I don't think anyone is going to like this chapter... you can yell at me if you want!
Cara was in the hallway next to Kahlan's door room, her back was resting against the cold wall and her arms were crossed over her chest. When she saw Kahlan and Prince Travis walking in towards her, she pushed herself off the wall and made a few steps to reach them. What she saw she didn't like. The Mother Confessor, Kahlan, her friend, wasn't looking good at all, and although she couldn't admit to anyone that she cared, she couldn't help but felt worries creeping inside her much to her dislike. Kahlan was looking pale and so tired... It even seemed like she needed help to walk... nothing like the Kahlan that could fight d'Harans.
"Kahlan, is everything alright?" The Mord'Sith asked.
"She's fine, just a little tired." Tim answered.
Cara held her hand in the air to silence him and said: "I'm talking to the Mother Confessor."
"Kahlan?" She said, placing her hand on Kahlan's forearm.
It took some time for Kahlan to look up at Cara, she was lost in her thoughts and starring blankly at the floor.
"I'm fine, just a little tired. I guess I haven't been eating properly in the last few days." Kahlan explained, but Cara was no fool and Kahlan couldn't hide her puffy and teary eyes.
Cara hooked her arm under Kahlan's and pulled her away from the Prince.
"If you go through with this, you will regret it until the rest of your life and nothing will ever make it better. I'm not only talking about betraying Richard but about what being intimate when you don't want it can do to your body and to your soul. You have a lot to lose." The blonde explained.
"I've already lost Richard, I have nothing left to lose Cara." Kahlan replied.
Cara sighed and said: "I could kill him you know, so you wouldn't have to do this."
Kahlan smiled and said: "You sound like Richard."
"Just say the word and your Prince will feel the light touch of my agiel." Cara said.
"I appreciate your concern Cara, but my decision is final." Kahlan stated.
Cara gave a threatening look at Tim and Kahlan added: "I would like you to find Richard and convince him to leave to Palace as soon as possible."
Cara snorted: "Now this is not going to be easy."
"Do whatever it takes. Lie to him if you have to. I just don't want him to be around when the time will come to celebrate that I am with child... And he has his quest as well." Kahlan explained.
Cara nodded and Kahlan hugged her, much to the Mord'Sith surprised. Reluctant at first, she accepted the hug.
"Thank you." Kahlan said in a whispered before pulling away and walking back to Tim.
The Mother Confessor and the Prince entered the room and Cara shouted: "And try to eat something!"
Kahlan weakly smiled as Tim closed the door behind them, leaving a disappointed Cara in the hallway.
In the room, Kahlan walked straight to the window, hoping foolishly to see Richard despite the dark.
"You are in love with him, aren't you?" Tim asked.
"Yes." Kahlan simply replied.
Tim walked behind her and rested his hand on her shoulder.
"I also left someone I love back in Tractan. We've been in love since we were young. But now I have to take care of my people so they no longer live in fear. Just like your people." Tim explained.
Kahlan nodded and Tim added: "The council of Tractan, they don't want the war to end but I told them that I would get the war to stop by uniting our country to the Midlands and I'll be crowned King... But if I fail, the war will go on and they will end my life and take my throne."
Tim placed himself between the window and Kahlan, facing her. He put both of his hands on her cheek and said: "We are saving a lot of people, love is the price to pay for the greater good."
He looked straight into Kahlan's eyes and bend over to kiss her but she stopped him.
"Don't." She said, making a few steps backward.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, dizziness gaining her but she fought it back and said: "We will not kiss."
"Alright." The Prince replied.
Kahlan took a huge breath and said: "Take off your shirt, let's get this over with."
Tim willingly took off his shirt and Kahlan slipped off her Confessor dress. The knot in her stomach was burning and her throat was so tight that she wondered how she could keep breathing.
Tim covered the few steps between them and Kahlan put a hand on his chest to stop him.
"You have to promise me two things." She stated. Tim waited for her to continue.
"First, once we are done here, you will leave me alone until I say so. Then, I want you to promise that if one day I die, you will take care of our daughters and stay here in the Palace. You will not take them away and use them for your personal gain." Kahlan said as tears streamed down her face.
"I promise." Tim said, taking her hand.
Standing in front of a stranger only wearing her corset and her under skirt made Kahlan feel very uncomfortable and powerless.
