!" Richard shouted, hurrying to her side. "What are you doing?"

"I can help," she replied so calmly that it stopped her father from trying to get her away.

The guard growled in pain, but didn't try to stop her, instead, he met her eyes and nodded for her to do the same to the other. Hannah, wrapped her arms around the small brunette and tried to move her away, stopped instantly by Cara, who yanked her to her feet.

Hope laid her right hand over his shoulder and pushed, closing her eyes as she tilted her head. Gabriel moaned in pain for a moment, his teeth grinding together while he shoved his head into the dirt. After a few moments, the girl opened her eyes and moved back, waiting for his eyes to open.

The people stared in silence, their mouths dropped in shock as the guard turned his head and looked at the Confessor.

"Thank you."

Hannah dropped down to him and connected their lips, kissing passionately as though no one was watching. Everyone's eyes moved to the others, waiting for what was to come next.

Taking his daughter's hands, Richard spoke the question that weighed all of their minds. "How did you do that?"

Hope shook her head and looked around at the people who surrounded them. "I don't know, but I knew I could help him." Bringing her eyes to her father's she frowned. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, you did something exactly right."

"I'm sorry, Cara." The blonde looked down at Hope, who stared up at her with big and saddened eyes. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"You didn't."

"Yes, I did. Cara, I'm sorry. I never- Please let me heal-"

"No."

The two girls were standing in the hallway as Richard and a few dozen servants removed the bodies and cleaned blood from the floor. Hope had been apologizing every minute for the past hour and nothing had yet to ease her mind on the matter. She felt terrible for attacking her friend, but she wouldn't listen and something inside of her told her she needed to go back and help her parents. She watched the blonde closely, waiting for a moment she saw forgiveness in her eyes.

"Cara, can I talk to you for a few minutes?" The blonde looked to her friend for a moment and nodded, walking to him without hesitation. "Are you alright?"

"Fine."

"Cara, she didn't mean to hurt you."

"Yes, she did," the Mord'Sith responded quietly. "She did what she needed to. I would have done the same thing."

Richard sighed, looking over her shoulder to his daughter, who stared at the ground. "That's what's bothering you, isn't it? She did something you would have."

"She shouldn't have tasted blood so young."

He hugged her instantly, understanding completely what was going through her mind. "Thank you for looking out for her." Their contact ended quickly, knowing she would have it no other way. "She needs you to teach her these things, Kahlan and I can't."

"I cannot teach her anything other than pain."

"That's not true, Cara. You can teach her so much more."

She stared at him for a few moments in silence, thinking about his words. "I'll take her into the city, she'll want to meet the wizard when he arrives."

"Alright,"

"Just like that?" she questioned. "After what happened before, you're going to trust me to-"

"I'll always trust you, Cara."

Nodding, the blonde took a step back and looked over her shoulder. "Come on, weed. The wizard will arrive soon, we will meet him at the gates."

"Does that mean you don't hate me anymore?"

"It means you better keep up."

"Kahlan?" She turned her head slowly, meeting his worried eyes. "Zedd will know what to do, you don't have to worry."

"The city knows I carry your son, there has never been a moment to worry more."

Kneeling down beside her, he laid his hands on her knees. "And they saw Hope use the magic of a Rahl. They saw everything that day and not one has raised a voice of concern. It's been five days, Kahlan and everyday there's been a group of them who have come to our gates with food and clean clothes. They have done nothing but support us and our family, if there was reason to worry, we'd know it."

"I've known most of them my whole life and they've always stood beside the council. Why would they change their minds now?"

Richard smiled warmly, taking her hands. "Because they have taken the chance to know you, me and Hope. They know we would do anything to protect them. We have created the world we wanted, a place where we don't have to live in fear."

The room filled with silence as she stared down at him. Her mind was filled with things she wanted to say, but the hope and certainty she saw in his eyes made it impossible to say them aloud. "We're going to need a new name."

He laughed as he reached up and took hold of her face, kissing her. "We can come up with something."

"What do you have in mind?"

He smiled widely, shaking his head as he sat back on his heels. "It's not my turn to name our child, it's Hope's."

"Has she mentioned anything?"

"She and Cara seem to like Richlan." The confusion on her face brought out a deep laugh from his handsome features. "It's a mixture of our names."

Tilting her head, she raised an eyebrow. "Why is your name first?"

"Because Kahlard sounds silly."

The couple laughed in unison as his words danced around them, lightening mood. "You're right, it does sound silly."

"I don't know how I feel about Richlan, though."

"It sounds to be some kind of animal we would find in the forest, nesting with the Gars."

"Maybe it is." He leaned in close to her, sharing her breath. "And it's only a matter of time before it makes its existence known."

"I think we need another name."

Pushing against her, he brought her back to the back of the chair. "What do you feel?"

"You."

A grin came to his lips as his nose pushed into her neck. "A name, Mother Confessor. We are searching for a name."

Threading her fingers in his hair, she closed her eyes. "Daniel."

"Daniel," he repeated through a whisper that tickled her ear. "I can't wait to meet him."

"Richard...," she panted as his mouth began devouring her neck.

"Hmm?"

"If you wish to have your way with me, I suggest moving somewhere more comfortable... After we close our door."

