Sorry for the delay! It turned into a marathon weekend. Hope you enjoy this!

Chapter 14

Silently stealing through the corridor, he knew that his dream was growing closer to being realized with every step he took. Teutorigos had been unleashed, the disease beginning to spread and take lives. Kahlan had been trapped behind an impenetrable magical shield, Cara was dying, and the Seeker was with the Sister of the Dark, away from the Palace searching for the cure that they would likely never be able to find.

Only the Wizard was still standing in his way.

A self-satisfied smirk crept across his face as he made a turn down another passage. While things hadn't gone the way that he had planned, everything was falling into place at last.

He wished that he could see the look on Richard's face when he reached the caves in the mountains where the Scarlett plant awaited him. Did he really think that it would be that easy to get what was needed to save everyone from teutorigos?

The Seeker was more naïve than he had first believed. He had given Richard far more credit than he had actually deserved. How had he ever survived as long as he had as the proclaimed and prophesied Seeker of Truth?

Prophets of long ago had obviously not been gifted enough to see that too much hope had been placed on the shoulders of an incompetent man such as Richard Rahl. The Seeker allowed himself to be led by his heart instead of by the supreme power that he possessed, keeping his focus on people instead of on ruling a territory the way it ought to be ruled – with an iron fist of rigid control, spreading fear far and wide.

Peering around the corner, he found the corridor empty. Shards of soft light filtered through the windows lining the corridor, casting shifting shadows on the floors and the walls. Snow fell against the glass, melting as soon as it came into contact with it. The sound of patrolling guards could be heard, their rhythmic march very distinct as it echoed through the halls.

Slipping as silently as the dark shadows that surrounded him, he crossed the hallway, quietly turning the handle. Passing through the large door, he entered one of several libraries scattered throughout the Palace, knowing it would be empty at this late hour.

The room was almost completely dark save for the faint glow of light coming from a small window on the opposite side. Placing his hands out before him, he cautiously made his way around the numerous tables and chairs scattered throughout the large library.

Catching the toe of his boot on the leg of a wooden table, he suddenly stumbled, lurching forward and cursing under his breath as his shin connected with a chair. He resisted the sudden urge to grab the table and fling it across the room, knowing that he needed to keep from being discovered until he was ready.

Reining in his anger, he huffed in frustrated victory upon finally reaching the fireplace. It had been a while since he'd last been here, but he knew things couldn't have changed that much during his absence from the Palace.

Running his fingers lightly over the stone mantel, he attempted to remember exactly where the hidden lever was located. Grumbling in irritation, he nearly knocked over several candle holders lining the shelf, catching one just before it struck the stone floor. After searching for what felt like forever, his fingers at last brushed along an almost imperceptible indent in the smooth stone.

Pressing the indent, he was relieved when a section of the wall to the right of the hearth suddenly slid open. With a broad smile, he picked up his helmet, tucking it under his arm and ducking through the entrance that would take him that much closer to his reward.

He deserved this after everything that he'd been put through. Richard and Kahlan would greatly pay for all of their interference. There were going to wish that they had stayed in Aydindril after he was through with them.

Brushing cobwebs aside as he silently made his way through the narrow passageway, he abruptly came to a stop, attempting to remember if he should go straight or take the next right. Closing his eyes, he paused as he pictured exactly where he was at in the Palace and where he needed to end up.

It suddenly seemed as if it had been a lifetime ago since he'd been here and yet it had just been last year. It had been before Richard and Kahlan Rahl and their intrusive entourage had showed up in D'Hara, taking over the People's Palace and destroying everything that he had worked so hard for.

They had taken over the territory, setting themselves up as rulers and putting their plans into place for a better D'Hara. Because of them, he had seen his own dreams crumble before his very eyes as most of the territory fell in line with their new Lord Rahl's way of thinking.

All of that was about to come to an end, though. Now, it was time for their much deserved retribution.

XXX

Each of them immediately clapped their hands over their ears, trying desperately to block out the ear-piercing shriek that caused intense pressure in their heads. It felt as if the sound echoed in their chests and rattled in their bones.

Tears stung Nicci's eyes as she doubled over from the excruciating pain that ripped through her. She unexpectedly found herself face down in the ground, trying not to suck in dirt as she fought for each breath. Forcing herself up, she looked to find Richard in much the same condition as she was.

And then, just like that…it was suddenly gone.

The blinding pain began to dissipate, the ability to breathe becoming easier. Sitting back on her heels, Nicci looked to find Richard beginning to recover as well, lingering pain still lining his face.

"What was that?" Nicci gasped, her green eyes darting warily about as she searched the darkness for the source of the painful cry.

"I'm not sure…but I hope that we never have to find out," Richard panted.

His hand automatically searched for the weapon at his hip as his eyes scanned their surroundings, making sure his sword was clear in the scabbard. He had just been a breath away from pushing Nicci back as she began to lean towards him to kiss him. Then the horrible screech had pierced the air and echoed in his ears sending chills shivering down his spine and nearly rendering them both unconscious.

