Legendland Bingo Fills Post 2/3
Okay here are the rest of the drabbles I wrote for legendland bingo.
Boat at a Lake
The summer breeze was nice as they made their way through the clearing towards the lake. Kahlan didn’t know how long they would have to stop and rest but she didn’t want to waste the chance. She intended to do some washing and fill the water skeins before they could move on again. Richard was accompanying her to the shore but she didn’t know why. She could have easily washed his shirt for him and he knew that. Glancing over at him she arched her eyebrow. “I could have done this on my own, Richard. You could have set a few snares for a rabbit or two. I’m sure Zedd would have been grateful.”
Richard shook his head just as the shimmering water came into view. “I thought you could use the company. Besides, Zedd eats enough for all of us as it is.” She chuckled lightly and nodded at his assessment. That much was true. Zedd ate more than she and Richard combined. It seemed impossible that he could still remain as skinny as he always had been but then of course she would remember it was probably magic.
Glancing over towards him, Kahlan noticed the small boat beached on the shore of the lake. It brought a smile to her face as she wondered if Richard’s intentions towards their afternoon break from travelling had not had some ulterior motives. “I wonder where the boat came from,” she said as they walked towards where it rested partially on the sand.
“I don’t know,” Richard replied in a way which made it obvious that he knew exactly what had happened. Kahlan didn’t even need her powers to see that. “But let’s go check it out.” He offered her his hand and she took it with a knowing smile on her lips. Even though Richard might have thought he was being clever but Kahlan knew the truth.
Rolling her eyes, Kahlan followed along with him. “Alright, Richard. We can see but it’s not ours we should be careful.” Of course she knew that Richard more than likely had permission to use the boat but he was so pleased with surprising her like this. She didn’t really want to ruin it for him.
Once they reached it, Richard helped her get in. She chuckled and shook her head but sat there none the less. “It will be fun,” he said with a soft smile before joining her in the boat and pushing it off the shore with a paddle. Kahlan smiled up at him and hoped he was right. If he wasn’t then things would certainly be interesting. Hopefully while their guard was down like this, Zedd was somewhere nearby. Knowing the wizard he probably was and that gave Kahlan peace of mind enough to enjoy their little boat ride. After all, how often did they have a little time off?
I Wanna Like You
When Dahlia showed up looking for Cara, Kahlan had been skeptical. She had every right to be as Mord’Sith were the only type of people she couldn’t read. Kahlan didn’t know if Dahlia’s intentions were pure or if she was harboring some dark secret. Although she had not considered herself friends with Cara for very long, Kahlan still felt like it was her duty to at least try and like Dahlia. After all, the Mord’Sith was Cara’s friend. They had known each other for years. Trying to play nice and like the woman was the least that Kahlan could do. It was diplomatic and the Mother Confessor was nothing but that deep down.
She just wanted to like Cara’s friend but something kept her from doing that. When the truth was revealed about the plot to lure Cara away from them, Kahlan understood why she had been so wary of the Mord’Sith. She was not someone who had earned her trust. It had taken months before Kahlan believed in and trusted Cara. Why would things be any different for someone else? Her father had helped her see that when she was young she couldn’t trust anyone but herself. Unfortunately that was something that she still remembered and fell back on at times. That was why she couldn’t like Dahlia, no matter how hard she tried. It was just impossible.
Long Black Hair
Something about Kahlan’s hair had captivated him since the first moment he saw her. The way it blew in the wind and fell loosely around her shoulders was something that just mesmerized Richard no matter how much he tried to deny it. So many times he would dream of holding her in his arms and running his fingers through the raven locks as they kissed. Those were wonderful dreams but they always ended far too soon
Sometimes when he would sit up on watch, her hair would fall over her face as she slept. Richard always longed to reach over and brush it back behind her ear but usually he feared breaking some sort of unspoken vow to keep from getting too close to her. It was impossible as he was falling more in love with her every single day but Richard was trying his best.
