Seeing the smile on Rosalina's lips, Darius leaned over and kissed her forehead lightly before lying down once again beside her.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Once Gareth carried Calista back into her room, he gently laid her down on the bed while Daniel decided to give the couple their privacy. "Sleep," Gareth whispered to the maiden as he gently ran his fingers through her blonde hair.
"Rest with me," Calista whispered as she gave him a wan smile. Lying beside her, Gareth wrapped his arms around her as she snuggled against his chest.
"Relax, my love,"Gareth whispered before placing a tender kiss to her brow.
"I love you," Calista murmured.
"I love you too," Gareth whispered. Smiling softly at his words, Calista allowed her eyes to fall close as she gave herself up to sleep.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina slept for some time. At times coughing in her 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)

Waking several times by Rosalina's coughing, Darius would just rub her back gently until her cough subsided before going back to sleep.
--------------------------------------------------------------
During the night, the fire died and Calista shivered slightly from the cold, despite the blanket that covered her. Feeling the woman tremble against him, Gareth awoke and gently climbing out of bed, rekindled the fire before lying beside Calista again and pulling her into his arms after he covered them both with the blanket. Sighing softly, Calista snuggled against him once more, although she did not open her eyes.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

After a while, Rosalina started a coughing fit, one that forced her to wake, and sit up.

_________________
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)

Feeling the bed shift Darius opened his eyes as he awoke. "Ro," he whispered, a frown on his face as he watched her. Pulling her into his arms, he rubbed her back, trying to see if that would ease her cough. When that did not stop it after a minute, Darius could find a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. "I'm going to get you help..." he added softly, trying unsuccessfully to keep the fear from his voice. Had he been paying more attention, he would have known what herb to treat her cough with but as it was he only knew two facts his lady was suffering and he was completely clueless at herbal lore.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sniffling slightly, Calista rolled over before falling back asleep, comforted by the warmth of the blanket and blazing fire and having Gareth sleeping next to her.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina tried to catch her breath between coughs, but she couldn't. Her stomach hurt, as did her chest and throat.

_________________
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)

Seeing that Rosalina was having trouble breathing severed whatever restraint Darius had. Racing from the room to get either Gareth or Calista or possibly both, the man ran down the short hallway and began to pound frantically at the door, not caring if he woke the dead.
------------------------------------------------------------
Rudely awoken from the dead of sleep, Calista groaned as a frown spread over her face. Her body felt strangely tired and achy and it did not help her mood any that she had awoken to a throbbing headache. Climbing out of bed first, Gareth made his way over to do the door to find a very frantic Darius standing outside.
"What is it?" Gareth mumbled, only half-awake.
"It's Rosalina! She can't stop coughing and is having trouble breathing!" Darius exclaimed.
Finally dragging herself from the bed, Calista lethargically pushed back strands of blonde hair from her face.
"What's happening?" she asked Gareth sleepily, not even caring about her unkempt appearance in front of company. Her long blonde hair was disheveled and the skirt of her dress was wrinkled and rumpled.
"It's Rosalina..." Gareth remarked through clenched teeth, more alert than his female companion. "She needs help," he told her gently. "I can go and help her, you get some rest," Gareth told her gently.
"Too late. I'm already up," Calista murmured. "We will work faster together anyway," she added. Nodding at Darius, Gareth followed after the man with Calista trailing behind them.
"I brought Gareth and Calista. They are going to help you..." Darius whispered to Rosalina and he came back into the room and gently took her in his arms, hoping that she would be all right.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina couldn't pay attention, she tried to stop coughing, she would take one raspy breath before coughing again. It felt like she was choking. Her head was feeling light.

