Ok here is Chapter three, thanks to a review I got my muse to write more. Even though it is now 5am and I have to get up to head over to campus and be in class by 8 and I'm exhausted I couldn't stop my self from writing so here is Chapter three where some of the plot gets reviled.
I would like to thank:
Intheuniverse1994- I'm happy you are reviewing and telling me you like the story, with every review I get on a story I can't help but get a muse to write more.
Archer didn't approach Kahlan again, he was a man of pride, never wanting to except help and the incident earlier in the day had hurt his pride. She was packing up her wagon and getting ready to leave when the rain began, rain didn't bother her but Kate insisted that she stayed another night, not wanting to return so soon to her husband Kahlan agreed. She still needed some time away from him, she also knew if she returned to quickly he wouldn't be happy she wasted time, she wanted to put off their argument at least another few days.
When evening came around Kahlan helped Kate prepare dinner, which once again was just come stew with no meat just a few potatoes and few other vegetables.
"How does your husband feel about you being away?" Kate asked, "if you don't mind me asking."
"Well, I think he prefers it." Kahlan said with a soft smile, "We are only married because we have a daughter together."
"Really?" Kate asked, this woman hadn't seemed the type to marry someone that didn't love her, she seemed so strong willed.
"Yes, I mean when he looks at me I know he see's another, he's a good honest man who loves are daughter and that's all a women could possible want right? So many times Kahlan told herself she was lucky to have a man like her husband who supported the family well, who was a good father, after all she didn't need love right.
Wrong. A voice said in her head, the voice belong to the man she had loved, so many times he had told her that love was essential in love, that love could over come anything, but in truth it hadn't been able to overcome death.
"I suppose" Kate said "I mean I thought I was in love for the longest time and it only cause me pain, chasing Robin Hood the way I did." The door opened and Much walked in carrying wood and Kate smiled "But yet once I realized I loved Much my life seemed better, I know he will protect me with his life, even if I don't need protecting, he is everything that I loved in Robin Hood and more."
"Yes I suppose love is out there, but its not needed to be happy." Kahlan said once again trying to convince herself, but every day she woke up and realized she wouldn't see Richard again, everyday she realized she failed him, everyday she realized she was alone and his arms would never hold her close to him again. She would give anything to just be able to lie next to him again and feel his warmth, feel his love, just to feel him again near her.
"Maybe." Kate said, "But I saw first hand how love can change a man." Kate smiled "Even before I was in the gang, even when I was younger I could see the power Marian had over Robin, the way he pretended things where his idea, but really they were hers."
"You seem to have really known Robin and Marian." Kahlan said
"Well not me." Kate said to her "Yes I knew Robin, but I only got to know him after he lost her." Kate looked down for a moment then glanced at her husband. "It was Much, Much knew the two very well he grew up with them as Robin's manservant."
Much who wasn't listening was tending the fire; he didn't talk of Robin or the past very much. To him it was the past, a past that was full of pain. He and the others had given so much to be back where they started now.
"Much was his dearest friend, his most loyal and trusted, I fear when Robin died and the cause some of Much did as well."
"How do you mean? He seems happy to me." Kahlan said, she hadn't seen signs of a broken man in Much. She had seen many broken men in her life, broken by the hardships of life her husband being one of them, but not Much.
"He used to be so happy." Kate said "As long as his master was by his side Much was very similar, in battle he fought along side Robin, not behind him but right along side. Much has seen everything that Robin has, but after Robin died everything is so different." Kate sighed "He won't even talk about it, the past really, its like he keeps it locked away." Kate smiled sadly "And that's not how he used to be, he always talked, all the time, he never shut up the gang used to have to find ways just to keep Much from talking. And now he is so quiet, only speaks when spoken to, never really a smile on his face, he's a quiet man going through life."
Kahlan had noticed how Much never had anything to say, he simple worked around the town and only spoke when people spoke to him or needed his help. The only time he really talked was when he was talking to Kate about his day, but never once did he tell a story she didn't fish out of him.
