TITLE: Paradise Found

AUTHOR: LOTSlove®

CHARACTERS: Richard / Kahlan / Zedd / Cara/ Darken Rahl / Other Seeker Characters (Surprise Appearances)

RATING: R/M

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

TIMELINE: Alternative Universe

DISCLAIMER: I'm completely obsessed with the show Legend of the Seeker and all things Richard and Kahlan. I love to write about them even though they cancelled my show and now I'm fighting to get it back!

SUMMARY: My very first AU fic! Team Seeker and gang set in the Wild Wild West. Hope you enjoy the adventure!

Chapter 11

Riding towards town, Richard couldn't stop the thundering pace of his heart that seemed to match the stampeding beat of his horse's hooves. He was beyond terrified about what he might find when he finally reached the saloon.

"Please, Kahlan," he whispered to himself, praying that she could somehow hear his desperate plea. "Don't give up on us…please..."

He drew a sharp, shuddering breath against the painful knot that suddenly filled his throat and the vice-like grip that panic held on his chest making it difficult to draw air. He leaned further in his horse's withers, allowing the wind to glide over him as he became one with his mount.

He suddenly felt as though his world was crumbling down around him all over again. After his father's death, he feared at times that he would never know true happiness ever again, the shattered pieces of his heart never to be mended.

But then he had met Kahlan and warmth and light began to gently filter back into his life once more. She had somehow managed to reach inside and gather up the jagged pieces his father's death had left behind and began to knit it back together again.

He never knew that love could ever be like this, suddenly shooting across his inky black sky of grief like a bright shining star, blinding and consuming him, enveloping him in her radiant beauty and warmth.

What was even more startling to him was the fact that she felt something in return for him. Kahlan was falling in love with him. The corners of his lips curled at the amazing thought, a feeling of sweet longing flooding his system and warming him clear to his toes.

He knew without a second thought that he'd move heaven and earth just to see her smile at him, to see the love and desire simmering in those brilliant blue eyes directed at him. What he wouldn't do, the lengths that he would go to just be with her, to build a life with her.

But he couldn't do that if he didn't get to her in time. He couldn't let her down. Her father had failed her. Darken Rahl had failed her. Richard swore on his very life that he would not fail her. He would be the one who would save her.

Gritting his teeth, he urged his horse on, the wind abruptly knocking his hat off to bounce gently against his back. He had no idea how he was going to stop Darken Rahl, only that he had to do whatever it took to protect Kahlan.

Chase had told him last night that he had to decide what kind of man he wanted to be, but apart from Kahlan he didn't know who he was. He did know what kind of man that he wanted to be for her, the kind of man that he knew she deserved to love her.

Richard suddenly leapt from his horse before he came to a complete stop, ignoring Chase and Michael's pleading calls of his name in a futile attempt to stop him. No one was going to keep him from getting to her.

He raced into the saloon, panting heavily as he made his way up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time to get to her room. He didn't pause to notice the saloon was completely empty, none of Rahl's men there keeping watch.

Reaching Kahlan's room, Richard slowly opened the door, coming to an abrupt stop with what he found greeting him. Her bed was a tangled mess, blood staining the sheets. His heart leapt in his throat as he quickly gripped the door frame, his fingernails digging into the wood as his frantic gaze fell on the large red pool of blood on the floor.

"No," he gasped, tears suddenly burning his eyes as he fought to remain upright. "Kahlan?"

He entered on trembling legs, frantic to find some sort of sign that she was still alive as he scanned the room. "Kahlan!" he called again louder this time, chest beginning to heave from the fury inundating him.

He was met with nothing but silence and the sound of his own panicked breaths. He ran to the back changing room to find it empty as well except for some of her dresses that Rahl forced her to wear.

Chase and Michael came to an abrupt stop in the doorway, both stunned by what they found. Chase immediately entered as Richard came out of the dressing room. The look of sheer anguish that was etched in his face spoke volumes of what was going on inside of him at that moment.

