Kahlan had still been groggy after she awoke. She rode her horse at a slower pace than the others and Richard slowed down to ride by her, allowing Zedd and Cara to get a considerable distance ahead of them.

"Are you alright?" Richard had never seen Kahlan this exhausted and he felt responsible. She had let him sleep and hauled up water to the bath. Before they stopped for camp, she had been riding a hard and fast pace and it was no wonder why she was so tired. She had woken up when Richard had moved from her side shortly after the break of dawn. She hadn't gotten much rest.

Kahlan glanced over to her left and nodded, a slight smile on her face. He slowed his horse down more, Kahlan taking the hint and doing the same.

"Yes, Cypher?" She leaned towards him, her eyebrow arching.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He knew Kahlan wouldn't admit any weakness, but he hoped that she would admit her exhaustion, that she would trust him with it.

"I'm just more tired than usual, that's all. I suppose the roles have been reversed, Seeker." He chuckled as she turned her head forward, hands loosely gripped to the reigns of her horse.

"Maybe I'll have to tire you out with love making in order for you to rest."

She cast him playful smile as she chuckled. "I wouldn't object. Though, I'm sure Cara and Zedd would."

Richard laughed at the prospect of the two making remarks from the other side of camp. "Amnell, I love you." He was still laughing. She smiled at him as she readjusted herself in her saddle.

Then he noticed it.

In all the times he said he loved her, she never did anything but smile or kiss him. She never admitted to having feelings of the sort. She never even let on that she felt the same. He knew she cared about him, but had no idea as to whether or not she actually loved him. He felt a sharp pain in his chest and forced his horse to a stop. Kahlan looked behind her and halted her horse, having it backtrack to meet Richard.

"Is something wrong?" Kahlan's blue eyes were sparkling. She had switched into a traveler's outfit that morning. It was a dark green, open between the legs and at the sides, leaving her room to maneuver if she were to fight. She wore black, tight fitting pants with them. The neckline was the same as all her other dresses. The dress made her seem at one with the woods and it had made Richard smile.

"Kahlan .." Richard didn't know how to bring it up. He debated if he should just wait until she admitted it on her own, that addressing her about it would only make things worse. Kahlan tilted her head.

"I love you." Kahlan smiled as she nodded her head. Richard stared at her. He felt like his heart was going to drop to his stomach. "Do you love me?"

Kahlan's face distorted slightly, sighing. "Richard-"

"Do you love me?" He repeated, his voice desperate and strangled. He saw pain flash through her eyes, and he was certain she could read his face as clear as she could read her own name. She pulled on the reigns, allowing her horse to start walking again. Richard did the same.

"Kahlan, answer me."

"Richard, this isn't the time nor the place."

Cara and Zedd were specs in the distance, and Richard was reasonably sure they knew not to interfere by slowing down. Richard picked up his pace, rearing his horse in front of Kahlan's, causing her to stop. She had a slight pout as she looked at him.

"Richard-"

"Kahlan," he could hardly speak past the lump in his throat, "I love you. I've told you that since the first night we made love. You've never said anything like the sort to me. I just want to know. You don't have to love me, I just want to know." He felt the moisture coming to his eyes. He knew his heart would break if she admitted she didn't love him - but as long as she kept him by her side, he would be able to endure.

She blinked and her mouth opened to say something, but no sound came out. She looked down at her hands as she recollected herself.

"Richard, it's more complicated than that." Her voice sounded rough.

"How?"

She looked up at him, her eyes becoming glassy. "You wouldn't understand." She pulled on the reigns of her horse, directing it around Richard's. He sat there for a moment before pulling his horse around and catching up to her.

"You can't avoid this question!" He barked, sounding harsher than he intended to and regret immediately set in when her eyes met his. He signed as he slumped his shoulders. "Kahlan, please." He pleaded.

"Can we talk about this later?" Her voice was shaky. She looked at him, fear seeming to cover her features. "Please?"

Normally, he'd succumb to anything she wished. Everything she ever asked of him, he did. But not now. He needed to know this. He needed to know why it was so complicated, why he wouldn't understand. He pulled his horse closer to hers, reaching out to grasp her reigns in his. She moved to object but stopped, sitting motionless in her saddle.

"Richard, I don't feel very well." Kahlan was a master at evading topics, things he wanted to know. She did it when he wanted to know her mate, and she was doing it now that he wanted to know if she loved him. He knew that he just had to be forceful enough and she'd respond. Dominance responds to dominance.

He reached up with his other hand and pulled her face to his, her eyes looking dull and lifeless. Her Confessor's face.

"Don't do that, Kahlan Amnell. Don't put on your Confessor's face when you are speaking to me." His voice was demanding, but her expression didn't waver. Instead, she repeated what she had said.

"Richard, I don't feel very well." Richard dropped his hand. Of course she didn't feel very well, she was being cornered into answering something she didn't want to answer. He scoffed as he let go of her reigns.

"Will you help me off my horse?" Kahlan's voice was small and meek.

"Will you answer my question?" Richard's voice was harsh and angry.

She looked at him with a pale face and bright blue eyes. She sighed and Richard pulled on his reigns, allowing his horse to move forward. He didn't hear the steps of a second horse.

He looked behind him just in time to see Kahlan fall off her horse, making hard contact with the ground.