The Witcher: Through the Worlds

Chapter 17: Family Matters V

Narrator: After finally making it to the city of Oxenfurt, Dominik and Geralt were able to meet with Tamara, the Bloody Baron's daughter. After talking to the young woman, and making sure she was safe, the two Witcher's both set out to return to Crow's Perch, to speak to the Baron. It was finally time for them to learn what he knew about Ciri and continue their search.

It wasn't surprising to him that it started raining. The ride back to Crow's Perch had taken them a few hours, and while the sun still lit up the sky, it was starting its descent. However, a light rain began to fall as they finally saw the castle come into view. After leaving the house where they spoke to Tamara, Geralt and he had taken some time to eat, replenish any supplies they needed, and have their blades sharpened. It had taken them a few hours, so when they finally found Clop and Roach, who being the loyal mounts they were, had stayed on the small patch of land, tied to the trees they had left them at.

He felt his spirits begin to rise and fall both at the same time. He was of course, ready to learn where Ciri had gone, and hopefully finally get out of Velen. However, on the other hand he wasn't excited to deliver the Baron, the news about his wife, or that his daughter did not wish to return. He hoped he would have been able to help the man, but he knew he had done all he could. Geralt and he had found the mans family, they knew their location and what became of them, that was their deal.

He hoped the man would stick to it.

"After we figure out where Ciri went, we'll take the day tomorrow to restock bombs, ingredients, get our armor repaired, before we get ready to head out," Geralt told him, as the winches on the Crow's Perch gate slowly turned open.

He nodded in agreement, "Yeah, armor could use a good repair. Almost got a damn hole where that axe hit me."

"How's that feeling by the way," Geralt said, as the two slipped off the back of Clop and Roach.

He stretched out his legs after the hard ride, and felt his abdomen tingle, but there was no real pain anymore. The scar however where the axe hit him was deep and was going to stand out compared to his others.

"No pain anymore, I'm fighting fit. Ready for whatever or whoever we have to face," he said with confidence, as they approached the Baron's garden.

"Like the confidence, so, more training tonight then," Geralt asked him.

"Absolutely," He said as soon as he finished, "Do you think we can try Yrden again? I almost got it down, I know it."

Geralt nodded, "Course we can. First though… let's find out where Ciri went."

He scoffed, a smile coming to his face, "I've been waiting so long to hear you say that."

The Baron was sitting in the back, near his garden like he usually did. The rain only came down lightly, so the torches and firepits still roared. The garden was absolutely beautiful, all different types of flowers, herbs and other things grew, and it was a pleasure to look at. The barn had still been charred, but he could see men started to work on repairs.

"Witcher's a word if you please," A man said, as the two attempted to pass into the garden.

He was a short, balding man with stringy brown hair in plate. A sword was of course at his hip, and he looked at them, his gauntleted arms folded.

He smirked when they both looked over at him, "Believe we've not had the pleasure. They call me the sergeant. Leftover from my army days you see, you understand, when me and Phillip, meaning the baron, served under the Temarian banner. Wanted to ask you about somethin."

The tone the man used, certainly didn't indicate that he was giving them an option. He narrowed his eyes, but Geralt spoke up from next to him.

"What is it," He asked the man.

The man stepped off the fence he was leaning on, and approached the two of them, "That night when the baron ordered everyone to lock their doors, stay inside- what did you and the baron do?"

He shook his head to answer for Geralt, "Gotta ask the Baron about that. Where is he anyway?"

The man didn't seem satisfied, but pointed towards the garden, "Garden. Spends a lotta time sitting in there of late."

"Drunk," Geralt asked right away.

The sergeant shook his head, "No… don't eat, don't drink. Just sits."

Geralt nodded to the man and proceeded into the garden, and he followed closely behind. The garden had seemed as if someone was actually starting to take care of it again. He wondered if the Baron had ordered it so, or if the man was beginning to do so himself. What he had said to Tamara wasn't a lie. He truly didn't think the Baron was an evil man. He was a man who made mistakes, bad decisions in his life, but that was the case with everyone.

Like the sergeant had said, the Baron was sitting in the garden, looking at a collection of purple flowers. He recognized the blooms as flowers from Nazair. One thing he younger sister had always loved, was flowers. She would often drag him to the market and give him lectures about the different properties they all held, where they came from, and how much she wished to travel and see them in their natural habitat. Seeing the blooms now, made his stomach churn up, remembering how happy she had gotten at spending time with him, walking through markets and seeing the different blooms. All to let her down, to let her die in the end.

He had failed Bella, but he wouldn't do the same for Ciri.

"There you are," Geralt said to the Baron, as the two of them approached.

The Baron didn't meet their gaze, keeping his eyes locked on the violet blooms.

"See the hollyhock there? The violet blooms? Brought the plants in from Nazar," He said fondly, finally turning to look at the two of them, "Anna had read some story. Insisted on having them. Spent hours tending them, trimming, pruning. She was so content a that."

He felt himself smile, "My younger sister, back in Cintra kept the same ones. Would spend hours dragging me through the market. Insisted we have mother and father buy all the prettiest ones for her to tend, better times…."

The older man turned his head, meeting his eyes, a look of sympathy to them. He noticed the man for the first time since he met him, didn't reek of alcohol. He seemed sad, regretful, like he was thinking about every choice he made up to that point. It was something he did himself often.

"You seem old enough. So that means you were in Cintra when…" The man started.

He felt his chest pound, and his eyes sting, "Yes… yes I was. Massacre of Cintra 1262. Mother, Father, sister, all dead."

The Baron's eyes stayed locked with head, "Had to be young then… how'd you cope?"

"I had Ciri," He said simply, looking at his swallow pendant, "Escaped together, saved each-others lives… and now I'm trying to find her again."

The large man nodded, looking at them, his eyes almost beginning to swell as the sun set.

"And I hope you do… and I hope that you both finally find some peace," He said to them both.

Geralt picked that moment to step in, and met the Baron's eyes his arms crossed, "And you're going to help us in that endeavor. We got some information about your family."

He made sure to nod in agreement, and the Baron's eyes widened. The man got up to his feet, and he could see the thrill, and hope spark in his eyes.

"You have!? Come on, let's talk inside, it's a bit chilly out, bloody fucking rain," He said, gesturing for them to follow towards the castle.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

He right away warmed his cold hands by the fire. The Baron poured them all a drink, and soon the three men all stood over the large dining table in his study. He could see and sense the man's urgency. He couldn't blame him he had the same feeling inside of him. He wanted to know exactly what had happened with Ciri, down to what she ate for breakfast in the morning. After eight years of having absolutely nothing of her, except the swallow and his memories, it was something he couldn't get enough of. He moved over to the table, and down the small shot of vodka the baron had poured, as he looked at Geralt and he with those desperate eyes.

"So, what news do you bring? Are they alive," He asked them desperately.

Geralt nodded to answer, "We got good news and bad news. Good news is, they're both alive, both got places there staying, and are safe."

He felt his skin crawl. Tamara he wasn't that worried about, as much as he disliked them, having the Witch Hunters for protection would make sure she was safe. It was Anna he was worried about. The woman had been through a lot, miscarried, got carried off by a Fiend, and was forced to take care of children who weren't there anymore. She would have a place to say, sleep, and be safe as long as she was the Crones servant. As much as he hated the creatures, she was safe there.

He sighed, and delivered the news for Geralt, "Tamara is in Oxenfurt, got a roof over her head, we saw her, she's alive and well, and not hurt."

The Baron's eyes widened, but he still looked at the with pleading eyes, "Truly? Are you absolutely sure? Why haven't you brought her back!?"

