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 20
"No…no!" Deryn stammered, shaking her head furiously in adamant denial, tears brimming in her eyes wide with horror. "No…you're lying! You just don't want to help us!"
"I'm truly sorry, my dear, but I'm afraid I'm telling you the truth," Caelinus calmly replied with surprising compassion, his hand gently cupping the side of her face as he stared into her watery eyes. "Children were meant to be born out of love, not magic. It goes against all the rules of magic, the very ways of the universe."
"But…but wizards have created all sorts of things using magic over the years," she argued, tears tracking down her cheeks. "Wizards created Confessors. Why doesn't creating a child like this work?"
"No one knows for certain, but it's believed that the magic just can't sustain itself over time," the old Wizard thoughtfully began, trying to find the best way to explain it to her. "It begins to breakdown by two years of age, fighting against itself and slowly destroying the body until nothing is left.
"It turns on itself, attacking and obliterating each and every cell leaving a crystalline dust in its wake that continues to eat away at everything left behind. Once that begins to happen, there is no magic in this world that can reverse that kind of devastation."
"But Richard is a war wizard, his magic the most powerful in the world," she tried again, desperately searching for anything that would contradict what he was telling her. "Doesn't that count for something? Anything?"
"I'm afraid that just makes things that much worse for your son," he regretfully shook his head with a heavy sigh. "The more powerful the magic, the more devastating the destruction becomes."
With a sorrowful cry, Deryn covered her face with her hands, the sound of her sobs filling the room and piercing all of their hearts. Her heartrending pain was so palpable no one knew what to say or do. They all knew the terrible tragedy of losing a loved one, Zedd and Frederick understanding the painful loss of a child better than anyone.
Broken, the Sister of the Light collapsed onto the table, her forearms crossed before her, her forehead pressed into her arms as she wept. Her world had just completely crumbled down around her, her life over just like her young son's.
Not only had she lost Richard, but she was losing her Michael now. She had nothing left to live for, no one who loved her, wanted her around. Her son was dying and her life was over.
"There isn't anything you can do, anything at all?" Frederick questioned him, slipping a protective arm around Deryn's shoulders as she wept bitterly.
"I truly wish that there was," Caelinus replied. "I'm afraid the boy's fate was already decided the day that he was created. The wizard who cast the spell at the time should've known it was a disaster in the making."
"He knew," Zedd scowled with obvious disdain, folding his arms against his chest. "Unfortunately, his warning fell on deaf ears."
They all sat in stunned silence; the only sound was Deryn's whimpering sobs over her son's fate. They had come so far only to have all of their hopes shattered in a single blow right before their eyes. They had just gotten here and they had already failed.
"Let's keep looking," Zedd finally said, breaking through the thick layer of gloomy silence that had blanketed the room. "We might come across something that could still spark an idea of some sort. We'll never know unless we try."
Caelinus opened his mouth to adamantly proclaim his objection, ready to point out once again that there was absolutely no hope whatsoever, but quickly decided against it when he noticed the icy glare that Zedd suddenly shot him from across the table. Closing his mouth, he frowned instead, silently sinking into a chair like a reprimanded child.
Frederick noticed the silent exchange between the two men, understanding that Zedd didn't want to steal the last shred of hope that Deryn had. It was all that she had left to cling to now, the only thing holding her together at that moment. He didn't want to steal any more away from her until they absolutely had to.
He suddenly found himself not even caring about his own deadly illness or the fact that his time was swiftly running out much faster than they had first thought. A little boy was going to die for no reason and there was nothing that they could possibly do to prevent it. There was nothing in this world that could be worse than that.
Everything else seemed to dim considerably in the ugly face of that tragic reality.
"Zedd's right, Deryn," Frederick gently said, rubbing the Sister's back. "You never know what we might come across."
Raising her head, Deryn quickly wiped her face with the backs of her hands as she tried to pull herself back together again. Falling apart like this wasn't going to save her son. Zedd was right. There still might be a chance to save him, something hidden and long forgotten in one of these journals or books.
"We still have to try," she softly announced, sitting up a little straighter in her chair. "I'm not going back to my son without something that can help him, something that might prolong his life for even a little while longer. Besides, we still need to find a cure for Frederick."
"Now, what is it that ails you, sir?" Caelinus asked, turning his attention to Kahlan's father.
"He has a rare blood illness," Zedd informed him. "None of the healers have been able to find a cure for him. You are his last hope."
"No one worth their salt has been able to help him," Caelinus corrected him. "I, on the other hand, am far better than just some ordinary healer."
"I looked at him already myself, Caelinus," Zedd said, leaning forward in his chair to rest his arms on the table. "I'm a Wizard of the First Order and I can't heal him. I only hoped that you might be able to suggest something to help him."
"Wizard of the First Order," Caelinus repeated in a mocking tone. "Buggards, Zeddicus! That doesn't always count for everything you know. Why else would you have brought him here to me?"