Kahlan looked at the fire that kept them warm, she thought of this Robin Hood and how one man seemed to inspire so much hope, yet brake them at the same time. Kate had told her that his enemies would hear his name an instantly begin to worry, she wished she had gotten a chance to meet this man, perhaps he would have reminded her of Richard. After all everything she heard made him seem so much like her lost love. She could see how losing a man like Robin Hood could hurt the people, after Richards death the land fell into darkness once more awaiting a new seeker, but none had been named since the death of Richard. Robin Hood may not be named by a wizard, may not have a legend reaching back over a thousand years, but he did inspire hope in those around him. He brought a land under a tyrant's rule to a land where people could smile again. He helped those that needed help, he stood up for what was right. The more Kahlan thought of it the more she couldn't help but think putting your life on the line for others, for the good of man kind wasn't worth it. In the end you either die or just get tried of the constant struggle. She didn't want to struggle anymore, she wanted to be happy, but she didn't know if that was possible.
That night Kahlan knew as soon as the time changed to the next day, she could feel it, the day she lost Richard so many years ago. She lay awake thinking of Richard, of his smile after a long day. As his smile came to her mind a smile came to her face, how could she not smile when she saw his? She wished she could see it again in person, but knew she never would. She wanted to be near him, but she knew she couldn't. Everyday that passed she thought of him, but on the anniversary of his death she couldn't stop her mind from letting his memories flood into her mind. Memories of the man she loved, of the man she failed.
She closed her eyes allowing her tired mind to fall asleep to the happy times, to fall asleep to him holding her, him kissing her, of them together and in her dreams nothing could tear them apart.
Kahlan stood in the doorway of her son's room, the little baby was sound asleep; she couldn't help but smile as she looked at the boy. He slept so peacefully, with the same expression his father always had in his sleep. The baby moved in his sleep as the wind blew, Kahlan walked over and placed a blanket around the boy.
"Sleep little one." She said "And one day you will grow as big and strong as your father, and you will rule over this land." Kahlan looked down into the crib, "And you will be a king just as good as your father, perhaps better."
"I don't think anyone could be a better king then me" Came a voice from behind her that was followed by strong arms wrapping around her waist. Richard looked over her shoulder at their son, "But if anyone has the chance that's our son."
Kahlan turned in his arms to face him, she kissed him on the lips and whispered "I love you."
"And I you." Richard said kissing his wife back with passion.
"Some on, lets let him sleep in peace." Kahlan said leading her husband from the room. The two walked hand in hand Kahlan leaning her head on his arm. She would have never guessed a little over a year ago while her and Richard were fighting in the woods that they would be here now, married, with a baby, happy. Richard took the lead and led her to their bedroom, the two happy they were together, happy everything was so perfect.
Kahlan woke up next to Richard her head leaning on his warm chest, she heard a noise and lifted her head. As she woke up she realized the baby was crying, Richard who could sleep through anything didn't move in his sleep even after she got up and threw a rope around her. She walked from the room and into her sons room. Yet she no longer heard him crying. She walked over to the crib with a smile waiting to see his beautiful eyes looking at her, but when she got to the crib he wasn't there.
"Richard!" she yelled, she knew even though he slept through the baby crying and other sounds, hearing her voice in a panic would wake him.
"I wouldn't call him so fast." Came a voice from the darkness of the room, a blonde woman walked out of the shadows with the baby in her arms.
"Put him down!" Kahlan didn't know what to do, all her years of being a fighter seemed to leave her, all she could focus on was some strange women had her child, some strange women was threatening her child.
"You can not have a boy." The women said, "It is wrong, he must die"
"If you harm him so help me you will be dead." Kahlan said
"You are a disgrace to your kind, the mother confessor, with a male for a child."
Kahlan moved towards the women to try and grab the baby, but the women simple raised her hand and Kahlan flew against the wall, she felt pinned, she couldn't move. The women placed the baby in the crib with a smile on her face and began to chant. Kahlan screamed for Richard again, hoping her Seeker would get there in time to save their child. The baby was crying once again, screaming for the loud noises and screaming for fear and the cold.
