Ch 6: Convincing

Richard jerked awake with a start and almost forgot where he was. He was sore from sleeping sitting up with his head on the cot. He slowly stood and stretched, yawning widely.

He stepped outside in the evening dusk admonishing his self for falling asleep for so long.

"You're finally awake, I see" said Lena as she was walking up to his tent. "Zedd said it was best to let you sleep, so I was guarding your tent to make sure you weren't disturbed."

"Thanks Lena, but next time, don't listen to Zedd. I wanted to be gone by now and I slept all day!"

"You're leaving again? Where?" she asked curiously.

"I can't let Kahlan go through with this, Lena. Darken Raul won't keep his promises. He's using Kahlan for a darker purpose….I just know it."

"Do you think he may have ordered the marriage to try and get to you, Richard? What if it's a trap?"

"Everything's a trap with Raul. I could care less if he wants to kill me, as long as Kahlan is safe."

"Richard, you shouldn't risk your life for her. I know you care for her….but there's no future for you and her. Don't throw everything away for something that can never be."

Richard gazed off into the darkening night and felt tears threatening to escape. "I love her….more than I love my own soul" he whispered.

Lena caught her breath and grabbed Richard by the shoulders "don't do this to yourself, Richard! You can never love her! Please stop this" she said and released her grip on his shoulders. He was looking at her blankly as though what she was saying didn't register.

"I'm going to rescue Kahlan. If you want to help me, fine. If not, then stay out of my way. There's no use in trying to talk me out of this. I'm going."

"Well, I guess if there's one thing I know about you, its that you're stubborn" she sighed "I'll help you get things together, but my brothers would never let me go with you." She stood up and offered Richard a hand that he reluctantly took. "I will go pack food for the journey since I'm usually in the kitchen tents anyway." She smiled.

"Thanks Lena. I'm glad someone understands."

"I didn't say I understood, Richard. You're my friend and I would do anything for you."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked off towards the kitchen tents. Richard wasted no time in gathering what he would need for the journey. He then went to the lake and washed up quickly so he would be ready when Lena returned.

He had decided to go alone. The resistance would just cause suspicion in D'Hara and alert Raul to his presence there. That would only endanger Kahlan.

As Richard was walking up the steep bank of the lake, he noticed Zedd at the top, his arms crossed and watching him. "Great" Richard said to himself "now Zedd knows I'm up to something.

"Zedd…what are you doing here? Thinking of going for a swim?" Richard asked, trying to lighten Zedd's obvious dark moon. A flicker of humor crossed his eyes but the wizard's stubborn anger would not be easily shaken.

"You know very well why I'm here, and its not for a SWIM!" he yelled flapping his arms to get his point across. His face and neck were red and his eyes looked as though they were about to pop out of his face. "I know what you're planning Richard and I won't let it happen. I order you as Wizard of the First Order to stop this nonsense at once! Don't you even THINK about going traipsing all over D'Hara alone. Do you even know how to get there?"

"Ugh…" Richard stuttered and tried to answer but Zedd seemed to be on a roll.

"And how, may I ask, do you plan on getting inside the People's Palace….going up and politely knocking on the door?" Zedd continued yelling and Richard started walking back to his tent, tuning Zedd out and allowing him to fume before attempting to talk to him again. He was not going to get a word in right now, no matter how much he tried.

When Zedd plopped himself down on a log outside of Richard's tent he seemed to finally settle a bit. He rubbed a hand down his face and looked up at Richard from beneath his bushy grey eyebrows.

"I know you're upset about Kahlan, Richard…but you cannot go after her. Its suicide for you, and the Midlands. There isn't anything you or any…"

"No, Zedd! I'm not leaving Kahlan with Raul! No matter how hopeless it seems, I WILL do this. I can't let Raul …." Richard stopped as tears began to run down his face. Every time he thought about what Raul would do to Kahlan he would almost lose control of his anger. This time those thoughts just made him want to weep.

"Richard" said Zedd in a soothing voice and put a hand on Richard's arm "I know what you feel for Kahlan and I'm sorry that she hurt you by not telling you the truth. But she would want you to be safe and…."

Richard was sobbing openly and Zedd folded him into a strong embrace. It made Richard miss his father and he wept even harder until he was spent and shaking. Yes, Kahlan had hurt him but it didn't matter. He understood why she had been afraid to tell him and he didn't blame her, not anymore. Even when Zedd had warned him that he could never have Kahlan, he had already fallen in love with her. He had always loved her ever since that day in Heartland.

"Zedd….if it were me would you risk everything to rescue me?" he asked.

"Of course Richard!" Zedd answered before thinking about what he was saying.

"You just trapped yourself, wizard" Richard chuckled and in spite of his self and grinned at Zedd who clapped a hand on his back and laughed with him.

"Only the Seeker can trick a wizard of the first order. I guess its my fault you are stubborn….I always taught you to never allow anyone to stop you from doing the right thing. If you think this is what you need to do, then I will support you. Lena's already packing more food for the trip as we speak" Zedd laughed again at Richard's astonished look " I knew I'd never be able to talk you out of it."

Zedd stoop up with Richard and they made their way back to camp. When they returned Chase, Grenden, and Lucan were loading horses.

"You're coming with us?" asked Richard.

"Of course…we can't let you go alone, we must protect the Seeker" teased Grenden.

Everyone joined in the laughter and the jovial mood put Richard at ease. When he had finished tightening the canteen to his saddle, he swung his leg up over the saddle and followed Zedd and the others toward D'Hara…and Kahlan.