Once their feelings were out in the open though, Richard didn’t have to worry as much. Whenever they stole a kiss away from prying eyes he could tuck a lock of her dark hair behind her ear before kissing her forehead. A few times after she bathed in the rivers near camp, Kahlan would sit by the fire while Richard would run the brush through her long black hair. He loved to do it and he knew it relaxed her more than just about anything else. It was the perfect thing they could do to stay connected and show each other how much they loved each other while intimacy was still forbidden to them. It was perfect, magical and Richard hoped that someday once they found a way to be together, these quite moments would never change.
Magic and Power
Since the beginning of time those with magic persevered and triumphed over those without it, so it came as no surprise that the wizards and confessors held control of the Midlands just as the House of Rahl controlled D’Hara. Whoever had the magic held all the power. It was common sense. Everyone knew that and no one tried to question it. When those with magic got greedy for power, that was when the trouble began. The House of Rahl was notorious for this. Too many times had they used magic to gain power over their people. It was wrong.
For the Confessors, power was a burden they carried. It was their job to see justice done but they never liked it and those who used it for their own personal gain were rare. That was why only female Confessors were allowed to live. They usually saw that using their magic to gain power was not in the best interests of the people. Male Confessors were too consumed with lust for power and magic, much like the people of the House of Rahl had been for generations. That was how things had been until Richard Rahl set everything right once again. Now, with the new Lord Rahl and Mother Confessor reigning, everything finally was in balance. One was just left hoping that it would stay like that.
Pain and Pleasure
Pain and pleasure were opposites but for Mord’Sith they were two sides of the same coin. In order to understand one you had to understand the other. There was no other way that it could be done. Denna had said that and she was right. It was one of the very first lessons that she learned. Pain and pleasure went hand in hand. Since the beginning of time they always had and they always would. Nothing would ever truly change that. Pain was the only thing common to every living thing but that didn’t make pleasure any less important. They were mixed together each time she was brought to Darken Rahl’s bedchambers. After all, she was his favorite and everyone knew that. Her skills in bed were unparalleled. Denna was jealous of that, or at least that was what Cara liked to believe.
The touch of the agiel eventually became a little of both for her. Pain and pleasure mixed together to the point where Cara couldn’t have one without the other. Sex was a power struggle amongst the Mord’Sith and after her sisters abandoned her, that didn’t change in Cara’s mind. It had been a struggle with Leo and it was a struggle whenever she found someone on a tavern willing to try their luck with a Mord’Sith. It was a struggle when she tried once and failed to seduce her new Lord Rahl but she respected his choice. Richard wasn’t Darken and he wouldn’t use pleasure or pain to control anyone. That was a refreshing change of pace. It was the thing she respected more than anything else. It made Cara realize that there was more to life than pleasure and pain. There was a whole world there just beyond her reach. All she needed to do was open her eyes.
Who's In Charge Here?
Before Denna failed and abandoned the Sisters of the Agiel, she was in charge. Denna only answered to Lord Rahl. Once Denna was gone, that role fell to Cara. It was something she had dreamed of for years and finally it was hers. Finally she was no longer second best to Denna. She could finally make something of herself and show her sisters what she really was. When the Seeker killed Darken Rahl things changed again. Now she was the alpha, the leader, the Sister they all looked to for guidance. Triana challenged her authority and she had no choice but to remind the woman who was the boss now.
Throwing her into the bath and threatening to drown her had seemed like the smart choice at the time. Unfortunately things don’t always work out like that, much to Cara’s displeasure. The battle of wills returned and she was overthrown. It happened before within the ranks of the Mord’Sith so she shouldn’t have been surprised. Gaining control back would be a challenge but Cara loved them. First she needed to deal with Triana before anything else could happen.
