Chapter 4

After a short breakfast the group left their shelter and walked for several hours, always following the compass.

Zedd, who was walking with Richard, soon noticed how silent his grandson was. 'Is everything alright, boy?' he asked.

Richard had been staring off into the distance and was now startled out of his thoughts: 'What? Sure, everything's fine. I was just …thinking.'

Zedd, knowing he wouldn't get any more information out of Richard, didn't ask anymore. He knew his grandson well enough to guess what or rather who he was thinking of, and this didn't quiet the wizard's worries at all:

If Richard and Rachel develop feelings for each other it might turn out just as disastrous to our quest as Kahlan accidentally confessing Richard. I can't imagine what Kahlan would do if she saw the truth in Rachel's eyes. Kahlan has always put duty over her personal feelings until now. She knows it would be better for Richard to find another woman and that she herself will eventually have to find a mate to continue the line of Confessors, but they can't live without each other. Kahlan couldn't bear to stay at Richard's side when he is with Rachel, but she could never abandon him because of his quest. Kahlan still has no control over the Con Dar… what if she fell into it and Richard couldn't stop her anymore because he was the reason for it? We might all be confessed. It's too dangerous for all of us. I have to talk to Rachel and convince her to stay away from Richard. But then again, when she has suffered so much because of us, how can I ask her to sacrifice the only thing that gives her hope?

All these thoughts were going through the wizard's head. He didn't know, but a few meters behind, Cara was thinking in a similar way.

Kahlan, who was walking behind Richard and Zedd with Cara and Rachel at her side, looked at the latter: 'What is it?'

Rachel had been quiet the whole morning and Kahlan found it strange. After a few moments she finally looked at Kahlan.

'Oh, don't worry. I just didn't sleep very well, that's all…' Rachel replied a little absentmindedly.

Kahlan was confused: she could tell Rachel was not lying – she really looked tired – but she felt like she was not telling everything. 'Was it a nightmare?' Kahlan guessed.

'How did you know?' Rachel seemed surprised.

Kahlan tried to explain it: 'Well, Zedd said this might be a side effect of the poison.' 'Oh, right.' Rachel looked like she didn't want to talk about it, and Kahlan had a feeling it was because Cara was nearby.

Although Rachel knew about her loyalty to Richard, a Mord'Sith walking next to her was obviously something she wasn't used to. Kahlan couldn't blame her for that: After all, it had taken her many weeks until she stopped sleeping with her daggers under her pillow.

XXX

At sundown the group made up their camp on a small glade. It was a warm evening which seemed to lighten everyone's mood; even Cara took part in the conversations. It was near midnight when Kahlan decided to take the first watch and everyone else finally went to bed. Rachel, however, stayed awake for a long time, thinking about everything that had happened; the images of her nightmares were still haunting her and keeping her from falling asleep.

After more than an hour Rachel got up and sat down next to Kahlan: 'I can take your watch if you want to. I won't be able to sleep; not yet, anyway.'

'Thanks, Rachel.' Kahlan replied with a smile that was not convincing at all.

Rachel thought the Confessor looked sad, and her curiosity won, so she asked 'Why aren't you going to sleep then?'

'Honestly, I can't sleep either', Kahlan replied, but before Rachel could ask any more she continued, 'so you might as well tell me what's bothering you. Is it because of your nightmares?'

Rachel, surprised by the sudden question, fell silent for a few moments.

In the end, however, she began telling Kahlan about her nightmares; Kahlan listened quietly all the time. Rachel only stopped speaking when she had told her everything… apart from her vision of the Seeker's death. She saw him falling to the ground lifeless before her inner eye, and suddenly felt like it was all too much for her. All the fear and the pain Rachel had so desperately tried to ignore the past few days threatened to come to the surface.

Rachel found it suddenly hard to control her breathing.

She tried to look calmer than she was, but Kahlan, who could sense her distress, still put an arm around Rachel.

She understood her so well; how she felt lost with all her family dead, how it must have been to live through her worst nightmares over and over again. Hearing Rachel talk about all that, the memories of her own past overcame Kahlan: her mother's death and the horrible years when their father had used them for his own profit, the news that her sister was dead, along with all the other remaining Confessors… and the countless times she had feared for Richard's life - too often when she hadn't been able to help him… Her sight began to swim when she pulled Rachel into a hug, tears running down her face.

XXX

Some time later, Kahlan remembered she had to wake Cara who would take over the next watch. Rachel was sitting next to her, her gaze fixed on the trees in front of her. 'Rachel, you should sleep now. It was a long day and you are still exhausted from the poison.'

Rachel looked at her and whispered in a husky voice: 'You are right.'

She got to her feet, feeling cold and tired. Before she went to bed she turned around once more: 'Kahlan?'

The Confessor looked up at her.

'Thank you. For everything.' Kahlan just smiled a little in response.

'Should I wake Cara?'

'No, Rachel. I will do it. Just sleep now.' Rachel was glad Kahlan understood her so well and when she lied down, she fell asleep almost immediately.

When she saw Rachel lying down, Kahlan waited a few moments before walking over to Cara to wake her. The Mord'Sith saw the tears still glistening in Kahlan's eyes, but thankfully didn't ask any questions while she got up to take over watch.

A/N:

Hey guys,

thanks again for reading this, I am so excited to see the views increasing constantly :)

Not much to say, except I might have a surprise for you today, seeing this chapter is quite short ;)

Greetings

Alex

STforRK: Thanks for your review :) I'm glad I got you interested in my story. The following chapters and the next two in particular will be interesting; I'll just say that something will happen that is more or less unexpected *hint!* ;)