Forfeit, Chp. 6
Title: Forfeit
Author: JlynCSS
Pairings: Richard/Kahlan
Rating: PG
An older fic of mine from FFN that I'm finally posting to LJ.
Summary: After Kahlan's memory is altered by Sister's of the Dark, she believes the Seeker is her enemy.
This story is a continuation of my series that started with The Guardian and picks up where Call of the Underworld left off.
Chapter 6
Richard rubbed a hand over his eyes as he made his way for Kahlan's room. He was exhausted. The shock of learning Kahlan believed she was betrothed to Greer had left him in knots and unable to sleep for days. Last night, as he lay in the small bed of his room he'd tried to ease his mind, letting his thoughts drift to the morning she left, when they'd made love in the early light of dawn. When he closed his eyes he could feel her body, her soft skin against him. He could taste her honey lips and groaned with the agonizing bliss of the memory. His head began to pound when he wondered just what type of memories she had been given of Greer. Did she 'remember' lying in his arms? Or whispering her love to him in the dark of night? What had started as pleasant thoughts of his beloved ended in torment.
Cara stood guard outside Kahlan's room. Richard didn't want anyone going in who might say something about her true identity, somehow interfering with the magic and leaving her forever under the spell that had taken her away from him. She greeted him as he approached, "You look terrible."
He felt terrible too and ignored her barb. "Anyone been by?"
"Only Agatha a short while ago. She said she was still asleep but left her a tray of breakfast."
Richard nodded his thanks and told her to get some rest. He quietly pushed open the door, reminding himself of Zedd's stern warning not to force the truth on her. He didn't take it lightly. He also didn't take lightly the fact that he still had a mission to complete. If the Keeper won there would be no future for anyone, including Kahlan. As long as the compass was pointing to the Keep he would continue to search for answers. He knew if it were to lead him in another direction, away from Aydindril - and away from Kahlan, he would be hard pressed to go. He wouldn't think about that now…he had bigger concerns on his mind. Right now, his focus was on gaining Kahlan's trust and finding a way to reverse the magic.
Zedd had suggested he and Cara go to Glenmore in search of answers but Richard said no. If whatever magic that was affecting the town's people as well as Kahlan and Greer took hold of them too, Richard would be on his own. Somehow, they had to find the answers here. He felt sure he'd be able to reach Kahlan…he didn't know how long it would take but he would do whatever was needed to reach her.
He smiled at seeing her sleeping and moved to her bedside. Over the last few days he spent time with her when she was awake, fed her broth to keep up her strength, and made sure no one tried to press her into remembering she was the Mother Confessor. When she slept, he sat by her side in a plain wooden chair, studying a small book Zedd had given him. It was written in the language only the Seeker could read and was obviously very old, the pages on the verge of dissolving to dust. It was small enough to fit in his pocket and Richard carried it with him; careful not to damage the contents. He read through it at every opportunity, but so far, he hadn't been able to unravel its code. There were no actual written words on the pages, at least none that he could comprehend. He could read them, they just didn't make any sense. They held an essence that he struggled to grasp. He pulled it from his pocket now.
xxx
Kahlan awoke to find Lord Rahl was once again at her bedside, reading the small book he seemed to always be reading. She hadn't yet stirred and he didn't realize she was awake. She watched him as he read, his hair partially shielding his face as he leaned forward. She couldn't see them now, but she knew soft brown eyes hid behind there. She let her gaze fall to his mouth. He always spoke softly to her and much to her surprise he often smiled whenever she looked at him. Seeing him sitting there, she felt a tinge of happiness but quickly admonished herself, reminding herself just who he was. She sat up.
Richard smiled and put his book away. "Good morning."
Kahlan realized he helped relieve a bit of the loneliness she felt, even if he was her sworn enemy...
xxx
As Kahlan was finishing her breakfast, Richard was again trying to pull forth the truth locked deep inside her, "How is it that you and Greer are to be married?"
"Why is it the Lord Rahl is concerned with a local woman's engagement?"
Richard leaned in, propping an elbow on his knee, "The Seeker has many concerns." He didn't want her to think of him as Lord Rahl, but no matter how many times he asked her to call him Richard, she refused.
Hesitant to talk with him at first, Kahlan finally admitted that it was hazy to her. She was sure once she fully recovered it would all become clear. She seemed to remember that it had been arranged since they were quite young. It was as if they had always been promised to each another.
"Do you love him?" Richard surprised even himself with his question and quickly looked away. He didn't want to know the answer. If she said yes, even if it was a magically induced belief, it would crush him.
Kahlan was confused by his manner, not only that he would take such an interest, but that he truly seemed to care. Something in his eyes, whenever he looked at her, made her uneasy. He seemed to be searching her, probing her with his gaze. She found it unsettling. And exciting.
"I have fond memories." She said quietly. She didn't wish to say anything more.
Again Richard wondered what memories had been given to her regarding Greer. Did she actually believe she loved him? On the eve of battle when they attacked Aydindril had she sought comfort in his kiss? Richard found he was staring at the collar around her neck his anger simmering within. With the Rada' Han, she was as free as any woman to be with a man if she so chose.
Abruptly, he pushed to his feet and walked to the window, casting his gaze to the mountains beyond. Keeping his back to her, he blinked back tears. "You must miss him." His voice was rough, he didn't trust it to say anything more.
