The Witcher: Through the Worlds
Chapter 21: Novigrad Dreaming
Narrator: After arriving in the free city of Novigrad, Dominik and Geralt knew that finding Ciri, one woman, in the worlds largest city would be an impossible task for them alone. The Witchers decided to contact an old friend, Triss Merigold. After helping Triss with her business and helping her fight off the maniacal Witch Hunters on her trail, Triss gave them the lead they needed. Triss had not seen Ciri herself, but directed Dominik and Geralt to Corinne Tilly, an oneiromancer, and an expert and finding the lost and missing.
The darkness of night had finally fallen over Novigrad as Dominik and Geralt reached the place Triss had described to them. It was a small house on the corner of the canal as she described but seemed to be all but abandoned. It didn't hamper his mood however, with his optimism climbing ever higher. If Geralt and he could find this dreamer, he knew that he had enough memories, powerful ones to help him find Ciri, or at least where she had gone from Novigrad. It would all be worth it soon, they had been following in Ciri's footsteps so far, and he knew with Geralt by his side the trail would lead to the girl.
However, the house they had come to, certainly rubbed him the wrong way.
"Place gives me the creeps…" He said, as Geralt and he both rounded a corner towards the homes entrance.
A cold breeze blew over the ocean and down the back of his neck as he walked behind Geralt. The older Witcher turned around and smirked at him.
"Still a little spooked of haunted houses since your little encounter on Fyke Isle with Kiera," His adoptive father joked.
He felt his face get hotter as he shot a glare towards the white-haired Witcher, "Shut up!"
Geralt laughed and he scowled as the two of them came to the front of the house. It was run down, shutters and the doors to the front yard busted off. The wood smelled of rot, and he could see small rats and mice scurrying around. Multiple old pieces of furniture were brought to the outside, making it clear that the place was due for renovations.
"Just passing by wonderers. Or do you seek something specific," A posh accent said to them.
He whirled around with Geralt and saw a wealthy looking man sitting on the side of the building. The man was wearing one of the large feathered caps normally worn by the merchants and bankers of the higher class. He had on a fresh blue and black doublet, and blue trousers. His chin was perched so high as he spoke it was almost pointing towards the moon, as he stroked his black beard.
"Who's asking," Geralt quickly said.
"Rudolph De Jonkheer," The man said, sounding as if he was hoping they'd ask, "Yes THAT De Jonkheer, my family has ancient roots in this city and own its largest bank."
He rolled his eyes towards the man, "Could've just told us your name…"
The man scoffed and shook his head, "My father always told me not to hide behind my bushels! Always let people know who you are."
"Right…" He said, rolling his eyes again, "Dominik of Cintra."
"Geralt of Rivia," Geralt said quickly, drawing the mans attention, "The two of us are looking for Corinne Tilly."
De Jonkeer's eyes went wide and he nodded, "I hired Corinne a few days ago. She's inside, dreaming the homes history but… she hasn't come out for some time."
He felt his eyes narrow at the man, "Why did you need her to dream the houses history?"
The banker started to shake as he leaned closer to the two Witcher's, "Well you see, I recently bought this property and well… I… I daresay its haunted!"
"Haunted, haunted how," He asked again, looking at Geralt who kept his eyes narrowed at the man.
"Terrible things! Terrible," The man wailed, almost making Dominik sigh, "Floating objects, demonic child laughter, loud banging! I sent for Miss Corinne to dream the homes history, so that I may determine how it's haunted."
He felt his eyes roll, he was sure it had to be all in the mans head. The banker seemed the kind of man who would scare easily, and accidentally knock over a chair before saying the chair was haunted. And after his encounter with the curse of Fyke Isle the day before, and then Kiera after, he had enough of cursed buildings for quite a while.
"We're looking for Corinne, can we go in," Geralt asked the man, his larger arms crossed.
The scrawny man looked them both over before finally nodding his head, "Normally I'd be hesitant but… pair of swords, yellow eyes… I daresay you're a Witcher," He said looking at Geralt, before turning to him, "And you… well um-."
"I'm a Witcher," he said to the man, his tone growing darker.
The bankers eyes went wide and quickly he nodded his head, "Aye, yes, yes of course! Go on inside, you can talk to Corinne if you can awake her."
He looked over and saw Geralt smirk at him, before the two went to enter the house. Just as they went too, a light rainfall began to cover the city, so it was the perfect time to step inside. As they did, the little bit of light they had from the moon and torches outside, was replaced by an even smaller amount inside. The light had was so dark, that Geralt igniting a fire in the palm of his hand with the Igni sign, as the carefully creaked through the house.
The house on the inside was falling apart just as much as on the outside. The paint on the walls was chipping and falling off, the smell of old mold and dust were ever present. Tables, shelves, chairs, sacks and barrels were everywhere, strewn about as if the place was used as someone's personal storage room. The hallways were narrow, one leading to the fight and a dining room, while the small bit of candlelight they had came from the left, up another set of stairs. Somehow the cold chill from the outside had followed him. He heard what the banker had been talking about, the faint sound of a child's laughter.
"Geralt…" He said quietly, as the older Witcher looked back to him, the fire still in his palm.
"Shh… come on," he said, gesturing for him to follow.
They went through the doorway to the left and started to ascend the creaky set of stairs upwards. Each step he took on the rickety staircase, he almost felt as if he foot was going to fall through it. The two Witchers tried to move silently, but the stairs still creaked, and the faint laughter of the child got louder as they both got higher. Finally they came to the top, and both Geralt and he stopped when they heard the woman's voice.
"Stop…. Go away…. Don't do that! Leave it," Her voice yelled, and Geralt met his eyes, before nodding and the two Witchers raced up the rest of the steps.
They led to a doorway to a bedroom and the two of them both rushed in. What he saw, was what seemed to be a small child. She was standing on a bed, as a woman who he assumed to be Corinne Tilly, was frantically thrashing about, screaming the same words they heard. As their feet finally came to a stop the child turned around, and right away both of them reached for their blades as they saw the magic emanating from it. However as soon as the two even slightly slid their swords out of the sheath, the child leaped from the bed, before crawling under it. Quickly he ran over and ducked onto the floor, trying to find where it had gone… but the underside of the bed was empty.
