"You know Kahlan?" Richard asked as Daniel pulled on his bow.

"Since she was a little girl, poor dear."

"What do you mean?"

Sighing heavily, the older man handed the weapon over and began working on another. "Her father was- Sometimes I wondered how she did it. She's a strong one to have survived that man's torture. I've never seen a man treat his children as such before. How's the bow feel?"

"It's good. I think it may be one of the best I've held."

Daniel beamed, "Keep it. Everyone should have a good bow... Hasn't she mentioned her father?"

"No."

"It must be difficult. I've never known anyone who would do what she did."

"What she did?"

"The things her father made her do... It made her sick, but she had to do them. I let them stay with me some nights, when he was angry. Kahlan wanted to make sure Dennee was safe. The things she did for that girl. I don't think she ever really knew what her sister protected her from. Some nights, she would barely make it to my door. She grew stronger of course, she had to, but there were many nights she would collapse just after her sister came inside."

He could barely breathe, his heart was pounding so hard, he was beginning to think the world could hear it. "What happened?"

"I found her some help. They were taken away from her father and they grew up. She wrote me a few times a year, always saying how grateful she was. I knew she was destined for great things."

"How?"

"I've known a few Confessors, but Kahlan, she's different. I remember sitting beside her at the fire one night and I asked her if she ever kept count of those she had confessed. I don't think I could ever forget her answer. Here she is, a young girl and she says something I don't think anyone had ever imagined."

"What did she say?"

The older man looked out to the trees for a moment. "She looked up from the flames and met my eyes. Her face was unreadable, but she took in a deep breath. "Do you want to know the look in their eyes when I touch them? How many of them begged me not to? How many of them were surprised to find out what I was? How many of them deserved it? Or better yet, how many of them didn't?" She went quiet for a moment as tears filled her eyes. "The truth is," she told me quietly. "No, I don't keep count. I don't have to. I remember each one of them; I still see them. I don't keep count because I'll never be able to forget."..." He finished and let his words trail off, the power of the words ringing through the air. "Everyone thinks she a monster because of what her magic can do to someone, but they don't know how much it hurts her."

"When she would pray at night to the Good Spirits, she never prayed for herself. She always asked that they protect her sister and that she never know what their father made her do. One night I found her out here, just over there through those trees. There's a garden my wife made, Kahlan loved the flowers. She asked me if I knew of a way to take away her magic. She wanted to be like everyone else, but I knew that it was her that others should want to be." Daniel sighed, looking to the Seeker. "You know her. You couldn't be in better hands. She would die before allowing harm to come to others."

"I know."

"You're in love with her, aren't you?"

"I don't know," Richard replied.

Nodding he smiled. "Yes you do. I can see it in your eyes. I saw it in her eyes. I always wondered how it would be for her. I knew she would never take a mate, but I - I'm saddened by this. She would never hurt the man she loves."

***

Daniel's words refused to leave the Seeker's mind. He watched them as they ate, finding it like seeing everything in a new way. He noticed that it was the first time someone touched her, smiled each time they looked at her and then he realized how it had been her entire life.

"I caught her reaching through the window in the kitchen, trying to grab a loaf of moldy bread." He laughed, patting his hand on her arm. "I had never seen anyone move that fast before. I chased her for minutes before she stopped and apologized. From the look of her, I was sure she hadn't eaten in days... She'd been giving everything she found to her sister."

"He let us stay in his barn, fed us. I can't thank you enough," she added quietly.

"You've thanked me more than enough, Kahlan. If the rolls had been switched, you would have done the same for me, of that, I have no doubt." He paused for a moment, seeming to be considering his next set of words. "I'm the one who should be thanking you."

"There's no need." She smiled, taking hold of his hand with a gentle squeeze.

With tears filling his eyes, he shook his head. "We always imagined you two were our daughters. Christina would be so proud of you."

The view before him made Richard's heart pound. The new knowledge of what her father was like and now, this. He felt grateful that Daniel had been there for her.

"I don't know what we would have done without your kindness and generosity," Kahlan said after a moment.

Smiling, he leaned back in his chair. "I think you would have done just fine." Looking to his other guests, he clapped his hands together, trying to change the tone of the room. "Who wants dessert?"

***

He couldn't sleep. His mind continues spinning and seeing her face. Sitting up, be pushed the blankets off of himself and left his room. Her room was next to his, but there was no answer at the door. Opening it quietly, he peeked inside to see if she was asleep.

"She's not in there," Daniel said as he walked his direction. "She said she needed a walk. You- I'm sorry, I do not mean to pry, but you love her, do you not?"

He knew the answer without thought. "I do."

He pulled him into a hug, surprising the Seeker. "You take care of her." Releasing him, he stepped back. "And if you hurt her-"

"I won't."

"From the look on your faces this morning, you've hurt each other enough to last a lifetime. Don't let her push you away. She deserves to be happy." Moving aside, he motioned down the hall to the door. "Go on."