"Maybe in a few days, after we wed," Darius told Rosalina gently.

Smiling as she felt Gareth's lips against her skin, Calista raised her head and gently kissed the mage on the cheek. "Please, love, you need to eat," Calista told him.
"I will...after you are finished. I want to make sure you are well," he whispered to her. Smiling up at him, Calista pressed her soft lips against him and kissed him tenderly. "You truly are the best man I could have asked for," she murmured after they parted before she slowly started to eat again.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina nodded.

_________________
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 just smiled as he held Rosalina close.

"Love, you really should eat before your food gets cold. I will be okay," Calista remarked after she slowly swallowed a small morsal of food.
"Not until you are finished, my angel," Gareth replied.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed and got up. "Darius, I want to go for a walk. Come with 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)

Darius gave Rosalina a gentle smile as he rose to his feet. "Of course my love," he said softly.

When Calista finally finished eating her meal, Gareth began to eat his, still holding her close.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"I am nervous about trying on my own again." Rosalina admitied.

_________________
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 gave Rosalina a gentle smile. "I don't want you to go on your own yet either," he replied softly.

Once Gareth was finished with his meal, he looked over at Calista. "What does my lady wish to do?" he asked her softly.
"Can we go to the village?" she asked him. "I want to see how the people are doing," she added, a hint of sorrow and guilt passing over her face for not checking on them sooner.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina gave him a small smile and held out her hand.

_________________
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 smiled as he took Rosalina's hand and then led her from the room.

"Are you strong enough to go outside?" Gareth asked Calista, worry in his eyes.
"Please, my love. I will be fine, but I need to check on the villagers," she said softly.
Nodding, Gareth placed one hand under her knees as he rose with Calista still in his arms.
"Love, I can walk..." Calista began.
"Shh...I don't want you to push yourself to far, not after everything that has happened..." Gareth told her softly.
"But what would the villagers think?" she remarked.
"Who cares what they think of it, lady love," the mage remarked with smirk as he carried her from her room.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed as she and Darius went out to the woods.

_________________
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 made sure Rosalina was close, not wanting anything to happen to her again.

Calista just sighed as she rested her head against Gareth's shoulder as he carried her toward the village.
"Are you sure you want to do this, love?" Gareth asked her softly. "You should be resting..."
"I need to see how they are doing. I have ignored them for far too long..." Calista murmured softly, not sure what she would find when they arrived.
Sighing softly Gareth merely nodded, being sure to keep his walk gentle as to not jar the woman in his arms.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina leaned againest Darius as they walked.

_________________
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 down at Rosalina, Darius just wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled as close as they continued their stroll.

Nearing the village, Calista gave a small gasp as she beheld the destruction that still remained. Homes remained in ruins, gardens unearthed and the fledging crops wilted under the sun. Thatched roofs of the hovels were burnt or in disrepair and the very foundation of the homes were perilous. "Oh, heaven..." Calista murmured feeling her heart break. Unable to stand the sight of the village at its very entrance, the young woman just buried her face in the crook of Gareth's neck.
"Do you wish to return?" Gareth asked her, feeling her raw emotions in her quivering body.
"No," Calista murmured. "I have to see them..." she added as the mage sighed and carried her into the heart to the destruction.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed.

_________________
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 just pressed a light kiss to the top of Rosalina’s head, his hand still around her waist as they continued to walk.

Glancing around as Gareth carried her into the village, Calista felt her throat tightened in grief at the miserable sight that greeted her. Families huddled close together outside, hunger written all over their gaunt faces. "By heaven..." the woman muttered, her face growing pale.

Looking up as Gareth carried Calista into the village, the people gazed at her with withering stares, a hint of anger flickering in their hollow dull eyes as a low murmuring of discontent swept through the gathering group.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina smiled, and looking up at Darius did not see the root before she triped over it with a cry.

_________________
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)