Lacunae - Chapter 1
Title: Lacunae - Chapter 1
Rating: M + - R / NC-17
Author: redheadednursey (also known as "herblueeyes" on FF.net)
Story type: Romance/angst/adventure/general
Characters: Richard/Kahlan/Cara/Zedd - others too
Timeline: After Season 2
Note: This is a multichap sequel to Now we are free - Part I & II - You all also know that I own neither the characters or LotS. I just like manipulating them to my will. Comments are muchly appreciated :)
Lacunae » Lacuna: a gap or missing part, as in a manuscript, series, or logical argument. I have named this fic so due to the fact we are still missing another Season.
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She woke to an earth shattering crack of thunder that had her sitting up in the darkness before dawn - heart pounding as her eyes struggled to focus. Hand splayed out on Richard’s chest, the Mother Confessor searched the clearing as lightning illuminated the woods around them and filled her sight with its blinding brightness. It took her a moment to recover, a moment to catch her breath as the storm rolled closer. She wasn’t sure if it was the storm or the nightmare that had pulled her from sleep. It didn’t matter though - she was awake now and glad for it.
Her body was stiff, exhausted in a somewhat satisfied way that brought a smile to her bruised lips. Closing her eyes - Kahlan let the nights memories wash over her. The tastes and touches. The way that close hadn’t seemed to be close enough. The way they had lain together after each explosion of bliss - hearts racing as they shared the feeling of being able to be together in every way. The way that a Seeker and his Confessor should be.
Another crack of thunder, louder than the last she was sure had her start in fright and open her eyes, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as her hand gripped Richard’s chest tighter. Flinching, Kahlan remembered her torn hand, the one she had used to smash the glass to blind Richard and a wave of guilt washed over her anew. Sitting up fully, the Mother Confessor nursed her now aching palm as the storm rolled closer.
Dawn, it seemed, was still a few hours off. The fire had died down over night, but the breeze that washed over her bare skin flared the last embers into life to begin glowing softly once more. Flashes of her dream now- no, it had been a nightmare, flashed through her mind as she sat silently beside her Seeker. Images of Richard; walking into the rift, laying in Perdition, tortured by Denna, and falling to his knees before her swirled in her memory as a maelstrom of fear and pain. While the revelation of Richard being immune to her touch had driven all coherent thoughts from her mind, the guilt at what she had done to aid Nicci tormented her.
A hand, warm in its caress, slid up her back unexpectedly, causing her to start in surprise as she heard Richard sigh. “Kahlan?” his voice soft with concern as he leaned up on one hand. Pushing the images away, remembering the night they were sharing had her turn slightly, pressing her mouth to his, knowing where his lips were even in the dark. The ache of her hand fell away as they leaned into the kiss, a new ache beginning in the pit of her stomach as the hand on her back dropped to her waist and pulled her tight against his warm body.
It was the kind of kiss that left his mouth dry and his body weak as he used his hands to mold her body to his own; the heat from his skin making her dizzy. They fell back to the ground slowly as lightning illuminated the sky once more - followed almost immediately by thunder that shook the ground beneath them. Breathlessly they pulled apart to look up into the night sky.
Awake fully now, the Mother Confessor rested her head in the crook of her husband’s shoulder, bringing a hand up to twine with his over his chest, feeling his racing heart. “Are you sure this isn’t all just a dream Richard?” she whispered, sliding her legs to tangle with his. “A fantastic, amazing dream that has to come to an end.” His arms tightened around her - sure that his body was melting from the way her own lithe body was pressed to his.
“It’s not a dream Kahlan.” He said with a chuckle. “My dreams are never this good.” She laughed with him, still not entirely convinced that this feeling of pure wonderment wouldn’t end.
