Hearing Rosalina cough, Darius immediately awoke as well. Placing a light kiss on her cheek, he immediately rose and poured her another glass of water, worry for her shining in his blue eyes. Handing his love the glass, he tenderly rubbed her back, all the while praying to the heavens that she was not getting sick again.
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Nodding Daniel did not say anything as he just watched Gareth tend to Calista. "Sir, have a seat," the mage remarked as he took Daniel by the hand and had him sit on the chair near his daughter's bed. "It will not do your daughter any good to see you so stressed when she wakes."

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina took the water and drank all of it. "Thank you." she said quietly. "I thought the cough was gone."

_________________
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 kissed her forehead lightly as he took the cup from her and set it on the side. "It is probably the stress of everything that brought the cough back, Ro," Darius said gently though there was no mistaking the worry in his eyes and his voice. "You will need to rest for awhile," he added.
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Sitting on the chair as Gareth turned his attention back to Calista, he felt a slight pain in his chest and he winced slightly. Hearing the groan, Gareth immediately turned his attention to Daniel.
"Sir?" Gareth questioned, a frown crossing his face as a measure of concern flickered over his eyes. "Are you all right?"
Daniel nodded but groaned as another pain hit him again, sharper this time and he doubled over as he placed a hand over his chest.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina frowned but nodded. "Dary, what can we do, what should we do?"

_________________
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)

Sighing softly at Rosalina's question, Darius merely shook his head. "I am not too sure, Ro" he remarked. "All I know is that I want you to rest. If anyone is going to be working to help Gareth with Calista it is going to be me."
--------------------------------------------------------------
Seeing Daniel double over, Gareth was at his side immediately, worry for the old man in his eyes. "Daniel, I am going to need you to draw in deep breaths," he told him calmly, although inside he was afraid that all the stress over Calista's ordeal was proving too much for the old man. "You are going to be fine," Gareth added, trying to convince himself of that more than anyone. Daniel could be insufferable at times, but nevertheless Gareth respected him. Moreover, he knew that if Calista awoke to find her father dead, the news might be enough to kill her after all that she suffered already. And he did not want her to have to endure any more sorrow, nor did he think that he would have the courage to give her such heart wrenching news. Barely able to nod, Daniel could only pant as the mage supported him while beginning a healing incantation to helpfully mitigate the heart attack until he could get some herbs, not wanting to leave either father or daughter unattended.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed. "I just can't not help."

_________________
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, I don't want you getting sick again," Darius whispered to her. "What if this time the symptoms end up being so much worse? I cannot risk that," he added softly. "I won't risk it."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As several minutes passed by with little improvement to Daniel's condition, Gareth intensified the power of his healing spell, praying that it would help Calista's father. Gasping as he felt his chest tighten for a brief moment, he relaxed as the pain began to diminish although his breaths still came in short gasps.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed, "Dary, it will be ok." she 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)

Darius sighed at Rosalina's words and remained silent for a moment. "I cannot help but worry, Ro. The last time we thought that, things became so much worse. I am not taking that chance again."
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It took another twenty minutes before the pain completely dissipated. "Thank you," Daniel remarked to Gareth, indicating that he could stop the incantation now. Nodding briefly, Gareth made sure that Calista's father was comfortably seated. "I am going to go and look for some herbal berries. Their juice may be able to help you," he remarked quietly.
"No!" Daniel exclaimed. "Just take care of my daughter. I will be fine."

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed. "I want to check on Calista 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)

Sighing, Darius knew that to argue with Rosalina would be pointless since they could discuss such a matter to doomsday if she thought it fit. Moreover, if he refused her now, he knew that she would just worry herself all the more and that could end up being more harmful in the long run. "All right, but you are not to do anything strenuous, do you understand?"
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"Sir, this could be serious if not properly treated." Gareth interjected.
"Care for my daughter first." Daniel told him stubbornly.
"And how will Calista feel if something happened to her father?" Gareth fired back. "Sir, I know you and I do not agree on many things, but you are the father of my love. And believe it or not, I have developed a certain regard for you," the mage to him simply. "And I know for a fact that if something happens to you because of this, Calista will be heartbroken. Is that what you want---to bring her to grief?"

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina got up, and started 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)

Putting his arm around her, Darius just pulled her close, concern in his eyes and voice. "Ro, you should rest. I don't think this is a good idea. You won't be able to help Calista if you fall ill as well."
------------------------------------------------------------
"No," Daniel remarked a bit subdued. "But twilight sets on my life while she is still in the bloom of youth. If you need to expend your energy, use it on her," he added softly.
"Listen to me, sir. Calista has always been a gentle soul. You know this. And age has nothing to do with the matter. You are her father and she loves you deeply. How do you think she will react if you are lost because I neglected to help you?"
"You will not be able to care for us both. You may be stronger than most because you are a mage but even you can fall victim to exhaustion---just as a mortal can. How do you think my daughter will react if her love overtaxes his own strength and jeopardizes his own health?"

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina shook her head. "I don't care. Gareth shouldn't have to do it all alone."

_________________
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)

Darius sighed softly. "I just don't want you to get hurt," he whispered. "You have a good heart, Ro. And I love you for it. But sometimes you just need to take care of yourself, and as much as I hate to say it, let others be until you are strong enough."
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"I will be fine," Gareth told Daniel stubbornly.
"Have you even really rested yet?" Daniel challenged Gareth.
"Have you?" the mage responded in a like vein. "Sir, you need to relax. If you have another episode, it could be serious---even fatal."
"And you need to take it easy. What if you get sick like my daughter?" Daniel remarked as he and Gareth stared each other down.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Gareth is pushing himself to far. We need to relive 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)