Witcher book series related characters, places and themes belong to Andrzej Sapkowski. The Witcher games related characters, places and themes belong to CD Projekt Red. Characters, places and themes related to other works, especially by J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin belong to their authors or legal successors. Lyrics of cited songs belong to their authors.
THE SKELLIGER TALES
Prologue
CALM
SVANRIGE
Lammas 1261
the stronghold
Kaer Trolde
Ard Skellig
He was standing next to his father and uncles, watching the crowd in the great hall of the stronghold in Kaer Trolde. The feast was impressive, but the reason behind it was equally significant. Jarl Holger Blackhand was coming to Ard Skellig with his daughter, after one of the most successful raids on Ebbing, that has ever been undertaken, as far as the memory of Skelliger goes. Those two did something, what has never been done before.
Holger has been one of the living legends of the Isles, already. And three of his children were following in his footsteps. However, with fame, there goes a price. His oldest son, Trygve, the heir to the seat of the jarl of Faroe, was not allowed to leave the Isles for some time right now, due to threads his father received. Unnecessarily to say, the young man was furious. He demanded, that if he is to be the jarl, his younger brother shall be under the same restrictions, not to exceed him in his deeds. Halbjorn, the youngest of Holger's children was unwilling, but the word of his father was a law. So, both sons of the famous throughout the Great Sea pirate, were grounded and couldn't leave the Skellige Isles and archipelago waters. It was only their sister, called by her nickname, Carnelian, who fully enjoyed the pirate's life at her father's side, since she was fourteen. A legend of the young, red-headed beautiful female pirate, here on Skellige Isles, was growing rapidly.
Many jarls were planning to make Holger, to agree to marry her to one of their sons and equally as many, failed to persuade him. But this year, she was nineteen and it was high time to make a choice. His father, Bran an Tuirseach, had two considerable advantages in that pursuit: Svanrige and Carnelian were... close for years by now. However, no promise has ever been made. Moreover, first Bran and now his brother, Eist, held a title of the King of Skellige. The title, which, hopefully, one day, would pass to him.
The arrival of awaited guests, who were late, obviously, was announced by the infamous Hallowed Horn, blown by Holger himself.
"Holger!" – Eist exclaimed. – "And, of course, captivating as always, Carnelian!"
His uncle was right. She was wearing graphite trousers and shirt, but on top of that there was a dark red coat, in the colour of Burgundy, with exotic ornaments and on her long neck there was a necklace of white gold and diamonds – spoils of the raid, for sure. She was a vision, even without her double swords on her back.
"Eist! Long time, my friend!" – Holger came to greet them.
"Your Grace" – Carnelian said and bowed politely.
"You are becoming more dangerous and more beautiful every time I see you, lassie" – Eist said and shook her hand.
She only smiled gently and moved to approach him.
"Svanrige! How are you?"
"Better" – he answered with a smile and kissed her extended hand, looking her deep in the eyes.
Her smile widened, but she only bowed her head slightly and joined her father, who was already telling stories about their raid.
It was after an hour, as he was sitting with Hjalmar, Cerys and Carnelian when he heard his father saying at the main table to all gathered jarls and the king:
"So, Holger. Have you made your decision? Your daughter needs a husband and she is at the right age, some would even say, that she is quite old for marriage. But we all know, that she is not inexperienced, either."
"Do you think, that because your son fucks her from time to time, he is the only possible candidate?!" – Madman Lugos exclaimed. – "My son is more than ready to take his turn."
At that comment, everyone laughed at the main table, Holger only smiled slightly.
"Oh, c'mon Holger, she is a force of nature. Even Lugos here, said what he said, more out of respect than anything else" – Donar an Hindar stated. – "She is one of us, she is a pirate and we take what we want. There is nothing wrong with that, but... there comes a time to, at least officially, settle down."
"We made our decision with Kerstin a long time ago, my friends" – her father stated calmly. – "She'll make this decision for herself when it would please her. She has two brothers and Trygve is already married, my legacy is secured. There is no reason to rush her or to push her in anyone's direction."
"This wife of yours has you wrapped around her finger, I hope you know it!" – Lugos exclaimed.
"But at least I know, what I'll do the second I'll see her and I know, that she'll like it very much. You know, my friend... we share the bedroom: every single night" – he paused. – "But... I heard, that Hulda lives permanently in Holmstein, not in Kaer Muire for some time by now" – Holger, the head of the clan Dimun, stated with a smirk.
"Fuck you" – Logos, the head of clan Drummond barked.
"No... this is not an option" – was the reply.
Everyone laughed again and they drunk to Kerstin's amazing tits...
Our fathers... It's really too much to listen to, but... Did she know, that it's her choice? That, she can marry me anytime she wants?
His thoughts were interrupted by Carnelian's husky whisper:
"I heard enough of this and it is going to get worst, soon. Come upstairs..."
He still heard the sounds coming from downstairs when he was following her. She, obviously, paid no mind to some Islanders, observing them curiously, on their way. One of the old warriors he passed, shouted to him laughing:
"Are you sure, boy, that you can handle such a force of nature?"
