Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth - Chapter 17: Return

[brontefanatic]

Title: Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth
Pairing: Darken/Kahlan. with references to past Darken/Cara and Richard/Kahlan
Length: 2180~
Rating: T
Spoilers: Set in the "Reckoning" AU with facts learned in "Eternity"
Summary: Sometimes you don't need magic

Comments

[dorothydeath]

Wow! Scary! O_O
Mad Kahlan is mad. Very scary!

"to love" = "to want what I wanted"
Nice touch.

I guess now Kahlan will never understand. Sad but true.

The chapter gave me chills.
Great job! :D

[brontefanatic]

I think Kahlan has been slowly going mad for years, but now, of course, she's totally divorced herself from the reality of her life.

It's a little unfair really - Kahlan gets what she's always wanted - Richard's back, no marriage to Darken and Rachel, in her mind, was never born. Almost the way it would have been if Kahlan's plan had worked.

Thanks for reading. I was concerned about writing Kahlan's final breakdown. I don't know how well I pulled it off.

[dorothydeath]

Oh, you pulled it off perfectly!
After so many hours I can still feel the shivers.

It's a little unfair really
When you put it that way... Yes, maybe you're right. Kahlan is happy after all.
And now she will never see her horrible plan for what it really was. Never face her own darkness.

But anyway it was scary. I guess it's one of my worst fears - to get lost within your own mind. o_O

[brontefanatic]

It's always been one of my deepest fears, too. @_@

I hoped to convey Kahlan's happiness, as delusional as it might be, by Alice's observation of how the years seem to drop away from Kahlan at the end of the chapter. She appears young and hopeful again.

In Kahlan's mind Richard is back with her, she has never been married to Darken and Rachel has never been born. While this is not objectively true, of course, it is her truth.

And you're right, while Rachel feels deep guilt for betraying her mother and causing her pain, Kahlan never faces the pain and destruction that she has caused - her own responsibility.

And isn't that what Confessors are supposed to be all about - judging people fairly and accepting responsibility.

In Kahlan's mind, the only person she feels responsible to is Richard, and how her actions may have affected him. Nobody else really matters - they just aren't real to her.

[hrhrionastar]

Wow - poor Alice, was my first thought upon reading this chapter. I think I see why Kahlan went mad - arguably it's the best escape in her current situation, since she's lost all hope. But Alice is stuck there with her crazy Mistress...

And how can Kahlan not see her own hypocrisy, saying Rachel wanted to destroy Richard when it's Kahlan who's trying to destroy Rachel...

I really love how you portray Alice :D

[brontefanatic]

Thanks for reading.

I worried about writing Kahlan's breakdown, but I think she's been heading this direction for 18 years. I wanted it to be all from Alice's POV. In fact, Kahlan will be back, but never her POV.

Ironically, at the end of the chapter, Kahlan finally has what she's always wanted - Richard's back, they can be together, Darken's not around and Rachel doesn't exist.

Maybe she gets the happiest ending of all.

[hrhrionastar]

Poor Alice.

Ironically, at the end of the chapter, Kahlan finally has what she's always wanted - Richard's back, they can be together, Darken's not around and Rachel doesn't exist. Maybe she gets the happiest ending of all. Hmmm...interesting point. I don't know, though - it's not real, after all.

For some reason I'm thinking of Richard in Perdition - there was definitely part of him that wanted to take Kahlan's hand and go down to the Underworld, but he resisted the lie. You make me wonder if Kahlan would've been able to.

[brontefanatic]

Interesting question regarding "Perdition" if Richard and Kahlan's positions had been reversed.

As for the happy ending - while it may not be objective reality, it is Kahlan's "reality". It's the life she's living inside of her head, so that point is a little hard to respond to.

As long as she remains in the state of mind she is currently in, she's happy. Does it make her any less happy if it's not objectively true? And Alice is determined to play along as much as she has to.

[kaytstarr]

Mrs Rochester lives! A very good description of Kahaln's decent into madness

[brontefanatic]

Thanks for reading.D

This was hard to write, but I tried to show a progression. There were some indications of Kahlan's instability and obsession even in the early years of the marriage; then after she is locked up - rage to apathy to delusion.

[I always had a sneaking sympathy for Bertha (Antoinette) Mason Rochester. We never learn her story, but only Mr. ROchester's version of it. Have you ever read "Wide Sargasso Sea"? It's a great re-telling from Mrs. Rochester's POV.]

[meridian_rose]

A great way to show Kahlan's descent into madness, via Alice's POV. I wonder at Perhaps the true monster is the one you see in your mirror. But then neither you nor my brother were ever honest about your own moral shortcomings ; who is Alice's brother? And should I know this already? It's been that kind of a week.

[brontefanatic]

I'm sorry if that wasn't more clear - maybe I need to add something, but I hate being too repetitious. I'll take a look at it again

[meridian_rose]

Well it could be just me; like I said, I'm not at my best right now.
It perhaps would have been more obvious if I'd read the chapters in quick succession so the quote was fresher in my mind. I also think I was hung up on the fact that this was all Alice's POV; not necessarily your fault. I suppose something like 'Alice shuddered as she remembered Darken Rahl's [prophetic?] words'. IDK.

That said? If you do decide to rewrite some or all of the chapter I'll definitely read the revised version and offer honest opinions.

[brontefanatic]

I'll try to make that more clear - I may just take the quote out again.

You last line has me very concerned. I'll send you a PM about it.

[goth_darkenrahl]

great chapter kahlan has lost reality here will Darken know about her madness?

[brontefanatic]

Thanks for reading and commenting.D

"will Darken know about her madness?" - That's a good question. He seems to have forgotten about her for the moment. Maybe that will change.