The breath sucked out of his lungs and he met the mans eyes, with a sigh, "We tried to convince her to come back but… she doesn't want to. Not gonna lie, seemed dead set on not coming back at all, wasn't very happy with you."

He saw the Baron's eyes flare as he shook his head, "But… but her room is all done. Everything set for her return. I can't accept that, I'll go to her myself if I have too, convince her to come back!"

Geralt scoffed next to him, "You can try, we won't stop you, just don't expect much."

"And what of Anna? You said you found her!? Where is she!? Why have you not returned with her," He said quickly, his now fiery eyes turned to Geralt.

He sighed in disappointment he wasn't looking forward to telling the man the next part. Geralt thankfully was the one to deliver the news.

"We did find her like we said. She's in Crookback Bog. Got food, a place to live, and keeps herself busy. Didn't look like she had the slightest desire to leave," He told the man.

He remembered how angry he had gotten with the old woman in the swamp. He was having regrets now, for letting his emotions get the better of him in that moment. She was the victim of the Crones, just as much as Ciri had almost been, as the children had been. After learning what she had gone through to that point, he wished that he could've helped her somehow. If he had really killed the Crones, perhaps the curse on her would have been lifted. He knew Geralt was right however, they didn't know enough about the beastly sisters. The three could be more powerful then what they could handle, but he wouldn't let them stay alive for long. After he trained more, combined with Ciri at his side, he would come back to slay them.

The Baron, however, wasn't happy with their report, "You were supposed to bring her back! Not report the conditions she's living under!"

Geralt stood his ground, shaking his head at the man, "We were supposed to find her. And we did. That was our deal, nothing more. You're lucky Dom decided we should go talk to Tamara."

He could feel the tension between the two men. The sun outside had not gone down yet but was slowly beginning its descent. The fire in the study, suddenly began to feel much hotter. He stood on his toes, ready to bounce between the two men if need be.

The Baron shook his head, snarling at Geralt, "You still think me rotten to the core, a base bastard, don't you? You believe that I alone am at fault for what's happened here."

Geralt was silent, as the large man shook his head, and sat down in the large chair across from the them. Finally, the white-haired Witcher scoffed.

"Actually, yes I do," he said to the man.

The Baron scoffed and shook his head, "The world might seem black and white to you witchers, but for us common folk it's shades of grey. As is my family's story."

Geralt quickly looked over to him, then back at the Baron, "Probably gonna say you're not the only one to blame. All right then, tell us your side of the story."

He sat down in the chair across from the large man, while Geralt sat down next to him. The truth of the matter was, he was curious to hear what the story of the two had been as well. The Baron sucked in a deep breath and met the two Witcher's eyes from across the table.

"With Annie… it was love at first sight. A spear tore through my shoulder at the battle of Anchor, she tended my wound. Once I'd recovered, I asked her to marry me, she wept with joy," He said, tearing his eyes away, into the light of a candle, "Soon after Tamara was born, and after that they sent me to Cidaris. A warlord had risen against King Ethain, and Foltest sent help. It was one battle after another, 'twas a life of war. I was seldom home, found comfort in drink. Grew so fond of hooch I couldn't part with it when I did get home."

He could slightly empathize with the man. His father had often told him the stories of the horrors of war. With Queen Calanthe, he often went out to fight uprising warlords, or even other kingdoms when they asked Cintra for aid. That was how he met his mother; she had been head of the special forces unit for Cintra and was placed under his father's command during one battle. The two fought side by side, and eventually got married, and then he and Bella were the result. Even after he was born, and his mother retired however, he of course stayed on as captain of the royal guard.

Queen Calanthe had given him the option to retire, spend his life with his children. However, his father had refused. He always wondered why as a child but didn't learn until his death. His father's destiny, just like his was to protect the Riannon's, the royal line of Cintra, and the power they possessed.

It was a task that fell to him, and he was intent on completing it, however not because destiny had told him so. But because of the love he had for Ciri.

"I went from front to front, battle to battle, collecting soldiers coin, while Anna sat home with the babe for months. Later I learned she'd not been so alone after all," The Baron continued, his voice full of disgust, "For three years I learned she found comfort in the arms of one Evan, a childhood friend. A dog's bunghole."

The pieces of the story finally clicked together in his head. It wasn't something he had ever had experience with. He had only ever loved one woman, and while he had thoughts of others at times, at times he had been tempted, Ciri had always shone through. He didn't know if destiny played a part in it, but he didn't care, he loved the girl from the moment he saw her, and he was ready to admit that. From the moment he saw her on that balcony outside on the royal palace, to the moment they said goodbye in Ellander.

"Understand dammit! One tussle in the hay I'd have waved aside, put it out of my mind, but the woman cuckholded me for years! Without a whisker of concern for me, or my love," The man screamed, standing up and pacing outside behind the table.

He looked over to Geralt, and he could see the realization in the Witcher's eyes. The two of them truly didn't know everything, and the story was much more complicated than they thought.

"How'd you find out," Dominik asked the man carefully.

The Baron turned back around, stopping his pacing, "Came home one day and Anna was gone, her things too. Found a letter. She wrote that she didn't love me, that she'd left me for that blobtit and taken Tamara with her."

He was about to say something else, tell the man he understood, but the Baron went on, his anger flaring.

"Felt like I'd been rammed by a horse. I went to find the bugger, to get the girls back, to bring them home," He started again, sitting back down on his chair, "Yet soon as I saw him, something turned in me, something dark. I slaughtered the shit-eating twat like swine and fed his carcass to the dogs."

He felt his skin crawl. The idea trickled into the back of his head. What would he have done in that same situation? He had shown before that when it came to Ciri he sometimes let his anger get the best of him. However, he'd like to think that he would never do a thing like what the Baron described.

Geralt next to him, leaned onto his knees in his chair, "I imagine Anna wasn't exactly pleased?"

The Baron laughed, but the look of regret still poured on his face, "Ha! Bloody understatement if I've ever heard one! She flew into a fit, hysteria, threw herself at me, kicking, clawing. Finally grabbed a knife. It would've been the end of me, had I not leapt aside."

The momentary looked of amusement turned to regret, when the man looked back down at the candle again, studying its dancing flames.

"It was the first time I hit her. I had to calm her. Felt I had no other means…. Things changed; they would never be the same. Anna tried to take her own life- and mine- several times. She would goad me, prod me- in the hope I would hit her again perhaps? She'd scream that I robbed her of a life of love, that I'd destroyed the idea for her, and I might as well kill her," The man said, standing up to pace again, looking out the window towards the setting sun.

Geralt stood up along with him, and they walked over across from the man. The large man looked out the window and sighed, contemplating all the choices he made it seemed. He finally turned back to face the two of them again.

The Baron looked at them, with his eyes fallen, "How many times I apologized, how many armfuls of blooms and gifts I brought…. She cared not a bit. Two years of her anger turned into indifference, broken at times by her bouts of hysteria and my bouts of drunkenness…. Cannot fathom how we survived those years, but we did. Though as you both know now, not everything was as it might have seemed."

He sighed deeply after the story was finally complete. There wasn't a way he could relate himself. While he liked drinking himself, had been through, and seen more horrible things then any man his age should have, he'd never resort to it as his means of coping. He had one way that he made it through everything that had happened. How he kept himself going. It was the thought of finding Ciri, reuniting with her, and being able to finally apologize to her, for failing her the first time.

He looked over the Geralt and he could see the conflicting emotions in the Witchers eyes. The two of them both turned back to the Baron, and Geralt sighed.

"You're right… faults on both sides. Yours and hers," He said to the man, making the Baron give them a grim smile.

"I'm content you finally see that…. Very well, then-if you won't bring Anna home, you might at least tell me how she ended up in that blasted swamp," The man asked, the desperation in his voice growing.

