Niko gasped as he heard Nienna's voice in his head.
Thinking quickly, he responded
I am going to come for you. The first chance I get I will break out and find you and we will leave this place. Niko began to grow dizzy, the effects of the day having finally caught up with him. His injuries all compiled into one burst of pain. He tried to stay awake but he couldn't fight it as he went limp, unconscious.
Le Melon

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Niko! His thoughts reached her, and then, he disappeared "No!" she put her hands to the wall, then got an idea. She made gargling sounds in her throat, then dropped, her eyes wide open, looking to all the world as though she was dead. The women screamed, and the guards came in. If they felt her pulse she was doomed. But they didn't, one look at her bloody back and they assumed she had died. She remained motionless as they lifted her and tossed her into a wagon. She waited until they were a safe distance, then leapt up, snapping the wagon driver's neck from behind. He had been on the caravan, she noticed. She took his cloak and put it on, pulling the hood low over her face. Niko was close. She took two of his daggers and creapt along the wall of the dungeons. She found a door, guarded by only one man. She waited before striking, slicing his throat neatly. She found the keys and unlocked the door. Not here. She used the wall to keep herself up, the pain in her back unbearable. She came to a door and placed her ear to it. Nothing. She unlocked it, letting light fall onto a single form. Niko. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she saw what they had done to him. She was not able to run, so she once more use the wall to hold her up as she approached him, weeping.

Niko awoke slowly, feeling pain everywhere.He wasn't sure what had woken him. Letting out a moan into his gag he kept his eyes closed, one of them purple with bruising that after the slavers had beaten him.
He felt light shine upon him and opened his eyes slightly and saw a figure enter and close the door behind them. He had no strength to fight, he shied away from the figure, trying to move away, to no avail. All the fight had left him, he was broken with thoughts of Nienna.
''Please'' his words were muffled by the cloth in his mouth, all that came sounded like another moan. He shook his head, pleading with whoever it was. He cared no longer for himself, he just wanted Nienna safe.

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"Niko.." she whispered, finally reaching him. Her hand caressed his face after she removed the cloth from his mouth, and she weeped at what they had done to him. "I'm so sorry.." she whispered then groaned in pain as she had to move her back to reach up and unlock his shackles. He fell heavily on her back. She couldn't cry out, the pain was too great for even that. She struggled to get up, gasping for breath. She picked him up, one of his arms slung over her shoulders. "You...will live..."

Niko felt his gag removed and his chains unshackled. If they are going to kill me let them just do it
As he fell he was caught, he opened his eyes, though he could barely see for the blackness, but he knew. ''Angel. I knew you'd come and save me''
He gained a new-found strength within him at her touch. He was going to get her out of here. She had saved him, once again. He was going to get her somewhere safe. He pushed away thoughts of his own pain, she must have been feeling much worse.
As she picked him up, he steadied himself, and pulled her into an embrace. ''I'm going to save you''

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She cried out as his arms hit her back, trembling. "Niko...must get you out now." she once again pulled his arm over her shoulders to help him out. She knew he was weak. Her other arm was around his waist. No! She thought as black began to cloud her vision, not now! She blinked her eyes hard, willing herself to keep going.

He shrank back as she cried. ''Your back'' he realized that all he had seen in his visions had been true. As she helped him he saw her begin to fade, ''No, love. You mustn't strain yourself'' He was once again scared for her life. His fear driving him, he took the keys she had brought into his hand before picking her up in his arms, careful to avoid hurting her back. ''We're going home'' He didn't know where home was, but he knew it wasn't here. He slowly opened the door, and looked outside. Nothing. He left the cell, still carrying her. He closed and locked the door after kicking the guards body in. Niko left the prison passing everyone, none of whom noticed him as he kept to the shadows. He went up the stairs and saw a way for escape. The guards seemed to be unconscious, drink in their hands. Yes! finally, something went in their favor. Keeping low, he sprinted through the gates and came to a stop only when he had put sufficient distance between the villa and them.

