Four days had passed when the wizard returned with the Mord'Sith. Kahlan had awoken once each day, her eyes dark until her magic ripped through her. Richard left her side only when the servants were tending to her wounds and even then, he didn't go far. The High Council ordered food to be brought to them and had guards standing outside of the door. It was late, but Richard was grateful for the protection.

The Seeker watched carefully beside his friend as his grandfather assessed the wounds on the Mother Confessor. He frowned, feeling a portion of the pain within her. The bruises were the first to disappear, the darkness melting into her skin and returning it to the porcelain the world admired. It wasn't long before Richard found himself recognizing the woman on the bed. He wasn't sure if he felt relief for more sadness.

When Zedd pulled back his hands, she sprang forward, gasping for air as though it had been weeks since her lungs had filled. Her eyes met the Seeker's as he came to sit at her side, attempting to ease her back to the bed. Taking hold of his face, she pulled him to her, shared his breath for a brief moment and then connected their lips. Breaking apart for oxygen, Richard touched his palms to her cheeks, feeling the warmth he had missed. He could still see the pain in her eyes, but knew she wouldn't let it keep her away from this point in time.

Cara's soft and annoyed cough reminded the couple that they were not alone. Tearing their eyes from each other, they moved back, Kahlan gently leaning back against the headboard of bed with a wince. He covered her immediately, hating to have the others see her that exposed. Looking up from the dark blue blankets, he smiled.

"Thank you, Zedd."

Nodding, the older man smiled in return. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to get here sooner. Have you found them?"

Richard's eyes lowered to the floor, his anger surging. "No. No one saw what happened. It was luck that some hunters saw Kahlan at the bottom of the..."

"What of her guards?" Zedd asked as he crossed his arms.

Staring at the blankets of the bed, she took a deep breath. "They're dead," she said softly, pulling everyone's eyes to her.

"I'm sorry, Kahlan."

Looking up, the brunette tilted her head. "You did what you thought was best."

"You wouldn't have done it."

"That doesn't make your decision wrong, but I'm not sure that I wouldn't have done the same. If it had been you lying here, I would have done anything to give you a piece of justice." Turning her head toward the wizard she smiled weakly. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

Ignoring the confused looks on the other faces, he nodded. "Darken Rahl does indeed have Nicci, but they are not working together. She appears to be under some sort of spell."

"What's going on Kahlan?"

"I received a letter from Darken Rahl a few weeks ago. I was to respond yesterday." She closed her eyes and shook he head, realizing the time she had lost. "I was to reply by the full moon."

Sitting down on the side of the bed, Richard laid his hand over hers, stopping them from fidgeting. "The full moon was a few weeks ago." The look on her face made him uneasy, bringing him to look at the others in the room. "What's going on?"

"It's not important," she whispered when his eyes returned to hers.

"Kahlan, if he-"

"He wants to be able to return to the cities without punishment."

The Seeker nearly laughed as he nodded. "Why would he believe you would allow him to go unpunished?"

Zedd unfolded his arms and took a step back, looking across the room to Cara, who remained by the door as she, too, awaited the answer.

"If I didn't grant him the pardon, he would deliver your body to me a piece at a time."

"He would never get past Richard's Mord'Sith," Cara stated bluntly.

Looking to the blonde, Kahlan nodded. "I have no doubts on your ability to protect him, but Darken Rahl has Mord'Sith with him as well."

Her back straightened as a hint of betrayal and anger crossed her face. "They will be given a proper death for serving someone other than Lord Rahl."

"They'll protect me," Richard added sincerely. "I know them and I trust them with my life." Glancing over his shoulder, he smiled. "All of them." He felt the hand in his twitch, bringing his attention back to her in concern. Her eyes were closed as she rolled her shoulder, breathing slowly through her mouth to help control the pain on her face. "Are you alright?"

Opening her eyes, she forced a small smile. "Just sore."

"Can I get you anything?"

"No," she whispered. "I'm alright."

Moving toward the door, Zedd clapped his hands together. "We'll leave you to rest. Cara and I will see what we can find in the kitchen."

"It must be hard for you to go an hour without eating," the blonde said annoyingly as she followed the wizard through the door.

When the door closed, Richard moved without thought, lying down beside her while wrapping his arms around her. "Why didn't you tell me he contacted you?"

"Because I knew that you wouldn't let me bargain for your life."

"No," he agreed through a whisper. "I wouldn't have."

"I started to tell you, many times, but I didn't want you to read it and abandon everything you were doing."

"Kahlan-"

Lifting her head, she brought her eyes to his, taking a moment to soak in their kindness. "If I had sent you the letter, you would have left the instant you could and I couldn't let you. What you've been doing at the People's Palace, it's too important to risk."

"It's not too important to be there for you."

Grinning, Kahlan shook her head. "You're giving people their lives back. You're showing them that they don't have to be afraid anymore and I've heard the stories. They love you. They respect you. Do you realize what you've done for them? You have given them hope."

"But it almost cost me you."

"Everything has risks," she told him quickly. She didn't want him to have a moment to believe he was right. "We don't stop doing something because of what we could lose. We do it so that others won't lose what we do."

"The many is greater than the one," he said mindlessly back to her.

"The world can live without-"

"I can't," Richard stated faculty. "I can't live without you and I won't pretend that I could."

He watched her eyes darken, desire filling them as she stared into his. It almost hid her pain. Almost. Her tongue ran over her lips and his body responded instantly. Touching his right hand to her face, he pushed her hair back behind her ear and smiled. It had been months since they had laid like this, since he felt his heart pound so hard he thought it would rip through his chest. When their lips connected, the world disappeared.