His head jerked backed instantly, looking to the door as he pulled his hands from her breasts. "When did that open?"

"It hasn't closed in five days."

Standing, he looked down at her with a sly grin. "As Lord Rahl, I demand your clothes be removed when I return."

Kahlan slumped in the chair and returned the smile. "I was injured, My Lord, I require your assistance."

With a low growl, Richard hurried to the door and slammed it shut, locking it instantly before turning back to her.

"Why didn't you tell anyone you had magic?"

"Everyone was already scared of me."

Cara looked down at Hope, who stared out through the gates. "Fear can be useful."

"I don't like it."

"Why?"

Looking up, she met her friend's eyes and frowned. "You're the only one who will play with me."

"I don't play," the blonde said sternly, making the young girl smile.

"You don't look at me like they do." Raising her hand, Hope pointed behind the Mord'Sith and sighed. "Why are you not afraid?"

"You're too small to cause much damage."

"I'll grow bigger."

Cara heard the sadness in her voice and despite her attempt to ignore it, she couldn't. Kneeling down, she pushed on the Confessor's shoulders. "Push them back and stand up straight. They will always fear you. Use it."

"How?"

"Let it make you stronger. Look at them, they're afraid of you because they've been taught to be. They will never see anything the same way you do and because you're standing next to me, they're afraid to take their next breath."

"Were you taught to fear us too?"

Shaking her head, Cara stood up and straightened her back. "No, I was trained to hate you."

"Oh." Stepping back, Hope took a deep breath to prepare her for the question she wanted to ask. "Why do you stay?"

"I don't have anywhere else to go."

Taking her friend's hand once again, the small Confessor smiled. "I'm glad you're here, Cara."

"How are you feeling?"

Turning her head, she smiled weakly. "Tired." Closing her eyes, she rolled her shoulders back into the bed. "I can't remember the last time I slept."

"Do you want me to ask Zedd for an elixir to help?"

"No," she replied distantly, her eyes still closed. "I know you have plans for today, but I-" Rolling onto her side, she met his honey eyes. "Would you stay here with me for a little while longer?"

Bringing her into his arms, he hugged her to his chest. "Of course."

Lifting her head, she met his eyes and gritted her teeth. "Richard, I- I think he's ready to join us."

Before she blinked, he had her in his arms and halfway across the room. Carrying her through their bedroom door, he shouted for his grandfather's help and continued his journey to the birthing room. She wanted to protest and tell him that she was still able to walk, but she knew he wouldn't have it any other way. They had had a conversation on the matter again and again, never ending in her favor. He was filled with an amount of worries she couldn't compete with and once she looked into his sad, honey eyes, she found herself feeling safer knowing he had thought of everything.

There were a few servants already in the room when they arrived, laying towels down beside the chair she was to give birth in. She hated the chair with a passion and as he brought her closer, it grew wild within her. It had a back for her to lean against and she loathed it for taking the place she wanted Richard. Her water broke as he sat her down and almost instantly, she grabbed for his hand.

"I don't think he's going to wait for the midwife!" Her words came through a cry of pain and gritted teeth, making them seem much harder than she intended.

"Then we won't wait," he replied softly as he knelt down and began lifting her nightgown. "We know what to do."

With another cry of pain, Kahlan pushed her head back and released his hand, replacing it with the sides of the chair. There had been a moment, when giving birth to Hope, she had prayed for it all to end and it was quickly returning to her now. The pain grew with each passing moment, drowning out the Seeker's words of encouragement and making spots dance across her vision. She had seen women in labor for hours and after going birth to Hope, she didn't know where their strength came from. If Richard wasn't with her, she wasn't sure she would have been able to go through it, but his confidence in her never wavered. It annoyed her at the time, the smile on his face as he told her that she was strong and that he knew she could do it. The happiness on his face didn't fade as she grabbed his shirt and yanked him to her, telling him that if he wanted to trade places with her, she would gladly do so.

The thought made her chuckle, confusing the man kneeling before her. "Have you thought about it?" she asked through another laugh that quickly turned into a cry of pain. "We can trade places, right now."

"I don't think I'm strong enough to do this."

"Neither am I."

Taking her face gently into his hands, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. "Yes, you are. You're the strongest person I know." Her next set of words were replaced with a loud cry, her back shoving against the chair as he, once again, took her hands. "I'm right here, Kahlan and we are going to get through this, together."

Two hours later, Richard was bringing his son to his chest while Kahlan struggled to regain her breath. Moving to her side, he gently handed her their child and grinned. "Here he is."

A surge of energy flooded her veins as she took him in her arms. "He looks just like you."

"He has more hair."

Smiling, Kahlan ran the fingers of her right hand through the short, thick, light brown hair. "You're right," she said quietly. "His hair is more like mine."

"His eyes?"

"Hard to tell, they're dark now, though. I think he's trying to look at you."

Releasing a soft chuckle, Richard inched backward. "He's wondering why I am keeping you from feeding him. I'll find you something warm and bring in Zedd. He will help you with your pain."

"Would you find Hope, too? I think she'd like to meet Daniel."

Pausing at the door, he looked back over his shoulder to her smiling face. "She's probably waiting down the hall with Cara. I'll send her to you."