Chapter 7

Richard cast a sidelong glance at his beautiful Confessor walking beside him but not nearly close enough for his liking and definitely not as close as they usually did. In the past when they would walk side-by-side, there would be an occasional brush of a hand against the other sending electric shocks up his arm, a shoulder softly bumping the other and creating a flutter inside or a shared smile.

Now, there was nothing but air.

Loneliness overwhelmed him despite the fact that they'd been travelling a good portion of the day together. They had spoken little since leaving the rift as well as Zedd and Cara behind this morning. They had each been lost to their own private thoughts and struggles, attempting to work them out alone and steadily feeding the already suffocating air of tension between them. It was becoming like a third person following them everywhere they went, an invisible spirit that continually haunted them.

As the day had silently worn on, Richard's loneliness and longing for her touch or even just her smile had only grown more fierce as the tension grew darker, gloomier, the distance between them expanding and pushing them farther apart like an ever-widening divide. And he hated it.

With a heavy sigh, he turned his attention back to the path before him, knowing that she needed time and he was more determined than ever to give that to her no matter how hard it was for him. He attempted to steel himself against his own heartache, shoving aside his own hurts and need for her. For her, he would do anything in this world no matter the pain it might cause him.

Kahlan glanced at her Seeker, her insides quivering with her need for him, but she couldn't give in. She had to be strong, had to remain logical despite her deepest desires, despite Richard's steadfast belief that his love for her would protect him.

Besides, she knew he was still upset that she hadn't told him what Darken Rahl had done to her while she had been in the Underworld. She could see the hurt and the fear in his soulful eyes every time he looked at her, felt it in the distance that he put between them – both physical and emotional.

Kahlan hoped that with time that he would soon forget about it, move on and let it go, their quest to find the Stone taking precedence once more. She couldn't bear telling him, couldn't take the chance that he might end up hating her in the end if he knew.

A sharp pain pierced her heart with the thought, suddenly stealing her breath. The thought of losing Richard's love nearly made her legs give out on her and though she knew they could never truly be together. She couldn't lose him, couldn't that happen no matter how badly she needed him right now.

She softly cursed under her breath, scratching her forearm again. It itched and burned relentlessly, driving her crazy. She knew without looking at it that it was getting worse, but she tried to force it from her mind. She had things worse than a bite mark going on right now to worry about.

Her headache was beginning to worsen again, her vision blurring with the growing intensity of it. She didn't know why she was getting them all of the sudden like this, but it was the last thing that she needed right now. She had enough that she was trying to deal with.

Unable to keep his eyes off of her, Richard risked another sidelong glance at her. She looked exhausted, rubbing her forehead as a weary sigh escaped her lips and causing his worry to escalate once more.

Without thinking, he instinctively moved closer to her, capturing her hand in his and pulling her to a stop. "Are you alright? Do you need to rest?" he asked, his forehead creased with concern.

Kahlan forced a smile to reassure him, but it was entirely unconvincing. "We can keep going."

Realizing he was still holding her hand, he quickly released it, his hand coming to rest on the hilt of his sword instead, allowing the magical fury of it tingle up his arm. "Well, I need to rest," he lied, turning towards a large tree off to the side before waiting for her response.

"Richard," she sighed, knowing it was a losing battle to argue with him as he unbuckled his sword and removed his pack before settling beneath the cool shade of the tree.

Kahlan slowly made her way to him, a nervous flutter in her stomach as she removed her pack. He looked so very handsome sitting there waiting for her to join him, the gentle breeze lifting the longer strands of his hair that framed his tanned face, the dappled sunlight breaking through the leaves creating a warm shadowy glow about him.

She sat down in the grass, maintaining some distance between them when all she wanted was to throw him to the ground and make love with him right there, but she feared hurting him more than she already had. She pulled her water skin from her pack, pulling the top off and taking a long drink, silently praying that he wouldn't push her again about Darken Rahl.

She feared she wouldn't be able to deny him for much longer, knowing how much she was hurting him. She could feel her love for him growing stronger, her need for him burning hotter in her core. She felt flushed even sitting this close to him as a warm tingling flooded her veins, her resolve beginning to falter.

Watching her, Richard couldn't help the longing inside of him that continued to grow and intensify, making his breath catch in his chest. He had never wanted anything in his entire life like he wanted her, wanted her to belong to no one but him in every way imaginable.

He ached to touch her, to feel her soft lips moving urgently against his, but more than even that he wanted her to be alright again, to just be his Kahlan again.

