Another chapter for my beautiful readers. Again, so sorry for the delay. This chapter might make a few book-loyal fans happy :)
Chapter XXIX Negotiations
"Kahlan?" Aria glanced up from the report Kahlan had handed her. The woman in white hardly acknowledged her.
"Hm?" she said without looking up.
"Why was the Commander afraid of me?" Aria asked innocently. She saw Kahlan puff a small breath out and pretend like she hadn't heard the question. "I know you're listening." Kahlan slowly put the stack of papers she was holding back on the table.
"You have to get used to people being afraid of you. Midlanders and even D'Harans still do not take kindly to Mord'Sith." Kahlan explained.
"But they don't know I'm Mord'Sith." Aria insisted. Kahlan pressed a hand to her temple. Clearly, she had a lot to teach the young Confessor.
"You smiled at him." she replied without making eye contact. Confused, Aria continued to stare at the Mother Confessor. "The Commander, you smiled at him."
"Yes, and?" Aria urged.
"And, Aria, you're almost an eighteen year old Confessor who hasn't chosen a mate." Kahlan explained. "You can see how men might be a little wary of your presence." Taken aback, Aria leaned against her chair.
"You talked to him too." She stated.
"Yes and I was very careful to avoid doing or saying anything suggestive." Kahlan said.
"Suggestive?!" Aria cried. "He's old enough to be my grandfather! That's disgusting!"
"To anyone else, yes. To a Confessor he is considered a suitable mate no matter the age." Kahlan sighed. "Aria, calm down. It isn't your fault. You still have a lot to learn and a lot to remember. I promise I will help you but for now can we just focus on getting through these reports?" Kahlan asked the girl softly.
"Fine." Aria returned to her seat. "I don't see what the point of these are. Who cares how many loaves of bread were baked in each shop or how many people moved out of the city this week?"
"We do. One of the main duties of the Confessors is to keep track of everything going in and out of Aidyndril. Knowing what is in your city will help you if you ever need to fortify or defend it." Kahlan explained while picking up a fresh stack of papers.
"What other things do we have to do besides sit and read papers all day?" Aria asked, sarcastically. Often the girl reminded Kahlan of Cara… too often for her liking.
"Set up patrols, visit nearby villages monthly, take prisoner's confessions, approve trade routes for each kingdom, oversee training, hold councils, listen to citizen's requests, fortify defenses regularly-"
"You're giving me a headache." Aria complained causing Kahlan to chuckle. "How are the two of us supposed to accomplish all these things? There used to be hundreds of Confessors and even they had trouble with it!" Aria threw her hands up in defeat. Sword fighting and hand to hand combat, she could handle. Politics were another thing entirely.
"Don't worry Aria. We'll figure something out. Besides, it won't always be just the two of us." Kahlan smiled.
"Should I be searching for a hidden meaning in that?" Aria leaned closer to woman. Catching her meaning, Kahlan's face sunk.
"That's not what I meant." She said quietly. "That will…never happen Aria. I'm sorry."
"Why not?" Aria reminded herself that she needed a filter between her mouth and her brain. Kahlan sighed.
"Richard and I…" she began. "We can't have children."
"Who says?" Aria asked, a little too forcefully.
"The sorceress, Shota. She prophesied that any child Richard and I conceived would be male. With my powers and the gift of the Rahl bloodline…" she left the rest to Aria's imagination. "I could never ask Richard to hurt our child. It would destroy him."
"That's why Confessors take mates. So the man they love doesn't have to hurt their child." Aria told herself.
"And so they aren't enslaved. You must not forget that Aria." Kahlan said.
"I know." The teenager mumbled. The thought of picking a mate, a father for her children, out of a line of unwilling men made Aria sick. Of course, being with anyone except Hayden made Aria sick. At least he knew the truth now. At least he was safe. "You could ask someone to do it for you."
"Do what?" Kahlan asked the girl.
"Take care of the child. If it's a boy." Aria couldn't openly say 'kill the child'.
"Ask someone to kill a child? No, Aria. I could never force that upon anyone. Not even someone I've already confessed." Kahlan stated forcefully.
"You wouldn't have to ask certain people." She heard the girl mumble.
"What?"
"I said there are certain people you wouldn't need to ask. Or order in this case."
