He was sitting on the floor a few feet away from her, making sure he was close enough to be seen and far enough to keep her from feeling threatened. The men left just over an hour before, but her body continued to shake and spasm in response to their actions. She was bleeding again, more proof on how rough the men had been with her. He watched her carefully, trying to figure out when she would awaken. After everything their captors had done to her, he was afraid she wouldn't open her eyes.

The urge to touch her was almost overwhelming, but he was terrified of what his touch would do to her. Holding her was always his first instinct to comfort her, but not being able to do so was a torture of its own. It had been too long since he had touched her, since he hand held her hand and since the night they had made each other a promise. He hated not telling her the truth of their relationship, but he feared that if he had, it may have appeared to be a trick; part of their trap.

Her shoulder popped as she jerked forward, her head hitting the wall with a loud bang. "Are you alright?"

"Fine."

When she began inching closer to the corner, she turned her head toward him and was surprised by his action. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to her, making sure it landed right in front of her. "You can wear that, it may keep you a little warmer." Forcing himself to look away, he pressed his back against the stone wall and sighed. "You shouldn't have to be naked while waiting for them."

Kahlan stared at the blue cloth for a moment, a quiet set of images coming to her mind at the sight. "Thank you." The shirt covered her well, the hem touching the floor as she crossed her legs before her. She wasn't chained anymore, a welcome relief, but her first instinct wasn't to find an escape.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she waited for him to bring his eyes back to hers, but he didn't. She took the opportunity to examine him and the first thing she noticed were the tear stains on his cheeks. There had been relief on his face when she sat up, happiness even, but she didn't want to send her mind down that path. He had screamed at the men as they touched her, threatening to remove their heads and though she didn't understand why, she knew he meant it. There was something in his voice, something that captured her attention and held it and until he had gone silent, he was what she had held on to.

Lord Martella had grown tired of his threats and sealed his mouth shut, instantly sending her into pieces. Though if he asked, she wouldn't admit it. She had no idea who he was, but she felt like she did. When he was near, she felt like nothing else mattered, but it didn't make sense. Her eyes went over his nose and finally noticed the blood, making her feel foolish for failing to see it before. "How's your nose?"

"I think it's broken." Looking toward her, he shrugged. "It's nothing that won't heal." His eyes dropped to her hands, her thumbs clicking together nervously. "You must have questions."

"No."

"Kahlan-"

"You don't have to say anything."

"You deserve an explanation."

Her hands stopped as she took in a deep breath, letting her eyes linger on the softness of his. "Why?"

"I-"

"Even if he wasn't lying, we are still trapped down here and it won't make either of us feel better. They are going to come again and again and knowing that there may have been something between us won't make what they do any easier. I just want to lay down and let it all go. I don't want to feel this anymore."

Richard turned his body toward her and without hesitation inched closer. "He wasn't lying, I do have feelings for you. Kahlan, I love you and I know that right now that may not mean anything to you at all, but it doesn't make it any less true. I came here with the intention to save you and I'm sorry that I was unable to do that, but I promise you that somehow, I will rescue you from this. You will be free."

Tears filled her eyes, though she tried to hide them, afraid that he would find her weak. "Why would I want to escape now? I have nothing left! They have taken everything from me!"

He was beside her within a heartbeat, his warmth soaking into her as he wrapped his arms around her. She struggled for a moment, unable to stand being touched, until he she felt his own tears drip onto her shoulder. "You have so much more. They haven't destroyed you and I know that must be how it feels, but Kahlan, there is so much more to you."

She didn't know what to say, her mind was racing in so many directions and screaming entirely different things, for a moment, she thought she would go mad. His hold on her tightened, the sides of their chests touching as they tried to find a breath.

Her mind wandered for a moment, tracing back through the wave of emotions flowing through and taking her somewhere else.

She laid beneath him, laughing quietly as he buried his nose in the crook of her neck and let his lips graze her skin. Her fingers threaded through his hair as he pulled back to look at her, a smile spread across his face. They were lying beneath his blanket, the top pulled over their heads in an attempt to shield them from the eyes of the friend who kept watch.

Richard rolled onto his side and yanked her close, keeping their chests flattened against each other. "What happens when we seal the rifts?" She didn't respond, but the look on her face told him that she knew what it was he was asking. "Kahlan, I want to go with you."

"No, you don't." It was a quick answer, one she knew would cause feedback, but it was the only thing that came to her mind. "There's nothing for you in Aydindril."

"There's you."

Her eyes saddened, his left hand moving over her side. "We can never have anything more than this."

"Then I'm asking you to give this to me. Kahlan, I love you and I know you love me, this is us. I want to go back with you and spend every moment possible just like this."

"You'd grow tired of sleeping in a bed we could not share."

"Never."

"And when I needed to take a mate? Richard, how would that work for you? I'd be carrying another man's child and-"

"I would love her," he interrupted swiftly. "I- Kahlan, will you promise me something?"

"If I can."

"Promise me that you will allow me to go with you and that we will spend every night just like this, until one of us can no longer handle it."

