TITLE: Paradise Found

AUTHOR: LOTSlove®

CHARACTERS: Richard / Kahlan / Zedd / Cara/ Darken Rahl / Other Seeker Characters (Surprise Appearances)

RATING: R/M

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

TIMELINE: Alternative Universe

DISCLAIMER: I'm completely obsessed with the show Legend of the Seeker and all things Richard and Kahlan. I love to write about them even though they cancelled my show and now I'm fighting to get it back!

SUMMARY: My very first AU fic! Team Seeker and gang set in the Wild Wild West. Hope you enjoy the adventure!

Chapter 9

Stealing through the dead of night, Richard couldn't help the racing of his heart, knowing that he was getting that much closer to finally catching his father's killer. It also meant saving the woman that had stolen his heart.

He suddenly thought it strange how life had turned out, how his father's murder had led him here to Kahlan. Their paths in life had crossed so coincidently or so it had seemed. He never would've guessed that this painful journey that he'd been on for well over six weeks now would've ended up bringing love into the bleakness that his life had become.

Meeting Kahlan had brought warmth to his cold heart, had put a smile on his face once more, one that had been missing for so very long now. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time that he had smiled since his father's death and now he had smiled more times in the last couple of days all because of her.

Slipping his gun free from its holster, Richard moved in closer to where Chase was crouching alongside the barn where all the activity was buzzing now. He could hear muffled voices, but it was difficult to make out what they were saying. The only thing that could really be heard was the crickets chirping their nighttime lullaby.

Spotting a window nearby, he silently crawled over to it, anxious to catch a glimpse of what was going on inside. He carefully eased himself up, his fingers slowly wrapping around the windowsill. Peering inside through the glass streaked with dirt, he was able to see Darken Rahl talking to some men he'd never seen before, likely the ones from Kelton.

Michael and Demmin Nass flanked Rahl on either side of him, their arms crossed defensively against their chests, their guns peeking out beneath the coats they wore. Behind them stood at least a dozen or more men, no doubt awaiting orders from Rahl.

"What do you see?" Chase whispered, keeping close to the ground.

"They're all talking right now," he murmured, his dark brown eyes narrowing as Rahl and a man Richard guessed was from Kelton moved over to a large wooden crate.

Using a crowbar, Rahl worked the lid of the crate free before reaching in and pulling something out of it. Richard couldn't help the sharp gasp that escaped his lips as Rahl handed it to the man from Kelton to inspect.

"What?"

"It's dynamite," Richard whispered.

"Dynamite?" Chase repeated in shock. "What's he doing with crates of dynamite?"

"Probably going to blow something up," he retorted, casting a glance at the sheriff.

Chase rolled his dark eyes at his comment. "Well, I figured that much," he hissed. "But what could their target be?"

"I don't know," Richard shook his head. "We need to get closer to find out what they're saying."

"It's too big of a risk," Chase frowned. "We're going to have to wait and see what they do with it. Hopefully, we can apprehend one of the men from Kelton. Maybe one of them might be more willing to talk than one of Rahl's henchmen."

Richard felt cold fear slice through him, knowing what Darken Rahl was holding in his hands at that moment. There was no telling the destruction that he could cause with the large amount of explosives he had. And there was no telling how much he exactly had that they couldn't see. He could level all of D'Hara with what he had in his possession right now, countless lives lost because of him.

He knew he had to do something to end the madness before he devastated any more lives. He didn't want anyone else to have to go through the pain of losing a loved one like he'd had to endure.

"What's happening now?" Chase's voice suddenly cut through Richard's tormented thoughts.

"It looks like Rahl is getting ready to leave," Richard replied, pulling away from the window to crouch on the ground next to Chase. "We need to stop him before he gets away."

"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" Chase frowned. "There are two of us and over two dozen of them between Rahl's men and the Keltons."

"We caught him red-handed with the explosives," he said. "We heard how he had my father killed and we know he's planning something big with the Keltons. There's got to be something we can do."

