The Guardian, Chp. 12
Title: The Guardian
Author: JlynCSS
Pairings: Richard/Kahlan
Rating: R
Chapter 12
Richard was livid at what he saw. Governor Nolan was yanking Kahlan viscously across the ground by her hair, a dagger at her throat. Bound, she struggled to free herself from his painful grip. Afraid of hurting her in the attack, Richard leapt from his horse to face the Governor head on.
"Richard!" Kahlan called out in warning.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up. He could sense the danger behind him. Fluidly, he raised his sword over his head, down behind his back, deflecting the arrow headed straight for him. As he spun to face the archer's assault, he swung his leg around with a powerful thrust sending Nolan tumbling into the dirt and away from Kahlan.
In a few long strides, he reached the archer, eliminating him with one swift blow, slicing him nearly in two. Like an angry bear he turned to the struggle behind him. His shoulders heaved with his breathing, wrath coursing through his veins.
Nolan had scrambled back to Kahlan and she struggled now under him, inches away from the dagger he wielded. Pinned on her back, she managed to raise her knees and drove her heels hard into his chest, sending him sprawling backwards as she rolled away from him.
Richard moved with lightening speed. As the Governor lunged toward Kahlan, his dagger poised to drive into her heart, Richard jammed his sword with brutal force up to its hilt into Nolan's chest. He threw his weight into it, leaning in, his face so close to the Governor's he could scarcely focus on him. Richard's eyes were dark and deadly. Having heard Kahlan's cries and seeing her bound on the forest floor, Richard took a dark pleasure in killing this man. He leaned in harder on the sword. With both hands he twisted the blade as his body shook with the rage that flowed through him, consuming him with twisted satisfaction at the Governor's death.
"Richard."
Her voice instantly calmed him. He loosened his grip just a little, his shoulders relaxed. Coming back into focus he shoved the Governor with his foot off of his blade and turned to her. Taking in the sight of her quieted his breathing and stilled his rage. He sheathed his sword and dropped to his knees beside her.
It felt a year since he'd seen her and he fought the urge to pull her into his arms. Instead he pulled free his knife to cut her bindings.
Thoughts tumbled through Kahlan's mind as Richard cut the rope at her wrists and feet. Why he had returned she wasn't sure, but she was glad beyond measure. He hadn't even had a chance to slip the knife back into his belt before she threw her arms around him, pulling him to her. Her fingers dug into him, as if her life depended on holding him close. He secured the blade and gathered her in his arms. Relief flooded him at having her in his arms again.
Tears filled Kahlan's eyes as she whispered into his ear, "Richard, I'm so sorry I hurt you. Please, can you ever forgive me?"
It pained his heart to hear her pleading. "Shhh. There's nothing to forgive Kahlan." He pulled back to look at her, "You were trying to protect me."
Kahlan's eyes roamed his face before resting on his gaze. He had the most gentle eyes she'd ever seen. She wanted to stare into them forever. Her gaze fell to his lips. She wished he would kiss her. After what she'd done to him she knew it wasn't right, but it didn't stop her longing. Her head was spinning. She must have lost more blood than she realized. She wanted to lean in to kiss him but was finding it hard to focus on his face. She let herself relax in his embrace. It felt so good having him hold her in his arms. She felt him touch a hand to her face. She heard him ask if she was alright before everything went dark.
---
Kahlan quickly made her way for Richard's room. He was staying several doors down from her in the palace, though he'd hardly left her side in recent days. She had told him she was fine, she just needed rest, but until she'd actually gotten out of bed a few days ago, he wouldn't leave her side. She had spent the last week recovering and each day brought her more energy. She finally had enough strength to go out for walks and she and Richard spent the last few afternoons in the gardens of the palace.
She wanted to surprise him this morning and beat him to the invitation. She felt an anxious flutter in her stomach as she approached his room. She was beginning to believe him when he told her not to be afraid of her power harming him. It was getting harder for her to push away the dream of finally being able to be with him and easier to push away her fears. Still, they were there, but at the moment, all she wanted was to hold hands and walk through the gardens with the man she loved.
As Kahlan made her way for his room, her mind reeled with all she had learned while she lay recovering. Governor Nolan had been secretly engaged to Prince Edan's sister, Princess Bryanna. Had the Prince been executed as Nolan originally arranged, all of his lands would transfer to the Princess, making her, and the Governor once they were married, among the wealthiest rulers in all the Midland's. He hadn't counted on the ancient tradition of the Liberation Treaty. When Kahlan accepted Edan's request to invoke the treaty and confess him, Nolan saw his vast wealth slipping away. He knew that once confessed and taken as her mate, Edan's lands and wealth would become the property of Aydindril and fill its treasury, not his own pocket.
