Call of the Underworld, Chp. 5
Title: Call of the Underworld
Author: JlynCSS
Pairings: Richard/Kahlan
Rating: R
Summary: Part 2 of The Guardian series. Kahlan falls victim to the Keeper's plan when she willingly takes the Mark from Richard.
Chapter 5
In the library of the palace, Kahlan and Cara were helping Richard and Zedd sift through numerous books the wizard had pulled from the Keep. It had been many years since he'd been there, but he knew where the volumes pertaining to the Stone of Tears were kept. He hoped they would shed some light on their quest to find it. He had been pouring over them since his arrival.
But Kahlan was finding it hard to concentrate on the books she'd been given. She kept thinking of the look on Richard's face when she'd told him what she'd done. He'd known immediately when he'd seen the mark on her and had struggled through his tears when she confirmed it. "Why, Kahlan?" The agony she's seen in his eyes tore at her heart. She'd held his face tenderly in her hands, "I couldn't bear the thought of you suffering at the hands of the Keeper." Despair overtook his features. He dug his fingers deep into her shoulders, "How do I bear it Kahlan?" How do I - " unable to continue, he pulled her tight against him burying his face in her hair, shuddering in her arms. He knew there were nightmares he couldn't even begin to imagine that the Keeper would inflict upon her.
So great was his fear for her, he wouldn't let her out of his sight. She went no where without him, nor he without her. They were together now, searching for help in the books from the Wizard's Keep.
Richard had several of the books that were in the text only the Seeker could read. He pulled the oil lamp he and Zedd shared a little closer. He, too, was finding it difficult to concentrate: filled with dread at the idea that all Rahl need do is call Kahlan and she would be gone. How did he fight that? His only hope was to seal the rift before that happened.
Seeing the imprint of Rahl's lips on Kahlan's skin not only filled him with fear, it filled him with rage. As angry as he was that Kahlan would sacrifice herself for him, he understood it. He would do the same for her. How could he expect her love to be any less? Still, if one of them was destined to suffer eternity at the hands of the Keeper, it would not be her. Determined, he went back to studying the book.
Richard closed his book and looked up at Zedd. Speaking quietly to him he shot a glance at Kahlan and Cara ensuring they were out of earshot.
"How is it possible Zedd…having Rahl's child? He's dead."
"The Keeper is very powerful, Richard. While the veil is torn he is capable of great destruction." He kept his voice low, "She willingly took the mark. She can be called to the Underworld at anytime. It's possible he would send her back as a Baneling until the child is born."
His words were unthinkable to Richard. He rubbed his temples with his fingers, trying to relieve some of the tension. He had to find a way to stop this, to undo what had been done. It didn't seem like it could get any worse…but he knew it could. Much worse.
Zedd went on, "Once the child is born, he can call her back to the Underworld again. I don't know much about the dark spirits, but I have no doubt, while she bears the mark and the veil is torn, if the Keeper wants her to bear Rahl's, offspring, she will. We must find the Stone."
Richard's eyes once more fell on Kahlan. She was his life. The very thought of her at the hands of Rahl, or worse, the Keeper, reignited the anger he had felt at Shota's vision. Slowly it started to creep back into him. He'd never felt anger like that before. He'd been mad with rage. Maybe Shota was right. Maybe he needed to see the vision. He had no doubt, had the Keeper himself been there when he'd broken free of Shota's magic and smashed the stone water basin, he could have killed him with his bare hands.
---
With a gentle rub of his shoulder's Kahlan encouraged Richard to come to bed. They had retired to her room so she could get some rest, while he continued reading. Zedd and Cara had rooms right near Kahlan's and had gone to bed just a short while ago. He pulled her hand to his lips and gave it a kiss. "You go ahead, I want to finish this part, it's about the pendant and I think it could be helpful. I'll come soon."
Kahlan kissed the top of his head and lay down on the bed. Her eyes drifting closed as she watched him read.
Richard finally climbed onto bed next to Kahlan, pulling a blanket over them and holding her close to him. She stirred and rolled to face him, putting a hand to his cheek. "I'm glad you're here."
He leaned in to give her a gentle kiss, "Me t-"
"Come to me, Kahlan." The haunting words echoed through the chamber.
Icy fingers of fear gripped Richard's heart. His first instinct at hearing Rahl's voice was to hold tightly to Kahlan. His eyes darted about the room searching for the threat. He could hear Rahl, but he couldn't see him.
Kahlan, in nearly a trancelike state, moved to get up.
"NO!" Richard franticly gripped her tighter.
An eerie luminescence filled the far corner of the room, the green haze slowly revealing Darken Rahl. His eyes were intent on the Confessor. "Come to me Kahlan," his voice hard with conviction.
Kahlan pulled emotionless from Richard's grip as he grappled to keep hold of her. "Zedd! Cara!" he called desperate for help.
"It's no use brother. You have lost what you treasure most." A thin smile came to his lips. "And I have won."
