OXENFURT - Redania
They were walking without a word for couple of minutes. Geralt took a courage to speak first.
"I'm sorry." Geralt told her honestly.
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have think that recklessly." Ciri admitted.
"And I shouldn't have to raise my voice like that." Geralt said sadly.
"You did it because you care about me." she stopped walking and looked straight to his eyes. He stopped walking too.
"I do Ciri.. a lot." Geralt smiled at her.
"I know." she hugged him tightly. He pushed her closer to him.
"But please next time tell me as first one your crazy ideas." he told her honestly.
"So, you're considering Yarpen's offer then?" Ciri pulled away from him and looked at him excited.
"I didn't say that." Geralt laughed.
"But you didn't say no, so that's mean yes.." Ciri started smiling.
"I'll talk to Yennefer about it first." the witcher shaked his head.
"Thank you!" Ciri almost screamed from the happiness.
Suddenly they heard some another screams. They both got focused.
"What was it?" Ciri asked him seriously.
"I don't know." Geralt was confused. The screams started getting louder.
"Take your sword and follow me." the witcher commanded her.
They went into opposite street then followed sound of screams. They stopped at the end of the street. Geralt leaned over the wall of the house and looked at the sound of noise. He saw already dead bodies on the ground mostly villagers, but also a Redanian soldiers. He also saw suspicious group which he then recognized immediately. One bastard were already raping some woman and others were still fighting with the soldiers.
"Who is it?" Ciri was impatient.
"Scoia'tael.. and it seems they were caught by guards during looting." Geralt explained.
"We have to help them." Ciri was ready to go after them, but Geralt stopped her by his hand.
"Ciri, wait. Scoia'teal are skilled murderers, you have fight with them quickly and without any hesitation. Do you think you can handle it?" Geralt looked at her serious.
"I've never been more ready." Ciri was determined.
"Fine. Then be careful, I'm gonna cover your back." Geralt told her calmly. Ciri nodded. They both then started running towards the fight. Geralt attacked the closest bastard and he died within a second. Ciri went to help woman who was occupied by a Scoia'tael man.
"It's the witcher! Beware! It's the White Wolf!" Scoia'tael noticed Geralt and they knew very well what he was capable of. Now three of them who killed the last Redanian soldier were going to him. Geralt straightened himself and stretched his hand where he was holding his sword. They attacked him at the same time but Geralt managed to repelled all the attacks. Then he did a pirouette and cut one's man throat. The others immediately attacked him again. Geralt was repelling their attacks again and waiting for the best time for him to do a final blow.
Ciri managed to kill that man and help woman to escape from there. When she returned back two Scoia'tael were standing in front of her. She was ready to attack them when she heard a loud roar of the monster. They all stopped and turned to that sound.
Ciri mouth almost fell down open and Scoia'tael almost pooped themselves. It was a Vlkodlak. He had to be near by somewhere if he smelled stinch of the dead bodies.
"Geralt!" Ciri screamed. "It's Vlkodlak! I don't have a silver sword!" Ciri was serious. Geralt was still fighting with Scoia'tael but he managed to looked at her and then he understood. She couldn't kill him without a silver. Geralt then started fighting even more so he could help Ciri.
"You two fools help me!" Ciri looked at them angrily.
"Help yourself alone! Bitch!" one of them shouted at her and they immediately started running away.
"Hilarious.." Ciri rolled her eyes. Vlkodlak now noticed Ciri and he started going towards her. She squeezed her sword and hoped that Geralt will come to help her as soon as possible.
Vlkodlak attacked her and she was succeeding in avoiding his claws. Vlkodlak started to be more furious and Ciri didn't know how long she can handle fight with him without being hit.
"Step aside!" some voice shouted on her. He appeared from nowhere and attacked Vlkodlak. Ciri immediately recognized him. It was the mysterious guy from the tavern whom she saw before.
He was very skilled. Ciri haven't seen much people to fight like that and using perfect fighting techniques. She was also surprised he wasn't afraid of that monster. She then decided to help him. She attacked Vlkodlak from the side.
