The Witcher: Through the Worlds

Chapter 85: Aen Hanse

Narrator: After their long journeys, Dominik, Ciri and Geralt were finally prepared. The time was nigh to face the Wild Hunt in battle. They would face the wraiths on the Isle of Undvik, first however, Dominik attempted to not only deny the Hunt one of their most powerful weapons but save his younger sister Bella from the clutches of Eredin and the Hunt. Dominik's younger sister had been kidnapped and brainwashed by the Wild Hunt, turned into Baelen, a fierce, ruthless commander, with a thirst for revenge against Dominik and Ciri both. However, inside Baelen and Bella have both been fighting a constant battle with one another, and Dominik had plans to help his sister win. After perilous trecks through the Cave of Life, Dominik and Ciri retrieved the sword Coram the ancestral sword of Dominik's family, in the hopes it would help Bella remember who she really was. He gave the sword to the dragon, Kilgarrah to give to his sister. However, now there was nothing left to do except wait. The final battle was near, but Dominik and Ciri both realized they still had a little time left for themselves, and their friends…

Trigger warning: This scene contains sexual situations and scenes.

For the first time Dominik was eager to see Bella's room on the Nagalfar. It was still amazing to him to that day that Eredin gave her such freedom. He assumed it was because the King of the Hunt was simply so confident in his abilities, in his control over her that he didn't think it was a problem.

Bella would prove him wrong.

He watched as she thrashed in wildly in her sleep, her brown hair cascaded around her head, as she moved. She was wearing an outfit of dark maroon robes and black trousers, with a green cloth sash tied tightly around her waist. She moved, tossed, and turned in bed, and Dominik's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.

The spell he sent had worked. It took him a few attempts, but with Yennefer's help he was able to perform he spell he found in Alexander's journal. All he had to do, was close his eyes, use his magic and remember what had happened clearly and precisely. That day he, Ciri and Bella spent out in the woods throwing snow was one he remembered since it happened, something he would never forget. Hearing Bella call Ciri her 'Big Sister' had made him almost as excited as Ciri.

People could be family despite not sharing blood, it was something that he had learned since Cintra was sacked. He loved Ciri, and so did Bella he knew.

But when Bella's head shot up, Baelen came out.

"DAMMIT!" She said, throwing the blanket off herself.

Bella's hair was in tatters, her feet hit the ground and she gripped her head in pain as she leaned against the wall. She held onto her temples and yelled again, stumbling her way over to her dresser, right next to the large full body mirror she had.

Her nails dug into the top of the dresser, as Dominik quickly realized she was crying, and his heart dropped.

"Why… gods why… why won't it stop," Bella said. Tears fell down her face slowly onto the dresser as she shook her head. "I thought they loved me… I though they cared… gods why did they pick her over me…"

His heart fractured. That night played over and over in his mind. His mother, Sofia, saying how she was going back to the castle to make sure their father and Ciri made it before the arrow hit her. It wasn't true, but Dominik could understand why Bella thought what she did. Eredin's memory alteration had made it seem much worse than it was. However, he understood why she felt so much pain, so much bitterness.

Bella truly thought they abandoned her, and while their parents didn't, Dominik did. He left her there, alive, bleeding, and unconscious. It had been something he'd been thinking about all day.

"I thought they cared… Dominik… Ciri…mother… father," Bella cried again. Her tears started to come faster now, before she tightly gripped the dresser. She shot her head up, and Dominik saw her emerald eyes grow dark. "But apparently… I wasn't good enough… I'll show them… they regretted picking her over me…"

"Bella… my sweet girl, we didn't choose anyone over anyone," A light voice said.

Dominik's head and Bella's both turned at once to the source. The mirror. Dominik looked and his eyes widened at the same time as Bella's. He had no idea if he or Bella were losing their minds, but Dominik didn't care. However, he and Bella both had completely different reactions.

His breath caught up in his throat, while Bella's eyes grew dark as they looked at their parents standing in the mirror.

"YOU DID, YOU LEFT ME IN THE STREETS," Bella said, shouting as she stomped to the mirror. "I GOT LEFT TO THE MERCY OF THE BLACK ONES, ALL BECAUSE YOU TWO AND DOMINIK NEEDED TO SAVE THE PRINCESS!"

Dominik watched in astonishment, as his mother and father both looked at each other. His mother was looked as she did the day she died. A tight leather tunic and trousers, her blonde hair tied up. Sofia looked at Gregory, who wore the white armor of Cintra that was his staple.

His father's sad eyes looked at Bella. "My darling girl… we live every day in this next life regretting we weren't able to save you… save all of you."

Bella's eyes flashed a shade of blue. "ALL OF US!? HA, not just your actual children no! You didn't give a damn about me, you didn't love me, you ONLY LOVED CIRI, YOU ONLY LOVED THE PRINCESS!"

"My sweet girl… you loved Ciri as well," Sofia said. "She was your big sister… family is about more than just blood ties… you loved her."

"I did… until you both decided you wanted to protect her," Bella said, her eyes darting back to their father. "And you decided you'd rather die protecting her… then your family."

Dominik saw the look his parents both shared with one another. He as well as the two of them seemed to realize arguing that point with Bella was useless. It wasn't true, they had done absolutely everything for all three of them, and Bella knew how much Ciri meant to them all. However, Eredin and Caranthir's planted memories were too strong still, although he could see the slightest flicker of doubt in Bella's eyes. She wasn't screaming anymore. Her voice had broken, and the tears slowly started falling from her eyes again.

His plan was working. He had no idea how his parents were there, but if they were just projections of the state Bella's mind was… then he didn't know whether to be excited, or terrified.

Their father looked at Bella, his big brown eyes full of regret. He met Bella's eyes and shook his head. "I am so… so sorry darling. No matter the circumstances… I failed you, and I'm going to regret that for the rest of time…"

"We both failed you my sweet girl," Sofia said, tears welling up in his mother's eyes as well. She shook her head and met her daughter's eyes. "We both failed you.. and would do anything to be able to be there for you now…"

Bella furiously wiped tears from her eyes. "It doesn't matter… even if you were… I've found a new home… a new identity… and it's too late for me to turn back, I must commit to it… I am Baelen… a commander of the Wild Hunt…. It's who I am… and I can't change it… no matter what I feel anymore."

Dominik's heart flipped again. Kilgarrah had been correct as he himself had been. He knew that deep down it wasn't who Bella was. The true person she was had been slowly coming back, a battle that was raging inside herself.

Their mother desperately met Bella's eyes. "It isn't too later darling! There is good in you I know it, your father knows it, your brother knows it, everybody who knows you, the real you knows it. It's not too late!"

Bella bit her lip and closed her eyes, tears coming down her cheeks. "I ordered the slaughter… of an entire village…. Not just the fighting men… but women… children…. All of them… and I didn't even blink at the time…. Who could love me, who could accept me after something like that? My brother? Ciri? No… nobody can.. nobody will… nobody ever has. Don't you see!? This is why I can't stop… the only way… the only way I belong somewhere… is if I commit to who I am now… to being Baelen… that's why it's too late…"

The scene's from Lofeton came to his brain. Ciri had told him about the attack, how ruthless it was, how unrelenting. Bella had almost killed her that day, and apparently something inside Bella had died as well.

Gregory shook his head. "We still love you darling girl. Nothing has changed that… nothing ever will."

Bella's gaze shot to their father. "Ironic from you… weren't you the one to tell us growing up 'one good act no matter how good, doesn't make up for multiple acts of bad'?"

Their father's gaze narrowed at her. "Yes I believe that… but not when it comes to my family. Because… you never give up on your family, just like we haven't given up on you Bella."

Bella scowled, trying to still furiously wipe tears from her eyes. "I told you both… none of that matters… this is who I am… it's the only way… I can't change it, not anymore… it's too late."

Bella turned away from the mirror, but Sofia shook her head.

"Bella it isn't!" Their mother stressed. "This isn't who you are. You were our darling girl, and you still are. You're still Bella our little girl… Eivor and Anora's little girl."

Dominik watched as Bella's eyes flashed blue again as she whirled back around to the mirror.

"Don't you DARE say their names," She hissed, crying even more now. "They died for me… while the two of you decided Ciri was more important… and now it's too late for me…"

"It isn't too late Bella," Gregory said. "Your mother and I aren't there for you now… but there's someone who is…."

"Your brother loves you darling," Sofia added, looking softly at her daughter. "He hasn't given up on you, and he never will."

Bella scoffed, her cheeks wet. "HE DOESN'T CARE! All he cares about is the princess just like he always had! I made the mistake of trusting him once before, never again…"

"You can trust your brother over everyone Bella. He still loves you… just like we do," Gregory said softly.

Dominik's heart lurched up into his throat. It was true. He loved his sister, loved her with everything he had. He'd have done anything to get her out of that room right now, to hold her, and promise her that he truly wouldn't abandon her.

However Bella's fists balled as she closed her crying eyes and shook her head.

"If it came down to it… he would kill me," Bella said, her voice cracking again as she hid a sob behind a scoff. "He'd pick her over me… again. If it meant saving her… he would kill me without a second thought…"

"He wouldn't do that Bella," their father said meeting Bella's watery gaze. "He promised he'd look after the both of you… and that's what he's trying to do."

"Well he's failed," Bella snapped her eyes shooting open.

"Everyone fails Bella, everyone in life fails and has regrets… and just like us, your brother regrets every day that he couldn't save you," Sofia said, reaching out as if she was trying to touch Bella. Slowly she shook her head. "It isn't too late my sweet girl… there is good in you still. The person you truly are is still inside of you, you're conflicted and you're hurting… and we may not be able to be there for you now… but your brother is my dear."

Bella turned away from the mirror once more, her fists balled as she rapidly wiped tears from her eyes.

"How could you both possibly know who I am?" Bella said, her eyes closed as she bit her lip to stop from sobbing. "You abandoned me… and even now you're not real, you're both dead… dead… you've left me… left me for good."

"We'll never leave you darling, we've been here… watching you the entire time," Gregory said, standing tall as he firmly shook his head. "And just like your brother… we know that it isn't too late… and we will never give up on you, no matter how far gone you think you are."

"We know who you are… you are our sweet girl, our darling little girl,," Sofia stressed, looking at the back of Bella's head. "And you always will be… no matter how you dress, what you call yourself… you're our Bella… and we love you with everything we have… just like your brother does. We will never abandon you… the ones we love never leave us."

"And we will never leave you… your mother and I both… we love you," Gregory said again, shaking his head. "You know who you are darling… you're strong, you're resilient, you can fight what they've done to you. If anyone my dear you can, you can fight back Bella! Fight back darling!

"Fight back sweet girl, you are so much stronger then you know," Sofia said quickly again, her emerald eyes shining with desperation. "You are so much stronger then they think you are! Fight back my dear, fight back!"

"Fight back Bella! They don't control who you are!"

"Fight back!"

"Fight back!"

"Fight back!"

"Show them who you really are!"

"Be who you really are!"

"You can do this darling!"

"We love you, your brother loves you!"

"We won't give up on you!"

Dominik watched as more tears slowly streamed down Bella's cheeks. Her fists curled and shook. He could see how much she desperately wanted to turn around. Over and over he heard the same thing. His parents, urging Bella to fight back, to fight off the Hunt's influence, to remember who she is, to not give up, and he found himself wanting to scream as well, but he held his tongue, knowing she couldn't hear him through a dream. Over and over, the voices hit his ears, as more tears streamed down his sister's cheeks before she started sobbing.

Suddenly she called out in pain, grabbing the sides of her head and falling to her knees. She screamed and pulled at her hair, yelling and shooting back to her feet. He knew what was happening, she was doing it, she was fighting back. The memories, the real memories were clashing with the fake ones. She yelled out again, stumbling onto her dresser as the voices kept pounding over and over echoing off the walls of her chamber.

Bella kept yelling, begging for it to stop, and finally she stumbled in front of the mirror screaming again.

"GAHHHHH BE QUIET SHUT UP!"

She slammed her fist forward, blue wisps of magic balling in her fists. With a loud crash she smashed her fists into the mirror shattering it in an instant. Shards of glass crumbled to the ground, and right away Bella screamed again. She fell to her knees, gripping her right hand and watching her blood slowly spew from her knuckled down her right hand.

"Gods… gods why… why won't it stop," She cried, tears falling down her cheek faster then her blood spewed. Sobbing she winced as she held her left hand over her right. "G…gynvael… doma… nas!"

A light burst of blue magic appeared in her hand. She held her left hand of magic over her bleeding right hand, wincing as she picked out a shard of glass from her knuckles. Dominik watched with his heart stopped, as she cried, slowly shaking her head as she healed her wound.

"It… it can't be fake… what he showed you… it can't be fake," She said with a sob, yelping at a searing smoke coming from her hand. She bit her lip, continuing with the magic as she sobbed and shook her head again. "It can't be fake… no… it can't be… gods… gods Dominik… it hurts… gods it hurts…"

"Bella…" Dominik said lightly, unable to hold back his own tears that had been welling in his eyes.

Bella cried and shook her head again. "Dominik… big… big brother… why… gods… gods why… why did you leave… why did you leave me there…"

"I regret it every day…" He sobbed, sucking as he frantically wiped his cheeks. "Gods Bella…. Bella I'm sorry…"

Blood continued spilling from her wounded hand. The spell seared it closed, as Bella cried out in pain, sobbing, and shaking her head.

"You promised… you… you promised me… Dominik…" She sobbed again, shaking her head vigorously, crying out as she sobbed. "I thought you loved me… that you and Ciri both did… gods… gods why… the… the things I've done… nobody wants me… not anymore…"

"BELLA I DO LOVE YOU, ME AND CIRI BOTH DO!" He yelled, tears coming down his cheeks as his chest was ready to explode. "WE WON'T GIVE UP ON YOU, WE WON'T!"

The magic stopped in Bella's hands. Her hands curling into fists as she shook her head. "No… no no not another voice… gods no…"

Dominik's eyes widened, the words leaving him before he could think. "We're going to get you back Bell! We won't let them have you, I won't abandon you again!"

"NO! NO, NO!" She screamed, shooting her to her feet and gripping her wounded hand. "You and Ciri both… you didn't want me; our parents didn't want me! What am I!? What am I compared to a child of the elder blood!? Eredin made me who I am, he'll give me a place! It's the only way, it's the only FUCKING WAY!"

"NO! NO BELLA IT ISN'T! HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU AND I WON'T LET HIM," Dominik screamed, his anger suddenly surging as he looked at Bella frantically looking around the room. He wiped his face again and looked down at her. "I won't give up on you! I won't abandon you again, I WILL get you out of this I swear it!"

Bella finally looked up, where the ceiling of her room would be. Her green, puffy eyes seemed to lock with his, directly where he was standing, on his own eyes that matched hers to a tee. Her mouth fell agape as she met Dominik's crying eyes with her own.

She shook her head. "No… no how… you… you learned how… you were-."

Bella was cut off by the door of her cabin slamming open with a crash.

