Disclaimer: TV/Book characters do not belong to me. I write for fun and the only thing I get from this is lots of more fun. There's a bit of Book/TV Canon, but it's mostly for background's sake. There are also characters that are not book or TV related – those are mine.

Summary: "All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king."

by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Author's Note: This is the first installment in what I like to call this series Legend of the Mord'Sith, and of course, you can tell what this means. This is set in an AU with plenty of turns and twists and its set several weeks after Tears. Dedicated to my life partner, who puts up with my long hours spent at work and this.

Chapter One

It was another typical summer day in the Midlands and, for once, there was no real need to get up early and hurry somewhere. That didn't stop Cara from waking her travel companions at the crack of dawn. Groans were heard everywhere and the blonde Mord'Sith rolled her green-blue eyes in frustration; they were like small, spoiled children!

Forcing herself not to vent her frustration on her friends, she turned on her heels and stomped away from their makeshift camp, disappearing into the woods surrounding them.

"Wonder what's gotten into her?" Richard mumbled sleepily as he snuggled closer to the warm body so close to his. "She's been like this for days."

"She hasn't killed anything but rabbits for the past weeks." Zedd grumbled as rummaged his travel bag for a moment. He chuckled when his hand touched its prey and happily sunk his teeth in a shining red apple. "Nothing like breakfast to start a good day!" his smile widened at the low chuckles from the young couple not far from him. "And it seems it's going to be another perfect summer day!" the old wizard stretched lazily and made his way to the fire. "Good, Cara kept it burning."

"Doesn't she always?" Kahlan smiled at the old wizard she adored like a father, sparing a moment to think about the grumpy Mord'Sith. Maybe she should…

"C'mon, since we're up already, no sense in staying in bed like lazy bums." Richard kissed her temple tenderly and jumped to his feet. "The sooner we set foot on the road, the sooner we'll reach Aydindril." Richard inhaled the fresh morning deeply, savoring his own words with a happy little smile. Soon, they would reach Kahlan's home, where they could finally take a much deserved break and rest for real. Then, he was going to ask her to marry him, and move to Westland. He was going to build them a nice little cabin in the woods, and once they were properly settled, they would finally be able to start their own family. They had saved the fate of the world against all odds and this was their rightful reward.

Kahlan's smile stretched all the way to her sky blue eyes – she couldn't wait to get home! She'd been away for too long and she needed to reconnect with that part of herself, with her people and her land; she needed to reconnect with her duties and especially her power. "I miss home," she said with a bright smile. "I don't think I'm ever setting foot outside of Aydindril again!"

Richard turned around sharply, his happy smile faltering visibly, but Zedd's voice prevented him from asking the question already on the tip of his tongue.

"Ah, Aydindril! How I've missed it too!" the old wizard spared her an indulgent look. "I think I'm going to spend a very long time buried in the mass of books in the Wizard's Keep. There's so much to catch up, I'm not sure I'll be able to finish in this lifetime!"

Kahlan chuckled and squeezed his shoulder tenderly. "Are we allowed to dig you out for meals?"

Zedd gave her a pleased smile. "Always, my dear, always." He patted the hand still resting on his shoulder. "Maybe you should go find that Mord'Sith of yours and tell her breakfast is almost done, since you're the only she'll actually heed to."

Kahlan peered at the pot Zedd was warming up with last night's leftovers, and realized it wouldn't be enough for all. Maybe she should hunt for berries on her way to Cara. "Be right back."

Kahlan left the camp without a glance back, never noticing the panicked look on Richard's brown eyes.

"Zedd…"

"Yes, my boy?" Zedd kept his eyes trained on the pot he was stirring, his mouth watery at the wonderful smell emanating from it.

"Do you think she meant it?"

Bushy, gray eyebrows moved in a confused frown and the old wizard looked over his shoulder to stare at his grandson. "Meant what?"

"About never wanting to leave Aydindril again," Richard explained, still looking at the trail where Kahlan disappeared to.

"Oh!" Zedd chuckled. "Of course she'll leave Aydindril again." Richard tore his eyes from the trail and gave his grandfather a relieved smile. "As Mother Confessor, she has to wander the Midlands from time to time to attend to her people's needs and also make sure everything is well and going, especially now that there's only two confessors left."

