Two For Tragedy
Title: Two For Tragedy
Chapter: 7
Characters: Richard/Kahlan, Zedd, Others (originals)
Rating: NC17/R
Timeline: After season 1
Summary: After the death of Darken Rahl, Kahlan returns to Aydindril to continue the line of Confessors. After two unexpected nights, she and Richard find themselves in an unpredictable situation, one that changes their lives.
Paring: Kahlan/Richard
Story Type: Drama/Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort
Word Count: 2,649
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!
"It's going to be all right," Richard told her as he pulled her into his arms. He sat behind her on the bed, his arms wrapped gently around her, holding her to his chest. "They're going to come back and we're going to-"
"I know, it's just- Why are they taking so long."
He let out a soft laugh, "It's only been a few minutes." Pressing his lips to the side of her head, he tightened his arms around her. "They'll be here soon."
Turning her head to look at him, she licked her lips quickly and met his eyes. "What if we're wrong? Richard, Confessors have never had more than one child at a time. I know that now, if I'm- It doesn't make any sense."
"Nothing about this makes sense. I've been trying to figure it out, but I can't."
She turned around in his arms, but didn't pull out of them, it was too comforting. "What do you mean?"
"Haven't you been wondering why she was the only one who had taken precautions? Kahlan, you could have confessed any member of the Council and you would have gotten your point across, but she- She wanted you to confess her, she pushed you into it. I don't think it was just our child she wanted to kill." Realization came to her face as she thought about his words. "She would have been released if the poison had killed you. She was expecting you to die so that she would live. I just don't understand why she would go through the trouble."
"The punishment for killing a Confessor is Confesson, it's against our laws to kill a Confessor. I am the last Confessor, without me she would not be punished. The poison should have killed me faster. I could feel it the moment I touched her, but I-" She shook her head, not understanding what she had felt and unsure if she was able to tell him. "I think he was protecting me." She smiled at the thought, their son knowing she was in danger and protecting her.
"He must have been. Kahlan, from what Zedd told me about the poison, there is no way he should have survived and what it did to you- Kahlan, he must have protected you."
"He didn't survive," she whispered quietly, looking down to the floor. "I- he didn't survive."
"Someone did."
"That's what terrifies me." Looking back to him, she nearly cried. "Richard, if he survived, if I'm still carrying a child, the power- The amount of power it would have to have to survive- If they were afraid of our son, imagine how they will be now."
"Then they should be. Kahlan, it's not just our child they should be afraid of. You and me, we're going to do what we can to keep our children safe. They should be afraid." Cupping her face in his hands, he pulled her to him. "They should be afraid Kahlan."
She couldn't help herself, leaning forward; she pressed her lips against his and pulled him closer. She knew that his words were true, they always were. They were going to do anything they could to keep their children safe. The people should be afraid of them. Pulling away, she gave him a small smile as she took hold of his hands. "I love you."
Her words made his heart race, his ears fearing that they would never hear them again. "I love you too." Giving her a small smile, Richard tightened his hold on her hands and leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. Her fingers trembled in his hands. "It's going to be all right."
"I know, but I can't stop thinking."
Pulling back, he ran his fingers through her hair, combing it away from her face. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you or our child."
A smile pulled at her lips, she knew that he wouldn't allow anything to happen. "I know. I can see it in your eyes, but I'm not sure that I want to stay here any longer."
Leaning back on the bed, he held himself up on his elbows, staring ahead at her. "Where would we go?"
"Anywhere."
"What about your people?"
Shaking her head, she moved over him, needing to touch him. "My people will learn to live without a Confessor."
He wrapped his arms around her as he settled above him, her arms folded over his chest, holding her head. "You don't want to do that."
"Why not?"
"Because this is your home. This is where you belong and without you- If you leave, we're just going to have to come back to put a stop to the war as people try to do what only you can." He grinned, "The rest of the Council will not challenge you."
