Niko gave Raven a small pat on the side before getting on behind Nienna, wrapping his arms softly around her waist and giving her a soft kiss on the neck. ''lets go'' he said quietly. ''With any luck, we will reach Gondor with no trouble.'' Though it is after we arrive that I am also concerned about he said to himself.

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Her heart jumped at his touch, and she nodded "On, Raven!" the horse lurched at the command, yet Nienna kept her at a gentle canter to stretch her legs, saving Raven from any injury and conserving the horse's energy. She leaned back against Niko slightly. "This may be the most comfortable ride I have ever had with two people on a horse." she laughed, although she meant it. "How do you do it?" she asked, readily taking a break from thinking about the situation at hand and the potential danger.

Letting out a soft laugh, he let her lean back against him, enjoying the closeness of her.
'' I rarely ride on a horse. Though I feel I may now be more inclined to in the future'' he said slyly to her.
''It is a gift'' laughing. ''i rarely have had company in the past so I make it a point to enjoy myself fully whenever meeting someone. Especially one such as yourself'' he whispered in her ear.

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She smiled, and with one hand she held the reigns, and her other hand came to rest on one of his. "I certainly think you should ride more!" she chuckled, and her face took on a more serious look. "What is so special about me?" she murmured, truly wondering. He had said one such as herself. And she wondered what he meant by it. She enjoyed it though, and treasured the time she had with him. On a sad note, a thought popped into her mind. How much time do we have, though? She thought.

He paused at her question. What was it that he found so appealing to her? He himself wasn't entirely sure, but in such a short space of time he had already grown to care for her like he had known her a lifetime.
At length he spoke again, slowly giving her hand a gentle squeeze as he spoke. ''I have met many people in my time. Too few of them of good character. When I first saw you I doubted that anything such as this would become truth. I expected us to pass each others paths and leave never to cross paths again. Yet we spoke, laughed, and drank'' he added with a smile, looking away from her. ''I enjoyed your company, your kindness, your honesty. You truly are the rarest of women'' he concluded shyly, a sight red tinge on his face.
''Forgive me'' he said, somewhat embarassed. ''I am skilled with blades, not words''

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She could hear his embarrassment in his voice. "not skilled with words?" she said gently, "you did as well as any man in court I have heard." she smiled "thank you, for your honesty as well." she reflected upon her own feelings for him. And she knew. He had shown her kindness, given her company, and genuinely seemed to care. And he hadn't balked at the sight of her scars, instead he reached out to her. Her throat became tight as she thought again on how much time they may have or not have. She wanted to learn about him, hear about him, and get to know him. But would she be able to? With the orcs, she may be called away to the defenses; as she had been trained specifically by tutors. She took a long deep breath, holding it a few seconds.
Letting her breath out, she cleared her mind. Sending a wicked smile over her shoulder, she squeezed his hand "You may want to hold on." she laughed and let go of her restraint on Raven. The horse gladly and quickly picked up speed. Soon they were flying, it seemed, down the road. Raven was one of the fastest horses in the kingdom of Gondor. Nienna had trained the mare herself. And she took great pride in the beautiful animal.

He smirked in spite of himself. She seemed to stop and think for a moment and then she looked at him with the mischievous smile he feared and loved at the same time. He had to grip her tighter as Raven began increasing his speed. He let out a laugh and lowered his head to rest on her shoulder as their surroundings became a blur with the horses speed.
he was glad she had enjoyed his words for he had meant them, though where he had found the means to say them to her he did not know. He gripped her closer to him, as if to protect her.

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It was a whirlwind. The feeling of him gripping her close, his head on her shoulder, the blur of the trees. She didn't want it to end. She grinned "You follow directions well!" she laughed, he was definately holding on. She loved it. Grinning wider, she spoke an elvish phrase to Raven, who knew the command well. It seemed impossible, but the horse's stride lengthened even more "She's wonderful, isn't she?" Nienna was breathless, and her cheeks were flushed. She soon slowed Raven, even though the horse was eager to keep running. "Did you enjoy that?" she asked him, glancing over her shoulder at him. Her braid had become undone in the rush of the wind and was quite windblown. She thought to herself that she must look quite the mess.

They were flying past everything. Niko's hood flew back down off his face while Nienna's hair was no longer in a braid but flying wildly behind her.
As they slowed down, Niko let go of her to adjust his appearance and answered her.
''She is certainly a fine horse. Worthy to rival even that of the Mearas. How long have you had her?''
He straightened his hood back over his head and then made an attempt to straighten Nienna's hair, failing. He started to laugh'' it is an experience that won't be soon forgotten. Though quite enjoyable.''

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"I have had her 8 years." she proudly reached down to pat Raven's shoulder. "trained her myself!" she let go of the reigns momentarily as Raven kept walking. She quickly re-braided her hair, and looked at the sky "about two more hours to go." she smiled "That was my intent, I want you to never forget it." she laughed heartily and took the reigns in her hands again.

''You have done a fine job. What else have you done, in your past? I would assume you spent some time at court, considering your parents' status. Also the tone you took yesterday while you were holding my ale hostage'' he laughed.
They were closer to Gondor now. ''You needn't worry. I shall not forget''

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Chuckling, she rolled her eyes at the memory. "What else..." she thought a few minutes "I was trained in fighting, and as an assassin. From the age of three they began training me, and I have fought in small battles. I did spend time in court, and often traveled out through the country settling disputes between neighbors and families." she couldn't think of anything else she had done that had been noteworthy. "I shall hold you to not forgetting." she said with an impish smile. And the white city came into sight in the distance. She swallowed hard. And a tremor ran through her body.
She would not admit the fear she felt. But the tremor lasted and became a tremble as they came closer and closer. Her hands gripped the reigns until her knuckles were white.

He smiled at her.I shan't forget, he thought. ''Then I am glad to have you by my side'' he was impressed with her exploits.
Minas Tirith then came into view, magnificently extraordinary. He had seen the white city on a few occasions yet it had been a while since he had last visited.
As they got closer he could see her demeanor change. She seemed to be quieter, more tense, frightened even. In an attempt to comfort her, he gripped her closer.
''Do you remember the promise I made you yesterday?'' he whispered in her ear. '' I intend to keep it. You needn't worry.''

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She nodded slowly, though the expression on her face never changed. "Yes." she said simply, and her voice was strained. She breathed deeply a few times in an attempt to calm herself. It relaxed her body, yet her mind was still racing. "We must go straight to the court." she said, a more serious tone in her voice. They drew up to the gates, and entered the city. They rode along the streets, and she kept her head down slightly, not wanting to be recognized. She stopped Raven. "Here is where we walk." she dismounted.

They went through the streets and towards the court. He could tell she was still worried.
After they dismounted he took a quick look around. Pulling his hood down from his face, ''lead the way'' he said.
He walked close to her with one hand on the hilt of his sword as a precaution.

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She walked up the stairs, pushing open the big wooden doors. The men inside looked up, startled, one of them being her father, Lord Faramir. She walked in and knelt before him with all the grace and poise of one raised in court. "Father." she said quietly, but with strength. Faramir looked at her, dumbstruck, then joyfully reached down and picked her up into a hug. "Nienna! My daughter!" there was great emotion in his voice. "Father, we have much to discuss."
She pulled away from the hug. "this is Niko. He has accompanied me here." she motioned at Niko. "there have been bands of orcs wandering through the country, killing and ravaging the towns. It will not be long before they reach the major cities. We must send out reinforcements to the outlying cities."