Princess Rahl, Chapter 8 of The Heir to the Throne

[hrhrionastar]

Title: Captivated (Ch. 8 of The Heir to the Throne)
Pairing: Darken/Kahlan, background Darken/Cara, Richard/Kahlan
Length: 906
Rating: T
Spoilers: Reckoning, mostly, but eventually there'll be a few references to things we learn later.
Summary: Reckoning AU: what if Darken and Kahlan's baby was a girl?

 

Captivated

Darken was sitting in his study, reliving the goodnight kiss he’d shared with Kahlan. He wanted her to know how much he still admired and desired her, though he wouldn’t force her to return to his bed.

Little had he realized, striking that bargain with her after Richard disappeared, just how much more he’d wanted than a Confessor heir to the throne. Kahlan was—she was his Queen. There was no other way to express it.

And tonight…

The children were safely in bed; he and Kahlan had been discussing a political issue upon which, for once, they were in perfect agreement: one of the minor lords had pushed his six-year-old nephew off a cliff in order to inherit his elder brother’s estate—the case had hit Kahlan particularly hard, Darken thought, because Nicholas was turning six this year. The man’s execution was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

When Darken had suggested, “Why not merely imprison him? Give his family the task of feeding the man; I doubt they’d let him go. And we look lenient, while they waste revenue.”

“Don’t you dare!” Kahlan had almost shrieked. “Leave that man at large—escapes are easy, especially for that class—let me Confess him, I swear, I’d be hard put to it not to kill him myself—“

“Very well,” Darken had said, concealing his glee with difficulty. “The execution will proceed as scheduled. If you insist.”

Kahlan had given him a sharp look. “Good,” she said, but Darken saw her fingers brush the Rada’Han around her neck.

He caught her hand in both of his. “You know better than that,” he said softly, answering her thoughts and not her words. “I can’t take that off. You think I want to fight my entire Confessed household?”

“You just assume—“ Kahlan said furiously, and then bit her lip.

Darken was immediately fascinated; he leaned closer. Kahlan raised her free hand as though about to hit him—gently, he licked that adorable lip. Kahlan sat rigid for one moment; then her free hand wrapped itself in his hair, pulling him closer—she melted, kissing him back with the passion he’d always admired.

She pulled away all too soon, and retired for the night looking flustered and mussed—still, Darken thought happily, it was progress.

His good mood lasted until General Egremont entered, and said, with his customary calm, “My Lord, the self-styled ‘Emperor Jagang,’ is attempting to storm the castle. Shall I tell the cooks to prepare the boiling oil?”

 

 

Kahlan didn’t understand what was the matter with her. Was she so starved for love that even Darken’s half-truths and manipulations could charm her? Was she so starved for trust that she would believe Darken meant her no harm? So starved for touch that their kiss had left her on fire, still trembling, longing for she knew not what (okay, so she had some idea)?

Kahlan was afraid the answer to all three questions—was yes.

The worst part, she thought miserably, resting her head in her hands, was that she no longer wanted the freedom of being without the Rada’Han so that she might launch such a rebellion as Darken feared. She knew it was her duty to do so, knew he was the greatest tyrant who ever lived, she’d given up everything to stop him, from her sister’s life to her lost love to her honor, but…she couldn’t imagine such a rebellion would do more than cause more bloodshed.

And was she weak, to want no longer to be so alone? Was it only she who kept the distinction of enemies between herself and Darken? Didn’t Jennsen’s attitude prove that she was already a traitor to everyone she’d ever cared for—the innocent people who looked to the Mother Confessor as the moral authority in the Midlands?

She had to believe Richard could return, and stop all this from ever happening. But then why make herself miserable for the next fifty years? Not that she’d survive that long.

She knew Nicholas would be evil, would destroy everything—but might not she and Nila together stop him?

Did she only believe this world-without-Richard would go up in flames and ruins because she wanted to think she was doing the right thing for the world when all she was truly trying to accomplish was her love returned to her?

Kahlan, getting a headache, dragged herself upstairs to tell Nila her usual bedtime story about the amazing and glorious deeds of the Seeker. She passed a tall, upstairs window and was immediately arrested by the sight of what she could only assume was an army, battering down the gates.

“No…” she whispered. How could Darken have let this happen? Didn’t he realize her children were in this palace?

She stared, and for one bizarre moment, it was as though the man’s eyes bore into hers. He wasn’t quite in the front, nor did he look like much of a leader—but those eyes—

One moment, Kahlan was herself, Darken’s captive Confessor wife, mother to the next generation of Rahl rulers, on her way to subvert her daughter into rescuing her from this gilded cage—

The next, she was—not. Not Kahlan, not the Mother Confessor, not Lady Rahl. Her mind and face were blank, wiped clean of personality.

She turned around and walked downstairs to where the gate was controlled.

Somewhere deep inside her soul, Kahlan screamed.

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Comments

[dorothydeath.livejournal.com]

+1 to 16beckyb

Kahlan is so Kahlan! "Darken Rahl is the greatest tyrant!" Where was she all these years? He gave her all she wanted! Places of healing, homes for orphaned children, amnesty for the resistance. He cares for her! And he clearly allows her to have a say in some matters of state. She is not Darken's puppet.

I really hope that Emperor Jagang will help her realize what being a puppet truly means.

Love your story, btw ^_^

[hrhrionastar.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Kahlan is so Kahlan! Excellent ;)

And your points about what Darken has done for her are all well taken. After all, real tyrants don't go in for orphans, or amnesty ;)