Waking up at dawn she crawled out of her bed she dressed herself in appropriate clothing for traveling. Pulling on some brown pants she smiled faintly as she belted them with a leather belt her aunt had given her. She then pulled on a light brown shirt putting on over that a padded green vest with some breast pockets for anything small. Smiling as she looked at herself in the mirror she couldn't help but wonder at the detail of how much she had changed since a couple of days. She knew now that she could never go back to her life from before, no matter how much she would wish for it. Shaking her head she pulled a dark green cloak around her small shoulders she couldn't help but stifle a laugh as she finished dressing and looking at herself in the mirror. The clothes were impossibly too big for her figure but she couldn't get any other ones there was no time these would have to do. Rolling her eyes she'd figure they'd do hoping that they wouldn't attract too much attention. That's the last thing she wanted was attention. She'd make up some stupid story for the huge sizes if she met someone, which she highly doubt she'd have to do.

She was excited but scared at the same time. She knew her father would be mad as hell at her if he ever caught up to her. She had to make sure he wouldn't, if for nothing but to see her grandfather. She knew that her aunt and uncle would be worried sick about her safety, not to mention Tanis would be concerned about her too. But she had to go it was why she had been brought here in the first place just as her father had said last night. She wanted to try to get there on her own before asking her family for help, especially her father. She'd prove a thing or two to him.

Picking up her bag that she'd packed last night she went quietly down the stairs and into the kitchen. She grabbed some food supplies for the trip and left a note saying that she was sorry but she had to do this on her own and swearing to her aunt that'd she be careful. She wanted to tell her uncle and aunt before she left but she couldn't bring herself to knock on their door. She was terrified that they would stop her and tell her father what her plan had been. She couldn't risk it she wouldn't risk it she wanted to do this. Walking silently out the back way of the kitchen she noticed as she stepped onto the ground that there was a stable not to far away from the inn. She knew how to ride a horse she had worked at a stable in the other world she was from. Tika and Caramon wouldn't mind that much if she took one. She'd bring it back when she came back of course.

Going into the stable she saw that there were many horses stabled in the small barn, some were probably the owners of the occupants of the inn's other rooms. Looking around she located one that had a sign on it saying it was Caramon's. He wouldn't mind so much she was hoping. She introduced herself to the horse and brushed it before strapping a saddle and harness on the beautiful stallion. She never put a bit in a horse's mouth; she thought it was cruel and inhumane. The horse was calm and relatively easy to handle so she wouldn't have to worry about the horse bucking her off. He liked her and that made her job easier. She took the horse by the reins and walked the horse out of Solace before she mounted him. She had a map with her so she knew she was going in the right direction at least. Sighing she took one last look at the towering trees of Solace and felt a twinge of guilt for what she had done what she was doing. Should she go back? Back to her father who doesn't even care about whether she's here or in that other world she grew up in. She'd do this on her own and learn some new things about this world.

"Sorry aunt Tika and uncle Caramon," she whispered her voice being carried away with the wind, "I'll come back and you'll see everything will be better."

Nudging the horse along the road she set out for Solmania. She was anxious and timid about what she was doing. She knew it wasn't going to be an easy trip but she had to try. If nothing else she had to prove to her father that she wasn't fragile and weak. She would go to the Four Lands and she'd survive the pain even if it did make her cry and scream. She'd be fine she knew it. What was it her father had said? 'Powerful memories and lessons of the Druids,' she didn't know what that meant but she'd find out form her grandfather, well technically she'd find out on her own as she sailed to the Four Lands. It would be interesting to see this world, as foreign as it was and as scary as it was. She saw many things like what she heard some travelers call the New Sea. How can you have a New Sea? But she knew she was on the right path cause of the map she kind of took from her uncle's study before she had left.

Camping on her own for the first night she was excited but a little worried that there might be more of those draconians. Sure she was afraid of the creatures she wasn't afraid to admit it. But she slept soundly in a small little crevice she found made of dirt. She woke up at dawn ready for another day's travel expecting to see some more of this world. She was a little surprised that her father, uncle, aunt, or Tanis had tried to find her. She was certain that if they had wanted to they could have found her easily if they had set out right after they had found out that she was missing. Maybe they didn't notice she was gone yet, well that was good news she didn't want them to find out yet.

