He nodded in thanks and went and stood behind her. What he saw brought tears to his eyes. There were wounds, still bleeding somewhat, no doubt they were still hurting. The covered her back she had been whipped mercilessly, how one could endure such a thing, he did not know.
''Oh, angel'' , tears in his eyes.

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No, she couldn't see him like this. She knew she couldn't bear his reaction. She tried to bend down to get the cloak, only to lose balance and catch herself her her elbows, crying out as the jolt sent another shockwave of agony through her. "Niko. No...I didn't want you to see it because of your reaction." She only whispered

His hands found her elbows as he brought her back up.
''I will tend to them, they cannot be left as such.'' He began to clean them, each cut he bathed washed and bandaged. As he worked he began to cry silently. He could not believe this had happened.She always bore the pain, Niko began to wish it was him in her place.
He stopped working having finished, he moved to Nienna, sitting in front of her, still crying and brought her forehead to his as he repeated his words from when they had first met.
''They take nothing away from you, neither your character nor your appearance.'

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As he touched the first cut, agony raced through her again. But she would not cry out. As he worked, tears began to fall down her own face. He tended each one, carefully. When he was done he sat in front of her, and to see the tears on his face broke her. She wanted to tell him it was ok, that he didn't have to cry.
But he spoke first. He repeated what he had said the first day they had met. It was what he had said about her scars. She sobbed, a deep wrenching sob before kissing him briefly and laying her head in the crook of his neck. Her hand came up to rest on the other side of his neck, her sobs shaking them both "I'm so sorry," she repeated over and over.

''Why do you apologize? You have done nothing, sweetheart''
How one could do that to a woman puzzled him. She was a half elven kind for valars sake! As that thought entered his mind so did another. He doubted it would work but he was desperate.
He needed her to get some sleep. As her head rested in the crook of her neck he pulled out some water and poured a little in a cup. He then added something that would put her to sleep. Feeling guilty for tricking her but it was to her benefit, he decided.
''Drink, love. For me'

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She didn't feel like drinking anything. But she knew he would argue her into drinking it anyway, so she drank it the first time he asked. As she rested her head on his shoulder, her vision blurred, and she started to fall asleep "What di...?" was all she managed before she slipped into the black of dreamless sleep.

He slowly lowered Nienna to the ground before covering her with a blanket. He stood up and gathered his weapons as he may need them. ''Keep her safe'' he spoke to Raven who looked at him, as if agreeing with him.
He then turned towards the white city, and ran as fast as he could, he didn't want to leave her but he needed to see if he could do anything for her. His surroundings became a blur as he ran, paying no heed to his ribs which throbbed in pain each time he put a foot to the ground.
He came within safe distance of the walls. He then sat down, thinking. Nienna had contacted him through her mind, no doubt an elven trait, surely her mother would be able to do the same.
Not entirely sure what to do he sat down, closed his eyes and concentrated. He opened his mind to his surroundings, thinking of Nienna willing her mother to feel his mind and see his thoughts. After much time it seemed as if nothing was happening. He was about to give up when he felt an odd sensation in his head. ''Hello?'' he spoke with his mind hoping for an answer. Several seconds passed, nothing happened, until. ''You are not my daughter.'' He froze, shocked, it had worked!
''No I am not. I am her husband and I come to you now because she is in need of your help.'' He paused wondering what to say. ''She has injuries, that I fear will slowly torment her to her death.
''I have not held my daughter since birth. It is no longer my concern.'' Niko felt her presence begin to leave '' Wait!'' he pleaded. ''You have done nothing for your daughter her entire life, do this one thing for her and it will make up for everything''
After a pause, ''Very well. Wait and I shall come down and join you.''
Hoping Nienna was still asleep he waited for her mother.

