"She really does like him," Yennefer said, sprawled on her couch in their bedchamber, reading another of her books.

"Grunt." Was Geralt's only reply as he stared in the mirror, putting on his cloths for the day.

"And he seems to really like her. A lot."

"Groan."

"And I must say, he is quit an interesting man, very kind and polite, and a skilled warrior. I can see why she's drawn to him."

"Gruff."

"And I'm sure he will be good to her and protect her forever."

"Grrr."

A smirk touched her lips. "I wonder what their children will look like."

She saw him give a rather nasty look that she did not like, then he went back to the mirror, finishing with the clothing's straps.

She slid off the couch to her feet, looking at him. "And yet you still don't like him."

He gave another grunt. "It's not that I don't like him, it's that I don't like him with her."

She approached him and stood by his side. "She's not your little girl anymore. She's a young woman now and she can love who she wants."

"I know that," said Geralt. "Just why did it have to be…him."

Yen sighed. "Just what is it you have against him? He's a good man."

'That's just the problem." He faced her. "He's not a man, he's a…"

"An undead?"

"A dame zombie!" He looked away from her, brooding.

Yen was quiet for a moment, then placed her soft hand on his strong shoulder and turned him to look at her. "He may be undead, but he is far from a zombie. And frankly, I find him livelier than most people that are alive."

"He is now," Geralt agreed. "But what about tomorrow. How do we now he won't become…" What was that term he used? "Hollow?"

"He won't," she assured him. "As long as he takes her blood he will not turn."

"Yes, as long as he takes her blood, she's safe." Geralt

Yennefer blinked her dark eyes. "Is that why you don't trust him. You think he's only with her so he can have her blood?"

He turned his eyes away. "It's not just that."

"Then what?"

He faced her. "What if he does turn? What if he cannot control himself and he attacks her?"

Yen was starting to understand. "You're afraid that if he does become Hollow, she will have to strike him down."

"No. I'm afraid that if the times comes, she won't be able to," he said, sounding so helpless.

Yen now smiled as she saw that Geralt was just being concerned for his daughter, like a father should be.

She said in her smooth as silk voice. "I understand Geralt that you're worried for her, I know you love, and so do I. But this is her choice, and we have to learn to trust her to make the right decision, even if we don't like it ourselves."

Geralt knew what she said was true, yet he still could not help feel uncomfortable about it all. "I'm going to go check on the Vesemir."

He walked out the chamber door, leaving Yen standing there. She shook her head at the arrogance and pride of men, then wen t back to her couch and book.

…

Geralt headed down the stairs of the fortress Kaer Morrthen, the ancient training keep for witcher's long ago. He entered the keeps library.

He found only Vesemir inside the room though. The old witcher was standing by the open window and staring out it, down at the keep's grounds. Geralt only took a step towards him when the old witcher heard him coming and faced him.

"Well, good morning Sleeping Beauty. Nice to see you have finally awaken."

Geralt brushed of the taunt. "Vesemir," he greeted. He joined him at the window to see what the man was looking at. Several witcher's in training were practicing their swordsmanship in the keep's training grounds.

However, the one student Geralt was looking for was not among them. Usually Ciri was either training none stop all day unless Vesemir was forcing another of his books upon her.

But since she wasn't in the library or in the training grounds, Geralt had no idea where she was. He looked to his teacher. "Where's Ciri?"

Vesemir took his time to answer and Geralt saw a slight smile beneath his beard. "She's training outside the keep, up on the mountains."

"Outside?" Geralt knew how dangerous it was in the wild lands. "Alone?"

"Of course not. She has a training partner with her."

"Training partner? Who?"

Vesemir stared at him dumbly. "Who do you think?"

Geralt felt his witcher blood begin to boil. "And you just let her?"

Vesemir held his arms apart. "What was I supposed to do?" He saw the anger in Geralt's eyes, and rolled his. "Will to stop your worrying, your acting like an old woman with her grandchildren. She'll be fine. And even if they do run into trouble, He will protect her."

Great clinched his jaw. "That's not what I worried about." He headed for the exit.

"Where are you going?" Vesemir called after him.

"Where do you think?" Geralt was going to make sure Ciri, his ward, his daughter, the most precious thing he ever had in his blood soaked life, was safe from that…thing. That abomination of life. That undead creature. That Hollow

Oscar of Astora