"But I'm not that far along yet!" she cried out, not sure what to make of it. "Maybe...maybe it's the nausea?" she searched her brain for anything to explain...unless..."Niko...i think our baby survived..." from the second or first? Maybe through both? Bit it didn't make sense...but perhaps it was possible. Perhaps she had been carrying their child even through what happened at the cave.

Niko began to take in her words. But they were difficult. There were so many questions. Had he been alive all of this time? Why had Nienna not sensed it before? What was the cause of all of the blood?
Niko began to take deep breaths.
''Relax, angel. Our child lives, that's what important''

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Her face was white as she gripped her middle, her eyes huge. It was the only way she could make sense of it. But the blood...there had been so much both times. Perhaps the unborn child had tapped into her magic an had used it to survive. Perhaps...she grew about three shades whiter. How far along was she? Why was she only now getting sick? Was this normal? What was normal? A thousand questions filled her mind.

Niko lay back, closing his eyes, trying to will his questions away. They have a baby, that is what's important, he kept repeating in his head.
His hand reached out to grasp hers.

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She gripped his hand so hard her knuckles turned white. "That's why he looked at me so strange..." she thought outloud. "He sensed my magic, and perhaps sensed that our baby..." oh dear...it seemed to fit, yet she could be wrong.

Niko believed she must be right. There was no other explanation. He nodded, agreeing with her.
He kept his eyes closed and he was lost in thought, as if sleeping.

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He lay with his eyes closed, and she thought he was asleep so she slipped from the bed and walked to the balcony, her hand on her middle. She looked down. Of course. It explained the moods, the loss of apetite, and how had she not noticed the small bump? Just a tiny one. Her hands encircled it protectively. Their child would have magic.

He felt her leave the bed and looked up watching her. He couldn't imagine what was going through her head. He lay back and looked at the ceiling.

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She felt their son flutter again. And she smiled as tears began falling. She still...how had she not known? She prayed the baby had come to no harm on their excursions.

Niko stood up, and silently walked down to the kitchen to make something to eat. He wanted to keep himself busy and not have his mind continually reel with questions.

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She heard Niko leave, and she wondered if he was upset. Well, he probably was even more so. She sat down and leaned against the banister that went around the balcony, her mind could work no more. She closed her eyes and was soon asleep against the banister.

He set about making breakfast before setting it all on a tray an bringing it upstairs.
With a small smile he saw Nienna , fast asleep. He lightly picked her up and set her on the bed, not waking her. He ate his food, watching her.

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Her hands were tightly clenched around her middle as she slept on, determined not to put this baby at any more danger. She awoke slowly and sat up, rubbing her eyes with one hand.

He smiled at her as she woke.
''Breakfast'' he said, gesturing to the tray.
''You need to keep your strength. You are now eating for two'' , he placed a quick kiss to her lips before turning and going to the next room.
''I am going to wash. I shall be back before you know it''

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She looked down at the tray. She may have to force this down, she thought as she started to pick at it and eat it slowly, sometimes having to wait before swallowing food. She concentrated on the tapestry in the room above the fireplace, trying not to think about the sick feeling she had.

Niko returned a little later, wearing only his pants as his shirt had been dirty.
He was about to go and pick another one out when he saw the look on Nienna's face and started laughing.
He went and sat next to her.
''I am not trying to poison you''

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