Darius could feel Rosalina's feather-like touch upon his hand. Yet he still felt too drained and too exhausted to open his eyes. "Ro..." he managed to murmur though he could not say much else.
------------------------------------------------------------
Holding Calista close, a few tears slipped from Gareth's eyes and splashed upon her forehead. Stirring slightly at the wetness, Calista let out a soft groan as her lashes began to flutter. After a few moments, she slowly managed to open her eyes and awoke to find herself nestled protectively in the arms of her mage. "Gareth..." she whispered weakly and her tongue felt fat and sore.
"I'm here, my love," Gareth whispered as he pressed a light kiss to her forehead. After a few minutes passed, Calista grew coherent enough to notice the tears in the mage's eyes. "Love, what's wrong?" she whispered as she weakly lifted a hand to lightly caress his face and brush away his tears, though the move just about taxed the energy she had left.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina looked at Darius. "Oh, Dary." she cried and broke down. "Don't leave me again. Please don't leave me 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)

Moaning softly, Darius wished he could open his eyes to gaze upon Rosalina's beautiful face, but he just couldn't. "Ro...I'm here...." he mumbled.
------------------------------------------------------------
"I keep failing you, love. I should have been there to protect you," Gareth whispered softly as he lightly caressed the woman's pale cheeks. "I just can't bear to see you suffering so," he added.
"Shh," Calista whispered. "This isn't your fault..." she whispered in a hoarse voice as she used the rest of her strength to adjust her position to envelop him in comforting embrace. "None...of this is...your fault. Please...please...don't blame.....yourself. I don't.....blame....you..." she whispered unable to speak anymore.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"But I lost you Dary. you died. I saw you died." Rosalina cried out.

_________________
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...it's all right..." Darius whispered weakly. "I...will...be all right," he murmured, wishing he could be more encouraging to her.
------------------------------------------------------------
Wrapping his arms about Calista as she weakly embraced him, Gareth could only rub Calista's back gently, loving his lady on the more. "Just relax Rose. Do not exert yourself for my sake," he whispered to her before pressing a light kiss to the back of her neck as he drew in a deep breath, content to breathe in her scent.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"But what if i loose you again . . . for good." Rosalina whimpered.

_________________
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...won't lose...me, Ro," Darius whispered weakly. "I could...never...leave you..." he whispered as his voice trailed off.
------------------------------------------------------------
Feeling Calista slump against him, Gareth knew that she was exhausted. Gently lifting her from him, he just cradled her close. "Just rest, dearest," he whispered to her.
"Gareth...please...rest..." Calista begged, her voice trailing off as her eyelids began to droop.
"Later, love. For now, I need to take care of you." Gareth told her softly before kissing her forehead gently.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina looked at darius, he still looked weak and pale. "Promise?"

_________________
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)

"I...promise..." Darius told Rosalina weakly. "I...never...want to leave...you," he added softly as he drew in a sharp breath, the effort to speak taxing his strength.
------------------------------------------------------------
"Gareth..." Calista tried to protest but her energy was quickly failing her. "Please...rest..." she whispered and her voice trailed off as her lashes fluttered close and she slipped into unconsciousness again.
Sighing softly, Gareth just kissed Calista's cheek tenderly as he just held her close against him.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina nodded. "Don't talk now." she said and kissed 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)

Feeling Rosalina's lips against his, Darius smiled slightly and weakly returned her kiss. "I love you..." he whispered before slipping into unconsciousness.
------------------------------------------------------------
Gently laying Calista down on the bed, Gareth kissed her lips once more. Lying down beside her, he held her close and drifted into a light sleep, ready to wake at a moment's notice in case she should need him.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"I love you too." Rosalina said, still sitting where she was, not wanting to sleep incase something happened.

_________________
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)

Resting somewhat peacefully, Darius did not respond to her words.
------------------------------------------------------------
Waking only after a short rest, Gareth glanced over at Calista, wanting to make sure that she was all right. Listening to her deep breathing, he gently reached out and lightly caressed her face, wishing he could have saved her from all of the pain she endured over the past few days.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina yawned as the days events pulled on her, but she refused to give into her tiredness. After a while she coughed, but fought to keep it restrained lest she wake Darius.

_________________
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)

Dimly aware of the sound of a cough, Darius groaned slightly as he felt a sense of worry for Rosalina. "Ro...please...rest..." he begged her weakly.
------------------------------------------------------------
A few minutes later Calista began to moan in her sleep and a slight frown crossed her face. "Love?" Gareth whispered as he shook her gently to rouse her. Yet her frown only deepened and she did not awaken.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Not until I know your stronger." Rosalina said before she coughed again, harder this time.

_________________
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)