The Divide - Part 7
Title: The Divide - Part 7
Author: Aerows
Pairing: Cara/Kahlan
Rating: M
Warnings: Contains sex and violence
Disclaimer: Legend of the Seeker and The Sword of Truth do not belong to me, unfortunately. No profit is made from this work, it's just for fun and no infringement is intended.
Summary: The New World is threatened by war. The Mother Confessor, Mord'Sith Cara and the Seeker are forced to make hard choices that will ultimately affect their world.
(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) ( Part 6)
* * *
The pounding of hooves drew Kahlan out of Cara's demanding kiss. She wanted to cling to her neck forever, smelling her hair and feeling their bodies pressed together. Dazed green eyes met her dilated blue ones, and smiled. Cara seemed to have trouble shaking herself from the haze that had fallen around both of them. Kahlan regretted that their time alone in the tent was ending.
“The First File has arrived, Lady Rahl.” Berdine's clear voice rang from outside of the tent. Kahlan sighed. It was a relief that they could move forward with taking Tamarang and then retaking Renwold. Kahlan wished that time could have stopped for them, though, and that she could have lain in Cara's arms a bit longer. Kahlan remained in Cara's embrace, savoring the warmth their bodies provided pressing so closely together.
“It appears that Nyda and Rikka are more efficient than I expected.” Cara let the lashes of her closed eyes ghost across the cheek of the Mother Confessor. Kahlan smiled at the sensation. Finally, however, Cara gave her one last lingering kiss and rose from the cot. Kahlan took a moment to admire her lover's golden, muscular form. Raina had apparently thought of everything, including the fact that they would need to wash up yet again after their afternoon's exertions, and the dark-haired Mord'Sith carried in a bowl of hot water and some tea.
Kahlan would have thought to blush, under the linens of the bed, but after what the dark-eyed Mord'Sith had no doubt heard earlier, it was far too late for modesty. It didn't mean she rose out of the bed until Raina left, but she did meet her eyes and give her a gentle smile before she exited the tent. Raina gave her a full smile and a gesture that Cara could not see with her back turned that clearly indicated “Nice work, Lady Rahl.” At that, Kahlan did blush, but she also felt happiness surge inside of her.
Cara's back was marred with a few crescent shapes that were clearly fingernail marks, and the side of her neck had a suspiciously large bruise on the side of it. Kahlan herself had a mark on her collarbone, but Cara, ever the observant Mord'Sith had positioned it so that it would be covered by her traveling leathers. A rush of joy surged through her at the thought of her gruff but surprisingly considerate lover.
Cara handed one of the cups of tea to Kahlan, then took a sip from the second while she brusquely washed herself from the basin. Kahlan sat up and drank her tea, and if she didn't bounce out of the cot, she wasn't slow rising from it. Planting her feet on the rug by the bed that covered the tent floor, she smiled as the pleasant ache between her thighs reminded her of how the afternoon had been spent. She joined Cara at the wash basin, allowing the Mord'Sith to begin passing the cloth over her body, before it became clear that Kahlan would need to complete the job herself.
She batted the smirking Mord'Sith's hands away and by the time she had completed her own washing, Cara was halfway into her leathers. The woman could get into the complicated outfit more quickly than Kahlan would ever have imagined until she started traveling with her. Still, she obligingly showed the Mother Confessor her back when Kahlan moved to help her lace them. Cara once again wore the corset and neck piece today.
In the presence of so many D'Haran's and with so many battles that had been fought, she had taken to wearing the full outfit. Kahlan missed the lovely bit of cleavage she displayed without it, but she was also glad that Cara was taking the precaution of her full armor. It hadn't been lost on the Confessor, either, that instead of the usual gloves that she had worn while they were traveling, the ones she donned the last few days had been her steel-back gauntlets.
