Fic: Broken Chains 2/?
Title: Broken chains Part 2/?
Author: chickinwhite
Pairing: Kahlan/Cara
Rating: PG 17
Word account: ~ 5700
Summary: This adventure starts a good time after tears. It is about old scars and new bonds,
about friends and foes, about confidence and betraying,
Disclaimer: Nothing of LotS belongs to me (such a pity!) - no business, just fan-fun
AN: I should mention, perhaps, that I totally love the angsty stories.... so, please, be warned... :)
Thanks to all of you, who commented! It´s pure motivation! :D
read part 1...
Cara sat in the darkest corner of the tavern; her hand held a cup of wine in a tight grip and a plate of fresh stew was steaming in front of her, waiting for her attention. The blonde did not care. She was busy shooting disgusting glares towards the crowd that filled the room with constant noises of murmurs and roaring laughter. Her eyes had long narrowed, her features were painted with an impatient anger; The Mord Sith was more than ready to stab the first who would dare to break into her space her with an agiel right into his chest.
These people were annoying. They were loud; they were plump; and they were much too trustingly for her liking. She really missed the hidden glances that she was used to; the blank fear and the barely visible shivers that ran down the spines of strangers when they got aware of her leather. This tiny little instant, when their widening eyes betrayed the moment of recognition of who she was. And the feeling that always accompanied that little instant, shooting hot sparks of pride through her veins: the feeling of strength and power. The knowledge, that she had caught the better part of life: Upright. Fearless. And proud; while these poor creatures squirmed through the ground to her feet, scared by the mere reality of their own senseless fates…
Since her arrival in Aydindril these little instants had become a rare pleasure. The people knew she was a friend of the Seeker and a guest of the Mother Confessor.
Sure, she was treated with respect, if often in a distrusting way; and still people peeped at her; but their eyes held a much smaller amount of fright than she would have appreciated; Instead they stared at her with a mixture of obsessive curiosity and allured horror; so openly sometimes, that Cara felt the burning need to punch heavily into these silly faces to be soothed by fresh blood running from a gash.
She always won that inner battle to resist this need, though; but there were times when she wondered how long she could go on like this. Though, during the last weeks she had noticed an increasing amount of hostile glares in her direction, which was interesting, but annoying all the same...
The Mord Sith was bored to the bones.
Richard had said it would need some time. He had not said how long this time would be exactly. And now two months had already passed since the day of her arrival to Aydindril, to stay as Richards’s personal representative at the side of the Mother Confessor. She had sworn to protect her, though Richard had never told her why Kahlan would need her protection actually. He only had ordered her to be near her. And to be cautious.
Cara gave a frustrated snort; her fingers tapped an exasperated rhythm on the table.
And how should I do so, Richard? She would not let me be near her; All I can do is follow her when she rushes through the Palace; but as soon as I approach she turns away. Spirits, what exactly do you expect me to do?
The blonde pursed her lips and took a hearty draught of her wine, then spooned some stew into her mouth without even noticing it.
She would not even let me be in the same room with her…She hates me… The Mord Sith growled loudly.
Her thoughts went to the day of Richard´s departure. His good-bye had been… weirdly short. She remembered Kahlan, standing straight and a faint shadow of sorrow spread over her features. The Confessor had embraced the Seeker tightly, a lonely tear rolling down her cheek. And when his little troop had left the Palace her glossy blue eyes had followed his trail for an eternity.
And she remembered how her own jaw had ached from clenching…
She had waited until Kahlan had turned, heading to her chambers before she had approached her, feeling a small lump growing in her throat, covering her uncertainness behind a familiar teasing voice.
“Now it is just the two of us, Mother Confessor. Time to tell me what my position will be in your Palace.”
Kahlan´s forehead had furrowed, her still watery eyes staring at her, slightly narrowed, thoughtfully and distant.
“I´m sorry, Cara? I don´t understand your question.”
