Fic: LotS/Assassin's Creed crossover (Cara/Kahlan) Part 3
Fandoms: Legend of the Seeker/ Assassin's Creed (Brotherhood)
Author: raug_moss
Pairings: Cara/Kahlan
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: None
Summary: After Kahlan discovers that Cara is a Borgia, they each have to find a way to deal with the new revelations. While Kahlan tries to get past her confusion and anger, Cara sets out on a suicide mission to kill Cesare. The Assassins eventually decide to attack the Borgia and Kahlan and Cara are reunited. In a dangerous and bloody battle they both have to fear for their lives.
Chapters 1-8 Chapters 9-13
Chapter 14 - Past Transgressions
Cara could only stare at Kahlan.
There was so much anger in the brunette's features. The blood that covered half of her face made those sapphire eyes glow in the semi-darkness of Cara's room.
But the blonde wasn't afraid. The situation excited her more than it scared her. She was naked in a bath tub, a dagger was at her throat and dozens of apprentices, as well as Machiavelli, were probably going to come rushing in at any moment.
She understood Kahlan's anger and that is why she tried to remain calm. She would've done the same, had it been the other way around.
Cara only flinched when the word 'Borgia' left Kahlan's mouth, and she was immediately brought back to the situation at hand.
This was not some game. Her shoulders slumped as green eyes met blue ones.
“Don't you think, that if I wanted to betray you to the Borgia, I would've already done it?” she whispered, trying not to move too much because the blade was still cutting into her skin.
She slowly lifted a hand and tried to push the dagger away, but Kahlan's thirst for retaliation was overruling her reason.
“Just because I belong to a family by blood, doesn't mean that I belong to them by heart” Cara continued. “I always fought against the Borgia, and I always will. I did not want them to recognize me, so I covered my face. It was never my intention to harm the Brotherhood or you.”
Kahlan still stared her down without betraying any emotion, so Cara had to do something to get the brunette out of her anger induced haze. With an unexpected movement she grabbed her friend and at the same time pushed the dagger away from her throat.
Twisting her body in a feline way she dragged Kahlan into the water and settled on top of her. Water was pushed out of the tub and covered the floor around them.
Cara had Kahlan safely pinned beneath her and the dagger, twisted out of her hand, landed next to the mask on the floor.
“My father was a Borgia. In fact he was the brother of our soon-to-be pope Rodrigo Borgia” Cara went on, as if she wasn't holding a struggling Kahlan down. “I did spend time with Cesare when I was a little girl, but we were children. How could I have known what it meant to be a Borgia? The dead man in the baths, he was responsible for Cesare and me, when we were little.”
Cara looked deeply into Kahlan's eyes. The brunette suddenly held still. It was as if they were frozen in this moment, giving Cara just enough time, to explain her past.
“Even if Cesare dies, it will not change who I am. Don't judge me because of the name I was born with. The Brotherhood is more of a family to me than the people I'm related to. But it is obvious to me, that I cannot stay here any longer. So I will leave, and you will not see me again.”
Cara thought it best if she simply left. Her death would not have any purpose here, so if she was to leave this earth she would at least try to take Cesare with her.
She quickly pushed herself up and climbed out of the tub. Pulling on her linen shirt and trousers she turned around, just as Kahlan was about to leave the tub as well. She stepped closer to her and shoved her friend back into the water.
When Kahlan emerged, she leaned down and kissed her. Their lips pressed together and Cara tried to savor the feel and taste. She allowed herself to give in to that pleasure one last time.
With a small growl Kahlan grabbed the blonde and pushed her away. So many conflicting emotions were racing through her head she was beginning to feel dizzy.
Just as she finally climbed out of the tub, Niccolo skidded into the room. He looked around with wide eyes and disheveled hair. “What is this smell?” was the first thing he said.
Kahlan scowled at him and she was looking more like Catarina than ever before.
The wet wolfskin around her shoulders was indeed emanating a rather unpleasant smell, so she simply shrugged out of it, still glaring at Niccolo.
“What happened to you?” he asked carefully.
“I was hunting a wolf, and guess what I've found...” She produced a letter, with the broken seal of the Borgia on it. “A secret message for the Pope in person. It says, in here, that the niece of Rodrigo Borgia has found shelter within the Brotherhood...” Kahlan's eyes darted over to Cara.
“And they seem to think that this is the perfect opportunity to bring us down, once and for all.”
When Niccolo only shuffled a little and lowered his gaze, Kahlan dropped the letter as if burned.
“You knew!” she hissed. “You knew it all along, and you didn't think it necessary to tell me?”
Cara was only standing there, watching the events unfold in front of her eyes.
“I only suspected” Niccolo responded, uncharacteristically meek.
Kahlan cried out in frustration. She clenched her fists, and with one last glance at Cara, picked up her dagger and stormed out of the room. She couldn't take it. There was just too much going on, and her insides were feeling like she was about to break apart.
Some apprentices had awoken, and were jumping out of the way as Kahlan ran past them. She made her way through the corridors of the headquarters to the tower. The door to the roof opened, slamming against the wall, and Kahlan looked up at the star filled night sky.
It was a beautiful warm night. From where she stood, she could overlook almost all of Rome, and suddenly she felt how all of her anger and despair drained away.
The dark water, deep beneath her, glistened invitingly in the moonlight. Usually an apprentice would perform the Leap of Faith from this tower when they reached the rank of Assassin, but Kahlan could already feel the cold water down below enveloping her. She needed this.
“Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.”
She spread her arms and closed her eyes, while leaning slightly forward.
...
Chapter 15 - Aftermath
Cara quietly closed the door after Kahlan had left. It was obvious that she and Niccolo needed to talk.
“Now that everyone knows, I think it is best if I leave the Brotherhood - if you let me” she began.
Niccolo nodded.
Cara then began to dress. She put on her boots and cloak, but left her bracers with the integrated hidden blades behind. Instead she opened a chest that stood in one corner of her room, and produced a beautifully crafted sword. It had belonged to her brother, just like the mask. “I never meant for any of that to happen” she said as she sheathed the sword and fastened it to her belt.
“I know” Niccolo replied. “I'll figure something out. Please don't do anything you'll regret later.”
Cara only smirked. She had her mind set - there was nothing anyone could do now, to stop her from going after Cesare.
The blonde knelt down and picked up the black mask that was still on the floor. She regarded it thoughtfully, realizing that it would end how it had begun - with her being all alone.
The older man looked at Cara with sad and tired eyes. The blonde only nodded curtly, rose and then excited the room, leaving Niccolo to contemplate his next steps.
Cara tiptoed through the corridors, trying to find Kahlan. Even though she was planning on leaving once and for all, she couldn't just go without saying anything. She owed Kahlan one last apology. It was her, after all, who had kept a secret so horrible, that it eventually had destroyed their friendship.
It took quite a while until she climbed up to the tower. She had almost given up on finding the brunette when she spotted her sitting on the little protruding platform, soaking wet.
She quietly joined Kahlan.
It hurt her that the brunette did not even care to look at her.
“I'm going to leave” she whispered. When there was no response she sighed. “I will look for Cesare.”
Still nothing.
“I'm not welcome here any longer, but I want you to know that it pains me to... leave you. And just because I carry this name, I lose everything I have ever cared for.”
When Kahlan still did not react, Cara felt her anger rising. She was pouring out her heart to the brunette, and Kahlan seemed to ignore her!
With quite an amount of strength she broke the mask, which she was still holding, in half. She dropped one piece to the ground, and put the other onto her face.
There was no need to cover her entire face anymore. And she also liked imagery, the broken mask conjured. She was just as broken inside.
Looking one last time at Kahlan's emotionless gaze, she turned around and climbed onto a roof nearby. She would be looking for Cesare at the Castel Sant'Angelo, but she needed to prepare first.
Meanwhile Kahlan was still reclining on the small platform. Her eyes wandered over to the broken mask.
When she'd jumped from the tower, the cold water had not only washed the blood out of her clothing, it had also helped to calm her racing thoughts. On her way back up, she’d had plenty of time to think about what she was going to do next.
She also knew that if she would've reacted to Cara's words only moments ago, she would've destroyed the little bit of resolve she'd gathered.
It was best if the blonde left the Brotherhood for a while. The others would've been suspicious once they found out that a Borgia was among them.