Kahlan briefly considered wearing her Mother Confessor's dress since she was still in the Midlands, but decided that she would treat this as any other of her armies she met in the field. They were at war, and the D'Haran's were just as much her people as those of the Midlands. She donned her traveling leathers, and slipped the baldric of the Sword of Truth over her head so that the now comfortable weight of the it hung down her back. While she had used daggers when traveling with the Seeker, and still kept one at her waist and one in each boot, she now found it instinctive to pull the legendary weapon.
The Sword of Truth lent the skill of thousands of years of Seekers to its bearer; by the time it had come to Kahlan's hand, even without that magic she still would have used the weapon as a master. With it, the Mother Confessor was as peerless as any three weapon's masters on the field. It comforted Cara enormously the know that the Confessor had an automatic advantage any time she faced an opponent. The Mord'Sith eyed her appreciatively; she was glad that Kahlan had chosen to meet her army as the warrior that she was.
Catching the gleam in the Mord'Sith's eye, Kahlan leaned over and enveloped her in an embrace, along with a kiss that seemed to devour her restraint on the spot. When Kahlan pulled away at the sound of voices outside the tent, Cara had to grip an Agiel to regain her composure. With a final squeeze of her hand, Kahlan let her go, and Cara exited the tent first, followed by Kahlan once Cara had ensured that it was safe. It was ludicrous to think that she wouldn't be safe with an army of nearly thirty-one thousand soldiers and two Mord'Sith right outside of her tent, but Cara always took precautions. Kahlan put a palm to her back in gentle appreciation of the Mord'Sith's concern.
Eight figures in blood-red leather stood with Berdine and Raina, and upon seeing the Lady Rahl exit the tent, dropped to a knee with a fist to the heart. All of the Mord'Sith then repeated the devotion three times, including Cara, whom Kahlan once again stopped from kneeling with a touch to her back. Cara's eyes shone with pride and warmth, however, as she said the words that forged the Bond between Lady Rahl and the D'Harans. The Mother Confessor felt the pledge of dedication flow into her, and she let herself feel her own loyalty and pride in her people. As with the others, the Mord'Sith that rose seemed even more confident in her, and Kahlan was beginning to believe that she truly was becoming a part of them as much as they were a part of her.
She could only imagine what it was going to feel like with nearly thirty-one thousand soldier reciting it. Even the two-hundred Renwolders had knelt in the field Devotion with the D'Harans yesterday; the Bond with them had felt just as strong as it had with their D'Haran allies. As the ten Mord'Sith mounted their horses to form an honor guard, Kahlan took Cara by the arm. “Cara, when the soldiers give the Devotion today, I will need you to stand beside me and make sure that I don't fall or otherwise display any weakness.” She quickly explained the overwhelming sensation she felt.
Cara looked at her in shock and concern. “Does it feel like a Confession?” Worry painted the Mord'Sith's features. The blond clearly looked as though she would put a stop to the Devotion in an instant, tradition be damned, if it were to harm the Mother Confessor. Confessing thirty thousand people at once would certainly be harmful in her view.
Kahlan hadn't considered that the fact that her Confessor magic might be influencing the Bond in strange ways. Considering that she couldn't Confess Cara, it could be a side effect of the two magics mixing. Kahlan had to admit, however, that it didn't feel exactly like her magic was releasing; it just felt as though her own commitment and pride in those who were her people was amplified and reflected back at those giving the Devotion. It only seemed to happen the first time she received it. When she had received the daily field Devotion from the original one hundred and seventy-five D'Harans on the second day, she hadn't experienced it.
The Mord'Sith nodded, thoughtfully, and gestured for Berdine and Nyda to dismount and join them. “Nyda, how did you feel just now when you gave the Devotion to Lady Rahl?” As was typical of her blond lover, Cara got straight to the point. The older Mord'Sith gave her a puzzled look, as did Berdine.
“I felt as though she is the Lady Rahl. I feel proud to serve you, Lady Rahl, and confident that with you to lead us D'Hara will be a victorious and prosperous place.” Nyda answered it matter-of-factly, but there was a fervency that shone in her blue eyes. “Should I have felt anything different?” Nyda wanted to know.
