Legend of the Seeker fic: Bath
Feb. 24th, 2011 12:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseA fic for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hrhrionastar; flashfic, currently unbeta'd. Post-Tears, Mature for dark themes and violence.
I wanted to write Nicci/Rahl for you, but I've never written Nicci at all. This wasn't quite what I intended - and is quite a bit longer than I planned on - and it's pre-Nicci/Rahl if anything. But I hope you like it :D
Summary: Darken and the Mord'Sith take Nicci back to the pool for her promised bath
Nicci was terrified, but she would never let Rahl see it on her face.
She was flung to the floor by the pool where, just hours ago, she had attacked Rahl.
She ought to have killed him, she knew. Don't wound what you can't kill. She couldn't remember where she'd heard that – a hunter, probably, bragging about his exploits.
Darken paced around her as she sat flung, blood still trickling down her chin. The radahan weighed little, but it might as well have been a millstone. She was as powerless as before she took Richard's Han, the scared little Sister of the Light who had been abused so cruelly by a criminal already imprisoned for his crimes. She just hoped that Rahl might kill her. Death she could bear, but to be hurt like that again…
"Throw her into the water," Rahl ordered. One of the Mord'Sith grabbed Nicci's shoulders and tossed her into the pool. Nicci struggled, her movements constricted by her clothing. She surfaced and gasped for breath, splashed her way to the edge of the pool where her fingers gripped the stone edges desperately.
"Not enjoying your bath?" Rahl asked, kneeling down stiffly and gazing into her eyes.
She glared at him and spat in his face. In response he put his hand over her head, fingers cruelly twisting into her hair, and ducked her beneath the water. Nicci tried to fight, but he was strong and had the advantage of leaning over her.
Would she go to the Creator's light if she died now? The Veil was repaired, true, but after everything she'd done she probably didn't deserve that. Would the Keeper torture her for discarding Him as she had the Creator? She'd seen nothing during the short time she'd been dead, and that was the most disturbing thing of all.
When she thought she was about to die, Rahl pulled her back up, wrenching his fingers from her hair. She clung to side like a half-drowned cat. Her lungs were burning, her scalp aching from his vicious tugging at her hair, and her muscles were screaming in agony.
"I'm sorry," she spluttered. She didn't want to die. Perhaps she could talk her way out of this. "I will serve you, Lord Rahl. I will use my powers to help your regain your previous position."
She wouldn't, of course, but if he believed her, she had a chance. She'd play along for a while, and then she'd kill him - she'd cut off his damn head to make sure he stayed dead.
"When I locate a Quillion, I will drain your powers and use them to fill this wretched inferior body with the magic I am entitled to," Rahl said.
"Such things are rare," Nicci said. She did her best to look beguiling. "In the meantime, let me use my magic – Richard's magic – to help you."
She hoped the mention of his half-brother would provoke him into accepting her offer. To use Richard's Han against himself wasn't something Rahl could refuse, surely?
"You think I will trust you ever again?" Rahl asked. He held out his hand and one of the Mord'Sith passed him her agiel. He rolled it between his palms, the terrible device humming in anticipation.
"Of course not," Nicci said. "But even the most hated of enemies can work together for a common goal. I hate the Seeker as much as you do. He and his merry little band. The Wizard who betrayed your father. The Confessor who would kill you in a heartbeat. The Mord'Sith who mocks your authority by serving Richard Rahl."
Rahl thrust the agiel out, stopping a hairsbreadth from the water. Nicci held her breath.
"You're trying to make me angry," he said. "Do you wish death?"
"I wish you to see I am more useful to you alive." Nicci ran her tongue over her lips, tasted the pool water and traces of her blood. "Lord Rahl, let me show you I am willing to work with you against the Seeker. Take off the radahan and I will heal the wounds I inflicted upon you."
He stroked his top lip with his free hand. Nicci took this as a good sign, that he was even considering it. She couldn't help but notice the awkwardness with which he was moving, compared to his usual fluid motions. Mord'Sith were only good for repelling magic, and giving the Breath of Life. They could have done nothing but dress the scalded skin.
"Take off the only thing stopping you from killing me? I think not."
"Please," Nicci begged. "Kill me if I so much as breathe in a threatening manner, but give me a chance to show you that I can be trusted."
Rahl handed the agiel back to the Mord'Sith and thrust out his hand. Nicci stared at him, uncomprehending, then slowly took it. He dragged her from the water, getting one sleeve soaked as he used both hands to lift her out of the pool.
