I'm not very proud of this chapter and I must apologize.
"The Seeker is to attend to the reception." The Mother Confessor stated.
"I know Mother Confessor, but he is in the library and said that he doesn't have time to attend to reception." Sylvia replied with a sigh.
"I'll drag him to the dining room if I have to." Kahlan said firmly as she left the room to go find him.
Richard slowly and calmly looked up from his book when the library door burst open revealing Kahlan. Once again his heart ached when his eyes meet her stomach and he imagined her mate's child growing within her.
"Everyone is waiting for you Lord Rahl, I suggest you get to that reception." She told him.
"I don't have time, I need to find a cure for Zedd." He replied before going back to his books.
"I thought you wanted to see your daughter." She told him.
He got up slowly and said: "Are you really implying that I have to choose between meeting my daughter and healing my grand-father?"
When she did not reply, he rubbed his face with his hands and sighed before saying: "He's dying Kahlan, because of me. He saved my life and now he's dying."
"They are waiting for you." She simply said before turning to the door.
"Kahlan, wait…" He said in vain, she was already gone. Sighing again, he decided that he would go to the reception to meet his daughter and spend the night in the library looking for a cure to heal Zedd. When he walked out the door, he noticed Kahlan at the end of the hallway, entering the room where Zedd was resting, well-guarded by Cara.
"Well, if it isn't the Mother Confessor herself." The Mord'Sith snorted.
Choosing to ignore her, Kahlan looked at Zedd, lying emotionlessly on the bed.
"He's not dead yet, just sleeping." Cara commented.
"Wake him." She ordered the Mord'Sith.
"Do you even care?" Cara asked, getting up from her chair. "I always thought you would make a damn fine Mord'Sith and looks like you succeeded without a proper training." She added with a smile.
"Maybe you're the one getting softer." Kahlan replied.
"I may be getting softer but you are for sure being a heartless bitch to Richard since he came back." Cara told her.
"Tell me Cara, have you come to care for your Lord Rahl?" Kahlan asked.
"Looks like I care more about him than you do." Cara replied with a nod implying Kahlan's pregnancy.
"Wake him or I will." She ordered again, ignoring Cara's last comment.
"If you touch him, you will feel my agiels." The blonde said.
Kahlan immediately grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the wall. "Don't you dare threaten me." The Mother Confessor warned.
"Or what, you will confess me?" Cara asked, looking straight into her eyes. "Come on. Do it." She defiantly added.
When Kahlan released her hold on Cara, the Mord'Sith noticed something different in her features and she told her: "Now, is the bitch gone? Am I talking to Kahlan?"
Once again Kahlan ignored her and focused her attention on Zedd.
Cara knew that she had to knock some senses into Kahlan. She knew she still cared but she also knew that she was hurting and her rough and careless attitude was just a protection. Cara knew it and understood it more than anyone.
"You don't know what it was like for him, having to leave you." She said, trying to reach out to the Kahlan who cared. As the Mother Confessor stood silent, she continued: "He knows he's lost you and now he has to loose Zedd too."
She sat back on her chair next to Zedd and she said: "You know he almost killed me. When he couldn't deal with his pain anymore, his only way of feeling better was to fight and let his anger take the best of him. Blinded by his anger, he almost ran me through with his sword, I had to break one of his ribs to stop him and calm him down. It happened the day he learnt you've given birth."
"Why are you telling me this?" Kahlan asked.
"Because I know that you are mad at him for leaving you but you have to know that it's been hard on him too." She told her before adding: "And I know that your emotionless face and your bitchiness are here to protect you because you are hurt, and I understand that."
"You've really grown softer Cara." Kahlan told her.
"My duty is to protect the Lord Rahl but he taught me how to care and he made me a better person, you made me a better person too Kahlan." She explained.
"That was in another life." Kahlan said in a whisper.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. When the door opened, a maid said: "Mother Confessor, they are waiting for you in the dining room."
Giving one last look at Cara, she left the room. The sooner she was at the reception, the sooner she will be able to leave it.
