Forfeit, Chp. 9
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 9
Sister Villica lay in a pool of blood, a dacra stuck in her heart. Sister Alessandra stood over her absorbing the last of her Han, feeling the rush of energy from its power. Villica only got in her way. The only reason she'd brought her into her plan was for the strength of their combined Han. She had hoped Villica would prove useful in other ways, but her latest mistake had sealed her fate. She was supposed to ensure that if they didn't have the Mother Confessor it was because she was killed in battle. Instead, the Seeker had ridden with her to saffety on his horse. With her increased Han, Alessandra could take the Keep without Villica's help. She still had an army of townspeople at her disposal.
xxx
Despite how it had ended, Richard's heart felt light at having held Kahlan the night before. He hadn't wanted their kiss to end and it had been hard for him to leave, but he'd never forgive himself if his own selfish desire pushed her away from him forever. He knew her perceived connection to Greer had stopped her and he did as she asked. It was one of the most difficult things he'd ever done; quietly showing himself from the room and leaving her there alone. But he'd been able to hold her, however briefly, and his spirits were lifted in knowing that even under the spell's magic, without knowing who she truly was, or all they meant to each other, she still cared for him.
Richard greeted the guard just outside her room. Having sent Cara to get some much needed rest when he and Kahlan studied the book, he'd posted Derrick to stand guard at her door when he'd left for the night. He realized something wasn't right the moment he stepped inside. The bed was disheveled, the sheets stripped from it. The long drapes that hung from the high ceiling to the floor were no longer in place. The balcony door stood ajar. Richard felt his heart rise up in his throat. He knew in an instant: Kahlan was gone.
xxx
Kahlan had made her way down the precariously high balcony, holding her breath until she was safely on the ground. In the middle of the night there was barely a soul around and she'd taken a horse tied to a hitching post, quietly making her escape. Once outside the city walls she rode like mad for Glenmore. Only then did she allow the tears to fall. She wept furious, choking sobs as she fled, the hot tears stinging her eyes and blinding her vision.
She wanted to put as much distance as possible between her and Aydindril. She hoped by returning to Glenmore she could seek help to free Greer. She once more felt the loneliness rising up inside her. The pain was almost too much to bear. She knew the real reason she needed to get away: The ache of that loneliness had only been banished when she was in the arms of Lord Rahl; arms that had held her to him in an iron grip, as if he would never her let go. As passionately as she had kissed him, he had kissed her. She'd felt his hunger for her raging under the surface. She knew he had been holding back and trembled with the thought. She couldn't imagine that intensity unleashed. She had to get as far away from him as she could. Her horse lathered at the mouth as she pushed harder through the night.
xxx
Richard didn't hesitate. Finding Kahlan gone, he went running, calling to Derrick to have the wizard and Cara meet him at the stables. He headed first for the library as fast as his legs would take him.
xxx
Zedd once again called down the wizard's rain. The torrential downpour falling on the green flames of the evil pyre had no affect. It didn't even steam or hiss. It was as if no rain fell on the blaze at all. He turned toward Richard and Cara who stood a short distance back watching him as he tried to work his magic. "It's no use Richard. The dark power of the Underworld feeds this fire. My magic has no effect."
Richard had been full of hope when he'd gone to see Tess and was able to understand the Nightwisp's hums. She'd told him of the Sister's ritual over the fire and where he would find it…that she had watched unseen for days from the shelter of the forest and knew they could only be up to something evil. She had gone to Aydindril in search of help.
Zedd believed once the fire was extinguished, the spell would be lifted. Richard thought it would be the fastest way to get Kahlan's memory, and more importantly at the moment, her power, back. If she was in the city of Glenmore, the Sisters might decide at any time to turn against her and she would need her power. He should have expected this. Nothing is ever easy he reminded himself.
"I'm going into Glenmore. Once I kill the Sister's, the spell will be broken."
"I don't think so." Zedd gestured toward the rift under the fire. "With this tear in the veil, the fire is drawing its strength directly from the Underworld. I believe the only way to reverse this spell will be to find the stone and seal the rift."
Richard felt the tension twisting his muscles tighter. "That could take a long time, Zedd. If I ever find it at all."
"It's our only hope, Richard."
"I'm not leaving Kahlan to them in the meantime. Zedd, you keep trying…try every spell you can think of. Let the wizard's rain fall for days if you must. Cara, you stay here and protect him…and this." Richard unhooked the Sword of Truth from his belt and laid it at Zedd's feet, then pulled off his vest and set that down as well.
