"No! I can't let you hurt yourself!" Darius shouted as he reached to grab the knife again. "Ro, we will get through this together. But you need to calm down!" he shouted, wanting to fling the knife as far away from her as he possibly could.
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Turning slightly in the mage's arms to glance over at Darius and Rosalina, Calista shuddered again as she saw the blade stained with Rosalina's blood and her face paled on the more. Feeling her legs grow weak, they soon buckled beneath her and she would have fallen if Gareth had not caught her in time. "Don't look, sweet maiden," Gareth whispered as he swept her up into his arms as he gazed into her shell-shocked blue eyes. Sitting down on a chair with Calista in his lap, he decided to let Darius handle this situation alone.
"Is it over yet?" Calista asked, sounding like a scared little girl as she buried her face in his chest again as he gently rubbed her back.
"Not yet, love. Just breathe and try to stay calm," he whispered to her as he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"NO!" Rosalina yelled as she tried to get the knife back from Darius. She wasn't aware of anything at the moment. Nothing but the need to get rid of the child in her.

_________________
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)

As Darius and Rosalina fought for the knife, somehow the blade turned toward him and in their struggle the knife was accidently plunged into his chest, tearing into flesh, muscle and bone. Gasping as the blade entered him, Darius sank to knees in front of Rosalina and crumpled to the ground, a widening pool of blood forming around him as the hilt of the knife stuck out of his chest.
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Face still pale, Calista closed her eyes as Gareth continued to rub her back. Drawing in a deep breath, she just tried to calm the rapid pounding of her heart, wishing that this whole mess had never happened.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina stoped. the insanity that was in her eyes left. "Darius? Oh god. What have I done?" Rosalina became pale and terrified. She trembled as she back up and looked at Gareth. "I . . . I . . . " She feel to her knees crying. What had she done? She had killed the one person who meant anything to her.

_________________
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)

Rosalina stoped. the insanity that was in her eyes left. "Darius? Oh god. What have I done?" Rosalina became pale and terrified. She trembled as she back up and looked at Gareth. "I . . . I . . . " She feel to her knees crying. What had she done? She had killed the one person who meant anything to her.

_________________
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)

Hearing Rosalina's cries, Gareth turned his attention back to the couple and he drew in a sharp breath. Feeling his posture change, Calista opened her eyes and looked at the mage, a questioning look in her eyes. "Gareth-what?" she started to ask but the question died on her lips as she turned her attention back to Rosalina and Darius and screamed at the macabre sight in their kitchen. Nearly falling off Gareth in her haste to stand, Calista staggered on her feet as the mage rose easily and swiftly and knelt down beside Rosalina.
"Is-is he alive?" Calista whispered meekly as she slowly followed after Gareth, grimacing at the knife still sticking out of the man's chest. Placing his fingers against Darius' neck, Gareth slowly nodded at Calista's question. "He is alive, but weak. If we do not treat him soon, he will die within minutes," the mage responded. "I need to get him on the bed, but do not remove the knife until we are ready to treat him. Remove the knife now and he will bleed to death," Gareth remarked as he carefully lifted Darius up and carried him back to the room the mystical creature shared with Rosalina.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina looked at Calista. "I didn't mean to . . . oh god, oh god. What have I done." She looked at her hands and trembled. "I'm horrible, I'm sick. How could I." she started crying 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)

Drawing in a deep breath, Calista tried to steel her own shaking nerves. At the moment, she wished Gareth were with her. He was much more level-headed in such situations that she was. Seeing the large, dark puddle of blood on the floor, Calista felt her stomach churn and she thought she may be sick right there. Putting an arm around the woman's shoulders, Calista gave the woman a comforting squeeze while forcing the bile back down her throat, feeling queasy at the sight of all the blood. "Let's check on your love," she managed to choke out as she gave Rosalina a quick yet gentle hug and gently steered the woman to the room. "It was a horrible accident," she managed to say as they walked.
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Lying Darius down on the bed, Gareth just studied the wound, a grim look in his eyes. Judging from the severity of the wound, he knew that his magical chants would be powerless in sustaining the man for long. They needed to apply the salve of the mortias plant to seal the wound and speed its healing, but the plant grew leagues away. And he knew that even though Calista was aware of the plant and knew where it grew, she would be not be able to arrive there in time to gather it.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina trembled as they went to the room. Seeing darius she trembled harder as she cried. She didn't go to him. How could she. "Will he live?" she asked as she cried.