"Don't do that! You're making it worse when you don't have a silver sword!" the guy shouted angrily. Ciri in that moment managed to hit Vlkodlak's groin and random guy used it to cut Vlkodlak's stomach. The monster sighed painfully.
"I don't think so!" Ciri said proudly. Geralt suddenly came to them and attacked Vlkodlak from behind. The monster screamed from the pain and turned to Geralt. Random guy didn't wait any longer and stabbed Vlkodlak from behind. Vlkodlak screamed and managed to quickly turned to him and hit random guy's arm with his claws. Random guy sighed from the pain and caught his arm with his hand. Geralt in that moment cut Vlkodlak's head and his body fell down to the ground.
Geralt took a deep breath. He then took one potion from his pocket.
"Here. Use it. It will stop the infection." he gave potion to random guy. He took it and immediately put on his injured arm and sighed painfully.
"Don't worry, after couple of minutes the pain will stop." Geralt explained.
"I know." random guy stated. This answer surprised Geralt and Ciri as well. Geralt didn't know where that guy heard about these potion's effects, but right know Geralt didn't care about it. He was glad that young man appeared from nowhere and helped them. But he was only really confused about one thing.
"Hey, what's your name?" Geralt looked at him. The young man cleaned his blade from the blood into his trousers and raised his head on the witcher. Ciri was watching him all the time. He was very suspicious for her and her theory that he is not just a normal human started confirming.
"Gabriel." he answered calmly.
"Then thank you Gabriel, you helped us a lot." Geralt admitted. Gabriel nodded.
"But.. I need you to ask you something. Where did you learn to fight like that.. there's only a few places on this world where teach this style of fighting.." Geralt said thoughtfully. He saw his whole fight with Vlkodlak and also how he helped Ciri.
"From my father, he was a witcher." Gabriel said honestly. Geralt's face froze. Ciri got surprised, she suspected it but she never thought it could be really true.
"Who was your father Gabriel?" Geralt asked him a bit puzzled because he didn't expect this.
"His name was Coën, but he died maybe twelve years ago." Gabriel explained. Geralt's heart skipped a beat in that moment.
"Gabriel.. Coën was one of us, he was my brother. That means you belong to us. You belong to School of Wolf." Geralt couldn't believe what just happened.
"What?" Gabriel was so confused.
It was almost a midnight. Yennefer was laying in her bed and trying to read some book but she couldn't focus on that. Her thoughts were somewhere else. That meeting with one of Geralt's ex distressed her. For some reason it upset her and she didn't know why. She didn't know why she started doubt Geralt's loyalty towards her in that moment. She's never done that before because she knows him. She knows he would never hurt her in that way. But Geralt still haven't returned from the tavern. She really wondered why. She knew he left there with Ciri.. but what if he went to visit her.. She immediately buried that thought.
What the hell was happening to her? She's never had problems dealing with another women. Why would she had now? Maybe it was lasting symptoms after the curse or maybe she's started to be too vulnerable.. The knock on the door disturbed her from her thoughts. She knew it was him. Nobody could knock that way, so soft as strong. She put the book on the bed and sat down. The door opened and he entered inside.
"I was wondering when you'll will show yours.." her words stuck in her throat. "Who.. who is he?" Yennefer was surprised and confused at the same time when she spotted another men behind Geralt.
"I'm Gabriel, son of Coën." he answered very calmly and stood up next to Geralt.
"Wait. That means.." she looked at Geralt. He nodded.
"Yes.. it means he belongs to us.. well, if he choose to stay.." he told her honestly. Gabriel stayed silent. She stood up and came towards them.
"Why we've never heard about you?" she looked straight into boy's eyes. He was still young, maybe about twenty five years.
"If you don't want to be seen then nobody knows you exists." Gabriel explained.
"I wonder why you chose to show yourself now.. What's changed your mind?" she gave him suspicious stare.
"You have no right to ask me questions like that.. witch." Gabriel growled. Yennefer's eyes changed.
"I'm beg your pardon young man. I have every right to ask what I want because if you didn't notice, you're standing in my room and you came here without invitation. If Geralt wasn't next to me you would be laying on the floor in spasms for your rudeness.. So, I would recommend you to start acting rationally and not like a moron." she told him strictly. Gabriel gave her surprised look. He clearly didn't expect that much superiority from her. Geralt cleared his throat.