Zedd grabbed his shoulder "What are you doing?"
"Everyone in the town will recognize that Sword, but only the Sisters know what I look like. I have my knife." He reached into his pack and pulled out a black tunic, much like the blue one he wore and quickly changed. It was the best he could for now. It would be enough to get in and get to Kahlan.
xxx
"Hello Sister Alessandra." Kahlan dipped her head as a sign of respect. She had arrived back in Glenmore and went at once to find the Sister. She needed her help if there was any hope in rescuing Greer.
"Kahlan! How did you escape? I'm glad you're alright." Alessandra's mind worked quickly. Having Kahlan return was more than she could have hoped for. The Seeker would come for her she knew. When he did, she would be ready for him. Having the Seeker and his friends out of Aydindril would make it that much easier to gain control of the Keep. She didn't really care about the Stone of Tears. The Keeper would win his fight with or without the stone. As long as it stayed hidden, it couldn't be used against him and with the Seeker dead, the stone would stay lost forever, all the while the cracks in the veil growing larger, the Keeper growing stronger.
Kahlan's explanation was brief, telling her just that she'd managed to get away in the dark of night.
"You must be tired. I'll arrange a room for you here, in the Ambassador's manor, not far from mine. You get some rest. We'll meet after the evening meal and devise a plan for rescuing your Greer." Alessandra couldn't care less about rescuing anyone, getting closer to the Keep was foremost in her mind.
xxx
Richard waited until nightfall to enter the town. He was quite certain no one would recognize him, but the darkness would give him added cover as he searched for Kahlan. He went to the local tavern and ordered a drink of ale. It didn't take him long to overhear the gossip: The woman in white who had been captured during battle had escaped from the evil Lord Rahl. She had returned safely to Glenmore and was given a room at the Ambassador's manor. Richard threw down a coin on the bar and made for a quick exit, his drink untouched.
As he reached the door a burly man grabbed him by the neck. "You're new around here."
The last thing Richard needed now was a fight. Angered by the interruption in his search for Kahlan, he kept his voice even. "Yes. I just arrived into town. I don't want any trouble."
The man still held Richard by the back of his neck, his fingers gripping tightly into his flesh. "You didn't finish your drink." Richard didn't think the man cared the least about weather or not he finished his drink. He was trying to start trouble, simple as that.
"I was looking for a lady friend. She's not here, so I thought I'd go see if I could find her."
"Ohh, a lady friend. Ain't no ladies come into this pub, mister. Either you're a liar or spy - which is it?"
"Neither. I told you, I'm new to town. I was just looking for-"
Richard's words were cut short by the brute slamming his head against the wall.
He didn't waste any time. With his full force Richard elbowed behind him, catching the thug in the gut. He'd hit him hard, knocking the wind out of him and he dropped the hold he had on Richard's neck.
The menace rebounded quickly with a solid punch to Richard's mouth, sending him stumbling backward against the wall. Richard pushed himself off and landed both feet solidly in the man's middle sending him crashing into a table, taking it down with him to the floor. He lay stunned on his back. Richard shoved the table aside and landed a punch directly on the brute's jaw as he still lay on the ground, the force of Richard's blow leaving him senseless.
Sure the man would cause no further trouble, Richard stood, shoulder's heaving, blood tricking from his mouth. He dabbed the back of his hand to his mouth, wiping the blood from his lips and looked around the room for signs of any more threat. No one seemed inclined to join the fight. With a final glance at the big oaf on the floor, he made his way outside.
xxx
Kahlan met with Sister Alessandra after the evening meal as planned. When she inquired of Sister Villica, Alessandra told her she'd been killed in the Battle of Aydindril. "Will they send another Sister of Light to aid you in your quest?"
"I'm afraid not. The Sister's are spread thin all over the land. It is up to us now, Kahlan to keep the Midlands free. The good people of Glenmore are willing and eager to fight for our cause, they just need guidance and leadership".
"I'm sure you're more than able to provide them with both, Sister. You were instrumental in rallying the people together, inspiring the desire in their hearts to keep the Midlands free from evil."
A cunning smile touched Alessandra's lips. "You'd make a perfect Sister, Kahlan. Perhaps you'd like to join me as a Sister in the Order?"
Something pulled at Kahlan's insides. She knew she should feel honored by the Sisters words but instead they left her unsettled. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. She thought for the moment it was best not to disagree. She gave a small smile. "Perhaps."