_________________
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 as the women entered the room, Gareth ran a hand through his hair before answering. "His wound is too severe. There is little I can do for him now with my spells," he responded softly. "I am sorry, Rosalina, but there is only one plant I know that maybe able to save him."
"You mean the mortias, don't you?" Calista questioned and Gareth slowly nodded.
"But that plant is leagues away! I could not reach the destination in time even if I ran my mare to death," she exclaimed.
"I could gather the plant, but without any intervention sooner, I fear that even with my speed, he may be dead before I return."
Drawing in a deep breath, Calista locked eyes with the mage. "Let me try and heal him while you search for the herb," Calista whispered.
"No...Calista you are injured yourself. You will not have enough strength to heal another in your condition," he added softly, worry in his hazel-green eyes.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina remained pale and trembling. She sighed and went over to the bed. "darius . . . can you hear me?" she asked slowly reaching out to take his hand. "can you forgive 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 no indication that he had heard any of Rosalina had said. Rather he remained lifeless on the bed, his breathing shallow.
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"Please, Gareth. I have to try," Calista remarked softly. "My abilities may be the only thing that will be able to save him. I know Rosalina did not mean to hurt Darius and she loves him. I cannot simply stand aside and let this man bleed to death," she whispered.
Knowing that she was right, Gareth released a heavy sigh. He could not help but remember the one time many years ago when she had nearly died trying to heal him. The event took place during the summer of her twelfth year. In a raid against their village, he had been badly wounded by a spear through the chest has he had tried to defend her. Heartbroken and tears streaming down her face, she had placed her hand on his injury and with power stemming from the strength of both her love and will, she had begun to heal his wound. Screaming out in agony as she did so, his injury began to heal from the inside out, yet as his strength returned, hers waned until she collapsed from the effort. When he awoke, he found the girl lying lifeless on top of him, her head resting on his chest. Terrified that she had been slain, he quickly checked her for any wounds but found none before placing his fingers at her neck to feel the faint beating of her blood. Carrying her back to her father's house, he laid the girl gently in bed and kept a vigil by her side for three days until she awoke.
Shaking his head at the memory, Gareth did not want to risk her again. Despite her body's ability to heal itself, he did not want to overtax her strength. Saving him had nearly killed her once before and he feared that if she attempted to save Darius now, it would lead to her death as she had not yet completely healed from her own wounds.
"Calista, I cannot forget what nearly happened when you healed me," he whispered as he walked over to her and took her hands between his own.
Giving him a weak smile, Calista just gave his hands a gentle squeeze. "I must try. Darius will not be able to survive if I do nothing, and I cannot leave Rosalina so heartbroken.” Nodding, Gareth swept her into his arms and kissed her passionately on the lips, a kiss that was filled with all the love and longing that he had for her within him. Stunned by his actions, it took a moment for Calista to respond, but when she did, she kissed him back with all the love she felt for him buried deep within her heart. When they parted, Gareth gently caressed her face with his fingertips, as if he wanted to memorize the feel of her skin against his. "Be careful," he whispered to her. "And if you start to feel too weak, I want you to stop. Do you understand me?" he questioned.
"I will do what I must, my love," Calista whispered as Gareth only sighed.
"When you are ready to heal him, you will have to pull the knife from his chest and immediately place your hand on the injury,” the mage instructed her. Swallowing hard at the thought, Calista merely nodded before Gareth kissed her lightly on her forehead before leaving to gather the herbs.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina had stopped crying, but she didn't let go of his hand. She held it as if it was glass as she watched his face. the only noise she did make was a whimpering as she rocked slightly, her face as pale as Darius's.

_________________
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)

Gathering what little courage she had, Calista walked over to Darius' beside, not even glancing at the woman who was holding his hand. Reaching for the knife, her hand paused in mid-motion as she froze, the blade protruding from his chest making her feel all the queasier. Forcing her right hand to move once more, she managed to inch her fingers a few more centimeters closer to the hilt of the knife, but could go no farther. What was I thinking? she thought to herself. I can't pull the blade from his body. I just can't, she thought trembling slightly. Glancing over at Rosalina, she noted the pallor in the woman's cheek as a slight whimpering escaped from her lips as she tenderly held on to her beloved's hand. She could hear Darius' shallow breathing and in her heart knew that if aid did not come soon, than he would soon be gone and that this woman's life would be broken beyond repair. Gareth did not want her to put her life at risk, but at the same time he trusted her to help while he went to search for the herbs, and here she was frozen to her spot as would be a scared little girl. Oh Gareth, she thought silently. Please lend me your strength, she prayed as she reached for the handle of the knife. Closing her right hand around the knife, she squeezed her eyes shut and drew in a deep breath as she tried to steady her failing nerves and shaking hand. Opening her eyes, she pulled the bloody knife from his body trying not to injure him further as she did so. As the knife was wrenched free from his skin, Darius weakly cried out in pain before he fell silent once more. Letting the bloody blade clatter to the floor, Calista quickly placed her left hand on the wound, feeling the sticky fluid seep between her fingers, staining her white hand crimson. No sooner had she placed her hand on the wound, a surge of pain assaulted her as her body began to absorb Darius' pain and her energy flowed from her body to his to heal the wound. Crying out in sheer agony she nearly fell on top of the bed, only just barely managing to brace herself upon her right hand as she drew in labored breaths. She could feel the strength leaving her body as it flowed to the mythical creature as her energy began to slowly heal his wound, mending the torn muscle and ceasing the flow of blood.
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Using the wind to travel with haste, Gareth raced toward the location of the mortias plant. Feeling a strong wave a pain hit him, the mage knew at once that it was coming from Calista as she tried desperately to heal Darius. Be brave, my love, Gareth thought to himself, wishing that he could be by her side to comfort her and hold her as her body absorbed the agony of another.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina saw Calista, and when Darius cried out, she closed her eyes. Squeezing them tighter when Calista cried out as well. It was all her fault. It was always her fault. Just as it was her fault she had been playing in the open when the lion attacked, that she gave in to her fiance, and the rest. it was her fault.

_________________
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)

Breathing heavily as she still continued to heal Darius's wound, Calista gripped the blood-soaked bed sheets tightly in her hand as the pain filling her body began to mount, a sheen of sweat bathing her face. She was not aware how much of the wound she managed to heal, her mind too clouded by the sensation of daggers piercing her body---especially in her chest. Biting her lip hard as another sharp pain hit her, Calista could taste the tangy metallic taste of blood slide on her tongue as she cut her lip. Oh Gareth, hurry back, she silently prayed, her face growing all the more pale as the minutes ticked by and more strength left her body.
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Stirring silently as his wound started to heal, Darius groaned once as the strength began to return to his body.
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Finding the plant within ten minutes which on horseback would have taken a person days to find, Gareth quickly knelt down and tore some of the leaves to use them to make a salve for the wound. Feeling constant flashes of pain hit him, he knew that Calista was weakening. Gritting his teeth, Gareth quickly rose to his feet and summoned the wind, determined to return with all haste to his lady's side.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!