She had wanted nothing more than to take Cara into her arms, and beg her to stay, but she knew that they had to handle things by themselves for a while.
The anger was still seething under the surface of her calm features, so she simply let Cara leave.
Suddenly someone stood by her side and picked up the broken mask. Ezio always seemed to manage to appear out of nowhere, and in the beginning it had scared Kahlan to death, but now she only looked up at him with sad eyes.
He thoughtfully turned the half of the mask in his hand.
“I don't think she ever meant to betray the Brotherhood, or you” he said. Kahlan nodded.
“But she could've told me. She should have! I am her friend.”
Even though Kahlan was angry at Cara, she knew that she could never hate the blonde. They’d shared too much and become too close for that. It was as if anger and distrust were wrapped around her heart, but the love for Cara, she felt deep inside, would not die.
Ezio smiled, crouching down next to her. “She had her reasons. We all have our reasons to keep certain things secret.”
Kahlan sighed. She knew all of this, and she would do everything she could to get her friend back. Her heart and her mind were not necessarily on the same page on how, but both wanted Cara.
“She is after Cesare. I'm worried” Kahlan then said.
“We'll do everything to keep her safe, she is an Assassin after all” Ezio replied, placing a hand on Kahlan's shoulder. The brunette finally smiled a little.
“But now I would really like to know what happened to you down in the catacombs. Niccolo seemed rather worried.”
Kahlan looked up at her mentor. “Well uhm... I was following that wolfman, and once I reached a large vault I was suddenly surrounded by them. I could have sworn I saw one or two real wolves too... Anyways, these men actually call themselves Followers of Romolus, you know just like in the legend where Romolus had supposedly been raised by a wolf. Their leader had decided to work for Cesare and that is why they were involved in Borgia affairs. They attacked me, I fought them and by chance killed their leader right in the beginning. Suddenly they knelt down and awaited my orders. For some reason I had become their new pack leader.”
Kahlan looked rather miserable as she told Ezio about her newly acquired position.
“So they gave me that dagger and the black pelt. I told them to stay in the catacombs until I needed them. I suppose we can use every kind of support we can get, once we make a move against Cesare.”
Ezio nodded in agreement. “I'm very proud of you Kahlan. You handled yourself well. I think it is time that we complete your training.”
Widened blue eyes looked at a smirking Ezio.
...
Chapter 16 - Royal Raid
“She's on her way.”
Kahlan nodded and dismissed the young apprentice who'd approached her only moments ago. She inhaled deeply and turned around. Ezio, Catarina and Niccolo were looking at her with serious faces.
“I'll make sure they stay off your back” Ezio offered. Kahlan smiled briefly. Catarina pulled her niece into a quick hug. “Get your girl back” she whispered into Kahlan's ear. The brunette couldn't help but chuckle. Niccolo briefly patted her shoulder, and then the four of them parted.
Kahlan put the broken black mask onto her face and knowing that Cara was wearing the other half, gave her feeling of warmth and strength.
It was time to deliver a final blow to Cesare's influence over Rome.
Some of the apprentices had tried to keep an eye on Cara while the blonde had prepared for battle, and on this very night she seemingly had decided to set things in motion.
Kahlan would make sure that her friend would stay alive during all of this, hoping that they could eventually work through everything.
During the last couple of days she had realized how much she missed the blonde.
Inhaling deeply Kahlan left the room she'd been staying in and joined the apprentices in the great hall.
“You all know what you have to do?” she asked. They nodded.
“Good. Let's go down into the catacombs then.”
It was already past nightfall.
Kahlan pulled the hood of her white assassin outfit into place and left the headquarters.
Ezio had made her a full member of the Order only yesterday. The ceremony had been brief, but very impressive. While Ezio had recited the Creed, he had branded her left ring finger. With Niccolo agreeing, she had refrained from performing the Leap of Faith, which was usually a part of the ceremony. Because she'd already done it two nights ago when anger had been fueling her actions, there had been no need to repeat it. The Leap of Faith wasn't about jumping from the tower anyway. It was more about the mental change in a person and their determination.
And Kahlan was more determined to kill Cesare, than anyone else.
So she had become one of the youngest Assassins, ever to join the Brotherhood.
Kahlan and the apprentices climbed down into catacombs and moved like shadows through the dimly lit moist corridors. Sometime during their little odyssey the Followers of Romolus joined them.
They would hit Cesare and his men with full force.
While Cara moved through the streets and over rooftops, Kahlan now had the catacombs at her disposal.
When they finally reemerged from the underground in the Vaticano District, they fanned out and killed every Borgia guard they encountered.
“Tonight Rome will be painted with Borgia blood” - as Ezio had so nicely described it.
Meanwhile Cara had thought of a rather tactical approach. She'd stolen a guard's uniform and was now entering the Castel Sant'Angelo through the main gate.
She still remembered where most of the corridors would lead her and she was determined to find Cesare before anyone else did.
Most guards ignored her, and even if they cared to look in her direction, then it was too dark to actually make out her features.
She overheard a conversation, telling her that Cesare was currently in the unroofed gardens of the south wing.
It didn’t take long until she reached the gardens. Hiding in the shadows she watched Cesare. He was talking to a few men, and soon grew angry. Veins were bulging on his forehead, and the men cringed like scared children when he screamed at them.
It didn’t matter what they were talking about, or who those men were. Nothing really mattered anymore.
Cara waited. She was so close to the man she hated most, and she would kill him - whatever the cost. He was a danger for every Roman citizen.
When the men finally left, Cara stepped out of the shadows, facing Cesare - her own cousin.
He turned around at the interruption and his dark eyes widened, as he saw who was standing before him.
“Cesare” she growled.
“Cara” he replied, raising his eyebrows. “I thought you were dead.” A small smile played around his lips, clearly displaying his kinship with the blonde apprentice.
“Well, it seems like your father does not tell you everything. Rodrigo knows that I’m not dead, and by sending him your corpse I will show him just how very alive I am.”
Cara had been too focused on Cesare to notice the Borgia guards that had snuck up on her. Suddenly two men were holding both of her arms, while a third one took her sword from her.
How could she have been so thoughtless? Cursing her own stupidity she tried to free herself and struggled, but to no avail.
Cesare stepped closer and without warning backhanded her across the face. Cara’s head snapped to the side, and her vision became blurry for a moment.
“You honestly thought you could come here, to my castle, and succeed in killing me?” he taunted. “But you’re smart I have to give you that - hiding with our worst enemies, so that we won’t find you. You used the Assassins.”
“I did not use them” Cara seethed. “They are good people. Better than you could ever dream to be!”
Cesare laughed. “It would’ve been smarter to take everything you could get from them and then leave.”
“I would never betray them!” Cara shouted glaring at him, not believing how the boy she’d once known had turned into this monster.
When Cesare drew his sword as response, Cara could honestly say that she’d never been gladder to see Kahlan. Apprentices of the Brotherhood suddenly filled the garden, coming from above just when more Borgia guards came rushing in through a large wooden door.
Kahlan jumped down from a wall, right beside Cara and killed the first guard to the blonde’s left with her sword, slicing open his stomach with one thrust.
Finally being able to move again Cara turned and smashed the other man’s kneecap with her boot. He howled in pain while the blonde jumped aside to hit the guard, who had her sword, with the side of her hand. She crushed his larynx and he sunk to his knees, his hands clutching his throat. She picked up her sword, ready to kill.
A short-lived but extremely brutal battle followed.
Cara fought back to back with Kahlan while Cesare killed a few apprentices trying to reach his cousin.
Raising his sword he was about to strike Kahlan with it when Cara turned them. The blade buried itself into her shoulder.
She gasped when it was removed and stumbled back.
“No!” Kahlan cried and a wolfman immediately positioned himself between Cara and Cesare.
Turning away Cara moved over to the door that led inside the castle and closed it with the last of her strength. She blocked it by jamming her blade in between the space of door and door frame. No more guards would be entering for a while now.
Angry shouts and knocking was heard from the inside.
Leaning her back against it, she slid down the door, while blood poured from the wound on her shoulder.