"Fuck…" He cursed as he got up to see Geralt move over to the side of Corinne's bed.
The older Witcher reached over, and shook the woman's shoulders, "Wake up! Come on, wake up it's just a dream!"
He came up onto the opposite side of the woman and was about to attempt to shake her as well, when she spoke again, however it wasn't her voice this time.
"The doll… the attic," She spoke out, except the second time, it sounded like the voice of a young girl.
He stood back up to his feet, hearing the house around him begin to creak. The cold shiver returned down his spine, as he almost did a complete spin trying to locate the sound of the noise. Finally he sighed in annoyance and met Geralt's eyes.
"I HATE ghosts, but… that didn't look like a ghost," he said to the older Witcher.
Geralt nodded in agreement and suddenly a door swung open next to them. He could see a ladder leading upwards to what he assumed was the attic. Geralt looked back over to him and gestured towards Corinne.
"Guess we should find a doll in the attic. You stay here, make sure that thing doesn't come back, looked like another godling, I'll go find the doll," The older Witcher instructed.
After reviewing in his head what he had seen, he realized Geralt was right. The purple skin and hat made of grass. Seeing another godling in Novigrad made him begin to wonder what had happened to Johnny back in Velen. Had the godling still had the same home? Or had the Crones gotten to him once again.
He sighed, looking down at the thrashing woman, before nodding over to Geralt. The older Witcher nodded back, before walking towards the ladder, and quietly climbing upwards. He was out of Dom's sight before he knew it, and he was left alone with the thrashing woman once again.
It was clear to him now why the banker assumed the place was haunted. The Godling more then likely had made its home somewhere in the depths of the house. Soon as it saw that the man was beginning to come, it had begun to play tricks on the unsuspecting banker. It almost made him laugh, as he knew godlings were harmless creatures. They would inhabit burrows and small caves like Johnny's in Velen near villages, and help the locals however they can, as long as that village remained in good favor. The creatures were now close to being extinct, so he didn't want to hurt the one that was in the home.
He did however need, Corinne, and he assumed the godling had a hand in the dreamer being trapped in the bed, currently thrashing about. After they did get the dreamer free, he would simply tell the banker outside the house was haunted with no way to lift the curse. Hopefully it would mean the godling would be safe.
Thinking back to the banker made him think to what he had said. The man automatically assumed he wasn't a Witcher. He was going to tell Dominik he was just a man and ask what he would possibly be able to do against the ghost in the house. It had been something that he struggled with for a while traveling alone. A few times people had outright refused to give him contracts, thinking that he wasn't a real Witcher and their investment in paying him would go to waste. After a few years, as he started gaining more trophies, and developing his skills further it had gotten easier, he had never thought it a problem.
That was until his visit with the Emperor.
You are not good enough for her, she will be paired with someone I select who is more… proper.
The words had sent his mind into a funk. He began to wonder if the Emperor was correct, and he still didn't know the answer. Being with Ciri, that was what he had wanted since the moment he met her, falling in love with her on that night, despite how much his eleven-year-old self-tried to deny it. Despite it being one of his deepest desires, it wasn't his deepest. His deepest, was just to keep her safe, make sure she got out of this whole situation with the Hunt alive, and could live a long life. However… how would a man be able to stand up to the might of the Wild Hunt? He had tried, when he fought Nithral in Velen, however the general of the Hunt had nearly killed him. It had taken every bit of his strength, and it still almost wasn't enough.
The Wild Hunt had more generals, all if which were even more powerful then Nithral. How would he ever be able to stand up to that power and keep Ciri safe? He didn't have the supernatural speed and strength of Geralt, or the magical powers of Yennefer, Triss or Ciri herself. He was just a normal man.
The past can hurt sometimes, the failures you made can hurt. The way I see it though… we can either run from it… or we can learn from it.
The words Faram spoke that day had kicked him into overdrive. He was just a man yes, but it didn't mean that he was helpless in the fight. He was going to find Faram again, he was going to train with him, and then, he would master all the forms of Witcher Combat.
And then he would kill Eredin, any of his generals… and anyone who stood in his way, of making his deepest desire, to see Ciri safe, come true.
He knew Faram was in Novigrad, the bear school Witcher would not only be able to help him on the quest but could teach him the ways of the School of the Bear. The Witcher George of Toussaint, the Witcher of the School of the Griffin was surely not dead, the man was far too skilled. He would find him if he could, he would learn from them. Letho of Gulet, the man who helped Geralt fight the Hunt the first time, was a Witcher of the school of the Viper, currently at Kaer Morhen, he would convince the man to train him as well.
And he would continue to practice every day with Geralt, until his footwork was perfect, his reflexes better than any mans. He wasn't going to run from the past anymore. He wasn't strong enough, smart enough, diligent enough in his search to save Ciri the first time. It would be different this time.
He was watching the poor woman thrash about in the bed next to him, when the floor creaked again, and his head shot around. Geralt had come back, and in his hand, he was holding a ragged old doll, and a crude piece of paper in his hands. He shot to his feet as Geralt showed him the drawing of a doll laying in a crib.
"I hate puzzles…" He muttered as Geralt smirked at him.
"You were pretty good with Johnny when we met him," Geralt said, as the two began to search for a crib.
He felt his eyes roll as he walked to examine that seemed to lead to a small storage room, just off the side of the bedroom.
"Johnny had information about Ciri, the first real lead I'd had on her in years, that was different," He said, turning the door handle.
"Stop whining," The older Witcher told him.
He sighed as he turned to look inside the room. Smiling he saw the cradle. It was old, wooden, and off the two rockers that had once helped it flow from side to side.
"Geralt, found our cradle," He said, making the older Witcher turn, walking into the room with him.
The older Witcher smirked and held the ragged doll out to him, "Would you like to do the honors? Or are you too scared a sorceress is going to come offer to sleep with you as a reward?"