Geralt nodded and looked over to Dominik. He felt himself sigh again, as he finally met the Baron's eyes.

"This is the bad news we told you about… your wife is with the Crones, as their servant," He told them man.

The effect on the Baron's face was instantaneous. The man who had just told a personal, terrible story, had suddenly grown fierce. He could see the protectiveness in his eyes. The fire that grew in them when the idea of his wife being held by someone, it reminded him of his own when he heard that Ciri had gone missing.

"The fuck do you mean!? What Crones," He asked the two Witchers.

"The ones who live in Crookback Bog, damn beasts were actually the ones who attacked Ciri first, before she came to your castle," He spit out in disgust, his rage still boiling from the situation.

The Baron's face twisted, and he paced again for a moment, "Oh, I've heard folk speak of them, but thought it naught but tales to scare the children with…. How on earth did she end up there?"

Geralt looked over and met the mans eyes, "They fled here at night. Were riding past the forest when a beast serving the Crones attacked them, and abducted Anna."

The man's eyes went wide, "A beast? Bloody hell… and Tamara, was she hurt?"

Dominik took the liberty of shaking his head, "No, the beast only wanted Anna. Beast carried her deep into Crookback Bog. Didn't harm her though, Anna she… she actually seems content there."

The Baron scoffed, and the fire in his eyes flared again, "Content? What is this tripe witchers? What in bloody blazes is she doing in that swamp?"

"She made a pact with the Crones and… well we think she may have lost her mind," Geralt butted in after the man had finished.

"A pact? What the bloody hell do you mean," The Baron asked quickly.

It was his turn again to explain, he met the mans eyes and went on, "I'm… sorry to have to tell you this but… that's the reason your wife miscarried. She was with child, a child she didn't want to bear, so… she went to the Crones for help. They got rid of her problem, and in exchange Anna gave them one year of her service…. The Crones kept their word, in a sick, twisted way. They sapped her of her strength and forced her body to miscarry… we think that's when her mind started to go. A pact like that places magic tethers on a person, causes them great pain when tested, it's to make sure they pay off their debt," he said, his voice full of disgust, but also trying to explain thoroughly.

The Baron's mouth had fallen agape. He tore his eyes away from the Witchers and paced for a moment, digesting what he had learned. If he was in the Baron's position, his reaction would have been similar. Despite all they had learned about the mans past, he was glad they had come to help him. However, he was hoping the man didn't do anything rash. The Bog was dangerous, and even Geralt and he had a hard time navigating it.

Finally, he turned, meeting their eyes again, "A pact with witches…. Bloody nightmare sounds like some jest! We must get her out, we can't leave her there!"

Quickly Dominik shook his head, "Bad idea, very bad idea. Those witches almost killed Ciri, and as I'm sure you know she's no slouch. Geralt and I barely made it around the bog and we're both witchers. Even we don't know what power these Crones have, going in there is suicide," He pleaded with the man.

The Baron shook his head, ignoring his warning, "What would you have me do!? Sit on my ass and wait for her to return? I'll send my men, go with them myself, and we will pull her out!"

He sighed in disappointment and looked at Geralt next to him, who shook his head at the man.

"Well we've warned you. What you do is your business. Now…." He said, his head going to Dom, and then back to the Baron, "We had a deal, we did our part. Now, you do yours."

The idea of Ciri made him completely forget about the Crones, Anna, Tamara, the Baron, everything in that moment. The reason that Geralt and he had done all of this, to the pellars hut, to the botchling, to Oxenfurt, even going to the Bog to speak with the Crones, all of it was for this. The Baron had been their last lead in Velen. If he didn't know where Ciri had gone, where they could continue to track her, he didn't know what he would do.

"Please…" he said, meeting the mans eyes, "I need to know where she went," he practically begged.

The Baron looked at the two witchers, and nodded, "You've both helped me, found my wife and daughter, a word once given… is always kept by me."

He breathed a sigh of relief, and before Geralt can say anything he spoke up again, "Please, what happened after she arrived? What did she do, where did she go?"

The large man chuckled light and met his eyes, "To be young and in love again… well let me tell you it all. Quite a number had been done on her when she came, rested for a day or two. While she was on the mend, we took her out on a hunt. Thought a bit of gallopin' would warm up her limbs gone stiff from so much bed rest…. That lass of yours," He said, looking between Geralt and he, "Pure luck in the flesh. To hunt down a wild boar that size-why, worthy of one of King Foltest's feast, were he still among the living."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Ciri! Come! Whole haunch should be yours, as I see it," The Baron said happily, gesturing for her to come and sit across from him.

It had been a productive few days at the castle. She had almost forgotten over the years the joys of simple things, hunting, sleeping in a bed, eating three meals in a day. She had been hesitant to accompany them at first, but after days of bed rest she was eager to stretch her limbs. She smiled, and joined the group of men by the fire, sitting down and crossing over her legs. The pig had been a huge one, and the throw of her sword had been precise. One of the first things she and Dominik learned when it came to hunting was to be precise, if your spear, arrow or sword did too much damage, you'd have less to eat.

She felt the ring dangle around her neck as she sat and remembered the last hunting trip, they had together in Ellander. They had trapped a few rabbits, and they had even seen a wild buck. Dom had insisted he could hit it clean in the heart with a bow, but it turns out archery wasn't his thing, since the arrow flew two feet in front of him, making the deer flee. She had done things like this often, remembered random memories from their time together, the smallest thing triggering one.

She wondered if it was the same for him if he still thought of her like this. Laughing at the good memories and crying at the bad ones.

"Aye you did well lass," The sergeant complimented as she sat down besides him.

She smiled and the man across the way showered her with praise as well, "Not bad, not bad at all, but who goes boar hunting with a sword?"

She felt herself genuinely laugh, which was rare for her in the last few years, she shrugged her shoulders.

"No spear or bow on hand, my sword was all I had. Besides, I've hunted much bigger game with it before," She said, referring to the Forktails and drowners she and Dominik would help hunt back at Kaer Morhen.

The man across laughed and nodded, "Hehehe, you brandished it beautifully. Where'd they teach you that anyway?"

She bit her tongue for a moment, wondering if she should confess. The men had ben nothing but kind to her, the Baron had helped her recover, so she felt in the back of her head she could trust them. Besides, she would need to leave soon anyhow, and even the Wild Hunt couldn't track her with such a small lead.

"At Kaer Morhen," She said, leaning forward to warm her hands over the fire.

She heard a chorus of aw from the men gathered, before one in a kettlebell helmet spoke up, "The Witcher school? Aye, but they only took lads, as I recall?"

The statement made her heart pang. She was the only exception ever made at the fortress. Witchers were a dying breed, her and Dominik were supposed to be the last two. She knew he never ended up undergoing his mutations… he was waiting for her.

Still, the thoughts of her old home brought another smile to her face.

"They… made an exception for me," She said, pulling her hands back from the fire.

The man with the kettlebell helmet's eyes looked at her wonderingly, "Does that mean you're a she Witcher?"

She remembered the dreams growing up she had, of being the first ever female Witcher. Geralt of Rivia, the white wolf would come for her, her destiny, and train her to become the greatest Witcher to ever roam the land, that was what she heard all growing up from her caretaker, despite what her grandmother had said to her. After she had met Dominik when they were eleven, she was convinced that she could convince him to become a Witcher with her. They could both go find Geralt, train to be Witcher's together, and save all the innocent people, like Witchers did. The boy had always simply smiled at her, saying where she went, he'd go. It was all supposed to go perfectly, at least that's what she believed when she was eleven.

Then the cold fist of reality hit her. Now, she had to go find her destiny again, Geralt and Dominik, the both of them were out there, and she only needed to do a few more things before she could find them.

