Ekon allowed a thankful smile to slip onto his face, and his purple cheeks lightened softly. "Ah, thank you m'lady. I appreciate that, I shall take my leave then. I wish you luck with your work." He bowed at the waist for a moment before leaving the room. Dakota appearing for a moment to give Dava a bear goodbye before slipping back into his jewelry, just as Ekon closed the door behind him

How the hell was he supposed to kill her?

~
I'd say ts, but to when?))

to him attempting to kill anasuri?

Okay, that sounds good but I have some questions. This will affect how it happens so I need you to answer them lol. Is it night or day? Was it just a normal day or was there something important going on? And lastly, are the bears out and about, not with their companions, or are they with them? (in either jewelry form or physical form, I don't care I just gotta know lol)

i imagine its a normal day, the sun has set, and anasuri has been in the library reading. her candle was burning low.

dava is napping somewhere nearby, and u can decide on Dakota

Oof. Oh deer, (yes deer) this is gonna be a roller coaster))

~~
Ekon had gotten the message.

Not a good one, more of a I'm going to kill Dakota and torture you if you don't murder that one princess for me kind of message. Which was the real threat, if he didn't kill Anasuri that was. If he did kill her, he'd get Neima back, which was exactly what he wanted of course. The problem? Ekon didn't want to kill Princess Anasuri, not in the slightest. She had been his kindest ward, and the only nice noble he'd ever met, the people loved her and he did care for her. She'd saved his life yet here he was, plotting her death.

Not that he had a specific plan for killing her, like ever. He'd been procrastinating for as long as he could, and hadn't tried to think too much on it, but still, he knew that if he didn't do it within the week, Dakota would be killed and he'd be tortured until the day he died. And he was sure they would keep him alive for as long as possible. They being his higher ups, the Knight Council. He'd never liked them, but they offered him the impossible, a chance to be with Neima again, and that was all he'd ever wanted ever since he'd watched her die.

Ekon sat on the edge of his bed, head in his hands as he cried. Yes, cried. He'd excused himself for a moment, as Anasuri had been reading in the library for most of the day and he hadn't really been needed. Slowly, ever so slowly, the tears calmed down, though his eyes were still a little puffy. He didn't like killing the innocent, and certainly didn't want to kill someone who'd been so kind. Yet here he was, a dagger in hand, prepared to kill an innocent soul.

If Dakota knew what he was planning, he'd stop Ekon in his tracks. But Ekon had planned this night carefully. Dakota was out hunting, though the bear was well aware of exactly where Ekon was. The bear would be angry, but he'd forget it all when Neima and Avisa were back. Ekon hoped that the same would go for him as well.

Ekon headed back towards the library, his normal bracelets on, earrings in. He'd have to keep Dava at knife point as well, as she would probably try to go after him once she realized what Ekon was doing. He'd try to end it all quickly, they had done nothing to him, and they didn't deserve this. But Ekon didn't want to die, and he wanted Neima back.

So he walked into the library, closing the door and walking in with ease. Footsteps loud in the quiet of the library, the only noise was Ekon's heart pounding in his ears.

Anasuri looked up from her book at the noise, and smiled at Ekon, "Oh - Ekon! I found this really interesting passage that is talking about the other continents out there. Did you know that there are people who can breathe underwater, and are half sea creatures! And people with wings!" Anasuri buried her nose in the book again, "Father and the King never told me about these lands! I knew that there were other people out in the world, but they made it seem like they weren't civilized at all... but they've created art, Ekon - Art! Sculptures, paintings, weavings..." Anasuri sighed into the pages of the book. She was curled up in a comfy chair, and Dava was snuggled up by the fireplace. The bear was keeping a lazy eye on her companion and Ekon, although she wasn't too concerned. "Oh... I want to see this places and people one day..." Anansuri whispered, "I want to explore the world."

It is going to pain me to write this.)

~

~

Ekon was about to cry,(what a mood) here he was, about to kill this woman, and she was spilling her guts to him. Talking about the Distant Lands and how she would love to see them, and the people there. Ekon had been to the faerie world before, on a job, they had been tricky people, lustful and skilled manipulators, but he'd enjoyed learning their culture nonetheless.

Of course, he was merely thinking these things because he was trying to distract himself from his task. Trying to stall for as long as he could, but he could do it for no longer. He had to kill Anasuri tonight. Otherwise he'd lose Dakota, his only friend and the only piece he had left of his old life. Granted, Anasuri had become a friend in a way, she'd saved his life after all. Yet here he was, still about to kill her.

It took Ekon a long moment to say anything, and before he did, he swallowed audibly. "I honestly wish you would be able to see all those places too Princess, I truly do. I-I'm so sorry, but I have orders, and if I don't do them I'll lose everything." With that, a few bracelets slid off his arm and created a sharp dagger that flew straight for Dava, it floated at her throat, a warning. And in that second, another dagger had formed in Ekon's hand and he now held it to Anasuri's throat.

His hands shook and he fought to remain stoic. It was not working, the conflict caused tension throughout his whole body, and his eyes watered no matter how hard he blinked. Ekon did not want this, but what choice did he have? Plus, if he killed Anasuri, he'd get Neima back, and he could have a cottage in the woods where they could stay away from everyone and be free to do what they liked. He wanted that.

But Anasuri.

She'd done nothing wrong to him, she'd saved his life and trusted him. Princess Anasuri had things she wanted to do with her life, that she would be able to do if Ekon didn't kill her right here and now.