She had frowned; she didn´t like the rejection in the Confessor´s voice. Her own instantly filled with certain sharpness.
“Richard ordered me to stay in Aydindril. By your side. And now that he´s gone, it is up to you to tell me what you expect me to do, or to be here. What my role will be.”
Kahlan had eyed her with piercing deep blue brilliance and had offered a faint smile; a smile that didn´t reach her eyes; her answer had been in a calm, but offish voice:
“I don´t expect... anything of you, Cara. Whatever the reason was why Richard has ordered you to stay; it has not been for a job waiting here for you. You are a guest of the Midlands and as such you may feel free to do as you like.” And after giving it a quick thought she added: “as long as you would not harm anyone!” And with a short nod she was gone.
It had felt like a hard slap in Cara´s face, unexpected and raw.
The Mord Sith gritted her teeth angrily and stared into her half empty cup of wine. By the Creator´s light! What did this woman think who she was? A Mord Sith could not “feel free to do as she liked”! She needed an order, a reason to walk among these people…
Besides - it was offending. She felt this sharp jolt rushing through her veins whenever the Mother Confessor met her with such... cold distance.
She had tried a few times more to get a talk to her. But Kahlan would not give her an audience. Whenever they met in the Palace - and Cara took care that they met often, if only fleetingly - Kahlan would stall her steps, briefly locking with the Mord Sith´s glare as if considering talking to her; but then she always turned around and rushed away. The closest Cara had come had been a few five minute meetings with Dennee. All of them had achieved the same result. And had left her chest filled with a murderous pressure of anger and frustration.
“…You can´t just walk in to talk to the Mother Confessor! It is not that easy to meet with her. You should know that Kahlan is a very busy woman, Mistress Cara. And the rare time she has is meant to give her the chance to recover from her many commitments. So..., if it is a question of a pressing petition, you may sign for the public audience after tomorrow…”
Never had Cara met cold arrogance as keen as it lay in those spoken words. Not even her former Lord Rahl had held such a tone in his voice. Though Cara had a clue that it was the desperate hate for her murderer that let Dennee handle her voice like a weapon.
Cara´s eyes had narrowed dangerously, not even trying to hide the anger in her dark growl. “You know that I am not a common bidder at her gates! Tell her that I have to speak to her. Privately.”
In Dennee´s stare had lain the biting cold shimmer of an ice-covered lake in stormy winter nights.
“Who. Do you think. You are...? To give me any orders? And why would she talk to you? YOU do not belong to here, Mistress Cara! Richard decided this against our will. I don´t know the exact reason why you left back then; but anyway; I can tell that you are still not welcome. Neither my sister nor I need you in this Palace. You would be well advised to stay away from her if you don´t want to wake her annoyance.”
Cara snorted enraged into her wine and slammed the cup back on the table with a clanging reverberation, almost shattering it into pieces. The angry glare she caught from the innkeeper, who wasn´t her best friend anyway, she met with a dangerously challenging stare of her own, growling a dark sound; which made him duck away and turn swiftly to his guests with narrowed eyes.
The Mord Sith´s hackles still raised thinking of the insults. She remembered times, when Dennee would have regretted her words immediately. A Mord Sith would not allow a Confessor to treat her like any random wench. Cara´s first instinct had let her wrap her hands tightly around her agiels, her lips a thin line of rage. But she had been controlled enough to keep them sheathed and Dennee had dismissed her with a nod before she went her way, leaving a tense Mord Sith who gritted her teeth, cursing the day when her Lord Rahl had sent a message in his journey book...
The only thing that had held her at bay was the vow she had given to Richard.
And something else, whipping sharply through her chest, that she couldn´t name. But somewhere, deep inside her, she could feel it. It was there. Haunting her. Drawing her inexorably near to the woman in white; the one who hated her. Who seemed to hide behind her little sister, what felt strangely ignoble and disgusting to Cara.
