I will do my best to update this every day or every other day, but real life is about to get very chaotic this coming thursday and will stay that way for a week. I'll do my best to keep the chapters comin' though! :)

Retribution (Chapter 2)

They had ridden hard through the night regardless of the violent storms, grasping how grave the situation had just turned. Cara knew that they had to return to Glenshire right away so that she could alert Lord Rahl of what Kirsten was up to and who had joined her forces. Even Cara was a little rattled by what she had discovered and that much more determined to stop them. She just couldn't figure out how the alliance could have come into existence.

Cara had slept little, having left Glenshire almost immediately after Richard had rescued Kahlan. Even though consumed with worry over Kahlan, Richard had instructed Cara to take some of Glenshire's soldiers with her and track Kirsten's movements. He knew that Kirsten would quickly learn of her sister's death at the hands of Kahlan. He had to know for certain whether she would continue on as planned in their attempts to take Aydindril or if Kirsten would merely return to D'Hara. He prayed for the latter but was not naïve enough to believe it would be that simple.

Her blond wet hair hung limply, fatigue weighing heavily in her sea green eyes, concern overshadowing her personal desire for dry clothes and a nice bed. She was worried about the Mother Confessor and Lord Rahl. Cara had never seen Kahlan so broken, so close to the point of death. She had also never seen her Lord Rahl so devastated.

Cara had witnessed first-hand Richard and Kahlan's sacrificial love and concern for each other more times than she could even begin to count. There had been numerous times that she had caught smoldering stares or stolen glances between the two lovers; fleeting looks of desire when one of them thought that no one would notice, looks that had not been meant to be witnessed by anyone else. She had also seen their fear for one another in the midst of the deadly dance with the Keeper.

There had been something different this time, however, in the expression she saw on Richard's face, the look she saw in his eyes. It was something beyond the pain of seeing his lover suffering, more than the grief of losing their baby. It was as if something had died inside of him, something deep within his heart and it worried her, even scared her a little bit. It was a look she had never seen before in him. It was as if he had given up. Her Lord Rahl had lost something very precious that day and she didn't know if he would ever regain it or be the same again.

With the sun's appearance and Glenshire steadily coming into view, Cara hoped that Kahlan had survived and that Richard had gotten past whatever he had lost in his heart. She knew that Kahlan would be the only one who could ever help him get past his pain. If Kahlan hadn't survived…Cara shuddered to think of what she would be returning to. Whatever it was, she was resolved to stand by Richard's side no matter what because first and foremost he was her Lord Rahl, but he was also her friend.

Speeding up their pace, they entered Glenshire, heading straight for the Sovereign's Palace. She had to get to Lord Rahl with the information she had gained. She just hoped it was the same Lord Rahl that she had known before Mistress Kiana had interfered in their lives.

XXX

She was fighting. She could not see who it was she was fighting, but she just knew that she had to fight. "Fight, Kahlan!" The words kept up a constant chant in her mind. Someone kept telling her to fight for her life.

There was empty darkness everywhere, swallowing her up in an inky pool of nothingness. She tried crying out, but she could not make her voice work. She felt so tired, so empty, but she couldn't remember why. She only knew that someone kept telling her that she was strong, that she needed to fight. So that's what she did. She swung her arms, trying to defend herself against the unknown forces that were attacking her.

Suddenly, Kahlan realized that someone was restraining her, trying to hold her down. Panic swelled up inside her, but she couldn't let them win. She had to find Richard. He would be worried about her and the baby. Richard had told her to protect their baby.

"Kahlan, it's alright! I'm right here!"

It was a familiar soothing voice, one that she loved; it was the only voice that could ever calm her fears and comfort her heart. Her eyes abruptly flew open to see Richard sitting on the side of the bed leaning over her, his hands tightly gripping her wrists, his brown eyes filled with worry.

"Kahlan, you're safe now. I won't let anything hap…" his voice cracked with the last words, unable to finish his thought. He had failed her already. How could he possibly make such an empty promise that he wouldn't let anything happen to her when he already had?

Seeing the confusion in her face, Richard quickly released his grasp on her wrists, letting his hands fall into his lap. Not knowing what else to say, he just let his eyes fall to the blanket covering her. He prayed for almost three days now that Kahlan would be alright, that she would wake up. Now that she had, he could barely look into those beautiful blue orbs without crushing waves of guilt crashing down on him.

"Richard!" she cried, her eyes filling with tears as she sat up, throwing herself into his arms.

He wrapped his arms around his Confessor, feelings of guilt and uncertainty still lingering in his soul. As he comforted her, the helplessness he had felt for the last few days began to subside, one hand stroking her back, the other one cradling her head. Tilting his head, he began placing gentle kisses on the top of her head.

"You're safe now, Kahlan," he murmured as he stroked her hair. "I'm so sorry for everything you went through." He was so relieved that she was awake now. He couldn't bear watching her go through anything close to this ever again.

The feel of being wrapped in his strong arms was like coming home again after being gone for what felt like an eternity. She loved this man holding her so much that sometimes she felt she would suffocate, but living without him would mean certain death. Their love bound them together, their existence dependent upon the other's.

