Forfeit, Chp. 7
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 7
Richard and Kahlan stood in the sun dappled gardens of the palace. He couldn't let her roam the city streets where everyone knew she was the Mother Confessor, but he also didn't want to treat her like a prisoner, locked away in her room. He'd brought her here to enjoy the sunshine of the day. He also arranged for Greer to come. As much as he didn't like it, Kahlan knew him to be someone close to her - someone she trusted. Richard hoped a visit with him would help put her at ease. He also hoped Greer's presence would stir her deep seated memories, making her realize the truth of who she was.
Cara arrived at the gardens escorting Greer. Richard watched with a heavy heart as he rushed to greet Kahlan. When he embraced her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a cheek to his. Richard swallowed past the lump in his throat, trying to quell the fury simmering within, his nostrils flaring with the pull of jealousy. He felt the sting of tears from the rage of at all that was taken from him; taken from Kahlan.
Cara watched from a short distance away. She knew this was painful for the Seeker. She'd never known anyone like him. Darken Rahl would never have allowed a woman he wanted this small bit of comfort. But she knew Richard didn't just want the Mother Confessor: he loved her. And he would do whatever it took to get her back. Cara had always thought this made him weak and vulnerable. But by the look on his face now, she knew she had been wrong. She understood now that it made him stronger than she could have ever imagined. He cast a glance in her direction, conveying without words the importance of her duty before he turned and walked away.
xxx
"Richard!" Zedd burst into the small room Richard now called his own and found him once again studying the books from the Keep. "I've been looking for you. Come with me, Kahlan has a visitor - in the Library."
"Who is it?"
xxx
Once inside the library, the soft blue glow of a Nightwisp fluttered to Richard's side.
Zedd looked nervously from the creature to Richard. "They never leave the protective cover of the forest, not unless they're on a mission such as Shar had been on. They've only ever come to Aydindril bearing messages for the Mother Confessor."
The Nightwisp hummed excitedly near Richard. "Do you know what it wants?"
Zedd shook his head, "Only the Confessors know their language."
"Zedd, if we don't know why it's here, we can't let it see Kahlan. We don't know what will be said…it could interfere with the magic."
The wisp buzzed around to the other side of them warbling as it tried to communicate.
"I agree. But the message must be of utmost importance."
Richard's eyes went wide. All at once he understood. How could he not have seen it? He clamped his hands on Zedd's shoulders. Excitement in his voice, he said "Keep it here, don't let it leave. I need some time." He couldn't believe he didn't realize it sooner. He ran through the halls of the palace, his boot strikes echoing throughout the cavernous splendor. He only hoped she trusted him enough to help him.
xxx
"Is Lord Rahl coming back?" Kahlan asked as Cara returned her to her room.
"Richard is not far, I'm sure."
Kahlan wasn't put-off by the Mord-Sith's tone. She was more interested in something else. "You call him Richard…not Lord Rahl?"
"He doesn't care for the title."
"But you're a Mord-Sith, sworn to protect him. Isn't he the Master of the Mord-Sith?"
"Richard treats me as an equal - as he does everyone. As the Seeker, he's the one chosen to carry the Sword and find the Stone, but he does it on his own terms."
"Not with a heavy hand?"
Cara's lips twisted into what Kahlan thought could almost be a smile. "I often tell him he's too easy on people. But he prefers his way."
Kahlan stepped into the solitude of her room. She wondered why she kept picturing Lord Rahl's soft brown eyes in her mind; why she found herself looking forward to seeing him; how just the mention of his name sent her stomach fluttering. She realized she'd rather be here, in the confines of her room with him quietly reading by her side than to be in the garden with Greer. She tried to push her feelings aside...reminding herself he was the enemy. He was barbaric and cruel, just as his brother had been, even worse - he had killed his own flesh and blood to gain power over D'Hara. Yet somehow, having spent time with him, the man she was getting to know didn't coincide with the man she thought him to be. Kahlan gave herself a mental shake. She was being foolish. He was a Rahl. That said enough about him.
She turned her thoughts to Greer, reminding herself that he was her betrothed. Yet something didn't seem right. When she thought of him her feelings toward him seemed pale and insignificant. She had been glad for the comfort of seeing a friend, but she felt nothing more than that. She had so looked forward to seeing him that morning, but when she did, she only felt her loneliness.
Once again she remembered the intensity of Lord Rahl's gaze whenever he looked at her and a longing within her burned. Terrified, tears sprang to her eyes as she realized what that longing was.
xxx
Richard smiled at Cara as he hurried past her into Kahlan's room. It was the first smile he'd directed at her in days. She could see he was excited about sharing something with Kahlan.
He stopped short when he entered her room. She was crying and was quickly trying to wipe away her tears. His smile left him and he took hold of her arm. His voice was soft and gentle, "What's wrong?"
