TITLE: Deception
AUTHOR: LOTSlove®
CHARACTERS: Richard / Kahlan / Cara / Zedd / Nicci / Original Characters
RATING: R / M
WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings
TIMELINE: Anything up through S2 season finale (Tears)
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: Sequel to me fic Revelation, Richard and Kahlan fight to solidify the D'Haran Empire when a new threat rises threatening to destroy all that they have worked for.
Chapter 26
Caelinus stared at the open book before him, his thoughts taking him down a path that he hadn't expected, but found he couldn't quite leave. Things were beginning to click into place in his mind the longer he mulled over the possibility.
It was so plainly obvious. He didn't know why he hadn't considered it before. Could it possibly be that easy?
"I know that look," Zedd suddenly said, interrupting Caelinus's train of thought.
Caelinus looked up to find the Wizard studying him from across the table, his arms crossed, curiosity in his eyes. Deryn and Frederick both put down their books as well to look at Caelinus. Something was suddenly up.
"I'm not sure," Caelinus muttered, rubbing his chin.
"You're onto something, aren't you?" Zedd pressed. "I still recognize that look in your eye when your brain has locked onto something significant and won't let it go."
Caelinus cast a glance at Deryn and Frederick, not certain if he was prepared to give voice to his thoughts just yet especially in front of them. He didn't want to give false hope only to have it snatched out from under them.
"Well, what is it, old man?" Zedd frowned with his friend's lack of response.
Caelinus scowled at Zedd. He obviously wasn't going to give up. "I don't know if I want to say yet until I've actually fleshed it out some more."
"Maybe I can help," Zedd suggested, leaning forward in his seat. "What are you thinking?"
"He's right," Frederick piped up. "It's not like we have a lot of time here."
"Alright, but just don't get your hopes up. I don't want everyone upset with me if this doesn't work," Caelinus huffed.
"Alright, we won't," Zedd said. "Out with it."
"I think Michael's condition may be the answer to Frederick's cure."
Zedd cocked his head to the side in startled confusion. "How so?"
"Michael's magic is destroying everything in its path," Caelinus began, drawing a deep breath before proceeding. "What if we were to transfer that magic into Frederick, altering it to attack his disease instead?"
They all sat in stunned silence for several long moments, no one making eye contact with each other. They all understood what this option could mean, knew that Michael's death might be the answer to saving Frederick's life.
Frederick began to adamantly shake his head the longer he thought about it. "No," he firmly said. "I can't allow you to take Michael's life just to save mine."
"It wouldn't be about taking his life," Caelinus stood to his feet. "Like I've said before, Michael's life is essentially over. There is nothing more that can be done for him unless we can come up with an incredible miracle. If we can't, then wouldn't it be worth it to allow one life to save another?"
Deryn couldn't stop the wash of hot tears that immediately flooded her eyes before silently slipping down her face. She knew in her heart that Michael's young life was coming to an end no matter what she did. Could she give him up to save another?
"Can't we just create a magic like what's destroying Michael's body to save Frederick?" Zedd suggested, desperate to find another way.
"That's easier said than done," Caelinus snorted, throwing his hands up in the air. "It would be terribly complicated to even create not to mention the time involved in something like that. I'm not sure it can even be done.
"Besides, there is something very unique in the whole process that Michael is going through right now, something that cannot just be recreated by magic."
"And what is that?" Deryn softly choked out, her watery gaze focused on the book lying on the table. She was afraid to hear more, but knew that not asking wasn't going to change her son's fate now. It had been decided before he'd ever been created.
"It's the fine crystalline dust that the magic leaves behind in its wake," Caelinus told them. "That dust is unique to the process and cannot be recreated through magic alone."
"Bags, man!" Zedd groused. "You're not making much sense. What is it about the dust that is so blasted important to the whole process?"
"Calm down! I'm getting there!" Caelinus scowled. "It's how the magic manages to neutralize everything that it attacks, breaking it down into this…this…dust. In a way, this dust keeps the magic from backtracking to where it's already been. Magic can't reproduce a process as intricate as that."
Zedd pursed his lips as he tried to process what Caelinus was saying. He was having difficulty following his train of thought and yet could see the potential in his theory. "I'm still not following you," he grumbled.
Caelinus sighed in exasperation. He knew what he was trying to say, but it wasn't coming across very well. It didn't help that he was still trying to work through the process itself in his mind.
"The process that is happening in Michael is a very intricate progression of attack and breakdown…the cause and the effect," Caelinus tried again. "The cause is the magic. The effect the havoc it is wreaking on Michael's body and the dust that the breakdown leaves behind.
"We could possibly use magic to create the attack and maybe the breakdown, but the effect won't be the same. You see it's the whole unique process from beginning to end that makes the entire progression impossible to replicate."
"There's no way to mimic the effects then?" Zedd questioned him.
"None that I can come up with," Caelinus shook his head. "The only hope I can think of is to transfer it from Michael to Frederick, altering it to change its focus to the disease instead of widespread destruction."
They sat in silence for a long time before Zedd finally spoke again. "How hard would it be to alter it?"