Pushing up with her elbow, Kahlan slid over him so that now she rested along the length of his body, thighs, stomach and chest pressed to his beneath the warmth of their blanket. Hot sweetness erupted over every part of skin where their bodies touched, his hands sliding up to grip her waist as her fingers moved to trace the line of his jaw. “Am I too heavy?” she asked softly. His sudden laugh reverberated through her, intensifying the sweetness of where she was pressed to him.
“Never.” He murmured in reply, a large hand tangling in her curls. Dropping her head, Kahlan pressed her ear to his chest as his fingers massaged her scalp soothingly.
She sighed deeply before whispering. “I love you Richard.” Closing her eyes once more as his heart beat filled her mind. There was no fear in saying it to him now. No apprehension or terror at the thought of what they meant.
His own whisper, as soft as hers had been, “I love you too.” filled her entire body with warm contentment as thunder rumbled in the distance.
“Did the storm wake you?” he asked her suddenly, the hand on her waist tightening her to him.
“Hmm.” Murmuring in reply, she avoided answering his question by turning to press lips against his chest. He sucked in a breath, eyes closing at the way she tasted his skin. His fingers tightened in her hair as her hot mouth began peppering his chest with kisses. They hadn’t been able to keep their mouths from each other, could barely keep their eyes off the other since falling to bed only hours before.
Having woken several times from a sated slumber only to be reignited with a desperate hunger to be nearer to the other, to taste and explore the one thing they had been denied of for so long. Their whispered pleas and breathless gasps had been swallowed by the dark night, as together they fulfilled the promises that had been held in embraces, lingering kisses and shared looks over the last two years.
He didn’t remember what it was like to not be in love with her and he found that he couldn’t pull the smile from his lips or the joy that ran in waves beneath his skin. She leaned above him, bringing her knees up to rest either side of his hips, wanting to taste the skin at his neck. Pushing up further, she forget her hand until she rested her weight upon it beside him.
With a hiss of pain Kahlan pulled her hand to her chest, Richard trying to sit up in a rush, without knocking her backwards, as concern filled his voice once more. “What is it Kahlan?” he opened his legs so that she rested between them on the blanket, her own legs now around his waist as his hands tried to take hers but she refused, feeling blood oozing between her fingers.
“Kahlan.” He took her hand between his, trying to inspect it in the dark, using fingers to feel the wounds on her hand. Wincing as she felt him pull at a sliver of glass, Kahlan tried to take her mind off it by judging how far the storm was away from them when he spoke. “Why didn’t you say something?” he reprimanded softly. “You didn’t say anything to Zedd - he could have healed this.” He leant towards the water skin and pulled the cork out with his teeth, pulling her hand over the open ground before pouring it over her hand. Teeth clenched, she replied with a soft laugh.
“We were getting married, and it didn’t hurt so badly.” She didn’t need to see his face to know he was frowning. “Richard-” a crack of thunder drowned out her words as she turned her face from him, attempting to pull her hand away. Looking up into the sky, the Seeker let her pull away before reaching for a bandage from their pack and capturing her hand between his once more.
“I didn’t hear what you said. We should to get moving before we get caught in this storm.” His fingers gently wrapped up her hand as he waited for an answer, not entirely sure why she hadn’t repeated her words. When he was done, he held her hand between his, completely aware of the way they were sitting, but trying to catch her eye through the dark. Her voice was soft, guilt ridden, he realised.
“I said it’s more than I deserve.” Those words pierced his heart as thunder rumbled above them and she pulled her hand away. Reaching for her small clothes, Kahlan swung her leg from around him and began to dress as he sat back in astonishment, not entirely sure what she meant by that. When it was clear to her that he didn’t understand she spoke again. “It’s my fault you were blinded Richard.” He sighed and reached out a hand to stroke her bare back as she tightened her skirt.
“Last time I checked, Confessors didn’t have magic like that.” His voice was light; she could hear the smile on his lips. She whirled to her knees and spun on him in the dark, and he couldn’t help but wish, not for the first time that night, that the sun was out for him to be able to see her fully. “I am serious Richard.” He looked up to her silhouette, feeling the smile drop from his face as he too reached for his clothes.