"Gabriel, go find Eskel. He will find you a free room. We will talk in the morning." Geralt was trying to calm down the whole situation.
"I changed my mind because I'm tired of pretending." Gabriel ignored Geralt's words. His voice changed, it was more colder now. "I'm tired to pretend that my life is fucking awesome and I can do whatever I want. Because I can't. I'm witcher even though I haven't pass Trail of Grasses but still I can slay ten soldiers without one scratch. And your friend or whatever he is.." Yennefer interrupted him.
"Husband." she stated. If Gabriel was surprised he didn't show it on himself. He even didn't move with his eyebrows.
"Sorry.." he said sarcastically. "Then your husband knows how it feels when everybody hates you and wants to kill you every time when they just see your face.." he explained.
"Oh, he clearly do.. But I have to let you down Gabriel, being with us won't change the fact that you're a witcher." Yennefer crossed her arms.
"I know." he told her angrily.
"Then tell me the real reason." Yennefer saw his eyes. She already knew the answer. He hesitated.
"I.. I'll still be a witcher.. but I'll not be alone. I'll finally have someone who would cover my back." the young witcher said honestly. He lowered his eyes.
"Well, I think we would need some fresh blood in our family. You know, our witchers are getting older and also slower.." Geralt interrupted her.
"Hey! That's not.." Yennefer elbowed Geralt into his ribs and he immediately stopped speaking. He frowned. She continued.
"I want to say.. you can join our family Gabriel. If you don't want it do it now, it's okay. But I promise you, whenever you will come, the doors will be always open for you." Yennefer smiled a bit.
"Fine.." he cleared his throat. "Then I will go to my room.. As I see you need to deal with with your marriage's stuff too.." Gabriel told them calmly. He turned around and started leaving. Geralt and Yennefer stayed silent. After couple of seconds he stopped walking and cleared his throat again.
"Have a good night." he tried to told them kindly, then he left.
Geralt interrupted the awkward quiet. He cleared his throat and tried to act like he didn't hear what Gabriel told them.
"How did you know how to speak with him?" Geralt was confused.
"It was simple. He has the same eyes as Ciri when we found her. He is lost as she was back then. He just needs someone to take care of him. That's all." she turned to him and smiled at him.
"Do you think we can help him?" Geralt was a bit worried.
"It's gonna be tough. He's very enclosed, much more than Ciri. He's must been through a lot. But I think we can help him.. somehow." she said honestly. She found his eyes with hers. Then she turned to leave but Geralt stopped her with his hand.
"Yennefer.." he looked straight into her eyes.
"Yes?" her face didn't even move. She was expecting when he will explain everything to her but she didn't know if she was ready on what he's gonna tell her. She hated that truth.
"I'm not sorry, I did nothing wrong. I just want to tell you that 'things' between me and Shani were going on before I even met you. She was beautiful and nice person inside, she became my very good friend and then we fell for each other.. but she is the past for me. She's only my friend now. Nothing more. I didn't realize she could be there, I didn't do it on purpose to you. I see you're angry on me. But I would never cheat on you. Never. I love you Yennefer. Please, forgive me even though I didn't do anything. But I know I did. I chose to have feelings for somebody special.. and I know this is why you're angry on me. Because she is in some way special for me like you.." Geralt told her honestly. She tried to not let her emotions show on her face. She hated when she had a strong rivals and what she hated even more when they had feelings for Geralt. She sighed.
"I do understand your reaction. You told me the truth which I didn't want to admit. I was thinking about everything what happened there and why I acted the way I did.. " she paused. "Now I know why. I failed to control my emotions.." her voice changed and she came closer to him.
"I failed because I started feeling a fear that I could lose you.. and that she could take you away from me... and I didn't like it. I was jealous Geralt and I'm sorry for that." she said with disappointment. Geralt came to her even closer and softly caught her face with his hands.
"I would always choose you Yen. Always. You're the most important person for me." he caressed her face. The tear rolled down from her face.
