A Place All Their Own: OneShot
Title: A Place All Their Own
Author: jlyncss
Characters/Pairings: Richard/Kahlan
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,130
Written for legendland challenge. Picture prompts. I choose the wooden bridge:
Begin
Kahlan tested her footing, the worn, derelict rungs of the footbridge looking far too frail for her liking. What remnants remained were caked with moss and creeping vine. With waning confidence she curled her fingers tightly around the rope rail. Maybe she could hold on long enough for rescue when the treads gave way. “Are you sure there isn’t another way around?” she asked, her voice uneasy.
Richard beckoned from the other side. She had adamantly refused to cross unless his weight was fully off the decrepit passage. “I promise you’ll be okay - you’re almost here.” He stretched out his arm in invitation. Still she didn’t move. “Trust me, it’s sturdy enough for the both of us. Do you want me to come an-?”
“No! Stay where you are. Just give me a minute.” Kahlan gave a nervous glance down the sheer granite walls to the landscape far below, the Myak river all but invisible at the bottom of the deep gorge. Banelings she could handle. Plunging through the abyss to certain death was another story. She felt the sway of the feeble span and closed her eyes. Just a little bit farther she assured herself. Delicately, she stepped over the gaping hole of missing planks, a strangle hold on the rope as her foot found purchase. It creaked, but it held. Kahlan breathed a sigh of relief, a small smile of accomplishment touching her lips. She’d made it through the hardest part.
As she neared the other side, she reached for Richard’s outstretched hand, grateful for his firm hold. Once she was on solid ground, Kahlan threw her arms around his neck, relishing the feel of his strong arms as they wrapped her up tight. Richard chuckled at her enthusiasm and pulled her from the footpath, keeping her secure against his frame, her feet barely touching the ground. He looked down into her eyes. “You’re safe now,” he said softly.
Kahlan blushed at his double meaning and at that moment she didn’t care what his reasons for coming here, it was worth it just for this.
All too soon Richard gently loosened his hold, setting her feet to the ground and taking her hand in his. “Come on, this is what I wanted you to see, ” he said, guiding her through the trees. They traveled along the edge of the gorge, cautiously making their way over a scrabble of rock and dirt, finally emerging to an expanse of panoramic vistas stretched as far as the eye could see. A patchwork of valleys and streams, brooks and rivers dotted the scenery. And there, set atop a huge rise in the valley below, right in the center of it all - a breathtaking view of Aydindril. From here they could see the walls of the city reflecting endless shades of vermillion in the waning sun. A whirl of wind swept the clearing at the edge of the cliff, swirling Kahlan’s hair and dress. She held the errant strands behind her ear, keeping her vision clear. Richard thought she’d never looked so beautiful in his life; happy and vibrant - delighted with what she saw. “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. “How did yo-”
“Hunting” he answered before she could finish. “With Cara.” He couldn’t keep the smile from his face, seeing her so pleased. “We saw the bridge while tracking some deer.”
Her eyes danced. “And you just had to explore,” she said, smiling. Richard’s heart leapt in his chest. She was even more beautiful than just a moment ago. His laugh came easy; it made him feel good that she knew him so well.
Kahlan turned again to the vast landscape. From this high perch it seemed she could see forever. Lush forest carpeted the mountains below, patches of vibrant green fields and colorful meadows scattered the countryside. As she took it all in, realization suddenly dawned on her. She scanned diligently to the west of her home city. It would surely be visible from here - if she could only pinpoint its location. Her gaze flickered from peak to peak, following every hollow between. At long last he eyes landed on what she sought. She stretched out her arm, pointing to the distant cascade of falls and the gathering pool of water below, crimson with the hues setting of the sun. “The Falls of Aldermont.”
Richard’s gaze followed her arm. He remembered her telling him how the waters, shimmering red with the shades of the sun, were said to be the glow of hearts of all the lover’s who’d kissed there. Kahlan had told him it was the most romantic place in all the Midlands.
Looking intently into Kahlan’s eyes, Richard’s expression softened. They never seemed to have time to do the things they wished to do. “I’m sorry I never got to take you there.” There was so much more he wanted to say but he couldn’t find the words.
Seeing the wistful longing in his eyes, Kahlan pushed aside the caution in her head, taking his other hand in hers so she held them both. She looked up at him from under thick lashes, hoping - knowing - the effect it would have on him. “It doesn’t matter where I am, Richard, as long as I’m with you.”
He pulled her near, circling her in his arms, glad that - at least for today - she was willing to allow it. He leaned in close, “Then I shall always be with you,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss her. Soft and warm his mouth moved over hers, Kahlan’s pliant lips more permissible than ever. And when her finger’s knotted into his hair, Richard held to her tight, kissing her like he would never stop. For a few brief moments, Kahlan returned his kiss just as eagerly before gently pulling away, her eyes conveying what words could not.
Richard smiled softly, brushing a thumb over her cheek. He understood. For that she was grateful.
They watched the day come to a quiet end, holding each other close, feeling each other’s warmth. Kahlan stayed quiet a long time, not wanting to break the magical spell that seemed to hold them in a soft embrace. Not until twinkling stars began to dot the sky did she finally whisper shyly to him. “Thank you for bringing me to the most romantic place in all the Midlands.”
Richard caressed her cheek with his thumb. “Almost anyway…we didn’t quite make it.”
“Yes we did” she said softly and she smiled her special smile. He should have known she’d feel the same as he... The Falls of Aldermont might be the place of countless lovers, but this ridge, high above the lands, accessible only by a fading, narrow footbridge - this was the place forever their own.
