Ciri showed up at his doorstep and of course Geralt was overjoyed. But there was something different about her, Geralt was not sure what. Her breasts seem to be fuller than before.
He chided himself for looking at his daughter like that but surely he was not mistaken. Yennefer also sensed something amiss with Ciri and she exchanged a look with Geralt.
Yennefer took matters into her own hands. She pulled Ciri aside to a room, and locked and silenced it using spells.
"There, Geralt wouldn't be able to enter or hear us speak," Yennefer said.
Ciri started sobbing, and Yennefer pulled her into an embrace.
"There, there. Mother's here, you can tell me all about it," Yennefer said, stroking Ciri's back. Ciri's tears were making wet spots on her clothes but Yennefer ignored it, focusing on supporting Ciri. "Let it all out, Ciri. Mother will always be here." Her heart ached to see Ciri so sad.
"Yen... mother, I'm so sorry. I thought you and the rest of the Lodge of Sorceresses were all planning to manipulate me but it's not true. Francesca told me herself," Ciri said.
"Francesca? You met her in Dol Blathanna?" Yennefer said in surprise.
"Yes, she told me about you," Ciri replied.
"Oh Ciri. But I can tell there's something else? I can tell if a woman... is pregnant or has given birth," she said.
"You can tell?" Ciri asked.
"Yes. Is there anything you want to say? What happened to your baby? Who's the father?" Yennefer asked.
"No, I don't want to talk about it right now. But when the time comes, I'll tell you, okay?" Ciri said.
Something shiny caught Yennefer's eye. "Ciri, your hand. Is that a wedding ring?" Yennefer asked with intense shock written all over her face.
Ciri froze. She had forgotten to take off the ring. Ciri wailed, hugging Yennefer ever tighter. She felt as if her world was falling apart.
"Oh Ciri, oh my poor Ciri. My poor, dear daughter," Yennefer said. "I won't ask you again." She rocked Ciri in her arms until Ciri fell asleep out of exhaustion.
...
"Shh... she's sleeping," Yennefer said.
"What's wrong? What happened to her?" Geralt asked, out of his mind with worry.
"Nothing serious. She's just unwell. Womanly matters," Yennefer said briskly. She didn't want Geralt to start asking Ciri questions while she was obviously in an unstable condition.
...
This was what he wanted, wasn't it? Ciri had left him a son, the child of the Elder Blood. And she had left him, to return to her world, her friends, her life. So why was it so difficult, why did his heart ache?
He did everything she asked, she had brought him here to the world of Aen Seidhe, of Dh'oine even when he didn't want to. He did it for her. So why did she leave him? Why did it bother him?
He had asked her to marry him. For the second time in his life, the woman he asked had left him.
Avallac'h ran outside, towards the forest and the fields. "Zireeeael!" He shouted her name to the sky, to everything and anything that will listen. Birds, startled, flew from the trees in flocks. "Zireael," Avallac'h said, tears flowing from his eyes. "Ciri, come back."
He was about to faint then he remembered Civril lying alone in his cot. "Our son," he said, rushing back to his cottage. He picked up his son and kissed him in relief. He had a terrible, irrational fear that Civril would disappear too.
"Zireael, I will bring our son. I will ask for your forgiveness. I will meet with Geralt and Yennefer and I will ask for your hand, properly this time," Avallac'h said to himself.
...
Avallac'h arrived at Geralt's doorstep, baby in tow.
"Avallac'h?" Geralt said in surprise as he opened the door. Yennefer was right behind him. "Whose baby is that?" Geralt asked.
"This is Civril aep Crevan Espane. My son... and Ciri's," Avallac'h said. At the mention of Ciri, Geralt was consumed with rage. "Here, you may hold him," Avallac'h said while handing the baby over.
Geralt took the baby, placed the him in Yennefer's arms and then proceeded to strangle Avallac'h. "What have you done to Ciri?! You fucking useless elf!" Geralt spat in his face. Avallac'h was unable to breathe and went limp in his grasp.
The baby started to cry, frightened from the commotion. Ciri felt rather than heard her baby's presence. "Civril!" She teleported...
To see Avallac'h losing consciousness in Geralt's stranglehold.
"Geralt! Stop!" Ciri screamed.
Geralt let go. Avallac'h fell to the ground, finally taking in deep, shuddering breaths. His lungs felt like they were on fire.
"Avallac'h," Ciri said. "Don't die, please." She sobbed as she held him.
...
"I'm not letting you go to him! If he lays a finger on you again, I'll break his neck," Geralt threatened.
"Now, Geralt. She's not seeing him alone, I'll be with her," Yennefer said. "Come on, Ciri."
...
"You're still wearing your ring," Avallac'h said.
"Yes," Ciri said. "I am."
"Why? Why did you leave me and our son? Why did you leave us?" Avallac'h asked.
"I thought this was what you wanted," Ciri said. "To have my child and bring him back to Tir ná Lia. To finally be rid of me, the Dh'oine mother who will bring shame to you in front of all the other Aen Elle. And you said Dh'oine were supposed to be selfish."
Avallac'h flinched. "Yes... and no," he said. "I wanted you to be my wife. I thought you loved me," Avallac'h said
"But did you love me?" Ciri asked. Avallac'h was silent, unable to answer. "I thought so too," she said bitterly, leaving the room.
...
Love. That was what Ciri wanted. Avallac'h wasn't sure what love was. He had spent an eternity obsessed with Lara. There were minor dalliances with she elves but they expected nothing more and he had nothing more to offer.