"And please stop worrying about that I would replace you for somebody else if I would have an opportunity because I wouldn't. I love you Yennefer of Vengerberg. I love you and always will love only you." Geralt kissed her on her lips. That was everything was she needed to hear. She then snuggled closer to him and hugged him tightly.
"Come to bed. We're both tired." he kissed her hair.
"So, I heard you have a new member.." the bard told him calmly. They were going to the marketplace because Jaskier wanted a fresh food on breakfast.
"Well, not yet. He haven't told us if he wants to stay." Geralt explained. He joined the bard. He needed to clear his thoughts and disappear for a while.
"I really don't know what is it about you.. because you're like a magnet to lost people." the bard said with laughing.
"It's not funny." Geralt smirked.
"I've never said that. It's just interesting." Jaskier starting smiling from ear to ear.
"What's interesting on it?" Geralt raised his eyebrow.
"I don't know.. maybe that you're like a savior? I think you could start a new carrier as a priest one day.. you would be really good." Jaskier was teasing him. Geralt rolled his eyes.
"Go buy what you want, I don't want to be here the whole day." Geralt said strictly.
"You won't be." Jaskier went to the tent with fish. Geralt followed him.
"See? It didn't last forever." Jaskier showed him proudly a full bag of food after couple of minutes.
"Neither my patience.." he said sarcastically.
"Then why did you go with me if is it so boring?" Jaskier was offended.
"You know why." witcher's voice changed.
"You do realize that if you're just frowning all the time it won't solve your problems?" the bard raised his eyebrows.
"Jaskier, I'm not a child. You don't have to tell me what to do." Geralt said angrily.
"I see.." the bard said thoughtfully. "My friend, I think I know what is your problem. You haven't had sex for too long." he told him honestly.
"What?" the witcher couldn't believe what he just heard.
"You heard me. You've been very irritated last couple of weeks. Now it makes sense. You don't have any time to.." Geralt cut him.
"That's bullshit. I'm fine." the witcher crossed his arms.
"Are you?" the bard laughed.
"Yes, I am. I just can't.." Jaskier interrupted him.
"When was the last time you two have sex?" his face was calm.
"You cannot be serious.." Geralt shaked his head.
"When?" Jaskier ignored his comment. Geralt sighed.
"When Yennefer was still cursed. Since then we haven't had sex yet." Geralt said more quietly.
"Why did you never tell me that you seduced devil Yennefer?" the bard get surprised. Geralt tried to pretend that he didn't hear how he called her. He will deal with him later.
"Because it's not an information which I share every day." Geralt said sarcastically and rolled his eyes.
"Never mind, I'm still proud of you." Jaskier laughed. "But really Geralt, you should do something with your irritation.." he winked at him.
"Shut up your mouth finally." Geralt smirked.
"With pleasure." Jaskier was proud at himself. Then they left from the market place.
They were going around the main square. There were lot of people because of some festival. They were walking without a word. Geralt was still pissed at the bard and the bard liked his pretty face too much, so he rather say nothing. Suddenly Jaskier stopped walking.
"What are you doing?" Geralt told him angrily.
"You have to be kidding me.." the bard said with admiration, he ignored Geralt and then he went forward. The witcher looked at him confused, then he understood.
"Hello, dear witch sage." Jaskier sat down to the chair and smiled. The old woman just nodded.
"I want to know my future." Jaskier said confidently.
"Short-term or long-term?" she asked him without emotions.
"Is it difference in that?" the bard was confused.
"Yes." she told him calmly.
"Why?" he wanted to know it.
"If you screw up upcoming future then you won't survive till long future." she explained.
"I don't think I understand.. Can you.." he didn't finish a sentence because some strong grip raised him from the chair.
"Are you lost of your mind?!" Geralt told him angrily and pushed him away from the old woman. "We're leaving. Now." he commanded him. Jaskier didn't protest and he went away. Geralt was ready to follow him when he felt a unknown hand on his arm.
"Wherever you go the death follows you..." Geralt immediately pushed away her hand and looked at her with fear in his eyes. He started leaving but she caught his arm again and stopped him. She looked straight into his eyes.