…
Chapter 17 - Reconciliation
Kahlan looked around and, seeing Cara on the ground bleeding, she turned to Cesare. He was smiling like a predator. Because Kahlan was wearing the broken mask, he did not recognize her - there was no use in adding fuel to the flames. Had he known that he was standing face to face with a Sforza he certainly would’ve been trying to rip her throat out with his bare hands.
Even though Cesare was not a virtuoso with his sword, Kahlan did not succeed in defeating him.
He was blocking her every attack, but did not manage to strike her either. The more time passed, the more exhausted Kahlan became. The muscles in her arms were beginning to ache and every time she moved it felt like she was walking through knee-deep mud.
She heard bird’s twittering and howling of wolves in the distance, knowing that Ezio and the other Assassins were closing in on the castle.
It was only a brief moment but Cesare showed weakness and looked over to Cara. Kahlan used her chance and raised her leg to kick him in the stomach. The Borgia stumbled back and landed with his back in the dust.
She raised her sword above her head, about to kill Cesare when something crashed into her body. She was flung back, and landed hard on the ground, with something heavy weighing her down.
When she looked up, light green eyes stared back at her. Blonde hair was framing the familiar features above and tickling the exposed skin of her face. For the blink of an eye she was sure that she was looking at Cara, but she realized a moment later that it was not her friend who was pinning her down.
It was Lucrezia Borgia who was getting back on her feet and hurrying over to her brother Cesare.
She was about to follow the siblings, when a door to her left opened and Borgia guards blocked her way. At the same time Ezio, Assassins and wolfmen climbed over the wall to her right and attacked them immediately.
There was no way she was getting through to Cesare and Lucrezia so she turned around and ran over to Cara. Kneeling down beside the blonde, she motioned for an apprentice and a wolfman to help her.
“Stay with me Cara” she whispered, as she helplessly watched the blood leaving her friend’s body.
The young apprentice began treating Cara’s wound, while the wolfman protected them from any attack.
“You’re wearing my mask” Cara said with a raspy voice, looking at her friend.
Kahlan smiled, cupping the blonde’s cheek with her gloved hand. “Of course I am.”
“Kahlan I…” Cara began, but the brunette silenced her with a shake of her head. There would be time to talk, later.
“Oww you’re making it worse” Cara then hissed as the apprentice wrapped bandages around her shoulder.
She pushed him away and rose to her feet.
Kahlan tried to wrap her arms around Cara, but the blonde wriggled out of her embrace.
“Go after them” she mumbled.
“I won’t leave you Cara” Kahlan replied.
“I said go after them!” She picked up her sword, balancing the tip of the blade near Kahlan’s throat. “Meet me in the thermal baths when you’re done. Now go. I’ll be fine.”
With one last worried glance Kahlan turned around. It was her duty after all.
The brunette made a swift departure, following Cesare and his sister into the night.
A new wave of Borgia guards arrived at the garden soon after.
“They went that way!” Cara screamed, pointing in the opposite direction. The guards immediately ran off, trying to protect their lord and master, not knowing that they were merely chasing phantoms.
After the fight had been carried outside the castle and everything had quieted down, Cara left the gardens. She walked slowly and carefully. Her shoulder was hurting, but she knew that the wound was not fatal.
Instead there was lightness about her heart she hadn’t felt in the last couple of days. She’d seen the worry in Kahlan’s eyes, and it felt so incredibly good to know that her well-being meant something to the brunette after everything that had happened.
Cara began to believe that the bond they’d shared was not completely severed. Maybe there was hope.
When she finally left the castle behind, she convinced the next best doctor she found - with the help of her sword- to treat her wound. He eagerly complied, cleaning the cut, putting ointments on it and wrapping a clean bandage around it.
After that she stole the horse of a man who was about to enter a house nearby. He was screaming, threatening to send Borgia guards after her, but soon realized that the only guards around, were dead.
The man fell quiet, turned, and ran as fast he could as far away as he could.
The rest of the ride was uneventful but exhausting. Cara reached the thermal baths when the night was almost over. She dragged herself to a large unroofed basin and, shedding her clothes, slid into the water. Careful not to wet the bandages around the wound, she leaned back. The burning sensation in her shoulder became a bearable throbbing and she closed her eyes.
Meanwhile Kahlan stopped her horse with a sudden pull on the reins. The animal huffed and turned around, pawing the ground with its hooves. “Should we continue following them?” someone asked.
“No.” Kahlan shook her head, taking off the mask that had covered half of her face. “There is no use in pursuing them any further. They’ve left Rome to lick their wounds, and as soon as they set foot in the city again, we will be there awaiting them.”
A victorious cry sounded in the distance, accompanied by a howl, and the apprentices around her joined in. They’d won the battle, but not the war.
Kahlan smiled, raising her sword as well.
It was a victory after all.
She gave the remaining apprentices the task to clean up their traces, and soon she was by herself again.
She spurred her horse on, feeling the need to see Cara.
Even though there were barely any emotions left after the exhausting last couple of days, she was still worried.
During her ride to the thermal baths she realized how weary and tired she was. All of her muscles were aching and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten a good night’s sleep.
Arriving and dismounting her horse in front of the baths, she groaned when she spotted blood splatters on her white assassin clothing. She hated it when that happened. Her way of killing was planned and surprising, face to face combat didn’t suit her too well.
She made them look, but they never saw her coming.
Hoping that she was done fighting for a while, she entered the baths.
Just as she went looking for Cara, she spotted the blonde how she got dressed near one of the basins. Kahlan hurried over to her friend. “Cara” she said quietly.
Green eyes looked at her.
“Cesare?”
“He escaped.”
Kahlan wasn’t exactly sure who’d moved first, but the next thing she knew was that she was holding Cara in her arms.
“I’m glad you came” the blonde said as she buried her face in Kahlan’s neck.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t apologize” Kahlan murmured, leaning back and kissing Cara’s forehead.
After they’ve held each other for a while, the blonde reluctantly stepped back.
“White looks good on you” she said smirking a little.
Kahlan looked down at herself. “I am an Assassin now.”
“I guessed as much. Kahlan… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I am. Believe me, I wanted to but…”
The brunette shook her head, silencing Cara with a gesture.
“It’s alright. We’ll sort things out in the morning. Come on, I can barely keep my eyes open.”
“Are you sure I’m still welcome at the headquarters?” Cara hesitantly asked.
“Yes, of course. The only wrong you’ve done was to be born into a family that has lost its way in a world of fame and fortune.” The brunette smiled encouragingly, taking Cara’s hand and leading her out of the baths.
Together they mounted a horse, Kahlan wrapping her arms securely around her friend’s waist. “Are you hurting?” she quietly asked.
Cara shook her head, simply enjoying the feel of Kahlan’s body. They both were too exhausted to do anything but ride homewards in silence.
Back at the headquarters, Kahlan led them wordlessly to her chambers. They undressed and slipped under the covers of the bed.
Cara wrapped an arm around the brunette’s waist and gently kissed her exposed shoulder. Kahlan snuggled into the embrace, closing her eyes.
“I’m so glad you’re here” she murmured.
Cara smiled into the darkness. “So am I.”
…
Chapter 18 - Speaking Of The Wolf
Kahlan woke with a strangled gasp. She sat up, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand.
Gentle fingers caressed the small of her back. “Are you alright?”
A small smile spread across her features, when she realized where she was and who she was with. She looked down into sleepy green eyes. “Yes I’m fine. Just a bad dream. Go back to sleep Cara.”
Suddenly a shadow moved past their window. Kahlan glanced down, and seeing that her friend was fast asleep again, climbed out of bed.
She wrapped a large satin shawl around her shoulders and stepped onto the balcony.
A huge man with wolfskin and skull was waiting for her. He had various scars on his face and arms, and he looked like he’d seen many fights.
He knelt down before her. “Mistress” he growled. His voice sounded like he’d swallowed a blade.
“You did well” she told him.
“Thank you. I’m here to tell you that the pack awaits you.”
“Now?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.
“There are certain rituals, Mistress…”
A movement behind her caused Kahlan to turn around. Cara was joining her on the balcony, eyeing the wolfman suspiciously.
With the rising sun shining down on her, her hair tousled and her pose calm, Cara was the most beautiful woman Kahlan had ever seen.
Leaning into the brunette, Cara looked warily at their visitor. “What does he want?” she asked scowling.
“He wants me to accompany him. Isn’t that right?”
