Ciri trotted along as the sun began to go down. Little Blaze still gently clinging to her, his face burred in her chest, her shirt wet with his tears. He had stopped crying and Ciri could tell he was exsuahted after the day they had both had. Ciri directed her mare off the beaten path and into the woods a ways before pulling her to a stop.
"We'll camp here for the night." Ciri whispered.
For a moment Blaze didn't move and Ciri thought he had fallen asleep but after a moment she felt a tiny nod against her chest. Blaze leaned back and for the first time since they left White Orchard he looked at her and Ciri saw the color of his eyes. They were light brown.
Ciri dismounted first before helping her new ward down. She tied up her mount before starting a little fire and unrolling their sleeping arrangements. After she got the fire started Ciri offered the boy some food. He took it, nodding in thanks as he sat cross legged on the other side of the fire from her. Ciri spoke to him here and there, light meaningless small talk, but Blaze never said a word.
"Its late... we should get some sleep." Ciri finally said. They both were tired and she figured she should give it a rest for the night anyway. After all... a mere hours ago the young boy had just lost his mother. Plently of time to build a bond and relationship later. Kaer Morhen was a week away so it wasn't like they didn't have time it being just the two of them.
Ciri knew it wasn't going to be as easy as she and Geralt had it though. She had been a child surprise, his child of destiny. But maybe she and little Blaze had a bit of fate or at least luck on their side too?
After a few hours of sleep Ciri's internal clock woke her and pressed her to tend to the fire and do a quick surveillance. She returned but a minute later to the camp. Blaze was curled up in a ball sleeping softly. He was a little small for an 8 year old. Ciri noticed he was shivering a bit. She collected her things from the other side of the fire and placed them next to Blaze. She settled down next to the boy and pressed their bodies together and fell back to sleep.
Cirilla could smell the ash of the faded night's fire as she opened her eyes to the beginnings morning light. But as she opened her eyes and became awake she was immediately alerted to Blaze's absence beside her. She shot up from under the blanket and spun her head around in a panic before she spotted him. He was lying on the opposite side of the fire... wrapped up tightly in a blanket, asleep.
Ciri became angry and annoyed before feeling guilty for having those feelings towards him. She took a breath and sighed before getting up. She could hear Vesimer's voice in the back of her head telling her to have patience. At the sound of her packing up, Blaze awoke and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Good, you're awake." Ciri said making her voice chipper and friendly. "There some fruit there is you want it."
Blaze unwrapped himself from his blanket and reached for a piece of fruit before rolling up his bed roll and blanket and handing them to Ciri.
"Thank you." Ciri told him as she strapped both their packs to the saddle and began tacking up her horse. "So, just turned 8 huh?" Ciri said trying to make conversation.
The boy remained silent but nodded.
"Ever been outside White Orchard before?" Ciri asked.
Blaze shook his head no, again not making a sound.
If she hadn't heard him speak with her own ears she would have sworn the boy was mute. Ciri helped him onto the horse. Blaze weaved his fingers into the mare's mane. Ciri climbed into the saddle behind him and off they went.
They were on they're last day of travel and Ciri felt her relationship with the child hadn't changed a bit. Not for a lack of trying though, Ciri had done practically everything she could think of on their trip to get close to the boy. But Blaze still hadn't breathed a word the whole entire way. She had talked to him, she had talked to herself, she had told him stories about monsters, herself, Geralt, Kaer Morhen... no response. At night, whenever she tried to sleep next to him she would always wake up to find him sleeping someplace else. He wasn't being difficult, rude, or nasty to her... Blaze just seemed like he wanted nothing to do with her. This was going to be harder then she thought.
"Blaze.." She said as they came through the mountain pass. "I'm sorry for... you know. I promised your mom that I'd look after you and treat you well. I intend to keep that promise. And I just wanted you to know that its all gonna be ok. I'm looking forward to training you."
Still nothing.
But she did sense him relax just a bit. So, a bit of progress.
"There it is." Ciri said and pointed. "Kaer Morhen. Our home."
Blaze looked and she could feel his awe. Even in its crumpled state, Kaer Morhen was still a sight to beheld. They neared the gates and Ciri dismounted. Just as she was about to lead the horse through them a large forktail appeared in the sky. It flew over the fortess before disappearing in the distant mountains. She turned to Blaze, expecting to find a terrified boy. But what she found was something else... Blaze, watching the forktail disappear, unrattled and unshaken. Like it had been a bird and nothing more. He was brave. When it had gone he turned in the saddle and looked at her. For an instant, Ciri could have sworn she saw a brief smile on his face. No matter, Ciri still gave him a smile before leading the horse through the gates.
