"Richard?" He opened his eyes to see her staring at him, her head resting on her arms across his chest, a smile across her lips. "What are you thinking?" she asked softly.

He smiled widely, "I was thinking about how happy I am."

Her smile widened at his words as she moved closer to his face, "Really?"

"Really." he replied before pulling her closer towards him and kissing her and slowly rolling her onto her back. Gently, he moved a few strands of hair out of her eyes, allowing him to gaze into them. "Kahlan..." his heart pounded as he tried to find the courage to continue, "Kahlan, marry me?"

Her mouth fell open; her heart began to beat as though it was going to pound through her chest. Never had she imagined hearing those words and here she was, lying in bed with the man she loved, who had just spoken them. He waited, watching her carefully, the smile on her lips, the shock in her eyes, and the lack of breath hitting his face.

"Kahlan?"

She let out the breath she then realized she had been holding, "I'm sorry." she said softly, reaching up to touch his face, "Are you sure?"

"I am more sure of this, than I am of anything." he replied quickly, removing the shock from her eyes. "Will you marry me?"

Wrapping both her arms around his neck, she kissed him passionately, hoping he understood her answer.

"Is that a yes?" he asked through a small laugh as he pulled back.

"Yes." she nodded, as she leaned forward, "Come here." she said pulling him to her.

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

"Have you heard what everyone is saying?" Cara asked Zedd as they hurried down the hall.

"You would be wise to ignore the words spoken by anyone other than those you trust." he replied softly, looking through one of the open doors they past.

"They're saying that he isn't good enough for her." the Mord-Sith continued, "Lord Rahl not good enough for her?" she said annoyed.

"He has made it clear he has no desire to take on the name." Zedd said through a sigh, "It is his decision."

She laughed, "You know he is making the wrong decision. It is his right, he needs to take it." she waited for him to say something, after a few moments she continued, "He can never be with Kahlan if he doesn't. The people will never allow her to mate with someone they believe to be insignificant."

The wizard stopped at her words, "The people have no say in the matter. Kahlan, as The Mother Confessor, decides who she takes as her mate." he said trying to get her to understand, "She loves him. What the people think will not matter to her."

"It will matter to Richard."

"We will handle that if it comes." he stared walking again, "We must tell them."

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

Her body flew from his as someone knocked on the door rapidly. Pulling the blanket up to cover herself she sighed, "Yes?"

"We have a problem." Zedd's voice came through the door, causing Richard and Kahlan to roll their eyes.

"If we ignore him, do you think he will leave?" Kahlan asked quietly

"Probably not." he sighed sitting forward "But we can try." he added pulling her to him, her giggle heard on the other side of the door.

"We don't have time for you two touch each other." Cara said loudly, "If you two do not open the door, I will break it down!"

Kahlan pushed him backwards, grabbing the blanket and re-wrapping it around her as she crawled out of the bed.

"I don't think she was serious." Richard said reaching for her arm,

"Both Zedd and Cara are outside this door. Something is wrong." she replied walking to the door.

Cara was the first one through the door, smirking at the sight of Kahlan's ruffled and tangled hair, and Richard lying comfortably in the bed. "You two must have had fun." she said turning towards Kahlan as Zedd walked in.

"Loads." Richard said making Kahlan's cheeks burn.

"We don't have time for this." Zedd said sternly looking to Kahlan, "We've received word about Darken Rahl."

That got Richard's attention, sitting up; he pulled the blanket over himself as he tossed his legs over the side of the bed.

"He used one of his Mord-Sith to bring Nicci back-"

"What?" Kahlan asked almost dropping the blanket around her.

"He's gone back to The People's Palace to reclaim his thrown." Cara said looking to Richard, "If you had taken the title, he wouldn't have the chance to. If you had taken it-"

"That's enough!" Richard shouted, looking over to Kahlan, who was staring at him with wide eyes. "He must know the people will rise against him."

"Not with Nicci. Richard, she has the most powerful Han. Nothing can stop her." Kahlan said softly.

"Then we better stop him before he has his Mord-Sith train her." he said confidently, his eyes never leaving Kahlans.

Clearing his throat and bringing the two out of their silent conversation, Zedd turned to Kahlan, "We should leave as soon as possible. You two should get dressed." with that he and Cara walked through the doors, closing behind them.

They moved quickly, dressing in silence, both minds thinking the same.

"Kahlan," Richard at last spoke as they walked to the doors.

"I'm not staying behind." she said quickly, knowing what he was about to say.

"You've just returned," he paused, "it's your home. You-"

"I can't just wait here." she said grabbing his arm, "I can't."

He stared into the blue eyes, he loved so much, "Kahlan, if anything happened to you, I would-"

"Something could happen to me anywhere. I stand a better chance with you." she smiled.

He sighed, a smile growing on his lips, "I don't believe there is a point in arguing with you."

"And you would be right." she said before pressing a quick kiss on his lips and opening the door, to Zedd and Cara, who were leaning on opposite sides of the wall.

Taking her hand, Richard and Kahlan walked past them, ready to start their next journey together.

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

"You're telling me, you didn't hear anything anyone was saying in the palace?" Cara asked as her horse rode beside Richard and Kahlan.

