His hands covered hers, as he stood, his expression blank as he watched the sun lower gradually.
Before long her turned and placed a kiss to Nienna's lips before pulling on his light armour, vambraces, and keeping his two swords handy.
He kept the stake concealed tightly beneath his cloak, he couldn't let Dante see he had it until it was too late for him. He finished and turned to look at his wife, not speaking, his expression telling her everything. He was scared, not for his life, but for her, should he fail he would not know what she would be subject to. But he was prepared to die to protect her.

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She swallowed at the look on his face, and her hand touched over his heart. "There is always hope." she whispered, Abd herdingers lifted to his lips, caressing them lightly. She was frightened she would lose him, he was everything to her. She loved him with her entire being, and she only wished him to live.

He let out a small smile at her words and kissed her fingers as they brushed over his lips.
''Always''
He took a deep breath and took a last swig of ale. He looked up, he was ready.

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She too took a deep breath "Niko, I--" she was cut off by banging downstairs, her face went white. Steps came heavily up the stairs, she clutched his hand. She didn't know what to do. She was too frightened to speak. Her heart began racing from fear. She desperately kissed his hands, then his lips "Promise me you'll live, promise me!"

He heard the banging, and the footsteps.
Kissing her hand hurriedly, he spoke.
''I promise, angel'', he handed her one of his swords and led her to the balcony, with one last look he motioned for her to lock the doors behind him, closing the doors he turned.
There was pounding at the doors, once, twice and it broke under the impact of the third time.
There stood Dante, his face grinning with heated triumph.

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She locked the doors, and covered her eyes, crying as she fell against the wall and sat against it, flinching and nearly crying out as she heard the doors from inside crash open. It began to rain, and the wind circled her, as though trying to comfort her, but she could have no comfort.

Dante stepped in, looking around the room.
''I know you are here. You can't hide'' he said slowly, grinning at Niko but addressing Nienna.
Angered, Niko threw the ale at Dante but he easily evaded it and moved towards Niko, with astonishing speed. Niko drew his one sword and began to raise it, only for Dante to knock it aside like it was nothing. Dante grabbed his throat and began to choke him, grinning evilly, he threw Niko so he hit the balcony doors.
Dazed, Niko got no rest as Dante was upon him again, tossing him about the room.
''You shall pay for making me wait an extra day'' he grinned and bit Niko's neck, drawing blood. Niko let out a cry of pain and desperation as he remembered his vambraces. He clicked them, revealing the blades and stabbed Dante in the back and in the chest.
Howling in fury and pain, Dante released him and wrenched himself backwards, the blades coming out of him. The expression on his face was inhuman, of intense fury Niko had never seen before. Picking up Niko's sword, Dante launched forward, stabbing him in the gut.
''You are nothing'' he said evilly.
Niko had no strength to speak, using everything he had left he pulled out the stake and stabbed Dante in the heart, letting out a cry as he did so.
Dante's eyes grew in shock and he dug the blade further into Niko but as he did so he began to softly turn grey,his skin seemed to be peeling off and the veins showed all over his body. He fell down, dead.
Niko let out a weak moan, and fell to the ground.

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She heard the battle, trembling. Her eyes wide, her hair plastered to her face and body from the rain. Suddenly, she heard a thud, then a second thud that sounded like bodies hit the floor. She lept uP and ran to the doors, unlocking them and rushing in. Her heart stopped when she saw Niko, laying on the floor in a pool of blood "Niko!" she screamed and dropped next to him, glancing at the dead Dante. She took Niko's face in her hands "Darn you! I told you to live!" she cried out, sobbing as she desperately kissed him, his blood smearing on her face and hands "Niko! No! Live, dammit!"

He looked up at her, his eyes unfocused. The wounds in both his neck and stomach stung painfully. He weakly pulled at the sword trying to pull it out of his gut. He was covered in blood, as she was.
''Le melon, angel. You are safe.''
Slowly, he began to lose the feeling in his legs. He was fading.

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"No! You promised not to leave me! You promised!" she reached for the sword, grasping it and pulling it out, tears falling down her face. She looked angrily at Dante. Then the elf's words reached her. She looked at Niko's neck, and there was a bite mark there. Perhaps...she grabbed the dead Dante's wrist, slicing it so the still warm blood flowed. She put it to Niko's lips "Swallow...swallow please..." she didn't know what this would do. But as long as he lived she cared not. "You promised me, you imp!" she sobbed As she squeezed more blood into Niko's mouth.

Niko gasped in pain as the sword was pulled out, he wasn't going to make it.There was so much to say, and he wouldn't be able to say it.
He looked at her confused as she put Dante's wrist to his mouth, he didn't know what she was doing.
He took the blood, as he was bidden, he could now not feel his lower body entirely.
Looking at her, he tried to tell her everything he felt to her in a single look.

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"Le melon, you are going to stay with me! You hear?! Stay with me!" she put her hands around his face again, laying her forehead on his "Stay with me! Please!" she begged, her voice hoarse, her tears falling more now as she wailed out. He was fading, his body broken. "Niko...remember our plans? We are going to go to the ocean, take a holiday. We will have children, and grow old together..you can't leave me! You are my life..."

Her words meant the world to him. He smiled up at her, knowing his moment was near.
He took in everything, her smell, her touch, her voice, every detail committed to memory. He brought his lips to hers as his eyes began to darken.
''Angel'' he whispered, and with his final breath he passed, gladly accepting his fate. Yet he did not know that it was not the end.

(He has the blood in his system, so I'll just have him wake in a few hours! )

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(hehe ok! Poor NieNie...*pats charrie*)

"No...no! No!" she screamed out, holding him to her, her white dress stained red with his blood. Her wail was heard through the city of Rivendell, her life had passed with his. And elf came to the door "My queen, ple--" She interrupted him "Leave me!" the elf left and she got up and closed the door, bolting it. Her tears would never cease "Nienna, the one who mourns." she whispered. She began to bathe his body, and bandaged his wounds. More for the sake of hiding them. She knew it was too late. She put his body on the bed and closed his eyes with her hand. She held his cold hand in hers, her mourning was silent, but deep. "Niko...my love..." she dumped Dante's body over the balcony. Then locked the balcony doors when she came back inside. She came to Niko, and kissed his lips one last time. She knelt next to the bed, her head on the bed next to him, his hand clasped in hers.

Niko knew nothing as the hours passed, all had turned black and he passed out of consciousness and memory. The blood was beginning to work, within his system. Soon, he would wake.

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Her feet went numb as she continued to kneel next to her husband through the hours, her mourning continued on. She had failed him. She kept her memories on the day they had shared, the love, their love. She silently cried into the mattress.