Chapter 9 – The Truth Unveiled

Cynthia stepped into the warm bath and sighed, slipping down into the water. It felt good to get out of the cold and into something warm. Every pore in her body tingled with contentment. Though, she had to admit, it was kind of odd having a maidservant hovering around to see to her every want and need. Taking a deep breath, she submerged under the water, allowing it to soak into her hair. When she broke the surface, she nearly yelped at the sight of the maidservant moving about the washroom.

"Which shampoo would you like today, Mother Confessor?" Ruthy asked, as she opened one of the wooden cabinets and began removing some bottles and flasks of soap and washing oils.

Moving her soaked hair back from her face, and adjusting in the water to cover herself, Cynthia watched as Ruthy glanced up awaiting an answer. She gulped, unsure what to say. The Mother Confessor probably had a favorite soap she used that gave her a fragrance that the Lord Rahl liked. Cynthia felt a little apprehensive about adopting the same aroma. Having already stolen the identity of the woman, Cynthia did not want to take away another thing that belonged to her. It just did not seem right.

"Mother Confessor?" Ruthy turned, furrowing her brow. "Is something wrong?"

Looking away for a moment, Cynthia thought. She looked back up and tried to smile. "No… nothing, everything is fine," she lied.

"Then which shampoo would you like?" Ruthy inquired.

Cynthia bit her lower lip and narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the bottles and ointments she saw across the way next to the wooden cabinet. There was one that had a soapy pink colored shampoo that seemed to have been used the most. "The pink one," she said.

Ruthy smiled. "The usual, yes!" she beamed and picked it up. "I remember you telling me that the Lord Rahl really liked this one."

Dear Creator, that made Cynthia feel all the more terrible. The maidservant popped the stopper on the bottle and came over, dripping some of the pink fluid into her palm. Cynthia moved to rest her back against the edge of the tub, and allowed Ruthy to rub the soap into her hair. The maidservant's fingers moved through her hair and rubbed deep into her scalp, bringing the soap to a rich lather.

Cynthia closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax. It had been a long time since she had had a bath… a normal bath. The baths that Sister Bree had given her had always been long and filled with magical spells, and strange tingling sensations on her skin. Not to mention the tightening feeling she always felt between her legs as Bree used her powerful magic to restore her maidenhood.

Though, in the end there had been no need to do that. The Lord Rahl had already slept with the Mother Confessor, but Bree had still wanted to make Cynthia tight, hoping to entice the Lord Rahl with the feel of it when she made love to him. Cynthia had come close and had taken him in, breaking her new maidenhood, but she had not been able to make him release his seed into her, as Bree had wanted. She was glad she had not stolen that much. She wished she had not even taken it that far.

The guilt was overwhelming, and any of the comfort she got from this warm bath was quite literally washed away. Cynthia clenched her jaw tight, and she felt her muscles tense as the feeling of her shame over what she had done swept into her being.

"Mother Confessor?" Ruthy spoke up. "Is everything all right?"

Cynthia sniffled. "Yes… everything's fine. Why do you ask?"

"Because you're crying," Ruthy replied. "I've never seen you cry like this… except for when you thought the Lord Rahl was dead." The maidservant paused in her work. "I apologize… I am just concern about you."

Oh, why did she have to say that? This girl, this kind girl, did not know the truth. She was not serving the Mother Confessor, but an imposter. Cynthia wiped her eyes and told the maidservant to finish and forget about it. Ruthy rinsed Cynthia's hair with the warm water, and then helped her dry off after she got out of the tub. Wrapping herself in a wool towel, Cynthia and Ruthy then walked out of the washroom and into the bedchambers.

Cynthia looked around and lowered her head, feeling ashamed. Ruthy walked past her and opened up the wardrobe. She looked up and watched as the maidservant removed a beautiful white dress. Her breath caught as the fabric seemed to shimmer and glow in the candlelight. She raised her eyebrows and did not know what to do. How could she dress in the Mother Confessor's dress? It was wrong, oh so very wrong. But she could not resist. Not now. Not when the Lord Rahl needed the strength he got from the presence of his love, even if he did not realize the woman he was looking at was not truly his beloved.

She allowed Ruthy to help her dress. At first she felt uncomfortable in the corset, but when the laces had been fastened all the way, and she was finally able to breathe, just not as deeply as she had without the accursed thing on, she felt better. A small black shift was next, then Ruthy brought out the white dress. Cynthia held out her arms and slid them through the sleeves. Ruthy then tied the loose strings in front and in the back, tightening it.

When they were done, Cynthia stepped over and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her breath caught. She never thought she had ever looked so beautiful. The corset helped to accentuate her curves, and pushed her breasts together, giving a rather generous display of cleavage. The white dress seemed to compliment her pale alabaster skin, and her blue eyes shone out like beckons in the night. The long fall of her dark hair gave off a raven black sheen in the light, and Cynthia almost forgot who she really was.

