Foundation of Friendship
Title: Foundation of Friendship
Author: confessorlove
Pairing: Richard x Kahlan
Rating: PG
Summary: During the harvest festival, Richard sees a familiar face which reminds me of the lie that started their friendship.
Author's Notes: written for the rewatch and review challenge on legendland for 1x17 Deception.
Sometimes when Richard thought about how things used to be he could almost laugh. There was a time so long ago that he had been the D’Haran’s worst enemies and now he was their leader. The Creator had an odd sense of humor. Some days it felt like the war he fought was yesterday and at other times it felt like it was another lifetime ago. It was odd to think about but still he managed to look at everything in a bright light. It was important for the Lord Rahl to see both sides of an argument, unlike Darken Rahl had. That was one thing Richard prided himself on. It had been twelve years since he saw his future being chased through the woods and he had cherished every moment. Looking out on the harvest celebration, Richard saw his two eldest daughters dancing in the square with the few Mord’Sith close at hand for their protection whenever they were outside with the general public. Kahlan was across the courtyard watching while she held Kayla in her arms. He could see it was difficult for her with her ever expanding pregnancy; however Richard knew she wouldn’t let that get in the way of holding her daughter.
Richard felt a tap on his shoulder suddenly and turned away from the celebration only to be greeted by the smiling face of Captain Ensor. He’d fought against the man so long ago but now he considered him to be one of his closest friends and advisors. “Matthew,” he said before pulling the man into a hug. “It’s good to see you.”
Samuel laughed and patted Richard on the back. “It’s good to see you too, my friend. How are things?”
Glancing back at the celebration, Richard gestured towards Kahlan and his daughters. “Things have never been better.” It wasn’t a lie. Richard felt like his life was finally close to perfect. Despite that he worried because perfection never lasted very long before shifting into chaos. “What about you and your family?” Richard could still remember the time he first met the captain’s family while under the guise of Carver Dunn. Even then he hadn’t been able to resist helping the captain’s son, Tanner and seeming to care for the family. It had given him great insight into the other side of war. It was something he never forgot.
“They have been wonderful,” the captain replied before scanning the crowd for signs of either his wife or his children. “I’ve been blessed and you are so kind to allow me to be with them whenever it’s possible.”
Richard nodded. “I know that I wouldn’t want to be apart from my family either and you forget that I know what family means to you.” He smiled a little at the captain before his gaze shifted through the crowd before finally locking on Kahlan’s piercing blue eyes. Even just imagining being without her for very long made his heart ache. Richard could only imagine that Samuel felt the same about his wife.
Ensor followed Richard’s gaze over to Kahlan before a smile spread on his face. “You have a lovely family, Lord Rahl. I don’t blame you for wanting to be close to them.”
At the sound of his title, Richard frowned. “Matthew, you’ve known me for longer than most men who serve under me and you are my friend. I think it’s time you started calling me Richard.”
“Of course, Richard.”
He smiled then and noticed Kahlan moving towards them now that she’d put Kayla down to join her sisters in the courtyard. Once she was close enough, Richard reached out and took her hand before bringing it to his lips with a kiss. “Do you remember Matthew, Kahlan?”
A bright smile formed on her lips as her hands came down to rest on the swell of her belly. “I do. It’s good to see you, Matthew.”
Matthew bowed his head slightly. “It’s good to see you as well, Mother Confessor.”
Kahlan sighed at the use of her title but it was something she was used to. “How are your wife and family? We should all make time to get together. It’s been ages since we have last done that.”
Richard knew that getting Matthew to call Kahlan by her name would be a much more difficult task as deep down; most D’Haran’s still feared her power. It was something they needed to get used to as their daughters would rule once he was no longer around. Confession was becoming a part of the D’Haran monarchy and it would always be that way.
“My wife would like that, Mother Confessor and so would I.” He smiled at her then in a genuine way. There was nothing to fear of her. They were the Lord and Lady Rahl but not in the same way that their predecessors had been. They were kind and they cared. It was obvious and everyone understood. That was what set them apart.
