"Understood," Gareth remarked as he moved over to pot to check on the tea's progress. Picking up the ladle he brought with pot, he gently stirred the water and the herbs together as he let the herbs boil into the tea.
Feeling Rosalina lean against him, Darius gently scooped her up into his arms, knowing that she was exhausted. "Is there a place where she can rest comfortably?" he asked Daniel.
"She can have the spare room with the bed," Daniel remarked.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina shook her head. "No, I want to make sure the herbs work." she said, but at the same time she felt her eyes droop. "I want to make sure she is able to take the herbs."

_________________
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, you need to rest. You have pushed yourself hard enough," Darius whispered to her. "The mage can handle things from here," he whispered.
Seeing the tea was finished, Gareth quickly scooped some of the drink in a cup, being sure to make sure enough herbs were mixed in with the tea. Walking over to the bed, Gareth sat down next to her before gently lifting Calista into his arms. He felt his heart constrict as he realized her body temperature had dropped drastically since he stopped his healing chant.
"I know you are weak, but I need you to drink this, Rose," Gareth whispered to her as he tilted her head back gently lowered her jaw to open her lips slightly as he raised the cup to her lips.
"Come on, Rose," he whispered to her as the liquid dribbled from her lips and down her chin as she remained lifeless in his arms. "I need you to try, please," Gareth whispered to her, feeling his heart drop and tears sting his eyes. He couldn't lose her.
Fearing that his daughter was dead, Daniel slowly lowered his head, tears filling his own eyes. She couldn't go like this, not after the way things ended between them. He couldn't let their last interaction end with him wishing her gone. Please, Calista, he prayed silently. Just live and I swear to you that if you wish to marry Gareth, I will not stand in your way.
"Please, love," Gareth whispered. "Try and swallow it," he whispered as he managed to get some of the liquid to slide down her throat, causing her to cough a little.
"That's it, dearest," Gareth whispered to her encouragingly some moments later as she slowly began to take small sips, as if she were responding to Gareth's voice. Hearing the mage's words, Daniel lifted his head again to watch his daughter weakly drink.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina had nodded to Darius and closed her eyes. falling a sleep.

_________________
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)

"Just a little more, dearest," Gareth whispered softly to Calista, urging her to finish the tea. When she finally finished, he set the cup aside just in case she would need to drink more later to help heal her wounds. "Well done, thank you," he whispered to her before pressing a light kiss to her forehead as he kept his eyes fixed upon her, wanting to see if the herbs would have an effect soon.
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As Rosalina fell asleep, Darius sat down in one of the few chairs in the room and held the woman close to him. "Just rest, Ro. You need it," he told her softly before lightly kissing the top of her head.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed and murmered in her sleep. For once she wasn't having nightmares, and it showed in her features as she slept.

