seriousfic: (Default)
[personal profile] seriousfic
Title: You can tell just by looking at her
Fandom: Legend of the Seeker
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,040
Characters/Pairings: Cara/Dahlia
Spoilers: 2x20 Eternity
Summary: Cara isn't a mother or a lover. She's a Mord'Sith.



Cara woke up sick one morning. It wasn't something she could control or fight. She felt nausea wringing her body out and had to scramble for a place to vomit, but she just ended up in the corner, voiding her stomach until she was coughing on air.

Suddenly, Dahlia was with her, cupping water in her hand and rinsing out Cara's mouth. "It's alright," she was saying. "It's normal."

"I am not normal. I'm a sister of the Mord'Sith." Cara got to her feet, sooner than she should've. "Call a slave girl to clean up this mess."

"Yes, Cara."

As always, Dahlia had brought breakfast for her, and a wet sponge to scrub away the night's exertions. It was not something she did for the rest of her sisters.

Cara sat back down, holding her stomach, as Dahlia laid out her leathers. They'd been freshly laundered of blood and sweat. They went through the normal ritual. To any observer, it would've looked like any Mord'Sith dressing another, a gesture of respect and submission. They would not see the hands that lingered on skin before it was put away.

Dahlia tightened the neck guard, just enough to hear Cara gasp, then let it out. Then she began the process of braiding Cara's hair. She always took her gloves off when she did it. If asked, she would've said that it made the process go faster, but in truth, she liked the feel of Cara's hair. Everything else on her was muscle and scars. But her hair hadn't changed since they were children. It was still soft.

Cara didn't know how, but Dahlia always let her leathers out just enough that her stomach wasn't cramped despite the life growing inside it. And yet so far, the pregnancy wasn't showing. That was good. She would hold to her leathers for as long as possible. She didn't want to spend any more time than necessary as one of those useless gestations in their formless robes, needing to be protected and serviced more than the lowliest trainee.

"Can you feel it within you?" Dahlia asked as Cara's braid began to take shape. "Do you think it's a boy or a girl?"

"What difference would it make?" Cara picked up the plate Dahlia had brought her. Her customary breakfast of water, bread, and meat had been replaced with orange juice, soup of cultured milk, and figs. "This is not the usual meal."

"Eating it will help you bear a strong child."

Cara poked her finger into the soup and watched it cling to her glove. "This is not even a liquid."

"You should try it. It's delicious."

Dahlia was beginning to get indignant. Cara didn't like seeing her like that. "As long makes the next Lord Rahl healthy."

Dahlia left the braid unfinished to touch Cara's stomach, as if she could feel the child. "You think it will be a boy then?"

"I would prefer it."

"And why not a Mord'Sith?" Dahlia asked, more surprised than offended.

Cara took Dahlia's hand, holding it to her belly. Her grip could break Dahlia's wrist if her sister tried to harm the child. "I think the child might enjoy being the Lord Rahl. He'd want for nothing. No one would ever hurt him. And we could always protect him, you and I."

"But if she were Mord'Sith, we could raise her. Not just from childhood, from birth. We could make the perfect warrior with our combined wisdom."

Cara moved Dahlia's hand up to her face, examining the long delicate fingers, the callused pads, the old lines stamped into her wrists. Dahlia had pulled at her manacles long after Cara had given up. "It doesn't matter to me what he is, so long as he stops weakening me in a timely manner."

Dahlia's hand stroked Cara's face as she pulled it away. She returned to braiding Cara's hair. "I've heard that childbirth is the most intense pain a woman can know. It will be interesting to see you withstand it."

"We've withstood worse." Cara looked down, and in doing so she saw that the lacing on her corset were loose, even by Dahlia's standards. "Sister?"

Dahlia crossed to the front of her, gave her a razor-lipped smile, then shoved her so hard the bedsprings rattled when she hit them. "I have heard," she said, crawling over Cara on all fours, "that the breasts of those with child are exceptionally sensitive." She lowered her head, teeth attending to Cara's laces, and Cara knew that even with the time they saved by their familiarity, they were going to be late to morning prayer.