She shook her head to answer the mans question, "Not entirely. The mutations- I was never subjected to them. But everything I learned, swordplay, survival skills, I learned from the Witchers there."

She had missed them all, Dominik, Geralt, Uncle Vesemir, Eskel, and even Lambert.

A new man spoke up from her left, an older one with grey hair and a balding scalp.

"From what I heard Witchers are almost extinct, most lads don't survive the training. You the last one to train with'em," He asked her.

Over the years, whenever she spoke about Dominik, or remembered him, she swore the ring around her neck would begin to shake. It did in that moment. She had learned from Yennefer when she came back two years prior, that he had completed his medallion, after she had gone to Aretuza. That was before he set out with Geralt to find her, and then stayed out to find her for years later. The point of their promise to look for each other had been, if they both were looking for the other, they would find each other quicker. Little did he know that she hadn't been able to go back and look for him for years, until now.

Which is why the first thing she'd say when she saw him, was how sorry she was.

She tried to form words, and eventually she found them, "No I… I wasn't the last, or the only one training there at the time. My… friend, my close friend, he was there with me. We spent three years together training. He's the last Witcher to be trained there."

He had been just a boy when she had left. Just a boy with unruly brown hair, half a beard, green eyes to match her own. The boy she had fallen in love with was now a man, a fully grown man, a Witcher. She was almost apprehensive to try and find him, thinking about how much he could have possibly changed, but she knew that either way, he, Geralt, Yennefer, all of them, her heart yearned to see them again. And soon, she would.

"Aye," The man who asked the question said, "What was his name, seem like you were quite fond of him."

She scoffed and nodded, "I am yeah. Dominik… Dominik of Cintra."

The Baron met her eyes after she said his name, and she appreciated that he didn't say anything further. She knew that the Baron was a smart man, and surely could've put two and two together to figure out what Dominik meant to her. While she wanted to see him, Geralt and everyone else, she had to take her task one step at a time.

Get a horse, get to Novigrad, lift the curse, then find Dominik and Geralt.

"A woman can swing a sword- I knowed one. But never seen a lady mount anything but a cock proper. All tipsy on horseback. Nothing strange on account they bloody mount them sideways," The stable hand, who she recalled being named Oswin spoke.

She felt the gears in her brain begin to move, and a plan formed. The man had just given her the perfect opportunity.

She smirked and met the mans eyes, "Well, perhaps you'd care to wager?"

Oswin tossed his head back and laughed, before leaning back down and meeting her gaze, "Think you can outrun me on a horse? Hahaha, naturally! What're the stakes?"

"Black mare," She said, gesturing her head towards the barn, "The one in the stable."

She faltered for a moment, thinking her plan would fall apart when the stable hand tsk-ed and shook his head, "Oh, that won't do at all…"

Quickly she stared at the man, "Well that's awfully gloomy face, too much of a coward to race a woman. I've out ridden witchers plenty of times," She said, remembering the races she used to have.

It was often that Dominik would insist on challenging her to races. She would beat him often, frustrating him to now end, and he'd go on insisting he always let her win. The two would need to have one once they reunited. Would he still 'let' her win?

"The horse is mine," The Baron said from next to her, smirking at her when she turned.

"To race the Baron himself," She started, standing up and making a point of bowing, "I'd consider it an honor," She said in a joking tone.

The joke went over well cause a few men laughed. The sergeant next to her laughed, "Ha! That'd be a sight to behold!"

"Would it ever," Another man from around the fire said.

She kept her eyes trained on the Baron, and the man seemed amused. He slowly nodded his head, "Done. But if I win, I get your sword,"

"Agreed," She said with a smile,

The sword was precious to her, despite where she had gotten it from. It had been with her through most of her hardships. However, she was confident she'd win, and even so it was a risk she had to take. She needed to get to Novigrad, see if she could find Dominik, or Yennefer, anyone who could help.

The Baron made a point of downing the last of his cup, and spoke loudly to the men, "I won't drink no more this night. Will want a clear head for tomorrow. We start at daybreak," She said turning to face her again, "Before we retire, why not treat us to a story?"

"A story," She asked with a confused look at the man.

The large man nodded, "Aye! Before we retire normally, we like to swap war stories. Don't think any of us have ever met a Witcher, let alone the first female one. Go on, I'm sure you have plenty to tell."

The rest of the men around the fire all spoke up in agreement. She felt herself laugh, knowing that some of the more interesting stories she had, no man would believe. She thought back to her time at Kaer Morhen and found one in her memory banks. It was a time from their training, only a month or so before they both left the fortress.

She looked around the fire and felt its warmth in her bones.

"Alright you want a story? I got one," She said, shifting in her seat to be able to meet all of their eyes.

"I was 13 years old, been training at Kaer Morhen for two years. My friend, Dominik and I, we went out to help hunt Forktails with two other Witchers….'

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"I think we may have lost Geralt and Eskel…" He said, as the hot sun beat down on the two of them.

The woods outside Kaer Morhen had always appealed to her. The large, beautiful smelling pine trees. The lake, the animals, the flowers, exploring it with him was always something she enjoyed. She remembered the day, the two of them had begged Geralt and Eskel to let them come with them to deal with the Forktails getting too close to Kaer Morhen. It was beautiful that day, but unfortunately, or fortunately as Ciri saw it, they had gotten separated from Geralt and Eskel, the two of them alone wondering the woods now.

She laughed as the two walked closely to each other through the trees, higher up the mountain.

"Ha come on don't worry. As many times as we've run the gauntlet, as many times as we've been to our cave. The woods aren't a problem for us," She said confidently.

He chuckled a little and smiled at her. He was wearing tight black trousers and boots, along with a leather jerkin, and tight red overcoat for his armor, his sword strapped to his back. She wondered if he still had the weapon. She had lost her first sword long ago, but it had become to small for her anyhow. Even at that young an age, Dominik was given a longsword, and it had looked natural on him.

He smiled at her, but shook his head, "I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about them getting angry, and grounding us for weeks."

She laughed and got closer to him, taking her hand in his as they walked. She smiled at him and laughed when he got flustered.

"Haha don't worry. If we are lost, I'll help us find out way. You're rubbish with directions anyhow," She said in a joke.

He scoffed and he looked over at her, "HA, I'M rubbish with directions!?"

She laughed and nodded, "You really are. You always forget how to get back to the castle from the cave. During the day-time you can't tell which direction is which!"

"I completely can!"

She shook her head, a smile still adjourned on her face, "Cannot! Almost as bad as you are at Gwent."

She saw him narrow his eyes at her, "For the last time, I LET you win when we play Gwent!"

"You definitely don't, you just normally waste your cards in round 1," She said with a smirk, loving seeing the smile on his face.

He scoffed again and shook his head, "I'll show you. Tonight, when we play, I'm not going easy on you."

Hearing him talk made her young heart flutter. She saw that goofy smile that he had on his face, and it made her miss him even more. She stopped, and turned around to stand in front of him, smiling at him. They were both the same height then, she wondered if he was going to be taller then her now when they met again.

"You bring the Gwent cards, new blanket. I'll get us some food… meet at the cave tonight," She asked him, their hands still together.

He smiled down at her, with that goofy smile he got whenever he always looked at her.

"You got it," He said with a smile.

She smiled broadly, leaning up to kiss his cheek. The red hue came to his face right away, and he laughed, the goofy smile still prominent. In her years on the run, away from him, she'd had many people profess their feelings for her. Mistle with the rats being the first, and multiple more as she traveled between different worlds, all to try and get back to the continent. That was how she knew it wasn't real, it wouldn't work out, it wouldn't make her happy.

