Despite her best efforts, Kahlan was still uneasy around the quad. Richard tried his hardest to be around her as much as possible, allowing the men to leave because she was under his protection. It didn't take long for her to become testy with him, leaving her to choose between Richard's company and a quads.

Eventually, Kahlan decided that Cara would serve a much better protector, and when given the choice of Richard or the quad, would often volunteer Cara for the job. Surprisingly enough, the Mord'Sith didn't mind, often stating that neither Lord Rahl or a quad would be able to protect the Mother Confessor properly. Kahlan became better suited to this situation, and soon Cara never left her side.

It had been two months since Kahlan admitted she loved Richard, and the two never spoke of the incident that ignited the confession. Kahlan's pregnancy was showing slightly, the ties on her Confessor's dress loosened enough to allow the garment to hang on her comfortably. Kahlan's ruling over Aydindril was still sound, her pregnancy not affecting her ability to command a kingdom.

Richard was hovering over Kahlan more than usual, wanting to observe every part of the pregnancy as closely as he could. He delighted in watching her grow with his child. She would often toss and turn at night, the baby kicking and keeping her awake. Richard thought this would make Kahlan more testy, but it didn't. It was as if she wasn't even pregnant, aside from her dislike of meat.

Since Cara had become Kahlan's shadow, she was able to read the Mother Confessor's moods. When she would notice that Kahlan was becoming aggravated with Richard, Cara would shoo him away, making up some errand for him to go on or insist he become better acquainted with his army. When she ran out of excuses, Cara would bluntly tell him to leave because he was grating on the Mother Confessor's nerves.

Kahlan had always been insatiable, but her pregnancy was causing her to want him at more inconvenient times of the day. When Richard was talking with an official, Cara would come up to him and plainly state that the Mother Confessor beckoned him to her bed. Richard would blush and stammer some words, but Cara would only smirk and whomever he was having a conversation with would slip away and leave him to do what Kahlan wished.

Desire and disgust with meat seemed to be the only side effects she had.

Despite Zedd's best efforts, he could not bring himself to stop coddling Kahlan. Cara would often push him out the door, claiming that an angry Mother Confessor would be the death of him. Richard was more than pleased that Cara and Kahlan had become companions, but he was beginning to feel jealousy towards the blonde. It seemed the Mord'Sith was the only person Kahlan didn't tire of easily, and Richard couldn't tell if it was because they were so similar, or because Cara knew how to stay out of Kahlan's way,

Either instance, he was still jealous.

Richard had met with Maria a few times since he had planned the surprise, always paying a considerable amount for a small bouquet of lilies. Maria would laugh and urge him to take the flowers free of charge, but Richard would shake his head and decline, stating he wasn't above the law and he was perfectly fine paying. It didn't dissuade Maria from objecting, though. The old woman was persistent, he'd give her that.

Richard decided it would be a good idea to introduce Zedd to Maria, and when the two met, they instantly became close friends. Kahlan thanked Richard profusely, the attention now diverted from her and directed towards the new woman. Richard could tell that Kahlan was an inch away from breaking the old man in half.

Kahlan had a slight case of morning sickness, but other than feeling a little woozy, it hadn't affected her. When Zedd heard of this, he tried to give her a number of elixirs, Kahlan pushing them away and scowling every time he shoved a new one in her face. Cara hadn't been present to warn the old man when Kahlan was becoming close to snapping. When Zedd put a fourth elixir in front of her, she sat up and slammed her fist on the table, taking her other hand and pulling the stopper out of the bottle and splashing it on Zedd. She repeated the action until all the containers were empty, storming out of the room, leaving the wizard drenched in potions.

The action didn't stop him from continuing to try and ease her through her pregnancy. Maria, however, was quite a large distraction.

Richard decided to take the initiative to ease himself back around Kahlan, careful not to overbear her with his presence. After a few days, he was able to stay around her for hours at a time without aggravating her.

However, he still hovered.

Kahlan constantly scolded him, telling him not to prod at her like a child. When her warning fell on deaf ears, she threatened to kick him out of Aydindril. Cara had decided that Richard needed to spend a little time apart from the Mother Confessor after that specific outburst.

After another few weeks, Kahlan's tempers began to swing even more, and Richard felt that if he inhaled a breath incorrectly that she would yell. When she would begin to raise her voice, Richard easily switched her mood to desire, distracting her by random kisses or touches. She would curse at him but eventually give in. Nothing Richard could do, save appealing to her desires, would prevent her from getting mad at him.

If he sat too close, he was hovering over her. If he asked her a question, he was ambushing her. If he touched her, all he wanted her for was sex. Every move Richard made caused Kahlan to become angry. Cara found it all very amusing.

Zedd had informed Richard that it was normal for women with child to act this way, that they became resentful towards the man for making them pregnant. Richard doubted that Kahlan resented him, but he didn't know if he could keep his sanity through the duration of her pregnancy.

He decided he should have a talk with Kahlan, to see how she really felt about the situation, if she actually held ill feelings towards him for giving her a child. It was pitch black outside, the moon hanging high in the sky and offering little light. He made his way into the Confessor's Chambers - Kahlan had become quickly annoyed that he hadn't learned the names of the rooms and made him memorize the titles. She was sitting on her chair, her hands wrapped around a bundle of papers.

Cara was standing nearby and left with a nod from Richard. Kahlan glanced up at him, her left sided smirk creeping on her features.