Suddenly, the confusion that clouded her mind was swept away by a flood of memories from the last few days. "The baby…I…I lost our baby…" she gasped in a horrified whisper as she pulled back from his embrace. Her eyes went wide with horror; her hand flew up to cover her mouth, a cry of anguish threatening to escape her lips.

Tears pooled in her eyes at the memory of Kiana standing before her, taunting her about not being strong enough to protect her baby. She was the Mother Confessor, sworn protector of the Midlands, and she couldn't even protect the very child she carried.

"Richard…I'm…so sorry," Kahlan whispered, her trembling hand still covering her mouth.

Richard's heart seized with anguish as he watched realization and grief sweep over her, her bright sapphire eyes swiftly growing listless. There was so much that he wanted to say to her in that moment, his mind reeling with the emotions that possessed his soul. Why was she apologizing? She had nothing to be sorry for; this was his fault, not hers. He had been so worried about Kahlan, fearing that she would never be able to forgive him that he had never stopped to consider that Kahlan might blame herself.

"Kahlan…this is not your…" Richard gently began, reaching a hand out to caress her face. He watched with stunned confusion as she scooted back away from him, tears coursing down her pale cheeks.

"Lord Rahl!"

Startled, Richard turned to see Cara enter the room. He was glad that Cara had finally made it back, but her timing could not have been worse. He had to talk to Kahlan, make her see that she was not to blame for any of this.

"I have to talk to you. I have information," Cara anxiously stated, her breathing ragged from racing up the sprawling staircase to find him.

"It'll have to wait," he replied, frowning at the intrusion. He turned back towards Kahlan, his brow furrowed with worry.

"Richard, I must talk to you…now…" she stubbornly insisted.

"Talk to Cara," Kahlan softly interrupted as she laid back down, turning on her side away from him. She closed her eyes against the flood of unshed tears that fought for release. She tightly gripped the blanket pulling it to her as she drew her legs up, curling into a ball.

The deep sense of helplessness that had been a constant companion for the last few days returned with a vengeance as he watched Kahlan pulling away from him, withdrawing into a shell. Richard thought that his heart couldn't ache any more than it had after everything they had just been through. He had just been proven wrong.

Closing his eyes, he let his head fall as he attempted to pull himself back together. Taking a deep breath, Richard once again shoved aside his own pain, his desperate need to make Kahlan understand how sorry he was for allowing this to happen. For the good of the world, though, he pushed aside Richard Cypher, Kahlan's lover, and reluctantly embraced the title he was born to hold, the Seeker of Truth.

Slowly rising from the bed, he turned towards Cara, a scowl on his face. "What is it, Cara?" His words were strangled with the fragile grasp he had on his emotions at that instant. He reminded himself that it wasn't Cara's fault that she had returned at that precise moment. He could tell by the look of dread on her face that what she was about to tell him was not going to be good.

Cara cast a wary glance at the Mother Confessor who was lying on her side, hugging her knees to her body. Even from where she stood by the door, she could feel the pain that saturated the room. Looking up at Richard, she suddenly found it difficult to speak, the sorrow that enveloped her two friends palpable.

"I think we should speak outside," Cara quietly suggested.

"Kahlan, I promise…I'll be right back," he gently said, placing a hand on her arm and giving it a reassuring squeeze before following Cara out of the room.

Stopping at the door, Richard turned back to see Kahlan's body begin to shake as she broke down into uncontrollable sobs. He placed a trembling hand on the hilt of his sword, feeling the rage in his soul begin to meld with the fury of the sword causing a strange sense of stability and strength to suddenly permeate through him. It focused his thoughts, creating a calm center in the midst of the storm, renewing his determination to put one foot in front of the other when all he wanted to do was crawl into bed with her and hold her.

Richard softly closed the door behind him before coming to stand in front of Cara. Crossing his arms over his chest, he studied the Mord'Sith who had become a trusted friend. Exhaustion lined her features, strands of her wet hair clinging to her face, trepidation permeating her eyes. Things were about to go from heartbreaking to worse.

"What did you find out?" Richard ground his teeth, letting his arms fall to his sides in an attempt to rein in the lingering rage that still coursed through his body.

"I tracked Kirsten and the army not far from here in the Trapanga Mountains, southeast of Aydindril. I watched their camp for two days. They don't appear to be moving for the time being. I think Kirsten is still trying to decide what she's going to do next."

"At least they haven't gone far yet. That will give us time to get to Aydindril before they do."

"I was about to leave when someone suddenly appeared in their camp."

"Who?" he warily asked, bracing himself for what Cara was about to drop on him.

"Denna."

"Denna? I thought she was dead," he began to seethe, his eyes narrowing into a lethal gaze. It was the last name he thought he'd hear, a name he had come to despise. He began clenching his fists at the thought of Denna alive and working with Kirsten.

"I wasn't able to find out any more. I tried to get into their camp, but there were Mord'Sith patrolling everywhere."

Richard had given her very strict instructions that it was only a scouting mission and nothing more. She was to gain what information she could and return within two days. He had made her promise not to engage in a fight unless it was a life-threatening situation. She had reluctantly promised after he had forcefully reminded her that he was her Lord Rahl. For a title that he hated so much, Cara decided that he certainly used it to his advantage when he needed to.

