TITLE: Marked

AUTHOR: LOTSlove®

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

RATING: PG-16 / R later

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

TIMELINE: Anything up through S2

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 my fic Revenge, Richard finally has Kahlan safely back with him, but does he really?

Chapter 24

Kahlan sat staring at the flickering fire still burning in the gathering hut, reeling with what they had just learned. She felt so numb inside…dead almost, her mind trying to process the things that Darken Rahl had told them. She couldn't begin to believe that what he had told them was true and yet she was experiencing everything he said that she would.

Soon, she'd lose complete control, her ability to make her own decisions. Her body would no longer be her own, but Demos's. Everything she did, everything she felt would be for him and him alone. Her heart would no longer belong to Richard. The thought made her ill to her core. It was going to be like slowly being confessed.

She couldn't bear the thought of Demos's hands on her, taking her against her will and not being able to fight him or stop him. It would be like being in the Underworld with Darken Rahl all over again except that Richard wasn't going to be able to save her this time.

She knew that Darken Rahl had no reason to lie to them about the marking spell, nothing to gain by shading or altering the truth. In fact, he took great joy in being the one to reveal the horrifying end result of the spell to them, knowing how much it would hurt Richard to learn the truth. There was no way to save her.

That was what mattered most to Darken Rahl – hurting his brother, taking and destroying what was his. The fact that she could end up with either him or Demos made no difference to Darken Rahl as long as she wasn't with Richard. Bringing pain and suffering was all that Darken knew.

She absentmindedly rubbed her arms, the chill in her bones never subsiding for even for a moment. Her head was pounding like a hammer on an anvil, threatening to overwhelm her, but she tried to ignore it. Soon, though, she knew it was going to become too unbearable to ignore.

She squeezed her eyes closed; trying to focus on the passionate night she had spent in Richard's arms, the pure peace and joy that she had felt being with him. They could finally be together, have the life that they had both been dreaming about for so long and now it was being taken away from them all over again.

She knew she had to do something, had to leave before she lost control of her magic. She was terrified of hurting someone, of losing control and confessing an innocent person. She was already beginning to feel her restraint slipping with the horrible things she had said to Richard, the way that she was always losing her temper. It wasn't like her to be like that.

She didn't mean any of the things that she had said to him. She knew that he would never have been with her last night if he thought that she wasn't alright. And last night, she had been herself, sharing and giving him all that she had. It had been so very real, so magical and passionate.

Kahlan wanted to talk to him, tell him how sorry she was for saying those things to him, but he was still talking to Odo, Mitta, and Tolla Nakunam. Their voices were low as they talked, but she didn't really care to know what they were saying. There wasn't anything anyone could do for her now anyway. Her fate was sealed just as Darken Rahl had said it was.

Casting a glance at Kahlan still sitting silently by the fire, Richard could see the struggle she was going through, the way her shoulders slumped, her head was lowered. He wanted nothing more than to hold her, to take her as far away from here as possible in order to keep her safe. He would do whatever it took to make sure that Demos never got his hands on her.

Kahlan belonged with him. He had more than proven that last night when he made love to her without being confessed. No other man had been able to love a Confessor like he had and no one but him would ever have her.

He raked his fingers back through his hair, the fury simmering inside of him set to explode. It was all he could do to keep a tight grip on his fragmented emotions at that moment. So much had happened to them in the last few weeks, more than anyone deserved to go through. And now…now, their world was crumbling down around them all over again.

"There must be something that we can we do for her," Tolla shook his head in dismay, his muscular arms crossed against his chest.

"I don't know what for certain," Odo frowned. "I'm afraid my healing abilities are limited compared to many others."

"I need to get to Zedd," Richard scowled. "He's a powerful Wizard. He'll know what we can do for her."

Mitta suddenly spoke up. "Tolla, take the hunting part in search of Seeker Richard's friends and bring them here immediately. This Wizard might be able to help save Confessor Kahlan."

"Thank you, Mitta," Richard sighed.

"In the meantime, I'm going to see if there's anything else in my hut that I can come up with for her," Odo decided. "We'll need to be prepared for when the seeds no longer help the headaches."

"Thank you, Odo," the Seeker softly replied. "You have no idea how much it means that you all are willing to help us."

Tolla Nakunam clapped him on the back, squeezing his shoulder affectionately. "You and Confessor Kahlan are now part of the Aku," he told him. "Besides, you both risked your lives to save my children. I will forever owe you for that."

"You owe us nothing, Nakunam," Richard said. "We were just happy to have been able to help. Your tribe has been more than gracious to us."

"And I am honored to call you friend," Tolla told him.

"I just hope that Zedd will know what to do," the Seeker replied. "I can't lose her."

Glancing over his shoulder, Richard suddenly noticed that Kahlan was gone, his heart seizing in his chest. "Where did Kahlan go?"

"I don't know," Odo murmured, quickly looking around the large gathering hut. "I wasn't paying any attention."

"I have to find her," Richard growled as he took off after her.