"PELIO CRYNVAEL ANEYE!" A booming voice shouted.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Bella writhed and let loose a guttural scream. Dominik almost yelled himself but could only stand in horror as with her arms and body twisting at awkward angles, Bella was dragged to her knees. She tried to yell out a spell of her own, but she could only scream as dark black and blue magic encircled her, keeping her on her knees as it bent and twisted her body. Dominik heard the cracks of her bones, as she writhed. The magic circled around her head and yanked it forward towards the door.

Right where Caranthir stood in full armor, his staff pointed towards Bella while it violently shook with magic.

Bella saw him and croaked. "My… my what… what is-. GAHHHHHHH!"

"Silence…" Caranthir snarled, the magic at the tip of his staff whirling.

Dominik's fist balled as he watched. He was going to kill the navigator before this was over, and he was going to do it slowly, painfully.

All of the worry, all of the anxiety, it all turned to a burning pot of anger, and more importantly desire.

Desire to kill the ones who had not only hunted Ciri… but hurt his sister.

Caranthir turned his head to the door, his staff still spewing magic around Bella. "My King…"

Loud armored boots hit the ground as Eredin strode into Bella's chamber. He ducked under the door, and Dominik saw him in his armor, but no helmet. His black hair shone as he looked down at Bella writhing in pain before him. With a sneering look on his face he scoffed before meeting Bella's eyes. Bella's eyes pleaded, it looked like she was going to say something, but Eredin held his hand up for silence. Bella quickly obeyed, and Eredin narrowed his eyes.

And after that, he nodded at Caranthir, who dispelled the magic.

Bella fell to the ground, crying in pain and breathing heavily. Right away she looked up, meeting Eredin's steely gaze with pleading eyes.

She quickly shook her head. "My… my King I… I don't-."

A loud smacked rang through the room, and Dominik tried to rush forward as he watched Eredin's armored hand smack hard across Bella's cheek. The force was so powerful, she got sent tumbling into the shards of broken glass from her mirror. Dominik's stomach boiled, as he watched Bella frantically get to her knees, bowing still.

A part of him expected her to fire back with anything, however she didn't.

His sister groveled low, a look of pure and utter terror in her eyes. Tears streamed down her cheeks as every single one of her limbs shook. Blood slowly spewed from bits of glass stuck in her skin, and every move brought her pain. She bit her tongue to stop from wincing, as she shakily looked up at Eredin who towered over her.

The King of the Hunt slowly shook his head. "Baelen… why do you put me in positions such as this?"

Bella's eyes widened as she shook her head. "I… I know not what… what you speak of my… my King if… if I-."

Another loud smack, as Eredin slapped her to the ground again. Bella yelled as she slammed against the side of her bed from the force, blood falling from her wounds.

Eredin shook his head again, glaring at her. "Do not play innocent with me Baelen… do you take me for a fool?"

Bella quickly shook her head, bowing on all fours. "N…no… no my King."

"Caranthir and I… we know of your little… trip this previous week," Eredin said, turning and holding his hands behind his back, before sharply turning his head towards Bella. "When you went and saw your brother… and Zireael."

Dominik's heart dropped. He remembered the night of course and remembered what Bella had said before she revealed herself to Ciri and he. She had told them, that their business didn't involve Eredin, and that was why she went herself.

Bella's eyes shot up to Eredin, frightened tears welling them. "My… my King I… I'm sorry, I… I was trying-."

Another loud smack of Eredin's armored hand sent Bella slamming against the wall. She cried out in pain, crumbling to the ground with blood staining her black and blue cheek. Dominik screamed out again, but his voice came out silent. He cursed, wanting more than anything to be in that room then. He didn't care how powerful Eredin thought himself, he would have killed him, then and there. He watched as his little sister cried, beaten against the wall, terrified of the King of the Hunt before her.

Eredin knelt down, and Dominik saw Bella flinch, trembling with fear as Eredin gently stroked her hair.

"You know… what I have given up to train you… Baelen?" The King asked, his voice low and demonic as he faked a disappointed sigh. "And yet you take my… gracious decision, and you repay me… with deceit."

"My King, I… I am only where I am, thanks to your mercy," Bella said, on all fours as she shook. "I… It was a lapse in my judgement, I wished to try and give us an advantage, it won't happen again!"

"Your right… it won't," Eredin said, standing to his feet, and feigning disappointment with a sigh. "I am hurt Baelen… I had extremely high hopes for you… why… with Imlerith gone, I need someone knew to stand at my right side next to Caranthir…. But after this… deceit… why, I am beginning to think your… usefulness is at its end."

Bella's eyes widened as she scrambled to her feet. "NO! No, no my King I swear, I'm loyal to you, and only to you, I will show you that I belong, show that I can have a place in your new world, that I-."

Eredin whirled around and the next blow struck Bella in the stomach before he backhanded her to the ground again.

"Did I say you could stand!?" The King hissed as Bella writhed on the ground in pain again.

Dominik tried to scream a curse, yell for Bella to fight back, teleport himself. However, even if he could have, it seemed to be lost.

Because Bella was still terrified. A sob escaped her, as she struggled to regain her breathing. Stuck on all fours, she held one hand to her stomach, as she looked teary eyed up towards Eredin who glared down at her.

"Pl… please… please…. I can't be alone… not again," Bella cried, shaking her head as her wet gaze didn't leave Eredin. "I… I can prove… prove my loyalty I… I swear. Please… please my King…. I… I won't fail you… not again… not like everyone else…"

Dominik's heart that had been filled with anger, shattered upon hearing her words. She thought she had failed, and the idea of that thought in her head nearly broke him.

Eredin smiled manically, the look making Dominik's stomach turn. However, the smug look that appeared next, only stirred the anger inside of him.

He was going to make Eredin pay, even if he had to die to do it. For the one's he loved like Alexander had told him too, but also to avenge all of this.

For what he had done to Ciri, what he had done to Bella, and to all the other innocents that now had gravestones because of him.

The King shared a quick look with Caranthir, and the navigator nodded. After getting this nod, Eredin turned his maniacal look down to Bella. He leaned down, gently stroking her hair again.

"You know Baelen… I pride myself on being a merciful ruler," Eredin said slowly, smirking as Bella quickly nodded, still wincing in pain and tears.

"Yes! I… I know you are… you're very merciful," Bella said quickly, biting her lip as she met Eredin's eyes.

As she did, Eredin smirked triumphantly, gently stroking an armored finger down Bella's cheek.

"And because I am… I'm prepared to offer you one more chance… Baelen," He said, an almost giddy look growing in his cold eyes. "And it is quite simple… if you perform this one act for me… for the good of our cause I will… forget this deceit."

And Dominik had time to see Bella quickly shake her head, and Eredin smile again before white took over his vision.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"You said… he wanted her to do something?" Ciri asked as they both walked onto the deck.

Dominik shuddered from the wind and nodded. "Yeah… he… he said he'd forgive her if she did. Ciri you… you don't think that he… he-."

"No… don't worry, that won't happen," Ciri said quickly, pulling him to a stop on the deck of the ship. She held both his arms and met his eyes. "Eredin's proud he… he wouldn't do that to a human."

He paled and met her eyes with a worried gaze. "He threatened to do it to you at Kaer Morhen…"

"Yes but well… as you know I'm a different case," She said, seeming to shudder as well. Ciri pulled him into a hug as she squeezed around his shoulders. "It's alright, she'll be alright… we're going to do this…. Tomorrow we will do this. The day after that? Well… it'll be time for us to start our lives together."

Her words managed to bring him some type of solace. Their lives together, his life with Ciri. Such a short time ago, he only had flighting dreams of it. Now, she was there in front of him, holding him. A cold morning wind gust blew small strands of her ashen hair from her eyes. Her beautiful, beautiful eyes smiled up at him. He could always calm himself down by simply looking into her eyes. They had a calming effect, they were bright, reassuring, and that combined with her smile eventually managed to turn one onto his lips.

After his dream, he hadn't been able to fall back to sleep. Ciri being as amazing as she was, stayed up with him, despite the hell they had both gone through the day before. He had given Kilgarrah the sword to give to Bella and could only hope now that Alexander's words about the dragon obeying him was correct, and that he could trust Kilgarrah himself. Bella had already gotten the dream, and now it was simply a matter of waiting, waiting for the battle to come.

He, Ciri, Geralt and Yen had all gotten back late that night to the ship. Everyone had been asleep, save for Triss, who informed them that apparently Avallac'h was ready. Despite still not trusting the man, a message had come from Emhyr, that his forces were ready near Undvik as well. That had come, along with a message from Cerys, and one addressed to Dominik from Anton. The both of them were ready as well, Cerys, Crach, Hjalmar and all the Skelligan forces, along with Anton and his knights, whom Dominik still hadn't informed many people of. The next day they would head out for Undvik, and finally, the journey that had begun for him all the way back in Claywitch was nearing its end.

But first there was one more day of accursed waiting. However, it gave him solace knowing at least he has Ciri there with him. He had been sure that most of the day all he would think about was Bella, what Eredin had been forcing her to do.

Ciri's smile in front of him however would was all that held his attention, as well as the idea of their life together. And now, he might even get to have his sister there as well.

Smiling at her, he leaned down and gently cupped her face. He sweetly kissed her, savoring the taste of her lips. She gripped onto his armor and kissed him back with vigor, sending tingles up his spine before she pulled back with a wicked smile.

He laughed and pecked her lips again. "Yeah… our life can you believe it?"

She scoffed. "Hardly, quite frankly for all of our talk, I'm quite surprised we're alive still."

"You could say that again, I thought I'd be dead in a monster cave somewhere by now to be honest," He said with an eye roll. "Did I ever tell you about the time I had to fight a Kikimore Queen? I was down near Vizima, never in my life have I pissed myself like I did that day."

A cold gust of morning wind nearly blew Ciri's bun loose, her head whipped back to him so fast he thought her neck would snap.

"A Kikimore Queen? For fuck's sake Dominik," She scoffed. "Geralt and Uncle Vesemir said they can kill even witchers in one strike! Why the fuck would you take a contract on one?"

He laughed at her reaction but shuddered at the memory of that particular contract.

"Ha… I thought it sounded like a nekker lair, thought it would be easy crowns," He defended himself, smiling as Ciri's gaze lightened. "But I'm walking through the cave, and next thing I know it starts shaking. Damn thing burst into a cave with dozens of Kikimore's with it."

"And how did you manage to escape?" She said, as they both leaned against the side of the ship.

Shuddering he scoffed again. "Wasn't easy. I moved my ass back the way I came. I never wished I could use signs more than I did that night. I had no idea what to do at first, but then well… I saw some loose stone in the cave around me and well… I-."

"You improvised like you normally did," She said cheekily, smirking as she leaned back against the rail.

He laughed and nodded. "I did yeah. I had some bombs luckily enough, Dragon's Dream. I planted some in the cracks of the tunnel as I ran. After they blew they were all crushed. Went back later, harvested some ingredients. Sold enough to the alchemists in Vizima that I didn't have to work for almost a month."

Ciri smirked as she crossed her arms. "Well, well, well another brave tale of heroism from Dominik of Cintra!"

He rolled his eyes but smiled at her. "What can I say? I guess I was just born this great."

"Oh that you were brave witcher," Ciri cooed sarcastically, dramatically falling over into his arms. "You have me swooning."

"I make you swoon plenty without stories of such bravery," He said ironically, as she laughed and kissed his cheek.

"I'm as honored as any simple lass can be, to be with a brave witcher such as yourself!" She said dramatically. "The youngest witcher to ever travel the path! The son of the famous white wolf! I am once again, as honored as any simple lass can be!"

"You're far from a simple lass that's for certain."

"But to be so lucky, to be the woman to such a witcher! Slayer of beasts most foul," She said, pretending to swoon. When Dominik finally rolled his eyes to her, Ciri laughed as met his eyes with a smirk. "How was that compared to the other grateful young ladies you met on the Path? Did I truly capture what it was like?"

He rolled his eyes again which only served to make her laugh more. Her laugh was like pure gold, and despite having to hear that joke for the last few weeks he didn't mind if it got that laugh from her.

Smiling he shrugged at her. "Pretty close I'd say. I got varying reactions. Some like that, some still tried to cheat me for coin, some showed me their tits."

"Oh how silly of me," Ciri mocked, smirked as she crossed her arms. "Was I supposed to show you my tits as well?"

"You can if you want, you know I'd never say no," He said honestly.

She scoffed but smiled at him. Gently she leaned against his chest and kissed him again.

"So tell me, how do mine compare to others you've seen?" She said, the amusement evident in her voice.

She knew what his answer was, she wanted to hear him say it.

He managed a laugh and nodded at her. "Well, considering they're the only ones I've wanted to see my entire life, better than all the rest I'd say. And subjectively speaking, yes… better then all of them."

"I always thought they were quite small to be honest," Ciri said, curiously looking down at her chest for a moment.

Dominik scoffed. "Ciri, I don't care what your tits are like to be honest. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life, thought that since I was eleven."

"Gods I was chubby when I was eleven."

"So was I, but even then, I thought you were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen." He said, reaching forward and pulling her to him, smiling gently down at her. "And I still think that now…. I won't lie though, your tits are a great bonus, I do like them quite a bit."

She melted into his arms but smirked at him. "Your favorite feature of mine would you say?"

"Ciri I-."

"Mhm… no, no actually I don't think they are," She said in his arms. Ciri looked down and tsked at her chest again before looking back up at him with a smirk. "No, they definitely aren't, you do like to grab my ass quite a bit I think you-."

"Ciri! I'm trying to be romantic here," He said, the light hitting perfectly off her face as she looked up at him.

Ciri finally smiled sweetly at him as she rested in his arms. "I know, it was incredibly sweet thank you…. I love you."

His heart melted with her in his arms. I love you. Hearing her say those words had made him weak at the knees the first time he heard it when he was twelve, and it made him weak ten years later as well.

"I love you too princess," He said, as she leaned up and kissed him again.

Ciri deepened the kiss for a moment, cupping his cheeks before pulling back and smiling up at him.

Her smile is everything… she's everything.

"So, we should have the rest of the day to ourselves," She said, crossing her arms and smiling up at him. "Any ideas on what we could do?"

Dominik almost laughed. After the previous few days they had, the previous few weeks they had, the idea of having free time had almost become a foreign concept.

He shrugged. "Don't know… you sure you don't think Geralt and Yen are getting up anytime soon?"

Ciri scoffed. "You heard them last night, not a chance their getting up any time before noon."

"Yeah got a point… Faram needs to really invest in thicker walls," He said, shuddering as the wind chilled him and he tried to shake the thoughts from his head.

Ciri nodded in agreement but smirked. "You're right… but they'd have the same complaint about us wouldn't you-."

"Okay, okay I see your point," Dominik said quickly, making Ciri laugh.

She laughed at him yes, but like always it made him smile anyhow. He looked out over the crystal water, as members of Faram's crew mulled about the deck of the ship. Kaer Trolde was bustling he could see. Multiple ships had appeared in the harbor, and he guessed it had to do with all of the soldiers mobilizing to prepare a treck to Undvik.

