Chapter Nine

A/N: This story is coming to a close my dear friends. I believe this is the final chapter unless I do alternate endings. I hope you enjoyed this story! Please read my other ones if you enjoyed this one. Thank you for reading!

Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Kael finally climbed into the bed that was designated for him. He heard Callista roll over and he whispered something to her. "Callista, are you still awake?"

"Yes," she replied coldly. "Why?"

"No reason."

Marlo heard their little chatter and rolled over, putting his arm over top of Callista protectively. What surprised Callista the most though, was when Marlo reached over for Kael's hand and placed it on her own.

Kael smiled and shook his head softly. He made a face that was an emotion of pain and he arched his back, drawing ever so closer to Callista, until they were a hairs breadth away. "Oh, my back is acting up again…" he began to say, but stopped for he leaned in and kissed Callista passionately on the lips, then pulled away, waiting for her to say something.

Callista blinked, looked around, furrowed her eyebrows and then leaned forward kissing him again. Finally she couldn't stand it any longer and pulled herself as close as possible to Kael, throwing herself on top of him and throwing the fur blankets off. "I cannot believe I'm doing this," she whispered to him. "I hope Marlo doesn't care."

"All he cares about is for your happiness. All I care about is you," Kael said and pulled her neck down gently, but swiftly, and kissed her. As things became heavier, Marlo and Rocks woke up and ran out of the tent almost screaming, but laughing and smiling to each other. Kael smiled childishly at their reaction.

Rocks gave Marlo a pat on the back and congratulated him for moving on. "I haven't moved on," he said gravely. "Callista has moved on and if she's happy, that makes me happy." He smiled and walked with Rocks to the tent in which Reginauld resided so they could leave the two lovebirds alone.

The morning rays of dawn shone through the opening of the tent, on to happy Callista's eyes. As she rolled over to place one naked arm over her lover, Kael, she noticed he was gone. The smile was still on her face as she got up and dressed quickly. The sun momentarily blinded her as she stepped out of the tent and looked around for Kael, but he was nowhere to be found. "Have you seen Kael?" she would ask whoever passed her.

"He left this morning," one of the freed-slaves said and smiled to her.

For the rest of the day, Callista was in a lapse of depression; her lover had gone and taken her heart with him. For three days, she walked in silence neither sleeping nor eating and finally on the third day, she collapsed into the same bed she shared with Kael and fell asleep. On the fourth day, and Callista had not awakened, Kael returned with carts of items in them.

"Hello again Reginauld," Kael said happily and grasped Reginauld's arm. "I have brought you supplies from my land; there is food, weapons, armor, clothing and various other things for the young ones that have recently arrived. Now, where is Callista? I have something precious for her."

"She is not awake," Marlo said coldly, walking over to him with his arms crossed. "Since you left after making love to her, you abandoned her and she has gone into a deep depression and 'come', as Marlna says, and will not come out of it. She's been asleep for a whole day, and hasn't eaten or had anything to drink in three days! If you don't get in there and help her, I swear to whatever deity is listening I will kill you myself!"

"Not awake? W-What? How can this be?" Kael asked, surprised by the harshness of his own voice. His icy blue eyes examined Marlo's green eyes and saw there was no sarcasm or joy in them, and he ran to the hut. He opened the flap and saw Callista laying there, her once full cheeks were now hollow and dark rings were under her once beautiful, flawless eyes. "Callista? Callista, wake up damn it! I'm here, please wake up!" He was gripping her shoulders and shaking her violently, but she would not awaken. Kael rested his head on her chest and breathed deeply.

"Eiste to versa callista nosh iz liw rev ess," he said to her and kissed her cold, dead lips.

"What did you say?" Callista asked, her eyes fluttering open.

"Eiste to versa callista nosh iz liw rev ess?" Kael repeated uncertainly, and then noticed that Callista was awake. "Callista! You're awake!" He helped her sit up and hugged her tightly.

"'You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,' is what you said right? Why did you leave me if you love me so?"

"I went to get some stuff for the people here. I come back and you are in a 'coma'? I never desert my loved ones."

"What about your homeland?" Callista asked sarcastically.

"I don't love them as much as I love you silly," he said and kissed her nose. "I have something for you, if you're quite done being almost dead." Kael pulled out a small wooden box and handed it to her.

Callista eyed him curiously and opened the box, letting out a quick gasp. "Oh, it's beautiful," she exclaimed, holding up the diamond necklace.

"Do you like it?" he asked apprehensively.

"I love it. Like I love you," Callista said and kissed him passionately.

"Awww!" Rocks and Marlo said at the same time. They had entered the hut when Callista had awoken and there were tears in Marlo's eyes as he saw the love of his life awaken.

Callista shot them both a goofy grin and grabbed Kael's hand. "Promise me you won't leave me like that again. Promise me."

"I promise. Seal the deal?" Kael asked and squeezed her hand a little tighter.

"Seal the deal," she said and kissed him again.

THE END