Chapter 7

Richard felt empty inside. The gray cloud surrounding him was closing in, squeezing the very breath from his lungs. He knew the crushing pain he felt in his chest was his heart breaking in two. Tears blurred his vision. He was going to find Zedd and Cara and search for the Stone of Tears. And then…and then he didn't care. He could plunge into a dark abyss for all he cared. But he had to stop the Keeper, or else Kahlan would never be safe. He didn't care what happened to him after it was over as long as he knew she was safe. Passing through the city gates he felt the dense cloud around him turn black, threatening to choke the very life from him. He fought for breath through his tears and kicked his heels into his horse galloping off into the night, the lights of Aydindril growing smaller behind him.

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Running for the solitude of her room, Kahlan could barely see through her tear filled eyes. She rounded a corner as she neared the palace, colliding directly into the rock solid chest of Governor Nolan. "Mother Confessor, are you alright?" His hands gripped her shoulders. He could see her distress. "You're crying. What's wrong?"

Kahlan apologized for running into him and tried to quickly regain her composure. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she assured him she was fine.

"I was hoping to speak with the Seeker. Do you know where I might find him?"

She fought to hold in a sob. "He needed to continue his quest for the Stone of Tears. I'm sure he's left the city by now."

The Governor now understood her tears. Gently he asked, "He's not coming back then?" He already knew the answer.

Kahlan's gaze fell to the ground. "No. I don't expect him to return."

The Governor eyed her closely. "You're not planning on accepting the treaty are you?" When she didn't answer he bent his head to look directly in her eyes, "You don't have to accept it."

Kahlan didn't want to even think about it right now. All she wanted was to be alone with her thoughts. She wanted to go to her room and cry for the man she loved. The man she had sent away. She wanted to curse the magic and the duty that kept them apart.

Kahlan started getting angry thinking about all she would never have. At how deeply she had hurt Richard. From that anger she drew resolve. She took a deep breath, her face stoic, her voice flat and lifeless, "It is my fate as the last living Confessor, Governor. I don't see I have any other choice."

"Duty, not love…the code of the Confessors?"

Pain twisting her heart, Kahlan could only nod.

"I owe you an apology Mother Confessor."

"Apology for what Governor?"

"I am the one who dispatched the Foy after you."

Kahlan drew in a sharp breath, immediately on alert. "You? Why?"

"Aydindril was slipping into chaos. The struggle for power over the Council of Confessors was out of control." He looked sincerely into her eyes. "We needed you here. I didn't know what else to do."

Even as she tried to understand it, Kahlan wasn't happy to learn what he'd done. She pulled free of his grasp and continued on toward the palace.

##

Kahlan sat on the floor before the fire in her room. Though her big bed wasn't far, she preferred to be here, closer to the warmth. She had a chill within her she couldn't shake and sat with her knees pulled close, her arms wrapped around them. She'd been watching the fire for hours it seemed. It must be quite late. She had just sent Agatha away after she'd turned down the sheets and plumped the pillows. Kahlan wanted only to be alone with her thoughts and her tears.

She couldn't believe she would never see Richard again. The pain she felt inside threatened to consume her. How many times had she asked the Good Spirits to take her power…make her a normal woman.

Her blue eyes staring into the fire and lost in despair, she didn't hear the faint creak of the door as it slowly opened. She petitioned again to the Spirits now for relief." Her plea was interrupted when she heard someone in the parlor.

She let out an annoyed breath. "Agatha, please. I wish to be alone."

She heard footsteps as they came up behind her. Lifting her face, about to voice her displeasure at the interruption, she found she was staring into the warmest brown eyes she'd ever seen.

She was frozen in time, unable even to breathe.

Richard stood stone still. His eyes riveted to hers with an intensity that sent warm shivers through her body.

His voice was barely a whisper, "You can't do this Kahlan. You may think my being with you will destroy me, but you're wrong. Sending me away, Kahlan…that's what will destroy me".

Tears filled her eyes as she finally found strength to stand. Not trusting her legs to hold her, she rested her palms on the wall behind her for support.

