tg.stone of tears-第26部分

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　Kahlan　thought　back　to　every　gathering　they　had　been　at　together。　‘I　think　you’re　right。’　She　rubbed　a　hand　on　his　chest。　‘I　think　the　only　solution　is　for　us　to　be　alone。’
　
　Richard　kissed　her　hand。　‘I　would　like　that。’
　
　She　enfolded　his　big　hand　in　both　of　hers；　wanting　to　feel　the　warmth　of　him　as　she　watched　him　rest。　It　was　dead　quiet　in　the　spirit　house；　except　for　the　slow　crackling　of　the　fire。　She　listened　to　his　slow；　steady　breathing。
　
　After　a　while；　he　slid　his　hand　away；　and　looked　up　at　her。　Firelight　reflected　in　his　eyes。　There　was　something　about　his　face；　his　eyes；　something　her　mind　was　trying　to　tell　her。　He　looked　like　someone　else　she　had　met；　but　who？　A　name　whispered　in　the　back　of　her　thoughts；　but　she　couldn’t　quite　hear　it。　She　stroked　his　hair　back　off　his　forehead。　His　skin　didn’t　feel　quite　so　cold。
　
　He　sat　up。　‘I　just　thought　of　something。　I　asked　the　elders　for　permission　to　marry　you；　but　I　haven’t　really　asked　you。’
　
　Kahlan　smiled。　‘No；　you　haven’t。’
　
　Suddenly　he　looked　embarrassed　and　unsure　of　himself。
　
　His　eyes　wandered　a　little。　That　was　really　stupid。　I’m　sorry。　That　wasn’t　the　right　way　to　do　it。　I　hope　you’re　not　angry。　I　guess　I’m　not　very　good　at　this。　I’ve　never　done　it　before。’
　
　‘Me　neither。’
　
　‘And　I　guess　this　isn’t　the　most　romantic　place　to　do　it。　It　should　be　someplace　beautiful。’
　
　‘Wherever　you　are　is　the　most　romantic　place　in　the　world　to　me。’
　
　‘And　I　guess　I　must　look　pretty　silly　asking　you　something　like　this　when　I’m　lying　here　with　a　headache。’
　
　‘If　you　don’t　ask　me　pretty　soon；　Richard　Cypher；’　she　whispered；　‘I’m　going　to　choke　it　out　of　you。’
　
　His　eyes　finally　found　hers；　found　hers　so　intently　it　nearly　took　her　breath　away。　‘Kahlan　Amnell；　will　you　marry　me？’
　
　Quite　unexpectedly；　she　found　she　couldn’t　speak。　She　closed　her　eyes　and　kissed　his　soft　lips　as　a　tear　rolled　down　her　cheek。　His　arms　closed　around　her；　hugging　her　tight　against　the　heat　of　him。　She　pulled　back　breathlessly。　Her　voice　at　last　returned。　‘Yes。’　She　kissed　him　again。　‘Please；　yes。’
　
　Kahlan　laid　her　head　against　his　shoulder。　Richard　gently　stroked　her　hair　as　she　listened　to　his　breathing　and　the　crackle　of　the　fire。　He　held　her　tenderly　and　kissed　the　top　of　her　head；　there　being　no　need　for　words。　She　felt　safe　in　his　arms。
　
　Kahlan　let　loose　her　pain：　the　pain　of　loving　him　more　than　life　itself　and　thinking　he　had　been　tortured　to　death　by　the　Mord…Sith　before　she　could　tell　him　how　much　she　loved　him；　the　pain　of　having　thought　she　could　never　have　him　because　she　was　a　Confessor　and　her　power　would　destroy　him；　the　hurt　of　how　much　she　needed　him；　how　uncontrollably　she　loved　him。
　
　As　her　anguish　expended　itself；　it　was　replaced　by　her　joy　in　what　lay　ahead：　a　lifetime；　together。　The　breathless　excitement　of　it　seeped　into　her。　She　clutched　at　him；　wanting　to　melt　into　him；　wanting　to　be　one　with　him。
　
　Kahlan　smiled。　That　was　what　being　married　to　him　would　be：　being　one　with　him；　as　Zedd　had　told　her　once　…like　finding　the　other　half　of　herself。
　
　When　she　finally　looked　up；　there　was　a　tear　on　his　face。　She　wiped　the　tears　from　her　cheeks；　and　he　did　the　same。　She　hoped　his　tears　meant　he　had　let　his　demons　go；　too。
　
　‘I　love　you；’　she　whispered。
　
　Richard　pulled　her　tight　against　him。　His　fingers　traced　a　trail　down　the　bumps　of　her　spine。
　
