Niko awoke to a warm breeze, he turned and saw Nienna facing him, asleep. He smiled as he looked at her, she was safe. As he lay he began to experience discomfort. His back began to hurt slightly. He slowly got up and and went to the other side of the cave, leaning against the wall.
Before he knew what was happening, a blinding pain shot up from his back, making him drop to his knees. He covered his mouth with his hand so as to stifle his gasps of pain. Seconds later the pain left and his back returned to normal.
That is what she meant by consequences
He moved back and lay down next to Nienna again. How she endured all that pain humbled him. She truly was special.

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The sounds of day now filled the cave. Nienna awoke and a huge yawn caught her. She covered the yawn with her hand and stretched while still laying down. She opened her eyes and gave Niko a big, sleepy smile. "Good morning, husband." nope. She would never get tired of calling him that. "How are you feeling?" she laid her head on her arm, looking up at him. She pulled the cloak she used as a blanket tightly around her, only her shoulders, arms and head poking out.

''Good morning, wife'' he himself was still content to call her such. It made him proud to do so.
He decided against telling her of his back, he would just worry or upset her. He hoped that she wouldn't catch that he wasn't telling her the complete truth.
''I slept well knowing we are both safe.Thank you for saving me yesterday.''
He was eternally grateful to her, if she hadn't helped him escape, it was likely he would be near death, bearing scars of his own.

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"We saved each other." she reached out to stroke his cheek. She remembered her playing dead trick and chuckled. "You should be proud. My acting skills are quite profound." she knew he didn't know what happened past her whipping. She actually saw some humor in it. She was very fortunate they didn't actually check to see if she had really been dead.

Niko let out a laugh.
''Oh are they now? Why do you assume that?''
He covered her hand on his cheek and gently squeezed it, he enjoyed her company and how she treated him so.

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"well, after they took me to the dungeon, I made a big show of it and played dead. Dropped right over. Of course the other women screamed, and the guards came to investigate. They didn't even check to make sure I really was!" she laughed "So you see, they are most profound indeed!"

Niko smiled. ''Well I am glad you are a good actress. What fools, to not even check for a pulse. Why didn't they?''
He moved closer to her, getting warmth from her touch. In truth he was glad that her captors had been fools, if not he may not have seen his beloved wife again.

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"They probably thought there was too much blood loss for me to survive. Aye, they were fools! Fools to even mess with my husband Niko. Don't they know that I am madly in love with him and would do anything to get him back?" her voice had taken a more serious, softer tone with the ending part of what she was saying. And she would. "I would, you know." she snuggled closer to him as he moved closer. Her cloak was wrapped around her, it was slightly frustrating not being able to feel his skin. She grinned.

His face darkened as he thought of her scars from the previous day.As she spoke Niko gave her a smile. ''As I would risk everything, for you. For a moment yesterday I feared I would never see you again, to never feel your touch or hold you again.It was not a good feeling.''

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She remembered as well when he had been dragged from the holding cages the feeling that had came over her. When she saw him chained to the wall in the dungeon, beaten and bloody, he had looked ready to die. He had looked hopeless. "It was a horrible feeling." she wrapped her arms around him then "But that did not come about. We are both alive, with each other. And I am beyond grateful."

''As am I, dearest. Both of us alive and both of us well''
He moved closer to her as she held him.
''I would not have it any other way'' As he spoke, he felt pain well up on his back once again, he clenched his teeth, trembling until it had passed, not allowing himself to cry out. His eyes watered as the pain left. He snuggled closer still to Nienna, her touch bringing him comfort.

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She looked at him with wide and fearful eyes as she held him, feeling his trembling "Love? Niko? What is it? Are you alright?" what had happened? Did he have internal injuries? her eyes filled with concern, but she held him tighter as he got closer.

Niko let out a breath with his eyes closed as the last of the pain left him. He saw the concern in her eyes as she spoke. ''I am fine, love. It is nothing''
He decided to add ''My chest begins to hurt sometimes, that is all'' lying to her. He lowered his gaze as he spoke, he had no wish to lie to her, but he was doing what he thought best to protect her.

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She looked at him, and shew knew what it was. She was not angry, and she knew that he did not want her to bear the pain. She cupped his face and made him meet her gaze "My love, there is no need to lie." she caressed his cheeks with her thumbs "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help, or anything that would help ease the pain." she was concerned, but she would not berate him about it. She had no desire to. In all honesty, she was grateful. She knew though exactly how horrible the pain was. She embraced him again and pulled his head to her chest and rested her cheek on the top of his head. She caressed his head, running her fingers through his hair as she did so.
"Anything you need or want, all you must do is ask." she whispered as she pressed her lips to his head

''Thank you, dearest. Know that I gladly bear this pain for you.''
Niko then stayed still and silent, protected in her arms. He could hear her heart beat gently, much stronger than it had been before.
''I am sorry, for lying. I feared you would not understand and that it would upset you. I'm sorry, love.''

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"Of course I forgive you. I understand why you did." she cradled him to her, enjoying the comfort she gained from his being there and his company. "Are you hungry?" and after asking that she didn't bother asking if he was thirsty, she reached behind her and handed him the bottle of ale, smiling. "If anything, that will help." she chuckled.