"We'll have to go back and wire Aydindril for reinforcements," he insisted. "We can let them know that Rahl is plotting something with the Keltons. They'll be more than anxious to come and put a stop to Rahl once and for all."

Taking his hat off, Richard raked his fingers back through his long brown hair, knowing deep down that Chase was right, but he needed to do something now before Kahlan's wedding tomorrow, before she could end her life.

"We have to do something now…tonight," he shook his head in heated frustration. "We can't let Rahl hurt Kahlan and we definitely can't let her take her own life."

Chase could feel his friend's anger and frustration rolling off of him. "Maybe she won't," he suggested.

"No, I saw it in her eyes, Chase," he softly said, horrified by the cold resolve that had filled her blue eyes when she had looked at him. "She is bound and determined to end her life if she is forced to marry Rahl tomorrow. I can't let her go through with it."

"Well, we better come up with a plan quick if we're going to stop the wedding tomorrow."

"That's what we need to do," Richard finally said after a long moment, his face suddenly brightening. "We may not be able to capture Rahl tonight, but we can do something to cause the wedding to be postponed long enough for Aydindril to send help."

"What do you have in mind?"

"If we can steal the dynamite from the Keltons then Rahl will be forced to deal with them," he suggested. "He'll be too consumed with getting his dynamite back to even think about getting married tomorrow."

"Good plan, but we're still outnumbered," Chase pointed out.

"Not if we can sneak into the barn and light some of that dynamite," he replied.

"Blow the barn sky high," he nodded, a smile spreading across his face as the plan began to take shape. "Darken Rahl will be so livid about losing his precious shipment, he won't even remember that he's supposed to be getting married tomorrow."

"Exactly," Richard grinned.

"I like how you think, my friend," Chase said, clapping him on the back. "We just have to figure out a way to sneak in, light that dynamite and get out before we get blown up too."

"We have to try," Richard told him, his face growing serious again. "It's our only chance to save Kahlan."

XXX

Coming out of the barn, Darken Rahl pulled another cigar from his vest pocket. He came to an abrupt stop as he lit it before turning to address Nass. "Keep an eye on things here," Rahl instructed him. "I don't want anything going wrong with the exchange with the Keltons that could ruin my wedding or my honeymoon with Kahlan. I've waited this long to have her. I'm not about to wait another night."

"She's going to be quite the little fighter," Nass replied, a dark gleam of lust suddenly filling his eyes. "I wouldn't have minded a chance at her myself."

"I'm going to make her scream for all of D'Hara to hear her," Rahl smirked. "If you do well, I might even consider sharing her with you for a night, my friend."

"I'd love to tame her a little," Nass grinned at the thought. "I bet she'd be a wildcat."

Richard ground his teeth, his heart hammering with the rage that was brewing inside of him as they talked about Kahlan. He felt a powerful hand suddenly wrap around his arm from behind him. He knew without looking that Chase was trying to keep him from losing his head and making a deadly mistake, but at that point, he didn't care.

He wanted to choke the life out of these two vile men, do anything it took to keep them from laying a finger on Kahlan. He didn't care if it cost him his life as long as she was safe.

"Don't do it," Chase hissed hotly in his ear, his fingers digging into his arm. He knew what Richard was thinking, but they couldn't risk doing anything now.

He could feel Richard began to relax ever so subtly as Rahl and Nass began to talk about other things. He slowly released his hand on his arm; still fearful Richard might leap out of the dark shadows that kept them well hidden and try to take them both on. He knew how desperate his friend was to save Kahlan, but getting himself killed wasn't going to achieve that.

"Once the Keltons have the supplies and are on their way, I want you to head back to the saloon," Rahl told him. "I have more things for you to take care of yet tonight for me."

"Like what?"

"Like keeping an eye on Kahlan for one thing," he snorted. "I don't want my beautiful prize to suddenly sprout wings and fly away from me. I didn't wait all this time to have her just to be denied now. Tomorrow night she will willingly submit to me or I'll take what's rightfully mine."

With a low growl deep in his throat, Richard's hand suddenly found his gun, his fingers wrapping tightly around the weapon, his fury demanding to be released. He watched as the two men began to walk away, his muscles coiled tightly, ready to attack.