Richard blinked at him – that was not the answer he was waiting for. "She can have Dennee take the seat for her. How can she expect to move to Westland…"

"Are you out of your mind, Richard?" Zedd interrupted, his big blue eyes widened in disbelief. "Kahlan is the Mother Confessor, the ruler of the Midlands; she cannot simply delegate her position to another, even if that other is her sister!"

"But Zedd…"

"Have you even talked to her about moving to Westland with you?" Zedd asked softly, already knowing the answer.

"No, but I'm sure she won't make a fuss about it. I mean, she wants to settle down too and have kids, and…"

"She wants to settle down in her homeland, Richard, where people look up to her and understand, and welcome her magic." Zedd interrupted again, unwilling to believe his kind and loving grandson was actually this dense about Kahlan's needs, about the needs of her people. "Westland hates magic, that's why the Boundary was there in the first place. Have you forgotten they tried to kill her?"

"No, but…"

"Then I suggest you talk to her first before you start planning her life out, Richard," Zedd said, returning his attention to the pot. "And don't forget about your own obligations."

Richard frowned. "What obligations?"

Zedd sighed inwardly, forcing himself to remember that, even if he was the Seeker, and a Rahl, Richard Cypher was not but a simple woods guide, who was forced to flee from his simple life to fight for a world he was still far from understanding. "You are Lord Rahl."

"Are you taking cues from Cara?" Richard asked, his voice sounding harsher than he wanted. "I don't want the throne of D'Hara, Zedd! I have no connection to those people, to that kingdom! It means nothing to me!"

Zedd rolled his eyes: this was a losing battle. "You are condemning thousands to exposure to the Dream Walkers! Isn't that what we've been fighting until now; for the welfare of thousands of nameless people and creatures?"

"It's no more than they deserve!"

"Richard!" Zedd jumped to his feet and loomed over his grandson, fully taking advantage of his greater height. "You should not judge people so harshly; that's not the Seeker's way! They were bent and broken by fear of what Rahl would do to them – an all too real fear – as he liked to demonstrate on own his Mord'Sith!" Zedd gave him a hard stare. "D'Hara is in disarray and adrift without its leader!"

Richard stared daggers at his grandfather. "I'm not taking that throne!"

"Find a way then, one that will not leave the throne weakened for Darken Rahl to take it back!"

"Darken is hiding somewhere with his tail between his legs!"

"And plotting and planning, waiting for a chance, however small, to take back D'Hara." Zedd took a deep breath and forestalled any attempt from Richard to answer back. "Just think about it, Richard. I'm sure if you put your mind to it, you can find a solution that will be fair for everyone." Zedd gave him a fatherly smile. "I have faith in you, my boy."

Richard sighed and rubbed his forehead, trying to soothe the pinpoint of pain behind his brown eyes that was the beginning of an awful headache.

"I'll try." He finally relented.

Zedd gave him a reassuring pat on the back and returned to his pot. "That's all I ask, Richard. Now, let's eat."

Kahlan stopped by a large tree overlooking the small pond and watched as the blonde Mord'Sith stared into nothing, her back against a tree and a forlorn look on her unreadable green-blue eyes.

She looked worried, troubled even and Kahlan wondered again what might be happening with her always so stoic and aloof best friend. She'd been like that since they placed the Stone of Tears in the Pillars of Creation and closed the rift, forever sealing the Keeper and his minions in his fetid lair. Richard and Zedd couldn't tell the difference, but she could – she could now. Not that Cara ever let on when they were together with the men, but when it was just the two of them, the Mord'Sith had a growing tendency to lower her defenses just enough to shyly open small windows to her soul, and allow her to take a peek at the person hiding underneath all the pain and murderous efficiency.

"Come out already, you're making me itch." Came the sarcastic jab.

Kahlan smiled and trotted to join her friend on the hard floor, briefly wondering when was it that they stopped being reluctant travel companions and became friends, best friends. "Is everything all right?"

"Peachy." Cara drooled, her now jade green eyes revealing nothing.

"You're lying," Kahlan stated simply, a gentle smile on her lips.

