The blur of steal and blood replayed in his mind, as they were taken to The People's Palace. Moments ago, he had been riding beside Kahlan, talking about their future, when they were surrounded. Leaving his horse, Richard attacked the soldiers coming for them. Blood flew through the air as his sword passed through the enemy. There were too many of over his shoulder, he caught a glimpse of Kahlan walking between four D'Haran soldiers, her face and clothes covered in blood, her hands bound behind her. Cara, walking a several feet behind her, next to Zedd, who wore a Rada'Han. Looking back to Kahlan, her eyes met his, she nods, trying to let him know she is alright before turning her attention to one of the men staring at her.
"You're very lucky Lord Rahl has chosen you."
"Chosen me? For what?" she asked quickly almost stopping, but the push on her back moved her forward.
He smiled, looking forward at Richard, "He knows about you two. He didn't like it. He wants you for himself." his laugh ran a chill through her body.
She looked up to the man she loved, still staring at her, her eyes wet and full of fear.
"Don't worry, he may not kill him." the D'Haran said watching them, "As long as he has you, and The Seeker suffers, he will be happy."
"He will never have me."
A smile crossed the large man's lips, brushing his blonde hair back from his face he let out a laugh, "Your fight will only make him happier to take you. He likes it. He will break you." her face didn't change, her eyes burned into his as she thought, "You may last longer than we expected." he said softly, suddenly feeling sorry for her fate.
"Keep them close, don't take any chances." The small soldier said looking over his shoulder at his men.
Standing before him, arms tied behind her, blood slowly dripping down her cheek from the recent beating she received when she was separated from the others. Her heart pounding in her ears as he approached her, smiling.
"So glad you could join me." he said walking around her, taking in the sight of her beauty. "You must be tired. You and The Seeker have been spending a lot of time together." his hand slowly ran down her arm, stopping when he hit the bindings around her wrists. "I was surprised to find him... How is it you were able to lay with him without destroying him?" She said nothing, her eyes staring straight ahead at the stone wall. "My men searched your bags, they found no Rada'Han. So tell me, how were you able to lay with him?"
"He's a rare person." she said softly, looking into his eyes.
"You will find, I will not tolerate your disrespect." he smiled, "Perhaps, you need some persuading." He turned towards the two men standing beside the door, Take her to dungeon. Allow her to see her friends." Turning back to her, his smile faded, "You will soon find how well you have been treated."
She walked slowly, taking everything in as they moved down the halls. "He's right, you know." One of the men said softly to her, "You are very lucky. He had them beaten. The Mord-Sith, she and your Seeker got the worst of it."
She stared at him, his green eyes comforting her, even with though his words made her ache. "They are alive?" she asked softly.
"Yes." He said even softer as the other guard looked over at him, "He won't kill them, even if they wish for it." The tear that fell down her cheek, taking the blood with it, caught his attention and carefully, he wiped it from her face, his gentleness surprising, before giving her a small smile. "It will be easier if you didn't fight this."
Nodding, she turned her head forward, just as they reached the dungeon doors.
"Enjoy yourself." The first words from the other guard's mouth made the hairs on her neck stand.
"Kahlan?" Zedd's voice came from the darkness.
Moving towards his voice, she almost smiled, untying her hands, she immediately wrapped her arms around him, "Zedd!" she said looking up at him. His face, bruised and bloody "Where's Richard and Cara?"
"We're over here." Cara said, opening her eyes.
"Richard!" she said as she noticed his head in her lap. Kneeling down beside the Mord-Sith, she noticed the bleeding cuts covering her face. Fear washed over her as her eyes moved down to the man she loved.
"Kahlan?"
Gently, she brushed the hair from the blood on his forehead, "How long have you been in here?"
"Not long." Cara's voice was soft as she turned towards her friend, "Where were you?"
"With Rahl. What did they do to you?"
Stepping in front of them, Zedd kneeled down, the light from the fire glaring off of the Rada'Han. "We were welcomed by Darken Rahl's men."
She stared down at him, his eyes half open as he stared up at her, his breath short and quick. "I'm so sorry." She whispered, "I'm-"
"No." he said quickly, reaching for her hand "You can't."
"I can't let him do this to you. To you all."
"No." he repeated, trying to sit up. "You-"
She sighed as Cara held him down by the shoulders, "Look at you. All of you. Maybe, if I-"
"Maybe," He said, his voice getting stronger "Kahlan, please, don't…"
Leaning down, she pressed her lips to his forehead, "I'm sorry." She said, as she slowly stood, looking around at Zedd and Cara. Walking over to the door, she held her hands out to the guard that frightened her.
"There's no need for that. She's coming willingly." The other said as the ropes were placed over her hands.
"If she escapes-"
"I'm not going to escape." She said looking straight ahead of her, trying to keep her mind off of the people behind her.
"Let's go." Taking hold of her arms, they led her through the door.
"She can't do this." he said pushing Cara's arms off of him, allowing him to sit forward, "We have to stop her."
"She's made up her mind, Richard." Zedd said with a sigh.
Leaning her head back, she laughed, "You wont be able to stop her." opening her eyes, she looked to them, "She's doing what needs to be done."
"How can you say that?" his voice hardening at the Mord-Sith.
"Cara's right. Kahlan is trying to protect us."
"What? Zedd, you know what he will do to her!" his anger filling within him, "I can't let her be with him!"
Wrapping his arms around him, he whispered, "She loves you. She does this to save you, to save us."