"You're full of jokes today aren't you," He muttered as he took the doll from his adoptive father.
Geralt laughed as he looked down inside the cradle. It didn't look very inviting, there was only wood at the bottom. However, he didn't give too much thought to it after that as he gently placed the ragged thing inside. The moment the doll hit the bottom of the cradle, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest, when the door behind Geralt and he slammed shut. Both their heads shot backwards, to see a new scribbled drawing on the door.
He breathed a sigh of relief, as Geralt grabbed the paper off the door, and the moment he did it flung back open.
"Another masterpiece," He said showing the drawing to Dominik.
Dom looked down and scoffed, "An even with a blackened grate? There's probably one the floor below."
Geralt nodded in agreement and the two exited the room. He could hear the thrashing and screaming of Corinne above them, and he felt bad for the woman. One thing he knew, was how horrible nightmares could be. For years after the massacre at Cintra he suffered from them. He was surprised that they hadn't been returning to him more frequently now that the swallow pendant around his neck's magic enchantment wore off.
He made a mental note in the back of his head to see if Triss could cast a similar enchantment to what Yennefer had on the swallow again now that its magic had worn off. Another part of him however wanted to keep the swallow like it was. Somehow, he had been having nightmares about Ciri, all the hardships she faced. A part of him wanted to see, learn what she had truly gone through. It would only give him even more reason to find her then he already had.
Ciri had always been there when he had nightmares, she would lay with him, even fall asleep with him sometimes in a effort to make them stop. She would of course have them as well, but for reasons unknown to him, his always seemed to be more potent as a child.
Finally, after going down the creaky stairs again, Geralt managed to find another way down. Before they went up the stairs, a small hatch leading downwards. The older Witcher went down first, and careful not to step on his head Dominik followed down after him. The rungs of the ladder, like everything else in the house felt like they were about to fall over. Sure enough however, when the two Witchers got down to the bottom, it was the kitchen and bakery portion of the house.
Quietly he took the lead, and walked towards the oven, which had the grate missing. He poked his head inside, seeing if anything was there, but sighed when he saw nothing.
"BOO," A voice yelled, a pair of eyes appearing in the darkness of the oven.
"SHIT," He yelled stumbling backwards, tripping over an old sack and onto the ground.
"Ow…" He muttered, hearing a young child's laugh, finally seeing the godling appear, standing on the oven.
"HA! I scared you, I scared you! Big brave man was scared of little Sara, ain't that funny," She said, clapping her hands and laughing.
He looked back up at Geralt, and the older Witcher was doing everything in his power not to start laughing. Sighing, he got up to his feet, dusting off his clothes and readjusting the sword on his back. He looked over to Geralt, who still smiling looked over to the young godling, as both Witchers walked back in front of her. The godling was a female, and wore a hat of grass, with what looked like a brown sack as a dress.
Geralt after finally managing to control his laughter, looked at the young godling, "You gotta be careful with that Sara. You might scare someone so bad they'll hurt you. You're lucky Dom's a big softie."
"Shut up Geralt…" He muttered, getting a laugh from the godling.
"Hahaha, scared him good, didn't I? Who would hurt me? Having a spot of fun not allowed anymore? I'm just playing" The young godling asked innocently.
Dom sighed and met the creatures eyes, "What are you playing?"
Sara giggled and pointed upwards, "Lady's sleeping upstairs, I keep sending her nightmares, horrible dreams and funny stuff! She can't wake, I won't lets her, funny ain't it?"
"Very funny," Geralt said, drawing the creatures attention, "Thing is. Dom and I need to talk to her, so I'd like you to let her wake up."
Fervently Sara shook her head, "Little Sara don't want to let her wake. Little Sara wants to play."
Sighing again Dom looked at the creature again, "Sara, you need to be careful. Geralt and I, we know you're a harmless godling. We just met one a few days ago in Velen named Johnny. He lives in a bog… why do you live in a haunted house?"
Sara laughed again, "Tell you a secret. House ain't haunted, not one bit! I just pretend it is, make everyone think that. It was sitting here all empty, so I moved in! Then some big wig from the bank came and bought it. I don't like bankers, especially to live with, so I pretended the house was haunted!"
He almost laughed at the godlings story, but Geralt slowly shook his head, all while looking disappointed.
"Thing is that banker spent a lot of money on this place. Won't give it up easy, you may have to go find a new home," He told the young creature.
"I don't want too!" She said petulantly, stomping both her feet.
Quickly, wanting to control the situation Dominik held out his hands, "Okay… don't worry we won't force you to leave. We'll make a deal with you. If you let the woman dreaming wake up and leave… Geralt and I will tell the banker the house is really haunted, no way lift the haunting."
Geralt quickly caught on to what he was doing and nodded his head, "Yeah, that way he'll leave. The house will be all yours."
Sara's golden eyes widened, "Really? And he'll believe you!?"
Geralt nodded, "We're Witchers, he'll have too."
"Yes, yes, yes," The godling said, clapping and hopping up and down again, "Do that I won't bother your friend one bit I promise! You're both awfully nice you know?"
He felt himself smiling at the young creature. It was easier for him traveling the path at times then most Witchers. He didn't have the same prejudice screamed at him as they did, he looked like any normal traveler you'd see. However, the compliments were always few and far in between.
"Thanks… I don't hear that often," Geralt said with a smile.
He smiled as well at the godling and nodded in agreement, "Neither do I… thanks Sara, have fun, just be careful."
With one final smile at the creature he turned with Geralt to ascend back up the ladder. A good feeling swelled up inside him as they climbed. With Sara under control, the ladder actually felt like a normal ladder. The banging on the walls and creaking of the wood had all ceased. Upon getting back up to the main floor, neither of them heard Corinne screaming, or thrashing about in the bed upstairs anymore. A rush of excitement filled him, as he climbed the stairs, Geralt following closely on his heels.