Cara raised an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly to one side, an amused glint coloring her unreadable eyes. "And how would you know that? You can't read Mord'Sith."

Kahlan grinned. "No, but I can read you, Cara Mason – sometimes, when you're being nice to me."

Cara snorted, but didn't deny the statement and returned her gaze to some point in the lustful woods.

"Are you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"What's bothering you." Kahlan scooted closer and placed a warm hand on the blonde's leather clad arm, unafraid – they were long past that.

Cara looked down at the slender fingers, firmly wrapped around her arm, and clenched her jaw, momentarily forgetting where she was.

"Cara?"

The soft voice, tainted with worry, penetrated through the sudden fog taking over her brain and she forced herself to snap out of it. "I'm bored." She shrugged a shoulder nonchalantly, but made no move to remove the hand on her arm.

"Bored?" Kahlan repeated, remembering Zedd's words.

"Yes, bored." She huffed.

"Oh!" Kahlan forced herself not to smile, sure the blonde would take offense. "All right, want to spar?"

Cara turned her green, unreadable eyes on the confessor and blinked.

"Spar?" she repeated as if the words tasted bad in her mouth.

"Yeah, you know, practice. We could make it a daily event, like before we go to sleep. What do you say?"

Cara eyes hardened. "Are you trying to patronize me?"

"Not at all." Kahlan looked over her shoulder, as if making sure no one was listening, and whispered in her ear. "I'm bored out of my mind too. I miss going full out and I know I can with you – Richard always pulls his punches."

Cara gave her a piercing look, not sure if she was being complimented or mocked, and the warm breath in her ear wasn't making it any easier. "Are you mocking me?"

"No." Kahlan smiled at her, her eyes shining with mirth and something else Cara couldn't quite identify. "Do you agree?"

Cara exhaled and returned her eyes to the forest. "If it pleases the Mother Confessor, then yes."

Kahlan rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mord'Sith, it pleases the Mother Confessor." Kahlan moved to her feet and pulled Cara with her, her hand still attached to the strong arm. "C'mon, before they eat everything."

"The wizard, you mean," Cara replied, not objecting at being pulled out of her comfy spot on the forest floor.

Kahlan grinned. "Using magic is very strenuous."

Cara snorted unpleasantly. "I don't see you ravaging our provisions when you use your power!"

Kahlan shrugged, her grin never fading. "I'm a lady."

Cara gave her a pointed look, but her lips were already pulling at the corners, the smile desperate to come out. That happened a lot when Kahlan was around, that unstoppable need to smile and… be nice. Huh! "Guess I'll have to keep closer watch on my food for now on."

Kahlan grinned, not fazed. Cara's sarcastic inputs were always so much fun, when the blonde wasn't being stubborn about placing herself in danger for the others' sake, of course. "C'mon."

"You go ahead." Cara knew that the pot's leftovers wouldn't be enough for all and she lied easily. "I had breakfast already."

Kahlan lost her smile instantly and gave her a serious look. Something was definitely wrong. "Cara…"

"Yes, Mother Confessor?" Cara used the title purposely, her stance one of stubborn defiance.

Kahlan sighed, defeated – for now. When Cara took on this stance, arms crossed over her chest and hip canted to her left side, face expressionless, there was no reasoning with her. Stubborn thing. "Fine, just don't take long."

Cara simply flashed her traditional smirk and watched her go. The moment Kahlan was out of sight, and she was sure she was alone, she resumed her spot on the forest ground, the forlorn expression returning.

The twilight was blossoming in a burst of bright shades of light in the slowly darkening blue sky, as they reached a small village and decided it was harmless enough to spend the night. Anything was better than spending another night out on the hard, cold floor, taking turns for watch, never fully sleeping.

"I've booked us two rooms." Richard smiled brightly at Kahlan and gave her the key.

"Great." She smiled back and looked around, searching. "And where is my intrepid roommate?"

Richard gave Zedd a sideways look. "She had to take care of something."

Kahlan frowned. "What could she possibly have to take care off? The horses are in the stable and taken care of, we have no need to hunt for our meal and the rooms are taken care off."

"It's… personal." Richard cleared his throat, hopping Kahlan would get a clue.

