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 26

Richard awoke with a start, his subconscious mind telling him that something was very wrong. He immediately looked beside him to find Kahlan gone. Panic suddenly lanced through him as he looked around the Spirit House for any sign of her or where she could've gone.

He found his pack lying against the wall...alone. Kahlan was gone. Overwhelming fear erupted within his core, knowing that she had left him sometime during the night and he had completely missed it. Leaping to his feet in search of his breeches, he just prayed that she was still nearby.

He cursed under his breath, knowing that he should have kept better watch over. He knew how adamant she had been about wanting to keep him as far away from her as possible, how scared she was of hurting him.

Richard quickly dressed, his heart in his throat making it more than difficult to breathe. He thought that he had convinced her not to leave without him. Now, he had no idea where she was or now long she'd been gone.

Strapping on his sword, he snatched up his pack before leaving the Spirit House. The sun was already rising, the village stirring. He could hardly control the wild panic that threatened to tear him apart, the fear for her that seized his heart or the anger with her that heated his blood.

Whatever Kahlan had seen in that vision from Demos last night had obviously rattled her more that he had first thought. She was terrified of hurting him and whatever Demos had planned for them made her run in fear that it would come true. He had to find her, had to keep her safe no matter what.

Racing through the village, Richard found Odo coming towards him. He had a grim look on his face that did little to settle Richard's hammering heart.

"Odo! Have you seen, Kahlan?" Richard demanded to know.

"Yes, she left quite a little while ago," Odo frowned. "I tried to talk her out of leaving, but her mind was made up. She's a very stubborn one. She said that she was too afraid of hurting us or you to stay here any longer."

Richard's shoulders slumped as he scrubbed his face with his hands in frustration. "Do you know which way she went?"

"That way," Odo pointed over his shoulder. "She asked me to give you this."

Richard looked down at the folded paper in the healer's outstretched hand. His mind was in a heated frenzy of thoughts and emotions all vying for control of him. He felt as though he had just lost the only woman that he had ever truly loved.

Taking the piece of paper, the Seeker fought back the hot tears that suddenly filled his throat. The last two nights with her had been more than magical, more passionate then his most erotic dream. It was more amazing than he had ever thought was possible to experience with a woman.

"There's something else you need to know, Seeker Richard," Odo grimly said.

"What?" he asked, trying to shake himself free from the haze of hurt and anger that had flooded him.

"Confessor Kahlan asked me for something, but I don't know for certain what she wanted it for. I think you should know just in case."

"What did she want?"

"Besides more seeds, she asked for a bottle of marlow root," Odo informed him.

Richard felt his chest tighten with the healer's words. Marlow root was only used for one purpose – to end a life. "Dear Spirits," he whispered, his eyes falling closed with the dread that roiled in the pit of his stomach.

"She told me that she was going to sue it to stop Demos Rahl, but I fear it might be for her as well if she doesn't succeed."

"Thank you, Odo," Richard finally replied, his mind still racing.

Was Kahlan going to go to Aydindril or was she going to try to kill Demos? It would be the only way to break free from the spell.

"When Tolla Nakunam returns with Zedd and Cara, tell them to wait here for me," he instructed him. "I'm going after Kahlan. As soon as I've found her, I'll bring her back here. Tell Zedd everything that has happened to her."

"Alright, but I doubt she'll be very willing to come back," Odo shook his head. "She was quite terrified about losing control and hurting you."

"I'll handle Kahlan," he adamantly stated. "Just tell Zedd what's going on with her. Maybe together, the two of you will be able to come up with something to help her."

"You have my word, Seeker Richard," Odo solemnly replied.

"Thank you for everything," Richard said, clasping his shoulder. "I'll be back with her as soon as I can."

XXX

Kahlan made her way through the woods as quickly as possible knowing that Richard would be waking soon if he wasn't already. Leaving him like this was one of the hardest things that she'd ever had to do, but it was preferable to hurting the man that she loved with all her heart.

He hadn't seen the things that Demos was going to force her to do to him, the things that Demos was going to do to her, defiling her while Richard was forced to watch.

She couldn't just sit back and let that happen. She loved him too much to do that to him. Even though she was hurting him by leaving, she knew that it would be better this way in the end. At least, she couldn't hurt him if she wasn't near him.

She would go to Demos Rahl now while she was still in control, trick him into believing that the spell had changed her into what he wanted then she would confess him, killing him and breaking the spell once and for all.

Then she would no longer be a danger to Richard or anyone else. She and Richard could finally be together. They could find the Stone of Tears, finish their quest. Nothing else would come between them, keeping them from each other ever again. It would finally be finished.

Tears pricked her eyes as she thought of him, longing for him even now. The last two nights spent with him had been unbelievable in every way. She momentarily allowed her eyes to fall closed as she remembered his barely controlled hunger, the heat of his kisses.

