"NO!!! Calista, you can't. If you do he'll kill you. I can't bear the thought." Rosalina begged.

_________________
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 a group of knights charged at him, Darius shot a stream of fire at them to hold the group at bay. "I will not let you harm either woman staying here," he thundered.
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"As long as I stay here, you and Darius will never have any peace. You have something special with Darius, do not toss it aside for a woman who is nothing more than a wraith," she remarked softly. "Do not worry about me. If I return now, you and your love can live in bliss, and I shall have peace forever," she remarked as she turned from the window and headed to the door.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"No!!!" Rosalina grabbed at her, tears in her eyes. "Pleas, Cali, your the only family I have left. I can't loose you." she hugged her sister crying.

_________________
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)

"Shh, Ro. It will be all right," Calista whispered as she wrapped her arms around her sister in a hug. "You have suffered so much on my account. I cannot allow Julius to hurt you or Darius," she added softly as she gently rubbed the younger woman's back. "Darius will look after you now, and if I am gone it will be safer for the both of you. Do not weep for me, Ro. It may be my time," she whispered as she pulled back and kissed Rosalina's forehead in a sisterly way.
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Darius fought the knights off valiantly, yet while his fire managed to keep most of them at bay, the numbers of knights were far too great. A few manage to get by his defense and slash at his skin with their swords. Roaring out in pain, Darius redoubled his efforts, determined to keep the knights from the women.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Please Calista, don't go." Rosalina begged.

_________________
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 must, Ro. Live happily, my dearest sister," Calista said softly as she hugged her sister once more before moving to the door. Drawing in a deep breath, she opened the wooden door and rushed out on to the trampled grass, paling at the sight. A group of knights had Darius cornered and one was about to stab him in the side with a lance.
"STOP! It's me you want! Leave him alone!" she screamed, turning the attention of the knights toward her as she halted about four feet from the battle.
"Girl, get back in the house!" Darius growled as the knights began to turn toward her.
Seeing the knights march toward her, Calista felt her legs tremble as she stepped backward, her face turning ashen in fear. Gasping for breath, the woman began to wheeze badly as her chest and throat tightened.
"Calista!" Darius shouted, knowing that Rosalina would be devastated if something should happen to her sister and he swiftly began to tear at the knights, hoping to turn their attention to him and away from the swooning woman.
"Oh...I can't...breathe..." Calista murmured as she put her hand over her chest and the images of the approaching knight blurred before her glazed eyes.
She was dimly aware of someone calling her name, but could not place the voice. "Ooohh..." she moaned as her blue eyes rolled back and her lashes fluttered close as she slumped to the ground in a faint.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina had followed her sister. "Calista!!" she cried out and went to her sisters side, taking the woman into her arms.

_________________
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 just remained limp in her sister's arms, her breathing weak and shallow.
"Give us the woman," a knight remarked as he strode proudly over to Rosalina as she held an unconscious Calista in her arms. "Surrender her to us and we shall leave you and your shifter in peace. Defy us and you all will die here," he remarked.
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Seeing Rosalina now on the field of battle, Darius felt himself growing all the more frantic and he fought his attackers all the harder.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"I will not let you harm an innocent!" came a yell as a familiar Mage ran at the knight. His hand was in a fist, glowing with power and fire.

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Rosalina kept trying to wake her sister.

_________________
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)

The Knight turned as the mage approached him. "Stay out of this, mage!" he cried as he drew his sword against him.
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Calista did not stir as Rosalina tried to wake her. Her breathing weakening as the moments passed by.
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Hearing Gareth's voice, Darius was distracted for a brief moment as the mage rushed to defend the women. What is he doing here? Why is he helping them? he wondered.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

rosalina wanted to help her sister, but if she left now, Calista would be taken.

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Gareth dogded the blade and leaping up, struck the knight in the face.

_________________
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 just remained limp in her sister's arms as the battle raged all around them. Her lips and fingertips had started to turn blue.
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Groaning as Gareth struck him in the face, the knight staggered backward as the hit made it seem like his skin was on fire. As he fell back, two more knights came to take his place to fight against the mage.
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Incinerating other knights with his fire, Darius just hoped he would be able to get to the women soon.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina paniced. "Calista, please, don't give up." she begged.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gareth grunted as he landed. Fire built up in his hands, and in a swift moment he slamed his hands together creating a wave of fire at the knights.

_________________
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 did not stir or respond as her breathing grew more shallow.
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The knights screamed in agony as their bodies were consumed by the wave of flame.
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As the few stragglers that remained of the company fled, Darius morphed back into his human form and made his way over to Rosalina, Calista and Gareth. "Are you all right?" Darius asked Rosalina, worry in his eyes.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina looked at Darius. "She's getting weaker." she said. "And I couldn't leave to get what would help her."

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Gareth looked at the women, his heart breaking for the younger, and crying for the older one. "We should get her in." He looked at Darius, somewhat neutrally. "I would suggest as soon as she is well enough we should leave. this place is no longer save for the women."

_________________
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 sadly at Rosalina's words. He had been grazed by several swords during the course of the battle, but the wounds were not serious. "Do not blame yourself for this," he said softly before falling silent for a brief moment. "What was she thinking? I told her to get back," he murmured more to himself as he glanced down at the pale woman that remained limp in Rosalina's arms. Turning to look over at Gareth when the mage addressed him, Darius could only nod a response---the other man's valor in protecting the women managing to curb his tongue. "I agree," he remarked. "Since this first raid has failed, Julius will come for his wife again to avenge the shame of this attack. And I do not know if she will have the strength to withstand another assault. Moreover, I would hate to have Rosalina bear such a sorrow in losing her only sister."

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!