For sure, she could have stormed into Kahlan´s chambers to take her to task. But she knew the Mother Confessor was a stubborn creature. Not very unlikely she would have even called for the guards… And whose turn was served with a Mord Sith in chains?
No, instead Cara had decided to make this Palace her own. And since then she had not reclined before a mental map was drawn, marking every detail of the Palace. ..
The Mord Sith smirked and gulped the rest of her wine. Now she was able to follow even the most hidden paths with closed eyes, step through every secret door and, unexpectedly, even spy unobserved on every room she wanted to... Cara would not fail. Her Lord Rahl had given her a task. And she was resolved to comply as Richard has ordered her; whenever and wherever she felt necessary she would be near her. She would protect her. And the Mother Confessor wouldn´t even notice...
********
“My Lady, the time has come. We cannot wait any longer for the presence of the Mother Confessor. Every day that passes is a day too much. I am sent to gain your affirmation on that matter.”
The Confessor looked at him with narrowed eyes. She took a few moments to consider her answer, pacing fore and back. She had known this time to come, had expected it since weeks. She took a deep breath and turned to the envoy. He stood straight, waiting patiently for her words. Finally she sighed resigned and nodded.
“You may go and tell him, I will see for her departure as soon as possible. She will be there in time.”
He turned immediately and rushed out. Dennee´s eyes followed him thoughtfully, small muscles slightly twitching in her cheeks.
“What did he mean, her presence is urgently needed?” Cara´s cold voice snarled from behind directly into the Confessor´s ear, who almost jumped and whipped around, startled by her unexpected appearance from nowhere. Her grey eyes stared at Cara aghast. She would have sworn that the hall had been deserted, that no one had been around when she greeted her visitor. A dark spark of anger flashed at the blonde Mord Sith, before Dennee was able to school her face into her trained Confessor´s mask. She set her voice into a taunt, overplaying the fright second.
“Oh, such a nice surprise! Our Mord Sith is weaseling through the Palace... Stalking the Mother Confessor again, Mistress Cara?”
Cara quirked an eyebrow, but apart from that ignored her words. She knew she had scared her, standing suddenly behind her, and smirked contently.
“It is nothing of your concern, Mistress Cara. Confessor´s duties... One of them is judgment. And it looks like Kahlan has to take care of a serious case in one of the kingdoms.” She eyed Cara with an arrogant raised brow and turned to leave. But then she paused and looked briefly over her shoulder.
“Seems like you will lose sight of your prey for some time!” she teased. And then her eyes shot hot needles at Cara as she banefully added: “and who knows? If the Creator hears my pray, you will not see her again too soon; if ever.” and chuckling she was gone. She missed Cara´s burning glare of distrust that tried to set her back aflame.
*********
Zedd sat at the large table near the fireside, magically drawn as always from scents of fresh roasted meat and boiling legumes. His eyes followed the moves of all the serviceable girls and boys who rushed through the kitchen, while pleasurably chewing on a crispy piece of roasted duck.
The corner of his eyes twinkled with amusement as he watched the scraggy figure of Mistress Sanderholt who whirled through the room, surveying mercilessly her troop of aiders, being behind the cooks when they didn´t expect her and barking orders to the opposite of the stoves. He couldn´t stop watching. This thin and weak looking woman was a miracle to him. He had always expected the chief of a kitchen of this dimension to be a fat and jovial ordinary man or woman. But the chief of the Palace´s kitchen was of a completely different appearance. Mistress Sanderholt was a tall, fragile woman, her grey hair tightly drawn back, her features resolved and self-confident, and her voice clear and decided. She emanated a natural authority; but in her eyes laid warmth that could melt ice in a winter storm if she only wanted to.
She was equally feared and respected by all of the servants; but, bottom lines, everyone loved her.
And her stews were the best Zedd had ever had the pleasure of tasting.
