"This book dabbles in the illnesses subtractive magic can cause." Zedd tossed the book Richard's way. He rubbed his eyes, sinking his head down to rest on the book that was currently open. He could barely see over the stack of books that his grandfather piled in front of him. Zedd's stack was twice as tall.

The libraries in the Wizard's Keep were of the likes he had never seen before. There were multiple libraries, all with different subject matter. Zedd had told him that each used to have it's own librarian who was well versed on any book in their sector. Richard wished they were there now.

The Keep was abandoned, save the two of them. Sometimes Cara would wander in, but she couldn't get fair without Zedd's help. Zedd had explained to them that the Keep had natural defenses and barriers that kept the ungifted out. Richard was directed to hold his grandfather's arm in order to pass through the shields. Cara scoffed at the whole idea of a building guarding itself, and often found excuses to leave and check on something else. Richard knew she left because magic scared her, and knew her excuses revolved around Kahlan. He would see her silently coming out of her room at night, her face slightly flushed. Her compassion for Kahlan made his heart swell and break at the same time.

It had been two days since they had arrived in Aydindril. When Richard left Kahlan's bedside, he ordered two maidservants to stay with her at all times. She wasn't completely gone, Richard had told himself. She would wake for fleeting moments in the day, lolling her head slightly and attempting to lift her heavy lids. These glimmers where the only time the maidservants could dribble water down her throat, or encourage her to swallow a spoonful of spice soup. From what the maidservants told him, she always obliged - swallowing the substances before letting her head fall back down on the pillow.

Her condition wasn't worsening, but it wasn't improving either. She was growing thinner, her muscle slowly dwindling away. Richard feared the day her ribs would be poking through her flesh. Despite Richard's original thoughts, the darkness in her veins didn't spread to any other limbs, just settled there on her neck and wrists.

Richard was slow at reading the books. They contained things he wasn't sure would be relevant, seeing as he didn't have any prior knowledge with magic. He'd read something out loud to Zedd, only to have the old man shake his head slowly, Richard returning to skim the rest of the passage. They had gone through dozens of books in the past two days, sleeping minimal. Richard would sneak away and sit by Kahlan's bed when Zedd dozed off on top of the book piles. The walk down from the Keep to the Confessor's Palace was long and tedious, but he was quick and almost ran the distance just to steal a few moments with Kahlan. He'd bring a book or two to skim along, glancing at her after every few words. Often times, Richard would come sagging back into the library, his grandfather stirring and popping up from his position, blinking his eyes and eagerly getting back to reading. Richard knew Zedd was awake and knew that he had left - but he appreciated the gesture.

Richard was getting nowhere with research. This book talked of how subtractive magic can contaminate the one who wields it - Kahlan didn't wield subtractive magic. Or did she? He shook his head, cursing himself yet again for cutting off Zedd so many years ago. Either way, he was certain it wasn't what he was looking for. She was infected by someone else, not by her own power. He sighed heavily as he closed the book, dust lingering in the air. He glanced up at Zedd. Richard couldn't thank him enough for trying so hard to come up with a solution to help Kahlan, and even though he would scold and patronize, Richard didn't mind - it was all for the hopes of saving her.

He reached for the next book in the stack, pulling it down in front of him as he rubbed the back of his neck. He brushed some of the dust off the cover and blinked away the irritation in his eyes. He sighed, straining to read the title.

Illnesses Caused by Subtractive Magic.

The title was promising, but then again, many had been. He learned after reading a few books that getting your hopes up would just result in them getting crushed. He looked up to Zedd. His head was leaning on his left arm, which was propped up by the stack of books. Richard gathered his newest book in his arms, slightly coughing when the dust lodged into his throat. He made his way out of the Keep, intent to see Kahlan again.

It was hot and humid outside as he made his way across the bridge that led from the Keep out near the palace. It was pitch black, the moon barely a sliver in the sky, the stars seeming to disappear and hide from the world. Richard shuddered before stepping his foot on the soft ground, walking past the courtyard and climbing onto the marble steps that led into the Confessor's Palace.

There was minimal light inside the hallways, everyone having retired to their beds hours before. Richard's feet dragged against the marble, making a corner and seeing a red blur in his vision. It was Cara. She was walking to Kahlan's room, but quickly redirected her attentions to him, walking straight towards him.

"Lord Rahl, you look exhausted." She lifted the book from his hands, cradling it to herself. "Get some sleep."

He shook his head, reaching to obtain the book again, only to have Cara step out of his reach. "Lord Rahl, you will be much faster with reading and more prone to save Kahlan if you are well rested." Richard knew she was right, but his heart wouldn't agree to the plan. He looked up at her with sad eyes.