"You have a darkness inside you.. but you've learnt to suppress it. She's changed you.." Geralt stayed puzzled. He wanted to run away but he couldn't, it was like some power had a control over him which he couldn't beat.
"Beware of the lost man with no soul which seek meaning of life.. But remember.. when the right time will come.. you'll create a life.." the old woman's eyes were suddenly white and she weakened her grip. Geralt didn't wait any longer, he pushed her away from him and ran away from her as far as possible. He didn't care about screaming Jaskier when he was running around him. He didn't care when he bumped into trader who was selling spice and now all his spice was on the ground. He sent Geralt to the hell many times but the witcher didn't care about it. He wanted to go as far as possible. So far from that old witch.
Geralt was running couple of minutes when he finally stopped. He put his hands on his knees and he was trying to catch his breath. His whole head was screaming from the pain which his new disrupt thoughts caused. The whole world stopped and there was no way to get back to the reality. He even didn't notice when Jaskier came towards him.
"Geralt.. Geralt!" Jaskier hit him into his arm when he was not responding. The witcher suddenly fell down on his knees and caught his face with his hands. He was heavily breathing.
"Geralt? Are you alright?" Jaskier asked him worried.
Wherever you go the death follows you.. She's changed you.. You have a darkness inside you..Wherever you go the death follows you.. You have a darkness inside you.. you'll create a life.. These thoughts were running inside his head. He tried to stop it but he didn't know how. It was like a rollercoaster without a handbrake.
"Geralt? Geralt?! What the fuck is happening with you?!" Jaskier was almost screaming at him. He started panicking.
Geralt realized that someone is calling at him. But he couldn't respond. He couldn't even move. All what he was feeling was pain and cruel thoughts in his head.
You have a darkness inside you.. But.. She's changed you.. She's changed you.. She's changed you.. He felt he knew that person very well but he couldn't remember on her name.
"Oh, Gods." Jaskier caught his head with his hands. "Geralt! C'mon Geralt! Come back to the mind.." he sighed. "Where the hell is
Yennefer when we need her.." the bard was helpless.
Wherever you go the death follows you.. You have a darkness inside you.. She's changed you.. She's changed you..Who's changed me? She's changed you.. Yennefer.. Yennefer? Where did he hear this name? Then the thoughts hit him stronger.
She's changed you.. Yennefer.. She's changed you.. Yennefer.. She's changed you.. Yennefer..Yennefer..Yennefer... He remembered.
"Yennefer!" Geralt suddenly screamed loudly. Then everything went dark for him.
"Oh, Gods! I killed him! I really killed him..." Jaskier was looking at unconscious witcher on the ground. "And..." he realized. His face was suddenly white. "Gods.. Yennefer gonna kill me for this.. my life is over.." Jaskier fell down on his knees and looked at Geralt.
"Sleep well my friend.." the tear rolled down his face. "I'll never forget you.. I'll sing about you everywhere.. well, till Yennefer won't kill me.." he said sadly.
Suddenly the teleport opened and Yennefer landed on the ground.
Jaskier turned his head towards her and their eyes locked.
"Yennefer? H.. How?" Jaskier was confused. She noticed laying Geralt on the ground.
"What the hell did you two do?!" she told him angrily and went to Geralt. She knelt down next to him.
"Geralt?" she looked at him worried. "Geralt, wake up." she softly slap his face. He didn't respond. She turned to Jaskier.
"What happened?! Speak!" Yennefer gave him a death stare.
"The old woman who knows the future told him something.." Jaskier swallowed. "And then he ended up like this.." he lowered his eyes.
"I leave you both alone for one hour.. and you did bullshit like that.." Yennefer rolled her eyes. She turned to Geralt again. Jaskier was afraid to ask but he found last courage somewhere inside him.
"Will he survive?" he looked sadly at her.
"Yes." she sighed."What were you thinking? Future is dangerous thing.." she shaked her head. She was not mad, just disappointed that they were so reckless. She put her hands on the witcher's chest and then she started speaking in Elder speech.
"This was not his fault.. He wanted to save me." the bard explained. Yennefer heard him but she didn't say anything. She continued in the spell.