"Personal?" the frown deepened. "Is she all right? I mean…"

"She has certain… 'needs' that need to be tended to." Zedd's grave voice sounded behind her.

"Needs?" Kahlan repeated as she turned her head to look at the wizard, refusing to accept what her mind was already telling her.

"Yes, needs. Mord'Sith are not known for enjoying pain only." Zedd raised both gray eyebrows in a meaningful way, hoping to convey the meaning of his words without having to explain further.

"Oh!" Kahlan's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "She went to a brothel." The last words came out as something between a whisper and spat.

Both men looked elsewhere, clearly uncomfortable.

"Well then," she dismissed it quickly, but her good humor was gone, "I'm going upstairs to bathe."

"Right, and we'll order dinner." Richard gave her a smile.

Kahlan didn't return the smile as she climbed the stairs, sudden images of golden skin burning behind her eyes.

The moon was already high in the dark, starry sky when the door to her room opened silently. She felt more than heard the quiet familiar steps of the Mord'Sith as she slipped inside, obviously trying not to disturb the Confessor's sound sleep.

The rustle of leather being stripped and neatly folded reached her sensitive ears, and she couldn't help the blush that burned her face at the thought of Cara being naked and so close to her. She heard more rustling and then the mattress lurched slighty behind her, making it clear the bed was now fully occupied.

The soft sound of Cara's yawning, followed by a deep sigh perked her curiosity: she had never heard Cara yawn or sigh before, unless she was trying to convey annoyance at something.

Cara made herself comfortable on her side of the bed and it wasn't long before her breathing evened out as she fell deeply asleep, too tired to stay awake a moment longer.

Kahlan swallowed, helpless to think about what Cara had been doing earlier with some unknown woman. She knew Mord'Sith were highly sexual women; they loved to give and take pleasure as much as they loved pain, but she was hoping that Cara… Somehow…

Releasing an annoyed sigh, she forced her eyes shut and willed herself to sleep – tomorrow would be another long day of travelling. At least the weather was great around this time of year in the Midlands.

Kahlan smiled long before she opened her eyes and welcomed the day. She was wrapped in strong, warm arms and felt utterly safe. Warm breath touched the sensitive skin of her neck and she felt the rise and fall of full breasts against her back. Her smile widened, not at all bothered by who was embracing her with such intimacy.

For an aloof, murderous and 'feel nothing' Mord'Sith, Cara Mason sure had a tendency to cuddle in her sleep, and she often wondered about it. Usually, when they were on the road, whenever Cara was sleeping, she was always either flat on her back or on her stomach, never showing anything related to cuddly, and always ready to jump to her feet at the slightest sign of distress, but whenever she shared a bed with Kahlan… The first time she realized this 'habit', was after a long and dreadful fight with banelings.

There were so many of them, swarming around them from everywhere, and no matter how hard they tried, more kept coming. The hideous minions of the Keeper managed, somehow, to separate Cara from the group, isolating the Mord'Sith against a large boulder, and forcing her to quite literally fight for her life. After what seemed forever they managed to break free and reach her, but the woman was on the verge of defeat, not because the banelings were about to overpower her with their greater numbers – she had but decimated her attackers to extinction – but because she was exhausted, having single handedly killed almost as many banelings as the three of them combined. This one would go down as a legend of its own.

She remembered clearly as the woman's knees buckled under her weight, her body sliding slowly against the boulder, heading toward the ground. Her agiels fell from her numb fingers and she closed her eyes in surrender to her fate – she couldn't fight anymore, couldn't handle the pain shooting through her arms anymore.

Kahlan remembered screaming her name, desperation tainting her voice, as the baneling closer to her lifted his sword high above his head, intent on sinking it deep in the Mord'Sith's chest. Remembered those exquisite green-blue eyes cracking open and looking straight at her, sorrow and sadness shining on them as her pouty lips tried to move in what Kahlan assumed was a smile – a goodbye smile. Something inside her shattered that day, and she allowed the sudden burst of anger to fuel her movements when she descended on the creature and thrust her dagger deep in his chest, before he could harm her friend. Richard and Zedd busied themselves chasing the few that were left alive, while Kahlan dropped to her knees in front of her exhausted friend.

