Sorry for the late update, but real life decided to get in the way for the last couple days. Thanks for reading!

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Chapter 11--Reunited

Desperately Drizzt twisted to the left as the stinger flashed down, hearing a thud barely an inch from his ear as the stinger hit the ground. He began to raise his scimitar to strike. Suddenly the scorpion let out an earsplitting screech, making Drizzt wince. It collapsed on top of him, spraying him with greenish blood. He heard a similar screech from the other scorpion. His eyes widened as his rescuer moved where he could see her. "Shandra! I--" he began.

Shandra heaved the dead scorpion off him then seized Drizzt's shirt and hauled him roughly to his feet. "We had a hard ride to catch up to you," she said in a surprisingly calm voice.

Drizzt was relieved until he looked into her eyes. He winced seeing the anger in them. "Shandra, I am sorry," he said.

Shandra released him. "Better clean yourself up and as for being sorry you will be more so later," she said. She walked away to tend the horses.

Tarion glanced at Drizzt, sighed, and went to join her without saying a word.

Drizzt sighed as well and went to clean himself up. He had just finished and had gotten dressed except for a shirt when he heard footsteps. He turned to find Shandra standing behind him. Long moments passed and all she did was stare at him. Finally Drizzt got a little annoyed. "What is it?" he asked.

"Why did you do it?" Shandra asked.

"I felt it best if I went alone that way there would be someone free to aid me if I failed. A vampire is a dangerous enemy," Drizzt said.

"You could have just said that," Shandra said.

"You would have never agreed to it," Drizzt said.

Shandra knew he was right. She and Tarion would have never let Drizzt continue alone, but she was still quite angry with him for what he had done. "That is true, but it doesn't justify what you have done and you deserve this," she said.

"Deserve what?" Drizzt asked warily. He didn't like the sound of that. He started when Shandra seized his wrist in a painfully tight grip and pulled him towards her. "Oww!" he protested. "Let go of me, Shandra!"

"You are too stubborn and arrogant for your own good and I can't understand why I put up with it," Shandra growled as she pulled him away from the camp. She ignored his struggles and protests.

Once they were a distance from the camp Shandra stopped and gripped Drizzt's shoulders. "Do you know what a stupid thing that was to do. You can not fight a vampire alone," she said and shook him. "I was planning to take a switch to you and I still think I should, but I won't, not this time at least. I don't want you to get yourself killed, you little idiot! I love you!" She froze when she realized what she had blurted out and her face reddened.

Drizzt was just as shocked as Shandra was. All he could do was stare at her. "You're mad! We barely know each other!" he protested.

"I know, I never believed in love at first sight until I saw you, but there's no rush. We are elves and we have plenty of time to consider this. Just swear to me that you won't try to go after that vampire alone again, please?" Shandra asked.

Drizzt sighed and nodded. "I swear it," he said.

"Good, let's go back to camp and get some sleep. We have a difficult mission ahead of us," Shandra said and headed back to camp.

Drizzt followed, still a little shocked at Shandra's admission, but hopeful as well….

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Thanks for waiting, R/R please!