XXX

Aydindril was in sight. The first thing she saw was the towering wall. In the distance, shadowed by the grey winter clouds was the Wizard's Keep, looming over everything like a silent sentinel. And there, a brilliant dome rose above the walls, gleaming white in all its glory, was the Confessor's Palace: The home of all confessors… her home.

Kahlan took a deep breath and sighed with relief. It had only been slightly over a week, yet it felt as if it had been an eternity. This city held so many memories for her… some good, some bad… and some great. When they reached the gates, the guards noticed Cara and stood in formation. Some of the men seemed surprised to see Kahlan, but they did not say anything. They rode through the portcullis into the streets.

The crowds parted for them as they made their way through the city. As they passed the marketplace, the people going about their business stopped and bowed. Her heart beat fiercely beneath her breast as they approached the large square before the Confessor's Palace. Her memories of stepping out from the palace and walking down an aisle formed by the First File to take Richard's hand in marriage came flooding back to her.

Kahlan could not help but smile. She remembered every moment of that day, and especially the night that followed… well, to be more precise, the nights. She had never experienced such pleasure or ecstasy. Being with Richard was a rapture beyond compare. Even traveling in the sliph was not as pleasurable as being with Richard. Then it hit her. Richard was gone, and his memories had been stolen. Lost. He had no memory of their wedding or their wedding night.

Lost in her own thoughts and concerns, Kahlan was hardly aware that they had arrived at the stables of the Confessor's Palace. Cara and Nicci were in the process of dismounting when Kahlan came out of her ruminations. Cara came over and offered a hand to help her down.

"Cara?"

"Yes, Kahlan?"

"I'm not a cripple," Kahlan said. "And I'm not that far along. I can still do things on my own."

Cara shrugged. "Fine… whatever."

Kahlan slipped down from the horse and caught her breath. Spirits, her legs ached and her rear was sore from riding for so long. They had rode hard and quickly, much at her own insistence. Kahlan wanted to get back as soon as possible, so that Zedd could start working on a way to combat the Chimes. And possibly find a way to restore Richard's memories.

She adjusted her weight on her feet and reached behind to rub the small of her back. Kahlan felt suddenly very tired. Her "condition" had been confirmed when her moon blood had not come on the second day of her cycle. It did not always come on her first day, so she had given it some time. However, when the next day came, nothing happened.

Now, beyond a doubt, Kahlan knew that she was with child. The prospect thrilled and scared her at the same time. What scared her the most was knowing how fast the changes would come. For a normal woman, the gestation period usually took nine months. But confessors, well, confessors were different. It would only take her half that time. Another week or two and she would already be showing.

"Kahlan?" Nicci questioned in concerned, placing a hand on her arm.

Kahlan blinked. "Yes, I'm sorry, I was just thinking."

Nicci's eyes looked understanding. "About Richard?"

She nodded. "Richard is never far from my mind, Nicci," Kahlan replied, taking a deep breath and running her hands over her middle, thinking more about Richard and the life that they had created together. She wished he was here and they were together. Life was easier when she had Richard by her side. She had never realized how much she needed him until she no longer had him.

When she had been on the run from Darken Rahl's quads, Kahlan had never thought that she would have encountered a man who would blow away all her previous conceptions about life. Richard had changed her mind about love. She had always believed she would never know love… true love. That she would marry for duty and marry solely for the purpose of conceiving another confessor.

But Richard changed all that. Kahlan immediately felt a connection with him… an attraction that she had never expected. His eyes looked at her in ways she had never been looked at before. During their subsequent journey through the Midlands, she would catch him looking at her and she would smile inwardly, silently enjoying the attention. She liked the flattery, and his subtle overtures towards wooing.

However, she had known that it could not go any further than that; A fact that Zedd had annoyingly pointed out constantly. But then… then everything changed. It was after they had defeated Rahl that Richard had told her about the future that could have happened. It was then, at that moment on the beach, that they admitted their feelings for one another. That was when Kahlan had decided she would risk everything to stay by his side, even if it meant she would never get to experience the joys of physical love.

Now, here she was, almost two years later and in the early stages of carrying his child. Richard's child. Not some mate she had to take during confession, but Richard. Her Seeker. Her Lord Rahl. Her husband. The man she loved more than life itself was going to be the father of her child, and she was thrilled.

Kahlan narrowed her eyes, and looked at Nicci. The sorceress still had a hand on her lower arm. Kahlan reached out and placed her hand over Nicci's, squeezing it in thanks. "Let's get to Zedd."

They walked away from the stables and up the steps towards the Confessor's Palace. Soldiers of the First File stood in guard at the doors. They opened the doors for them and Kahlan led the way. Inside the entrance hall, Kahlan saw a young maidservant walking across the room.

"Ruthy!" Kahlan shouted out, smiling. The young girl had been her maidservant through many difficult times, and she had come to enjoy—even at times, rely on, her time with the girl.

Ruthy turned and bowed her head. "Mother Confessor…," her eyebrows rose in confusion. "Why aren't you with the Lord Rahl?"

"What? Richard… he's here!" Kahlan could hardly believe it. She gripped the maidservant's arms and looked into her eyes. "Where?"