Corinne had indeed woken up, the woman was wearing a white dress, without any shoes. Her black hair was wet, sticking to her head with sweat as she breathed heavily. The poor woman really did look as if she had been experiencing nightmares for days upon days. He remembered the feeling of waking up from one in Kaer Morhen. Sweat would be beading from his head, he would still be able to faintly see the fires, the blood, hear the ringing of steel, and screaming of his sister, his friends and neighbors as they were slaughtered in the streets. Some nights he wouldn't even bother going back to sleep, he'd stay up reading, or staring at his fathers ring, the mans last words echoing in his ears.
"Go, find her… protect her… people linked by destiny… will always find each other."
It had been all he tried to do since he heard those words from him, and now he was even closer.
Corinne looked up at Geralt and he as they both walked into the room, her face groggy.
"Who… who are the two of you," The woman said, rubbing her eye as she leaned up against the head of the bed.
Dom stood by the foot of the bed, and Geralt knelt down next to the woman, "Triss Merigold sent us to find you."
Corinne nodded, but rubbed her head again, "Gods…. Horrible nightmares. I was supposed to dream the history of this house…. Instead, I saw furniture, hungry furniture that wished to devour me. I… I know it must sound foolish, but it all felt so real…. And not at all amusing."
Geralt smirked, "Work of a godling. She made people believe the house was haunted. Injected your dreams with her little jokes."
She looked between the two of them and sighed, "And you managed to free me? I feel fortunate."
"We Witchers have our ways," Dom said with a small smile.
Corinne nodded to them again, "Well, I am very grateful. Is there any way I can pay you back?"
A rush of blood went through his heart, pumping it faster as he nodded at the woman, "Yeah, you see we're looking for someone. Someone… very important. A young woman, and she's been seen in Novigrad."
The dreamer nodded, looking between them both again, "Well I can certainly try to help. I rent a room at the Golden Sturgeon, I… I know you've helped me already but, would you mind going there with me? I… I'm not feeling to well after that endeavor."
Upon hearing the name of the inn, his ears perked up, he looked at the woman one more time, "The Golden Sturgeon? Do you know a Witcher who's been staying there, names Faram. Tallest man there more then likely, black beard and hair tied up in a ponytail?"
Upon hearing the description of his friend Corinne nodded right away, "Aye, I talk to him often, a friendly man. Last I heard from him was before I left, said something about a group of drowners in Oxenfurt but he may be back by now."
Another smiled crossed his face as he looked over to Geralt, who smirked back at him, "We'll look for him when we get there, come on, let's get back before it gets too dark outside."
The dreamed was helped up onto Geralt's arm and Dominik followed closely behind the two of them. He felt his blood begin to rush even faster. Corinne was their best chance to pick up Ciri's trail in Novigrad, and he would also hopefully get to see Faram again. The Bear School Witcher he knew, would train him in the ways of his Witcher school if he asked. If everything came together in Novigrad, it would be even easier for them to figure out Ciri's final destination.
He couldn't help but wonder however, what would've happened if he had only come to Novigrad and Oxenfurt to see Dandelion a few weeks later. Would he have ran right into Ciri? He could have, he could be with her at that very moment, if only had had taken Dandelion's offer of staying a little longer.
In the end however, he decided to take the advice again of Faram to heart. There was no use running from the past, they should only move forward.
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"My room is right through here, this way," Corinne said, leading the two Witchers up the first set of stairs.
He was upset upon discovering that Faram had not yet returned to the tavern. Upon asking the inkeep he informed Dominik that the Bear School Witcher had set out for Oxenfurt a few days prior and still not yet returned, confirming Corinne's story. The Golden Sturgeon wasn't exactly a place that he would go for an evening of drinking. It was filled to the brim with sailors and traveling merchants, all who had the look of people who'd only need a wrong passing glance to start a fight. It seemed however like the perfect place for Faram, so it was no wonder to him why he had begun working out of the tavern.
Corinne had seemed to slightly recover from her escapade in the haunted house, able to walk on her own she showed them up the stairs. Geralt had pulled down his hood and walked next to him, keeping a close eye on their backs. The music from bards drums, lutes and other instruments grew faint and the smell of the mead and other drinks grew faint. On the second floor a row of rooms were all in a row, with another set of stairs leading even higher. Corinne approached the first door on the left and turned back to the two Witchers.
"Just give me a few moments to clear my mind, and then decide which one of you will be coming in," The woman said, pushing the strands of her brown hair away from her face.
He titled his head at her inquisitively, "What do you mean, can't we both just come in?"
Corinne shook her head, "When I'm at full strength… normally I can give multiple people the same dreams. However, I'm not exactly in top condition now, I'll only be able to dream for one of you."
Understanding the woman's words, Dominik nodded his head and she retreated into her room. Sighing he turned to Geralt, the older Witcher looking at him with his arms crossed.
"I'll go rent us some rooms for the night, get us some food. Getting late… might as well rest here for the night," He told the older Witcher, going to try and walk past him.
Geralt however shook his head and held a hand-out to stop him, "I'll worry about all of that. You should be the one to go dream."
He felt his blood begin to race again. It was assumption that Geralt would be the one to do it, he had of course never encountered a dreamer before himself. He knew that Geralt wished to see Ciri just as much as he did, and they were both thinking the same thing. If the dreams that Corinne gave them, really did show the past or the future, then it was possible they would get a glimpse of her.
"Are… you sure Geralt? I… I mean I don't mind I-."
Geralt shook his head, and placed a hand on his shoulder, meeting his eyes, "It's alright. I miss Ciri, a lot. But… at least I've seen her more recently then you. Go, dream will probably take you till the morning, I'll be here when you wake up."
Nervously he nodded his head. He knew that his memories of Ciri had to be strong enough for Corinne's dreamer abilities, however he never knew that the idea of seeing Ciri, what she looked like now would be so nervous. The drawing he carried around, was only from what the Emperor's spies had assumed, and from the bits of information they had. Geralt gave him a reassuring smile, before gesturing to Corinne's door. Dominik turned, and took the steps towards the dreamers room. Geralt walked back down the steps, towards where the inkeep was behind the bar, as he slowly turned the knob.
