At Last (Chapter 5)

They nonchalantly watched from the other side of the campfire, trying to not pay attention but it was very difficult. Kahlan was clearly upset with Brey and was letting him know that in no uncertain terms. Her arms were crossed tightly across her chest, her brow wrinkled, her blue eyes dancing with irritation.

Brey appeared to be bravely attempting to plead his case and beg for forgiveness but it seemed that Kahlan was having none of it. He had monopolized her the entire day as well as interrupting his and Kahlan's private moment.

Richard couldn't stop the smile that kept creeping to his lips as he watched with satisfied amusement. He was beginning to relax a little seeing that Kahlan had realized Brey was scheming and manipulative without him having to tell her. That would have been a very unpleasant conversation to say the least.

"You're really enjoying this aren't you?" Cara smirked as she dished out the stew.

"Yes, I am and I am not ashamed to admit it. He deserves everything that's coming to him," Richard smiled in satisfaction at the Mord'Sith. "He's up to something, Cara. I just haven't figured out what that is yet."

"I could have told you that, Lord Rahl," she flatly stated, taking a spoon and her bowl to settle down on the other side of Zedd. "He's after the Mother Confessor."

"Well, he not going to get her if I have anything to say about it," Richard replied with irritation, his mood suddenly becoming dark at the thought. He knew that's what Brey's ultimate goal was, but he was going to have to get past him and his sword first. He couldn't help but feel there was something more that the Bender was after, though.

"Isn't that for Kahlan to decide?" Cara goaded, knowing full well that she was only furthering his irritation, but they were so clearly in love that she knew without a doubt that Kahlan would never be with someone other than Richard. They just so obviously belonged together.

"Yes, it is," Richard finally bit out with a sneer.

He knew that Kahlan loved him, but the thought hadn't occurred to him that Kahlan might choose Brey over him. He had been so worried about Brey trying to steal her away that he hadn't considered that Kahlan might willingly want to go with him. The two of them had been very close before in Thandor. Maybe seeing Brey again would bring back old feelings with those memories. His heart suddenly seized at the horrifying thought. He would never be able to deny Kahlan her wishes if that was what she truly wanted. Her happiness was his ultimate purpose in life.

"Cara, don't torture the poor boy. He's suffering enough as it is," Zedd interjected with a grin in between bites of his stew, noticing the irritation and panic that had returned to his grandson's face.

Noticing the look of panic that flashed in his eyes, Cara lightly laughed. "Lord Rahl, I'm only teasing. For some unknown reason, the Mother Confessor is completely in love with you," she replied, quirking an eyebrow. "She would never leave you and certainly not for that silly fool."

"Just keep an eye on him. I know Kahlan trusts him, but I don't. He's got an agenda and I don't want Kahlan getting hurt." Richard knew that Cara was only teasing him, but it still put him on edge more than he already was.

"I will protect her as I always have," Cara promised with a roll of her eyes before quoting the words that she'd sworn to countless times over the last several months. "Brey will have to get through me first if he wants the Mother Confessor."

Turning his attention back to Kahlan and Brey, he was stunned to see them laughing again. Brey quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace that lingered longer than Richard would have liked, his hands roaming over her back and heading down towards her bottom.

Brey suddenly looked at him, giving him a wink. Richard clenched his jaw in a valiant attempt to control the burning jealousy that was about to erupt, his mouth twisting into a scowl as he watched Brey lean in, kissing Kahlan on the cheek.

Noticing Brey's lust-filled eyes as they followed Kahlan, Richard used every ounce of strength he possessed not to run the man through. He knew it was only a matter of time before he and Brey came to blows over Kahlan. He was more than prepared for it, anxious to end this threat once and for all.

Settling down beside him after picking up a bowl of stew, Kahlan laid a hand on his thigh, giving it a playful squeeze. Leaning in, she kissed him soundly before taking a bite of her dinner. "I talked to Brey and he knows he needs to back off. I told him that we are going to be married when we return to Aydindril. He was very happy for us. He even offered to walk me down the aisle," she lightly laughed with a roll of her eyes and a shake of her head.

Richard bristled at the thought of Brey walking Kahlan down the aisle let alone even being at their wedding. He had to talk to her tonight; no matter how hard it was going to be, he knew that he had to warn her about Brey before it was too late.

XXX

The night air had cooled little and had become humid again, the moon partly obscured by quickly accumulating clouds. Everyone had settled down for the night, Cara taking first watch as usual. Brey and Zedd were sleeping soundly on the other side of camp.

"Kahlan, I need to talk to you alone. It's very important," he anxiously told her as he leaned down beside her, offering her his hand.

"Alright, Richard," she warily replied, taking his offered hand. He helped her up from her bedroll, clutching her hand tightly. She could tell by the look on his face that he was upset and she could guess about what.

Holding her hand tightly in his, Richard carefully led her through the darkness of the woods. Seeing the campfire diminish into a faint distant glow, Richard felt they were at a safe enough distance that he could talk to her. Turning, he took Kahlan's other hand in his, moving to stand before her, the tips of his boots touching hers, the moon softly outlining her beautiful features.

