HIM & I || The Witcher

XXIV. DESTINY

Although Geralt's magic had helped me through the night, the vision had left its mark on me. When I woke up on the next day, I felt as tired as I did back then in Kaer Morhen. Luckily, Geralt had some herbs with him that were getting my body back up to its usual energy. The drug wouldn't work for the whole day, but I was glad we could have a safe travel back home.

Ciri wasn't the happiest about our return as we stepped foot into the castle - it was Hertha. She has never hugged me this tight.

"I'm so glad you're back!" Hertha whispered, pulling me even closer to her. "Now I can quit playing Nanny for your two children."

"Two?" 

"Ciri and the bard."

"Thank you for looking after them. And for training with Ciri." I replied with a laugh and pulled away, grabbing her hands. "Have you heard about-"

Her nod cut me off. "They arrived five minutes before you."

"What did they say?"

"So far, nothing. They wanted to wait for you."

"I'll be right behind you."

Hertha let go off my hands, gave Geralt a welcoming nod and walked away. Ciri let go off Geralt and threw herself in my arms. "I'm glad both of you are alright. How was it? Did you find anything?"

"Geralt will fill you and Jaskier in," I explained after she stepped away again. "I need to go to the Queen. I'll catch up with you later."

Geralt gave me an encouraging smile before I followed Hertha's path over to the Queen's quarters. His eyes said that I shouldn't worry, everything would be fine, but I grew more and more nervous with every step I took closer to Weg's door. The guards opened it and I saw our Queen and Katla standing in the entrance room, still in their traveling clothes. Rusla was already with them, awaiting my arrival. The doors were closed again, and we approached the three.

"Weg, what did you find out?"

I stopped in my motion when she turned around to me and I saw her faces. Katla looked shattered, her hands were wrapped around herself as if she couldn't believe what was happening. Weg gave me a sad smile, she was on the brim of starting to cry. "It's a girl."

"Oh, dear ..." I mumbled, approaching her as her body started to shake. "It's going to be okay, we'll protect them."

"He is going to kill her," Weg sobbed. "Both of them."

I put my hands around her and hugged her tightly. "We won't let this happen."

"She could have had her here, raised her in Taalen ... Why did we let her make this cruel decision?"

"Because that what's she wanted," Rusla said and gently put a hand on Weg's back. "She would do everything to protect her people. And nobody was able to talk her out of it."

"Does the King know?" Hertha asked.

Katla shook her head. "No, he's still in the blue. And we will keep it like that, Sabrina promised us."

"Then the only thing left to do is figure out a way to solve this issue the best."

"Is there a 'best way'?" I asked unsure and let go off Weg.

The Queen grabbed a tissue from her table and dabbed the tears away. "Like I said, this will cost lives and conclude into a war."

"She could just go missing," Rusla said. "We could hide her underneath Taalen."

Hertha frowned. "The original City of Lights?"

"Yes," our sister nodded. "The ruins are still intact and when Henselt and his men are near, Gertha can stay there and wait for him to go away. They can search our whole town and not see a glimpse of her existence in Taalen."

"That's too risky, what if they know about the tunnels?" Weg mentioned unsure. "And wouldn't it be obvious that she's with us?"

"Weg's right," I sighed. "We need to hide her somewhere else. Maybe Kaer Morhen?"

"That's not a bad idea," Rusla agreed. "Nobody would suspect her there."

"We're not giving our pregnant sister to the Witchers!" Hertha snorted. "As much of a friends they are, our kinds are still different – What if there are difficulties?"

"That's true as well ..." Weg mumbled. "A Skjaldmær would have to stay there with her, just in case ..."

"Or we could ... ask around for a boy," Katla suggested. Everybody turned around to her with a judging and confused look on our faces. "I mean - Take Novigrad for example: It's not far away, it's the biggest town on the continent, which means there are a lot of bordels, hence unwanted pregnancies and not every prostitute wants to keep their child. I'm sure we'll find one that will give up their son for good coin. And nobody will ask of it, the city is big and the child would be just one of many."

"That's not a bad idea ..." I said slowly and looked to Weg. "Gertha could ask us for support when the birth month approaches and we could prepare a swap."

"We'll seek out a mother and an unwanted child, put it to sleep, sneak into the castle and put it into the crip and take the girl with us to Taalen." Rusla nodded. "That sounds like the best plan so far."

"But what if somebody from the court wants to watch the birth?" I interfered with this terrifying thought. "You know how weird their customs are and they'll notice it's a girl when the baby is born."

"We'll manipulate their minds," Hertha crossed her arms. "Or kill them, whatever it takes for the girl and Gertha to be safe."

"She could grow up here with her sisters ... And Gertha could even see her when she comes to visit," Weg whispered hopeful and raised her head, gaining her confidence back. "Or even get her out of there ... we will find a way! We won't let them down, sisters."

Katla nodded with a smile. "Destiny is on our side!"

"Quick, give me a piece of paper, I'll write to Gertha and our plan will be in the making!"