Hearing her words, Darius paused in the cooking and turned his full attention upon her. "What?" he asked her softly as he just studied her, a hurt mixed with sadness reflected in them. She couldn't be serious. He claimed to know her so well, yet he did not know that she had entertained thoughts of suicide. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?" he asked her gently. "I could have removed him from your life without another thought."
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"Please, sit" Calista told Gareth softly as he moved toward her. Smiling then, she served his breakfast on a platter first before getting her own.
"Smells wonderful," Gareth told her with a warm smile. She would make a great wife, he thought to himself, love shining in his hazel-green eyes.
Seeing the intensity of his love reflected in his eyes caused a slight blush to tint Calista's cheeks as she shyly averted her gaze. Finding her blush all the more becoming, Gareth reached out to take her hand, but withdrew it quickly as her father came into the room.
"Daughter, I would not tender out my affections so easily," he told Calista coolly before eyeing the mage. "And you were suppose to be out scouting an hour ago."
"But he has not eaten yet!" Calista exclaimed, quickly jumping to the mage's defense. Frowning at his daughter's sudden outburst, Daniel just shook his head in disapproval. A daughter talking back to her father was not to be permitted.
"He is here to defend our village---which includes scouting," Daniel told her sharply and Calista averted her gaze.
"He is late only because he was trying to comfort me," she murmured and Daniel only gritted his teeth in disgust.
"You will be silent unless spoken to," Daniel hissed to her.
"You should not speak to your daughter in such a manner," Gareth interjected, a small flame starting to form in his hand
"You dare to challenge my authority?"
"Do you care to try my powers old man?"
"Please stop it!" Calista all but screamed, fear skimming in her blue eyes as the color drained from her face.
Seeing the pallor in the young woman's cheeks, Gareth quickly extinguished the flame and remained silent, giving the victory to her father for her sake.
"Remember your place mage." Daniel hissed before hobbling out of the room.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina paled and closed her eyes. Oh god, she had not meant to say that out loud. "Forget it please. It was but once. I promised myself not to do it again." she said not wishing to talk about it, nor what lead to that moment. Even the thought of that day hurt her to the core.

_________________
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)

"How do you expect me to just forget about it?" Darius asked her as gently as possible. "What did he do to you?" he asked her softly, noticing at once the pallor on his face and wondered if he was pushing her too far. All he knew was that if he ever met this man, not even heaven itself could save her betrothed from his fury.
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Turning toward Calista after Daniel left, Gareth could only sigh as he took in the young woman's wan face. He should have known better to fight with her father in her presence, but he could not remain silent as he verbally lashed out at Calista. "I am sorry, Rose. I should never have threatened him."
Blue eyes filling with tears, Calista could only nod as she tried to choke back a sob. "He has his faults, but he is still my father," she said softly. "And he will never forgive you for what happened today. I fear for you. I fear for us," she whispered, feeling rather weak.
Seeing her look faint, Gareth quickly moved beside her and wrapped an arm around her pulling her close. "Breathe, Calista," he whispered softly in her ear as she closed her eyes and rested against him. Hearing her labored breathing he gently began to rub her back, hoping to calm her down.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina shook her head, but she was already thinking of it. "Please, don't make me speak of it. It hurts to think of it." she said. It had taken alot of effort to try not to tell Darius. She knew he would go after the man if he knew, and even now, she was unsure if he would not go after him. Her betrothed, what he did, what he nearly did, what he said. She had wanted to die then face life as his wife.

_________________
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)

Remaining silent for some long moments, Darius merely studied her. "All right," he said finally. "I will let the matter be," he said softly, hurt that she was shutting herself off from him. "For now," he added more to himself. Yet Darius knew that in his heart, he could never let the matter go, and vowed to personally hunt the man down himself for all that he put Rosalina through.
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"Do not fret, dear one" Gareth whispered to Calista as he continued to rub her back. "I will make this right, I promise you," he told her softly.
Nodding against him, Calista remained silent for a few moments more. "Just be careful," she whispered before raising her head to gaze up at him. "You don't know my father. He will get his will by any means necessary."
"Shh," he whispered as he placed a finger to her lips. "I will be on my guard. You just take it easy," Gareth replied unperturbed at her warning.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Thank you." Rosalina said. She wiped her wet eyes, once again pushing the memories down so she could forget for a time. But each time it became harder and harder to forget.

