The Witcher: Through the Worlds

by TheWitcherDom

This bards tale begins in the village of Claywitch. Where the Young Wolf, Dominik of Cintra, has accepted a contract from the local village elder. For years the young Witcher has traveled the continent, running from the ghosts of his failed past all while looking for his long lost love, Cirilla Fiona Ellen Riannon (Ciri x OC, rated M for language, violence, future sexual content)

31. A Matter of Life and Death II

The Witcher: Through the Worlds

Chapter 31: A Matter of Life and Death II

Narrator: After going and finding his friend the Witcher George of Toussaint, Dominik and he went on what they thought was a contract to slay a Fiend. However, it turns out that the Wild Hunt had set a trap for the two Witcher's, Dominik in particular. While there, Dominik and George met a mysterious commander of the Hunt, who had set the trap for the Young Wolf. To their surprise the commander was a woman, not an Aen Elle elf. She told young Dominik that she knew all about his past with Ciri and asked him to help them lure the young woman out of hiding, and in exchange she'd heal a wounded George, and that Eredin would grant him amnesty after their invasion. Dominik refused, which led to an intense duel between the two. After a large clash, the young Witcher and the commander of the Hunt fought to a draw. This commander left, promising the Young Wolf they'd meet again. After this an injured and near dead Dominik and George managed to make it back to the Rosemary and Thyme just in time to recover.

In the dream, he saw himself waking up from a dream ironically enough. He saw his younger self, he looked to be around fourteen years old, sleeping soundly in a bed. Right away he recognized it, it was the room that Yennefer and Geralt had rented for him in Ellander during their time there together. It was a smaller room, plenty big enough for only him and the few possessions he had then. He was only wearing a white top and trousers, the covers pulled tightly over his body, sleep completely overtaken him. Looking down at his young face, he almost couldn't believe how innocent it looked. In only eight years he had seen and done more then any child or man his age should ever had to have done.

His fourteen-year-old self-snored lightly, seeming to be enjoying the peaceful sleep. However, it was soon disturbed by the door to his room flinging open, and he could see a flash bolt towards him.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY," A young Ciri yelled, running to the bed and leaping onto it, slamming into him, throwing her arms around his neck.

"AHHH WHAT-. Ciri," His younger self yelled, his eyes shooting open, seeing the head of ashen hair tied around his neck.

Ciri laughed and squeezed him tighter, and he watched as younger Dominik smiled, wrapping his arms around her, squeezing her back with just as much vigor. The light gently streamed through the window, hitting the both of them, sparkling off Ciri's ashen hair. The swallow dangled around his neck, while his bronze ring dangled around Ciri's. If he could have, he would have frozen that moment, made it last forever. He remembered the day now. It was the day of his fourteenth birthday. It was a few weeks into their almost year long stay in Ellander with Yennefer and Geralt.

Young Dominik finally pulled back, looking down to meet Ciri's bright green eyes with his, "What are you doing up so-."

He was cut off when she kissed him. Her head shot up, and her lips met his with such force and passion, that his head fell back onto the pillow. Ciri without letting her lips leave his, leaned down and laid on her stomach next to him in the bed, not breaking their embrace. She kept on kissing him, bringing her hands up to stroke one side of his face, while the other rested in his hair. He could feel his heart flutter, as if a million peaceful butterflies were being released in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist, as she continued to kiss him, each time with renewed passion.

Finally he matched her intensity, kissing her back with everything he had, not wanting the moment to end. He watched as she continued to moved her lips to keep meeting his, as she stroked a finger along his cheek, and gently combed her finger through his hair.

"I love you… happy birthday," She said between the kisses she placed on his lips.

He squeezed his arms around her waist tighter, bringing his hand to carefully run his fingers through her ashen locks.

"I love you too…" He said breathlessly, only taking his lips off hers for a moment.

The two of them stayed there locked in each other's embrace for what felt like hours. He didn't let go of her and didn't dare remove his lips from hers for more then a moment. She did the same, gently kissing him while she ran her hand through his brown hair. It was another moment he wished could have lasted forever, the two of them there, locked in an embrace, just the two of them loving each other.

However, their moment was ultimately interrupted when the door opened again.

"Well, well, well, interrupting something are we," The deep voice of Geralt rang throughout his room.

"Geralt stop it now," Yennefer quickly chastised as soon as he was finished.

Quickly Ciri and he's eyes both opened, staring directly at each other. He could see the bright red hue that quickly appeared on both their faces, and both of them scrambled up. Swinging his legs around the side of the bed, his bare feet finally hit the wooden floor and he looked up to meet his adopted parents' eyes. Ciri quickly whirled around, hanging her feet off the bed next to him, gently reaching over and grabbing his hand as they sat.

Geralt's eyes were full of amusement as he looked at them both, the older Witcher chuckled, and Yennefer quickly smacked his arm shooting a glare at him. The sorceress however quickly turned back to them both, smiling down when she finally met Dominik's eyes.

In her black and white outfit, she held out her arms as she sat down on his side opposite Ciri, a smile still broadly on her face.

"Happy Birthday Dominik," The sorceress said with a smile, wrapping her arms around him and kissing his cheek.

He took in her scent of lilac and gooseberries and embraced her with a hug. He had known Yennefer for around a month at that point. It had taken him some time to come around to the sorceress, with him dreadfully missing Triss at times. However, Yennefer had become a true mother to him in that time he spent in Ellander. The raven-haired sorceress, just as Triss had, protected him from nightmares. She made sure not to solely focus her attention on Ciri, but him as well. Of course she had come to teach Ciri to control her powers, however she had taught him many lessons as well. She had taught him to fiercely care for those you care about, and to speak your mind and stand true to your principles, no matter how unpopular they were.

The sorceress leaned back and smiled at both Ciri and he, her eyes turning to the young girl next to him, she laughed playfully, "Ciri, I thought we agreed we'd all come together?"

Ciri shifted next to him, and he could see her face go beat red, "Well. I… kind of wanted-."

"To spend some alone time together before the adults got here," Geralt said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he came to join the three, "Not the first time the two of you have done that."

Ciri and he both went red again, knowing that the Witcher had indeed been right. Apparently, the flustered look on their faces was plenty visible, because Geralt laughed, and Yennefer even did as well. He turned around and met Ciri's eyes, and he gave her a small smile, which she returned. Seeing her smile sent a jolt through his heart. He would have given anything to see that smile again, the cluster of freckles that ran across her nose, her loose ashen locks.

Geralt knelt down in front of him, giving him a smile, "Happy birthday Dom."

He could see the older Witcher smile, and younger Dominik hugged the man. Geralt smiled, and hugged him back, before pulling back with a prideful look on his face as he looked at both Dominik and Ciri.

The older Witcher reached around into his back pocket and pulled out a few folded pieces of paper. He reached over and handed them to Dominik, as his younger self gingerly took them into his hands.

"A few letters. Vesemir, Eskel, Zoltan, Dandelion, Triss, even Lambert sent you one," The older Witcher told him, an amused smile on his face.

His younger self scoffed a smile, looking between the three of them. Him sitting on the bed, Ciri, Yennefer both sitting next to him, and Geralt kneeling in front. His new family, the one's who's names he had permanently tattooed onto his arm. He made sure to take a mental picture of the scene, yearning that it was still the case.

"Thanks Geralt… for… for everything," His younger self said, looking to meet the older Witcher's eyes.

Geralt nodded with a smile, before turning and looking up at Yennefer. The two had a silent conversation before the older Witcher looked back to him.

"Yen and I… we got something for you. We'll give it to you later. We'll… leave you too alone for a bit, see you both at dinner," He said, standing up and gesturing for Yen to follow.

Yennefer placed another hand on his shoulder and gave him a smile before following Geralt. Both of them left the room, leaving only Ciri and he there again. He combed through the letters in his hand, before carefully placing them both on the dresser next to the bed. After he did. Ciri reached over and pulled him close to her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed, he quickly returned the gesture, feeling his heart swell up again.

She pulled back and quickly kissed him, before locking their emerald eyes together. A huge smile came across her face, and he could see her practically bouncing with excitement.

"I convinced Geralt and Yen to give us the day off from any training," She said excitedly, grabbing both his hands with hers, "We have the day to ourselves, just the two of us. I have so many things planned. We'll go swim, go to the meadow, set snares, Yen even helped me make us some food for a picnic!"

He wished that moment could freeze, and he could have lived this day over every day for the rest of his life. He would have gladly traded any amount of gold, or any of his possessions to be able to go live the day over.

"Ciri… you didn't have to do all that, I only need you and-," He started, before being quickly cut off by the girl shaking her head.

"Oh no, no excuses. Come on Dom, you're always doing things for me! Making me smile when I'm sad, taking care of me when I get sick, cooking for me… even though it's quite bad I appreciate the gesture-," She started, rolling her eyes with a smile.

"Hey, I try my best," He quickly protested, meeting her eyes again.

She laughed and slowly nodded, "Yes… and I love that you do. My point being… I want to do something for you. A lot of things actually. I have a whole day planned out for us."

He could see her looking up at him with those beautiful green eyes, and sighing younger Dominik as always relented, nodding slowly.

"Alright… thank you Ciri. I… really do appreciate it more then you'll ever know… I don't know what I'd do without you," He said slowly, not taking his eyes off hers.

She laughed lightly, reaching a hand to hold against his cheek, "Well without me your life would be awfully dull admit it."

"That it would… that it would…" He said slowly again, holding his hand over hers.

He leaned down and kissed her again. They stayed locked for a moment, before Ciri pulled back, her eyes going wide. Another large smile came to her face, as she quickly reached into the bag she had dropped to the ground when she walked inside his room.

"Oh, I almost forgot about this," She said excitedly, reaching into the bag, "I… don't have much coin obviously. So, I hope that you like it. I made it for you."

He watched curiously as she finally pulled her hands from her bag. She sighed with a smile and showed him what she had made. It was a carving, a wood carving. It was shaped like a wolf; it's head, the same as Geralt's Witcher medallion. Its body was crudely carved, but its legs connected to a thin wooden pedestal.

"Ciri… this is brilliant," He complimented, genuinely amazed at what he saw. When she had been younger, he knew she was fond of carving, but had only really began to come into her own at the craft recently.

A new red blush came over Ciri's face as she laughed nervously, "Oh stop… it… it isn't that good."

Quickly he scoffed, shaking his head at her, "No Ciri really I mean it. This is amazing, you've gotten so great at this."

"Oh, stop being a suck up," She said, but he could see the red grow deeper on her face. She leaned over and kissed his cheek, keeping her head laid on his shoulder as she continued, "Look… look at the bottom."

Carefully, he turned the wolf over in his hands. He looked down at the bottom of the pedestal it was perched on, and sure enough words were carved into the bottom. He could feel his heart beat harder as he read the words again, the butterflies bursting in his stomach.

To Dominik,

Happy birthday! Thank you… for everything. Wherever you go, I go. I love you.

Your Ciri.

He saw his younger self slowly read the words, Ciri's head looking down at them as well, as she rested on his shoulder. He had almost cried that day. After he had finished, he turned his head down to look at Ciri.

"I… I love you," He said lightly to her.

She smiled up at him, those emerald eyes sparkling again. Her smile made him feel as if every problem that he faced in the world was gone, just for a moment.

"I love you too…" She said, leaning up to kiss him again.

Her lips connected with his, and watching the dream unfold in front of him had just been another reminder.

A reminder that what they had, was truly a bond that couldn't be broken.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Ughhh… Ciri…" He said weakly, feeling his eyes slowly begin to open, the rays of the sun finally forcing his eyes awake.

As soon as he finally awoke, he felt an ache run through his entire body at once. Every single bone inside of him felt as if it was being pounded by a hammer. Sweat was beating down his bare chest, as the sun from the window pierced his eyes. He blinked and sighed again, trying to remember what had happened before he passed out, but whenever he did, it felt like someone was constricting his brain with a net.

