Sorry for the delay once more. This year has most certainly been difficult. I've already started the next chapter though so stick with me. We're very close to the end.

Chapter LIII

Dahlia had spent weeks, if not months, traversing through the Palace in an attempt to memorize its many corridors and hidden pathways. Although she still felt more confident in her ability to navigate the People's Palace in D'Hara, the Mord'Sith knew where to lead the midwife in order to avoid detection.

"Mistress." the woman in red heard Helena whisper. Turning quickly, Dahlia noticed what the midwife wanted her to see. A party of men had paused in the middle of a corridor. She knew they couldn't risk revealing themselves. There was no way of knowing whose side the men were on. Both women hid behind the corner, each holding their breath as the infant in their arms squirmed.

"They can't have gotten far." One of the men said.

"Maybe we should split up." Another suggested, followed by various sounds of disapproval and agreement.

"No, you idiot." The first man grumbled. "What happens if we run into one of those Mord'Sith bitches. Huh? You think you can take one on your own?" The question caused the second man to falter before he agreed. Dahlia glanced at Helena and motioned for her to move. These men were most certainly not on their side. Just as the two were about to round the corner away from the men, Emma, resting peacefully in Dahlia's arms just moments ago, began to fuss. Her soft cries of discomfort and probably hunger cause the women to freeze. Dahlia immediately brought the infant closer to her in an attempt to get her to stop. For a moment, it seemed to have worked until the child let out a wail. The men could be heard rushing towards them and Dahlia quickly spun to face the woman beside her.

"Run." The Mord'Sith whispered and Helena was quick to comply. The women's footsteps were fast but quiet as they made every effort to lose their pursuers in the maze that was the Confessor's Palace. Dahlia couldn't decide whether to head towards the tunnel or lead the men around in circles until they gave up. As she turned her head, she saw the first man appear.

"They're here!" he cried, causing the rest of his unit to sprint in their direction. Dahlia made a hasty decision and skidded to a stop.

"What are you doing?" Helena cried. "They'll catch us!"

"No," the Mord'Sith shook her head as she looked down at the child that was the mirror image of her mother. She handed Emma to the midwife and took in the woman's confused stare. "They'll catch me."

"Dahlia, no!" Helena cried. "You're faster than me. You have to take them!"

"But you can't fight them off." Dahlia insisted, watching their attackers getting closer by the second. "Helena, go. Now."

"There's too many of them!" Helena continued to protest. "Please, Dahlia, don't do this."

"It's your job to keep them safe now." The woman in red gave her a tight smile. "You know what to do. I'll be right behind you." Helena stifled tears as they began to form, knowing that the Mord'Sith had no intention of following.

"May the Spirits protect you." The whisper was almost inaudible as Helena spun on her heel and ran, cradling two crying infants in her arms.

"And you too." Dahlia heard herself reply before she turned to face the approaching men. Eight swords were drawn as they realized what the Mord'Sith was doing. Expressions ranged from fear to amusement as they regarded their odds against the most feared fighting force in the three territories.

"You can't win." One man said. "Tell us where she's going and we'll let you live." Dahlia couldn't help the snicker that escaped her lips.

"Now why would I do that," she removed her Agiel slowly, almost tenderly as she eyed every man before her, "when we could have so much fun instead?"

The Mother Confessor's screams were loud enough to drown out the sounds of the war that waged merely a few meters away. The soldier had carried her to the furthest bedroom in the Palace and rushed to get help. When he had been informed that Confessor Aria's midwife had gone to hide the twins, he panicked and grabbed the first woman he saw. Luckily the kitchen maid, Marcella, had agreed to come with him and aid the Mother Confessor. Now she knelt before the most powerful woman in the Midlands as tears streamed down her face and her fists clenched hard enough to break skin.

"I don't think you're ready to push yet, Mother Confessor." Marcella said in between bouts of screams. Kahlan looked up at her, green eyes wide with confusion and fear.

"You don't think?" Kahlan cried. "Have you ever done this before?" Marcella's face went white as she shook her head, afraid to disappoint the Confessor. Kahlan merely dropped her head back onto the bed with a groan.

"I helped my brother when one of our goats gave birth a few years ago." The girl remembered. Kahlan would've laughed had she not been in excruciating pain.

"Are you calling me a goat, Marcella?"

"Of course not, Mother Confessor!" she cried. "I merely meant that-"

"It's alright. It was merely a joke." Kahlan began to pant, a sign of an oncoming contraction.

"A joke?" Marcella marveled at the woman. She had spent months in captivity only to be brought home in the midst of labor, with a stranger as her only company…and she was making jokes.

"You can't stay." Kahlan groaned in between her cries. "I could confess you."

"But who's going to-"

"Don't worry about me, just-" As Kahlan went to press the woman, she heard a new voice enter the room.

"After all we've been through together, you think you can replace me so easily?" Kahlan's head shot up as she recognized the voice immediately.

"Ilya?" Whatever color remained in the Mother Confessor's face was instantly drained as she watched her friend smile and approach her. Ilya knelt beside her and took up Kahlan's hand into her own.

"It's me." She said with a smile. "Cara found me. She brought me back." Kahlan was only half listening as new tears formed in her eyes. She reached out and drew the woman into an impossibly tight hug. Ilya squeezed her right back as she swallowed a sob. Clearing her throat, the midwife rolled her sleeves up and glanced at the other girl in the room.

"I could use your help, if you're up for it." Marcella's gaze went from Ilya to Kahlan as if she was asking permission. Before long, she stood and offered her seat to the midwife as she nodded. "Get me clean towels and a bowl of water."

"No." Kahlan practically moaned. "It's too dangerous."

"Then send a guard." Ilya huffed and Marcella ran to the door with her instructions before kneeling at Kahlan's side.

"Ilya," Kahlan breathed, "it's too dangerous. I could confess you- both of you!"

"Kahlan, you can't give birth on your own." Ilya was already growing annoyed with her friend's selflessness. As the Mother Confessor opened her mouth to protest, she waved a hand. "Quiet now and focus on your breathing." Marcella gaped at the midwife who dared to speak to the Mother Confessor in that way. Her surprised only increased when the Mother Confessor actually did as she was told. As a rather powerful contraction hit the woman, Kahlan grabbed Marcella's hand in a vice like grip. The girl nearly jumped out of her skin at the contact but held the hand regardless. When the contraction passed after what seemed like hours, Kahlan turned her head to the girl.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. Marcella shook her head.

"It's quite alright, Mother Confessor." Marcella offered the woman a smile which was quickly returned.

"Kahlan." The brunette corrected and Marcella nodded as a knock sounded through the room. The girl raced to retrieve the materials Ilya had asked her and immediately took up the task of wiping the sweat from the Mother Confessor's face and chest. The woman sighed as the cool water touched her skin and Marcella found herself relieved to be of use.

"Alright, Kahlan." Ilya looked up from between the woman's legs. "It's time to push."