Starting a new she rode sometimes and other times she'd simply walk with the horse singing to the horse songs she learned as a child in the other world. The horse didn't seem to mind the songs they actually soothed the horse, which brought a smile to Anna's face. She met no problems at all the whole day. All she saw were the woods of and some mountains but that was it. She was surprised that no one had tried to come at her yet; maybe she was just expecting trouble cause she was in trouble. Whatever the cause it was beginning to wear her nerves out. That night instead of a dirt crevice she found a small cave to shelter her from a slight rainstorm, which happened to have lightening scaring the horse. She soothed the horse by humming and it seemed to work. She slept soundly that night also nothing coming at her during the night.

Waking up a little after dawn she rode the horse for the most part of the day tired from her troubling dreams the night before. Maybe what her father had said would happen to her as she got closer was beginning. But she wasn't any closer to the Four Lands then she was to her old world. Shaking her head she just reasoned through that she was thinking too much on what her father had said that it had been on her mind last night. She took frequent stops and found that she was becoming dizzy every time she got back on the horse. Something had to be wrong with her but she didn't have time to figure out what that something was. She was getting closer to Solamnia much closer within a couple more days ride if she continued along.

After riding for what seemed like hours she came upon a man in the ditch of the road with white hair lying face down on the ground it looked like he wasn't breathing. She panicked and jumping off her horse racing to see if the man was all right. Turning him on his back she saw that he was actually quite young. Did anyone in this world have normal hair color? God damn it she had thought it was an old man in need of help but it was only a youth probably drunk on that ale stuff that Tanis had tried to give her on her first night here.

"What are you doing all alone?" the man asked his eyes still closed startled Anna.

Moving from him her eyes wide with shock, he was okay but he had scared the shit out of her in the process. If she weren't so stunned she'd probably would have tried to smack him.

"I repeat what are you doing out here on your own girl?" he asked.

"Hey I'm almost an adult!" she snapped angry that this man would call her 'girl', "I was just worried that you might be hurt. Sorry for caring!"

She prepared to get up and walk away only to have him garb her arm with a strong grip, which did surprise her. He turned her around to face him and said, "That's sweet but I could easily just silt your throat and take your belongings."

"Well that's not that much," she stated noticing his clear blue eyes, "I'm not from around here literally and don't have any money, so nice try. If you silt my throat fine do it; it might be better to die by your hands then by someone else's. I still stand by my first statement, I thought you might be hurt and wanted to check and make sure. But I see that your rude and ungentlemanly like so I see your just fine for a male of your age."

"Death wishes much?" he asked smiling at her, "Don't think your being a little hard on men remember you do have a father who was my age. He probably thought the same way I am right now."

"If you knew whom my father was you'd know he would never waste his time thinking about that kind of stuff believe me," Anna said laughing at him.

"Well then how did you come about young lady?" he asked his grin looking like the devils, "Cause I'm sure it takes a man and a woman to make a young lady like yourself."

"I was a mistake that's all," she said her smile vanishing being replaced with a cold stare.

"Look I'm sorry I don't want to kill you," he said noticing her change in attitude, "No need for the cold stare even I can sense you have magic to wield."

"I don't have any magic to wield," she said forcing a smile to her face, "What's your name anyways mystery man?"

"Just call me Peter," he said letting her go he sat up and brushed off the dirt from his shirt, "What about you, your name?"

"Anna," she said suspiciously eyeing him, "Why do I have a feeling that Peter's not your real name?"

"I see your sharp its not my real name but," he said standing up he gave her his hand, "I'm not so open about myself as you are about yourself. Come on I'll help you out."

"Help me?" she stated taking his hand, "What do you mean? I don't need any help I've been doing just fine. I think you're the one who needs the help not me. Some manners and you might actually be civil to talk to, you don't happen to take lessons from my father?"

"Hey come on take it easy on the race of men!" Peter exclaimed pulling her up.

"Yeah once they learn some good manners first 'Peter'" Anna stated smiling at him.

"Yeah sure, look you need my help as much as I need yours," he said still holding her hand he took her back up to the road, "No offense you don't even have any weapons on, and if you can't use that magic that's built up in you someone's going to come along and kill you, and that'd be just a shame to lose a pretty young lady like yourself. Besides on the way I have contacts that can help us. Where's a young woman like you heading to anyways?"

"The Four Lands it's not that far off the north side of Solamnia," Anna said jumping onto her horse, "Why?"

"Good cause that's where I'm headed too so I'll tag along with you and protect you," he said taking the reins of her horse in his hand they began to walk, "In the meantime I'll teach you a few tricks to keep you alive as long as you feed me and well keep me company."

"Company?" Anna said her eyes widening as she remembered the word 'rape', "What do you mean?"

"You know companions on a journey," he said not bothering to look at her as he talked, "It's a normal thing when people travel together."

"Really?" she stated looking at him with a frightened expression as he continued to walk her horse.