The Skelliger and the Nilfgaardeans would camp at different spots for obvious reasons. Dominik had discussed with Anton and Crach, how Anton and his knights would stay with the Skelligers. Although he had been angry about initially the night before when Yen suggested it, himself, Ciri, Geralt, Yen, Avallac'h, and the rest of their allies on this ship would head for the Nilfgaardean camp. The reason being, was that they trusted the Skelligers, Crach and Cerys completely to keep their words. Yen, Geralt, and even Dominik had agreed, they didn't trust Emhyr and the Nilfgaardeans not to turn on the Skelligers before the battle started, or after once their guard was down.

Ciri had paled at the idea, and it was what made Dominik initially strongly disagree with the plan. However, Ciri was the one who calmed him. She had steeled her courage, stating how no matter what Emhyr wouldn't have her anyhow, and she would simply avoid him at the camp. So, the next day Faram would sail them to the coast of Undvik, to the Nilfgaardean camp, and then they battle would begin.

Dominik had other plans, but he decided to try and not think about them for the rest of that day. He was going to enjoy it how he could.

Ciri finished laughing and smiled at him. "Ahaha…. So, really nothing you want to do? How about we head to the castle? See Anton, Crach and Cerys."

As much as Dominik wanted too he sighed and shook his head. "Don't think they'll have much time. Crach and Hjalmar will be moving troops, Cerys will probably be trying to calm squabbling Jarls. As for Anton well… to be honest, I'm trying to avoid seeing him before the battle."

Ciri's eyes widened. "What? Dominik why?"

Shakily he sighed and looked up at the castle. "I… I still never told him you know… about Bella…. He'd be devastated, he was in Cintra the day after… he'd blame himself."

Ciri bit her lip but nodded in understanding. "You're right… it's best we tell him later. Maybe we could see if the lake is still frozen? Or maybe a spar, we could-."

"AHHHH lookie here George! Our lovebirds are finally awake!" The booming voice of Faram of Undvik hit his ears.

Ciri and he both turned and smiled when they saw both Faram and George coming back onto the ship. The both of them both seemed eager, Faram's brown ponytail blew back in the wind, his beard tied in the intricate knots he knew Freya had been doing for him. George's golden griffin armor sparkled along with the pommels of his swords. The southern Griffin Witcher smiled at them both, laughing as Faram did and holding out his arms as they approached the two.

"Aha… it is good to see the both of you my friends!" George said, crossing his armored arms as Faram and he joined the two near the edge of the ship. "We haven't seen much of you the previous few days; you're sights for sore eyes!"

Faram boomed another laugh. "He's right! Heard we're heading out tomorrow, going to finally knock those phantom fucks back to their world!"

Dominik right away felt guilty. Ciri and he both realized the previous few weeks since they had left Kaer Morhen, they hadn't gotten to spend nearly as much time with their friends, with Faram, George and Freya as they would have liked. They both knew their friends were preparing as best they could for the fight to come, and the fact they couldn't spend so much time with them, to thank them properly for coming had weighed on them both.

Ciri stepped up next to him. "Faram, George we're so sorry that we-."

George lightly laughed and shook his head. "We jest my friends. We all understand. The two of you… you a lot on your plates. You haven't seen one another in a long time."

"Aye, no worries mates," Faram said reassuringly. He slapped Dominik so hard on the back he almost fell and laughed. "Baha, besides this is all almost over anyway! Soon we'll be drinking and laughing about how easy the whole thing ended up being. So, how'd it go at the cave yesterday?"

"Yes tell us," George said. "The two of you, Geralt and Lady Yennefer all did not look very well coming back."

Dominik and Ciri both shared a relieved look. He sighed and turned back to his friends, before Ciri and he went about telling them both what happened at the cave the previous day. Ciri and he hadn't discussed the specifics of the challenges with even each other yet, he was saving that for the night when they were alone. Skipping over their challenges, they went on to explain getting the sword and giving it to Kilgarrah to give to Bella.

George stroked his clean-shaven chin. "Ahh… you place much faith in this dragon. However, if what he says is true it seems you may have a chance at getting your sister back my friend."

"Aye, a tough go at it mate, truly is. If anyone can get through this though, it's you, the most stubborn fucker I ever met," Faram said with a small laugh, before his face narrowed. "So… tomorrow is finally the day eh? How the two of you feeling?"

"Nauseated if I'm being honest," Ciri said next to him, her arms still crossed as she shook her head. "But we'll succeed… I know we will."

She smiled at the three of them, and Dominik's heart spun seeing it. George sagely nodded his head. He was the oldest of them, in his seventies, which wasn't old for witchers standards, but Dominik had come to cherish his friend's advice.

"As long as well all fight as one, stick together as one, we will be victorious indeed my young friends," George said, crossing his arms and smiling. "We have prepared, trained, and most importantly, our cause is just. We will not let the heathens take our world, and the both of you can count on Faram and I to be there at your side."

Faram smirked and nodded. "Haha aye! And if this new weapon goldilocks has cooked up works gods I'll almost feel sorry for the icy fucks!"

Dominik smiled when he quickly met Ciri's eyes. Faram had a personality that was infectious, his confidence was infectious. He was convinced if Faram told him he could push a boulder, with enough encouragement from the Bear Witcher he'd be able too. George was much quieter, stoic and serious at times, but in moments like that were when Dominik loved his friend the most. His words in his comforting, charming Toussaint accent never failed to calm him, and it seemed to do the same for Ciri then.

One member of their group was missing however, and Dominik looked up at them both, his curiosity peaked.

"Yeah… where is Freya actually? Gods, I feel I haven't talked to her in weeks," Dominik said.

Ciri nodded in agreement. "The same goes for me. Did she tell you what she's calling this… arrow device yet?"

He and Ciri had both heard from Faram and George what kind of weapon Freya had been designing. A cart, that could launch a flaming volley of over fifty arrows at once. According to what Faram had told him, then he had told Ciri, Freya had gotten the idea from studying the bombs that witchers used. The explosives inside of the bombs had given her the idea, to build a weapon that could fire that many arrows at once, using those explosives in a way.

Dominik would never think something like that was possible, however if anyone could create something like that it was Freya. She wasn't just a surgeon, Dominik also knew she was incredibly smart, a genius really. He also wouldn't say no to having such a weapon at their disposal against the Hunt.

Faram crossed his massive arms and shook his head. "Not yet she hasn't. Lass said she wants to make sure it works first before she names it."

"And where is she now?" Dominik said.

George gestured towards the cliffs to the east. "Her prototype she says is complete, she's out testing it now over near the cliffs."

"Poor lass has barely slept a few hours the last few nights," Faram said. He shook his head disappointedly. "Woman's told me she's got it in her head she needs to 'prove her worth' to the rest of us. Took some of my boys and has been at it for hours."

Ciri scoffed in disbelief before he could. "Prove her worth? Freya doesn't need to prove anything, that whole notion is ridiculous!"

Dominik quickly nodded in agreement, feeling his inner thigh pang, and the scar on his cheek tingle. If not for Freya he wouldn't be alive, multiple times over. She was one of the people he respected and cared for most in that world, the idea she needed to prove anything was ridiculous.

"She's right," He said, looking back at his friends. "I wouldn't be alive if not for Freya a couple times over."

Faram nodded eagerly. "No need to convince me mate, our little company wouldn't be the same without Goldilocks."

"I agree," George said, a smile growing on his face as he looked at Dominik and Ciri both. "That is why Faram and I are heading into town. We had a new sword forged for her, a present of sorts before the battle."

"Aye should be finished soon!" Faram said eagerly. "We actually came back to find the two of you. Wanted to give it to her tonight, then we figured the five of us, could get piss drunk at the inn before we head off tomorrow."

A smile grew quickly on Dominik's face. He looked at Ciri and saw a similar wicked smirk grow on hers. After his treck through the cave the previous night, he knew he needed more than just a few drinks, and he could see Ciri was thinking he same exact thing.

And perhaps for a few hours, they could simply pretend everything was normal, that there was no looming threat. Perhaps it could even be a preview of what could come.

Ciri eagerly nodded at him. "I'd say I like the sound of that, what do you say?"

"Don't gotta ask me twice," He said, smiling over at Faram and George. "Did you get her a silver sword?"

Faram scoffed. "Ha, we were going to! But then we heard her go on a rant about how she needed to earn her silver after her training at Kaer Morhen."

"But we still ordered her a blade, worthy of any witcher," George said, a smirk growing on his clean-shaven face. "We want it to be a surprise. One of us should head and keep her busy for the next few hours."

"And actually convince her to fucking sit and relax for a few hours. We do fight in a battle tomorrow after all," Faram added.

Dominik was about to volunteer himself, but before he could Ciri eagerly nodded and stepped in front of him.

"I'll go and find her, I'm actually quite curious to see what she's built," Ciri said, looking and smiling at Faram and George. "You said she's out near the shores to the east?"

George nodded. "Yes, she's with her weapon on a cliff overlooking a beach. Only about a mile or two out, you can't miss it."

"Or you can just follow the yelling," Faram said amusingly. "Been giving my boys a lashing she has!"

"Alright, I'll head out now," Ciri said confidently, turning back to him and smiling. "Sure you can manage for a few hours without me?"

He never liked separating from her. He knew of course that he would never get to spend every single moment with her, that there would indeed be times that she wasn't next to him, but it still panged him every time that he saw her have to leave.

If you had been separated from the person you loved for eight years, not knowing if they were alive or dead, having no idea where to go to find them, it was only natural that after you found them you'd be worried seeing them leave again.

"Are you sure you wanna go alone?" He said, biting the inside of his cheek. "You never know if more of Emhyr's assassins could be nearby, or what if they sense-."

She laughed, which was a sound as sweet as honey to his ears.

"Oh don't worry so much. I'm a big girl I'll be alright," Ciri said, smiling at him and their friends. "I'll head and find Freya, keep her busy for a few hours, we'll meet you all back at the inn in town."

Ciri turned and smiled at him. She held onto his arms and leaned up to kiss him. It lasted for a minute, but it still sent him crazy.

"I'll be alright I promise," She said reassuringly. "Head to town and get Freya's sword with Faram and George, and I'll meet up with you later. You'll survive without me."

She said the last part teasingly, and his eye roll made her laugh.

He sighed and smiled back at her. "Okay, okay, I'll see you later, be careful."

"I always am!" She said with pep in her voice. Ciri strode across the deck, smiling at Faram and George as she passed them. "Keep an eye on him for me boys."

"Oh you know we will!" Faram said with a laugh.

George smirked, and Dominik rolled his eyes before joining his two friends against the railing of the ship. He watched as Ciri quickly walked down the plank onto solid ground. She pulled up her hood, and Dominik watched her fondly as she got further away. He kept his eye on her, her hips and sword bouncing on her back, and found himself fawning again.

A large hand clamped over his shoulder. "Aye mate quit staring at her ass and let's get moving!"

Dominik's face went red, as Faram's massive hand almost knocked him off balance. "I-. what, no I… I wasn't-."

Faram rolled his eyes and groaned. "Oh for fuck's sake she's your woman mate, you can stare at her ass all you want! Come on! Let's get moving! The two of you have been spoiled by that piss water they pass for ale on the continent. I always get piss drunk the night before a fight!"

George chuckled at Faram's words, and Dominik managed to crack a smile. He quickly looked back to the direction Ciri had run off and couldn't find her anymore. Sighing, he couldn't help but smile.

She was his woman. After eight years he could finally say it again.

And the next day, he would fight to make sure she got everything she deserved.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ciri could remember exploring the same cliffs and beaches around Ard Skellige she did then when she was younger. They were beautiful even in the cold winter they were in now. She passed through a small gully leading towards a beautiful beach, and like Faram had said, she began to see a few of the crew members she knew Faram kept aboard his ship. It was cold, and she saw that despite the cold winds, small fires were managing to burn on the beach, most of them were from the tips of arrows that were dug into the sand. She carefully walked into the sand, watching with curiosity as the crew members scrambled.

"What is she doing…" Ciri said, muttering as she turned to one of the bulky crew members. "You there, where's Freya?"

The younger man seemed to flinch as he turned to her, his arms full of arrows. "Up top of the cliff milady."

Ciri followed the man's point and sure enough saw a few more crew members up on the top of a nearby cliff. Smoke billowed in the air above the cliff, and sure enough she could see Freya pacing about, frantically fiddling with something on the hill.

She turned back to the man. "What's she been having you do? Just testing this weapon of hers?"

"Aye milady," The man said, pointing towards the beach. "Been littering the beach with arrows for hours, trying to break some of the dummies."

Ciri looked and realized, that Freya had at least a few dozen wooden stakes buried into the sand. Faram had been telling the truth when he told her that Freya had been working his crew members all night. She watched as more of them frantically moved to readjust the sandbags to the dummies and collect all the arrows that had been lodge into the sand.

She noticed as well that none of the arrows seemed to hit any of the army of dummies, all of them being wedged into the sand of course, multiple yards in front of the 'army'.

And after that it was as Faram said as she heard the yelling echoing down from the cliff.

"UGH GOD DAMMIT! YOU STUPID PIECE OF SHIT WHY WON'T YOU WORK!"

Freya's voice seemed to make all the crew members below flinch, including the man that Ciri had been talking too. The man flinched and almost dropped the arrows. He was clearly a younger member of the crew, bulky and strong looking yes, but by his face Ciri guessed he couldn't be much older than they were.

"Been working you hard all day has she?" She said to him.

He flinched again but quickly shook his head. "She has yes, but I don't mind. That weapon she designed, absolutely ingenious."

Ciri nodded in agreement. "Yes, Freya is quite brilliant."

"She is…" He said, his tone peaking Ciri's curiosity. He looked up at the cliff again. "Brilliant and beautiful, most impressive woman I've ever met."

Ciri couldn't help but smile. She knew of course as well as everyone who looked at Freya, that she as incredibly beautiful. Freya had been the only one she knew of course that Dominik had ever had any feelings for in his life other than her. It had bothered Ciri a bit at first, she was even perfectly aware, that Freya had at least some lingering feelings for him. However, the more she got to know Freya, the more Ciri realize it was impossible to hate her. Freya reminded her so much of herself in ways, and from the moment she met her, Ciri knew they would be great friends.

It had turned out to be true, she could remember the night she first figured out that Freya and Dominik both had been together at one point. Freya had sworn she would never get between the two of them, caring for them both more than she did for her own feelings. In her woe that night, Freya had been the first person Ciri admitted too that she slept with someone before him, and if not for her Ciri didn't know how she would've gotten out of her stupor.

She truly was amazing, and it seemed she had an admirer.

Ciri smiled and nodded at the man. "She is quite impressive isn't she? Well don't let me keep you from work, I'll head up and see her now."

The man nodded, and Ciri turned to trudge up the cliff as they resumed their work. She kept looking back and saw them all loading he arrows into a cart. As she walked, one man dated up past her with the arrows in cart, while another carried a sack, and from the smell Ciri could tell it was some form of explosive powder. Saltpeter or albedo, and other alchemical substances were essential for witchers bombs to work, and she knew Freya was a whiz when it came to such ingredients.

