"we set up our defenses here and meet them on the battlefield." Nienna's voice had taken on a serious quality, and she spoke as someone with great authority. "We need at the very least to dwindle their numbers before they reach out city." she set her hands on the table, leaning on them, never taking her eyes from her father. "Let me lead a quadrant of soldiers to the field. My division knows my tactics well and will listen to my commands." her voice had also gotten deeper with the seriousness of the situation.

Niko noticed the change in her demeanor as she spoke,as a general would when deciding on a course of action.
Faramir surveyed his daughter, clearly reluctant to put her in any danger.
''You needn't worry'' Niko said. ''We are both able to defend ourselves and shall return alive.'' Hoping to ease Faramir's worry.
''Very well. Prepare yourselves and your quadrant shall be waiting for you at the gate when you leave''

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Her eyes flashed at Niko breifly when he spoke. He was NOT going to go into battle with her. The tendon in her jaw twitched as she spoke to her father. "thank you, father, I shall be ready soon." she twirled and marched back into the directoin of her room, clearly irate. He was going to stay there, where it was safe. She did not doubt his fighting ability. She just knew if anything happened to him she would not be able to go on.

Niko closed the door behind him and turned to go to his room and collect his belongings and weapons. He looked at Nienna, '' Well it would seem that you will be able to escape wearing a dress'' he said with a laugh.

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"You are not coming, Niko! You could be killed out there!" tears now rose, her anger quickly turning into worry. "you have no obligation to Gondor, please, Niko..." she couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him. Her heart and lungs constricted.

He looked at her, stung by her words.
''You do not give me orders'' he said shortly and noticing her worry, he softened his words.
''You needn't worry, nothing shall happen and I will not sit here while you fight. I shall be fine '' he said taking both her hands and pressing his lips to them.
''Are we in agreement or do I need to tickle it out of you'' he said, his eyes twinkling.

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A soft smile appeared through her tears. "The tickling would not work. You would have to kiss it out of me." she looked down. "Come knock on my door when you are ready. She caressed his cheek before turning to go into her room. She looked back. "I shall still worry." she knew she would. Anything could happen out there. She knew they both realized that.

He watched her as she left. She was right, anything could happen. He understood her desire to keep him from fighting, it was just how he was feeling about her. He loved her, and wished her to be safe.
He went to his room and prepared himself. He looked at his swords as he picked them up, admiring how they looked when catching sunlight. He turned and made his way to Nienna's room. There was worry in the back of his mind. Only natural he thought.

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She donned a tunic and pants before strapping her sword and daggers on. she put on her leather vambraces. These vambraces were specially designed. On the underside of the arm, they had blades on each that were connected to a mechanism. When she pushed a metal button, the blades popped out from the vambraces. She tested them to make sure they worked well. And they did. She undid her braid and tied her hair back into a high, tight ponytail to keep it out of her face and eyes. Her black cloak followed. She heard Niko outside her door, and before he had a chance to knock, she opened it and stepped
out, closing it quietly behind her. "Are you ready?" her voice was somber as she thought about what lay ahead and as she made plans and tactics for her quadrant.

He looked at her with a ghost of a smile on his face.
To answer her question, he pulled her close to him and kissed her passionately. He took in everything, the feel of her touch, her smell, the closeness they had and put it all into that kiss.
He stepped back with a smile. '' Now I'm ready'' he said.
They both knew what could happen if things took a turn for the worst though neither of them had spoken of it.

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She readily returned the passionate kiss, putting all the strength of her love into it, her arms tightening around him, longing and hoping him to stay safe. He broke the kiss. "After this," she said, while thinking if there would really be an 'after this, "we are getting married." she smiled slightly, teasing, "and that's an order." she took his hand, bringing it to her face, laying her cheek against it, then she kissed all his knuckles. "come, my quadrant is waiting." she led him down and out to the city gate, where her numerous soldiers were waiting "Men!" she called out, "Today, we fight. Not for the cause of war and bloodlust, but for the sake of protecting those we love. Our families, our children!" she raised her sword "we fight for our Beloved Gondor!" her face was tense, but she spoke with passion.
"We will meet the enemy in battle on the field. We will not hold back, we will not retreat. We meet them head on, and dwindle their numbers as much as we can. They cannot reach these gates at full strength." she strode to the front of the gathered division. "Now follow me, into battle, to defend Gondor and her King." the gates opened. She marched out, the soldiers following. They saw the army of Orcs and Easterners gathered as well. She stopped and turned for a minute, and they grew silent. Her voice was quiet, but could be heard as though she was yelling. "We never surrender." she took her sword out and turned, charging towards the dark army.