He noticed the strange tone in her voice and turning around saw the expression on her face. Quickly he knew what she was thinking about and shook his head vigorously.

"No that's not what I mean I swear not sex!" he shouted, "I swear that's not what I mean I just mean like friends not sex."

Letting her breath go she closed her eyes and nodded her head, "You scared me for a second there."

"You were actually contemplating having sex with me?" he asked rising his eyebrows as he calmed down, "Well I might be tempted…if you know what I mean."

"Keep walking or while your sleeping tonight your best friends will be missing leaving old 'Dick' there all by himself," she said smiling as she raised her eyebrows, "Want to try I have experience in castration my friend."

"No that's okay I think I'll pass," he quickly amended.

"Really?" she said smiling as she watched him continue to walk.

"Yeah so stop looking at my ass," he stated so calmly that she was taken aback at the comment. He took her silence as a fact that she had been staring at his butt and laughed at her, "It's a trick I picked up a few years ago. Wanna hear about it?"

"Yeah I really want to hear this," she said laughing, "I was thinking that you were being a little pompous about yourself. Glad it's only a trick cause I looked at your ass and it's not that good."

"Yeah I kn-" he began and stopping he turned around and exclaimed, "Hey what you talking about my ass is just fine!"

"Sure if you call that a fine ass," she murmured rolling her eyes at him, "I thought there would be some fine specimen's of male out here guess I was wrong."

"You don't know what you're talking about," he said continuing to walk on shifting more then before.

They kept quiet for a while till he screamed in frustration releasing the reins and kicking the ground.

"Well aware of your ass now aren't you?" she asked fighting the urge to laugh at him, "It's a trick I learned a couple of years ago, maybe I'll tell you how it's done."

"That's not fair," he muttered grumbling as they continued to walk, "Only I'm allowed to play tricks on you not the other way around."

She couldn't resist now she let it go laughing heartily at him. The rest of the day they spent it talking about tricks they learned to annoy their parents or their friends. Laughing she sometimes would come off the horse and walk with him only to have him throw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and put her back up on the horse. Grumbling she'd say that she had enough and he would reply to bad he didn't like horses to begin with so she had to ride the horse.

She learnt a lot that day about the matters that were going on outside of Solace and she would ask him sometimes to tell her more in detail. He always gave her a strange look and she couldn't really tell him that she didn't know that much cause she grew up in a different world. But he never asked her why she didn't know which made it easy for her. He explained with a practiced patience as anyone would with a student, which surprised her. She never thought that he would be so patient with her dumb questions. The only thing that troubled her about him was the fact that he was so kind to her. No one in the world did that unless they wanted something more then just food and companionship. Something was up with him.

When they finally decided to camp the night they found a sheltering tree. It was hollow within and Anna smiled and for the first time explained to him that trappers did this to the trees for shelter during the winter.

"Your father was a trapper I take it?" he asked as he prepared a fire.

"No actually he's a mage and he and I don't get along to well," she said averting her eyes from him so he wouldn't see the tears that welled up in her eyes, "What about your dad?"

"My dad and I you could say we have a mutual understanding of each other," he whispered softly, "I guess talk of parents with you is a taboo subject."

"Not taboo I just don't approve of my father's way of teaching me. All the secrets between us that he's kept from me and not to mention he actually enjoys talking to me like I'm dirt," she whispered wrapping her arms around her trying to warm her cold skin from the memories of her father, "My mom I don't even know her name, all I know is that her father is alive in the Four Lands and I have to see him. Its really just for myself seeing him I mean, if he likes me then maybe he could teach me some thing's about my mother or about his supposed magic that's in me that you sense."

"Is your dad still alive?" Peter asked adding wood to the newly blazing fire, "My dad died two years ago along with my mom."

"Mutual understanding with your dad? I'm sorry that was out of line," she said laying a comforting hand on his.

"No that wasn't out of line," he whispered laying his hand over hers, "We did have a mutual understanding before he died we came up with it as he lay in his bed dying. My mom was so happy, I think that was what she really wanted before she died. Same with my dad too, after all that was the first time we spoke in 10 years. I told you I'd been to the Four Lands well I was there for 10 years, and got a letter from my sister you could say. Well I came home straight away and found out that they were dying of an incurably disease of some kind. Well as he lay dying we finally talked."

"My dad's still alive but I barely know him, my aunt and uncle are cool but they can't look out for me," she stated kicking a piece of wood onto the fire, "It should be my dad who does, but he didn't even care that only just a couple days ago I was battling for my life cause of a fever. My mom died a long time ago I don't even know what she looks like, all I know is that her father is still alive. So I'm kind of hoping that when I get there he'll have stories to tell me about her and portraits to show me. I really want to see my mom."