The wolfman nodded. “It is important” he growled.
“Well then, wait downstairs, I’ll be joining you shortly.”
And with that he jumped over the handrail, off the balcony.
“I guess the night is officially over” Kahlan sighed, looking at Cara. She wrapped her arms around the blonde’s waist, and pulled her closer with a playful growl.
Somehow there was closeness between them, she would’ve never thought possible. It just felt so incredibly right to hold Cara, as if it was meant to be.
That Cara was a Borgia was still an issue they needed to work through and they also had to fully reestablish their trust, but for now Kahlan was as happy as can be.
“Go back to bed” she murmured, raising her hand and caressing Cara’s cheek. The blonde leaned into the touch.
“Come back soon.”
Cara closed the distance between them and gently brushed her lips over Kahlan’s. The kiss was slow and left them both wanting more when it ended. But Kahlan stepped back, groaning at the loss of Cara’s body close to her own.
“I have to go” she said and reluctantly hurried inside to get dressed.
The pitch black wolfskin around her shoulders, the dagger on her belt, and the white Assassin hood in place she left the headquarters.
While the wolfman moved through the streets, Kahlan decided to enjoy the dawn, and made her way across the housetops of Rome.
They reached the entrance to the catacombs at about the same time.
The large vault deep beneath the city was filled with gestalts and torches illuminated the place. Kahlan was led through the crowd, only to stop in front of an ancient looking altar.
Meanwhile Cara had crawled back into bed. Her shoulder needed rest, as well as her mind. She knew that Kahlan was safe with the Followers of Romolus. They were wolves after all, and Kahlan was their pack leader.
Slowly she drifted off to sleep, wishing that Kahlan was with her.
It was already past midday when the brunette Assassin finally returned to the headquarters.
She carried her clothing in a bundle, only wearing the pitch black wolfskin, because her body was completely covered with what seemed to be reddish clay. Black symbols were drawn all over her skin, making her look like some ancient goddess.
She tried to be quiet, but Cara stirred as soon as she entered the room.
“W-what happened to you?” Cara asked a little aghast as she looked at Kahlan.
“It was insane!” the brunette exclaimed, being glad she could talk to someone about it.
She sat down sideways in an armchair, letting her legs dangle over the arm.
“I’m officially leader of the pack of the Followers of Romolus. They really do believe that they descend from wolves!” Kahlan gushed.
Cara sat up, leaning her back against the headboard of the bed and regarded Kahlan with great interest, as she continued talking. Not only was the story captivating, but also the brunette’s appearance. The intricate designs on her painted skin were utterly fascinating.
Kahlan produced the dagger with the wolf head, turning it in her hands. “This is a symbol. I’m their mistress and they do whatever I tell them to do. Ezio thinks that with their help, we’ll free Rome once and for all. Great, isn’t it?”
Sighing she put the dagger aside. “Well, it’s not like I don’t have enough responsibility already.”
“You’ll do fine” Cara said, breaking the silence.
Kahlan smiled and focused on Cara. “How is your shoulder?”
“Fine… better.”
The blonde sighed. “I thought I could do it alone.”
“Do what?” Kahlan asked, while scratching her cheek. Little flakes, from the reddish clay on her skin, trickled to the ground.
“I thought that I could take down the Borgia by myself. Staying with the Assassins gave me the opportunity to prepare. I never planned on staying here, but then I met you. And it felt like… home.”
Cara regarded Kahlan intently. “I think deep down I knew that Cesare or Rodrigo would find out one day. But I wanted revenge more than anything. Revenge because they took everything I ever loved from me.”
“Why ordered Rodrigo Borgia his own brother killed?” Kahlan asked quietly. Cara’s emerald eyes were unfocused, as she remembered her past.
“We were a threat to him. My father knew secrets that would’ve stopped Rodrigo from becoming Pope. We fled to Sicily when it became clear that Rome was too dangerous. But their assassins found us.”
“I’m sorry Cara.”
The blonde shook her head. “No. I’m the one who is sorry. I should’ve told you who I am right away. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you, but some small part of me feared that if you found out, you would hate me.”
“I could never hate you Cara” Kahlan replied. “It might not have been the smartest thing to react with anger and then walk away, but I was hurt.”
“Why did you come to my aid then? Back at the castle…”
“You’re still an Assassin Cara. You should know better than that. Ezio and Niccolo would not abandon you simply because you were born as a Borgia. Neither would I.”
When Cara opened her lips to speak, Kahlan stopped her by raising her palm.
“We both had our reasons why we did certain things. Let’s leave the past behind, shall we?”
Kahlan flashed a broad smile and Cara slowly got up from the bed.
She walked over to the brunette and was immediately pulled down into her friend’s lap.
Their bodies were touching as Cara leaned down, their lips a breath apart. Kahlan’s eyes fluttered close, as she felt the blonde’s hands settle on her hips.
Grinning, the blonde raised a hand and scratched some clay from Kahlan’s collar bone , following the little reddish flakes with her eyes, as she leaned back.
“I have absolutely no idea what this stuff is” Kahlan mumbled, opening her eyes. “I think I need a bath.”
Cara raised an eyebrow. “Would you like me to join you?”
The brunette’s blue gaze darkened. “I’d like that very much.”
Just as Cara leaned closer to finally kiss Kahlan, a persistent knock sounded on the door. The blonde groaned, resting her forehead against her friend’s.
Cara then scrunched up her nose. “Do you smell that?” she asked looking around.
Kahlan’s shoulders slumped. “Are you telling me that I smell bad? Like I said I don’t know what this stuff is…”
Another knock.
Sighing, they rose and Kahlan walked over to the door. She opened it, only to find a startled apprentice looking back at her.
“T-there is… there…” the young woman stammered, staring wide eyed at Kahlan. The paint and symbols on her skin were making her look rather frightening.
Drumming her fingertips on the doorframe, Kahlan waited for the apprentice to speak.
A scowling Cara appeared behind the brunette’s shoulder. “She always looks like that” she told the shocked apprentice and slammed the door shut.
Kahlan turned to her friend, raising her eyebrows. Cara shrugged.
“The smell is coming from outside” Cara said, jerking her thumb towards the balcony.
Kahlan walked past her friend, and stepping outside, clamped a hand over mouth and nose.
Looking down she saw half a cow laying right there beneath her balcony.
Flies were already surrounding the cadaver.
“What is this?!” Cara groaned. She was obviously appalled by the torn apart cow.
Kahlan slowly shook her head. “I don’t know…”
Just then a young wolfman climbed over the handrail and knelt down before the brunette Assassin.
“I think your pets have brought you dinner…” Cara said drily.
With a sudden movement Kahlan grabbed the wolfman’s pelt and pushed him to the ground, her boot resting on his neck. She leaned down. “No dead animals in my home.” Her voice had become audibly deeper.
“You are not allowed to set foot onto the island unless I tell you to. Understood?”
The young wolfman growled. “Yes mistress.”
Stepping back, she looked down at the cow once again. “Take this cadaver away” she sighed. The wolfman did as he was told, as quickly as possible.
“They wouldn’t understand it any other way” Kahlan said, looking at Cara who’d watched the scene with interest. “That’s the way I make rules. They are no longer allowed to recruit new Followers of Romolus.”
“Good” Cara said nodding.
They walked back inside, and Kahlan opened the door once again. The young apprentice was still standing there, looking very flustered. “It’s alright. Everything is taken care of, you can leave.”
The woman released a sigh of relief and scurried away.
Cara stepped close to Kahlan, as she shut the door. Wrapping her arms around the brunette’s waist from behind, she closed her eyes. “We will never be undisturbed, will we?”
Kahlan chuckled and leaned back into her friend. “Not for a while I think.”
They stood there for a few moments, simply enjoying the closeness, until Cara retreated. “I’ll have a bath readied for you.”
“Thank you” Kahlan replied, watching the blonde.
Suddenly her world righted itself. They had expelled Cesare from Rome. She was an Assassin. And Cara was with her.
What more could she desire?
Watching the blonde’s body, only clad in a white nightshift, she thought of something she indeed desired.
But that would have to wait until she’d taken a bath and slept. The few hours in her bed had not been enough. She was still exhausted, and the wolfmen’s initiation ritual had drained her of the rest of her strength.
