"I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell.

I know, right now you can't tell.

But stay a while and maybe then you'll see

A different side of me."

The persistent thought entered her mind that it must be either a trick or a dream. She didn't want to know if it was. It had to be real—oh, she wanted it to be, and she'd longed of it so often... See, but, only children believed in pixies and elves (dark elves=no exception). Children and the insane. She had always denied the looming fact of her childishness, and she openly refused the idea that she was insane. And it was too thorough to be a prank.

One option left.

She had briefly thought to call for help, but now that notion died away. That just wasn't what you did when your fantasies came true. Instead, she let her mind briefly entertain the notion that this could be happening. And it was magnificent.

A smile of utmost ecstasy graced her face—she put her fists to her mouth like some child beholding her first Christmas. But as she slowly faded, the delighted fire in her eyes dimming into those same tired embers the years had reduced them to. She became more like a prisoner beholding the key to her cell. The drow seemed startled and wary, as if he would back away; he didn't understand the intensity of her reaction, or the timing maybe. She was screwing it up—she had to save herself.

"If...If I say I believe you…" she stuttered, grabbing at any lifeline that was there, "What happens then?" If this was just a trick, she had just made the joke infinitely more hilarious. Two sides to every coin; if it was real, she had to save it.

All doubt was swept away when Drizzt smiled. And he smiled not with mockery, but relief. "I would explain as we travel."

She didn't ask any of the normal questions. Not "What do you mean?" or "Travel where?" or "Who the heck are you, psychopath!" She only set her jaw determinedly like a grand young hero and quoted a perfect storybook line. "What do I need to do?" The kid looked like she oughta be snapping a salute.

Drizzt's face became serious…and disapproving? He answered curtly, "Pack. I'll tell you what."

….

Andy's poor room just couldn't get a break. First the mess on the floor, the cracked mirror, and now the utmost havoc being wreaked by the Tazmanian Devil that lived there. Andra's window remained open, soft night wind teasing at her curtain, while inside she tore through her room like a madwoman. Clothes flew haphazardly, followed by shoes and the like, followed by other random anythings that got in her way. Drawers and closet door stood open, and a half-full duffle bag lay ready and waiting on her bed. Andra spun between these three, searching for whatever the voice at the window instructed her.

"Warm clothes. It's very cold there even in autumn, which we'll surely have to travel through."

"Warm—right…" She dove back into her closet and yanked out three hoodies and a jacket. She had to stuff them into the bag on top of everything else that was already in there. They took up nearly all the space.

"One less; you need more space." Andra nodded and tore free one hoodie, tossing it who-knows-where over her shoulder. She had to leave the room for a few things—a sleeping bag, for one (Drizzt called it a bedroll), but her parents were asleep so she ran into no conflict with them. At last, the bag was filled, and she was prepared for at most week's journey, gypsy-style. She didn't even think to ask why they couldn't stop at hotels or something. Because of course they couldn't be traveling the streets and cities of her world.

Standing outside her window, Drizzt nodded as she slung the single strap across her chest. "You are ready?"

"Completely," Andy nodded anxiously. Next came the leaving—she was eager for it.

"Have everything you need?"

"All over it."

Drizzt nodded. "Then we go."

A thrill of nervous excitement slithered through her. She immediately moved to follow as he started away, eyes eager and excited. But halfway through the window, she froze. Once more, her eyes shifted to her bedroom door. Was she sure…? She was leaving everything, and for what? She had no idea. Ugh, but this place...oh, this place, it was horrible. All the horrible people with thier lies and power-struggles and popularity contests...a black world of betrayal. Compared to Faerun...beautiiful, orc-infested Farun. There was a clear line between the goodly races and the evil ones. Corruption was nicely contained within goblins and orcs and the like, with elves and dwarves and their like ifghting triumphantly againast them. Humans were a complication, of course; it was never sure of what side they were on. Thier own side, she supposed. But they were almost never dealth with, too busy building their empires in Nesme or other human towns. Any human who ventured to mingle to otehr races was usually one of better fccharacter than his kin. Yes, Andra thought. Even with its flaws...Fearun was a paradise.

But why did he want her? Why was she chosen—what would she have to do?…It didn't matter. She would do anything for Drizzt Do'Urden-a childish sentiment, but one she couln't deny or escape. Surely if he needed her, it was for a just and worthy cause. Her…out of all the people better than she. She was different. And Drizzt had asked her to travel alongside him. How was she even thinking of not saying yes? Andra grinned and squeezed out the window, nearly getting stuck with the bulging bag across her back.