He tried to blink again, and with soreness flaring through his neck, he managed to crane it to his left. His lips were dried and felt as if they were going to crack at any moment, carefully he opened them. To his left however, he saw a cluster of light blonde hair, and he narrowed his eyes.

"Freya…" He said quietly, feeling his gut begin to swirl.

Freya jumped and spun back around; she had a small potion vial in one hand that she almost dropped to the ground. Her eyes went wide when she saw him awake before she seemed flushed with relief. He went to move his feet to the side of the bed, or even roll over, but as soon as he did the fatigue flared up inside of him again.

"Ughhh…. Dammit," He cursed, feeling his head flare up in pain again.

"Woah, woah, easy there hero," Freya said quickly, taking the step over and sitting on his bed side.

She adjusted his pillows so that he could sit leaning up against the wall, before gently placing a hand on his chest. Her cold hands sent a pleasant chill through his body as she gently guided him to sit up. His back and head hit the wooden walls behind the head of his bed, and he let out a huge shaky breath, blinking rapidly to regain his vision, finally seeing Freya's bright blue eyes in front of him.

He winced again as she removed her hand from his chest, "Freya what… what happened?"

Quickly she shook her head, and held the potion vile up to his lips, "In a minute, first drink this. It's not a Witcher potion, I made it myself."

There wasn't enough energy in his body to protest if he wanted too. She tilted the vile and the bright pink liquid slid down his throat. He expected a gagging swill, but the potion tasted of fresh berries, with a pleasant juniper smell to it. As soon as he felt it hit the pit of his stomach, a calm, cooling sensation ran through his body. The aching in his bones finally began to cool, and he breathed for the first time without shaking. The rapid heartbeat that had been thumping in his chest finally slowed down, and he was able to think properly without feeling as if a knife was being stabbed into his brain.

He sighed again, feeling the cool air run through his body before looking at Freya, "Wow… what was in that? That tasted fantastic."

Freya chuckled and quickly walked back to the dresser, placing the vial back into her bag, before rejoining him at his bedside.

"Just something to dull the pain, crushed the berries to give it a good aftertaste," She said, seeming slightly flustered, before she met his eyes again, "How do you feel? Do you remember what happened?"

All of the memories came rushing back to him at once. Finding George in Oxenfurt, them going out to the cave in the woods. The Wild Hunt, him fighting toe to toe with their commander, using up more energy then he ever had in his life. Her faceplate, the skull eyes, the electric spark he felt every time their swords connected. He remembered her knowing him, knowing Ciri, where they grew up, even knowing the name of his father.

Slowly he moved his shoulders, feeling them crack satisfyingly. He curled his fingers and moved his feet, finally having the feeling return to them. The sun beat down between Freya and he, casting a sparkle over her cascading blonde hair.

Slowly he nodded, meeting her eyes, "Yeah… last thing I remember is… is dragging George to-. GEORGE, is he-."

"He's alright don't worry," Freya said in a soft, reassuring voice before continuing, "His wound was bad, but they heal remarkably quick on Witcher's. I made something for it, and he's feeling better already. He's actually downstairs with Geralt, Faram and Zoltan now."

He breathed out in relief. One of the last few things he remembered was George sliding off his shoulder, the wound from where the Hunt soldier had stabbed him bleeding profusely. The more he was up, the more the previous night began to come back to him. The giant circle of fire the commander had summoned, the intensity, the power they had both exhumed in their duel.

'Kindred blood will always find kindred blood,', 'It seems you're beginning to unlock your inner magic.'

Her words rang in his head, but the pain in his brain started to flare again the more he thought of her. Letting out another shaky breath he looked back to Freya, a feeling of relief flushing over his body.

"Thanks Freya…" He said groaning as he moved again, trying to keep his muscles loose, "It's obvious but… seems you made it to the Rosemary alright."

Freya laughed and slowly nodded towards him, "Yeah, it was like you said. Zoltan took care of me when I told him you sent me."

"Damn dwarf's one of the most loyal friends you could ever ask for," He said quickly, smiling over at her, feeling his strength slowly seep back into him.

"It was extremely kind, he's good company," She said with a nod, "I also got to meet Faram, and see Geralt again… I wonder how he remembered me, I only talked to him for a moment in Ellander those years ago."

He felt his face get hot again, as he slowly ran a hand through his brown hair.

"Well you see I… I kind of told him how we… well… you know," He said, his voice coming out completely flustered.

Freya's face went red, and her eyes slightly widened, "Oh… I see…. The other's do… do they-."

"No, no," He said, quickly shaking his head, "Just Geralt."

An awkward silence passed between the two of them. He sighed again, remembering the talk the two of them had the day before. If they truly hadn't parted on good terms like he thought, he assumed that she wouldn't have worked so hard to keep both him and George alive. He quickly shook the thought from his head, wanting to focus on the present.

And in the present, he knew now it was even more imperative that they find Ciri quickly. If the commander who he fought truly knew so much about them both, and could track Dominik himself, then she could be one of their biggest threats. He needed to tell Geralt about what had happened and see if he possibly knew who the commander was.

Carefully he leaned up against the wall, feeling himself wince.

"How… how long till I can move around like normal again," He asked Freya, as the girl placed her cold hand on his hand to steady him.

After he was firmly sitting up, he turned to face her.

Freya gave him a small reassuring smile, "Only a few hours. You… you didn't have any physical injuries besides a few bruises and cuts but… you were completely drained. You were pale, breathing was shallow, to be honest your condition worried me more than George's."

He didn't have a hard time believing her. When he had been riding on Clop's back to Novigrad, it had been a miracle he didn't fall off, and was able to direct his horse to the city. It felt as if someone could've taken a hammer and smashed all his bones completely to dust in that moment.

And he would have truly been dead if not for Freya taking care of him.

"Thank you, Freya… again you saved me," He said, turning to meet her blue eyes.

She chuckled lightly and flustered, "Oh it… it's no big deal. You saved me after all."

He remembered back to the Bruxa he had fought with the girl yesterday, and spotted the golden rope, and rose necklace around her neck.

"So, are you going to be heading out today," He asked her, looking down at the golden rose, "You said you wanted to take Damien's necklace back to Kaedwen and his family."

Freya's hand went to the necklace, squeezing it and closing her eyes for a moment before she looked back down at him.

"I will yeah… but I decided to stay in Novigrad for a little while longer," She told him, instantly making his eyes go wide.

"What why," He asked quickly, meeting her eyes, "Not that I don't want you here but, it's dangerous. You're wanted for desertion, that's what almost got you killed first yesterday."

She got flustered again, her face going red, but she slowly shook her head.

"I know yeah… but I talked a bit more with Geralt last night," She started, looking out the window of his room for a moment, "He told me a bit more about your search for Ciri and well… I decided that I'm going to stay and help you, at least until you both leave Novigrad."

A cluster of emotions ran through his stomach. Thankfulness, gratitude, shock, worry. Freya was a wanted woman, he shuddered to think what would happen if any Redanian soldiers found her. She could be burned on a pyre in Hierarch Square, she could be hanged, or tossed to the bottom of the Pontar. However, despite all of that she wanted to stay and help them look for Ciri, the woman he had left her for.

"Freya I…. I can't ask you to do that," He said, making the girl turn back around to meet his eyes, "The things Geralt and I have to do they… they're dangerous. George and I literally got attacked by the Wild Hunt last night. You could be killed and-."

"I could be killed by a bear on the road to Kaedwen," Freya rationalized, quickly cutting him off, "You saved my life. I don't care about the risks, you're my friend I… care about you. I know you'd do the same for me… so I'm doing it for you."

He could hear the sincerity in his words. Over the years he had felt as if he had been alone. However, the more he thought now, the more he realized, it had been his own fault. It was his own fault he had been alone. He was so concerned in stewing in his own sorry, that he didn't recognize what he truly had. If he had only made the effort, he could have had friends and allies.

Geralt had gathered allies the first time Ciri returned to the continent to save her. He had gathered a band of fighters, friends to help him go and save Ciri and Yennefer from Strygga Castle. He hadn't been apart of it, and he regretted it to that day.

However, he had his own company forming now. Geralt of Rivia, Zoltan Chivay, Faram of Undviik, George of Toussaint, and now Freya Kaminski of Ellander. It was a company of his closest friends, people he trusted with his life. And it would be them who supported him, and helped him save Ciri, just like Geralt had years ago.

He slowly looked up to meet Freya's eyes again, "Thank you… for everything."

The blonde slowly smiled, her bright blue eyes full of life, "You're welcome... Besides, I've taken quite well to Zoltan, Faram and Geralt. Geralt and Faram even both offered to show me some sword techniques."

He scoffed and managed to smile, "Hah, they're some of the best teachers you'll find. You taking my 'become a witcher' advice seriously?"

She rolled her eyes with a smile and shook her head, "No… it's just if I'm going to fight with you all, I want to know what I'm doing."

"Handled yourself pretty well yesterday," He complimented, remembering how Freya quite skillfully took down multiple attackers fighting at his side.

Scoffing Freya stood up from his bedside, "True, but if what happened to you and George is any indication the Wild Hunt is slightly more skilled then bandits in clown masks."

The image of the commander's faceplate, her female voice echoing through the cavern rang through his head, and he felt himself shiver.

"That's an understatement…. Did George tell you all what happened last night," He asked, looking back up at her.

"Small bits, he told us you found them in a cave. The last thing he remembers is you fighting the commander in a ring of fire," She told him, her voice low and sounding slightly afraid.

Carefully he nodded his head, "Yeah… I should probably get dressed, tell Geralt what happened. And I want to know what happened with him last night."

With a slight ache running through his body, he slowly moved his legs to the side of the bed. Gently his legs dangled for a moment before his bare feet finally hit the ground. As soon as they hit the wood below him, he winced, for a moment feeling as if he stepped on a bed of nails. He leaned his back up to sit up straight, and after a moment the pain disappeared. He rolled his shoulders again and took in a few deep steadying breaths.

Freya turned back and looked at him, her eyes falling from his eyes to his chest and torso. He saw her pause for a moment, her face getting red as she took a step closer, slowly pointing to the two large scars that ran along his mid-section. Of course, multiple smaller ones, like the one from where the Bruxa had bit him yesterday were there. He had multiple bruises and smaller scars that were slowly faded, but two were the ones that completely dominated his chest and torso.

One that ran horizontally across his lower abs, still slightly red and not showing signs of fading. He could still feel it twinge at times, as it more then likely would never go away. It was too deep, and had nearly killed him, it would have if not for Keira Metz's quick healing ability.

"Where… where did you get those… if you don't mind me asking," Freya asked him carefully.

He looked down at his midsection. First, he pointed to the horizontal scar running just below his abs.

"This one… a general of the Wild Hunt. Nithral was his name," He carefully explained, hearing the elf's laugh ringing in his ears, and the axe raking against his stomach, "Fought him in Velen. Axe nearly cut me in half."

Slowly she nodded, and pointed to the next large scar that dominated his collection, "And… this one?"

He gently ran his own hand down the large diagonal cut across his body. It started at the top of his right shoulder and ran all the way down to his left hip. It was his reminder of Rivia, the reminder of how close he had been to Ciri two years prior. He had done everything he could to save Geralt that day, draw the crowds away from him. It hadn't worked however, and he was separated from his adopted father that day. The mob that chased him drove him away, towards a darker alley.

Sighing he looked up to meet Freya's eyes, "Rivia, two years ago. It was… when Ciri had finally come back to the continent. Yennefer took Ciri to some meeting with a group of sorceresses. Geralt went to Rivia. Got a letter from them saying to come to Rivia… turns out that's where we were all supposed to meet."

