Chapter Twenty
Kahlan was wearing a white dress, but it wasn't her Confessor dress, and that was something she was still trying to wrap her mind around. She was getting married. Ever since she was little she had never thought she would be able to get married. She knew that the only reason she was excited was because she was going to get married. It had nothing to do with the man she was marrying.
His rejection of Cara and Benjamin relationship had been startling for her. She thought she had known how he would react because of what Dahlia had told her about him. Now she had to worry about what he would say about their relationship.
If they were still in a relationship. They always came far to close for Kahlan's comfort, but Dahlia kept pushing, wanting to go farther. She seemed utterly unconcerned with what might happen to her if Kahlan lost control. For a second, Kahlan remembered Richard, and how he had survived her power intact, but he hadn't told her how he had done it, and it left her mind just as quickly. She hardly ever thought about him anymore.
There was a knock on her door, and Cara entered. "Mother Confessor." She said quietly.
"Your going to be my mother-in-law, the least you can do is call me Kahlan." She replied, a little annoyed that after all they had been through, Cara still used to formalities.
Cara gave her a weak smile. "I call my son, Lord Rahl, so I will continue to call Mother Confessor."
Kahlan sighed, but let it go. She wasn't in the mood for a debate with Cara today. "Well, what do you think?" Kahlan asked, spinning around to show Cara her dress.
"It's very beautiful, Mother Confessor." Cara answered, but she sounded distant, and Kahlan knew she was thinking about Nikolas and Benjamin.
"It'll be all right Cara. Benjamin is a great man, and Nikolas will recognize that. He was probably just surprised." Kahlan wasn't so sure, but she wanted Cara to stop worrying.
"I know." Cara said, but she didn't sound very convincing.
"Kahlan." Dahlia burst through the door, startling Cara and Kahlan. Kahlan couldn't help but smile a little at Dahlia's astonishment at seeming Cara there. Cara's face of disbelief seemed even more hilarious, and Kahlan couldn't help but giggle. "Cara." Dahlia, said less energetically.
"Is something the matter, is there a problem with the Lord Rahl?" Cara asked searching for a reason Dahlia would be there.
Dahlia had no answer for her, so Kahlan stepped in. "Can you give us a moment, Cara? I need to talk to Dahlia alone."
Cara looked between them warily for a moment, but then she looked into Kahlan's pleading eyes, and gave her a small smile. "Of course, Mother Confessor."
The door shut behind Cara with a loud bang, and it left the two women in silence, their gazes locked together. Kahlan couldn't help but notice that Dahlia was wearing her red leather, and how it set off the tone of her lips. She was about to say something when Dahlia lunged towards her.
Those red lips that Kahlan had longed for were now pressed against her own. Their tongues moving like wild animals inside each other's mouth. It took everything Kahlan had to pull away. Gasping she spoke. "We need to talk first."
"We can talk when were dead." Dahlia whispered, brusquely returning back to their previous engagement. Kahlan's mouth moved against hers eagerly, and she knew if she let Dahlia continue for much longer, she would never get her point across.
She pushed her forcefully away. "You will be dead if we don't talk first."
Dahlia looked at her, and odd expression of satisfaction on her face. She even smiled a bit, and Kahlan saw some of the madness that rested in those eyes. "It will be worth every moment."
Dahlia tried to lunge at her again, but Kahlan, backed up. "I don't want you to get hurt." Kahlan pleaded.
"I'm Mord – Sith, Kahlan. I am pain." This time, Dahlia looked offended by Kahlan's statement, and she didn't rush to kiss her again.
"I don't want to hurt you, Dahlia, and I won't be able to help it. You are Nikolas's favorite. Your death would cause a war between the Midlands and D'Hara, and I can't let that happen." Kahlan told her.
"Then I won't die, but I will not stand next to Niki and watch him kiss you, knowing that I could be doing the same thing." Dahlia said. The anger in her voice was growing. "I've already lost one woman to a Rahl, and I don't plan on losing another."