"Who would willingly kill a newborn simply because I said so?"
"I would." Aria said plainly. "If it gave you and Richard a chance at happiness. I would do it. As would Cara." Kahlan stared in awe at the girl in front of her. A part of her was horrified that she had so easily decided that killing a child was so meaningless. Another part of her was…hopeful. What if Shota's so-called 'prophecy' was a lie? What if they were never destined to have a boy and didn't try? Aria was right, it would give them eternal happiness to know that a part of them will live in this world even after they are gone. But no. It was wrong. So wrong. Aria wouldn't be able to live with herself; not properly. Neither would Cara. Although angry at the woman, Kahlan couldn't dispute what Aria had said. Cara would do anything for them and she knew it. But Cara already had to give up one child. What kind of person would she be if she asked her to get rid of another?
"I'll think about it." She lied. Aria smiled at her and returned to reading the report in her hands.
After what seemed like hours later, there was a knock on the door and two Mord'Sith entered both dressed in brown leather, thick brown braids perfectly done and reaching the smalls of their backs. Kahlan wasn't use to others having hair as long as hers.
"Mother Confessor." They bowed their heads ceremoniously.
"Lord Rahl requires your presence in the throne room." The taller one informed her.
"Is everything alright?" she asked the woman. Richard tended to be a magnet to trouble. Sometimes Kahlan wished she could just tie him to a leash around her waist. Realizing the thought that just ran through her mind, Kahlan blushed causing one of the Mord'Sith to grin.
"We were simply asked to escort you." The shorter of the two replied. Kahlan motioned for Aria to come with her and the four women left the room. Kahlan smiled to herself when she realized that the Mord'Sith had said 'asked' not 'ordered' or 'told'. Richard had asked her to do something. She imagined it must have been strange for the two.
"What are your names?" she asked the women hoping to make conversation. The walk to the throne room would take at least five minutes.
"Raina." The shorter one replied without looking back.
"Berdine." Said the other. Kahlan was surprised at the smile she offered her and returned one warmly. How strange this new world of theirs was becoming, she thought. There was something about the way the two women walked that sparked Kahlan's curiosity. From the look on Aria's face Kahlan could tell that she noticed it too. They swayed their hips in perfect sync with one another, hands grazing every so often, sideline glances stolen when they thought the other wasn't looking. They were in love. Kahlan looked Aria and the girl smiled. She knew too. Kahlan was gladdened by the thought that Aria's Confessor senses were still in pristine condition. Deep in thought, the two Confessors didn't notice when one of the Mord'Sith, Raina, turned and saw the smiles that spread across the women's faces.
"Something humorous about the way we walk, Confessors?" she asked coolly.
"We were just thinking." Kahlan replied, the smile never leaving her face.
"How long have you two been in love?" Aria asked bluntly. The two Confessors had the lean back to avoid two brown braids that shot into the air as the women spun on their heels to glare at the girl. Under normal circumstances, a look like that from a Mord'Sith made the receiver require a change of garments. Raina and Berdine had to remember that there was nothing normal about Aria Stone. Unexpectedly, Berdine took Raina's hand into her own causing the other woman to frown.
"What-"
"There's no point in hiding it anymore. They're the experts, right?" Berdine turned to face the two Confessors. They nodded.
"It's nice to see people in love." Kahlan stated matter-of-factly.
"You shouldn't hide it." Aria said. "Screw what people think." A few silent moments trickled by and suddenly, the two Mord'Sith erupted in laughter.
"I knew I was going to like her." Berdine told her lover. As they continued down the hallway towards Richard, Aria couldn't help the fact that an idiotic smile refused to leave her face. Acceptance was not something she was to. It felt good.
I'd like to stress that there will be no femslash during this fic. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST IT AND NEVER WILL. I have read multiple stories with same sex pairings & have no problem continuing to do so. I'm just not comfortable creating any if you all catch my drift. Also, do not expect Dahlia/Cara. Raina/Berdine are the only same sex pairing and that's mainly because they're canon. Also, I don't know whether or not I want to kill off Dahlia. Help in that department would be greatly appreciated. Well it's midnight where I am & I have to be up early tomorrow so I bid thee goodnight and THANKS AGAIN 33