Teaching her sister a lesson had been satisfying. Cara made her point and with Triana’s blood on her hands, everyone finally understood who was truly in charge. However, Cara didn’t have a chance to enjoy her authority. She’d found her new Lord Rahl and he needed her. Although neither of them might have liked it, Richard was in change now. Nothing would ever change that. It was what he had been born for. It would take time but Cara knew someday he would make the right choice to rule the people of D’Hara. Until then she would just have to remind him exactly who was in charge.
Crossing the Line
There was some unwritten rule that he should not have fallen for Kahlan but he couldn’t help it. She was everything he had ever dreamed of in a woman and more. Richard could easily close his eyes and picture them living together in Westland. It was a perfect little dream but at the same time it felt almost as though he was crossing some hidden line. Things with Kahlan would never be like that, or at least that was what Zedd kept telling him. Unfortunately Richard had never been very good at listening. All he knew was that he liked her and wanted to be happy. Kahlan made him happy and with the quest weighing heavily on his shoulders, happiness was hard to come by. Richard truly needed her but Zedd didn’t see that. He couldn’t understand why.
Zedd saw his growing feelings for Kahlan as crossing some sort of boundary. It was forbidden, or at least that was the impression Richard got. Seekers and Confessors could not be together but the feelings were still there. Just because he couldn’t act on them didn’t make them magically disappear. That would have been impossible.
When he kissed her for the first time that line was officially crossed and for a moment Richard thought everything would be perfect. Unfortunately that was not how things worked out in the end. Kahlan pushed him away and he was left wondering if Zedd had been right. Maybe it was wrong to feel things for Kahlan and to want her. It was impossible to help but he could try. The line had been already crossed so the situation had changed but Richard promised himself he would do his best to keep things normal. It was the least he could do after aggravating a situation he didn’t completely understand
“I should have listened,” he murmured under his breath as Kahlan walked back away from him after helping to rescue him from Denna’s clutches. Maybe then this pain wouldn’t have crippled him but it was too late. He’d crossed the line and fallen in love. There was no going back now.
Past and the Chase
“Do you remember when we first met?"
Richard’s voice drew her from her thoughts and she nodded slightly. “Of course I do, Richard.” Kahlan smiled a little as she looked up at him lovingly. Whenever she thought about that day a smile always formed on her face. It was the happiest day of her life, or at least it was in the beginning. Now it was only the beginning of her happy life now. “You saved me after the D’Haran’s chased me for days.”
“Mmm and you changed my life by running through that forest.” Richard smiled and brushed a lock of her raven hair back behind her ear. It was a great day for them both and neither one of them would ever forget it. They both knew that very well.
Kahlan smiled. “And you saved mine. With that quad chasing me I don’t know how much longer I would have lasted,” she admitted with a soft sigh. It wasn’t something she liked to think about, especially since she had thought she lost her sister that day, but nothing would ever change what happened. It was the past and had helped shape her into who she was now.
“I’d do it again too,” Richard replied before leaning in to kiss her softly. These moments like this were perfect and Kahlan couldn’t help but wonder what the future would bring now that the past was completely behind them.
Death Becomes Her
Cara was never afraid of dying. Even as a little girl in the clutches of Mistress Nathair, Cara had been brave. She wasn’t afraid of what would happen if her heart stopped beating and she fell to the Keeper. That was a good trait for a Mord’Sith to have, she quickly learned. The breath of life was helpful but Cara could still remember bits and pieces of what it was like to die that first time.
When the man’s blade bit into the tender skin of her neck, Cara barely made a sound. The pain of a knife ripping open her flesh was nothing compared to the pain of an agiel. She’d grown used to that. Once the man was dead, Cara soon fell over too. Awakening in the Underworld was not what she’d expected but Cara was never one to dwell on things. It didn’t take more than a moment before she knew what she had to do. Richard needed her, Kahlan needed her and even the wizard needed her. Taking the deal to serve the Keeper didn’t seem like such a bad deal.
“You understand the rules?” Darken Rahl’s voice ran through the Underworld and she nodded. Playing by the rules had never been something she was good at but this time she would have to give it a try. Suddenly her eyes flew open and she rose from the ground as a baneling. It was her final chance to prove to herself that she was more than what she had become. It was her last chance to show Richard that he needed her. Even in death she was ready to fight by his side and that would never change.
