That could not ease her guilt. She shook as her sobs grew, unable to speak. She just clutched him more tightly, wanting him, afraid he might disappear at any moment. He deserved better.

Her crying intensified, and Niko could only sit there. He decided to ask her something he had been pondering for a few moments.
''If you could do it again. Would you prefer to let me die?'' he said simply.

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"No! That's just it," she sobbed "I can't! I'm too selfish to allow you peace!" she knew she couldn't live without him.

He could sense her emotions as well as what she was thinking about herself. In truth, he was glad she had saved him.
''There is no peace without you, angel'' he said quietly.

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She could only bury her face closer. "Please do not turn away again...please." she could only say.

Her words got to him. He slowly turned to face her, placing a light kiss to her lips he took her hands in his, offering her a small smile as he did so.
He touched the necklace he had given her around her neck and spoke.
''Always. There is no other for me''

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She took shuddering breaths, and held his hand to the necklace. "As you are for me, the only one." she kissed his hand, hiding it in her own as she rocked back and forth gently.

He could only sit with her, for a while, making sure she knew he was there.
Before long the wizard appeared, and walked over to them.
''I would speak to Niko alone'' he said.

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She jumped slightly, and squeezed Niko's hand before slowly getting up and walking out onto the beach. It was a grey, dreary morning, though no rain fell. The skies threatened, though, and the wind was picking up. She walked to where the waves broke against the sand, their foamy white tops hissing and making dark patterns on the otherwise white sand. She hugged herself, the tear tracks obvious on her face as she let the waves lap at her feet. She was worried. What if the wizard didn't see him fit? She kept walking, her arms around herself as she watched the sea as she went.

Niko couldn't help but glare slightly at the wizard, after what he had experienced the night before.
Sitting down, he looked at Niko for a few moments before speaking.
''You almost lost yourself last night.Yet you didn't.'' He pulled out from his robes, a strange looking ring, encased with an emerald.
''I give you this at a price and a warning. Should you give in to your temptation, it will take over you, and will likely result in the death of your wife. I will know, regardless of where you are. The moment you give into temptation, the ring shall be taken from you.''
He paused and spoke again.
''I think you may have need of this as well, one day. But the choice is not yours to make''
Niko was unsure what he meant but he nodded slowly.
The wizard pulled out another, smaller ring and held it out to him.
As Niko looked at the ring, he couldn't help but notice the strange markings on the wizard's hand. He took the ring and pocketed it, before slipping on his own.
''Those markings, what are they?'' The wizard looked at him with an odd look on his face and replied.
''They are not your concern.''
''Could you give me a mark such as that?'' he wondered, curious. ''Such as?'' the wizard asked.
Niko paused and then replied. The wizard nodded with a smile and brought out something and began to work. A quarter of an hour later, Niko looked down at his chest and saw ''Nienna'' written there in elegant writing.
''Le hannon'' Niko said to the wizard.
The wizard nodded, smiling, before turning and leaving.
Niko put on his shirt and waited for Nienna.

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Nienna turned as she saw the wizard leaving and noticed that he gave her a strange look as he went. She dipped her head slowly in his direction, then slowly made her way through the salty, sea spray back to the cave. Her grey dress nearly blended in with they grey sky, she noticed. Her barefeet made soft footprints in the sand as she walked. She wasn't sure what to expect. The wizard had been there a long time. She reached the cave entrance and stepped inside, her feet silent as she went. "What happened?" she asked softly as she reached Niko, and stood looking down on him, concern plainly written on her face.

He looked up as she entered, and raised his hand for her to see the ring on his finger.
''He approved'' he said quietly. He smiled as he took her hands.

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She looked at his ring, and her face broke out into a relieved, shaky smile, and happy tears filled her eyes as she looked from the ring to him. She took her hands from his and cupped his face, and claimed his mouth in a gentle kiss. She was overjoyed for him.

He smiled and kissed her back before his arms circled her waist and he twirled her around, laughing.
He picked her up and went outside. It felt almost strange to him to be back outside in the daytime.
''Le hannon''

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She laughed and her arms went around his neck at the same time he twirled her around. As he picked her up, she placed one hand on his cheek, her joy growing with every minute he was out in the daylight. "No need to thank me." she kissed his cheek, hardly believing the good fortune they had.

''There is every need to thank you'' he said with a laugh. He set her down on his lap as he sat, looking out at the sea.
''I told you we would take our trip. Here we are'' A cool sea breeze caught them as they sat, happy.

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