The Witcher and the Seawolf

Chapter 13

Fenris

With a grunt, Fenris swung the axe down onto the log, splitting it in two and adding the pieces to the ever-growing pile. His muscles ached from yesterday's work, plowing the fields and cleaning the horses took a lot out of him since his mother's and father had to ride out to the market. It was an odd situation for them all, how his father was able to get both women to agree to be with him was something he would never wrap his head around, but it worked out for the most part.

Picking up a few logs, Fenris walked back to the shack he grew up in. The wood walls covered in moss and vines, the roof made of clay and straw kept the rain out. The first person the young man saw when he walked in was his birth mother Freya, sewing a shirt he tore a few days ago when he jumped off the nearby cliff into the pond. He's done it many times before, but this was the only time he's been caught, only because his friend Anton ripped his shirt by grabbing him mid sprint.

"Mother." Fenris greeted with a small smile on his face. He couldn't remember the last time he and his mother were apart. He couldn't think back on a day where she wasn't there to pick him up after he fell or held him when there was a storm.

Freya was still upset with him, she was mostly scared that he could have been injured, or worse. But she could never stay too mad at him for too long. "Coral sent a message ahead, she will be here tomorrow to start your lessons." Fenris groaned and Freya raised a brow. "Don't."

"I made it this far." Fenris mumbled before tossing a log into the fire.

"Only because we were here to read for you, Fenris." Freya pointed out. "When you and Ciri move away do you honestly think she will put up with your illiteracy?"

"My what?"

Freya sighed. "You can't read. Think your wife is going to put up with that?"

"I'd have to deal with her snoring, so I think we're even." Fenris quips, earning a snicker from the other room. "It's rude to eavesdrop, Yen."

Fenris's second mother walked out of the room and into the common area. "You should take it easy on him, Frey. He'll only be across the field. If he can't read something he can just walk over here and we can read it for him. Or if he needs a good night's rest because of the snoring."

"What snoring?" Fenris froze when he heard Ciri's voice come from the front door.

"Father's." Fenris said quickly. "It's very loud over here; it echoes around the halls." Ciri giggled and his mothers hid their smiles. Ciri walked over and Fenris immediately put his hands on her belly. "How's my baby girl doing?"

Ciri put her hands on his and smiled softly. "She's doing fine. She missed you though."

The door opened one more time and his father walked inside, looking very tired. Yennefer suddenly gasped and rushed towards Geralt, pulling him into a hug like he's been gone for weeks. "I was only at the neighbor's, Yen." Geralt turned to Fenris. "The bride price has been paid."

Fenris smiled and looked to Ciri who looked just as happy as he was. "How much was it again?"

"Three of our cows and our best horse." Geralt said, making Fenris grow confused.

"That... that's it?" Fenris shook his head. "I would have thought a princess would be worth more than that."

"As flattered as I am that you think I am a princess, I'm pretty sure my father swindled yours."

Fenris narrowed his eyes at Ciri's words. "What do you mean your father?" He looked around and gasped when he saw that Yennefer's belly was now swollen, showing she was at least eight months pregnant. "Yen?"