He remembered vividly getting the letter, how fast he rode from Vizima towards Rivia.

He shook his head and continued, "When I got there, race riots had erupted. Saw Geralt trying to calm the crowds, he was being overrun. I… went to help him. Got overwhelmed myself. Some boy who probably had never even held a sword before cut me pretty deep. Wasn't wearing any armor, thought it'd make my horse faster…. Was bleeding out, before my friend Triss saved me. She roasted all of them, and teleported me away… I never got to see Ciri."

Freya digested his words, and he could see the sympathy in her eyes. Rivia had been the closest he had ever been till his current quest. He had no idea Ciri had been there until Yennefer told him when she found him. All he thought was that Geralt and Yennefer had died, thinking he still hated them, was furious with them, blamed them.

This quest was his chance to redeem himself, redeem himself for everything. And finally keep the promise he made to Ciri all those years ago, to find her if she ever went missing.

"Well… looks like I have a lot of stories to hear…" She said, before walking towards the front of his room, retrieving what seemed to be his shirt, "Come on. I'll help you put your armor on. Geralt wanted to see you as soon as you woke up."

He nodded and turned to look out the window over Novigrad once more. The sun was high, not quite midday. There was still plenty of time left in the day, plenty of time for them to continue their search. It didn't matter to him that his bones still ached, or what that commander from the night before knew or didn't know.

Ciri had been trying to keep him safe for the last two years, by leading the Wild Hunt away from them. Now it was their turn to go and save her from them.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

His armor thankfully didn't feel like it was weighing him down. After he started walking, he felt his strength again start to seep back into his bones. His sword was tied tightly across his back, and his feet creaked the wooden steps as he walked with Freya behind him. The sun seeped in from the windows when he finally made it to the bottom floor, making him stop for a moment, before he was finally able to take in the scene around him.

The inn was empty for now, save the one table where he saw them all. Zoltan, Faram, George and Geralt all sat together, chatting and eating their breakfast. Seeing George's face not pale, and blood not dripping from his armor brought a sigh of relief out of him. Freya's talents with healing, potions, solvents and other remedies continued to amaze him. George was locked in intense conversation with Faram as the Bear School Witcher nodded eagerly, all while scarfing down eggs and chicken. Geralt seemed to be listening intensely as well, barely touching his food.

Zoltan, however, was the first to notice him before the Witcher's.

"Hahahaha! The Wild Hunt'll need to do better to take you down aye young wolf," The dwarf said, smiling over at him with a mug in his hands.

At once all of his friends turned to him, George, Faram, and Geralt all shot around from their breakfast. A relieved sigh ran out over Geralt's face, and Dominik himself sighed as well. He managed to walk without any problems, Freya next to him, wearing a loose white top, and tight brown trousers with boots, the same sword still hanging at her hip she had picked up the day before.

"HAHA, mate George has been telling us what happened! You showed those fuckers how we do it on the continent, sent them scurrying right back into their holes," Faram said excitedly, raising his mug up to him.

The sun streamed through the walls of the in, through the windows warming his bones again. He heard Freya scoff a laugh next to him, as she walked past him to sit next to Zoltan, a plate of food already set out for her. Through the slight aches in his bones, he did manage to laugh at the Bear School Witcher's words, slowly walking and sitting down next to Geralt.

He sighed again and looked to meet Faram's yellow eyes, "Yeah… we did, and look where it got us eh George?"

The Griffin School Witcher chuckled from the other side of Geralt. He did look much better than he did the night before thanks to Freya's healing. No longer was he pale, however he wasn't wearing his green griffin armor, instead only a white top, with the green trousers and boots. Despite his injuries and obvious fatigue, the Griffin School Witcher raised his mug.

"It got us a glorious, yet deadly fight. Now I live thanks to you my friend," He said, his tone low and grateful, raising his mug as well.

A small scoff came from him, as he looked around the table at his friends. Freya, Zoltan, George, Faram and of course his adopted father. If the six of them couldn't rescue Dandelion, and find Ciri, then there truly was no hope.

George speaking about it however, flashed him back again to the night before. He blinked and saw it all again. The commanders skull helmet and faceplate, her deep racking metallic voice, her sword cutting into his armor, her sword inches from his neck, the fact she could have ended him in an instant, stabbed her blade through his heart, but didn't. And finally, what she had said after their fight… that he was beginning to unlock his inner magic.

She also knew things. She knew his father's name, she knew Ciri and he grew up together in Cintra…. That Ciri had apparently shared the bed of the Aen Elle King. And that most importantly to him, she had fought Ciri recently, seen her in the flesh. Thinking about it all, made the sun that shone through the windows not quite as warm. He felt himself shudder, before picking up and downing the whole entire mug of what ended up being apple juice in front of him.

He slammed the mug back down on the table, shuddering again, unable to meet his friend's eyes.

"Are you alright," He heard Geralt ask from next to him, and he craned his neck up to look at his adopted father.

In Geralt's yellow Witcher eyes he could see the concern, and he looked around to see his five other friends' looking at him as well. Slowly he nodded his head, looking back to see Geralt again.

"I'll… be alright. Freya works wonders, me and you both could learn a thing or two about potions from her Geralt," He said, trying to raise the mood in the room.

The rest of the inn was empty, so only the six of them stayed around the table. His words got a laugh and a nod from George.

"That we can! Don't know what was in the potions she gave me, or the healing solvent but it fixed me right up," The Griffin School Witcher commented.

Zoltan laughed from next to Freya, pointing his thumb to the girl, "Ha this lassie has been a god send! You should have tasted some of the dumplings she prepared last night. Absolutely magnificent!"

Freya laughed, her face flushing red from embarrassment, twirling her fork in her plate of food, "Oh come on stop… you took me in, it was the least I could do."

Before anyone could say anything else, another loud knock was heard at the door to the inn. All their heads shot over, but Zoltan was the one to groan and roll his eyes.

"Probably more of the local color," The dwarf complained, climbing off his spot on the bench, "Can't they read the sign? Not serving yet…"

Their dwarf friend walked over towards the front door, as the rest of them continued to eat. Faram took another large gulp of what he knew had to be ale from his mug, before bringing it back to the table, and pointing over to Freya.

"And you should've seen how she handled this one sodded fool last night mates," The Bear School Witcher commented, looking over at the blonde, "Poor fool tried to put the moves on her! Got pretty handsy, almost went to help myself but this lass, she flips him over her shoulder and kicks him out on his arse!"

"He was like three times my age, reeked of Mahakam," Freya said a slight bit of disgust in her voice.

Faram laughed again and nodded, "Haha and you kicked him right outta here goldilocks! Can't wait to see what she can do with a sword in her hands!"

George, Freya and Faram all got locked into an intense conversation about swords, fighting, and what battles Freya had been a part of during her time in the army. As much as he loved seeing all of his friends having such a great time together, enjoying each other's company and getting along greatly, he still felt his stomach churn. He kept looking down at his plate, his fork not moving towards the eggs or bacon.

He stared at the food, and almost felt the conversation between his friend completely echoing out. All he could feel was the fire erupting around him, the large circular arena this commander had summoned, he could feel the jolt of electricity that ran through him every time he locked eyes or swords with her. She had been there for him specifically. She wanted to use him to lure Ciri out of hiding, use him as a bargaining chip to make her turn herself over to them. And if he knew Ciri like he thought he did… she wouldn't have abandoned him; the commanders plan would have worked.

The commander's words played in his head. It seems you're beginning to unlock your inner magic. Kindred blood will always find kindred blood. She laid with our King… shared the bed of King Auberon. All those words she spoke, all of them rattled around in his head, like a rabid animal trapped in a cage, and his brain was their only source of food. The words attacked his brain like a necrophage attacked a rotting corpse.

We WILL meet again Dominik of Cintra, this I promise.

Again, he felt himself shudder in his seat, the sword clanking in the sheath on his back. His stomach rumbled, but he felt no desire to put anything in his mouth. The more he thought, the more it felt like something was attacking his brain on the inside. All the questions he had rattled around, and he almost felt his brain about to burst.

His friends continued their conversation, with Freya telling Faram and George about a recent battle outside White Orchard she had been apart of. None of them seemed to notice the look of struggle on his face, however Geralt was much more preceptive.

He nearly leaped out of his seat when his adopted father placed a hand on his shoulder. His head whirled around, and he met Geralt's old withered face.

"You can fool them, but you can't fool me," The older Witcher said quietly, low enough that the others at the table didn't hear him, "Dominik… what happened at that cave?"

"Tell you later… when it's just us…" He said quietly, turning his eyes back to the plate of food in front of him.

Geralt nodded understandingly, and Dominik gently picked up a piece of bacon to nibble on. It wasn't that he didn't trust Faram, George, Zoltan or Freya, however some things he knew that only Geralt would truly understand. Only Geralt, other then obviously Ciri and he, understood the true depth of the bond Ciri and he shared, even more so then Yennefer or Triss. Geralt had watched he and Ciri grow up, train, fall in love, be ripped apart, and he would be the one to be there when they finally reunited.

The bacon and the rest of the food he began to eat fell to the pit of his stomach like a brick. He was silent, watching his best-friends converse with each other, laughing at each other's jokes, bonding together quite well. It raised his spirits slightly, seeing that they were all seemingly getting along so greatly. He hoped that it would translate into being able to work together well when the continued their quests.

He had finally managed to scarf down a few pieces of bacon, with the food actually beginning to help his energy return. The eggs that Freya or Zoltan had made tasted fantastic, and he was about to scarf down more, when the dwarf's voice rang through the inn.

"Aye Geralt, Dominik, a letter for you both," The dwarf said, sliding back onto the stool and sliding the parchment across the table.

Sighing Dominik placed the forkful of eggs that he was about to scoop into his mouth back down onto the table. Geralt gently picked up the letter, it was fine parchment with a wax seal. It smelled of a pleasant juniper perfume, and he as well as Geralt both faltered at the smell.

He watched as Geralt slowly unwrapped the letter, it's elegant handwriting finally coming into his view.

Geralt, Dominik, it's all falling apart. Please come and see me, we must move now.

Love, TM

"A letter from Triss…" He said, slowly turning to meet Geralt's eyes, "I know I had quite the night last night…. But I never asked, what happened at that party?"

Geralt grew a deathly serious look on his face. He could tell his adopted father was worried, quickly he ripped the letter in half, and turned down to him.

"I'll tell you on the way," He said, his voice low and sturdy. The rest of their friends all looked over to them as he continued, "Think you're okay enough to fight?"

He scoffed and slid off the bench he was on, "For Triss? Always. I should be fine, right Freya?"

He looked over and met the blonde's eyes. Freya looked between Geralt and he, before staring back at him finally.

"You should be, just don't overdo it," She instructed in a strict tone, "Try to keep the magic, the signs to a minimum."

Hearing the strict tone in her voice, he finally managed a genuine laugh for the first time in the day.

"Doctor's orders, got it," he said, turning back to Geralt, "So should we get going. Whatever it is, it seems urgent."

Geralt swung his legs around the bench and stood up as well, "Yeah… are you sure you're up for this today?"

Ciri was out there, Triss needed their aid. He would be up for, and ready to help those he cared about. It didn't matter how his body felt, how fatigued, injured or mentally fragile he felt at the moment. He would always give everything he had into helping the ones he loved.

Carefully he nodded at Geralt, before looking out towards the sun streaming in from the streets of Novigrad, "Yeah… I'm up for it. No rest for the wicked."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"She spared me Geralt… she had her sword inches from my throat. Could have killed me in seconds but… for some reason she didn't," He explained, as they walked through the Bits, the sun beating down on their necks.