She took some time to admire the greenery in the cold afternoon air, knowing that the next day would be filled with nothing but blood and steel. The fact that it was finally so close, after so much preparation, after so much fighting, it was almost enough to rattle her. She had been having nightmares herself the previous nights, particularly the night before after what had happened the previous day in the Cave of Life. All of her running, all of her fighting, from the minute she had been separated from Dominik and Geralt the first time, it was all cultivating in that battle tomorrow.

And there was still so much she was worried about.

What would happen with Bella? She believed Dominik when he said she was still there, that she was still Bella she truly did believe it. However, what would Eredin do, or Caranthir if they saw Bella was about to slip? What if Dominik was fighting her, and he hesitated because it was her? Bella wasn't the only issue, there was still the problem of Avallac'h. She knew that the sage was planning something. She wasn't foolish enough to think that he wasn't going to try something either during or after the battle was over. The evidence they had found in his lab, the words of the female elf they found, all of it was overwhelming and pointed to it, she and all of their friends knew something was coming and he wanted her for something.

But they simply didn't know what. The trip to the lab gave her some therapeutic refuge for a few moments as she, Geralt and Dominik smashed everything to bits, but it didn't accomplish what she truly wanted. Yes, she learned about his sick experiments and the true reason he wanted her to fuck Auberon before, but she still didn't know exactly what it was that he was going to do, what he wanted from her that time. He couldn't make her fuck Auberon anymore, the old King was dead, and Dominik almost certainly would have killed him no matter what they needed the sage for. He couldn't make Ciri fuck him, she'd have cut his bits of herself, he couldn't kill her, because he needed her alive. She hadn't even seen the sage since before they left to go to his lab.

In the end, it was wildcard, one of the many things about the next day that was unclear.

However, the idea of drinks with her friends, and a romantic evening with Dominik that night pushed all thoughts of Avallac'h and the battle tomorrow from her mind. She wanted to do something nice for him that night, she had no ideas as to what yet, but she assumed it would come to her eventually.

A small part of her hoped to ask Freya, however as she reached the top of the hill it was clear Freya wasn't in a particularly chatty mood.

"UGHHH YOU STUPID PIECE OF SHIT!" Freya said, screaming in frustration as she kicked the weapon she had made. "WHY WON'T YOU FIRE STRAIGHT!"

Freya winced as she picked up her foot, grabbing her toe. Her blonde hair was tightly tied back, as Ciri could practically see the beads of sweat dripping down her neck under her armor, along with the black bags under her eyes. Ciri was still impressed with the armor Freya had managed to get herself, the hard-boiled black tunic and trousers, the armored coat underneath, the small potion vials attached to her bandolier. Dominik told Ciri that Freya had begun wearing her sword on her back in Novigrad, when the blonde decided she wanted to head to Kaer Morhen to train. Ciri saw it now, it's simple pommel glinting in the sun along with Freya's bright blue eyes that were lit with annoyance.

Freya sighed agitatedly and turned to the group of men standing off to the side. Ciri noticed a cart full of arrows between then. She noticed however, that just below the arrowheads, on each of the arrows, had a wrapping around them, with a small fuse leading off of them. One sniff of the air and Ciri could tell what the wrappings under the arrow contained.

Explosive powder. Freya had made explosive arrows.

"Load it again!" Freya snapped at the men, kneeling towards the weapon.

The man on the left of the cart of arrows looked at Freya nervously. "My… my lady we only have enough for two more volleys…"

Freya shot to her feet. "Your point being!?"

The man fumbled over his words. "It… it's just if we… if we need to use some for the battle tomorrow then we-."

"We won't be able to use it in the battle tomorrow if we don't know it works," Freya said, turning and gesturing towards the weapon again. "We'll make more if we need, now load it again!"

At Freya's tone the men didn't even think to argue. One man wheeled the cart of arrows towards the weapon and both of them quickly dropped to their knees and began loading them into the weapon itself. Ciri scoffed in amazement, the weapon seemed to be a sort of cart, that laid down and point at an angle upwards. However, simple physics could tell Ciri that if the arrows would land perfectly onto the army of sandbag dummies on the beach below. Ciri watched as the two men quickly started stuffing the arrows into the front of the weapon, dozens upon dozens of small wooden tubes, that led the arrows to sticking out the back were carved into the front. One by one all the tubes were filled with the long dangerous arrows, one man loaded the arrows, while the other started tying together all of the fuses on the tips of the arrows that snaked into the back. The backs of all the arrows stuck out the back of the weapon, and one by one the man tied the fuses into one, and with a simply flame Ciri could easily see what would happen.

A massive volley of flaming explosive arrows raining down on an enemy army and would be on the Wild Hunt tomorrow. Freya stood nervously watching the two men, her arms crossed as she anxiously tapped her foot. She may have been nervous, but Ciri was amazed.

"Gods Freya…you're brilliant," Ciri said. Freya jumped in alarm, nearly falling over as she whirled around to see Ciri.

Her tired blue eyes widened as she sighed. "Ciri! Gods I… I didn't see you, I… I'm so sorry that… that I haven't spoken to-."

"No, no, Freya I understand," Ciri said, scoffing in amazement as she walked up towards the blonde meeting her blue eyes. "This… whatever you're calling it, it's brilliant. But you on the other hand…"

"Look like shit," Freya said, a small smile coming to her eyes as she looked at Ciri. "I've been told, I… I'm completely exhausted if I'm being honest."

Ciri shook her head, leaning forward as she wrapped Freya in a hug. Freya shakily sighed and melted into the hug, squeezing around Ciri's neck a sigh of relief leaving her. Ciri pulled back and smiled, taking her first good look at the weariness in Freya's eyes. The bags under her eyes, her paler skin, her slumping posture. She looked as if she hadn't slept in days.

Ciri furrowed her brow. "You need to rest Freya; we are going into a battle tomorrow after all. You need some sleep."

At the mention of the battle Freya seemed to pale even more. "I can't, not until I get this right! This can help us, I swear look!"

Before Ciri could protest, Freya grabbed her wrist and pulled her over to the weapon. The men continued loading it, but Freya quickly grabbed one of the arrows and pulled it out for Ciri to have a closer look.

"A normal tip, but the wrapping here is packed with powder I made," Freya said, almost frantic as if she was trying to convince Ciri how amazing it was. "Faram and George helped me make it, it sparks easily, all you do is load arrows, tie all the fuses together, and after they explode, they're propelled out!"

Ciri scoffed and nodded. "Freya it's brilliant I told you, I've never seen anything like it, but I'm more concerned with-."

"The one I have here is smaller, fifty at once I think it was, but with more time and resources I can probably make it even bigger, fire even bigger volleys!" Freya said, cutting her off as she placed the arrow back into place. She turned back to Ciri with an almost desperate look. "It may not seem like it could do much damage to the Hunt's riders, but after launching they'll explode on impact! And from the height we shoot it from, a volley could devastate a whole ship!"

"Freya, I told you it's brilliant, but I really think you should-."

"I just need to figure out how to get it to fire straight…" She said desperately. Freya turned back, sighing and fiddling with some of the fuses. "I know it won't be exactly straight, it's meant to hit a group, but I need to make sure it stops-."

"Freya," Ciri said, grabbing the blonde's shoulder and turning her back to him. Freya's eyes were desperate again, and Ciri could almost even see tears in them. Scoffing Ciri shook her head. "You need to relax Freya, to get some sleep. You're burning yourself out. We're all a bit worried about you, gods Dominik and I haven't talked to you in days. And with the battle tomorrow… we need you at your best."

The tears that almost seemed to be building up in Freya's eyes swirled. She let out a shaky breath, slowly meeting Ciri's eyes and shaking her head.

"It wouldn't make much of a difference if I wasn't there…" She said, looking down at her feet. "I don't have special magic… I'm not a witcher… I need to be useful in other ways…"

Ciri scoffed and met her eyes. "Freya please, we'd all be lost without you! You're invaluable to us and you know it. Dominik would be dead if not for you. We're just worried about you now, how much sleep have you gotten the last few days?"

"Maybe a few hours at most."

"Exactly, that isn't healthy in any scenario," Ciri said, holding a handout on her shoulder, giving the blonde a reassuring smile. "We need you fighting fit, we couldn't do it without you. Why don't we just sit for a bit? It seems it may take a few minutes for them to get this loaded."

"That's something else I need to work on… a way to load it faster," Freya said with a sigh as she looked at her weapon. "If it were to be used on a battlefield… I'd assume an army would need multiple of them, so they can consecutively fire…. Maybe if I played with the-."

"Freya…" Ciri said slowly, narrowing her eyes at the blonde.

Freya sighed in defeat and nodded. "Fine… come on. In the few times I have sat… I do like looking out over at the water."

Ciri nodded, as Freya yawned and led her over towards the cliff. One thing she had missed and would never get tired of was the views off the Skelligan cliffs. In the soft grass, Freya plopped herself down her legs swinging out over the cliffs edge. Ciri quickly followed, sucking in a clean breath and admiring the view out in front of her.

Crystal blue water, as the bay they overlooked gently lapped up over the beach. Ciri looked and saw the men she saw below frantically scramble to collect the arrows that had landed in the sand. She smiled as when she narrowed her eyes, she could see the man she had been talking too occasionally gazing up towards the cliffs where she and Freya sat.

Freya sighed next to her, followed by another yawn. Ciri smiled and reached to her belt, pulling out a skin and offering it to her with a smile.

"Water?" Freya said, taking the skin from her.

Ciri scoffed. "Wine. Picked some up on my way here, Faram and George… they told me what you were doing, figured you could use some."

"That's an understatement…" She said. Quickly she downed a large gulp, before handing it back to Ciri who did the same.

For a few moments they passed it back and forth, simply admiring the view, before Freya sighed again.

"Faram and George… they're sweet, been helping me with everything I asked the last few days," Freya said, handing the skin back to Ciri. "After I had this idea… they didn't blink twice before helping me."

"Dominik and I would have too," Ciri quickly said. "All three of you… we feel awful about not having spent much time with you."

Freya chuckled ironically. "Ha… the way I've been treating Faram and George, you're lucky you weren't around… I hope they can forgive me."

"They already have that's the reason they sent me here," Ciri explained, smiling as she met Freya's eyes. "Dominik and I… after what happened at the Cave yesterday, we finally have some free time."

"Where are they anyhow?" She said.

"Around and about in town," Ciri said quickly, not wanting to spoil Freya's surprise. "Stocking up before tomorrow. They told me to come find you and make sure you weren't working too hard. Later tonight we're all going to the inn."

Freya's head quickly spun to her and she shook her head. "I can't! Not until I make sure that this works! It needs to be ready for tomorrow!"

Ciri hesitated, seeing the worry in Freya's eyes. She looked back to the weapon where the men were almost finished loading it, only trying to figure out how to tie together all of the fuses.

She looked back to Freya. "Freya… it's brilliant, it can seriously help any army but… it's okay if it doesn't work by tomorrow. You've only taken three days to build it, you've barely slept, anyone, any kind of weapons smith would be baffled by what you made and how fast. It's alright if it-."

"No… no Ciri you don't understand…" Freya said, her voice nearly breaking. Ciri could see days of pent up anxiety spilling from her. "I… I need this to work. I… I need to contribute something."

Ciri didn't want to scoff but she could have. The idea of Freya contributing nothing to their group? It was baffling.

Carefully she shook her head. "Freya… you contribute so much more than you think."

"Yes… I cook, and I put band-aids on wounds…"

"That's a pretty important thing to have!" Ciri stressed, scooting closer to her as she looked at the side of her head. "You also sew people who are bleeding and dying back together. Freya… Dominik would be dead if you hadn't done that surgery on him a Kaer Morhen."

"He would have lived… he's strong enough and had the sorceresses over him."

"Yes, but he wouldn't have been able to walk had you not sewn the inside of his leg back together!" Ciri said, shaking her head in disbelief. "Freya what's bringing this on? You know how important you are to all of us, how important you are to this."

Freya finally turned her icy blue eyes to her. Ciri saw tears gently welling in her eyes. She shakily sighed and shook her head.

"I… I just feel so… so useless in this fight Ciri…" She said, shaking her head as she looked back out over the water. "Like I said… I'm not a witcher like Geralt, Faram or George. I don't have special magic in my blood like you or Dominik… and gods, compared to the rest of you? I looked like a child with my sword."

Ciri genuinely scoffed. "Freya are you kidding? At Kaer Morhen you saved my life remember? We fought together, you held your own, you were more than a match for the riders. You took down dozens!"

"Yes, because I had you, and I had George, and I had Faram… Declan," Freya said, a single tear starting to fall down her cheek as she shook her head. "You were all with me, but tomorrow, we either win, or we die… and I can't be carried through it. I need to contribute something… and… and if my sword can't be it… maybe it can be my mind."

Ciri looked at Freya astounded. The idea that anything she was saying was what they thought was completely ridiculous. However, Ciri knew better. It wasn't that Freya thought Ciri herself, Dominik or any of their friends thought these things.

Freya simply needed to prove it to herself.

She placed her hand on Freya's as she had it next to her and squeezed it reassuringly. Ciri could remember that nigh at Kaer Morhen, after she had figured out Freya and Dominik had been together for a time. Ciri had been distraught, not because Dominik had been with someone else, but because he had ended his relationship with Freya, because of his love for her, denying himself such a loving relationship, to wait for her in pain for years. All of this had been while Ciri betrayed him and slept with someone else while he was waiting for her.

At that moment, what Ciri needed was someone to reassure her, to simply be there for her, to be sweet, caring and understanding. Freya had also been the first to know about Mistle, even if Ciri hadn't said it out loud, she had trusted Freya to keep her secret, and Freya had done so without a second thought.

And now Ciri needed to be there for her. She also knew exactly how to help. Ciri knew Freya was stubborn and wouldn't simply be talked out of what she believed.

So there was one other way she could help her.

"Alright then," Ciri said, a small smile forming on her face. Freya looked over to her, as Ciri took on last swig from the wine and stood to her feet, offering Freya her hand. "Come on, let's figure this thing out."

Freya looked at her incredulously. "What?"

Ciri smiled as she pulled her to her feet. "Let's go see if we can make this thing work."

Freya floundered. "But… but I only have enough for one more volley after this and… and if I need it for tomorrow-."

"Didn't you just tell the men here that if it doesn't work it won't matter?" Ciri said cheekily, smiling at her as she pulled Freya to the weapon by the wrist. "I guess we'd better get it right then. We're both pretty smart, I assume if we put our heads together we can get it working. Now… what did you say was wrong with it?"

The two men had finished loading the arrows. They both had gone to Ciri assumed either make or collect more off to the side. Freya looked at Ciri confused for a second, before sighing and pulling one of the arrows out of the dozens of tubes.

She showed it to Ciri and twirled it in her hands. "They're not launching straight in the same direction… some aren't even reaching the five hundred yards I calculated it could."

"Yes… they were scattered about the beach I saw," Ciri said, running her hand along the small wrapping of powder near the middle of the arrow. "What do you call this now?"

"I've just been calling it blackpowder," Freya said, biting her lip as she gently ran her hand along the wrapping as well. "It's a combination of albedo, saltpeter, and some other powders I saw used in the bombs I've seen witchers use."