Richard burst into the room wearing only pants and his necklace, no shit, no shoes, yet his sword was in his hand. He moved towards the women but as quick as she had Kahlan pinned to the wall she had Richard. The women stopped chanting and as she did the baby stopped crying.
"It is done." The women said as she seemed to let her grip on Kahlan and Richard go
"No" Kahlan whispered as she realized what the women had done, "No!" she screamed as she ran to the crib.
"There was a prophecy." The women said "And I have to prevent it from happening." The women turned her attention to Richard, "I must still prevent it."
Richard stood and rushed the women with his sword, but she flung him against the wall. She turned her attention to Kahlan, "You as well must go, you protected a son born to a confessor, you betrayed your kind!" She began chanting again, Kahlan's eyes had now turned black as she lost herself to her powers, but as the women began chanting she felt her power failing her, she felt it slipping away. Air became hard to get into her lungs, she began to choke her eyes became normal as the women smiled while chanting as the power began to flow into her.
"No" Richard said standing up, his whole body hurt from hitting the wall, but he knew he must protect Kahlan, While the women was distracted chanting Richard ran his sword through her stomach. The women stopped chanting and began gasping for air. She let out a horrifying scream as light surrounded her, then she was gone. Richard lay in her place, not moving. Kahlan crawled over to him, hoping praying he was ok, but as she reached him she knew. She knew he was gone. She cradled his head in her lap and sobbed, she cried holding him close to her as she realized both her husband and son were dead. She cried until Zed pulled her away from the bodies, away from the room.
"Kahlan!" Kate yelled trying to wake up the sleeping women, Kahlan's eyes opened to see Much and Kate standing over her.
"Are you alright?" Much asked as he handed her a glass of water
"You were yelling in your sleep, screaming, then crying." Kate told her worry in her voice.
"I'm sorry." Kahlan said as images from her dreams flew through her mind, some how while she was asleep. It was the night Richard and everything she loved was taken from her, the night Richard was killed, the night their son was killed.
"Are you sure you are alright?" Kate asked
"Yes I'm fine." Kahlan said as she sat up "Just a nightmare. I'm sorry for waking you." Kahlan said as the two went back to bed. She quietly put her head back down on her pillow and looked at the wall. It had been a long time since she dreamed of that night, it had been a long time since she woke up screaming. She never once did it when her husband was beside her. She didn't know why but when Robin lay next to her she felt safe, he seemed to keep the bad thoughts away, he seemed to keep her safe. She knew he didn't really do that, he was simple he couldn't fight a cat that got in his path, but perhaps the simple fact was that he was her husband and perhaps just that kept the bad things away.
Robin left Ariana with the neighbor while he went into the market; not having his wife around was harder then he thought while caring for his daughter. He had yet to go to the pub and drink, he had to stay home with the little girl, he had to cook for the little girl, and while his wife was away his world was the little girl. It worried him that the old man had seen so interested in her, and that the man seemed to know who he was. After he had gone home Ariana kept saying the old man was her mother's friend, but Kahlan had never once mentioned an old man to him. Yet the more Robin thought of it Kahlan never mentioned her past or anyone she had known before him. She only had a few friends here and they wouldn't really even be considered friends. She stayed on her own caring for their daughter and the house. Perhaps he should have known his wife more, perhaps he should still get to know her, but Robin knew the more he got to know her the more he would resent her. He had never wanted to marry a women like her, a women that couldn't even fight off a cat that crossed her path. He had always thought he would have ended up with strong willed Marian, he was used to a women that told him how to act, that called him out on his wrongs. Being with Kahlan only reminded him everyday Marian was gone. He knew the way he treated his wife was wrong, but he couldn't stop it. He didn't realize it, but more then anything he just wanted her to say enough, he wanted her to get some spunk and call him out on his wrongs, perhaps if she did then he could find a way to love her, but instead she let him use her, she let him yell at her, she let him not care about her in any way. He knew if Marian could see him now she wouldn't be proud, he only wished he could hear her annoying comments that drove him crazy once more, her stubborn ways telling him he was wrong. He knew Kahlan never would she was pathetic nothing more then a shell of a person hardly with any kind of personality.
