She stared at him "You let me believe..? You are cruel!" her mouth hung open. "You walk away, just like that, I didn't have time to think! By the Valour, Niko, I couldn't think!" she crossed her arms, glaring at him.

He went up to her with his hands up while remaining wary of her actions should she strike him. Though I deserve it
''I am sorry'' He gave her an apologetic smile, hoping to put her at ease. He saw his necklace in her hands and realized she had taken it off. Perhaps it was a joke too far
He slowly took the necklace from her and put it around her neck. ''I am sorry'' sounding more serious this time. ''I would never leave you. I admit that I have a flawed sense of humor.''

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She found her breath again as he put the necklace around her neck again. She grasped his hands "I forgive you. But Niko, by the Gods, please do not joke like that again. Please..." she pressed his hands to her lips, grateful it had just been a joke, yet she still could feel the shock of it. She took a deep breath. Then sent him a half smile, showing him she wasn't angry.

He took her hands. "I am sorry" he genuinely meant it. " Let us continue" He got up on Raven and waited for Nienna to follow. " I am still slightly insulted that you would think me capable of leaving you after all we have been through" he teased.

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She swung up in front of him. "I think I have more right to be insulted." she snorted laughingly. She nudged Raven on once more, her head still reeling. That had been highly unexpected. She was relieved though, so relieved! She took a few more deep breaths. And she urged Raven into a canter again. "You, sir, may successfully drive me crazy. Then she suddenly remembered what happened in the cave, and she blushed at the unbidden thoughts. He would definitely drive her crazy if that ever happened again. She chuckled.

He laughed at her words and held on to her a little more tightly than he had done before.
"We may drive each other crazy. If you do not kill me first."
He smiled as she laughed, not quite sure at the reason but he was pleased all the same.
"I could never leave you, angel" he said in a hushed tone.

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"If you do not play such a cruel joke on me again I won't kill you!" she laughed again. And as his next words hit her, the tears of happiness also hit her. She sniffed "Good. First of all, because I could never leave you either. Second, because I could not bear it if you left." she leaned against him again.

As she leaned back against him he felt himself swallowed by the moment. Her words had touched him. He thought of her, all she had done for him,risked for him, given up for him.
"Would you like me to tell you when I knew?" He blurted out.

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She blinked "When you knew what?" she glanced back at him, totally confused. When he knew what? What did he mean? Her eyes went back to the road ahead of them.

"When I first knew that you were different, special, when I knew that I felt something for you" he spoke slowly, his eyes full of the memories they shared together.
He paused waiting for a reply.

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Her face softened. "When did you know?" she said, laying one of her hands over his that was on her waist. "When did that happen in that head of yours?" she said softly

He thought for a moment and then spoke. ''When you first showed me your scars'' he said. He knew how odd this must sound. He hastened to explain.
''We spoke politely to each other and enjoyed ourselves somewhat. But I had expected to be off hours after I first encountered you and that we'd never meet again. But then you showed me your scars, a brave act, as I saw and still see how you are ashamed of them. You were honest with me, not playing games or pretending to be what you were not.That is too rare in these times.''
He paused still thinking.
''Do not think I felt pity for you, though I admit I felt some degree of it. I felt admiration for you, respect. and in time I felt love. ''
He spoke quietly looking off into the distance, seeing their first kiss.
He stopped, hoping she had understood what he meant.

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"I had no idea." she said quietly, but then a smile played on her face. "thank you. For telling me. I have...never heard someone say that to me about them." she swallowed, touched by what he said. "This is what I meant by it's nothing you did, it's who you are." she blinked back tears and held his hand tighter.

He noted her expression and how she held his hand.
''and you?'' he blurted out before he could stop himself.
He looked away, suddenly aware of what he had just said. He was embarrassed. He turned red.
''Never mind no need to answer'' he added.
Feeling foolish he grabbed the ale from the saddle bag and took a great swig of it, still unable to meet her gaze.

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"Niko. I knew I felt something for you by the way you reacted to seeing my scars. You reached out to me, and you didn't react with horror and pity. You showed true compassion. You told me that i didn't have to hide them from you." she smiled as she remembered. "I knew as soon as those words left your lips."

Niko managed a smile and a nod. It was clear he meant a great deal to her. If he had not known before her reaction to his badly timed joke would've showed him.
At this moment they were all each other had in the world and they were to be married.
''Le Melon, Nienna''

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