Chapter 43 – Festivities

Kahlan did not know how much longer she'd be able to stand. The celebration feast went on for longer than she had thought it would. There seemed to be a never-ending supply of food, which greatly pleased Zedd. He and Nathan drank and ate, being merry. Minstrels and barbs sang and played music, and Kahlan was pleasantly surprised to see the Mord'Sith mingle and dance with the soldiers.

Rikka danced with Zedd's bodyguard, and Berdine strutted around hopping in and out of groups, shaking her behind like no one's business. Even Cara seemed to have fun on the dance floor with Captain Meiffert. Nicci danced with General Reibisch, who was sweating like a pig, a look of concern on his face, as if he was worried he'd step on one of the sorceress's feet. Verna and Warren seemed to be having the most fun out of all the "couples." Berdine would go and skip around them singing some song from her childhood about two people in a tree kissing.

Richard seemed giddy and happy for probably the first time she could remember. He never let go of her, and his arm was almost constantly around her waist. Kahlan loved looking down at her hand and seeing a ring on it. As they ate and watched the revelers, Richard leaned over to her.

"I can't wait to get you out of that blue dress, Mother Confessor," he whispered to her, giving her earlobe a playful nibble.

Kahlan laughed slightly and turned her face to look up into his warm brown eyes. "Well, for now, you'll have to settle for a kiss," she said, pursing her lips.

He rolled his eyes, but grinned just the same. "All right," he huffed, mocking frustration, and leaned forward, capturing her lips with his mouth, as he held her to him for a long and very warm embrace.

They drank some wine, and then joined the dancers. Richard twirled her around and gripped her waist firmly in his hands as they moved to the music. Berdine skipped by and hugged them, then continued on. They laughed, kissed, snuggled and danced some more. Eventually the festive mood was becoming draining for her, and Kahlan was glad when Richard directed them towards Zedd.

Zedd stood up and winked. "Let me guess, you two want to get out of here, eh?"

"Do you read minds now, Zedd?" Richard jested.

Zedd chuckled and placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "No, but remember I was once a young man who had a wedding day, as well," the old wizard smirked. "But before you leave, let me give my new granddaughter a hug."

Richard relented and let go of her. Zedd wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug. Kahlan buried her head in his warm grandfatherly wonderfulness and laughed slightly, feeling like she was truly no longer alone in this world. As she backed up, Zedd started to say something, when suddenly time seemed to stand still.

"Congratulations," came an eerily familiar voice.

Kahlan turned and saw that Richard was reaching for his sword. The woman with auburn hair and a wispy grey dress held up her hand.

"I mean no harm, Seeker," Shota said, smiling. "In fact, I bring you a wedding gift."

"A wedding gift?" Richard furrowed his brow and looked over at Kahlan. She stepped closer to him and he immediately wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Yes, a wedding gift," Shota asserted, smiling, her almond eyes locking on Kahlan. She seemed to glide across the floor as she approached them. The witch woman held out her hand and in her palm Kahlan saw a necklace with a violet stained crystal hanging from it. "For you, Mother Confessor."

Hesitantly, Kahlan accepted it and held it up, examining it. "What's the catch?" she asked.

Shota raised her eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "I don't know what you mean?" she said, her voice cool and calm.

Richard rolled his eyes and the Sword of Truth was out in a flash. He pointed the tip of the blade at the witch woman's throat. "Do not play games with us, Shota," he nearly snarled. "You're gifts are never what they seem. So you'll tell us what this is really about, or I'll see to it that you don't bother anyone else ever again."

Shota narrowed her almond eyes at him, giving him a heated glare. "No threats are needed, Seeker," her voice still calm and collected. Richard lowered the blade and nodded, gesturing for her to continue. Shota straightened her shoulders and looked at them, she pursed her lips. "I've had a vision."

Richard groaned. "Not another vision," he scoffed. "Last time you had a vision, you were off, by what—" he looked at Kahlan, then back at the witch woman "—two years?"

"This vision is not about time or place, but about the future of what could happen," Shota asserted, inching forward. "If you lay with the Mother Confessor and she conceives a child… then that child shall be a monster, a curse upon this world!"