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Nienna slept a dreamless sleep. Her thoughts were swirling though. What had happened? Where was Niko? She tried to call out but couldn't. She slipped deeper into sleep, unaware now of everything

Niko waited urgently. Constantly fidgeting, nervous.
Before long a figure began moving towards him. Niko kept his hand on a sword in case he needed it.
The figure came to a stop in front of him and lowered the hood. She was definitely an elf by her fair looks. Her long black hair was similar to Nienna's. She spoke to him, giving him a piercing stare with dark eyes. ''You will lead the way. I will do what I can and leave'' .
Niko nodded, slightly cowed. They ran in an uncomfortable silence, neither speaking to the other. After a while they came to where Nienna lay, Raven close to her.
''Well done mellon nin'' Niko patted the horse as they moved closer to her. ''Her back'' he told her, he stood close but he couldn't bare to look again.
As she looked at the wounds, a shadow passed over her face, it seemed almost sad. It disappeared as quickly as it came about.
She turned to look at him. ''I can help. But there will be a price to pay.''
Niko paused, '' Price?'' I have no money ''Not in money'' she said, guessing his mind, she began to explain. ''I can remove the physical wound, taking away her scars but the pain would still need to be experienced, for a time perhaps a week, perhaps a month. I am not sure, it is nature's way.''
Niko paused, troubled. ''Does it have to be her? She has suffered enough. I would gladly bear her pain.''
She looked at him, as if surprised. ''You would do such a thing willingly , for her?''
''She is my wife. I do it freely and gladly.''

''Very well, come take my hand, close your eyes and we shall begin'' Niko looked to Nienna's sleeping form before taking the hand of her mother.
She closed her eyes, one hand clutching Niko's the other, over Nienna's wounds. Niko heard her muttering and felt a heat growing from her hand to his. After a few minutes she let go of his hand. ''Well?'' Niko asked, worried.
''You bear her pain now.She no longer has the scars and will not feel any pain from where they once were'' She looked to Nienna, stroking her cheek, before standing up. ''Look after her'' She turned and ran back to the White City and was gone.

Niko kneeled beside his wife, and began to undo her bandages. Nothing. There were no sign of the scars. He began to weep for joy, pressing a kiss to the small of her back.

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Nienna slowly began to wake up. Her thoughts ever on Niko. She opened her eyes and found him beside her "Niko? What happened?" she had just suddenly fallen asleep. It was not like her. She slowly sat up. And she was in shock. Her back no longer was in pain! It was impossible, unless she had been asleep for months. Eyes eyes went wide and her face white "Niko...what did you do?" she asked in dread.

Niko looked at her, a peaceful smile on his face.
''I did what I needed to do. Your back will not cause you any more pain.''
he took her hand, '' how do you feel?''

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What had he done? She got closer to him, placing a hand on his cheek "I feel fine, Husband." her voice was soft, on the verge of tears "You didn't do anything stupid to save me did you?" it was but a whisper as she referred to their last words spoken at the tavern.

He stopped, choosing his words carefully. ''Nothing that saves you from harm is stupid. ''
He smiled at her. ''I'm glad you are better. I had begun to fear for your life. I'm sorry for earlier. I had to make sure you slept, so I put something in the water.'' He looked at her tentatively as he spoke, not sure about what kind of a reaction he might get.

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She blinked at him "They were but flesh wounds, they would have healed on their own." she said to him gently. He drugged her? Why would that thought even go through his head? She Wouk have been fine, she was sure "Why did you need me to sleep?" she asked again, still softly.

''Yes they would have healed. But you would have had to suffer through months of pain before that occurred. and even then, there would still be signs.''
He reached out a hand and touched one of the scars on her face.
''You already bare such marks.''
Niko looked away from her as he answered her question '' I needed time to go and return. I knew you would of been opposed to what I intended to do. Both the method and the consequence. I ran towards the outskirts of Minas Tirith and with some difficulty, got your mothers help''
He stopped speaking, wondering if he should go on.

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Her face was void of all color. Her mother had been there? She looked at Niko, suddenly concerned for him. She held her hand to his cheek. "What consequences?" she managed to say. No. She hadn't wanted this. She hadn't wanted any of it. She would have gladly bore the scars as long as he was safe. "Please tell me you didn't..." a tear, then another, followed by another dropped from her eyes as she looked at him, frightened.