Of Monsters and Men

Chapter 1 - A Grain Of Truth

Summery: With Yennefer presumed deceased and with that your magical tie seemingly severed for good. Geralt, yourself, and Princess Cirilla begin the trek to Kaer Morhen to keep away from the war and to rest up for the winter. However an old friend of his makes himself known when the winter storm shows itself as too much one cold night.
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The people at that little farm in the woods had been more then kind to you all when you so desperately needed it the most. Their generosity was not forgotten as you all said your goodbyes and headed out into the forest path for the long hike to Kaer Morhen.

Not only yourself and Geralt, but with a plus one that you had not entirely been expecting. Destiny it is, of course it's destiny, some kind of interlaced magical enchanted fate. Whether that be a place, an object, or in this case with Geralt, a person. Its an unseen force working its way into your lives and the lives of others.

Specifically Princess Cirilla.

You'd honestly dreaded the day when he would have to atone for his actions at that banquet. When destiny would intervene in your lives even if you didn't want it to, but being as old and wise as you are. You of all people would know that destiny is nothing to be fucked with or forgotten. There are dire consequences for those who ignore its call to them in this world.

With that said, you'd never been keen on the idea of a child surprise at all, you loathed to think of the concept for such a long time in actuality. It's always been you and Geralt in the Continent, just you and your white wolf of few words. Your handsome Witcher.

This is how you liked it, then Jaskier came and went and came and went and stayed and that was well and fun as he does what he wants. He's an adult not needing taken much care of, but this child surprise would need all of that and much more. You feared for whoever this would be when the time came, they would never want to leave their pretty castle safe behind those walls and go with a damn Witcher.

And a woman half vampire with eyes of red.

You didn't like this at all. You did not want another person added to your simple two...plus Jaskier from time to time. You and Geralt are enough, however it's not that you're afraid of sharing him, not at all. You're afraid of taking care of someone vulnerable, afraid if they would hate you and feel imprisoned in your care. You like others to have their freedom as you always have, well the ones who deserve it.

Taking the child surprise would be a horror show in your book of morals. But of course walking up into Cintra and claiming a young girl, a Princess of the lioness, would never happen. Things on that mountain happened beforehand and you left Geralt in a fury, seeking out Yennefer, and then Sodden eventually happened and now you've lost her for good.

The first true friend you ever had. Gone.

That hurt immensely, so deep it cut, you left Tissaia to fight the rest alone as you knew the other kingdoms were coming to aid them in due time. Tissaia is like a sister to you too, but you missed Geralt enough to leave the fight you'd never wanted a part of anyhow. So much that you left Sodden, left the battle to be fought by people who care more. Left to find your lover and tell him you forgave his wish to bind yourself and Yennefer together by the djinn's dark magic.

A just wish, a thoughtful wish even. But a stupid one at that, to forever feel the call to be close to Yennefer always. To want to protect her and stay by her side, a kind of self ignited freedom taken away you've always possessed as a free willed person, but that's all gone now as she is dead and you are here. Walking beside Roach as Princess Cirilla sits upon the mare's saddle do you sway this all from your mind. Geralt walking ahead with Roach's reins in hand.

Now you just feel a sort of weird emptiness inside, an unsettling strange feeling that hasn't left you since Sodden. To say you hate Nilfgaard at this point would be an understatement, all you want now is to make it to Kaer Morhen before the snow gets too high and terrible. Get away from everything and everyone.