He didn't expect to see such an elegant looking room at the Golden Sturgeon. The dreamer had beautiful red and white tapestries, with elegant patterns hanging from the walls. Candles and incense were lit, emanating a pleasant smell throughout the room. A small bed lay in the back, large pillows and a white blanket laid out over-top. Corinne herself was leaning against a table, and arose as soon as he walked in. The table had two candles, and a black crystal ball on it, along with what looked to be multiple Gwent cards.
Carefully, he stepped forward, and the woman gestured for him to sit.
"I dream in here, are you familiar with how my abilities work," She asked, as the woman who was still wearing no shoes sat down across from him.
He felt his blood begin to rush faster, what if he messed up the dreams? What if somehow his memories weren't as strong as he thought? After a moment he pushed the thoughts from his head. He was about to hopefully get more information on where she had gone, and he was willing to risk anything for that.
Carefully he nodded his head, before unclipping his sword from his back and carefully placing them against a dresser. He joined Corinne at the table and leaned his arms against it, meeting the dreamers eyes.
"A little… I know it requires strong memories of a person, if that's what you're trying to do," He informed the woman, running a hand through his hair as the sweat dripped down.
Corinne nodded slowly, keeping eye contact with him, "That is the basics yes. I will guide you. First… tell me your name."
"Dominik… Dominik of Cintra," He said carefully, the smell of incense and heat from the candle hitting his face.
Corinne's face fell, as she met his eyes again, "Cintra? A… a terrible shame, what happened to them."
The thoughts of Cintra's fate made his head fall as well, he could still hear the ringing of steel and the screams of the people.
"Yeah… it was," He said quietly, as he shifted in his seat.
The dreamer nodded, clearly seeing he didn't wish to talk further. She straightened in her chair, and looked at him again, "Now, one more question before we begin. Why do you seek this woman? What is the true reason, the one deep inside your heart, why do you wish to find her? You must answer truthfully, the honest truth."
He wanted to shout out that he only wanted to keep her safe, which was the truth. However, hearing the dreamers warning that he must tell the honest truth made him pause. A lesson Geralt had taught him long ago, was that there were always multiple truths to a scenario. The words applied to what he thought then and there. Was it the truth that he wanted to find Ciri to keep her safe, yes. Was it the truth he truly didn't care if she wanted to be together after it all and he just wanted to make sure she made it, yes. Was it true that destiny had intertwined their fates, and he felt it was his duty to protect her, yes. However, none of that, was the complete, and honest truth.
He knew what it was the moment he met her.
Slowly, he looked up and met Corinne's eyes, "It's… because I love her. Always have… and I'm pretty sure I always will."
A small smile crossed the dreamers face, as he only looked down at the swallow pendant, and the new drawing of the bird on his right arm. He knew that was the truest reason he could give, the truest of the multiple truths that he had.
Corinne shuffled around the Gwent cards in front of them, and met his eyes again, "This is good, I believe we've established a mental accord. Now, I need you to tell me some memories. Start first with the clearest, strongest memory you have of…"
"Ciri," he said quickly, realizing she was asking for a name, "Her… her names Ciri."
The dreamer nodded and leaned forward to meet his eyes again, "Good, now I need some of the strongest, clearest memories you have of this Ciri."
He almost felt himself scoff. His memories of her were all that kept him looking through the last eight years. Time upon time again he had thought of giving it all up, but then one of the memories would come back to him. He would see her face in his dreams, remember a moment they shared together. Pin-pointing the clearest, strongest of them would almost be impossible since all of them were equally as strong and clear. He was able to remember exact details, down to what the both of them were wearing in the memories.
So, he decided he would start back at the very beginning.
"I remember when I first met her," He said, leaning back in the chair a small smile coming to his face, "My father, he was captain of Queen Calanthe's royal guards, he… brought me to one of the royal balls when I was 11. I was sitting at some of the low tables, listening to some knights story about saving some town when… when an apple hit me in the back."
She was wearing a white dress that night, her hair let loose down behind her back in curls, he remembered it exactly. The moment their eyes met, looking back on it, he had felt something at that exact moment.
He sighed with a smile now, "I turned around and this girl, looked about my age was staring at me. She waved for me to follow so… I did. I had to chase her around the castle until… until I finally came out to this balcony. She was sitting on it her feet dangling," A small laugh came from his mouth, "I said, 'You need to be careful you're close to the edge you could fall'. She turned right around to me and said, 'no need to worry about that, I sit up here all the time my balance is perfect'. That night we… we raided the kitchens, hid in a broom closet… it may have seemed like harmless kid stuff but… but looking back on it I knew then… I knew that I was never going to want to lose her. I… I was bound to her."
Upon hearing his last words, Corinne's head perked up to meet his gaze again, "By destiny?"
He looked down at the swallow, and shook his head, "No… by something more. I had no idea then an apple in the back… would lead me to the person I love."
Corinne nodded, seeming to have a better understanding. However, he could see the woman's face seemed as if she was trying to cram something large into her brain. She looked back up to him and gestured for him to continue.
"Thank you… you wish to share another memory I assume," She asked the younger Witcher.
Slowly Dominik nodded his head, deciding to continue the memories in order. He sighed, trying to control his heartbeat, "Ciri and I… we… we were orphaned, during the second war with Nilfgaard. I… I remember the night they attacked Cintra."
He felt himself pause for a moment, trying to stop the screams from coming back to his head. Again he managed to take a slow breath and meet the dreamers eyes.
"I remember them… killing my mother and little sister, started chasing me afterwards. I… I ran through the streets, being chase by the knight with a winged helmet. I ducked into an alley and he finally lost me but… he found a new target," he said, looking up to meet the dreamers eyes, "I knew it was the secret exit from the palace. I… I saw my father, and another knight come out, Ciri was with them. A group of soldiers and the knight spotted them, my father he… he put Ciri and the other knight on a horse and sent them off. The soldiers attacked him, while the knight that chased me went after Ciri."
Again he felt himself stop, remembering the scene in vivid detail. He didn't want to go on and describe more, but he knew he would need to. It was going to help him honor his father's final wish.
