I don't know how it keeps working out like this, but each chapter just keeps working out so nicely into these cliffhangers! Someday I'm going to have to try my hand at humor, but I'm not sure I could do it!

Reunion (Chapter 10)

Racing down the passageway, Richard and Cara came to an abrupt halt when they were greeted by a hideous looking creature lying on the ground, blood covering its chest.

Narrowing her eyes in disgust, Cara wrinkled her nose as she gasped, "What is that thing?"

"I don't know…it looks like something created by magic, maybe to protect this place," Richard guessed, nudging it with his sword.

Looking around, Cara made her way over to a spot near the wall. Bending over, she picked up a dagger, turning it over in her hands.

"Found Kahlan's other dagger," Cara informed him as she straightened up.

Richard walked over to stand beside her, taking the dagger to inspect it. It too was covered in blood like the previous one he had found, but this time it appeared to be the creature's blood. His mind began to race with numerous deadly scenarios, none of them turning out well.

"Come on; let's keep moving. We're getting closer. They should be just up ahead," Richard said, desperate to reach her. He had to find her; without Kahlan, life held no meaning to him.

XXX

Speechless, Phillip and Kahlan stood taking in their surroundings. It was as if they had just entered an entirely different world, a whole world away from the Tabethia Caverns.

They stood on a large ledge of rock that narrowed in front of them and then dropped off into an abyss of nothingness that stretched out several hundred feet in front of them. Spirits only knew how deep the inky chasm ran. Although the stone walls appeared like rock, they radiated an eerie glow that lit up the entire cavern.

On the other side of the cavern, across the abyss that stretched out before them, was another large stone ledge with a shallow alcove. Sitting in the alcove was a large golden box.

Eyeing the golden box, Phillip's heart began to beat wildly at the thought of all the riches that lay nestled inside it. He had to get his hands on it, but how were they going to be able to get across the bottomless pit that lay as an obstacle between him and his treasure?

Phillip was jostled from his scheming when Kahlan slowly began walking towards the edge of the rocky ledge upon which they stood. A beam of light had erupted from the box and was enveloping his daughter in its radiance.

Kahlan was walking as if in a trance, hypnotized by the light that was radiating around her, as she held her hand out with the fuchsia stone resting in her palm. She was steadily reaching the edge of the drop-off.

Phillip called out her name with no response from her, no pause in her step. It was as if he wasn't even there with her. His eyes were wide with horror, sweat forming on his brow as he dropped his torch and raced towards her in an attempt to keep her from walking off the ledge to her impending death. Phillip was two steps from grabbing her arm when her foot stepped off the ledge followed by her other foot.

"No!" Phillip screamed, horrified that he had just lost Kahlan. He stood motionless in his steps as he watched his daughter continue to take step after step across the abyss without falling. It was as if she was crossing on a bridge that only she could see.

"KAHLAN!!" came a terrified scream from behind him, causing Phillip to spin around in time to see Richard and Cara racing towards him.

The Seeker was panting, his face a picture of his heart. His eyes were a mix of shock and confusion as he watched his lover walking across an abyss, nothing under her feet. Kahlan never faltered in her step, never hesitated or paused at the sound of her lover's voice.

All Richard could do was to stand by and helplessly watch as Kahlan gradually made her way to the alcove and the wealth that had invited her to come and see what it wanted to show only her. Attempting to reach her, Richard screamed her name one more time but to no avail.

Enraged at the jeopardy she had been put in, Richard dropped his sword, whirling around and grabbing Phillip by his cloak. His breath was coming out in short gasps of rage and hatred for this man. It was all Richard could do not to beat him and throw him over the ledge into the open arms of the waiting abyss.

"If it weren't for Kahlan, I would kill you right here," Richard hissed with a deadly glare, a sneer on his face as panic threatened to make his heart burst. How was he going to get to her now?

Cara who stood behind Richard was not about to stop him if he wanted to kill this man. She wouldn't have minded having a shot at the low-life herself.

"Do it. I deserve it…" Phillip murmured as he hung his head, overcome with anguish for the pain he had caused his daughter. He could scarcely believe the man he had allowed himself to become.

Richard's eyes narrowed further at the unexpected response he received to his threat. He didn't know what to believe from this man who had kidnapped his own daughter. He didn't trust him or his empty words no matter how sincere they may sound.

Richard relaxed his hands, releasing Phillip and taking a step back, bending over to pick up his sword. Placing it back in his scabbard, he turned his attention back towards Kahlan.

"What have you gotten her into?" Richard seethed, trying to regain some semblance of control over his anger. He may have to work with this man in order to get Kahlan back. He couldn't afford to act rashly and sending him flying over the ledge no matter how badly he wanted to.

"I have no idea…I just…I thought that I could handle it, that as long as Kahlan held the stone she could safely get me the treasure. I never meant for her to get hurt or to die," Phillip ashamedly admitted, staring at his daughter as she continued her journey to the alcove. She would be there within a matter of minutes.

Stunned, Richard could hardly believe this was the same man who held a knife to Kahlan's throat and threatened to kill her just days ago. Just what had happened to him over the last few days?

