He covered her hand with his. ''I will try.'' During his next words he gave her a smile, ''We took what they threw at us and we conquered it''
It was true. Much had happened to them, hurting them,but they had come through it together. Niko gently squeezed her hand, grateful they were together.

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She smiled at him before pulling him forward to place a kiss on his forehead. "Then it is indeed fate." she then stood and braided her hair back and wrapping it around her head in a crown braid to keep it out of her way. She the strapped on her vambraces, clicking out the blades and inspecting them carefully, they were slightly dull. She took out sharpening implements and began to precisely and carefully sharpen one of them. She was suddenly lost in her thoughts as she worked, a concentrated look was on her face as she sharpened the blade. So much had happened. Until he recovered they would remain there, but after he did, where would they go? She knew they couldn't stay in the cave forever. Her eyes narrowed as she held the blade out straight in front of her eyes, analyzing how much more sharpening it needed.

He looked at her as she began sharpening the blade of one of her vambraces. To Niko it seemed that something was on her mind.
''What is troubling you?''
The look on her face as she absent mindedly worked gave away that her mind was clearly on something else.
''Angel?'' he said, hoping to pull her out of her trance.

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"Huh?" she blinked and looked up at him, pausing her work. What had he said? She had been busy thinking that she had barely heard him. She scrambled through her mind, then remembered "Ah, it's nothing..." it could wait till he was recovered. He didn't need to worry about it. She looked down at the blade in her hands and tested the edge with her thumb. It was razor sharp, she noted, very satisfied. She began working on her other vambrace. They certainly could not stay within Gondor. And Bree was out of the question. They could possibly seek refuge in Rivendell and attempt to lead a normal, peaceful life. But there was always the possibility the elves would not accept them, and turn them away.

Whatever it was, she wasn't keen on telling him at that moment. He thought about protesting but decided against it. He trusted her judgement, if it was important she would tell him.
Niko laid back down, he began to grow tired, the days antics finally getting to him. He smiled as he revisited them in his mind.
''You spoil me'' he said to her before drifting into a deep sleep.

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She smiled at his words, then chuckled as he drifted off to sleep. She finished her other vambrace, and clicked them in and out, grinning at how smoothly they worked. She looked at Niko, he needed protien. And all they had was ale and bread. She needed to go hunting for meat. She made a light, cool breeze circle around him before she slipped out of the cave. She crept noiselessly through the woods, and spotted a deer. She crouched, and it began walking by. She pounced, severing the deer's throat, she then gutted the deer there and dragged it back to the cave where Niko was still sleeping. She built a fire then took the animal back outside the cave to skin it.

Niko woke to a pleasant breeze that seemed to be circling him.
No doubt Nienna's doing.
He looked around for Nienna and didn't see her, though someone had built a fire. He heard something just outside the cave and slowly stood up and walked towards it. He saw Nienna skinning a deer.
''Is that to be our dinner?''

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"There's enough here for it to be two dinners!" she laughed as she finished skinning it, then dragged the skinned animal inside. She cut off a large portion of the meat and washed it off with water from the flask before setting up a contraption on which to cook it. She set the meat over the fire and washed her hands and arms off.

Nodding in approval as she spoke, ''That is welcome news''
He was glad there was meat, as he was getting tired of just bread and fruit.
Niko followed her back and sat down, he reached and grabbed a bottle of water and took a drink, relaxing himself. Before long the smell of the cooking meat filled the cave.
''That does indeed smell good. You have many hidden talents, love''

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She looked at him laughing "Hidden talents? I say you're a crazy man!" she chuckled and stabbed the now cooked meat with a knife and handed the handle of the knife to him. "It's hot, so eat slowly." she the stretched out on the cave floor by the fire and put her hands behind her head. "How are you feeling?" she hope the rest he was getting was helping him. It would help, she knew, yet maybe she was hoping for results too soon. She watched as he ate, realizing she actually wasn't hungry at all. She looked down and saw that she had lost weight even in the past week. She knew it was the stress of everything that happened. But she just couldn't stomach food.

He began to eat the meat, it was well cooked and tasted good to him. He realized how hungry he was and began eating quicker and finished quite soon.
''Thank you'' he said to her, smiling. ''I'm beginning to feel better.''
He lay down beside her, his stomach full and satisfied. Niko saw how she was looking at herself, and noticed she looked much thinner than when they had first met. He took her hand, slightly concerned. ''Are you sure you are not hungry?''

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"I am glad! Hopefully you will make a full recovery quickly!" she smiled at him. "I am sure, love, I just don't feel as if I could eat." she caressed his hand, enjoying every minute they spent together. Each one she treasured. She snuggled closer, hoping to ease his concern.

''Very well. But I would not have you look like a walking corpse'' he said with a laugh. He understood how she was feeling and he wasn't going to pressure her into eating if she didn't feel like it. Perhaps tomorrow.
As she moved closer he put his arm around her, their closeness with each other is something that Niko valued far above most things.

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She sighed in contentment. She could stay like that for hours. He mind once again went to where they would go. Maybe they should try rivendell? She wasn't sure. She began to get sleepy, and closed her eyes. Soon she had drifted off to sleep, her eyes glowing gold under her eyelids as she wanted to be able to reach Niko even in her sleep. She began reliving the experiences of the day before in her dreams, yet she lay as one who was dead, not moving.

Niko smiled as he felt her drift off to sleep. He lay there beside her for a while, watching her sleep, before his own weariness took over and he also fell asleep, their hands still entwined with each others.

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She woke up much later, after her nightmares she had fallen into a dreamless sleep. It was refreshing. She laid there for some time, watching Niko. She quietly got up and walked to the cave entrance. They had slept long, for the moon was bright in the sky. She stepped out into the cool night air and took her hair out of the braid. The moon left blue streaks through her black hair. Raven stood nearby, and snorted when she saw Nienna. Nienna laughed at her horse as the mare walked over and nuzzled Nienna's belly. Raven quirked her head, and sniffed again at her belly. Nienna looked at Raven, puzzled, but laughed because it was comical. Maybe Raven sensed it was empty.