Whatever had made that dreadful noise seemed to be a good distance away and yet not far enough for his liking.

They sat in silence, each waiting with anxious anticipation for another shriek that would alert them to the danger that could be drawing closer. They were met with nothing more than an occasionally snowflake that seemed to drift out of nowhere, silently falling to the ground as well as the soft hissing of their fire as the branches popped and cracked from the heat.

After several long moments of nothing, they finally turned back towards each other. Richard immediately distanced himself from the sorceress, scooting several feet away from her. While his heart and soul was bound to Kahlan, he never wanted to put himself in a tempting situation nor did he want to encourage Nicci's advances.

The sorceress was very beautiful in her own right, but she was not Kahlan. No one could ever come close in comparison to his Kahlan, not even the striking woman sitting with him by the fire.

"You had better get some sleep," he softly told her. "I'll take watch."

"No need," she replied, attempting to pull herself together. The site of the Seeker pulling away, creating a greater distance between them was like a thousand daggers to her heart, but she really couldn't blame him.

"Whatever made that noise could be searching out something to eat. I would rather not end up being its breakfast," he insisted as he began to stand to his feet, but was brought to a stop by her hand tightly gripping his arm.

"I've set up magical triggers all around our camp. If anything or anyone tries to get close, we will know about it long before anything happens. I assure you, we're quite safe."

"I knew that it was a good idea to bring you along," he replied with a small smile, attempting to lighten the mood from the awkwardness that it had just been.

Smoothing out his bedroll, Richard laid down on his back, gazing up at the gloomy clouds above him. His thoughts quickly turned to the one who gave his life meaning, the one who made each day better than the one before.

He wandered what Kahlan was doing right now. Was she thinking about him? Dreaming about him? He hoped for her sake that she was asleep, but he knew deep down that was just wishful thinking created in the depths of his subconscious in order to temper his worry for her.

Kahlan was never one to be slowed down for any reason even when her life was at stake.

Contemplating the horror of the situation, Richard suddenly felt besieged by the gravity of it all. People were quickly falling ill, Cara being the worst at the moment that they knew of. The thought of losing his trusted friend made him nauseous.

Teutorigos.

The name alone made him shiver with dread. He could think of no good reason for ever needing to create such an epidemic, allowing its existence to fall into the wrong hands. There was no motive behind such a thing being brought to life that could ever be justified in Richard's mind.

Life was too precious to be so viciously wiped out like that no matter what the circumstances were at the time of its conception. Instead of creating a cure to combat teutorigos, the wizards should have found a way to eradicate it all together.

And because they hadn't done what was necessary back then, Richard had to risk everything now in order to save the lives of those that were most precious to him.

Losing Cara was unacceptable. Losing Kahlan was inconceivable.

His eyes grew wet with tears as imagines of Kahlan drifted through his mind. Spirits, she was the reason that he lived and breathed. Losing her meant losing his soul.

How would he ever be able to explain to Paige and Priya someday that they lost their mother because he hadn't been strong enough to save her?

How could he bear to watch his daughters grow up, seeing Kahlan in their every expression, every movement, every decision, every time they smiled?

A sob suddenly seized his throat, causing him to swallow hard to keep his anguish walled up inside of him. He missed Kahlan fiercely, missed his daughters. He hadn't had a chance to see his girls before abruptly leaving the Palace with Nicci.

He hadn't even been able to kiss his wife, to feel her melting into him as he held her. He longed for the feel of her lips so soft against his, the feel of her hands in his hair as she pulled him closer, the erotic way her form molded against him so perfectly in every way.

He yearned for the feel of her warm panting breath against his skin, the sultry chant of his name on her lips filling the air of their bedchambers, the overwhelming bliss that came with completely filling her warm depths, the thrill of her fingers digging deeper into his shoulders with every intensifying thrust he made.

Despite understanding the reason behind the barrier Nicci had erected, he'd still be forced to stand there staring so helplessly into Kahlan's blue eyes that had been filled with such anguish that it nearly ripped his heart in two, had been denied her touch that gave him the strength of a thousand soldiers.

Brushing away a tear, he suddenly smiled to himself. Despite the pain that had pervaded her eyes, Kahlan's face still held the striking beauty she possessed, that steadfast determination and strength that always astounded him.

She never let anything defeat her, no matter how horrible things became.

Richard felt nausea ripple through him with the memory of Kahlan staring at him with those blue eyes that he loved, eyes that were so dead that he thought he had lost her forever in her subconscious. He had never seen her so broken before in his life. And he never wanted to see her that way ever again.

Nicci had been the only one who had come the closest to destroying her, but Kahlan had fought back and regained her life. She was still struggling now with the aftermath of it, but he knew his wife would find a way through it. And she would do it with him by her side.

Kahlan was like fire and ice, heaven and hell, giver of life and bringer of death. She was a beautiful creature and a deadly warrior, a passionate lover and a gentle friend.

And he fiercely loved every part of her.

"Goodnight, Richard."

