I watched as the goddess like warrior woman rode away from me. She was the most intoxicating woman I had ever encountered. No Mord-Sith had ever kissed me with her eyes closed. Cara was wrong, she wanted to be loved. I could see, now, the unbearable pain that she carried. I knew her pain.

Looking down, I saw two red agiels lying side by side. For a Mord-Sith to forget her weapons was… unimaginable.

I had expected Richard to demand me to tell him what was going on between Adam and I. By the look in his eyes, he wanted to. I was grateful when he didn't. After a long look, his large brown eyes staring daggers at me, he sufficiently told me to make sure he didn't catch me alone. Then turned away and acted like nothing had happened.

Not being able to stand the nearly visible tension in the air, I announced, just as Adam arrived, that I would be going hunting. Quickly packing a small bag, and then retrieving a bow, I noticed my agiels were missing. Cursing my stupidity, I turned around just in time to see Adam sliding the absent weapons into my bag.

How could I forget my agiels? I must be way more unbalanced than I thought.

As I stood in the forest, surrounded by trees, I wondered how long I would be able to continue protecting Richard like this. Was it safe for me to be around him? I had said no when Rahl offered me his deal, but I had wanted so badly to say yes.

Sitting down, I leaned my back against a tree trunk. Tears threatened to escape. I pressed a hand against my eyes to keep them back. I wasn't going to cry. I was a Mord-Sith!

"Cara?" a quiet voice soothed, his voice so familiar, and deadly.

I jumped up, and saw Rahl's infuriating form standing before me. Rahl looked as healthy as ever. His brown hair was calmly lying on his shoulders, and his cold eyes watched me like a snake.

"Cara dear, are you crying?" he asked, coming closer.

"Leave me Rahl. I will not do your bidding." I spat at him.

"But you will Cara. The thing is, you can get what I need. And I have want you want." he smiled, "Would you like to see him?"

Leo suddenly appeared by Rahl's side. He was shirtless, and on his knees with his head bowed. I involuntarily took a step forward, reaching my hand toward him. My tears came freely now.

Rahl leaned down and lifted Leo's head to look at me. Pain was evident in his face, but so was determination.

"Leo… I'm so sorry." I whispered.

"I know." Leo smiled, his pain disappearing just like that.

Taking another step forward I quietly confessed the truth, "I didn't mean… what I said… that day."

"I know Cara."

"Leo I…" I didn't know what to say anymore.

I took another step forward and stood right in front of Leo. Slowly I lowered myself to my knees. His eyes were so beautiful, so clear and bright. Oh how I wanted to bring him back. I wanted to just forget about the world and let go.

As if hearing my thoughts Leo's eyes widened, "I love you Cara, but you have to let me go. Don't-"

Leo disappeared just as my hand reached to silence his mouth. The air before me was as empty as before. That was when I realized Leo would never allow his life to be traded for Kahlan's or Richard's. He wouldn't want me to give up the quest or even myself for his life. If there was one thing Leo had taught me, it was that I could not give up. I could never give up.

"Well Cara, just say the work and I will bring him back to stay."

Rahl could not see my face. So he did not see the mad grin that crossed it, "It seems you have started a nasty little habit."

"And what is that Cara? Do tell?"

"You keep underestimating us."

And with that I shoved an agiel through his open shirt. His body turned to black smoke and quickly disappeared. But not before a poisonous whisper tickled my ear.

"You will regret that Cara."

I sat up sharply, having actually never moved from my resting place against the tree. The first thing I noticed was a tall broad man. He wore red armor. I was instantly on my feet, weapons ready. But a warm chuckle reminded me I was no longer the only person wearing red in our group.

"You wake up quickly." Adam commented, taking a step forward so I could make out his face in the moonlight.

"I have to. If I want to keep Richard alive I always have to be ready." I answered half heartedly, my thoughts drifting to the night Leo first made me laugh.

I sat down and after a small silence he sat beside me.

"Do you know what it is like to lose someone?" I asked quietly, remembering the pain on Leo's face.

"Yes." He answered simply.

"Who?"

"My wife."

Adam's features were gently shadowed in the night. It was then that I realized I knew absolutely nothing about him. Just like his face, a saw the obvious features, but shadows covered up the details, "What happened?"

"I married a woman from Hartland just before Richard left with Zedd. I was perfectly content to pretend there was nothing happening on the other side of the boundary. Or that if there was, it would never affect me. Unfortunately that was not the case." Adam's hands clenched, as if readying himself for something.

"My wife spoke out against them. She never was one for fallowing anyone else's law. One day she disappeared."

Adam's eyes were dark in the night, his expression carefully guarded.

"But that was a long time ago."

I nodded.

"Cara will you tell me about what happened to you?" he asked, shifting slightly to look me in the eye.

My first instinct was to walk away, but a second later I knew I had to tell him. Not just for him, but for me. I needed the closure.

"Not so long ago Richard was dying, he had to leave the quest. But he refused to let us stop looking for the stone. We were told to find a new Seeker and continue until he was able to return." a dull throbbing started in my chest, "Slowly, and without my consent, I began to have feelings for the new Seeker.

"He was funny and he was never afraid of me." I snorted as I remembered our first meeting, "He made me apologize for stabbing him with an agiel. Not long after finding the Seeker, we learned Richard was in danger.

"We ended up fighting the Sisters of the Dark, Leo died saving the Mother Confessor. I saw him burn alive. And I couldn't save him. I have revived so many people, but I couldn't bring him back." I didn't stutter, and I didn't mumble, though the entire speech.

Even though the words were emotional, I held onto my straight face and clutched an agiel. But the pain didn't help. For once I didn't want to feel the pain. A single tear traveled hesitantly down my cheek. It was the only sentiment t couldn't prevent.

Adam didn't say anything; he knew there were really no words that could help. I could feel Adam's pity like a cool trickle of water, but I didn't mind that he pitied me. A warm arm wrapped itself around my shoulders, pulling me close, and comforting me. More tears came, and I remembered that day Kahlan had sat on the ground, she had been crying, clutching Richard's sword.

I hadn't understood her tears, but I did now. The pain of waking up and not seeing the man you loved, was the worst pain of all. It was the pain a Mord-Sith was never taught.

I fell asleep with my head resting on the hard red leather of Adam's shoulder.

I am so sorry that it took so long for me to update. I had major writer's block. If I had put anything up it would have been badly written and a poor chapter. And I know this isn't my best chapter, but it is the gate way to a big event. Adam has a secret. A life story that has yet to be told.