Author: confessorlove
Pairing: Richard x Kahlan
Rating: PG
Summary: During the harvest festival, Richard sees a familiar face which reminds me of the lie that started their friendship.
Author's Notes: written for the rewatch and review challenge on legendland for 1x17 Deception.
Sometimes when Richard thought about how things used to be he could almost laugh. There was a time so long ago that he had been the D’Haran’s worst enemies and now he was their leader. The Creator had an odd sense of humor. Some days it felt like the war he fought was yesterday and at other times it felt like it was another lifetime ago. It was odd to think about but still he managed to look at everything in a bright light. It was important for the Lord Rahl to see both sides of an argument, unlike Darken Rahl had. That was one thing Richard prided himself on. It had been twelve years since he saw his future being chased through the woods and he had cherished every moment. Looking out on the harvest celebration, Richard saw his two eldest daughters dancing in the square with the few Mord’Sith close at hand for their protection whenever they were outside with the general public. Kahlan was across the courtyard watching while she held Kayla in her arms. He could see it was difficult for her with her ever expanding pregnancy; however Richard knew she wouldn’t let that get in the way of holding her daughter.
Richard felt a tap on his shoulder suddenly and turned away from the celebration only to be greeted by the smiling face of Captain Ensor. He’d fought against the man so long ago but now he considered him to be one of his closest friends and advisors. “Matthew,” he said before pulling the man into a hug. “It’s good to see you.”
Samuel laughed and patted Richard on the back. “It’s good to see you too, my friend. How are things?”
Glancing back at the celebration, Richard gestured towards Kahlan and his daughters. “Things have never been better.” It wasn’t a lie. Richard felt like his life was finally close to perfect. Despite that he worried because perfection never lasted very long before shifting into chaos. “What about you and your family?” Richard could still remember the time he first met the captain’s family while under the guise of Carver Dunn. Even then he hadn’t been able to resist helping the captain’s son, Tanner and seeming to care for the family. It had given him great insight into the other side of war. It was something he never forgot.
“They have been wonderful,” the captain replied before scanning the crowd for signs of either his wife or his children. “I’ve been blessed and you are so kind to allow me to be with them whenever it’s possible.”
Richard nodded. “I know that I wouldn’t want to be apart from my family either and you forget that I know what family means to you.” He smiled a little at the captain before his gaze shifted through the crowd before finally locking on Kahlan’s piercing blue eyes. Even just imagining being without her for very long made his heart ache. Richard could only imagine that Samuel felt the same about his wife.
Ensor followed Richard’s gaze over to Kahlan before a smile spread on his face. “You have a lovely family, Lord Rahl. I don’t blame you for wanting to be close to them.”
At the sound of his title, Richard frowned. “Matthew, you’ve known me for longer than most men who serve under me and you are my friend. I think it’s time you started calling me Richard.”
“Of course, Richard.”
He smiled then and noticed Kahlan moving towards them now that she’d put Kayla down to join her sisters in the courtyard. Once she was close enough, Richard reached out and took her hand before bringing it to his lips with a kiss. “Do you remember Matthew, Kahlan?”
A bright smile formed on her lips as her hands came down to rest on the swell of her belly. “I do. It’s good to see you, Matthew.”
Matthew bowed his head slightly. “It’s good to see you as well, Mother Confessor.”
Kahlan sighed at the use of her title but it was something she was used to. “How are your wife and family? We should all make time to get together. It’s been ages since we have last done that.”
Richard knew that getting Matthew to call Kahlan by her name would be a much more difficult task as deep down; most D’Haran’s still feared her power. It was something they needed to get used to as their daughters would rule once he was no longer around. Confession was becoming a part of the D’Haran monarchy and it would always be that way.
“My wife would like that, Mother Confessor and so would I.” He smiled at her then in a genuine way. There was nothing to fear of her. They were the Lord and Lady Rahl but not in the same way that their predecessors had been. They were kind and they cared. It was obvious and everyone understood. That was what set them apart.