The bony wizard fished for another crispy piece of duck when the door slammed open and a red leathered woman stormed inside. Cara´s eyes promised trouble when she caught the frightened glare of one of the girls who had almost slipped a plate of legumes, startled by her sudden appearance.
“What?” she snapped ominously, tilting her head and staring her down. But before she could scare the girl even more Mistress Sanderholt shove the maid aside and build up in front of the blonde, hands on her hips, rebuking her with a stern stare.
“Where are your manners, Mistress Cara? I told you not to frighten my girls!?” She waved her hand to the wizard. “Go, have a seat with Zedd and take some duck.” And muttering in a softened tone, unimpressed of the murderous expression in the green eyes piercing her: “you should really eat more regularly! Thin as a dragon fly! I suggest you taste the stew, I´ve made for the Mother Confessor...”
Cara frowned deeply and hissed something inscrutable, but turned to take seat beside Zedd without a word. The old wizard watched her with round eyes and an open mouth; agape, as always; not believing how easily that woman had a go at the Mord Sith. It was not the first time he witnessed how she reprimanded the blonde, who always stormed into the room in a barely controlled heat of anger and frustration, obviously looking for an object to vent her spleen at.
And he was even more stunned to see Cara immediately calming down, being scolded like this. There had been times when much less would have led to an agonized Mistress Sanderholt at the screaming end of an agiel...
Once, Cara had left after one of her short visits, he had asked the head cook what her secret was. How it was that she was not afraid of the blonde Mord Sith. And how she was able tame her so easily. The slender woman had smiled impishly.
“There are two magic words, Zedd. The only ones that reach her mind...” she grinned widely:”MOTHER. CONFESSOR. “And chuckling at his expression she nodded amused. “This angry girl will always temper her wrath if she only sees a chance to get news from the Mother Confessor!”
The more often he watched her dealing with the Mord Sith, the more he tended to believe in her words.
Cara felt his stare and shifted her head to shoot him an angry stare, contorting her face at the sight.
“Aarr! This. Is nasty, Wizard! Shut your mouth and swallow it down.” she snapped. And then growled peevishly, pointing annoyed to Mistress Sanderholt. “She seems to know nothing about Mord Sith. Do you really expect me to kill her just because she is naïve?”
Zedd started chewing again, shaking his head slightly with a wide smile on his face;
“I´m sorry, Cara. I was just... surprised.” He giggled lowly. “But I am really grateful that you don´t intend to kill the most adorable cook I have ever made the acquaintance of.” His eyes smiled mischievously, their corners crinkling in amusement.
“What for? It would be more fun to torture a certain starving wizard...” she gave a grumpy answer, but he could see the hint of a grin in the corner of her lips.
“And what is it that leads you into these holy halls, Cara? I assume you stormed in with a purpose, didn´t you?”
Cara chewed on her bottom lip as her eyes narrowed on him. She thought a moment about how starting.
“I... was looking for you. And I had a clue that you might probably be found here.” She shrugged. “I didn´t know who else I could speak to...” Her voice sounded annoyed and Zedd raised an expecting eyebrow, waiting for her to continue her speech.
“Is it right that Richard left you a journey book? And is there any news from him?”
Zedd nodded staidly. “He has started to reorganize the People´s Palace. There are a few things that he could not accept. And a few people who would not accept him. But he is confident...” He watched her carefully, noting the impatient twitches of her lips and interpreting it right.
“Cara... am I wrong if I assume that this is not what you are asking for?” When she remained silent, biting the inner side of her cheek while her eyes trailed patterns on the table, he sighed.
“Tell me, Cara. What are we really talking about?”
He felt it tugging on a few heartstrings when he noticed the forlorn expression that washed swiftly over her face. She took a deep breath before she blurted out.
“Why am I here, Wizard? What has Richard intended, leaving me in Aydindril?”
He tilted his head, sorrow sweeping briefly over his face. He knew that Cara was more than frustrated; she was almost desperate. The last months she had done anything to achieve her goal and get closer to Kahlan. But the Confessor would not tolerate the blonde hovering over her.