Nicci sat on the stone, water pooling around her, unable to believe her luck. She had to be careful. She wouldn't blow this chance by acting recklessly. She knew she'd probably never make it to the temple doors. She'd keep her word this time, let them shackle her again after working her magic. Lull them all into a false sense of security, and then strike at the right moment.
Rahl slipped off his robe, facing away from her. She laid eyes on the damaged flesh with a mixture of pride and pity. She'd almost killed the fearsome Lord Rahl; but the part of her that could still empathise with another human wondered at the pain from such terrible wounds.
Rahl gestured to the Mord'Sith nearest to them.
"If she so much as – how did you put it? Ah, yes, breathes in a threatening manner, kill her. Break her neck."
The Mord'Sith nodded grimly. She put one hand to Nicci's throat.
"I'm sure you don't find that a distraction," Rahl said.
"No, my Lord," Nicci said through gritted teeth.
Rahl gestured to the second Mord'Sith. "Unlock the radahan," he said.
Being killed had been a low point of the day. Being revived with the prospect of living under Rahl's tyranny hadn't been much of a step up. Now, things were finally looking up. Nicci smiled. Sooner or later, she'd get exactly what she wanted.
hrhrionastar; flashfic, currently unbeta'd. Post-Tears, Mature for dark themes and violence.I wanted to write Nicci/Rahl for you, but I've never written Nicci at all. This wasn't quite what I intended - and is quite a bit longer than I planned on - and it's pre-Nicci/Rahl if anything. But I hope you like it :D
Summary: Darken and the Mord'Sith take Nicci back to the pool for her promised bath
Nicci was terrified, but she would never let Rahl see it on her face.
She was flung to the floor by the pool where, just hours ago, she had attacked Rahl.
She ought to have killed him, she knew. Don't wound what you can't kill. She couldn't remember where she'd heard that – a hunter, probably, bragging about his exploits.
Darken paced around her as she sat flung, blood still trickling down her chin. The radahan weighed little, but it might as well have been a millstone. She was as powerless as before she took Richard's Han, the scared little Sister of the Light who had been abused so cruelly by a criminal already imprisoned for his crimes. She just hoped that Rahl might kill her. Death she could bear, but to be hurt like that again…
"Throw her into the water," Rahl ordered. One of the Mord'Sith grabbed Nicci's shoulders and tossed her into the pool. Nicci struggled, her movements constricted by her clothing. She surfaced and gasped for breath, splashed her way to the edge of the pool where her fingers gripped the stone edges desperately.
"Not enjoying your bath?" Rahl asked, kneeling down stiffly and gazing into her eyes.
She glared at him and spat in his face. In response he put his hand over her head, fingers cruelly twisting into her hair, and ducked her beneath the water. Nicci tried to fight, but he was strong and had the advantage of leaning over her.
Would she go to the Creator's light if she died now? The Veil was repaired, true, but after everything she'd done she probably didn't deserve that. Would the Keeper torture her for discarding Him as she had the Creator? She'd seen nothing during the short time she'd been dead, and that was the most disturbing thing of all.
When she thought she was about to die, Rahl pulled her back up, wrenching his fingers from her hair. She clung to side like a half-drowned cat. Her lungs were burning, her scalp aching from his vicious tugging at her hair, and her muscles were screaming in agony.
"I'm sorry," she spluttered. She didn't want to die. Perhaps she could talk her way out of this. "I will serve you, Lord Rahl. I will use my powers to help your regain your previous position."
She wouldn't, of course, but if he believed her, she had a chance. She'd play along for a while, and then she'd kill him - she'd cut off his damn head to make sure he stayed dead.
"When I locate a Quillion, I will drain your powers and use them to fill this wretched inferior body with the magic I am entitled to," Rahl said.
"Such things are rare," Nicci said. She did her best to look beguiling. "In the meantime, let me use my magic – Richard's magic – to help you."
She hoped the mention of his half-brother would provoke him into accepting her offer. To use Richard's Han against himself wasn't something Rahl could refuse, surely?
"You think I will trust you ever again?" Rahl asked. He held out his hand and one of the Mord'Sith passed him her agiel. He rolled it between his palms, the terrible device humming in anticipation.
"Of course not," Nicci said. "But even the most hated of enemies can work together for a common goal. I hate the Seeker as much as you do. He and his merry little band. The Wizard who betrayed your father. The Confessor who would kill you in a heartbeat. The Mord'Sith who mocks your authority by serving Richard Rahl."
Rahl thrust the agiel out, stopping a hairsbreadth from the water. Nicci held her breath.
"You're trying to make me angry," he said. "Do you wish death?"
