Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth - Chapter 16: Future

[brontefanatic]

Title: Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth
Pairing: Darken/Kahlan. with references to past Darken/Cara and Richard/Kahlan
Length: 2300~
Rating: T
Spoilers: Set in the "Reckoning" AU with facts learned in "Eternity"
Summary: Rachel doesn't like her choices

Comments

[meridian_rose]

Good dream sequence, with Rachel unable to reach either parent.

Aw, Rachel is in love with Jonathan :D

Darken seems to think he's doing Rachel a favour by keeping her at his side and not marrying her off to a noble family miles away, or at least that's how he portrays it to Rachel. The truth is he can't afford to let her out of his sight.

The blonde smirked, “I imagine he is bored by now, and ready for more stimulating companionship.” At this point I rather hoped Rachel might Confess Theta to death and claim self defence. Darken might be furious with Rachel over it but he can't prize any Mord'Sith over his daughter. What happened next didn't change my mind. Theta's vying for power, making her a dangerous rival who might risk making Rachel have an 'accident' so her child becomes Darken's only heir.

I think it's time for Rachel to start acting like a Rahl if she hopes to survive and to have any claim over her own life. It occurs to me how sympathetic you've made Rachel that I'm taking her side over everyone else's :D

[brontefanatic]

Thanks!! I'm glad you care about Rachel's character.

I thought about having Rachel do exactly what you suggested, but in addition to hating the whole idea of confession, I think she is so stunned that she doesn't even know how to react, and then it's too late.

Rachel was raised so differently from her mother, and never faced the same dangers. She's never been in a situation where she had to make split-second decisions like this.

She probably missed a great opportunity. Because once Darken knows about the baby, he'll be more than upset if Theta is confessed and killed.

Theta's cold, ambitious and determined, and is making a calculated throw of the dice with this pregnancy. (As much as I love Anne Boleyn, there's a little of her in Theta - coldly plot your moves - and then pray that you have a son.)

[dorothydeath]

I too thought Rachel would Confess Theta and was torn between wishing she did and hoping she would not.
Theta was asking for it - sure. But that would have made Rachel a murderer. And she would have killed her unborn brother - not only Theta. This kind of guilt could have destroyed her completely.

She is under enough stress as she is.

Although I admit she may come to regret this later.

[meridian_rose]

Back again with more thoughts

[dorothydeath]

I'm very tired now and I can hardly think but still I can think of one question

[brontefanatic]

Sorry you didn't care for the chapter BB.

I didn't intend for it to be cold, but I guess it is rather dry. I think I may be getting a little emotionally exhausted myself.

Egremont IS totally loyal, just like his father was, and Darken may be making a big mistake in not letting Rachel marry him and use the rada'han. Darken is so paranoid that he suspects most people of the worst.

And there may be something a little more going on with Darken. He's a very possessive man, and he doesn't like to share. He knows Rachel would never love anyone who was confessed. It could come back to bite him - who knows!

Yes - the dream was painful to write. Rachel seems to have some pre-cognition, but are they things that could happen or will inevitably happen?

I appreciate honest feed-back, so always want to know what you're thinking.

Get some rest.

[dorothydeath]

I still think the chapter is very good. Yes, I agree it's rather dry and... I don't know... detached... But after what's happened before I believe it should be.

And I think Rachel's precognition is something like Darken's ability to sense when things go wrong. She is a Rahl after all. She must have some kind of power besides Confession... Rahl blood magic...

It could come back to bite him - who knows!
That's what I'm afraid of. If I were him I would be careful not to push Rachel too far too soon. She deserves a break. And something nice in her life for a change. Something to make her happy.

I'm sorry I've upset you with my comment. I didn't mean to!

I love your story very, very much!
I'm just exhausted and don't handle dark very well right now.

Sorry about this.

Please don't be sad! I didn't mean to make you sad.

*hugs*

I'm so sorry BB!

[brontefanatic]

LOL - I'm fine. Not mad and not sad.