"Richard," Chase cautiously approached, his hand finding his shoulder. "We don't know anything yet. This might not even be Kahlan's blood."

Paralyzed in a state of horrified panic, he finally turned to look at the sheriff. "Where could she be, Chase?" his voice cracking with the firestorm of emotions raging through him at that moment.

"I don't know, but we'll find her, Richard," Chase firmly said, trying to bring his friend out of the bewildered fog that held him hostage. "We won't stop until we find her."

Richard slowly nodded his head, swallowing back his heart. "Michael, where could Rahl have taken her?"

Just then Zedd walked in with a mop and bucket in hand. "Zedd!" Richard cried at the sight of the old bartender. "What happened here? Where's Kahlan?"

"Ike attacked her last night," Zedd grimly announced, setting down his bucket to lean on the handle of his mop. "Roughed her up a bit, but she's alright for the most part."

Richard released a ragged sigh of relief as he sank onto the edge of the bed. He was enraged that she had been attacked, but relieved that she was alive.

"What happened to Ike?" Chase asked.

"Cara found some of Rahl's men dead, their throats slit," Zedd replied. "She found him in here attacking Kahlan and shot him dead.

"If anyone deserved it, it was Ike. He was planning to rape Kahlan, slice her up and then go after Richard for interfering the other night."

Richard leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees as he held his head in his hands. He wanted to throw up with what he had just learned. He ached to hold her, to feel her body molded to him, her soft skin pressed against his and knowing that she was finally safe with him.

"Where is she now, Zedd?" he finally asked, raising his head.

"Darken Rahl's ranch," he said. "Wedding is going to be there in a couple of hours."

"I thought it was going to be here," Chase frowned.

Zedd nodded. "It was going to be here until last night. After Ike's attack, Rahl had Kahlan taken to his ranch where she'd be safer. He moved the wedding there too."

"We have to get out there and stop it," Richard growled as he leapt to his feet.

"Richard, wait," Michael suddenly stopped him with a firm hand against his chest. "You seriously can't be thinking about riding out there. That would be like riding straight into hell to tangle with the devil."

"I'm tired of waiting, Michael," he bit out, his rage running in hot waves through him. "I've waited six long weeks to avenge our father's death and I've waited long enough to set Kahlan free from this monster who bought her like she was nothing more than some animal.

"Kahlan is running out of time. You can either get out of my way and let me save the woman I love or you can come with me."

Michael stared at his brother, appraising him for a long moment. He released a heavy sigh before finally responding, his hand falling away from Richard's chest. "You always were stubborn especially when your mind is made up. How do you plan on stopping it?"

"We have to be careful," Chase shook his head. "He's not going to just give her over willingly."

"As much as I hate the thought, I may have to buy her back from him," Richard ground out.

"With what?" Michael asked, stunned. "You don't have any money, Richard."

"I sold our ranch," he stated.

Michael's eyes went wide with shock. "You sold the ranch? How could do something like that?"

"Our father was murdered, you were gone, Michael!" Richard angrily reminded him. "What exactly was I supposed to do? I couldn't stay there any longer after what had happened to him.

"You didn't come home to find him like that or have to cut him down from that tree and bury him all alone. I couldn't stay after that, Michael. I sold everything and left to find you, to track down whoever had killed our father."

"I'm sorry, Richard," Michael softly murmured, his shoulders slumping. "You did the right thing. You can stay with me as long as you want."

"Only if we survive this little revolt we're planning," Chase reminded them.

"I didn't come this far to give up now," Richard firmly stated.

"Well, I have enough to arrest Darken Rahl on," Chase admitted. "I just don't have enough back up to be able to go in there against him and his men as heavily armed as they are."

"We can't wait for Aydindril to show up," Richard shook his head. "We have to go now."

Leaving Kahlan's room, Richard came to a sudden stop as Darken Rahl suddenly entered the saloon, a handful of his men following him. A smirk slowly spread across Rahl's face as he stared down Richard, his hands coming to rest on his hips.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Rahl drawled, quirking a dark eyebrow. "Looking for someone, Richard?"

