Chapter XXXVII

"Almost finished." she whispered, her breath causing the thin, blond hairs on his chest to rise. Cara could feel Ben's intent stare on her as she stitched the minor injury to his side. She felt his coarse hand stroke her hair lovingly, seemingly unfazed by the needle piercing his skin. With experienced fingers, Cara tied off the end of the thread and placed a bandage over the cut before returning her gaze to his. With a smile he asked,

"So, will I live?" Cara raised an eyebrow as she smirked, resting her chin on his naked chest and drawing patterns on his skin.

"I think the odds are in your favor." her smile grew at the sound of his laughter. It was something she had not heard in far too long. Silence blanketed the couple in its warm embrace as the two lay contently in each other's arms. Eventually, Cara rolled her head to the side, listening to the man's strong heartbeat as she wrapped her arms around him. Ben, although more than happy to remain like this forever, frowned at the contact.

"What is it?" he asked, concerned as to her sudden attachment. Cara wasn't the kind of woman that longed for long, tight hugs and he knew this. "Cara?" he lifted his head slightly and took her chin in between his fingers. He was more than surprised to find her eyes swelling with tears. Immediately, Ben took her face in between his hands and tucked strands of hair behind her ear. "Cara, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I'm-" the Mord'Sith stopped herself mid-sentence, knowing that he wouldn't believe her anyway. With small shake of her head, she sighed deeply before looking once again into his eyes. "I just-I just have this feeling in the pit of my stomach and it won't go away."

"What do you mean? What feeling?" Ben frowned as he continued to cradle her face. He watched as she struggled to find the words to explain.

"This feeling like any minute something terrible is going to happen and there's going to be nothing I can do about it." Cara averted her gaze as several tears dropped onto Ben's chest. With the grace of a cat, Ben rolled them over, allowing Cara to press up against him as he enveloped her in a hug. She wrapped her arms around his chest as her leg hooked behind them, bringing the two impossibly close. Although she would never admit it aloud, the contact did make her feel better. As Ben stroked her hair and the small of her back, Cara closed her eyes and tried to ease the tension off her shoulders.

"Nothing bad is going to happen." Ben said so firmly that she found herself believing him. "We're going to stop it, Cara. We're going to stop this war and everything will go back to the way it was." After a few silent moments, he felt her nod against his chest.

"I love you." she mumbled, her lips tickling his small patch of chest hair. She could hear Ben's heart accelerate at the phrase and knew that hers had done the same. Wordlessly, he reached down and brought her face to his, planting a deep, slow kiss on her lips. Only when Cara was sure her heart would burst did he release her.

"And I you, my Cara." Reaching around her, Ben took hold of the blanket they had been using and settled it snugly around them as he pulled Cara back into his embrace and closing his eyes before drifting off to sleep. Cara lay there, knowing that any other woman would be ecstatic to be in her shoes, but still, the feeling remained. The Mord'Sith tried hard but sleep evaded her that night. It wasn't until early morning, when the sun was barely breaking over the hillside, did Cara stir from Ben's arms and force the pit in her stomach down far enough to where she could attend to her duties. That, at least, was something she had grown accustomed to.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kahlan lay on her side, her back facing the locked door to her prison, as she stroked her stomach. Worry had grown to be her constant companion as the months passed and her body continued to show no signs of changing. Her stomach had remained flat- barely growing since her time in Torren's prison- and she worried that her baby was suffering. Although Kahlan knew that she was there, the Confessor also knew that if she did not receive proper treatment, both she and her child could die. The thought alone brought panic to the forefront of her mind. It had been weeks since Kahlan started to debate whether or not she should tell Torren of her condition. On one side, he wouldn't allow anyone to hurt her and she would receive whatever she needed to maintain the child's health. On the other, she knew that he would hold her daughter's wellbeing over her head like an axe and Kahlan didn't trust him with that much leverage against her. Spirits forbid she remained in his custody long enough for the child to be born. Kahlan would die before she let that man even breath in her daughter's direction. She ran a hand through her choppy, short hair and fought hard to control the anger that swept through her. As she rose and began to pace the small room, Kahlan could hear the sound of approaching footsteps and readied herself for another confession. Her small army now consisted of twenty-nine of Torren's soldiers, all hidden in plain sight amongst various ranks and specialties. She knew she was doing well but the toll to her well-being was great. She sighed, awaiting the moment when Wyatt or another of her confessed would open the door and allow another soldier to enter.

"Back away from the door, Confessor." Kahlan obeyed as she saw the tip of a sword ease its way into the room. "Now turn around." As she did, Kahlan heard the door creak open and felt the tip of a sword rest against the small of her back.

"I'm not going to hurt you." she said calmly, waiting for the soldier to lower his weapon. She was sorely disappointed when the voice that responded was familiar and tipped with humor.

"You're more than welcomed to try but by the looks of you, I doubt you'll make it very far." Torren's cold voice sent a shiver up her spine as Kahlan's entire body tensed. "It's alright now, Private. The Mother Confessor and I are just going to have a little chat. Isn't that right, Kahlan?" She spun on her heels the moment the sword was gone from her back and met the man's calculating gaze once more.

"I have nothing to say to you." she stated plainly, watching as Torren's bodyguard moved aside but kept his blade in a tight grip. She nearly smiled at the look in the boy's eyes. That's right, be afraid.

"That may be, but I figured you'd like some company. After all, it's been months since you've seen anyone besides these men." Torren flicked a hand towards the men who guarded her. How ironic that they were all confessed to her. She almost laughed.

"And you're under the impression that you'd make good company?" she raised an eyebrow, somewhat wary of taunting the man lest she anger him too much. To her surprise, Torren laughed. The sound practically shook the entire room.

