Walking in silence, Cara lead them through the thick trees, her eyes rolling every time she heard Richard or Kahlan giggle behind her. They had been walking hand in hand since they left the pillars and their happiness was starting to really annoy her. Their laughter continued to ring in her ears as Richard teasingly moved around Kahlan, her white dress flowing gracefully around her.

"Richard!" she laughed out as his arms wrapped around her, his chest pressing against her back. "They're not going to wait for us." she breathed out as his lips connected with her neck, moving down to her shoulder. Her head tilted over, allowing him more room to work as she grabbed his hands and help them against her.

"I don't think they will get that far from us." he smiled widely as she turned in his arms, her own arms wrapping around his waist.

"I guess they won't miss us for a few minutes..." she replied before pressing her lips to his. Her hands roamed over his back; gripping his shirt tightly. Her body pressed firmly against his, her warmth burning through him, fueling his desire. His hands entangled in her hair, holding her face to his. A soft moan escaped her as she pulled back, "I still can't believe I can kiss you like that." she said softly, running her hand over his chest. "It's nice." she added before placing a quick kiss on his lips, grabbing his hand and walking after Zedd and Cara, pulling him along behind her.

"There you two are." Zedd said as they caught up to them, "I was just trying to send Cara after you."

"I don't know why." Cara said rolling her eyes, "We both know what they were doing. They haven't been able to keep their hands off of each other since we saved the world." Richard laughed at her tone as he held Kahlan close to him, his hand slowly moving up and down on her side. "See? Still touching." she added, stretching her arm out towards them, trying not to smile, "We're never going to get anywhere."

Zedd laughed, "She has a point. We could have been there two days ago."

"You didn't have to wait for us." Richard said smiling. "I'm sure Kahlan knows the way home." he added looking towards her, her eyes fixed off into the distance.

Slowly, she started walking away from them, "Did anyone see that?" she asked, straining her eyes to look farther.

"See what?" Richard was by her side, his hand on his sword.

"There was something over there." she pointed into the trees, "I know I saw something." she added as Cara stepped closer, looking in the same direction with a doubtful look.

"I don't see anything." the Mord-Sith said with a sigh.

Taking another step closer, Kahlan released a sigh of her own, "I must be tired."

"You should be." Cara said with a laugh "You two go at it all night long."

"Cara, when you find someone you love, you'll understand." Richard said with a smile, just as an arrow flew past Cara.

"Get down!" he shouted as he grabbed Kahlan and threw her to the ground, using his body to shield hers. Cara moved behind the tress, pressing her back firmly against the bark as she moved around, trying to look around it.

"I guess you aren't tired." Richard whispered softly, with a small smile.

"Oh, I am." she teased before pushing on his chest slightly, "We should probably see who's trying to kill us." she said, her voice becoming serious, erasing his smile.

"Cara, can you see anything?" he asked as he moved off of Kahlan, keeping his body low to the ground, his arm lingering over her stomach, keeping her down.

"There are at least four of them." she replied, sinking down on the tree. "They're coming this way."

Weapons drawn, a group of large men stepped carefully through the trees, looking around. Leaping around the tree, Cara's agiel pointed at the back of the one closest to her. Richard, standing in front of Kahlan, held his sword tightly, protectively.

"Mother Confessor." the man closest to him said as he kneeled. "We were sent to find you and bring you back safely." he added just as three other men kneeled before her.

"Who sent you?" Zedd asked softly, keeping his eyes focused on the men before them.

"The Mother Confessor's sister." he replied, slightly lifting his head towards her. "She received word you were near. We were asked to escort you back."

"Then why did you try to kill us?" Cara said walking around them to stand beside Richard.

"You are Mord-Sith."

"This one's smart." she said rolling her eyes.

"You are a threat to The Mother Confessor." he snarled.

Stepping forward, Kahlan moved in front of Cara, "She is no threat to me."

"She is a Mord-Sith." he repeated

"I trust her with my life." Kahlan clarified stepping closer to the confused man kneeling before her. "You will not threaten her again."

"As you wish Confessor." he weakly replied, looking past her towards the smirking woman in red. "But, we must hurry. You were expected days ago."

"The Mother Confessor has been very busy with The Seeker." Cara snorted through a laugh, making the man's eyes widen in shock.

"The Seeker?" he asked softly, looking up to Kahlan confused. "You have taken The Seeker as your mate?"

The word mate echoed in his ears, looking towards his lover, Richard tried to remain impassive. Not missing anything, she gave him a small smile, hoping he would understand that she didn't see him like that.

"Why are you shocked?" Cara asked trying not to laugh, "They barely keep their hands off of each other; you will have more Confessors in no time."

Her words did not seem to ease the man kneeling before them; he stared at Richard, studying him carefully. "You have not confessed him?" he said looking towards Kahlan.

"No."

"Mother Confessor, I am confused. If you have not confessed him, how is he to be your mate?"

Her eyebrows lifted with her smile, her eyes glistening with happiness, "He found a way around my magic."

Immediately, the man looked to Richard, "That is not possible." he turned to Kahlan, his eyes pleading with her, "Confessor, he must have tricked you."

Cara snorted through a laugh, "You don't know anything about him. He wouldn't need to trick her, she-" she stopped as Kahlan lifted her arm towards her, her eyes never leaving the man's.

