Now that Richard knew why Kahlan was emotionally cut off, he was more invested in getting to know her work as the Mother Confessor. He often sat in on meetings and rulings, learning how she managed the Midlands and exactly what kind of ruler she was.

From what he had gathered, she held very little mercy, yet she was incredibly fair.

Kahlan held each case up to Aydindril's rules, but often found loopholes where the accused would receive a lesser sentence. Sometimes Kahlan would over rule a precedent all together, making a new one by doing so. Her methods baffled Richard.

All of the rulings happened in the same room - the one with the Confessor's chair. It wasn't incredibly ornate, but it made a stance, and was most definitely the focal point of the area. Kahlan looked even more commanding when she sat in the chair, leaning her arm on the right arm rest and angling her body, her legs crossed. Not only was she commanding, she was seductive.

Richard sat in a desk to the side, out of Kahlan's way. He was able to observe the proceedings as closely as he could. Kahlan would offer him a side glance every once in awhile, her eyebrow shooting up. She didn't understand why he would want to sit in on these events, they weren't necessarily exciting, and she urged him to learn more about his magic instead of her work.

It had only been a few days since their confrontation, but Richard felt this was a new beginning. Now his mind wasn't clouded with questions and he didn't have to dwell on every move she made that didn't seem to make sense to him.

Oddly, he now found her even more alluring.

Richard watched as the final person was hauled off into the custody of the guards. Richard hadn't paid attention to much of the case, disgusted by the details. The man wasn't well known, living off of the streets, supposedly preying on young women who walked by. There were many girls who told of their experiences, of their rapes. The women urged Kahlan to bring justice, but the man was holding firm on his innocence. Richard wasn't sure what she was going to do. He was shocked when he saw her rise from her chair and walk over to the man, placing a hand around his throat and confessing him, him dropping to his knees before her as she took a step back. He then confessed all he had done to the girls, making Richard cringe and stifle his urge to purge out his lunch. He was then very disgusted that Kahlan had to touch such a man, and then his mind raced to that man touching her. Richard decided that he would ask what hearings would be made before he sat in on them. He was happy to see the man dragged to what the guards had called "the pit."

Kahlan was now sitting back in her chair, thumbing through some papers as she blew a strand of hair out of her face. She had taken to wearing her Confessor's dress constantly, having no need to switch out of it. Her hair was done every morning by maidservants, making it curlier than normal and having parts of it tied back, keeping it from her face. Apparently, one strand was defiant and continued to dangle in her eyesight.

After Richard had healed her, Kahlan had insisted they go after the Sisters and terminate them all. Cara eagerly agreed. However, Richard was hesitant to throw Kahlan back into the situation, and she refused to stay behind. She was convinced if she didn't go, someone would end up killed. Richard was fairly certain she was right. After all, she's the only reason he survived the attack. Zedd had told her that when the time came, they would deal with the situation. Kahlan responded by saying that the longer the wait, the higher the chance of her becoming pregnant, and hence, the higher the chance of one of them dying. Richard was happy to see that she didn't want to lose another child again, noticing that she was implying she would have to stay behind if she were to become pregnant. Eventually, Kahlan tired of arguing with the old man and dropped the subject.

And now she was blowing the strand out of her face yet again.

Richard smiled as he pushed his chair away from the desk, a slight scratching noise following. She didn't look up from her papers, her brows wrinkling together and her lips pursing as she blew out more air to push the strand back for a mere second. He made his way to the chair and gently used his fingers to grasp the strand of hair, moving to tuck it between pieces of her hair that were firmly in place, hoping that the weaving he was doing would hold it. When he was done positioning the unruly strand, he took a step back, watching her to see if it would fall again. It didn't.

Kahlan looked up at him and smiled, her countenance already relaxing. Richard had become very aware in observing her that it wasn't as easy to distract her from her work as it was to distract him. In D'Hara, Kahlan had very easily persuaded him to abandon his work to enjoy in pleasures with her, but in Aydindril, no such thing would happen. However, Kahlan was very efficient in her work, and whenever Richard would show interest, she'd manage to get it done in a surprisingly fast manner.

Since the fight, she was getting all of her work done in a surprisingly fast manner.

Richard turned to walk out of the room, as was the regular custom, when he heard her whine behind him. He turned to see her pouting, arms crossed, one hand full of papers. He cocked his head to the side and lifted his eyebrows.

"Yes, Mother Confessor?" Richard always addressed her by title when she was sitting in her chair. He felt it would be wrong to call her anything else, and when he tried, the words wouldn't move past his throat. Kahlan sat in her chair the majority of the day, to which Richard called her by title. However, when she would remove herself from the chair, the compulsion to call her by her title died, making their personal moments seem even more intimate.

He stood there waiting for a response, unsure of what to do. This had never happened before. She dropped the papers to the floor and beckoned him with her finger as she stood.

"You know," she began, running her fingers through her hair and down to the laces of her dress, slightly tugging on them. "The staff won't be cleaning this room for hours."

Richard smiled as he continued to make his way towards her at a slow pace. "And why is that?"