She grew warm as she recalled how he had devoured her, ravishing her until she was nothing but a trembling mess, dominating her at times and yet so gentle and loving with her. He had opened her eyes to a whole new world, one that involved him and the possibility of a life together.

She had never known that such love, such passion could ever exist like this. Richard made her feel so beautiful, so loved. She just hoped the letter that she had left with Odo would help Richard see how much she truly loved him too and that because of that love for him, she had to leave him to protect him from her.

She would never be able to live with herself if she ever hurt him, took his life. She'd rather end her life than ever hurt him.

A tear suddenly broke free, slipping slowly down her cheek. She sent up a silent prayer to the good spirits to protect him, to not let him follow her. She knew deep down that he would come after her, but she had to at least try, had to get to Demos before Richard got to her.

Searing pain suddenly sliced through head as sure as if it had been a dagger, dropping her to her knees and taking her breath away. She tightly gripped her head, clenching her teeth to hold in the scream that was fighting for escape.

Her vision began to tunnel as her stomach roiled. She quickly turned, vomiting into the thick grass that surrounded her. Sitting up, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, opening her water skin and taking a long drink.

Gasping for air, she suddenly wished that Richard was here with her, holding her close, his voice soothing her and telling her everything were going to be alright. But he wasn't and everything was so far from alright now. If she didn't get to Demos, nothing would ever be right again.

Kahlan got to her feet on trembling legs, the headache making it difficult to want to even move, but she had to keep going to stay ahead of Richard.

Leaning against a tree trunk for support, she wiped the sweat from her face, surprised to find that her nose was dripping. Wiping her upper lip, she was stunned to find blood on her fingertips.

Pulling out her water skin again, she quickly washed away the blood before taking another drink. The changes were coming faster now. She feared what would happen to her next, how out of control she would soon be. She had to fight it until she got to Demos even if it killed her.

Either way, she was going to be dead or Demos would be…and Richard would be safe.

XXX

Cara frowned as she studied the ground, running her finger through the tracks left behind in the dirt. She slowly stood to her feet with a scowl, her hands finding her agiels as her eyes searched the trees for any more signs.

"What is it?" Zedd asked.

"Richard and Kahlan camped here a few days ago, but they were ambushed," she informed him. "There are foot prints all around here…probably at least twenty Aku or more."

"Dear Spirits," he murmured as he quickly began to look around as well.

"At least there doesn't appear to be any sign of a fight," she sighed. "It looks like they went willingly. Why wouldn't they fight?"

"Because the Aku are innocent, doing only what they know to do," the Wizard replied. "They would never fight someone unless they absolutely had to."

"Just once I wish they would think about themselves first," she huffed.

"I hope those two are alright."

"Knowing those two, they're probably not," Cara glared, still searching their surroundings for any sort of sign of what could've happened to them. She had a very unsettling feeling swimming in her veins.

Just then, Aku began to emerge from the trees lead by a tall muscular man. He had a spear in one hand, the other raised out before him in caution. "Are you Zedd and Cara?"

Cara stiffened at the sight of the Aku, tightening her grip on her weapons. She was more than ready to fight them, taking them all on single-handedly if needed to find Richard and Kahlan. She had already lost many Sisters of the Agiel to the Aku. She wasn't about to lose the Seeker and Mother Confessor too. They were her family.

"We are," Zedd hesitantly responded, stunned they knew their names.

The Wizard reached over and placed a calming hand on Cara's arm. He could feel her about to pounce at any moment whether they were provoked or not.

"Seeker Richard sent us to find you," the man suddenly smiled broadly. "My name is Nakunam. I am Tolla of the Aku hunters. We were sent to bring you back to the village."

"But she is Mord'Sith," Hadi seethed from behind him, his furious glare as well as his spear locked on Cara.

"She is a friend of Seeker Richard," Tolla sternly said. "That makes her our friend as well. Lower your spear."

"But her kind attacked us, killed some of our warriors," Hadi scowled. "Have you more love for outsiders than you do your own people?"

"Hadi!" Tolla angrily growled. "That is enough. I am Tolla. I make the decisions and you follow."

Hadi slowly lowered his spear, a sneer still twisting his lips. He would not stand for this. Once they returned to the village, he was going to make sure the outsiders were dealt with once and for all starting with the Seeker.

"We don't mean to cause you any trouble," Zedd quickly added. "I know of the deadly attack by the Mord'Sith on your people years ago. Cara is no longer like her former Sisters. She believes in the Seeker, has sworn to protect him with her life. She fights for good now."

"We appreciate that," Tolla nodded. "I'm afraid that Hadi has a bad temper, still holds to our ancestors' beliefs of killing on sight, no questions asked. We are trying to change our ways."

"Cara," Zedd firmly but quietly warned, his hand still on her shoulder.

With a huff, the Mord'Sith slowly lowered her arms, attaching her agiels to her waist once more. The glower on her face didn't fade an ounce as she locked eyes with Hadi.

"Are Richard and Kahlan alright?" Zedd asked.