"I didn't hear anything. I was busy." he said glancing sideways, giving Kahlan a smile. "Did you hear anything?"

"I-" she looked over to Cara, who stared at her, "I'm not sure what Cara is referring to." she said giving her a hard look.

With a sigh, Cara, rode past them, leaving Richard staring at Kahlan.

"What was she talking about?" he asked quietly, moving his horse closer to hers.

"It's nothing important." she replied quickly, avoiding his eyes.

"Kahlan, I know-"

"Everyone was talking about The Mother Confessor taking The Seeker for her mate." she said looking to the ground.

Richard half laughed, "I don't-"

"It's not important." she repeated, looking up at him, hoping he wouldn't push.

Her hardened look surprised him, but he decided not to continue. He watched her for a few moments, waiting to see if she was going to say anything. She didn't.

"You two should see this." Zedd called back to them.

Kahlan's heart stopped at the sight, bodies covered the ground, blood pooled around them. Stepping down from her horse, she walked closer to the bodies, kneeling down beside one of them.

"They were just farmers and he slaughtered them." she said through tears. "They wouldn't have even fought back." she continued as she stood. Turning away from the bodies, she stared at her horse, her mind going off on its own. "We should get moving. We don't want to give him any more time with her." she said after several moments.

"We're about to have company." Cara said softly, leaning over towards her, "This should be fun." she added as she dismounted her horse, Richard, Kahlan and Zedd following.

They walked closer together as the sound of war screams came through the trees. "Maybe we should split up." Kahlan said softly behind Richard, just as a few more than a dozen D'Haran soldiers came running towards them.

"Lord Rahl would never allow it." Cara piped in with a smirk, "He can protect you better if we stay together."

"Stop calling me that."

"See, he didn't even deny it." she laughed before running forward, wanting to meet the enemy as soon as possible.

The next half hour was a blur of blades and blood, screams and cries. After every man fell dead before him, he looked out for Kahlan, who never wondered more than a dozen feet from him, to be sure she was safe. The sound of Cara's agiel and small laugh rang through his ears, drowning out the sound of his pounding heart. The cry of pain that came from his lovers lips burned into his mind as he turned towards her. The fletching of an arrow sticking out of her arm. Filled with rage, he sliced down the seven men standing between them, watching her as she confessed the man standing before her, blood staining her white dress.

She slowly kneeled to the ground, reaching up and poking at the wound as Richard reached her, just as Cara grabbed the D'Haran standing beside her, "Please help her!" he cried, "My mistress is hurt!"

Ignoring the man, Richard knelt down beside her, tears in his brown eyes. "You're going to be fine." he said with a shaking voice.

Kneeling beside him, Zedd looked down, "You are extremely lucky, child." he said as he touched around the wound. "They could have killed you."

"That was not their orders." the D'Haran stated in a whiny cry, "We were told to kill everyone except The Mother Confessor. I'm so sorry Mistress..." he said looking down to Kahlan, who was staring at Richard while Zedd tended to the wound.

"What does Darken Rahl want with Kahlan?" Cara asked after a moment of silence

"I am not sure. Mistress, he will try again. He has many men."

"What were your orders exactly?" Richard said taking his eyes off of Kahlan for a moment.

"To find and kill the Seeker, Mord-Sith and Wizard. Then bring The Mother Confessor to the People Palace." the D'Haran spoke slowly, being sure of his words.

His eyes found hers, wet with tears as the arrow was pulled from her arm. "Kahlan, you should go back to-"

"No." she stated quickly before he could finish his sentence.

"You're not safe-"

"I'm not going back."

Cara and Zedd watched the looks being exchanged by the couple, "She's not going to give in." Cara stated flatly, "She's as stubborn as you." she continued with a sigh. "We should get moving. We have an extra set of hands to fight with. He'll help protect his mistress."

"Yes Mistress. I will not let any harm come to you." she nodded "You will be safe with me."

Helping her to stand, Richard leaned forward, wrapping his arms gently around her body, "I can't lose you." he said into her ear, "I can't."

His voice flowed through, comforting her. "I do not intend to leave you." she said with her special smile. "But I will not return to Aydindrill."

He smiled at her passion, "Okay. Who am I to argue with The Mother Confessor?"

"You're always hungry." Cara said as she and Zedd walked past them, "You," she pointed to the D'Haran staring at Richard and Kahlan, "have anything to eat?" He shook his head, remaining silent as he continued to watch his mistress in the arms of another man.

Pulling out of their embrace, Kahlan turned towards the D'Haran and sighed, "What's your name?"

"Daniel." he replied quickly

"Daniel, you will take my horse and lead the way."

"Yes Mistress. You will ride with me?"

"No." she said turning to Richard, "I'm riding with you."

Richard watched as Daniel's face fell as Kahlan mounted the horse behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, her face leaning against his shoulder. "Is that what your people expected when you took a mate?" he asked softly.

"The Mother Confessor has always taken someone of high statue as her mate, to ensure the promise of peace and trust between lands." she said calmly,

"They are disappointed with your decision."

"A Confessor has never chosen a man she loved. The people do not understand why I have taken someone I loved instead of a prince."

Now he understood. Her people felt she had made a mistake in choosing her mate.