He shook his head clear and spoke again, "My father… he fought like an animal. He managed to kill the whole group of soldiers but… but he was mortally wounded. I ran to him, trying to do what I could to help but… but there wasn't anything. He gripped me by my shirt and told me to go and find Ciri. To find her, and Geralt of Rivia. I… I was delirious at the time; I didn't want to believe he was dying I didn't want to leave him but… but he told me to go. To go find Ciri, to find her… and protect her."
The swallow around his neck began to tremble so he gripped it in his hands before continuing, "I… I didn't know what to do, so I did what he said. I found a horse nearby and took off in the direction I saw Ciri run. No idea how I found her, found her and the knight, but he had gotten his hands on her. We were outside Cintra finally when I caught up. I… don't know what my plan was, but I screamed and leaped at his horse. We tumbled and fell, Ciri fell out of his arms, I screamed for her to run, but… she didn't. Knight had me up by the hair, was about to run me through right there when… when Ciri used her… gifts. Don't know how, but she screamed, and my ears nearly bled. Knight got knocked back with me, I came to a little bit later, she dragged me to my feet, and we ran."
Corinne upon hearing the final bit of his story, closed her eyes and seemed again as if the information was being seeped into her head. Finally after another moment she opened her eyes and looked at him again.
"Your memories… they… they are intense, true, and meaningful. Please, would you like to share more," She asked him with a shaky voice.
He reluctantly let go of the swallow and met her eyes again, "More memories give us a better chance of finding Ciri right?"
Corinne nodded and he breathed out, settling the rapid heartbeat in his chest. He managed to look up and meet the dreamers eyes again.
"Ciri and I we… we traveled north for around a month after Cintra. We were trying to get to Skellige at first, she has family there but… but we never got there. Eventually Geralt found us both. He took the two of us to Kaer Morhen," he started, remembering how afraid he initially was at the Witcher fortress, "I guess he figured the two of us learning swordplay, increasing our stamina wouldn't hurt. I was terrified at first but Ciri kept reassuring me. She said Geralt was her destiny, and now he was mine, since the two of us were in it together, where one of us went… the other went."
It was something they would repeat to each other often to reassure them both. The two of them were the only ones who truly understood what the other had gone through, so they agreed never to seperate. When Geralt first brought up the idea of Ciri going to the Temple of Melitele, he had been furious with the Witcher for a week.
He sighed and tried to keep his eyes on the dreamer, "After a while… it became my home. For three years Ciri and I trained together, every day. Those were some of the most amazing times of my life. I… I remember one night when we were 12 almost 13. Geralt had made us run the double pendulums. Ciri managed to get it that first day but me… well I couldn't stop getting knocked off, fell a hundred times before we quit that night," He told her, as a smile crept onto his face again, "That night, Ciri woke me up. Took me out to the pendulums and told me she was going to help me practice until I got it, she knew how much it bothered me I couldn't finish. Thing is… practicing with a blindfold on at night probably wasn't the best idea."
He laughed remembering that Geralt had told him, he, Eskel and Lambert had all secretly been watching the two of them train that night.
"I stepped wrong, and the damn thing knocked me off the edge. Pendulums are right on the wall of Kaer Morhen, and I slipped the wrong way. I grabbed onto one of the posts for my life, I thought I was a goner, I would fall and splash open like a pancake. Ciri though… she saved me, grabbed my arm and yanked me back up," He said, remembering the tears he saw streaming down the girls face, "I… remember she was crying. She punched my arm, screamed at me, thinking she'd lost me over the edge. I'd never seen her cry, or be that scared, not since Cintra. She was always confident and trying to smile. I thought she was really furious with me but… that was the first night she kissed me."
Geralt had told him, that was the first night he knew Ciri was in love with Dominik as well. He could almost feel the tingle on his lips from the exact night. Corinne in front of him closed her eyes again, before nodding to him.
"I can tell how strongly you feel for her, it will all help in trying to locate her… is there anything else you wish to share," The dreamer asked him.
Quickly he nodded his head, despite the sadness rising in him with each story he shared. However, he remembered why they were there. More strong memories would give them a clearer picture.
He nodded quickly, looking at the dreamer yet again, "I… remember the last night I saw her. We were fourteen, staying in Ellander at the time, at the inn there. Geralt had decided to… learn to control her abilities, she'd need to go to Aretuza, learn from the mages," He said, spitting the name of the magic school out, "It… was only supposed to be for a little while, but I was worried still… it would be the farthest I'd ever been away from her in my life. We… spent the whole day together. Went swimming during the day, I picked her some flowers on the walk back. Sat in the tavern, ate, played Gwent… danced together. I was a wreck when she went to leave the next morning, I couldn't get the feeling something would happen out of my system. But… but she kissed me, and promised it'd be alright. We promised one another that no matter what happened, we'd always try to find each other. 'Everything will be alright. I'll see you soon I promise. I love you'. Those… those were the last words she said to me."
The words that he held onto, but also haunted him forever. For years after this he wondered the continent looking into everything he could, bitter, angry and blaming everyone but himself. Despite everything that Geralt and Yen told him, about it not being his fault, he knew that he should have done more. He could have worked harder to convince them not to let her go, he could have been more diligent in his search. He could have not been a brat, and just listened to Geralt. If he had only stayed with the older Witcher, he would have seen Ciri two years ago before Rivia. If he had seen her, things would have gone different. She wouldn't have been forced to go to the Lodge of Sorceresses, he could have taken her and protected her. Or perhaps he could even have traveled to a different world with her.
The past however was in the past, and there was nothing he could do about it now.
"Your memories as I said… are more potent then most. You said this woman has… abilities? Can you tell me about them," Corinne asked, and he suddenly felt his anger spike.
He scoffed and stood up from the chair and looked out the window over the darkened city of Novigrad.
"Her abilities, her 'gift'… is the reason nobody will just leave her the hell alone. Everyone wants her, wants to rape her to gain access to her blood, kill her to open up portals" He said with disgust, "Ciri… she's a child of the Elder Blood."
Corinne audibly gasped from behind him, "A descendent of bloody Falka!? The traitor who was burned at the stake. The prophecies claim that the worlds destroyer will be born of the firebrand's cursed blood."