She stumbled as she hit the ground, but a hand grabbed her by the duffle bag and held her upright. She looked up and saw nearly nothing except his two purple-glowing eyes. She wondered why Guenwhyvar's eyes had been red, the color of evil eyes—but then she remembered that infravision was red. But she had thought Guen had natural night vision, like all big cats. Weird. She looked around and didn't see those red eyes, but she had no doubt that the panther wasn't far.

Drizzt moved away again, tapping her shoulder to tell her to follow. She hurried to obey, sticking close behind. If he moved too far ahead, she would lose him. Without another word he led them down the street, the same way she had followed Guenhwyvar not ten minutes earlier. She was better equipped for the cold this time, with a thick pullover hoodie and tennis shoes. It was the only pair she owned and they were new; usually she wore Converse, but those definitely would not be good for walking long distance.

They walked soundlessly along the deserted sidewalk, leaves crunching beneath boot, paw, and tennis shoe. Andra looked up and saw that the street lights still weren't lit. It didn't scare her—nothing could scare her with her new escort at her side—but it confused her still. But then the answer came to her clearly. She smiled and asked in the darkness, "Globes of darkness on the streetlights?"

His lavender eyes glanced back for a moment, then bobbed as if his head were nodding. "That they are."

"I thought you could only do one at a time?"

His profound eyes stayed on her for an uncomfortable moment—uncomfort that Andra rejected. What was he looking at so coldly? It wasn't like him. Finally he broke the stare by turning forward. "Mm. Robert's facts were limited to his literature. He needed to set limits on my abilities to heighten the suspense of battles. One can't blame him entirely; it was a lot of information and responsibility to cope with, though we gave it to him gradually as possible."

Andy was sent back into silence. Robert…R.A. Salvatore? Of course…she hadn't thought about where the author fit into all of this. She'd not thought at all about how Drizzt was real, only if he was. But that last comment was strange. Shouldn't it be the other way around? What information was there that the author, the creator, didn't have?

Andy cocked her head to the side, brow furrowed like a child looking at a puzzle. "But he's a writer, not a scribe."

Drizzt turned back again and the girl's attention flocked to his eyes. Their soft purple glow illuminated a wry smile; he couldn't keep it away. She was too endearing. She was a fox pup guilelessly sticking her nose into a badger hole—just you try looking at that without smiling. Drizzt didn't answer, other than to place a hand briefly on her back and guide her into a left turn; they'd reached the end of another street. "This way," he explained gently. Andra bit her lip to keep it from forming an ecstatic grin. He was happy with her for whatever reason and she didn't dare spoil it by being a fangirl.

Drizzt glanced at her sidelong, suddenly experiencing a peculiar sadness for the child. His Cosain… No doubt she expected to find something wonderful down that badger hole.

The rest of the walk was spent in silence. He led her away from the houses, out to the very edge of the expansive trailer park where the empty lots were. Nobody came out here. As they went, she noticed that the streetlights behind them suddenly blinked back into existence after she and Drizzt were out of their range. She felt a thrill as she realized that they were traveling undercover. After a while she forgot the lights and turned her attention back to Drizzt, watching his back to keep from falling behind. Wait…where was he? For a moment she almost panicked, eyes wide in terror. But then there was a movement ahead, something like a shadow moving among shadows. She breathed a sigh of relief and ran a few steps to catch up.

She nearly ran right into his back. Surprised, Andy jerked back and uttered a small inquisitive sound and looked up at him, her bright eyes wide and curious. By way of explanation, he motioned for her to stay, then dispersed into the shadows like a drop of water into a sea.

Andra stood there for many moments, glancing all about her, but daring not to move. The night noises swirled around her, but there was no sound to hint that she wasn't completely alone. The barely audible padding of Guen's paws had disappeared altogether. No leaves crunched under the heel of a boot. She was sure she'd been standing there at least five minutes. Ten? More? Where was he already! Minutes more passed. No sign. Andra's breathing quickened. She called out in a whisper, "…Drizzt?" No answer. He…he left me here…

Crushing despair fell on her out of nowhere. He had never been there. She was standing alone on the outskirts of her trailer park, in the middle of the night, because of an imaginary apparition. Andra barely stifled an angry cry, producing a kind of furious, strangled growl instead. But he had been there, right in front of her…and his hand, it was tangible… He was there! Her fingers curled into talons as she fought an onslaught of tears, squeezing her eyes shut tight as her throat constricted with sobs. She was finally crazy. Hopeless and stupid. Alone.