Ciri knew of course how to make most of the powders that helped the bombs explode, never in her life however would she think have thought of something like Freya did. Freya handed Ciri the arrow and she felt it nearly weigh her hand down.

"It's a bit heavy," Ciri said, flicking the iron arrowhead. "Broadhead?"

Freya nodded. "The extra weight from the powder and the broadhead help it pierce and find the gaps in plate. I thought it would be useful, given what I saw of the Hunt at Kaer Morhen."

"And they explode on impact, that certainly helps."

Freya chuckled. "Yes, yes it certainly does… it's no supposed to be accurate, but with so many arrows firing at once, I thought it would be good for taking out large groups, cavalry, especially since the powder propels it so fast."

"Could they be getting bogged down by the wind?" Ciri inquired.

"No…" Freya sighed. "They fire far too fast, and with the angle, we set it up so that it goes with the wind. It launches at a fifty-degree angle, and with the cart and how light it is, it only needs one or two people to work it."

"Freya, has anyone ever told you, that you're absolutely brilliant? This is possibly the most genius thing I've ever seen someone design and you did it in about four fucking days."

Freya's cheeks got slightly pink at the praise, and she nervously shook her head. "Not often… but it really isn't much. I've actually never done something like this before."

Ciri scoffed as she handed the arrow back to her. "Oh come on now don't be modest."

"I'm serious!" Freya said, a small, amused smile on her lips as she played with the arrow in her hands. Just as quickly as her smile came, it slowly fell again as she looked back at Ciri. "Most people… they don't really take the time to get to know this side of me…"

Ciri could hear the tone shift in her voice and looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Freya sighed and slid the arrow back into the tube, gently grazing her fingers over the weapon as a hole, the tubes of arrows.

"My entire life… all people have ever seen when they see me… is my looks," She said, her voice almost shaking as she pulled out another arrow. "They see me… and they think I'm nothing more than a pretty face."

Ciri snorted. "I know how you feel…. For so long, so many people have just wanted me, chased me, all because they either wanted to force me to marry them, or fuck them to squirt out a child."

Freya managed a chuckle at her bluntness. "Then you know how it feels… to be looked at for nothing but your looks, your body…. That's all I was treated as… for so long, by all the boys who fancied me growing up, by the men I've met in recent years… nothing but a pretty face…"

"You are beautiful, you know that" Ciri said, trying to be upbeat, a small laugh leaving her as Freya looked to her. "Not going to lie, when I first saw you at the council at Kaer Morhen I got pretty jealous."

Freya blushed again but smiled at Ciri. "You're just as beautiful as I am… but as I'm sure you know it's quite frustrating when all people see you as is that… at least you are more than that. Not that I envy you… but you truly are."

Ciri frowned. "Freya… you are so much more than that. I know it, Dominik does, Faram, George, Geralt, we all do!"

Freya scoffed lightly looking over the arrow. "I… I'm sorry to bring it up but… but you know… that's part of the reason that… that I fell for Dominik so hard when I first met him…"

Ciri spent no time in shaking her head. She had come to accept the fact the two of them had been together, she had even known Freya still had lingering feelings after meeting up with Dominik again the first time. However, Freya had proven, that those romantic feelings were gone, that she was simply not only one of Dominik's but her own very best-friends.

She smiled reassuringly at her. "He saw you for more than just a pretty face? Ha… that's a reason I liked him so much when we were younger. He liked me, played with me not because I was a princess… but because I was me."

A smile came tugged at Freya's lips. "It was the same when I met him… gods he didn't even tell me I was beautiful until a week after we started seeing each other."

"He really didn't?"

"No, I actually got nervous at the time and asked him if he thought I was pretty," Freya said, a small laugh leaving her as she met Ciri's eyes. "He told me… 'well I thought it was obvious I did, and well… it was obvious to you how beautiful you are'. I… I actually loved that."

"He does have a way with words doesn't he?" Ciri said cheekily, making Freya laugh again.

"Ha, that he does… but it was the first time someone saw me for more than just how I looked…. After that well… it was more of the same… all people thought when they looked at me, was that I was just another dumb blonde woman," Freya said, slowly shaking her head. Her fists curled around the arrow, her eyes narrowing up at Ciri.

Freya shook her head as her blue eyes lit with a new fire. "I'm much more than just a pretty face… and I'm going to prove it."

She was so much more, this Ciri knew. Smiling Ciri walked over and hugged her. It took Freya off guard, but the blonde hugged her back.

"You are so much more, to all of us," Ciri said, pulling back and smiling at her again. "You're brilliant Freya. We just need to teach you to balance being brilliant and-."

"Wait… balance…" Freya said, quickly turning to the arrows in the tubs. She pulled one from the weapon, and her eyes widened as she ran her hand along the wrapping of blackpowder Scoffing Freya turned back to her. "Balance! Gods it's so simple, I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner! Ciri you're brilliant!"

Ciri looked at her confused. "I… I am?"

Freya eagerly nodded; all negative thoughts seemingly gone from her mind. She hugged Ciri around the neck again, squeezing her so hard Ciri almost couldn't breathe. Pulling back from her, she showed Ciri the arrow, the tight wrapping of black powder in the center of the arrows shaft. Her eyes lit up as she scoffed.

"I thought the arrow would be perfectly balanced if I put the wrapping in the center to balance it that way, but I was wrong!" She said, unwrapping the small tubing of black powder around the arrow and gently sliding the blackpowder towards the arrows tip. "But if it's in the middle, the weight can carry it off course and not project it as far as I want. If I put it here under the arrowhead-."

"Then it'll help the arrows fly even further with the extra weight pushing it that way and maybe it'll help all the arrows end up near each other, making it more accurate… Freya I know I've said this a few times… but you're fucking brilliant!" Ciri said, as Freya couldn't stop smiling wrapping up the blackpowder near the arrows head.

She finished and looked up at Ciri with her infectious smile. "Come on! Help me adjust these, and we'll see if it works! Bjorn! Dalinor, come help us adjust these!"

The two men who had been up there with them both rushed over, and for the next several minutes, her, Freya and the two men all adjusted the arrows. She pulled the wrapping off at least a dozen arrows, but it was nothing compared to Freya. She worked like a magician her hands not stopping for a moment. As she tried to count, Ciri thought it had to be much more than just the fifty arrows, and it seemed like it would be perfectly easy to add even more. Still however, the weapon seemed like it would certainly be a deadly force on a battlefield.

After adjusting all the arrows, Freya gestured for her to follow. Behind the cart, Ciri finally saw the weapon fully loaded. Dozens of arrow shafts poked out the back, all with fuses that seemed to Ciri to be a tangled mess.

They clearly weren't to Freya however, who quickly went to work. She knelt and rapidly started untangling fuses and retying them together. Ciri could remember back at Kaer Morhen, Dominik on the brink of death next to her while Freya operated on him. Her bloodstained hands at the time had moved so fast that Ciri could barely see them at the time. In the moment then as she tied together the fuses, Freya's hands moved faster and even more precisely then when she had performed that surgery.

Within minutes the fuses were all tied together, and Freya turned to Ciri, her hands now shaking as she pulled a piece of flint and steel from her pocket.

"Okay…" She said, her hands beginning to tremble as she looked at Ciri. "Let… let's see if this works."

Ciri smiled, quickly reaching over and grabbing Freya's trembling hands. "Freya… this will work. Go on, you'll see."

Freya nodded briskly, letting out a deep breath and kneeling next to the fuses. Bjorn and Dalinor quickly backed up near another cart of arrows, and Ciri held her breath. The weapon seemed deadly enough, and now she was eager to see it in action.

And it certainly didn't disappoint.

Freya struck the flint and steel and a flame quickly erupted onto the fuses. Ciri took a step back and Freya rushed next to her, just as the spark up to the backs of the arrows, and the loudest *BOOOM* Ciri had heard in a while erupted on the hillside.

Ciri clamped her hands over her ears but scoffed in complete bewilderment as arrow after arrow shot upwards over the cliff, racing out of the weapon one after another. The enormous volley kept firing and firing explosion after explosion hit her ears, and Ciri watched as one after one all the blackpowder wrappings exploded. They sent the arrows zipping through the air, and the lingering burning smell of the powder attacked her nose.

Freya had clamped one of her hands onto Ciri's forearm as she watched the display wide-eyed until every single arrow was gone. After the last one fired out, Ciri slowly removed her hands from her ears, smiling in amazement at the display she had just witnessed while blowing away the lingering smoke with her hand.

After it was clear, Ciri saw no more arrows remained, and Freya dashed from her side to look over the cliff. After a moment, she turned and looked at Ciri with wide eyes, a mixture of excitement and nerves.

"Come on let's go see the targets!" She said, darting down the cliff from the way Ciri had come from.

Ciri smiled at her enthusiasm, it was a stark contrast to the mood she had been in just moments ago. Geralt had taught Ciri, that sometimes when people were upset, that the best way to help them, was to simply give them what they want. Freya had wanted her weapon to work. She eagerly ran after her, following her bouncing blonde ponytail down the cliff.

She also couldn't help but think of the possibilities the weapon could bring in the battle tomorrow if it truly did work. The idea of a volley of exploding arrows raining down upon the Hunt's ships was becoming increasingly attractive to Ciri as the smell of crackling fires hit her nose when the approached the beach.

Catching up to Freya and almost bumping into her, Ciri finally got a good look of the beach.

It was absolute destruction; exactly what Freya had wanted.

Laughing with a smile on her face, Ciri looked at her. "Freya… it worked!"

Freya scoffed, tears nearly welling up in her amazed eyes again as she looked out over the scene. The army of sandbag dummies they had set up on the beach was in flames. Multiple dummies had flaming arrows half deep inside them, all over the sand around the dummy's arrows were still on fire, as men scrambled to pick them up and extinguish them. Exploded blackpowder was scattered about, the smell lingered in the air, and Ciri couldn't help but laugh as Freya's completely dumfounded expression. It was as if she had expected her weapon to fail, but from the destruction, and the scrambling of Faram's men to put fires out and collect arrows, it was clear that it had done exactly what it was intended.

"It… it worked…" Freya said from next to her. "The… the arrows they… they flew straight, they… they hit the targets."

Ciri laughed and nodded. She jogged up and having to use all her strength, yanked out an arrow that had been buried half deep in a sandbag dummy.

"It certainly looks like it did! Safe to say, this rider is dead," Ciri said, smirking at her as she tossed the arrow to one of the men. She smirked and walked back over to Freya, placing both hands on her shoulders and shaking them. "Freya! It worked you did it!"

"I did it…" Freya said slowly, looking out over the destruction her weapon had caused the army of sand dummies.

The bewilderment turned to excitement. Ciri laughed as Freya's smile grew, she looked wide eyed over at Ciri. Her blue eyes grew, as she finally scoffed, laughing as she grabbed Ciri's shoulders as well, her smile infectious.

"I DID IT!" She said, unable to contain her excitement.

"You did it!" Ciri said, laughing as Freya excited threw her arms around her.

Freya laughed and Ciri hugged her, before Freya pulled back, looking at the destruction her blackpowder caused on of the sandbags. She laughed again as she ran her hands along the soot and looked at Ciri.

"Did you see that!? It burned perfectly, exploded perfectly," She said, rushing back over to Ciri still laughing. "Can you imagine what this will do to the Hunt!? HA! The fuckers won't stand a chance! Gods… gods Ciri it worked!"

"I told you it would!" Ciri said excitedly, smiling and looking at her. "Freya this is amazing, you did this in four days! Do you know how few people could do that!?"

Freya's laugh turned to a sobbing one, as she met Ciri's eyes. "I couldn't have done it without the men here, and Faram, George, you and Dominik… I've probably been completely unbearable the previous few days!"

Ciri took a step closer and shook her head. "You haven't been. You were doing something you thought would help us, we all understand. Freya… what you did was amazing, and after this is all over, gods, I can't wait to see what you come up with next…"

Freya's tear finally fell, as she wrapped Ciri in a hug again. "Thank you Ciri… I couldn't have done this today without you."

Ciri scoffed as she hugged her back. "Gods come on; I didn't do anything!"

Freya wiped a tear from her eyes as she looked at her. "You did… you listened to me bitch… gave me the kick in the ass I needed. To be honest if you hadn't come by… I probably would have just complained and wasted the day away… thank you for being here for me."

Ciri's face got red, as she hugged Freya again. "You were there for me when I needed it… there's no way I wasn't going to be there for you. You're my friend, other than Dominik, probably my best one to be honest."

Freya's eyes whipped up to her. "You… you mean that?"

Ciri smirked and nodded, crossing her arms. "Of course! Hanging around with nothing but smelling men all day does get awfully dull, I've been doing it since I was young! It's nice to have another woman my age around!"

The two of them both laughed, the cool afternoon air, whipping their hair back. The gust was cool, refreshing, and Ciri took a moment to revel in the normality, which was something she so rarely got to do.

"Um… my… milady," A timid voice interrupted their laughter.

Ciri and Freya both turned, and Ciri smiled, seeing the young man she had spoken to earlier anxiously looking at Freya with an armful of arrows.

"Yes Jorgen, what is it?" Freya said, smiling as he turned around to him.

His face completely red, Jorgen stumbled over his words. "Um… I… I just wanted to inform you we collected all the arrows for another volley. Should… should I bring them up the cliff?"

Ciri continued smirking, as Freya shook her head.

"No need for that. We know it works, and I know what it is to make sure it stays that way. If you can, head up the hill, tell Dalinor, Bjorn, and everyone else down here to gather up all the arrows and started heading back to the ship with the weapon," She said. Smiling, Freya nodded at the young man appreciatively. "Thank you, and everyone for all your help today, we'll make more blackpowder tonight before the battle tomorrow."

Jorgen nodded eagerly. "Of course! Of course milady, it's been my-, our pleasure. All of us!"

Freya smiled sweetly and nodded, before Jorgen, no doubt not wanting to stumble over his words again took off towards the beach again to the other men. As soon as he was out of earshot, Freya sighed and Ciri couldn't help but laugh.

"Would you look at that," Ciri said, coming up next to her and meeting her gaze. "It looks like you have an admirer!"

Freya sighed with a roll of her eyes. "That was nothing, for some of them, I'm the first woman they've seen in months that's not a sorceress. Gods, one of them even proposed to me, about an hour after meeting me, can you believe it?"

Ciri laughed heartily and nodded. "Well can you blame them? You're exceptionally beautiful! Weird though, not that I'm complaining, but I'm not a sorceress, I wonder why none have tried anything with me."

Freya rolled her eyes but smiled. "That's because you and Dominik are normally attached at the hip, and they know better than to step to his woman I'm sure."

Ciri couldn't help but blush, being referred to as Dominik's 'woman' was something she had loved when she was younger, and it hadn't changed.

"That makes sense," She said, smiling as Freya laughed. She took a look out over the men gathering arrows into a cart as she stood next to her Freya. "Any of them strike your fancy?"