“Certainly not, Nyda, I'm just wondering if it felt the same as it did the first time you made your Devotion to Darken Rahl.” Cara answered a little more snappishly than necessary. Berdine nodded as though she understood what Cara was asking.
“Cara is wondering if the Bond could be affected by the Lady Rahl's Confessor magic, Nyda. While there is certainly reason to have confidence and pride in our Lady Rahl,” Berdine's blue eyes twinkled as she grinned rakishly at the Lady Rahl in question, “I believe Cara is just concerned with the safety of Lady Rahl as the magic against the magic.”
Nyda pursed her lips thoughtfully. “If I feel anything, I'm completely convinced that Lady Rahl cares for our people and is dedicated to us.” She flickered her eyes to Kahlan and gave her an assessing look. “I could just as easily be that this is the first time we've had a ruler that looks at us as more than a means to an end.” At that, the Mother Confessor felt a smile bloom on her face. She liked the straightforward Mord'Sith.
“Berdine, did you feel differently when you gave the Devotion to Richard as you did when you first gave it to me?” Kahlan asked. Richard had never accepted Devotion in person from Nyda or the other Mord'Sith; Berdine, Raina and Cara were the only ones that had. Kahlan had purposefully not asked Cara, because she suspected that her lover's feelings would certainly influence how she felt about everything involving the Bond.
“It feels stronger, but that could also be that Lady Rahl is not reluctant as a ruler, or as wary of D'Harans as was Richard Rahl.” She supplied. “It isn't as though most of the former Lord Rahls were forthcoming about their feelings toward D'Harans or were prone to share information about the workings of the Bond.” She pointed out unhelpfully.
Kahlan nodded, and decided that there wasn't enough information to come to a solid conclusion. She had to do this, as the Lady Rahl, and the only way to determine whether or not it was going to be harmful was to do it. She had no intentions of hiding from her people, or doing anything less than she could to seal them to her. “I will accept the Devotion then.” She said it with a note of finality, and though Cara looked like she wanted to object, the Mord'Sith nodded in reluctant agreement.
Cara knew that once the Mother Confessor made up her mind, it was pointless to argue. All that it would do is anger Kahlan to be contradicted in front of Nyda whom she did not know, yet. She resolved to do everything she could to protect the Mother Confessor, however, and if it meant halting the Devotion in the middle of it, she wouldn't hesitate to do so.
Echo had been saddled, as well as one of the glossy black stallions. Kahlan was growing to love the animal, and while she regretted that she had parted him from Kimmel, the Sargent had firmly resisted all attempts to take the horse back. The young man insisted that only the finest warhorse available was suitable for the Lady Rahl, and Kahlan had finally given up all attempts at returning him. She had instead sent orders to the People's Palace that the Horse master train another mount for the Sargent, and sent enough gold to the Kimmel family stables to purchase five more like him, along with a generous stipend for their continued breeding of them. She wanted an Arkyne Sorrel just like her own for Cara; nothing but the best was to serve and defend her lover.
Her lover. Just thinking about the woman who rode beside her in those terms, and remembering the pleasure they had shared just minutes ago nearly had her aroused yet again. As though Cara could feel the heat of her gaze, she returned it, flashing to Kahlan's eyes, but with a smile so small no one but her could read it, drifted to land on her breasts, and briefly light between her thighs. With an even more evident smirk, the eyes drifted away from the place Cara had loved her so gently an hour before, then hardened in purpose.
Kahlan felt the jolt of that searing look strike her between her thighs again. If a hot blush, and an even hotter arousal rose in her cheeks, she hoped those around her mistook it for the excitement of being Lady Rahl. It was, but it had nothing to with her political position and everything to do with the position she imagined she would be in that evening. She had to clench her eyes from imagining Cara's feet planted to the cot while Kahlan's tongue worked the place that made the Mord'Sith cry out. She then had to open them because that particular thought made her nearly fall off of her horse.
