He waited for a while for her to speak yet she did not. He stood up and put his ear to the door and heard her soft breathing, she was asleep.
Grinning in spite of himself he returned to bed and got under the covers and drank some more ale.
He would wait and see what she said in the morning.

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She was dreaming of being on a balcony. Looking out over her kingdom she saw Niko, waving frantically from the ground. She smiled and waved, then frowned when she noticed the look on his face. About to call out to him, she was pushed and toppled over the railing. She sat up with a cry, breathing heavily.

Niko was lost in thought and did not hear her cry, but something brought him back to the present.
Hearing movement in the closet he called
''Are you awake, love? Did you sleep well?'' he added with a laugh.

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She was trembling, remembering both the dream and reality. "N..no..." her voice was shaking. She didn't know that she would go back out on the balcony ever again.

He heard the tone in her voice and went over to the closet.
''Angel, are you all right?'' he hoped she was not hurt by his antics.

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"just...just a nightmare.." she clutched another dress up and buried her face in it, trying to get control of her breath and thoughts again. Her heart was thundering in her chest. She could still feel the panic and the fear.

He opened the doors to the closet and lifted her gently out, carrying her to the balcony, perhaps the view would settle her.
''Everything is fine, angel. It was just a dream''

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"No! Nonono!" she struggled out of his grasp and scrambled back inside, her eyes wide with dark circles under them. "Not out there! Please!"

He stared at her, surprised. She had always enjoyed the balcony.
Raising his hands, he moved tentatively towards her. His hand found her shoulder as he looked, seeing the fear in her eyes.
''Nienna?''

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She pointed, her finger shaking. "Out there...pushed..." she choked out. She couldn't. Not now. Not after what had happened both in her dreams and reality.

He nodded, finally understanding her meaning. He turned and closed the small doors to the balcony, hoping to put her at ease.
Moving to her he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her head.
''It's over'' he was not sure what had happened as she slept but he would be there to make her feel safer.

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She hugged him gratefully, her head burying in his chest. "I'm sorry." she felt bad that she had reacted that way when he had only tried to help her.

''I understand'' he held her before leading her to the bed and handing her some ale.
His hands found her back and neck as he sat behind her attempting to take her mind away from the negative thoughts.
He began to rub slowly, working any knots he found, out.

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She closed her eyes at the comfort that washed over her as his hands moved. "Thank you." she whispered, her muscles relaxing under his touch. "You don't have to do that." she whispered.

''I want to''
He continued, his hands drifting over her back and neck. He then moved to her lower back and sides, all the while relieving her tension, doing his best to remove any troubling thoughts from her mind.

(Back in an hour or so! )

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(ok )

She sighed and let herself relax and melt under his hands. It was amazing that something so simple could feel so good. Her eyes closed and she was soon floating.