Freya rolled her eyes again. "Well, most of them aren't bad looking, most of them are sweet, respectful but well… some of them aren't very bright. And well… a good amount of them it's like I said… they just see some woman, something for them to conquer, to take care of and protect. Don't get me wrong, I would like someone who's protective… someone who'll care deeply for me but well… I want someone who'll treat me as an equal, respect the fact that I'm my own person, who'll support my ambitions and goals, and not try to make me something I'm not…"

A small part of Ciri's heart panged as she looked at Freya. "Someone like Dominik…"

Ciri had known how Freya felt, and that was how she knew, Dominik ticked all of the boxes she was speaking of. It had clearly been a part of the reason she fell for him like she did, Ciri knew this.

Freya's eyes widened and she quickly shook her head. "No! I mean… well yes, he does mark all those points, it's why I fell for him, but Ciri, nowadays those feelings they're gone! I love him yes, but not in a romantic sense, he… he's like my-."

"Freya, Freya calm down I know, I believe you," Ciri said, a small laugh leaving her as she put a hand on Freya's shoulder to calm her.

She sighed in relief and met Ciri's eyes again. "Good… to… to be honest, I've been a bit scared you may resent me for that. I've been waiting for you to bring it up…"

Ciri laughed and smiled. "Ha… what's there to bring up? You two were together, I was with someone as well… it's all over now. I'm with Dominik and Freya… when you do find someone, someone who check's all those boxes well, he's going to be extremely lucky."

"Or she…" Freya said with a sigh.

Ciri's eyes shot up to her. "What?"

Freya seemed to realize what she said, her eyes widened. Never in Ciri's life had she seen someone's face get so red so quick, as Freya nervously laughed.

"Ha… well… you see Ciri I… I um…" She stammered, before sighing and biting her lip nervously. "Gods I… I'm realizing I've never actually told anyone this, not Dominik, not even my parents or Eustace…. You see… I… I… well…"

"You… prefer women?" Ciri asked, baffled for a moment, before her eyes widened. "There's nothing wrong with that at all Freya, not a single bit. I… I'm just a bit surprised. You were with Dominik, and… he told me that Declan was sweet on you as well before the battle. I've… never seen you take an interest-."

Freya cut her off with a nervous laughed. "Ha well… the only women I've really been around since I left the army are you, and the sorceresses."

A small smile came to Ciri's face. "And I love you Freya I do, hell I'd give it a shot if I were available! But I don't know how Dominik would feel about that."

Ciri laughed, and Freya looked at her, just as baffled.

"Wait Ciri you… you mean to say that you… you…" She started, and Ciri smiled at her as she nodded.

The thoughts of Mistle crossed her mind for a moment. She pushed away the negative images and smiled as she met Freya's eyes.

"The… other person, the other person I was with," Ciri explained. "They… were horrible, they did horrible things to me but… it was a girl. Dominik's the only one for me, to be honest I've known that since we were young but… the only other person I've been with was a girl yes. Do you…?"

Freya slowly nodded, a nervous laugh leaving her. "Swing both ways… well… yes. Ha… gods I… I never thought I'd be telling anybody. I… was always afraid."

"What? Why?"

She bit her lip nervously. "My father he… he's adoring of me yes but… he's a bit of a traditionalist. I was always afraid how he would react."

Ciri tilted her head. "How long have you known?"

"It… was a few months after Dominik left," Freya said, looking out with a sigh over the smoking beach. "I… was desperate to forget him. And well a mumming troupe came to Ellander, one of them had a daughter around my age… took quite a liking to me. And for a bit we… were together? Well, to be honest, I don't really count it since it was only for a few weeks. I didn't love her or anything really but well… nothing felt wrong about being with her."

"And there isn't," Ciri said reassuringly, her smile growing. "You love who you love, it doesn't matter well… as long as you love each other…. So is it true when Dominik tells me Declan was sweet on you at Kaer Morhen?"

A small laugh left her, as she smiled. "Gods it was. He saved me from wolves on my way there, I was lost. He was following Dominik and Geralt after they had left Vizima to travel to Kaer Morhen, to lift Avallach's curse."

"What? Why was he following them?" Ciri asked, not remembering Dominik mention this story.

Freya met her eyes. "Because well, he originally wanted to pledge his sword to them, to atone for his cousin's mistakes. He tried to talk to them outside Vizima but well… Dominik didn't exactly take kindly to him a first."

Ciri bit her lip. "Yes… that part he did tell me about."

"Yes… well Dominik told him to stay away, to go back to Vizima," Freya explained further. "But when he got back, he overheard Emhyr ordering Dominik's assassination, so he followed them both, making sure the assassins didn't get them. He found me as he was staying outside Kaer Morhen, showed me how to get there."

Ciri could tell now why Dominik was so heartbroken over Declan's death. He of course had told her why but hearing Freya's explanation now it was even clearer. A small part of her heart shattered, remembering the poor young man's determined eyes. Determined to do good.

"And… what about you? Did you like him as well?" Ciri said, and right away Freya sighed.

She met Ciri's gaze and shrugged. "He was handsome, sweet, I enjoyed his company, but well… I only knew him for a few days, you can't develop true feelings or love for someone in so little time, despite what some say. But who knows… maybe if he had survived something could have happened, but we'll never know…"

Ciri saw her eyes fall, and right away felt horrible for bringing the subject up. However, remembering the original reason she had been there, she smiled and put her hands-on Freya's shoulders.

"Well my previous point still stands," She said, smiling as Freya looked up at her. "Freya, you're beautiful, your kind and caring, and you're absolutely brilliant. You'll find someone, and he or she is going to be extremely lucky."

Freya's blonde ponytail whipped as she smiled and hugged Ciri around the waist. "Thank you Ciri… for everything."

"You're welcome," Ciri said, pulling back and crossing her arms as her smirk grew. "Well, we've had our heart to heart, your weapon sufficiently destroyed this 'army'. What say me and you go and spend some time together?"

Freya tilted her head inquisitively. "But… I thought you said that Faram, George and Dominik were getting supplies in town, and we were all getting drinks?"

Remembering how George asked for her to 'keep her busy for a few hours', Ciri smirked and nodded. "They are, and we are. But I thought just he two of us could go out and about!"

A small laugh left Freya as she smiled. "Ha…. Alright that sounds like fun. I could use a few things in town, my armor could do for a stitching, and a few of my tunics as well."

Ciri eagerly nodded. "The same for me, and I actually wanted to find something nice for Dominik. Believe me, after what happened at the cave yesterday he deserves it, and well… it is the last night before the battle."

Freya's eyes seemed to light up. "I think I have an idea you may like then, come on, let's get moving!"

Ciri smiled, and with a quick step, the both of them bounded off towards town.

A day about the town with your friend, she thought, a smile coming to her face.

I have no idea when this could happen again… best take advantage of it.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Aye how will I owe ya?" Faram asked the burly man.

"A hundred," The smith said, pulling the new sparkling sword from a rack behind him and showing it to the three of them. "Noticed this was a witchers blade, for an extra thirty, I got a silver dagger back here as well. It'd take me an hour or so to get it up to snuff, I got other orders ahead, but I'll toss it in for an extra thirty."

Dominik watched as Faram looked over at George. "Got enough for it?"

"We do yes," George said with a smile, fishing a handful of coins from the pouch on his belt and handing them to Faram.

Dominik looked at them both. "I thought Freya had a silver dagger, she had it at Kaer Morhen."

"Lost it in the battle. She was busy taking care of ya, didn't have time to look, and gods none of us could find it, she was pretty beat up over it," Faram said, turning and nodding at the smith, handing him the pouch. "We'll take it, keep the sword here while you do, we'll come pick it up all at once."

The smith nodded and headed right away back towards his forge with his coin. Dominik assumed that the orders the smith had were piling up, with the army moving soon. Kaer Trolde was bustling with people, as boat builders, soldiers, and craftsman were pumping out goods, and vendors of vegetables, fruits, meats, sweets, were all having a booming day of sales. It was no doubt that people were stocking themselves up, preparing for the day indoors they'd have to have the next day with the battle so close.

And thinking of it all made Dominik's stomach turn.

"Are you aright my friend?" George said, pulling him out of his thoughts.

Dominik's head shot to them both. "What?"

"You spaced out a for a moment there mate," Faram said, as they all turned away from the forge. "You look even more sour then you normally do."

"I normally look sour?"

Faram scoffed. "Gods yes, you always look like the end of the world is right around the corner."

Dominik rolled his eyes. "You know, the end of the world technically is right around the corner, it could literally be tomorrow."

"No reason to act like it" Faram said, slapping him on the back. Dominik nearly tumbled forward from the force and Faram laughed. "Baha, oh lighten up mate! Come on, let's the three of us go swing our sword at each other for a bit while we wait for the sword!"

Faram's poor choice of words had a few passing villagers staring at them in confusion, but the Bear Witcher certainly didn't seem to care. Dominik rolled his eyes, a sudden tingling feeling going down his neck, while George laughed.

"Aha… I do like the idea of a little spar before tomorrow," The Griffin Witcher said. "Come now, we can head back onto the ship for it. Dominik?"

Dominik was about to answer with a resounding yes. However, the tingling feeling that was going down his spine buzzed and hummed down his back. Over the years his senses had become acutely attuned from both his witcher training, and from being by himself for so long. Being by yourself in the woods for long was an easy way for you to be able to attune yourself, to know when someone was watching you.

"Haha I'm glad you agree mate!" Faram said excitedly, smirking wildly as he looked over at Dominik now. "So what do you say mate? You've gotten pretty good, but I still got a few Bear moves I can teach you!"

Again Dominik ignored them, beginning to scan the crowds of people. He could feel eyes watching him, several pairs. For a moment he was worried Emhyr had sent even more assassins after him. However, after finally maneuvering his vision through the crowd of people, he found the eyes that had been watching him.

Three sets of eyes, and Dominik's own widened when he saw who they belonged too. His heart leapt to this throat, a man was watching him, no older than thirty, a wispy brown beard, and old, wise, amused eyes.

And besides him as always, were two beautiful Zerrikanian warrior women carrying swords on their backs.

He did say he would be following us, Dominik thought, a small smile coming to his face. He had didn't realize until that moment all the things he needed to tell and ask the man.

"MATE!"

"GAH WHAT!?" Dominik said, jumping as he turned and saw Faram and George laughing at him.

George finished chuckling. "Aha… you spaced out again my friend. We're heading back to the ship, we plan on sparring and training a bit while we wait for the sword."

"Gonna join us mate?" Faram said, crossing his massive arms and smirking.

Dominik looked back over, across the square. Borch was standing in the brush near a longhouse, near the side of the inn, right near the tailor's shop. The dragon had an amused look on his face and nodded in Dominik's direction. Dominik nodded, back and turned to Faram and George who hadn't seemed to notice Borch's presence.

"'l… need to tend to something, I'll meet you both back there," He said, nodding at them both.

Faram clapped his shoulder again and nodded. "Aye just don't be long mate! Got a few tricks I wanna show you before tomorrow!"

"Me as well my friend," George said, nodding and adjusting his ponytail. "We will see you back on the ship."

The two of them walked off, and Dominik's eyes darted back to Borch, who was speaking casually with Tea and Vea. Careful not to knock over any of the townsfolk, and with extra energy in his step, Dominik worked his way through the crowd. He passed by the tailor's shop, where the outside was lined with exquisite furs, tunics, leathers, and beautiful dresses. The dresses reminded him of the ones that Ciri had used to wear back in Cintra, he hadn't seen many dress shops in Skellige, but the one in town there was clearly talented.

However, he paid much less attention to the dresses when he saw Borch finally turn and smiled at him.

"Ahhh my young friend! I must say, it is good to see you still in the land of the living," The dragon said, reaching out his hand. "The last I saw you; you could barely walk!"

Dominik scoffed and shook the dragon's hand. Borch's eyes were soft, wise, and they calmed his nerves. He didn't know what Kilgarrah would do in the battle the next day, but now that Dominik knew the white dragon would obey him, he had to assume he wouldn't be a factor. However, he didn't know how Bella would react the next day, if he needed to find her, fight her and speak to her, it was very possible Kilgarrah could appear in the battle, making having Borch there a necessity, just like at Kaer Morhen.

He had promised Borch back at Kaer Morhen, he would do everything he could to help Kilgarrah, so that they didn't have to fight again. Dominik truthfully didn't have an answer now, what felt like so many months later, but what in reality was only a few weeks. However, he still needed to let Borch know what happened.

And of course there was also Fiona, Dominik wanted to know, what it would be like for her, with her being the daughter of a dragon.

"Ha wouldn't be walking if not for you. It's good to see you too," Dominik said, smiling as he looked up to the two women behind Borch. "Tea, Vea, good to see you both as well."

"And you as well, young Witcher," Tea said, smiling as she bowed to him.

Or is that Vea? Gods, I can't tell the difference, he thought. Geralt had told him there was a very discernible difference between the two of them, he just couldn't see it. Shuddering he pushed that thought, and how Geralt knew it to the back of his mind as Borch smiled.

"So my young friend, I just spoke with Geralt and Yennefer on your ship not long ago," Borch said, smiling as he crossed his arms. "Is it true we face the wraiths in battle tomorrow?"

"It is yes," Dominik said quickly, his eyes widening. "You say we does that mean the three of you are going to fight with us?"

Tea or Vea smiled from Borch's right. "It is, it was good to see Geralt and Yennefer both again. We will be honored to fight by your side in this battle."

From the left, Tea or Vea smirked. "We will defeat the wraiths, just as you did at Kaer Morhen."

Dominik couldn't help but smile, and it felt like his first real one without Ciri around in ages.

Borch must have seen his smile because the dragon laughed. "Ahaha… it is true young man, the three of us will fight with you in battle tomorrow. Now… Geralt told me a bit, but I'd like to hear it from you lad, what happened with Kilgarrah, what did you discover?"

At the mention of the dragon, his mind right away went to Bella, and his smile fell. His skin shuddering he sighed and met the dragon's eyes.

"Well… it's a bit more complicated then we first thought," He said, biting the inside of his cheek.

Dominik then had to go on and explain in detail what had happened. He knew he could trust Borch, he didn't know how he knew, but he simply did. He told the dragon about Bella, about Alexander, Kilgarrah's oath, and his most recent conversation with the dragon. Borch was a good listener, as were Tea and Vea both. They let him speak, even at the points where he grew angry, they simply listened and let him vent his anger.

Finally, he told them all what had happened the previous day at the Cave of Life, shuddering as his cheek and leg burned at the thought of Eredin.

"I defeated him in my third challenge," He said, sighing in frustration as he shook his head, not realizing he was pacing. "I know I have to face him, I'm not afraid anymore of it. But I am completely clueless on how I'm going to manage to kill him!"

Borch finally nodded, calmly meeting Dominik's eyes. "Well, I must say lad, I lack the candidness of humans, but I believe that most would say, you are in a completely fucked situation."

"Yeah… that's what most have said," He complained, before sighing and leaning his back against the tailor shop they stood next to, his shoulders slumping. "I had no chance at Kaer Morhen, he was toying with me the entire time. Even with some idea of how to control my powers now, I still don't know if it's enough! For fuck's sake, I still need to soak my leg twice as long to make sure it doesn't ache!"

"Your powers are great lad. Alexander of Lod… there was no finer mage on the continent in his time, except perhaps for his brother Cregan," Borch said, crossing his arms and smiling at Dominik again. "It is as you said lad, you may not know how you will defeat Eredin, the important part, is that you do everything you can too defeat him."

