By then Rosalina had laid down and fallen a sleep as well, the days events worn on her. Gareth however was wide awake. "It should. I will make a fire." he said and jumped of the wagon.

_________________
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)

Staying close to guard the women in the wagon as Gareth started a fire, Darius just kept his senses on full alert.
------------------------------------------------------------
Watching the wagon's entrance from the nearby shadows, a wicked gleam passed over Jacob's scarred eye. "Well, look what we have here boys?" he remarked.
"What are you thinking, boss?" another bandit asked him.
"See how that one is guarding the wagon? There must be something of value in there," he smirked.
"Women?" another whispered in a hushed tone as he licked his fat lips.
"Or gold?" chimed another.
"Let's go and find out boys," Jacob remarked as he signaled the men to head toward Darius and Gareth from the shadows.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina shifted in her sleep, soon waking. "Are we there?" She asked.

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

Gareth set up a fire pit and then set the wood on fire.

_________________
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)

"Not yet, my love," Darius told Rosalina gently. "We still have some distance to cover, so Gareth and I thought it best to camp for the night," he remarked as he glanced back into the wagon and gave Rosalina a soft smile though he was certain she could not see it in the darkness before glancing down at Calista who was still asleep.
-----------------------------------------------------------
While Gareth started the fire, the group of bandits had surrounded the group and were now only awaiting Jacob's order to strike.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina nodded and and moved over to Darius and hugged him. "Thank you, for everything." she said.

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

Gareth got up. "Fire's made. Did you bring any food?" he asked 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)

"You are welcome, beloved," Darius remarked as he gently kissed Rosalina on her forehead before turning back to Gareth. "I brought some food," he remarked before moving to the back of the wagon to bring out the few bags of fish, vegetables and fruits that he brought.
------------------------------------------------------------
Hearing the rummaging next to her, Calista slowly began to stir. After a few minutes, her lashes slowly fluttered opened and she sat up in the wagon with a yawn before rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "What's going on?" she asked softly as she slowly crept from the back of the wagon to join the rest of the group.
------------------------------------------------------------
"So it's women," Jacob remarked. "Two beauties too. Looks like we will have some fun tonight boys!" he remarked as he gave the signal for them to attack.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina smiled and looked at her sister. "We are stopping for the night. I belive Gareth is about to start cooking for all of us."

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

Gareth took the fish and was just about to set it to cook . . .

_________________
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)

"How kind of him," Calista remarked softly as she watched Gareth, a sweet smile on her lips. She was about to walk over to ask him if she could help when a sudden rumbling resounded through the once quiet campgrounds and a large company of bandits swarmed into the area with swords, daggers, knives and bows drawn. There attire was dark and tattered and dirt and grime was smeared on their faces and bodies.
Seeing these men, Calista let out a shriek of fear as she reached for Rosalina and pushed her back slightly. "Ro, get back..." she whispered faintly. As the elder sister, it was her duty to protect her younger sibling even though she was still weak and seemed to be on the verge of collapse. "Hello, my pretties," Jacob crowed as he approached the women while signaled some of his men to keep Darius and Gareth busy.
"The blonde is mine!" one bandit shouted.
"I saw her first!" another protested.
"I want the brunette," a third chimed in.
"Well to bad she's mine!" a fourth growled.
"Ro, run!" Calista told her sister urgently, knowing that she would not be able to keep up, but maybe Rosalina could save herself. "Go...stand with Darius..." she started to say but let out a loud scream instead when a bandit grabbed her arm and pulled her close. "Hi beautiful," he smirked, bearing his rotten teeth and leering at her before running his grubby hands through her golden locks.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cursing as bandits charged into the campground, Darius immediately morphed into a dragon. "Ro, hide!" he shouted, immediately concerned for her welfare.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina didn't hear Darius. She grabbed a the largest rock she could and threw it at the man who held her sister. Then she threw another one and another until he let go. She grabbed Calista and shoved her at Gareth. "Keep her safe." she ordered.

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

Gareth nodded and kept Calita behind him, his hands glowing incase he need to fight the bandits off. 'Filthy vermon, no better then rats.' he thougt.

_________________
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!" Calista screamed as her sister shoved her at Gareth. "No..." she whimpered as she tried to go back after her sister but the mage kept one hand firmly around her wrist and she could not break free of his grip. "My sister..." she pleaded with him as he moved her behind him and watched as his hands began to glow.
------------------------------------------------------------
"Impudent wench!" a large burly bandit shouted as he slapped Rosalina across the face before picking her up and carrying her away into the darkness.
Meanwhile, a bandit came up behind Gareth to see if he could try to grab Calista while his back was turned.
------------------------------------------------------------
Roaring and snarling, Darius kept most of the bandits at bay while he incinerate those who dared to draw near.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina tried to get free of the man. When she was hit, she had taken it, but being carried away, it scared her.

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

Gareth turned at the last second and blasted the bandit with a ball of fire.

_________________
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)

Pausing for a minute, the burly bandit wrapped a gag around Rosalina's mouth so that she couldn't scream.
------------------------------------------------------------
Jumping slightly as Gareth blasted the bandit with a ball of fire, Calista could not help but tremble. She had not even heard the man approach---all of her thoughts were dwelling on sister.
------------------------------------------------------------
Releasing a stream of fire, Darius blasted another group of bandits before what remained of the company retreated into the darkness. "Ro! Rosalina!" Darius began to yell after morphing back into his human form. "Ro where are you?!" he continued to shout.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hearing Darius call for her sister, Calista felt her heart sink and her face grew pale. "Oh heaven...no..." she whimpered, feeling hot tears sting her eyes. "Please..let her be well..." she whispered as she started to cry.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina started to cry out, but the gag muffled her. This made her struggle more.

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

Gareth heard Darius call out, and his heart too dropped. "Rosalina?" he called but could not see 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)

Quit squirming you little worm," the large bandit hissed as he hit her again and continued to move off into the darkness.
------------------------------------------------------------
"Rosalina!" Darius cried out as he frantically searched the camp grounds. "Ro, please answer me!" he shouted.
------------------------------------------------------------
"Ro, sister!" Calista screamed her voice filled with anguish. "Please, dear sister, answer me!" she yelled as she moved from Gareth's shadow as fast she could, desperately wanting to find her.
------------------------------------------------------------
Hearing Calista call out for Rosalina, Darius felt an unspeakable hatred for the elder sister and he stormed over to her. "You had better hope she is all right..." he snarled at her as he raised his hand to cuff her across the face.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

The second hit threw Rosalina into a daze.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gareth grabbed Darius's wrist. "Now is not the time." He said.

_________________
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)

Smirking slightly, the bandit just carried Rosalina off.
------------------------------------------------------------
Darius growled at Gareth as he grabbed his wrist. "Why do you keep defending her? What has she done but get all of us in trouble?" he growled. "Maybe we should just take her back to Julius," he hissed before he could stop himself.
Biting her lip at Darius' words, Calista said nothing as she just lowered her head. "As you wish," she told him as she raised her head to stare into his eyes. "Once Rosalina is safe, I will leave. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you all," she added before she turned away quickly to hide the new tears in her eyes, yet her tears were not for herself but for her sister who may be in grave danger because of her.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!