None of them had the same reaction on their face when they saw her as he did. Nobody got the same goofy smile their eyes, didn't light up like his did. Nobody's smile warmed her heart like his.

"It's a date," She said with a smirk.

"O…O…Okay," He said with a small laughed.

She tossed her head back and laughed. After a moment he began to laugh with her as well. A gentle breeze blew through the pines, the sun beat down on them, but right now, they were all that mattered. Finally, after a moment, she looked back at him and smiled.

"Haha, I love it when you get like that… come on, we probably should find-," She was cut off when he reached forward, clapping his hand over her mouth.

"Shhhh… did you hear that," He said quickly.

She laughed and slowly removed his hand. His face was contorted into a look of focus, as he looked towards the plain of flowers and grass just passed them. She chuckled and shook her head.

"Of come on, lighten up. Let's go find Geralt and Eskel, they probably took care of the Forktails by now, we can probably-."

"CIRI MOVE," He yelled, the same time as a loud roar could be heard above.

He tackled her to the ground, just as a large Forktail swooped overhead. It roared loudly, ringing throughout the valley, as it landed in front of them both. She was just getting up next to him, when it stood up on its back legs, roaring even louder, spreading its wings wide. She felt her body paralyzed she couldn't move. It's large horns, and teeth dripped with drool, and its eyes focused on the two novice Witchers.

She felt her hand vaguely trying to move for the blade behind her back, but it was useless. The joints and bones inside her arms didn't let her move, as her eyes stood frozen in horror at the beast standing above them. She wouldn't have moved at all; she would have been skewered then and there if not for Dominik.

"OUT OF THE WAY," He yelled, going to push her aside, just as the beast roared again, swinging its wing towards them.

She felt herself shoved away from the front of the beast, just before the sharp barbs of its wings could have killed her. Instead, she screamed out when it hit Dominik instead, sending him flying backwards towards the trees.

"NO DOMINIK," She yelled, finding the power to reach for her blade.

She unsheathed the steel, and it looked like a toothpick in comparison to the large horns and barbs on the Forktails wings. She felt her feet begin to shake, as it stood up on its hind legs, outstretching its wings and roaring loudly again, the spit and saliva covered her body. She was about to try and lunge, do anything to fight back, when a large rock went through the air, striking the monster in its eye.

"HEY, COME GET ME INSTEAD UGLY," She heard being yelled.

She turned with the monster and saw Dominik really had gotten up. The blood dripping from his shoulder could be seen, but he held onto his blade, tossing large rocks, trying to gain the beasts attention. His strategy worked, because the Forktail kicked up dirt as it spun. It crawled towards Dominik, getting back up on its legs and roaring at him.

She saw the boy she loved wince in pain, almost dropping his blade, as he grabbed his bloody shoulder. It was at that moment her body finally listened to her head. She gripped tightly around her blade and sprinted towards the beast. It swung its wing down towards him again, but this time Dom managed to leap back out of the way. She got to the beast and leaped up, slashing her smaller blade across the joints of its wings, causing it to wail, and rear back with another mighty roar.

She got to Dom's side just as he yelled out in pain, falling to his knees, hand on his shoulder.

"AHHH," He screamed, the blood starting to flow harder as he looked up at her, "Ciri run, go find Geralt and Eskel!"

She shook her head, the blood pumping through her body at dangerous speeds, "Not a chance, I won't leave you I refuse to!"

She heard another roar and turned to see the Forktail had recovered. It turned back to them, its mouth drooling, its demonic eyes locked on the two of them. Shakily she raised her sword again, standing in front of him protectively as he tried to rise. The monster roared again, ready to strike down and end them, when a powerful blue blast of magic shot past them, knocking it back. She recognized the Aard sign right away, and both their heads turned back.

Geralt and Eskel both sprinted out from the trees, silver blades in hand. Eskel fired another blast of Aard, and leapt out with his reverse grip, slashing through the Forktails wing before it could even react. Geralt followed up, spinning around its snapping jaws and bringing his silver up, slashing the monsters neck. Within another few moments the two Witchers had slayed the beast, it lay dead at their feet.

"Ciri…" She heard Dom say painfully behind her.

"Dom," She said in a panicked tone, turning around to him.

He had fallen onto his back, and she could finally see the wound the Forktail had left. It didn't seem like a wound that would kill, but it was certainly going to be damaging for someone their age. He was slashed across the shoulder, and down his upper chest. She knelt down next to him and placed her hands over his bleeding wound.

"You saved my life… again…" She said breathlessly, meeting his eyes on the ground.

The boy managed to cough and laughed, "HA, right back at you. Are you okay? It didn't get you did it?"

She scoffed and shook her head at him, "How can you be worried about me right now, when you're on the ground with a bleeding shoulder?"

He shook his head, and spoke through gritted teeth, "I… I'll be alright. You're more important for me."

Had they been alone she probably would have kissed the poor boy again. But quickly Geralt and Eskel ran over to them. Eskel quickly knelt down next to Dominik, pulling bandages from his pack, and going to work on the boy. She felt Geralt come over and help her up off the ground.

"You alright," The older Witcher asked her.

She nodded quickly, looking back down to Dominik on the ground, Eskel wrapping bandages around his shoulder, before turning back to Geralt.

"We got separated, the Forktail attacked, he… pushed me out of the way," She said, her voice shaking, kneeling down next to him, "Will he be alright?"

Eskel nodded, not taking his eyes off the wound, "Yeah, it won't kill him. Definitely should get him back to Vesemir, won't be training for a few days."

She breathed a sigh of relief, as she grabbed his hand. The four of them would go back to Kaer Morhen, and sure enough Vesemir was able to heal the boys wounds. Eskel had been right, he didn't train for a few days, but neither did she, seeing as Geralt, Eskel, and Vesemir were all furious they had snuck off alone. However, in that memory, it was when she began to realize, that he truly would have done anything for her. He was laying there, an open wound on his shoulder, and all he worried about was her.

It only made her love him more.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Bloody fucking hell… forktails at age 13," The man with the kettlebell hat said in amazement.

The rest of the men around the fire all nodded in agreement, muttering their amazement. She laughed and looked around to them all, the cool air of the night blowing through her hair.

"Ha, yeah it was a tough fight. Dominik and I saved each-other's lives that day," She said, her eyes looking into the fire.

"Aye… you said the lad was still around, seen him recently," The sergeant asked her after she had finished.

It happened again, she could have swore she felt the ring around her neck tremble, as she gently shook her head, "No… not recently. Again soon…. Hopefully."

Some of the men looked like they were going to prod, ask more questions, but thankfully to her the Baron put a stop to it.

"All right, all right. The lass treated us to a story, let's not poke and prod her for more. To bed now all of you, tomorrow we ride at daybreak," The man said in an enthusiastic tone.

She breathed a sigh of relief as the men all began to gather their things and get up. Her plan was in action now. It had been a good few days at Crow's Perch. She had recovered from her ordeal with the Crones, she was fed, rested, and feeling like herself again. As much as she wished she could simply stay there for longer, continue hunting, playing with young Gretka, and waiting for more information, she knew she couldn't. With every day the curse could become harder for her to lift, and to lift it she would need help. Something, or someone who could open the phylactery. Dominik, Geralt or Yennefer were her first choice, but if none of them were around, she would have to improvise.

Thankfully her improvising skills had been one thing that improved constantly through the years.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The sun had risen high in Velen that day, as beautiful a day as she had ever seen. It was a perfect day to race a horse. She gently patted the mane of the grey mare she'd be riding that day. She remembered the last horse race she had against Dominik in Ellander before she left. Kelpie had raced pass and left his lame horse in the dust. Afterwards her loyal mare almost bit off his fingers when he tried to hug her.

She missed that mare, and the days in Ellander.