"And what if it's not enough?" Dominik said, sighing as he slumped against the wall more, biting his lip as he looked at the snowy ground. "What if, just like at Kaer Morhen, I give absolutely everything I have, use every bit of my strength… and it still isn't enough?"

The dragon reached out, placing a hand on Dominik's shoulders. In Borch's eyes, Dominik could see decades of wisdom buried within, and it again somehow calmed Dominik's nerves.

"True strength lad, does not come from the magic we have within us, or from how well we swing our swords no. That all contributes yes, it helps," The dragon said, smiling as his wavy brown hair blew back in the wind. "However, the true measure of our strength, comes from our convictions, what we fight for, who we fight for. We don't give ourselves strength to fight on, our causes give us strength to fight on, the ones we love give us the strength to fight on. Tell me lad, I believe I already know the answer but if you'd indulge me… why are you fighting tomorrow? What's the true reason."

"To protect Ciri," Dominik said without a second thought, shaking his head. "To protect Ciri… to get my sister back, to make sure the Hunt doesn't kill Geralt, Yen, my friends… so they don't run over the entire continent, burning everything to the ground to make it there's…"

The smile stayed plastered to the dragon's face. "And that is why I believe lad… that Eredin will die by your hand, we will be victorious in this battle tomorrow."

A small scoff left him. "What, because I believe in myself?"

"No… because you know what will happen if we aren't victorious," Borch said, smiling wildly as he nodded at Dominik again. "You fight for something much greater then Eredin does, you fight for love, for your destiny, and do you remember what I said?"

The last words the dragon spoke to him came back to Dominik's brain.

"Destiny and love… are sometimes one in the same," He said slowly, the swallow around his neck trembling as he grabbed it.

Ciri was his destiny and his love, it was what he had been fighting for, since he escaped the flames of Cintra when he was eleven years old. Now however, he had another destiny.

His sister, their fates were intertwined, the prophecy playing in his mind.

One you once loved has returned, Bella. A single choice you make shall decide their fate, it still wasn't clear what the choice was, but Dominik knew he'd have to decide something pertaining to Bella… a choice that could kill her. The choice you make, the fate of your family, to preserve or raise. That line was the most daunting to him.

He could get his old family back, and his new one, save them all… or he could destroy one or more of them.

Either way, all of them were walking out, what was what he was going to make sure of.

Destiny had led him to this point, led him to Ciri, to the love of his life. It had led him to Geralt and Yennefer, two people who he loved more than anything. To his friends whom he also loved, Freya, Faram and George, who he'd die for in an instant. And back to his sister, the chance to redeem one of his greatest failures.

That was what he fought for, for all of them, because they deserved to live.

And letting them live, was all the motivation he'd need.

He'd figure out how to kill Eredin. He had no ideas at the moment, but he assumed that in the moment, when the fight began, he'd come up with plenty of ideas.

"Thank you… for everything, all three of you," Dominik said, shaking Borch's hand again, and smiling at him, Tea and Vea. "I'm more thankful then I'll ever be able to describe."

Borch laughed and shook his head. "It is no problem my young friend. We fight because you are just that! Our friends, and it's as you said, much more is at stake. I could not simply sit by while the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Now, Tea, Vea and I must be going, believe it or not, we have much to prepare before-.

"Wait!" Dominik said quickly, remembering what else he needed. "There's actually… one more thing I wanted to ask you about."

Borch smiled and tilted his head. "Aye.. what is it lad?"

Dominik sighed, a small smile coming to his face. Fiona's excited green eyes, the eyes that looked so much like he and Ciri's that he had to do a double take. He had given thought to having children of course, he loved Ciri more than anything, and the idea of marrying her, having children with her, living hundreds of years thanks to their magic, it was always a dream of his. However, with the complications of their blood, it had made him, and he was sure her as well rethink having children.

However, Fiona changed all of that. Every single day he missed the girl more. He knew they made the right choice, and he was still dreadfully nervous about the idea of raising her, wondering if he would be good enough to protect her and Ciri both. Despite it all, he found himself wishing to see her childlike excitement at swinging a practice sword, always looking back to make sure he or Ciri was watching.

He had only spent a small amount of time with her, but he had felt that spark, that connection Geralt talked about feeling to Ciri.

His child surprise, Dominik's child surprise, his destiny, he and Ciri's destiny, those were just a few things Fiona was.

And it was another reason that he was going to survive tomorrow, the reason he and Ciri would survive. Fiona was waiting for them to come back for her, they had promised they'd be back, that they'd train her, take her to Kaer Morhen.

They wouldn't break that promise.

Dominik went on to tell Borch everything about Fiona, from the first contract in Claywitch, all the way to he and Ciri's fight with Drogar and his men. He made sure to go into exact detail about what happened with Fiona afterwards. Dominik could vividly remember the girl's powers as a source unleashing, the magic, the heat she radiated.

"I was able to calm her powers with a spell I learned to calm Ciri's from Alexander," He said, looking at Borch who seemed deep in thought. "Geralt told me dragons can have children with humans, they're normally very powerful."

"A young dragonling," Tea or Vea said from Borch's right, looking to the dragon. "It has been some time since we heard of one."

Dominik eye's widened. "A dragonling!? Does… that mean she could turn-."

Borch let out a laugh and shook his head. "Aha… no lad, she can't turn into a dragon, only two dragons can make another pure dragon. However, it's as Geralt said, your girl, she has the potential to be powerful. Dragons are magical creatures, you obviously see the powers we hold even now, considering I'm talking to you in human form."

It was something that Dominik already knew, but it only worried him even further.

"Yes… but she's also a source," He said, meeting Borch's eyes. "I… was wondering if you had any well… advice, on how to raise her, and make sure her powers don't harm her. She told us, that it's unleashed before, the fire coming from her when she was scared or angry."

Borch sagely nodded. "Aye… it's her inner fire lad. Every young dragonling has it, a powerful reservoir of magic, that burns brightly within them."

"Sounds no different than being a source," Dominik said. "Sounds like Ciri, or well me being a carrier."

"It isn't that much different no," Borch said with a shake of his head. "However, with her a source as well, it's more than likely what's caused her inner fire to come out with such intensity."

The words 'inner fire' didn't sound very promising to Dominik. "Is… there anything I can do? Anything specific I can do so it won't hurt her?"

A small laugh left the dragon. "Aha… well I assume you and Cirilla both have very personal experience training and seeing how to raise a child with powerful magic."

"Yes… but not dragon magic," Dominik said worriedly. "I don't know if we can teach her to control her 'inner fire' as you call it."

Borch finally smirked and clapped his shoulder. "I believe I can help you with that lad… after this is all over, once you and Cirilla go and get your young one… I would very much like to meet her. It's been ages since I've met a dragonling."

Dominik's eyes widened. "You would do that? How… how will I find you?"

"Aha… don't worry lad, I will find you," The dragon said, taking a step back with Tea and Vea, smiling at him the entire time. "For now however, we have a battle to prepare for yes? I believe you'd rather be spending it with Cirilla and your friends then an old man like me. Oh, would you look at that, perfect timing!"

Dominik looked at him in confusion. "Um… what are you-."

"Gods, I haven't even thought about dresses since Cintra."

"You were a princess; I can only imagine how beautiful they were."

Dominik whirled around, and his eyes widened, when he saw Ciri and Freya both walking through the groups of people, right near the tailor's shop. Remembering what George said, how Ciri was supposed to be distracting Freya while they got her sword, he right away threw himself against the wall out of sight of the two of them.

Looking back, he saw Borch, Tea and Vea all somehow miraculously disappeared without him hearing. Shaking off his astonishment, he leaned up further against the wall as he heard Freya and Ciri again right in front of the tailors' shop.

He knew if Freya saw him and asked what they had been doing in town, he'd crack and tell her, so he did his best to stay out of sight.

Freya ran her hand along a beautiful looking green dress on display outside of the shop. It had to be the most expensive dress in the shop, it was tied up cross hatched along the sides, with silver embroideries along the top, and in intricate designs down the fabric. It was clearly low cut, whoever wore it would have their neck exposed, it really was a beautiful piece. Dominik could remember seeing ones just like it in Ciri's closet in Cintra, and he could also recall Adda wearing a red dress similar to it.

"You know, you'd look absolutely beautiful in this," Freya said, looking to Ciri who came up to the dress next to her, smiling wide at her. "It matches perfectly with your eyes."

Ciri smiled, and Dominik's heart melted. She would never tell anyone else other than him, but he knew she secretly did find some enjoyment out of her dresses when she was younger. She much preferred the look she had now, with her top, corset, a sword on her back, but contrary to what she would say, he knew she did enjoy the dresses she had somewhat.

She couldn't stop smiling as she ran her fingers along the fabric. Dominik would never forget how beautiful she always was wearing those dresses at balls. He hadn't seen her wear one since the morning she was 'indisposed' at Kaer Morhen, and the night she first tried makeup with Triss.

"You really think so? Green has always been my favorite color…" She said, smiling back at Freya.

Freya eagerly nodded. "Because it's the color of your eyes yeah?"

"No… because it's the color of Dominik's, they just happen to be mine as well," Ciri said, the smile growing on her face, her loose strands of hair blowing in the cool wind.

Dominik's heart melted in that moment. He said it a lot, but in that moment he was sure he meant it truly.

He had never felt more in love with that woman.

Freya smiled sweetly at her. "You two are adorable, seeing you two happy… well it makes me happy."

Dominik's smile grew, and no matter what he knew it wouldn't be leaving him any time soon. He gently took a step off the building and heard a small *snap* and looked under him to see he had accidentally stepped on a branch in the snow. His eyes widened as he turned back to the two girl's in front of the tailor shop.

Freya was busy examining a studded doublet, however, even if she hadn't been, her ears weren't trained to detect the smallest bits of sound in a crowd.

Ciri's ear however were, and the moment the branch snapped her head turned over to see him and their eyes locked.

Dominik's face got red, while Ciri's eyes widened.

What are you still doing here! Ciri mouthed the words to him, gesturing towards Freya.

He shook his head and shrugged, making Ciri slap her forehead in annoyance.

It was easily one of the cutest things Dominik had ever seen. He found himself staring at her like he normally did, taking in just how beautiful she was. His heart was absolutely buzzing, and even when she waved for him to leave, he couldn't move.

"GO!" She finally said, and Freya right away spun around.

But just before Freya could see where he was, Dominik ducked down behind the tailor shop.

"What? What is it?" He heard Freya ask.

Ciri's laugh had become so familiar to him, that he was able to hear it out of the crowd.

"Ha… nothing, a… deer was near the building I shooed it away." Ciri said.

"There's… deer, this deep into town?" Freya said skeptically.

Ciri laughed again. "Aha, yes there was, come on now let's get everything patched up."

He assumed Ciri ushered Freya into the shop, and he let out a breath of relief.

His hand slipped up to the swallow, as the smile still didn't leave him.

He loved that woman, more than anything.

And he was going to give her what she deserved, which was everything. Ciri deserved everything, and he would give it to her.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Thank you, very much, it's good as new," Freya told the shopkeeper, smiling the whole time as she took back Ciri's corset, and her black leather tunic.

Ciri stood on the porch of the tailor shop, as she made sure Dominik did indeed leave. She sighed; a smile unable to not come to her face. A cold breeze blew past her mid-drift as she looked to Freya who handed her back her corset. With a nod, Ciri thanked her, and strapped the corset back around her waist, as she kept looking where she had seen Dominik at. She could have sworn she saw him talking to someone but had no time to make out their faces before they disappeared, and he was distracted. However, she did remember his goofy smile, only he had the ability to get her flustered like that just from a smile.

"Are you alright?" Freya said, getting Ciri's attention as she pulled her tunic back over her body.

Ciri nearly leapt but turned around. "What? Oh, yeah of course I'm okay!"

Freya chuckled, but nodded. "Alright then, so I… actually never asked, what's our plan for tomorrow? I heard bits and pieces of Geralt and the others planning, but never got the full lay out."

Remembering that there was indeed a battle tomorrow did little for Ciri's nerves that day. Shuddering from the wind, she met Freya's eyes, and could see she genuinely wanted to know. Ciri knew little herself about the specifics, she knew Avallac'h was somehow going to use the sunstone, along with help from the sorceresses to summon Eredin. She knew nothing other than that, seeing as she hadn't spoken to the sage since before they went to his lab. It didn't seem to bother Avallac'h either, who had done a spectacular job of ignoring everyone unless absolutely necessary.

However, she did know what Dominik had told her, Geralt and everyone not named Avallac'h what he was going to do.

Feeling her feet slightly aching from all the walking, Ciri gestured for Freya to follow, and the two of them both plopped themselves down in the light pile of snow next to the tailor's shop.

Biting her lip, she met Freya's eyes. "Well… I'm guessing you heard that Emhyr and the Black One's are going to be fighting with us."

Freya snorted. "I did, never thought I'd find myself fighting with them… are we sure that's wise? The Emperor is after you, he's a bastard, what's stopping him from attacking the Skelligers right after the fight, or even before?"

"The fact he's after me… that's what'll stop him," Ciri told her, her skin crawling. "He thinks if he cooperates, that in the end, Geralt will hand me over to him."

"Does he really need you that badly?"

"He does… the nobles are seeking to depose him, assassinate him," Ciri explained, shaking her head and biting her lip again. "The only way he can pacify them, while keeping his conquest and dreams alive, is if he puts me on the throne… his 'daughter'."

Freya to her surprise laughed. "Ha… I thought he was supposed to be smart. What makes him think that even if you did take the throne, you wouldn't just end the war right away, and give the northern realms back the land he stole from them."

"That's exactly what I'd do," Ciri said sharply, her anger spiking as she sighed. "But he's arrogant, he sees me as nothing except a tool that he can use, a way to save his own ass… no, I won't be that. Besides, I never wanted to rule, even in Cintra I couldn't stand the boring court stuff, I always knew I'd be a witcher, from the moment I met Geralt."

She would never forget that day in Brokolon, the day she knew what her destiny would be, and it wouldn't be as Queen of Cintra.

Freya nervously met her eyes. "I'm not trying to say you've made the wrong choice Ciri but… did you ever give it any thought? That perhaps if you controlled the empire, you could do some true good."

Ciri's bones stiffened, she wanted to lash out, but Freya didn't know the true reason why she wanted nothing to do with Emhyr, to be anywhere near him. If she were being honest with herself, she had thought about what good she could do with the resources of the Empire. However, all of those thoughts quickly went away, when she realized what she would be doing if she did take over. She'd be bailing out Emhyr for all of his tyranny, all of his horrific deeds. The man never cared about the continent, only his own lust for land and power, and Ciri couldn't think of anyone in that moment she hated more than him, other than perhaps Eredin.

And even that was a stretch.

