Embers

Kaer Mohren

Chapter 30

Eira's POV - Kaer Mohren

The road to Kaer Mohren was long and tiresome. Eira was sure that if she went alone, she would get lost. Geralt guided them easily on the trail towards the old keep. The elemental followed without thinking. She couldn't think. The voice was loud and she felt exhausted.

'I'm here to stay' 'I won't go' 'You think we're many, but I'm just one'

The voice was chaotic in her mind. A constant loud noise that Eira could't get rid off. She had told Geralt days ago that the voice knew where they were going and what they wanted to do. It was right after the Inn that the voice grew venomous and pounded even louder through her head.

'You're weak' 'You like humans' 'They're nothing'

It made her cry more than once during the past weeks and Eira felt how her powers drained from her because she was getting frail. The closer they came to Kaer Mohren, the worse the voice got.

'Even the bard left you' 'You're so emotional' 'What happened to you that you're like this'

Eira suddenly screamed ; a loud, agonizing sound echoed through the forest and the Witcher path they were on. Bramble stopped abruptly, the horse in a slight panic and started to trample backwards while the Elemental held her hands before her ears.

"Stop!"

Geralt must have jumped of his horse and Eira could barely see how he grabbed Bramble to calm the horse down.

"Eira," he tried, but she shook her head and closed her eyes.

Her hands pushing hard against her ears and she would have cried if she had any tears left.

"Make it stop," she sobbed and felt Geralt's hands around her waist.

He carefully took her off Bramble and put her down on her feet before him. His hands came to rest on hers, both cradling her head and Eira opened her eyes to look at him.

"We're almost there," he said.

The Elemental could hear in the tune of his voice that he was worried.

'He isn't worried' 'He just doesn't want you to flip out' 'You can kill everyone if you do' 'He knows that'

"Eira," Geralt urged her to keep looking at him. "Only listen to me. We will get to Kaer Mohren and find help."

She trembled and shivered because Eira felt cold. A feeling she never thought to have. Her magic hummed impatiently and chaotically inside her. As if it wanted to burst out and unleash the three elements all at once. Her hands flickered from the ice particles that formed and went away again. If they passed a river or lake, the water fervently started to wave. The earth trembled underneath their feet more than once, as it did now.

The Elemental took a deep breath through her nose and tried to push back the loud, booming voice in her head. Her gaze focused on the ember eyes of the witcher before her, the touch of his hands on hers and Eira finally took control again. The voice died down... for now. They both knew it wouldn't be for a long time.

She nodded slowly and Geralt dropped his hands. Without lingering about, the witcher took her bag from Bramble and tied it with his one on Roach.

"Let's go," he grumbled and helped her on Roach. "We'll find Bramble later. There's no danger for horses and plenty of food."

He crawled on Roach and Eira circled her arms around him to keep herself steady. Her head rested between his shoulder blades and the elemental closed her eyes. Enjoying the short silence in her head while Geralt guided them through the trail that led to Kaer Mohren.

They passed a river and Geralt stopped Roach which made Eira open her eyes again. When the Witcher moved himself a bit, Eira saw Kaer Mohren for the first time. The Keep wasn't as grand as it used to be. More like a ruin now, but the stronghold still stood.

"You're home," Eira whispered and the witcher glanced over his shoulder to meet her gaze.

"Yes," he said and tugged Roach into the right direction. "You can sleep there."

"How will they react?"

"Who and on what?"

Eira rolled her eyes because Geralt wasn't able to see it.

"I'm an Elemental. Going into Kaer Mohren and other Witcher's will probably be there."

"Hmm," Geralt murmured, yet Eira didn't get a reply.

She had her eyes closed and slightly dozed off when Roach was stopped. Geralt moved and jumped of the horse, his arm stretched out for her to take. Eira gladly took it and descended Roach. The elemental didn't feel to steady on her legs and was comforted by Geralt who supported her by holding her arm. Though, he made it look like they were just walking next to each other instead.

Eira made a mental note to thank him later when she wasn't ready to faint.

"Geralt, I don't feel so good," she spoke up when he guided her further into the Keep.

"Almost there," he said after a glance into her direction.

Eira's vision got hazy and she could hardly see an older man walking towards them. His arms outstretched and a smile on his face. The Elemental thought the man spoke Geralt's name, but she wasn't sure.

"Geralt," she murmured and felt how her legs gave out underneath her.

The world turned black before her eyes and Eira was too tired to fight it. She could hear Geralt's voice calling her name. It sounded far and unreachable. Eira wanted to ask to let her sleep. It didn't matter where she was : on a bed or just on the ground outside in Kaer Morhen. The Elemental was too tired to care.

Geralt's voice disappeared and Eira embraced the darkness. The slumber that she hoped would last at least a human lifetime.

It didn't take long before she found herself in a dark forest and Eira was confused at first. The chill of the wind travelled up her legs to her arms and neck. Caused her hair to playfully move with the breeze. When the elemental glanced down, she noticed a short, white dress was all she wore.

White, glittering ice particles decorated her skin everywhere and Eira seemed frozen in place.

There was something wrong with the forest too ; when she let her eyes flicker over the trees, they looked all the same. It was all the same Oak tree. The same height, the same leaves, the same form... She opened her lips to shout for Geralt, but nothing came out.

'He isn't here'

Instead of fear going through her when Eira heard the voice, a groan escaped her and if she could move, Eira would have fallen down out of despair.

"Where are you?" She asked and turned her head to take in her surroundings.

A short laugh echoed against the trees and back to her. For the first time since hearing the voice, Eira could now tell it was female.

'I'm everywhere and nowhere. You're dreaming, yet you aren't.'

"Riddles and prophecies are supposed to rhyme," Eira retorted back what Geralt once told her.

Another laugh and a sudden movement from her left made Eira turn her head.

The Elemental saw the Other slowly emerging from the trees. Long, slender legs and gracefully the Other stepped over some branches. Her hair was long and red, eyes as black as the night. The short dress she wore was the same as Eira's, except a deep, blood red.

The fire particles that made her skin shine in the dark, made Eira want to take a step away from her. Ancient power radiated off the woman and Eira's magic moved inside her.

The Other crossed her arms before her chest and leaned against a tree with a smirk on her full lips.

"What are you?" Eira asked, but knew the answer to her own question. An answer she dreaded more than anything else in the world.

'I'm like you,' the redhead replied and cocked her head a bit to left. A movement that made Eira think about a feline predator observing its prey. 'But stronger.'