"Cara?"

The Mord'Sith opened her eyes again and forced a smirk on her lips. "Guess it wasn't my time…" her voice came out as a barely heard whisper and Kahlan's heart went out to her. Her golden skin was covered in sweat, blood and gore, and her leathers were slashed, several smaller cuts still gushing fresh blood, but to Kahlan she looked…

"Tonight we're staying at the inn, and you're letting me take care of you, Cara; no complaints!"

Cara looked at her for the longest time, her expression, as usual, unreadable, but the glint in her eyes gave her away and the smirk widened – she would not argue.

That night, too tired to force her usual stoic mask and master the strength to bat away Kahlan's attempts at being nice, Cara allowed Kahlan to take care of her and slept deeply into mid-morning, securely wrapped around Kahlan's body. She suspected that this had happened before, and quite often, but with Cara always getting up first, it was hard to tell. When Cara woke up later that day, she was mortally embarrassed for showing this 'weakness', but Kahlan decided not to mention it and Cara never brought it up either. And then, it became a sort of habit whenever they shared a bed, and it was kind of… sweet.

It was late already and a wicked smile slowly graced her face: Cara was going to die when she realized how late it was! Snuggling closer, she waited patiently for the exasperating woman to wake up and die of embarrassment.

Predictably, Cara was not miss sunshine when she woke up about a candle mark later.

"You could've woken me up!" Cara growled and tried to remove herself from the warm embrace she was in, but Kahlan held her securely against her chest.

"I chose not to."

Cara frowned. "Why in the Spirits' name not?"

"Because, Cara, you're tired. Actually, I believe the term is exhausted. And it's not like we're in a rush to save the world." Kahlan started a soothing motion against her back and smiled a little when she realized the Mord'Sith didn't object. "Don't think I haven't been watching you. You're having trouble sleeping since…"

"Don't." Cara interrupted briskly.

"Cara…"

Cara closed her eyes, glad Kahlan couldn't see the despair lurking just beneath the surface; couldn't see the weakness. "Please…" the words stumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them and she cringed at how needy it sounded.

Kahlan exhaled, her heart breaking at what was left unsaid in that softly spoken plea. "All right, but Cara, we will talk about this later, whether you like it or not."

Cara scowled – Kahlan was so damn stubborn and, somehow, always seemed to get the upper hand when it came to talk and… share feelings and… emotions! Huh! Just the thought of it made her skin crawl, and that was only made bearable by the strong arms holding her protectively – somehow. When had she let that happen?

"Cara?"

"Fine!"

Kahlan bit her lower lip to stop the laughter from spilling. Of course Cara would agree to it, she would only make it near impossible to start the conversation, but she was the Mother Confessor and she had a few tricks up her sleeve as well. She hadn't spent all these months watching her not to know what to expect – and how to work around it.

"Good!" impulsively, Kahlan delivered a kiss to the blonde head resting on her chest and felt as the always aloof woman slowly smiled against her skin. "Did you have fun last night?"

Cara lifted her head so she could look at the brunette, a sultry grin pulling at the corners of her full lips, closely followed by a wicked glint in those amazing green-blue eyes, now a shining shade of grayish blue. "It was… satisfying enough."

Kahlan blushed and swallowed, but her eyes never wavered. "Are you still bored?"

Cara let out a very rare sound – a chuckle, and dropped her forehead to the Mother Confessor's chest. "Yes."

"Mm, maybe we should go somewhere and start a fight; maybe to the place you've been. I could pretend I'm your girlfriend and demand the blood of the one who dared touch you." The blush worsened as the words tumbled out of her mouth, but she was enjoying their easy banter, and her smile grew when she heard the rare sound morph into an even more infrequent one: laughter.

"That would be worth seeing: the Mother Confessor beating the crap out of someone to protect my… virtue."

Kahlan chuckled, enjoying the light sound of her laughter, even more so because she was the one to cause it. "I would, you know?"

Cara blinked, her laughter dying down. "Beat the crap out of someone over my virtue?" she asked softly, a perfect eyebrow rising in disbelief.

"Protect you," Kahlan replied just as softly.