"I see you have returned to market." Came the old man's voice from behind him, Robin turned around quickly to see the man from the day before.
"What do you want?" Robin asked
"I see your reflexes are better." Zed said looking at the man in front of him. He had only seen this man once before and the man had only been a few hours old.
"My reflexes are fine." Robin told the man unsure of what his intentions were
"The child you have, where is her mother?" Zed asked
"That doesn't concern you." Robin told the man watching for any move that the old man could or would make.
Zed watched Robin, he could see the way he was being watched that Robin at one point had been a warrior, he had fought before, but Zed already knew. He had kept a tab on Robin since the boy was born. He never got involved in his life, but he had watched over. He could also see that the warrior in him wasn't gone, the fight in him wasn't gone even though Robin seemed to think it was. Zed could tell just by watching the man that the way he was already protective over his daughter and the way Robin stood was just waiting to fight if he had to. This man wasn't as far gone as Zed had thought. Yet he knew it would be hard to reach him, after all Robin didn't know who Zed was
"The people need their champion back." Zed spoke, changing the subject once again, "Your people need you Robin, and you can't stand by and let these bad things happen."
Robin recognized the words as his father had spoken similar ones to him, "How do you know my fathers words?" he asked, right now he wished he had a bow an arrow in hand, but he hadn't picked up a bow since the day he gave up the fight.
"Because I told them to your father." Zed told him, "Your family has many secrets Robin."
"Secrets?"
"Yes, more then just Archer." Zed said, he had known about Archer as well, he kept tabs on many.
"How do you know of Archer? How did you know my father?" he asked he needed to find out who this man was and what he wanted with his daughter.
"Because, your father was my son." Zed told him, "And that means you are my grandson."
"No, my father never mentioned his." Robin said, who was this man to show up now and say he was his grandfather. There was no way his grandfather could track him down, not after everyone back home thought he was dead.
"It's true, your father wouldn't mention me, we didn't get along, and I didn't raise him he was raised by his mother's husband."
"Your saying my grandmother was untrue to her husband?" Robin asked, of the stories he had heard of his grandmother she always seemed so kind not the type to stray from marriage.
"No she had your father before she married, her husband was a good man that raised your father as his own, it was safer I stayed away."
"Safer?" Robin asked, this man confused him he didn't believe a word that came out of his mouth.
"Yes, but that is for another time, I'm just warning you many will come for your daughter, she is the daughter of two very powerful people even if you don't realize it, she holds a power that can carry the light through the darkness."
"My daughter has no power and her mother is nothing more then a women that is there to be in my bed and carrying for the house."
Hearing Kahlan referred to as a woman meant for his bed Zed couldn't help but grow angry at the arrogant man before him. Over the years he hadn't kept up on Robin only looking in on him every couple of years. The last time he had seen Robin the man had been happy living in the woods with his gang and the girl he loved. He was a hero someone to be proud of, but now the man before him was changed. Where he had respected the woman in his gang, the women he loved especially he didn't seem to hold anything for Kahlan, the mother confessor, the women that fought along side the seeker, the wife of the late seeker. She was far more then a woman meant for this arrogant fools bed.
"How dare you speak of her that way." Zed said "She is a strong willed women who doesn't put up with anything that she doesn't deem as respectful."
Robin smirked "How would you know? My wife listens to every word I say, she doesn't care if I go out to drink and when I come hope she makes sure I am satisfied in bed." His smirk was still on his face "Like I said my wife is there for comfort and to care for the house and our daughter, nothing more."
"You're a fool to use her that way, and one day you will see." Zed told him "One day you will see that she is more then what she seems, as are you, you are more then what you have become." Zed looked Robin strait in the eye, "And both of you will have to realize you destiny soon, before its to late." With his last words Zed turned and walked away leaving Robin standing wondering what exactly was going on, he wondered if it was safe to stay here, perhaps he should move his family else where, farther away from Locksley farther away from anyone that would know who he was.