Returning the embrace, he released a soft cry of her name.
Staring at the wall, she adjusted the covers around herself, holding them tightly against her for some comfort. Tears filling her eyes as her mind wondered.
"It will not be as bad as you expect." his voice running shivers through her body. "'I must admit, I didn't think you would be this cooperative." stepping closer, he studied her face, the tears spilling out of the corners of her eyes as she nodded. "Why are you being so cooperative?"
"Because I want to-"
"You want to protect your friends." he finished her sentence, "This will not protect them. This will protect you." moving around the bed, closer to her, "If you do not do this, I will torture you in ways you cannot even imagine."
"If this will not help them, I will not-"
He laughed loudly as Kahlan pushed the blankets from herself and tossed her legs over the side of the bed. "You are already in my bed. Do you really think I'm going to let you leave?" pressing his hands on her shoulders, holding her down. "You are not leaving."
Walking through the palace, Kahlan, followed by a guard, allowed herself to think of the people she cared about.
"Mother Confessor," she turned towards his voice, "He asks about you."
"What?" she asked softly.
"The Seeker. He asks about you. They all do." He kept his eyes straight ahead, knowing her eyes were on him.
"Are they alright?" it had been over a week since she had seen them, she didn't even know they were still there.
Nodding, he looked around "If I take you to them..." he paused as they were passed by a few soldiers, "If I take you to them, will you be quick?"
Her heart leapt at the thought of seeing them again, "Yes."
Taking her arm, he pulled her into a long hallway. "You won't have much time. They will notice you aren't walking through the halls."
"Thank you- You know, I don't even know your name." she said stopping, turning him to face her.
"Michael. My name is Michael." he said softly, his green eyes meeting hers
"Michael." she repeated softly, allowing herself to smile softly at him.
"This way." he said as he turned, leading her down the hallway.
Stepping through the door, she felt their eyes on her. "Kahlan!" Richard half shouted as he moved closer, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly against himself. "Are you okay?" he asked into her hair, not wanting to pull away from her.
"I'm fine." she lied, looking over to Zedd and Cara, slowly walking towards them.
He pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. "What did he do to you?"
She shook her head. How could she tell him what had happened throughout the week? It would kill him. "Are you alright?" she asked quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice the pain in her eyes.
"We're fine." Zedd said softly, pulling her into a hug. "We've been worried about you."
"You are all alright?"
"We're standing here aren't we?" Cara said as she crossed her arms. Throwing her arms around her, Kahlan hugged her tightly. "You can let go of me."
"Mother Confessor, we must leave." Michael said, sticking his head through the open door, "They will be coming for you shortly."
"I'm coming." she turned to Richard, their eyes locking for a moment before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
"I love you." he whispered as he pressed his forehead to hers, his hands gently caressing her face.
"I love you too." she said before kissing him once more and walking through the door with Michael.
"You saw him today."
"What?" she asked looking up from her plate.
"My brother. You saw him today didn't you?" he asked, looking at her, his eyes narrowed.
"Yes." she said softly.
He nodded as he continued eating. "Who brought you to them?"
"I found them myself."
His fist slammed against the table, making Kahlan jump. "Who brought you to them?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the halls. She said nothing. Her eyes remained on her plate, "You will answer me!"
Looking up, she straightened her back, their eyes connecting, "No one took me to the dungeon. I went looking for it." she said calmly. "You should find guards who can do their job."
He smiled, "You managed to lose my guard and you didn't try to escape?" his smile widened, "You continue to surprise me."
"What good would my escape bring? You would kill my friends-"
"And the man you love." he completed her sentence. "Yes, you are right. I would." he started to eat again, returning his eyes to his plate for a moment before looking back to her, "Eat. You're going to need your energy."
"She was with you Michael, wasn't she?"
"No, Sir." he said softly as he brought a half conscious Nicci into the room. "I have not seen The Mother Confessor today." he added as he pushed her down before the table in the middle of the room.
"If I find you lied to me, I will have your head removed."
"Yes Sir." he replied looking up from Nicci, "Shall we begin?"
With a nod from Rahl, he pulled the cloth from the center of the table, revealing a quillion, now glowing as her Han was pulled into it. "Complete it today. I don't care if she falls over dead, get it all." he said as he walked toward the door, "I have The Mother Confessor herself waiting for me in my chambers. I'm going to enjoy this." he added just before the door shut behind him."
"Seeker?"
He looked up to the voice, "Yes?"
"The Mother Confessor asked me to give you this." Michael said reaching out his hand. "She wrote it this morning when she found out."
"Found out?" he asked walking closer.
"It would be best if you got rid of this once you've read it. He suspects."
Taking the letter from his hand, he grabbed hold of his arm, "Why are you helping her?"
"She is The Mother Confessor and you are the heir to his thrown. He should be dead." he said calmly, looking around to Zedd and Cara for a moment before returning his eyes to Richard. "Are you going to replace him?" he asked sounding hopeful.
"No." Richard said quickly, unfolding the paper in his hands. Jerking his head up, he looked at Michael, "Is she sure?"
Nodding, Michael took in a deep breath, "I informed her this morning. I am not sure how long it will take to drain her." he said softly, looking down the hall to be sure no one was listening. "He has her sitting there until- We do not have much time."
"What can we do?" Cara said after reading the paper Richard handed her, "We are locked down here."
Michael smiled, "The Mother Confessor has a plan."