"Richard-"

"There's no force for either of us, giving you the chance to kick me out of your bed when my handsome features become too much for you to bear." She smiled, the reaction he had been hoping for. "Kahlan, I know that you have obligations to your people and I would never stand in the way, but I cannot let you go."

"Alright," she whispered after a long, quiet moment. "But I don't know how this could work."

"What do you mean? I've thought this through, it's a flawless plan."

She joined in with his soft laugh, shaking her head as she shifted beside him. "You know what I mean, Richard."

"I do, but you already know what I'm going to say."

"Say it anyway," she said quickly, hoping for him to continue.

His hand came to her cheek, his thumb slowly caressing the soft skin as he inched his face closer. "Kahlan, this is enough for me. I know that you think it's not and maybe if you were any other woman, it wouldn't be, but you are you and this is enough. We can't make love the way other people do, but that doesn't mean that we don't make love." Her face grew confused for a moment, but then he continued. "Come here," he whispered in the voice that always melted her to the ground. He pulled her onto him, holding her chest to his as he nudged some of her hair out of his path. His lips touched her neck, just below her ear so she could hear him. "This is us making love, Kahlan." His hands moved over her back, slowly applying pressure to intensify his words and when a quiet moan left her lips, his lips reconnected with her skin. "We are as close as anyone can be and our clothes are still on."

Grabbing his shoulders, she tried to get closer. "I want more."

"I'll give you everything, Kahlan. You know that, it's the reason you're so afraid to take me home with you, but it wouldn't change anything. You say the words and I'm yours. The time doesn't matter, right here, this instant or the moment we've sealed the rifts or when we're alone in the Confessor's Palace. When you need more than this, I want to be the one to give it to you."

Her nose pushed into his cheek before it was replaced by her lips. "I can't need more," she whispered. "But I need you."

"Then I'll be here, right beside you until my last breath."

Grinning, she pushed forward. "Would you do that again?"

"I'd like to never stop."

"Maybe we could arrange something."

"Kahlan?" Her body jerked before she pushed back, escaping his hold. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," she answered cooly. "I think I hit my head too hard." He studied her face, trying to see the truth, but his gaze was almost overwhelming. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He smiled and leaned back against the wall. "It's the way you look at someone when you're looking to see of they're lying."

"Why don't you ask me?"

"If you were lying, would you tell me?"

"No." Blinking, she darted her eyes to the floor and back to him. "How long have I been here?"

"I don't know. I lost the trail a nine days ago, but you were taken more than a month ago. I don't know how or when you arrived here, I'm sorry." His head titled slightly, the way hers did when she was confused. "You don't seem upset."

"I sat here for hours one day, trying to figure it out, but I couldn't. I came to the conclusion that I may never know, I think it may be easier not to know."

"Have..." His question trailed off into silence as he looked away, realizing how painful his question would be.

"Yes," she said softly, bringing his eyes back to her as she stared down at the floor before her. "I couldn't keep count of days." Her words were so soft, he was grateful he was so close so he wouldn't have to ask her to repeat anything. He could hear the pain in each word, her mind reliving whatever memory they brought her. "I still don't know if the sun's up or not." It was quiet for a moment and she looked up at him, trying to read his face, though it wasn't necessary, he hid nothing from her. "I asked him, before you were here." Her eyes flew back to the floor, hating the sadness in his. "I learned not to ask questions."

"It's almost dawn," he whispered gently. "See the moisture on the walls? They've been kept cool by the night air."

Her jaw locked as she fought back her tears. Closing her eyes, she pushed her head back against the wall and nodded, swallowing her breath. "They're coming."

She never could have imagined what happened next. The minute their captors entered the room, Richard flew forward and attacked, doing his best to cause them just as much damage as they provided him. When his right arm was broke, he continued to swing with his left, thrusting his shoulders into another while kicking out until another snap of bone echoed through the air. Both of his arms were broken, but he didn't stop. He couldn't. The cries she had made the day before mixed with the low grunts and moans the men had given as they raped and beat the woman he loved, they all rang in his ears and knowing what they were there for gave him a harder push.

The room was already blurry when he was taken to the ground, his head lifted and slammed into the hard rock until he no longer moved. Kahlan had pushed herself back against the wall, her legs crossed before her as she tried to stop the men who reached for her arms. Before she could make another move, she was chained and the Seeker's shirt had been ripped from her body and after one, two, four men, she, too, saw darkness.

She was sitting beside him when he woke up. His vision was blurry, preventing him from getting a better look at her. From what he could see, she was wearing his shirt, though it had been ripped down the center, his mind instantly understanding her desire to be covered in some way. Her hand rested just below his right shoulder, her fingers lightly touching his chest. The pain should have been unbearable, but he couldn't make himself feel it over hers.

"You shouldn't have done that."

"I had to do something," he whispered, trying to sit up. "I couldn't let them-"

"Stop moving, you'll only make it worse." When his body relaxed once again, she met his eyes. "I asked him to heal them, b-"

"He said no."

"I'm sorry."

Richard's eyes closed for a moment as he sucked in a painful breath. "You don't have anything to be sorry for."

