She frowned as her dreams turned to troubling images. Niko, his eyes red, stood over her, yelling something, yet she could not understand. His back was now turned and he walked away, holding something in his arms. For some reason, she began to weep. Whatever he was taking with him was important to her. Then her dreams fell back into nothing.

Niko watched her as she slept, clearly troubled. He slowly went over to her and pulled the covers closer around her, stroking her cheek as he watched her. He wasn't sure what his feelings were exactly towards her actions, but he still wished her comfort.

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She relaxed in her sleep, her exhaustion not allowing her to wake till morning, she kept sleeping through the night, until morning. Once morning came, she gained consciousness, but didn't open her eyes, fearing that she might find Niko still gone. Her hands came up to cover her face, and in frustration at feeling the bandage there, she tore it off. Another long scar, on the other side of her face. She kept her eyes closed, draping an arm over them.

Unknown to Nienna, Niko watched her as she pulled off the bandage.
With a pang, he saw that she now had another scar, this time on the other side of her face.
His lips thinned as he thought, he was right. She shouldn't have fought. He couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if the orc's blade had found her stomach instead.
''How does it feel?'' he asked, a slight tinge of contempt in his voice.

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She jumped, siting up in bed and staring at Niko, tired confusion written on her face. "You're back! I was wonderi--" she stopped as she recognized the tone in his voice. "What?" she frowned, surprised at his words and the tone of his voice.

''Your new scar'' he said ruefully. His eyes traced it across her cheek, he should have acted, brought her back or kept her safe.
''Why did you fight, knowing what you risked?'' His words were not directed only towards the baby, but also towards her own life.

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"If I had not fought I would have risked Rivendell!" she exclaimed. She knew now she was ugly in his eyes, and she rose from the bed, yanking out a black dress and black veil to cover her hideous face. She went behind the curtain and started to change. Of course he would be angry. Now that he had seen her face, he would most likely never want to look on her face again. She pulled her hair back into a braid, attaching the veil so it hong over her face. She sat in the chair behind the curtain, waiting for the attack of words she knew was coming. She did it because she needed to defend her city.

Niko watched her with an odd look on his face. As she got up he followed her and was about to berate her for not listening to him, when he saw what she had put on.
''What are you doing?'' he asked, confused.

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She got up and brushed past him. "Isn't it obvious?" why would he ask that? She would save him the trouble of looking at her now. She went down the stairs and into the kitchen, and started making him breakfast.

He rolled his eyes at her antics and followed her down the stairs.
''Do you find me that superficial? Have I not proved to you that scars on your face make no difference to me?'' His lip curled in scorn, did she really have such little faith in him?
He snatched the veil from her head and took it off.

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She turned her face away, hurt by the look on his face, and stunned at his actions. "You think I didn't hear the contempt in your voice when you spoke of it? Or see the look on your face as you looked at it?" she kept working, busying her hands so he wouldn't see them shake. Partly from emotion, partly from feeling sick.

''I acted so because it could have so easily been avoided. Do you not think that if your scars disgusted me as you believe they do, I could have run off with Elanor one of the many times I had the opportunity? Or even sought the touch off a she elf? I am king here, the search would not be too hard.''
He paused, wondering what to say next, how to make her see.
Actions speak louder than words he thought. He tugged off his shirt and tossed it on a nearby stool and stood with his arms out at his sides, showing her his tattoo.

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She turned as she wondered what he was doing, and her hand flew to cover her mouth when she saw it. Her name, tattooed on the left side of his chest. She looked for a chair and sat heavily, her hand still pressed to her mouth. Now she was a fool.

He surveyed her a look, mingled with hurt as well as triumph as he finally knew his point had been put across.
Picking his shirt up he turned on his heel and returned to his room, not wanting their words to get any more heated.
He sat down on the bed, not sure what to think.

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She watched him go, and she started beating herself mentally. What had she done? She shakily stood and grabbed her cloak, putting in on before heading slowly out the door. Perhaps a walk would clear her head. She made it around the house before her stomach lurched, sending the near to none contents of her stomach onto the ground as she doubled over and fell to one knee, a hand bracing herself on the side of the house.

Niko drank some ale and looked out from the balcony, perhaps the view would do him some good, as it had done the night before.
Yet it did the opposite, as he saw Nienna leave the house and then double over in pain. No, it could not happen to them again.
He rushed down the stairs and within moments he was there.
''Come back inside, please''

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