"He can, Vilmar" – she shouted down the staircase from the floor above them.
He smiled involuntarily... Carrie was always so sure of herself and of him. More than he was. Even on their first night together, when both of them were as green as grass. But it was some years ago, now...
Still, it's not easy to be sure of yourself in a presence of a person, who ventured the Path of Warriors a year before you... She is a year older, that's true... But, well...
Blathe 1260
Yngvar's Fang
An Skellig
He was waiting for her with her brothers, at the end of the tunnels. She left to climb the mountain two hours ago and he started to worry slightly.
"She will come back" – Trygve stated calmly, but his face was expressionless.
"You care for her, don't you, Svan?" – Halbjorn asked, looking at him.
"I do" – he replied.
"It's more than just..." – Halbjorn continued.
"Yes... Yes, it is" – he replied again.
"Well, you were always like a brother to us. It'll be good to have you as part of the family one day, Svan" – Trygve stated with a small smile.
"You think, that she will...?" – Svanrige started, but finished with: – "Never mind."
"It's hard to say, one of her most notable traits is the fact, that she is unpredictable. Just... never take her for granted. I remember, when father decided to ground us, I was sure, that in an act of solidarity, she would decide to stay, too. But, even as a fourteen-years-old, she laughed so hard, that she fell from the chair. When she could speak again, she just looked at our father and asked: 'when are we to sail out?' She was on her first serious raid the same year, taking advantage of our absence to some extent... She loves us, I know, but... never believe, that you know what she'll do, because she'll do, what she pleases, no matter the consequences" – Trygve stated with a smirk.
Just then, Carnelian emerged from the tunnels, almost unscratched. They all congratulated her and her oldest brother handed her a shield of the clan Dimun, a symbol of becoming one of the warriors of the clan founded by Broddr himself. She smiled widely and approached Svanrige:
"And now... come, let's have some sex in the forest to celebrate this victory!" – she whispered seductively and took his hand, dragging him between trees.
"Svanrige! Are you still with me?" – her voice called him back when he closed the door of his room. The same room he has always stayed in, when he was in Kaer Trolde, with a visit to his uncle, Crach an Craite.
"Yes, Carrie. Come here..." – he answered smiling.
"Hmm... You are still pondering about something, my dear... What is it?" – she asked, approaching him and undressing on her way.
When she stood in front of him, she was already naked. He admired her body, the incredible lines and shapes he knew by heart, but was sure never to cease to be amazed by them. Her beautiful red hair was shorter, than usually, but curly as always. Her flint-grey eyes were observing him attentively. He answered after a long while:
"I will take the Path as soon as we come to An Skellig."
"And I'll come with you to wait patiently in Urialla."
"For the victorious sex?"
"Obviously. It is the best, after all. Remember the raid on Kerack?"
"Fondly. And if I remember correctly, there was something very interesting we did, as we came back..."
"Hmm... Possibly" – she grinned at him and started to walk towards the window. Then, she opened half of it and sat at the windowsill.
He followed her shorty, undressing on his way. He was touching her sensitive spot gently until she was ready for him. Then, he slid inside her, causing her to moan. They made love loudly, allowing their voices to fill the air inside and outside of the stronghold. Even the echo was moaning after them. They went to sleep maybe an hour later.
When he woke up, he was alone in bed. Again.
She knows perfectly well how I hate it, but still... she is leaving without a word.
When he descended to the main hall, he heard her conversation with the famous witcher, Geralt of Rivia. She was talking enthusiastically about the journey, she planned to venture alone with Geralt, to hunt the Ekhidna, which had its lair in Redgill. She didn't even plan to take her crew... Svanrige felt anger and jealousy so strongly, as he had never felt in his life. He entered the main hall:
"Can I speak with you, alone, Carrie? Preferably outside" – he demanded.
"Of course. Geralt, I'll be back shortly" – she replied with a polite smile and followed him to the terrace.
Once outside, he gathered himself to say:
"You left, again. Without a word, again."
"I..." – she looked at him confused.
"You what?"
"You were asleep so sweetly, that I didn't want to wake you up."
"You know, that I hate it."
"You are exaggerating now."
"No, Carnelian. I am not."
"So what now? Are you going to shout at me and then what?"
"It may never happen again. I mean it."
"And if it would, then what?"
"Are you asking just to mock me?"
"Obviously, what you are saying is not worthy of anything else."
"Will you marry me, Carrie?" – he asked in a different voice, softer and warmer. She stared at him with wide eyes before she exclaimed:
"What?! Are you out of your mind? Why are we talking about it now?! You are eighteen and I'm nineteen, we have plenty of time for such decisions. How the discussion about leaving you in the bed turned into this?"
"Fine. You know... I can manage on An Skellig on my own. Stay here or go back home. I don't care" – he stated leaving her.
"But Svanrige... Svanrige! I..." – he heard her saying, but paid her no mind.
The same day he packed his belongings, gathered his crew and sailed North-East, back home. From the moment his drakkar left the port, he knew, that it might have been the biggest mistake of his life. But there was no return now.
