Pulling her closer to him, Darius simply kissed Rosalina with all the passion within him.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sighing softly as she felt the cool cloth upon her forehead, Calista opened her eyes slightly.
"Thank you," she murmured, her soft voice hoarse.
"Just rest, my love," Gareth whispered to her as he lightly caressed her cheek, her sheer weakness breaking his heart.
Giving him a wan smile, Calista closed her eyes once more.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina smiled into the kiss.

_________________
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)

Gently caressing her cheek as he kissed her, Darius finally pulled back. "I love you Ro," he whispered.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sitting at Calista's bedside, Gareth just pondered the situation in a pensive silence. The sunlight that now bathed the room in a gentle light contrasted sharply with the raging storms in his soul. It was his fault that Calista nearly died in the blizzard and was now sick. If he had just listened to his instincts and forbidden her to go out and search for the herb, she would never have gotten lost in the wintry nightmare. Throat clenching in sorrow and guilt, Gareth merely took the woman's hand and gently placed a kiss to her knuckles, his way of silently begging her forgiveness.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"I love you too Darius." Rosalina said,

_________________
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)

Smiling at Rosalina, Darius kissed her lightly once more before pulling back. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly.
------------------------------------------------------------
Calista slept peacefully for some time more before another coughing fit awoke her. Rising from the chair, Gareth poured some water in a cup before helping her sit up. Silently offering her the decanter, Calista took it with slightly shaky hands before raising the cup to her lips and allowed the water to slide down her throat. The coolness of the liquid soothed her parched throat, although she still choked in between sips. "Thank you," she whispered as she finished. Sighing sadly as he took the cup from her, Gareth just set the vessel on the side.
"What's wrong, love?" Calista asked, her voice raspy.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina smiled. "BEtter." she told him. "I'm doing better."

_________________
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)

"Good. I am glad to hear that," Darius remarked as he gave her a gentle smile. All he wanted was for Rosalina to be happy and well.
------------------------------------------------------------
Giving her a sad smile, Gareth kissed her cheek lightly before picking up the cloth that had fallen from her forehead and dipping it lightly in the cool water again, gently caressed her hot skin with it. "I am sorry, my love. It is my fault that you are as ill as you are. It is my fault that you nearly perished out in the cold," he said softly, sorrow and remorse in his hazel-green eyes. Reaching out weakly, Calista lightly caressed Gareth's face with her fingertips. "It is not your fault," she managed to rasp out before turning away from him as she coughed again.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina smiled at Darius. Her world was changing.

_________________
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 kissed her lightly once more. "So my love, are you hungry?" he asked her, wanting her to keep up her strength. If she was, then he was going to have to go and find out where the supplies were and start a meal for them.
------------------------------------------------------------
"It is my fault," Gareth whispered. "I should have protected you better..." he added.
"No," Calista croaked. "None...none of this is your fault..."
"Rose-"
"I chose to go. Whatever happened was of my doing," she rasped.
"You shouldn't be punished for only trying to help someone," Gareth whispered as he pressed a gentle kiss to her clammy forehead. "It just is not right," he added, growing rather irritated at all the trouble that ensued ever since their guests entered their lives.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina nodded. "Can you get me back to the bed first?"

_________________
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)

"Sure," Darius remarked before he gently picked Rosalina up and carried her over to the bed before placing a kiss on her forehead. "Now let's see what food I can find here," he muttered to himself as he walked out of the room---intent on questioning Gareth on the family's supplies if he had to.
------------------------------------------------------------
Smiling lightly at Gareth's words, Calista merely rested her head against him.
"A man I greatly love and admire once told me that there were many things that were not right in this world---that pain and misery comes both to the just and unjust. For in a perfect existence, we would not have as much sorrow as we do now," she whispered weakly before coughing again.
Chuckling that Calista used his own words against him, Gareth merely caressed her cheek gently. "I am going to make you more broth," he whispered to her as he gently laid her down on the bed before rising.
"Save the ingredients, love," Calista implored him. "I will be fine."
"I want to be sure your recovery goes smoothly," Gareth remarked. "So please do not argue with me," he added before leaning over to press a gentle kiss to her brow.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed as she leaned back.

_________________
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)

Figuring that scrounging around through the family's food storage would be extremely rude, Darius decided to seek out Calista, sensing that she would be quicker to offer them aid over Daniel. Heading to the woman's room, he quietly knocked at her door.
------------------------------------------------------------
Just about to prepare Calista another herbal broth, Gareth was interrupted at the sound of the knock. Growling in annoyance he walked over to the door and yanked it open. "Yes..." he practically hissed out, not looking at all pleased.
"Gareth...what's the matter?" Calista croaked as she slowly sat up and started to climb out of bed.
"Calista...are you unwell?" Darius asked, looking a bit concerned.
"She's ill and needs to rest. What is it you need?" Gareth asked pointedly, wanting Darius to leave as soon as possible so he could tend to Calista again.
"My lady needs to eat to keep up her strength..." Darius started to tell Gareth as Calista dragged herself over to the pair in time to hear Darius' words.
"I'll go and start the meal for everyone..." Calista managed to rasp out, her throat sore.
"No! Rose, you just need to stay in bed," Gareth told her as he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I'll rest after I cook," Calista responded as she walked slowly to her single drawer and pulled out a piece of cloth to wrap around her nose and mouth so that no one else would get sick before heading to the kitchen. Glaring at Darius, Gareth followed Calista, intent on helping her as much as possible.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed as she waited for Darius and the food. Her stomach started to growl and she blushed.

_________________
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)

Starting a fire and setting up a pot for Calista, Gareth then went to the family's storage room to bring out some left over deer. Meanwhile, Calista chopped some vegetables and sliced some of the bread. Groaning softly, Calista turned away as she coughed although the cloth around her face shielded the food.
"Maybe you should lie down and let one of us prepare the meal," Darius told the woman softly, seeing what a struggle it was for her to stand.
"I'm all right..." Calista managed to croak out, her voice sounding congested and her head felt as if it were in a fog. When Gareth returned with the deer, Calista sliced the meet before setting it in the pot to cook. Gazing at her in concern, Gareth came up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist before pressing a light kiss to the nape of her neck.
"You need to rest," he whispered in her ear as he kept his arms around her to support her. When the deer was finished, Calista served it on a plate before placing some bread, vegetables and berries on the dish and then poured water sweetened with honey into a vessel. "Take these to Rosalina," Calista rasped out as she handed the plate and cup to Darius. "I'll bring in your meal afterwards," she whispered. Giving her a brief smile of thanks, Darius headed back to the room and walked over to Rosalina. "Your meal, my lady," he whispered as he set both plate and cup on the lone wooden table, set a chair for her and then helped her to rise and led her to the makeshift dining area.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina nodded and smelled the food as she was sat. "Calista must have cooked." she said. "You can't cook this well." she teased with a smile before feeling for the utensils.

_________________
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)