_________________
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)

Setting aside the cooking for a moment, Darius turned to pull Rosalina into an embrace. Leaning forward, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead. "Let your feelings out, Ro" he whispered. "It's only me," he whispered. "Do not put on a strong mask just for my sake," he added gently as he rubbed her back lightly.
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Sighing softly as Gareth continued to rub her back, Calista slowly began to calm herself. "Thank you," she whispered to him as she gave the mage a gentle smile. Nodding at her, Gareth just gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. "All will be well," he whispered to her. "Do not fret about a thing." he added.
"I am going to be so lost without you," Calista whispered next, wanting to keep Gareth with her as long as possible. Yet unbeknownst to her, Daniel stood in the shadows, watching their every move.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina breathed in Darius's scent. "You don't understand," Her voice broke. "I fear what would become of me if I let myself remember." she didn't look up. "If I give in to the memories and emotions, I'm afraid I will break. I don't want to do that to you."

_________________
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)

"Nor can it be healthy to keep all your emotions locked within, Ro." Darius replied gently. "It will be as a dam waiting to burst once the emotions grow strong enough," he warned softly. Over his long years he had watched many of the strongest fall that way and he did not want to see that happen to her. He loved her too much to see her destroyed in such a manner.
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After spending a few more minutes in Gareth's arms, Calista finally pulled back slightly. "Well it seems that I have managed yet again to ruin the breakfast mood," she murmured not at all pleased with herself.
"It was not you who ruined it," Gareth remarked with a gentle smile. "But I must depart soon," he whispered to her.
"Will you not eat a bit first?" Calista inquired, concern in her eyes. "You will need to keep up your strength," she remarked softly.
Smirking at her obvious concern, Gareth only shook his head. "I will eat first, dear maiden" he remarked with a slight chuckle before turning his attention toward the meal.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"He . . ." Rosalina started, but stopped for a moment. "He wanted to bed me. I refused. He hit me, again and again. I still refused. Then he . . ." She started crying. "He said he knew what you were, that father told him, and if I didn't obey he would hunt you and skin you alive infront of me . . ." Rosalina refused to look up. "I stopped refusing him, letting him do as he wished."

_________________
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)

Grimacing at her words, Darius remained silent for some long moments feeling the anger boil deep within him. Pulling her close, he said nothing running his hand up and down her back as he fought against his own blinding rage. Rosalina was such a special woman---the best that he had ever known. That she would risk herself to try to protect him touched him immensely, but he did not want her to do so again. Tilting her face up toward his, Darius gave her a gentle smile. "You are truly a brave woman," he told her softly. "And I am sorry for all that you had to endure," he whispered, the smile falling from his face, a somewhat pained expression coming to his face as he saw her tears. Gently brushing the tears away, he only sighed softly. "I am touched that you tried to protect me, but I do not want you to give into anyone or give yourself to anyone for my sake. I can take care of myself as long as I know you are well," he whispered before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, his anger still boiling at her news.
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Smiling softly as Gareth turned to his meal, Calista did likewise and the pair soon finished breakfast. Gathering the dishes, Calista planned to wash them later from water drawn from a well---after she had seen Gareth off. Giving the young woman a soft smile, Gareth quickly turned from her and headed toward his quarters to gather his supplies for the mission. Watching him go, Calista sighed heavily as she crossed her arms over her chest, a frown coming to her face as she tried to fight back tears.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina nodded, still crying. "I didn't want to live. I felt so ashamed." She looked at him in the eyes. "Thats why . . . " She didn't want to say it again. She didn't want to voice thats why she almost killed herself.