The wizard and Mord'Sith rushed into the room just in time to see Rahl vanish in a haze of green mist. The very same instant, Kahlan fell lifeless into Richard's arms.
xxx
Author: JlynCSS
Pairings: Richard/Kahlan
Rating: R
Summary: Part 2 of The Guardian series. Kahlan falls victim to the Keeper's plan when she willingly takes the Mark from Richard.
Chapter 5
In the library of the palace, Kahlan and Cara were helping Richard and Zedd sift through numerous books the wizard had pulled from the Keep. It had been many years since he'd been there, but he knew where the volumes pertaining to the Stone of Tears were kept. He hoped they would shed some light on their quest to find it. He had been pouring over them since his arrival.
But Kahlan was finding it hard to concentrate on the books she'd been given. She kept thinking of the look on Richard's face when she'd told him what she'd done. He'd known immediately when he'd seen the mark on her and had struggled through his tears when she confirmed it. "Why, Kahlan?" The agony she's seen in his eyes tore at her heart. She'd held his face tenderly in her hands, "I couldn't bear the thought of you suffering at the hands of the Keeper." Despair overtook his features. He dug his fingers deep into her shoulders, "How do I bear it Kahlan?" How do I - " unable to continue, he pulled her tight against him burying his face in her hair, shuddering in her arms. He knew there were nightmares he couldn't even begin to imagine that the Keeper would inflict upon her.
So great was his fear for her, he wouldn't let her out of his sight. She went no where without him, nor he without her. They were together now, searching for help in the books from the Wizard's Keep.
Richard had several of the books that were in the text only the Seeker could read. He pulled the oil lamp he and Zedd shared a little closer. He, too, was finding it difficult to concentrate: filled with dread at the idea that all Rahl need do is call Kahlan and she would be gone. How did he fight that? His only hope was to seal the rift before that happened.
Seeing the imprint of Rahl's lips on Kahlan's skin not only filled him with fear, it filled him with rage. As angry as he was that Kahlan would sacrifice herself for him, he understood it. He would do the same for her. How could he expect her love to be any less? Still, if one of them was destined to suffer eternity at the hands of the Keeper, it would not be her. Determined, he went back to studying the book.
Richard closed his book and looked up at Zedd. Speaking quietly to him he shot a glance at Kahlan and Cara ensuring they were out of earshot.
"How is it possible Zedd…having Rahl's child? He's dead."
"The Keeper is very powerful, Richard. While the veil is torn he is capable of great destruction." He kept his voice low, "She willingly took the mark. She can be called to the Underworld at anytime. It's possible he would send her back as a Baneling until the child is born."
His words were unthinkable to Richard. He rubbed his temples with his fingers, trying to relieve some of the tension. He had to find a way to stop this, to undo what had been done. It didn't seem like it could get any worse…but he knew it could. Much worse.
Zedd went on, "Once the child is born, he can call her back to the Underworld again. I don't know much about the dark spirits, but I have no doubt, while she bears the mark and the veil is torn, if the Keeper wants her to bear Rahl's, offspring, she will. We must find the Stone."
Richard's eyes once more fell on Kahlan. She was his life. The very thought of her at the hands of Rahl, or worse, the Keeper, reignited the anger he had felt at Shota's vision. Slowly it started to creep back into him. He'd never felt anger like that before. He'd been mad with rage. Maybe Shota was right. Maybe he needed to see the vision. He had no doubt, had the Keeper himself been there when he'd broken free of Shota's magic and smashed the stone water basin, he could have killed him with his bare hands.
---
With a gentle rub of his shoulder's Kahlan encouraged Richard to come to bed. They had retired to her room so she could get some rest, while he continued reading. Zedd and Cara had rooms right near Kahlan's and had gone to bed just a short while ago. He pulled her hand to his lips and gave it a kiss. "You go ahead, I want to finish this part, it's about the pendant and I think it could be helpful. I'll come soon."
Kahlan kissed the top of his head and lay down on the bed. Her eyes drifting closed as she watched him read.
Richard finally climbed onto bed next to Kahlan, pulling a blanket over them and holding her close to him. She stirred and rolled to face him, putting a hand to his cheek. "I'm glad you're here."
He leaned in to give her a gentle kiss, "Me t-"
"Come to me, Kahlan." The haunting words echoed through the chamber.
Icy fingers of fear gripped Richard's heart. His first instinct at hearing Rahl's voice was to hold tightly to Kahlan. His eyes darted about the room searching for the threat. He could hear Rahl, but he couldn't see him.
Kahlan, in nearly a trancelike state, moved to get up.
"NO!" Richard franticly gripped her tighter.
An eerie luminescence filled the far corner of the room, the green haze slowly revealing Darken Rahl. His eyes were intent on the Confessor. "Come to me Kahlan," his voice hard with conviction.
Kahlan pulled emotionless from Richard's grip as he grappled to keep hold of her. "Zedd! Cara!" he called desperate for help.
"It's no use brother. You have lost what you treasure most." A thin smile came to his lips. "And I have won."
The wizard and Mord'Sith rushed into the room just in time to see Rahl vanish in a haze of green mist. The very same instant, Kahlan fell lifeless into Richard's arms.
xxx