_________________
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)

Coming into the room, Gareth frowned at the condition Rosalina was in, knowing at once that the first herbal drink they had prepared would be too weak and they needed to increase the potency of the broth.
"Calista," Gareth whispered as the tired woman walked into the room. "Can you start preparing the potion? I am going to look for one other herb that might aid in bringing down her cough." As she nodded wordlessly, Gareth rekindled the fire before fetching some water and bringing it back into the room and then leaving to gather the herb.
"Hold on, love," Darius whispered to Rosalina, his voice tight with worry. "You are going to be all right," he added, trying to convince himself that everything would be well---although her raspy breathing was making him grow all the more frantic.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina kept coughing. she felt weak, if she could see, her sight would have been coveredn in spots.

_________________
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)

Almost mechanically Calista poured some water into a pot and set it over a fire before moving to crush some of the extra herbs that she had gathered earlier for Rosalina's cough.
"How long will it be?" Darius yelled at Calista, fear in his voice as he just held Rosalina close against him. "She's getting worse!" he cried. Yet, Calista remained silent as she continued to crush the herb as if she had not heard his frantic cries at all. It was as if she were just working in a fog, oblivious to all else.
"CALISTA!" Darius yelled at her, causing her to jump and turn exhausted eyes upon him.
"Yes?" she asked wearily.
"Didn't you hear me? How long is it going to take? Ro is getting worse by the minute!"
"As soon as Gareth returns we will be able to make a stronger broth for her," she replied, her voice flat before turning her back on him and continuing to crush the herb. At any other time, Darius would have picked up that something was wrong with Calista, but with Rosalina in the state she was in, he was blind to all else. Or if he did realize that something was wrong, he just didn't care---not when Rosalina's life could be in danger.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina couldn't stop and it scared her. She coughed so much, she stared coughing up a tiny bit of 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)

Seeing the blood caused Darius' heart to race. This was just like a never ending nightmare. He thought she was getting better but it seemed like she was getting worse. "Hold on, love," he whispered. "Everything will be all right," he whispered his voice tight with fear.
"Where is that mage of yours and can't you move any faster?!" he demanded of Calista as she finished crushing the last of the herbs and placed the water over the fire to boil, her blue eyes dull. "Ro is coughing up blood!" he yelled at her as if that would will her to move faster.
No sooner had the words left his lips than Gareth re-entered the room. "Still your tongue!" the mage yelled back at Darius after he finished chiding Calista.
"Well I wouldn't have to yell if she would move faster!" he yelled back. "And what took YOU so long?" he challenged. Ignoring the mythical creature, Gareth thought about casting a spell to silence his tongue but thought better of it for the time being. "Do you have the herb?" Calista asked him robotically. Nodding, he brought out the red flower. "Are you all right?" he asked her softly as he gazed down upon her.
"I'm fine," Calista muttered as she gathered some of the herbs and placed them in the boiling water before Gareth squeezed some of the flower juice into the mixture before Calista began to mix everything together. Studying her with a frown on his face, Gareth merely shook his head, hoping that she was not getting sick as well.
------------------------------------------------------------
Once the warm brew was finished, Calista poured some of the liquid into a cup before handing the drink to Darius. Taking the cup from her hand, Darius then turned to Ro. "Try and drink this love," he said softly.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina tried to stop coughing long enough to drink, but trying no to cough and drink was hard to do. She was close to choking several times, but eventually got the drink down. She coughed, but it soon ebbed away.

_________________
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)

Breathing a small sigh of relief as Rosalina's cough ebbed away, Darius just placed a light kiss on her forehead. "This broth can be given to her three times a day at most," Gareth told Darius. "So don't give her another drink too soon," he said in warning.
"Thank you," Darius told them softly as Gareth nodded before turning his full attention upon Calista. "Are you all right?" he asked her again concern in his eyes as he lightly placed his hand against her forehead as he spoke. A frown passed over his face and his concern only deepened when she felt a bit warmer than usual. "Calista..." he whispered.
"I'm fine," she murmured again, not wanting Gareth to worry while only wanting to go back to sleep.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina was tired, and weak. She had stopped coughing, but her breathing was still ragged from the strain. She collapsed againest Darius and fell asleep,

_________________
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)