"I don't believe it should be too terribly difficult," he replied.
"Let's keep looking," Frederick interjected. "Maybe there's another way."
Sitting up taller in her chair, Deryn wiped away her tears with the backs of her hands. "No," she suddenly said. "There's no time. If Michael can't be saved, then I want his life to have counted for something. If he can help save another's life, then I say we need to try it."
Frederick reached over, taking the Sister's hand in his and squeezing it tightly. "Deryn, are you sure?" he asked, his forehead creased with concern.
She nodded numbly in response. "Yes, I'm sure," she murmured, fighting back the flood of tears that rose up in her throat.
If she was going to lose Michael, she wanted him to be able to do something good with his life. Ever since discovering she was carrying Richard's child, she had always dreamed of her baby doing great things like his or her father had done, following in his courageous footsteps.
Even though he would never live to fulfill her dreams, she could at least allow him to help someone else even if it was through his death.
"You are a very brave young woman, Deryn," Zedd told her, suddenly filled with so much pride for how far she had come.
He could scarcely believe this was the same person who had fought so hard to break up Richard and Kahlan's marriage, to steal his grandson away for herself. She had been filled with so much anger and resentment. Now, he saw nothing but compassion.
He had a feeling this was the true Deryn, the way that she had been before being manipulated and used by the Prelate. He just wished that he could undo the pain that Ann's actions had caused, the overwhelming grief that no doubt awaited them when they returned home.
XXX
The site of his daughter in Gorrim's arms made the Seeker seethe with even more rage. Paige reached out for him, screaming for him as Gorrim fought to keep control of her.
"Dada!" Paige wailed, desperate to be sheltered in his protective embrace.
Richard fought against the overwhelming need to get his daughter away from them, the sheer fury that demanded to be released at that moment inundating him. His chest was tight, his breaths coming out in hot blasts as he adjusted his grip on the hilt of his sword. His every muscle was drawn tight with utter need, ready to react.
"Let her go!" Richard roared, his sword practically trembling with the extent of his fury.
Just then, Kahlan came around the corner, racing out of the stables. He felt his heart stutter at the very site of her. She had been transformed into the pure embodiment of righteous wrath, her eyes burning with such intense fury that it nearly took his breath away. He had never seen her quite like this before.
So consumed with the Blood Rage, Richard didn't even know if his Kahlan was still in there somewhere. She had wholly given herself over to the powerful ancient magic that thundered through her veins in order to find and rescue her children.
Blue lightning crackled around her clenched fists, the ground trembling with the fierce magic that possessed her. He watched in both awe and horror as small rocks and stones began to levitate around her, lifting off the ground as she stood in judgment of those who had taken her daughters.
"Kahlan?" Richard softly gasped as he stared at her, fear for her suddenly seizing hold of him.
Blood oozed down her arm from a wound on her shoulder, but she didn't seem to even register it as she stood her ground against the men who had taken her daughter.
Noticing the stunned expression on the Seeker's face, Gorrim and Sabinus turned as well to find the Mother Confessor standing behind them. Gorrim cursed under his breath at the site of her, terror ripping through him. He had never seen anything like it before as he stared into the blood red eyes locked on him, the lethal intent shining in its depths.
Gorrim suddenly shoved Paige into Sabinus's arms. "I was forced to go along with…"
Before Gorrim could utter another word, Kahlan unleashed her magic into him, the blue lightning crackling loudly as it shot through him, leaving a large gaping hole in his chest. The Mother Confessor tilted her head, watching as the man crumpled to the ground in a heap.
Richard could've sworn that he saw a small smile touch Kahlan's face as Gorrim fell to the ground dead, but it didn't last long as she turned her attention towards Sabinus holding her daughter in his arms. He slowly backed up, holding a hand out before him.
Richard moved closer, afraid that Sabinus was going to unleash his magic on Kahlan. Sabinus suddenly spun around to face the Seeker, finding him getting closer. He was cornered with no place to run.
"Give me my daughter," Richard ground out through clenched teeth, doing his best to hold back the fury of the sword. He could feel his control slipping a little more with every moment that slipped by.
"We don't want to hurt them," Sabinus attempted to explain.
"It's far too late for explanations," Richard growled.
From behind Sabinus, Richard could see Kahlan raising her hand again, directing her magic at the Ambassador, but this time the blue lightning was no longer there.
Sabinus's eyes suddenly widened in shock, his mouth falling open as Kahlan's magic lashed out, snatching his soul in less than a heartbeat. Richard watched as his eyes swirled to black before finally returning to brown once more. Tears immediately filled his eyes as he looked down at the little girl crying in his arms, fear permeating his face.
"I…I'm so sorry…my Mistress…" Sabinus choked out through the wash of tears.
He immediately turned back towards Kahlan, falling to his knees in shame as he clutched Paige in his arms. He wailed loudly, hanging his head in obvious grief for what he had done, what they had been planning on doing.
Richard slowly lowered his sword, his breathing ragged as he fought back the firestorm of emotions rolling through him. Sheathing his sword, he quickly snatched Paige from Sabinus's arms. Paige wrapped her little arms tightly around her father's neck, her body shuddering with her gasps for air.