She wrapped her legs around Dahlia and resolved to take all the time they needed.

***

Master Rahl guide us. Master Rahl teach us. Master Rahl protect us. In your light we thrive. In your mercy we are sheltered. In your wisdom we are humbled. We live only to serve. Our lives are yours.

Cara and Dahlia only arrived in time for the tenth repetition. They didn't bother to sneak in, simply walked in and took their places as if it were the order of things. Usually, there would be none who would quibble with such senior Mord'Sith. But that day, Denna was leading the devotional.

Cara had faint acquaintance with Denna. They'd trained under different mentors and Denna had caught Darken Rahl's eye soon after taking her leathers. She usually traveled with his retinue. It was cruel fate for her to be there to gainsay Cara and Dahlia. But Cara had learned long ago that the world was full of cruelty.

"Sisters," Denna called afterward.

Cara turned, after a admonishing look to Dahlia to let her handle it. "Yes, Mistress Denna?"

"I noted you were tardy to devotional today. What could be so important that it could eclipse Lord Rahl?"

Cara thought of Dahlia's braid, wound taut in her fists. It was a different kind of important. "I'm with child," Cara explained. "I had sickness."

"Did you now?" Denna circled, letting them see every inch of her white leathers. It bragged of how she had just broken an important personage on behalf of the Lord Rahl. It was as far from a maternity robe as one could go. "And is Sister Dahlia also with child?"

"No. She was assisting me."

"I was not aware one required assistance to be sick. But I am well aware of an activity that can require a helping hand." Denna moved in, taking hold of Dahlia, her lips crushing the other's. Cara watched, a hot and unwieldy feeling within her, as Dahlia's eyes met hers and another's hands worked upon her.

"Shall I leave you two alone?" Cara asked, making her voice cut instead of ask. Plead.

Denna broke away. "If I wished to use your little friend, I would make sure you were there to watch. I enjoy an audience."

Cara considered the Agiel in her belt. Thought of the magic coursing through her, the old pain. The honor of the new life in her womb. No. She couldn't. Especially not to a sister. "I think you'd enjoy me more. And Dahlia does like to watch. Before Trianna went to her assignment, Dahlia loved to watch us train. But when Trianna wanted us to give her a show, she was so modest. It was very amusing."

"I'm sure it was. Have you considered that your special relationship is displeasing to the Lord Rahl?"

"No," Cara replied automatically, before Dahlia could say a word. She might say she didn't care, and that would be disastrous. "It makes us a more efficient team. I can look at her and tell what she's thinking. We strike as one instead of two."

Dahlia piped up "If we put both our Agiels in a man's ears at once, he breaks in seconds!"

"You're weak." Denna turned her glare upon Cara. "You care more for her than the Lord Rahl. It's disgraceful that you should bear his child."

"You're misinformed," Cara replied coolly.

"Am I? Strike her."

Cara acted without thinking, before she could think. Her hand caressed Dahlia's cheek in as brutal a fashion as she could make it.

"Again."

And again, Dahlia's head jerked to the side. This time, her lip tore. Blood invaded her chin.

"Again."

Dahlia's head jerked the other way. She didn't cry out, but Cara could tell it hurt her more than just being struck. She hadn't lied about being able to look at her and see what she was thinking.

"Again."

"Is it the opinion of Mistress Denna that Dahlia would serve the Lord Rahl better with a broken jaw?" Cara asked.

"Are you questioning my orders?"

"Simply asking for clarification. If you want her jaw broken, I could do it easily. But since Dahlia is the only midwife in the Temple, it could end up hampering my child. The Lord Rahl's child. I suspect he wouldn't care for that. You might like to consider that before you continue this undisciplined outburst."

Denna considered this. Then she took out her Agiel and pressed it to Cara's lips. It was more intense than she'd remembered. She'd gone too long neglecting her duty of pain for the child's benefit.

