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The climb up to the dragon mountains was just shy of a day, it was nearing dusk when Nessa got to the top, she breathed in before shouting to the sky "Borch, I need to speak with you".
After a few moments of utter silence she could hear Borch's great flapping wings, his huge hulking form casts a shadow over the dusky sky, the setting orange sun reflects on his golden skin, giving it an ethereal glow.
He lands with the grace only accomplished by a dragon, shaking his wings he sighs, "What is it Nessa, I was helping another dragon, a non shifter" Nessa smirks "A female" she hints with a raised brow.
"Not like that" Borch says immediately, Nessa's smirk widens.
"Transform please, we need to go to the cave, I've brought food" she says, food meaning a couple of rabbits that need skinning and cooking.
Smoke surrounds Borch and a man with graying hair appears, "I hope you brought spices, rabbit is awfully bland" he counters.
Making there way to the small cave that rests almost at the top of the mountain Nessa laughs, it has been months since she last saw him, he's older, she doesn't know his exact age but it is above the five hundred mark.
Settling down she grabs her skinning knife from her satchel and sets to preparing the rabbits, the knife is sharp and glints in the fire Borch has started.
"So what is it you wanted to tell me?" he asks flippantly, it's an act, she knows he'd never act carelessly when she specifically called him, "I encountered five barghests two days ago, and seeing as they can only be summoned I wondered if you've heard anything from your many sources" she explains, shock registers on his face.
"It take an extremely powerful person to summon not only one but five of those beasts, what were they doing this far up north?" the latter part he mutters to himself, she can see the thoughts tumbling in his mind as she brings the now skinned animals to the fire, setting a stand to roast them.
"Be cautious my child" the words bring warmth to her heart, he continues "evil grows within these lands, even here up north".
The warning confuses her, the world has always been a dangerous place, what make it more so now?
The rabbit bones rest in a pile, they've both eaten, Borch sighs before speaking "The dragon I went to see, she is in danger, she's just about to lay her egg and she is dying, there are many people out there that would do anything for both her and her babe, a dragon egg in the wrong hands could be fatal" he looks forlorn, one of his kin is dying and there is nothing to be done, she is a non shifter and a dragon - nobody knows how to treat them, at least for something this serious.
"I can help protect them, take me there" Nessa insists, she has only ever seen Borch, and dragons are so rare, they're a hunted species, much like her mother, like her.
"Nessa, your fate doesn't bring you there yet, there are people you cannot see, you cannot defy destiny" he expresses, "Please Borch, I'll stay out of sight, I'll be a last defense but let me see her, let me see the egg, I can help" she pleads.
"I'll let you, as long as you stay to my plan" is his answer, she furrows her brows "You have a plan, I sincerely hope your not thinking of advertising a dragon hunt". "How do you do that, I haven't even suggested anything yet" Borch asks in disbelief, "Call it knowing you" is the only reply he gets as she stands, heading towards the exit.
"That is not all thought is it?" his question startles her, she breathes in, he always sees through her.
"I'm losing control, It's taking over" she grits out, Borch stands and walks in front of her, "Child, you hold it in, you cannot control it because it cannot be controlled, it is part of you like an arm or a leg, you can't not use it and expect it to conform to your will".
"I cannot use it without losing control, so tell me Borch how do I use it and not cause pain" Nessa shouts, "I can teach you" he placates her before continuing "I may not have powers like yours but I can help".
"I have told you before, Borch no, I don't want these powers, I don't need them" tears form in her eyes, she hasn't cried not since nearly killing her mother and she'll be damned if she cries now, "Nessa, you may not want them but they chose you, so use them, work with them instead of against, if not for yourself then for me" he's trying to guilt her, and it's working, she gives in "Okay".
One month later
"Hold it there, don't stop" Borch's command rings through her ears as she has her arms in front of her, a bright ball of light floats there, sweat drips down her brow making her eyes sting.
"I can't" Nessa cries, "Hold it Nessa, just a while longer, you've come so far". A month of continuous training has refrained her from hunting, she still hasn't bought new armour, she hasn't had a chance to even use the armour she has.
As her thoughts wander the light flickers, "Concentrate" comes the warning. She huffs, irritation building, the light expands, almost blinding.
"Steady Nessa, not too much, let your emotions in but do not let them control you" he chides, "Is it true that at Aretuza they make you stop feeling to control magic?" she questions, people talk of the heartless mages that come from nowhere but are built at Aretuza.
"Some form of talk is always true, but no good has ever come from suppressing emotion, mages forget that their power once came from elves, and elves had control of their emotions, that's why they're better at magic, probably why they're hunted so ruthlessly" his speech leaves Nessa stunned, of course she knew that elves were hunted for being different, she didn't know that they were the first mages.
Personally I can't stand Yennefer, I think the portrayal of her is just lacking. But for the sake of this fic, Yennefer and Geralt will still have a relationship - for a while, this is still a Geralt/OC. Love Liya xx