_________________
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)

"Shhh," Darius whispered to Rosalina as he held her close and kissed her lightly on her forehead once more. "It wasn't your fault, dearest. Nor is there any reason for you to be ashamed," he said softly. "The only one that should feel shame for what happened is that worthless betrothed of yours," he added, his voice harsher than he intended. Hearing her voice trail off, he immediately understood what she was not saying. That she wanted to kill herself because of this. "Don't ever hesitate to come to me," he told her softly. "I will always stand beside you. What your betrothed did does not detract your worth in my eyes. You will always be special to me Ro. Never doubt that."
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Hobbling into the room with a scowl on his face, Daniel watched his daughter stare after Gareth with a mixture of love and longing. "Go and make yourself presentable," he told her crisply. "I have arranged for your marriage with Jacques' son---a union which will unite our villages together and make us stronger against the bandits."
Face paling at her father's words, Calista felt as if her heart had ceased to beat. "Father, no!" she wailed tears filling her eyes.
"Enough of your childishness. It is all but done," he told her harshly.
"Please Abba. How can I love a man I don't even know? Do not make me go to him."
"The same way women have done for years. You are the headmaster's daughter. It will be best for you to act as such."
Raising a hand to her face, Calista did her best to choke back a sob. She did not want to marry some strange man, but she offered no other protest. "Bid your mage goodbye for you will not see him again. He will remain here while you fulfill your obligation to your father and your village. And I am warning you, daughter, if you do anything to distract him in this mission it will end badly for him."
"What have you done? Where are you sending him?!" she screamed.
Raising a hand, he cuffed her roughly across the face and Calista staggered slightly as she raised a hand to touch her slightly cheek, shock in her blue eyes. She did not remember having her father ever raising a hand so harshly to her before, and the fact that he had hit her hurt her more than his slap ever could.
"You will remain silent and do as you are told. Just remember my words." Daniel hissed before hobbling out.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina looked at him. "How can you still see me as such. I am weak. I should die. I can never marry unless to him now. How can I, I have been soiled by my own hand." She asked, this is what she kept hidden. This was why she wished not to speak of what happened. She felt like she was falling.

_________________
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)

"Shh," Darius whispered to Rosalina soothingly. "You are not weak. You did what you could against him. You tried to protect me and I am sorry that it had to come to such a thing," he added. Pulling her closer he ran his hand up and down her arm. "You do not have to marry him. I would wed you as you are, for you are the strongest and most beautiful woman I have ever known," he added gently.
------------------------------------------------------------
Closing her eyes as she found herself alone, a few tears slid from behind her closed lids and trickled down her cheeks. Sighing to herself, Calista tried to compose herself enough so that Gareth would not suspect what had just happened. Hearing him approach her again, Calista opened her eyes and quickly brushed away her tears. Turning toward him, she forced a smile to her lips as she saw him dressed in his battle garb---a dark tunic protected by light brown armor, dark trousers and boots. He wore a sharp sword in a gold scabbard strapped to his waist, dark wristbands around his wrists and a gray hooded cape attached with a dragon brooch around his neck.
"My, don't you look handsome," Calista remarked quietly with a small smile, tears still brimming in her blue eyes.
Smirking at her comment, he was about to give a reply when he noticed the tears in her eyes and the smirk fell from his face. "What's wrong?" he asked her gently.
"Nothing," Calista replied quickly as she shook her head and forced a smile. "I am just worried. Father said this mission would not be easy," she whispered.
"Is it ever?" Gareth asked her a bit flippantly as he gave her a wry grin.
"Don't tease me," she said softly. "Not now. Please don't play with me," she whispered her heart not really in any of the banter.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina smiled slightly. "Thank you." She said, hugging Darius close to her. He was precious to her, and his thoughts were held over any others she was told. "Your the most important person to me."

_________________
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)