Seeing her face turn redder than a normal blush, Darius frowned slightly in concern. His worries were not at all eased by her words nor when she started to cough again. "Ro, you need to rest! Please!" Darius exclaimed, praying that she did not push herself to far.
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Returning Gareth's tender kiss with a loving one of her own, Calista just gave him a warm smile as they parted. "You have rested too, haven't you?" Calista asked the mage softly, worry in her eyes, hoping that he did not stay awake just to make sure she was all right.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina stopped coughing. "Just the air is dry outside. THats all." she said and held out the bag. "I think I got a good collection." she told him.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Giving Rosalina a soft smile, Darius nodded at her words. "Thank you, Ro. You truly are a remarkable woman. But now you need to take care of yourself. Just rest. I don't want your cough to get worse."
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Smirking slightly as he shook her head, Gareth leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Do not worry, my dearest Rose. I only woke a few moments before you. Right now, I am just concerned over your health."

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina smiled. "I told you don't worry." she told him and gave him a kiss, her head felt a little light, and her throat felt really dry. "I should get a drink." she got a drink and part way she started coughing, she fought to stop so she could finish her drink.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Darius frowned once more as he heard Rosalina coughing again. Sitting up in bed, he could only shake his head, hoping that Rosalina did not push herself too hard. "How can I not worry? When you always got sick easily as a child? I won't risk losing you."
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Giving Gareth a small smile, Calista reached out and lightly caressed the mage's face. "You are just too good to be true..." she murmured. "I'd be lost without you."
"I am not a good man, my dear. I just love you, that's all."

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina gave him a small smile as she finished the drink. "But I'm older." she said before breaking into another coughing fit. It built quickly.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"That changes nothing. I still worry about you," Darius remarked quietly. As Rosalina broke into another coughing fit, Darius could only feel his worry for her grow. Pushing himself out of bed then, he walked a bit unsteadily toward her. "Please, you need to rest..." he whispered.
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"Yes, you are a good man. It takes a man of strong character to not only care for his troublesome charge but also her guests if they fall ill," Calista whispered before she leaned forward and kissed his lips lightly.
"Rose---I wasn't always this way..." Gareth whispered. "I---" he started to say but couldn't as he looked away from her, unable to bear the innocence that gleamed in her blue eyes.
Moving closer to Gareth, Calista gently turned his face toward hers with her fingers. "In my eyes you are a good man, the very best there is."

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina opened her mouth to say she was fine, but could only gasp before coughing some more and collpasing to her knees as she coughed and struggled to breath, unknowing of the fever that had been building up. Rosalina covered her mouth, and could feel flecks of something hitting her hand.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"Ro!" Darius shouted as he sank to his knees next to her and put a hand on her forehead. She felt warmer than usual which told him that she had a fever. Cursing under his breath and held her close. He knew he needed to get her to the bed, but in his weakened condition, he was not sure if he would be able to.
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"Calista---I've done terrible things in the past. Deeds so foul that I cannot even utter them to you."
"People can change my love," Calista whispered. "You are not the same man you were then. And no matter what you have done, I will always love you. Nothing will ever be able to change that. If you do not want to share your past, then I won't pry, but know I will always be ready to listen."
Listening to her words, Gareth only felt his love for this woman grow. "You truly are an angel from heaven---one that the Holy Powers have blessed me with but whom I do not deserve," he whispered before kissing her again.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina kept coughing until she was able to whimper his name before blacking out on his arms, her hand flecked with blood.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"Ro!" Darius shouted as Rosalina passed out on his arms. Seeing the drops of blood splattered on her hand only caused Darius' heart to pound in his chest and constrict in fear. Struggling to his feet, he managed to carry Rosalina to the bed and set her down, breathing heavily as he did so. Knowing that he needed to call for help, but now lacked the energy to walk to find Gareth, Darius managed to transform into his lion form and let out a roar.
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Hearing the roar caused Calista to jump in fear as Gareth quickly turned his attention to the door, their moment of romance shattered in an instant.
"Darius..."Calista murmured after a moment, after she was able to regain her bearings. Nodding, Gareth climbed out of bed and Calista tried to follow suite but her legs gave way and she would have fallen to the ground if Gareth did not catch her. "Calista, please stay here," he whispered in her ear, although the woman only shook her head.
"I cannot stay in my room any more. Please don't make me..." she whispered. Sighing to himself, Gareth knew that if he left her unattended she would only follow him and may end up blacking out and hitting her head again. Moreover, he did not have the heart to physically restrain her with magic. Already thinking that they were losing valuable time, Gareth merely swept Calista into his arms and carried her over to the guestroom, figuring that if she was going to find a way there anyway, she would be safer if he was either carrying her or at her side.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina remained limp on the bed. her eyes had rolled back when she blacked out.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Morphing back into his human form, Darius desperately tried to wake Rosalina. "Come on, my love. Please, open your eyes..." he begged softly.
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Arriving at the guestroom with Calista in his arms, Gareth surveyed the scene silently for a brief moment. "What happened?" he finally asked Darius as he set Calista down on a chair in the room and placed a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder as he felt her tremble at seeing her friend unconscious on the bed.
"She went outside to find me herbs...when she came back hours later she started to cough and then blacked out..." Darius remarked his voice breaking. She has a fever and coughed up some blood..." he added worry in his voice.
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Biting her lip, Calista rose from her seat and unsteadily made her way back to her room to look herbal volume that Gareth had taught her how to read---a rare skill for one of her class. "Calista!" Gareth called after her as he watched the woman stagger off, wondering exactly where she was going.
"Please..." Darius begged the mage, turning his attention back to the situation at hand. "Can you help her?"

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina breathed heavier for a moment before coughing again.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"I will do what I can," Gareth remarked.
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Coming back into the guestroom a few minutes later, rather out of breath, Calista sat down in the chair again and began to furiously skim through the book. "Calista, are you all right?" Gareth asked as he turned his attention back to his love, her heavy breathing worrying him.
Nodding as she still continued to pant, Calista kept her attention buried in the book. "Gareth," she croaked out after a moment. "What about this cure?" she panted. Coming to her side, Gareth glanced over to where she pointed. "If you can cast a spell to increase the potency of both berries it should greatly help to reduce if not rid her of the cough and fever."
Gareth nodded. "It is worth a try," he remarked before he leaned over and pressed a light kiss to Calista's forehead. "Now, my dear, relax. I will handle things from here." he added as he left to get the berries.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina contued to cough, bringing up more blood.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)