"But they should. Richard, the Council speaks for the people to make sure that I am fair and-"
"No one is more fairer, but that's not what I meant. Kahlan, there is not one of them who will say anything about our child."
"How can you be sure?" she questioned him softly, hoping to understand his reasoning.
"They've seen what we would do to protect him and since she was the only one who thought to betray you, I believe that they will follow anything that you ask them to." Looking into her eyes, he hoped that she would understand. "They will not stop you. If the child you carry is also a boy, they will not try to stop us from bringing him into this world; they will not stand against you."
"And if they do?"
"I will kill them all." It was a simple answer and the way that he said it told her meant it. His eyes hardened as he said it, his hands grabbed her shoulders and held her to him, making sure that she understood the truth of his words. "They will not get to either of you."
Her eyes moved over his face, studying him carefully as she nodded her head. "I know."
His hands released her arms and moved to her sides, slowly running over them for a small moment of contact. Her eyes slid closed to his touch, her body relaxing for what seemed like the first time. The soft moan that escaped her throat told him not to stop, that she didn't want him to stop. She took comfort in his touch, remembering what it was like before, when she first felt their child. The way he laid his head on her stomach and spoke to their child, telling him that they loved him, that he would be safe. She wished he would do it again.
Rolling off of him, she pulled him onto his side and moved in close. Wrapping her arm around his shoulder, she pressed her forehead against his chest and took in a slow, deep breath. The smell of him was comforting; she began to forget the events that had taken place as she closed her eyes. Within moments, she was asleep. He tightened his arms around her as he closed his own eyes, feeling suddenly comforted about their situation.
When the door opened, Richard rolled himself over her, using his body as a shield to protect her. Seeing who entered the room, he rolled off and looked down at her wide eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't know who it was."
She looked away from his eyes slowly, looking to the door to see why he was smiling. Shanan and Zedd were at the door, they would soon put their worries to rest. "Once you're undressed, we will get started. The Wizard must wait in the hall, but the Seeker may stay if you wish."
Richard lifted himself from her body as his grandfather walked from the room silently. "I can wait in the hallway if you want me too."
"No." she grabbed his arm and kept him from moving from the bed. "I need you to stay."
He gave her a small smile as she sat up and began pulling at the strings of her dress. She closed her eyes for a moment as her heart began to race and she began to worry about what they would be told.
"Did you know before?" Kahlan asked as Shanan wiped her bare stomach with a warm, wet cloth. "That I carried more than one-"
"I did."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"That was not why I was here. You wanted to know if you were carrying a boy and you were."
Confused, Kahlan sat up, pushing away the other woman's hand from her body. "Then why are you doing this? If you knew that I carried a boy, then you must know what the other-"
"I do not. I only looked for one male." Pushing against her shoulder, she gave a small reassuring smile. "Please lay back; it will be easier for me to read."
Kahlan stared at him as they waited for Shanan to speak, finding his eyes to be a comfort. He smiled as he traced small circles on her arm, softly talking about what it would be like raising their child together and how soon he wanted to marry her.
"I do not believe the boy has perished." Shanan said softly, "I am still feeling the presence of a male as well as a female. Do you feel any different than before?"
"It's not as strong. Are you saying that he is still-"
"I cannot be sure, it is too early. We will have to wait until you are close to birth." Meeting the Mother Confessor's wide eyes, she tilted her head. "I believe that both children live, though I do not understand how it is possible. I feel them both within you."
Turning to Richard, Kahlan sat up and smiled widely. "He could still be alive! Richard, our child, may still be alive!" She began to cry, to laugh and pull him into her arms. "Do you know what that means?"
Looking to Shanan, he questioned her with his eyes, only to get a shake of the head. "What does it mean?"
"You were right." Pulling back, she met his eyes. "You said that they would be afraid. In order for our child to have survived that- Richard he has to be very powerful." Licking her lips she nodded her head. "They will be afraid."
******
"I thought that I would find you here." Richard entered the garden with a smile, his eyes instantly finding their way to her. "You missed lunch."