There were no heroes.

"Cosain?" Andy gasped and snapped her head up, actually jerking with fright. Drizzt was walking towards her. She couldn't see his face clearly, but it looked concerned. She stared at him in wondrous, blank shock, holding her hands to her heart, looking like some kind of anime girl.

"What is it?" He asked, confused, concerned, and in the dark. He hated not knowing what was going on. And, magga cammara, why was she looking at him like that? It was like she was drowning and she imagined that he had the only lifesaver. He shook his head and grabbed her by the shoulders, insisting, "Andra, what?"

"What…what does Cosain mean?" she answered timidly, her voice trembling as if it would break. Her desperate eyes were rimmed with wetness.

Drizzt's hands loosened on her shoulders, then fell away. He shook his head, nearly an imperceptible movement, and huffed a sigh. He didn't know weather to be relieved or annoyed. After all this time, he still hadn't figured out the mystery of this kid. "It means 'defend.'"

"Oh…Because you're my guardian?"

"…I suppose that can be why. At this time."

Andy didn't understand, but she didn't have a chance to question. She hadn't noticed before (quite understandably), but now, there was no overlooking the huge, beautiful black stallion that stood pawing the ground. Its reins were looped around Drizzt's fingers.

She let him help her onto the magnificent horse. It—no, he; it was far more appropriate to call him a he—he nickered softly as she settled into the saddle. She stroked a hand along his sleek, corded neck, feeling his serene power coursing under her fingers. She smiled lightly. Drizzt mounted behind her, swinging effortlessly into the saddle. His feet immediately found the stirrups as if they were attracted to his boots by a magnet. Drizzt called to Guenwhyvar over his shoulder, sending her back to her Astral home. The purple mist rose to the air a short distance away. Andy bit her lip, the happiness returning tenfold, as Drizzt clicked his tongue and kicked the horse forward.

"She would trade everything for happy-

Ever-after.

Caught in the in-between, a beautiful

Disaster.

She just wants someone to take her home."

She had fallen asleep not three hours after they started out. Charon went on, never walking above a trot. Drizzt was starting them off at an easy pace. She'd never ridden before, at least not as long as he'd "known" her, so they'd better start off slow. He probably shouldn't let her sleep through the entire journey. They would pass between the worlds just as dawn broke, and she needed to see the path. He glanced down at the top of her head, peacefully reclining on his shoulder, bobbing side-to-side with Charon's walk. His eyes were hard at first, but gradually softened and become piteous. It was maddening how delusional she was, assuming she knew all there was to know about him—his world, his self…his character. But she would learn in time.

He would have to teach her—to fix all that she thought she knew. She had the basic outline; Robert had gotten all the major facts right. But here and there details had been forgotten or altered. Some details were added to the story but never really there. But it wasn't completely Salvatore's fault. It wasn't just that he was human—you couldn't expect any race to be perfect, including humans. It was a large assignment…very much unlike Andra, Robert had reacted like any rational human being would if a mythical creature suddenly appeared in their one-race world.

But they needed this vibrant dreamy-headed wonder of a girl, and they needed her to know the entire truth of their world. The others would help him, but the others hadn't been given the title of Guardian. Drizzt grimaced at the word. How did they expect so much of him? Wulfgar was better suited. Bruenor was far better suited. Drizzt knew nothing about the hormones of young teenage girls. He'd never witnessed what humans call puberty, but the way they spoke of it was remarkably similar to the way demons describe the fourth layer of the Nine Hells. Hopefully she'd already endured that phase.

More to the point, reforming her mind was going to take forever…and he wasn't even sure he could bring himself to do it right. And was it ethical?

But they had plenty of time. She had read so fast that she'd practically burned through Robert's books. Thinking about that series, Drizzt inwardly groaned. That was all she knew about them…there was so much she had to learn. And she wouldn't be willing. At first she would—she would do anything he asked her to, the poor child. But when she found out how real it all was… Rationale would prompt her to fear. She would begin to think about her life before, about her own choices and the path she must travel. Would she be angry? ...Yes, most likely. At him. Right now, she would never dream of ever being angry at him. But she would learn that it wasn't as impossible as she believed.

Drizzt was pulled from his thoughts as the girl stirred, slowly waking up. He realized that the sky had gradually grown brighter, tints of pale bronze lining the low clouds as the sun made its way over the trees.

"Morning, Glory." Drizzt greeted quietly. He chuckled at her protesting groan. Her head lolled groggily to the side and she buried her face into his cloak. Hesitating for a moment, he took her by the shoulder and shook it to stop her from fading back into sleep. "Awake, Cosain. You can't sleep through this. You have to see which way we go."

