He watched her as she gripped the reins of the horse, a look of concentration on her face as she listened to everything around her. It was hard on her, not being able to see, and though when he asked her about it, she'd smile and find his face with the palm of her hand. She would tell him she could still remember the way things used to look and as long as she held onto them, it wouldn't be difficult. He wished there was a way he could help her, any way to return her sight, but the wizard was clear, there was nothing more they could do until they finished healing themselves. He had argued with his grandfather for hours, days even, begging him to push just a little bit farther and try to help, but Kahlan told him that it wouldn't be worth the risk.

Whatever she said, went. If she asked him to rip off his clothes in the snow and then run around until he no longer could, he would with no hesitation. He would be freezing, yes, but he knew that there would be a reason behind her words and he trusted her completely.

"You're staring," she said quietly, stopping his mind from continuing his thoughts.

"How do you know?"

"I can feel your eyes."

Letting out a soft laugh, he brought his horse closer to hers. "Everyone is staring at you, you can't possibly feel my eyes over theirs."

Returning the laugh, she blushed. "They weren't thinking about removing clothes."

"How did you-"

"The tone of your voice," she told him. "You sounded embarrassed."

"Alright," he agreed quietly. "You're right, but I couldn't help but wonder how Dean would look in a dress."

Kahlan's laughter nearly stopped the caravan, the men turning their heads toward the couple as the Mother Confessor leaned forward for a heavy breath. She remained on the horse, who didn't seemed surprised or bothered by her actions, who continued to follow the others without missing a step.

"Dean?" Kahlan asked loudly, turning her head in the last direction she had heard his voice. "Have you ever thought of wearing a dress?" she asked as he gave a short reply.

The men roared with laughter as the man grew confused, the question being far from what he expected.

"I'm sorry?"

With a wide grin, she held her face in his direction. "Have you ever thought of wearing a dress?"

"No, ma'am."

Motioning toward Richard with her head, she chuckled. "The Seeker has been wondering what you would look like in one."

Dean laughed, surprising the others as he moved his own horse closer to the couple. "If it would please the both of you, I can try to squeeze into one of the Mother Confessor's dresses. Though," he added after a beat. "I don't believe I can do one justice."

"I would never ask you to do that," Kahlan smiled. "I am far too fond of my dresses." The men set off in another uproar of laughs, making the Mother Confessor giddy. She liked it this way. She liked having them all around her, men she knew she could trust, who would willingly throw themselves in harms war for her and then requested nothing in return. If only it could remain this way. "I'm sorry to have placed you into that," she told him quietly.

"It's alright, ma'am. I understand and I do believe the sight of me in a dress would be as funny as we imagine."

"Indeed."

"Seeker-"

"I'm not putting on a dress," Richard said quickly, making the men's laughter continue.

"I wouldn't believe otherwise," Dean snorted. "I was merely going to suggest imagining someone else in a dress."

The Seeker beamed, his eyes coming to Kahlan. "I have every intention to."

Their group was silent for a few minutes before Kahlan pulled on the reigns of her horse. "Richard, there's someone in the trees."

"What?" He asked quickly, looking around. "How-"

"I can hear them, they've been following us for a little over an hour. They are on our right, traveling just behind the trees. I can't be sure how many."

"Dean, take a few men, we seem to have guests." The Seeker motioned to the trees with his head as he rounded his horse around Kahlan's to keep himself between her and them. "If they show any signs of a threat, take them down."

"Yes, Seeker."

He kept her moving, his eyes trying to shift back and forth between her and the trees, but without making it obvious to his intentions, it was difficult to do. "No one is going to hurt you," he said factually.

"I know." Her voice was calm and collected. She was sitting straight and seemed to be at ease, making him believe that she felt safe. "I'm sure it's just a few townspeople. We are getting closer to Aydindril, they may want to return word that we have survived."

"Have you thought of what you will do when you return?"

Nodding, Kahlan grinned. "I'm going to take a bath."

"That's not what I meant," he whispered to her.

"It's complicated. I cannot be sure which of them is to be trusted. I am afraid to punish them all for what may have been a decision of a few. I don't know, I think I'm finding it hard to believe they all want me dead."

"Maybe they-"

"You were there, Richard. If you didn't believe it to be true, you wouldn't have... I don't know."

"Maybe you're right. Maybe they were just afraid to start a war or-"

"We both know that isn't true." Releasing a sigh, she slouched her shoulders. "Have the men found anyone?"

"I don't know, I can't see them."