Kahlan sat on her knees, before the small pond, watching the fish swim around in circles. “I’m not hungry.”
“You’re not? I guess that I should take this food back to the kitchen then.” She turned around quickly at his words. “What’s wrong?”
She reached out and took the large basket from his hand and quickly looked inside. “The day comes closer. I’m anxious, tired, uncomfortable-”
“Beautiful,” Richard said interrupting as he sat down beside her.
Pulling apart a small piece of bread, she looked up at his loving eyes. She never felt more unattractive, but he never looked at her any differently than before. He always looked at her as though he could make love to her at any moment. At times, she thought that he hadn’t noticed her growing stomach. “You shouldn’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” He teased, leaning over to her and pushing his nose into the crook of her neck, moving her hair to give his lips access to her skin. “I can’t stop looking at you like this. It’s the only way to look at you.”
“Not like this,” she whispered, trying to push his roaming hands away from her. She was afraid that if he touched her, he would notice the children within her. Before she had grown larger, she didn't mind him touching her, she welcomed it. His touch had been so comforting, most of the time it was the only thing that made her forget everything that had happened. “I’m not-”
“You’re beautiful.” Kissing her neck, he pulled her back against his chest and rested his chin on her shoulder. Reaching around her he pulled the basket of food closer to them and pulled out some more bread. “I was going to bring you some soup, but Zedd had eaten most of it.”
“This is fine.”
“Bread is not the only thing I brought you.” He grinned as he tilted the basket, showing her everything inside. “There’s every fruit they had in the kitchen and I hid some of the sausages under the napkins just in case you wanted some more.”
She reached out, moving the napkins out of the way with a smile. “I didn’t think there were any left.”
“I hid them after breakfast. You seemed to like them and Zedd couldn’t stop eating them-”
“Thank you.” Tearing one of the sausages in half, she pushed a piece into his mouth before giving his chin a quick kiss. “I didn’t realize I had been out here so long.”
“You always lose track of time when you come out here.”
Giving him a sideways glance, she smiled, “Not just me. I remember us spending a lot of time out here.”
“Time doesn’t exist when we are together.”
Eating the other half of the meat, she leaned back in his arms. “Does that mean that we can stay out here longer?”
“Not very long. You’re not supposed to be in the sun.”
“I was tired of sitting inside, waiting.”
Tightening his arms around her, he looked around to be sure that they were still alone. “It's nice inside. Lying in bed, naked." Looking back to him, she frowned. "I like lying in bed with you, naked." He raised his eyebrows and grinned widely, making her laugh. "We could be in bed right now." Looking away from him, Kahlan ran her hand over her stomach and shook her head. She didn't want to be naked with him when she looked like this. There had been nights before when he had managed to make her forget that she was getting larger and made her feel beautiful, but it had been a while since she had allowed it to happen. "You're beautiful, Kahlan."
"You have to say that," she said teasingly as she looked back to him. "I'm carrying your children."
Looking over her shoulder, he pulled at her arms, stretching them out to their sides. "I don't see any children."
"That's because you are looking in the wrong place." She grabbed his hands and laid them on her stomach. "They're here."
Moving his hands over her, he beamed with happiness. "Hello in there."
She couldn't help but smile as he moved around her, bringing his face to her stomach. "They're moving." Kahlan moved his hands, making sure that he felt the movement. "Here, feel them?"
He held his hands still for a few moments before kissing her belly. He could feel her eyes on him, watching as he talked softly to their children. Lifting his eyes, he looked up at her from under his bushy eyebrows and then slowly began kissing his way up, over her body. Her fingers wound themselves into his hair as he came closer to her lips, her body aching for him in slight desperation.
"We should go inside," she panted as his tongue slid out over her neck. "Someone may walk by..."
"Why Mother Confessor, I was only trying to kiss you."
Opening her eyes, she looked down to his hands and smiled. "Then why are you untying my dress?" He followed her gaze and pulled back. "Just a kiss?"
"I'm sorry. I know that you don't want me to-"
"No, I- Let's go inside."