Geralt and he had left the Rosemary and Thyme a few moments after getting the letter from Triss. George, Freya and Faram all asked if they needed their help, but Geralt and he assured them they could go about their business for the day, and that they would be fine. Freya was still trying to gather enough money for her trip to Kaedwen, while George who was still recovering from his wound the previous night, said that he felt he could use a day of bed rest. Faram and Zoltan had both gone off into town on business as well, with Faram going back to the docks to continue buying supplies for their inevitable trip to Skellige.

So Geralt and he set out together for Triss's house. First, he figured out what happened at the Vegelbud party the night before. He learned how Geralt and Triss were able to smuggle young Albert from the party, but not without some difficulty. He wanted to ask more, particularly if Triss and he had talked about… other things. However, after seeing the hardened look on his adopted father's face, he decided against it. Not wanting to bring the subject up if it had ended sourly.

After he heard about that he finally spilled out everything that had happened to him the night before. How George and he initially found the Hunt in the cave they though they'd be hunting a Fiend in. He told him about the fight with the Wild Hunt soldiers, how George was injured, and the commander attempted to strike a deal with him…. And finally, he told him how she seemed to know everything about him, and about Ciri. From where they grew up together, to her knowing his father's name. He explained their duel in detail, how she had summoned a circle of flames, and how she had spared his life. It had truly been the most intense fight of his entire life, surpassing that of his fight against Nithral, the bounty hunter when he was 17, and even the Battle of Brenna.

He left out what she had told him about Ciri and the King of the Aen Elle, for the sole reason being if Geralt knew the truth of the matter, he didn't want to hear it from him. If Ciri really had laid with this King, then he would want to hear it from Ciri herself, just like he would tell Ciri that despite the fact they had never been intimate, he had shared beds with and been with Freya.

The two of them tried to keep their heads down as they walked through the muddy roads of the bits. Geralt stroked his white beard, and looked over to him as they walked, the sun reflecting off both his blades.

"Maybe she could have been trying to keep you alive for this plan she mentioned," The older Witcher guessed, "So that she could capture you, and try to lure Ciri to them by using you."

He had thought that himself for a few moments, however, he wasn't sure how he knew, but he knew that it wasn't true. She had kept him alive for some other reasons, and he couldn't figure out why.

Slowly he shook his head, the sun gleaming off his armor, "I don't think so…. Besides, they could have still used me to lure her out if she killed me. Geralt, do you remember anyone like her from your time with the Hunt?"

He knew the subject of Geralt's time riding with the Wild Hunt had been a sensitive topic since it ultimately led to his amnesia. However, Geralt thought for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

"I don't… I don't remember them having any women in the Hunt, let alone a human commander… she has to be extremely powerful for Eredin to let her in," Geralt said slowly, keeping his eyes on the streets in front of them.

Shuddering, Dominik nodded his head as well, "She is…. She went easy on me Geralt. I know when an opponent is going full speed and… well she wasn't. I saw what kind of power she had."

"You need to be careful," Geralt said quickly, his tone low and serious, "If she knows this much about you, and about Ciri… she can use that against you. If you really do run into her again… you need to watch yourself."

When she had spoken his fathers name, Sir Gregory of Cintra, and knew that Ciri and he had grown up in Cintra before escaping the massacre, it had almost sent his body into shock. There was no possible way that the Wild Hunt could know his past, particularly his past with Ciri. Had the Hunt been watching her that long? So long that they knew him as a result?

One more thing had sent his brain into a frenzy when the commander had said it.

Sighing, looking down at his black boots sloshing through the mud he felt his body grow cold.

"And… what did she mean when she said I was… beginning to unlock my inner magic? I thought magic wasn't hereditary, mages can't have children. I thought it wasn't unless you're a special case like… well Ciri," He said, his voice getting lower as they neared Triss's home.

The bits had been surprisingly empty that day, it was past midday, and the sun would soon start its descent. The lack of people sent a small bell tolling off in his brain, it was his first clue that something had to be wrong.

Geralt slowly shook his head, "Well… not all mages can't have children. I don't know much about the genetic side of things when it comes to it. You're better off asking Triss or Yen."

He nodded in understanding, feeling himself shudder. It had to be completely impossible, there couldn't be anything hidden inside him. If there had been any mages, or other significantly powerful magic wielders in his family, he was sure that he would have known, his mother and father would have told him. Even if there had been, unless it was the case of Elder Blood, like inside of Ciri, he never heard of magic abilities being passed through genetics. Even with the Elder Blood, it would pass through some generations. Ciri's mother Pavetta, and Ciri herself were born with powers of the Elder Blood, however Queen Calanthe wasn't.

A cool breeze blew through his body, and carefully he looked up at Geralt, unsure if he should ask his next question. It ate at him, and despite the fact he said he didn't want to know, words spilled out of his mouth before he could stop.

"Geralt… when Ciri came back the first time did she… did she… mention anyone," He asked the older Witcher.

Geralt slowed his footsteps for a moment, and looked back down at him, "Mention anyone how…?"

He felt the hairs on his arms stand up, and like his insides were slowly being stretched out. A horrible tingling feeling went up his spine, as he felt his face get hot. He didn't know why he was asking, who Ciri did and didn't sleep with wasn't the important thing they needed to know then. However, the words had already left his mouth, so he sighed and looked back down at the ground as he spoke.

"Did she mention anyone that… that she… well… you know that she-," He was cut off when Geralt held his arm out in front of him.

"Shhhh, look," Geralt said, stopping them both completely in his tracks, "Witch Hunters, outside of Triss's house."

His mind completely glossed over the previous night as soon as he heard the words. He looked up to see where Geralt was looking. They had both reached the large townhouse that Triss was living, and in two different alleys leading to new streets, he saw groups of Witch Hunter's. Four of them in total, two down one street keeping guard, and two a few feet from Triss's front door, interrogating a group of peasants.

"We need to get too Triss…" He said quickly, looking up to meet Geralt's eyes.

He could see the intense look in Geralt's eyes, very few times had he seen his adopted father look the way he did in that moment. While he felt the worry and anger flare up in his own gut as well, it was nothing compared to how Geralt seemed in that moment. His bones were still aching but seeing the possibility of Triss being in danger shot new energy into him. He followed closely behind Geralt, as they both lightly moved behind the two Hunter's in the streets. Their footsteps were silent, and they were quickly able to reach Triss's door.

The sun was starting to set, and a cool breeze blew through the dry air, and he felt the sweat slowly trickle down the back of his neck. He had been fighting since the moment he entered Novigrad, and he was amazed at himself that he hadn't passed out during the day yet. However, as he and Geralt slowly and quietly opened the door to the townhouse, he felt the new rush of energy again flow through him. It didn't matter how his bones felt, if Triss needed him, then he was going to be there.

To his surprise he wasn't greeted by the grouchy old couple that had taken Triss in on the ground floor. The fire was still burning, with gwent cards and other herbs, meats and food strewn over the table. He looked around frantically, hoping that the two of them weren't too late, and that the Witch Hunter's hadn't found their way inside yet. Geralt apparently thought this as well, because his adopted father sped past him towards the staircase heading upwards.

He was taken aback for a moment by his adopted father's sudden urge, but quickly followed him. Geralt didn't bother quietly going up the steps, skipping two at a time he followed behind the older Witcher, and he could hear Triss's voice, and arguing up on the second floor.

"But I paid up for the whole month," The sorceress said, her voice at a desperate plea.

"Aye… that's the old rate," He heard the old man say quickly, "But now there's a new one… more dangerous… we're putting ourselves more at risk."

Finally, he made it to the second floor with Geralt, and saw the scene unfolding. Triss's landlord and landlady had her cornered, and certainly didn't look happy. With Witch Hunter's flooding outside their house, it wasn't hard for him to piece together what they had wanted from his sorceress friend.

"I'm out of coin…" Triss said, her voice lowering to a low, sad squeak.

"Aye… but you have something else dear," The older woman said, her eyes going to Triss's pockets.

He was about to step forward, but he saw the scowl that grew on Geralt's face. Quickly he walked up next to the sorceress, and he could see the couple step back. However to the woman's credit she still looked over to Triss.

"Give us the necklace and get out," She screeched, as he saw Triss's eyes go wide, her hands gingerly going around her neck.

He was about to step forward again, but Geralt quickly stepped in front of Triss between the sorceress and her landlords.

"Hand's off or I'll cut them off," The older Witcher hissed, his tone low and dangerous.

There had been many times in his life he had seen Geralt truly angry. All of those times had been when he, Ciri, Yennefer or one of their friends were in danger. Now was one of those times, he himself almost took a step back after hearing the tone he spoke with.

"Geralt, you don't-," Triss quickly said behind him.

"I wanna," Geralt quickly cut her off, looking back to him, and gesturing to Triss, "Grab your things. Dom and I are getting you out of here."

"Triss," He said, quickly walking up next to the sorceress.

She turned and saw him, quickly reaching out to pull him into a quick hug. However, after she was done her landlady screeched again.

"Get out now, all of you," She screeched at the three of them, before her and her husband quickly huffed back down the stairs.

He slowly let go of Triss's hand as he made sure to keep a close eye on the two owners of the house. He listened to them as they trudged down the stairs, making sure that they didn't run out their doors to the Witch Hunter's. His listening however was interrupted by both Geralt and Triss.

"When I need your help, I'll ask for it," The sorceress hissed at the older Witcher, making him shoot around.

"Triss, we-," He tried to reason, before Geralt cut him off.

"What are you angry," Geralt spat back at her, just as standoffish.

He looked between the two of them and could see the momentary anger and annoyance they both felt. The last thing he needed after the previous night he had, was for Geralt and Triss to start arguing, and being at each other's throats. His mind was already mentally fatigued enough, he didn't want to have to mediate a fight in the moment. However, just when he thought he'd have too anyway, Triss sighed, looking up between the two of them.

"Argh… angry? No… I'm glad you both showed up," She said, giving Geralt a small smile before looking over at him. When she saw him, Triss's eyes went wide, "Dominik what… what happened? You look so pale, you seem like you haven't slept in days."

While he did appreciate the concern, he quickly shook his head. He came back over next to Geralt across from the sorceress and met her eyes.

"I'm alright, but don't worry about me, I'm not important right now," He said with a shake of his head, "Geralt and I got your letter. What's wrong, what happened?"

"We were worried about you," Geralt quickly added after him, "Witch Hunters are all around outside, and in the streets."

It had been true, the streets had been particularly empty, and he saw many more temple guards and Witch Hunter's then he normally did. Triss sighed shaking her head in dismay as she paced in front of them. The sorceress finally shook her head again and looked up at them.

"I know… we had everything in place! We were ready to set sail… but the Hunter's moved faster. They locked the gates, placed guards at every corner. All in one night. Then they started searching the city- street by street, house by house," Triss said, her voice finally cracking. She turned to regain her composure before looking back at them, "They arrested anyone who looked even slightly suspicious. Most of the time it was just someone with a lucky rabbit's foot or a horseshoe but… sometimes they'd get it right, arrest actual mages."

He felt his fist curl in anger again. He knew what it was like to watch your friends be dragged from their houses to their certain deaths. It had happened in Cintra, Nilfgaardean troops had drug anyone, men, women, children from their houses and gutted them in the streets. It was similar to what was happening to Triss and the other mages, and he wasn't going to let it continue. It was a Witcher's job to protect people from monster's and that's exactly what he and Geralt would do.

Despite the chill that still ran through his bones, the small ache he felt, he would do what he could. He remembered Freya's orders to keep his signs to a minimum, but she also said that he should still be able to fight, so that was what he'd do. To help Triss, one of the members of his new family, he didn't care how he felt.

"Dom and I will help in any way we can, right," Geralt said looking over to him, his yellow eyes filled to the brim, dripping with concern for the sorceress.

Quickly he nodded his head and turned to Triss, "Of course we will. Remember the wagon train ambush? I didn't let anything happen to you then… and I won't now."

