Niko broke into laughter as she fumbled her playing. Still carrying her he moved out to the balcony, so they could both take in the view together.
Niko stood looking out into Rivendell. Their Kingdom. He looked down at his wife and could only smile.

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She wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling at him. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" her hand squeezed his opposite shoulder. "It's ours. These people are now our people." she looked out over Rivendell. They were now rulers of this land. It was still hard to believe.

Niko was about to reply when what he had been secretly dreading happened.
He felt sharp pain all over his back and gasped out of the pain. His knees buckled and he knew he was about to lose his footing. He leant backwards so as to make sure Nienna wouldn't be harmed in the fall.
Niko toppled to the floor on his back, Nienna landing on top of him. He could only clench his teeth at the pain.

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She gasped and jumped off him then clutched him to her. His pain, her pain, was back. She held him close, her hands caressing his face as she murmured words to him. "I'm so sorry.." she quickly grabbed a bottle of ale and held it, knowing he would be able to drink when the pain passed "I'm so sorry, my love..."

Niko's eyes began to water. The pain usually didn't last this long. If anything it just intensified, he let out a soft cry as his back felt as if it was being cut all over.
The pain was blinding his eyes, as his chest began to throb all went black. Niko was unconscious yet to Nienna's eyes he was awake, and he surveyed her with anger. ''This is your fault'' His glaring left to be replaced with pain as Niko woke, remembering nothing of what he had said. The pain had left him.
He moved closer to Nienna, needing her comfort.

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"This is your fault" he had snarled to her, then began to move towards her, her eyes were wide with terror, his mood had returned? What did he mean to do? She backed away slowly "I...I can...I can take it back! I can take it back again!" what would he do?

Niko paused,confused.
''I do not wish for you to take it back. I bear this pain gladly for you.'' he said, noting how she backed away from him with fear in her eyes.
With the pain still fresh in his mind he wanted her beside him, he looked up at her reached for her tentatively.
''Angel?''

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"You...You're mood...you said it was my fault!" she hit the wall of the balcony's railing with her back, her hair falling over half her face. "You...you...I...I can take it back!" she offered again, still not sure, what if he was still in that mood? But he had called her Angel...a trick? Or was it genuinely him? She peered up at him through her hair.

''Mood? I would never want you to take it back. I-'' His words were cut short as the pain seized him again.
What was happening? It had never happened so soon after another before.
The pain was worse, he writhed on the floor, he reached again for Nienna, desperate for her comforting touch.
''Angel...please'' He let out a gasp as the pain intensified further.

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He needed her. She rushed forward and clutched him to her, pressing her hand to his forehead "The pain is worse..." she whispered, then her hand grew warm as she tried to make his pain less, to bring him comfort was her only wish. "Niko, my love, I am here!" she held him close, and pressed one hand to his back, hoping, praying for it to ease up.

''Never take it back. No matter how bad you feel.'' the pain was lessening now.
Before he knew it, all was black as a mood once again took him. He looked slowly at Nienna, malice evident in his eyes, and began to reach for her throat.

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"Niko! Niko stop! What are you doing?" she cried out as she backed away again, he was reaching for her throat! "Niko! Listen to me! Please! You are not yourself!" she hit the balcony's wall again, fear catching in her throat. His black mood had returned.

He crawled towards her stood up, his eyes black with hatred. His hands reached out and grabbed her throat and he began to choke her. ''You did this. You ruined me, I loathe you''
After he spoke Niko finally realized what he was doing, he gasped as he saw his hands. He felt weak and his knees buckled, ashamed at what he had done. He crumpled to the floor at her feet.
''I'm sorry. Please...'' His hand twitched weakly as his fingers brushed her foot.
''I need you''

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His hands went around her neck and tightened, blocking her air off. She stared at him, her hands coming up and grabbing his wrists. She had no air, and as her eyes began to go dark, his hands fell as he went down. He...loathed her? "I need you" his voice sounded weak. She knew she could not leave him, she needed him as well. She dropped to her knees, gasping for air as she grasped him hand "I will never...never...leave you..." her throat hurt, and she was reminded of the time Elthor had choked her. And she knew again that red marks were appearing on her throat. She kept her gaze on the floor as she fought for air.

Niko felt better as she held his hand. He slowly looked up at her and could see what he had done to her neck. It brought tears to his eyes that he did that with his own hands to his very own wife.
''Forgive me. I'm sorry''

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She shook her head "There is nothing to...forgive." her throat was raw, then she doubled over and clutched her middle. No! Not again! Not again! She wouldn't let it happen this time. She wouldn't! Pain spread through her abdomen, and she held it protectively with her free arm. "You need...ale..."