Don't worry about telling me what you think - I want honest reactions.

I felt I had to have a chapter where Rachel and her father talk about her future and what was expected of her. And with all of the melodrama that has gone on before, it probably does come off as being rather - detached.

Don't worry and get some rest <3<3<3

[vorquellyn]

I get the feeling that one way or another, that is not going to go well for Mistress Theta.

I like that Rachel is starting to express herself on topics where she shut down before. That she could even suggest Egremont for her mate seems like a step in the right direction. She can't get what she wants unless she admits she wants it.

Actually, the part with Theta makes me wonder how much longer Darken is going to last.

[brontefanatic]

Mistress Theta is taking a calculated risk - but she's a gambler.

Rachel is starting to express herself more. I think she's starting to admit that she not only loves her parents, but on some level, is deeply angry with both of them.

Darken's motives about refusing Rachel's request regarding Jonathon Egremont may be murkier than he would like to admit - even to himself.

Thanks for reading and sharing your insights and reactions.

[vorquellyn]

*lightbulb goes on* I know who Theta is reminding me of. Jeyne Poole from ASOIAF. That's probably why I'm getting the "this will not end well" vibe.

[brontefanatic]

Really? Doesn't poor Jeyne get taken away from Sansa's side at King's Landing after all the s**t hits the fan? I didn't think that we ever heard from her again. I thought she was only a rather quiet 11 or 12 year old girl.

Is there more to her story? I always wondered what happened to her. OTOH,please don't spoil me, as I am only 120 pages into A Feast for Crows.

I LOVE this series - Just wish GRRM were not such a slow writer.

[hrhrionastar]

Lovely dream sequence ;D I'm going to say this again - I sense that Rachel has magic she isn't aware of, to be able to predict, or at least get some indication, of what might happen. Her dreams remind me a bit of Buffy's, actually ;D At first, I thought the little boy with Darken was her son (I don't think I remember Kahlan ever mentioning how evil male Confessors are, and how would Rachel know?), but it makes sense this way. Although I can't help but think Theta is taking a risk, telling Rachel - and I'm not sure how Darken will react. He might not want this son to be killed, having learned his mistake, but that doesn't mean he'll have to raise Theta above all others, after all

[brontefanatic]

I'm glad the dream sequence worked for you - I really struggled with that part. I do think Rachel has the potential for predicting future events, but she is totally untrained and her visions only manifest themselves as nightmares. Buffy reference D

[hrhrionastar]

I'm glad the dream sequence worked for you - I really struggled with that part. I do think Rachel has the potential for predicting future events, but she is totally untrained and her visions only manifest themselves as nightmares. Buffy reference D I really liked the dreams :D And it makes sense that Rachel doesn't realize she has this power - although I wonder why Darken doesn't realize it. He seems to underestimate Rachel, thinking she's weak and easily controllable. I suspect he may be surprised... ;D

I think Rachel is very conflicted about her father. She loves him deeply, probably more than she ever loved her mother. I imagine that in her formative years, Darken never burdened her with the expectations that Kahlan did, but was the "fun" affectionate parent who just thought everything she did was wonderful(if that makes any sense) Naturally ;) A side-effect of Kahlan's approach to child-rearing she undoubtedly didn't expect - although now that Darken is bringing his own expectations to bear on Rachel, it seems like the fun has

[pristineungift]

LSKDJFSDLK DIE IN A FIRE THETA.

I was all OOOOHHH WHO IS THE BOY? And kind of hoping it was Darken/Cara's son, and foaming at the mouth a little, and then I started to wonder if Rachel has some Rahl magic and is having semi prophetic dreams, and then Theta is all LSKDfsldfs.

I hate Theta. Bitch. You don't get to have Darken's son.

Clearly I have issues.

Some really great thoughts here about Rachel taking a mate, and the power plays inherent in noble society and Darken's fears about Rachel's ability to hold the throne.

[brontefanatic]

As always, thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.

And kind of hoping it was Darken/Cara's son Maybe it is - dreams are strange.