"More ale please"
He was not sure what he could do for her. She was right, it was just her that could use magic.
But what if he could find another way?

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She gave him more ale, she feared for him mostly. What would happen to him? She knew that the evil thing wanted to use him to kill her. Which would hurt them both. If it succeeded in killing her through Niko, he would suffer the hurt guilt.

He looked at her about to speak but before he could his back seared painfully. Gasping with the pain, his eyes began to water.
He cried out in pain as the pain from his back coupled with that of his chest. He shook violently before falling back against his ropes, unmoving.
Slowly his face turned upwards to look at her, his eyes burning with hatred.

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She was about to grasp him to her when he looked up at her. Her eyes filled with tears. "Who are you?" she demanded, though her voice was weaker than she wished. "Why are you doing this to us?" he was tied, she remembered he couldn't move. She sat and stared into the eyes there were not her husband's.

His jaw clenched as he attempted to escape from his bonds yet he could not.
As she spoke he spat at her and spoke, venom eminating.
"Do not speak, filth who killed my own flesh and blood. You will die and he shall follow"
He began to foam at the mouth still struggling,
With a shout he leapt towards her, the ropes held him in place and the presence was gone.
Niko let out a weak moan, sweating and trembling.

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"Niko?" she whispered, still afraid. She approached him again and cautiously reached for his shoulder. She did not know if the evil one would return or not. She touched his shoulder gently.

His hair fell about his face, masking his eyes. Niko knew that a mood had taken him but was oblivious to what he had said or done.
He began to breathe softly, still not speaking. Niko felt her touch and he shifted slightly, not sure if he was shying away from her or towards her.

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Her touch became more firm, and she reached for his face and brushed the hair out of his eyes before placing a kiss on his forehead. She cradled his head in her lap. She needn't say anything. She was thinking of ways that she could fight this thing. She would not call it a person, it was too evil to be a person.

"What happened?" He whispered, as he began to tremble further, what had she learnt?
Moving as close to her as his ropes would allow he tried to take comfort from her touch.

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She pulled him into her arms and held him. "He is some relative of Elthor's." she knew she had to do it. "Niko, I need you to sleep again. I need you to dream." her grip tightened on him. The thing could be defeated in his dreams, she knew. And she could be there and defeat him. It was the only way. She held him close, protectively. She would not let this being cause him suffering any longer.

He looked up at her as she spoke. After she finished he knew what she intended to do. Scared for her, spoke, shaking his head.
" No, love. You could get hurt, please, there must be another way."

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She shook her head sadly. "There is no other way. I have gone over it a hundred, no, a thousand times in my head. I must do this." she pleaded with him through her eyes. "I must do this." she laid her forehead on his "I will drug you if I need to." it was a joke, but she really would if she needed to. "I am the only one who can fight him. He cannot be defeated by just weapons." but they could help. She grabbed her vambraces and strapped them on.

" You could be killed. We can search for another way."
He smiled as she said she would drug him but he was terrified, if he lost her he would never forgive himself.
There must be another way, he began to rack his brains desperately.

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"Niko, if I don't do something now we'll both be killed!" he had to let her do this. "I know magic, and my magic is strong. There is no other way, I swear to the gods if there were I would go that path instead." she was scared for them both. "Let me end this." she whispered, a tear of desperation falling.

He looked at her and moved against his ropes.
"Take them off, please" he had to be ready, for when she got back, she would need him to be there for her.
" I will do this on one condition. That you promise me you shall live.After we are through this, I am going to take you away, a holiday."

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She nodded and removed his ropes, then fell into his arms. She was frightened, but it was their only chance. She held him close. "I promise." it was merely a whisper. She needed him to sleep. She wanted this to be over. "Sleep, please..."