"Maybe you should-"

"I'm not leaving you. If they needed help, we would know it."

Nodding, she licked her lips. "Maybe."

"Do you want to stop soon? Rest?"

"No, I was hoping to keep moving until nightfall. We've lost so much time already."

"You shouldn't push yourself."

"I have to," she told him. "If I do what I feel like I should, I would never return home."

"Feel?"

"I'm exhausted." It was a simple answer, but the way she said it told him so much more. It was the first time in days she seemed to lose control of herself and the sound of her voice was past weak. "I want to lay down and sleep until I'm old."

He chuckled, his hand coming over to rest on hers. "You'll never be old. You're going to say this way forever."

"Since I can't see, I can imagine that I will."

"I'll show you," he told her in a voice that made her body quake. "You'll see. I'm going to make sure you know how beautiful you are."

"Richard-"

"I've made up my mind, Kahlan. You won't get rid of me, ever. When we return to Aydindril, I will stay by your side until my last breath."

"You may not be able to," she told him. "Have the men-"

"They're coming. Dean is dragging someone behind him."

"The others are dead, this one surrendered. I thought you would like to speak with him."

Kahlan pulled her horse to a stop, her eyes straining to see. She wondered if she knew the captive, if she had seen the man before and if the council had sent him to kill her. She knew Richard would speak. He would do what he needed to to get answers and it was more than likely that his mind was thinking the same thoughts. Swallowing, she felt the chill in the air as he shifted in his saddle, his hand leaving hers as the men came closer.

"Why were you following us?" he asked in a hardened tone. The man remained quiet and Richard growled, jumping down from his horse to get closer. "If you do not answer me, I will assume you to be a threat and will kill you before you have another breath.

"Orders."

"What were they?"

"We were supposed to send word if the Mother Confessor was still alive."

"To who?"

"The High Council of Aydindril."

"Why?" There was a heavy anger in the Seeker's voice as he spoke, noticed by them all.

"They believe her to be dead."

"Do they want you to kill her?"

The forest seemed to grow silent after his question, the animals seeming to know the importance of the reply the man kneeling would give. Richard stared down at the man, taking a long look at him the way Kahlan would to see the truth. The man wasn't young but, he wasn't old either and from the look on his face, he was fairly certain the man was not as weak as he wanted them to believe. Locking his jaw, he suddenly pulled his sword and held it to the man's throat, watching his reaction. Moving quickly, he pushed forward and killed the man.

Kahlan jumped in her saddle as the man made a croaking choke and then fell to the ground. "How many others were there with him?"

"Three," Dean said instantly. "The others rushed us; died quickly."

"This one was their leader. Look here," he told them all as he knelt down and pushed the mans shirt down to reveal part of his shoulder. "He's an assassin. We have to move faster and keep a better look, we can't let anyone near her. Kahlan," he said quickly, coming to her side. "I'm going to be riding with you." He was crawling up behind her before she could respond, wrapping his arms around her waist to reach for the reins. "I'm going to need you all to circle us."

"Richard, I'll be fine, they don't need to-"

"It's the only way to keep you safe."

Nodding, she leaned into him with a smile. There was nothing she could say that could change his mind. He would protect her, no matter what. "I'm going to rest then," she said through a whisper, her eyes closing as he helped her settle comfortably against him. "Don't run us into a tree."

Grinning, he tightened his arms around her. "I wouldn't dream of it."

She had fallen asleep during the ride, her body's exhaustion taking over to further prove her previous words. She seemed to be relaxed in his arms, but he would have sworn she had been getting a good nights sleep the few nights before, now he could see that she had received no such thing. He wanted to lay her in the carriage, hoping she would be sleep, but Thomas was still in there and he didn't want to risk upsetting her by making him walk behind them with the other prisoners. He enjoyed having her in his arms and to keep her safe, he had to hold her tight. Another pleasure of the moment. Her scent swelled around him, holding a smile to his face. It was almost difficult to believe that she could sleep this way, but when the thought came to his mind, he wanted to think that it was because she was in his arms and there was no safer place.

"If we move faster tomorrow," Dean said softly to the Seeker. "We can reach the Confessor's Palace by nightfall instead of the following afternoon. We shouldn't keep her out here any longer than we have to. Who knows how many more may try to attack."

"You're right. Tomorrow, she will remain in the carriage, she will be hidden there, as well as she can be."

The soldier smiled. "Good luck convincing her to hide."

"We need her to live, she will understand. We should continue for another hour and then make camp. Since we are in Aydindril, any attack on her will be under her laws. Their deaths will be punishment."