Chapter: 7
Characters: Richard/Kahlan, Zedd, Others (originals)
Rating: NC17/R
Timeline: After season 1
Summary: After the death of Darken Rahl, Kahlan returns to Aydindril to continue the line of Confessors. After two unexpected nights, she and Richard find themselves in an unpredictable situation, one that changes their lives.
Paring: Kahlan/Richard
Story Type: Drama/Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort
Word Count: 2,649
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!
"It's going to be all right," Richard told her as he pulled her into his arms. He sat behind her on the bed, his arms wrapped gently around her, holding her to his chest. "They're going to come back and we're going to-"
"I know, it's just- Why are they taking so long."
He let out a soft laugh, "It's only been a few minutes." Pressing his lips to the side of her head, he tightened his arms around her. "They'll be here soon."
Turning her head to look at him, she licked her lips quickly and met his eyes. "What if we're wrong? Richard, Confessors have never had more than one child at a time. I know that now, if I'm- It doesn't make any sense."
"Nothing about this makes sense. I've been trying to figure it out, but I can't."
She turned around in his arms, but didn't pull out of them, it was too comforting. "What do you mean?"
"Haven't you been wondering why she was the only one who had taken precautions? Kahlan, you could have confessed any member of the Council and you would have gotten your point across, but she- She wanted you to confess her, she pushed you into it. I don't think it was just our child she wanted to kill." Realization came to her face as she thought about his words. "She would have been released if the poison had killed you. She was expecting you to die so that she would live. I just don't understand why she would go through the trouble."
"The punishment for killing a Confessor is Confesson, it's against our laws to kill a Confessor. I am the last Confessor, without me she would not be punished. The poison should have killed me faster. I could feel it the moment I touched her, but I-" She shook her head, not understanding what she had felt and unsure if she was able to tell him. "I think he was protecting me." She smiled at the thought, their son knowing she was in danger and protecting her.
"He must have been. Kahlan, from what Zedd told me about the poison, there is no way he should have survived and what it did to you- Kahlan, he must have protected you."
"He didn't survive," she whispered quietly, looking down to the floor. "I- he didn't survive."
"Someone did."
"That's what terrifies me." Looking back to him, she nearly cried. "Richard, if he survived, if I'm still carrying a child, the power- The amount of power it would have to have to survive- If they were afraid of our son, imagine how they will be now."
"Then they should be. Kahlan, it's not just our child they should be afraid of. You and me, we're going to do what we can to keep our children safe. They should be afraid." Cupping her face in his hands, he pulled her to him. "They should be afraid Kahlan."
She couldn't help herself, leaning forward; she pressed her lips against his and pulled him closer. She knew that his words were true, they always were. They were going to do anything they could to keep their children safe. The people should be afraid of them. Pulling away, she gave him a small smile as she took hold of his hands. "I love you."
Her words made his heart race, his ears fearing that they would never hear them again. "I love you too." Giving her a small smile, Richard tightened his hold on her hands and leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. Her fingers trembled in his hands. "It's going to be all right."
"I know, but I can't stop thinking."
Pulling back, he ran his fingers through her hair, combing it away from her face. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you or our child."
A smile pulled at her lips, she knew that he wouldn't allow anything to happen. "I know. I can see it in your eyes, but I'm not sure that I want to stay here any longer."
Leaning back on the bed, he held himself up on his elbows, staring ahead at her. "Where would we go?"
"Anywhere."
"What about your people?"
Shaking her head, she moved over him, needing to touch him. "My people will learn to live without a Confessor."
He wrapped his arms around her as he settled above him, her arms folded over his chest, holding her head. "You don't want to do that."
"Why not?"
"Because this is your home. This is where you belong and without you- If you leave, we're just going to have to come back to put a stop to the war as people try to do what only you can." He grinned, "The rest of the Council will not challenge you."
"But they should. Richard, the Council speaks for the people to make sure that I am fair and-"
"No one is more fairer, but that's not what I meant. Kahlan, there is not one of them who will say anything about our child."
