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

[brontefanatic]

"Theta seems sure she's carrying a son, even at an early stage of pregnancy which can be explained by Powerful Magic" - Or sometimes by "magical thinking" in the sense of convincing herself that sheer will-power, ruthlessnes, ambition and determination will give her the results she wants