"The day dawns, ready," The Baron said coming up next to her with a smile.

She would miss the man when she left. He was kind, a good host, he didn't have to take her in, feed her and let her rest in his home for days. However, he did, and it was her hope that he would find his family, like she was looking for hers again. A bunch of the men had gathered around their starting point as the morning sun warmed them.

She met the mans eyes and nodded, "Ready."

The Baron smiled at her, and pointed off into the distance, towards a large tower jutting out over the trees, "First to the tower wins, straight shot down this road. Mount up," he said, still sounding enthused.

The two of them both went and climbed onto the respective horses. She had chosen to race for the black mare the Baron rode for a reason. It was truly a beautiful animal, strong, and she was sure it would be agile. However, the mare she mounted for the race, seemed to be no slouch either. She looked over to the Baron, and gave him a nod, before focusing down the path. It was wide enough for two horses to run across, and she knew getting the initial lead would be important. She had to win this race she'd hate for her plan to be derailed because she didn't ride well that day.

"3,2,1… GO," One of the men yelled, and she kicked her feet right away.

She kicked her heels and the mare seemed to sense her urgency. She sped down the road with the Baron close behind her. It felt nice to have the wind at her face, the trees and leaves rustling from the wind she kicked up. It reminded her of when she was younger, first learning to ride back in Cintra. It had been her who first taught Dominik how to ride, it was one of the few things during the last eight years that brought her momentary moments of solace.

Back in Cintra, she remembered the first time she took him out with her to the royal stables. His father had of course gone to supervise, and she learned that he only knew the very basics. He could stay atop a horse and make it move forward, but that had been it. She had shown him all the tricks she learned through her limited years of training at that time. The first time he kicked his heels to make the mare he rode one day go faster, it bucked him off into a pile of hay.

She remembered how his father and she had laughed.

That was someone else she had missed. Gregory, the captain of her grandmothers royal guards, Dominik's father, the man who had become the closest thing to a father she had until Geralt. He had always told her about his son, Dominik while she was growing up in the castle, and he always told her that one day he would bring him to meet her. She asked why he hadn't done it sooner, and he would always cryptically say, 'One day, I'll bring him, and you'll met. I think you're going to be best friends. You'll meet him soon, you will'. It wasn't until that royal ball when he finally brought his son to the palace.

She had recognized him because he looked so much like his father. The apple she threw at his back, she had no idea such a small act would spark what it did. She had been so excited to finally meet him, and in the end, she had a right to be.

The tower in the distance quickly approached, and she spurred her mare on faster. She could hear the hooves of the Baron's mare behind her speeding closer, but with one extra push, the grey mare came through for her and passed through the makeshift finish line the Baron's men had made for them.

After finally getting across she felt herself sigh in relief, pulling back on the reins to bring the mare to a stop. She had won, the first part of her plan had finally been completed, and she wouldn't lose her sword. The grey mare she rode neighed appreciatively as she stroked her mane and climbed down.

"Thank you," She said to the animal, gently stroking its grey coat.

"HA! You're more wind then woman," She heard the Baron say appreciatively.

She felt her excitement rise. Her blood was pumping, the wind has tossed back her ashen hair, as she breathed heavily. She reflected on the time she'd spent with the Baron and his men the last few days. She had more fun then she could remember having in a long time. For a few days she almost forgot about the curse other than when she was studying it. She forgot about the Hunt, Avallach, and everything that had happened to her. She hunted, rode, played with Gretka, ate and slept on a mattress.

She turned, and saw the Baron gesture back towards his horse, "Worthy of the best horse! The mare is yours," He said in a respectful tone.

"Thank you!" She said excitedly, feeling her smile finally return.

Her momentary happiness was halted when she heard the distant roar. The sun was still high, at its apex for the day. The trees had grown silent, she heard no bugs chirping, or birds whistling anymore. The Baron looked as if he was about to say something, but she quickly held up her hand to silence him. She scanned the surrounding skies, sure that it had come from above. For a moment she was flashed back to when she and Dominik hunted Forktails. He had heard the noise first that time, this time her highly trained ears did her well.

She spun around when a load roar came from the top of the tower.

"Basilisk," She yelled out to the men, quickly drawing her blade, with the Baron doing the same next to her.

It was an odd sensation, but it felt good to her to finally have people by her side fighting. She smiled and looked over to the Baron.

"Another chance to win," She said with a smirk, keeping her eyes on the skies, "Watch out," She yelled as the giant green beast landed in front of them.

The beast stood up on its hind legs and let out its terrifying screech and she heard men begin to scream. It was exactly as she learned in Kaer Morhen, the beast was trying to make itself appear huge, bigger then it already was by spreading its wings and letting out its screech. Some of the Baron's men ran, it thrashed wildly about, and knocked a few off their feet.

She heard the Baron growl next to her, "If I don't survive this, you're to take anything you want from the fortress!"

She almost scoffed and yelled back, "You'll survive," She yelled, one hand out, the other on her blade.

"Let's show this bastard what we're worth," The Baron yelled, before screaming and charging.

She felt herself smile, happy to finally get herself a real fight again. She had spent so many days stuck in the bed, that when she charged, she felt happier then she'd been that whole day. She remembered what the bestiary had said about Basilisk's. They enjoyed trying to intimidate their opponents, and their toxins while not deadly, were certainly harmful. She ducked under a wing and went to strike. Her blade cut across the monsters belly, and she rolled back out to the other side.

She was careful not to use her powers. If she did, and the Hunt descended upon the Baron and his men, she would never forgive herself. She saw the Baron slash through the monsters beak and draw its attention. Quickly to help the man she leaped forward and tried to cut along its wing, and she landed a hit. The beast whirled around, trying to swing its wing at her, but she rolled back and came up, face to face with it. It roared its head back, and spat at her, a gland of poison just barely missed her as she rolled to the side. She went to swing for its wing, but the monster took its opposite wing and smacked her aside.

She felt the bruises form on her bones as she tumbled back but managed to roll quickly back up to her feet. The Baron had tried to draw its attention again and it worked. He sliced across its chest and the monster reared around. He smacked the larger man onto the ground, making him drop his sword, and lunged on top of him. It had its beak inches from the mans face, it would have mauled him alive if she didn't leap back into action.

She wasn't going to let someone else down, to let the man die. She rushed forward, leaped and spun to put more power into the attack. It connected to the beasts back leg, and it screeched so loud her ears felt like they were about to pop. Before she even had time to admire her work, the Basilisk reared back around and smacked her backwards. She was knocked off her feet, but used the momentum to roll, and come back up on one knee.

"DAMMIT," She yelled as she felt the bruise in her abdomen flare up.

She watched as the Baron tried to reach for his blade, but the Basilisk descended down and hefted the large man up in its claws and ascended back into the air.

"Aah…! Argghhh fuuuuuuuuuuck! Aaaaa," She heard the man scream as he was lifted away towards the top of the castle.

"DAMMIT," She screamed again, her hand keeping a tight grip around her sword.

The Basilisk more then likely made its nest at the top of the tower and was angry when so many people arrived in its territory. She looked around and saw the men were still in shambles, rushing to help others, and tend their own wounds. Nobody seemed to realize the Baron was even gone. She eyed the top of the tower and could hear the man scream. She looked to the right, trying to find any way to the top, however the entrance was blocked by falling rubble, and she doubted any staircase survived inside it.

"I can't leave him like that…" She said, looking and spotting some cliffs to the right of her.

She moved as fast as her legs could take her, and climbed up two ledges, trying to get herself as high as possible, hoping she could find some kind of handhold, or another cliff to make her way there. She owed the man, she owed him practically her life. She had no idea what she would've done without him taking in her and Gretka. And now she was going to be able to move onto Novigrad thanks to him. She needed to save him. However, when she got to the top of the cliff she was climbing, she could see the top of the tower, but it was still well out of her reach.

