Title: Lover's Trails
Chapter: 1
Characters: Richard/Kahlan, Zedd, Cara, Nicci, Others (Originals)
Rating: PG16/NC17
Timeline: After 'Tears'
Paring: Kahlan/Richard
Story Type: Drama/Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort/torture/
Summary: After taking in an injured Nicci, Richard is captured by an old enemy of his Confessor and everything changes.
Word Count: 2,363
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING. Though, I do wish that I did, because they are so much fun to play with and bend to my will. *Evil Laughter* Someone please hurry up and give us another season please! SAVE OUR SEEKER!
Author's Note: HUGE thanks to Christina for editing this for me! *hugs*
Comments are awesome folks!
Dipping her toes into the water, she slowly made her way deeper, giving her body some time to adjust to the coolness that surrounded her. Leaning back, she allowed her body to drift with the water as she closed her eyes to the brightness of the sun shining down upon her. Listening to the rustle of the tree leaves and the songs of the birds, she found herself relaxing as each moment passed. It had been weeks since they had the opportunity to spend time as they wanted. After returning home to Aydindril, Kahlan had been pushed back into her old routines, making sure that The Mother Confessor was getting the lands back to the way they had been before the rifts were opened.
She hadn't seen Richard in days, each coming and going as they were able, but somehow they both managed to miss each other. She longed for him, the nights becoming long and cold after spending the three weeks traveling back within his arms. She missed lying beside him, feeling his body against hers as she slept. She had become accustomed to the safety and comfort that he provided. Dipping her head into the water, she tried to stop the thoughts that began to take over her mind, making her body heat with need. Pushing her hair back with a sigh, she began making her way back to the land, hoping that once she was dressed she would be able to concentrate.
"Kahlan?" She turned around instantly to the sound of his voice and scanned the tree line, hoping to see him. "I'm behind you."
His breath warmed her skin, sending a moan from her lips as she moved back into him and his arms wrapped around her. "When did you get back?"
"Just now. I saw you in the water and I felt motivated to join you while the others returned to the palace." He spoke as he kissed her shoulder, speaking a word or two between each kiss. Running his hands over her stomach, he smiled as she leaned her head back and pulled his hands harder against her.
She used her hands to guide his over her, not willing to settle for the subtle touch when her body called out for his. Holding one of his hands to her breast, she moved the other over her, pushing herself into his touch with soft moans. Whimpers began to leave her lips as he continued to reach around her, sliding his fingers over her skin to where she needed him, her hips thrusting upward at the contact. He let out a soft moan as she whispered his name. Sensing his frustration, she turned around and collided their bodies with a force that pushed them backwards.
Richard let out a grunt as his back was pushed into a rock, for a brief moment he found himself grateful for the smooth surface, but lost his thought as her tongue pushed through his lips. He felt as though it had been months since he had been with her, each touch drove him closer to madness. Frustrated by the space between them, he hooked his arms around her thighs and pulled her against him, both releasing a long moan into the other's mouth. The water helped their movement, making it easier for them to move together.
******
As the sun lowered in the sky, Richard turned to Kahlan, reaching out for the strings of her white Confessor's dress. "We found Nicci." He said softly as he tied her dress, keeping his eyes on the fabric and not on her. "She's barely alive."
"Darken Rahl?"
Shaking his head, he dropped his hands to his sides and looked up at her. "I don't know. She was all that was left and she- She should have been dead. No one could survive whatever it was that was done to her. Kahlan, I- I didn't recognize her."
"You brought her back?"
Nodding, he took a step back. "She was taken to Zedd."
"All right."
He was a little confused by her reaction. How could she be so calm about having her near? "Kahlan?" he said softly, trying to understand what she was thinking.
"You wouldn't have thought to bring her back if she was a risk and we both know that she is the only person who can tell us anything about Darken Rahl." She smiled a small smile as she ran her hands over her dress, trying to smooth out some of the wrinkles that came across it as they struggled to dress each other. "I trust you," she added after a moment when she looked up at him.
"I know, it's just- Kahlan, how can you be so calm?"
"You're not?" she smiled. "I knew you brought her back when we were still in the water. It was practically written on your face before we- again." her smile widened, "I know it bothers you, but if you made the decision to bring her back, then you must have had a good reason and you wouldn't have done it unless you knew for sure she was no threat to anyone."
"I-" he thought for a moment, wondering what he had thought of when they had found her body in the midst of rubble and ash. "You're right." Her smile crossed onto his face, despite the fear he still had within him. "But, I don't think she should be left alone until we know for sure."
"I agree." She said softly, stepping right against him. "But, we don't need to worry about her right now." Her hands moved in between them, lightly caressing his chest as she watched his face. His eyes closed to her touch, always finding it disorienting.
As he whispered her name, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his skin, her tongue sneaking out for a bold taste. Running it across his chest, she let out a soft moan at the taste that she had come to know and love, described only as Richard. With each taste, she began losing herself in his taste, the taste she had begun to crave the moment he had left. Suddenly growing impatient, she pushed him down to the ground, ignoring the mud at their feet that soaked him in beneath her. Her knees slid in the mud, making nearly impossible to hold herself up over him.
