"If they wanted to announce our position, they've done a great job." Cara sighed as she paced around the camp. Staring at her, Daniel continued helping Zedd with the fire, "The vibrations of her magic was probably heard back in Aydindril." she added as she turned towards them.

"Calm down and help with dinner."

"Yes, because they will be quite hungry from-" she paused, turning towards the sound of giggles behind her. "Good, your back. The wizard wants you to make dinner."

"All right." they replied as one, walking towards him.

"We're all really glad that you go into the trees, but next time, keep it down or go farther so the Confessor doesn't give our position away."

Kahlan's cheeks burned as she looked down to the ground, embarrassed. The smile on Richard's face grew wider as he beamed at the Mord-Sith.

"One day Cara, you'll be happy too." he said pulling Kahlan closer to him, his arm moving from around her shoulder to around her waist.

"Happiness has nothing to do with pleasure."

"You're wrong." Kahlan stated before moving away from Richard and kneeling down beside Zedd.

"Mord-Sith are very good at providing pleasure." she smiled "You had a chance to find out." her eyes locked on Richard for a moment before moving to Kahlan, who looked up to him, then to her. "What?"

"What happened?" she asked curiously looking from Richard to Cara.

"You didn't tell her?" Cara asked knowingly, a smile on her lips as she looked over to him.

"It wasn't important. It's not important." he said as he laid out his bedroll. "It didn't mean anything."

"Of course not. All you could think about was getting to Kahlan. You give me one kiss and you've cheated."

A smile crossed Kahlan's lips as she looked over to her, trying not to laugh "Was this before or after you both ate the maggots?"

Snorting through a laugh of his own, Richard walked to Cara and lightly placed a hand on her shoulder, "You had really bad breath."

Zedd gave a light chuckle as he continued with the soup.

"He is a good kisser though isn't he?" the Mord-Sith said giving a wide smile to Kahlan, who was then unable to contain the laugh that rose in her throat.

"I think so."

"But you haven't kissed anyone else." she looked to Richard then back to her, "He could be your worst kisser and you would never know." she teased happily. "You've confessed him," she pointed to Daniel, who was watching intensely, "Kiss him."

"I will kiss you Mistress." Daniel said confidently as he stood and walked closer to her. "I am sure I will please you."

"Don't give him any ideas." Zedd said to Cara, holding in a laugh.

Kneeling down beside her, Richard wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips against hers, kissing her with everything within him, leaving her breathless when he pulled away. "How was that?" he asked smiling at her expression.

She nodded, a smile on her lips as she took in a few deep breaths. Zedd began to chuckle as Richard turned to Cara, who raised an eyebrow, "She's never kissed anyone else, of course she likes it when you kiss her."

"I could always kiss you." Kahlan said as her breath returned to her.

"Yes, but someone would be very sad if you left him for me." she said making Richard laugh

"I would." he said walking to Kahlan, "I would be very sad if you left me."

"I wouldn't leave you." she stated adamantly, their eyes locking for a brief moment before he passed her, making his way to Zedd.

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

"Are you awake?" he said softly, his hand slowly running up and down her arm.

"Mmm." she managed as she pulled herself closer to him. her head moving from his shoulder to his chest, her right arm draped over his stomach. "I'm awake."

He smiled as she lifted her head, looking up at him, "Hi." he said softly, a smile on his lips.

"Hi." she opened and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to adjust to the light around them. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking..." he looked over to Zedd, who snored loudly, then to Cara, who appeared to be asleep also. "They are still asleep... We could-" her lips were on his before he could finish his thought. He pulled at the laces of her dress, determined to feel her flesh against his. He was getting much quicker at removing her clothes, he only wished she didn't wear the corset. It always slowed him down.

"You two could at least go through the trees again." Cara said annoyed, making Kahlan pull away from him.

"We didn't mean to wake you." she said softly, looking over to her as she fumbled with the laces of her dress.

Sitting up, the Mord-Sith yawned, "Of course not. Your moans were almost quiet." coming to her feet she looked over to the D'Haran, sitting against a tree, staring at them.

Sitting herself up, Kahlan looked over to Daniel and then back to Richard "I'm going to get some breakfast." she said slightly embarrassed to have been watched.

"I'll come with you." Cara said as Kahlan put on her boots. "I can't sit here and have him stare at us too."

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

"He asked me to marry him."

She stopped and turned around towards her, "Why are you telling me this?"

"I don't have anyone else to tell." Kahlan replied through a sigh.

"You have Zedd."

"Zedd. Yes, I suppose."

"You agreed then?" Cara asked, turning away from her.

A small smile crossed her lips, "Yes." a small laugh escaped her lips, "It feels like a dream. I never thought this would be possible."

"You are a Confessor." Cara said softly

"And you're Mord-Sith. It didn't stop you from loving Leo." she said with a growing smile.

"You're not going to stop smiling are you?"

"I don't think so. It won't bother you as much if you smiled with me."

A smile crossed her own lips, "When did he ask you?"

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

"I asked her to marry me." he said casually, as he rolled his bedroll.

"While lying in the dirt?" Zedd asked with a wide smile.

"Back in Aydindril. Before you and Cara came knocking."

"You are just now mentioning it?" He asked looking up from his pack.

"She said yes." Richard said, looking up, beaming with joy as he stuffed the blankets into his pack. "I'm going to marry her."

"That's wonderful, my boy!" he said loudly as he stood up to hug his grandson. "I always knew you both would be happy together."

"You knew I wouldn't be confessed, didn't you?"

"You seem to forget that I am a Wizard of the First Order." he laughed, "I know things."