Sighing she followed Cara into the adjoining bathing chamber.
Chapters 19-Epilogue
Author: raug_moss
Pairings: Cara/Kahlan
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: None
Summary: After Kahlan discovers that Cara is a Borgia, they each have to find a way to deal with the new revelations. While Kahlan tries to get past her confusion and anger, Cara sets out on a suicide mission to kill Cesare. The Assassins eventually decide to attack the Borgia and Kahlan and Cara are reunited. In a dangerous and bloody battle they both have to fear for their lives.
Chapters 1-8 Chapters 9-13
Chapter 14 - Past Transgressions
Cara could only stare at Kahlan.
There was so much anger in the brunette's features. The blood that covered half of her face made those sapphire eyes glow in the semi-darkness of Cara's room.
But the blonde wasn't afraid. The situation excited her more than it scared her. She was naked in a bath tub, a dagger was at her throat and dozens of apprentices, as well as Machiavelli, were probably going to come rushing in at any moment.
She understood Kahlan's anger and that is why she tried to remain calm. She would've done the same, had it been the other way around.
Cara only flinched when the word 'Borgia' left Kahlan's mouth, and she was immediately brought back to the situation at hand.
This was not some game. Her shoulders slumped as green eyes met blue ones.
“Don't you think, that if I wanted to betray you to the Borgia, I would've already done it?” she whispered, trying not to move too much because the blade was still cutting into her skin.
She slowly lifted a hand and tried to push the dagger away, but Kahlan's thirst for retaliation was overruling her reason.
“Just because I belong to a family by blood, doesn't mean that I belong to them by heart” Cara continued. “I always fought against the Borgia, and I always will. I did not want them to recognize me, so I covered my face. It was never my intention to harm the Brotherhood or you.”
Kahlan still stared her down without betraying any emotion, so Cara had to do something to get the brunette out of her anger induced haze. With an unexpected movement she grabbed her friend and at the same time pushed the dagger away from her throat.
Twisting her body in a feline way she dragged Kahlan into the water and settled on top of her. Water was pushed out of the tub and covered the floor around them.
Cara had Kahlan safely pinned beneath her and the dagger, twisted out of her hand, landed next to the mask on the floor.
“My father was a Borgia. In fact he was the brother of our soon-to-be pope Rodrigo Borgia” Cara went on, as if she wasn't holding a struggling Kahlan down. “I did spend time with Cesare when I was a little girl, but we were children. How could I have known what it meant to be a Borgia? The dead man in the baths, he was responsible for Cesare and me, when we were little.”
Cara looked deeply into Kahlan's eyes. The brunette suddenly held still. It was as if they were frozen in this moment, giving Cara just enough time, to explain her past.
“Even if Cesare dies, it will not change who I am. Don't judge me because of the name I was born with. The Brotherhood is more of a family to me than the people I'm related to. But it is obvious to me, that I cannot stay here any longer. So I will leave, and you will not see me again.”
Cara thought it best if she simply left. Her death would not have any purpose here, so if she was to leave this earth she would at least try to take Cesare with her.
She quickly pushed herself up and climbed out of the tub. Pulling on her linen shirt and trousers she turned around, just as Kahlan was about to leave the tub as well. She stepped closer to her and shoved her friend back into the water.
When Kahlan emerged, she leaned down and kissed her. Their lips pressed together and Cara tried to savor the feel and taste. She allowed herself to give in to that pleasure one last time.
With a small growl Kahlan grabbed the blonde and pushed her away. So many conflicting emotions were racing through her head she was beginning to feel dizzy.
Just as she finally climbed out of the tub, Niccolo skidded into the room. He looked around with wide eyes and disheveled hair. “What is this smell?” was the first thing he said.
Kahlan scowled at him and she was looking more like Catarina than ever before.
The wet wolfskin around her shoulders was indeed emanating a rather unpleasant smell, so she simply shrugged out of it, still glaring at Niccolo.
“What happened to you?” he asked carefully.
“I was hunting a wolf, and guess what I've found...” She produced a letter, with the broken seal of the Borgia on it. “A secret message for the Pope in person. It says, in here, that the niece of Rodrigo Borgia has found shelter within the Brotherhood...” Kahlan's eyes darted over to Cara.
“And they seem to think that this is the perfect opportunity to bring us down, once and for all.”
When Niccolo only shuffled a little and lowered his gaze, Kahlan dropped the letter as if burned.
“You knew!” she hissed. “You knew it all along, and you didn't think it necessary to tell me?”
Cara was only standing there, watching the events unfold in front of her eyes.
“I only suspected” Niccolo responded, uncharacteristically meek.
Kahlan cried out in frustration. She clenched her fists, and with one last glance at Cara, picked up her dagger and stormed out of the room. She couldn't take it. There was just too much going on, and her insides were feeling like she was about to break apart.
Some apprentices had awoken, and were jumping out of the way as Kahlan ran past them. She made her way through the corridors of the headquarters to the tower. The door to the roof opened, slamming against the wall, and Kahlan looked up at the star filled night sky.
It was a beautiful warm night. From where she stood, she could overlook almost all of Rome, and suddenly she felt how all of her anger and despair drained away.
The dark water, deep beneath her, glistened invitingly in the moonlight. Usually an apprentice would perform the Leap of Faith from this tower when they reached the rank of Assassin, but Kahlan could already feel the cold water down below enveloping her. She needed this.
“Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.”
She spread her arms and closed her eyes, while leaning slightly forward.
...
Chapter 15 - Aftermath
Cara quietly closed the door after Kahlan had left. It was obvious that she and Niccolo needed to talk.
“Now that everyone knows, I think it is best if I leave the Brotherhood - if you let me” she began.
Niccolo nodded.
Cara then began to dress. She put on her boots and cloak, but left her bracers with the integrated hidden blades behind. Instead she opened a chest that stood in one corner of her room, and produced a beautifully crafted sword. It had belonged to her brother, just like the mask. “I never meant for any of that to happen” she said as she sheathed the sword and fastened it to her belt.
“I know” Niccolo replied. “I'll figure something out. Please don't do anything you'll regret later.”
Cara only smirked. She had her mind set - there was nothing anyone could do now, to stop her from going after Cesare.
The blonde knelt down and picked up the black mask that was still on the floor. She regarded it thoughtfully, realizing that it would end how it had begun - with her being all alone.
The older man looked at Cara with sad and tired eyes. The blonde only nodded curtly, rose and then excited the room, leaving Niccolo to contemplate his next steps.
Cara tiptoed through the corridors, trying to find Kahlan. Even though she was planning on leaving once and for all, she couldn't just go without saying anything. She owed Kahlan one last apology. It was her, after all, who had kept a secret so horrible, that it eventually had destroyed their friendship.
It took quite a while until she climbed up to the tower. She had almost given up on finding the brunette when she spotted her sitting on the little protruding platform, soaking wet.
She quietly joined Kahlan.
It hurt her that the brunette did not even care to look at her.
“I'm going to leave” she whispered. When there was no response she sighed. “I will look for Cesare.”
Still nothing.
“I'm not welcome here any longer, but I want you to know that it pains me to... leave you. And just because I carry this name, I lose everything I have ever cared for.”
When Kahlan still did not react, Cara felt her anger rising. She was pouring out her heart to the brunette, and Kahlan seemed to ignore her!
With quite an amount of strength she broke the mask, which she was still holding, in half. She dropped one piece to the ground, and put the other onto her face.
There was no need to cover her entire face anymore. And she also liked imagery, the broken mask conjured. She was just as broken inside.
Looking one last time at Kahlan's emotionless gaze, she turned around and climbed onto a roof nearby. She would be looking for Cesare at the Castel Sant'Angelo, but she needed to prepare first.
Meanwhile Kahlan was still reclining on the small platform. Her eyes wandered over to the broken mask.
When she'd jumped from the tower, the cold water had not only washed the blood out of her clothing, it had also helped to calm her racing thoughts. On her way back up, she’d had plenty of time to think about what she was going to do next.
She also knew that if she would've reacted to Cara's words only moments ago, she would've destroyed the little bit of resolve she'd gathered.
It was best if the blonde left the Brotherhood for a while. The others would've been suspicious once they found out that a Borgia was among them.