******
Standing in the doorway, Kahlan watched as Zedd and several servants moved around the room, tending to the wounded blonde lying in the bed. Blood dripped onto the floor as they worked over her, each person doing their best not to move her and cause the bleeding to intensify. She found herself drawn to her; she had to tighten her hold on the doorframe to keep from moving to her side and getting in the way of those who were trying to help save the other woman's life. She didn't understand it, but she felt sorry for her and after everything that had happened, she wasn't sure that she wanted to.
She could feel her friend standing behind waiting for her to turn around, but she couldn't look away. "Where's Richard?" She asked quietly.
"He is with a member of the Council. They insisted that he give an explanation for bringing her back."
Turning her head slightly, Kahlan caught a glimpse of Cara in the corner of her eye. "It doesn't matter what he tells them, they're not going to like that she's here." At last turning her body to face the woman in red, she took in a slow deep breath. "How did you find her?"
"The fire must have gone out just before we got there. Richard was the first to run in. She was lying underneath a table; the roof had fallen around it. I thought she was dead, but he wouldn't stop. It took us almost an hour to get to her. He carried her back."
"He carried her?"
Cara nodded, watching the Confessor's face closely. "He didn't want to throw her over the saddle."
"Cara," she lowered his voice, so that no one else would be able to hear her, "what do you think?"
"It could be a trap. He left her alive for a reason."
"Maybe he thought the fire would finish her." Kahlan suggested quietly.
She shook her head, instantly dismissing the brunette's thought. "He would never leave her alive. He never left anyone alive. He enjoyed the screams before death. She's alive because he allowed her to be."
"He can't have known that we were looking-"
"Why not? He has people still loyal to him everywhere. Anyone could have told him. From the look of the place, it hadn't been abandoned long. We may have missed them by only a few hours. They knew we were coming."
"Then why didn't they attack you? It would have been easy for them to set up a defense and come after you all."
She could hear the frustration in her friend's voice as she grasped at every thought, hoping that it would lead to answers. "We had dozens of your men. You sent the best soldiers of this palace and you think that they would try to attack us? Darken Rahl cannot have more than a dozen men protecting him as they move."
"Where would they go?"
"There were no tracks to follow."
Tip-toeing into the room, Richard pulled his shirt over his head. Walking across the floor, he tried his best to be quiet and keep from waking the beautiful woman sleeping in the center of the bed. Her back faced him, keeping him from seeing her face. Pulling back the blankets, he slowly crawled into bed behind her, inching his body closer to her warmth. Without a warning, she turned over and stared at him.
"They spoke to you, didn't they?" He asked softly. She nodded, not yet knowing what she wanted to say to him. "Kahlan, I- I know I should have told you, but-"
"Yes." She said instantly, stopping him before he was able to finish his thought. "You should have. Do you know how it felt to hear it from them?" She swallowed the hurt, trying to keep her voice from betraying the calm face she showed him. "I saw you first and I had to hear it from them hours after. Weeks after you were given the offer."
"I'm sorry." He blurted out, even though he knew it wouldn't make her feel any better. "I almost told you, but then I thought that it didn't matter. It doesn't change anything."
"It changes everything." Reaching up, she touched his face, resting her palm against his cheek as her fingers gently caressed him. "You've already made the decision and The Council agrees with you. It is done."
"But you don't." He said softly, staring into her eyes. "How can it be done if you do not agree?"
Releasing his face, she pulled her hand close to her, making sure that she wasn't touching him. "Does it matter?" The hurt she felt flowed through her words as she found herself unable to hide it any longer. "Richard you already decided. You made the choice. What does it matter if I agree?"
His first instinct was to kiss her, to make her feel better, but the pain he saw in her eyes stopped him. "It matters to me."
"It didn't when you decided to become the new Lord Rahl." She said as she rolled onto her back. "You didn't even mention it to me. You told The Council that you've been thinking about it for months and you never said anything." Closing her eyes, she continued. "At first, I thought that you had and I had forgotten or that we just didn't see each other enough, but then I realized it wasn't me." Turning her head towards him, she opened her eyes. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I don't know. Kahlan, I- I didn't even know I had made up my mind until I said it. I never meant to hurt you." Draping his hand over her stomach, he pulled himself to her. "I should have said something, but it wasn't important. You were right, we barely saw each other and when we did, talking was not a priority on my list of things to do." His words had the desired effect; a small smile crossed her lips. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"Why did you decide to take the title?"
"For you." He answered softly. "I've been meeting with The Council for a while now, trying to get them to approve-" He stopped himself, realizing that he hadn't spoken with her about this either. "Kahlan, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He took in a deep breath, wishing that it wasn't like this that he asked her. "I want to marry you. I want to marry you and I realized that I- I was nothing." She started to say something, but stopped herself, wanting to see what else he said. "I'm just a woods guide and you're- Kahlan, you're so much more. How can I ask The Mother Confessor to marry a simple woods guide?"
"You're not just a woods guide Richard. You're The Seeker." As though she had forgotten that she was upset, she rolled onto her side, returning her body to face him as she wrapped her arm around him. "You're the man I love, the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. You never had to accept the Lord Rahl title to marry me. All you had to do was ask."
"It would seem silly to ask you now," he said softly, pulling her closer to him.
After a moment, she pulled her head back and looked at him. "What about now?" She smiled widely.
"Kahlan, will you marry me?"
"Yes Richard Cypher, I will marry you." She felt his heart leap beneath her hand, making her smile grow impossibly wider.
Leaning forward, he pushed her backwards and moved over her, using his body weight to push her into the mattress as he kissed her passionately.