Retribution (Chapter 12)

His heart thundered in his chest as he raced up the steps of the Confessor's Palace. He had ridden his horse hard through the night as well as all that day in order to make in time to save Kahlan. Nightfall was only a couple of hours away, but he didn't want to risk it. Not when it came to Kahlan's life.

Richard was exhausted, his arm throbbed painfully but the bleeding had finally stopped. He was covered in sweat and dirt and his shirt was tattered from his fall down the steep ravine. It was of little consequence to him. He would have gladly suffered so much more in able to save Kahlan from the Underworld.

"Where is the Mother Confessor's room?" he yelled at a startled maid who was mopping the floor.

"D…down the hall that way…third door on the left..." she called down the hall, the Seeker not pausing to chat as he hurriedly continued on his mission.

Richard suddenly burst through Kahlan's bedroom door to find Cara leaning over her giving her the breath of life. "No," he whispered as he numbly began shaking his head side to side, his eyes wide with horror as he stared at the scene before him, his chest heaving for air as sweat trickled down his back.

Richard was completely stunned by what he saw. Kahlan looked the epitome of death as she lay still as stone with blankets piled on top of her. Her lips were blue, her skin the palest he'd ever seen. This could not be happening, not after everything he had been through they'd been through together. Kahlan could not give up on him now.

Zedd quickly side-stepped the frantic Seeker as he rushed to her side. After releasing the life-saving breath, Cara pulled back in hopeful anticipation for any sign that Kahlan was alive. She had died just minutes before Richard had burst into the room. Even after bringing her back to life, Kahlan would still need the antidote to rid her body of the deadly poison.

Kahlan's chest suddenly seized as she took in a deep breath, but remained unconscious as she began breathing raggedly again on her own. Richard started frantically pulling blanket after blanket off of her until he had gotten down to the last one. He immediately sat down on the side of the bed as he pulled the little vial from his vest pocket.

"Don't you dare do this to me, Kahlan!" he angrily growled at her, his heart a tumult of fluctuating emotions.

Richard swiftly ran his wounded arm under her shoulders, lifting her up to rest against it, her head falling back. He shuddered at the frigidness of her skin. She felt like death as much as she looked like it. It rattled him to the core to see her like this, but he was not about to lose her.

He promptly brought the vial to his lips, using his teeth to rip the cork stopper from the bottle. Turning his head, he spit the stopper onto the ground before turning back to Kahlan. "Hold on, Kahlan…I'm right here," he heatedly told her.

Richard put the vial to her cold blue lips, tipping the rose-colored bottle. He watched in hopeful anticipation as he watched the liquid flow from the vial and into her mouth. After emptying the contents of the bottle, he threw it aside. Putting a hand to her cheek, he gently caressed her icy skin.

"I came back to you, Kahlan, just as I promised. You can't leave me now…you just can't…" he frantically choked out, tears pooling in his eyes and blurring his vision. He pulled her unresponsive body to him as he sobbed, begging her not to leave him.

Zedd swallowed back tears that suddenly welled up inside at the sight of his grandson's anguish. "Richard, it's going to take a little time to see if the medicine will work. Let me see to your injuries while we wait," he gently said after a few moments.

"I'm fine, Zedd…I don't want to leave her," he replied between gasps for air as he gently laid her back down in the bed and pulled the blankets over her again.

"My boy, I argued and fought with that stubborn young woman of yours for two days over taking care of herself. I do not have the strength to argue with you too. Now get moving into the next room so I can clean you up or so help me I will…"

"Alright," Richard interrupted with an exhausted sigh, releasing his hold on his lover to follow his grandfather to the next room. "Cara, will you…"

"I promise I will not move from this spot."

As Richard left Kahlan's room, he kept casting a glance over his shoulder as he watched his beloved fight for her life. It was almost beyond unbearable, but he would never give up on her no matter what.

XXX

Having washed up and put clean clothes on, Richard reentered Kahlan's room looking much better than he had when he had left. His arm was healed as were the scratches that had marked his face. He tore his eyes from Kahlan long enough to thank Cara for staying with her.

Cara and Zedd quietly made their exit to leave the Seeker with his Confessor. Richard slowly made his way to Kahlan's bed. Sitting down on the side of the bed, Richard watched Kahlan, noticing the hint of color that was beginning to return to her face. Her lips were no longer that blue tint of death. He gently ran a hand along her cheek, noting the frigidness that still possessed her body.

Sighing deeply, Richard turned to pull his boots off. After removing his boots, his eyes caught sight of something lying on the bedside table. Puzzled, Richard picked up the envelope that had his name written on it. Turning it over, he found the envelope to be sealed with the Mother Confessor's royal seal.

Tugging on the seal, he opened the envelope to find a folded piece of paper. Pulling the paper out, Richard caught a hint of the scent that made his heart race wildly and his head spin. It was Kahlan's scent. Unfolding the elegant paper with trembling hands, Richard began reading the letter.