She had wanted nothing more than to take Cara into her arms, and beg her to stay, but she knew that they had to handle things by themselves for a while.
The anger was still seething under the surface of her calm features, so she simply let Cara leave.
Suddenly someone stood by her side and picked up the broken mask. Ezio always seemed to manage to appear out of nowhere, and in the beginning it had scared Kahlan to death, but now she only looked up at him with sad eyes.
He thoughtfully turned the half of the mask in his hand.
“I don't think she ever meant to betray the Brotherhood, or you” he said. Kahlan nodded.
“But she could've told me. She should have! I am her friend.”
Even though Kahlan was angry at Cara, she knew that she could never hate the blonde. They’d shared too much and become too close for that. It was as if anger and distrust were wrapped around her heart, but the love for Cara, she felt deep inside, would not die.
Ezio smiled, crouching down next to her. “She had her reasons. We all have our reasons to keep certain things secret.”
Kahlan sighed. She knew all of this, and she would do everything she could to get her friend back. Her heart and her mind were not necessarily on the same page on how, but both wanted Cara.
“She is after Cesare. I'm worried” Kahlan then said.
“We'll do everything to keep her safe, she is an Assassin after all” Ezio replied, placing a hand on Kahlan's shoulder. The brunette finally smiled a little.
“But now I would really like to know what happened to you down in the catacombs. Niccolo seemed rather worried.”
Kahlan looked up at her mentor. “Well uhm... I was following that wolfman, and once I reached a large vault I was suddenly surrounded by them. I could have sworn I saw one or two real wolves too... Anyways, these men actually call themselves Followers of Romolus, you know just like in the legend where Romolus had supposedly been raised by a wolf. Their leader had decided to work for Cesare and that is why they were involved in Borgia affairs. They attacked me, I fought them and by chance killed their leader right in the beginning. Suddenly they knelt down and awaited my orders. For some reason I had become their new pack leader.”
Kahlan looked rather miserable as she told Ezio about her newly acquired position.
“So they gave me that dagger and the black pelt. I told them to stay in the catacombs until I needed them. I suppose we can use every kind of support we can get, once we make a move against Cesare.”
Ezio nodded in agreement. “I'm very proud of you Kahlan. You handled yourself well. I think it is time that we complete your training.”
Widened blue eyes looked at a smirking Ezio.
...
Chapter 16 - Royal Raid
“She's on her way.”
Kahlan nodded and dismissed the young apprentice who'd approached her only moments ago. She inhaled deeply and turned around. Ezio, Catarina and Niccolo were looking at her with serious faces.
“I'll make sure they stay off your back” Ezio offered. Kahlan smiled briefly. Catarina pulled her niece into a quick hug. “Get your girl back” she whispered into Kahlan's ear. The brunette couldn't help but chuckle. Niccolo briefly patted her shoulder, and then the four of them parted.
Kahlan put the broken black mask onto her face and knowing that Cara was wearing the other half, gave her feeling of warmth and strength.
It was time to deliver a final blow to Cesare's influence over Rome.
Some of the apprentices had tried to keep an eye on Cara while the blonde had prepared for battle, and on this very night she seemingly had decided to set things in motion.
Kahlan would make sure that her friend would stay alive during all of this, hoping that they could eventually work through everything.
During the last couple of days she had realized how much she missed the blonde.
Inhaling deeply Kahlan left the room she'd been staying in and joined the apprentices in the great hall.
“You all know what you have to do?” she asked. They nodded.
“Good. Let's go down into the catacombs then.”
It was already past nightfall.
Kahlan pulled the hood of her white assassin outfit into place and left the headquarters.
Ezio had made her a full member of the Order only yesterday. The ceremony had been brief, but very impressive. While Ezio had recited the Creed, he had branded her left ring finger. With Niccolo agreeing, she had refrained from performing the Leap of Faith, which was usually a part of the ceremony. Because she'd already done it two nights ago when anger had been fueling her actions, there had been no need to repeat it. The Leap of Faith wasn't about jumping from the tower anyway. It was more about the mental change in a person and their determination.
And Kahlan was more determined to kill Cesare, than anyone else.
So she had become one of the youngest Assassins, ever to join the Brotherhood.
Kahlan and the apprentices climbed down into catacombs and moved like shadows through the dimly lit moist corridors. Sometime during their little odyssey the Followers of Romolus joined them.
They would hit Cesare and his men with full force.
While Cara moved through the streets and over rooftops, Kahlan now had the catacombs at her disposal.
When they finally reemerged from the underground in the Vaticano District, they fanned out and killed every Borgia guard they encountered.
“Tonight Rome will be painted with Borgia blood” - as Ezio had so nicely described it.
Meanwhile Cara had thought of a rather tactical approach. She'd stolen a guard's uniform and was now entering the Castel Sant'Angelo through the main gate.
She still remembered where most of the corridors would lead her and she was determined to find Cesare before anyone else did.
Most guards ignored her, and even if they cared to look in her direction, then it was too dark to actually make out her features.
She overheard a conversation, telling her that Cesare was currently in the unroofed gardens of the south wing.
It didn’t take long until she reached the gardens. Hiding in the shadows she watched Cesare. He was talking to a few men, and soon grew angry. Veins were bulging on his forehead, and the men cringed like scared children when he screamed at them.
It didn’t matter what they were talking about, or who those men were. Nothing really mattered anymore.
Cara waited. She was so close to the man she hated most, and she would kill him - whatever the cost. He was a danger for every Roman citizen.
When the men finally left, Cara stepped out of the shadows, facing Cesare - her own cousin.
He turned around at the interruption and his dark eyes widened, as he saw who was standing before him.
“Cesare” she growled.
“Cara” he replied, raising his eyebrows. “I thought you were dead.” A small smile played around his lips, clearly displaying his kinship with the blonde apprentice.
“Well, it seems like your father does not tell you everything. Rodrigo knows that I’m not dead, and by sending him your corpse I will show him just how very alive I am.”
Cara had been too focused on Cesare to notice the Borgia guards that had snuck up on her. Suddenly two men were holding both of her arms, while a third one took her sword from her.
How could she have been so thoughtless? Cursing her own stupidity she tried to free herself and struggled, but to no avail.
Cesare stepped closer and without warning backhanded her across the face. Cara’s head snapped to the side, and her vision became blurry for a moment.
“You honestly thought you could come here, to my castle, and succeed in killing me?” he taunted. “But you’re smart I have to give you that - hiding with our worst enemies, so that we won’t find you. You used the Assassins.”
“I did not use them” Cara seethed. “They are good people. Better than you could ever dream to be!”
Cesare laughed. “It would’ve been smarter to take everything you could get from them and then leave.”
“I would never betray them!” Cara shouted glaring at him, not believing how the boy she’d once known had turned into this monster.
When Cesare drew his sword as response, Cara could honestly say that she’d never been gladder to see Kahlan. Apprentices of the Brotherhood suddenly filled the garden, coming from above just when more Borgia guards came rushing in through a large wooden door.
Kahlan jumped down from a wall, right beside Cara and killed the first guard to the blonde’s left with her sword, slicing open his stomach with one thrust.
Finally being able to move again Cara turned and smashed the other man’s kneecap with her boot. He howled in pain while the blonde jumped aside to hit the guard, who had her sword, with the side of her hand. She crushed his larynx and he sunk to his knees, his hands clutching his throat. She picked up her sword, ready to kill.
A short-lived but extremely brutal battle followed.
Cara fought back to back with Kahlan while Cesare killed a few apprentices trying to reach his cousin.
Raising his sword he was about to strike Kahlan with it when Cara turned them. The blade buried itself into her shoulder.
She gasped when it was removed and stumbled back.
“No!” Kahlan cried and a wolfman immediately positioned himself between Cara and Cesare.
Turning away Cara moved over to the door that led inside the castle and closed it with the last of her strength. She blocked it by jamming her blade in between the space of door and door frame. No more guards would be entering for a while now.
Angry shouts and knocking was heard from the inside.
Leaning her back against it, she slid down the door, while blood poured from the wound on her shoulder.
…
Chapter 17 - Reconciliation
Kahlan looked around and, seeing Cara on the ground bleeding, she turned to Cesare. He was smiling like a predator. Because Kahlan was wearing the broken mask, he did not recognize her - there was no use in adding fuel to the flames. Had he known that he was standing face to face with a Sforza he certainly would’ve been trying to rip her throat out with his bare hands.