He couldn't help but think how easy it would be to just shoot them both in the back right here, eliminating them once and for all. His finger slid towards the trigger as he pulled it from his holster, his nostrils flaring and a sneer on his lips.

He could so easily get revenge for his father's murder; keep Kahlan safe from the monsters that would hurt her. He could put an end to the torment that Rahl spread like a deadly virus, the chaos that he secretly stirred behind closed doors.

Richard released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as they disappeared from view. He slowly lowered his arm, sliding his gun back into his holster, somewhat taken aback that Chase hadn't even tried to stop him.

Turning to face his friend, Richard was surprised by the knowing grin on the sheriff's face. "Why didn't you try to stop me again?" he whispered.

"Because you needed to make the choice for yourself, decide what kind of man that you truly wanted to be," Chase told him, his hand finding Richard's shoulder and squeezing it reassuringly. "I knew you'd come to the right decision on your own. Although, I have to admit that you had me a little worried when you raised your arm and pointed your gun at them."

Richard shook his head, trying to calm his pounding heart. "I wanted to," he admitted with a ragged sigh. "I wanted to shoot them both dead, but I just couldn't do it. Not like that anyway."

"You're a good man with a good heart, Richard," Chase replied with pride.

"Then why do I feel like a coward, like I just let Kahlan and my father down?"

"Trust me; you haven't," he reassured him. "Come on; let's take this lowlife down."

Just as Richard turned to follow Chase, everything suddenly went black.

XXX

Kahlan awoke to the feel of a cold blade pressed against her throat, a dirty hand unexpectedly clamped tightly over her mouth. Opening her eyes, she found herself staring into the malevolent face of pure wickedness.

"Don't make a noise or I will slit your throat," he hissed like a deadly viper.

Kahlan couldn't stop the trembling fear that rolled through her as Ike moved to straddle her, pinning her onto the bed. She was afraid to even draw a breath for fear the steel would slice right through her skin.

He rested his knees on either side of her legs as he leaned in close to her. The foul stench of his drunken breath against her face made her want to vomit, but it was the lethal intent in his venomous eyes that caused terror to sharply spike through her veins.

"We're going to have a little fun you and I," he smirked, dragging his tongue across his lips. "And when I'm through with you, I'm going to find that friend of yours that interfered the other night and gut him like a pig."

Kahlan couldn't stop the tears from reaching her eyes as she thought about this man on top of her hurting Richard. She didn't know how he'd been able to get into her room with all of Rahl's men standing guard around the saloon, but he was here now and there was little she could do to stop him with this beast pinning her down. She'd have to go along with whatever he wanted for now, no matter how horrible it would be.

As long as he was here with her, then he couldn't get to Richard.

Keeping the knife pressed against her throat, Ike slowly took his hand away from her mouth, his breath hot against her face as he stared at her. "You're so beautiful," he murmured in admiration, his hand finding her hair and fingering the silky raven strands. "You just prance around that saloon in those revealing dresses, teasing and taunting us, getting us all hot and worked up just to turn around and deny us.

"Well, I'm not going to be denied this time. I'm going to take what I want. Then, I'm going to find your friend and tell him every little thing that I did to you as I carve him up like a Christmas goose."

"Please…don't hurt him," Kahlan whispered, fighting back tears. "Do whatever you want to me, but please don't hurt him."

Ike laughed in her face, his greasy face falling into his eyes as his dirt stained hand caressed her cheek. "Don't worry your pretty little head, sweetheart. I plan on doing whatever I want with you. And as for your friend, well, he already decided his fate the moment that he stepped in and made a fool of me in front of everyone."

"He didn't make a fool out of you," Kahlan adamantly protested. "He was just trying to help me."

"He should've kept his nose out of it," he sneered. "Nobody gets in the way of what I want."

"But you know I belong to Darken Rahl," she tried again, fighting to keep her voice from trembling with the fear that gripped her. "If he finds out you were in here or that you raped me, he'd have you tortured and killed."