Richard slowly descended the steps, his eyes fixed on Rahl. "I want Kahlan," he firmly said as he stared at the man who stood in the way of what he wanted more than life itself. "Let her go, Rahl."

A loud rolling laugh spilled from Rahl's lips. It was cold and derisive, degrading in its tone further igniting Richard's anger. "I don't think so," he smugly said. "I didn't buy her just to hand her over to you."

"She deserves better than you," Richard stated as he came to a stop, keeping plenty of distance between him and Rahl.

"And you think she deserves someone like you?" he shot back with a smirk, his dark gaze sizing him up.

"I love her…unlike you who just wants to use her for the pleasure she can bring you," he spat out between barely controlled pants of rage.

"Ah, and what supreme pleasure she'll be bringing me tonight," Rahl tormented, his eyes temporarily closing as a dreamy expression passed over his face. "Too bad for you that you'll never know her like I will. I'm going to tame her like she should've been tamed long ago."

"I will die before I let you lay a single finger on her," Richard sneered, taking a threatening step forward.

"She already believes that you're dead so she'll never know the difference."

Richard's body immediately tensed with Rahl's words, his muscles coiled tight and ready for a fight. "What?"

"I told her that Nass killed you and the sheriff," he informed him. "She tried her best to hide it, but she was quite devastated by the news."

"No," Richard softly gasped under his breath.

If Kahlan thought that he was dead, then she really would give up all hope of escaping. She'd take her life before being forced into a brutal loveless marriage with Darken Rahl. He had to get to her before it was too late.

Rahl's smirk deepened at the look of horror that passed over Richard's face with the unexpected news. "Nass obviously failed in getting rid of you, but I won't," he snapped, his eyes growing even darker as he swiftly reached for his gun.

In less than a heartbeat, everyone went for their weapons. Richard dove behind a table as bullets began to whiz past his head. He cast a glance to his left to find Chase and Michael diving for cover as well. He knew that this was one chance to rid Kahlan and the world of Darken Rahl and he was not about to let it escape, wasn't going to let the love of a lifetime slip through his fingers now.

Tipping the table over, he watched as Rahl and his men ducked behind tables and chairs as well. It was going to be a show down with only one winner and Richard was going to make sure that Rahl lost.

"You're not walking out of here alive so you might as well give up now," Rahl shouted at him.

Richard responded with a shower of bullets that caused the table Rahl was concealed behind to splinter. He could hear a curse escape from Rahl's lips bringing a small smile to his own. "I think it'll be you who isn't going to walk out of here today," Richard shot back.

Rahl responded in return with a round of bullets, one of which grazed Richard's arm. He hissed in pain as blood began to ooze from the fresh wound, his hand going to his arm as he put pressure on it.

"Richard!" Michael hissed, seeing his brother wounded.

"I'm alright," he softly shook his head as he breathed through the pain.

"I'm going to make you pay for interfering in my business!" Rahl roared.

Richard peered over the table, firing his gun. One by one, Rahl's men began to fall, giving Richard hope that they were going to make it through this, bringing him that much closer to getting Kahlan back.

He began to inch his way closer to Rahl when a sudden cry tore his attention away from his ultimate destination. He turned to find Michael lying on the ground, blood blossoming beneath him on the wooden floor.

"Michael!" he cried as he quickly crawled towards his fallen brother, keeping low to the ground.

"Richard," his brother softly gasped, wincing as pain tore through him. "Richard, I'm sorry…"

"Michael, stay with me," Richard ordered as he gathered him up in his arms. "You're going to be alright…you have to be alright."

"Richard…I'm so sorry…for everything…" he gasped, his face contorted with pain as he grabbed hold of his brother's hand.

"No, Michael!" Richard growled. "Don't you die on me now! Don't leave me alone!"