She understood now why Cara gripped an Agiel. She would have given anything in that moment to banish the sensation coursing through her, because it was a hot need with such thoughts cascading through her mind. She bit her lip instead, and wrapped the reins of her horse harshly around her hand. Pain biting into her reminded her, even though the gentle ache between her thighs beckoned her to fantasy. With every grasp of her training, she banished thoughts of Cara's open thighs, and the pink, damp flesh that quivered with the touch of her tongue.
A sudden bite of pain on the flesh of her thigh drew her attention. It felt as though she had been stung by a thousand bees, then the remaining flesh had been doused with acid. Cara smirked and withdrew her Agiel from between the slit of the Mother Confessor's riding skirt. Kahlan wanted to be angry, but the truth was, it has been necessary. She offered her a grin that made devilish promises, even as the Mord'Sith smiled more fully. It was a smile the Mother Confessor had never seen before, and it was only for her. She responded with a lovely one of her own, dangerously full of promise and warning alike. Kahlan felt a laugh bubble in her heart. It was a good day, merely because the sunshine road with her on a glossy black stallion, and wasn't afraid to remind her with it's burn.
* * *
Kahlan stood before the amassed leather ocean. Argons glinted in the fading sun, leather glowed on the chest and legs of one man after another. As one, the faces stood at attention, facing her as she stood motionless on the raised platform. Cara stood directly beside her, with Berdine and Raina a few paces back and down to her right and her left. Tremane had been angered when she brought him to stand behind the Mord'Sith at her right hand. The Captain had instead declined his honor, and stood in the yard. Kimmel instead had that honor, and beamed with pleasure, his uniform gleaming, clearly pleased with the honor of standing anywhere near Lady Rahl.
Cara stood at her shoulder, Mord'Sith uniform gleaming in the setting sun. Kahlan had never seen anything so beautiful. As the Devotion began, Cara put a hand to her elbow, while Kahlan steadfastly faced the Dragon Corps and First File that faced her. Cara made no move to kneel, as she had requested. Instead, she whispered it nearby. Love cascaded into her soul with that gentle recitation, and Kahlan couldn't help but feel it echo, then reverberate among the rest of those giving the Devotion. She suddenly felt herself the Lady Rahl abruptly, and with enough bruising force that a crown had been shoved onto her head.
Only the hand at her elbow kept her upright, and she reflected the feeling back. She was the Lady Rahl, and she took pride in her people. They would find vengeance, honor and peace with her. The road would not be easy, but the Devotion of thirty-one thousand people wasn't easy to take, either. It was merely a symbolic gesture compared to the million and a half subjects she now governed in addition to the Midlands. She did the only thing that made sense, and the only thing that could possibly give her the fury and dedication to stand beyond her own considerable will. She drew the Sword of Truth, and it's distinctive ring echoed across the yard.
She raised it in her left hand above her head, and took the hand of her best weapon in her right. Seizing a steel-backed gauntlet in her right, she raised it as well. The world nearly went black, but with the forces converging in her, she did not drop. She stood in the fire. Dedication, vengeance, righteous anger, and finally the flame of love purified her. The Mother Confessor, and Queen of D'Hara, Lady Rahl had come home. These were her people as any other, and she was dedicated to them. Thirty thousand faces took the Devotion and were Bonded to her. Kahlan radiated calm and peace as she placed the Sword back in the sheath, but she did not let go of the hand she held. If anything, the thirty thousand before her wished her well.
It only took one. The crossbow bolt that would have pierced her heart was deflected by Raina, but it still bit into her flesh. The second to last thing she recalled was Cara's steel-backed gauntlet clutching the wound to stop the blood, and the red leather clad body moving to cover her fallen body with her own. The last thing she remembered was a steel-backed gauntlet raking through her hair to caress her face, and a familiar voice that said, “My heart.”