Kahlan had also learned that Greer, her trusted aide, had sent the Foy after her, not Nolan as he had claimed. Greer knew she was desperately needed in Aydindril to quell the power hungry Councilors and saw no other way to have the Mother Confessor return. Governor Nolan had lied to her about dispatching the Foy, telling her he had sent him in an effort to protect the city, hoping to gain Kahlan's trust. She realized now that Greer had been the true Guardian in her absence.
Richard pulled open the door of his room at hearing the soft knock. A warm smile spread over his face at seeing Kahlan standing there. Smiling back like a school girl, Kahlan was about to ask him to join her for a walk when she noticed his pack on the bed and his belongings scattered about. "I was going to ask you to join me for a walk, but maybe this is a bad time? Maybe later, after supper?" She held a questioning look.
Richard took her hand and pulled her into the room, closing the door behind her. His eyes held her gaze. "I have to leave, Kahlan. I need to get back to Zedd."
The smile left her face. "So soon?"
"I've been gone quite some time already. I need to find Zedd and look for the Stone." He still held her hand in his. "I'd like you come with me, Kahlan. I need you more than you know." He looked at her a long moment. "But I understand if you can't…you're needed here as well."
She knew the search for the Stone was very much on his mind and that he needed to rejoin the others. The fate of the entire world depended on him finding it. But she couldn't go with him. Aydindril was still too unsettled and needed its Mother Confessor. Rahl's armies had kept the regions in line but with his demise, they could easily slip into chaos. Aydindril needed to be strong and secure if it were to provide rule and justice as it once had; if there was to be any hope at a stable peace throughout the Midlands. She believed the insurrection to be over, but she couldn't be sure. She needed more time. As much as she hated the idea of Richard leaving without her, she knew they both had responsibilities.
Richard saw the struggle in her eyes as the thoughts ran through her mind. He took her other hand as well and held them both to his chest. He leaned his head toward hers, his voice soft, "I have to continue the search Kahlan. I can't do it without you. If you're not by my side, I need to know you'll be waiting." His grip on her tightened, his eyes firm, "I won't have any more talk of you taking a mate."
She didn't protest. Now wasn't the time. She could face that duty later. Right now, her heart ached for the man she loved. Her words came in a whisper, "when will you go?"
"After the evening meal." He was uneasy that she hadn't answered him. "I can only go knowing you'll be here when I return."
Whatever the future held for them, she at least could answer in truth, "I'll be here Richard."
xxx
Author: JlynCSS
Pairings: Richard/Kahlan
Rating: R
Chapter 12
Richard was livid at what he saw. Governor Nolan was yanking Kahlan viscously across the ground by her hair, a dagger at her throat. Bound, she struggled to free herself from his painful grip. Afraid of hurting her in the attack, Richard leapt from his horse to face the Governor head on.
"Richard!" Kahlan called out in warning.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up. He could sense the danger behind him. Fluidly, he raised his sword over his head, down behind his back, deflecting the arrow headed straight for him. As he spun to face the archer's assault, he swung his leg around with a powerful thrust sending Nolan tumbling into the dirt and away from Kahlan.
In a few long strides, he reached the archer, eliminating him with one swift blow, slicing him nearly in two. Like an angry bear he turned to the struggle behind him. His shoulders heaved with his breathing, wrath coursing through his veins.
Nolan had scrambled back to Kahlan and she struggled now under him, inches away from the dagger he wielded. Pinned on her back, she managed to raise her knees and drove her heels hard into his chest, sending him sprawling backwards as she rolled away from him.
Richard moved with lightening speed. As the Governor lunged toward Kahlan, his dagger poised to drive into her heart, Richard jammed his sword with brutal force up to its hilt into Nolan's chest. He threw his weight into it, leaning in, his face so close to the Governor's he could scarcely focus on him. Richard's eyes were dark and deadly. Having heard Kahlan's cries and seeing her bound on the forest floor, Richard took a dark pleasure in killing this man. He leaned in harder on the sword. With both hands he twisted the blade as his body shook with the rage that flowed through him, consuming him with twisted satisfaction at the Governor's death.
"Richard."
Her voice instantly calmed him. He loosened his grip just a little, his shoulders relaxed. Coming back into focus he shoved the Governor with his foot off of his blade and turned to her. Taking in the sight of her quieted his breathing and stilled his rage. He sheathed his sword and dropped to his knees beside her.
It felt a year since he'd seen her and he fought the urge to pull her into his arms. Instead he pulled free his knife to cut her bindings.
Thoughts tumbled through Kahlan's mind as Richard cut the rope at her wrists and feet. Why he had returned she wasn't sure, but she was glad beyond measure. He hadn't even had a chance to slip the knife back into his belt before she threw her arms around him, pulling him to her. Her fingers dug into him, as if her life depended on holding him close. He secured the blade and gathered her in his arms. Relief flooded him at having her in his arms again.