End
Author: jlyncss
Characters/Pairings: Richard/Kahlan
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,130
Written for legendland challenge. Picture prompts. I choose the wooden bridge:
Begin
Kahlan tested her footing, the worn, derelict rungs of the footbridge looking far too frail for her liking. What remnants remained were caked with moss and creeping vine. With waning confidence she curled her fingers tightly around the rope rail. Maybe she could hold on long enough for rescue when the treads gave way. “Are you sure there isn’t another way around?” she asked, her voice uneasy.
Richard beckoned from the other side. She had adamantly refused to cross unless his weight was fully off the decrepit passage. “I promise you’ll be okay - you’re almost here.” He stretched out his arm in invitation. Still she didn’t move. “Trust me, it’s sturdy enough for the both of us. Do you want me to come an-?”
“No! Stay where you are. Just give me a minute.” Kahlan gave a nervous glance down the sheer granite walls to the landscape far below, the Myak river all but invisible at the bottom of the deep gorge. Banelings she could handle. Plunging through the abyss to certain death was another story. She felt the sway of the feeble span and closed her eyes. Just a little bit farther she assured herself. Delicately, she stepped over the gaping hole of missing planks, a strangle hold on the rope as her foot found purchase. It creaked, but it held. Kahlan breathed a sigh of relief, a small smile of accomplishment touching her lips. She’d made it through the hardest part.
As she neared the other side, she reached for Richard’s outstretched hand, grateful for his firm hold. Once she was on solid ground, Kahlan threw her arms around his neck, relishing the feel of his strong arms as they wrapped her up tight. Richard chuckled at her enthusiasm and pulled her from the footpath, keeping her secure against his frame, her feet barely touching the ground. He looked down into her eyes. “You’re safe now,” he said softly.
Kahlan blushed at his double meaning and at that moment she didn’t care what his reasons for coming here, it was worth it just for this.
All too soon Richard gently loosened his hold, setting her feet to the ground and taking her hand in his. “Come on, this is what I wanted you to see, ” he said, guiding her through the trees. They traveled along the edge of the gorge, cautiously making their way over a scrabble of rock and dirt, finally emerging to an expanse of panoramic vistas stretched as far as the eye could see. A patchwork of valleys and streams, brooks and rivers dotted the scenery. And there, set atop a huge rise in the valley below, right in the center of it all - a breathtaking view of Aydindril. From here they could see the walls of the city reflecting endless shades of vermillion in the waning sun. A whirl of wind swept the clearing at the edge of the cliff, swirling Kahlan’s hair and dress. She held the errant strands behind her ear, keeping her vision clear. Richard thought she’d never looked so beautiful in his life; happy and vibrant - delighted with what she saw. “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. “How did yo-”
“Hunting” he answered before she could finish. “With Cara.” He couldn’t keep the smile from his face, seeing her so pleased. “We saw the bridge while tracking some deer.”
Her eyes danced. “And you just had to explore,” she said, smiling. Richard’s heart leapt in his chest. She was even more beautiful than just a moment ago. His laugh came easy; it made him feel good that she knew him so well.
Kahlan turned again to the vast landscape. From this high perch it seemed she could see forever. Lush forest carpeted the mountains below, patches of vibrant green fields and colorful meadows scattered the countryside. As she took it all in, realization suddenly dawned on her. She scanned diligently to the west of her home city. It would surely be visible from here - if she could only pinpoint its location. Her gaze flickered from peak to peak, following every hollow between. At long last he eyes landed on what she sought. She stretched out her arm, pointing to the distant cascade of falls and the gathering pool of water below, crimson with the hues setting of the sun. “The Falls of Aldermont.”
Richard’s gaze followed her arm. He remembered her telling him how the waters, shimmering red with the shades of the sun, were said to be the glow of hearts of all the lover’s who’d kissed there. Kahlan had told him it was the most romantic place in all the Midlands.
Looking intently into Kahlan’s eyes, Richard’s expression softened. They never seemed to have time to do the things they wished to do. “I’m sorry I never got to take you there.” There was so much more he wanted to say but he couldn’t find the words.
Seeing the wistful longing in his eyes, Kahlan pushed aside the caution in her head, taking his other hand in hers so she held them both. She looked up at him from under thick lashes, hoping - knowing - the effect it would have on him. “It doesn’t matter where I am, Richard, as long as I’m with you.”
He pulled her near, circling her in his arms, glad that - at least for today - she was willing to allow it. He leaned in close, “Then I shall always be with you,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss her. Soft and warm his mouth moved over hers, Kahlan’s pliant lips more permissible than ever. And when her finger’s knotted into his hair, Richard held to her tight, kissing her like he would never stop. For a few brief moments, Kahlan returned his kiss just as eagerly before gently pulling away, her eyes conveying what words could not.
Richard smiled softly, brushing a thumb over her cheek. He understood. For that she was grateful.
They watched the day come to a quiet end, holding each other close, feeling each other’s warmth. Kahlan stayed quiet a long time, not wanting to break the magical spell that seemed to hold them in a soft embrace. Not until twinkling stars began to dot the sky did she finally whisper shyly to him. “Thank you for bringing me to the most romantic place in all the Midlands.”
Richard caressed her cheek with his thumb. “Almost anyway…we didn’t quite make it.”
“Yes we did” she said softly and she smiled her special smile. He should have known she’d feel the same as he... The Falls of Aldermont might be the place of countless lovers, but this ridge, high above the lands, accessible only by a fading, narrow footbridge - this was the place forever their own.
End