"Come here! Come on whoreson, bring it on," He heard the Baron yelling from the top, followed by a loud roar of the Basilisk.

She looked around her, trying to find anything to help propel her to the top, but found nothing. There would only be one way, and she didn't want to do it, but a life was at stake. Witchers saved people, more importantly she repaid debts she was owed. It was going to bring her a heap of trouble, but there was no other way. She channeled the magical energy within herself and readied her blade. The roar of the Basilisk pierced her ears one more time, before she closed her eyes, and teleported.

When she finally saw the light again, she swung up her blade, using the momentum to slice right through the Basilisk, just before it had descended on the Baron. Blood splattered from the creature from the full force of her attack, and it screeched again falling backwards. The power she emitted had always amazed her and scared her all at the same time.

"Wha… what the bloody…" The Baron trailed off.

She ignored him and ran for the monster again. She leaped up onto its back, and it weakly tried to shake her off. She regained her footing however, and with perfect precision she slashed down, cutting her blade through the monsters neck, blood spewing like a waterfall from onto the top of the tower. It wriggled underneath her, and she leaped off, spinning downwards and slicing through its neck again.

Her breath was heavy, using the power always took a lot out of her, despite all the training she had undertaken. The hot sun was finally starting to set, but the sweat on her forehead was still flowing. She stepped off the corpse of the beast, wiping her gloved hand over her forehead, and she finally managed to look back over at the Baron.

The mans mouth was agape, he tried to sheath his knife back into the holster on his breastplate but missed multiple times.

She looked at the man, and then back to the corpse. It had been a bad idea to use the power, she knew. But she had at least saved a life.

Now however, she would need to move, and move fast.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

She gently stroked the main of her new black mare. The name she had decided on was Clip. It came to her as she rode back to Crow's Perch. She remembered when her and Dom were on the run, they had stolen a pair of horses from the woman who would end up graciously taking them in. The horses names were Clip and Clop. She rode Clip, while Dominik rode Clop. Dom had been upset when Clop had died, when she accidently unleashed her powers to save the two of them. He promised to name any horse he used in the future Clop in his honor, so naming the horse she had then Clip, was a way of reminding her of him. That, along with the ring dangling from her neck. The sun was finally starting to set, she had gathered her things to set out right away. Novigrad was her best option. If Dominik wasn't there, or nobody had heard of him, perhaps Yennefer would be or perhaps Triss, if not, somebody in the city would help her, she would improvise as she always had.

"So… have everything'," She heard from behind her, turning to see the Baron.

She nodded, looking at the blood smears still on the mans armor, "Yes, everything. Thank you."

The larger man looked down at the ground, and she could see him struggling to form words.

"What you did for me…. I-I shall never forget it," He said to her, his voice sincere in tone, she could feel it.

Despite this she sighed, looking out towards the sunset, "I certainly hope not. It's brought me no small trouble."

She took a step and took in the smell of hay, and the garden again, one last time before she was forced to leave. It would kill her, not getting to say goodbye to young Gretka, but she knew it was for the best. The less the people knew of her, the better.

"Meanin," The Baron asked from behind her.

"I must flee," She said, and after a moment of surprise the Baron nodded, "Wraiths pursue me. The Wild Hunt. I was foolish to use the Power. They've surely caught my scent."

She had not wanted to scare the man or tell him what was really going on. That the war between the north and south was irrelevant, but she felt she owed him some type of explanation.

The man's mouth fell, and she could see the concern for her in his eyes, "The Wild Hunt? Pursuing you?"

She nodded, keeping her eyes on the man, "I'll endanger all of you by remaining here. You must tell the people to bar their doors and windows, and nobody is to wonder out at night!"

The sudden shift in her tone got her a nod from the man, "And you… where do you think you're going?"

She felt her heart thump, and she turned out to face the sun again, "Now, I ride to Novigrad… to hopefully find… someone," She said, gripping the ring around her neck.

"Dominik of Cintra? Geralt of Rivia," The Baron asked her, his tone knowing.

She quickly turned to say something, but the Baron shook his head, "You love the one. I could tell by the way you spoke of him. What… what will you do if they're not in Novigrad?"

Her grip around the ring tightened, as she shook her head, "If I don't find them, I'll find someone else. All I know if, I must go there, and after that… who knows where," She said, unsure of the future herself.

She looked one more time out into the sunset, before she turned back to the Baron.

"Can I ask you to do one more thing for me," She asked, her tone desperate, and pleading.

The Baron scoffed, but the seriousness of his eyes remained, "Of course, what is it you need?"

She looked down at the ring, and the image of his young, boyish face came to her mind. The scruffy beginnings of a beard, the unkept brown hair. That goofy smile he got after she kissed him, and the way his eyes shone when he looked at her.

She looked back to the Baron, "The odds are low… but if you see Dominik of Cintra anytime soon, can you give him a message for me?"

The man thankfully nodded, and she looked out into the sunset again, the weight of what was going to happen hitting her shoulders.

"Tell him… tell him I said I'm sorry again, and that I've never forgotten about him… and… and that I'm still trying to keep my promise."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Ciri… oh gods… Ciri…" he said slowly to himself, having to turn away from the two men.

If it was possible for a mans heart to melt in his chest, it happened to him right there. It had been a lingering fear in his mind. That she had forgotten him, she had forgotten all the times they had together, the promises they made, the memories they had made. She was alive, it was definitely her. Not some random ashen haired farm girl or mage, not a whisper or a rumor. She had been in the same spot as he was now, and not long ago. She was alive.

His Ciri was alive. And she said she was the sorry one. It was a completely ridiculous notion. She had done nothing, except be hunted for something that was completely out of her control. That would change when he found her, the two of them would become the hunters, and he would kill anyone who had tried to harm her, cheat her, manipulate her. Nobody would trouble her again.

Geralt recovered from the news of the story before he did, "The Redanian's have blocked the Pontar crossing. How'd you expect Ciri to make it to Novigrad? Dom and I had to sneak into the harbor to get to Oxenfurt."

He managed to compose himself, and stop the tears that almost fell from falling, determined not to cry in front of Geralt and the Baron. The large man shook his head and met their eyes.

"She was looking for you," He said pointing to Dominik, "You and a sorceress. Thought you'd be in Novigrad since it's technically not under Nilfgaardean control, and the sorceress because well all of them are in Novigrad. Besides, I didn't leave her to the Redanians' mercy. I gave her a letter of safe conduct."

He looked and saw Geralt look at the man wonderingly, "Who are these letters to?"

The Baron shook his head and reached behind his desk, and from a drawer produced two sealed letters, "No one. Show these to those pricks at the crossing and they'll let you pass."

Part of him wanted to know how the Baron got the letters, however it didn't outweigh his desire to get to Novigrad. He remembered before they had started the quest in Velen, he asked Geralt if they shouldn't just head to Novigrad first. In the end they decided to learn everything they could from Velen. Despite the fact it could've been faster, he was glad they decided to stay in Velen.

He had learned things about himself, become a better fighter, reunited with old friends and made new ones. To top it all off, he learned that Ciri still thought of him, and was trying to reunite with him, like he was with her.

"This for us," Geralt said as they both took one of the letters.

The Baron nodded, "Aye, see no reason to make it harder for you both. You seek your child, and your lost love… you helped me find mine, so I'm giving you this to help."

He gripped the letter tight and tucked it into his back pocket, before looking back up at the Baron.

The tears that almost fell from his face had subsided, and his feelings were replaced by ones of determination. He had her location again, where she went. He had Geralt with him, he had Faram, he had a plan to get stronger. He was going to find her now, and it would involve finding someone else who he hadn't seen in years and missed dearly.