Richard drew a deep breath as he stared into her bright blue orbs, gaining strength from them to tell her what he knew she had to hear. The muggy night air caused perspiration to accumulate and glisten on his brow as he searched for the words that didn't want to form on his lips.

Seeing the trouble that clouded his eyes, Kahlan pulled her hand free to bring it up to his face. She tenderly stroked his cheek, anxiety beginning to well up inside of her. "Richard, what is it?"

"Kahlan, I know that Brey is your friend…that you grew up with him in Thandor and that you trust him…but I don't. He is not being honest with you or us. He is up to something; I don't know what it is, but he is definitely not someone we can trust," Richard said, his words flowing out in a heated rush like hot lava. "I'm sorry, Kahlan. I love you more than anything and I wish that I could spare you this…I don't want to hurt you…but you need to be careful."

"Richard, I know that Brey is a jokester and a tease, that he can come across as being very flirty, but he's harmless. He knows that I've already given my heart to you and there is nothing more than friendship between him and me," she calmly replied, knowing that Richard was struggling with Brey's sudden appearance. It wasn't everyday that a man from her past suddenly dropped from the heavens, joining their little group. He just needed some time to get to know Brey the way that she did.

"Kahlan, there's something more than that. I don't know what it is, but something in my gut tells me he is up to no good."

"Richard, he's my friend. I owe him so much. When Dennee and I were first brought to Thandor, Brey was never afraid of me or what I was capable of. I had no friends except for Dennee. Do you know how hard it was for me? Brey does. He was there for me when I had no one," she heatedly told him, hurt and anger beginning to mingle as she turned her back to him.

"It breaks my heart knowing the things that you've been through and I am glad that he was able to be there for you when you needed someone the most, but I don't believe he's the same person that he was in Thandor." Richard wished with all his heart he could have known Kahlan back then, that he could have been there for her, but he was happy that she'd had least had Brey despite the fact that he didn't trust him now.

Furious tears stung her eyes as she spun on her heel to face her Seeker again, her chest beginning to heave with pain and anger as she pointed an outraged finger at him. "You didn't know him back then, Richard, but I did! He was there for me when I had night terrors about what my father did to me and Dennee. Nightmares that he was coming back for me, that he would beat me again for escaping him, that he would make me do those horrible things again, things I haven't even told you about because I know it would hurt you too much if you really knew the shame I carry with me every day.

"Brey was my friend when everyone else was too scared to even look at me for fear of being confessed. Do you know how that feels? How deeply that hurts to have everyone look at you so terrified like your some kind of monster?" she furiously replied, feeling her throat constrict with the painful memories.

"Kahlan, I…" Richard began, his heart breaking with every painful word that poured from his Confessor's lips. Rage began to rumble deep within his soul for what Kahlan had endured because of her father, helplessness gnawing at his heart for not being there to prevent it. Jealousy rang like clanging bells in his mind, warning him of the dangerous threat that Brey was to Kahlan now. He was not about to let her endure any more torment. She'd been through enough and Richard swore she would endure no more.

"You're just jealous!" she angrily yelled as hot tears began streaming down her face.

"Yes, I am, but can you blame me?" Richard finally admitted as he suddenly yelled back, anger that had been steadily brewing and building since Brey's arrival finally rising to the surface, crashing through the tenuous wall that had been restraining it. "I'm jealous that he spent the entire day with my future wife. I'm jealous when he puts his arms around you or kisses you. I'm jealous because I love you and I can't cope with the idea of someone else being with you especially someone who could hurt you!"

"You don't trust me…" she gasped, tears blurring her vision. "That what it comes down to…you don't trust me to be around him."

"That is not it, Kahlan! I trust you with all my heart; it's Brey that I don't trust!" he cried in frustration, feeling his fear and anger coursing freely through him now. He tightly grasped her upper arms, frantic to make her see that Brey was extremely dangerous and needed to be avoided at all cost.

"But you don't trust my judgment! Do you really believe that I would betray our love?" Kahlan angrily yanked her arms free from his hold on her. She swiftly took several steps back as she stared at him, the hurt she felt in her heart mirroring in her eyes.

The look of anguish on her face pierced his soul. Richard took several deep breaths as he attempted to rein in his anger. "Kahlan, please…I love you, I trust you more than anyone I have ever trusted in my entire life. I know that you would never betray our love. It's Brey that I don't trust."

"Maybe you should try to get to know him. Then you will see that he is not what you believe him to be," she replied, her breath coming out in hiccoughs for air. She was absolutely crushed that Richard did not trust her.

"I plan on it; I'm going to find out what he is up to. I'm not going to lose you, Kahlan. I won't survive if that happens," he passionately declared. Even in the darkness, Kahlan could see anger and fear flashing in his eyes, causing her heart to skip a beat. He hadn't been near this upset since their experience with the Minders.

