Someone was there. And her face moved a slight fraction into a frown. She could no longer hear the sounds of battle. Had they won? Where was Niko? Was he alright? Her eyes slowly opened, and the room slowly came into focus. She was laying in a small room, looking at the ceiling. She turned her head slowly. There he sat. Tears sprang into her eyes, tears of joy. He was alright. "Niko." she whispered, not having the strength to speak out loud. The pain was unbearable. And her body felt heavy.

He hardly dared to believe it. As she spoke his name, his heart skipped a beat, he looked down at her with tears in his eyes, almost too afraid to touch her should he hurt her.
He couldn't speak, there were no words to describe how he was feeling, to have something so precious to you almost taken from you. He just laid his head down on the back of her hand, thankful she was alive.

_________________

She looked at him, he had looked almost broken. A pang went through her side, and she hissed through her teeth. The breath only causing her more pain. She moved her arm to her bandaged wound, and felt more blood seeping through the bandage. Her face went a few shades whiter. It was not good, she realized. Her mind was cloudy through the pain. "did..." she gasped before continuing, then kept speaking "we win?"

''Yes. Those remaining are driving back the last of the orcs and easterlings.''
He could tell things were not looking good. ''You need to rest.Keep up your strength''
This was breaking him, he had no strength to face this.

_________________

She closed her eyes, frustrated at her mind that was not working. "Niko.." it was hard to speak, "Niko...I love you...so much...you gave me..the entire world." she needed to tell him, she needed him to know. Urgently. "Niko.." tears fell down her face. How had this happened? How had she been stupidly unaware of the Orc behind her? How could she let it happen? She was hurting Niko, she could see it in his face. She couldn't do anything about it. She tried to squeeze his hand, but all her hand gave her was a slight twitch.

'' You are my world. '' he said. Pressing his lips to her knuckles.
He couldn't stay, it was too much. She needed to rest, him being there discouraged that.
He got up and moved towards the door. looking back at her '' I'm leaving you to rest now. Do not blame yourself'' he added looking at the floor. ''if anyone, blame me'' he murmured before leaving the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

_________________

She wanted to call out, to tell him to stay. She was frightened to stay alone. He closed the door and tears steamed down her face. She had no reason to blame him, it wasn't his fault! "it's not your fault, Niko." she whispered into the empty room. She closed her eyes, drifting off into a restless sleep. She awoke to her door opening. It was dark, and she could not see who entered. She squinted into the dark. "Niko?" she whispered. Then her blood chilled in her veins. "You wish." it was Elthor's voice. She broke out in a cold sweat. No! She needed to do something, to scream, to move, yet she couldn't. Her mind was panicking. "The mighty Nienna. Laying helpless." he chuckled and sat on the bed. "Not so easy to get rid of, am I?" his hand found her wound, and roughly pushed it "You will suffer." she cried out, a long keening sound. By the gods, it hurt! He was a pig!

Niko had spent hours drinking. He hated himself, he blamed himself. He wandered the streets, quite tipsy. He hadn't changed since the battle, Nienna's blood still stained his clothes.
Nienna. He found himself thinking about her. He turned and made towards where he left her. Scared at what he might find. She wasn't in the best of states when he left.

_________________

"No!" she screamed, Elthor increased his pressure, enjoying the torture. "You should have chosen me." he snarled, his hand finally letting off. "You may change your mind yet." he slapped her face. She screamed again "Niko!" her voice was rough, and scratchy. Elthor grabbed her face "Scream all you want. He won't come, he's probably celebrating the victory."

He walked down the street, getting closer. That was when he heard her scream his name.
He was drunk and began to panic. He shoved the door open to see Elthor at Nienna's bed doing something to her wounds.
Rage and the alcohol took over him. He launched himself onto Elthor, knocking down a table in the process. A tray of water clattered to the floor. Elthor grabbed Niko's throat attempting to choke him, with a yell Niko headbutted him and pushed him to the floor.
Elthor grabbed a metal jar and smashed it against Niko's chest as he got up and attempted to land another blow. Niko wrestled the jar away from him and pulled him to the floor.
He then remembered that his swords were still with him. He drew one of them just as the guards burst on to the scene. ''Stop!'' one of them yelled.
Niko paid no attention, his mind blinded by rage and stabbed Elthor through the shoulder, missing his chest due to the amount he had drank. The guards then all came upon Niko, they beat him and put him in chains. ''Take him to the dungeons'' one of them said as he examined Elthor's wound.
Niko was thrown in the dungeons and chained to the wall and before long, he lost consciousness his thoughts ever on Nienna and how he had failed her.