"He's gone for the night, headed out to the Cypher ranch hours ago," Ike grinned. "It's just you and me tonight, little darling. By the time Darken Rahl returns, I'll be long gone."

Kahlan's mind froze, her body numb as he began to pull back the covers. She had to think of a way out of this, something that would buy her more time. She began to squirm beneath him as he ran his grimy hand over her nightdress but he was much bigger than her, more powerful.

He kept the knife pointed as her throat as his lustful gaze roamed over her, his hand quickly following. Tears began to leak from the corners of her eyes as she struggled to break free from his hold on her. She could scarcely believe that this was really happening.

His hand was suddenly on stroking her arm, pushing the strap of her nightdress off of her shoulder. She squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her teeth, her every muscle paralyzed with the terrifying realization of what this animal was about to do to her.

"Please don't do this," she begged as he touched her. "I didn't want to do it, but Rahl made me dress like that."

"Well, it worked now didn't it?"

Laying the knife aside, Ike began to pull at her nightdress with one hand, the other reaching for his belt. Kahlan began to scratch at him, trying to shove him off of her, but the more she fought, the more he seemed to like it.

She knew that there was no use screaming for help. Ike had likely killed the men guarding her. It would've been the only way he could've gotten in here without anyone knowing.

Looking to the side, Kahlan spotted the knife lying on the bedside table. She tried lunging for it, but he caught her wrist, a sadistic laugh filling her ears.

"Nice try, sweetheart, but it's time to give me what I want," he sneered, backhanding her hard across the face.

Dazed, Kahlan struggled to think of something to stop this, but her mind refused to cooperate. Fear clouded her brain, panic gripped her heart as he began to untie the laces of his pants.

Thoughts of Richard suddenly flooded her mind, creating a temporary tranquility within her. She couldn't let this animal hurt the man that had so fully captured her heart, the one who had given her bright hope of a better future, a life spent with him.

"Keep fighting, darling," he drawled as he pushed her nightdress up. "I like it when women put up a fight."

With a sudden thought, Kahlan reached beneath her pillow, searching frantically for the knife that Cara had given her. Brushing against the hard steel of the weapon, her fingers quickly latched onto it. In one swift motion, she brought the knife down in Ike's thigh causing him to howl in pain.

Before he could react, she pulled it free only to drive it back into his leg to the hilt again. Ike screamed in agony, rolling off of her. Kahlan pulled the knife out before quickly crawling back away from him. Pointing her weapon at him, she watched as blood ran from his wounded leg onto her bed.

"Stay away from me," she sneered, her chest heaving, her lip bleeding from him hitting her.

"You dumb whore!" he howled. "I'm going to rape you good and then I'm going to cut you to pieces."

Fueled by rage, Ike lunged for her just as Kahlan leapt from the bed. She slowly backed up into a corner of the room, her knife pointed menacingly at him. Seething with anger, he began to make his way towards her, his fists clenched tightly as blood continued to run down his leg and onto the wooden floor.

"That knife is not going to keep me from making you pay for what you did," he snarled, his face red with fury.

"No, but I will."

A shot suddenly rang through the air just a moment before Ike dropped to the floor. Kahlan looked up from the man lying dead before her to find Cara standing in the doorway, a gun in her hand.

"Are you alright?" Cara asked as she dropped the gun and quickly made her way to her.

Kahlan couldn't stop shaking as Cara carefully took the knife from her hand. "How…how did you know he was in here?" she murmured in shock as tears pooled in her eyes.

"I found Rahl's men dead, their throats cut," Cara told her. "Then I heard Ike scream so I grabbed one of the guard's guns and ran in here."

"Thank you, Cara," Kahlan numbly replied, her gaze locked on the dead man lying at her feet.

She quickly pulled her into her arms as Kahlan broke down in heart-rending sobs. She carefully lowered her to the ground, holding her like a mother would comfort their child, rubbing her back and rocking her back and forth.

Cara wondered where Richard was at that moment, knowing that Kahlan needed him right now. Unfortunately, she had a pretty good idea of where he was. She feared that they'd never see Richard ever again.