"I'm here Ro," Darius whispered to her, wishing he could just take her in his arms, but couldn't since he was stuck in his true form. "I'm here. Everything will be all right," he said softly. It just about broke his heart to see her so weak, but he was grateful at least that she was alive.
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"How is she?" Daniel asked Gareth as the mage continued to apply the warm cloth to her skin. Placing his hand lightly on her forehead, Gareth gave a small sigh. "She is warmer," he remarked with some hope in his voice.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina gave him a small smile. "Can you lie beside me on the bed?' She asked. 'I don't want to be alone." she said shivering 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)

Pondering just how he was going to get up on the bed without tearing it to shreds, Darius remained silent for a moment. He could leap upon it, but figured that would utterly demolish the bed and could injure Rosalina in the process. He could try and climb on it, but also risked tearing at it with his claws. Finally deciding flight was his best option, he hovered slightly in the air before laying himself on the bed next to her. "They need to make beds for lions," he remarked with a chuckle as he gave Rosalina a small smile. "Just save your strength, my love. I will be right here," he whispered, his eyes shining with love for her.
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Moaning as she started to come around sometime later, Calista began to mutter incoherently. "Calista..." Gareth whispered her name hopefully as he leaned over and kissed her lips lightly.
"G-Ga-reth..." she stuttered as her lashes began to flutter.
"I'm here, dearest. I'm here," he whispered to her as he gently caressed her cheek, tears of relief in his eyes. Finally forcing her eyes open, she gazed up at him with glazed eyes. "Ros...Rosalina...?" she asked weakly.
"She is recovering," Gareth told her gently as he placed a tender kiss to her brow.
"Daughter...I am so sorry..." Daniel told her, his eyes filling with tears of remorse.
"It's a-all...right.." Calista murmured as her eyes fluttered close for a brief moment before she was able to open them again.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina gave a small smile and turend so her face was in his chest.

_________________
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 smile spreading across his beastly face, Darius just laid quietly at her side, not really able to hold her as he wanted to, but did his best to make do for now. "Just rest, my love," he whispered to her.
------------------------------------------------------------
"How are you feeling, my love?" Gareth asked Calista gently.
"Tired and still a bit cold," Calista replied her voice weak.
Giving her a sad smile, Gareth leaned over and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. "Just take it easy," he remarked. "I will take care of you," he added as he moved from her side to brew her a warm herbal drink to help her regain her strength. As she started to regain feeling throughout her body, Calista could feel a sharp pain travelling up her arm. Turning to look at it then, she saw it wrapped in a blood-stained cloth.
"What happened?" she asked as she glanced at Daniel, not remembering anything about the wolf attack.
"I'll let Gareth tell you everything later," Daniel replied. "For now just relax."

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina nodded and fell asleep, still no dreams came to her, but it was a peaceful 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)

Smiling at Rosalina as she fell asleep, Darius just lay at her side, hoping that her rest would be a peaceful one.
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Once the warm herbal drink was finished, Gareth scooped some of liquid into a cup before he walked back over to the bed and helped Calista to sit. Sitting at her side, he placed the warm drink in her slightly shaky hands before placing a light kiss on the top of her head. "Drink, my love," he whispered to her. "It will help warm you and help you regain your strength."
Nodding, Calista raised the cup to her lips and slowly sipped some of the warm broth.
"Love, what happened? How did I get this wound?" Calista asked after she took a few sips.
"While you were unconscious, you were attacked by wolves..." he started to say when Calista's face paled in fear and she nearly dropped the cup if Gareth did not steady her shaky hands. "I'm sorry Darius and I could not get to you in time," he whispered as he pulled her close.
"Darius?" Calista questioned.
"Yes, he fought off the pack of wolves so I could check on you. And then he carried the both of us back so that he could warm you a bit until we returned home and then looked after you while I tended to Rosalina."
Staring at Gareth in shock, Calista remained silent for a few minutes as she just gazed into Gareth's eyes, seeing the truth of his words in his eyes.
"Is he all right?" she asked softly before drinking some more of the broth.
"He was wounded in the fight but would not allow me tend him until you were cared for," he remarked.
Nodding, Calista remained silent as she just finished the broth. When she was through, Gareth gently took the broth from her and laid her down when she placed a hand on his arm.
"I want to see him," she whispered weakly, her eyes still a bit glazed.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina curled into Darius. Her hand absentmindly stroking his coat.

_________________
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 as Rosalina absentmindedly stroke his coat, Darius just lay at her side, wishing he could turn into his human form again. "I love you Ro," he whispered to her.
------------------------------------------------------------
"You can see him afterwards," Gareth told Calista gently as he took her hand and leaning over, kissed her knuckles before gently setting it down under the blankets. "Right now you just need to rest and regain your strength. A few minutes more and you would have died from exposure to the cold. If the wolves did not cause you to bleed to death," he added.
"But G-Gareth---" Calista whispered weakly.
"Shh," Gareth remarked as he placed his fingers to her lips. "Just rest," he told her soothingly.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina didn't answer 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)

Remaining silent as Rosalina slept, Darius just laid down at her side.
------------------------------------------------------------
"Please, Gareth. I-I must see him. I won't be able to rest peacefully if not," Calista whispered as she struggled to sit up.
Sighing to himself, Gareth set the cup down before walking back over to the bed and gently lifted Calista into his arms. "You are still too weak to be roaming off on your own," he told her softly, still wishing she would just listen to him and rest.
"Father, please bring the medicinal paste," she said softly as she wrapped one arm around Gareth's neck and rested her head against him as he carried her to Rosalina's room.
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Looking up in surprise when Gareth carried Calista into the room and was followed by Daniel, Darius frowned slightly as he gazed upon the woman. "My lady, you should be resting," he whispered.
"She insisted on seeing you," Gareth added softly as Darius looked up at her curiously.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina didn't stir as the people spoke. Her sleep started to fill with images, Neither good or bad.

_________________
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)

Looking up at Gareth, Calista indicated that she wanted to be placed on the bed. Gently setting her down at Darius' side, Gareth just stood near her, in case she needed him.
"Gareth told me everything you did for me," Calista whispered to Darius. "Thank you," she added softly. Surprised that Gareth would tell her everything so soon, Darius glanced over at the mage.
"She asked what happened, and I could not lie to her," he replied.
"Father...the paste please," Calista said softly as Daniel hobbled up to Gareth before giving the medicinal bowl to her.
Taking the bowl, Calista dipped her finger lightly into the paste before gently rubbing some of it into the wound on his back and then rubbing some into the wound on his forepaw. All the time she sat next to him, it was without fear, only concern for the wellbeing of a friend. "I trust you. I am not afraid, not any more" she whispered in his ear as she worked. No sooner had she uttered the words than the spell was broken. All the time, Darius found himself wishing that he could return to his human form and now he found that he could do so.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina stirred, murmering 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)

"You should get some rest, Calista," Darius said softly. "If something happens to you now, I don't think heaven will be able to abate the mage's fury," he added with a smirk.
"Will you and Rosalina be all right?" Calista asked him, exhaustion palpable in her voice as she glanced over at the woman when she coughed, worry in her eyes.
"She needs to rest, as do you. If something is needed I will come and fetch one of you. You are exhausted as it is," he told her.
Nodding after a moment, Calista gave Darius a small smile as Gareth walked over to the bed and gently scooped the woman in his arms and carried her out of the room with Daniel following them.
------------------------------------------------------------
Once they were gone, Darius morphed back into his human form before changing into a new tunic and then lying beside Rosalina once more. Taking her into his arms he smiled, grateful to be able to hold her again.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina some how sensing the change smiled 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)