"How can you be sure?" she questioned him softly, hoping to understand his reasoning.
"They've seen what we would do to protect him and since she was the only one who thought to betray you, I believe that they will follow anything that you ask them to." Looking into her eyes, he hoped that she would understand. "They will not stop you. If the child you carry is also a boy, they will not try to stop us from bringing him into this world; they will not stand against you."
"And if they do?"
"I will kill them all." It was a simple answer and the way that he said it told her meant it. His eyes hardened as he said it, his hands grabbed her shoulders and held her to him, making sure that she understood the truth of his words. "They will not get to either of you."
Her eyes moved over his face, studying him carefully as she nodded her head. "I know."
His hands released her arms and moved to her sides, slowly running over them for a small moment of contact. Her eyes slid closed to his touch, her body relaxing for what seemed like the first time. The soft moan that escaped her throat told him not to stop, that she didn't want him to stop. She took comfort in his touch, remembering what it was like before, when she first felt their child. The way he laid his head on her stomach and spoke to their child, telling him that they loved him, that he would be safe. She wished he would do it again.
Rolling off of him, she pulled him onto his side and moved in close. Wrapping her arm around his shoulder, she pressed her forehead against his chest and took in a slow, deep breath. The smell of him was comforting; she began to forget the events that had taken place as she closed her eyes. Within moments, she was asleep. He tightened his arms around her as he closed his own eyes, feeling suddenly comforted about their situation.
When the door opened, Richard rolled himself over her, using his body as a shield to protect her. Seeing who entered the room, he rolled off and looked down at her wide eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't know who it was."
She looked away from his eyes slowly, looking to the door to see why he was smiling. Shanan and Zedd were at the door, they would soon put their worries to rest. "Once you're undressed, we will get started. The Wizard must wait in the hall, but the Seeker may stay if you wish."
Richard lifted himself from her body as his grandfather walked from the room silently. "I can wait in the hallway if you want me too."
"No." she grabbed his arm and kept him from moving from the bed. "I need you to stay."
He gave her a small smile as she sat up and began pulling at the strings of her dress. She closed her eyes for a moment as her heart began to race and she began to worry about what they would be told.
"Did you know before?" Kahlan asked as Shanan wiped her bare stomach with a warm, wet cloth. "That I carried more than one-"
"I did."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"That was not why I was here. You wanted to know if you were carrying a boy and you were."
Confused, Kahlan sat up, pushing away the other woman's hand from her body. "Then why are you doing this? If you knew that I carried a boy, then you must know what the other-"
"I do not. I only looked for one male." Pushing against her shoulder, she gave a small reassuring smile. "Please lay back; it will be easier for me to read."
Kahlan stared at him as they waited for Shanan to speak, finding his eyes to be a comfort. He smiled as he traced small circles on her arm, softly talking about what it would be like raising their child together and how soon he wanted to marry her.
"I do not believe the boy has perished." Shanan said softly, "I am still feeling the presence of a male as well as a female. Do you feel any different than before?"
"It's not as strong. Are you saying that he is still-"
"I cannot be sure, it is too early. We will have to wait until you are close to birth." Meeting the Mother Confessor's wide eyes, she tilted her head. "I believe that both children live, though I do not understand how it is possible. I feel them both within you."
Turning to Richard, Kahlan sat up and smiled widely. "He could still be alive! Richard, our child, may still be alive!" She began to cry, to laugh and pull him into her arms. "Do you know what that means?"
Looking to Shanan, he questioned her with his eyes, only to get a shake of the head. "What does it mean?"
"You were right." Pulling back, she met his eyes. "You said that they would be afraid. In order for our child to have survived that- Richard he has to be very powerful." Licking her lips she nodded her head. "They will be afraid."
******
"I thought that I would find you here." Richard entered the garden with a smile, his eyes instantly finding their way to her. "You missed lunch."
Kahlan sat on her knees, before the small pond, watching the fish swim around in circles. “I’m not hungry.”