“I know you are serious Kahlan. I don’t understand why-”
Her words cut him short as she attempted to lace her corset one handed. “It was my hand that crushed the glass to blind you. Letting Zedd heal me would have been more than I deserved after what I did.” Her voice was hard, final in its sincerity. Large hands suddenly filled her line of sight, stopping her short as they took a hold of the lacing.
“Kahlan, you were confessed.” He was gentle as he dressed her, letting his fingers stroke the soft skin beneath the lacing as he continued. “You, of all people, should understand what that means.” She didn’t reply, but left her arms by her side as he finished lacing her corset before he bent to take up her jacket. Still not saying anything, he helped her arms into the garment before lacing it too. He could feel her warm breath on his hands as his fingers moved swiftly in the dark, her face towards the ground as she waited. The guilt she felt was profound - even though he was correct in what he was saying, no one could disobey their Mistress once Confessed. The pain in her hand seemed to hide the pain of her guilt.
His fingers slid up her neck when he finished, gripping her chin as lightning illuminated the clearing. Their eyes met in that split second and he saw more in her gaze than just the guilt of her actions. “Kahlan - you are the reason that we defeated the Keeper. Your love for me-” he gripped her a little tighter for emphasis. “Me; created a new Stone of Tears.” Lips pressed to hers now, he whispered against her mouth as he pulled her hood up. “Without you we would have all been lost to the Keeper’s wrath.”
Another flash of lightning as he pulled back; he saw the torment behind those blue orbs. “It wasn’t just the storm that woke you was it?” he heard her sigh, felt the way she leaned into him and press her face into the crook of his neck. The wind increased in strength as he wrapped his arms around her and held her to him protectively, her hot breath on his neck sending shivers down his spine.
Her voice was tired when she answered. “A nightmare.” She let his warmth envelop her before leaning away and standing as thunder split the sky once more. “We need to go Richard.” Bending to gather their blanket, Kahlan stopped as his fingers grabbed gently at her bandaged hand. Pressing it to his lips, he held it with a sweet tenderness that left her heart fluttering as he stayed on his knees before her.
“When we get to the tavern.” She heard the promise and the boldness in his voice. “I will tend to all of your hurts with the utmost thoroughness.” He released her fingers to pull on his shirt and vest. Staying on the ground, he held one of her boots, a large hand gripping the back of her knee firmly as he slid it over her foot.
“Then we should hurry, Seeker.” Her good hand buried itself in his hair as she lifted her other foot, feeling a smile stretch across her face once more. “I have a great many hurts, and a few new, not unpleasant ones, that need to be seen too.” She heard him chuckle, felt her breath leave her lungs as his lips pressed against her thigh fleetingly before she took the blanket as he passed it up to her.
“I’ll ready the horse then shall I?”
They packed up their camp with the same efficiency that it took to put it together, still unable to stop themselves from glancing towards the other, not needing a light to know where they stood. Before long Richard was up in the saddle, holding a hand down to her as lightning illuminated the clearing. She had just taken his hand when something stopped her, the hairs on her neck standing on end. Whipping around, the Mother Confessor attempted to see through the dark, searching for the reason of alarm. There was nothing to be seen, but she could feel it - feel something out there that didn’t belong.
“Kahlan?” Richard’s voice was wary, free hand on the hilt of his sword as he waited, sensing her unease. With a shake of her head, the Mother Confessor gripped her husband’s arm and hoisted herself up behind him. “It’s nothing.” Pressing her lips to the back of his neck, Kahlan wrapped her arms around his waist - the hand he held above his hilt sliding to rest on her thigh protectively. “Let’s go.”
He kicked them into motion, quickly leaving the clearing behind them as lightning split the sky. It was still there though; she couldn’t shake the feeling as they raced against the storm and into the night.