"Yes, Seeker."

"Kahlan, we are going to be stopping soon." He hated to wake her, but he knew that if she was, by the time they set up camp, she would be exhausted again and ready to sleep once more. The thought made him smile, pleased that he knew her so well. "Zedd says he will be cooking dinner, so we know it will be good."

"Well," she said sleepily, "we know it will be better than Paul's."

"Yes," he agreed with a laugh. "That's true. How are you feeling?"

"Alright. I'm surprised I fell asleep. I'm sorry, I must have been terrible company."

"No, we had wonderful conversations," he teased. "You told me that if I didn't shave soon, you were going to do it for me."

"I don't think you'd want a blind woman with a blade near you."

"You would think," he laughed. "The idea does intrigue me, though."

"I don't think you should shave. A trim, maybe... I like the way of feels."

"A trim? I could manage that. Maybe even let you help me with it."

Shifting in his arms, she turned her head slightly toward him. "Are you alright? Your arms are shaking."

"I'm fine. I think I am a little tired."

"Then you will be sharing the carriage with me tomorrow." She smiled, knowing that he was surprised she had heard him. "It's warm in there. Comfy, too and with a bed..." She let her words trail off, her body pushing back into him to intensify the meaning of her words. He responded instantly and just as his hands began to move up her stomach, she moved forward, easing the pressure against him significantly. "We're not warm and comfy in that bed yet," she said as he groaned in disappointment.

Pushing his forehead against her shoulder, he took in a deep breath and tried to calm himself, not wanting to draw attention to them. There was something about her actions, he didn't know what it was, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was trying to distract him. It wasn't difficult, he told himself, he was always ready to respond to her touch and if she used it for her own benefit, he wasn't sure he cared. Before he knew it, he pulled back and sighed, needing to know. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she answered smoothly. "Tired, remember?"

He knew that they had just had this conversation, but he wasn't sure he could trust her answer now. "Do you want us to stop now?"

"No," she whispered. "We are already so close. Just a while longer."

"Alright." He wanted to push her, wanted answers, but he wasn't sure it was the right thing to do. If something was bothering her, she hid it for a reason and he hoped in time, she would tell him. "Are you tired of squirrel yet?"

With a soft chuckle, she shook her head. "Not yet. I think you've spread it out well enough between the deer and rabbits."

"We have some deer left if you-"

"I think you want it more than I do. I haven't seen you eat very much."

"I haven't been very hungry, but the soup Zedd made last night was good. I don't remember eating so much."

"That's because you're always sharing with me."

"Or you take it," he laughed.

"You're never going to forget that, are you?"

"No," he told her through a chuckle.

Leaning back against him, she closed her eyes and sighed. "In my defense, you wouldn't have liked it anyway."

"We will never know," he teased.

They set up camp quickly and before she knew it, she was sitting inside the carriage, waiting. She had to tell him soon, if she didn't, he would find out some other way. When he came to her for the night, she would tell him and accept the pain of losing him. It was inevitable, her secret was too great to overlook.

"Do you want anymore food?"

Shaking her head, she smiled. "No, Zedd can finish what's left."

Crawling into the small room, Richard made his way to her side, wrapping his right arm around her before kissing the side of her head. "Are you alright?"

"I have to tell you something." The words left her mouth in a whisper, her body fighting each one as they escaped her lips. "I- I need you to promise me something first."

"Anything."

"When I tell you, I need you to promise me that you won't say anything to the others."

"Alright."

Moving away from him, she crossed her legs and arms before her, using them to put more distance between them. "I..." Tears began to collect in her eyes as she faced the truth. She couldn't see him and it made it harder. He would always look at her in a way that made her melt, that made her feel like everything would be alright, but in this moment, when she needed it the most, she couldn't have it. Blinking out the tears, she lowered her head. "I'm pregnant." Before he could speak, she continued, needing to get it all out, needing him to know that the child within her wasn't his. "I've been trying to find the right words to tell you... For weeks, I... I'm pregnant," she whispered as she settled with her original statement.

It was quiet for a few moments and she thought she was going to lose her mind. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears and taste the pressure, while she tried desperately not to panic. His hands were suddenly upon hers, pulling them from her chest and stopping the twitch.

"Congratulations." Her head fell to the right, confused by the tone of his voice. It didn't sound anything like she expected. He didn't seem to be angry or upset. Indifferent, maybe. "You are going to be a wonderful mother," he added as the previous set of words sunk into her mind.

