TITLE: Deception

AUTHOR: LOTSlove®

CHARACTERS: Richard / Kahlan / Cara / Zedd / Nicci / Original Characters

RATING: R / M

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

TIMELINE: Anything up through S2 season finale (Tears)

DISCLAIMER: I'm completely obsessed with the show Legend of the Seeker and all things Richard and Kahlan. I love to write about them even though they cancelled my show and now I'm fighting to get it back!

SUMMARY: Sequel to me fic Revelation, Richard and Kahlan fight to solidify the D'Haran Empire when a new threat rises threatening to destroy all that they have worked for.

Chapter 9

Richard entered Sister Deryn's suite, the eerie silence that greeted him unnerving. He absentmindedly rubbed his arms despite the warmth of the room. Everything about this whole situation had left him on edge, leaving him feeling uncertain of himself and all of their futures.

He had never dreamed that he'd be informed one day that he had a son, one that he had no knowledge of, one that he hadn't even created and yet he was here in his life. Michael was still so unreal to him, like some sort of spirit that had suddenly been given form and dropped into his life from out of nowhere.

He ran his fingers back through his hair as he released a long ragged breath. Things just continued to escalate, nothing seeming to ever remain settled for long. He was beginning to believe that peace and quiet was only something that was written about in fairy tale books, not something that occurred in real life. He was reminded once again that nothing in life was ever easy.

But it was moments with his family that kept him going; time spent playing with his daughters or quiet moments before dawn holding his son while everyone else slept. It was secret stolen moments spent with Kahlan in private corridors that kept him grounded, kept him fighting with every fiber of his being.

A grin tugged at his lips as he crossed the large room to Michael's bedroom, memories of what he had shared with Kahlan a few hours ago toying now with his still simmering want for her. It had probably been most inappropriate, but it had been intensely erotic and passionate.

He was the Lord Rahl after all he reminded himself. Didn't he deserve a little time with his wife, a little reprieve from the daily tolls of responsibilities and leadership?

Spirits knew what little time they had to themselves, how much of their lives were eaten away by their duties.

And it had soothed him more than Kahlan could know being with your like that, so spontaneous and passionate. Watching her in the deliberation meeting had heated his blood, reawakening his ever-present need for her. His demand for her had only grown with every passing moment.

The frenzied release that had come had nearly caused him to black out, the feel of her falling over that thrilling precipice with him beyond amazing. Coming with her was always incredible; clinging to one another and calming each other as they fought to come back down from heights of overwhelming rapture was his favorite experience with her next to the beautiful act of making love itself.

He never knew that he was capable of loving someone so deeply, so completely until her.

Reaching the door, Richard felt a soft flutter of nervousness suddenly erupt in the pit of his stomach, wondering how Michael was fairing. Turning the handle, he opened the door to find the Prelate sitting by his son's bed. She was leaning over him, a wet washcloth in her hands. She gently wiped his sweaty brow, humming a comforting song to him.

Despite the anger with her that still pervaded his heart, the site playing out before his eyes somewhat helped to soothe the burn of what she had done to him, how she had so spitefully interfered with his life, his future.

There was a sense of kindness about her now that he hadn't expected or noticed before, a gentle spirit hidden beneath the hardened layers of duty and leadership that had grown and thickened over the years. He was seeing another side of her, seeing her in a whole new light.

It didn't change what she had done or come close to erasing the hurt that her actions had caused, but it did seem to help knowing that she at least seemed to recognize her error, was helping to resolve the terrible turmoil that she had created.

Ann suddenly turned to see the Seeker standing in the doorway watching her; a soft flush of embarrassment rising to her cheeks as she quickly returned her attention back to her patient.

"I'm sorry," Ann shyly said as she continued to wipe Michael's face. "I didn't realize you were there."

He watched as she stiffened, her stern demeanor returning to the way he had known her to always be. "How's he doing today?" Richard asked as he came to stand at the foot of the bed.

"I'm afraid not well," Ann sighed softly.

"He had been doing alright when I stopped by to see him last night," he grimly replied. "What's changed?"

"It's his fever. It seems to be worsening."

"Is there anything more we can do for him?" he asked, his pulse anxiously quickening with worry.

Michael's cheeks were flushed bright red with the fever raging through his little body, his sweaty hair matted against his head. The site before him broke Richard's heart. He felt so helpless watching this little boy losing a battle he was never meant to fight, one that he couldn't even begin to hope to win.

Barely two years old and he probably wouldn't even live to see next week let along his third birthday.

His throat suddenly felt thick with tears as he fought to think of something, anything that he could do to help his son hold on until Zedd returned with a cure. Even though it had been a doomed existence from the very beginning, he still couldn't sit back and watch this little life be snuffed out.

"I've sent word for Sister Nicci," Ann softly informed him as she wrung out the washcloth in a basin of water. "They're supposed to bring her here as soon as she returns from town."