Fear gripped at her heart. His touch was warm and wonderful. It terrified her. She quickly tried to think of something she could say; anything but the truth. Her wet blue eyes looked up into his. The gentleness she saw there melted her insides. "I miss Greer" she lied.
Richard was crushed. He felt his grip tighten on her arm before he forced himself to let go. His already urgent need to reverse the spell redoubled. He hoped he was one step closer to doing just that. He unclenched his jaw. "I need your help."
xxx
"Why should I help you?" Kahlan was suspicious.
"I've told you, I'm trying to help the people of the Midlands." Richard was still taken aback by her declaration but forced himself to stay focused. "I don't want to harm them. You're the only one I can turn to in this."
"How do I know you don't want to use this against the Midlands?"
"I'm not like my brother" he said. She looked doubtful.
Richard tried another approach, holding the small book out to her. "Can you read this?"
Kahlan gingerly looked through its delicate pages. "No."
"I can." He moved to stand right in front of her, his face close to hers. "It's the language of the Nightwisps written in an ancient text that only the Seeker can read. Why would the book be written so only I can read it?" He pressed on without waiting for her to answer. "A previous Seeker wrote this book, that's why. One who had learned their language- one trying to help future Seekers. I can read the words but they don't make much sense to me. It will take me weeks to learn this on my own, time we-the Midlands doesn't have. You know their language. I need your help."
Just then, Cara knocked once and poked her head in the door. "Minister Simpson is here to see you. He says it's urgent."
Richard looked torn for a moment. "Please consider it" he said to Kahlan before heading to the door.
He stood in the doorway speaking with the Minister. Richard was pretty certain Kahlan could hear their muted conversation, but Minister Simpson was aware of the situation and could be trusted not to say anything he shouldn't.
"The remaining Council members wish to send troops to Glenmore and the surrounding villages. There are still many who oppose you and are willing to take up arms against you. We think it's best to strike now, while they're still fractured from the earlier battle."
Richard pulled at his bottom lip with a thumb and finger as he weighed the matter. "Tell the members I appreciate their wise council, but I don't want to see anymore blood shed over this. Keep the forces on the ready here, within Aydindril. My grandfather and I are searching for answers. It is my hope that we will soon be able to put a stop to all of this without raising our weapons." The Minister acknowledged the order and left.
Kahlan had overheard them and her wall of opposition crumbled. Darken Rahl would slay a thousand people before letting the smallest hostility go unchecked. She was finally realizing that this Lord Rahl was nothing like his brother at all.
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 7
Richard and Kahlan stood in the sun dappled gardens of the palace. He couldn't let her roam the city streets where everyone knew she was the Mother Confessor, but he also didn't want to treat her like a prisoner, locked away in her room. He'd brought her here to enjoy the sunshine of the day. He also arranged for Greer to come. As much as he didn't like it, Kahlan knew him to be someone close to her - someone she trusted. Richard hoped a visit with him would help put her at ease. He also hoped Greer's presence would stir her deep seated memories, making her realize the truth of who she was.
Cara arrived at the gardens escorting Greer. Richard watched with a heavy heart as he rushed to greet Kahlan. When he embraced her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a cheek to his. Richard swallowed past the lump in his throat, trying to quell the fury simmering within, his nostrils flaring with the pull of jealousy. He felt the sting of tears from the rage of at all that was taken from him; taken from Kahlan.
Cara watched from a short distance away. She knew this was painful for the Seeker. She'd never known anyone like him. Darken Rahl would never have allowed a woman he wanted this small bit of comfort. But she knew Richard didn't just want the Mother Confessor: he loved her. And he would do whatever it took to get her back. Cara had always thought this made him weak and vulnerable. But by the look on his face now, she knew she had been wrong. She understood now that it made him stronger than she could have ever imagined. He cast a glance in her direction, conveying without words the importance of her duty before he turned and walked away.
xxx
"Richard!" Zedd burst into the small room Richard now called his own and found him once again studying the books from the Keep. "I've been looking for you. Come with me, Kahlan has a visitor - in the Library."
"Who is it?"
xxx
Once inside the library, the soft blue glow of a Nightwisp fluttered to Richard's side.
Zedd looked nervously from the creature to Richard. "They never leave the protective cover of the forest, not unless they're on a mission such as Shar had been on. They've only ever come to Aydindril bearing messages for the Mother Confessor."
The Nightwisp hummed excitedly near Richard. "Do you know what it wants?"
Zedd shook his head, "Only the Confessors know their language."
"Zedd, if we don't know why it's here, we can't let it see Kahlan. We don't know what will be said…it could interfere with the magic."
The wisp buzzed around to the other side of them warbling as it tried to communicate.
"I agree. But the message must be of utmost importance."