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

"Are you certain?" Darken Rahl's voice echoed through the halls of The People's Palace.

"Yes, my Lord." the large D'Haran soldier said softly, his eyes focused on the ground. "There is no mistaken."

"She wore a Rad'a'Han?"

"I do not believe so. Her magic flowed through them both. The ground shook from his strength."

He stared passed him, trying to understand what had happened. This would change his plans.

"She must not conceive a child with my brother. The Mother Confessor is mine."

"Forgive me, Sir, but why do you want her?"

Rahl smiled widely, showing all of his teeth, "Because my brother loves her." he gave a light chuckle, "If The Mother Confessor bares my child, it would destroy him. It is the least I can do." his eyes met the soldiers, "Are you sure of what you saw?"

"Yes sir. They were very much together."

"And he was unharmed by her magic?"

"I am not sure. They didn't stop."

He sighed, as he stood from his chair, "How close are they?"

"They will arrive before dark tomorrow."

"Then we don't have time to waste."

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

"Can I ask you a question Zedd?" he spoke softly as he looked up into the wizard's eyes.

"Anything." he replied as he tossed a twig into the fire.

"Has a Confessor ever married?"

He took in a deep breath, he had expected that question, "I do not believe so. A Confessor does not need to marry. Taking a man as her mate is done out of love. Marriage deals with love."

"And her people?"

"This is new to them. A Confessor in love with-"

"A woods guide." he interrupted.

"Richard," he paused, trying to find the words, "a Confessor - The Mother Confessor," he corrected himself, "chooses a mate that will unite lands, create peace..."

"I can't do anything like that."

"Did she ask you to?" Zedd asked, knowing the answer.

"No."

He walked closer to him, placing a reassuring hand on his grandson's shoulder. "Kahlan loves you. That is all that matters. Her people - your people, will understand in time." he smiled warmly, "Give them time."

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

"He has already decided." Kahlan said as she pulled her knife from the rabbit laying at her feet.

"He has decided wrong."

"It is his decision to make. We should respect that."

Rolling her eyes, Cara let out a laugh, "You're going to marry a man who was too stupid to take his thrown."

"He doesn't want it." she sighed, "I want him to be happy."

"He's a Rahl!" Cara said loudly, coming to her feet. "He's supposed to be ruling the land! If you took the thrown, your marriage would unite the lands. Isn't that what you are supposed to do when you take a mate?"

"Richard's not my mate." Kahlan said calmly.

"Your people think you are making a mistake marrying him." she paused, waiting for her to look up, "Maybe you are."

"Marrying the man I love is not a mistake." Kahlan said slowly, looking up, trying to get Cara to understand. "Richard may not be who my people expect me to marry, but it doesn't change the way I feel about him. I want to marry Richard." she smiled, "I never thought I'd want anything this much. I want to marry Richard, have his children, spend the rest of my life with him." her smile widened as one slowly grew on Cara's lips. "I want him to be happy. If he's happy, I'm happy."

"If you marry him, how do you think he's going to feel, when you're busy with your duties and he never gets to see you?"

That was the question Kahlan had been trying to avoid asking herself. The one question that screamed in her mind, asking her to think it through. She wanted him to be happy, but marrying him was something she wasn't sure would do that.

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

Eating quickly, they packed up what was left, so Zedd would have something to eat when he started to get hungry again. Daniel, now riding with Cara, stared a head at Kahlan as she rode beside Zedd.

"I suppose I should congratulate you." he said softly, leaning towards her, smiling widely, "The Mother Confessor getting married is a wonderful occasion!" he exclaimed making Kahlan laugh. "And you didn't tell before?"

"I thought about it... but the we..." she said softly, her cheeks turning red for a moment as she lifted her head towards him, "I'm getting married." she said softly, a wide smile crossing her lips.

"Yes you are." he replied matching her smile, her happiness spreading through him.

"I never thought this was possible." she said returning her attention to the trail above her. "Zedd, has any other Confessor married before?"

"I do not believe so. Not many men will allow themselves near a Confessor." he said honestly.

She smiled, "Yes. He's a rare person." turning back, she met his eyes, "I can't believe this is happening." she said looking back to Zedd, his smile widening at the sight of her joy.

"If we push farther tonight, we can be there sooner." Cara said annoyed as Daniel moved around, trying to get a better look at Kahlan.

"We're making good time." Richard said smiling

"You are not the one with this," she nodded her head backwards to the D'Haran, "sitting behind you."

"It can't be that bad."

Cara stopped her horse, a smile crossed her lips, "Let him ride with you."

His smile widened as he shook his head, "I only share my horse with Kahlan."

"She already has one. Take him." she watched him as he held in his laughter, "It's not funny."

"I think so." he replied letting out his laugh.

"You want to ride with your mistress?" she asked the man leaning behind her, looking over her shoulder.

He smiled widely at the question, "If my mistress wishes. I will do anything for her."

"Cara, you-"

"It's all right." Kahlan said turning back towards them, "I'll let him ride with me."

Richard smiled, "You could always ride with me again."

"We didn't get very far the last time." she said smiling.

"She's right. Lord Rahl has very eager hands." Cara said to Daniel as he climbed off her horse.

"I do not." he retorted

"Your hands are on her every chance you get." she said smirking.

"She's right." Zedd called back over his shoulder.

"I don't mind." she said softly as Daniel climbed behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

"You can always ride with me." Zedd said loudly watching the discomfort between Kahlan and Daniel.

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

"What is it my lord?"

Darken Rahl turned slowly towards the voice, "Let them get closer. They are outnumbered and coming right to us." he smiled widely, "They don't even know what's waiting for them."