"Well what your father's doing for you now might be good," Peter whispered shifting the embers of the fire around, "Just remember don't do what I did with my dad and distance yourself away from him. I learned that lesson the hard way."

"Easy for you to say," she muttered drawing away from him she wrapped herself in a blanket staring into the fire.

"What do you mean?" he asked giving her a peculiar look.

"I just mean that your family's easy to understand like that mine its not that way," she stated her eyes distant, "My grandfather's my last hope."

"What's your grandfather's name?" he asked putting some meat that Anna had grabbed from her aunts kitchen on a stick he placed it over the fire to cook, "Maybe I know him, I've been to the Four Lands actually I technically grew up there and came here when I was younger with my family."

"You won't believe me so I'm not going to tell you," Anna whispered cutting some bread, "Plus it might put you in more danger then you already are. Some things are after me well more like monsters are after me. I should have told you sooner."

"Really that's okay you keep your secrets and I'll keep my own," he stated giving her a slight smile, "Pass me a slice of that bread."

Handing him the bread she stared at him for a while trying to make sense of him. Why wasn't he scared that she had monster as she had put it hunting her? Was he really okay with it? He did have a long sword and a short bow with a quiver full of arrows but still. These draconians were dangerous. She couldn't help but keep staring and finally he noticed and stared back at her.

"I'm sorry that's rude of me," she quickly stated her gaze falling down to the ground, "Here put some spices on the meat it'll taste better. I'm going to go and get some more firewood I'll be right back."

She left him alone in the shelter of the tree sighing she sat down on a log far from the tree. Confused she closed her eyes and allowed the wind to brush her face calming her down. Everything was happening so fast. It actually seemed as though meeting Peter, as he claimed himself to be, wasn't just coincidence. As though it was all planned, something was wrong and Anna knew she had to be careful or she'd wind up hurt in the end. Well she was already hurt and she was good at hiding her emotions. Even she knew that she would get hurt way worse if she didn't take precautions for herself. Protect yourself first then others, an old proverb from where she grew up.

Peter made sure she was long gone before taking the communication crystal from under his shirt. Grudgingly he called forth the magic that invoked its use. He hated lying to the girl but he had to, it was his job and he was sure that the one who created him had a reason for keeping this big of a secret from him. He had his suspicions that the young lady and the one who had created him knew each other well. More then that they actually kind of acted like each other, and it didn't really help that the girl had one blue one gold eye. That was a dead give away that something was up with the girl.

The crystal lit up and said, "Yes what is it?" a voice came from the crystal it sounded angry at the intrusion of the calling.

"The girl's safe she's with me in a pine tree," he whispered into the crystal, "She's extremely gullible, that could prove fatal later. What do you wish to happen now?"

"Yes well she's not going to change from that I've already tried warning her about that. You'll have to live with it unfortunately," the voice stated no emotion even in the voice that was just kind of cold, "She's on her way to Solamnia correct?"

"Yes that's what she said," he replied obediently, "To the Four Lands to see her grandfather"

"To her grandfather…" the voice paused and kept quiet for a couple of minutes before saying, "Take her to the Four Lands, take her to ShadyVale and we will meet you there. Remember this knave anything that happens to her will happen to you in ten fold. Let no harm come to her she is too important to lose…yet."

The light died and he put the crystal back under his shirt. No harm to the girl, like that was going to be easy. By the looks of her she was clumsy and annoyingly trusting. What was he going to do? He had to follow orders there was nothing else he had to say about that. But something about what his master had said, 'take her to ShadyVale' what was so important there. Was her grandfather at ShadyVale? He highly doubted that his master was going to allow her to see her grandfather. His master had said 'yet' she wasn't going to ever come back from the Four Lands alive. She was going to die there and she would never know why. This for some strange reason brought sudden tears to his eyes. Shocked he felt them fall from his eyes and onto the ground mixing with the dirt. This girl had brought emotions out of him that was impossible. He couldn't cry, or any other emotions for real anyways.

"I'm back!" Anna stated smiling as she entered the tree, "With more firewood sorry it took so long couldn't find pieces I coul-"

Dropping the wood seeing that he was crying. She ran over to him and hugged him. Numbly unaware he wrapped his arms around her too afraid for once to do anything else but to seek comfort in another.

"Don't worry I'm sure your parents are happy where ever they are," she whispered into his ear, "They're together and they know that your alive and well. That probably makes them happy."