"I know you are scared but everything is going to be alright, just let yourself go." Tim told her as he pulled her into a hug. His embrace felt weird and wrong. Nothing like Richard's. Tim was taller and seemed stronger than her Seeker, whose body, she liked to think, was just the perfect match to hers. Tim's embrace felt uncomfortable and his smell... It was also nothing like Richard's. Nothing as good as it was in Richard's embrace. She tensed when she felt his lips on her shoulder travelling to her neck. She closed her eyes and tried to think about Richard. She tried to remember the first time they've met, his warm smile, how he fought to save her. Tim's hand, which was until now running up and down her arm, dared to move to her collarbone and lower over her chest and breast pulling her out of her thoughts about Richard. She shut her eyes even tighter and tried to think about her Seeker once again, but all she could see was his face and the pain and anger in his eyes.
Weird noises from outside her door once again interrupted her thoughts, she jumped when suddenly she heard her door room burst open.
"Let go of her!" She heard Richard scream in anger. Tim pulled Kahlan away from him and reached for his sword.
"Richard stop!" Kahlan exclaimed. The Seeker was menacing Tim with the Sword of Truth.
"He won't touch you, you hear me? I won't let it happen." Richard said with so much anger that it scared Kahlan.
"Richard..." She started, trying to make a step to get close to him but Tim stopped her with his free hand.
"Stay here." He firmly instructed.
"Let her go or I will kill you!" Richard said.
"Richard please, stop." Kahlan pleaded as she tried to move past Tim who was still blocking her with his strong arm. She was so weak and dizzy, she didn't have the strength to push him away.
Seeing that Tim wasn't letting Kahlan go, Richard charged, sword first but Tim used his Wizard powers to send him flying across the room.
Panic took the best of Kahlan, she tried to run to Richard but Tim sent a Wizard web on her, keeping her from moving.
"This is not your fight Kahlan." Tim told her sternly as Richard was getting back on his feet.
"I am giving you a chance to leave Seeker. I don't want to hurt you, but if you attack me again, it might change." Tim stated.
"Richard, please..." Kahlan pleaded.
Richard growled and ran to Tim who, once again sent him flying across the room.
"Tim, let me go, I can talk to him, just don't hurt him, please." Kahlan said.
"I have a duty and a destiny to fulfill Kahlan, I won't let him stop me." Tim replied with anger in his eyes.
"Are you afraid to fight like a man?" Richard asked, getting up again. "Stop hiding behind your powers and fight like a man!" He screamed.
"Richard, you are out of your mind!" Kahlan tried. Tim just like every people born in Tractan had skills that no other man had when it came to fighting. This is why the never been part of the Midlands before, they were simply stronger and mastered the art of fighting, they didn't need any protection and liked to gain territory.
Tim smiled, walked to Richard and told him: "This is your last chance, leave me alone with Kahlan or I will kill you."
"I guess one of us is going to die tonight then." Richard replied, getting ready for the battle. He clenched his fists and tried to hit Tim who blocked his attack easily. After more tries, all blocked, he finally managed to hit Tim's jaw, unlashing the fury of Kahlan's mate. Despite Kahlan's incessant pleas to stop their fight, both men kept hurting each other, soon Richard's face was covered in blood but Tim's was looking a little better.
"Richard, he's going to kill you. Please, go away... please." Kahlan told him between sobs as her knees hit the floor.
Richard froze for an instant giving the opportunity to Tim to hit his face and break his jaw. Richard fell on the floor and Tim reached for the Sword of Truth.
It was too much for Kahlan, she felt the Condar raising within her and as soon as her eyes turned black she was able to break the Wizard's web cast over her and made her way to the men in front of her. Everything seemed to move in slow motion before her. She saw Richard getting up and Tim about to run him through with the Sword of Truth. When she grabbed Tim by the neck to unleash her powers on him and he stabbed Richard at the same time. The Seeker grabbed Kahlan's hand for support before falling on his knees.
"I love you Kahlan." He told her with a smile.
At the same moment, Kahlan released her powers and she saw Richard's eyes turn black. It all happened in a second. She heard Tim calling her mistress but all she saw was Richard lying unconscious on the floor, the Sword of Truth in his abdomen.
Kahlan came out of the Condar. She had done it, confessing Richard, her worst nightmare taking place before her eyes, that was if he wasn't already dead because of her.
"Save him." She muttered to Tim before she collapsed on the floor, unconscious, just like Richard.