Chapter Forty-Two

Kahlan watched Richard, tears pouring down his face, and the sword glowing white, kill Zedd. It almost seemed like she shouldn't be watching it. Like she was intruding in a personal moment that no one should have seen but Richard.

Then it was over, and Richard straightened his shoulder, slid his sword back into his sheath, the blade was perfectly clean. The tears had stopped, but when Kahlan looked into his eyes she saw deep pain.

"Richard." She whispered, wanting to run to him and comfort him, but he ignored her.

"All right, Shota. I've played your little game now, so send me home." Richard said.

"What about the beasts?" Kahlan asked. She didn't want him to leave, because then the other Richard would come back. She wanted him to stay forever, and marry her and grow old with her. She knew though, that he would never allow that. He didn't love her, he loved his Kahlan, and they happened to look and act a lot alike.

"They're gone." He said with finality. Cara and Benjamin walked over to them.

"He's right, Mother Confessor." Cara said. "They just disappeared after the Wizard died."

"Where is Chase?" Richard asked. "I mean Dell."

"Right here Richard." Chase said, coming through a door. Around him were his many children, and his wife was in his arms. "Thank you." He said, and then left without another word with his entire family.

Kahlan wasn't sure, but just as Chase was walking out the door she thought she heard Richard whisper back. "You're welcome."

Then he returned his attention to Shota who still looked a little bored, and had only looked a little interested when Richard turned the sword white. "Now, I need to go home."

"Yes you do. Your doppelganger has been wreaking havoc in your world, and Kahlan's plan to kill him was beginning when I left." Shota said.

"So how do we do this?" He asked, a determined look on his face, and Kahlan knew she wouldn't be able to convince him to stay, especially now that Kahlan had been mentioned.

"First of all, you can't resist like last time, or you will arrive too late, or not at all. That's why there was a period where neither of the Richards were in this world. Also, the magic that I use needs to draw on your magic, or the bond. Since you didn't have the bond in your world, but you do here, we'll have to draw the magic from you this time. Tell your Mord-Sith that her Agiel will work as soon as the other Richard returns, and then she should kill him." She shrugged her shoulders, "If she wants to."

"So what do we need to do?" Richard asked again, he didn't know that much about magic. He had understood what Shota was saying, but how to do that was beyond him.

Shota sighed. "You just need to stand there." She paused. "This will hurt Richard."

"I remember." He answered. "Just let me say goodbye." Shota nodded.

He went to Benjamin first. He would be the easiest to say goodbye to, because he hadn't known him for very long. He pulled him into a hug, and before pulling away whispered, "Protect Cara. Your lucky she loves you." They pulled away and Benjamin nodded. Benjamin looked to Cara and smiled.

Then Richard went to Cara. She raised her eyebrows at him, daring him to hug her, but he did anyways. "Richard." She protested, "This is improper behavior for Mord-Sith." But she didn't seem like she was trying to pull away from him.

He pulled away, noticing a little resistance in Cara's grip. "Make sure you kill him." He said, glancing over to Kahlan. Cara nodded, she wouldn't let Kahlan get hurt ever again. "Good luck Cara." He turned away, to the most difficult good bye.

"Kahlan." He said softly, trying to remember that she wasn't the woman he loved, but it was almost impossible. There was a tear running down her cheek even though she had her confessor face on, and Richard knew this would hurt her.

He pulled her into a hug, and she let go, weeping into his shoulder. "Don't leave. Richard. He'll come back. Don't leave." Richard kissed her forehead, and held her for a little while longer.

"Richard, we need to go." Shota said.

Kahlan stopped crying, and straightened, tear streaks marked her face, but she still looked as beautiful as ever, even the first day he'd met her, when she had hated him. It seemed like he'd been here forever, but only a month and a half, two months at the most.

"I'm sorry Kahlan." He whispered to her, and she shook her head, nodding her understanding, and then she smiled, and even though he could see it was fake, he would take what he could get.

Richard walked over to Shota. "Are you ready?" He shook his head, and readied himself for the pain.

It hurt just as much as before. He fell to his knees, the entire world going white around him. The intensity of it was so much more than an Agiel, and Richard could only imagine what it would be like for the other Richard, who never felt an Agiel, but he didn't wonder for very long as the pain intensified, and suddenly it was dark.

Eternity struck.

He didn't know anything. He felt that this must have been what being in his mother's womb had been like. There was nothing to worry about, and he didn't worry. There was an everlasting calm that settled over him. He was awake and asleep, up and down, dark and light.

There was light again, and Richard was on cold marble. He looked up, the bright light blinding him for a second. Kahlan, Cara, and Chase stood over him, and the look on there faces said murder.

"Wait! Wait! It's me, Richard." Richard said. He looked into Kahlan's eyes, and a look of relief spread onto her face.

"Richard." She dropped the sword she'd been holding and ran to him.

"Kahlan! What are you doing?" Cara yelled after her, but Richard only noticed Kahlan racing towards him. Then she kissed him, and Richard knew.

He was home.

Author's Note: One more chapter.