Next, they would visit Triss Merigold.

He felt a smile come to his face as he looked over at Geralt, "This means Ciri can still be in Novigrad," he said excitedly, before turning to meet the Baron's eyes, "Thank you… thank you for helping her."

The Baron nodded, a determined smile on his face as well. He nodded to the younger Witcher, "Aye, you're welcome lad. When you find her… you don't let her go again."

He shook his head, "I won't… never again."

Geralt looked down at him, beaming with pride, before turning to the Baron, "Yeah… we really do appreciate it. Thank you for your help."

The Baron smiled quickly, and nodded at them again, before carefully speaking, "It's nothin'. Now you've both learned what you wanted to know, you must be in a hurry-but… if you could…" he said, struggling with his words.

"Spit it out…" Geralt said, crossing his arms.

He looked and met the two Witchers eyes again, "I want to go get Anna. Free her, bring her back. I don't believe she's there willingly."

The words made him suck in his breath. The idea of returning to the swamp wasn't very appealing to him, and the man must not have realized just how much danger they'd be in.

Geralt scoffed and was kind enough to remind her, "Must not have heard us right. Any journey into those swamps is suicide."

Quickly the Baron nodded, "I know-which is why I'm asking the two of you for help," he said, turning to face Dominik as well, "I've no more tales of Ciri to offer yous, but go with me and I'll be generous with what I have. Very generous."

Geralt sighed and crossed his arms. He seemed to be contemplating the mans request. The older Witcher turned to him, "What do you think? You wanna head back into the swamp?"

He looked between the pleading eyes of the Baron and Geralt. The idea of venturing back into the swamp and encountering the Crones again wasn't very appealing. However, he knew that the Baron would more then likely run into the swamp even without them. He thought back to the old woman he met in the swamp, her stringy grey hair, her frantic eyes. Nobody deserved a fate like that.

No, he couldn't leave anyone to the mercy of the Crones. He would go with the Baron, together with Geralt, they would save a woman from them. Besides, he was feeling reinvigorated after hearing the news about Ciri, it was thanks to the Baron he knew now, he had taken care of Ciri. So, the least he could do was try and help the man.

"Well…" he said looking to Geralt, "Extra coin never hurt. Besides, nobody deserves to be left at the mercy of the Crones."

Geralt nodded, and sighed, shrugging his shoulders, "Alright, you do got a point. We're in."

The Baron's mood shifted, and he laughed, "Hah! True indeed! I'll round up my men and we can ride to Downwarren, will you ride with us?"

"Fine. Sounds good. We leave soon we can make it before-," Geralt started to talk, but was interrupted by the door swinging open.

"UMA, UMAUMAUMA," he had to leap back when a small creature came running into the room.

The first thing he felt was his medallion thumping against his chest.

"What the hell-," He yelled, just barely avoiding the small thing running him over.

The creature was a small, almost man like thing. Its back hunched, warts and scabs all over his little mangled body. He ran around the room, knocking over books, cups and other things before the sergeant finally rushed into the room.

"Escaped again," The sergeant muttered.

The sergeant chased the small creature around the room. It ran from him; it was wearing the equivalent of swaddling clothes that a toddler would wear. He felt his medallion hum more and tried to examine it closely. It's words were incoherent, and the ore he saw it evade the sergeants grasp, the more he thought it had to at least have some kind of intelligence. It stopped for a moment after nearly running him over again. The small creature topped, and locked eyes with him.

In the small brown eyes, he didn't know what it was, but he saw something. Something that told him, the little man was more then he seemed. To make the matters worse, the thing seemed… to recognize him. When he locked onto Dominik's brown eyes, it slowly started to walk towards him, giving the sergeant time to grab him up by the arms.

"UMA! UMAUMAUMA," It screeched, kicking and trying to get over to Dominik.

Eventually the sergeant quickly nodded an apology and left the room.

"What… the fuck was that," He asked slowly, turning around to the Baron, Geralt doing the same.

The intelligent eyes of the little creature wouldn't leave him soon. But the Baron shrugged the question off, leaning back against a table, "You tell me, man, monster? My men call him Uma and say he's a beast, but he seems a man to me, just hideous as shit."

"Geralt, that thing didn't seem like a monster," he said, trying to decipher why the little hideous man might have recognized him.

Geralt thought for a moment, before leaning against a support pillar, "Yeah… think your right. Not a monster, but your medallion was humming too right?"

He nodded his head, and the older Witcher continued, "Strange… where'd you find him," he asked, turning to the Baron.

The Baron laughed, and looked at the two of them, arms crossed, "Funny story actually. I won him in a game of cards."

"Funny how," He asked the man, just as curious as Geralt.

The larger man shrugged, "I was in Novigrad once, to rest, indulge in the cities pleasures. Stayed at a tavern, and some folk were playing, so I joined in," He started, like the story was no big deal, "Cards were kind that day. Had one devilish hand after another, robbed one whoreson blind. One fellow a merchant took it particularly hard, gambled away everything he brought from Skellige, wanted terribly to play another hand so I agreed."

He laughed at the story and continued on, "Asked him what he had to wager, and he showed me that sideshow. Not much in it for me but fuck it I thought, I'll give him the chance to win something back. Luck was not with him, and Uma ended up here at Crow's Perch."

If the little man had come from a merchant in Skellige, he had no idea why it would have recognized him. He had never been to Skellige, not in his youth, not in his years traveling alone. It had been a place Ciri told him much about, and promised to show him one day, so he had no interest in going by himself.

Geralt chuckled with a smirk, "Proper Baron now-even got a court jester."

The Baron laughed as well, but slowly shook his head, "Aye… though I feel somethings not quite right with him."

"How so," he asked from next to Geralt.

"Well, he seems more beast then man, but there's wisdom, cunning in the bastards eyes," he started, making Dominik's mind go a mile a minute with questions, "Or maybe I'm imagining it."

"No… you're not, I saw it too, but he doesn't seem dangerous," He assured the larger man.

The Baron shrugged again, "Hmm… well I guess that's that. Doesn't eat much, so as long as he's no trouble, the boys might as well have some diversion. Not important now though," He said, standing up off the table, "Now we ride for Downwarren, are the two of you ready to depart?"

He decided that he would think of the matter later. There were more important things that he needed to ready his mind for. He was walking willingly back into the Crones territory, after he had promised to kill them. He would need to ready his mind, and his body for the fight to come. And after that, he would need to prepare for Novigrad, where Ciri had gone.

He had much more important things to do, then worry about possibly the ugliest man alive.

A/N: I gotta admit I love ironical endings lol SO, this chapter we got a nice long Ciri POV, and now with the Baron questline finally over, it means that we'll soon be heading to Novigrad. We'll have two more, epic chapters in Velen, with two big fights. Next chapter, Dominik and Geralt ride to help the Baron retrieve his wife, and in the chapter after that, Dom will return to help out everyone's favorite swamp witch. What are you guys looking forward too? What do you want to see more of, less of? Tell me in a review, and I'll see you guys next time!

Velen is almost done guys, I know it's been pretty cut and paste for the most part, but to be honest it's because with Dominik in the story not much still will change in the Velen arc. However, once we get to Novigrad, we will have a LOT more divergence and learn a LOT more about Dominik's past with Geralt, Ciri and his family. I have a lot of stuff planned so stay tuned.

Then as soon as Ciri gets into the picture? Well you can probably guess what she and Dominik will get up too xD That is when the story will really pick up, but trust me I have some GREAT stuff planned in the meantime, I hope you guys enjoy it. Please leave a review and let me know what you think, they keep me going! See you all soon, thank you so much again.