Triss had been sick in the back of the wagon during the Societal ambush when Ciri and he were young. He would never forget the ambush, it was the first time he ever had to kill a man, and as Geralt told him that was something that stayed with you forever. The elf was about to gut Ciri, he had to do something to save her. He had stabbed the elf in the back, saving Ciri, and nearly throwing up before the both of them went and stood by Triss's side while the battle finished, with Geralt finding them later.

Triss clearly remembered as well, because a small smile crossed her face, "Thank you… thank you both. Everything is falling apart; I don't know where to start…"

He took in a steadying breath, his hand's twitching as they normally did before a fight, as he watched Triss pace to one side of the room and back to them.

She sighed and looked at them both, her light green eyes pleading, "I should get all the mages to the docks as soon as possible, get them on board the ship. But Berthold and Anisse have yet to show up to the meeting point!"

Dominik could see the frantic look in the sorceress's eyes as he digested her plan. If she wanted to get all the mages to the docks, moving them through the city would require a lot more manpower then just Geralt and he. He suddenly regretted not asking Faram, George and Freya to come with them, with all of them combined they would have certainly had a chance, however even then it was slim.

Geralt slowly shook his head, "Won't be easy getting to the port with all those guardsmen there…"

"I could go see if I can get Faram, George and Freya, with all of us we may have a chance," He said, looking between the both of them.

Triss quickly shook her head, "Even with all of them we'd still not have enough. That's why we won't take the roads. We'll take the sewers. Incase of trouble we were all to meet at the Kingfisher, there's a passage to the sewers there. It's said it can lead you all the way to the docks."

"I know the Novigrad sewers, think Dom's done a few jobs there as well, doesn't mean it'll be safe though," Geralt said hesitantly.

The sorceress sighed and lowered her head for a moment, before looking back up at them. He could see the pleading eyes she gave them, and it made his heart stir.

"I know… which is why I'm asking you both for help. I need you both to clear a path through the sewers, find a way to the docks. Once it's safe for everyone we can lead them through," She asked them both, her eyes pleading with them still, "We need to do it fast though… Hunter's could catch onto our tail at any moment."

He nodded quickly himself, "We'll help you. Don't worry, Geralt and I have cleared plenty of sewers before."

She sighed in relief and smiled at him before looking back to Geralt, "And then there's Berthold and Anisse…. They still haven't showed up at the meeting point. He's an alchemist, had a practice in Gildorf, she studied at Aretuza…. I'm afraid their hosts turned them in. Now do you see my biggest problem?"

He sighed looking down at his feet for a moment, he felt for the mages he truly did. The thought of leaving two behind to certainly face death didn't sit right in his stomach. Geralt next to him carefully nodded his head.

"Yeah… help the two and put all the others at risk…. Or go straight to the Kingfisher and abandon the two to certain death…" Geralt said slowly, piecing together the puzzle as well.

Triss looked as if tears were about to fall from her face as she shook her head, holding her arms out, "Geralt… what do I do?"

He saw his adopted father think for a moment, but then the words came sprouting out of him, along with a jolt of adrenaline.

"You don't have to choose either," He said quickly, his arms crossed. Geralt and Triss both quickly turned to him and he met Triss's eyes, "Tell me where they're at. I'll go get them, you two head to the Kingfisher, and I'll meet you there after I got them both."

He wasn't about to abandon two people he could save to certain death. Geralt's words echoed in his brain, 'sometimes you just can't save everyone'. The words were true, however in that moment he had the opportunity to save two innocent lives. He couldn't save people from being dragged out of their homes and executed back in Cintra when he was young… but he could save people now, he wasn't helpless anymore. So despite Freya's potion starting to wear off, his bones starting to ache again, he was going to do what he could.

Geralt was the first to speak up, "Dom, are you sure? After last night… don't know if I like the idea of you going off to fight on your own."

A scoff left him right away as he waved off the concern, "Don't worry Geralt I'll be fine. This is important, I'm not about to leave two people to certain death. Triss… tell me where they're at, I'll get them I promise."

Triss looked at him, and the sorceress's eyes almost seemed like she was going to cry. She sighed and slowly nodded her head, "Only if you're absolutely sure…. And you promise to be careful. The Hunter's are out in droves, it'll be dangerous."

He gave her a confident smile and slowly nodded, "I'll be careful, I promise. Caution's my middle name," He said, trying to lift their mood.

A small chuckle came from the sorceress. She slowly walked over to him and wrapped him in a tight hug. He wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed her with equal force, taking in her perfume smell, and trying to convey how much she meant to him in that one hug. He didn't want to face the reality of it, that Triss more then likely would be leaving them that day if their plan went well. Her name was on his inner forearm, she had been one of the most important people to him growing up, she had saved his life, taken care of him when he was at his most vulnerable.

If Triss Merigold needed him to hike to Nazair and back, then he would go out to buy hiking gear to do so.

"I'm so… so proud… of the man you've become," She whispered into his ear, tightening her hold on his neck as she embraced him.

He felt his breath shake as he sank into her hug. The stress and fatigue from the last few days was all finally coming to him as he hugged her. He melted into her hug and squeezed his arms around her.

"Thank… thank you Triss… for everything," He said quietly, before regrettably slowly pulling back from her.

He looked and saw the approving nod of Geralt before he took in a shaky breath, turning to meet Triss's eyes again.

"I won't let you down, I promise," He told her.

And he meant it.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"This should be it…" He said quietly to himself, the corpses of Witch Hunters littered behind him.

Triss had given him very specific instructions on where to find the house Berthold and Anisse had been staying at. Apparently, the duo had been sheltered with some wealthier people a few blocks from the Kingfisher. It would have been out of the way and certainly would have resulted in more deaths had they all gone to help the two. He exited Triss's house without alerting the Witch Hunter's around him, and carefully maneuvered the streets until he found the house Triss described.

Two Hunter's had been posted outside, so that was how he knew he had the right place. From his concealed hiding spot behind a building corner, it had been easy for him to throw a samum bomb, disorienting the Hunter's before he swiftly cut them down. His bones had been moving slightly sluggish, but after throwing a few parries and striking a few times, the movements slowly returned to him. He still felt the aches, but his speed was starting to finally come back to him.

Taking in a deep sigh and he kicked open the door, and initially saw nobody on the bottom floor. The light from a beautiful sunset shone through the mosaic windows as he carefully rounded the steps, quietly creaking up them.

"They's the ones, been casting spells on us this whole time," He heard a woman wail as he slowly got higher.

"We're innocent! We've done nothing wrong," Another woman's voice rang.

"Shut your mouth you dumb wench, we're here to purge this city in the name of the Holy Fire," Another deep voice muttered out.

He knew it had to be the Witch Hunter, so he trampled up the rest of the steps two at a time. Using what speed he had left, he finally burst onto the top floor, a larger bedroom, one window and a large double bed to his right. To his left a man and a woman stood cowering, no doubt the 'gracious' hosts that were supposed to be concealing them. Two more people were bound on their knees. A man in a black doublet, and feathered hat, along with a woman wearing a blue dress and large necklace. Standing above them was the Witch Hunter, his sword held up, ready to strike.

Anisse screamed as the sword was about to come down on her. Seeing the only way to save them, he reached into his belt, loosing his silver dagger from his hands with as much strength as he could muster. It whistled through the air and implanted itself into the Hunter's bicep, just before he could bring the sword down.

"GAHHHHH," He screamed, blood seeping from the wound. The shock of what happened hit the man, as he ripped the dagger from his arm and tossed it to the ground.

The Hunter whirled around to see him, his sword leveled, his wolven armor sparkling in the sun.

"Leave them alone and get out of here or you die, this is the only warning you'll get," He told the Hunter, his voice low and gravely.

The Hunter however didn't falter. He had seen bloodlust in men before, and the man was clearly in the middle of it. Going house to house and dragging out more and more innocent people suspected of being mages, he was sure had gone to the man's head. The Hunter laughed at him, and turned around, pointing his sword.

"And who'll kill me boy," He taunted, keeping his sword pointed at Dominik, "You? What could you possibly do!?"

"Oh… you're about to find out," Dominik said, his voice growing ever darker.

He felt his anger and agitation rising, not just at the Hunter, but at the entire situation he faced. The previous night he and his friend had been trapped, both nearly killed by the Wild Hunt. Their commander knew everything about his past and taunted him by opening up old wounds he thought healed. Triss, one of the most important people in his life would be forced to leave him later and was currently being hunted. His bones still felt like they could be smashed to bits at any moment with how brittle they felt. Even though he didn't know if it was true, he heard that the woman he loved supposedly had been fucking the king of the Aen Elle. Despite all of the leads and trails they followed to get to Ciri, the one thing that he wanted in the fucking world, Geralt and he still seemed to be just one step behind her.

All of that, combined with the fact that he had barely slept due to the fucking nightmares and dreams he'd been having, he felt something erupt in his gut at hearing the Witch Hunters words.

His vision flashed bright blue for a second, and he slowly started walking towards the man. The Witch Hunter laughed again and walked to meet him.

The Hunter threw a strike from the right, but he parried it with such force the man got sent stumbling backwards. With renewed determination the man charged again, lashing out this time from the right. He parried the strike this time with enough strength to knock the blade from the man's hand. The Witch Hunter stood before him weaponless, so he twirled his blade to a reverse grip, and slashed it with all of his strength across the man's chest. The Hunter wailed and stumbled backwards, gripping his chest, as the slice had such force behind it, it seemed as if he had cut right through the man's armor.

He looked and saw the window behind the man. The anger still hadn't subsided, his fingers went white from gripping his sword so hard. He saw Ciri's face in his vision again, the sweet dream that he had, the first one in ages that morning, and somehow it only made him even angrier, remembering how she had been unfairly ripped from him, and for eight years he had so many chances that he could've taken to see her, had he not been such an ignorant petulant child.

"ARGHHHHHHHH," He finally felt himself scream, his voice echoing through the building, and he fired his hand forward.

A blue blast shot from his hand. It was the Aard sign, but more powerful then any, any sign he had ever produced. It erupted from his hands and slammed into the Witch Hunter. The man screamed in horror as it sent him firing backwards, right through the window, shattering the glass and sending him over the edge, screaming the entire way down.

He walked towards the window and looked out the shattered hole. The Hunter had fallen and splattered on the ground below, right next to the two he killed on the way in. His felt his left hand, the one that had shot the blast begin to uncontrollably shake. He squeezed it into a fist and looked down at his glove. It had almost been smoking, as he felt heat rushing to it. Slowly he took in deep breaths, trying to calm his rapid heartbeat. He heard whimpering behind him and whirled around.

The couple that had turned in Berthold and Anisse shuddered at his gaze. He assumed that his emerald eyes had to be horrifying at the moment, from how his hand shook and smoked. Slowly he walked over and picked up his silver dagger carefully sliding it into his belt. He looked up and met the couple's eyes again.

"Leave. Now. Don't come back for an hour," He said, trying to keep his voice steady.

The two didn't argue and scurried away down the stairs. He could hear their rapid footsteps running. Finally, when he couldn't hear them anymore, and a loud sigh finally came out of him. It turned out that Freya had been correct, he felt his stomach begin to churn and while his hand stopped shaking, his body felt weak again. Carefully he slid his sword into the sheath on his back before whirling around again.

He saw Berthold and Anisse both still bound, and quickly pulled the dagger from his belt again.

"Don't worry, Triss Merigold sent me. Want's me to get you both to the Kingfisher," He said, quickly kneeling down behind both and them, and sawing through their binds.

Anisse was the first to speak up after he freed her.

"Are you another mage," She quickly asked, as he cut Berthold's bonds.