He shook his head, feeling the pressure in his blood rise, "I don't give a damn about no ancient legends or prophecies. All I know is, that because of something that was completely out of her control, she's been hunted, attacked and in danger her whole life, and when I find her that all ends. I won't fail at protecting her again, I'll find her, and together we're going to kill anyone who tries to hurt her."
Corinne seemed slightly taken aback by his outburst, but quickly composed herself and nodded her head, "I see… is there anything else you can tell me about her abilities?"
"She has trouble controlling them," He said quickly, turning back to face the window overlooking the city, "That… that's why Geralt and Yennefer said she needed to go to Aretuza. I… I remember one time her and Yen were training, Yen was trying to show her simple spells. Ciri she… blew up this shed, just so happens I was walking by to go find them. Ciri completely destroyed the shed, nearly blew me up in the process. She… she was devastated. I wasn't seriously hurt, but I went to find her after she ran away. Ciri she… she was crying, told me she was scared of her own powers, scared she'd hurt Geralt, Yen, or me again. Said that it would be better if she just disappeared, and I would be better off without her."
It was one of the few times that he had seen Ciri truly distraught. One of the things he always loved about her, was the confidence she exhumed, how sure she was of everything she did, it was one of the things that attracted him about her from the beginning. Compared to his reserved, quieter demeanor, it was a great change for him, and he loved her for making him more confident and surer of himself. In that moment however, he had never seen her in such a state.
He sighed before continuing, "I told her it was ridiculous. That if she were to leave… it would hurt more to me than any physical wound I could receive. I promised her… I'd stick by her side no matter what."
The dreamer kept staring at the back of his head and when he turned around, he could see her brown eyes flutter open, "Is… there anything else you'd like to share before we begin the process?"
He examined out the window, over the skies of Novigrad again. The full moon had arisen, and the sight of the sparkling waters out the bay reminded him of the lake outside Cintra, where his father took him day after day. Where Ciri and he would ice skate the winter they knew each other in the city.
Turning back to the dreamer he sighed, "Yeah… one more thing."
He looked down at the swallow pendant around his neck, and thinking of the ring that dangled around Ciri's, wherever she was now.
"My father he… he told me once when I was younger, that my destiny and Ciri's were intertwined," He said, looking down at the swallow, "He said that for centuries my family has been captain of Cintra's royal guard, and that our duty was to protect Ciri's family… and the power they possess. Obviously didn't know what it was then but… now I do. It's been my families duty to protect the Elder Blood that's been in Ciri's family."
"I see," Corinne said, meeting his eyes as he turned, "So now, that's another reason why you want to protect her?"
He felt his hands grip tightly around the swallow, before shaking his head at the dreamer.
"Truth be told? I couldn't give less of a DAMN about the Elder Blood, the ability to open portals between worlds, any of it. I don't care one bit. I'm not on this quest to save the Elder Blood, and protect it from those who want to control it or abuse it," He said, turning to the swallow, and the names tattooed into his right arm, "I'm doing this to save CIRI, not her blood, not her special abilities. For too long people have seen her as… just a vessel, a vessel for the Elder Blood. I don't care at all about it. I want to protect Ciri, and her alone. And anyone who wants to continue to treat her as if she's just her blood… and not an actual person… will have me to answer to. She will not be used anymore after I find her."
Corinne stood up from her chair and walked barefoot over to him. She met his eyes for a moment again, and he could see the look in her face again. She digested all of the information that he had given her, and it seemed as if her eyes were almost about to roll into the back of her head. Finally after another moment, she looked back into his eyes.
"I knew you cared for this woman… but your tone, the emotions you've exhumed, I've never seen anything quite like it," She explained to him, her voice in a low tone.
He felt his chest begin to pump through his body even faster. After telling the dreamer all of the information he could, he felt as if he had just ran for hours straight. It was exhausting, but he knew that in the end it would be worth it. Finding a trail for Ciri in the largest city in the world was going to be difficult, and if he had to withstand remembering a few painful memories, then it was something he was more then willing to pay.
He nodded towards the dreamer, and she led him to her bed. She sat down on the chair next to him, "We are ready to begin. Now, hold onto my hand and tell me more about Ciri. Tell me where she might be, who might be at her side."
Slowly he nodded and the dreamer held out her hand, which he gingerly took. He sighed and met her eyes, "Well, I know that she'd try to find me or Geralt first. Didn't find us obviously but if she couldn't then… she probably would have went to another one of our old friends."
"Who do you think in particular," The dreamer asked, her cold touch running through his body.
He thought deeply and remembered something Geralt and he thought of a few days prior, "Triss said she hasn't seen her, neither had Yen so… maybe Dandelion. He's normally here or in Oxenfurt. The two of us… we loved listening to his stories and songs when we were younger."
Corinne nodded and gently let go of his hand, "Good… now lay down and make yourself comfortable. Rest, and as you do… tell me more about Ciri, what she looks like, the things you love about her."
The bed was much more comfortable then he expected. Being in the business of helping people dreamed, he assumed a good bed was more then likely essential for the dreamer. He heard her rummage through a chest next to the bed, before pulling out a pair of sewing needles. She began to sew a line of cloth and the pleasant snipping sound of the two needles made his eyes feel heavy with each one.
"Ciri… she has ashen hair, normally keeps it tied in a loose bun…. She… she did this adorable thing, always tried… tried covering her freckles with her hair…. Only ever seen her have it down a few times… beautiful when it is. Her eyes…" he said, feeling a yawn escaped from his mouth, "Bright, bright green, the same color as mine, she… she's beautiful. Kind, selfless, protective, mischievous at times… always smiling, making jokes. She… she was always so confident… sure of herself…I… I loved that about her."