Kahlan stumbled back and clutched at her stomach, as if she was already with child and afraid that the witch woman was coming to take it from her. Shota stared at Kahlan and nodded her head.

"The blood of a confessor and war wizard must never be mixed," she declared. "To do so would bring ruin upon us all."

"What does this have to do with your gift?" Richard snarled, rising the sword, the blade beginning to glow white with his fury.

Shota backed up, clearly distressed by the turn in events. "The crystal will prevent the Mother Confessor from conceiving," the witch woman said. "As long as you wear it, we have a truce. But if you ever take it off and conceive a child… then we are at war!"

And with that, Shota vanished in a flash of blue light.

"Here, why don't you two sneak—what's going on?" Zedd stepped over to them and looked at Richard. "Why do you have your sword out?"

Richard blinked. "You didn't see Shota?"

"Shota! That she-devil! No," Zedd shook his head. His grey eyes narrowed and he lowered his brow. "Why? Should I have?"

Kahlan blinked and watched as Richard thought. She clutched the necklace in her hand, not knowing what to say. She decided to let her husband decide. He took a deep breath and sheathed the Sword of Truth.

"No," he said, his eyes looking over at her, communicating without words that he wanted to keep their encounter with Shota to themselves, at least for the moment. "I… I guess I'm just a little jumpy. I'm not used to good things happening to me."

Zedd grinned and brushed off the incident. "No bother," he said, chuckling softly. "Now, what I was saying, is that you two can sneak out through the back door."

Richard nodded and gripped Kahlan's hand. He gave Zedd a nod of thanks, and they slipped past his grandfather and out the back door. Once out in the halls, he began leading her away, in the wrong direction. Kahlan pulled him to a stop and looked in his eyes, letting her puzzled expression show.

"Richard, what are you doing?" she asked. "Shouldn't we tell Zedd about Shota's visit?"

He shook his head. "I'm not letting that witch woman ruin this special day, Kahlan," he answered, leading her on. "Today is our day!"

"Then where are you taking us?" she asked, nodding with her head. "Our bedchambers is back that way."

"I know," Richard said, smiling. "But I have somewhere else in mind, somewhere where we won't be interrupted. Somewhere where we can be totally alone."

Kahlan allowed herself to grin at the thought of being totally alone with just Richard. She caught her breath, as he stopped and swept her up in his arms and kissed her. "Now stop your jabbering, and let's get a move on," he smirked. "I'm practically dying here not being able to explore what's under that blue dress of yours!"

She arched her neck back and blushed when she realized she was giggling like a little girl. Richard kissed her again, before putting her back down on her feet, and together, hand in hand, they rushed off.

XXX

Richard was not going to have anyone interrupt this night. Tonight was for them… for Kahlan. He wanted to it to overshadow that unfortunate sacrifice she had to make for him to go to the Temple of the Winds. It would be as it was meant to be, not how the fates had forced it to happen.

He found the door and opened it, bring in the cool night air. Kahlan followed him as they ducked out the back entrance of the Confessor's Palace and into the garden. The lush plants and flowers gleamed in the blue moonlight, and Kahlan's blue dress was enchanting. He wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close as he led they way through the causeway of trees.

Kahlan's eyes narrowed and she looked at him, her nose wrinkling as she thought, trying to read him. He gave her a boyish smirk and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She remained silent as he led her pass the pergola, ivy climbing up the sides of the white woodwork. Kahlan finally stopped him, holding his hand tightly.

"Richard, where are we going?" she asked, utterly confused.

Richard smiled at her and ran his fingers down her face, feeling her hair as he went. "It's a surprise." He turned around and whistled. The neighing came first, then the horse appeared, led on by Egan and Ulic. The two giants smiled and bowed to them. Egan averted his eyes and complimented Kahlan on her dress.

Richard pulled himself up on to the horse and reached down to help her. Egan gave a hand and lifted Kahlan up. Richard grabbed her arm and swung her up behind him. He smiled and sighed, feeling her wrap her arms around his middle and clutch on to him. She buried her head into his shoulder and pressed her body up against his back.

"Keep an eye on things until we get back," Richard told the two gentle D'Haran giants. Egan and Ulic bowed their heads, and Richard gave the horse a good kick.