"Well, it may be too late for that now," Richard softly replied, choking down the lump in his throat at the thought that he may never be with his love ever again.

"Just give her a chance. Kahlan is strong…like her mother. If anyone can survive, Kahlan can," Phillip assured the Seeker.

"And what about the bloody dagger I found in the woods?" Richard asked as he turned to look at Kahlan's father, demanding answers.

"She was trying to escape…I couldn't let her escape…I had to stop her," Phillip admitted, a tear slowly rolling down his cheek. "I…I needed her."

"So you threw a dagger at your own daughter?" Richard shouted, unable to even begin processing what he was hearing.

"Richard, she's hurt; I caused it. I'm not proud of it, but we have to get her out of her. Her wound is infected. She's been losing blood. She's not going to last much longer unless we get her help," Phillip heatedly replied.

Richard could hardly believe how much dire this situation was growing by the moment. Grabbing Phillip by his cloak again, Richard fumed, "If Kahlan dies, I will kill you!"

"Enough! You two can finish this argument after we get out of here. Now, if you two can't work together to figure a way out of this, I will take care of it myself," Cara finally broke in, sick of their bickering.

Releasing Kahlan's father, Richard reluctantly stepped back, turning his focus back again to Kahlan. She was mere steps away from reaching the alcove.

Hearing a sudden growl, Cara, Richard, and Phillip spun around to be face to face with another Gatekeeper. Its large glowing eyes were menacing to behold. It opened its mouth and released a growl that rumbled and echoed throughout the cavern sending shivers down their spines as they watched the creature approach them.

Richard cast a quick glance back at Kahlan in time to see her step safely onto the stone ledge on the other side of the abyss. Suddenly, a narrow stone path that had once been invisible now appeared as it crossed the gap between the ledges of rock. The light that had enveloped her now shone even brighter around her as she reached the alcove, making her look angelic.

Cara rapidly raced towards the Gatekeeper as she yelled over shoulder, "Lord Rahl, go get the Mother Confessor! I'll take care of the creature!"

Richard took off in a dead run, Phillip close on his heels, across the stone path after Kahlan. Richard watched in awe as Kahlan, reaching forward and placing the fuchsia stone in a small cut out on the top the box, became awash in a spectrum of colors.

The box immediately opened once the stone was in its rightful place. Reaching in, Kahlan withdrew a large pink jewel that was the size of a grapefruit. As she turned towards them, Phillip's eyes widened at the site of the jewel that Kahlan now held in her outstretched hands. The cavern became saturated in shades of pink that radiated from the magical jewel.

Phillip and Richard came to an abrupt halt several feet from her at the site of Kahlan standing with the gem. Enveloped in radiant shades of pink, she was breathtaking to behold. Her eyes were distant, as if under a spell.

"Kahlan?" Richard softly choked out, his voice cracking with emotion at the site of his love standing before him.

"Richard?" she murmured, confusion in her blue eyes. As if finally waking from a dream, Kahlan slowly lowered her hands, looking down at the gem that she held.

She had done it; she had obtained the treasure. From the moment the light had engulfed her, it had been like a walking dream. Richard and Phillip swiftly closed the gap to Kahlan.

"Here's your treasure, father. I hope it brings you all the happiness you've ever wanted," Kahlan softly said as she handed the beautiful jewel to Phillip, sadness in her eyes.

Richard went to Kahlan, quickly enveloping her in his arms and pulling her into his warm embrace. Relief flooded his soul as he held her to him, tears stinging his eyes. He never wanted to let her go again. Pulling back, Richard immediately captured her lips in a passionate kiss that warmed her heart as he buried his hands in her beautiful dark hair.

Holding it in his hands, Phillip thought that he had never wanted something so badly in his life and now that he had it, he didn't know if he wanted it. Phillip didn't feel the overwhelming joy that he thought he would have once he had the treasure.

Casting a glance at Richard and Kahlan, Phillip was overcome with sadness. He had thought that wealth would fill the emptiness that bitterness and resentment had created in his heart, but it hadn't. Seeing Richard and Kahlan's love for one another made him see what he had allowed himself to become over the years since his wife's death. He was a hollow shell of the man he once had been, no longer the man that Kahlan's mother had chosen to be the father of her children.

At that moment, Phillip realized that he'd had the wealth of the world and had chosen to abuse it. In so doing, he had also lost it. Tears began to stream down his face as he watched his daughter kiss the man she loved with all her heart, knowing that he had lost the greatest treasure a person could ever have – love.

A low rumble like thunder began to suddenly erupt out of the black abyss that surrounded them, sending landslides of rubble to start falling about them. Pulling from their embrace, Richard and Kahlan looked towards Cara who was yelling at them to run, the Gatekeeper lying on the ground at her feet.

Richard grabbed Kahlan's hand as they started making their way down the narrow stone bridge towards Cara. Turning around, Kahlan yelled at her father to run as Richard began dragging her with him. The ground was vibrating under their boots as the stone bridge began to give way, creating a large gap, leaving Phillip on one side with the gem and Richard and Kahlan on the other side where safety awaited them…