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Thanks for reading - chapter 2 will hopefully be along shortly :)
Rating: M + - R / NC-17
Author: redheadednursey (also known as "herblueeyes" on FF.net)
Story type: Romance/angst/adventure/general
Characters: Richard/Kahlan/Cara/Zedd - others too
Timeline: After Season 2
Note: This is a multichap sequel to Now we are free - Part I & II - You all also know that I own neither the characters or LotS. I just like manipulating them to my will. Comments are muchly appreciated :)
Lacunae » Lacuna: a gap or missing part, as in a manuscript, series, or logical argument. I have named this fic so due to the fact we are still missing another Season.
************************
She woke to an earth shattering crack of thunder that had her sitting up in the darkness before dawn - heart pounding as her eyes struggled to focus. Hand splayed out on Richard’s chest, the Mother Confessor searched the clearing as lightning illuminated the woods around them and filled her sight with its blinding brightness. It took her a moment to recover, a moment to catch her breath as the storm rolled closer. She wasn’t sure if it was the storm or the nightmare that had pulled her from sleep. It didn’t matter though - she was awake now and glad for it.
Her body was stiff, exhausted in a somewhat satisfied way that brought a smile to her bruised lips. Closing her eyes - Kahlan let the nights memories wash over her. The tastes and touches. The way that close hadn’t seemed to be close enough. The way they had lain together after each explosion of bliss - hearts racing as they shared the feeling of being able to be together in every way. The way that a Seeker and his Confessor should be.
Another crack of thunder, louder than the last she was sure had her start in fright and open her eyes, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as her hand gripped Richard’s chest tighter. Flinching, Kahlan remembered her torn hand, the one she had used to smash the glass to blind Richard and a wave of guilt washed over her anew. Sitting up fully, the Mother Confessor nursed her now aching palm as the storm rolled closer.
Dawn, it seemed, was still a few hours off. The fire had died down over night, but the breeze that washed over her bare skin flared the last embers into life to begin glowing softly once more. Flashes of her dream now- no, it had been a nightmare, flashed through her mind as she sat silently beside her Seeker. Images of Richard; walking into the rift, laying in Perdition, tortured by Denna, and falling to his knees before her swirled in her memory as a maelstrom of fear and pain. While the revelation of Richard being immune to her touch had driven all coherent thoughts from her mind, the guilt at what she had done to aid Nicci tormented her.
A hand, warm in its caress, slid up her back unexpectedly, causing her to start in surprise as she heard Richard sigh. “Kahlan?” his voice soft with concern as he leaned up on one hand. Pushing the images away, remembering the night they were sharing had her turn slightly, pressing her mouth to his, knowing where his lips were even in the dark. The ache of her hand fell away as they leaned into the kiss, a new ache beginning in the pit of her stomach as the hand on her back dropped to her waist and pulled her tight against his warm body.
It was the kind of kiss that left his mouth dry and his body weak as he used his hands to mold her body to his own; the heat from his skin making her dizzy. They fell back to the ground slowly as lightning illuminated the sky once more - followed almost immediately by thunder that shook the ground beneath them. Breathlessly they pulled apart to look up into the night sky.
Awake fully now, the Mother Confessor rested her head in the crook of her husband’s shoulder, bringing a hand up to twine with his over his chest, feeling his racing heart. “Are you sure this isn’t all just a dream Richard?” she whispered, sliding her legs to tangle with his. “A fantastic, amazing dream that has to come to an end.” His arms tightened around her - sure that his body was melting from the way her own lithe body was pressed to his.
“It’s not a dream Kahlan.” He said with a chuckle. “My dreams are never this good.” She laughed with him, still not entirely convinced that this feeling of pure wonderment wouldn’t end.
Pushing up with her elbow, Kahlan slid over him so that now she rested along the length of his body, thighs, stomach and chest pressed to his beneath the warmth of their blanket. Hot sweetness erupted over every part of skin where their bodies touched, his hands sliding up to grip her waist as her fingers moved to trace the line of his jaw. “Am I too heavy?” she asked softly. His sudden laugh reverberated through her, intensifying the sweetness of where she was pressed to him.