It was too much. She wanted him to be upset, to hate her for keeping it a secret, or carrying another man's child, but she couldn't find words. With her mouth open, she let her tears fall, but when his arms encircled her, she found her strength. "How can you say that?!" The words came out as a shriek, hurting both of their ears.

"Because it's true. Kahlan, this is what you've wanted. You're going to have a child, a beautiful daughter and she could have no greater mother. I know that you think that this is some kind of punishment." Her head jerked at his words, afraid that he had somehow been listening to her thoughts. "It's not, Kahlan. Something wonderful is coming from this and I cannot wait to chase her down the halls of the palace when it's time for bed."

"How can-"

"I'm not upset, Kahlan." Again, her mind quieted, terrified that he was lingering. "It doesn't change the way that I feel about you and-" Richard sighed and moved to sit beside her, hoping that the extra moment would help him to find the right words. "A part of me wishes that I had helped you to create her, but it doesn't stop me from being happy that she exists."

"I don't understand," she told him quietly.

His face came to her neck and he pushed his nose against her skin, a simple move that meant more than his words could. "Because you don't understand how much I love you. This child, she is a part of you and no matter how she was created, she is ours. I know that you are afraid, I am too. Kahlan, our fears are not entirely different," he added. "You're afraid that one day I will stop loving her or that I never will be able to because she is not mine and I am afraid that the day she learns I am not her father, I will lose her."

With her tears raining down her cheeks, Kahlan turned in his arms and crawled onto his lap, kissing him with everything within her. She felt broken and undesireable, but here he was, holding her in his arms as though she was a priceless jewel he couldn't live without. His kiss was the same as it had been before, passionate and warm and she couldn't believe it. Sliding his hands up her back, he circled her shoulder blades to bring her closer, lost in her warmth. She suddenly pulled back and slouched in his arms, needing to stay close.

"When did you know you were pregnant?"

Shaking her head she shrugged. "A few days after you rescued me." Inching back, she frowned. "I was so afraid to tell you."

"I'm sorry that I made it hard for you."

"You didn't- I was afraid to tell you because I thought- I think that this child would be a constant reminder of how I betrayed you. I didn't want you to look at her and see everything I did with someone else."

His hands came to her cheeks, his thumbs gently caressing her soft skin. "You are all I would think about when I look at her. She's a part of you, Kahlan."

Lowering her head, she sighed. "But she's part of him, too."

"Blood doesn't make family, Kahlan. You and I both know that." He kept his hands on her cheeks and inched his face closer. "She won't be anything like him," he added after a moment. "She's going to be just like you."

"We don't know that."

Grinning, he nudged his nose against hers. "She is going to be everything you want her to be, trust me. We'll take care of her and she will love you, so much, Kahlan."

Pulling his hands from her face, she laid them in her lap with his. "She'll hate me for what I've done."

"No, she won't. Kahlan, listen to me. You didn't do anything wrong or anything that would- She will know you and she will know that you are the strongest woman in existence." Moving his hands from hers, he wrapped them around her and slid them over her back, pulling her chest back to his. "This child within you, Kahlan she will know how lucky she is to have you as her mother, even when you disagree." Kissing her slowly, he pushed forward, needing more contact. "This is the start of our family, Kahlan."

Bringing her hands to his face, she pushed her fingers into his hair, holding her face close to his. "How can you want her to be part of your family?"

"How could I not? Kahlan, she can be ours, if you will allow me to be a part of her life."

"You don't have to-"

"I know that I don't have to, Kahlan. I want to. I want to be a part of this with you, both of you and I promise that I will do my best to protect her; to protect you." He stared into her eyes as though she was able to read him and he wished that she could. "I won't let anything happen to either of you and I promise that until my last breath, I will love you both."

Kahlan brought her right hand back to his face and gently traced over his eyes, nose and lips. He had changed since she first saw him and even more so since she last saw his face. He had tears in the corner of his eyes and down his cheeks, but she couldn't remember his voice giving them away. That would have been what he wanted, she told herself. He was always wanting to protect her, from everything. He remained still and let her hand move over him, understanding the need. This was the only way she could see and he wanted her to see him.

Her index finger circled his mouth, a small smile holding firm as she continued, telling her more than she needed to know. Tilting her head, she held her thumb by the corner of his mouth, a guide as she inched forward. When she connected their lips, he returned the kiss in full, needing her to feel what he held within him. Gliding her hand back into his hair, Kahlan held herself to him. She knew he was strong, but the way that he held her, the strength of his embrace, a shelter made of rocks to shield the rain, she felt as though nothing could harm her, not while she was with him.