"You tried to protect me and I couldn't do anything in return."

His eyes remained closed as she shifted beside him, opening only when her hand left his skin. "You don't have to do anything in return, Kahlan."

She poked his leg with her fingers, bringing him to release a loud groan. "I stopped the bleeding for a while, but I- It's too deep..."

"It's fine," he lied without pause. "I can barely feel it."

"Liar."

Gritting his teeth, he held her gaze. "Saying it hurts doesn't help it to stop."

"And saying that it doesn't-"

"Doesn't help either, but it made you feel better for a moment."

Returning to her previous position beside his head, she pulled his shirt tighter around herself and sighed. "You're the one who's injured, it doesn't matter how I feel."

"I think it matters."

Her head titled as she fought a smile. "Because you're in love with me?" He stared at her, hopeful at first, but after a moment it became clear she wasn't telling him that she remembered their life. "I'm sorry, that wasn't a very good joke."

"No, but your next one will be better."

Leaning her head against the wall, she frowned down at him. "I wouldn't count on it."

He grinned back at her, wishing he was able to take hold of her hand. "See? Already getting better."

"How's the leg?"

"Better than my arm."

"Which one?"

He grinned up at her and raised his eyebrows. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Before she could respond, they heard the sound of a violent battle all around them. Kahlan moved closer to him, lifting his head to sit in her lap as she looked around, a surprising response to him. The noise rang through the air around them, the war continuing on until suddenly it all went silent.

"Maybe your friends came to rescue you."

He could feel her body trembling, betraying the calmness of her voice. "Us," he corrected through a whisper. "Maybe."

"What do we do?"

"We wait."

They stared at the wall ahead of them, waiting for someone to join them, but no one did. After two hours, Richard lost consciousness and left her to stare in silence.

"Richard?"

The Seeker jumped at the sound of the familiar voice. Opening his eyes, he tightened his arm around the woman clinging to him. "How is she?"

"I don't know," Zedd said quietly. "She barely said anything and she wouldn't move away from you. She's been asleep for over a day, a day behind you."

"Does she remember anything?"

"No, but she refused to leave your side."

"That doesn't comfort me," he said as he rolled his shoulders. "Thank you, Zedd."

"What happened?"

Richard closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. "Zedd, those men were- I don't understand how anyone could do what they did to her. I tried to stop them and what they did to me can't compare to what they inflicted upon her." Looking to his friends, he sighed quietly. "Those men make the Keeper seem to be the good guy."

It was quiet for a few moments, each of them letting their minds soak in what had happened. When he could stand the silence no longer, the Seeker looked around them. "Did you find the men who held us?"

"They're all dead. It appears that one of them grabbed your sword and went mad in the rage you felt when you last held it. He attacked all of the men, killing them all before it overtook him and he, too, died."

"He must have killed Lord Martella last, his magic fading away with him. I- That must be how Kahlan was able to get me out. His death must have revealed a door." Easing out from under her, Richard grabbed the blanket that was folded beside them and gently laid it over her, adding to the one that didn't appear to be doing its job. "Zedd, I need you to do her a favor and as she is, she would never ask, but I am. You have spells to help memory, use them on her. Bring her back to her."

"It's not my place, Richard. To go through her mind, it wouldn't be right."

"Please, Zedd. I'm not asking for you to go through her memories, I'm asking you to help her find them."

Nodding slowly, the wizard knelt down beside her, his left hand landing gently on her head. "I'll do what I can."

Richard sat beside her, waiting for the moment she opened her eyes. Cara sat beside him, doing her best to make small conversation and take his mind off of what happened. Her attempts failed, but he didn't want her to stop trying. He felt as though a part of him was missing, left somewhere between where they were now and where they all had been weeks before. He couldn't imagine anything feeling the same again.

"It's not your fault," the blonde said after a few moments of silence.

Turning his head, he looked at her with a steady frown. "If I had remained at her side, she would never have been taken. Those men would no have had the chance to do what they did- Cara... I can still hear it in my head, the things they did to her, the way she cried... I should have protected her from all of that."

It was then that his friend said something that surprisingly almost made him feel better. Almost. "You tried."

"But it wasn't enough, was it? I had never seen anyone hold the look she did in her eyes. When I told her I would get her out of there, she didn't want to leave because of what they had done to her. Cara, she went through something that no one should ever go through and it didn't happen once. It happened two, three even four times every day. Because I 'tried' and failed to protect her. When she wakes up, why would she stay with me? Why would she want to be with someone who put her through all of that."

"Because she cares about you." Again, her words surprised him, but he let her continue without interruption. "When we realized she had no memory of us, the wizard thought it would be cruel to keep her with us. He told her she was free to go, start a life and he said that Rada'Han could remain, but she refused. She would rather stay here with people she didn't know because you were here. Before Zedd was allowed to touch her, she made him heal you first. As ignorant as it is, she does care about you."

"I'm the only person she knows who hasn't hurt her."

"Give it time."

Looking over his shoulder, he met his friend's eyes. "I won't hurt her, Cara."

"It's inevitable."

"I don't know how you're so cheery."