“Never.” He murmured in reply, a large hand tangling in her curls. Dropping her head, Kahlan pressed her ear to his chest as his fingers massaged her scalp soothingly.
She sighed deeply before whispering. “I love you Richard.” Closing her eyes once more as his heart beat filled her mind. There was no fear in saying it to him now. No apprehension or terror at the thought of what they meant.
His own whisper, as soft as hers had been, “I love you too.” filled her entire body with warm contentment as thunder rumbled in the distance.
“Did the storm wake you?” he asked her suddenly, the hand on her waist tightening her to him.
“Hmm.” Murmuring in reply, she avoided answering his question by turning to press lips against his chest. He sucked in a breath, eyes closing at the way she tasted his skin. His fingers tightened in her hair as her hot mouth began peppering his chest with kisses. They hadn’t been able to keep their mouths from each other, could barely keep their eyes off the other since falling to bed only hours before.
Having woken several times from a sated slumber only to be reignited with a desperate hunger to be nearer to the other, to taste and explore the one thing they had been denied of for so long. Their whispered pleas and breathless gasps had been swallowed by the dark night, as together they fulfilled the promises that had been held in embraces, lingering kisses and shared looks over the last two years.
He didn’t remember what it was like to not be in love with her and he found that he couldn’t pull the smile from his lips or the joy that ran in waves beneath his skin. She leaned above him, bringing her knees up to rest either side of his hips, wanting to taste the skin at his neck. Pushing up further, she forget her hand until she rested her weight upon it beside him.
With a hiss of pain Kahlan pulled her hand to her chest, Richard trying to sit up in a rush, without knocking her backwards, as concern filled his voice once more. “What is it Kahlan?” he opened his legs so that she rested between them on the blanket, her own legs now around his waist as his hands tried to take hers but she refused, feeling blood oozing between her fingers.
“Kahlan.” He took her hand between his, trying to inspect it in the dark, using fingers to feel the wounds on her hand. Wincing as she felt him pull at a sliver of glass, Kahlan tried to take her mind off it by judging how far the storm was away from them when he spoke. “Why didn’t you say something?” he reprimanded softly. “You didn’t say anything to Zedd - he could have healed this.” He leant towards the water skin and pulled the cork out with his teeth, pulling her hand over the open ground before pouring it over her hand. Teeth clenched, she replied with a soft laugh.
“We were getting married, and it didn’t hurt so badly.” She didn’t need to see his face to know he was frowning. “Richard-” a crack of thunder drowned out her words as she turned her face from him, attempting to pull her hand away. Looking up into the sky, the Seeker let her pull away before reaching for a bandage from their pack and capturing her hand between his once more.
“I didn’t hear what you said. We should to get moving before we get caught in this storm.” His fingers gently wrapped up her hand as he waited for an answer, not entirely sure why she hadn’t repeated her words. When he was done, he held her hand between his, completely aware of the way they were sitting, but trying to catch her eye through the dark. Her voice was soft, guilt ridden, he realised.
“I said it’s more than I deserve.” Those words pierced his heart as thunder rumbled above them and she pulled her hand away. Reaching for her small clothes, Kahlan swung her leg from around him and began to dress as he sat back in astonishment, not entirely sure what she meant by that. When it was clear to her that he didn’t understand she spoke again. “It’s my fault you were blinded Richard.” He sighed and reached out a hand to stroke her bare back as she tightened her skirt.
“Last time I checked, Confessors didn’t have magic like that.” His voice was light; she could hear the smile on his lips. She whirled to her knees and spun on him in the dark, and he couldn’t help but wish, not for the first time that night, that the sun was out for him to be able to see her fully. “I am serious Richard.” He looked up to her silhouette, feeling the smile drop from his face as he too reached for his clothes.