He smiled at her words. 'As you wish, my Lady'' he said with a laugh.
They went down to the gates and met the men they would be fighting with. As Nienna gave her speech to the men he could see the men growing more confident, ready and willing to defend their city. Her words ignited passion within all there, including him.
Niko drew his swords and followed Nienna and the quadrant into battle, ready for whatever outcome came about.
As the two armies met the sounds of war were loud and clear. The noise of steel hitting steel, the war cries, the screams all present. Niko quickly clove the head of the first orc to cross his path. And so it begins

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She met the enemy with strength. Never hesitant in her sword strokes. She was deadly accurate. Her ears went almost deaf as she concentrated on the battle. Her eyes becoming bright with the adrenaline from the rush of the combat. Her sword took two more orcs, and time seemed to rush by, yet it seemed as though she saw everything in slow motion. An Orc was rushing up on a soldier with his back turned, and she quickly pressed the button on her vambrace and her blade deployed. Quickly sliding into the back of the orc's neck. He dropped instantly. She pressed the button again, and the blade smoothly retreated back under her arm. She gave a grim smile, her sword taking the life of an easterner. It was working! Her army was doing well. Fighting with confidence. Suddenly, a white hot pain raced through her left side. The sword of an Orc had found her. She looked down and saw the tip of the blade protruding through her from the back. The sword was painfully yanked out. She turned as the Orc raised his sword to finish the job, and she struck out. He fell. She held her hand to her side, and the wound was bleeding out heavily. She set her mouth into a determined line, and continued to fight, although not as well as she had been. The number of the enemy was quickly dwindling. Yes! She thought with pride, they may not even reach the city! There were not many left. As she stopped fighting momentarily, she became dizzy, and then her vision left her. She crumpled to the ground.

Block, dodge, strike, kill. That was all on Niko's mind as they fought against the enemy.
An easterling stabbed at him, he dodged it before smoothly cutting his throat in one quick fluid motion. Orc after orc seemed to come. He cut them down where they stood, avoiding their blades while being wary of incoming arrows.
Yet they were winning, the enemy's number was dwindling. An orc chieftain came before Niko, slashing towards him with a heave broadsword. He evaded it, stabbing back at him only to have his strike blocked. Niko kicked him backwards and raised his sword and decapitated him.
They were winning, he thought a smile on his face. He turned and his heart stopped. Nienna was on the floor, blood seeping from a wound on her side. All else forgotten he ran to her, pushing all those out of his way, whether friend or foe he did not pause to look. An orc was moving towards her with a wicked twinkle in his eye and held a knife to her throat, he saw the orc speak but could not hear. As the orc raised the blade, Niko collided with him, knocking him far from Nienna. He stabbed the orc viciously before running to Nienna, praying he was not too late.

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She could hear, and she regained some of her consciousness. She opened her eyes, and saw an Orc holding a blade to her "We will take your city." the Orc laughed. Her eyes rolled back into her her skull, and closed at the pain. her breath was ragged. Her side hurt like nothing she had ever felt before. She could feel herself slowly slipping away. Right before she lost consciousness again, one name came to her mind, the man she loved. "Niko..." she coughed out, a trickle of blood finding its way out of the corner of her mouth. And blackness took her.

He ran to her, dropping to his knees.
''Nienna'' he called to her,imploring her to wake.
He looked at the wound which was still bleeding, he applied pressure to it, hoping to stop the loss of blood.
''Niko'' he though he heard her whisper. Tears were now in his eyes. He and two other picked her up and ran back to Minas Tirith leaving the remaining troops to dispose of the rest of the enemy. As he entered the city he shouted for a healer, looking desperately anywhere. He finally found one, they set her down as the healer examined and treated the wound.
Niko fell to his knees, dismayed at what had happened. I should have protected her. She needed me and I wasn't there
He could not watch as the healer did his work, he was terrified of losing her, so soon after all that had happened. They were meant to be spending their lives together.
The healer came out slowly, his clothes stained in blood. Niko couldn't speak nor look up, scared to what he may see or hear.
''There was much loss of blood'' the healer told him. ''I have done all I can, she is in the hands of the valour now.Only they decide her fate. You may see her if you wish. i am sorry'' the healer said to him with a hand on his shoulder as he left them alone.
He went to her and the sight broke his heart. To see her, one so full of life and joy, laying there with blood stained clothes and no smile on her face. He could not bear to look at the wound.
He went and sat with her bringing her hand to his lips, stroking her hair. ''Do not leave me'' he begged, ''there is no life without you''

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