Anasuri closed her book and audibly gulped. Still, she remained steady, even as Dava growled. She tilted her head slightly, very aware of the sharp object at her throat, "Oh?" Anasuri's voice was soft, gentle, and not angry in the slightest, "Everything is a lot of things. Dakota, perhaps? And your own life?.... Well, I would not want to be the source of any pain for you, Ekon." Anasuri was still seated in her chair. While still staring dead at Ekon, she slowly stood up, lifting her chin high, "I don't believe that is all of your reasoning for this, though. Ekon - does this have something to do with the woman you were painting? An old, amazing friend, who you would do anything to get back?" Anasuri lifted her hand slowly, and placed it over Ekon's hand that held the blade that could end her life, "I know it hurts like all hell is coming for you. But no matter what you've been promised, you can't bring people back to life - not like how they were before. I don't know her, but what would she think? How much has she missed? You are a different person now than you were just a day ago - we are always changing, Ekon. And she... wouldn't have changed. You are not the same person she knew, but you knew her. If she would have killed someone - alright. If you really want her back - alright." Anasuri dropped her hand, but her piercing eyes did not move.

She would not show how afraid she was. Anasuri would be strong, "There is a secret door beside the fireplace - pull down the red book. You can escape. Get Dakota and flee, but don't you dare regret your choices. Life if not something to be taken lightly, Ekon. Never, ever to be taken lightly. This person means a lot to you - I can see that - and I will understand your choice," Anasuri smiled, actually smiled. A tear slipped down her cheek, "I still trust you, Ekon. You will make the right decision."

The words that fell from Anasuri's lips scared Ekon more than anything. He was already being pushed so far, he didn't think he'd be able to kill her before she'd opened her mouth, now that she had, he stood in shock. Her warm hand over his startled him, and he pulled away from the comforting warmth like it was more of a blazing fire than just another's touch. The worst part? Her words rang true in his mind.

Neima would be pissed that he'd killed an innocent to get her back, and he'd known that from the beginning, but she was all he had. Nobody alive cared for him the way she had, even before they'd became lovers. He had changed, and he doubted it had been in a good way.

Ekon knew as soon as Anasuri opened her mouth that he would not be able to go through with the deed, but truly admitting it to himself was painful and terrifying. He felt as though the ground may give way at any moment and he'd be swallowed whole, never to be seen again, and perhaps that would be better than admitting to Anasuri that she did not deserve to die. If only he could escape his troubles so easily.

Alas, he knew what this would come down to. If he killed her, he'd get Neima back, but at a cost. A cost that would haunt him for the rest of his days, and Neima may just leave once she realized what a monster Ekon was. If he didn't kill Anasuri, he'd be thrown in prison, and probably executed, for treason. And he would deserve it. But Dakota did not deserve it, and the orphanage that his superior had sworn to burn down if Ekon did not comply with his wishes did not deserve it either.

But he could not kill Anasuri.

As soon as those words slipped into his brain, Ekon shook violently, and both daggers fell to the floor with a thud. He pulled back, his eyes filling with tears as he held his hands to his chest. For a moment he said nothing as the tears slipped down his face, and he looked so small for such a giant. "I-I'm so sorry, I am a fool. You deserve to live, no one deserves to die." Memories flooded his vision for a moment, and all he could remember was those days on the streets, where he'd watched friends die and could do nothing about it.

No one deserves to die,

Ekon fell to the ground at Anasuri's feet. He would not beg for his life, as he deserved to die for what he'd tried to do, but there were innocents who were in danger, and he needed to beg for them. "Please leave Dakota out of any punishment you give me, I beg you. He had no idea that I was give other orders. And I have to warn you, so you can warn others, that because I refuse to kill you, the orphanage in town will burn by tomorrow's night. Please, please, I will take and sentence you give me, but please," Ekon paused, tears slipping rapidly down his face, his eyes a brilliant gold. "Please keep those children safe." Children were his weakness, they always had been. Orphans especially. He sympathized with them, knew them. He was not supposed to, because he was a stoic knight fighting for justice. But it seemed that all of those words were false. Especially now, as he cried on the floor, in front of his charge nontheless, in any other situation, he may have even found it funy. But tonight it was not.

Anasuri watched the change crash over Ekon's face and body, and as he dropped the daggers, she waved to Dava to find Dakota.

As the bear walked out of the room, and Ekon fell to the floor, Anansuri dropped down beside him, and threw her arms around him in a fierce hug, "It is alright, Ekon. There will be no punishment for you, or Dakota, I promise. If you wish, you are free to remain in the palace, and I will offer you protection like you have brought to me." Anasuri had her cheek pressed against Ekon, and she soothingly rubbed his back, "The orphanage will also be safe. I love the children there as well, and if that was being threatened against you, then I do not find fault in your actions. I will send guards there to protect it, and have them bring the children to a safe location."

Anasuri felt wet tears dripping down her face now, no longer being held back, and she trembled slightly, although she tried to still it.

That had been absolutely terrifying. Anasuri had been preparing to take her last breath and die, a silent apology to Dava and all the people she loved on her lips. And yet... here she was, trying to comfort her would-be murderer. Ekon wasn't like that, though, and she had felt that truth in her soul, "I don't know your story, dear Ekon, but I see your heart. It is true and strong, and you have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. This was an internal battle, because there are good reasons for either choice," Anasuri sat back on her heels, and pulled away, wiping the tears off of her face, "I cannot being Her back, but I can save those orphans."