"I enjoy your wit." he stated. "I am not diluted enough to believe that you want to see me, Kahlan, but I figure since I'm about to destroy your home and family, you at least deserve to know how we are progressing."

"So you acknowledge that you are, in fact, diluted?" Kahlan couldn't stop herself as the sarcasm dripped from her tongue. Torren's gaze narrowed and her body tensed in anticipation of a blow.

"What's made you so cautious, Kahlan?" he tilted his head in thought, eyeing her up and down. "You seem…afraid of me all of a sudden."

"The last thing I am is afraid." The brunette flared her nostrils in disgust but her heart pounded against her chest violently. He knew she was lying. A lopsided smirk appeared on Torren's lips as he approached her.

"You're afraid of something, Mother Confessor, and that's not entirely like you." he backed her into a wall but Kahlan refused to relent her gaze. "Is it because you have something to hide? Some secret you don't want me to know?"

"Is it a secret that I want you dead at my feet?" she snarled, narrowing her emerald gaze. Torren simply smiled.

"I have this…let's call it a 'gift', Kahlan. When I was born, my mother provided shelter to a woman- a sorceress- and in return she bestowed me with a special ability." Torren began to explain. "It allows me to know when people are lying. I can hear your heart beating faster and faster the more I speak. I can smell the sweat on your skin. So do us both a favor and skip the bravado. Tell me what it is you're hiding."

"I hide nothing." Kahlan tried her hardest to calm herself, to lower her heart rate and convince the man that she was telling the truth. She wasn't ready to reveal her child's existence. She hadn't convinced herself that it was the right course. Torren shook his head in disappointment before raising a hand and signaling to the man behind him. Kahlan glanced around the large man's shoulders and saw two guards dragging a small, redheaded girl. They shoved her into the room and slammed the door shut before she could reach it. Torren shot Kahlan one last glance before turning to face the girl.

"What is your name?" he knelt down before the girl and waited. When she didn't respond, Torren grabbed hold of her hair and yanked. The girl let out a cry and as Kahlan reached to stop him, Torren's guard stepping front of her and placed his sword against her breast.

"Eliza!" the girl finally yelled and Torren loosened his hold on her. Stroking away the tears on her cheek, Torren brought his face closer to hers.

"That's a very nice name." he told the girl. "Now why don't you tell the Mother Confessor how old you are."

"S-Seven." she managed to stutter in between sobs. Kahlan grimaced as the girl's copper eyes bore into her, begging for help. Torren's guard merely pressed his sword harder against her, causing a trickle of blood to run down her chest. She shot the boy a murderous glance that seemed to freeze him in place for a moment.

"Tell me, Eliza, do you know what it is my men are doing to your mother and sister?" Torren's sickeningly sweet voice made Kahlan tremble with anger that was only heightened when the girl nodded, tears now openly streaming down her face. No child should know what that is. Eliza squirmed in Torren's grasp, desperate to escape it, as her wide eyes searched Kahlan for an answer.

"Get your filthy hands off of her you-"

"Now, now Kahlan, we must watch our language. We wouldn't want sweet, little Eliza here picking up any bad habits, now would we?" Torren didn't even bother to look at her as he stroked the girl's braided hair. Eliza continued to cry, the only words that could be deciphered were "mommy" and "help". The sound tore Kahlan's heart and the sight of Torren caressing the girl like a long-lost lover made her sick to her stomach.

"Let her go. You swore you would let them all go!" Kahlan shouted, almost regretting it as Eliza jumped in fright. Torren merely rolled his eyes.

"You're the idiot for trusting the word of your enemy." he stated plainly. "But I have to admit, watching you writhing in agony for a handful of peasants was more than amusing." Torren smiled widely, his yellowed teeth only causing Eliza to tremble more. "There are almost a hundred thousand men under my command. How many do you think would want the opportunity to savor the delights Eliza has to offer them?"

"You're sick!" Kahlan cried as the guard before her continued to press her backwards. "You and all of your so-called 'men' are sick!" She watched as Torren continued to move Eliza's hair back and wipe away her tears. The girl was openly sobbing as he whispered something in her ear and Kahlan grew red with anger.

"Tell me what it is I want to know and I'll let Eliza stay with you." Torren ignored her cries and the girl's tears as he kept his back to the Confessor.

"Why should I believe you?!" Kahlan demanded. "Why should I trust you after you deliberately went back on your word?"

"I never said you should trust me, Kahlan." Torren chuckled as he leaned in to smell Eliza's hair. "But you don't exactly have a lot of options at the moment."

"I wanna go home!" Eliza suddenly cried out, her plea directed at Kahlan. "Please, Mother Confessor, take me home!" Kahlan's resolve shattered as soon as Torren placed a gentle kiss on the girl's cheek.

"I'm pregnant!" she cried over Eliza's wails. "That's the secret, now let her go!" Kahlan didn't have time to regret her confession before Torren released the girl and she sprinted straight into Kahlan's waiting arms. The guard lowered his sword and smugly stepped back, allowing Torren to approach the two once more. Eliza continued to cry against Kahlan's chest as the brunette wrapped her arms around the girl, shielding her from seeing Torren. The man reached out and grabbed Kahlan's face in a tight grip, bringing her narrow gaze to his.

"If you're lying, I swear on all the Spirits you'll have more things to worry about than the fate of one little girl." Torren breathed before dropping her back down and leaving the room. As Kahlan cradled the crying girl in her arms, she wondered if she had made the right decision. It didn't take her long to realize that it was the only decision. There was no way she would let a child suffer if she could stop it. If Torren decided to make due on his threat even after she had told him, there was nothing she could do. Thankfully, the man had decided that backing out on two promises was much worse than one… that and he knew how Kahlan would punish him if she ever got the chance.