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 9
Sister Villica lay in a pool of blood, a dacra stuck in her heart. Sister Alessandra stood over her absorbing the last of her Han, feeling the rush of energy from its power. Villica only got in her way. The only reason she'd brought her into her plan was for the strength of their combined Han. She had hoped Villica would prove useful in other ways, but her latest mistake had sealed her fate. She was supposed to ensure that if they didn't have the Mother Confessor it was because she was killed in battle. Instead, the Seeker had ridden with her to saffety on his horse. With her increased Han, Alessandra could take the Keep without Villica's help. She still had an army of townspeople at her disposal.
xxx
Despite how it had ended, Richard's heart felt light at having held Kahlan the night before. He hadn't wanted their kiss to end and it had been hard for him to leave, but he'd never forgive himself if his own selfish desire pushed her away from him forever. He knew her perceived connection to Greer had stopped her and he did as she asked. It was one of the most difficult things he'd ever done; quietly showing himself from the room and leaving her there alone. But he'd been able to hold her, however briefly, and his spirits were lifted in knowing that even under the spell's magic, without knowing who she truly was, or all they meant to each other, she still cared for him.
Richard greeted the guard just outside her room. Having sent Cara to get some much needed rest when he and Kahlan studied the book, he'd posted Derrick to stand guard at her door when he'd left for the night. He realized something wasn't right the moment he stepped inside. The bed was disheveled, the sheets stripped from it. The long drapes that hung from the high ceiling to the floor were no longer in place. The balcony door stood ajar. Richard felt his heart rise up in his throat. He knew in an instant: Kahlan was gone.
xxx
Kahlan had made her way down the precariously high balcony, holding her breath until she was safely on the ground. In the middle of the night there was barely a soul around and she'd taken a horse tied to a hitching post, quietly making her escape. Once outside the city walls she rode like mad for Glenmore. Only then did she allow the tears to fall. She wept furious, choking sobs as she fled, the hot tears stinging her eyes and blinding her vision.
She wanted to put as much distance as possible between her and Aydindril. She hoped by returning to Glenmore she could seek help to free Greer. She once more felt the loneliness rising up inside her. The pain was almost too much to bear. She knew the real reason she needed to get away: The ache of that loneliness had only been banished when she was in the arms of Lord Rahl; arms that had held her to him in an iron grip, as if he would never her let go. As passionately as she had kissed him, he had kissed her. She'd felt his hunger for her raging under the surface. She knew he had been holding back and trembled with the thought. She couldn't imagine that intensity unleashed. She had to get as far away from him as she could. Her horse lathered at the mouth as she pushed harder through the night.
xxx
Richard didn't hesitate. Finding Kahlan gone, he went running, calling to Derrick to have the wizard and Cara meet him at the stables. He headed first for the library as fast as his legs would take him.
xxx
Zedd once again called down the wizard's rain. The torrential downpour falling on the green flames of the evil pyre had no affect. It didn't even steam or hiss. It was as if no rain fell on the blaze at all. He turned toward Richard and Cara who stood a short distance back watching him as he tried to work his magic. "It's no use Richard. The dark power of the Underworld feeds this fire. My magic has no effect."
Richard had been full of hope when he'd gone to see Tess and was able to understand the Nightwisp's hums. She'd told him of the Sister's ritual over the fire and where he would find it…that she had watched unseen for days from the shelter of the forest and knew they could only be up to something evil. She had gone to Aydindril in search of help.
Zedd believed once the fire was extinguished, the spell would be lifted. Richard thought it would be the fastest way to get Kahlan's memory, and more importantly at the moment, her power, back. If she was in the city of Glenmore, the Sisters might decide at any time to turn against her and she would need her power. He should have expected this. Nothing is ever easy he reminded himself.
"I'm going into Glenmore. Once I kill the Sister's, the spell will be broken."
"I don't think so." Zedd gestured toward the rift under the fire. "With this tear in the veil, the fire is drawing its strength directly from the Underworld. I believe the only way to reverse this spell will be to find the stone and seal the rift."
Richard felt the tension twisting his muscles tighter. "That could take a long time, Zedd. If I ever find it at all."
"It's our only hope, Richard."
"I'm not leaving Kahlan to them in the meantime. Zedd, you keep trying…try every spell you can think of. Let the wizard's rain fall for days if you must. Cara, you stay here and protect him…and this." Richard unhooked the Sword of Truth from his belt and laid it at Zedd's feet, then pulled off his vest and set that down as well.
