Smiling as she fell asleep, Darius kissed her lightly on her lips and held her close, only wanting her to get some much needed rest.
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Glancing down at her left wrist, Calista suddenly noticed that it had been treated and bandaged.
"Gareth..." she whispered.
"Calista I know you want to save the herbs in case someone else needs them, but you need to think of yourself as well. Without proper tending, your wound would not heal properly," he told her softly.
About to protest, Calista thought better of it and just gave the mage a small smile instead, not having the strength to get into what she knew would be a losing argument for her.
Smirking slightly, Gareth found himself pleased that she decided not to argue with him for using the herbs.
"Thank you for caring for me as you," Calista whispered as she turned slightly to face him before kissing him gently.
"I love you, Rose," Gareth replied as he gently caressed her face after tenderly returning her kiss. "Now, get some rest," he added with a chuckle as she tried to stifle a yawn.
"Yes dear sir," Calista replied with a smile as she nestled herself against him. Feeling her eyelids droop, she breathed a soft sigh as she closed her eyes and fell asleep again.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Hours passed. Rosalina didn't have a peaceful sleep. She was plagued with all sorts of nightmares before sitting up, breathing heavily the next day.

_________________
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)

Waking up a few minutes later, Darius blinked several times and frowned as he heard Rosalina's heavy breathing which told him that she had nightmares again. Sitting up in bed, Darius moved over to her and gently pulled her in a hug. "You all right, love?" he whispered, knowing it was probably a foolish thing to ask.
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The night had been far from restful for Calista. Several times she awoke, fearing that she was back with Russell and the bandits and they each took turns ravishing her again and again after killing Gareth in front of her. In one dream his death had been so vivid that after she awoke in a cold sweat, she broke down in tears. She tried to keep her sobs down, not wanting to awake the mage that slept beside her, but in the end, she ended waking him up anyway. Holding her close, he just let her cry against his chest while he whispered words of love and reassurance to her and stayed up with for the long hours that she wept against him---only allowing himself to fall back asleep after she did. Now as the morning light filled the room, Calista stirred softly as light filtered beneath her lashes, waking her. Yawning as she raised her blonde head, she smiled to see Gareth still asleep beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist. Leaning forward, she gently brushed his hair back before placing a tender kiss on his forehead. Smiling softly, she decided to let him sleep. He needed the rest after all the work that he did for her. Yes, Calista thought to herself. I am a truly blessed woman. To have the love of a handsome, wonderful man like Gareth.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"I'm fine." Rosalina said. Trying to tell herself as well. "I'm fine. I just need a drink of water." she said starting to leave the bed.

_________________
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)

Getting up after her, Darius nodded. He could tell that she was trying to convince herself that she was all right. "I'm going with you," Darius replied, not planning to leave Rosalina alone after what happened yesterday.
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Waking a few minutes later, Gareth groaned before slowly opening his eyes and rubbing the sleep from them.
"Good morning, love," Calista whispered as she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. Smirking against her lips, Gareth gently returned the kiss. "Aren't you a vision of beauty on this bright morning," he remarked with charming smile before pulling her into his arms again.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina bit her lip and nodded. She went to the kitchen and got a cup of water from the bit of drinking water the family had.

_________________
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)

Watching her, Darius made no comment, knowing that she had a hard night. "Things will work out, Ro," he whispered, trying to be as encouraging as possible.
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Giggling as Gareth pulled her into his strong arms, Calista turned to give him a quick kiss on the his cheek. Lying in his arms for a few minutes more, Calista wished they could stay as such forever but knew that they would soon have to rise for the day. "Gareth, as much as I love lying in your arms, I need to start breakfast for the family," she remarked.
"Rose, you work yourself too hard," Gareth remarked with a sigh before kissing her lightly on her temple.
"I do not mind doing so," Calista replied with a slight smile as she reluctantly freed herself from his arms and rose from the bed, wincing slightly as a pain shot up from her ribs.
"Love---" Gareth began as he rose from the bed as well but Calista only shook her head. "I will heal in time. Do not worry," she replied before standing on tip-toe to give him another kiss.
"How's your wrist and ankle?" Gareth asked her after a moment.
"They will heal," Calista remarked simply as she gave him a small smile and limped slightly out of the room.
No they won't, Gareth thought to himself a bit sadly as he followed her out of the bedroom and to the kitchen. Even if you can heal yourself faster than most, if you do not give yourself the time to recover, your injuries will never heal properly.
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Once arriving at the kitchen, Calista gave Rosalina and Darius a soft smile as she saw the couple already there. "How are you feeling?" she asked the woman gently, concern for her in her eyes.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed. "Living." she said. Thats all she could really say. She wasn't fine, and she wasn't happy. She was misrable, but she would never say that to anyone but Darius. "Simply living." she said 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)