"Yes, Seeker Richard is fine, but I'm afraid Confessor Kahlan not so much," Tolla regretted to inform them. "Her spirit is very sick. We have been unable to help her I'm afraid."

"What's wrong with her?" Cara asked.

"We are not certain," Tolla shook his head. "We held a gathering with our ancestors' spirits to see if they could provide answers for her, but Darken Rahl appeared to speak with Seeker Richard and Confessor Kahlan. Whatever he told them upset the Seeker very much. He's very worried about his mate. That's why he sent me to find you right away."

"Mate?" Cara repeated, cocking a blond eyebrow in surprise. "They aren't mates."

"Yes, they are," Tolla insisted. "Several times…in the Spirit House."

Zedd grinned with the news. "So Richard finally figured it out," he murmured to himself.

"Whatever he figured out it sure took him long enough," Cara huffed.

"Well, we better hurry," Zedd said. "If Richard sent you to find us then Kahlan must not be doing well at all."

"And if Darken Rahl knows what's wrong that can't be good either," Cara interrupted.

"Come," Tolla said. "Our village is not too far away. We should be there by sunset."

"Do you have a healer in your village?" Zedd asked as he began to follow the Aku.

"Yes, Odo," Tolla Nakunam nodded. "Unfortunately, this is beyond even his abilities."

Following the Aku warriors, Cara couldn't shake the unnerving feeling that seeing…trusting the Aku suddenly brought her. Despite the fact that they had obviously changed since the last encounter, she couldn't shake the anger and hatred that lingered in her soul.

Temin quickly fell in step beside Hadi who was lagging behind in the back, keeping to himself. The dark glower that filled his façade made Temin uneasy. His friend was becoming more withdrawn, more consumed with his anger and hatred.

"Hadi," Temin began.

"Don't start with me, Temin," he growled, keeping his voice low, his gaze focused on the Mord'Sith walking ahead of them.

"You're going to get yourself in trouble with the Tolla if you keep defying him like that," he frowned. "You need to start keeping your opinions to yourself or you'll never be Tolla one day."

"So I'm just supposed to stand by and let these outsiders take over our village?" Hadi angrily snapped, stuffing a leaf into his mouth. "Nakunam and Mitta are making our tribe weak by not adhering to our ancestors' ways."

"Hadi, times are changing and it's time that you changed with it," Temin shook his head. "I thought you of all people would support the new ways, not be so consumed with clinging to the old traditions."

"And I thought you were my friend," he spat out.

Temin stopped, pulling Hadi to a stop as well. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"I heard a rumor that you are considering giving your sister Pasha to Athanas," he snorted. "How could you not consider me, Temin? You know I've been in love with your sister for years."

"Hadi, you're best friend, but Pasha is my sister," Temin said. "I have to do what I feel is best for her and I feel that Athanas would be a very good mate for her."

"And I'm not?" Hadi hissed. "I'm the best spearman in the tribe. I'm could be Tolla someday."

"Those are all good, but I just don't think you and Pasha would be a good fit," he firmly stated.

Hadi stiffened with his friend's words, his anger burning brightly in his dark eyes. "I would be a very good mate for Pasha. I would treat her like a queen."

"I know you would," Temin sighed heavily, growing exasperated by this conversation. "But Athanas is more her age. He's kind and a very good worker in the tribe. Besides, Pasha seems to really like him."

"Pasha doesn't like me?"

"She thinks of you more like a brother," Temin tried to explain. "You've practically grown up with me, Hadi; over at our hut more than your own growing up. How else is she supposed to look at you?"

"Like a good mate," Hadi ground out. He couldn't begin to believe what he was hearing. His own friend that was like a brother to him had turned his back on him. "I can't believe you're doing this to me, Temin. I thought we were like brothers."

"We are, but you have to admit that you've let your anger get the better of you lately," he pointed out. "You're losing your temper all the time, questioning Tolla and the Council of Elders. How can I let my sister be subjected to your anger?"

"I am only looking out for our people," he shot back. "And I would never hurt Pasha. I love her. I would never lay a finger on her."

"I know, Hadi," Temin replied, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Tell you what. I'll talk to Pasha on your behalf and tell her what a good mate you would be; give her the choice between you and Athanas."

"You would do that?" he asked with a narrowed gaze, staring suspiciously at him.

"Of course," Temin huffed in frustration. "But the choice is ultimately hers, Hadi. If she chooses Athanas, you must abide by her choice. No hostilities towards me, Pasha, or Athanas."

"I will," Hadi quickly agreed, his face brightening some. "I promise you won't regret this, Temin. If she chooses me, I won't let you down."

"You better not or I will not hesitate to personally remove you from the tribe permanently," Temin frowned. "Come on; we better catch up before Tolla notices we're not with them."

Hadi and Temin quickly took off to catch up with the others, Hadi suddenly feeling better than he had. He at last had a chance with Pasha. He wasn't about to let anything get in the way of that dream becoming a reality especially not the outsiders.