"I'd like to see him." She hadn't said she missed him and for that, he was grateful.
xxx
Author: JlynCSS
Pairings: Richard/Kahlan
Rating: PG
An older fic of mine from FFN that I'm finally posting to LJ.
Summary: After Kahlan's memory is altered by Sister's of the Dark, she believes the Seeker is her enemy.
This story is a continuation of my series that started with The Guardian and picks up where Call of the Underworld left off.
Chapter 6
Richard rubbed a hand over his eyes as he made his way for Kahlan's room. He was exhausted. The shock of learning Kahlan believed she was betrothed to Greer had left him in knots and unable to sleep for days. Last night, as he lay in the small bed of his room he'd tried to ease his mind, letting his thoughts drift to the morning she left, when they'd made love in the early light of dawn. When he closed his eyes he could feel her body, her soft skin against him. He could taste her honey lips and groaned with the agonizing bliss of the memory. His head began to pound when he wondered just what type of memories she had been given of Greer. Did she 'remember' lying in his arms? Or whispering her love to him in the dark of night? What had started as pleasant thoughts of his beloved ended in torment.
Cara stood guard outside Kahlan's room. Richard didn't want anyone going in who might say something about her true identity, somehow interfering with the magic and leaving her forever under the spell that had taken her away from him. She greeted him as he approached, "You look terrible."
He felt terrible too and ignored her barb. "Anyone been by?"
"Only Agatha a short while ago. She said she was still asleep but left her a tray of breakfast."
Richard nodded his thanks and told her to get some rest. He quietly pushed open the door, reminding himself of Zedd's stern warning not to force the truth on her. He didn't take it lightly. He also didn't take lightly the fact that he still had a mission to complete. If the Keeper won there would be no future for anyone, including Kahlan. As long as the compass was pointing to the Keep he would continue to search for answers. He knew if it were to lead him in another direction, away from Aydindril - and away from Kahlan, he would be hard pressed to go. He wouldn't think about that now…he had bigger concerns on his mind. Right now, his focus was on gaining Kahlan's trust and finding a way to reverse the magic.
Zedd had suggested he and Cara go to Glenmore in search of answers but Richard said no. If whatever magic that was affecting the town's people as well as Kahlan and Greer took hold of them too, Richard would be on his own. Somehow, they had to find the answers here. He felt sure he'd be able to reach Kahlan…he didn't know how long it would take but he would do whatever was needed to reach her.
He smiled at seeing her sleeping and moved to her bedside. Over the last few days he spent time with her when she was awake, fed her broth to keep up her strength, and made sure no one tried to press her into remembering she was the Mother Confessor. When she slept, he sat by her side in a plain wooden chair, studying a small book Zedd had given him. It was written in the language only the Seeker could read and was obviously very old, the pages on the verge of dissolving to dust. It was small enough to fit in his pocket and Richard carried it with him; careful not to damage the contents. He read through it at every opportunity, but so far, he hadn't been able to unravel its code. There were no actual written words on the pages, at least none that he could comprehend. He could read them, they just didn't make any sense. They held an essence that he struggled to grasp. He pulled it from his pocket now.
xxx
Kahlan awoke to find Lord Rahl was once again at her bedside, reading the small book he seemed to always be reading. She hadn't yet stirred and he didn't realize she was awake. She watched him as he read, his hair partially shielding his face as he leaned forward. She couldn't see them now, but she knew soft brown eyes hid behind there. She let her gaze fall to his mouth. He always spoke softly to her and much to her surprise he often smiled whenever she looked at him. Seeing him sitting there, she felt a tinge of happiness but quickly admonished herself, reminding herself just who he was. She sat up.
Richard smiled and put his book away. "Good morning."
Kahlan realized he helped relieve a bit of the loneliness she felt, even if he was her sworn enemy...
xxx
As Kahlan was finishing her breakfast, Richard was again trying to pull forth the truth locked deep inside her, "How is it that you and Greer are to be married?"
"Why is it the Lord Rahl is concerned with a local woman's engagement?"
Richard leaned in, propping an elbow on his knee, "The Seeker has many concerns." He didn't want her to think of him as Lord Rahl, but no matter how many times he asked her to call him Richard, she refused.
Hesitant to talk with him at first, Kahlan finally admitted that it was hazy to her. She was sure once she fully recovered it would all become clear. She seemed to remember that it had been arranged since they were quite young. It was as if they had always been promised to each another.
"Do you love him?" Richard surprised even himself with his question and quickly looked away. He didn't want to know the answer. If she said yes, even if it was a magically induced belief, it would crush him.
Kahlan was confused by his manner, not only that he would take such an interest, but that he truly seemed to care. Something in his eyes, whenever he looked at her, made her uneasy. He seemed to be searching her, probing her with his gaze. She found it unsettling. And exciting.
"I have fond memories." She said quietly. She didn't wish to say anything more.
Again Richard wondered what memories had been given to her regarding Greer. Did she actually believe she loved him? On the eve of battle when they attacked Aydindril had she sought comfort in his kiss? Richard found he was staring at the collar around her neck his anger simmering within. With the Rada' Han, she was as free as any woman to be with a man if she so chose.
Abruptly, he pushed to his feet and walked to the window, casting his gaze to the mountains beyond. Keeping his back to her, he blinked back tears. "You must miss him." His voice was rough, he didn't trust it to say anything more.
"I'd like to see him." She hadn't said she missed him and for that, he was grateful.
xxx