OoOoOoOoOo
Robin lay in bed that night without his wife beside him, she was taking longer then he thought she would take to get back. His daughter lay asleep in another room while he lay awake his mind still working over everything the old man had said. Why now was this man coming forward? How had he known Kahlan? Or rather who did he think Kahlan was, after all his wife wasn't anything like the old man had said? Kahlan was a push over who did what ever she was told, she was almost like having a servant, there was no way she was opinionated and strong willed.
"You are more then what you have become." Played over and over in his head. How had this man known who he was? And even if he did who was he to say Robin wasn't being who he was meant to be? Why was it Robin that had to help everyone in need? Why couldn't he help himself? Help his family and not have to worry about everyone less off then him? Why was it is responsibility? He closed his eyes not knowing that the old man stood outside his house whispering words of another language brining Robin into a sounds sleep, a sleep that the old man hoped would only help the fallen hero.
"You keep fighting for me Robin" a voice said from the darkness, "That's what you promised."
Robin stood alone in the darkness as he heard the voice of the only person that could truly turn his head, "I did fight, I did continue." He said to the darkness only hoping to get a glimpse of who the voice belonged to.
"Yes you did, only for a little while." Marian stepped out of the darkness and stood before Robin. "But now you are nothing more then a drunk."
"Marian" Robin Whispered, he reached out to touch her, but she seemed out of reach he couldn't reach her.
"Why have you become like this?" she asked he half expected her to cry, after all the few times Kahlan went to complain about the way he acted she cried, but instead Marian just looked angry.
"Become like what?" Robin asked still he couldn't get over how real she seemed.
"A shell of the man you once were." Marian spoke calm, but stern in a voice that Robin didn't want to argue with. "You aren't the man I love, not anymore, just look at you." She said to him, "Drinking every night, going to your wife just to-" she stopped "just to use in bed." She frowned "you are not the hero I knew, the man I knew, the man I loved."
"I'm still me Marian, I'm still Robin of Locksley." Robin told her
"Are you? Because Robin of Locksley gave up his wealth to become Robin Hood, now you are Robin of Knighton the man the keeps all his money for himself to blow away at the pub." Marian looked at him with disgusts, "Don't dare compare you self to who you used to be."
"Marian-" Robin tried to speak but Marian cut him off
"Do not interrupt me Robin." Marian told him, "My death meant nothing, I died for nothing, our people still go hungry, go cold, still die under a tyrant and here you are drinking your life away." She shook her head "I died fighting, but you, your going to die a greedy old man and I won't be there waiting for you."
"Marian you can't mean that."
"I do Robin, unless you become the man I knew, the man I loved I can't wait for you I can't wait for someone who is only a shell."
"Once I'm with you I won't be a shell, I'll be with you and that's all that matters." Robin told her
"Far from it Robin, I can't love a greedy man, I can't love a selfish man." Marian turned to face the darkness that surrounded them "move on from me, continue the fight."
"But I love you" Robin said "How can I keep fighting when I have nothing to fight for."
"You have your daughter, you have your wife, you have the people, what about Archer and Much?" Marian said to him "They need you, all of them."
"But I need you." Robin said taking a step to her. Marian turned and walked to Robin,
"And I you." She said her face close to his "but you can't love a ghost for the rest of your life."
"I will love you forever."
"Yes Robin, and one day you can join me, but not today, not now, not anytime soon there are bigger plans for you."
"Bigger plans?" Robin asked
"Just know I love you, become who you were born to be and I will be here waiting, turn your back on everything we stood for and I won't." The she was gone into the darkness that surrounded Robin, her voice echoed around him even after she was gone, "Remember Robin, you have to Remember who you are."
"Marian!" Robin called "Marian!"
"Papa?" Robin heard his daughter call "Whose Marian?"
Robin opened his eyes to see his daughter sitting on the side of the bed looking at him. "What?" he asked half asleep still
"Marian, you kept calling the name Marian." She said to him
"No one of importance." He said sitting up, her voice still fresh in his ears, remember who you are, he hadn't dreamed of her in so long, why now?
AN-Ok what do you guys think, send me a review, every time I get one it always gives me the muse to write more knowing you guys like it, so let me know what you will think and perhaps I will get lots of muse and make updates faster if you still enjoy the story.