Moving to the other side of the bed, Richard knelt down, placing a hand on his son's forehead. He was burning up with fever, sweat trickling down the sides of his face, whimpering softly in his restless sleep. The Seeker closed his eyes not even knowing what he was doing but feeling the need to try nonetheless.

He focused his scattered anxious thoughts, casting his worries aside as he attempted to concentrate on the fever itself. He breathed slowly, attempting to touch his Han and drive the fever from his body. He ignored the intent gaze of the Prelate he could feel locked on him as he gave himself over to the darkness inside of his mind as he swam towards the small bright light he could see in the center.

He reached out for it, stretching with everything he had to grab hold of it, to embrace it and use it to his advantage. He squeezed his eyes tightly closed, grinding his teeth as he felt himself moving closer to that soft glow, watching it grow brighter and bigger than life itself.

And then with a whoosh, it was suddenly exploding as it rushed through him like damn set free, setting his nerve endings on fire with the charged power that inundated his every fiber. The sensation nearly took his breath away as he felt the full force of it begin to settle in his hand, reaching into the little body and touching the life that was all too quickly fading away.

In that dazzling moment, Richard witnessed a star shower of lights cascading around him in the black void inside of the child. It was a display unlike anything he'd ever witnessed before as every color imaginable shot tiny sparks through every cell of Michael's body. Magic fought against magic in a violent demonstration of the power that flowed through him, the powerful magic of his father.

Magic was slowly tearing him apart cell by cell, his body fighting against itself in a futile effort to survive. Only the harder his body fought, the harder his magic fought back. The war was devastating to behold as Richard witnessed it through the touch of his Han.

He suddenly realized he was breathing heavily, the sound of his exerted pulls for air filling his own ears and alerting him to the fact that he needed to stop. He didn't have control of his magic yet. Using it without knowing what he was doing could turn deadly, costing Michael his life even though he was fighting so hard to save it.

Richard abruptly pulled his hand back, sitting back on his heels as he fought to catch his breath. His eyes flew open in panic, afraid that he might have inadvertently hurt the little boy. Looking at Michael, he immediately noticed that his cheeks weren't so red, the sweat gone from his face. He seemed more peaceful, settled.

"What did you do?"

Richard looked up into the Prelate's stunned eyes, momentarily forgetting that she was even in the room. "I just…I wanted to try to ease his fever," he murmured, suddenly feeling very drained by the overwhelming experience.

Ann quickly sat forward, lightly running her hands over Michael's forehead and face. "Whatever you did, it worked," she told him with great relief. "His fever has broken for the moment."

The Seeker could only nod his head in acknowledgment as he watched Michael sleep. He had no idea what he had done or how he had done it, only that he had wanted to help his son. He knew that it was only a temporary fix for a much larger, much deadlier problem that they had on their hands, one that he couldn't even begin to heal.

What he had seen happening inside Michael's body had shocked him, scared him. He'd had no idea the extent of what was happening nor did he completely understand it all, but he'd just gotten a firsthand view of it.

He needed to talk to Nicci. Maybe if he told her what he had seen and experienced, they could come up with a cure before it was too late.

"Richard, I know that you think of me as a monster for what I did by using you and Sister Deryn to create Michael," Ann suddenly said, her voice soft and tentative and invading his thoughts. "I only thought I was doing what was right, what was necessary to avert a very real, very deadly prophecy that could mean the end of our world as we know it."

Richard stared at her as she spoke, his eyes following the outline of her face highlighted by the soft glow of the candlelight coming from the bedside table. He wondered what had made her become like this, the things that she had seen and experienced that had formed her into the person sitting before him now. Had she always been coldly decisive, calculating and logical to the point of erasing human emotion?

"I never meant to hurt you, Richard," she continued, not even bothering to wait for a response as she continued to talk and clean Michael's face. "When you were at the Palace of the Prophets, I saw in you a gift unlike anything I've ever witnessed before, a real power not just from your Han, but an innate intelligence and intuition that could never be learned.

"I guess I should have trusted what I saw in you back then, should've known that you would've found a way to be with the Mother Confessor, to have a son free of the touch of confession. Only you, Richard Rahl, could possibly accomplish such an unimaginable feat."

After several moments of silence, Ann finally risked a glance at the Seeker to find him still sitting back on his heels on the other side of the bed. His expression was one of thoughtful consideration, not anger or resentment like she had anticipated. It startled her.

"I just hope in time you can forgive me for interfering in your life," she said, suddenly feeling awkward about his lack of response.

"I forgive you," he finally replied after a long moment, the truth of his words residing in his warm brown eyes. "I know you thought that what you were doing was for the best at the time, but it was still wrong. I just hope that we can find a way to save Michael so that he doesn't have to die unnecessarily."

"He should never have been created in the first place," she bitterly replied. "I see that now. The magic is breaking down like the wizard who helped me warned me that it probably would. He told me we were playing a deadly game with your magic. I refused to listen to him too."