“You’re not? I guess that I should take this food back to the kitchen then.” She turned around quickly at his words. “What’s wrong?”
She reached out and took the large basket from his hand and quickly looked inside. “The day comes closer. I’m anxious, tired, uncomfortable-”
“Beautiful,” Richard said interrupting as he sat down beside her.
Pulling apart a small piece of bread, she looked up at his loving eyes. She never felt more unattractive, but he never looked at her any differently than before. He always looked at her as though he could make love to her at any moment. At times, she thought that he hadn’t noticed her growing stomach. “You shouldn’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” He teased, leaning over to her and pushing his nose into the crook of her neck, moving her hair to give his lips access to her skin. “I can’t stop looking at you like this. It’s the only way to look at you.”
“Not like this,” she whispered, trying to push his roaming hands away from her. She was afraid that if he touched her, he would notice the children within her. Before she had grown larger, she didn't mind him touching her, she welcomed it. His touch had been so comforting, most of the time it was the only thing that made her forget everything that had happened. “I’m not-”
“You’re beautiful.” Kissing her neck, he pulled her back against his chest and rested his chin on her shoulder. Reaching around her he pulled the basket of food closer to them and pulled out some more bread. “I was going to bring you some soup, but Zedd had eaten most of it.”
“This is fine.”
“Bread is not the only thing I brought you.” He grinned as he tilted the basket, showing her everything inside. “There’s every fruit they had in the kitchen and I hid some of the sausages under the napkins just in case you wanted some more.”
She reached out, moving the napkins out of the way with a smile. “I didn’t think there were any left.”
“I hid them after breakfast. You seemed to like them and Zedd couldn’t stop eating them-”
“Thank you.” Tearing one of the sausages in half, she pushed a piece into his mouth before giving his chin a quick kiss. “I didn’t realize I had been out here so long.”
“You always lose track of time when you come out here.”
Giving him a sideways glance, she smiled, “Not just me. I remember us spending a lot of time out here.”
“Time doesn’t exist when we are together.”
Eating the other half of the meat, she leaned back in his arms. “Does that mean that we can stay out here longer?”
“Not very long. You’re not supposed to be in the sun.”
“I was tired of sitting inside, waiting.”
Tightening his arms around her, he looked around to be sure that they were still alone. “It's nice inside. Lying in bed, naked." Looking back to him, she frowned. "I like lying in bed with you, naked." He raised his eyebrows and grinned widely, making her laugh. "We could be in bed right now." Looking away from him, Kahlan ran her hand over her stomach and shook her head. She didn't want to be naked with him when she looked like this. There had been nights before when he had managed to make her forget that she was getting larger and made her feel beautiful, but it had been a while since she had allowed it to happen. "You're beautiful, Kahlan."
"You have to say that," she said teasingly as she looked back to him. "I'm carrying your children."
Looking over her shoulder, he pulled at her arms, stretching them out to their sides. "I don't see any children."
"That's because you are looking in the wrong place." She grabbed his hands and laid them on her stomach. "They're here."
Moving his hands over her, he beamed with happiness. "Hello in there."
She couldn't help but smile as he moved around her, bringing his face to her stomach. "They're moving." Kahlan moved his hands, making sure that he felt the movement. "Here, feel them?"
He held his hands still for a few moments before kissing her belly. He could feel her eyes on him, watching as he talked softly to their children. Lifting his eyes, he looked up at her from under his bushy eyebrows and then slowly began kissing his way up, over her body. Her fingers wound themselves into his hair as he came closer to her lips, her body aching for him in slight desperation.
"We should go inside," she panted as his tongue slid out over her neck. "Someone may walk by..."
"Why Mother Confessor, I was only trying to kiss you."
Opening her eyes, she looked down to his hands and smiled. "Then why are you untying my dress?" He followed her gaze and pulled back. "Just a kiss?"
"I'm sorry. I know that you don't want me to-"
"No, I- Let's go inside."