"Because I told them not to." She responded playfully, wrapping a lace around her finger and pulling, causing the dress to tighten around her corset. Richard's breath caught in his throat. The added pressure was practically making her spill out of the fabric. When she noticed his reaction she let go of the lace, allowing the dress to return to fit her figure normally. "I told them I would be very busy." Her eyebrow rose as she bit her bottom lip.

"Very busy?" Richard's hands were behind his back and his boyish grin overtook his features.

"Well," Kahlan said with a pout, looking down as she started pulling at the laces again. "Will I be?"

Richard nodded as he closed the distance. "Very."

She giggled as he reached down and grabbed fistfuls of her dress, thankful that she wasn't wearing the black pants underneath it. He gathered the fabric in his hands, urging it up her body. When her thighs were fully exposed and his hands were wrapped in the fabric around her waist, he hoisted her up, her legs wrapping around him as he turned around, settling himself in her seat. She laughed into his kiss, his hands releasing the fabric and resting on her thighs.

"Daring to sit in the Mother Confessor's chair?" She murmured, leaning her head down to place kisses along his jawline. He laughed and traced patterns over her thighs.

"I believe that is a treasonous offense." She spoke into his skin, moving down to his neck. She nipped at his pulse point, causing it to race even more than it had previously been. While she was busy leaving sloppy kisses on his neck, he moved his right hand up her thigh, quickly making contact with her shorts. She shifted, allowing him more room. Instead of pulling at the clothing, he relished the feel of her and started laughing. Kahlan pulled back and sat on top of him, huffing as she crossed her arms. The strand of hair had escaped, and she blew more air to try and remove it from her face.

"What are you waiting for, Seeker?" She teased as she placed her hands on his shirt, pulling him up to meet her lips.

"Me."

Kahlan jumped slightly at the voice, turning around to see Cara standing, hand on her hip. Kahlan made a face and Cara scoffed, Richard trying to pull himself out of his haze of lust.

Even when they can be together, someone was always trying to stop them.

"Yes, Cara?" Richard's voice was testy. Kahlan moved to stand, but Richard encircled an arm around her and pulled her body back down towards his. Richard's arousal was all too evident, and he would not hear the teasing of the blonde for days to come. When Cara pursed her lips at him, Richard sighed and held Kahlan tighter as he stood, carrying her with him to meet Cara. Kahlan wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging lightly at his hair.

"Yes, Cara?" He repeated, his hold on Kahlan still tight. He realized quickly that this was also a bad idea. Having Kahlan pressed so close against him didn't kill his desire, and her bare thighs crushing against his sides was enough to drive him mad.

"A unit of the D'Haran army has arrived."

Richard felt Kahlan stiffen in his arms, and was certain that if he could see her face that it would be scowling. She started plucking at his hair more forcefully, causing him to wince as he felt the follicles being pulled from his skin. He still didn't let her down.

"Thank you, Cara."

Kahlan started digging her nails into the skin on his neck.

"Where do you want them positioned?"

Kahlan moved her head down to bite his neck hard enough to draw blood.

"Just outside of Aydindril, no need to bring them within the city walls."

"But, Lord Rahl-"

"No!" Kahlan yelled, punching Richard in the shoulder and urging him to let her down. After her third blow, he finally did as she wished. She positioned herself between the two, facing neither of them. From where she was, she could glance to both of them. "No."

Cara pursed her lips as she eyed Kahlan. Richard tried to clear his thoughts. One thing was certain, he was no longer aroused.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Kahlan was waving her arms in a dramatic fashion, face going red with rage. "I do not want D'Haran soldiers anywhere near Aydindril!" Her hands were now clenched in fists beside her.

Richard tilted his head to the side and opened his mouth to speak when Kahlan lifted a finger in his direction. "No." She growled through clenched teeth.

"Mother Confessor, this is absurd." Richard sighed, knowing the heat of Kahlan's wrath was now going to be directed towards the Mord'Sith.

"What is absurd is placing D'Haran soldiers outside of Aydindril! These people have suffered enough by the hands of your soldiers and now they are standing guard outside the city? How are people now going to view my and Richard's union? It's-"

"I want to protect you." Kahlan's rage died down as her eyes focused in on Richard, who was now wearing a frown.

"What?" She choked out, not prepared for the proclamation while she was arguing.

"I want to protect you," he repeated, taking a step towards her. "I know it's a ridiculous thought. I know you can protect yourself and your people, but I want to help. After the .. incident, I just want to be better prepared if something dangerous comes your way. They aren't here to barricade the Midlands or to make people uneasy, they are here because I want to offer all I can to protect you - because you are all that matters to me. Surely, the people will see that the union is sound." Her face distorted and she clenched her eyes, mouth agape. Richard closed the distance and took her hands in his, forcing them to relax and mold into his embrace. "I just want to protect you." He repeated, more tenderly than before. Her blue eyes looked up at him through her lashes, dissatisfaction still shining through.

"Fine." The word was sharp and rushed, as if it pained her to say it. She glanced over to Cara. "Outside the city walls."

"But-"

"One small," Kahlan's eyes narrowed at the blonde, "very small, unit can come into the city. However, they will not roam the streets. They will be stationed inside the Confessor's Palace." Cara nodded her approval as she walked out of the room, Kahlan huffing and getting frustrated that her hair was again falling in her face. Richard leaned in and placed a light kiss on her lips.

"Thank you." He murmured.