As Princess Anasuri proceeded to stab herself with the vial, shock-colored Ekon's features. It wasn't every day that he saw someone willingly stab themselves with a sharp object. Once the princess explained, Ekon's shock slowly slipped away and became a mixture of relief and guilt.

"Well," Ekon sighed, "I'm happy you will be okay then m'lady. You frightened me for a moment there." Gone was Ekon's earlier light tone and easygoing demeanor, now his brow was furrowed and his lips tight. He had not realized that he cared for the princess enough for his curse to affect her, knowing that this was his fault hurt more than he would care to admit.

Anasuri frowned lightly, "Ah- I do see how my actions could have been alarming. Many apologies - but it is a common occurance, so there is no need to worry about it. Bee stings are much more common than one might assume!"

-

srry this is short - but i want to ask whats gonna happen next here, and what the plan is gonna be for pacing?

It's no problem. I figure they head home after this and then we can ts to either the day of or the day before Anasuri gets kidnapped and at that point Ekon has pulled away considerably. Sound good?

____

Although Ekon nodded and his demeanor seemingly brightened at the princess' words, he still didn't seem quite normal. The brightness in his gaze from earlier had dimmed, and he seemed quite a bit less cheerful. "Well, I suppose you are alright m'lady. Are there any other allergies I should be aware of then? Perhaps next time I might be able to help prevent something such as this from happening."

okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-------------

Tapping the now-empty vial against her leg, Anasuri quieted for a moment to think. "I don't think so," she said at last, "I am pretty sure it is just bees... but I wouldn't worry about it. I never go anywhere without this anti-allergen, so if I were to ever find another, I would be able to deal with it."

-------------

Nearly a week later, Anasuri received a request from her father: she was to visit a festival that a newly-appointed Lord was hosting, as a show of support from the Crown of his new position.

Anasuri accepted, of course, - one didn't say no to her father - and the travel arrangements were made for two days later.

...
As the day of her departure neared, a fear grew inside of Anasuri, not that she would tell a soul.

There was no reason to be, which was what bothered her the most - there would be plenty of guards, it was only a two day journey, and a three day stay, so it wouldn't be for long, the roads they would be taking were safe. Nothing could happen to her. It would be fine.

...

The morning of her departure, as she glanced at Ekon's profile, Anasuri silently admitted that her worry stemmed from the fact that her guard would not be coming with. He was to remain at the palace - go through some extra training while she was gone - since her father had refused to permit Ekon to come. His reasoning, which, annoyingly enough, did make sense, was that by Ekon - who was known as Anasuri's primary and most trusted guard - not coming with, it showed trust within the new Lord, and his power.

(What didn't make sense to Anasuri - something she kept quiet, and to herself - was that they didn't trust the Lord. They thought him to be a troublesome upstart - someone who was at risk for defying the crown. This left a sour taste in Anasuri's mouth, but, as had been the rule for her entire life: one did not refuse her father.)

The carriage soon pulled around, and Anasuri put a small hand on Ekon's arm. The worst part, she mused, even as she followed through with the action, was that Anasuri wasn't sure if Ekon would allow it.

Ever since the picnic, he had been pulling away more and more. Their shared smiles - which had once been plentiful - had all but vanished, and she had not heard Ekon's quiet laugh in too long. It was unsettling, to have a one who she thought to be a friend, pull away without a word. But Anasuri could do nothing but persevere, and so, she placed a hand on Ekon's arm, patting it once, twice, then withdrawing.

"I will see you again in seven days," Anasuri kept her voice quiet, so any onlookers would not be able to hear the words of affection and kindness that a charge was not to give their guard, "Please, give Dakota my best wishes. I am sorry that he could not be here right now for me to send them myself... and..." Anasuri lowered her voice a tad more, so her words were nearly lost in the wind that had picked up, "Stay safe. Be careful."

Although it had only been one step back, it felt as if an uncrossable chasm had suddenly formed between Anasuri and her knight - as if their friendship had fractured into simply a business relationship.

. . . Anasuri had not anticipated that the loss of Kanu - even though he stood a mere few feet away - to hurt so keenly.

Still, Anasuri was a princess in the public eye. She could not afford to show such emotions - especially not in regards to a knight. That would result in a swift discharge for Kanu and an tragic 'accident' befalling him in a few weeks.

So, Anasuri nodded her head the slightest amount to acknowledge Ekon's words, then turned away, taking the offered hand of a guard to help her down the stairs.

A carriage awaited Anasuri at the base of the stairs, but before she stepped inside, Anasuri stole one last look at the palace - and Kanu. It lasted only the briefest of seconds, and soon, Anasuri was safely seated inside the carriage.

Yet - the closing of the door gave Anasuri the strangest feeling - as if someone had hammered in the final nail on her coffin.

-

ts?

We definitely should ts although I can hardly remember what's happening lmao. I think Anasuri gets kidnapped or something? Where exactly would you want to go with this now?

yee

anasuri is going on her trip and gets snatched on like the second day of staying w the lord or something i believe. bc it was all a ploy by the king to have an excuse to attack the upstart bc he KNEW that the lord would take anasuri to try to bargain or something, bjt the king (and her father) have no intention of bargaining and plan to just tell the public that anasuri was killed into order to justify their attacking.

(two birds, one stone for the king. get rid of pesky anasuri and strike down a powerful lord that opposes him)

so kanu wouldn't find out until like 2/3 days after the fact and during the time he takes to get out there anasuri somehow manages to escape (will cross that bridge when j get to it) and it's a race against the clock for him to find her before word reaches the king that she escaped, who would then send his own guards to kill her in order to cover his tracks (since, frustratingly enuf, the people adore anasuri and would be QUITE MAD if they found out the king tried to sacrifice her)

-

this (being anasuri survival) could also be the catalyst for her and kanu's adventures to other places, bc the king doesn't want her to be AROUND to tell anyone about what he tried to do , and also hopes for this to be another potential reason to attack other nations

Where would you want to ts to then?

uh, mb to kanu hearing that anasuri was kidnapped? it's the most plot relevant thing -- info being: gets news 6 days after anasuri leaves.

2 day trip, taken on second day of staying, 2 days for the news to get back to the palace.

kanu is pretty much told that she's dead and not to go after.