Giving Rosalina a sad smile at her words, Calista could sense that the woman was miserable. "Why don't you and Darius have a seat while I start on our breakfast?" she suggested. She wished that she could take this sorrow away from Rosalina but in reality she would not aide her in a miscarriage. The woman tried that on her own and she nearly bled to death. She could not risk something like that happening again.
"What do you need to prepare?" Gareth whispered in her ear, wanting to assist her in any way possible.
"I can prepare the meal," Calista replied back softly. "Why don't you just relax since you have not been able to do so that much thanks to me?" she replied.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sat. She didn't say anymore. She wanted to get rid of the thing in her, and no one was willing to help her. She hated it.

_________________
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 to herself as she brought out bread and cheese, Calista prepared the oatmeal before Gareth brought the fish in from their small storage area.
"I can go and get some fruits later today," Gareth remarked, planning on just using the wind to carry him to his destination.
"Gareth---" Calista began, knowing it was not their place to be eating such foods.
"We have guests now," he remarked with a slight smirk, knowing that would end the matter for Calista since she was always one to make sure that others were well taken care of.
"All right," Calista finally conceded with a sigh as she glanced over at Rosalina sitting in the main room.
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Sitting by her side, Darius remained quiet for a moment, not really knowing what to say. "Ro, don't try anything," he said softly. Rosalina had already tried to commit suicide once and he was afraid that she would grow desperate and try something again.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Uh-huh." Rosalina said not really paying any attention. She had spoted the knifes in the kicthen.

_________________
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)

"What's on your mind?"Gareth asked Calista as she stopped mixing the oatmeal for a moment.
"I'm just worried for her," Calista whispered to Gareth. "She has suffered so much hurt and just seems so desperate," she whispered as she glanced up at the mage. "You don't think she will try anything do you?" Calista asked as she started to lift the pot over to the fireplace but Gareth stopped her. "Allow me," he told her softly. "This weight is not good for your wrist," he told her as he lifted the pot to the fire place and started a fire to warm the oatmeal. While that was cooking, Gareth brought another pot over and left to draw water from the well. Upon his return, he poured the liquid into the pot while Calista prepared the fish. When the oatmeal was finished cooking, Gareth carried the pot and set it on the side before setting the pot containing the water over the fireplace. When she was finished preparing the fish, Calista set them in the water to cook before turning to Gareth again. "You don't think she will try anything again right?" she whispered.
"I don't know," Gareth remarked with a sigh. "But it is up to Darius to watch her," he remarked softly.
Once the fish was finished, Gareth carried the pot to the table where Darius and Rosalina were sitting as Calista started to bring the plates, being sure to balance them on her right arm. Gareth then took the dishes from her as she went back to get the bread and cheese and set them down while Gareth brought in the pot of oatmeal as Calista went back to bring in the pitcher of ale and then the cups.
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Sighing at Rosalina's absentminded tone, Darius knew that he would have to keep a close eye on her. He could tell that she was going to try something and he was afraid that more harm would come to her. "Looks like the food is ready," Darius remarked as Gareth and Calista brought in their meal.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina ate the food that was put before her. Her eyes not leaving the knife she could see in the kitchen. Once she had half her meal she got up and took the plate to the kicthen, droping the plate she grabbed the knife and started to stab her stomach. She didn't go deep, the pain was to great to go deep yet.

_________________
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)

Calista ate her meal in relative silence, not knowing how to begin any sort of conversation. She could feel the tension that hung in the air, tension that was terribly suffocating. Raising her head as Rosalina walked to the kitchen, Calista stopped eating as she saw Rosalina drop her plate. Seeing her grab the knife, all the color drained from Calista's face and she let out a blood-curdling scream as Rosalina started to stab her stomach.
Started by her scream, Darius turned sharply at the scent of blood and quickly leapt from his seat to stop Rosalina. "Ro, STOP!" Darius yelled as he tried to tear the knife from her grasp, the crazed look in the woman's eyes terrifying him.
Jumping to her feet, Calista felt both light-headed and nauseated by the sight, the crazed-look in the woman's eyes sending a cold fear seeping through her body as she swayed on her feet.
Swiftly rising to support her, Gareth pulled the shaken woman into his arms, worried that she might kill over from fright. "Make her stop," Calista whimpered against his chest. "Please..." she begged as tears streaked her face as she trembled violently in his arms.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina looked at him, her eyes not changing. she pointed the knife at him. "get way, get way. Don't touch me. I have to kill it, I have to kill it. Its a paracite. I have to get it out!" she said and went to stab herself 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)