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She tried to argue when he picked her up, but pain made her lose consciousness. In her dreams she saw Niko, laughing, smiling, happy as he should be. She awoke momentarily, once again horrified by how they had treated him,she reached a hand to his face, "Le..melon." then her body went limp and she remembered nothing more.

Niko moved through the streets carrying his wife. Staying in the shadows, thankful it was night.
He moved to the outskirts of the town, no-one having seen him. He looked down at Nienna. She was unconscious. It broke his heart, her dress was stained with blood and he dared not look at her back.
Niko found himself on the edge of town. He passed a small shack and saw one of the most welcome sights possible. Raven was tethered outside, a little way away the shack, there were no guards and he hastened towards her and set Nienna on her horse. As he jumped on he noticed a window and as they passed it he chance a look inside.His heart skipped a beat as he saw the slave trader's leader going through their belongings. He heard a shout and speech in their language. The leader jumped up and taking his sword ran out of the room. Perhaps they have discovered Raven is missing
Not knowing why he did it, he climbed painfully through the window and took their belongings back, before jumping back on Raven and fleeing the city into the night, holding his Nienna close to him.

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There was wind on her face. She frowned, and moaned in pain. She opened her eyes. Raven? Niko? Yes, it was them, and they were out of the city! The jolting of Raven's gait was shooting pain up her back, but she didn't care, Niko was safe. She closed her eyes again, leaning her head against him "Niko, Le melon..." she couldn't move "where...are we..." her voice was hoars from all the screaming she had done. "Your wounds...I must...tend..." by the gods why was it so hard to speak? She licked her lips and tried again "Let me...hel..." no, no that wasn't right either! She frowned in frustration.

''Le Melon melmenya'' he softly kissed her lips. Her words brought tears to his eyes. She was bloody and beaten and yet she was looking to take care of him.
''If you wish to help me, stay alive and rest.I''m taking you somewhere safe. Somewhere safe'' he added to Raven.
He was never going to let her leave his sight again. This was to close a call for him. How she had survived the whipping he did not know, but he was eternally grateful to whatever force was at work.

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"Niko...stop...you...hurt..." this was going to drive her crazy, not being able to talk right. He needed to stop, so she could take care of him! Raven's pace began to slow, Nienna had no idea where they were, but if it was good enough for the horse it was good enough for her. She was in unbearable pain, and she remembered what happened. She had just gotten loose when they...she stopped her thoughts. Raven stopped. "Where...?" again with not being able to speak. If nothing else killed her that day, not being able to talk right would!

Niko looked and took in their surroundings. They were in a clearing, shaded by many trees. He looked and could see the white city in the distance. They were in Gondor? He was confused but he decided it was far better than where they had come from.
''We are safe'' he said as he gently lifted her off the horse and set her on the ground. ''Let me tend to your wounds, love. Please'' He needed to look after her.

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She could not stand, she realized "No...you don't...want to see...." aha, now they were getting somewhere. An actual sentence that made sense. "Let me...see your wounds." she leaned against him, if she didn't she would fall. "Niko, you are hurt." much better. Now she could talk. She looked at him and tears sprang from her eyes. He was alive. He was beaten, but alive. She reach for the bag that he held, needing bandages for him.

''I do. I will survive it is you that is important. As your husband I ask you to allow me to help. Please, love''
He was worried for her, his wounds were nothing compared to hers. Niko took her hand that had reached and kissed it before getting what he needed himself.
He looked to her, having everything he needed. 'Please ' he repeated, his eyes urgent.

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She dropped her hands in surrender, and then her hands went to remove the heavy cloak the concealed her back. She was worried about his reaction, and hesitated for one second before slipping the cloak off. She waited for him to either turn her around or walk behind her to look, she didn't have the heart to turn around herself. Or the strength. The cold air hit her wounds and she gasped in pain. How could the temperature affect that?