Wizard Fire
It seemed so easy whenever he saw Zedd do it but now that Richard had his magic back, he could not make so much as a spark. “Concentrate,” his grandfather said and Richard tried once more. There was nothing there, no flames at his fingertips or eve a wisp of smoke. For a child born of two powerful bloodlines, Richard didn’t feel very powerful. “You’ll get it.”
Looking up into the kind eyes of his grandfather, Richard ran his fingers through his shaggy chestnut hair. “I’m beginning to doubt that.”
Zedd shook his head. “Lesson number fifty seven, Seeker. If you start to give up then you will never succeed.” It was sound advice. Richard knew that but still it seemed hard to believe in himself when it was quite obvious that he was struggling with his magic. Maybe Nicci had done something to him when she returned his gift to him.
“That’s easier said than done,” Richard replied with a hint of annoyance in his tone. He wasn’t upset with Zedd so much as he was upset with himself. However, Richard had never been very good at letting people know that.
“Try it again.”
Richard sighed but nodded. “Alright.” Clearing his mind of all thoughts, Richard focused on the magic. It had to work this time. If it didn’t he didn’t know what he would do. After a moment or two he heard Zedd gasp and his hand suddenly felt warmer. Tentatively he opened his eyes. “I did it,” Richard said with a smile before lighting the wick of a nearby candle.
“I knew you could.”
Innocence is Lost
Richard had dreaded this day for years. Ever since the day their daughter came into the world red faces and screaming, he’d wondered how long she would have to be a child before her duty came to bear down heavily on her tiny shoulders. When Kahlan told him her plan to bring Mary down to the dungeons to watch her give confessions, Richard wanted to protest. Their daughter was eight years old. Couldn’t she be allowed to be a child for a while longer before her innocence was stripped away by this future?
“Richard,” Kahlan said as if she sensed his unease about her choice. “She needs to learn sooner rather than later. It’s not ideal but she is old enough now. She’s older than I was when I witnessed confessions for the first time.”
He nodded slightly and met his wife’s blue eyes with a sad sigh. “I know but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. She’s so sweet, so innocent and she is still a child. Once she realizes the responsibility on her shoulders all of that will change.”
“I don’t think it will,” Kahlan protested as she reached out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You’re forgetting she already knows she is your heir. She knows she will be Lady Rahl someday and that hasn’t changed her in the slightest. She’s strong and I don’t think this will either. We just need to believe in her.”
With a sigh, Richard ran his fingers through his hair before leaning over to kiss her cheek. “I hope you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.” He laughed then and suddenly the idea of their child growing up didn’t seem so bad. As long as they were there to guide her she would be okay.
Two Hearts Intertwined
It was the day they had both been waiting for and neither could have been happier. Today they would finally become one after struggling so hard to find a way to be together. They’d found it. The secret had been simple and now they were finally going to get their happily ever after. It was amazing and Kahlan couldn’t have asked for anything more. Confessors weren’t supposed to find love like this but she managed it anyway. It was a miracle and she couldn’t believe that this had happened but it did. That thrilled her.
“Are you ready?&rdquo
Richard’s voice pulled her from her musings and she looked up into his warm brown eyes. All around them the people were cheering but it all faded away whenever she looked at him. When they were together she felt complete. That was an amazing feeling. “I’ve never been more ready in my life.”
“Perfect,” he replied before giving her hand a slight squeeze
Walking out onto the balcony, Kahlan’s heat leapt into her throat. This was what she had been waiting for. They were finally about to become one. That thrilled her. “I love you,” Kahlan whispered as they came to a stop before the masses where they would say their vows and be joined in the eyes of the Creator as a whole, two hearts intertwined.
Richard smiled as the ceremony began. “I love you too.” That was enough. The next time they said those words they would be husband and wife. Neither one of them would have had it any other way.