“I know you are serious Kahlan. I don’t understand why-”
Her words cut him short as she attempted to lace her corset one handed. “It was my hand that crushed the glass to blind you. Letting Zedd heal me would have been more than I deserved after what I did.” Her voice was hard, final in its sincerity. Large hands suddenly filled her line of sight, stopping her short as they took a hold of the lacing.
“Kahlan, you were confessed.” He was gentle as he dressed her, letting his fingers stroke the soft skin beneath the lacing as he continued. “You, of all people, should understand what that means.” She didn’t reply, but left her arms by her side as he finished lacing her corset before he bent to take up her jacket. Still not saying anything, he helped her arms into the garment before lacing it too. He could feel her warm breath on his hands as his fingers moved swiftly in the dark, her face towards the ground as she waited. The guilt she felt was profound - even though he was correct in what he was saying, no one could disobey their Mistress once Confessed. The pain in her hand seemed to hide the pain of her guilt.
His fingers slid up her neck when he finished, gripping her chin as lightning illuminated the clearing. Their eyes met in that split second and he saw more in her gaze than just the guilt of her actions. “Kahlan - you are the reason that we defeated the Keeper. Your love for me-” he gripped her a little tighter for emphasis. “Me; created a new Stone of Tears.” Lips pressed to hers now, he whispered against her mouth as he pulled her hood up. “Without you we would have all been lost to the Keeper’s wrath.”
Another flash of lightning as he pulled back; he saw the torment behind those blue orbs. “It wasn’t just the storm that woke you was it?” he heard her sigh, felt the way she leaned into him and press her face into the crook of his neck. The wind increased in strength as he wrapped his arms around her and held her to him protectively, her hot breath on his neck sending shivers down his spine.
Her voice was tired when she answered. “A nightmare.” She let his warmth envelop her before leaning away and standing as thunder split the sky once more. “We need to go Richard.” Bending to gather their blanket, Kahlan stopped as his fingers grabbed gently at her bandaged hand. Pressing it to his lips, he held it with a sweet tenderness that left her heart fluttering as he stayed on his knees before her.
“When we get to the tavern.” She heard the promise and the boldness in his voice. “I will tend to all of your hurts with the utmost thoroughness.” He released her fingers to pull on his shirt and vest. Staying on the ground, he held one of her boots, a large hand gripping the back of her knee firmly as he slid it over her foot.
“Then we should hurry, Seeker.” Her good hand buried itself in his hair as she lifted her other foot, feeling a smile stretch across her face once more. “I have a great many hurts, and a few new, not unpleasant ones, that need to be seen too.” She heard him chuckle, felt her breath leave her lungs as his lips pressed against her thigh fleetingly before she took the blanket as he passed it up to her.
“I’ll ready the horse then shall I?”
They packed up their camp with the same efficiency that it took to put it together, still unable to stop themselves from glancing towards the other, not needing a light to know where they stood. Before long Richard was up in the saddle, holding a hand down to her as lightning illuminated the clearing. She had just taken his hand when something stopped her, the hairs on her neck standing on end. Whipping around, the Mother Confessor attempted to see through the dark, searching for the reason of alarm. There was nothing to be seen, but she could feel it - feel something out there that didn’t belong.
“Kahlan?” Richard’s voice was wary, free hand on the hilt of his sword as he waited, sensing her unease. With a shake of her head, the Mother Confessor gripped her husband’s arm and hoisted herself up behind him. “It’s nothing.” Pressing her lips to the back of his neck, Kahlan wrapped her arms around his waist - the hand he held above his hilt sliding to rest on her thigh protectively. “Let’s go.”
He kicked them into motion, quickly leaving the clearing behind them as lightning split the sky. It was still there though; she couldn’t shake the feeling as they raced against the storm and into the night.
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Thanks for reading - chapter 2 will hopefully be along shortly :)