He shook his head as he finally cut the ropes on the man's wrists, "No, a Witcher. She was worried you hadn't shown up, sent me to get you both. You can trust me I'm an old friend."

Anisse scoffed as she rubbed both her wrists, "You can't tell me you're not a mage. That some seriously powerful magic you just used."

"It was just a Witcher sign, no big deal," He said, sliding the dagger back into his belt and looking at them both.

Quickly the brown-haired woman shook her head, "That was more powerful than any Witcher sign I've seen. You channeled a large amount of chaos. Not many who are untrained can control it, let alone put it into a spell like that."

'It seems you're beginning to unlock your inner magic'. The commander's words rang through his head again, and for a moment he felt his legs wobble. However, he remembered why he was there. They had little time as it was, and he couldn't waste anymore at the moment trying to decipher her words.

He quickly shook his head, before looking to them both, "That's not important right now. Come on, we need to get to the Kingfisher, Triss had a plan to get you to the docks."

"Well wait just a bloody minute," Berthold said, speaking up for the first time, "The city is crawling with Hunter's it isn't safe! We were just almost killed; I refuse to put myself or my wife in danger!"

"Berthold please," Anisse chastised the man.

The sunset continued to shine in on them through the broken window as he felt his eyes roll. He put his fingers to his head to rub his temples, feeling a large headache start to come to him.

He looked up and locked eyes with the man, "Yes, it's dangerous I know. Yes, I know you almost just died. But I saved you, I'll save you again if the Hunter's attack. Now let's go, we have no time to argue."

The man however despite his words was steadfast, he shook his head, "Absolutely not. I won't drag myself and my wife out only to be slaughtered by Hunter's! You saved us yes, but what if this is just a trap!?"

"Berthold stop it," Anisse quickly chastised.

Again, he rubbed his temples. With the anger that he had just unleashed on the Witch Hunter still slightly running through his veins, he steadied his breathing, trying to calm himself. The last thing he wanted to do was unleash his anger again on the poor man, who was probably only scared out of his mind.

"For fuck's sake I don't have time for this…" He muttered, as the couple began to argue.

He gently moved Anisse out of the way, and held up his hand, moving his fingers in the appropriate motion.

"It's alright, Triss sent me, you can trust me," He said to the man, trying for as soothing of a voice as he could.

He finished the movements with his fingers and waved his hand. The axii sign did its work, and small white sparks appeared above Berthold's head. The man got a dreamy look on his eye flickered for a few moments, before he looked back down at Dominik, a little too deep for his comfort.

"It's okay… Triss sent you," The man said, as he sighed again, raising up his hand again.

"You'll come with me to the Kingfisher now," Dominik said again, moving his fingers appropriately again.

After another moment, the man finally sighed, as if nothing were wrong in the world at the moment.

"I'll come with you to the Kingfisher now…" Berthold said again, the white dots appearing around his head once more.

He finally sighed in relief and met Anisse's eyes with a nod, before turning back to the steps. Carefully he escorted the couple down the stairs, as his blood and heart finally began to flow. What Anisse had told him ran through his head. She told him he unleashed chaos. From the little he knew about magic chaos was the source of it. However, he knew that signs were magic, he had been using magic this entire journey so far. So why had all of a sudden, was he unleashing more of it, why had all of these things started happening to him now?

None of them were his primary concern, it was always and always would be finding Ciri and keeping her safe, along with the one's he loved. But the feeling of a power you never knew, slowly opening up inside of you was one of the worst fears he could ever experience.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The sun was almost finally set as he burst into the Kingfisher with Berthold and Anisse closely behind him. He was able to escort them around Witch Hunter patrols and get them to the inn with no problem. His strength was finally returning, and his hand had stopped smoking from the Aard sign he produced to kill the Witch Hunter. He felt the blood begin to flow normally again as he quickly held up his blade as they entered, leveling it in case the Hunter's had beat them to it.

The Hunter's had seemed to arrive before them, but all of them lay dead. He noticed the precise sword wounds on their throats and stomachs, along with the singed and charred armor. A small smile crossed his face as he felt a rush of relief pass over him.

"Looks like Geralt and Triss kept busy…" He said, before he heard rustling behind him.

He whirled around with his blade to where he heard the noise, Berthold and Anisse quickly coming behind him. The noise had come from the bar, and when he saw the innkeeper poke his head up, he sighed out in relief and slid his blade onto his back. Triss had told him that she would inform the barkeep of his arrival. The skinny man with white rags slowly looked up to meet his eyes, when he saw Berthold and Anisse behind him, he also sighed out.

"Aye… you're Dominik then," The man asked, his voice slightly shaken.

He nodded his head and walked over towards the man, "I am, Triss sent me. The dead Hunter's… did they get anyone?"

The man quickly shook his head, "No thank the gods. Triss and the Witcher cut them down before they could do any harm. Follow me, they're down this way."

Nodding he went to follow the skinny man. He rubbed his hands together, the shaking had finally stopped in them both, but he still felt on edge. What he really needed was a few drinks and more then eight hours of sleep. He felt currently as if he had been awake for four days straight, fighting one long continuous fight, that was how he felt in one half of his brain.

The other half of his brain kept telling him that he couldn't stop. He couldn't stop fighting for a moment, because every fight brought him closer and closer to Ciri. Every fight was important to help the one's he cared about. He couldn't stop, not when he was starting to feel closer and closer with every day.

However both halves of his brain agreed that he needed a drink after everything had been finished that night.

The Kingfisher like Triss had described, had a secret passage that led underground into its cellars. After the barkeep had opened it, he gave the man a quick nod before descending with Berthold and Anisse right behind him.

As soon as he reached the bottom, he saw the scale of what Triss was trying to do. There had to have been at least thirty to forty mages. Almost all of them paced around frantically or sat in corners shaking uncontrollably.

"Thank you for saving us both…" Anisse said giving him a nod as she went to join some of her associates.

Berthold also gave him a curt nod before going to join his wife. Finally, after they had left, he let out a large sigh and rubbed his hands into his eyes. He rolled his shoulders, the feeling finally fully returning to his muscles. At that point, it wasn't his muscles that were fatigued, it was his mind that was. The headache started to boil, as he rubbed both his temples.

"You made it, we were starting to worry," He heard the voice of Triss say.

He turned around and saw Triss with Geralt coming for him. Seeing them both brought a smile to his face, as Triss hugged him quickly. Geralt stood behind her with a proud smile. Looking and meeting Triss's eyes calmed him as he let out a shaky breath.

"Is everything ready, the route for us to clear the sewers is open," He asked her, the musty smell of the cellar hitting his nose.

The sorceress nodded and gestured towards the center of the room, "It is, just need to talk to everyone and explain the plan."

He nodded to her, and the sorceress gently touched his cheek for a moment, before turning from him. After she did Geralt came up besides him, clapping a hand onto his shoulder.

"Good job, I'm proud of you. That was a great thing you did, saved lives," The older Witcher told him, as they both maneuvered around some of the mages.

The compliment made him feel good both physically and mentally, as he turned to look at his adopted father.

"Thanks Geralt… I… I'm just not excited about Triss leaving," He admitted, the idea boiling up inside his gut.

He was afraid it would be the breaking point for him. With how hard, and how much he had been fighting since they arrived in Novigrad, Triss had been a constantly calming presence. He subconsciously looked down at the tattoo on his inner forearm, and her name written in elegant black letters. He remembered the nights he'd wake up in the early hours of the morning, screaming his sisters name, his mothers, his fathers, seeing the blood all over his hands. Then he'd have Triss, or Ciri, or both of them come into his room. They'd lay with him, Triss would sing and cast a protective spell over him. Ciri would lay next to him and talk his ear off, until they both finally fell asleep. Triss would pull a blanket over them both, and it'd be a pleasant night.

Then the sorceress had saved his life in Rivia, she was the reason he was standing there that day. She was the reason he could still be looking for Ciri. And now she was leaving, heading almost as far north as you could go.

"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite father and son Witcher duo," A deep voice said, making the both of them turn.

Dijkstra had been the last person he expected to see, and he scowled when he saw the fat man. The larger man limped over to them and squeezing between the mages in the tight cellar. He made a quick mental note to keep his mouth closed. With everything that had happened to him the last few days, and in his current state of mind, he knew that all it would take was for Dijkstra to make one snide comment for his sword to flash, and he didn't want to risk ruining all of Triss's plans because he couldn't keep his temper.

Geralt crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, "You fleeing to Kovir too?"

Dijkstra snorted and shook his head, "No, but I am helping them set off. You know me… bleeding heart and all."

He felt his own eyes roll, but bit down on his tongue so he didn't make any comments. Geralt however took the words right from his mouth.

"It only start bleeding now. They've been burning mages for months around here," Geralt shot back at the former spy.

The fat spy chuckled lightly, "Only recently on this scale… besides. I look forward to having friends in Kovir… in King Tancred's entourage."

"Of course.…" He said lowly, crossing his arms and turning toward Triss.

He saw the sorceress climb up onto an old crate, and as soon as she did all thirty of the mages seemed to stand at attention. It small a small bit of pride and happiness through his heart. Triss had truly done something amazing. She had managed to organize and get enough coin to get all the mages out of the city. She had worried about more than just herself; she easily could have fled months before.

But she stayed for the other's out of the goodness in her heart. That was the kind of person Triss Merigold was, and the type of person he strived to be.

"We've waited long to escape. Until we made sure Kovir would take us, till we could acquire enough coin for a ship, till we could find a captain we could trust," Triss said loudly, her voice echoing through the cellar, "We've waited too long. There's no more time for hesitation. We must leave Novigrad… today!"

"This is madness," One sorceress quickly spoke up from his left, "Hunter's stand on every corner!"

A few mages all started muttering in agreement, but Triss quickly shook her head.

"We won't go through the streets," She announced loudly, turning to face Dominik and Geralt, gesturing towards them both, "This is Geralt of Rivia, and Dominik of Cintra, two of the greatest Witcher's to walk the continent. They'll clear a path for us through the sewers!"

He felt all the eyes start to look at Geralt and he. Triss's words brought a small smile to his face, as he reached around his neck to grip the swallow pendant. It was something that he automatically did before a fight, a contract, or just when he needed reassurance.

One mage to Geralt's right however still wasn't convinced, "They'll still catch us! They'll find us, they'll hunt us down you'll see!"

He was about to speak out to the man himself, but Triss was quick to act, like a true leader.

"Perhaps, but if that's the case, we'll die with honor. Swords in our hands… not tied to a stake begging for mercy…" She announced loudly, as more murmurs echoed through the room.

There was silence for a few seconds as the murmurs of worry got louder. Triss looked like she was trying to figure out what else to say. He was thinking of something himself, when Geralt came up with the words.

"Don't worry. If the need arises, Dominik and I will defend you," Geralt said, loudly enough for every mage to hear.

Inspired by hearing his adopted father speak up, he turned to face all the mages, nodding along with what Geralt had said.

"He's right! No matter what it is, monsters, Witch Hunter's… Geralt and I will defend you. We're going to make sure you ALL get on that boat," He announced to the room, hearing the murmurs begin to die down.

"And you can also count on my help as well," Dijkstra quickly added when he was finished.

The mage from the right of Geralt quickly spoke up, "Bah, the word of a Redanian spy, Radovid's right hand man!"

He quickly whirled back over to Dijkstra, but to his surprised the man simply shook his head, "That was long ago sir."

"You raised that madman! Taught him to kill and-," The mage quickly tried to fire back, but was silenced by Triss.

"The time for old grudges is gone. We need to move now," The sorceress said, making the other mage quickly pipe down.

Geralt let out a sigh and looked down to him, "You ready?"

The blood pumping through his veins and heart was slow, it felt as if his heart was only pumping a few beats per minute. He looked up and saw Triss's hard, determined face, and he knew he was ready. He was going to help her finish what she had started.

