Richard watched in horror as the woman who had saved him and the woman who had captured him approached one another, walking with light steps around the other as they estimated their opponent. The two were polar opposites. His breath hitched when the they stopped circling each other.
"Mother Confessor, it would be best if you left." Denna said slowly, more so as a command than a suggestion. Kahlan scoffed as she crossed her arms, the silk bunching slightly.
"I do not believe that is an option." Why was this woman fighting so hard to save him? Richard couldn't understand it. She was his protector. The two times when he has been in a deadly situation and had little to no chance of escaping, she has come along and defended him, protected him. His heart fluttered in his chest and he felt as though he had more strength than he ever had had before - and it was all because of her. He began swaying in his chains, aware she had found a weak spot. Maybe if he began moving, the link would break. This was his only hope to save himself, to save the woman who was about to put her life on the line for him.
"Mother Confessor, the Seeker is my pet," Richard became confused when he saw the dark haired woman's features change to that of shock and sorrow. "You were not there to protect him, as was your duty. Now he is mine. You have no right to act as though you are a defense to him when you weren't even there to begin with." Richard watched as Denna deviously smiled and the woman hung her head a little lower, sighing and shutting her eyes. Her blue eyes met Denna's with more authority than he had ever seen.
"I am here now." Kahlan's voice was hard. This man was the Seeker. Perhaps that's why she felt so connected to him when they first met - but surely he wasn't the Seeker then. He couldn't even defend himself from a quad of D'Harans. He hadn't even tried. Regardless, she should have been there for this man. Someone should have. Why did no other Confessor guide him? She was certain they hadn't all perished. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to sort her thoughts while not letting Denna see weakness. It shouldn't matter to her whether any other Confessor protected this man - she was the Mother Confessor. She should have known a Seeker was chosen. Kahlan was so absorbed in trying to convince the Midlands to stay united that she hadn't heard of anyone becoming the Seeker. She heard of a renegade - perhaps that was him. Nevertheless, she was the most powerful Confessor - she should have been protecting this man.
"I'm going to give you one last chance to leave, Mother Confessor. Otherwise, I'll have to kill you." Richard's heart stopped and his attention was alert, still swaying slightly in his chains, moving his hands to yank the chain down, causing the metal to bite into his skin. The woman wasn't scared. She stood like a monument. Richard looked at her as if she was larger than life.
"Better than you have tried." Kahlan's words were laced with venom, the challenge now concrete. She was fully aware that she didn't have her daggers or any weapons - she'd have to use her naked strength. Against an agiel. As futile as this could be, she would not leave this man - the Seeker - tied up and tortured by a D'Haran. She'd rather be dead. Soon, she might be.
Denna stepped closer to her, the leather creaking. "Lord Rahl really wanted you to himself," She began as she reached out a hand and pulled on a strand of Kahlan's hair. "I had hoped you wouldn't be stupid. I was wrong." The blonde's eyes settled on Kahlan and she wanted nothing more than to rip the Mord'Sith's heart out of her chest.
Richard began tugging on his chains harder, lifting his body up and letting it drop, hoping the weight shifts would cause the chains to break. He was surprised he had as much strength as he did, and despite the horror of the situation, the women were preoccupied with each other and paid no mind to him. The woman who had saved him glanced in his direction, a slight smirk playing on her lips.
Before Denna had time to react, Kahlan slammed a fist into her leather covered stomach, causing Denna to lose her breath for a split second. Kahlan spun and hit the blonde across the face with the back of her fist, the Mord'Sith falling to the floor. Kahlan was aware the shock was the only benefit she had. Soon enough, Denna would be pressing her agiel into Kahlan's skin - causing unimaginable pain. Kahlan's advantage was quickly over, Denna staggering to her feet at incredible speed and backhanding Kahlan - the leather scraping across her skin and causing her flesh to tear.
Richard watched in astonishment at the two fighting. Denna had an agiel - the Mother Confessor had nothing. He realized she was going to die - just because she wouldn't leave him alone with Denna. Why did she care so much? Richard cringed when Denna spun her agiel into her hand, slamming it into the dark haired woman's neck.
Kahlan gasped for breath, her knees buckling and her body falling to the floor as Denna loomed over her. A mere second of contact with the weapon was already having Kahlan fighting to stay conscious. Her legs were sprawled across the cold marble, her slippers long abandoned. The silk barely covered her form. She gasped and blinked, attempting to regain full consciousness. She heard Denna chuckle above her and the blood in Kahlan's veins began boiling. The increased heartbeat caused the welt on Kahlan's neck to begin leaking blood. Her hands were flat against the floor, her eyes glancing to see Denna standing over her triumphantly.
Richard felt a tear run down his cheek.