Tears filled Kahlan's eyes as she whispered into his ear, "Richard, I'm so sorry I hurt you. Please, can you ever forgive me?"
It pained his heart to hear her pleading. "Shhh. There's nothing to forgive Kahlan." He pulled back to look at her, "You were trying to protect me."
Kahlan's eyes roamed his face before resting on his gaze. He had the most gentle eyes she'd ever seen. She wanted to stare into them forever. Her gaze fell to his lips. She wished he would kiss her. After what she'd done to him she knew it wasn't right, but it didn't stop her longing. Her head was spinning. She must have lost more blood than she realized. She wanted to lean in to kiss him but was finding it hard to focus on his face. She let herself relax in his embrace. It felt so good having him hold her in his arms. She felt him touch a hand to her face. She heard him ask if she was alright before everything went dark.
---
Kahlan quickly made her way for Richard's room. He was staying several doors down from her in the palace, though he'd hardly left her side in recent days. She had told him she was fine, she just needed rest, but until she'd actually gotten out of bed a few days ago, he wouldn't leave her side. She had spent the last week recovering and each day brought her more energy. She finally had enough strength to go out for walks and she and Richard spent the last few afternoons in the gardens of the palace.
She wanted to surprise him this morning and beat him to the invitation. She felt an anxious flutter in her stomach as she approached his room. She was beginning to believe him when he told her not to be afraid of her power harming him. It was getting harder for her to push away the dream of finally being able to be with him and easier to push away her fears. Still, they were there, but at the moment, all she wanted was to hold hands and walk through the gardens with the man she loved.
As Kahlan made her way for his room, her mind reeled with all she had learned while she lay recovering. Governor Nolan had been secretly engaged to Prince Edan's sister, Princess Bryanna. Had the Prince been executed as Nolan originally arranged, all of his lands would transfer to the Princess, making her, and the Governor once they were married, among the wealthiest rulers in all the Midland's. He hadn't counted on the ancient tradition of the Liberation Treaty. When Kahlan accepted Edan's request to invoke the treaty and confess him, Nolan saw his vast wealth slipping away. He knew that once confessed and taken as her mate, Edan's lands and wealth would become the property of Aydindril and fill its treasury, not his own pocket.
Kahlan had also learned that Greer, her trusted aide, had sent the Foy after her, not Nolan as he had claimed. Greer knew she was desperately needed in Aydindril to quell the power hungry Councilors and saw no other way to have the Mother Confessor return. Governor Nolan had lied to her about dispatching the Foy, telling her he had sent him in an effort to protect the city, hoping to gain Kahlan's trust. She realized now that Greer had been the true Guardian in her absence.
Richard pulled open the door of his room at hearing the soft knock. A warm smile spread over his face at seeing Kahlan standing there. Smiling back like a school girl, Kahlan was about to ask him to join her for a walk when she noticed his pack on the bed and his belongings scattered about. "I was going to ask you to join me for a walk, but maybe this is a bad time? Maybe later, after supper?" She held a questioning look.
Richard took her hand and pulled her into the room, closing the door behind her. His eyes held her gaze. "I have to leave, Kahlan. I need to get back to Zedd."
The smile left her face. "So soon?"
"I've been gone quite some time already. I need to find Zedd and look for the Stone." He still held her hand in his. "I'd like you come with me, Kahlan. I need you more than you know." He looked at her a long moment. "But I understand if you can't…you're needed here as well."
She knew the search for the Stone was very much on his mind and that he needed to rejoin the others. The fate of the entire world depended on him finding it. But she couldn't go with him. Aydindril was still too unsettled and needed its Mother Confessor. Rahl's armies had kept the regions in line but with his demise, they could easily slip into chaos. Aydindril needed to be strong and secure if it were to provide rule and justice as it once had; if there was to be any hope at a stable peace throughout the Midlands. She believed the insurrection to be over, but she couldn't be sure. She needed more time. As much as she hated the idea of Richard leaving without her, she knew they both had responsibilities.
Richard saw the struggle in her eyes as the thoughts ran through her mind. He took her other hand as well and held them both to his chest. He leaned his head toward hers, his voice soft, "I have to continue the search Kahlan. I can't do it without you. If you're not by my side, I need to know you'll be waiting." His grip on her tightened, his eyes firm, "I won't have any more talk of you taking a mate."
She didn't protest. Now wasn't the time. She could face that duty later. Right now, her heart ached for the man she loved. Her words came in a whisper, "when will you go?"
"After the evening meal." He was uneasy that she hadn't answered him. "I can only go knowing you'll be here when I return."
Whatever the future held for them, she at least could answer in truth, "I'll be here Richard."
xxx