(back...)

Niko froze as he heard her words.
''What are you saying?'' he asked slowly. He could scarcely believe what he was seeing. Did she mean what he thought she meant?

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"I'm saying we are to have a child..." she whispered, scarcely believing it as she said it. She dropped his hand at his reaction. She figured he was probably in shock as she was.

His jaw dropped at her words, as his knees buckled he sat down, his breathing growing more rapidly.
He was to be a father? He would have a son?
''How do you know?''

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"The wizard told me..." she sat next to him, her hands on her belly. Was she happy? She didn't know. Was she terrified? Yes.
(driving home now, be back soon! Haha sorry for the frequent poofs...)

''How could he have known?'' Niko was stunned, lost for words.
He only sat there, trying to take in what she said.

(it's fine)

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"He mumbled some words and put his hand on my belly...he's a wizard. How did he know you returned to the cave?" she suddenly stood and walked out to the beach, giving him time to go over it in his head. She was to be a mother, and it was a son. A successor for Niko to be ruler of Rivendell when and if the time came that they retired or she passed away. Her hands went back to her belly, holding it, wondering if her child could hear her thoughts. How foolish, she chided herself. She could not possibly be that far along.

He watched her as she walked away. A feeling of slight dizziness came over him.
He slowly stood up and walked over to her. Why did she turn from him?
Laying his hand on her shoulder gently he spoke, his words soft.
''Are you happy?''

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"I...I'm frightened." she said in a small voice. She had not quite processed it yet. She was afraid of somethin happening again. The other times she hadn't known before the fact, which sadly had made it a bit easier. It was a strange feeling, to know she carried life inside her.

Niko's arms circled her waist and he whispered softly into her ear.
''Nothing shall happen. Soon, you shall be a mother, as well as a wife''
Niko's hand then found her belly,
''Our child''

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She swallowed hard, and her hand moved to cover his. "Our son." she added to what he said. It hardly seemed possible, after everything. She pressed the back of her other hand to her mouth as tears of joy began falling. She was happy, she was frightened, and she was still in shock.

He smiled and kissed her cheek.
''Yes, our son''
She had given him something no one else could hope to.
''Shall we return? It would not do for you to be out in your condition'' he said with a small laugh.

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She laughed "At least I'm not waddling yet." she said dryly. They returned to the cave and she gathered her things. "Hopefully Raven doesn't spook and throw me on the way back." she teased. Yet somehow it was still sinking in. She looked down at her belly, not believing a baby was growing there this minute.

''Perhaps she shall''
Niko jumped on his horse and watched her, hardly believing what was happening.

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She laughed, but only slightly as they started riding. What would happen? And exactly how much would she have to waddle? She made a face as she mentally pictured it. Oh dear gods..."Horrific!" she suddenly spoke her thoughts outloud, not realizing she had.

Niko turned to look at her, a look of discern etched on his face.
''You find this horrific?''
He was not sure what to think.

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