Richard's eyes went wide. All at once he understood. How could he not have seen it? He clamped his hands on Zedd's shoulders. Excitement in his voice, he said "Keep it here, don't let it leave. I need some time." He couldn't believe he didn't realize it sooner. He ran through the halls of the palace, his boot strikes echoing throughout the cavernous splendor. He only hoped she trusted him enough to help him.
xxx
"Is Lord Rahl coming back?" Kahlan asked as Cara returned her to her room.
"Richard is not far, I'm sure."
Kahlan wasn't put-off by the Mord-Sith's tone. She was more interested in something else. "You call him Richard…not Lord Rahl?"
"He doesn't care for the title."
"But you're a Mord-Sith, sworn to protect him. Isn't he the Master of the Mord-Sith?"
"Richard treats me as an equal - as he does everyone. As the Seeker, he's the one chosen to carry the Sword and find the Stone, but he does it on his own terms."
"Not with a heavy hand?"
Cara's lips twisted into what Kahlan thought could almost be a smile. "I often tell him he's too easy on people. But he prefers his way."
Kahlan stepped into the solitude of her room. She wondered why she kept picturing Lord Rahl's soft brown eyes in her mind; why she found herself looking forward to seeing him; how just the mention of his name sent her stomach fluttering. She realized she'd rather be here, in the confines of her room with him quietly reading by her side than to be in the garden with Greer. She tried to push her feelings aside...reminding herself he was the enemy. He was barbaric and cruel, just as his brother had been, even worse - he had killed his own flesh and blood to gain power over D'Hara. Yet somehow, having spent time with him, the man she was getting to know didn't coincide with the man she thought him to be. Kahlan gave herself a mental shake. She was being foolish. He was a Rahl. That said enough about him.
She turned her thoughts to Greer, reminding herself that he was her betrothed. Yet something didn't seem right. When she thought of him her feelings toward him seemed pale and insignificant. She had been glad for the comfort of seeing a friend, but she felt nothing more than that. She had so looked forward to seeing him that morning, but when she did, she only felt her loneliness.
Once again she remembered the intensity of Lord Rahl's gaze whenever he looked at her and a longing within her burned. Terrified, tears sprang to her eyes as she realized what that longing was.
xxx
Richard smiled at Cara as he hurried past her into Kahlan's room. It was the first smile he'd directed at her in days. She could see he was excited about sharing something with Kahlan.
He stopped short when he entered her room. She was crying and was quickly trying to wipe away her tears. His smile left him and he took hold of her arm. His voice was soft and gentle, "What's wrong?"
Fear gripped at her heart. His touch was warm and wonderful. It terrified her. She quickly tried to think of something she could say; anything but the truth. Her wet blue eyes looked up into his. The gentleness she saw there melted her insides. "I miss Greer" she lied.
Richard was crushed. He felt his grip tighten on her arm before he forced himself to let go. His already urgent need to reverse the spell redoubled. He hoped he was one step closer to doing just that. He unclenched his jaw. "I need your help."
xxx
"Why should I help you?" Kahlan was suspicious.
"I've told you, I'm trying to help the people of the Midlands." Richard was still taken aback by her declaration but forced himself to stay focused. "I don't want to harm them. You're the only one I can turn to in this."
"How do I know you don't want to use this against the Midlands?"
"I'm not like my brother" he said. She looked doubtful.
Richard tried another approach, holding the small book out to her. "Can you read this?"
Kahlan gingerly looked through its delicate pages. "No."
"I can." He moved to stand right in front of her, his face close to hers. "It's the language of the Nightwisps written in an ancient text that only the Seeker can read. Why would the book be written so only I can read it?" He pressed on without waiting for her to answer. "A previous Seeker wrote this book, that's why. One who had learned their language- one trying to help future Seekers. I can read the words but they don't make much sense to me. It will take me weeks to learn this on my own, time we-the Midlands doesn't have. You know their language. I need your help."
Just then, Cara knocked once and poked her head in the door. "Minister Simpson is here to see you. He says it's urgent."
Richard looked torn for a moment. "Please consider it" he said to Kahlan before heading to the door.
He stood in the doorway speaking with the Minister. Richard was pretty certain Kahlan could hear their muted conversation, but Minister Simpson was aware of the situation and could be trusted not to say anything he shouldn't.
"The remaining Council members wish to send troops to Glenmore and the surrounding villages. There are still many who oppose you and are willing to take up arms against you. We think it's best to strike now, while they're still fractured from the earlier battle."
Richard pulled at his bottom lip with a thumb and finger as he weighed the matter. "Tell the members I appreciate their wise council, but I don't want to see anymore blood shed over this. Keep the forces on the ready here, within Aydindril. My grandfather and I are searching for answers. It is my hope that we will soon be able to put a stop to all of this without raising our weapons." The Minister acknowledged the order and left.
Kahlan had overheard them and her wall of opposition crumbled. Darken Rahl would slay a thousand people before letting the smallest hostility go unchecked. She was finally realizing that this Lord Rahl was nothing like his brother at all.
xxx