'' I will not lose you as well. Use my strength''
He concentrated further, almost feeling himself giving her strength. Pressing his lips to hers, he felt all his feelings of love towards her return indefinitely.
He held her closer keeping her warm, ''We will have a child. You shall make a fine mother, as you make an amazing wife''
Niko saw some of the color begin to return to her face, tears of joy began to fall from his eyes. He bowed his head to meet hers. He would make sure he would never leave her vulnerable again.

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She could feel herself slowly gaining strength. Why? Why was he doing this? Her breathing was not so shallow, and her hands twitched. "Why?" it was spoken in a single breath. She could not shake the memory of the way he had looked at her. She could not open her eyes, she could not look at him. Was he helping her out of guilt? Pain now shot up her back, stealing her breath. She trembled from it. The pain in her heart and abdomen had not yet faded either. "why?" she repeated, tears falling now.

''Because I love you, angel. I do not know what took over me earlier, know that I did not mean or believe anything I said. Le Melon, always.''
He placed her hand on his cheek ''I am your husband. Your Niko''
Niko began to wipe her tears as he held her head, allowing her to breathe easier and so he could look at her.
He moved her hand to his heart. ''Take strength. It always beats for you''

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Her tears kept falling and she trembled in his arms. His words bringing her joy, yet striking her as she had thought earlier he had hated her. "I would...never betray you." she felt his heart beat, felt how he held her, and she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Our baby..." when her heart had broken at the sight of Niko walking away, it had caused her such grief so that her body had rejected what was his. It had been her fault for losing the child. If she had remained strong...pain took her body again and she gasped. When it had passed she looked up at him "You no longer bear pain." she then showed him through her mind what had happened between Halrohir and her. How they had just spoken about the situation, and what was said. She wanted no doubt to stay in his mind.

''I trust you completely. I know you would not do such a thing.''
He paused as she spoke. Did she mean what he thought she meant?
''Please tell me you have not done anything stupid.''
He took her and carried her closer to the fire, he needed to keep her warm. Taking out a wet cloth he laid it on her head and sat there with her.
''I'm going to take care of you''

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She watched him, and as he sat with her, she grasped his hand tentatively, remembering the way he had jerked his arm from her. She needed him. Yet, now that he was no longer bearing her pain, they could travel. She struggled into a sitting position "We can head to..." her voice was cut off by the pain lacing through her back. She held her breath and waited. When it passed, she continued "We can head to Rivendell now."

As she winced in pain, Niko knew what she had done.
''Why? I told you I would bear the pain.'' Though Niko knew at some point he would ask her to undo her actions.
He realized what she must have thought and felt due to his earlier actions, it was his own fault.
''We are going nowhere. There are things that need to be discussed and done first.''
He gently removed her clothes and washed away any blood on her body, before wrapping her in a blanket and holding her closer. Niko poured a glass with water and put it to her lips.
''Drink, you'll feel better.''

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She drank a bit of the water, then spoke "Because after...everything, I didn't want you to have to live with my pain, as it would only make you remember. I thought you were leaving...I did not want you to suffer more on account of me." she took a deep breath, then dread took her as he said things needed to be discussed. Was he still angry with her? Would he send her away? She averted her gaze to the fire, and her cheeks were red with embarrassment from him washing away the blood. The blood of their child was on her hands, though, and was not something that could be washed away. His words rang in her ears from before. She was now a murderer of four.

He felt guilty at her words. Niko cupped her face and turned her to look at him and spoke, his voice barely a whisper.
''I would never leave you. Please understand that I was not myself, everything I said was not true nor did I mean it. Do not even think about what was said.''
His words then turned to what had happened to her.
''I do not blame you for what happened. It wasn't your fault, do not blame yourself. I love you,entirely.''
Niko paused and then spoke. ''I have a request''

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Tears fell from her eyes at his words. It was true he had not seemed himself, the way he had looked at her...she shuddered involuntarily at the memory. He was telling her not to blame herself for the loss of their child, but she didn't know if that was possible. Her hand snuck over her empty abdomen, she hadn't even known."Le Melon." she responded, she loved him entirely as well, yet she was frightened. What had come over him and would it happen again? "What is your request?" she asked, a bit haltingly, fearing what may come next.

By the way she responded he could tell she was still frightened by what she had seen from him earlier. Not that he could blame her.
He looked her in the eyes as he spoke, ''Return the pain to me.'' Before she had a chance to reply he continued. ''It was a choice I made, to protect you. I want that chance back, to make up for my actions. I do not want you to bear such a thing, especially since you will carry our child.''
His hand moved to cover hers, over her belly.
''We will have another child. And they will love their parents. Especially their beautiful, sweet, caring mother, who their father would not give up for anything or anyone.''

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She swallowed. He wanted the pain returned? "you want me to..?" she didn't want to. "You have nothing to make up for..." and tears fell as he spoke of another child. She knew he would not let her argue the matter. She closed her eyes, not sure if her strength would hold up. But she began to picture the pain gripping her, and she was careful to disentangle it from the pain in her abdomen. Her hand grew warm under his as she muttered in elvish. Then her head fell back again. It was done, and it had taken her strength, but it was done.

He held her in his arms, stroking her cheek. She needed rest, picking her up he lay down and set her beside him. He put his arms around her, one hand resting on her belly and he spoke.
''Sleep, love. I will be here with you, if there is anything you need at any time let me know and I will see to it.''
Niko resolved not to let her lift a finger, they would both get through this together, as they had done through so much before.

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She couldn't argue. "Le melon...I love you." she whispered before her eyelids began to close. It wasn't long before sleep took her. She heard a baby crying, and frantically looked around for it in her dream, yet she could not find it. She saw Niko standing with his back to her, and she called out to him, but he didn't turn around. Her dreams swirled between nightmare and pleasant.

As the night went on Niko's guilt began to grow. He had left her when she needed him, she had almost died again while he did nothing.
''I'm so sorry, angel'' he whispered, knowing she couldn't hear him. She deserved better. He fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion before waking up hours later.
Nienna was still asleep, he gripped her tighter as if afraid she would be taken from him if he let her out of his sight for a second.

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She awoke some time later, having no idea how long she had slept. Niko was holding her tightly, As she turned her eyes to look at him. She couldn't bring anything to her mind to say, but she knew he looked exhausted, a stab of guilt went through her, had he slept at all? She knew he had to be hungry. "I'll get you sone food." she reached over and handed him the bottle of ale before painfully sittin up, getting ready to stand and get some food for him.