"You're safe now, my princess," he softly said, relief washing over him like a gentle breeze.
"I'm so sorry," Sabinus wailed, kneeling on the ground, his fingers clawing at the dirt. "Please forgive me, my Mistress. We never meant to hurt your daughters. We only wanted to harvest their magic for ourselves. It was our sole purpose in being here. I swear it!
"I'll do anything you want. Please, Mistress, please command me!"
Kahlan silently stood staring down at the sniveling man, her chest still heaving with rage despite the fact that her daughter was now safe. "I command you to die," she hissed.
Before he could draw another breath, Sabinus clutched his throat, collapsing to the ground dead. Richard tightened his hold on Paige as he stared at the Ambassador lying dead at Kahlan's feet, the extent of her powerful magic never ceasing to amaze him.
"Here, let me take her."
Richard spun on his heel to find Garren coming towards him. "Why are you here? How's Cara?" he asked, his panic returning.
"We have a son," Garren proudly beamed, taking Paige into his arms. "Cara wouldn't let me stay with her. She insisted I come help you and Kahlan."
Paige immediately melted into Garren's hold on her, laying her head against his shoulder as she cried. He patted her back, holding her close. "I'll take her back to the Palace with me," Garren told him, glancing at Kahlan still held in the powerful grip of the ConDar. "Kahlan needs you now."
"Thank you, Garren," Richard sighed heavily, fear for his wife still clawing at him. He was scared that he wouldn't be able to bring her out of the ConDar this time.
Turning his attention back to Kahlan, he saw her standing over Sabinus's dead body, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. She looked as if she still wanted to tear him apart despite being dead. He slowly approached her, careful not to upset her any further.
Blood covered her shoulder and arm, her beautiful ice blue dress torn beyond repair. Tears escaped from the corners of her eyes as she stared down at the man who had tried to take her life, her babies.
"Kahlan," Richard softly called her name.
Her head suddenly snapped up at the sound of her name, the rage flashing once more in her crimson eyes. She immediately raised her hand to him, warning him to stay back. He watched as she wavered slightly in her resolve, her hand falling momentarily before coming back up as he moved closer to her.
It was if she knew him and yet she didn't, saw him and yet didn't. He knew his Kahlan was in there somewhere, locked away beneath layers of rage and anguish. He just had to find her inside there, draw her back to him again.
"Kahlan, it's alright," he gently reassured her. "Paige and Priya are both safe now."
"My babies?" she whispered.
"Yes," he nodded, relief springing anew in his heart. "They're back at the suite in the Palace now. It's all over. Come back to me now."
Tears flooded her eyes once more, brimming before finally spilling over and slipping down her cheeks. Her bottom lip began to tremble as she slowly lowered her hand, her focus solely on him now as she gazed into the brown depths that knew her heart, her soul.
"Richard?" she softly gasped.
"Yes, I'm right here," he told her. "Everything is alright now. Please…just come back to me, Kahlan."
He watched as her eyes began to swirl, the red swiftly shifting to the beautiful blue that he adored. Her legs suddenly betrayed her as her knees buckled, Richard there to catch her and lower her to the ground.
Kneeling before her, he gently brushed her hair from her forehead, taking her face into his hands. Tears continued to slip down her cheeks as she fought to hold her head up, exhaustion clinging to every fiber of her being.
She quickly buried her face into Richard's chest, clutching his jacket and clinging to him as she sobbed uncontrollably. Richard held her close, his own tears finally free to be released as well now. Their daughters had been saved, an unimaginable fate thankfully averted.
"I love you, Kahlan," he murmured into her hair. "I'm so very sorry."
The thought of how close he'd come to losing his precious daughters only brought more tears. The feel of Kahlan in his arms, safe with him began to calm the raging storm still churning in his soul. Fear through still managed to flow freely through his veins.
The silver haired witch woman was still lurking about here somewhere. He had to find her before she attempted something, before she tried to take away his family again...and succeeded.
"I thought…you were dead…" she wept, tightening her hold on him.
"Shhh…it's alright now," he gently said as he held her. "The girls are fine and I'm right here with you."
Kahlan pulled back, taking his face in her hands, her thumbs caressing his cheeks. She leaned in, kissing him deeply. He quickly buried his hands in her hair, drinking her in as they kissed. He knew this was far from over, but he just couldn't let go of her just yet.
"You're hurt," he murmured breathlessly against her lips. "I need to get you to Nicci so she can heal you."
"I just want to see our girls, to hold them," she replied as he helped her to her feet.
Richard quickly searched the area around them feeling as those the witch woman was watching them, desperation to find her still pounding through him. He had to stop her before she could strike again.
Looking down at Sabinus lying dead before them, he found he was somewhat relieved that at least the Ambassador and the three representatives were all dead.
That left only one.
From the safety of the shadows, she watched the Seeker and Mother Confessor, her rage blazing through her anew as her gaze fell to her twin brother lying dead in the road.
They would pay for this…pay dearly.