Note: A very short chapter but I wanted to break it apart from the next one :)

I had not slept all night. I had sat in silence, staring down at the dagger that had been placed into my hands, not by choice. Yet, I knew I could not kill him but for him to live his life would be the plenty of others to loose theirs and neither parties decided to die and why should I be the to choose? If anyone deserved to die at this moment, it would be me.

For my foolishness, my unawareness, my undeciding mind and for my love for Septimus, the only person who had ever touched my heart. He was always there when I needed him, and even when I didn't, my only friend, my only love and now I would have to kill him.

I could not and would not be able to hold the burden of being accountable of all of the other lives I held at risk, though this one life would pain me and haunt me until the end of my own days. I actually cannot believe I am really thinking of going through with this, having let that poisonous snake string me with his venom and leaving me no chance of a cure.

It was now around mid morning to my guess and I had not stepped on foot outside the doors to my chambers, well really, I had not moved at all which was bound to raise a few curious people as I heard a gentle knock on the door and a familiar voice call through the door "Briony?"

I jumped to my feet, having heard Septimus's voice as I quickly buried myself under my bed, not wanting to see him or him see me at this moment in time as I heard him slowly open the door and saw his large black boots wander around the room as he called once more "Briony?"

Again, I could not find it in my heart to answer as I watched him finally lose hope as I heard him stroll back to the door and gently close it behind him as I gave myself a heavy sigh, having been glad to get rid of him so easily as I was sure that I would have broken down in tears if I rested my eyes upon his large dark eyes.

I realised I had no options and that I would have to kill him but I could never live with myself afterwards so I decided that I would not live either, one because I did not want to be without him and the guilt I would feel forever more and second of all, because I could not watch the lands of Stormhold come to ruin by the vile prince even though I had the power to change this, duty would not allow me.

I just hoped that somehow, somewhere, that after this nightmare was over, Septimus could ever forgive me for what I was about to do.