His eyes opened to the soft whisper of his name. He hair lightly brushing the sides of his face as she looked down at him. A smile crossed his face as he looked up at her. "How are you feeling?" "Better." His smile widened as she moved her hands to his head, softly running her fingers through his hair, messaging his scalp for a few moments.

"We need to get moving." Cara's voice pulled Richard from his blissful moment. Kahlan pulled her hands from his hair and lean backwards, straightening her back. Sitting up slowly, Richard looked around the campsite. "Where's Zedd?" "I'm here, my boy." He said as he stepped into view. "Got you some more herbs for your pain." Standing, Richard turned to Kahlan, handing her his hand to help her stand. "Here you are. When your pain returns, chew on a few of these." Zedd handed him a hand full of leaves. "Thanks Zedd." he smiled up at the wizard. Watching everyone as they picked up their gear, Richard tossed a few leaves into his mouth and chewed as discreetly as he could.

They walked for a few hours before his pain slowly grew overwhelming. His grip on Kahlan's hand grew tighter as they walked. Slowly, he began to lean over to her, his weight slightly pushing her downwards, slowing their pace. "You should chew the leaves, Richard." she said as she slowly lowered him to the ground. He clung to her, pulling himself as close to her as he could. "Richard, where are the leaves?" she asked looking through his pack, her voice growing more concerned as he tightened his hold on her, moaning in agony. "Richard-" "They're gone. I've chewed them al-" he screamed out in pain before he could finish his sentence. Zedd and Cara turned quickly at the sound, Cara pulling her agiel and searching the area before returning it to its place.

"Do you have any more?" Kahlan's voice shook as she starred up at Zedd. "No, I took all I could find. He had everything." "There's nothing you can do for him." A voice from the trees said. Turning quickly, Cara pulled her agiel stepping towards the voice while pulling her agiel. "Who are you?" she said coldly as the woman appeared before them. "I am Sister Verna." she said softly, looking down at Richard as he hugged tightly to Kahlan. "You're a sister of the light." Kahlan said looking up as the woman stepped closer, ignoring the glare coming from Cara.

"What's wrong with him?" Kahlan asked looking down at Richard once again. "The wizard with in him has awaken." Kahlan's eyes shot to Verna's "What?" "His power is strong, leaving him in great pain as long as it remains uncontrolled." "What are you talking about?" Richard asked as he squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm not a wizard." "Believe what you wish, but the headaches will kill you."

Standing before them Verna looked down "You must learn to use your powers." "I will not abandon my quest." Richard said pulling himself away from Kahlan and standing slowly. "You don't have a choice. If you don't come with me, you will die." Kahlan stood quickly moving to his side. "Can't you help him?" Sister Verna sighed, "There is only one way to help him. He must come with me to the Palace of the Prophets and be taught how to control his powers." "No." he said shaking his head and turning away to walk back up the path.

"Richard." Kahlan said as she fell into step behind him "I won't go Kahlan." "Richard please." He stopped and closed his eyes "You can't ask me to abandon my - our quest. To abandon you." she took a few steps, coming to a stop close to him. Her breasts lightly touching his arm. "I'm not asking you to abandon anything." She grabbed his hand and waited for him to look at her. "I'm asking you to stay alive." She inched closer, reaching out and touching the side of his face. "Richard, I don't know what I would do without you." She closed her eyes for a moment. "I can't lose you again." He starred at her, looking into her eyes as he thought. "Okay, I'll go." he said softly, pulling her into a hug.

Pulling away he brought his hands to his head and softly groaned in pain. Looking up, Kahlan pulled his head to hers, kissing him passionately, making his pain vanish from his thoughts. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her closer to him. She pushed on him lightly, but with enough force to get him to walk backwards to the trees off the road. Moving his hands quickly, he pulled at the laces of her clothing. Her body was so close to his, he could barely had enough room for his hands to continue unlacing. Kissing his way over her jaw to her neck, he pushed her dress from her shoulders. Sliding slowly down her arms, her dress pooled to the ground, allowing his lips to contact more flesh.

"We really shouldn't be wasting any time." Verna said turning to Zedd, who was chewing on a piece of bread, looked up at her and smiled. "It may be a while." Scrunching her eyebrows for a moment she looked back up the roan and back to Zedd. "You must have know he had the gift." Zedd took another bite. "He comes from two powerful lines of wizards." "Yes, but not every child bares the gift." Zedd said before pushing the rest of the bread in his mouth. "You must have suspected." "I have." Sister Verna starred at him for a moment before looking to Cara, who was slowly running her hand over her agiel, while looking at Verna. "What are they doing?" She said looking up the road for Richard and Kahlan. Cara rolled her eyes and sighed "Probably making love." she couldn't help the discuss that flowed from saying the last of the words. "What?!" Sister Verna said turning to face Zedd. "She's a Confessor!" she said as she turned and started walking down the road. "Calm down!" Zedd said as he grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. "He'll be fine. He has found a way around her magic." Sister Verna starred at him "How is that possible?" Zedd smiled widely "He's the Seeker." He started walking back towards Cara, pulling Verna along behind him.

Laying in his arms, Kahlan rested her head on his chest, her hand running smoothly over his stomach to his chest. "Kahlan?" "Mmm?" He moved his hand from the small of her back, up her spine and stopping between her shoulders. "I'm not sure I can be away from you." He could feel the small smile cross her lips as she turned her head to kiss his chest. "Richard, you'll be back soon." He looked down at her, he could hear the sadness in her voice. "Kahlan, I don't have to go..." She look up at him, "You have to. Richard, I can't live in a world without you." She lifted herself up slightly, moving over him. She lowered herself on top of him. Her chest against his, her legs between his. She kissed him, letting her hands run over his chest to his hair. His arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly against him. His hands moved over her body, memorizing every detail. Mentally photographing the woman in his arms.

"Richard?" Kahlan said lifting herself out of his embrace, "Richard, are you okay?" His eyes were squeezed closed. "I'm fine." He opened his eyes when she pulled out of his arms. "Why are you getting dressed?" He said with a soft laugh. "Your pain is getting worse." Reaching out, he touched her arm, he turned her slightly to face him. "Richard, we can't put this off any longer. I won't lose you." He pulled her into his arms, hugging her. "You won't lose me." pulling away to look at her, he smiled. "I love you, and I will come back to you." A small smile came to her lips as she nodded. "We should get back to them."