Richard immediately left the hut to search for her, fearful about where she could have gone. She was in no shape to be alone right now. He couldn't let her out of his sight no matter what. He was afraid if he did, she'd disappear, that he'd lose her forever.

He swallowed past the thick knot that filled his throat as he squinted in the late afternoon sunlight that was a bright stark contrast to the dim light that had filled the gathering hut. He was surprised that the day was nearly already gone. The gathering had felt like it had only taken a few moments, but in reality had been several hours.

He quickly began to look for her, desperate to find her before something happened to her. He didn't want to go on alone, couldn't complete his quest or live his life without her. It was so unconceivable not only to his mind, but to his heart.

He quickly made his way through the village, his anxious gaze suddenly falling on Hadi walking towards him. "Where is Kahlan?" he demanded to know.

"I do not know," Hadi spat out. "I haven't seen your witch woman."

"If you have done anything to her…"

"I have not touched her or seen her," Hadi scowled. "You have no right to accuse me of anything. You don't even belong in our village, Seeker."

Richard didn't bother to stick around and listen to anymore of his ranting, his need to find Kahlan outweighing everything else at that moment. He didn't know why she had run off like she had, not even telling him where she was going. All he knew was that he had to find her, talk to her.

Entering the Spirit House, Richard released a ragged breath, relieved to find Kahlan kneeling by their things in the corner. "Kahlan, why did you leave?" he asked, irritation filling his voice. "I didn't know where you went. I was worried about you."

"I have to leave," she flatly stated, standing to her feet as she pulled on her backpack.

"Kahlan, what's going on?" he demanded as he came to stand before her, blocking her way to the door. "Why are leaving now?"

"I have to get out of here…I have to leave," she told him, tears brimming in her eyes.

She tightly gripped the straps of her pack, avoiding making eye contact with him. She couldn't bear to look into his warm chocolate eyes that melted her resolve. She just needed to leave before she hurt him, hurt one of the Aku.

"Where are you going to go?"

"I don't know…maybe Aydindril. I just…I have to leave now, Richard," she replied, quickly making her way around him. She had hoped that she could've left before he'd had a chance to find her. Now, it was that much harder having to face him, to say goodbye.

Richard quickly turned, roughly grabbing hold of her arm and pulling her to a stop. "Stop it, Kahlan!" he angrily growled. "Talk to me!"

"There's nothing to talk about, Richard!" she cried. "I'm a danger to everyone around me. I won't be able to control myself soon. I'm terrified that I'm going to hurt someone…or worst of all…you! Do you really think that if Demos can control me, he's not going to force me to kill you?"

"You won't hurt me, Kahlan," he told her, grabbing her by her upper arms. "I've already proven to you several times that you're magic can't hurt me."

"But that doesn't mean that I still can't hurt you some other way!" she yelled at him, jerking free of his hold on her, backing a few steps away from him. "If Demos gets control of my mind, I won't be able to stop myself if he orders me to kill you."

"You won't hurt me," he firmly repeated. "I will find a way to stop this. I meant what I said to Darken Rahl. You belong to me, Kahlan, and I won't lose you. Not now, not ever."

Kahlan drew a shuddering breath as her tears suddenly broke free. "I'm so scared, Richard," she softly replied. "I would rather take my own life than ever hurt you."

"I know that," he gently said as immediately moved towards her, taking her hands in his. "That's why I'm not afraid of you. We were finally able to prove our love to each other last night and I'm not about to just give up on you now. Kahlan, you're everything to me."

"I love you," she whispered, leaning in and kissing him softly. "That's why I'm asking you…please let me go."

"No," he firmly said, his hands slipping into her hair and keeping her in front of him. "I love you, Kahlan. I'm not about to let you go no matter what happens."

Tears slipped silently down her cheeks as she suddenly buried herself into his chest, surrendering to him for the moment. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as she cried. He swallowed back his own rising tears, wanting to just hold her close and keep her safe with him forever.

"Please, Richard…please let me go…" she softly sobbed, clinging helplessly to him. "I'm losing myself and I can't stop it. I don't want to hurt you."

"I promise I will do whatever it takes to save you, Kahlan."

She suddenly pulled back, her face wet with tears. "Please, Richard…promise me that if I start to lose myself that you will end my life," she begged, fisting his shirt in her hands. "Please…at least promise me that."

Horror passed over his face at the very thought, his mind frozen with anguish. How could she ask him to do that? "Kahlan…" he slowly began to shake his head in shock.

"Please, Richard…I need to know that you will stop me if you can't find a way to break the spell," she cried. "Promise me!"

"I will not give up until I save you," he heatedly told her, taking her face in his hands.

"No! Promise you'll stop me before I hurt someone," she heatedly said. "If you don't…I'll do it myself."

Richard swallowed hard, his heart in his throat as he gazed into her watery blue eyes full of such desperation and fear he could hardly find his voice. "Alright," he finally whispered.