　‘I　feel　so　frustrated　that　there　aren’t　any　better　words　than　‘I　love　you；’’　he　said。　‘It　doesn’t　seem　enough　for　the　way　I　feel　about　you。　I’m　sorry　there　aren’t　any　better　words　to　tell　you。’
　
　They　are　words　enough　for　me。’
　
　‘Then；　I　love　you；　Kahlan。　A　thousand　times；　a　million　times；　I　love　you。　Forever。’
　
　She　listened　to　the　snap　and　pop　of　the　fire；　and　to　his　heart　beating。　To　her　own　heartbeat。　He　rocked　her　gently。　She　wanted　to　stay　there　in　his　arms　forever。　Suddenly　the　world　seemed　a　wonderful　place。
　
　Richard　grasped　her　shoulders　and　held　her　away　to　better　see　her。　A　wonderful　smile　spread　across　his　face。　‘I　can’t　believe　how　beautiful　you　are。　I　have　never　seen　anyone　as　beautiful　as　you。’　He　ran　a　hand　down　her　hair。　‘I’m　so　glad　I　didn’t　cut　your　hair　that　time。　You　have　beautiful　hair。　Don’t　ever　change　it。’
　
　‘I’m　a　Confessor；　remember？　My　hair　is　a　symbol　of　my　power。　Besides；　I　can’t　cut　it。　Only　another　can　do　that。’
　
　‘Good。　I　would　never　cut　it。　I　love　you　the　way　you　are；　power　and　all。　Don’t　ever　let　anyone　cut　it。　I’ve　liked　your　long　hair　ever　since　the　first　day　I　saw　you；　in　the　Hartland　Woods。’
　
　She　smiled　as　she　remembered　that　day。　Richard　had　offered　her　help　in　escaping　from　the　quads。　He　had　saved　her　life。　‘It　seems　so　long　ago。　Will　you　miss　that　life？　Being　a　simple；　carefree　woods　guide？’　She　smiled　coquettishly。　And　single？’
　
　Richard　grinned。　‘Single？　Not　with　you　as　my　wife。　But　a　woods　guide？　Maybe　a　little。’　He　stared　off　at　the　fire。　‘I　guess　that　for　better　or　worse；　I　am　the　true　Seeker。　I　hold　the　Sword　of　Truth；　and　the　responsibilities　that　go　with　it；　whatever　they　are。　Do　you　think　you　can　be　happy　being　the　wife　of　the　Seeker？’
　
　‘I　would　be　happy　living　in　a　tree　stump；　if　you　were　there　with　me。　But　Richard；　I’m　afraid　I’m　still　the　Mother　Confessor。　I　have　responsibilities；　too。’
　
　‘Well；　you　told　me　what　it　meant　to　be　a　Confessor；　how　when　you　touch　someone　with　your　power　it　forever　destroys　who　they　were；　replacing　it　with　absolute；　magical　devotion　to　you；　to　your　wishes；　and　in　that　way　you　can　have　them　confess　the　truth　of　their　crimes；　or　for　that　matter　you　can　make　them　do　anything　you　would　wish；　but　what　other　responsibilities　do　you　have？’
　
　‘I　guess　I　never　told　you　about　everything　else　that　it　means　to　be　the　Mother　Confessor。　It　wasn’t　important　at　the　time；　I　didn’t　think　we　could　ever　be　together。　I　thought　we　would　die；　or　even　if　we　somehow　won；　you　would　go　home　to　Westland　and　I　would　never　see　you　again。’
　
　‘You　mean　the　part　about　it　mea’ning　that　you　are　more　than　a　queen？’
　
　She　nodded。　‘The　Central　Council　of　the　Midlands　in　Ay…dindril　is　made　up　of　representatives　of　the　more　important　lands　of　the　Midlands。　Together；　the　Central　Council　more　or　less　rules　the　Midlands。　Even　though　the　lands　are　independent；　they　still　bow　to　the　word　of　the　Central　Council。　In　that　way；　through　the　Confederation　of　Lands；　mon　goals　are　protected　and　peace　is　maintained。　It　keeps　people　talking　instead　of　fighting。　If　one　land　were　to　attack　an…other；　it　would　be　viewed　as　an　attack　against　unity；　against　all；　and　all　would　put　the　aggression　down。　Kings；　queens；　rulers；　officials；　merchants；　and　others　e　to　the　Central　Council　to　petition　for　what　they　want：　trade　agreements；　boundary　treaties；　accords　dealing　with　magic　…　an　endless　list　of　wants　and　wishes。’
　
　‘I　understand。　It’s　something　like　that　in　Westland。　The　council　rules　in　much　the　same　way。　Although　Westland　isn’t　nearly　big　enough　to　have　kingdoms；　there　are　districts　that　govern　themselves；　but　are　represented　by