She squinted against the light, raising her head to look around, and mumbled a reply. "Oh…We're headed where, now?"

"You already know."

"Yeah. Tell me anyway."

Drizzt couldn't help but smile. "Mithral Hall."

At that, she craned her neck towards him just long enough to cast forth a smile that beamed pure and bright like the sun. She looked up at him with those bright, joyous, unseasoned eyes, and Drizzt suddenly wished she didn't ever have to see what a badger was really like.

My Cosain… he thought, and winced behind her back.

….

The R. Tozier Park was one of the most beautiful in all of Louisville—and one of the least visited. Actually, it was probably so beautiful because it was so deserted. By humans. Now, the birds, squirrels, and plants had free reign over the reclaimed patch of nature. Benches and trash cans had long previous been overtaken by weeds and ivy, and every stone structure was touched by flowering moss. The dark concrete paths were cracked and disintegrating, with some gone altogether. It was all resting peacefully in the slight hours of early morning, draped in a shroud of cool pre-dawn dimness.

Charon's hooves sank into the thick carpet of grass, leaving tracks in the dew. Drizzt held him at a slow walk, in no hurry. They would reach the doorway soon, and there was still plenty of time. He would have to tell her soon. She wouldn't understand, of course. Not completely, not yet. And…she had to make her choice.

Drizzt had tried to avoid thinking about this part. It had to be Andra's choice, her decision between two lives. But she had lived this first life for years, knew it inside and out—or at least she thought she did. The one he offered was full of wondrous unknowns and shiny new promise. A fresh life in a world of her dreams… But did she dream of war? She dreamed of victory over evil and camaraderie that triumphed against impossible darkness. She knew nothing of the means to get there. And she was delusional as a child—how could she possibly choose rationally?

Drizzt shook his head and blew a sigh, running one hand through his white mane of hair. Why couldn't anything be certain? Why must he have to puzzle it all out?

They passed the centerpiece of the park. The gray old fountain no longer ran with flowing water, but it was beautiful all the same. It was just light enough to make out the cracked-stone relic, leafy vines of ivy creeping up its sides, moss overcoming a center statue of rearing horses. When he reached it, Drizzt turned Charon's reins left, avoiding the crumbling path to make it easier on the horse. Not far now. Andra looked around at everything with a quiet kind of peace, taking it all into her obscure mind.

"Drizzt?" She said suddenly, still looking off into space as she spoke.

"Mm," he grunted a soft reply. His thoughts weren't exactly grounded either.

"How long have you….existed?"

"Three decades. You have read as much."

"No—not how old are you. I mean…" she paused, hitting a speech block. A line formed between her eyebrows—the annoyance crease.

"You mean how long Faerun has existed. And you probably want to know why your world and ours have remained separate."

"Yeah." The universal answer.

Drizzt paused for a long moment, and Andra looked up anxiously. But he eventually answered, "You've read of extra-dimensional travel. Other planes of existence."

Andy nodded. "Guen lives in one."

"Yes. My world and yours simply exist on different planes. Matter is not changed, but the laws of physics are. It is why we can enact what you call magic. On this plane, magic is rendered useless." When she opened her mouth, already forming a new question, Drizzt anticipated it. "The only reason I can still use darkness globes is because it is not magic, but an innate racial ability. The same goes for infrared and night vision."

"Then…Guen's summoning doesn't use magic. And her eyes are infrared?"

Drizzt looked down at her, wearing a small smile. She was sharp, for all her outer-layers of ignorance. "Exactly…She uses an extra-planar tunnel. It works between planes that have dimensions in common. And no...red is Guenhwyvar's natural eye color."

Andra smiled in brief delight at having gotten the first assumption right, but upon the second part the ltitle crease returned to her brow. "So…how do you…"

Drizzt turned his attention back to the path ahead. "I am showing you that. Tunnels aren't limited to use by only Astral creatures. "

Andra fell silent, watching the path, resigned to waiting. Why did they have to be going so slow? What was he waiting on? But she wouldn't ask, of course. Patience…she would have to bear forcing patience on herself.

The broken path beside them suddenly stopped, and so did Charon. Andra glanced around, not seeing anything remarkable. But Drizzt was dismounting anyway. He swung down in one graceful movement and landed knee-deep in weeds. Wincing, he stretched the stiffness out of his arms, rolling his shoulders. He started away, moving across the small clearing towards some metal thing hidden in the underbrush.