"You are not here to make assumptions. You will escort all of us back to my sister." her voice hard and angry. "Now." she added as the men looked to the ground.

"Yes Confessor." they said together, immediately standing, they took the pack from Kahlan's hands, then Richard and Cara's.

"I will carry my own, thank you. I can't risk you eating the rest of my lunch." the wizard said making Kahlan smile a small smile.

They followed the four men in silence, their pace much faster than the past week. Looking sideways, Richard watched her face, waiting for the smile he had seen so often. It didn't come.

His heart raced as they approached the Confessor's Palace, he felt small and insignificant. Looked over to Kahlan, he saw a small smile cross her lips as she looked around; taking in the sites she had started to forget.

"Kahlan!" a woman's voice came from the shadows.

"Dennee!" Kahlan called back as she rushed towards the brunette standing beside a large pillar. "It's so nice to see you again." she added as she embraced her sister.

"I was worried something had happened to you."

Smiling, Kahlan turned towards Richard, who had stopped several feet away, his back turned from them as he looked around. "Richard," she called softly. He turned quickly at the sound of her voice.

"You two...?" Dennee asked as he made his way over. "Kahlan, that's wonderful." she attempted a smile as Richard took Kahlan's hand. "Will you both be staying here? Returning to your duties?" she asked looking hopeful.

"Yes." Kahlan replied quickly, tearing her eyes from Richard at her sister's tone. "Excuse us." she said pulling Richard past her sister and into the Palace. "I don't believe you've had a chance to look around before."

"Kahlan, you don't have to do this now." he said pulling her to a stop. "There must be something else you want to do."

She stared at him for a moment, waiting to see if he would change his mind. "I don't know when I will have another chance to show you everything." she said truthfully, looking into his eyes. "They will expect me to return to my duties as soon as possible."

He smiled a small smile; he had to convince her he was fine with it, "The people need you. I'll still be here when you're done."

"I'm going to show you around first." she said softly, her eyes pleading with him.

His heart sank as he took notice of the pain in her eyes, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Stepping closer, he held both her hands in his, "Kahlan, I know you. Something is wrong."

"I'm afraid." she whispered.

"What?" he asked softly, "Afraid of what?"

She looked to the ground, "I'm afraid that once I return to my duties, you will realize this isn't where you want to be."

"I want to be with you."

She looked up into his eyes, "Richard once the people learn I have returned, I will be busy for days, weeks maybe." she sighed, "This may be the only time we can just... be normal."

He ached with her words, he desire to be like all the other women, "Kahlan," he smiled "I'm sure we can-"

She shook her head, "This is why I asked-"

"If I wanted to go back to Hartland." he finished, his smile fading "Why didn't you say anything?"

Her eyes fell to his chest, trying to find her words, "I was afraid you wouldn't..." she took a deep breath before bringing her eyes back to his, "I was afraid you wouldn't want to come."

Wrapping his arms around her, he held her tightly, "Nothing would change my mind about coming with you." he said into her hair, "I love you."

Her arms wrapped tighter around his waist at his words, "I love you." she pulled back quickly, "There's one thing I want to show you before anything else." she smiled widely, "You may like it."

****************************************************

"Kahlan, where are we going?" he asked as she pulled him along through a long hallway. Passing several closed doors, Richard's mind started to wonder.

"We're almost there." she said without looking back to him, "It's around the corner."

Rounding the corner, there was a set of double doors, his mouth open slightly as he took in the details along them. Pushing them open, Kahlan took in a breath, a smile spread across her face as she looked around. His eyes immediately fell upon the large bed on the other side of the room. Looking sideways, she watched his face, waiting for him to speak. He said nothing.

After a moment, she turned and closed the doors behind her; the click of the lock caused him to turn towards her. Her lips crashed against his, her arms wrapping around him, pushing him backwards towards the bed. Pulling at his shirt, she tossed it to the ground as he moved to the lacing of her dress. He went through the laces quickly; her dress fell to the floor as the back of his legs hit the bed. Turning them, he lifted her onto the bed. He was thankful to make love to her on something soft

****************************************************

He laid beside her, his bare chest pressed firmly against her back, his left arm wrapped tightly around her waist, held over her heart by her own hand. He knew she was asleep, her breathing was slow and steady; he stared at the exposed skin of her shoulder, wanting to kiss it. Lightly, he pressed his lips to her skin; a soft moan of his name escaped her lips, causing him to pull back.

"I'm awake." She said softly without opening her eyes, "I don't mind."

Smiling at her words, he leaned forward and pressed another kiss to her shoulder before she slowly rolled onto her back, their eyes connecting for a moment before their lips.

"I can get used to this." She smiled widely, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him back for another kiss.

****************************************************

"What's wrong?" Cara asked as Zedd moved past her continuing down the hall.

"I need to find Richard and Kahlan." He replied quickening his pace.

"What's wrong?" she demanded, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a stop "You were eating in the kitchen, only something terrible would cause you to leave and go looking for them."

Slightly amused by her statement, he sighed, "I'm afraid we have a problem."

The look on his face told the Mord-Sith everything she needed to know, "They're in her bedroom." Walking past him, she led the way, silently hoping everything would be fine.