He watched as the panic swimming in her blue orbs began to fade somewhat, her body beginning to relax a little. "But you have to promise me something too, Kahlan," he firmly stated.

"What?"

"You will fight this with everything you have," he said. "You are not allowed to give up, Kahlan Amnell. I finally have you and I'm not about to let you go…ever."

Kahlan slowly nodded her head, biting her bottom lip. "I'm so sorry I hurt you," she softly said, cupping his cheek. She watched as he melted into her touch, his eyes momentarily falling closed. "I never meant any of those things that I said to you."

"I know, Kahlan," he replied. "It's alright. I know it wasn't you."

"Being with you, finally being able to make love with you is everything I've ever wanted," she told him. "I never thought we'd be able to truly have this, but you never gave up hope. You've made my dreams a reality, Richard. No other man has been able to do that for a Confessor in over three thousand years."

"Not every dream has come true yet, but it will," he softly smiled, kissing her and drawing her close again. "Once the rift is sealed and the Keeper defeated, I'm going to marry you, make a family with you."

"I want that so badly," she breathed against his lips, losing herself to his nearness, the way she felt so safe in his arms.

"I'm going to make that happen for us, Kahlan," he reassured her as he stroked her hair. "And I plan on giving you many daughters to continue the line of Confessors."

Kahlan sighed contentedly at the thought, nuzzling her nose against his. "I can't wait to have a baby with you."

Richard smiled as he tilted his head to kiss her, the idea of her carrying his child heating his blood. He wanted her more than anything, needed to save her before he lost her forever. He couldn't bear the thought of her in Demos's hands, his bed. It only fueled the dark rage that lived in his soul.

Knowing what his brother Darken had done to her was bad enough, making him ill. He had a horrible feeling that Demos would be so much worse, the things that she would be forced to endure unimaginable.

Breaking the kiss, Kahlan buried her face in the crook of his neck. "I still need to leave, Richard," she softly said. "I can't stay here and endanger the Aku no matter how much we would love to stay here."

"Tolla Nakunam is going to take his men to find Zedd and Cara and bring them here, but I don't think we're going to be able to wait for them," he murmured. "We need to get you to Aydindril right away. Hopefully, there'll be something in the Keep that will help us break this spell before Demos gains full control over you."

"We should leave first thing in the morning," she replied, her fingers playing with his tooth pendant. "I wish I could just stay here and hide with you."

"I would love that too," he sighed heavily. "Unfortunately, life keeps dictating our future for us."

"Do you ever think that we'll be able to live in peace, just be allowed to enjoy each other without all the interruptions?"

"I'm going to do my best to make that a reality, Kahlan," he swore to her. "I love you more than anything in this world."

"I love you too," she told him, kissing him again, her fingers disappearing into his hair and gripping it tightly.

Retreating for air, he pressed his forehead against hers, keeping her flush against him. He gently ran the pad of his thumb along her cheek to erase the stain that her teardrop had left behind. "You are so very beautiful," he murmured, swiftly lost in her beauty once more. "You never cease to take my breath away."

"Richard," she whispered, her heart racing now for a very different reason.

"I should've fought harder, gotten to you sooner…I should have known that Demos would try something like this," he told her, suddenly choking back tears. "I just hope that you can learn to forgive me someday, Kahlan."

She released the breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding, his touch sending tingles through her. "Richard, I can't forgive you," she slowly said, watching as his face fell, "because there's nothing to forgive. You're my Seeker, my strong warrior…" she leaned in to kiss him softly. "You're my hero…"

Kahlan kissed him again and it was all Richard could do not to push her onto the ground and make love to her again right there in the Spirit House. He pulled back a little to catch his breath, trying to gain control over his desire for her.

He needed to find a way to save her. As badly as he wanted her, he was sick with worry over what was happening to her. He was going to lose her and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Your headache is getting worse again," he commented.

"A little," she softly admitted, trying to brush it off as nothing. She could see the worry shining in his chestnut eyes.

"Why don't you rest for a little while?" he suggested.

Kahlan shook her head. "I don't want to sleep," she shook her head. "I'm afraid to fall asleep."

"Because of the nightmares?" he frowned. "You didn't have any last night."

"I was too busy making love with a very handsome Seeker to have any," she softly smiled before growing serious once more. "I'm afraid that Demos will gain control of me while I'm asleep, that I'll wake up and no longer be me."

"I won't let that happen, Kahlan," he firmly stated, his jaw clenching with the anger that lived so hotly beneath his skin. "I'm not going to let him get a hold of you…ever."

Leading her to the blankets, he removed her jacket for her before lowering her to the ground. Settling in beside her, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest. He loved the feel of her molding herself against him, melting into his hold on her. He would never grow tired of it.

"Sleep for a while," he softly told her, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "I'll be right here when you wake up."

Kahlan took hold of his tooth pendant, gripping onto it as if it was her lifeline to him. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to relax into his hold, silently pleading with the good spirits to allow her to still be herself when she woke again.