Behind Denna, Dahlia scowled. Cara saw it. It felt odd, having someone care that she was in pain. The feeling was even more confusing than the red-hot rage she'd felt at Denna's hands on Dahlia.

"That tongue of yours will get you into a lot of trouble, one day. You should let me remove it."

Cara took hold of Denna's Agiel and forcibly lowered it. "Without my tongue, the Temple's morale would suffer greatly."

"I'll have to let your tongue raise my morale someday."

"It will more likely be the other way around."

***

The feeling, that odd fluttering thing that warmed her like a sort of rage, built in Cara as she soothed Dahlia's bruises. The cloth reddened when it touched her split lip, and when she dipped it back in the bowl the water became red, and Cara wrung it all out of the cloth before she touched it to Dahlia's face again. It stung Dahlia's face, just a little of pain to prove she cared.

"It was beautiful, the way you obeyed without question," Dahlia said, when Cara filled the cloth with water again.

Cara wrung it out, winding the cloth as tightly as a noose. "Any Mord'Sith would've done the same."

"I could not have."

The fluttering thing made Cara's eyes close, wetted them. When Cara opened them, they were dry. She soaked the cloth again, pressed it to the swelling flesh. Willed Dahlia to stop hurting. "I do not think I could have struck you more than I did. If Denna had ordered me to, I would've ripped her tongue from her throat." The idea filled her, replacing the fluttering thing with a cool sense of satisfaction.

"I would've liked that," Dahlia replied with a grin.

Cara found herself smiling as well. Slowly, she let the cloth drop away. In a way, Denna had made Dahlia more beautiful. The contrast between her bruises and the pain she refused to show filled Cara's head with ideas. Taking hold of the buckles that attached Dahlia's neck guard to her corset, Cara pulled Dahlia to her and kept her close until she needed to breathe again. Then she pushed Dahlia to her knees.

Dahlia's smile grew as she began to work at Cara's belts, but Cara stopped her. Unsure of what she was doing, she pressed Dahlia's face to her stomach. Rubbed between her fingers the lock of hair that had escaped Dahlia's braid when she'd been struck.

"If I die, I won't worry what will become of the child. Because he'll have you."

Dahlia looked up until she met Cara's eyes. "If you die, it will be because I have already fallen in your defense."

Cara allowed herself another moment feeling Dahlia's breath warm her skin, right through her leathers, before she pulled her sister to her feet. "We have work to do. Sister Berdine could use some help training the new recruits."

Dahlia nodded and followed obediently. In her condition, Cara could use someone to wield her Agiel for her.

Date: 2010-05-12 09:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] so-wicked.livejournal.com
Oh crap! You've just made Cara/Dahlia my new OTP. Kahlan will be piiiiiissed!

Date: 2010-05-13 03:35 am (UTC)
ext_221023: (LotS - Cara's Smile)
From: [identity profile] khase-fan09.livejournal.com
Yes. This. *grin*

Date: 2010-05-12 09:57 pm (UTC)
ext_7700: (lots: mordsith pounce)
From: [identity profile] swatkat24.livejournal.com
Guh. This is lovely.

Date: 2010-05-12 10:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] racethewind10.livejournal.com
"If you die, it will be because I have already fallen in your defense."

GUH. I could very easily see this happened between Cara and Dahlia. VERY nice!!!

Date: 2010-05-12 10:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] orange-creative.livejournal.com
UNF. I <3 Cara/Dahlia so much. Sometimes it's twisted!love, but pre-betrayals, it would be the most amazing Mord-sith!love EVAR.

I really enjoyed your take on some of their past. :]

Date: 2010-05-12 10:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] potatoko.livejournal.com
Sniff! Oh, I hope these two work it out. They will, won't they? Come on, Sam Raimi! As I recall, you owe us one lesbian happy ending!

I love how you capture MordSith! Cara's voice, while still keeping a bit of the sarcastic, emotionally bewildered Cara we know and love. If . . . if they don't get a happy ending in the finale, you'll . . . you'll fix it with fic, won't you?