He tried to get out more words, but the gentle sound of the needles overtook him. His eyes fluttered, and soon they closed completely.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The first thing he heard, was the loud chirping. The incessant chirping of a swallow. He examined the room he saw; it was filled to the brim with books, tables, wine glasses, lit only by the light of a few candles and the moons rays from outside. In the middle of the room, he recognized the loud outfit of her and Geralt's long time friend, the bard Dandelion. The old poet looked the same as he did when he saw him a month prior. The bard was flustered, his head swirling around the room, trying to keep track of the bird as it zoomed around him. The bard mouthed words at the creature as it landed on the table near him, it almost seemed as if the swallow was arguing with him, and he was screaming back.
Finally Dandelion turned, crossing his arms away from the bird, but quickly the creature had second thoughts. It swirled around him again, chirping and pecking at his fingers, trying to get the bard to listen. He saw Dandelion's face look down at the ground, fervently shaking his head, refusing to give an inch, but the swallows chirping got louder and louder, until the dream faded off to black again.
When he finally saw the dream come back, Dandelion was in it again. However, it was in a place he never expected to find the bard. It seemed as if he was underground, he sloshed through the mucky water, passed a set of bars where the grate had been blown off. The swallow was following the bard again, chirping in his ear, and the two quickly ran and ducked behind of the sewer again.
They had run away from a large bricked wall and plugged both hands into his ears. The swallow flew around next to him, and the next thing he knew a large explosion ripped through the sewers. Dandelion got sent sprawling forward and the swallow quickly followed. The poet managed to get to his feet, and at the swallow urgent and incessant chirping, the two sped off back down the sewers.
He barely had time to digest what had happened when the dream shifted again. For the first time he could see Dandelion in what looked to be his natural element. He was in what seemed to be an office, and the bard was leaning against his desk, looking towards the door, at someone who he couldn't see.
"You sure you don't want to wait? I can get words to Dom and Geralt in a couple days. You only missed Dom by a few days himself, gods know he'll run back here on foot when he learns you're here, don't you want to see them," The bard said, his voice finally audible for the first time.
He could feel his heart begin to almost burst, but to his frustration the dream didn't turn around, and he could only hear her voice.
"More then anything you know that but… right now I need to keep moving, we have to do it now," And just the sound of hearing the voice made, made him recognize who it was.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"CIRI," He shouted, his head shooting up from the bed.
It had been her voice he knew it, it couldn't have been anyone else's. She had been in the city, she had seen Dandelion, they had reunited and planned something. Ciri had been in a hurry, whatever she was trying to do she was running out of time. He felt his apprehension rise, knowing that if a curse truly afflicted her, then if she was running out of time, it made finding her all the more important. The apprehension was soon replaced, with a feeling that hadn't passed through him in years. A tingly feeling, as if butterflies were swirling around in his stomach. Her voice had gotten deeper, and she sounded like a grown woman. He of course knew that now she was, but in all of his dreams and memories, they were both young, still children, their voices high pitched and breaking. He only had half a beard, and still wasn't taller then her yet. He may not have gotten to see her like he wished, but he heard her, and more importantly knew exactly who they needed to go see to figure out where she went.
Reliving his memories had been worth it.
He wrapped his hands around the swallow pendant and looked to the window. The dream had only felt like a few moments, but the sun had risen outside yet again as morning set in. The candles in Corinne's room had been put out, and he heard the door creak open, and the dreamer re-entered.
"Ah good, you've awoken. Geralt is waiting for you downstairs, what did you dream," She quickly asked, sitting down in the seat next to him again.
Feeling slightly groggy, but with his excitement growing, he swung his feet around the side of the bed. He met the dreamers eyes and smiled, "I think it worked. I saw Dandelion, arguing with… a swallow as weird as is sounds. Then the dreams kept multiplying."
Corinne nodded as if it was a normal occurrence, "Aye, the dreams do multiply sometimes, show the past as well as the future."
With a huge smile on his face he nodded, "I could tell. I heard him talking with her… didn't see her face but I know it was her. I… haven't heard her voice in eight years… eight years…"
The dreamer smiled and met his eyes, "I truly am happy I was able to help. I assume you wish to set out and find the poet now?"
Nodding quickly, he got to his feet, and retrieved his sword, strapping it onto his back, before looking back at Corinne, "Yeah… thing is I didn't know he was in town still. Normally I see him in Oxenfurt."
"I've heard he started staying in Novigrad now, someone left him the Rosemary and Thyme in their will," Corinne quickly explained to him.
He felt himself scoff as he turned around to face the dreamer again, "Dandelion owning a business? The Rosemary and Thyme… that was a brothel the last time I was here. Dandelion… inherited a brothel… you know I'm not surprised."
The dreamer shrugged her shoulders, "It seems so yes. As I said before, Geralt is waiting for you down below, buying provisions."
A smile crossed his face again at getting to tell Geralt the news. First however, he smiled at Corinne and bowed his head to her, "Thank you… so much for your help. I… I don't know how to repay you."
The dreamer smiled at him and shook her head, "There's no need Witcher. I hope your story has a happy ending… and that you find your Ciri."
He was going to find his Ciri. He was going to protect Ciri, not the elder blood, not the descendent of bloody Falka, not the blood of Lara Dorren, or the ability to travel between worlds.
He was going to protect Ciri, just like he had promised her.
A/N: Novigrad dreaming in complete! This chapter we got to see Dominik tell bits of his story, and I loved doing that part. What do you make of what he said, about people treating Ciri as a vessel, and caring more about her blood then? Who do you think he's going to clash with in the future because of this?
Next chapter we all go get to see everyone's favorite dwarf, Zoltan Chivay, and meet the beautiful and talented Calonetta, aka Priscilla, and learn what happened to the bard Dandelion. Are you excited, what are you looking forward too?
Thank you all again for your continued support. The continued reviews, favs, follows and everything means SO much. Everyone who's reviewed and messaged me, that makes me wanna keep going. Also to all my guest friends leaving reviews thank you as well! I hope you'll continue to review, and make an account so we can talk more xD
I also want to say Novigrad's arch may end up being faster then Velen's however in Novigrad for the first time we'll have some solo quests with Dom that I created myself instead of taking from the game, and I can't wait to get to those. I hope you all enjoyed, please leave a review and if you need a question answer I'll more then happily answer! See you all next time.