_________________
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)

A few moments later, Calista's breathing began to stabalize as she drew in deeper breaths.
"Come back to me, Rose. I cannot live without you," Gareth whispered to her, feeling a bit encouraged. As some more time passed, he could feel her temperature returning to normal as the color slowly started to return to her cheeks. Finally a soft groan escaped from her lips as she slowly started to come around.
"Calista..." Gareth whispered hopefully as the woman's lashes fluttered and finally opened.
"Gareth..." Calista whispered, a faint smile tracing her lips as she found herself in his arms.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her.
"Sore, but better," Calista replied weakly. "But I shall live, my mage. Please do not worry," she whispered. "For I have a reason to live---you," she added softly and closed her eyes as she drew in a shuddering breath.
"Save your strength," Gareth told her softly as he gave her a loving smile as she opened her eyes again.
"Thank you," she told Gareth softly. "I heard you encouraging me to drink," she whispered.
"In truth, it is not I who deserve your thanks, sweet maiden. Your thanks belongs to this lady here, who gave both her herbs and skills to help you," he remarked, indicating Rosalina asleep in Darius' arms.
Glancing over at the couple, Calista gave Darius a weak smile. "Thank you," she told him softly before turning to her father. "Is there a room prepared for this lady and her companion?" she asked him. "If not she can have my bed," she remarked.
"And where will you sleep?" Gareth asked her.
"Floor is fine with me. The lady is my guest. She should be comfortable," Calista remarked.
"Are you mad?! Calista, you still need rest!" Gareth exclaimed a bit louder than he intended, causing Calista to wince slightly.
"Not so loud, please..." she whispered, not wanting to wake Rosalina, not to mention loud sounds caused the throbbing in her head to intensify.
"Do not trouble yourself, daughter," Daniel interrupted. "A room is prepared for them. You just rest," he remarked, pleased that she was awake. "And I am sorry, my child. I--I never should have struck you or wished you gone. You are my life blood and dearer to me than this village," he whispered tears of regret in his eyes.
"I forgive you, Abba," Calista said softly. "I just don't want to disappoint you again."
"No, daughter. It is I who have been the disappointment," he remarked, tears falling down his aged cheeks for the kindness his only child was showing him after she endured so much because of his foolishness. He did not deserve her unconditional love.
"Abba, please don't cry..." Calista remarked softly. "We have already had so much tears," she remarked softly before closing her eyes once more to conserve her strength.
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Relieved that her rest seemed to be a peaceful one, Darius just held Rosalina close, proud of the woman that she was. "You helped to save her, Ro. The woman will live because of you," he whispered to her. "And I am so proud of you," he added softly.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina smiled in her sleep. Stirring and mumbling some more.

_________________
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 never should have hurt you, my daughter," Daniel told her softly.
"Father, all is forgiven. There is no need to live in regret," she added gently.
"Listening to father and daughter talk, Gareth only felt his love for Calista grow. In all his years he had never met a woman so forgiving as she. She was indeed a true treasure, an angel, in human form.
"I will try and be better daughter. That I promise you," he whispered. "And if your heart belongs to this mage then I will not stand in the way of your love. You are free to choose the man you wish to marry," he told her softly.
"Abba, thank you," Calista whispered, relief and gratitude in her eyes as she smiled at her father before turning her attention to Gareth as she smiled up at him, love in her eyes.
"I give you all that I am, if you would have me, though my worth is little," she whispered to him.
"I beg to differ, sweet maiden. For you are worth more than all the riches this world has to offer. And I will have you, if you will have me," he whispered to her.
"I will have you, dear mage," she whispered, with a gentle smile, though she highly doubted what he said. How could be worth anything after being ravished as she was? In the eyes of society she was now impure and not worthy of any man. Turning briefly then, she glanced back at Darius and Rosalina. "Father, is there room adequately prepared?" she asked again. "If not, I promise you that this lady will have my bed," she told Gareth and Daniel stubbornly.
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With Rosalina in his arms, Darius walked over to the threesome. "Is there a place my lady can rest in ease?" he asked just as Calista finished speaking---preventing Gareth or Daniel from rebuking her again. "This way," Daniel remarked with a small smile at Gareth and proceeded to lead Darius to the extra room with a bed for Rosalina to sleep on.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina whimpered as he moved.

_________________
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)

After lying Rosalina gently on the bed, Darius lay down beside her. Over the past few hours, he would drift in and out of sleep, wanting to make sure that she was comfortable. Sighing to himself, as he awoke again, Darius just shook his head. He admired this woman's quiet courage but he never should have allowed her to push herself so for, especially after she was still weak from her own ravishing that she had to endure yet again. Leaning forward he gently kissed Rosalina on her forehead, feeling as if he were the most blessed man to have such a tender-hearted beauty in his life.
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As her father left to show Darius and Rosalina to their quarters, Gareth gently laid Calista back down on the bed, seeing that all the talking wore the woman out again. "Get some sleep, my love," he whispered to her as he stood to move from her bed and let her sleep when she reached for his hand. "Stay," she whispered. "Stay here---with me," she said softly, her blue eyes filled with entreaty.
"You needn't beg me to stay with you, my dear" Gareth remarked with a smirk as he lay down beside her and lovingly took her in his arms once more. Sighing softly in contentment, Calista just snuggled against him, feeling much more at peace when he was near. Allowing her eyes to fall close she soon fell into a deep asleep. Seeing her breathing start to even out, Gareth allowed sleep to overtake him as well, knowing that he could rest easier since the woman he loved would live and was resting peacefully in his arms. A few hours later, Gareth awoke and glanced around the room. Seeing Calista still asleep in his arms, he leaned forward and placed a tender kiss to her forehead before laying back down. She was truly a beautiful woman---one he would take delight waking up next to every morning.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