Date: 2010-05-12 10:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meatisadelicacy.livejournal.com
That was just beautiful. Mord'Sith romance is such an interesting thing. I hope you write more.

Date: 2010-05-12 10:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fembuck.livejournal.com
This was magnificent. I honestly really don't even have words to express how heartbreakingly beautiful it was. Their devotion to each other, especially in a place like that and after all that they had been through and were continually put through was heartrending. I heart them so much, so very, very much.

And Cara's unease with her body and what it was doing to her were so very Cara and well-presented. Honestly, everything to do with them worrying about the baby, and trying to make the baby strong and what great things he/she was destined for nearly broke me knowing what will happen to the child.

Super great job.

Date: 2010-05-12 11:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nlsuperstar.livejournal.com
omg i love them so much. i need moahhrr!!

Date: 2010-05-12 11:15 pm (UTC)
ext_23120: ([lots] cara & dahlia)
From: [identity profile] hibernate.livejournal.com
Oh wow, this is amazing! It's making my heart ache for Dahlia and Cara, even more than it already was. Cara/Dahlia is so twisted and lovely and dooooomed.

Date: 2010-05-12 11:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tgirl78.livejournal.com
Loved this. Great job! :)

Date: 2010-05-13 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tempest819.livejournal.com
"It doesn't matter to me what he is, so long as he stops weakening me in a timely manner."

Love that! That characterization is right on target!

Actually, I loved all of this. I didn't think Mord Smith romance would be possible, but you made so believable and I want MOAR!

It's awesome that you integrated Denna. I loved the power play between her and Cara and Cara knowing just how far she could push the lines of insubordination.

"If I die, I won't worry what will become of the child. Because he'll have you."

Dahlia looked up until she met Cara's eyes. "If you die, it will be because I have already fallen in your defense."


Cut my heart out with a spoon! Honestly, I'm doing a shitty job of expressing how much this fic rocks. I think I'll just have to read it again and again until i get it right. ;-)

Date: 2010-05-13 12:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] iteari.livejournal.com
Wow. This really caught me off-guard. It's both tender but gritty here and there.

Date: 2010-05-13 12:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] theagonyofblank.livejournal.com
I love these two so much - and you made me love them even more. This was wonderful. The characterizations were lovely. Cara's acting without thinking to "save" Dahlia, and her not knowing what to make of her feelings for Dahlia - it was all really nicely done. Thank you for sharing!

Date: 2010-05-13 12:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silentdark.livejournal.com
Excellent story. I really love how you characterized Cara and Dahlia's relationship. And tossing in Denna...for the win. Now if you can only get Trianna in there as well :)

Date: 2010-05-13 02:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] foibles-fables.livejournal.com
Oh, I so wanted to see someone's take on what happened back then and this was absolutely wonderful. <33 Heartwrenchingly lovely. Thank you so much for sharing!

Date: 2010-05-13 03:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] noangel2046.livejournal.com
there'll be more of them right?????????right??????????i can't get enough of them,they're such a tragic pair,i need a big hug after reading this~

Date: 2010-05-13 04:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tilnightfall.livejournal.com
This was just absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for sharing it!

Date: 2010-05-13 04:22 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
"If you die, it will be because I have already fallen in your defense."

That's my favorite line from this great backstory!

Date: 2010-05-13 04:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] arista-artisan.livejournal.com
"If you die, it will be because I have already fallen in your defense."

Oh snap. That cut deep. Just in case we don't get a third season or Dahlia bites it, I'm taking this and making it cannon Cara backstory, k?