"We're going to have to stop them," he muttered, his mind racing with endless possibilities how Denna could be alive. A partnership between a scheming Mord'Sith like Denna and Kirsten who was likely bent on revenge would be devastating to say the least.

"We must leave for Aydindril immediately."

"We can't…at least not right now. Hopefully in a couple more days, Kahlan will be strong enough to travel," he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He knew that the situation was becoming more dire by the day, but he was not about to leave Kahlan. Not now, not after losing their child. He was not about to risk her life for anyone or anything.

"We need to get there as soon as possible," Cara determinedly replied, crossing her arms. She knew Kahlan was still not well enough to travel yet, but they also couldn't wait here while she recovered and allow Kirsten and Denna to take Aydindril.

"We will wait for now. Another day or two won't make that much of a difference. Besides, you said yourself that Kirsten wasn't far from here and still hadn't made any move yet." Richard began to turn away from her, desperate to return to Kahlan's side.

"Lord Rahl, I know you're worried about the Mother Confessor, but we can't sit on our hands while Kirsten and Denna take over the Midlands," she heatedly reminded him, grabbing him by the arm.

"Cara, I know what I'm doing and I am doing what I think is best right now," he tersely stated before pulling away from her hold on his arm.

"Are you doing what is best for the Midlands or what is best for Kahlan?" she bit back, quirking an eyebrow as she shot him a defiant glare.

"I'm doing what I have to do just to survive right now," he softly replied, pain seeping back into his brown eyes as he turned from her and reentered Kahlan's room.

Cara huffed in frustration, witnessing the same look in Richard's eyes that had been there when she left. She had to find Zedd. Maybe he could talk some sense into the Seeker.

XXX

Wandering through the Sovereign's Palace, Cara was on a determined mission to track down the Wizard. She hoped that he would be able to talk to Richard and make him see the necessity of leaving immediately for Aydindril.

It was unnerving to say the least to see Lord Rahl so complacent while at the same time knowing that his rage was brewing just below the surface. He was like an active volcano ready to erupt at any given moment, molten lava of rage and grief about to spew forth. Spirits be with whomever was standing in the path when he did explode.

Following the delicious aroma that floated through the air, Cara made her way to the palace kitchen. She knew that would be the best place to find the perpetually hungry Wizard.

"These are the best eggs I've ever had!"

Hearing the muffled sounds of Zedd's voice, Cara hurried her pace down the corridor.

"I haven't enjoyed cooking like this in Spirits knows how long. Do you know what it's like to live in the woods for months on end eating nothing but rabbit, roots and berries?"

"Zedd, I have to talk to you," Cara firmly stated as she entered the kitchen.

"Cara! I'm so glad to see you made it back safely! Come, my dear, join me for breakfast. The cooks here are the best I've ever had," Zedd heartily declared as he shoveled in another heaping spoonful of eggs. "By the way, what did you put in these eggs if I may ask?" he inquired, the cook scurrying about the expansive kitchen, trying to get her precious domain back in order after being in the hands of the dreaded Mord'Sith.

"Zedd, we have to leave," Cara interrupted with a huff.

"We can't leave yet; Kahlan's not well enough to leave," Zedd replied, more interested in his eggs than the Mord'Sith now standing on the other side of the table from him.

"Kahlan is awake now. We must leave for Aydindril immediately. I tracked Kirsten a half a day from here in the Trapanga Mountains. Denna is with her," she informed the Wizard, leaning over and placing her hands on the table to eye him.

"Denna?" Zedd spat out with disdain, stopping as he was raising his spoon to his mouth. His once enthusiastic expression swiftly twisted into a sneer of loathing. "What is that vile woman doing alive? I watched her go over that cliff!"

"I couldn't find out without being captured, but we need to leave for Aydindril right away before they take it over."

"Does Richard know?"

"Yes! I went to see him as soon as I returned. I think Kahlan must have just woken up. She was pretty upset and Richard wasn't much better either. I told him about Denna, but he wants to wait a couple of days until Kahlan is better before heading to Aydindril," she said with exasperation, her green eyes narrowed with irritation. "Something has changed in him, Zedd."

"He's taking this whole situation with Kahlan and losing the baby very hard. He blames himself for allowing it to happen."

"But it wasn't his fault! There was no way he could have prevented it from happening," Cara exclaimed, stunned by Lord Rahl's faulty belief.

"You and I know that and I'm sure Kahlan would agree, but Richard feels that he should have protected her, both as the Seeker and as her future husband. Right now, we're just going to have to trust his judgment."

"Even if he's not thinking straight?" She could hardly believe Zedd was taking Richard's side. She was growing frustrated by everyone's apathetic response to the urgency of their circumstances.

"Richard is still the Seeker and until he proves himself incapable he will remain the Seeker. We'll just have to trust that he will find his way through this."

"Well, I hope he regains his will to fight before Denna and Kirsten destroy the Midlands," Cara replied with apprehension, turning on her heel, leaving Zedd to finish his breakfast alone.