He nodded and pulled her and pressed his lips to hers.
As he closed his eyes he grasped her hand and he began to sleep.
Before long he found himself in a chamber, alone at first but then he noticed a shadow in the corner. He stood there, waiting for something to happen.

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As soon as he fell asleep she closed her eyes and entered the dream beside him. Once in, she set her hand on his shoulder, her eyes glowing brightly. The figure turned around and lowered its hood. The eyes that looked at them were blood shot and wild. Nienna's jaw twitched, but she stepped forward. "You will be defeated." she spoke clearly. She took another step and the being hissed.
"You both will die." she shivered at the grating, evil voice that spoke. "No. After this, Niko and I shall be free of you!"
There was the sound of screeching laughter.
"You are fools, Abd only fooling yourselves." suddenly they were both standing on a cliff, it was dark and rainy. The Creature was standing a few feet ahead, at the point of the cliff. She strode forward, and then she was hit by a mass of dark shadows. The pain caused her to fall to one knee, the tendons in her neck straining. Again came the screeching laugh. She would not be stopped. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they were glowing a pure white. Standing, she walked forward again, and the shadows retreated. The screeching laughter turned to a shriek of fury, and then the battle ensued. He shot shadows at her, and she met the strikes with a blast of white hot light. He screamed when one struck him, but still continued to work his magic against her. Her feet came off the ground, and her whole body seemed to radiate white light.
"This ends now." she said, and she concentrated on the power, making it grow in strength.
She could feel the blood dripping from her nose, but she still made her power stronger. Soon, she let it fly with a yell, it hit the beast square in the chest, and with a howl of rage and pain, he stumbled, but was dead before he fell from the cliff.
It was done. Nienna fell from her spot, and blackness took her.

Niko woke, trembling. He sat up and looked to Nienna, she was breathing, a frown on her face, no doubt from the energy it took to vanquish the figure. He took her hand and kissed it, she had saved him.
He noticed her nose was bleeding. He washed away her blood and lifted her in his arms, rocking her while he waited for her to wake.
A moment later, a blinding pain came upon his chest, letting out a cry he looked down and saw the black mark was shrinking.

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Her breath caught, and for a moment she couldn't breathe. Her magic had taken so much. She fought for air, her eyes fluttering. She made a choking sound, and stared at Niko. She couldn't breathe, she tried to communicate it with her eyes. Finally her lungs began to fill and she gasped for air. She reached up to him, needing him.

He lifted her up and cradled her head, helping her breathe easier.
Niko began to rock her gently,
"Breathe, love. Were safe." He brought some water and held it to her lips.

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She drank, gratefully, then curled into him. She couldn't speak right then. He was safe. They were safe. She trembled, they could have died had she failed. But she hadn't, and she clutched him tighter. "Le melon..." she buried her face in his chest.

He held her, doing his best to comfort her.
"Le melon, angel. And thank you"
He knew full well she could have died for him but she risked her life and they were both safe.
Leaning down he kissed her.

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She grabbed him as he kissed her, and kissed him back hard and urgently. It was over, now they could finally relax! She was happy, weak, but so happy. They didn't have to worry any longer.

He began to laugh out of relief.
"We shall take a trip. Just the two of us. Is there anywhere you wish to go?"
Niko pulled the blanket over her as he lay back down pulling her to lay on top of him. He began to rub her back, relaxing her.

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"The sea." she said definitely. She wished to see it so badly. She sighed and kissed his chest in gratitude. "Before we go, perhaps we could finish our night night on the balcony that we never got to go through with?" she very much wanted to, and they could do it in peace, with no dread that would mar the night.

He nodded,smiling. ''Wherever your heart desires, angel.''
Picking her up gently he lifted her to the balcony, making sure to pick up her flute and sat down setting her on his lap as he pulled a blanket over them, his hand on her thigh.
''Play us a song, love. We shall not be interrupted this time'' he nipped her nose and kissed her, content.

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She began to play, no more worry or fear plaguing her mind and heart. She was happy and content, the only touch she ever desired was his, and he was there, never to leave again. She couldn't wait to see the ocean again, it had been far too long. When the song finished, she looked at him, her heart joyful. Her eyes never left his. she would put the events of that horrid time behind her, never to remember it again.

He began to clap softy for her. As their eyes met they both knew how fortunate they were and happy that they had not been harmed.
Looking down at his chest, he saw now that the black mark had disappeared altogether. He pulled Nienna into a kiss, grinning.

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She smiled into the kiss. "Now what?" she suddenly began laughing. It had been such an eventful time! She grinned and handed him a bottle of ale, while keeping her own. "We have each other, and we have the ale. It doesn't get much better than this!" she raised her bottle then took a long swig of it.

''No, love, it does not get much better''
He took a swig of his own ale and looked back at her. His wife and his queen.
''Le melon, angel'' Tightening his grip around her he spoke. ''Is there anything you wish to do?''

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She pursed her lips "besides you?" she laughed "I only want to enjoy the night!" she hugged him, then looked at the sky. It was clear, the stars shining brightly down on them. "This is what it should be. No worries or fears holding us back from fully enjoying this."