Even though Cesare was not a virtuoso with his sword, Kahlan did not succeed in defeating him.
He was blocking her every attack, but did not manage to strike her either. The more time passed, the more exhausted Kahlan became. The muscles in her arms were beginning to ache and every time she moved it felt like she was walking through knee-deep mud.
She heard bird’s twittering and howling of wolves in the distance, knowing that Ezio and the other Assassins were closing in on the castle.
It was only a brief moment but Cesare showed weakness and looked over to Cara. Kahlan used her chance and raised her leg to kick him in the stomach. The Borgia stumbled back and landed with his back in the dust.
She raised her sword above her head, about to kill Cesare when something crashed into her body. She was flung back, and landed hard on the ground, with something heavy weighing her down.
When she looked up, light green eyes stared back at her. Blonde hair was framing the familiar features above and tickling the exposed skin of her face. For the blink of an eye she was sure that she was looking at Cara, but she realized a moment later that it was not her friend who was pinning her down.
It was Lucrezia Borgia who was getting back on her feet and hurrying over to her brother Cesare.
She was about to follow the siblings, when a door to her left opened and Borgia guards blocked her way. At the same time Ezio, Assassins and wolfmen climbed over the wall to her right and attacked them immediately.
There was no way she was getting through to Cesare and Lucrezia so she turned around and ran over to Cara. Kneeling down beside the blonde, she motioned for an apprentice and a wolfman to help her.
“Stay with me Cara” she whispered, as she helplessly watched the blood leaving her friend’s body.
The young apprentice began treating Cara’s wound, while the wolfman protected them from any attack.
“You’re wearing my mask” Cara said with a raspy voice, looking at her friend.
Kahlan smiled, cupping the blonde’s cheek with her gloved hand. “Of course I am.”
“Kahlan I…” Cara began, but the brunette silenced her with a shake of her head. There would be time to talk, later.
“Oww you’re making it worse” Cara then hissed as the apprentice wrapped bandages around her shoulder.
She pushed him away and rose to her feet.
Kahlan tried to wrap her arms around Cara, but the blonde wriggled out of her embrace.
“Go after them” she mumbled.
“I won’t leave you Cara” Kahlan replied.
“I said go after them!” She picked up her sword, balancing the tip of the blade near Kahlan’s throat. “Meet me in the thermal baths when you’re done. Now go. I’ll be fine.”
With one last worried glance Kahlan turned around. It was her duty after all.
The brunette made a swift departure, following Cesare and his sister into the night.
A new wave of Borgia guards arrived at the garden soon after.
“They went that way!” Cara screamed, pointing in the opposite direction. The guards immediately ran off, trying to protect their lord and master, not knowing that they were merely chasing phantoms.
After the fight had been carried outside the castle and everything had quieted down, Cara left the gardens. She walked slowly and carefully. Her shoulder was hurting, but she knew that the wound was not fatal.
Instead there was lightness about her heart she hadn’t felt in the last couple of days. She’d seen the worry in Kahlan’s eyes, and it felt so incredibly good to know that her well-being meant something to the brunette after everything that had happened.
Cara began to believe that the bond they’d shared was not completely severed. Maybe there was hope.
When she finally left the castle behind, she convinced the next best doctor she found - with the help of her sword- to treat her wound. He eagerly complied, cleaning the cut, putting ointments on it and wrapping a clean bandage around it.
After that she stole the horse of a man who was about to enter a house nearby. He was screaming, threatening to send Borgia guards after her, but soon realized that the only guards around, were dead.
The man fell quiet, turned, and ran as fast he could as far away as he could.
The rest of the ride was uneventful but exhausting. Cara reached the thermal baths when the night was almost over. She dragged herself to a large unroofed basin and, shedding her clothes, slid into the water. Careful not to wet the bandages around the wound, she leaned back. The burning sensation in her shoulder became a bearable throbbing and she closed her eyes.
Meanwhile Kahlan stopped her horse with a sudden pull on the reins. The animal huffed and turned around, pawing the ground with its hooves. “Should we continue following them?” someone asked.
“No.” Kahlan shook her head, taking off the mask that had covered half of her face. “There is no use in pursuing them any further. They’ve left Rome to lick their wounds, and as soon as they set foot in the city again, we will be there awaiting them.”
A victorious cry sounded in the distance, accompanied by a howl, and the apprentices around her joined in. They’d won the battle, but not the war.
Kahlan smiled, raising her sword as well.
It was a victory after all.
She gave the remaining apprentices the task to clean up their traces, and soon she was by herself again.
She spurred her horse on, feeling the need to see Cara.
Even though there were barely any emotions left after the exhausting last couple of days, she was still worried.
During her ride to the thermal baths she realized how weary and tired she was. All of her muscles were aching and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten a good night’s sleep.
Arriving and dismounting her horse in front of the baths, she groaned when she spotted blood splatters on her white assassin clothing. She hated it when that happened. Her way of killing was planned and surprising, face to face combat didn’t suit her too well.
She made them look, but they never saw her coming.
Hoping that she was done fighting for a while, she entered the baths.
Just as she went looking for Cara, she spotted the blonde how she got dressed near one of the basins. Kahlan hurried over to her friend. “Cara” she said quietly.
Green eyes looked at her.
“Cesare?”
“He escaped.”
Kahlan wasn’t exactly sure who’d moved first, but the next thing she knew was that she was holding Cara in her arms.
“I’m glad you came” the blonde said as she buried her face in Kahlan’s neck.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t apologize” Kahlan murmured, leaning back and kissing Cara’s forehead.
After they’ve held each other for a while, the blonde reluctantly stepped back.
“White looks good on you” she said smirking a little.
Kahlan looked down at herself. “I am an Assassin now.”
“I guessed as much. Kahlan… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I am. Believe me, I wanted to but…”
The brunette shook her head, silencing Cara with a gesture.
“It’s alright. We’ll sort things out in the morning. Come on, I can barely keep my eyes open.”
“Are you sure I’m still welcome at the headquarters?” Cara hesitantly asked.
“Yes, of course. The only wrong you’ve done was to be born into a family that has lost its way in a world of fame and fortune.” The brunette smiled encouragingly, taking Cara’s hand and leading her out of the baths.
Together they mounted a horse, Kahlan wrapping her arms securely around her friend’s waist. “Are you hurting?” she quietly asked.
Cara shook her head, simply enjoying the feel of Kahlan’s body. They both were too exhausted to do anything but ride homewards in silence.
Back at the headquarters, Kahlan led them wordlessly to her chambers. They undressed and slipped under the covers of the bed.
Cara wrapped an arm around the brunette’s waist and gently kissed her exposed shoulder. Kahlan snuggled into the embrace, closing her eyes.
“I’m so glad you’re here” she murmured.
Cara smiled into the darkness. “So am I.”
…
Chapter 18 - Speaking Of The Wolf
Kahlan woke with a strangled gasp. She sat up, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand.
Gentle fingers caressed the small of her back. “Are you alright?”
A small smile spread across her features, when she realized where she was and who she was with. She looked down into sleepy green eyes. “Yes I’m fine. Just a bad dream. Go back to sleep Cara.”
Suddenly a shadow moved past their window. Kahlan glanced down, and seeing that her friend was fast asleep again, climbed out of bed.
She wrapped a large satin shawl around her shoulders and stepped onto the balcony.
A huge man with wolfskin and skull was waiting for her. He had various scars on his face and arms, and he looked like he’d seen many fights.
He knelt down before her. “Mistress” he growled. His voice sounded like he’d swallowed a blade.
“You did well” she told him.
“Thank you. I’m here to tell you that the pack awaits you.”
“Now?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.
“There are certain rituals, Mistress…”
A movement behind her caused Kahlan to turn around. Cara was joining her on the balcony, eyeing the wolfman suspiciously.
With the rising sun shining down on her, her hair tousled and her pose calm, Cara was the most beautiful woman Kahlan had ever seen.
Leaning into the brunette, Cara looked warily at their visitor. “What does he want?” she asked scowling.
“He wants me to accompany him. Isn’t that right?”
The wolfman nodded. “It is important” he growled.
“Well then, wait downstairs, I’ll be joining you shortly.”