"You're just jealous you were unable to reach that status," Zedd spat out, taking a book from the pile. "I only brought him here because I knew that you experimented in magical forms of healing."
"Wizard of the Second Order is a very prestigious title too, you know!"
"Just tell me what you can do for Frederick so we can at least try to solve at least one of our problems before the sun sets on this blasted day," Zedd huffed in irritation. "I'd like to return home before my great grandchildren grow to be adults."
Caelinus rubbed his chin in thought as he stared at his journals for a long moment. He had sworn to himself when he had left Aydindril a lifetime ago that he would never again try to help another living soul for as long as he lived. All of his work on cures and healing through magic had fallen on deaf ears, no one caring to listen to him, his work not taken seriously.
Wizards back then had been too absorbed with using their magic to fight in the war, how best to destroy the enemy. No one cared about his efforts to heal and help the dying back then.
"You have not come with very easy problems to solve, Zeddicus" he murmured with a frown.
"I know, my friend, I know," Zedd acknowledged with a grim nod. "You are the only one I know of who could possibly help us."
"Zedd, I…"
"I know this isn't easy for you, Caelinus," he interrupted him. "You went through a lot of struggles and heartache during your time at the Wizard's Keep, far more than anyone ever deserves. I know that losing Erilyn was the final blow causing you to turn your back on Aydindril and magic, forcing you into seclusion up here.
"But I need you now more than ever, old friend. Frederick is my grandson Richard's father-in-law, the Mother Confessor's father. I need to do everything in my power to help save his life."
Caelinus drew a deep breath, his heart heavy with the memories of Erilyn that had assaulted him since Zedd's arrival yesterday. Even after all of these years, he still missed his sister fiercely. His anger and resentment with Zedd may have diminished over the years, but his heartache never truly had.
He didn't want anyone to else to have to go through that loss of a loved one. He knew there was nothing he could do for the Sister's son, but there still might be something that he could do for Frederick.
"Alright, let's take a look at you, see if we might be able to at least save you," Caelinus finally replied as he stood to his feet, making his way to Frederick.
XXX
Music could be heard from the streets of the city, floating into the courtyard on the warm spring breeze. It was the perfect day for a party, the sun shining brightly overhead as the entire city celebrated the Lord and Lady Rahl's daughters' birth.
Drinking in the scene around her, Kahlan couldn't believe how beautiful the courtyard looked. At first she had been a little uncertain about Lyla's choice of locations, knowing that this had once been the devotion center for the prayers to the Lord Rahl, but she had done an exceptional job of decorating it with flowers and brightly colored streamers. She couldn't have asked for a better party for her girls if she had done it all herself.
Through journey book with Edmond, Kahlan had learned that Aydindril was having their own celebration today even though they were not present for the festivities. It wasn't everyday that the ancient home of the Mother Confessor could celebrate her daughters' birthday. They were the last of the Confessors making it an extra joyous event.
She wished more than anything that Edmond and Aggie could be here with them today. They hadn't even seen the twins yet or her newborn son Aiden. She had been carrying Paige and Priya when she'd had to leave for D'Hara so that Richard could claim the throne, leaving them behind to run things in Aydindril.
Thinking of them only reminded her how much she missed her own father as well as Zedd. Even though they would have a private party for the girls when they returned home, she still felt their absence.
Sipping her glass of wine, Kahlan couldn't help the smile that crept to her lips at the sight of Cara holding hands with Garren as they talked to Commander Holland and Nicci. She was happy that her friend could join in the celebration. The last couple of weeks of bed rest had been more than difficult on her.
In fact, the last few weeks had been hard on all of them with everything that was wildly churning around them. It felt as if they were trapped in the eye of a tornado, the calm center about to erupt into a melee that they didn't know how to begin to fight.
They still had no idea about the mysterious woman or her possible connection to poor Mina's death. They were no closer to a resolution with the three regions from the Midlands and the war that was no doubt coming. Then there was still the looming threat of losing Michael and her father.
Drawing a deep breath, Kahlan attempted to shove aside her mounting worries. This day was about her daughters; nothing else. She was determined to make it as special as possible for Paige and Priya.
She was not about to let the responsibilities of leadership affect her children's lives in any way. She wanted them to have a childhood that was as close to normal as possible, enjoying playing in the garden with their parents like they did yesterday or reading bedtime stories.
They would know all too soon the rigors of duty and responsibility, their training as Confessors coming soon enough as it was.
"I know that look, Mother Confessor," Richard sternly said as he came to stand beside her, taking her hand in his. "I told you that you're not allowed to worry about anything today, remember? It's our daughters' birthday."
His special smile on her lips, Kahlan turned to look into his warm brown eyes that never ceased to create a nervous flutter in the pit of her stomach even after all of this time. "I'm sorry," she softly sighed. "Just a lot on my mind, I guess."
"I'll just have to keep you preoccupied then," he replied with a boyish lop-sided grin as he raised their joined hands to brush his lips against her knuckles.