Part 1 / Part 3
Boat at a Lake
The summer breeze was nice as they made their way through the clearing towards the lake. Kahlan didn’t know how long they would have to stop and rest but she didn’t want to waste the chance. She intended to do some washing and fill the water skeins before they could move on again. Richard was accompanying her to the shore but she didn’t know why. She could have easily washed his shirt for him and he knew that. Glancing over at him she arched her eyebrow. “I could have done this on my own, Richard. You could have set a few snares for a rabbit or two. I’m sure Zedd would have been grateful.”
Richard shook his head just as the shimmering water came into view. “I thought you could use the company. Besides, Zedd eats enough for all of us as it is.” She chuckled lightly and nodded at his assessment. That much was true. Zedd ate more than she and Richard combined. It seemed impossible that he could still remain as skinny as he always had been but then of course she would remember it was probably magic.
Glancing over towards him, Kahlan noticed the small boat beached on the shore of the lake. It brought a smile to her face as she wondered if Richard’s intentions towards their afternoon break from travelling had not had some ulterior motives. “I wonder where the boat came from,” she said as they walked towards where it rested partially on the sand.
“I don’t know,” Richard replied in a way which made it obvious that he knew exactly what had happened. Kahlan didn’t even need her powers to see that. “But let’s go check it out.” He offered her his hand and she took it with a knowing smile on her lips. Even though Richard might have thought he was being clever but Kahlan knew the truth.
Rolling her eyes, Kahlan followed along with him. “Alright, Richard. We can see but it’s not ours we should be careful.” Of course she knew that Richard more than likely had permission to use the boat but he was so pleased with surprising her like this. She didn’t really want to ruin it for him.
Once they reached it, Richard helped her get in. She chuckled and shook her head but sat there none the less. “It will be fun,” he said with a soft smile before joining her in the boat and pushing it off the shore with a paddle. Kahlan smiled up at him and hoped he was right. If he wasn’t then things would certainly be interesting. Hopefully while their guard was down like this, Zedd was somewhere nearby. Knowing the wizard he probably was and that gave Kahlan peace of mind enough to enjoy their little boat ride. After all, how often did they have a little time off?
I Wanna Like You
When Dahlia showed up looking for Cara, Kahlan had been skeptical. She had every right to be as Mord’Sith were the only type of people she couldn’t read. Kahlan didn’t know if Dahlia’s intentions were pure or if she was harboring some dark secret. Although she had not considered herself friends with Cara for very long, Kahlan still felt like it was her duty to at least try and like Dahlia. After all, the Mord’Sith was Cara’s friend. They had known each other for years. Trying to play nice and like the woman was the least that Kahlan could do. It was diplomatic and the Mother Confessor was nothing but that deep down.
She just wanted to like Cara’s friend but something kept her from doing that. When the truth was revealed about the plot to lure Cara away from them, Kahlan understood why she had been so wary of the Mord’Sith. She was not someone who had earned her trust. It had taken months before Kahlan believed in and trusted Cara. Why would things be any different for someone else? Her father had helped her see that when she was young she couldn’t trust anyone but herself. Unfortunately that was something that she still remembered and fell back on at times. That was why she couldn’t like Dahlia, no matter how hard she tried. It was just impossible.
Long Black Hair
Something about Kahlan’s hair had captivated him since the first moment he saw her. The way it blew in the wind and fell loosely around her shoulders was something that just mesmerized Richard no matter how much he tried to deny it. So many times he would dream of holding her in his arms and running his fingers through the raven locks as they kissed. Those were wonderful dreams but they always ended far too soon
Sometimes when he would sit up on watch, her hair would fall over her face as she slept. Richard always longed to reach over and brush it back behind her ear but usually he feared breaking some sort of unspoken vow to keep from getting too close to her. It was impossible as he was falling more in love with her every single day but Richard was trying his best.
