She kissed him back. "That sounds perfect." she smiled, and changed into the dress once the door closed. She braided her hair softly, and set the circlet upon her head. Adjusting it so the downward facing point was in the center of her forehead. She looked in the mirror. She still preferred pants and a tunic, she thought. Ah, well. While she was here she needed to look the part. She walked to the door, the dress swishing as she walked. Opening it, she saw Niko was facing the other way. "I am ready." she said smiling

As he turned he was once again taken by her beauty. The circlet on her head was a nice touch. She looked much more elegant and royal than him, almost intimidating Niko slightly.
''Perhaps you should wear dresses more often'' he suggested with a smile.
He took her hand and kissed it, ''If you're ready, lead the way'' he said with a smirk.

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She blinked "why should I wear dresses more often?" she said, confused. She then took a deep breath and nodded, intertwining her fingers with his and pulled him down a long hall to where she knew her parents would be at this time. She stopped in front of the door, a bit nervous now. She turned briefly to him "are you ready?" she asked him quietly, her free hand on the latch of the door, ready to open it the moment he answered.

He smiled at her. ''You look radiant, whatever you wear. Though in a dress you look different from your usual attire. Different but nicely so''
As he followed her down the hall he was getting slightly nervous and excited at the same time.
He looked at her and nodded. ''whatever may come, know that I love you'' he said quietly before nodding to show her he was ready.

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She blushed at his words. Yet smiled "thank you." she nodded "I love you too, and that will never change no matter what happens." she gave his hand a squeeze before opening the door. Her parents were inside, her mother on the couch and her father...she swallowed. Her father was talking to Elthor. They all looked up as she and Niko walked in, her hand still holding his. Elthor notes this right away and his face turned beet red. Faramir and Eowyn looked confused. "Nienna? What is going on?" Her mother rose from sitting, her gaze clearly on their hands clasped together. Faramir frowned and walked over, standing with his wife, eyeing Niko. Elthor had just asked for his daughter's hand, yet here Nienna was. Her hand intertwined with this man's, this, Niko's hand. He didn't know what to think. Elthor stormed over, grabbing her arm "Nienna! What is this? My future wife holding the hand of another man?" he glared at her first, then at Niko.

As they entered the room they saw what Niko had been dreading yet expecting.
The way the three in the room looked at them, with shock and in Elthor's case anger. He gave her hand a quick squeeze. Just before Nienna had the chance to answer her mother, Elthor moved forward and shouted, and to Niko's fury, grabbed her arm.
As Elthor glared at Niko, he couldn't stop himself, marveling at the gall of this man.
He pulled Elthor's hand from Nienna's arm and stood in between them, protecting her from him.
He then gave Elthor a murderous unblinking stare as he spoke '' If you wish to settle this with someone, you may settle this with me. You will not touch her.'' He did not want to start a fight in the presence of her parents yet he would not allow him to manhandle her as if he owned her.

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Nienna set her hand on Niko's arm, then looked at her parents. "Mother, Father," she said, ignoring the red faced Elthor, "Niko and I are engaged to be married. I love him, so much. He is my choice, above any. He has given me the greatest love I could ever imagine. And he makes me happy, truly happy. Please, if you can't give us your blessing, at least accept it. Because even though I love you both," she paused to take a deep breath, "I have made up my mind and will not change it." her words echoed in the room, it seemed. The silence was long. Nobody moved or said anything

Niko never took his eyes from Elthor. The glared at each other. He felt Nienna's hand on his arm and listened to her words, a sense of pride growing as he heard her speak.
Elthor noticed her hand and as she spoke his face turned a deeper shade of red, clearly furious.
Niko, while still staring him down, gave him a slight smirk. Whatever happened he would have had something that Elthor could never hope to gain, that gave him immense satisfaction.
The silence in the room increased the level of tension in the atmosphere. He put his hand over Nienna's, hoping to put her at ease knowing he would protect and look after her if it came to it.

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She slipped her arm through his as the silence grew. Finally, her father spoke "Nienna. You have a choice on who you wish to spend your life with. And since I can see you care deeply about this man, and he for you as well," he paused, looking at Eowyn who smiled and nodded, agreeing with him, "you have our blessing." heblooked back at the couple, amazed. Elthor blew up "what?!" he stared at Faramir "she is mine!" he shoved past Niko, grabbing her upper arms roughly "you hear? You are mi-" he stopped suddenly, as Nienna's fist hit a pressure point in his neck. He dropped to the floor unconscious.

As Faramir spoke Niko couldn't help a smile growing on his face. What happened next shocked him. Elthor pushed past him and moved towards Nienna, but before Niko could strike him, Nienna beat him to it.
As Elthor crumpled to the floor, Niko couldn't stop a laugh coming out. As Faramir and Eowyn looked at him questioningly, he changed his laughter to a cough and looked away with awkward expression on his face.
All he could manage to say to them was ''Thank you both. Very much'' his head bowed. ''You have made us very happy'' He took her hand.

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"thank you!" she ran to he parents, hugging them, "ok we gotta go. Love you, see you, bye!" she grabbed Niko's hand, laughing and all but dragged him from the room. "This is so amazing!" she laughed again, quickening her step to a run down the hall.

Niko found himself being dragged from the room by Nienna who was positively beaming.
Making sure to step on Elthor as he left, he closed the door behind them and followed Nienna, their hands still entwined.
He was pleased that she was happy, and what's more she was free of Elthor and had even hit him for good measure.
''Where did that come from?'' he asked her, genuinely surprised by her actions

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She glanced at him briefly "From training. And from being fed up with him." she giggled, squeezing his hand, and pulling him back into his room she closed the door, and jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly and joyfully

He was amused by her answer, and was further amused by her antics. It was clear she was overjoyed by all that had happened.
He held her as she hugged him '' I hope your ready '' he said. Before giving her a chance to answer he tightened his grip on her from the hug and lifted her off her feet, twirling her around in a circle a few times, laughing as he did so.

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She laughed as he twirled her, and when he set her down she reached up and kissed him hard and long. He was hers. And she was going to enjoy it to the fullest. Her hands clutched in his shirt, and she felt dizzy at the kiss, which was how his kisses affected her. It was how he affected her, just by being near.

He held her close to him as she kissed him. He broke the kiss and spoke in a quiet voice while kissing her face here and there, ''Strange. How fast life can change. For the better. All it has taken is you.'' He took her hand and pressed it to his chest again so she could feel how his heart would beat in her presence.
Touching their heads together gently '' We are one'' he said, his love for her showing in his eyes.

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