The soft serene sound of her voice unexpectedly calling out to him in the night cut through the loneliness that dread and pain had enveloped him in. Her presence had surprisingly been a source of comfort that he had not anticipated.

"Goodnight, Nicci," he softly replied, rolling over onto his side away from the fire, finally allowing sleep to overtake him.

XXX

Shifting uncomfortably in the hard chair, Kahlan stretched her neck in a futile attempt to ease the stiffness that had settled there. Nothing short of Richard's powerful hands working her weary muscles right now would do, but that wasn't going to happen any time soon.

Leaning forward, she adjusted the blanket that had slipped off of the Mord'Sith lying motionlessly in the bed before her. Cara had finally settled down a couple of hours ago, thanks to a tea that one of the healers had concocted.

Kahlan was shocked at the paleness of her face especially in contrast to the redness that flushed her cheeks. Sweat had formed again on her brow, trickling down the side of her face and disappearing into her hair.

Her gaze shifted to the formidable man at Cara's side holding her hand. Sitting in a chair as well, he had spent the entire time leaning close to her, resting his upper body on the bed, his face nestled close to hers as he slept now.

Garren was always such an impressive man, his size and his countenance so intimidating. His long black wavy hair, his steel gray eyes only enhanced his handsome face. If truth be told, Kahlan had had a little crush on himself as a young girl growing up at the Confessor's Palace in Aydindril.

Despite his intimidating appearance, there was a playful spirit that ran deep, a love for life similar to that of Richard's. His teasing manner and ability to bring out a smile in others was so unexpected given his menacing exterior. Kahlan couldn't have chosen a better man with such a kind heart to fall in love with her friend.

And she couldn't have picked a better woman for her childhood friend. Cara was the one person who could go toe-to-toe with the Commander. They truly brought out the best in each other.

Kahlan just hoped that Richard could find what they so desperately needed to save Cara, to save them all. There was no telling how many more were falling ill around them, how quickly this was going to spread.

Three more in the storage barn had fallen ill just in the short time since Richard had left.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she felt so lonely for Richard. She hadn't been able to even touch him, to kiss him before he left. She had wanted to go with him so badly. They had always handled everything that came their way together, as a team.

But now, Richard was out in those mountains with Sister Nicci. The thought alone almost strangled her heart. The fire that had blazed in Richard's eyes when she had demanded to go with him had made her shiver inside. The heat of his anger and intensity of his fear had been evident in his face, making her want to help him that much more. However, his steadfast need to protect her had kept her locked away in this barn.

"Kahlan, you should go lie down and get some sleep."

The concerned sound of Garren's voice startled her, bringing her back to the storage barn that had become her prison. Looking into his eyes, Kahlan felt tears threatening to form. He looked so broken, as if his life was being drained from his body right along with Cara's even though he had not come down with the sickness yet.

It was only a matter of time now before they were all infected. At least Richard would be safe, safe with Nicci and her daughters if they couldn't find the cure.

Drawing a shuddering breath, Kahlan steeled herself, walling off her hurting heart. "I'm fine, Garren. Why don't you go get some sleep in a real bed? I'll stay here with Cara. I can come get you if anything changes."

"Thank you, but no," he determinedly shook his head. "I don't want to leave her side…no matter what happens."

Kahlan watched as he turned back to his lover, his fingers gently gliding through her hair and brushing it away from her face moist with sweat. Cara moaned softly in response to his touch, bringing a faint smile to the Commander's lips.

"Garren?"

Her voice was so weak and raspy, so unlike the commanding authoritative tone the Mord'Sith usually possessed. Kahlan had to look twice to convince herself that it was truly Cara who had spoken.

"I'm right here, love," he gently said, bring a small smirk to the Mother Confessor's lips.

Cara would have never allowed anyone to call her "love" in the past. She had truly come a long way and it had been Garren who had completed what Richard had started within her.

"Are you alright?"

"Don't worry about me," he lovingly scolded. "You just worry about yourself right now. That's an order from your husband."

"We're not married yet…" she frowned, her brow furrowing.

"In my heart we are," he replied with a soft smile. "The rest is just a formality."

Cara smiled softly with his words, her eyes never opening. "Then as your wife…I order you to leave…save yourself."

"I would do anything you ask of me, Cara, but that is one order I cannot follow. I'm not leaving your side no matter what. We're in this together."

Kahlan silently stood to her feet, backing away to allow them a little privacy. Tears pooled in her eyes as she watched the depths of the love being demonstrated before her. It was magical…just like she and Richard shared.

"Please…Garren…if you truly love me…" Cara began to sob, tears flowing from her closed eyes and vanishing into her hair as her body began to shake with her grief. "You can't die…because of me…"

"Shhh, my love…it's alright. It takes more than some ridiculous plague to take me out."

Garren's voice was so tender as he pressed his lips to her forehead, his hand stroking her hair. He repeatedly shushed her through her tears, telling her he would never leave her, attempting to quiet her fears as she wept until she finally drifted back to sleep.

Unable to bear it any longer, Kahlan abruptly turned away from her friends, retreating from the painful scene as tears rolled down her face…