Once their feelings were out in the open though, Richard didn’t have to worry as much. Whenever they stole a kiss away from prying eyes he could tuck a lock of her dark hair behind her ear before kissing her forehead. A few times after she bathed in the rivers near camp, Kahlan would sit by the fire while Richard would run the brush through her long black hair. He loved to do it and he knew it relaxed her more than just about anything else. It was the perfect thing they could do to stay connected and show each other how much they loved each other while intimacy was still forbidden to them. It was perfect, magical and Richard hoped that someday once they found a way to be together, these quite moments would never change.
Magic and Power
Since the beginning of time those with magic persevered and triumphed over those without it, so it came as no surprise that the wizards and confessors held control of the Midlands just as the House of Rahl controlled D’Hara. Whoever had the magic held all the power. It was common sense. Everyone knew that and no one tried to question it. When those with magic got greedy for power, that was when the trouble began. The House of Rahl was notorious for this. Too many times had they used magic to gain power over their people. It was wrong.
For the Confessors, power was a burden they carried. It was their job to see justice done but they never liked it and those who used it for their own personal gain were rare. That was why only female Confessors were allowed to live. They usually saw that using their magic to gain power was not in the best interests of the people. Male Confessors were too consumed with lust for power and magic, much like the people of the House of Rahl had been for generations. That was how things had been until Richard Rahl set everything right once again. Now, with the new Lord Rahl and Mother Confessor reigning, everything finally was in balance. One was just left hoping that it would stay like that.
Pain and Pleasure
Pain and pleasure were opposites but for Mord’Sith they were two sides of the same coin. In order to understand one you had to understand the other. There was no other way that it could be done. Denna had said that and she was right. It was one of the very first lessons that she learned. Pain and pleasure went hand in hand. Since the beginning of time they always had and they always would. Nothing would ever truly change that. Pain was the only thing common to every living thing but that didn’t make pleasure any less important. They were mixed together each time she was brought to Darken Rahl’s bedchambers. After all, she was his favorite and everyone knew that. Her skills in bed were unparalleled. Denna was jealous of that, or at least that was what Cara liked to believe.
The touch of the agiel eventually became a little of both for her. Pain and pleasure mixed together to the point where Cara couldn’t have one without the other. Sex was a power struggle amongst the Mord’Sith and after her sisters abandoned her, that didn’t change in Cara’s mind. It had been a struggle with Leo and it was a struggle whenever she found someone on a tavern willing to try their luck with a Mord’Sith. It was a struggle when she tried once and failed to seduce her new Lord Rahl but she respected his choice. Richard wasn’t Darken and he wouldn’t use pleasure or pain to control anyone. That was a refreshing change of pace. It was the thing she respected more than anything else. It made Cara realize that there was more to life than pleasure and pain. There was a whole world there just beyond her reach. All she needed to do was open her eyes.
Who's In Charge Here?
Before Denna failed and abandoned the Sisters of the Agiel, she was in charge. Denna only answered to Lord Rahl. Once Denna was gone, that role fell to Cara. It was something she had dreamed of for years and finally it was hers. Finally she was no longer second best to Denna. She could finally make something of herself and show her sisters what she really was. When the Seeker killed Darken Rahl things changed again. Now she was the alpha, the leader, the Sister they all looked to for guidance. Triana challenged her authority and she had no choice but to remind the woman who was the boss now.
Throwing her into the bath and threatening to drown her had seemed like the smart choice at the time. Unfortunately things don’t always work out like that, much to Cara’s displeasure. The battle of wills returned and she was overthrown. It happened before within the ranks of the Mord’Sith so she shouldn’t have been surprised. Gaining control back would be a challenge but Cara loved them. First she needed to deal with Triana before anything else could happen.
Teaching her sister a lesson had been satisfying. Cara made her point and with Triana’s blood on her hands, everyone finally understood who was truly in charge. However, Cara didn’t have a chance to enjoy her authority. She’d found her new Lord Rahl and he needed her. Although neither of them might have liked it, Richard was in change now. Nothing would ever change that. It was what he had been born for. It would take time but Cara knew someday he would make the right choice to rule the people of D’Hara. Until then she would just have to remind him exactly who was in charge.
