Faith of the Fallen

With a straight finger, Richard swiped glistening beads of sweat off his forehead. His damp hair was plastered to his neck. "No. They're no doubt off to Hartland to do some drinking and complaining. By the time they come back we'll be long gone."

"I still say we should lie in wait and end the threat," Cara muttered.

Richard ignored her.

"I cut and stripped some stout saplings and used some canvas to make a litter." He came closer and with a knuckle nudged Kahlan's chin, as if to playfully buck up her courage. "From now on we'll just let you stay on the litter, and then we can move you in and out of the carriage without. ." He had that look in his eyes-that look that hurt her to see. He showed her a smile. "It will make it easier on Cara and me."

Kahlan tried to face the thought with composure. "We're ready then?"

His gaze dropped as he nodded.

"Good," Kahlan said, cheerfully. "I'm in the mood for a nice ride. I'd like to see some of the countryside."

He smiled, more convincingly this time, she thought. "You shall have it. And we'll end up at a beautiful place. It's going to take a while to get there, traveling as slow as we must, but it will be worth the journey, you'll see."

Kahlan tried to keep her breathing even. She said his name over and over in her head, telling herself that she would not forget it this time, that she would not forget her own name. She hated forgetting things; it made her feel a fool to learn things she should have remembered but had forgotten. She was going to remember this time.

"Well, do I have to get up and walk? Or are you going to be a gentleman and carry me?"

He bent and kissed her forehead-the one part on her face that the soft touch of his lips would not hurt. He glanced at Cara and tilted his head to signal her to get Kahlan's legs.

"Will those men be drinking a long time?" Kahlan asked.

"It's still midday. Don't worry, we'll be long gone before they ever get back', here."

"I'm sorry, Richard. I know you thought these people from your homeland-"

"They're people, just like everyone else."

She nodded as she fondly stroked the back of his big hand. "Cara gave me some of your herbs. I'll sleep for a long time, so don't go slow on my account-I won't feel it. I don't want you to have to fight all those men."

"I won't be doing any fighting just traveling my forests."

"That's good." Kahlan felt daggers twist in her ribs as her breathing started getting too fast. "I love you, you know. In case I forgot to say it, I love you."

Despite the pain in his gray eyes, he smiled. "I love you, too. Just try to relax. Cara and I will be as gentle as we can. We'll go easy. There's no rush. Don't try to help us. Just relax. You're getting better, so it won't be so hard."

She had been hurt before and knew that it was always better to move yourself because you knew exactly how to do it. But she couldn't move herself this time.

She had come to know that the worst thing when you were hurt was to have someone else move you.

As he leaned over, she slipped her right arm around his neck while he carefully slid his left arm under her shoulders. Being lifted even that much ignited a shock of pain. Kahlan tried to ignore the burning stitch and attempted to relax as she said his name over and over in her mind.

She suddenly remembered something important. It was her last chance to remind him.

"Richard," she whispered urgently just before he pushed his right arm under her bottom to lift her. "Please. . remember to be careful not to hurt the baby."

She was startled to see her words stagger him. It took a moment before his eyes turned up to look into hers. What she saw there nearly stopped her heart.

"Kahlan. . you remember, don't you?"

"Remember?"

His eyes glistened. "That you lost the baby. When you were attacked."

The memory slammed into her like a fist, nearly taking her breath.

"…Oh…

"Are you all right?"

"Yes. I forgot for a moment. I just wasn't thinking. I remember, now. I remember you told me about it."

And she did. Their child, their child that had only begun to grow in her, was long since dead and gone. Those beasts who had attacked her had taken that from her, too.

The world seemed to turn gray and lifeless.

"I'm so sorry, Kahlan," he whispered.

She caressed his hair. "No, Richard. I should have remembered. I'm sorry I forgot. I didn't mean to. ."

He nodded.

She felt a warm tear drop onto the hollow of her throat, close to her necklace. The necklace, with its small dark stone, had been a wedding gift from Shota, the witch woman. The gift was a proposal of truce. Shota said it would allow them to be together and share their love, as they had always wanted, without Kahlan getting pregnant. Richard and Kahlan had decided that, for the time being, they would reluctantly accept Shota's gift, her truce. They already had worries enough on their hands.