Breaking their kiss, the Mother Confessor pulled back jut enough to rest her forehead against his and share his next few breaths. "I don't want anyone else to know," she whispered almost shamefully.

Nodding, he tried not to chuckle. "They're going to notice someday."

"I know, but as long as someday isn't tomorrow."

He could feel her body trembling, afraid of what would happen. "We will tell them she is mine."

Her head snapped up instantly, her eyes perfectly aligned with his as though she could see him. "What? Richard, no, I cannot ask you-"

"You didn't ask and I want her to be. In my heart, our hearts, she is mine and that is all that matters. We will tell them that I am her father."

"Richard-"

"But I don't want to lie to her. When she is old enough to understand, I would like to tell her." He smiled and brought her fingers to his mouth to feel it. "I want her to know that is possible for someone to love her freely, just as I do her mother."

With a small smile of her own, she tilted her head, the way she used to when she would tease him. "I think you are the only man to exist to feel that way."

He pushed his nose against hers for a moment and beamed. "If anyone took a moment to know you, they would love you, too."

"No, just you." Grazing her lips against his, she lingered against the softness, the comfort.

"If you keep doing that-"

"I know," she whispered breathlessly, her body slowly beginning to rock against his. Bringing herself to still, Kahlan took in a slow breath. He could tell she was going to say something important, he could see it in her every move. Her hands had found his shoulders and her breathing had slowed, the vein in her neck slightly pulsing with her heart. "You can change your mind," she told him through a whisper. "If you wanted to take it back, I would understand."

Richard moved quickly, laying her back against the bed and pushing down against her while his face lowered to her stomach. "I'm not going to take it back. I will never change my mind." With a smile on his face, he nudged his nose against the tiny swell of her belly. "Do you hear that? You're mine and I love you." He kissed over her for a moment and then brought his face to hers. With his forehead and nose touching hers, he rocked forward. "I love you."

"What's wrong?"

Shaking her head, Kahlan forced a smile. "Nothing, I was just thinking."

"About what?" Richard asked as he sat up and pushed his back against the wall of their carriage, matching her position.

"Everything."

"Everything?" he questioned with a smile, nudging his shoulder against hers. "The work of the Mother Confessor is never done, is it?"

"Not when her people are suffering," she commented, missing his playful tone. "How could I not have seen it?"

"You were being held captive."

"It started earlier. Dean explained it to me and I- I don't understand how I could have allowed it to happen. They have no right to do what they have done and now they wish me dead."

"What are you going to do?"

"I can't confess them," she whispered almost painfully. "That is the appropriate punishment for their crimes, but I am unable to- I'm afraid of how it would be if I was to lock them in prison. They are powerful themselves," she added, knowing the question he was about to ask. "They do not overrule me, but they will be almost impossible to replace without thought, study and my magic. I don't know who I can trust. I don't know if they all wish me to die or if a small handful are behind this. No deed can happen without their knowledge, leaving me to believe that it's become far worse that I could ever imagine."

Turning her head toward them, she frowned. "If they hired one man to kill me, they will hire another, more and I'm not sure Aydindril will be safe for us."

"I'll protect you," he told her instantly.

"Of that, I have no doubt. Richard, if they wanted to hurt me, all they would need is you. I know you will protect me, you would die for me, but I cannot let you."

"You can't stop me either."

"That's where I have been thinking." She smiled, almost seeing the confusion on his face. She wished she could see the way his eyebrows were scrunched together, his head tilting and mouth partly open. It was an expression she rather enjoyed. "There will be someone waiting for us when we reach the palace, but before you kill him-"

"No," Richard stated promptly. "No. Kahlan, if I hesitate at all, you could be lost. I will not pause to give the man a chance to hurt you."

"I know. I'm sorry, I don't think I'm explaining this correctly." She turned her head away and closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the wall. "What if I sent you in first? You and a few of our men could ride in, take care of the assassin or assassins and then round up the council. They will not see the action in advance, it may be the only way to win."

"Your plan leaves you with less protection."

"It may have a few more details to be worked out."

"If it's alright," he said quietly, his arm circling her shoulders. "I would like to try my plan."

"You have a plan?"

"I'm going to kill anyone who tries to hurt you."

"That's not a plan, Richard. That-"

"Is going to keep you safe. Trust me, I will protect you this time."

Laying her head against him, she sighed. "You've always protected me."