The old wizard sighed, thinking of times where the two of them had been friends; when Kahlan had gotten closer to her former enemy than he or Richard ever would have dared to expect to; especially considering that Cara was the murderer of the Confessor´s sister.
He remembered how Kahlan´s eyes used to beam with affection when they sat at the fireside of their small camp and another piece of Cara´s incredible stubbornness would crack Kahlan up. How Cara used to cock her hips, provoking the Confessor until she would blush without fail, while a mischievous smirk lay in the corner of the blonde´s lips. Their squabbles had been moments of ease and levity, despite the world around them seemed doomed...
Zedd frowned, wondering where those times had gone. . ., while Cara´s angry voice called him slowly back from his mind-travels.
“...as if she can´t trust me. I mean it is the same like it was in the beginning; remember? When everything she wanted was to kill me?” She huffed annoyed. “I would not be surprised if she slept with her daggers under her pillows again.” Her hand slammed on the table. She looked at him with her jade glare, clearly at a loss.
Zedd shrugged weakly. “As far as I know, she always does.”
The Mord Sith stared at him in disbelieve, her brows deeply furrowed.
“This is ridiculous, Wizard! Why would she do that? She is at home here. This is HER Palace; these are HER people; her sister is always at her side. And her beloved Richard only waits for her to call him back. All she ever wanted. She is supposed to be happy! Her heart should fly!”
Zedd watched her breakout contemplatively. He gave her a sad glance, shaking his head, answering with a low voice:
“Heavy things don´t fly, Cara.”
She frowned even more as their eyes locked.
“Kahlan is a very mighty woman. And a very lonesome mighty woman. Enviousness and malevolence are lurking at her every turn. Powerful people are aspiring more powers. The last years have taken great toll of her. I don´t know what you´ve heard, but believe me, Cara. Her heart has no reason to fly...”
An emerald fire burnt in Cara´s eyes under her knitted brows, sparkling with questions and concern. “You are speaking in riddles, Wizard.” She leaned in, bringing her face close to his and slowly shook her head. Her gaze literally pierced Zedd while she snarled: “I am done with people talking without saying a word! I need answers! Now! Tell me, Zedd, what happened to her? Why is it that Richard left Aydindril and why did he leave ME by her side, apparently against her will?”
The old wizard dropped his eyes and sighed resigned, knowing that this time he was trapped. He felt unsure of how much he should tell her and what Kahlan would expect him to conceal; he did not want to betray the Mother Confessor´s trust. But at least, he was convinced that Cara deserved to learn about the events while she had been in D`Hara. As much as she would be a strong allies if things went difficult. Despite the rumors that the Mord Sith could not be trusted; and the fact, that Dennee had given orders to the guards to keep an eye on her every step in the palace. His gaze shifted to look at the blonde thoughtfully; he noticed Mistress Sanderholt, staying silently behind the Mord Sith, nodding approvingly with a faint smile. And so he took a deep breath and started to tell what he knew.
******
“Do you remember when we travelled to Aydindril? The Keeper had lost, the rift had been sealed. And we had discovered that Kahlan and Richard... they could be together! She had tried to confess him but failed! He was immune to her power...” He smiled with the memory. “Ahh. This had been such a blissful moment.” He glared at Cara, whose eyes narrowed. “I know you didn´t show it; but you felt their euphoria, didn´t you? Everything seemed to come to a happy ending...
But then, on our way to Aydindril during the following weeks something subtly changed. I am still not able to name it, but the closer we came to Aydindril, the more Kahlan became strangely quiet; you must have noticed it too, Cara. Though I first thought it to be her concern for what would await her here, I soon recognized that there must have been other things that weighed her down. Perhaps you remember how she became suddenly dolorous every time Richard appeared by her side. Her moods changed in almost one breath. In one moment she laughed with you light-heartedly and with the next heartbeat she looked at Richard like a wounded deer and retreated into her shell. Something strange had caught her mind. Whatever it was, it slowly changed her every behavior. And the nearer we got to Aydindril, the heavier it seemed to weight her down. I even remember her having nightmares. Even you, Cara, often took care of her when she woke up in the night and you were on watch, remember?