And with that he jumped over the handrail, off the balcony.
“I guess the night is officially over” Kahlan sighed, looking at Cara. She wrapped her arms around the blonde’s waist, and pulled her closer with a playful growl.
Somehow there was closeness between them, she would’ve never thought possible. It just felt so incredibly right to hold Cara, as if it was meant to be.
That Cara was a Borgia was still an issue they needed to work through and they also had to fully reestablish their trust, but for now Kahlan was as happy as can be.
“Go back to bed” she murmured, raising her hand and caressing Cara’s cheek. The blonde leaned into the touch.
“Come back soon.”
Cara closed the distance between them and gently brushed her lips over Kahlan’s. The kiss was slow and left them both wanting more when it ended. But Kahlan stepped back, groaning at the loss of Cara’s body close to her own.
“I have to go” she said and reluctantly hurried inside to get dressed.
The pitch black wolfskin around her shoulders, the dagger on her belt, and the white Assassin hood in place she left the headquarters.
While the wolfman moved through the streets, Kahlan decided to enjoy the dawn, and made her way across the housetops of Rome.
They reached the entrance to the catacombs at about the same time.
The large vault deep beneath the city was filled with gestalts and torches illuminated the place. Kahlan was led through the crowd, only to stop in front of an ancient looking altar.
Meanwhile Cara had crawled back into bed. Her shoulder needed rest, as well as her mind. She knew that Kahlan was safe with the Followers of Romolus. They were wolves after all, and Kahlan was their pack leader.
Slowly she drifted off to sleep, wishing that Kahlan was with her.
It was already past midday when the brunette Assassin finally returned to the headquarters.
She carried her clothing in a bundle, only wearing the pitch black wolfskin, because her body was completely covered with what seemed to be reddish clay. Black symbols were drawn all over her skin, making her look like some ancient goddess.
She tried to be quiet, but Cara stirred as soon as she entered the room.
“W-what happened to you?” Cara asked a little aghast as she looked at Kahlan.
“It was insane!” the brunette exclaimed, being glad she could talk to someone about it.
She sat down sideways in an armchair, letting her legs dangle over the arm.
“I’m officially leader of the pack of the Followers of Romolus. They really do believe that they descend from wolves!” Kahlan gushed.
Cara sat up, leaning her back against the headboard of the bed and regarded Kahlan with great interest, as she continued talking. Not only was the story captivating, but also the brunette’s appearance. The intricate designs on her painted skin were utterly fascinating.
Kahlan produced the dagger with the wolf head, turning it in her hands. “This is a symbol. I’m their mistress and they do whatever I tell them to do. Ezio thinks that with their help, we’ll free Rome once and for all. Great, isn’t it?”
Sighing she put the dagger aside. “Well, it’s not like I don’t have enough responsibility already.”
“You’ll do fine” Cara said, breaking the silence.
Kahlan smiled and focused on Cara. “How is your shoulder?”
“Fine… better.”
The blonde sighed. “I thought I could do it alone.”
“Do what?” Kahlan asked, while scratching her cheek. Little flakes, from the reddish clay on her skin, trickled to the ground.
“I thought that I could take down the Borgia by myself. Staying with the Assassins gave me the opportunity to prepare. I never planned on staying here, but then I met you. And it felt like… home.”
Cara regarded Kahlan intently. “I think deep down I knew that Cesare or Rodrigo would find out one day. But I wanted revenge more than anything. Revenge because they took everything I ever loved from me.”
“Why ordered Rodrigo Borgia his own brother killed?” Kahlan asked quietly. Cara’s emerald eyes were unfocused, as she remembered her past.
“We were a threat to him. My father knew secrets that would’ve stopped Rodrigo from becoming Pope. We fled to Sicily when it became clear that Rome was too dangerous. But their assassins found us.”
“I’m sorry Cara.”
The blonde shook her head. “No. I’m the one who is sorry. I should’ve told you who I am right away. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you, but some small part of me feared that if you found out, you would hate me.”
“I could never hate you Cara” Kahlan replied. “It might not have been the smartest thing to react with anger and then walk away, but I was hurt.”
“Why did you come to my aid then? Back at the castle…”
“You’re still an Assassin Cara. You should know better than that. Ezio and Niccolo would not abandon you simply because you were born as a Borgia. Neither would I.”
When Cara opened her lips to speak, Kahlan stopped her by raising her palm.
“We both had our reasons why we did certain things. Let’s leave the past behind, shall we?”
Kahlan flashed a broad smile and Cara slowly got up from the bed.
She walked over to the brunette and was immediately pulled down into her friend’s lap.
Their bodies were touching as Cara leaned down, their lips a breath apart. Kahlan’s eyes fluttered close, as she felt the blonde’s hands settle on her hips.
Grinning, the blonde raised a hand and scratched some clay from Kahlan’s collar bone , following the little reddish flakes with her eyes, as she leaned back.
“I have absolutely no idea what this stuff is” Kahlan mumbled, opening her eyes. “I think I need a bath.”
Cara raised an eyebrow. “Would you like me to join you?”
The brunette’s blue gaze darkened. “I’d like that very much.”
Just as Cara leaned closer to finally kiss Kahlan, a persistent knock sounded on the door. The blonde groaned, resting her forehead against her friend’s.
Cara then scrunched up her nose. “Do you smell that?” she asked looking around.
Kahlan’s shoulders slumped. “Are you telling me that I smell bad? Like I said I don’t know what this stuff is…”
Another knock.
Sighing, they rose and Kahlan walked over to the door. She opened it, only to find a startled apprentice looking back at her.
“T-there is… there…” the young woman stammered, staring wide eyed at Kahlan. The paint and symbols on her skin were making her look rather frightening.
Drumming her fingertips on the doorframe, Kahlan waited for the apprentice to speak.
A scowling Cara appeared behind the brunette’s shoulder. “She always looks like that” she told the shocked apprentice and slammed the door shut.
Kahlan turned to her friend, raising her eyebrows. Cara shrugged.
“The smell is coming from outside” Cara said, jerking her thumb towards the balcony.
Kahlan walked past her friend, and stepping outside, clamped a hand over mouth and nose.
Looking down she saw half a cow laying right there beneath her balcony.
Flies were already surrounding the cadaver.
“What is this?!” Cara groaned. She was obviously appalled by the torn apart cow.
Kahlan slowly shook her head. “I don’t know…”
Just then a young wolfman climbed over the handrail and knelt down before the brunette Assassin.
“I think your pets have brought you dinner…” Cara said drily.
With a sudden movement Kahlan grabbed the wolfman’s pelt and pushed him to the ground, her boot resting on his neck. She leaned down. “No dead animals in my home.” Her voice had become audibly deeper.
“You are not allowed to set foot onto the island unless I tell you to. Understood?”
The young wolfman growled. “Yes mistress.”
Stepping back, she looked down at the cow once again. “Take this cadaver away” she sighed. The wolfman did as he was told, as quickly as possible.
“They wouldn’t understand it any other way” Kahlan said, looking at Cara who’d watched the scene with interest. “That’s the way I make rules. They are no longer allowed to recruit new Followers of Romolus.”
“Good” Cara said nodding.
They walked back inside, and Kahlan opened the door once again. The young apprentice was still standing there, looking very flustered. “It’s alright. Everything is taken care of, you can leave.”
The woman released a sigh of relief and scurried away.
Cara stepped close to Kahlan, as she shut the door. Wrapping her arms around the brunette’s waist from behind, she closed her eyes. “We will never be undisturbed, will we?”
Kahlan chuckled and leaned back into her friend. “Not for a while I think.”
They stood there for a few moments, simply enjoying the closeness, until Cara retreated. “I’ll have a bath readied for you.”
“Thank you” Kahlan replied, watching the blonde.
Suddenly her world righted itself. They had expelled Cesare from Rome. She was an Assassin. And Cara was with her.
What more could she desire?
Watching the blonde’s body, only clad in a white nightshift, she thought of something she indeed desired.
But that would have to wait until she’d taken a bath and slept. The few hours in her bed had not been enough. She was still exhausted, and the wolfmen’s initiation ritual had drained her of the rest of her strength.
Sighing she followed Cara into the adjoining bathing chamber.
Chapters 19-Epilogue