Richard's heart pounded in his chest. She was always the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, but here, now, in the firelight; he felt a physical ache for her. "I was barely 3 leagues from here when I couldn't go on. I had to come back." His steps were deliberate as he moved in close, his body brushing up against hers, Kahlan relied fully on the wall now for support.

"Kahlan." His voice was deep and rough with emotion. He conveyed so much with that singular word. She knew the thoughts running through his head. They were running through hers as well. She was defenseless against them. Any restraint she may have thought she had was quickly evaporating. She lightly put a hand to his chest, a weak barrier to keep him at bay. Their eyes burned into each other, neither one dared take a breath. "Richard" it was meant to be said in protest but instead, betrayed the desire welling up inside her. At hearing her speak his name he gripped her wrist, pulling her hand aside. Their eyes remained fixed as he slowly leaned in to kiss her.

The moment Richard's lips touched hers, they closed their eyes, melting into each other. His head was spinning with the feel of her. He buried his hands in her hair and held tight.

At months of longing finally being realized, Richard's kiss was suddenly urgent, devouring her in his passion. He'd come so close to losing her, his hunger consumed him. Kahlan's need was just as furious urging him deeper into the kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to him, moaning with the relief of finally having her in his arms.

Desire unleashed, Richard blazed a course of hot kisses down her neck and chest, through the thin fabric of her dress they covered her breasts. Kahlan's hands gripped at the wall behind her for support as his mouth went lower still. He lifted her bodice, leaving passionate kisses across her middle. She moaned deeply at the feel of him pressing firmly against her.

Richard's eyes again found hers as they both stood gasping for breath. His gaze fell to her heaving breasts, her creamy smooth skin once again beckoned to him. With his heart pounding out of control, his lips answered the call. The feel of his soft whiskers brushing against her skin sent Kahlan's mind reeling.

"Richard," she whispered breathlessly. She was afraid of where they were going, but lost in her desire for him, she could offer no resistance. She wondered if he had the strength to stop them; praying he didn't, knowing it was already too late.

His mouth followed his hands as his he undid each of her pearl buttons. Undoing the last, he pulled open her bodice and freely covered her breasts with his kiss. Kahlan gasped at the feel of his hot mouth on her, his teeth raking over her. Arching back, her head against the wall, she clutched his hair tightly, twisting it in her fingers. She could feel Richard shaking with his need as he pulled the bodice free of her, and lowered her to soft carpet. In desperation Kahlan once more offered the only resistance she could, "Richard."

He wasn't afraid. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything in his life. As his hands roamed her body, he whispered in her ear, "Don't be afraid, Kahlan. It'll be alright." Her insides fluttered with the sound of his voice. She wanted to believe him. She had to. Her will to resist had deserted her. There was no going back now.

"Don't ever leave me again Kahlan. I love you. Forever."

Tears fell from her eyes, "I never want to be apart from you Richard. I love you, more than life."

Consumed with the intensity of their passion, they were one.

##

When at last they lay in each other's arms Richard looked into her eyes. "I told you not be afraid Kahlan." She couldn't understand how he was not affected by her power. She put her hand to his face searching his eyes. "How is it possible Richard?"

He smiled. "I don't know. I only know I wasn't afraid. I wanted to be with you more than anything. I was already consumed by my love for you. I would rather have been your slave forever than live without you Kahlan. I think that's what protects me." He gently kissed her lips. "Being apart from you is what would destroy me."

Kahlan was deliriously happy to learn they could be together without her harming him. She wanted nothing more than to live her life with Richard by her side. All she wanted to do was lay next to him and kiss him, hold him.

She wrapped her arms tight around him. "Tell me one thing Richard. Why did you make love to me here when there's a great big bed right across the room?"

Richard smiled, leaning in for a kiss. "Because I couldn't wait any longer, this was closer."

Kahlan laughed. "Well, it does give us something to do this afternoon."

Richard grinned. He liked that idea. "Why wait?" he asked as he scooped her up and carried her over.

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