Richard could see the regret in her face as she tended to Michael, the sadness that swam in her eyes. He didn't need Kahlan or her magic to see that she was telling the truth.

Just then, Nicci walked in, breathless. "I was told Michael isn't doing well," she anxiously said as she made her way to the foot of the bed. "I came as soon as I returned."

"He's much better now thanks to Richard," Ann announced, a small smile of pride lighting her face as she glanced at the Seeker.

"How did you manage to do that?" Nicci asked, stunned by the sudden revelation.

"It's a long story that I need to tell you about," Richard said as he got to his feet. "It might end up helping us find a way to save Michael."

"Really?" she replied. "I do want to hear more."

"How's Mina?" he asked instead, his thoughts already taking him elsewhere. "Any more visions involving Kahlan or our future?"

"I'm afraid that Mina's dead," Nicci frowned.

XXX

Sister Deryn pulled the hood of her cloak back, allowing her light brown hair to fall down her shoulders as she began to search for firewood. She was thankful they had made it past the worst of it, leaving the snow and bitter cold behind them. Despite that, she couldn't fight the chill that suddenly shivered through her.

The horrifying events of the day still ran rampant through her mind, constantly reminding her how close she'd come to losing her life, never seeing her Michael or Richard ever again. She didn't think that she'd ever been so terrified in her entire life. She'd never encountered such danger, been thrust into the dead center of sheer chaos like that before.

She had led a very quiet, sheltered life having grown up in a small town. By the age of fifteen, she'd found herself at the Palace of the Prophets training to be a Sister of the Light, never leaving her new home until the day she had left with Michael to seek out Richard here in D'Hara.

The most exciting, thrilling moment of her young life had come when Richard Cypher had arrived at the Palace. His presence had filled the entire place with a vibrant light the likes of which she'd never seen before, reaching into her heart and capturing it the moment her eyes had met his.

He had changed her life forever.

Leaning over, Deryn sighed as she continued to gather small branches and twigs for a campfire. If it hadn't been for Zedd and Frederick, she would've been dead right now, in the Underworld. She involuntarily shuddered at the thought.

They could've so easily abandoned her, left her to her fate and making lives easier for everyone. She still couldn't begin to fathom why they had done what they had, why they had risked their lives to save her.

Her brow crinkled as she tried to make sense of something that didn't.

"How are you fairing?"

Deryn looked up to see the Wizard Zorander walking towards her, a couple of rabbits in his hands and a warm smile on his wrinkled face. "I'm fine," she murmured as she averted her eyes, suddenly feeling awkward.

Zedd watched as she knelt down to pick up a couple of small branches, adding them to her growing collection. "No one could blame you if you weren't, my dear," he gently said. "It was quite a harrowing experience we went through back there."

Biting her upper lip, she attempted to fight back the tears that began to suddenly well up from someplace deep inside of her. She wasn't sure where they were coming from. She hadn't realized they had even been there, swimming so close to the surface. But they were there now, temporarily blinding her before slipping down her cheeks.

"No, really I'm fine…thanks to you and Frederick," she softly replied. "If it weren't for the two of you I wouldn't be standing here with you now."

"It was nothing," Zedd said. "We couldn't leave you out there to get swallowed up in that avalanche."

"Yes…yes, you could have…" she said, her voice softly trailing off as she brushed the tears from her face.

"No, we couldn't," the Wizard firmly told her, taking a step closer to her. "No matter what you may think of us, we wouldn't have let you die out there. Every life is precious in the eyes of the Creator and in our eyes as well."

"But after everything that I've done," she shook her head in disagreement. "I've swept into your lives and turned everything upside down. It would have been so easy to just let me die out there. It would've solved all your problems. Richard and Kahlan could've raised Michael as their own without my interference in their lives."

"I won't disagree with you that you and Michael have definitely caused quite a stir that no one was expecting," Zedd admitted. "But that doesn't mean that you and Michael are any less important or that your lives are any less significant than anyone else's.

"While I don't agree with your desire to break up Richard's marriage so you can have him for yourself, it is for you and Richard and Kahlan to work out, not me or anyone else. None of us believe in ending a life just to solve a problem like this."

Sister Deryn stood stone still, her pulse racing as he walked past her to make his way back to their camp. She looked up at the moon beginning to makes its appearance in the steadily darkening sky, its faint rays peeking out behind clouds. What she felt in her heart warred against the compassion behind the Wizard's words.

How could she just turn her back on what she had wanted for almost three years now? How could she just give up on her dream of a life with Richard and Michael?

Kahlan had stolen him from her and she wanted him back. Maybe when she returned, Kahlan would see that she wasn't an evil person, that she truly did love Richard and only wanted to make him happy. Maybe she would finally see what she and Richard were meant to each other, would quietly step aside and allow them to be together.

Maybe…must maybe…she thought as she made her way back to camp.