They went galloping out into the night, and he relished the feel of Kahlan's warm breath on the nape of his neck. Slowly, she began planting wet kisses along his exposed skin around the back of his collar. His heart thumped beneath his chest and his cheeks began flushing with instant arousal at her touch. Her hands played across his chest as she eased herself into him, pressing her breasts against his back. Richard let out a low groan of want, and blinked his eyes, trying to maintain his concentration.

"The Wizard's Keep?" Kahlan questioned, whispering into his ear, when the horse clip-clopped across the draw bridge and under the portcullis. "Are you seriously suggesting we spend our first night as husband and wife here?"

"No," Richard said, hopping off the horse and offering her his hands.

Kahlan slid off the horse and into his waiting arms. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her. Kahlan leaned into him and her hands gripped his arms, trying to deepen the kiss. She opened her mouth and he opened his. Their tongues did fierce battle for dominance, one which he knew he could not win. The desire and passion was practically oozing off her.

Gripping her around the waist, Richard backed away and rested his forehead against hers. "I have something special in mind, my beautiful Kahlan," he said. "A place I will only ever show you." He gripped her hand. "Come."

XXX

Kahlan was becoming frustrated, it had been nearly five hours since their wedding and she was desperate to get the Seeker out of his war wizard's outfit. She wanted to explore his body and feel their flesh contact and spark as they made love. Kahlan had felt pleasure at his touch before, even when she did not know it was him, and had thought it was another. But now she wanted to feel it and know it was him. She wanted to look into his eyes as he entered her, feel the rapture that came with becoming one with the man she loved.

Yet, Richard was now leading her through the labyrinth of corridors and stairwells in the Wizard's Keep. They took a turn and began walking up a spiral staircase that Kahlan recognized, and soon they were walking down the crenellation that led to the First Wizard's Conclave. She wondered what he was up to. Even the First Wizard's Conclave wasn't immune from intrusion. Surely he knew that.

They entered and he led her down the stairs towards the sliph's well. Now she was becoming more curious as to what he was planning. As they stepped into the room, a Mord'Sith jumped up at their approach.

"Lord Rahl," she bowed her head. "I was not aware you'd be coming."

"It's all right, Hally," Richard said, waving away the Mord'Sith's concern. Hally turned and bowed to Kahlan.

"Congratulations, Mother Confessor," she smiled. "You look beautiful."

Kahlan smiled back. "Thank you… I'm sorry you had to mess out on the festivities."

"Not a problem, Lady Rahl," Hally said, and Kahlan blinked. This was the first time someone had referred to her as that. She smiled. Yes, she guess that's what she was. She was the wife of the Lord Rahl… of Richard Rahl.

Richard let go of her and stepped up to Hally. "Hally," he said softly. "We're going somewhere… somewhere where I don't want to be interrupted."

Hally smiled and eyed Kahlan. "I understand, Lord Rahl," she said, conspiratorially. "You'll have my silence."

Richard placed a thankful hand on the Mord'Sith shoulder. Then he turned back to Kahlan and took his hand. Together they approached the sliph's well. Richard closed his eyes, and his brow furrowed as he thought. A gurgling noise came from the well, and Kahlan watched as the feminine form of the sliph materialized out of the quicksilver liquid. It rose up and looked down on them.

"Master!" it said cheerily. "How can I serve you? We travel? I take you. You will be pleased."

Richard smiled and looked over at Kahlan. "Oh yes, I'll be pleased."

The sliph beamed. "Where do you wish to travel?"

Richard tightened his grip on her hand and stepped forward. "Take us to the place that is hidden."

Kahlan took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come. Traveling within the sliph was rapture, but she felt that finally being able to be with Richard would be even more of a rapture. The sliph glided out of the well and reached out for them with silver arms.

"Richard," Kahlan spoke quickly. "Will you hold my hand the whole way?"

Richard looked over at her with his warm brown eyes and gave her a sheepish grin that told her he could not refuse her. "Of course, my Kahlan," he said. "I plan on holding on to you for the rest of my life."

The sliph wrapped them up in her arms and pulled them up into the air. Kahlan closed her eyes and prepared herself. With a sudden splash they were plunged into the quicksilver liquid and began their journey.


*Next chapter is the one we've all be waiting for... R/K's wedding night!