Ciri gave out a little moan as she stretched. She looked out the window of her room. The sun was bright in the sky. Damn, she had slept longer then she had intended to. She turned her attention to the other side of the room to find Blaze's bed empty.
"Blaze?" She called out. Nothing. "Blaze?" She said a little louder. Silents. "Ohhh please don't have run away." Ciri whispered softly to herself as she got out of bed.
She looked around upstairs before running down stairs. She stopped short when she spotted him. He was siting on the floor with Geralt, polishing swords.
"Like this?" Blaze asked Geralt.
"Yeah, just like that. Didn't your father ever let you handle his swords?" Geralt inquired.
Blaze shook his head. "No, I was only 5 when he died and wasn't allowed to touch them when I was little."
"Well you'll have plenty of opportunities to handle them now." Ciri said, making her presence know. She was glad to see the boy was still talking.
"Meet me outside when you're done with that." Ciri instructed. "I thought we'd began strength training today."
The boy nodded. Geralt winked at her.
Ciri stretched as she waited. She was excited to began training. She had never trained anyone before but she was looking forward to her first go at it. Ciri was still a relatively young Witcher but had had plenty experience in the past few years.
She didn't have to wait too long before she heard the doors open and Blaze stood before her.
Ciri faced him with hands on her hips and a playful smile on her face. "Let's get started."
Blaze followed her quietly as they made they're way out of the fortress and down the slop of the hill.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Ciri asked.
"Yes m'lady." Blaze spoke.
"You can call me Ciri." Ciri said. Remembering how Triss had introduced herself to her all those years ago.
"Alright, we're here." Ciri stated. They stood at the edge of the lake near the dock.
Blaze looked up at her.
"Know how to swim?" Ciri asked.
"Yes." Blaze said quietly.
"Good. Swimming is good for strengthening the arms and the legs. It will increase breath capacity too. And.." She said coyly. "It's a lot of fun."
With that, Cirilla let out a cry of delight as she raced down the dock and jumped head first into the water. After a moment she came springing up for air and wiped her hair back. "Come on Blaze!" She called out. Becking with her arm.
At first Blaze just stood there but then... A smile, a real smile came across his face. He likewise raced down the dock and into the water. Ciri splashed him.
"Hey!" He said. And for the first time he laughed. He splashed her back.
"Come catch me!" Ciri baited, as she began swimming to the other side of the pond. She was delighted to see Blaze following her, and still smiling.
They swam vigorously for about an hour before Blaze became tired. Ciri was immersed the young boy held up as long as he did.
"That was fun Ciri." Blaze said grinning as they got out.
"Yeah it was." Ciri said. "We'll make a Witcher out of you yet."
At that moment, Blaze seemed to remember his situation and his smile and joyous expression vanished from his face. Ciri mentally cursed herself. Guess young Blaze wasn't the only one with some learning to do.
"Come on.." She said. "Lets get back."
"Well well well." A familiar voice came as mentor an apprentice passed through the great gates.
Ciri looked up and met the face of Lambert coming from the keep to meet them. She was about to cry out his name and tell him it was good to see him again and ask him how his path had been. But before she could Lambert spoke again.
"I had to see it for myself, are you crazy Cirlla?! Subjecting this boy to our fate?" Lambert barked.
Had it been only her standing there the young Witcheress would have snorted and done or said something to purposefully annoy him but Blaze stood just a few paces behind her, and, after all.. She wasn't a child anymore and Lambert wasn't playing the roll of junvinal 'big' brother. No matter how much he still acted like it sometime.
"Lambert this is Blaze." Ciri said in a professional voice.
"Yeah I know who he is." Lambert huffed. "Geralt told me the short version... I still think you're crazy princess. And I don't like it."
"Well thats fine Lambert you don't have to like it.. just, live with it." Ciri retorted, falling just ever so slightly back into old ways. "Come Blaze."
Ciri marched off with Blaze in tow. Lambert shook his head.
The fire embers crackled and sparked, casting an almost homey and warm glow on the old castle as the Witchers and little Blaze sat down to eat.
Geralt bellowed with laughter and Ciri almost spit out her ale as Lambert and Eskel finished the punch line to a story of how their paths had crossed on the road.
Ciri wiped her mouth as her laughter subsided and turned her attention to the boy beside her. In the dimly lit room, Blaze's hair looked even darker. His head hung a bit. He was silent and hadn't touched his food.
"Blaze is something wrong? You're not eating?" Ciri pried.
"It tastes funny..." Blaze said quietly, but apparently not quiet enough.
"It's Witcher food kid, herbs and such. Better get use to it." Lambert chuckled.
Geralt shot him a glance and Eskel elbowed him.
"What?" Lambert said with his mouth full.
"Please try to eat a bit more... You'll get use to it, and you need to eat... I promise it won't be an everyday thing." Ciri told him.
"Ha, should be. Kid's barely more then a mouse." Lambert laughed.
At that moment Blaze shot up from his seat, snatched up an item from his plate and hurled it at Lambert.
Now, had Lambert not been three ales deep he would have caught the piece of 'salad' flying towards him. But he was, and he didn't."
Geralt readied himself in preparation to intervene if Lambert became violent. But the grouchy Witcher surprise them all and let out a laugh.
Geralt and Eskel began laughing too however, Ciri was not so forgiving.
"Blaze, that kind of behavior will not be tolerated." She said sternly. "While I am pleased at you for standing up for yourself I will not have any ward of mine disrespecting another Witcher. Even if that Witcher is Lambert... Are we clear.
Blaze nodded. "May I be excused?"
He still hadn't eaten, but Ciri nodded. The boy got up and headed upstairs. Ciri sighed and placed her hand on her forehead.
"Well that went well." Lambert said as he swallowed a bite of food.
"Shut up Lambert." Geralt, Eskel and Ciri said all together.
Blaze lay in bed as Ciri entered. As she got ready for bed herself she realized he was still awake.
"Sorry I was harsh on you at dinner tonight, just respect is more then a word around here." Ciri spoke. "Guess we're all just gonna have to get use to one another again. They're all great guys you'll see... even Lambert. He'll grow on ya and you on him."
"That sounds like a fungus." Blaze commented quietly.
Ciri couldn't help but chuckle. And though she couldn't be sure.. she thought she heard Blaze chuckle too.
"Yeah haha.. Welp," Ciri said as she blew out the candle and settled into her own bed. "You'd better get some sleep. Training first thing in the morning. Goodnight." She said.
"Goodnight." Came Blaze's quiet reply. And with that they both went to sleep.
R&R! :)