Ciri led the mare into the stables, giving her fresh grain and water. She then turned and helped Blaze down from the saddle. "Wait there." She instructed as she untacked her mount and gathered her things. She gestured to the boy with a nod of her head to follow her. Blaze's head was on a constant swivel the whole time they walked, surveying his new home and surroundings. As they made they're way to the upper courtyard Ciri spotted a figure coming to greet them. A smile blazed a crossed her faced as she recognized him.
"Geralt!" She blurted out, dropping her things and breaking into a run to meet him.
Geralt braced himself as his beloved ward leaped into his arms. He spun her around and hugged her. Greeting her with a chuckle.
"Welcome home Ciri. Its good to see you." Geralt said.
"And you as well!" Ciri chimed in delight.
Geralt set her on her feet.
"We must talk later but... there's someone I'd like you to meet." She turned and bend down just a bit and gestured with her hand for Blaze to come to them.
Blaze came forward then hesitated a bit; then turned and picked up the things Ciri had dropped before making his way back to them.
Strong arms from climbing trees Ciri surmised. "Geralt of Rivia, I'd like you to meeting Blaze of White Orchard. My apprentice." Ciri finished.
Geralt's mouth fell open a bit as he looked from the boy to her and back again, an express on his face Ciri could't quite read though she'd know him for many years. He then soften his face and knelt down to become eye level with the boy.
"Nice to meet you." Geralt said.
The boy hesitated only a small moment before placing his rather small hand in Geralt's large one and shaking it.
Geralt smiled at the boy before standing back up and looking at Ciri.
"Like I said, we must talk later. We've both had a long journey and I need to get squared away, and Blaze settled in." As she passed him she gave him one more hug. "It really is good to see you Geralt."
Ciri led her young ward through the front door and into the great hall of his new home. "This is the great hall..." She introduced. "And here is were Witcher students use to sleep... though you'll sleep in my room with me for now. I'll get a bed set up for you later... andddd here's the kitchen and dinning area. Upstairs we have-" She said as she continued the tour.
After Ciri had put their things away she turned to Blaze, who still yet remain silent. He seemed to be looking to her for what to do next.
"Uh right... you are uh dismissed for now. Dinner will be at sundown... I'll call you. You can go exploring for now if you want, you should familiarize yourself with the castle I guess... but stay inside. Do you understand." She finished.
Blaze nodded. He looked crestfallen and still a bit sad.
Ciri sighed before she left him to go find Geralt. I wish you'd talk to me Blaze... I know you're hurting little one. Hopefuly in a day or so they could start training. Yeah.. maybe that will help.
Geralt sat quietly after Ciri finished telling him everything about how she had 'acquired' Blaze and the silent journey here.
"Geralt what do I do?" Ciri questioned. "He won't talk to me! Barely looks at me. Doesn't smile, doesn't want anything to do with me... Maybe this was a mistake."
Geralt chuckled, " a little late for that now haha."
"Geralt I'm being serious." Ciri said trying not to laugh herself.
"Give him time Ciri." Geralt said when he finished laughing. "He'll come around. We all did. Remember when you first stepped through those doors? You were terrified!"
"Feels like a life time ago..." Ciri said.
"Mhm. But then you loved it here and never wanted to leave. We all were the same way.. for the most part. But what I wanted to ask is how you plan on turning him into a mutant when we're not exactly quite so knowledgeable anymore on the process. And how you plan on teaching him things like Signs that you yourself never acquired?" Geralt said.
"I was hoping you'd help a bit." She said a bit sheepishly.
"Oh you did, did ya? Haha we'll see. You know... we haven't trained anyone here since you for years right." Geralt said.
"I'm aware. He'll be a new breed I guess." Ciri said. "I hope... I hope to mentor him well."
"I don't have any doubts." Geralt said, putting his arm around her.
The sun had gone down and the end of the day had come. Ciri and her young ward were preparing for bed as Ciri remembered back to the times she was a young girl at the Witcher school. She remembered Triss and how she had won her confidence. Maybe the same would work for Blaze.
Ciri turned to him as he was getting into bed. She walked over to him, using the opportunity to gently touch him and stroke his dark hair. "Goodnight Blaze." She warmly. "If you get cold you can always sleep with me or there are extra blankets over there."
Nothing.
Once again Ciri sighed and climbed in to her own bed. She blew out the candle.
"Thank you.." Came his tiny voice.
Ciri froze beneath her covers. She quickly regained herself. "You're welcome." She said, and smiled.
Please R&R :) Hope you liked Chapter 2! :)