Zedd grabbed his shoulder "What are you doing?"
"Everyone in the town will recognize that Sword, but only the Sisters know what I look like. I have my knife." He reached into his pack and pulled out a black tunic, much like the blue one he wore and quickly changed. It was the best he could for now. It would be enough to get in and get to Kahlan.
xxx
"Hello Sister Alessandra." Kahlan dipped her head as a sign of respect. She had arrived back in Glenmore and went at once to find the Sister. She needed her help if there was any hope in rescuing Greer.
"Kahlan! How did you escape? I'm glad you're alright." Alessandra's mind worked quickly. Having Kahlan return was more than she could have hoped for. The Seeker would come for her she knew. When he did, she would be ready for him. Having the Seeker and his friends out of Aydindril would make it that much easier to gain control of the Keep. She didn't really care about the Stone of Tears. The Keeper would win his fight with or without the stone. As long as it stayed hidden, it couldn't be used against him and with the Seeker dead, the stone would stay lost forever, all the while the cracks in the veil growing larger, the Keeper growing stronger.
Kahlan's explanation was brief, telling her just that she'd managed to get away in the dark of night.
"You must be tired. I'll arrange a room for you here, in the Ambassador's manor, not far from mine. You get some rest. We'll meet after the evening meal and devise a plan for rescuing your Greer." Alessandra couldn't care less about rescuing anyone, getting closer to the Keep was foremost in her mind.
xxx
Richard waited until nightfall to enter the town. He was quite certain no one would recognize him, but the darkness would give him added cover as he searched for Kahlan. He went to the local tavern and ordered a drink of ale. It didn't take him long to overhear the gossip: The woman in white who had been captured during battle had escaped from the evil Lord Rahl. She had returned safely to Glenmore and was given a room at the Ambassador's manor. Richard threw down a coin on the bar and made for a quick exit, his drink untouched.
As he reached the door a burly man grabbed him by the neck. "You're new around here."
The last thing Richard needed now was a fight. Angered by the interruption in his search for Kahlan, he kept his voice even. "Yes. I just arrived into town. I don't want any trouble."
The man still held Richard by the back of his neck, his fingers gripping tightly into his flesh. "You didn't finish your drink." Richard didn't think the man cared the least about weather or not he finished his drink. He was trying to start trouble, simple as that.
"I was looking for a lady friend. She's not here, so I thought I'd go see if I could find her."
"Ohh, a lady friend. Ain't no ladies come into this pub, mister. Either you're a liar or spy - which is it?"
"Neither. I told you, I'm new to town. I was just looking for-"
Richard's words were cut short by the brute slamming his head against the wall.
He didn't waste any time. With his full force Richard elbowed behind him, catching the thug in the gut. He'd hit him hard, knocking the wind out of him and he dropped the hold he had on Richard's neck.
The menace rebounded quickly with a solid punch to Richard's mouth, sending him stumbling backward against the wall. Richard pushed himself off and landed both feet solidly in the man's middle sending him crashing into a table, taking it down with him to the floor. He lay stunned on his back. Richard shoved the table aside and landed a punch directly on the brute's jaw as he still lay on the ground, the force of Richard's blow leaving him senseless.
Sure the man would cause no further trouble, Richard stood, shoulder's heaving, blood tricking from his mouth. He dabbed the back of his hand to his mouth, wiping the blood from his lips and looked around the room for signs of any more threat. No one seemed inclined to join the fight. With a final glance at the big oaf on the floor, he made his way outside.
xxx
Kahlan met with Sister Alessandra after the evening meal as planned. When she inquired of Sister Villica, Alessandra told her she'd been killed in the Battle of Aydindril. "Will they send another Sister of Light to aid you in your quest?"
"I'm afraid not. The Sister's are spread thin all over the land. It is up to us now, Kahlan to keep the Midlands free. The good people of Glenmore are willing and eager to fight for our cause, they just need guidance and leadership".
"I'm sure you're more than able to provide them with both, Sister. You were instrumental in rallying the people together, inspiring the desire in their hearts to keep the Midlands free from evil."
A cunning smile touched Alessandra's lips. "You'd make a perfect Sister, Kahlan. Perhaps you'd like to join me as a Sister in the Order?"
Something pulled at Kahlan's insides. She knew she should feel honored by the Sisters words but instead they left her unsettled. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. She thought for the moment it was best not to disagree. She gave a small smile. "Perhaps."
xxx