"Yeah…" He said slowly, looking back to Geralt, "I'm ready, let's do this."

Geralt smiled down at him, and the smile made his mental fatigue lighten for a moment. The older Witcher turned to the collection of mages.

"Alright, Dom and I are going to enter the sewers now," He started, speaking loudly and clearly with authority, "We'll clear a path and signal when it's clear, so do NOT stray from the path we clear."

A few more determined mages all nodded at them, before Triss spoke up again from behind.

"Alright, I'll go with Geralt and Dominik. You Dijkstra, go to the port, and make sure everything is in order with the ship. We'll meet there… I hope," Triss ordered, looking towards the former spy.

After her speech, Triss finally stepped down from the box, and Dijkstra went to leave the cellar. He let out a deep steadying breath. He would have to push away the mental fatigue, at least for another hour or so, for the sake of helping Triss. His arm and movements had to be precise if he wanted to help Geralt clear a path through the sewers.

However, the more he tried to put what was happening in the back of his head, the more it tried to fight its way back to the forefront. Triss could be the only one to help him until he saw Yennefer, and he wanted to ask her. However, they were in the middle of something much more important, she was in the middle of something much more important.

He was going to have to sacrifice to help her, and he had no problems making it. For his family, and the ones he cared about… he would have sacrificed anything, even his own personal peace of mind.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Triss… do you really have to leave now…" He said desperately to her, as he could feel the end of the sewers approaching.

The trip had gotten done relatively quickly at the urgency they moved with. Drowners had been all they had to deal with until the end of the line, when a Katakan had attacked them. It had to have been an old one, because between a powerful sorceress and two Witcher's, the beast was taken down with relative ease. He had hit it with a Moon Dust bomb, and distracted it from the front, while Geralt plunged his silver sword into its back.

Now however, as he could smell the air of the sea, he knew they were getting close. His last fight for a while with Triss Merigold, his last bit of time with her was drawing near. Geralt had gone off a few steps ahead of them, with Triss and he both walking behind him. His sword was on his back, and he squeezed his gloved hands together, as he met Triss's eyes over the light of the fire she had ignited in her hands.

The sorceress looked over at him, then up to Geralt for a moment, before sighing and turning back to him, "Dom… I can't. I… I must leave now; I need to make sure they handle everything okay when they get there. I… I'm sorry."

He slowly nodded his head, knowing that it was the truth. However, the words, 'You're unlocking your inner magic,' continued to play over and over in his head. The thought of not having Triss to go and talk too, to laugh with, to talk about their old times at Kaer Morhen, it all was driving him mad.

The dank sewer smell hit his nose as he looked back up to meet her eyes, "I know… it… it's just Triss. I need to ask you something… I… I know we're in the middle of something important, but it's just-."

"Does this have anything to do with the commander of the Wild Hunt you fought," She cut him off to ask, a gentle breeze coming from in front of them.

He had assumed Geralt would tell her. Slowly he nodded his head, looking down at his hands again.

"I… I don't know what's going on Triss," He said, his voice starting to grow desperate, "Last night… today I… I don't know what it is. It… it feel's like something… something is unlocking inside of me and… well I'm fucking terrified," He said, finally admitting the words out loud.

It had been happening since the fight itself. After he felt that spark between himself and the Wild Hunt commander. He felt his signs grow powerful, his adrenaline rise with every fight, his hands would shake as signs erupted from his hands. Combined with what he was trying to focus on in finding Ciri, it was draining his mind every second.

Triss however, as she always did, looked at him reassuringly, her green eyes trying with everything to make him feel as if everything was okay.

"Well… now you know how Ciri felt. Not to the extent that she did obviously but… now you have an idea," She said to him, her words smooth, and calming.

He felt himself laugh and scoff, "I… know what you mean but…. I don't exactly think I'm a source, or a child of the Elder Blood. I would switch places with Ciri if I could… so she didn't have to go through it all."

Triss smiled but slowly shook her head, "You're not either of those don't worry…. The closest thing I can guess that may be the answer… is that you're a carrier."

His head shot over to her, he considered himself well versed. Over the years he had studied what he could about magic, hoping to learn something that could lead him to Ciri. However, he had never heard the term 'carrier' before.

"Carrier? I… I don't know what that means," he said shakily, the sea air smell getting more pungent.

Triss nodded as if she expected this, "An activated carrier is exceedingly rare thing… sort of like a source, but not nearly as powerful. Anyone can learn magic, and in the days of old they didn't have Aretuza. But there were still powerful mages. A large number discovered ways to pass their magical abilities down inside of their blood, inside their DNA," She started to explain, looking over to meet his eyes, "Unlike a source, a carrier's abilities don't activate until they start using magic, the mages line can go on for years without any of their descendants using that power, so these abilities often dilute, and don't activate, however those mages still pass that affinity on in their blood and… every now and then they do activate, giving the person great abilities with magic."

He carefully narrowed his head at Triss, "To be honest… it does sound more and more like a source. Like Ciri…"

Again, the sorceress shook her head, "The difference you see, is a source is much more powerful. So powerful that if they don't receive training for their abilities , it can make them go mad, and become very dangerous, which is why I came to see Ciri when I did," She explained again, talking slower articulating her words, "A carrier on the other hand… well they're perfectly capable of living life without knowing of their abilities while a source isn't. There have probably been many carriers, but only a few that have activated their abilities. The abilities they have will only begin to activate if they actively begin practicing magic. So… when you started casting signs…"

"I might have unlocked something…" He said, tearing his eyes away from his hands to look at her, "Then how come I'm only starting to feel it now? Not while I was in Velen?"

For the first time she shook her head, seeming unsure, "It could be that you're finally starting to feel the weight of your task. You're putting yourself in more high-pressure situations, trying to force more out of yourself. Geralt told me about your fight with the commander… she tried to mentally manipulate you, got you angry, forced you to use all of your power, and you tried to use more energy then you thought you had. If you are a carrier, it seems that in an effort to defeat her… you tapped into those extra magical abilities in your blood."

He looked back down at his hands again. The fight flashed before him, and he remembered how hard he pushed. He had been so angry, so furious at the commander's goading, her words about Ciri that he had felt himself go over the edge. It had amazed him at the power he unleashed at the final blow that they both struck in their duel. His hand had smoked afterwards, and it felt like he was on fire.

Could what Triss said be true? Could he truly have some magical abilities from an old mage inside of him, that he was just now activating?

He sighed again and rubbed both hands to his temples, "I… I don't know what to do. How… how the fuck do I control something like this if I have it? I have to find Ciri I don't have time for something like this!"

The anger began to raise in his gut again but was soon calmed when Triss placed a hand on his shoulder, "Well… you control it by practicing, letting it come naturally. How far did you make it the first time you ran the gauntlet at Kaer Morhen?"

Scoffing he remembered the day vividly, "Ha, barely made it a mile. Ciri and I both had a hundred falls."

A small smile crossed her face and she nodded, "Yes… but as you trained more, you got better and better. It'll be the same thing with this. Continue to train your signs… and eventually your body will get used to the power. Dominik… this could help you save Ciri. Don't think of it as a curse, that'll only drive you mad like it had been…. Talk to Yen about it when you see her… she'll help you if she had too."

It had been driving him mad. He still didn't want to believe and of what Triss said was true, although he knew that the sorceress would be the best person to know if he truly was a 'carrier'. He felt the sea breeze go through his hair, and he could smell the salt clearly now. Triss had told him if this magical affinity he had was real, that it would only help him find Ciri. She urged him to not treat it like a curse. He would have to do just that. The more he thought about it, the more that he felt knives digging into his head.

He would take Triss's advice, he would continue to train as he was now. George of Toussaint, the master of the Griffin School would be his next trainer. Then he would train more with Faram, and with Geralt, and he would do everything he could to be strong enough to fight the Hunt next time it came, when it finally came time to rescue Ciri. If this 'magic' inside of him continued to unlock so be it, if not, then he would still train and fight with everything he could.

It was time to put everything else aside after he had helped Triss. It was time for him to finally get to Ciri, and special magic powers or not, he would get to her.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Dijkstra… I don't know how to-," Triss started, as they all walked down the docks towards the old ship.

After finally emerging from the sewers, Triss had sent for the other mages. There was a small skirmish, where some Witch Hunter's tried to intercept them. However, between Dijkstra's thugs, he and Geralt's blades, and a very pissed off Triss Merigold, they were dead before they stood much of a chance.

Now the moment had finally come. The other mages had been loaded onto the boat, and only Triss remained. He walked slowly next to Geralt, as Dijkstra gave her a small smile before nodding.

"My pleasure my dear, but no time for courtesies, hope on board," The former spy said, the night finally fallen over them.

The ocean sparkled in the light of the moon, and he could feel his heart drop to the pit of his stomach. The former spy smartly took a few steps back, letting Geralt and he step forward for a moment with the sorceress. He very rarely ever saw Geralt speechless, this was one of those few moments. The older Witcher looked like he wanted to say a thousand things but couldn't find the words for any of them. A cool breeze blew through his hair, and he felt his green eyes begin to well up. Triss looked at them both, her own eyes almost welling up as well.

"Two more farewells…" She said, her gaze lingering at Geralt for a moment before she turned to him.

She held out her arms, and like he was a child again at Kaer Morhen, ran to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He was flashed back to when he met her on the snowy trail, Ciri behind him. Even back then she had calm welcoming eyes and wanted to help them however she could. He remembered how standoffish he had been at first, until that day she helped him pick flowers for Ciri. Triss had been the first one he told he truly had feelings for Ciri.

Then he remembered the nights he saw the blood on his hands, the blood on his walls, the corpses rolling out from under his bed. He screams would vibrate through the thick walls of Kaer Morhen as he experienced Cintra again, night after night. No matter how long he stayed up and cried, no matter how long he couldn't fall asleep, Triss would stay with him. She had taught him how to be a good boyfriend for Ciri, as much as a 12 and 13-year-old could know about being a good boyfriend.

She had saved his life. She torched the whole mob of people attacking him, and healed the sword wound that went inches deep into his chest. She had kept him alive, only for him to be a petulant child and not even thank her properly afterwards. And even after that she had still embraced him when he finally found her again. As she was running for her life, and the life of all the other mages, she still took the time to comfort him about what had been going on, try to make sense of it for him.

He gently pulled back from the hug. Her hands still holding on his shoulders.

"I…. I wanted you to be there when we found Ciri she… she would have loved to see you I'm sure…" He said, finding words hard to formulate.

The sorceress looked at him with her green eyes fallen and slowly shook her head, "And… I would have loved to see the two of you… together again. But… I know that you'll find her. She… she's going to be in great hands when you finally get to her," She promised, cupping his cheek, trying for a smile.

He felt the first tear fall from his eye, after the last few days, it was all finally coming to a head.

"I…. I don't know if I'm strong enough… I… I really don't Triss. What… what if I-," He started only to be cut off quickly.

"You WON'T fail, you won't Dominik…" She started slowly, the cold night breeze running through their hair, "You're going to find Ciri. You ARE strong enough… carrier or no carrier. I've never met someone so determined… so headstrong… so passionate. You're going to find Ciri… and you're going to protect her… just like you did from me on that trail all those years ago."

He managed to sob out a laugh, and Triss did as well before she met his eyes again. She touched his cheek one last time, before removing her hand.

"I remember the little boy I had to save from nightmares almost every night in Kaer Morhen," She said slowly, a small smile growing to her face as she met his eyes, "And he's grown up into an outstanding young man…. I'm so… so proud of the person you've become."

Quickly he had to take his hand and rub the tear from his eye, not wanting Geralt or Dijkstra to see him cry. Despite the falling of his stomach, he cherished every word he said. Growing up he always wanted to impress them all, Yen, Triss, Geralt, Vesemir, even Lambert and Eskel. Hearing Triss say how proud she was of him… it almost completely shut out his mental fatigue.