Richard tensed his body in an effort to keep from reaching over and touching her when he wanted so desperately to make love to her in the tall grasses, to at last unleash the passion that was teeming so hotly in his core demanding release. He was dying to give himself to her, to show her with his hands, his mouth, his body what beat in his heart for her.

"I wonder how Zedd is fairing travelling with Cara," he finally said, wanting to break the uneasy silence.

Kahlan chuckled softly at the thought. "I can only imagine," she shook her head at the thought. "I'm sure Cara's as agitated as a hornet with us being separated like this."

Richard chuckled with her at the picture that was taking shape in his mind, the fiery Mord'Sith stomping through the woods with his grandfather leisurely following behind her munching on an apple. "I'm sure she's pushing him hard to make it around that rift so they can catch up with us."

"His stomach won't allow it."

"It'll only irritate her all the more."

Silence suddenly drifted between them again, the tension quickly rising once more. Kahlan picked at the green blades of grass before her, avoiding making eye contact with her handsome Seeker. She lightly chewed on her bottom lip as she attempted to think of a way to fix things between them again, to ease his fears and reassure him of her love for him.

Richard could see the indecision in her downcast face, the telltale creasing of her forehead that told him she was struggling with things that she couldn't give voice to yet. It was the fine lines etched into the corners of her eyes that told him the headache was worsening.

The way she bit her bottom lip was driving him wild, his arousal growing warmer by the moment. Unable to bear it any longer, he finally reached over and brushed his fingers lightly along the delicate curve of her face before tucking her hair behind her ear. "Headaches are getting worse again, aren't they?" he frowned.

There was no need for her to try to deny it; he could see it in her eyes. He knew all too well how severe headaches could get, the crippling pain that made death look like a welcoming alternative. He didn't want her to ever be in pain like he had been, experiencing something that made her want to end her life.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment, relishing the feel of his hand so warm and gentle against her cheek. "Yes…somewhat," she finally admitted with a weary sigh, knowing it was pointless to try to lie to him.

Richard allowed his hand to fall away when all he wanted to do was to pull her closer, to kiss her until they were both left panting for so much more. "Why don't you try and sleep for a little while?" he suggested. "It might help. I can keep watch over you."

She averted her eyes, unable to meet the intensity in his heated gaze, the longing that always simmered there in those dark chocolate depths. "I'd rather not," she softly murmured, unable to stop the shudder that rolled through her.

The night terrors that plagued her sleep were growing more violent than what Darken Rahl had actually done to her, finishing what he had started in the Underworld in her nightmares and leaving her trembling in uncontrollable fear. She was growing terrified to even close her eyes.

He watched as Kahlan drew her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around her legs. She had been sitting like that more frequently since being saved from the Underworld. She looked so small and broken when she pulled herself away from him, so very fragile and vulnerable. He wanted her to let him in and allow him to help her heal, but she didn't want him right now and that hurt him more than anything.

"Kahlan…please…" he began, desperately trying to ease the tension between them as well as mend both of their hurting hearts. Unfortunately, a sharp snapping sound coming from the nearby woods brought him to an abrupt stop.

Kahlan turned too at the intrusive sound, her body tense for another reason altogether now. She slowly reached for her daggers as Richard pulled his sword free, its unmistakable ring slicing through the still afternoon air.

Standing to their feet, they silently waited, listening for any more noises that warned them of an impending attack, the tribe that Cara had warned them about finally about to show themselves. He slowly walked to the line of trees behind them, waiting and watching, searching for a source for the sound they had heard.

Cara had warned them about the Aku in this valley, their disdain for outsiders. Richard feared that they may have just come across them as his narrowed gaze searched the thick line of trees. He didn't want to fight with them. He only wanted to get through this valley that seemed to stretch forever, meet up with Zedd and Cara and find the Stone.

After several moments of nothing but silence, Richard finally sheathed his sword. Turning back to Kahlan, he found her suddenly bent over, grabbing her head, her eyes squeezed tightly closed, her teeth clenched in excruciating pain.

"Kahlan!" he cried as he rushed to her side.

He immediately bent over, wrapping his arm around her, his heart racing with panic. He felt so helpless as he eased her down to the ground and pulled her into his arms. Watching her suffer like this, knowing what she was going through was killing him inside.

Kahlan curled up into a tight ball as she lay in his lap holding her head. She gritted her teeth against the piercing pain that felt like lightning bolts tearing through her skull. She panted against the pain, trying to catch her breath as tears slowly began to leak from her eyes. She dug her fingers into her head in a futile attempt to make it stop but it was useless.

