Jasper's concern only grew with Kate's words. He tried to picture a kind Malora, but he couldn't. Closing his eyes and shaking his head, he focused on the situation at hand. Kate was breaking down and he wasn't sure how much he could do to help. He couldn't understand why Kate was blaming herself for the way he was treated.<br/><br/>When she broke down further he wanted to console her, but knew that there were only so many things he could do that were acceptable.<br/><br/>"It's not your fault." He spoke softly, eyes never leaving her.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Kate sniffled and grasped her napkin and wiped her nose, "Gahh, this was suppose to be fun. Now I ruined our day...sniffle...forgive...me. Are you ready to leave?...I want you... to be my protector. Papa, would ask you to be..." <br/><br/>The lord's daughter blinked and wiped her face with hands.</span><br/>-----<br/>Jasper watched Kate recover slightly. He wanted to tell her that it was okay, she hadn't ruined anything, but was stopped by her last statement. Being someone's protector was a huge honour, something he didn't feel he deserved.<br/><br/>"Kate, I..." He couldn't say no to this, and he knew it. With a sigh, he met her eyes and restarted. "Thank you." He said. Hoping the two words would be enough to convey the meaning.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Kate took his hand in hers, "Jasper, despite what you think, you have earned the right, seeing your eyes sparkle and happiness in your face. I am happy too. Thank you. I want you to smile and be happy; not because your told to be...because you are."<br/>The mage pointed to his heart.<br/><br/>Kate stands, removes a dagger, with mother of peal, handle; which she places flatly over his heart, "As my Champion and Protector, Jasper do you promise to serve me until you are unable keep the position."</span><br/>-----<br/>Jasper listened to Kate's words. He wanted desperately to believe them, to believe that he had somehow earned this right, and the right to be happy...something he had not felt truly in a long time. He glanced down to where Kate pointed, before return his gaze to hers as she stood. He felt the dagger placed against his heart and forced himself to be still, against what his body was telling him. He heard what she said, feeling the words pierce him as no blade could.<br/><br/>Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and released it to calm himself more than anything before giving his answer.<br/><br/>"Yes, I do."<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Kate removed the dagger and placed back in the sheathe under he right sleeve, "Jasper what is your weapon of choice."</span><br/>-----<br/>Thinking about this, his thoughts came to the countless fights he had been in, most of them scheduled, others not so much. Usually he had had to rely on his own two hands, or claws when he shifted, and his teeth. But occasionally a weapon would be tossed to him to 'change things up a little'. They ranged from swords and spears, to daggers, axes, and even a mace or two. If he didn't know how to use it he learned quickly. Which would he choose as his weapon of choice though?<br/><br/>Considering each, he came to a conclusion.<br/><br/>"A sword, preferably." He said. It didn't matter much what kind of sword, he had used plenty of different types and knew one could be just as deadly as the other.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Kate nodded and reached for her scarf, cloak, and donned her gloves, "The swords smith is right around the corner. My Protector, do you want to choose your sword, or shall I? You will have this weapon a very long while."</span><br/>-----<br/>Jasper watched Kate before moving to retrieve his own cloak. At the new 'title' he winced slightly, it would take some time to get use to that, as with everything he was experiencing. But he had accepted this position and he felt there was no backing out now. He also knew that if he let Kate choose the sword, it would likely be something much more fancy than he would choose, preferring the simple over everything else.<br/><br/>"I will choose." He answered.<br/><br/>Following Kate, he felt the same feeling from before rising up, that he didn't deserve this. And part of him knew it was right, he didn't deserve this. But he was raised to serve, and he could follow that order.