Cara almost, almost stopped breathing – she wasn't expecting that, but then again, she wasn't expecting to become friends with a Confessor – with the Mother Confessor – and this was the sort of thing she should always expect from Kahlan. Forcing her training back up, she removed herself from the warm cocoon. "Well, thankfully for you, I'm Mord'Sith and Mord'Sith do not need protection."

Kahlan sighed, feeling the loss immediately as it was gone, but didn't insist. To do so, would mean forcing the issue and when it came to matters like these, Cara tended to lash out like a caged animal, and she didn't want to ruin her good mood over it. There would be other opportunities to do so.

"So, should I tell Richard you just woke up?"

Cara turned around sharply and gave her a hard look, her leathers still clasped in her hands.

"Guess not." Kahlan gave her a big smile and sauntered out of bed to get dressed, feeling those eyes burning into her back. She loved rattling Cara!

They'd been walking for several candle marks, the thick trees of the forest around the main road protecting from most of the scorching sun, but doing very little to bring any relief from the intense heat. Even Cara was sweating profusely, and she was never either hot or cold.

"I think there's a stream close by," Kahlan finally said, her voice hoarse and tired from the exertion of walking under such heat.

"You think?" Cara repeated from behind her, her voice sounding as sarcastic as ever, not a hint of discomfort slipping through.

Kahlan looked over her shoulder and flashed her smile. "Yeah, I think. I've been here before and I'm pretty sure it's close by."

Richard nodded and cleaned his sweaty brow with his forearm. "I think we could all use a moment to refresh." He looked up at the burning sun and winced as the intense light hurt his soulful brown eyes. "And refill our skins." He smiled at his betrothed and tugged on the slender fingers wrapped around his. "That's a great idea."

He leaned in to kiss her lightly on the lips and Cara rolled her eyes, moving exasperated so that she wasn't looking at them. They did, however, caught her mumbled words about mushy stuff melting under the sun and grinned at each other.

The said stream was just a little off ways and proved to be quite refreshing.

Cara appointed herself with the task of refilling their skins and kneeled by the cool water, seriously considering getting off her clammy leathers and jump in. Of course, then Richard would run and hide in the forest, too shy to look at her; Zedd would choke on his piece of dry meat, while still leering at her and Kahlan… Kahlan would blush furiously and then look away. She allowed a wicked smile to grace her full lips as she looked over her shoulder to watch the Mother Confessor. She was about to suggest that they should go for a swim, when the muffled sound of horse hooves reached her sensitive ears and she jumped to her feet, the half full skin dropping from her hands as she drew her agiels, her eyes locked with deadly intent in the direction of the sound. All others jumped to their feet immediately, taking a defense stand as well, not so much because they heard anything unusual, but because of their self appointed bodyguard's reaction – they had learned not to question it a very long time ago.

They didn't have to wait long for the single rider to make his way between the forest trees and into plain view. Cara moved immediately to stand in front of Kahlan and Richard, ready to, once more, risk her life for her Lord Rahl and the Mother Confessor, whom she was sworn to protect. Zedd spread his hands out, ready to use his magic if necessary.

The rider pulled the horse to an abrupt stop and eyed them from beneath his dark hood while trying to control the still prancing horse. Once he had the animal under control, he removed the hood to reveal a young man, probably in his late twenties, clad in light armor, though they couldn't really see any crest to indicate his allegiance.

"Mother Confessor?" he asked softly, his brown eyes bored on Kahlan.

"Who wants to know?" Cara asked before Kahlan could open her mouth to speak.

The man forced his eyes from the beautiful dark haired woman with striking blue eyes, to look at the defiant Mord'Sith standing in front of him. He was now sure this was whom he was looking for – no one else traveled with a Mord'Sith in tow in the Midlands.

"My name is Keltar Pritt and I come from Aydindril." He returned his gaze to the Mother Confessor, who was already pushing the Mord'Sith aside to move forward. "I have a message from your sister, Confessor Dennee Amnell."

"Speak," Kahlan said, her voice soft but with a force of command that left no room for doubt.

"Come home. The Midlands are on the verge of war and need their leader's guidance."

Kahlan's eyes widened in shock and she looked over her shoulder to see she was not the only one.