It was hours later when Rosalina shifted and woke. Slowly she sat up and looked down at Darius, smiling at his sleeping form. Gently she kissed his brow, moving his hair from his eyes before she slipped from the bed and went to sit in the main sitting room before the fire that had been started already, or had never gone down. Sighing she sat and looked at her wrist, which hadn't been bandaged, and was now looking red and angry, both cuts were.

_________________
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)

Groaning as he woke up again a shortly afterwards, Darius frowned when he saw that Rosalina was no longer with him. Getting out of bed, he made his way to the main room to find her sitting in front of a fire. Walking over to her, he leaned over and gently placed a light kiss to the top of her head.
"Leaving me in bed alone, dearest Ro?" he asked, a teasing smirk on his face as he gazed into her beautiful brown eyes. His smile faded however when he glanced down at the red cuts on her arm---a reminder of what she tried to do because he failed to protect her. "Ro, you need to get those treated," he remarked softly.
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Stirring as she awoke about ten minutes later, Calista's eyes slowly fluttered open and a sleepy smile traced her lips as she saw Gareth lying in bed with her still and just watching her sleep as if he wanted to memorize every expression, every little detail about her.
"Has life truly gotten so dull that you have to resort to watching me sleep?" Calista teased quietly, a small smile tracing her lips. "Since I highly doubt watching me can be very interesting," she added with a smirk.
Chuckling at her comment, Gareth leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I beg to differ, Rose. You captivate me---even when you are asleep. And as each day passes I find more reason to love you," he whispered as he brushed some of her blonde hair from her face. Even half-asleep he thought her beautiful and he loved her with all his heart.
Touched by his words, Calista felt her eyes mist slightly as she snuggled against Gareth again. "I love you, Gareth. You are the best man I have ever known and I feel blessed to have your love. Without you, I know that I would be dead---both spiritually and physically---for you alone give me a reason to live," she whispered.
Smiling at her words, Gareth leaned over and kissed her forehead lightly. "How are you feeling?" he asked her softly after a moment.
"I'll be all right," Calista whispered, evading his question. She still felt sore and a bit weak but she would live, and she was tired of being waited on.
Sighing as he watched her, Gareth could tell she was purposely evading his question. The bruises and cuts on her face were still dark and he highly suspected that the other wounds that covered her body were still visible as well. "You need to rest for awhile, Rose," Gareth told her softly.
"Gareth, I'll be all right. Please don't worry," she said softly. "But what I need to do is to start a meal for everyone. It is my duty to do so---even more now since we have guests," she remarked. Pulling the blanket around her, she looked at the mage sternly. "Now don't look," she told him as she prepared to change, although she did not know why she should feel such shame after Russell basically tore her blue dress to shreds and left her feeling extremely vulnerable.
"Why?" Gareth asked her with a roguish grin.
"Gareth!" Calista exclaimed her face flushing crimson. "Look and I will have you removed from this room," she teased.
"Not even a peek?" Gareth asked her with pleading look.
"No," Calista remarked with mock sternness as she kissed him lightly on the lips.
"All right," Gareth remarked with a slight pout. "Tell me when I can look again without having to fear for my life," he teased as she stiffly got out of bed. Moving over to her wooden drawer she pulled out a comfortable light green dress and painfully got out of her badly torn blue dress and into the green one in a corner out of room out of sight of the mage. "All clear," Calista remarked with a grin as she walked stiffly back to him.
Turning toward her, Gareth merely smirked at her and pulled her close. "I thought you would never finish," he added with a teasing grin.
Chuckling, Calista remained in his arms for a few minutes and rested her head comfortably on his broad shoulder. "I should start our meal," she remarked after a few more minutes. "Though I am enjoying this closeness immensely," she added with a smirk.