"I wish you to see I am more useful to you alive." Nicci ran her tongue over her lips, tasted the pool water and traces of her blood. "Lord Rahl, let me show you I am willing to work with you against the Seeker. Take off the radahan and I will heal the wounds I inflicted upon you."
He stroked his top lip with his free hand. Nicci took this as a good sign, that he was even considering it. She couldn't help but notice the awkwardness with which he was moving, compared to his usual fluid motions. Mord'Sith were only good for repelling magic, and giving the Breath of Life. They could have done nothing but dress the scalded skin.
"Take off the only thing stopping you from killing me? I think not."
"Please," Nicci begged. "Kill me if I so much as breathe in a threatening manner, but give me a chance to show you that I can be trusted."
Rahl handed the agiel back to the Mord'Sith and thrust out his hand. Nicci stared at him, uncomprehending, then slowly took it. He dragged her from the water, getting one sleeve soaked as he used both hands to lift her out of the pool.
Nicci sat on the stone, water pooling around her, unable to believe her luck. She had to be careful. She wouldn't blow this chance by acting recklessly. She knew she'd probably never make it to the temple doors. She'd keep her word this time, let them shackle her again after working her magic. Lull them all into a false sense of security, and then strike at the right moment.
Rahl slipped off his robe, facing away from her. She laid eyes on the damaged flesh with a mixture of pride and pity. She'd almost killed the fearsome Lord Rahl; but the part of her that could still empathise with another human wondered at the pain from such terrible wounds.
Rahl gestured to the Mord'Sith nearest to them.
"If she so much as – how did you put it? Ah, yes, breathes in a threatening manner, kill her. Break her neck."
The Mord'Sith nodded grimly. She put one hand to Nicci's throat.
"I'm sure you don't find that a distraction," Rahl said.
"No, my Lord," Nicci said through gritted teeth.
Rahl gestured to the second Mord'Sith. "Unlock the radahan," he said.
Being killed had been a low point of the day. Being revived with the prospect of living under Rahl's tyranny hadn't been much of a step up. Now, things were finally looking up. Nicci smiled. Sooner or later, she'd get exactly what she wanted.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 01:59 am (UTC)I love how Nicci's all full of schemes, and at first Darken's not even listening, but then he must've really been hurt when she electrocuted him--now I want to see his side. Does he think he can trust her?
OMG, and the last line: Being killed had been a low point of the day. Being revived with the prospect of living under Rahl's tyranny hadn't been much of a step up. Now, things were finally looking up. Nicci smiled. Sooner or later, she'd get exactly what she wanted. This made me smile. And I believe her, too :D
Also found the hint that life after death might not be as simple as we were presented with, on the show, very interesting. She'd seen nothing during the short time she'd been dead, and that was the most disturbing thing of all. Makes me wonder what effect repairing the Veil might've had...
no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 10:51 am (UTC)Honestly, it was supposed to be a drabble but Nicci and Rahl had other ideas, and I never look the muse in the mouth, so to speak. I may want to do more, and yes, the next part would probably be Rahl's pov. The overall fic would need a new title, and I'd need to check some facts and maybe brainstorm a bit; for example, I'm not even sure why Nicci did fry Rahl in 'Tears' other than to prevent him from interfering in her own scheme, nor why she let him live.
The void after death; it occurred to me after I wrote Nicci's debate about the Creator vs Keeper, that she'd turned her back on them both, and that she was dead for a short time before being revived and would have seen the Underworld if that was where she was headed. So what did she see? Maybe nothing, and what that might mean for her, and the world, raises some questions.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 11:34 pm (UTC)for example, I'm not even sure why Nicci did fry Rahl in 'Tears' other than to prevent him from interfering in her own scheme, nor why she let him live. OMG, I just realized I don't know this either...maybe an opportunity for creative license? Or maybe she figured if she killed him, he'd tell the Keeper what he just told her and she'd have hordes of Sisters of the Dark and banelings to fight just to get the Stone.
The void after death--this makes me have thinky thoughts...I'll have to see if they come to anything :D
no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 11:40 pm (UTC)I think I need to try and rewatch 'Tears' although I'm certain there are more giant plotholes of doom in it from squeezing what seems like two episodes worth of events into one episode.
yay, thinky thoughts :D What happened after the Veil was repaired is wide open for interpretation, after all.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 02:20 am (UTC)You know you just can't leave us here, don't you? I need to know moar.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 10:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 06:17 am (UTC)I have to second Becky's wishes and ask for moar. :)
no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 10:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 07:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-24 10:56 am (UTC)