I am enamored with idea of Cara and Dahlia carrying on this genuine, loving relationship as Mord-Sith serving DR. The paradoxical nature of it all makes it so interesting. Loved that you used Cara's pregnancy. preg!Cara is the cutest, snarkiest, most lethal mord-sith around. Gotta praise your characterization of her. Not knowing just how to deal with the pregnancy, wanting it to be over with, but also unconsciously planning her child's future, having hopes and dreams for him, making sure he's protected should anything happen to her. It's totally logical that she'd have the same sort of "WTF is this?" reaction to those pesty ~feelings~ nagging her about Dahlia. Again, it ties in well with the pregnancy what with the elevated hormones. If D'Haran medicine was advanced enough Cara could totes save face and blame fetus Raul for making her misty eyed and sentimental.

Your Dahlia so warm and maternal which I think is dead on. The actress portraying her managed to convey a certain warmth and wistfulness throughout the ep. Great depth. I think Kahlan would like her a lot if they weren't destined to be mortal enemies. :p

Date: 2010-05-13 04:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] musicffyou.livejournal.com
wow you are sooooo very very very close to surpassing my Kahlan/Cara love...like maybe continuing these shots of Cara/Dahlia together might make it happne >.> im justa sayin lol

but this was amazing and I could really feel how in love they where. thank you

Date: 2010-05-13 05:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ntlknythrgrl.livejournal.com
i found this profoundly moving. thank you for writing this. the incredible talent of the fic writers for this fandom such as yourself continue to astound me. i hope you will write more :)

and i echo the sentiments of others. this pairing makes me forget sometimes how much i love c/k.

Date: 2010-05-13 07:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_miss_frost/
"Without my tongue, the Temple's morale would suffer greatly."

"I'll have to let your tongue raise my morale someday."

It sure did raised my morale.

What a great piece of writing! Seems like I've a new OTP and, yes, just like [livejournal.com profile] so_wicked said, "Kahlan will be pissed!"

Date: 2010-05-13 01:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cameron-sarah.livejournal.com
Yay! *claps* Moar pregnancy!Cara/Dahlia plzthkx!! :D:D

Date: 2010-05-14 06:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jaws-of-fenrir.livejournal.com
*snort* every time I scroll past your icon I laugh my ass off.

Date: 2010-05-15 12:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cameron-sarah.livejournal.com
Haha. Glad you like it! Made it myself after Desecrated! Can snag if you want (with credit :) )

Date: 2010-05-13 04:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleocallisto.livejournal.com
Wow! I really enjoyed this one.. The interaction between Cara and Dahlia is beautifully portrayed. Excellent writing!

Date: 2010-05-13 05:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eternal-moonie.livejournal.com
Totally AWESOME Cara/Dahlia!!!!!

Date: 2010-05-14 06:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jaws-of-fenrir.livejournal.com
What what what, Cara has been paired with someone else and I...liked it? Bloody brilliant in the horrible, gut-twisting, it's totally doomed way. :)

Date: 2010-05-14 08:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] semerket.livejournal.com
OOo! Move bitch! *shoves Kahlan out of the way* I love me some Dahlia now. :-) I think Cara would drop kick Kahlan to get to this wretched lying cunt that I honestly wanted to fucking die in the last episode cause she's so fucking evil, but OMG please don't die before I get to watch them have sex.
Tainted love = awesome! Great fic! :)

Date: 2010-05-18 04:46 am (UTC)
ext_425300: (cara)
From: [identity profile] mayireadtoday.livejournal.com
I really, really like this insight into Cara's old life.

Awesome: "I think you'd enjoy me more. And Dahlia does like to watch. Before Trianna went to her assignment, Dahlia loved to watch us train. But when Trianna wanted us to give her a show, she was so modest. It was very amusing."

Thanks for mentioning Trianna.

Date: 2010-05-18 07:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oceangazer-ff.livejournal.com
Very interesting look into the past. Nicely done.

Date: 2010-05-20 04:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dani-po.livejournal.com
Loved it

"If you die, it will be because I have already fallen in your defense."
That line kill me

Date: 2010-05-24 09:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] individual-68.livejournal.com
i think i now have 2 OTPs....which kinda ruins the point, but oh well

awesome story :)

Date: 2012-05-01 08:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] softestbullet (from livejournal.com)
I love this so much.

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