Kahlan sucked in a deep breath when she saw Denna's boot lift off the ground to kick her in the stomach. When her foot made contact with Kahlan, she pushed on her hands and swung her legs to the right, causing Denna's support to crash from underneath her. Denna started falling while Kahlan continued to push forward, bringing her knees up to her chest and enclosing Denna's foot. When the blonde hit the floor with a strong thud, Kahlan heard a crack in the limb she was currently possessing. She loosened her grip and Denna cursed.
Richard couldn't believe his eyes. This woman was brilliant.
Kahlan took deep breaths as she stood, blood now staining her night gown - which had various tears. Denna glared up at her, reaching for her agiel. Kahlan kicked her arm, the agiel sliding across the floor and out of the Mord'Sith's reach. Denna slowly brought herself up to her feet, putting very little weight on the now injured foot. The two glared at each other. Kahlan wasn't prepared when Denna reached her arm up. Instinctively, Kahlan went to block the arm striking against her, but was knocked against the wall by Denna's knee slamming into her stomach. Kahlan's head made hard contact with the back of the wall, her body sliding down as her vision began to blacken.
Richard began tugging on the chains frantically, realizing that he would not be able to break free and the Mother Confessor would not be allowed to live. Richard felt his heart sink when Denna managed to maneuver her wounded foot and obtain her agiel. Denna moved back over to the crumpled form of the dark haired woman.
"You were more of a challenge than I thought." Denna drawled out, waving the agiel in front of Kahlan's face - her head throbbing. She scoffed as the blonde continued to taunt her with her weapon. Denna ran the agiel lightly over the flesh of Kahlan's thigh, causing her to scream and her eyes to water. When she removed the agiel, Kahlan glanced down to see blood coming to the surface of her porcelain skin. She inhaled deeply before meeting Denna's gaze.
"You have yet to see what a challenge I am." She exhaled through short breaths. Kahlan knew the threat held no weight behind it, but she would not allow the Mord'Sith to view her as weak. When Denna began lightly running her agiel over Kahlan's bare arm, she stifled a scream, instead she pursed her lips. Her arm began to throb and she was aware of the welts beginning to form and felt the warm sensation of blood running down her arm. She didn't falter, still glaring at Denna.
Richard could not watch this any longer. He wanted nothing more than to save the Mother Confessor, but she was hanging on her last breaths. Denna would surely kill her without much of a fight. He wanted to look away, but couldn't tear his eyes from the dark haired woman.
Denna hovered closer to Kahlan's face, using her agiel to move Kahlan's chin up. Kahlan's eyes watered as she clenched her mouth and resisted from screaming. She felt relieved when Denna took the agiel away, now only an inch or so away from her face.
"I believe this is your end, Mother Confessor." Denna looked smug and Kahlan smirked. The blonde tilted her head.
"Quite the opposite." Kahlan choked out as her arm shot out, her hand grasping Denna's neck. The blonde's eyes grew wide as her hand frantically tried to slam the agiel into Kahlan's skin. Kahlan stared at the Mord'Sith as she felt the agiel ram into her ribs, her body jerking. It was to no avail, and Kahlan released her power, watching as Denna's eyes went black.
Richard couldn't believe what he was seeing. He had never witnessed a confession before, but the silent thunder rolled through him and shook his entire being.
"Command me, Mistress." Denna pleased, eyes wide with anticipation to please. Kahlan gathered her breath when the blonde's agiel fell away from her ribs. She looked down. Kahlan was covered in blood and welts, cuts and bruises. Her whole body throbbed. She looked over to Richard - who looked much like her, only worse. He had been being tortured far longer than the short fight she had with Denna. Kahlan glared at the cowering woman.
"Die." The Mord'Sith quickly fell over, her eyes cold and lifeless. Richard stared in shock as he watched the Mother Confessor stumble on to her feet, her body slightly swaying as she clenched her eyes shut. He felt the bond between him and Denna break, allowing his mind to wander freely without wishing to please the Mord'Sith. His heart ached as he looked at the blue eyed woman, her flesh covered in blood and welts, her body bruised and broken. He watched as she leaned over, her hands tugging on various leather straps until she found what she wanted.
Kahlan slowly dragged her feet towards him, carefully climbing on the chair. She looked him in the eyes and a small smile played across her lips. She reached up, finding it more difficult to balance on her now unsteady legs. She slipped the key into the restraints around his wrists, them quickly coming undone and Kahlan scrambling to get off the chair and gather the broken man in her arms.
Despite his best efforts, Richard's whole weight was pressed against her as she caught him with unbelievable speed. She slowly brought both of them to the ground, cradling him in her arms as she ran her fingers through his hair - which was matted with blood.
He clung to her for dear life.