When she stepped into the dining room, she went straight to her chair, while everyone stood up around her, acknowledging her presence. Before sitting down, she smiled at her daughter who was on Tim's lap. She took her in her arms and gave her a kiss on the top of the head. She spotted Richard in the corner of her eyes as everyone sat back on their chair. She tried her best not to look at him as she focused her attention on her daughter. She could feel his gaze on her, he was probably looking at Cassie. She reminded herself that she couldn't waste her energy thinking about him, what he was doing, what were his thoughts. She had to keep her head straight and act as usual in order to prevent her emotions to take the best of her. It was harder for her to keep her Confessor mask on her face when he was around.
The sound of someone clearing his throat caught her attention and she looked up to find the Head of the Council demanding everyone's attention.
"It's a lovely time to be gathered here, especially when we have great news to share. Tonight we celebrate the union of the Midlands and D'Hara, may our people live in peace for a long time." The old man said. His speech was followed by people clapping their hands.
The Head of the Council raised a hand to quiet the people in the room and he continued: "But tonight we also celebrate the upcoming birth of a new Confessor. The Mother Confessor is with child and it's a joy for us all to know that justice will continue to rule the Midlands as well as D'Hara. Enjoy this evening."
There was some more clapping and everyone went to their meal, talking and enjoying the evening. Richard was just staring at his plate, lost in his thoughts. He looked at Kahlan from time to time, holding her daughter and talking with Tim or someone else. They looked like a family, the three, almost four of them. Maybe she had fallen in love with him after all. She met him when they were young and maybe she needed comfort that he willingly provided to her. Even when he wasn't confessed, he wanted to be with her. Seeing her like this, it was too much to bear for him. He slowly got up, trying to be as discrete as possible so no one would notice him leaving. He made a few steps in the hallway and pressed his back against the wall. He tried to breathe deeply and calm himself. He had no right to be mad at her but his anger was taking the best of him. He closed his eyes trying to gather his thoughts and his composure. Keeping his eyes closed, he listened to the laughter coming from the dining room, it seemed that people were having a great time. He heard the door open and close a few times and people passing in front of him but he stood still, his eyes closed. The door opened one more time and he heard a baby crying.
"Shhh. It's okay baby." He heard Kahlan say in a soft voice. His heart almost stopped beating when he heard her. Her words were kind and full of love. It was the same tone she used to talk to him before he left. He missed it every second of the day.
As she passed by him, he dared to ask: "Is she okay?"
His voice startled her and she turned to him.
"She doesn't like the noise." She told him, kissing Cassie on the head once again who was starting to calm down. His gaze locked on his daughter, wanting to memorize everything about her.
Kahlan set Cassie on the floor and said: "Go say hi to Richard."
He deserved to get to know his daughter just as much as she deserved to know her father. No matter what was going on between them, Kahlan knew that she couldn't keep them apart.
Richard looked at her surprisingly and knelt on the floor. The little girl looked at him for a moment and he stood still, not really knowing what to do or what to say. Then, Cassie slowly walked to him. She immediately reached to his tooth pendant and pulled it. Richard couldn't help but smile as tears gathered in his eyes. She was beautiful. She was perfect. Just like her mother.
"Wy?" The little girl asked him as she looked up at him, noticing his tears.
"Mama Wy." She added as she dried her father's tears with her tiny fingers. Richard closed his eyes trying to prevent more tears from falling. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes finding her looking at his sword, tracing the word 'Truth' with her fingers. Richard wanted to hug her but he didn't want to scare her so he just looked at her. He was so proud to be a father and it was also new to him. He felt like he was dreaming and could wake up at any moment.
"I have a daughter." He whispered, trying to make everything seem more real. "She's so beautiful." He added.
"There you are!" Tim exclaimed as he approached them.
"Hiiimmm" The little girl squealed, running in Kahlan's mate arms. It broke Richard's heart, seeing his daughter running to this man like he was her father, calling him by his name. He got up and made a step backwards, overwhelmed by his heartbreak and his back hit the wall. He couldn't stand it, seeing them as a family, a family that was supposed to be his.
"I…" He started before clearing his throat. "I… I have to go, I have to find a way to cure Zedd."
He tried his best to hide his tears but it was useless, he took one last look at his daughter before looking at Kahlan who was standing emotionlessly looking at him. She did not care anymore. She finally moved to take Cassie in her arms. Richard exchanged one more look with her as tears rolled down his face and he left.