Kahlan stared up into the night sky as Richard stormed away, leaving her standing there alone. She tightly wrapped her arms around herself as she dropped to the ground, her back resting against a tree as she wept bitterly. She felt so torn inside. Brey had given her no reason not to trust him since his arrival. Richard was the Seeker and at times amazed her that he could sense things that she could not. It was as if he could sense things before they happened.

She loved Richard with all her heart; she couldn't wait to be his wife. She knew he felt hurt and threatened, but his jealousy was absurd. He had no reason to be jealous of Brey. She had no feelings for him more than mere friendship. She had made that plainly clear to Brey earlier that night and he had seemed genuinely happy for them. Was she allowing her feelings of gratitude for his friendship in Thandor to blind her to what he really was?

Kahlan could scarcely believe that she and Richard had gone from a passionate, intimate moment earlier that evening when he had given her the beautiful necklace to a full-blown argument just a few short hours later. She reached up, running her fingertips over the beautiful pendant, tracing the symbol representing eternal love. It had meant the world to her that Richard would give her such a precious gift symbolizing his infinite love for her. He of all people should have understood how painful her childhood had been for her, that she had needed a friend like Brey back then and what that friendship had meant to her.

But then again maybe Richard was right. He never would have spoken cruelly about Brey unless he felt that he was truly a threat to her. Richard was not like that. He was a man of honor, had a kind compassionate heart. At the same time, he had been very jealous of her relationship with Brey. Jealousy could be clouding his judgment. Drawing her legs up, Kahlan rested her forehead on her knees as hot tears continued to fall. She felt torn between a close friendship with a man who had been there for her when she had needed someone the most and the deep-seated love of a man who gave her very heart a reason to beat.

XXX

How long she sat there crying she wasn't sure, but she became acutely aware of someone approaching. Kahlan quickly raised her head, hoping that it was Richard only to find Brey coming into the small clearing.

"KK, what's wrong?" he concernedly asked as he made his way to her, sinking down beside her and wrapping a protective arm around her shoulder.

"It's nothing," she sniffled as she wiped her eyes, not wanting to talk to anyone right now, least of all him. He had been the cause of the argument and the reason Richard had been so upset.

"Hey, it's me; you can always talk to me, Kahlan." Concern permeated his clear blue eyes as he studied her face. It was soaked with her tears, her eyes red from crying and filled with so much hurt, her lip trembling. Her breath was still coming out in staccato pulls for air, her chest seizing as she attempted to rein in her hurt. Even in her despair, she was stunning to behold.

"I don't want to talk about it," she softly murmured, unshed tears stinging her eyes once more as Brey gently began stroking her hair.

"It's alright; you don't have to talk about it. I'll just sit here and keep you company then," he softly replied as he pulled her to lean into his comforting embrace. "Remember that cave we used to play in? It was tucked behind brush in the hills we used to explore. You were the great Mother Confessor and I was the all-powerful Wizard – Bender. We would vanquish all evil in our land, right the wrongs, and save the world."

"I remember," Kahlan softly smiled through her tears. "I think I confessed more trees in that forest than I think I have ever confessed real people in my whole life."

"I set more rocks on fire with my pretend Wizard's fire then I could possibly count."

"We thought we were invincible that's for sure," she chuckled, causing them both to gently shake as he held her. It felt so good to be in her friend's comforting embrace, but how she longed for it to be Richard's arms instead.

"We are invincible, KK. Together, we can do anything we set our minds to," he said, his voice growing distant as his gaze narrowed with his darkening thoughts.

"Right, Brey. Whatever you say," she laughed again, her breathing beginning to even out. Brey always had delusions of grandeur, always dreamed the impossible. It had given her hope when she'd had none.

"I mean it, Kahlan. Together, anything is possible."

Pulling back, she stared at her friend, beginning to wonder how serious he was. He was always kidding and saying things in an attempt to make her laugh or feel better. Looking into his confident eyes now, she was beginning to wonder if he was being serious or not.

Brey suddenly broke into his wide familiar grin. "Remember, we always told each other that anything was possible if we just believed in it with all our hearts, that we could accomplish anything."

"I still believe that. Richard has proven that to me more times than I can count with his unconditional love," she quietly said, sadness filling her voice as she left his embrace to stand.

"Yes, but we made each other believe it first," he heatedly reminded her as he stood to his feet, resentment momentarily passing through his eyes and filling his voice.

Brey suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her to him for several moments before Kahlan gently pulled back. "We should get back to camp," she muttered, moving past him.

He quickly grabbed her hand as she moved by him. "Remember, KK, I'm always here for you no matter what."

"I know," she simply stated with a small smile as she pulled her hand free, suddenly growing awkward with the unexpected change in his demeanor.

They walked back to camp in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Confusion and pain laced Kahlan's heart and mind, intensifying with every step she took. So many emotions were spiraling out of control. While it had been good to see Brey and reminisce about the good times they'd shared, it had also stirred up a lot of painful memories from before Thandor that she carried deep inside her heart, terrifying memories that she'd long ago buried in an attempt to forget. She wished Richard was here with her now, holding her close and comforting her, taking all her crushing heartache away…for he was the only one who truly ever could…