My grandson, your Lord Rahl, the Seeker of Truth, noticed her strange mood too. He told me later, that he tried to put the blame on her nervousness. He thought she felt simply unsure and inexperienced and that would have led to some kind of shyness.
Well, he was wrong.
After you left the Palace...” Zedd paused and frowned thoughtfully, eying Cara curiously, tilting his head. ” - Cara, will you tell me one day why you have gone then? I have never understood what made you leave so harum-scarum...-“ Her eyes narrowed on him impatiently and he hurried to continue. “Well, after our arrival things got even worth. Kahlan burrowed completely into work, avoided everyone and especially Richard; she was rarely seen at dinner or breakfast, always pretending she had no time. She didn´t sleep enough and it happened that I saw traces of tears she shed when she was alone in her rooms. We could literally watch her getting sick. Richard tried everything to get over the walls she had built around herself. But Dennee was the only one she allowed by her side. Oh yes, her little sister was overjoyed to assist her in resuming the first chair, to advice her, to guide her.” Cara frowned slightly at the tiny spark of sarcasm in the wizard´s voice.
“To be honest: looking back I have to admit that it has been her merit that Kahlan finally turned toward Richard again. Dennee adored him! She seemed eager to see them married. She did her best to convince her sister of Richard´s true and deep love; she never got tired to press her that he was the one... And Richard? He conveyed his love in every way he could think of. He was always around and tried to ease her mind the best he could. He was appreciative and patient. He anticipated her every wish, even when she had none; decorated her chambers with flowers, which she never seemed to notice; organized candle light dinners, which she never attended. He tried to assist her in her commitments and one day he even insisted to take over a few of them.
That was enough to make her livid. She yelled at him in a sheer fury! Dennee could barely calm her down. She said things like that it was only Kahlan´s fault, Richard just wanted to help and that she was an ingrate; That she did not deserve the great gift of his love if she would not finally start to reciprocate…” Zedd stared into nothing for an instant with a deep frown as his thoughts went lost in his memories. Then he shook his grey head, as if recalling himself back to the presence.
“However, on this evening Dennee had a long private meeting with her sister and apparently she talked some reason into Kahlan. Things changed, slowly.”
Cara had followed his speech with narrowed eyes; her features were carved in stone, except for a rare twitching in the thin line of her lips, which had almost lost their color from firmly being pressed together.
Zedd took a deep breath, his eyes focused swiftly on occasion on the empty plate on the table. When his gaze shifted hopefully to Mistress Sanderholt it was the dark sea-green glow of Cara´s merciless glare that brought him back to his speech in an instant. Sighing he continued.
“After that evening Kahlan became a little moderated; she allowed Richard to care. And finally they became close enough that she allowed him to accompany her into her chambers...I hoped then it all would come to a happy ending, finally. Kahlan seemed to be... “ he shrugged, searching for a fitting word; “as... content as she could be.” He sighed deeply. “And Richard? He was aglow with happiness! He was a big grinning sunshiny boy. Well, it didn´t take long and Kahlan became pregnant. Finally she appeared honestly rejoiced. But it was obvious, that her pregnancy wasn´t easy, and Richard was expelled from her chambers, “cause she badly needed some rest”.“ The wizard shook his head sadly. “If you ask me today, I would say she was more than grateful to have an excuse for banishing him from her bed. Poor Richard; He could barely accept it. But at least he tried to make himself believe that it was because of the baby, that maybe her hormones were to blame, that all would go better as soon as the baby was there.