Crossing the Line
There was some unwritten rule that he should not have fallen for Kahlan but he couldn’t help it. She was everything he had ever dreamed of in a woman and more. Richard could easily close his eyes and picture them living together in Westland. It was a perfect little dream but at the same time it felt almost as though he was crossing some hidden line. Things with Kahlan would never be like that, or at least that was what Zedd kept telling him. Unfortunately Richard had never been very good at listening. All he knew was that he liked her and wanted to be happy. Kahlan made him happy and with the quest weighing heavily on his shoulders, happiness was hard to come by. Richard truly needed her but Zedd didn’t see that. He couldn’t understand why.
Zedd saw his growing feelings for Kahlan as crossing some sort of boundary. It was forbidden, or at least that was the impression Richard got. Seekers and Confessors could not be together but the feelings were still there. Just because he couldn’t act on them didn’t make them magically disappear. That would have been impossible.
When he kissed her for the first time that line was officially crossed and for a moment Richard thought everything would be perfect. Unfortunately that was not how things worked out in the end. Kahlan pushed him away and he was left wondering if Zedd had been right. Maybe it was wrong to feel things for Kahlan and to want her. It was impossible to help but he could try. The line had been already crossed so the situation had changed but Richard promised himself he would do his best to keep things normal. It was the least he could do after aggravating a situation he didn’t completely understand
“I should have listened,” he murmured under his breath as Kahlan walked back away from him after helping to rescue him from Denna’s clutches. Maybe then this pain wouldn’t have crippled him but it was too late. He’d crossed the line and fallen in love. There was no going back now.
Past and the Chase
“Do you remember when we first met?"
Richard’s voice drew her from her thoughts and she nodded slightly. “Of course I do, Richard.” Kahlan smiled a little as she looked up at him lovingly. Whenever she thought about that day a smile always formed on her face. It was the happiest day of her life, or at least it was in the beginning. Now it was only the beginning of her happy life now. “You saved me after the D’Haran’s chased me for days.”
“Mmm and you changed my life by running through that forest.” Richard smiled and brushed a lock of her raven hair back behind her ear. It was a great day for them both and neither one of them would ever forget it. They both knew that very well.
Kahlan smiled. “And you saved mine. With that quad chasing me I don’t know how much longer I would have lasted,” she admitted with a soft sigh. It wasn’t something she liked to think about, especially since she had thought she lost her sister that day, but nothing would ever change what happened. It was the past and had helped shape her into who she was now.
“I’d do it again too,” Richard replied before leaning in to kiss her softly. These moments like this were perfect and Kahlan couldn’t help but wonder what the future would bring now that the past was completely behind them.
Death Becomes Her
Cara was never afraid of dying. Even as a little girl in the clutches of Mistress Nathair, Cara had been brave. She wasn’t afraid of what would happen if her heart stopped beating and she fell to the Keeper. That was a good trait for a Mord’Sith to have, she quickly learned. The breath of life was helpful but Cara could still remember bits and pieces of what it was like to die that first time.
When the man’s blade bit into the tender skin of her neck, Cara barely made a sound. The pain of a knife ripping open her flesh was nothing compared to the pain of an agiel. She’d grown used to that. Once the man was dead, Cara soon fell over too. Awakening in the Underworld was not what she’d expected but Cara was never one to dwell on things. It didn’t take more than a moment before she knew what she had to do. Richard needed her, Kahlan needed her and even the wizard needed her. Taking the deal to serve the Keeper didn’t seem like such a bad deal.
“You understand the rules?” Darken Rahl’s voice ran through the Underworld and she nodded. Playing by the rules had never been something she was good at but this time she would have to give it a try. Suddenly her eyes flew open and she rose from the ground as a baneling. It was her final chance to prove to herself that she was more than what she had become. It was her last chance to show Richard that he needed her. Even in death she was ready to fight by his side and that would never change.