Kahlan felt her cheeks grow warm with his meaning. "You haven't seen the representatives or Ambassador Dorst yet, have you?" she asked, her brow further furrowing with worry once more.
"No," he said, grateful for their absence so far. "With any luck, they won't come at all."
"It would be considered a slap in the face if they don't make an appearance," she told him, lightly chewing on her bottom lip. "It is a sign of outright disrespect if they don't show good cause for their absence."
"Well, with the way they feel about us and what we are doing forming the D'Haran Empire, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they didn't show. Their behavior has already been inexcusable."
"If they refuse to attend, it will forever seal their fates and the fates of their regions," she attempted to explain as they began to walk through the courtyard holding hands. She loved the feel of his strong hand wrapped so protectively around hers. "It would be an outright sign of defiance. There will be no going back, no more negotiations. They might as well be attacking the People's Palace themselves."
Richard slowly shook his head as he listened. "So many rules," he frowned. "How do you keep them all straight?"
"Years of training, Lord Rahl," she smiled, bumping her shoulder affectionately against his.
He smiled in response. "I'm just lucky to have such a beautiful teacher like you," he murmured.
"Lord and Lady Rahl!"
Richard and Kahlan stopped and turned at the sound of their titles to find Ambassador Altamont from Ravenswood approaching. "Ambassador," Richard greeted, shaking the man's hand.
Ambassador Altamont shook the Lord Rahl's hand in return, a grin plastered on the jovial man's wide face. "What a wonderful day for the Empire it is," he excited said. "It's a joyous occasion when we get to celebrate the Lord and Lady Rahl's twin daughters' birthday."
"Thank you, Ambassador," Kahlan smiled warmly.
"It is truly an honor to be here," the Ambassador replied. "I would not have missed this for anything."
Kahlan listened as the man spoke to Richard about all the upcoming changes, his excitement and wish to be involved in any way he could evident in his voice. It was a refreshing reprieve from the outright defiance and rage that they had been dealing with as of late.
Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed Commander Holland and Garren making their way across the courtyard, Holland's hand griping the hilt of his sword that still rested in its scabbard. She felt her insides tighten with worry as they stopped to speak with Mistress Rachel.
They spoke with their heads close together, something obviously important being discussed as they moved to the far side of the courtyard. Rachel had her agiel in her fist, her eyes like daggers set to kill if need be. It gave her chills.
Kahlan instinctively tightened her grip on her husband's hand as she quickly sought out her daughters who were being tended to by Lyla and Naira. A little ways off to the right, she finally saw Paige and Priya. They were kneeling at the devotion pools watching the fish swimming with great fascination. Four Mord'Sith stood nearby watching the girls as well, their own private entourage that Richard had assigned to them soon after they were born.
She released a small sigh of relief as she watched them, her lips turning up at their excitement with the fish, the way they giggled and pointed warming her heart. There was no doubt in her mind that they were just like her husband, so proud of the women that she knew they would someday become.
"What is it?" Richard asked, feeling her sudden apprehension.
Turning her attention back to her husband, she discovered they were alone again, Ambassador Altamont no longer there talking to Richard. "I just saw Garren, Holland, and Rachel take off for the other side of the courtyard," she softly said, nodding pleasantly to an Ambassador's wife from Renwold that was passing by.
Richard immediately looked for his daughters, worried about their safety. Seeing that they were nearby, he quickly scanned the crowds for any signs of trouble. On the other side of the courtyard, he noticed what he had been dreading all day.
Representatives Frinhill, Backus, and Gorrim were just entering the devotion area. He immediately bristled at the sight of them, the fine hairs on the back of his neck prickling. He could already feel his anger beginning to stir as they slowly made their way through the scattered crowds of people, smiling and greeting old friends and dignitaries.
It made Richard want to vomit. They were nothing like what they appeared at that moment, their false smiles and pleasantries not fooling him in the least. They were only here for one thing and one thing only – to create more havoc.
"Richard, it'll be alright," Kahlan gently reassured him.
"If they say one word to you…"
"I'm fine," she promised. "They wouldn't dare; not here."
"I wouldn't bet on it," he scowled, his free hand coming to rest on his sword hanging at his hip.
Kahlan squeezed his hand, understanding his anger. She felt it too. "This is for our daughters," she reminded him.
She could feel him begin to relax a little with her words, but his jaw remained clenched, his eyes hard like steel. She just prayed that their guests would not create any trouble. She didn't want anything to go wrong today, didn't want her daughters to be witness to a deadly clash at their own party.
They were too young, too innocent. She didn't want them to lose that yet. She'd been forced to endure so much at a young age because of her mother's death and then because of her father. She didn't want her daughters to have to learn the atrocities and hardships of life until they were much older.
Her Confessor's mask firmly set in place, Kahlan watched as the three men approached, her head held high. It took every ounce of strength and training that she had to keep herself calm as they drew near. Although loath to create a scene, she was equally prepared to confess all three of them if they dared cross her or her family now.