"Cara, please .." His voice was pleading. She looked down at the book in her arms and handed it back to him, her eyes understanding and her mouth adorning a sad smile. He watched until she was out of sight before reaching for the handle of Kahlan's room.

There were candles throughout the room, giving a light aura of light. It reminded him of the first time they made love. His heart felt like it was going to shatter and tears involuntarily started trickling out of his eyes. A maidservant came up to him, her head tilting. He motioned for her and her companion to leave the room. They nodded and left, giving no protest. Richard silently thanked them for it, even though they did it every night when he would come.

A chair was already beside her bed, the maidservants placing it there for his oncoming arrival. He smiled at their gesture. He once walked in on the two talking of how odd it was that a man cared so much for the Mother Confessor without being confessed, that he would sit at her bedside while she was ill and watch over her. When the two saw him they stopped their words, quickly gathering the cloths they were using to clean Kahlan and shuffling out of the room, their cheeks red with embarrassment. Richard wondered how many of the help thought the same.

He pulled the chair closer and sat down, gently setting the book on the bedding and opening it. He used to come in and greet her with a kiss on her forehead, but the clammy contact only made his heart sink deeper into his chest. He started skimming the passages, unable to focus. He sighed and leaned back in the chair, watching Kahlan's chest rise and fall. She let out a light cough and he jumped, the motion causing Kahlan's head to turn his way and her eyelids to lift slightly. Richard choked back a sob.

"Richard?" Her voice was weak and raspy, the effort making her chest move more rapidly for intake of breath.

Richard set the book beside him on the night table, rising from his chair and sitting on the edge of the bed as slowly as he could, not to disturb her. The maidservants had informed him that most of the times her eyes managed to flutter open and her movements seemed to come to life, she'd ask for him. He was never there to witness it, but now his heart was breaking all the more. His eyes started welling with tears again.

"Yes, Amnell?" He saw what he thought was a chuckle, and he had to swallow back the lump in his throat. She was trying to open her eyes more, only slits of the blue orbs visible. The effort was making her eyebrows furrow. "Kahlan, it's okay." He moved up on the bed, moving his hand down her hair. "Just relax." She nodded lightly and her head cradled against his hand when he lifted it to touch her cheek. Her skin was cold. He had to stifle a sob.

Richard could see the moisture leaking out of her barely opened eyes, realizing this is the first time she's woken up and seen him since they had gotten to Aydindril. He felt guilty for leaving her side, but knew it was for the best, that it was the only way they could help her. He held his hand to her face and felt her slowly slip back into sleep.

Then her eyes popped open, her mouth gasping for air.

Richard mirrored the action, shock overtaking all his features. He froze, but his hands were shaking. Her back was arching, the effort to take a breath overwhelming her. The black in her veins was rapidly encompassing her body. Richard's senses finally came back to him and he reached for the book, hoping that this was the one that could help save her - even though he knew it was futile. When his hand moved towards the night table, Kahlan's right arm shot out and grabbed him by the wrist, holding him in a death grip. He almost shrieked from the strength she was using, the strength he was certain was gone. Her head turned to him, her mouth parted and her blue eyes panicking. He caught his breath. He didn't know what he could do, what would save her.

She was going to die, and he was going to be forced to watch.

Tears started falling freely from his eyes, his body no longer able to control it's actions. Her grip loosened on him as her head fell back, her body gasping even more as the poison slipped through the rest of her body. The sight was ghastly. Her whole body was covered in what looked like a black spiderweb, the veins connecting and transferring more of the poison through her body. Her chest was falling at fast intervals.

He moved closer to her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he hoisted her up, letting her head fall against his shoulder as he cradled her head in his right hand, smoothing her hair. His left hand traced circles on her back. He tried to calm her, hoping that if her body relaxed, the sickness would too.

It was a failed attempt, Richard knew.

He started to rock her, cooing softly as you would a baby. His face was streaked in tears as she gasped into his skin, fighting to get air in her lungs. Her skin was growing colder by the minute, the subtractive magic coursing through every fiber of her being, claiming her.

"I love you, Kahlan Amnell." He was choking back his sobs, he had to be strong for her, to let her be weak in this moment. He wouldn't let her die without her knowing exactly how he felt about her. "I've loved you since the moment I saw you. You may not love me back, but it never hindered my undying devotion to you. I wish I could have prevented this. I wish I could have been a stronger, more competent man. I wish I could take this from you and suffer it myself. You are the strongest, most amazingly perfect woman I know, and I want you to know that if you are to die here in my arms at this very moment, I would die too."

He felt her sag against his skin, going limp.