"My beloved Richard,

If you are reading this, then I am no longer with you. Please do not blame yourself. None of this was your fault in any way. I know that you did your best, pushing yourself harder than anyone could have ever expected.

I don't even know where to begin. How do you sum up a heart full of love in just a letter? When I first saw you, I was just a stranger that you came to rescue for no other reason than I was in trouble. You risked your life for someone you didn't even know and yet I have seen this demonstrated by you on countless occasions.

Then you were named Seeker of Truth and we were no longer strangers, but companions in a common fight with a common goal. You quickly became my friend. I had never had a true friend before as Confessors are not chosen as friends. Instead, we are feared and become lonely and isolated because of it. Even after you learned the truth of what I was, you never ceased being my friend.

As hard as I tried to fight you, to fight against the love that began growing within my heart for you, you never gave up on me or the notion of us. Despite the fact that we could never touch, you dared to fall in love with me, giving me the greatest gift of all – yourself. You are the first man in thousands of years to love a Confessor beyond her powers. For that, I am truly grateful and in awe that you chose to love someone like me.

You truly are a rare person Richard Cypher. Even though you cannot see it, I am smiling the special smile that I save for only you, for you are the only one who has ever put it there. I love you Richard with all my heart and soul. You are the only man I have ever loved and will ever love. I am truly sorry that I will not be with you to build our life together, to create our children with you. There is nothing in this world or the next that I wanted more than that.

You have a good heart; don't lose it because of this. Don't give up the fight. Find the Stone of Tears, seal the rift, and defeat the Keeper. You are the Seeker and the only one who can do it. I believe in you, my precious Richard.

I will miss you, my love – your beautiful brown eyes, your charming smile that makes me melt every time, your tender kisses and your passionate touch, your friendship, your laughter and most of all your love. I am a better person because of you. You have taught me and given me more than I could have ever have asked or hoped for you, fulfilling a dream that someone could truly love me.

That day in the Hartland woods when we first met, you may have rescued me, but you also captured my heart, though it took me a little time to accept or admit it. I love you my beloved.

Yours forever, Kahlan

Tears flowed freely from his eyes, wetting the paper as he read the letter Kahlan had written. Nothing had ever touched his heart as deeply as the heartfelt words she had written to him. He quickly folded up the letter, putting it back in its envelope before tucking it inside his vest pocket. Standing to his feet, he wiped his eyes before adding more wood to the fire. Richard stripped off his clothes before coming back to her bed. Pulling back the blankets, he crawled into bed next to his lover. He gently wrapped his arms and legs around her, warming her with his body and his love.

"I love you, my Kahlan," he whispered into her ear. "I'm right here."

As Richard settled in next to his lover, exhaustion quickly overtook him, dragging him down into the dark depths of slumber.

XXX

Sunlight hit her eyes, tempting to draw her back to the world of the living. Her head throbbed, but not as painfully as it had been the last three days. Kahlan suddenly became aware of something warm and heavy resting next to her.

Opening her eyes, she attempted to focus her vision on her surroundings. She was in her bedroom in Aydindril. Things were beginning to fall into place as the cloudiness in her mind began to dissipate. Turning her head, she saw familiar brown hair resting on her shoulder, warm arms wrapped securely around her, muscular legs intertwined with hers.

Kahlan reached a hand out and gently began running her fingers through the disheveled hair that tickled her shoulder. A soft moan escaped sleeping lips as she gradually increased her ministrations. Richard sat up with a start, suddenly realizing where he was and what had happened.

He turned in bed to see Kahlan staring up at him, her special smile touching her lips. Her natural color had returned to her skin, her lips no longer blue. Her electric blue eyes were vibrant and full of life. Without a second thought, Richard quickly moved over her, immediately leaning down and pressing his lips to hers in a searing kiss.

"Kahlan…I'm so sorry…" he murmured against her lips, anguish still clinging to his soulful brown eyes.

"What do you have to be sorry for?" she softly asked, puzzled by his apology as she brushed aside a strand of his tousled hair.

"I didn't get here in time. Kahlan, you died. I almost lost you forever."

"Richard, you saved my life. If you hadn't made it back when you did, I would still be dead."

Kahlan quickly leaned up, capturing his lips in a sweet kiss of reassurance and love. He rapidly returned the kiss with desperate need, deepening the kiss as he entered her mouth, frantically stroking her with his tongue.

Although she still felt cold to his touch, Kahlan was definitely warmer than she had been when he had first arrived. He began to extricate himself from her embrace, worried that she was not yet recovered from her ordeal. Richard promptly found that Kahlan was not allowing him to go anywhere.

"Kahlan, you've been through a lot the last few days. You need to rest," he concernedly replied, his brow furrowed.

"Richard, I'm fine. I feel so much better especially now that you are here," she tenderly reassured him. "What I really need is you."