Geralt slowly opened his eyes and immediately took a breath.
"Yennefer?!" he freaked out and tried to quickly sit down.
"Don't." Yennefer stopped him with her hand. "Hey.. I'm here Geralt." Yennefer caressed his face to calm him down.
"Yen?" his body relaxed in that moment.
"It's alright. I'm here." she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his forehead.
"My love.." Geralt managed to kiss her on her lips and then he hugged her tightly. After long hug he pulled away from her to have a better look on her.
"How? What are you doing here?" Geralt was confused.
"I somehow heard your scream in my head. In that moment I knew something is wrong." she explained and caressed his hair. He smiled at her. Then she offered him her hand and helped him to stand up. Jaskier appeared next to them.
"I'm sorry." he looked at Geralt.
"I know." the witcher said honestly.
"What happened to him?" Jaskier carefully looked at Yennefer.
"I think you met very old witch who knows how to use 'power of knowledge' and I think she used it on Geralt. This type of magic is very dangerous as necromancy. She gets into other minds, find the weakest spot and attack it. Then people can't escape from their darkest thoughts till it won't completely destroy their minds or get them crazy. This condition of her victims give her power what she needs to become more powerful. She's like a leech. She can tell also the future and past in some way, but it's not always the truth." Yennefer explained.
"Oh.. I didn't know that.." Jaskier said with disappointment.
"You both are lucky I came in time." she told them strictly.
"After what you told us, we really are." the bard was honest.
"Yen.., she told me.." Yennefer interrupted Geralt.
"Not now Geralt. We'll talk about it later." she looked at him and caressed his face. Then she noticed it.
"Geralt, your face is all white. You need to rest, immediately." she told him worried. Geralt didn't protest. He felt his body was weak. She turned to the bard.
"You're gonna walk there." Yennefer's face was serious. Then she created a teleport and disappeared with Geralt.
Now it was the bard who didn't protest.
PHILIPPA'S HOUSE - Oxenfurt
Ciri was sitting on the chair in the corner and watching Eskel and Lambert talking to Gabriel. She still didn't know anything about him. She haven't had a chance to talk to him and to be honest she even didn't want to. She noticed how they all laughed on something. She rolled her eyes because Gabriel laughed like some rich king. As she heard from Yennefer he wasn't really a gentleman as well. He was a real opposite to Matthew. Gabriel was rude and ungrateful in every way. She didn't understand why would Geralt offered someone like that to stay with their family. She knew he was Coën's son, but still he didn't deserve it even though he helped them fight with Vlkodlak. She looked at him properly. He must be around twenty five, maybe more. He looked older with that scar under his right eye. He had to survived many fights. As she saw yesterday he was also very skilled swordsman. To be clear he was great swordsman and she knew he haven't showed his whole potential yet. She then looked at his body. He was muscular type with strong posture and he wasn't really her type. His not so long curly black hair were falling little bit into his face. Maybe if he cut them in different way he could look more..
Wait. What the hell she was just thinking about? She thought.
She needed to stop her thoughts about him. Immediately. This guy was a walking trouble and she really didn't need this in her life right now.
Suddenly the teleport opened and Geralt with Yennefer landed on the floor. Ciri immediately stood up and went closer to them. The other witchers also turned to them.
"Wolf, are you alright?" Eskel looked worried at Geralt. Yennefer was helping him to stand straight because then he would fall due no strength left in his body. Geralt was ready to answer him but then he spotted Gabriel. He turned to him.
"I know what I told you that you'll have as many time as you need to decide. But I need to know your answer now, don't ask why. All I can tell you is that I won't wait any longer on your decision.. and I warn you Gabriel. If you'll ever hurt someone from this family, I'll kill you with my bare hands." Geralt was serious. He used all his strength to say those words. He took a deep breath one last time. "So, what's your answer?" Geralt looked straight into his eyes. Gabriel hesitated. He didn't expected it. Nobody did. He started playing with his fingers on the left hand where he always holds his sword. His eyes somehow met Ciri's eyes. They were looking at each other couple of seconds. Then he looked at Geralt again.
"I'm in." Gabriel answered calmly.