* * *
Kahlan awoke to what was clearly a capacious tent, and a healer standing over her. The moment her eyes fluttered open, a large face thrust itself into hers, examining her eyes. Happiness bloomed in her heart at the same second lifting her head from the pillow shot a pain through her left shoulder. It came out as a groan.
“Zedd.” Her voice sounded gravelly and weak. The First Wizard took her right hand within his huge one and offered her a drink of water. Fear coursed through her, even as she took the drink. Her eyes shot open and she implored him silently. She honestly didn't want to hear it, but she had to do so. “Zedd, where's Cara?” The First Wizard shot her a look that could only be called reproving.
“Taking back Renwold with the Dragon Corps, I suppose. The woman wouldn't wait once she sent for me to carry out what she thought,” the wizard took in a thoughtful breath and then huffed out in a stern voice, “were YOUR orders.” Zedd looked disapproving. She opened her mouth to say something but Zedd continued on, “I never intended for you to become the Lord Rahl, only to turn around and make another your hostage. Confessor, I am disappointed in you.” Zedd said it with finality, blue-green eyes gleaming, though he continued to hold her hand gently.
“That woman's life has been hard enough without making her the concubine of yet another Lord Rahl, Kahlan. If I could, I would take back the bond, but I cannot.” He glowered at her. “I've heard how you forced her to take you, and Mother Confessor, I would never have supplied information to your other Mord'Sith Berdine if I thought it would allow you to subjugate yet another woman.” Zedd was in a fine huff.
“Master Zeddiccus, if you consider causing the Consort to scream in ecstasy subjugation, while she made the Lady Rahl nearly knock the tent down in reply “subjugation”, you have a lot to learn about what that word means.” Berdine loomed again, blue eyes snapping, and a hand on her Agiel. She kept her voice light, but Kahlan felt much better having the auburn-haired Mord'Sith present. She weakly lifted a hand to hers, and a gloved one immediately enfolded her own, with a cup of tea being brought to her mouth with the other blood-red leather enfolded one.
Berdine continued smoothly after she removed the cup from Kahlan's lips. “Lady Rahl, the Consort has admirably lead the troops in your stead, and will have conquered Renwold of the Imperial Order as we speak.” Berdine leaned closer with twinkling blue eyes. “The wizard is just angry that he missed your commitment ceremony in front of your people.” The look Zedd shot her would have been worth solid gold, had not Berdine sent her one that said she was a complete idiot. It reminded her of the looks Cara shot Richard.
Thankfully, Berdine brought the cup of tea back to her lips to wet her still parched throat. She took a deep sip and tried to find words to smooth the situation over. She was tired. “I'm sorry Zedd and Berdine for whatever you think I did, but whatever is between Cara and I, is between us.”
“Yes, Lady Rahl, she said as much, but this is what she offers in reply to you.” Berdine flashed a ring with a stone that wasn't quite impressive, but wasn't insubstantial either. It was a band of platinum, winking whitely in the light, with a diamond that glinted as clearly, reflecting a thousand colors. Kahlan would have caught her breath, but the Wizard was shoved directly into Berdine, while the ring was snatched from the auburn haired Mord'Sith's hand by one wearing steel-back gauntlets.
“I'll take it from here, Berdine.” She shot the other Mord'Sith a withering glance, but the auburn-haired woman just grinned at her mischievously. Zedd looked as though he had gone even more white-haired, but Berdine whispered something to him that sounded like “roasted chicken” and “good bread” and the wizard relented with a last look at the Mother Confessor, then left with the tall, Mord'Sith.
Cara stood with the jewel winking, looking into Kahlan's blue eyes, then silently slipped it onto her finger. Without another word spoken, the Mord'Sith quickly stripped herself of blood-red leather, then climbed into the bed with the Confessor. The Mord'Sith smelled of blood, sweat and hard-riding, but the Confessor inhaled all of it, only smelling Cara. After a kiss that bespoke more of relief at them both being alive than mere pleasure, they both fell into contented sleep.
(Part 8)