Wizard Fire
It seemed so easy whenever he saw Zedd do it but now that Richard had his magic back, he could not make so much as a spark. “Concentrate,” his grandfather said and Richard tried once more. There was nothing there, no flames at his fingertips or eve a wisp of smoke. For a child born of two powerful bloodlines, Richard didn’t feel very powerful. “You’ll get it.”
Looking up into the kind eyes of his grandfather, Richard ran his fingers through his shaggy chestnut hair. “I’m beginning to doubt that.”
Zedd shook his head. “Lesson number fifty seven, Seeker. If you start to give up then you will never succeed.” It was sound advice. Richard knew that but still it seemed hard to believe in himself when it was quite obvious that he was struggling with his magic. Maybe Nicci had done something to him when she returned his gift to him.
“That’s easier said than done,” Richard replied with a hint of annoyance in his tone. He wasn’t upset with Zedd so much as he was upset with himself. However, Richard had never been very good at letting people know that.
“Try it again.”
Richard sighed but nodded. “Alright.” Clearing his mind of all thoughts, Richard focused on the magic. It had to work this time. If it didn’t he didn’t know what he would do. After a moment or two he heard Zedd gasp and his hand suddenly felt warmer. Tentatively he opened his eyes. “I did it,” Richard said with a smile before lighting the wick of a nearby candle.
“I knew you could.”
Innocence is Lost
Richard had dreaded this day for years. Ever since the day their daughter came into the world red faces and screaming, he’d wondered how long she would have to be a child before her duty came to bear down heavily on her tiny shoulders. When Kahlan told him her plan to bring Mary down to the dungeons to watch her give confessions, Richard wanted to protest. Their daughter was eight years old. Couldn’t she be allowed to be a child for a while longer before her innocence was stripped away by this future?
“Richard,” Kahlan said as if she sensed his unease about her choice. “She needs to learn sooner rather than later. It’s not ideal but she is old enough now. She’s older than I was when I witnessed confessions for the first time.”
He nodded slightly and met his wife’s blue eyes with a sad sigh. “I know but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. She’s so sweet, so innocent and she is still a child. Once she realizes the responsibility on her shoulders all of that will change.”
“I don’t think it will,” Kahlan protested as she reached out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You’re forgetting she already knows she is your heir. She knows she will be Lady Rahl someday and that hasn’t changed her in the slightest. She’s strong and I don’t think this will either. We just need to believe in her.”
With a sigh, Richard ran his fingers through his hair before leaning over to kiss her cheek. “I hope you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.” He laughed then and suddenly the idea of their child growing up didn’t seem so bad. As long as they were there to guide her she would be okay.
Two Hearts Intertwined
It was the day they had both been waiting for and neither could have been happier. Today they would finally become one after struggling so hard to find a way to be together. They’d found it. The secret had been simple and now they were finally going to get their happily ever after. It was amazing and Kahlan couldn’t have asked for anything more. Confessors weren’t supposed to find love like this but she managed it anyway. It was a miracle and she couldn’t believe that this had happened but it did. That thrilled her.
“Are you ready?&rdquo
Richard’s voice pulled her from her musings and she looked up into his warm brown eyes. All around them the people were cheering but it all faded away whenever she looked at him. When they were together she felt complete. That was an amazing feeling. “I’ve never been more ready in my life.”
“Perfect,” he replied before giving her hand a slight squeeze
Walking out onto the balcony, Kahlan’s heat leapt into her throat. This was what she had been waiting for. They were finally about to become one. That thrilled her. “I love you,” Kahlan whispered as they came to a stop before the masses where they would say their vows and be joined in the eyes of the Creator as a whole, two hearts intertwined.
Richard smiled as the ceremony began. “I love you too.” That was enough. The next time they said those words they would be husband and wife. Neither one of them would have had it any other way.
Part 1 / Part 3