He sighed shakily and met Triss's eyes, "You know when… when I find Ciri we'll both come to Kovir. We'll walk there if we have too, I know she always wanted to go see the snow there."

Triss let out a small laugh and sniffled herself before nodding at him, "And you'll both have a place to stay… always. Go and get her… not because destiny tells you too…. Go save the girl you love."

He would, he wouldn't let either of them down. Looking down, he squeezed the sorceress's hands one last time, looking to meet her green eyes again.

"Thank you… Triss. For… for protecting me from nightmares, for… for helping me pick flowers for Ciri," He told her, gaining a small laugh from the sorceress before he continued, "And… and thank you for saving my life… I wouldn't be here if not for you."

She genuinely smiled, leaning up to plant a kiss on his cheek before pulling back from him, "Go save Ciri… I know that you will…. I have… one more goodbye."

He squeezed her in a hug one more time, before reluctantly taking a step back. The moon shined between them all as Geralt looked at Triss and he. He gave one last smile to the sorceress, before moving and letting his adopted father finally make his decision.

His had been made long ago… when he was eleven years old in Cintra.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Shakily sighing he watched the ship sail away from the harbor, with one of his family members aboard. The moon was fully up now, and the pleasant breeze went through his brown hair. He gently pulled up his arm sleeve and saw the tattoo again. Triss, was written in the elegant black letters. She wasn't really gone from him. She was going to be with him always, that's why he had gotten the swallow and the names on his forearm in the first place.

As a reminder and a promise. A reminder of what he fought for, and a promise he'd protect them, and make them all proud.

He sighed again and loosely grabbed the swallow around his neck, squeezing it reassuringly. She was still out there, and soon he would find her as well.

"Dom," Geralt said from next to him breaking the silence.

He slowly turned his head to look at his adopted father, looking out at the ship as it got smaller and smaller on the horizon. It hadn't been easy for Geralt, this he knew. He had never seen his second father so shaken, so conflicted. Slowly the older Witcher turned and met his emerald eyes with his yellow cat ones.

"Can I ask you something," The older Witcher said slowly, turning back to look at the ship again.

The question caught him off guard. Of course, Geralt had asked him questions before, however they never sounded as if they would have so much weight behind them. After looking at the ship for another moment, he looked back around to Dominik.

Slowly he nodded his head at his adopted father, "Of course anything…"

Geralt took in a deep breath, steadying himself before meeting his eyes again, "How… did you know?"

"Know what…," He asked right away, wondering what he could be meaning.

Finally, he turned completely from the water, meeting Dominik's eyes, the both of them standing on the docks edge.

"That it was Ciri… and just Ciri," The older Witcher slowly asked him.

It had been the last question he had been expecting Geralt to ask. For a moment he thought his adopted father had been joking, but he saw the look in his eyes, and it was then Dominik knew he truly wanted to know.

Sighing, he gripped his right hand to the swallow, looking down at it for a moment, then back to Geralt.

"Well… you know Geralt that… I knew back in Cintra…" He said, a small smile growing on his face, "I was 11… didn't realize it at the time but… as soon as I saw her on that balcony, something just clicked. Soon as we raided the kitchen, hid in that broom closet it… it was just something."

For the first time in what felt like days he felt a genuine smile come to his face. He looked up at the moon, and down at the swallow again, not taking his eyes off it this time.

"I guess I knew because… well, no matter what, nobody made me feel the way she did," He started, remembering how different they were at first, "I was shy, reserved, never really talked much but… but she changed me for the better. Made me more confident, outgoing… and even when we went to Kaer Morhen. Every moment I spent with her, every time we trained, snuck off, did anything I… I didn't want it to end. When I wasn't with her… well I just didn't feel complete."

Geralt let out a small laugh and met his eyes as he looked up, "We used to have to pry the two of you apart. Even then… barely ever worked."

He laughed again and looked back down to the swallow, "I know… it was because well… like you know I loved her. Nobody gave me that… that spark, that… that feeling in my stomach, the floating feeling… nobody else ever gave me that…. Never."

His adopted father sighed again, looking to lock eyes with him, "You were tempted though right? Tempted to go another way… to someone else? When… when you thought that it wouldn't work."

Scoffing he nodded right away, "Of course… you know that Freya and I we well… we were together for a decent amount of time. And I mean it when I say. well… at one point I thought I was in really in love with her, that we could be something… more. She started giving me that… that spark."

Quickly Geralt shook his head, "But it didn't work in the end... what… made you realize?"

Again, he sighed, remembering the moment vividly. Feeling an embarrassment rise inside him, he met his adopted father's eyes.

"One morning after we… kissed, and almost well… you know, I fell asleep in the same bed as her," He started, his face reddening as he remembered, "When…when I woke up the next morning with her in my arms… you know what I did? I… said Ciri's name. I had a dream that I spent the exact night with Freya I had the night before… with Ciri, so I said her name when I woke up."

"I can't imagine Freya was very happy about that," Geralt said quickly, crossing his arms as the night breeze blew through his silver hair.

His eyes widened and he quickly shook his head at his second father, "She never figured out, didn't say it loud enough for her to wake up. And don't you DARE tell her back at the Rosemary, she might kill me."

Geralt had a good laugh at his expense, before his face fell serious again, "And… that's how you knew? Did… did you have any animosity or… anything towards Freya?"

Again, he felt himself laugh as he shook his head, "Of course not! I fought a Bruxa for her yesterday, I never fight those unless I have too. But… yeah that's how I knew. Happened a few more times and well… I realized that I had never fallen out of love with Ciri. What I had with Freya it… it was just a temporary band-aid, to put over the cut Ciri disappearing had left. It… it didn't mean I cared for Freya any less. I still do, I… consider her a great friend, one of the best after yesterday."

Slowly Geralt nodded his head. A silence passed between the two of them. He could see the gears turning in Geralt's head. He knew what his adopted father was trying to do. He was trying to figure out if he had made the right choice. It was something that ran through his head for many weeks after he left Freya. Had it been worth it? To throw away something so solid and so genuine with Freya, for the slight chance he could reunite with Ciri again, and she would feel the same as she did when they were together?

The answer was yes. It was always going to be worth it.

Sighing he looked and met Geralt's eyes again, "Geralt I… I know that you're usually the one to give me advice but I… I just want to say…. Do whatever your heart tells you to do. It sounds simple I know but… sometimes simple solutions are what we need."

His adopted father let out a deep breath. To his surprise, the older Witcher reached over and pulled him into a hug. He managed to crack a smile as he wrapped his arms around the man who had become his father. Gregory of Cintra was his father, his birth father, and given him everything, he couldn't have asked for more.

However, Geralt of Rivia was also his father. He had risked his life countless times and raised him to be the man and Witcher he was today. Geralt didn't have to take him when he found Ciri. He easily could've left him to rot in the woods and taken Ciri to Kaer Morhen alone if he truly wanted. However, he didn't, he had taken Dominik in and raised him as his own son, by his own choice. When people lost their father's, most never got the chance to have a second one.

Geralt had given him that chance. So when he hugged him, he hugged him back tightly.

"Thank you…" The older Witcher said, pulling back from him, looking at him on the docks, "I heard Triss say it but it's true for me too… I'm really proud of the man you've grown up to be."

He felt himself laughed and another genuine smile came to his face, "Thanks Geralt… for everything you've done. And I… wanted to reassure you it… it won't make me and I'm sure Ciri as well… make us love either of them any less."

Another smile crossed the older Witcher's face as he let out a sigh, "Thanks…. Speaking of Ciri, I think it's time we got back to her."

His hand quickly went to the swallow around his neck, "Yeah…. I'm glad we helped Triss obviously but… I can't take it for much longer. I NEED to find her Geralt."

Nodding in agreement Geralt gestured his head towards the end of the docks, "Yeah I agree…. Seems like our pal Dijkstra wants to have a chat first."

Quickly he looked down at the edge of the docks, and saw the former spy surely enough waiting for them both. Sighing he shook his head over at Geralt.

"He's the last one I want to talk to right now… you mind listening to whatever he's cooked up," He asked the older Witcher.

His father nodded, looking at him sympathetically, "Yeah I'll handle him. What about you? Finally going to go get some rest?"

Sighing he felt the swallow tremble around his neck. He saw Ciri's name, and the elegantly drawn swallow on his arm as well. He knew what he was going to do, slowly he shook his head at Geralt.

"No… not right away at least," He said, taking in a deep clean breath, meeting Geralt's eyes, "I'm going to go back to the Kingfisher… talk to Priscilla about Dudu and Dandelion, it isn't late. I'll get a room there if I'm that tired, if I don't come back to the Rosemary tonight that's where I am."

Geralt narrowed his eyes unassured, "You sure? We can go and do that tomorrow morning."

Quickly he shook his head again, "No… I want to get it done now. No rest for the wicked Geralt…. Ciri's out there, and every second is another chance that Hunt's gotten to her…. And I'll die before I let that happen."

A/N: Wow, we had a LOT of important developments in this chapter. Let's run through them.

We started with a dream sequence between Dom, Ciri, Yennefer and Geralt. I like adding these dreams and flashback now and then just for some romantic fluff, and to add some more depth to the relationships between our characters, so we can understand how deep the bond they shared was. What's been some of your fav flashbacks so far? Do you like seeing them?

I also want to clarify a timeline questions i've been getting. In my timeline after Ciri spends a few months in the Temple of Melitele, Geralt and Dominik are attacked on the barge by thugs looking for information about Ciri just like in the books. In my timeline Geralt contacted Yennefer to go and train Ciri, so she did. After this Geralt, wanting to finally let Dom and Ciri be together again after months apart, and because he felt he could better protect her took himself and Dominik to Ellander. It was in Ellander that Dom reunited with Ciri, and for about a year the four of them lived in Ellander, Ciri training with Yen to control her powers, and both of them training with Geralt, that's where this flashback takes place. In my timeline just before Dom turns fifteen almost a year later is when Yen and Geralt decides Ciri needs Aretuza, which leads them to seperate Dom and Ciri just before Dominik's fifteenth birthday.

After that Ciri's in Aretuza for a few weeks, and Dom goes back to Kaer Morhen where he forges his medallion and trains a bit more before Ciri disappears. That is the timeline of events for this story, slightly different from the books. I hope this clears up that part of the timeline!

Then we get some more bonding, this time between Dom and his 'company'. I wanted to parallel the books a little. Just like how Geralt gathered a company to go rescue Ciri and Yen from Stygga Castle, I thought it would be cool parallel to have Dom do sort of the same. Faram of Undviik, George of Toussaint, and Freya Kaminski of Ellander. What do you think of the comradery so far? Who's been your favorite of the group of three? How do you think they'll fare in the fight to come?

After this we get to see more Triss Merigold, and more about her relationship with Dominik growing up. More importantly however… she believes that Dominik is a carrier, an inheritor of powerful magical blood. Yes the 'carrier' concept is one that I invented, I always wondered how genetics would work if they played a part in having more powerful magic.

What do you think? If Dominik is a 'carrier' where he did get that magic blood from? And if he had these powers and they're unlocking, how will that help him in the future?

And finally we get an emotional goodbye from Triss Merigold and father son heart to heart with Geralt and Dominik. What did think of these scenes? Can you believe the father son bond Dom and Geralt have? What do you think his relationship with Yennefer will be like?

I'm not saying you have to answer all these questions in a review, I'm just trying to make you all think haha! If you do have any questions though feel free to shoot me PM or leave a review, I try to respond to everyone who reviews at least once, and will multiple times if they have questions!

The support has been overwhelming… Novigrad is almost over! Soon we'll be off to Skellige, thank you all so much again, and I'll see you next update!