The Widow and The Witcher (Complete)

Chapter 28

"Who's the Father?" The words felt like a knife thrust to her heart as Julia watched his face harden. "You are Geralt, I have only been with you" his face twisted in anger and pain as he said in a controlled whisper "It can't be, I'm sterile, You know that." her body shook with uncontrolled anxiety, how could she prove to him that the child was his. She knew that it was possible for the unnamed God to intervene on their behalf. But Geralt, how could he ever believe when he could not see. Many times on the road they had been spared, she knew they were being looked after. However, Geralt refused to acknowledge what she knew to be true as each time he put it down to coincidence or fate.

Looking up now into his pain-filled eyes she could only hope that this little one would resemble him enough to prove her innocent. "Geralt, I can not begin to explain how this could happen, only that it has happened. I understand that you may not believe me, but I ask that you stay till it's birth. If on that day it is not obvious that this child is your I will release you from your obligation to this family." her own fear and trepidation were trumped but the sorrow she saw in his face. He opened his mouth as if to say something then hesitated. Shutting his mouth he nodded and left the room. Julia could not help the sobs that left her body as she sat in the water till it grew cold.

That evening Geralt moved his things to Ciri's room, she expected it but didn't expect the coldness she saw in his eyes. Knowing he would need time to process what she had said and the miracle she bore. The weeks passed slowly for Julia, as she started to show, she noticed that Geralt now avoided her at every turn. What surprised and shocked her the most was that her family and his brothers defended her. It came to a head one night as they were sitting around the fire pit. Geralt sitting by Lambert and Julia by Tobias, no longer being embraced in there familiar repose.

The tension was palpable until Lambert spoke up "Look this is getting way out of hand, Geralt in all the years we have known Julia she has never lied to us. She has treated all of us with kindness and care. So get over it. You're going to be a daddy." All he did was growl at Lambert, stand and leave. At this point, Vesimer's sad face fell on Julia "I'm sorry, it's a hard story to swallow, but I echo Lambert until we are proven otherwise we will support you." at that he stood and left. From that night on Geralt refused to eat with the family.

At around the midpoint of the second trimester, Ciri returned home on holidays from Aratuza. She had been having dreams for some time that something was wrong at home. She had talked to Yennefer and was given leave to come to the estate to see what was up. Walking into the healing rooms she saw Renee helping a young boy. Over on the day bed, she saw Julia feet up looking out at the gardens. So happy to see her mother she moved quickly to her side, smiling at Renee as she passed her. However, her happiness turned to shock as she saw Julia's belly. Kneeling beside her Ciri looked into her eyes, the dark circles and sadness underlining her smile "Ciri, your home" she drew the young woman into a hug.

Smiling back at Julia she placed a hand on her belly, a tingle ran through her hand as she sensed the child. Frowning slightly before looking back to Julia "I'm surprised, but this was your dream was it not, to have a child. Is dad happy?" Her mother looked back out to the garden a sad expression on her face, "no, he does not believe it is his, and I don't blame him. All his life he had been told he was sterile so why should he believe the child is his." Ciri's frown deepened, the love she had witnessed between her father and mother had given her hope that there was true love out there. After witnessing the relationship between Yennefer and Geralt she had been convinced that all relationships were bad. She leaned her head on her mother as Julia wrapped her arm around her and whispered: "don't worry Ciri, I have faith that the unnamed God will make it right, he would not have gifted us with this child if he knew it would tear us apart." Together they held each other, the child in awe of her mother's faith.