She barely registered Richard's hold on her or the fact that she was lying in his lap. The only thing she knew was intense pain the likes of which she'd never felt before. It was like something trying to steal her sanity as it ate away at her mind.

Panic seized his heart, causing it to race as dread welled within. He gently rocked her in his arms as he brushed her hair from her face. She was pale, her skin icy cold to his touch despite the sweat that was beginning to form on her brow. Spirits, what was happening to her?

"Kahlan, what can I do for you?" he asked, his voice revealing his helpless panic.

Kahlan sucked in a sharp breath, fighting to remain conscious when all she wanted to do at that moment was to sink into the black oblivion that she felt tugging at her senses. "Nothing," she gasped. "Just…just give me…a moment."

Richard's heart was in his throat as the minutes slowly ticked by, wishing there was something he could do for her, but there was nothing he could do. He had given his Han to Sister Nicci. He was powerless to do anything but hold her.

He could feel her begin to relax in his arms giving him a small measure of hope. "Kahlan?" he tentatively said as she began to sit up.

"It's beginning to pass," she breathlessly replied as her vision began to clear again.

Richard sat back on his heels as he studied her, trying to determine if she was telling him the truth or not. She was still in obvious pain, but she was beginning to get a little more color back in her cheeks, her breathing starting to return to normal.

"How often are you getting these headaches?" he asked.

"It's been constant since I woke the day before last, but it's only been this severe one other time."

"What other time?" he pressed.

"Last night," she admitted, rubbing her temples.

"Kahlan, why didn't you wake me?" he frowned.

"You need your sleep as well, Richard," she told him. "I know you couldn't have slept well the night you saved me, not with me fighting you all night long in my sleep."

"That's beside the point, Kahlan," he heatedly replied, seizing her hand and holding it tightly in his. "I want you to wake me if something's wrong. I want you to need me, Kahlan."

Hurt mingled with anger in his heated gaze causing her chest to constrict. She had never meant to hurt him again and she definitely didn't like him being angry with her. She never wanted to be the cause of that look on his face that was veiling it now.

"I'm sorry, Richard," she murmured, a rush of heated tears suddenly filling her eyes. How had everything become so messed up between them?

Seeing her blue eyes brimming with tears was like a dagger being driven into his gut. He quickly pulled her into his arms, fear a stranglehold on his heart. "Spirits, I'm just so terrified of losing you all over again," he softly admitted into her hair, tears threatening to rise in his own eyes.

He held her close, relaxing slightly when she finally wrapped her arms around him. He inhaled deeply, breathing her in and savoring the feel of her in his arms. He never wanted the moment to end, but he knew that they needed to leave. He had a bad feeling that whatever had made that sound just moments ago was still there somewhere watching, waiting.

Richard reluctantly pulled back, brushing her hair from her face, thankful that she had allowed him to hold her even for a moment. "Are you alright to keep moving?"

"Yes," she quickly nodded as she disentangled herself from his embrace and reached for her backpack, her Confessor's mask slipping into place once more which did not go unnoticed by her Seeker.

"I don't want to stay our here in the open any longer than necessary," he said as he buckled his sword around his waist. "It's going to be dark soon. We'll need to find someplace safe to make camp for the night."

"Do you think that we're being followed?" she frowned, sliding her arms through the straps of her pack.

"I don't know, but I'm not sticking around here to find out," he replied before suddenly grabbing her hand and heading back towards the path.

XXX

Watching the man and woman leave, he slowly lowered his bow and arrow, his eyes narrowing with deep suspicion. Outsiders were not welcome on Aku land, would not be allowed to pass through their valley.

He kept his arrow out just in case, following them from the dark shadows of the woods. He would have to inform the council that outsiders had been discovered. They would send the hunting party after them, disposing of them with their usual deadly skill and placing their dead bodies on stakes for all outsiders to witness.

He had watched the man and woman as they had interacted with one another. The woman seemed to have a sick spirit, the man desperate to help her. There was something about the way that they acted with one another that had made him wonder if she was his mate. The way that they had looked at each other had told him they belonged together.

He had taken a curious step forward to get a better look, a dry branch snapping loudly beneath his bare foot. It had caused them both to pause and draw their weapons. The man had drawn a magnificent sword that made a strange ringing sound when removed from its casing. It had caught the sunlight causing him to momentarily be blinded by its brilliance.

He wanted that sword. It would make him the envy of the entire village. They might even name him "Tolla" of the elite hunting party, everyone following his lead and orders. He swore to himself that he'd have that sword one way or another.