The blanket between them made it difficult to move, both trying to feel the other pressed against them. Richard rolled onto his side, pulling the soft blue fabric in an attempt to remove the obstacle. When she broke their kiss, he opened his eyes just in time to see her wince.

"Kahlan?"

"I'm sorry. I-I thought it would stop."

"What?"

Pushing the blanket from her, she ran her index finger over the light, long scar just below her breasts. "I think it's still healing."

"Do you want me to get Zedd?"

He was half way off of the bed, when she grabbed his wrist. "No," she said quickly. "Stay, please. I don't want to be alone."

Easing back onto the bed, he brought her into his arms. "Do you want to take a bath and relax?" A quiet moan left her lips at the thought, her arms tightening around him. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes."

***

She leaned against him, the warm water surrounding them with small bubbles as Richard gently rubbed a soapy rag over her shoulder. It felt good to be in his arms again, she could barely remember feeling this comforted and she wasn't willing to let it go. The scent of him filled the air around them, reminding her of the trees they had spent their first night in. The smell seemed to linger, remaining with them wherever they went as a small reminder of what they had. It was a smell she prayed would never fade.

"How are you feeling?"

"Safe," she murmured, her eyes closing as she pulled his arms firmly around her. "I missed you."

Nudging his nose against the back of her head, he smiled. "I missed you, too. If we didn't have those Journey Books, I don't think I would have survived."

Turning her head, Kahlan grinned. "I can think of something that would have made it easier." His growl vibrated through them, setting her on fire. "You're going to make it difficult to finish here."

Letting his hands roam over her chest and stomach, he brought her closer. "You started it."

Moving slowly, she turned in his arms, doing her best not to cause strain on her stomach. Laying her hands against his chest, she leaned forward until their foreheads touched. "I couldn't help myself."

"I'm not complaining." Her body jerked at his touch. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I must have pulled too hard."

He studied her face, unsure if he should let it go like she wanted him. "Maybe we should have Zedd look at it again."

Leaning toward him again, she brushed her lips against his. "It can wait."

As he returned her kiss, he touched his fingers to her stomach and waited for her reaction. Almost instantly, she pulled back, the gentle touch of his fingers proving to be too much.

"Kahlan, please..."

With a sigh of defeat, Kahlan slouched against him. "Alright."

Richard moved slowly, holding her to him as he lifted them out of the water. She tried to stand as they stepped out of the bath tub, but he wouldn't have it. He didn't know if it was because he didn't want to lose contact with her or if he thought she wouldn't have the strength. Carrying her across the room, he helped sit her down on the edge of the bed and then hurried to get them a towel and fuel the fire to help keep her warm. When he returned to her, she was leaning forward, her right elbow resting on her knee while she gently ran her fingers across the wound.

"Is it feeling better?" Without a word, she shook her head, trying to find a place that was more sensitive than the rest. When she found it, her hand froze and he was kneeling before her, trying to move her hand away as she stared blankly ahead. "Kahlan?"

Blinking, she brought her eyes to his. "I'm fine, I just didn't expect... I think I'm a little tired."

"You don't have to lie to me, Kahlan."

"It's nothing, I promise. I'm just tired."

Nodding, Richard pushing his fingers into her wet hair and pressed his forehead against hers. "You're exhausted. Here, lie back and I'll find Zedd." She grabbed his arms, keeping him from moving away. "I'll be right back, I promise."

Pulling back her hands, she sighed, realizing there would be no winning this argument. "Alright."

***

When the Seeker returned, the Mother Confessor had dressed in a thin, peach colored nightgown and was sitting in a rocking chair beside the fire. Her eyes flew to the door as the two men entered, her body clenching until their eyes met. Zedd moved past his grandson and walked immediately toward her, motioning for her to stand as he came to a stop.

"The stitching was not done properly," he explained as he brought his hands to her. "The wound had already begun to heal and my magic seems to have followed the course it was already taking. Is it tight?" She nodded, her eyes moving to Richard, who watched every movement. "I cannot say for sure, but I believe that I may be able to help. Come, lay down."

It tingled, almost in a painful way, but she remained silent and still, eyes closed as he worked. She felt his cold fingertips touching the skin, pushing and pulling around the wound, making it feel as though it was spreading. After a moment, he stopped and she opened her eyes.

"How is that?"

Shifting her body, Kahlan smiled, poking the spot with her fingers. "Better, thank you."

"It should feel normal after a good night's rest, but I'm afraid the scar will remain."

"I don't care about a scar," she said as she sat forward and turned to her side, continuing to test herself. "Thank you Zedd."

"Are you two going to finish this?"

They laughed in unison, their friend's attention having gone to the tray of food that sat on the bed table by his side.

"No," Richard said, motioning to the tray with his hand. "Help yourself."

"You can take it with you," Kahlan said as she lifted herself onto her elbows.

Meeting her eyes, the wizard nodded. "Ah, yes. You two wish to be alone... Goodnight."

Richard watched his grandfather leave, feeling relieved as the bedroom door clicked closed. With a soft sigh, he leaned back on the bed and closed his eyes. He felt her moving beside him, coming closer, but he didn't look at her.

"You can say it, you know."

"Say what?" she asked innocently, lying in the same position beside him.

"You told me it was nothing to worry about. You were right."

"What if I wasn't?"

Turning his head, he looked at her and smiled. "But you were." Kahlan opened her eyes and looked at him, watching his face. "I'm sorry that I pushed you into seeing Zedd."

Turning on her side, she laid her hand on his chest and moved into his arms. "Don't be. I like that you were worried; that you cared. If I had been wrong, this moment could have been completely different."

Hugging her to him, he closed his eyes. "I'm glad we got this one."