"Then let's stay like this a few minutes more," Gareth remarked with a grin.
"We shall---later, my dearest mage. Our guests must be tended too," Calista remarked resolutely as she moved to stand and Gareth quickly assisted her. Smiling at him, Calista stood on tip-toe to kiss his cheek lightly in thanks before stiffly walking from the room. Sighing to himself, Gareth merely shook his head, worried that she might overtax herself. Walking after her a few second later, he followed her to the kitchen.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina smiled at him when he questoined her. She was about to anwer when he commented on her wrists. "I know." Her smile falling as she told him. "I forgot about them. I barely felt the pain when I did them, so when the pain went, I forgot." she sighed again. "The first time I wanted to die, I stopped myself. I thought of you . . . I felt I couldn't do that. But yesterday . . . I didn't think. I felt dead inside, numb, as if my body was the only thing alive." She looked at him, tears in her eyes. "I don't want to feel like that again." 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 small smile, Darius knelt beside her before pulling her into his arms. "Nevertheless, your wounds need to be tended too. I will check if there is a healer available so they can be tended to properly," he remarked quietly. Listening to her speak, Darius felt his heart ache at her words. It was his fault that this happened to her. If he had only done his duty and protected her than she would have been spared such anguish. "I am sorry for everything Ro. I should have been there to protect you, love," he told her softly. "If I have my way, nothing will harm you again. I promise you, upon my life, I won't let you get taken again," he whispered to her as he ran his hand through her dark hair.
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"Rose, someone else can prepare the meal," Gareth remarked as he watched the woman move painfully around the kitchen.
"Whom would you suggest, my dearest mage? Father doesn't cook, nor should he have to if I am able to. And I will not ask any of the women staying under our roof nor the lady who helped heal me do such a task," Calista remarked gently as she began to chop the vegetables. She had the bread and cheese set and the ale ready. After preparing the vegetables she would cook the fish that Gareth had preserved using his magic, the lamb and then the deer that Gareth had caught. She knew that eating deer was for the nobles, but being a mage, Gareth would periodically break protocol much to her embarrassment and go hunting because he wanted to be sure she ate well. He would then use his magic to preserve the game and they would store the food in their small storage area and eat the meat little by little, although Calista often felt guilty when they ate well and her people starved. So with Gareth's aid, the pair would often sneak into the village at night to offer the villagers of Andestea some of the meat.
"Then let me help you, Rose" Gareth remarked as he came up behind her. Seeing no one around, he gently wrapped his arms around her waist as she continued to work. Smiling at his light touch, Calista continued to prepare the vegetables in silence, determined to make sure that everyone staying under their roof would be well-fed. Once finished, she began to cut and de-scale the fish before moving rather stiffly to the pot to cook them over the fire.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed. "Don't be sorry, don't blame your self." She turned and hugged him close. "Never blame your self. I know you still blame yourself for that lion attack." She told him, she had been a child when both had been out, she was playing, and he watching for some of the time. A lion had jumped out and attacked them. It was so fast Rosalina didn't see it coming. It has given Darius the scar on his cheek, but it had left 4 on her stomach. She didn't rember much of the attack and after, just Darius saved her, but she almost died from her own wound. He had withdrawn and depressed after, blaming himself. "Rememeber what I told you then? Never blame yourself for what you can't change. I meant it then, and I mean it now. I need you to be strong, to keep me strong." she told him and kissed him on his lips.

_________________
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)