_________________

"No!" Nienna ignored her wound, glaring at Elthor, she found she still had her vambraces on. She glanced at the soldiers briefly before speaking "As your Lady Nienna, I order you to release Niko at once! And have a healer tend to him!" her voice was sharp, and concern filled her mind for Niko. Yet rage took over. She limped over to Elthor, and, pushing the button on her vambrace, she shoved the blade into his throat. "Die, you pig!" she snarled before straightening and turning around. "Take me to Niko, now!" she snapped, but felt fresh blood seeping again. She did not care. Her love for Niko and the rage were numbing the pain. She glared at the guards

Niko was drifting in and out of consciousness. His chest had been bruised by the fight with Elthor and it made breathing painful. He coughed up blood and spat it to the floor. This is no more than I deserve he thought miserably.
Three times she has needed my help and three times I have failed her. If she dies, he would never forgive himself. He prayed her wound wasn't made any worse by Elthor.
He made no attempt to fight against the chains that held him. I am no danger to her down here he thought, his eyes brimming with tears, struggling to stay awake.

_________________

The guards led her down to where Niko was. She snatched the key away from the one guard, opens the door and slips in. "Niko! Niko, talk to me, say something!" her own breathing was ragged, and she saw the blood on his lips how the guards had beat him. They will die for this, she raged in her head. she unlocked his shackles, and caught him as he fell. She half lifted, half dragged him out. Her vambrace clicked, and she swung out at one guard, then the next, severing their throats. She pulled Niko up the stairs, even though she had no idea how she did it. She set him in a chair in the Healer's room while she grabbed supplies and stuffed them into a bag. She picked Niko up, pulling one of his arms over her shoulders to support him. She made her way outside with him where Raven was waiting, bareback. "Down, Raven."
Raven wet down on her front legs, allowing Nienna to drape Niko over her back. She too mounted, and Raven stood. Nienna felt weak, and whispered to Raven, "somewhere safe." Nienna laid over Niko, keeping him safe.

Niko was dimly aware of someone's presence.
He felt someone unlock his shackles and catch him before he hit the floor, by her touch he knew it was Nienna.
He was too beaten and broken to speak. He felt himself dragged somewhere, being supported by who he assumed was Nienna. He shook his head trying to signal her to leave him.
He was put on a horse and let out a cough and still more blood. '' Nienna'' his voice barely more than a whisper trying to get down from the horse. He was sightly delirious.His words were incoherent and he shook his head while he spoke them. '' Leave.... go alone... bad for you... useless''
All then went black.

_________________

She grimly held on to him, keeping him on the horse "I will not leave you, I love you, and will so remain with you." Raven ran on, leading them back to the cave where they had gained shelter the one night. Once inside, Nienna laid Niko one the floor. She pulled his shirt off, grimacing at the wounds. She washed, cleaned, and spread salve on his wounds before bandaging them. She put a cool cloth over his head, her breathing coming in ragged gasps. She walked back to Raven to get another bag, but collapsed before she got there. Please, Niko. Live. She thought, and her world joined Niko's in the black, unconsciousness.

Niko's head pounded as he slowly was regained consciousness. He sat up and winced with the pain. He found his wounds treated. He looked around and found himself in the cave he and Nienna had spent the night in before. Nienna! He looked and saw her on the floor. Ignoring the pain he dragged himself to her and felt for a pulse. It was there, but very faint.
throwing things out of the bags she had brought he found what he needed and tended to the wound at her side. He was sure she had lost a lot of blood. She may be able to pull through it. He was clinging to that hope. It was all he had. He cleaned treated and bandaged it as best he could.
Worried, he did something for the first time. He prayed, he prayed for her. '' Do not take her from me'' he begged. '' She deserves none of this, having already faced enough hardship in her life. She is all I have. ''
She had risked her life for him.He knew he would take her place without a second thought. He looked at her, his heart breaking. He needed her. ''My guardian angel'' he whispered.
All he could do now was sit and hope.

_________________