Kahlan stared at her, and suddenly all the awkwardness with Cara was revealed. "You and Cara were lovers."
Dahlia looked stunned. "I thought you knew."
"It doesn't matter to me." Kahlan whispered. She knew Cara was in love with Benjamin, and the fact that Dahlia was not with her proved that Cara would always love Benjamin, and Dahlia was with her.
Dahlia stared at her after that statement for a moment, unsure of what to say next. There was a knock on the door, just as she opened her mouth. "Mother Confessor, it is time for the wedding."
They continued to stare at each other as Kahlan answered. "Of course, I'll be there in a moment." Kahlan walked towards Dahlia, who said nothing, and gave her a small kiss. "I'll see you in a moment."
She was almost to the door before she heard Dahlia's reply. "Good luck."
Nikolas stood waiting for the Mother Confessor, whom he was about to marry. He'd never been in love, and somehow he found what he was doing to day wrong on that level, but he knew he would have the chance to find it. The Mother Confessor was certainly not going to be getting him in to bed, and he would need an heir at some point.
They were in the Grand Hall, and hundreds of people had showed up. Nikolas was not very comfortable standing there all alone with the nobles who had booed him last time, but Kahlan would be there soon.
He had to admit that the Grand Hall looked beautiful, the red and white drapes complimented each other perfectly, and the golden trim on all of the seats was sparkling just the right amount. Nikolas had noticed that his side of the Grand Hall looked noticeably more empty than Kahlan's but tried to put that out of his mind.
He heard the back door into the Hall open almost silently, and turned his head slightly to see Dahlia enter. She looked a little depressed, but tried to smile at him when she saw him notice her. She went and stood next to Cara, who hadn't talked to him since the incident with Benjamin. Nikolas had noticed that Benjamin was present, as he stood next to the stairs, which led onto the raised dais on which he stood, Kahlan's chair having been moved out of the way.
Some music began, and Nikolas readied himself. Kahlan was coming, and they were going to be married. Cara and Dahlia moved up towards him. Dahlia standing next to Nikolas and Cara standing next to where Kahlan would be. The door opened, and out came the Mother Confessor in all her glory.
Kahlan paused as she saw Nikolas dressed in his red suit. He reminded her of Richard, she tried to tell herself, but as of late her image of him had been growing farther and farther away from Richard. She had to admit that he did look handsome, however, but she found herself glancing at Dahlia to see her reaction to Kahlan's entrance. She was smiling sadly.
The walk down the aisle was longer than Kahlan had expected, but she continued gracefully the entire way, her nerves disappearing as she went. Cara and Dahlia would be standing next to her, and Kahlan noted that Captain Meiffert was standing just below the dais. As she walked by him they smiled at each other.
Kahlan briefly wished that Richard were here, but not in place of Nikolas. She thought he would be proud to she her standing where she was, as she came to stand in front of Nikolas.
The ceremony was presided over by the highest priest she could find that could make it to the wedding. His name was Reverend Pope or something like that. Many of the lords and ladies she had talked to had recommended him. She hadn't been able to meet very many priests over the last year, and had taken their advice.
The ceremony was extravagantly traditional, and Kahlan soon got bored with all the standing around, but they finally came to the interactive event of the evening, for it had taken three hours to get there.
Nikolas was first, and he paused for a certain amount of time, and then said, "I do." Then it was Kahlan's turn. Reverend Pope asked her if she promised to always love Nikolas Rahl (Kahlan had had the questions done so that they didn't include anything against adulterine) and she said, "I do."
"You may now kiss the Mother Confessor." Reverend Pope said cautiously. He had asked if that part of the wedding should take place, and Kahlan was reminded of people's ever present fear of a Confessor's touch.
Nikolas leaned forward, and just as their lips met, light blinded them. There was a stunning scream, which seemed to split the air like a knife. It made Kahlan's blood run cold, and she and Nikolas pulled apart.
A bang was heard throughout the room as Cara fell heavily to the floor, the light gone.