Water Under The Bridge

I'm taking a dip into a longer form now. I'd been kinda stuck on this story till I saw Mirror. It was nice to have a really light story for a change, and it helped me take a little different tack with this one. Plotwise, it's not as strong as I'd like, but I finally decided I'm okay with that, so take this as just a marginally fluffy piece, in which I address the impracticality of Confessors' gowns, how Richard and Kahlan always seem hang on to their little backpacks no matter what they go through, and Richard's habit of finding new relatives in odd places. Set immediately after Deception. (BTW, I'm finding the geography of the Midlands more than a bit perplexing, so if the mountain setting isn't right, sue me.) And yes, there's a bit of business halfway through and again at the end that we've seen done to death on the show. Like I said, this is fluff, and I needed a deus ex machina.

Reviews welcomed, flames ignored, gratuitous flattery encouraged.

I don't own them, they're not mine, I'm just taking them out for a spin. I promise to fill the tank when I'm done.

Summary: Richard and Kahlan are swept into a new adventure when Kahlan makes a precipitous decision in a crisis.

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Richard watched Kahlan as they rode through a torrential downpour, the rain spilling off the Confessor's hood she'd pulled up over her raven hair. He couldn't quite see her eyes, but he had a feeling they wouldn't be looking back at him. She'd been a little distant since the near-disaster at Grayston. It was clear the death of Carver Dunn had weighed on her. That and the fact that their presence had led to the deaths of so many...

Richard pulled his thoughts away from that, knowing there was nothing to be done about it now. But he realized as he thought it that his mood was no better than Kahlan's.

And this rotten weather isn't helping, he thought, annoyed, wiping the icy rain out of his eyes for the hundredth time that afternoon. It felt cold enough for the rain to turn to snow, and he worried that it would as they climbed toward the mountains.

For her part, Kahlan wasn't looking forward to crossing the bridge. The river running alongside the road was high, too high, and churning violently. But they had to cross, despite the danger. Crossing might give them some respite from the constant pressure from the D'Harans. Once we get across, we can take out the bridge, and we might finally have a chance to slow down a little. They had to be getting close to the bridge by now...

There was a faint noise behind them, and Richard stopped for an instant, looking back, though the rain made it difficult to see very far. But in the dim light, he thought he caught a glint of metal through the trees. Damn! he thought. They must have gotten word that we were headed for the northern bridge. He wheeled back and called softly to Kahlan, "Move! D'Harans!"

Kahlan spurred her horse forward without a glance backward, trusting Richard's instincts. As she did, an arrow flew past the spot she'd just been. They raced forward, the rain making it hard to see where they were going. More arrows flew by, some dangerously close, but they seemed to be gaining ground on the archers. But what if there are more at the bridge? Kahlan thought with a sinking feeling as Richard's horse galloped just ahead of her. She shook off the feeling. Get there first, and deal with whatever—

Her horse shrieked, plunging forward and down. Kahlan threw herself to the side, trying desperately to avoid being pinned by the falling horse. She hit the ground, rolling, and came up painfully hard against a tree. She lay there for a moment, trying to breathe, then saw the soldiers riding for her just beyond her struggling horse. There are so many, she thought. Where did they all come from? She struggled to her feet, grabbing for her daggers as she did, and ran unsteadily for the bridge, which she could see now wasn't far ahead. Thank the spirits for small favors. Richard had reined in his horse and was turning back toward her. "NO!" she yelled, waving him on, "Get to the bridge! There may be more there!"

He hesitated, and she thought for a horrible moment he was going to ride back into that army behind them. She heard pounding behind her, and turned on the run, flinging a dagger up into the throat of the soldier about to swing his sword down upon her. He fell backwards, making a gurgling noise, and she grabbed for the reins as the horse flew by. She missed the reins, but managed to catch the stirrup. It jolted her forward, and she fell, dragging behind the horse. It slowed enough, though, that she was able to get her feet under her, and, still running, pull herself painfully up onto the horse. She spurred it forward, just ahead of another rider.

Richard had turned his and was driving again for the bridge. But Kahlan felt a wave of dread as she saw more soldiers, this time on foot, break from the trees behind the bridge. They were trying to cut her off from Richard, and both of them from the bridge. And they're going to succeed, Kahlan thought grimly. Richard had turned his horse, drawing the Sword of Truth and slashing violently at the line of running soldiers. They broke away, but some of them continued toward the bridge, while others began slashing back at Richard. "Richard!" Kahlan cried desperately, "Get to the bridge! The bridge!"

He turned, finally realizing the threat, and wheeled his horse back, cutting down two of the men running for the bridge. But the others angled to cut her off from him. There were now a dozen soldiers between her and Richard. And escape.

"Cut it!" Kahlan yelled as he reached the edge of the bluff over the river where the narrow rope bridge was staked solidly into the ground.

"What!?" Richard yelled back, incredulous. He batted aside one sword thrust and took out another soldier as he turned.

Kahlan could see the flood waters were washing over the base of the bridge now, the water dark and turbulent. This is insane, she thought. What you're thinking is insane.

Do you have a better idea? another part of her asked. The first didn't answer. "I said, cut the bridge!" As she galloped closer, she could see the soldiers readying themselves for her impact.

"Not till you get here!" Richard yelled, brushing aside one sword thrust and turning to impale another attacker. He wheeled his horse in a circle, leaping off as he turned. With the horse between him and the bulk of the soldiers for the moment, he backed onto the planks of the rickety rope bridge to give himself protection from attacks from the side.

"I have a plan!" Kahlan drove her horse at the soldiers blocking her, but one of them grabbed at the reins as she galloped past, the horse's head turning violently, and Kahlan was nearly pitched off as it spun. She threw herself off, landing off-balance in the wet grass, and slashed with her remaining dagger at the nearest soldier. He pulled back, avoiding her attack, but he slipped in the grass and fell, and she turned back toward the bridge.

And came face to face with four more soldiers only a few yards away and coming fast. She was quickly being surrounded, but there was only one soldier between her and the edge of the bluff. Well then, she thought, the insane option is all that's left.

"Kahlan!" she heard Richard yell desperately.

"Cut the bridge!" she yelled back, turning to run toward the river.

"What are you doing?! Kahlan!"

"Cut the bridge, you fool!!"

"Kahlan, NO!" She only dimly heard his words as she stabbed her dagger into the chest of the one soldier standing between her and the river. She shoved him aside and, putting every bit of strength she had into it, dove headlong into the raging water below.