She thought he was crying over his parents. Yeah what parents he snapped inside his head nothing but my damn master. Pushing her away he wiped the tears away and went to pick up the firewood that she'd drop.

"Had to find pieces you could carry," Peter came back quickly with the wood, "The meat's almost done so you're just on time. Didn't hurt yourself out there did you?"

"No why do you ask?" she said cocking her head to the side as she studied his expression.

"You just seem the clumsy sort to me," he stated smiling at her.

"What!" she exclaimed coming closer to him to hit him instead only succeeding in tripping over her bag and hitting her head on the tree.

"Are you alright?" he said coming up to her he laughed as she was rubbing her head in pain, "Hate to tell actually I love to tell you but I'm right and your wrong."

"Ouch that hurt I guess I am clumsy," she muttered blushing form the incident, "Oh well so I'm clumsy that just makes it more interesting to be around me. Come on lets eat and get some sleep we'll set out tomorrow at dawn."

"Why so early?" he asked checking her head to see if there was bleeding.

"Cause I want to get closer to Solamnia the next night we can make it don't worry I have a plan," she said taking some meat and eating a little of it, "After all were not that far off and we can ride the horse. Yes both of us can ride the horse, he's strong and dependable."

"All right dawn," he nodded wishing nothing more then to go sleep, "I'll take first watch."

Nodding her head she finished her meal and went to sleep. She fell quickly to sleep exhausted from her journey so far but exhilarated at the same time. He stayed up late watching over her till he finally woke her up for her turn at watch. She was excited and didn't make a sound the whole time she was on watch, he marveled at it. He expected to hear girlish squealing from her every time a squirrel went by or a bird flew into the night sky. But no she was serious about her vigil, how strange for a girl her age.

Finally at dawn the two of them set out and Anna sat in front while Peter clutched onto her for dear life. The thing he hated the most was horse and he couldn't stand the animals but he did want to finish this journey quickly and this was the only way.

"Having fun?" she called back to him as they rode on.

"Yeah loads!" he shouted back, "You might want to watch the road and where you're guiding the horse!"

"Are you worried?" she asked laughing at him.

"No I just want to make sure you know where were going that's all," he replied trying to sound confident but sounded more pathetic as he tried, "Just look at the road will you please?"

"Alright!" she stated smiling at him.

For the rest of the trip they took to breaks one so they could circulate the blood flow in their legs and move around, and another to eat and drink. Anna was having loads of fun on the horse teasing and mocking Peter as they rode. Finally after riding all day Anna was able to say successfully that she had gotten to the city of Palanthas in the land of Solamnia. Smiling she cried out and laughed.

"Hey what's your problem?" he said looking at her strangely, "Hey you don't look to good."

"I'm fine!" she screamed jumping off the horse she ran up a hill to look over at what the map said was Palanthas, "I made it without my father!"

Looking at the city she knew Peter was shaking his head at her. But she didn't care she was happy. The city was huge much bigger then she had thought. There were three things you noticed about the city when you first looked at it. You could instantly tell that the city had seen wars in the few past years, and it was ready for another with its huge walls. Then you could plainly see that there was a glowing places where good resided. Then there was this huge monstrosity that was plain in sight. Your sight couldn't help but be drawn to the tower that so resembled evil Anna could feel it from the hill where she stood. Shaking she wrapped her arms around her small body and called for Peter to hurry up.

"My lady is something wrong?" a young woman asked her mistress as she stopped in the middle of the hall, "Are you not feeling well?"

"A familiar presence is coming to Palanthas," Crysania whispered trembling from her feeling, "A presence I thought would never come here, but would stay in the world that she belonged in."

"My lady are you feeling well?" the woman asked again not knowing what else to say.

"No I'm afraid I'm feeling just fine I must go to the gates right now," Crysania stated tugging at the young cleric's arm, "Have a carriage brought out front for me now and ask some other cleric's to go to the other gates to look for a young woman with peculiar eye colors."

"Why my lady?" the young woman asked again leading her mistress to the benches where she could await the carriage, "Is this woman important?"

"You could say to some people she means the world but," Crysania had a soft quality almost reminiscent tone in her voice, "I've been dying to meet this young lady since I first heard about her from Raistlin many years ago. Please just do what I ask."

"Of course my lady," the woman bowed and proceeded to go about her mistress's wishes.

Lady Crysania remembered some words that Tanis had told her a long time ago when she had been still training under Elistan. About love and how being together you didn't notice each other but being a part was like seeing that you were missing an appendage he had said.

"I wonder Raistlin are feeling that way with your daughter so far away?" Crysania asked to no one in particular.