"I can't," he sadly said, pressing his forehead to hers as he closed his eyes. "I want to more than you can possibly know, but you have to know something first."

"Richard, what is it?"

"I kissed Denna," he softly told her, his voice cracking with emotion as tears suddenly stung his eyes.

"You what?" she asked, her heart beginning to race at the thought.

"I kissed Denna. She was thrown from her horse while we were searching for the Shadow Water. She had a cut on her forehead. I was cleaning her wound and she leaned towards me and I kissed her. Kahlan, I am so sorry. I don't know what happened. I was cleaning her wound and the next thing I knew her lips were on mine," he desperately explained, terrified that Kahlan would hate him, would send him away. He would never be able to forgive himself for betraying her. Richard unexpectedly felt hands cradling his face.

"Richard, look at me," Kahlan finally replied, continuing once he complied with her request. "It was not your fault. Do you hear me? It was Denna, not you."

"But, Kahlan…"

"Did you return the kiss?"

"Well, no…"

"Did you enjoy it? Receive any pleasure from it?"

"No, not at all!" he adamantly exclaimed as he gazed into her blue orbs.

"It's alright, Richard. It was Denna's fault, not yours. There is nothing to forgive," she softly replied, love permeating her every word. "I knew when she took you from me again that she would try something like that. I'm just so relieved that you made it back safely, that you got away from that vile woman before she tried something more."

"I love you so much, Kahlan," he murmured against her lips, relief washing over him.

"Show me," she seductively whispered.

Richard released a throaty moan, his voice husky with need. "I would love nothing more," he softly smiled as he leaned in to take her lips with his once more.

Richard began kissing her with an urgency and a desperate need that surprised even him. He afforded special attention to every inch of her face, paying tribute to each of her beautiful features before moving down to her heavenly breasts. She gasped and moaned with the pleasure he brought her, arching her back and reveling in the feel of her lover's heated touch.

His hands and his mouth were doing things to were that were rapidly driving her wild, propelling her closer and closer to the edge of rapture. She was swiftly taking him with her as he entered her, the feel of her causing him to gasp with pleasure.

No matter how often they made love, it would never be enough. It was blissful beyond imagination, a euphoric experience, but it was only a fleeting reprieve, a temporary release of a smoldering passion that could never be extinguished.

As Richard collapsed on top of her, he peppered her face once more with tender sweet kisses as he attempted to regain his strength. As he tried to roll off of her, Kahlan held him tightly to her, not allowing the connection to be lost.

"Kahlan…I'll crush you…" he breathed heavily.

"I love the feel of you lying over me. It makes me feel so safe, so loved."

He compromised, resting some of his weight to her side while still keeping her partially covered with his warm sweat-slicked body. "You certainly don't feel cold anymore," he softly teased as he nuzzled her nose with his.

"You definitely cured that. Although, I may need you to warm me up again in a little bit," she seductively purred.

"Gladly," he readily replied. "But you need to sleep now. I'll be right here when you wake up."

"I love you, my Richard," she murmured as she closed her eyes with a satisfied sigh.

"I love you too, my precious Kahlan," he whispered as he kissed the tip of her nose.

XXX

They spent the rest of the day in bed together, sleeping and making love, talking about what had happened while they had been apart and the future life they planned to build together. Watching her as she dressed the next morning, Richard couldn't take his eyes off of her or stop the smile that kept creeping back to his lips.

"You better stop watching me and get dressed. You know Zedd will be up here after us if we don't hurry. He gave us one day alone in bed to recover. You know he's not going to allow us any more," she lovingly scolded as she finished the clasps to her dark jacket before walking over to him.

"You're just so breathtaking. I could totally lose myself in you," he wistfully replied as he pulled his boots on and stood to his feet.

Kahlan went over and picked up his vest. Walking over to him, she noticed the envelope peeking out from inside the pocket. Pulling out the envelope, she realized the seal had been broken.

Richard turned around to find Kahlan staring at the letter in her hands. He swiftly walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Raising a hand, he tenderly hooked a strand of her hair behind her ear as he watched her.

"You read my letter?" she softly asked with mild embarrassment.

"Yes," he simply answered.

"You weren't supposed to read it unless I died."

"You did die, Kahlan," he gently reminded her, the memory of seeing her dead causing him to choke up. It would be something that would haunt him for a very long time. He gently stroked her cheek with his thumb as he cupped the side of her face.

"Yes, but…"

"Kahlan, it was the most beautiful letter I have ever read. I will forever cherish the things you said to me in that letter," he softly told her, tears filling his eyes with the depths of his love for this woman and her love for him.

Kahlan finally raised her head to look him in the eye, tears filling her eyes as well. "I meant every word of it, Richard. It still did not fully express what I feel in my heart for you."

"I understand, Kahlan. I see it in your eyes every time you look at me and on your face every time you smile at me. I understand because it's what I feel in my heart for you too," he lovingly said as he pulled her into a sweet kiss that sealed their future forever.

THE END