"He's in the council chambers, Mother Confessor," Ruthy blinked, startled. Her expression was one that said she thought it was obvious. "And… forgive me for asking, but when did you change?"

"Change?" Kahlan furrowed her brow. She shrugged it off and turned in the direction of the council chambers. Nicci and Cara took of right behind her. Ruthy hesitated for a moment, looking somewhat baffled and bewildered, but soon she, too, joined the group.

XXX

The two days back in Aydindril had been difficult to say the least. He had spent most of his time with Zedd in the Wizard's Keep. Now they were in the council chambers, where Zedd and Verna were trying to teach him about the Imperial Order. He was growing tired and bored. He had missed Kahlan during the past two days. She had kept herself distant, keeping mostly to herself, staying mostly in her bedchambers with her maidservant Ruthy.

Richard slept elsewhere, which caused him even more confusion. If everything she had told him was true, then he was her husband, and she his wife. If that was so, then why did they not share a bed? When he went to bed he felt alone and empty, as if he was suppose to share his bed with someone. And everything inside him screamed that it was Kahlan.

So, to that end, he had used his power as Lord Rahl to summon her. She could not refuse such a summons from the Master of D'Hara, so she had come, dressed in her white confessor's dress. When she entered he smiled, and stood up from his chair, ignoring Zedd's pedantic ramblings about troop movements and such. Richard immediately wrapped her up in his arms.

Kahlan shifted uncomfortably for a moment, before relenting and easing into his hold. He brought his hands up and ran his fingers through her long lush hair.

"Kahlan, I've missed you," he murmured softly, taking note that both Zedd and Verna were watching. "Why have you kept your distance?"

She backed up and rested her hands on his chest. The blues of her eyes shone with a brilliance that caught his breath and his heart skipped a beat. Her lips parted and his eyes focused on them. He waited for her to answer.

"Richard, please, I need you to listen to me," Kahlan spoke hastily, her eyes darting over to look at Zedd and Verna. "I am not Kahlan. I am not your wife. I never was."

Richard shook his head. "Kahlan, stop this," he said, caressing her cheek, tenderly wiping away a tear with the pad of his thumb. "Zedd is right, this joke isn't funny." He lowered his voice. "And with my loss of memory, I don't find it that amusing. I need you to be strong. I need you, Kahlan."

"Please, stop that," she whimpered. "Oh, why do you have to be so kind and understanding?" Kahlan looked back up at him and knitted her eyebrows together. "I may wish to be your wife, but I am not. I can never be her."

"What are you saying?" Richard was growing worried. Was she trying to tell him that his loss of memory was too much for her to bear, and that she no longer wished to be his wife? He did not know if he could live with that. His heart, his very soul yearned for Kahlan. He wanted nothing more than to simply be with her. "Kahlan, please?"

"No!" she shook her head defiantly. "Do not call me that! I am not Kahlan. My name is Cynthia. I am not a confessor, nor have I ever been one. I may look and sound like her, but I am not her. I am a fake, a genetic copy. Nothing more, nothing less. You must believe me."

"Enough!" he was growing impatient and angry. He gripped her head in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. She began to sob and he regretted his tone, but he was growing tired of this farce.

Kahlan lowered her eyes and cried. Behind him, Richard could sense both Zedd and Verna stepping closer. He glanced over his shoulder and signaled them with a look to hold back. Kahlan was truly emotional right now, and he had a feeling that he was probably the only one who could help her. He gently rubbed her arms and pulled her closer, taking hold of her waist with one hand, while with the other raising her gaze to meet his. He brushed away her tears and looked into her brilliant blue eyes.

"I may have no memories of our first meeting, our first kiss, or our wedding," he stated firmly. "Yet I know this: My heart, my soul, my very being, still demands you, Kahlan. You are my wife, and I love you. And if my memories never return, then so be it. I still love you, Kahlan."

He gripped her head in his hands and captured her lips with his. He pushed into her, running his fingers through her silky smooth hair, allowing them to flow down its length. Her hands rested on his chest, as he pulled her closer, one hand running down to rest at the small of her back.

A yawning noise of the doors opening temporarily distracted him from kissing his wife, but he soon refocused his attention. However, that attention was quickly pulled away when he heard a wail that sounded so familiar that it tore at his very soul. Kahlan turned away from him, crying, crumbling onto the floor before a woman standing in the threshold of the door.

Richard blinked, too stunned to say anything as he took in that woman. She was dressed much as she had been when he had first opened his eyes that week and a half ago. She was dressed in a black ensemble with a skirt that generously showed off her lovely thighs. Her long fall of raven hair framed a pale face that looked heartbroken. But it was the eyes that caught his attention. They held a quality that the woman sprawled on the floor lacked, a quality the roared authority and respect.

His lips trembled and he fought to keep himself upright. He looked back and forth between the two of them, his mind reeling with uncertainty and confusion. A gnawing painful feeling seemed to stab his chest and he felt compelled to speak.

Richard looked questioningly up at the stunningly beautiful woman standing in the doorway, and opened his mouth. "Kahlan?"