Dennee was always by her side. She was mother and sister and nurse and secretary to her; took care of her wellbeing, held her commitments at bay and arranged that Richard could spend most of the time close to them. She managed somehow that Kahlan seemed to thrive in their care, yet still she held up parts of her somewhat solitary live.
On one day, it was in the end of her fifth month, she decided to go for a ride alone.” The pale blue of Zedd´s eyes became watery with the memory. He briefly looked up to meet Cara´s intense stare, shrugging slightly in a sort of apologize. “You know her. She can be very decidedly. She didn´t allow Richard to accompany her. And after some arguing which ended in an angry hassle he let her go.” The wizard paused. A lonely tear made its way down the bumpy skin of his cheek.
“Her horse came back, galloping straight into the stables, covered with sweat and blood and horrified.” He closed his eyes, his voice a scratchy melody of pain. “She was found two leagues away. Unconscious. She had an arm and a few ribs broken...a few deep wounds… and she was bleeding.” He shook his head, seeing the hurting images vividly in his mind. “She had lost so much blood... It is a miracle that she has not died... I did what I could. But I could not do enough... The following day... she lost the child.” His face was contorted, emotions drawing deep furrows on his forehead. His next words hardly a whisper.
“It was a boy.”
The air around them tightened into an audible silence. Cara sat frozen, staring empty holes into the air, a distraught expression on her face. Her surrounding had faded; the clanging of dishes sounding far away, muffled behind an invisible wall of batting. A thin streak of wetness glistened on her cheek as she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Her hands moved to her sides, searching for the familiar pain of her agiels, trying to soothe the burning agony in her belly. She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat, taking a few moments to regain control over her features. Only slowly she got her focus back on Zedd´s voice, who continued to narrate.
“Something deep inside Kahlan has broken then; what you see is just a faint shadow of her former self. Dedicated to her duties like a puppet, whose strings are carefully pulled; mostly by her sister. As if she is living in a prison inside her mind. Her body recovered over the weeks; but her soul never stopped bleeding. On the surface she does not betray her feelings; she refuses talking about it. She never told anyone what had happened. She worked hard to regain her force and simply went back to her duties. That was the time when she sent Richard to D´Hara, wishing to distract him from his grieving. He was the one who broke down, his mourning flowed thickly through the Palace and Kahlan had neither the strength nor the willpower to solace him.” A sudden wave of anger swept briefly over his face.”For sure, Dennee was there, trying to comfort him, but he rebuffed her decidedly. As you know he travelled to the People´s Palace for almost six months. When he came back he tried once more to regain Kahlan´s heart, but all he got was some distant friendship. Whatever had been between them during all that times of fight against Darken Rahl and the Keeper, it had been gone, had not been enough to let them live a life together. Richard had a hard time to admit it to himself. For some months he tended to visit the taverns of Aydindril to drown his sorrows. Kahlan tried a few times to talk some reason into him, some of their quarrels were audible all over the palace, until even their friendship was on the edge of shattering. Then eventually he decided to leave.” Zedd looked at Cara with a resigned sigh.
“And that is when he decided to bring you here. He is desperate. He still loves her with every fiber of his being. But after all he has recognized that he means no good to her. For you, he knows and expects you to be loyal and trusted. For his own sake, he needs to know that a true friend is by her side if she needs one. And more than this...” His tired eyes locked with hers, piercing her with his intense, almost pleading glare.
“At least, Cara, there have been times when we all considered you to be her friend. You know how it feels to be broken. Maybe we see you as her last chance; Maybe we hope you might be able put her broken self together; somehow. “
Cara glowered at him without seeing him. Zedd could literally watch the muddle of emotions raging behind her forehead. Every muscle in her body seemed to be tensed. After what felt like a small eternity, filled with heavy silence, she slowly stood, clenching her jaw and turned around without a word, pacing out of the kitchen. Only when the door clung shut behind her she quickened her pace, until she reached the palace entrance and started to run.
t.b.c.
on to part 3...