"You…were always…the better brother, the better son…" he murmured, his voice growing weaker. "You have a good heart, Richard. Never lose that. Now…go save your…Kahlan."

Chase watched as Richard held Michael to his chest, tears rolling down his cheeks. His heart constricted with the pain that was so very evident in Richard's face. He had endured so much in his young life, more than anyone should ever have to go through.

Richard's head fell back, a strangled sob rising from deep in his throat and echoing through the room as he held his dead brother in his arms. He had just gotten him back only to lose him all over again.

"Stop this now, Richard," Rahl yelled. "You've lost your father and now your brother. You're going to be next."

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Chase growled, knocking his table over and racing towards Rahl.

A shot rang out suddenly dropping Chase to the ground. He quickly rolled to his side, firing at the last of Rahl's men and dropping him with a bullet to his chest. "You're next Rahl!" Chase sneered, fighting to catch the breath the pain that seared through his arm was stealing away.

Lying Michael down, Richard stood to his feet, his body trembling with the rage and grief that inundated him. Although never really close, Michael had still been his brother, had still been his family.

"This is between you and me, Rahl!" Richard yelled as he shoved his gun into his holster. "Get out here and face me!"

A low undulating chuckle slowly drifted through the air, dark and evil. "Come out and face you?" he questioned him. "So the sheriff can shoot me when my back is turned? I think not."

"This doesn't involve Chase," Richard seethed. "You had my father murdered, killed my brother, and took the woman that I love. The least you can do is face me…or are you a coward?"

The table he was hiding behind suddenly turned over, Rahl standing to his feet. "I am no coward," he snarled. "If you want me, you've got me."

"Richard!" Chase warned, shaking his head as he staggered to his feet, his hand on his bloody shoulder.

"I'm fine, Chase," he calmly replied, his raptor gaze searing through the monster standing before him.

"Not for long," Rahl scowled, taking his jacket off. "This will be fun."

The two men slowly circled each other, each burning a hole through the other with their heated glares. Rahl suddenly dove at Richard, his fist connecting with his jaw and sending him sprawling to the floor. Rahl threw his head back, laughing with how easily his foe had fallen.

"I can't wait to tell Kahlan how easily I beat the man that she loves," he told him. "I am sorry that you'll miss hearing her screams as I take her over and over and over again. I'm going to break her down until there's nothing left."

With a deep animalistic growl, Richard lunged for the man gloating over him, knocking him back as they both crashed through a table. His fists pounded into Rahl as his fury thundered through his veins, a primal cry tearing from his throat with his every blow.

"You will never touch her!" Richard roared, his rage punctuating every word as his fists connected with Rahl's face.

Rahl was barely able to get a swing in as Richard beat him bloody, his bottled up anger and grief being poured into every single blow he delivered. The wound in his arm was quickly forgotten as the wounds in his heart took control of his body.

Powerful hands suddenly gripped him from behind, pulling him off of Rahl. "Richard…that's enough," Chase yelled at him, dragging him off.

Richard stared at the near unconscious Rahl lying on the ground, blood splattered on his face and clothes. His eye was already swelling shut, his lip split, cuts covering his face. A soft chuckle still managed to escape as his head rolled slowly from side to side.

Richard fought to catch his breath, his chest heaving with the fury that possessed him. He looked down at his fists, his knuckles raw and bloody from the beating he'd just given the monster that would hurt Kahlan. He had never beaten a man like that before, nearly taking a life with his own hands.

He felt a sudden rush of bile in the back of his throat with what he had done, but he swallowed it back, thankful that Chase had stopped him when he had. He didn't want to be that kind of man.

"It's alright, Richard," Chase reassured him, gripping his shoulders to steady his friend. "It's over now."

Richard slowly nodded his head as he heard the click of a revolver behind him. In a single swift motion, he drew his gun as he spun on his heel and fired, striking Rahl right in the center of his forehead. Rahl dropped his gun as he fell back dead, a look of shock frozen on his face.