Andra looked down uncertainly at the horse. Ok. She could dismount with no help. It was a basic function, performable my any ordinary idiot. She stuck her feet in the stirrups, stood, swung her left leg free and over the saddle. Home free; she leaned backwards and hopped down. But instead of slipping from the right stirrup as she jumped, her foot just decided it was going to be a jerk or something; it got stuck.

"Ohgeeze—!" Andy cut herself off with a startled yelp, toppling backwards helplessly as Charon whinnied and backed away. She landed flat on her back, disappearing in a sea of weeds. An annoyed groan followed.

Drizzt looked back when he heard the small commotion. He stood from his kneeling position beside the ivy-covered statue and jogged back to the horse. Andra glanced up and saw him standing over her, gaping a little and shaking his head in disbelief. "Kay…not my fault," Andy corrected, pointing at him for emphasis.

He closed his eyes and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Ah, magga cammara…"

He grabbed her pointing hand and pulled her upright. Dew and wet grass clung to her. Andy shook her shoulders and tried to brush herself off while she followed close behind Drizzt. "Ok. Sorry. Why are we here?"

"I told you I was showing you how I travel between our worlds." He had reached the object he'd been kneeling over earlier and crouched down beside it again. Pulling back the curtain of weeds and ivy, he looked back at her and half-smiled. "Wull there it is."

Andy tilted her head and squinted, trying to get a better look. It was an ornate statue of iron, worn with time and weather. It was a two-foot high likeness of…of… Andra's face broke into an incredulous smile. "No way." She looked to Drizzt, who only kept his smile and nodded. Andra gave a delighted laugh. It was a bust of R. A. Salvatore.

Drizzt placed a hand on top of the statue's head, closing his eyes. Andra looked on eagerly, expecting some sort of mystical experience, expecting Drizzt to utter some magical incantation in a foreign tongue or something of the sort. But then his eyes opened and his fingers pressed down. A quarter-sized circle gave way, sinking down into the sculpture with an ancient grinding sound. Drizzt took his hand away and the circle raised, this time sliding up until it projected from the rest of the sculpture, like a button.

"There," Drizzt announced quietly, standing up. He walked back to stand beside her. "You have only to touch it. The portal will open and bring us all through."

Andra glanced at him briefly, then to the statue, and moved forward with her arm reaching for the button.

Drizzt held her back, gripping her by the arm. Andra turned to him, confused, and was shocked to see the grave intensity of his expression.

His eyes burrowed into hers relentlessly, causing her to warily lean away. He didn't let go. "Andra. You must be certain. It's not certain you'll survive, and even less that you'll be able to return to this life. It's an entire other world…A real world, Andra, not a fantasy or a dream." Hia voice caught, forcing him to pause. When had his eyes become pleading? "Andra...You must be sure."

She spent a long while in silence, looking into those strange lavender eyes. But her own eyes were far away. She didn't answer for so long that he thought she may even change her mind. Finally she answered quietly, "Well, but…If I decide not to go, I won't be there to see if it was the right decision."

That gave his pause. She was so intelligent...but, at the same time, so awfully uninformed. He went on, "Think about your life, your family. Think of everything here you might never again touch, and everyone you may never again lay eyes on."

Andra shook her head, the crease returning ot her forehead, staring incredulously into his intense gaze. "No…No, c'mon, I'm sure! They don't want me; I'm their joke. There's no love, and when there is...i-it's all a facade of stupidity and...fakenes. Built to further the...'individual kingdom' or whatever...And they all wish I was like that." Her momentum had been building steadily as she spoke, shifting towards an outcry. She suddenly jerked her arm away and cried desperately, "I don't want to stay here anymore!"

Drizzt's answer was low and steady. "That's not the question. The question is: Do you want to leave?"

"...I'm certain. I want to go with you."

Drizzt wondered how much of what she said still came from delusion. She sounded perfectly rational. By all appearances, she knew exactly what she wanted. Drizzt shook his head. She didn't know exactly what it would be like. Maybe he shouldn't let her. Maybe he should explain it all now, no matter the danger. How much could it alter her destiny if she knew everything all at once? But he remembered Robert…

Then Andra slapped her hand down on the statue, and all doubts were rendered invalid.

*Disclaimer: I own nothing! except Andra Riley.

*Lyrics aren't mine. They're from the following songs, in order: 'Unwell' by Matchbox 20; 'Beautiful Disaster' by Jon McLaughlin

Next chapter will me longer and more-worked-on. Sorry, this one was kinda rushed. More will happen next time I promise. =]