Shaking her head, she met Freya's eyes. "I've thought about it… but then I quickly realize what I'd actually be doing. I'd be bailing out Emhyr from all he's done, all the terrible things he's done. And besides… I'd be thrown into a nest of vipers that is the Nilfgaardean court, they'd see me as nothing but a dumb woman they'd be able to manipulate, I'd be force to marry some old stuffy noble, I'd be able to do nothing I truly wanted without them soon planning my own assassination. No… I won't bail Emhyr out of it all, I can do plenty good saving people as a witcher, and besides… I've given enough for other people, I've been tossed and pulled around enough, I'm going to do what I want to do for myself… not what other people say I should do."

Ciri's hand shook as she gripped it around the ring, and she looked into the snow. "My life… if my own story, and I'll decide how I'm going to write and end it. And after what he did to me… I hope Adda gives him a slow, painful death, it's even more then he deserves."

Freya tilted her head. "What he did?"

Ciri's fist curled as she looked at Freya again. "Dominik's told you about Stygga Castle yes? When I came back the first time, when Geralt and all his friends saved me and Yen?"

"He did yes… said he still beats himself up for not being there."

A small smile managed to come across her lips. "Ha… of course he would be. Well… after the battle, Emhyr and his soldiers showed up… he arrested Geralt and Yen, tried to take me, this was when I first learned he was my father…. He wanted to take me, and force me to marry him, to rape me and bear his children… he had me… and almost did it."

Freya went stiff next to her, her eyes widening right away. "Gods Ciri that's awful. I… I'm sorry, so sorry that I even suggested-."

"It's okay, you didn't know," Ciri said, giving the blonde a reassuring smile. "He didn't in the end. I… I cried, and well, Yen and Geralt both convinced him of what he was doing was wrong. I don't think he cared at all, but he got called out in front of all his men and officers. Now… he wants me again-."

"But we won't let him get his hands on you," Freya said, looking at her again with a smile. "All of us are here for you Ciri. First we beat the Hunt, and then after that well, hopefully Adda will be able to kick Emhyr's ass like we all hope."

Ciri couldn't help but smile, remembering her short interaction with the now sole ruler of Redania. Dominik had told her more about what Adda wanted from them, help to rally people against Emhyr. She could see how passionate Dominik was about it, how much he really did want to help. Ciri herself, was of course hesitant to put herself, or Dominik who was the subject of an assassination attempt in harm's way, however she could see how much it meant to him. He wanted to help Adda, but just like always, Dominik was looking out for her first.

She knew that she would have to repay him for it somehow, and each day she was so close to Emhyr's forces, it only drove her own desire to help Adda as well.

"I hope she does… and who knows, maybe we'll go and help her," Ciri said, fiddling with the ring in her fingers above her wolf medallion as Freya eagerly nodded.

"I've already thought about it! If all goes well with the weapon against the Hunt tomorrow… I was thinking of maybe bringing the designs to Adda," She said, smiling as she looked out over the town square. "With her resources, I can make it even better… I just hope that it can work tomorrow as well…"

Ciri right away nodded, squeezing Freya's wrist reassuringly. "It worked just now, it will work Freya, I know it will."

Freya let out a relieved sigh and smiled over at her. "Thank you Ciri… for all you've done."

"Oh come now, I haven't done much."

"You have," Freya said, the smile not leaving her. "You and Dominik both, Faram, George… I would be dead or in a cell if not for you all. And well… forgive me if I sound like a child but well… I really think you've become my best-friend."

Ciri's face got red, as she couldn't stop smiling. She remembered when she was younger, even in Cintra, she never really had any true friends other than Dominik. After it was sacked, growing up, she had felt herself come more and more out of her shell. She had friends all over the continent now, even in different worlds.

But most importantly, she had them there now, and Ciri quit frankly couldn't imagine what it would be like without Freya there now.

"It's not childish at all, I feel the same," She said, smiling as she met Freya's eyes again. "I should be the one thanking you… you're all risking your lives for me tomorrow."

"Not just for you, although yes, you're one of the main reasons," Freya said reassuringly, smiling as she shook her head. "We're doing this because our world, and any world they choose to invade after this are at stake… and I can't sit by and just let it happen."

The sentiment actually calmed her. She knew that Freya, as well as everyone else were going to fight to protect her, but simply hearing they knew about the larger threat to their world helped sooth her nerves.

"You're all brave…" Ciri said, as Freya nervously chuckled.

"Ha… again it's nothing. So, again what's the plan for tomorrow?" She said, smiling as she twirled her blonde curls.

Ciri quickly nodded, remembering what she had been told. "Alright, so I don't know many specifics, but I know the Black Ones will be in the first wave, since there's the most of them, after that Hjalmar, Crach and the Skelligers will be the second wave."

"And what about Dominik, Geralt and the rest of us? What about you?"

A smirk came to Ciri's lips. "That's the fun part! Our old friend Anton is here, with a group of about fifty trained knights. Dominik hasn't told Avallac'h about them. He's going to charge with them, I'll be with him, and I assume he'll want to add you, George, Faram and his crew to the mix as well. We'll charge from a hidden spot, a slope above a hill where we're going to summon them. It'll be the perfect spot for you to use your weapon!"

Freya's eager smile made Ciri laughed. "Perfect! After we get back, I'll work through the night to make more-."

"Oh no, you're going to sleep for a full night," Ciri said with a laugh, standing from the snow, and helping Freya to her feet as well. "Come on, let's go get some food ourselves, maybe we can spar a bit, I have a few things I could teach you."

Freya quickly shook her head. "One more moment, you said you wanted to do something for Dominik right?"

"Yes…" Ciri said confused.

Freya smirked at her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and walking Ciri back to the front of the tailor shop.

"Well, I told you I had an idea," She said eagerly, pulling her to a stop in front of the standout front, where that beautiful green dress she saw earlier was. "I'd like to say I know him well enough, to know he doesn't really want for many material possessions."

Ciri scoffed, "That's right, gods know I had a hard time finding out what to do for him before we left Novigrad."

Freya rolled her eyes. "I'm sure he was perfectly satisfied with what he got that night."

Ciri's eyes widened as his cheeks went red. "What how… did you-."

"The two of you leave the party early, before anyone else to head up to your room together, where we all knew Dominik was putting candles in?" Freya said with another eye roll. "You may as well have just put a sign on the door that said, 'we're fucking please come back later'."

"Okay! Yes, I get your point," Ciri said quickly, making Freya laugh as she rolled her eyes. "So, what's this idea you said you have?"

Freya smiled broadly, ushering Ciri closer to the dress on the stand. "Well we know he doesn't want for many material possessions… but what's one thing he loves?"

"Gwent even though he sucks? His sword," Ciri said, still confused.

"No! He loves you more than anything," She said, reaching out and running her hand along the emerald colored fabric, before looking and smiling at her. "Well… let's show him something that'll make his jaw drop."

Ciri blushed, knowing that it already did, but as she finally realized what Freya was suggesting she couldn't help but feel a small bit of giddy excitement.

She met Freya's eyes and smiled. "Alright… let's do it!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Where the hell did I put it, god dammit how did it get so messy in here, we've only been here for a few days," Dominik grumbled, moving the blankets from he and Ciri's mattress.

Faram, George and he had spent a good amount of time training. Dominik had even discovered a few new moves, from both the School of the Bear and Griffin. He was far from a master, and it would obviously be a few years before he was. The same went for the other schools, Viper and Cat, he was sure he'd be back at Kaer Morhen with Ciri soon, either before they got Fiona or after. When he was there, he would hope that Letho and Gaeten were still there and could finally help him become a master. The idea, of being able to master all five schools' styles of combat was the dreams scenario.

However, he had the basics, and found himself proficiently able to switch between all five. It would help him the next day, he knew it would. He could remember all the way back in Velen when he had come up with the idea, and now it was a reality.

And just like he had known, it was going to help him save Ciri. He had no idea what else he could do, to possible prepare himself physically, more than he already was for what was coming the next day.

His mind, however, was still a jumble, every single good and bad thing that could happen had been playing out in his head all day. With each second that passed, each time he looked at the sun and saw it setting further and further, the more the reality set in, that tomorrow was actually happening.

Everything that had begun, ever that had happened since he fought Alayna the Alp in Claywitch, it all led up to what was happening tomorrow.

He had found Ciri, discovered powers within himself, reunited with his family, his friends, discovered his sister was alive. It had only been around two months since Claywitch, since he thought that he would be forced to spend the rest of his days alone, searching for Ciri in vein, living with the regret of what had happened.

That Dominik that had taken the contract in Claywitch, had no idea what was awaiting him, and how much himself, and everything would change in only two months.

He wasn't alone anymore, and no matter how fractured his thoughts were, one remained true, came through, and had been calming him all day.

He had Ciri back, she still loved him, and he truly had a chance for a life with her. So that was what he decided to focus on in that moment as he dug under their mattress again.

"Come on, I know I put it here," He muttered to himself, biting his lip in determination as he searched. Finally he smiled when he felt his hands wrap around what he had been searching for. "There were go… wow, these things are durable, would love to know what it's made of…"

His hand emerged with the small black picture device he had swiped from Avallach's lab. Ciri had called it a 'camera' when he asked her more about it. Dominik didn't understand the name, but he remembered how excited Ciri was about it, and how upset she was when she realized one night after their trip to the lab she had forgot it. Dominik of course had kept the fact he took it a secret, wanting to give it to her that night as a present, because for some reason, Avallac'h had taken it from her.

Avallac'h was the last person he wanted to think about. All he wanted to focus on then, was that night with her and his friends. So, using all his mental strength, he pushed the next day from his mind, only wanting to worry about Ciri, and his friends.

He smiled, as he slipped the camera into a pouch on his waist, and quickly strode out from their room. He thought momentarily about going to find Geralt and Yen, knocking on their door, but ultimately decided against it. Above deck while he was training, he had seen the two momentarily, there'd be time to speak with them before the battle. Dominik also knew that if anyone needed a break and deserved to have a day of rest spending time together it was the two of them.

Coming up above deck, he noticed the sun was just about set. The smell of salty sea air, fish, crab and sweat hit his nose, and it did little to stop his stomach from churning. The deck was mostly empty, he could see Barnabas, Faram's captain, along with Kiera Metz and Lambert, all moseying about the railings, simply waiting, waiting for tomorrow to come.

Faram and George had gone to get Freya's sword and dagger from the blacksmith, telling Dominik to meet them at the inn after he found the camera for Ciri. By then, he was sure that Ciri and Freya both had to be on their way as well, and anxious to join them, to try and forget about what was happening the next day, Dominik made for the plank out to town.

However, nothing ever came easy for him.

"You there, Dominik of Cintra. I believe that it was high time I finally met you," A voice said, cutting him off just before he could step onto the plank.

Dominik rolled his eyes murmuring over his breath. "For fuck's sake…"

Turning around, he saw who was calling him, and he felt his annoyance spike.

"Phillipa…" He said, as the sorceress made her way towards him. His sour expression lightened however, when he saw the woman next to her. "Ida… what are you doing here?"

He hadn't spoken to Ida, except when she had first arrived, much to his disappointment. She had been Connor of Lod, his ancestor's lover, and according to what he had seen in his visions with Alexander and heard from Ida herself it was quite the serious relationship.

She had also been the one to tell him about the prophecy Connor of Lod had heard, why he had gone to fight Eredin, knowing fully well he would more than likely die.

Connor had a dream, a vision, telling him that if he died at Eredin's hand, one day he and his sister, his line would be able to defeat him. Dominik had no idea how the prophecy would come true, how Connor dying had made a difference. He had no special advantage against Eredin because of it, none that he could discern now that was.

Ida smiled at him and nodded. "Ceadmil Dominik of Cintra, it's good to see you well. As for what we're doing here… well you did ask for our help did you not?"

Dominik laughed. "We did yes but I thought you'd both be off doing whatever it is sorceresses do in their spare time, you know, setting things on fire, plotting to take over governments, fiddling with your megascopes."

Phillipa scoffed, and while Dominik couldn't see her eyes, he assumed she rolled them.

"Your snark and temperament are as short as Yennefer's," The sorceress said. "And I can see you also inherited Geralt's annoying sarcasm."

"Inherited some of my best traits from the two of them," Dominik said, eyeing Phillipa before he shook his head and narrowed his eyes. "Ida I actually meant to speak too before the fighting started… but like you said, we've never met, I never thought we'd had reason to converse, and to be honest with you, I was glad of it."

"And why is that young witcher?" Phillipa said dryly.

Dominik's annoyance spiked. "Because to be quite honest, I don't like you very much. I don't trust you either."

Dominik didn't trust Phillipa Eilhart as far as he could throw her. Ciri had told him one night before they had fallen asleep how the sorceress had cornered her with the rest of the Lodge before they left Novigrad, trying to convince her to join the Lodge herself.

And he couldn't have been prouder when Ciri told him that she declined, stating she would no longer let them control her, like they had tried to do in the past.

Phillip laughed condescendingly. "Ha, and if you do not trust me, then why am I here? Why did you let Yennefer and Triss convince you to let me be here?"

"Because I trust their judgement," Dominik said, eyeing the sorceress. "And besides, you need us just as much as we need you. If not for us you'd have to continue hiding out."

Another scoff left the sorceress. "And why is it that you already seem to have such a disdain for me? I can't recall anything I've done to you."

Ida crossed her arms next to Phillipa, seeming to be content to watch the exchange unfold. The last thing Dominik wanted to be doing then was speaking to Phillipa, while all his friends were waiting for him. However, hearing the sorceress's tone, he couldn't help but snap.

"I'm not going to waste my time explaining it to you, when you know perfectly well why," Dominik said, crossing his arms and digging his fingers into the straps of his armor.

Phillip laughed amusingly. "Oh for god's sake, is it because of that business with the Lodge meeting at Vengerberg? I told Cirilla the same thing, I don't understand what your issues are, after she refused our offer, we didn't force her to do anything."

"Oh but you did," He snapped, his hands balling to fist. Determined not to let his anger get the best of him, he bit his tongue. "After that, you decided to keep her there, having to fucking vote on whether or not she was allowed to leave to see me and Geralt in Rivia! And you even demanded she return after that. Just like everyone else, all you ever wanted to do was control her!"

"For her own good and protection," Phillipa said with a wave of her hand.

"You mean for your own good, you wanted her to marry Tankred so you could have someone you can control in Kovir and Poviss," He snapped again. "Ciri and I are much smarter then you give us both credit for. We're not children you can control anymore."

"Yes, Cirilla proved that very well in our meeting in Novigrad," Phillipa said, her annoyance clear as she shook her head. "It all matters not what happened in the past, we're all here now."

Dominik nodded, annoyed himself as well. "That we can agree on… now what is it you wanted from me? I have plans before tomorrow I'd like to get back too."

Phillipa nodded and straightened. "You know, most people I would incinerate on the spot for speaking in such a way to me, however I must admit… I can respect your determination, your intelligence, your fire."

"I'm flattered," Dominik said dryly.

Phillipa shook her head. "I would like to get straight to the point since you seem to be the type of person who prefers it that way."

"I am, so please, no beating around the bush."

"Right,.. now I won't waste time asking, I already know Cirilla's told you about the offer we made her back in Novigrad."

"She has, you wanted her to join the Lodge, and she said no. What did you ask? If she would go off and marry some princeling and report back to you weekly with the kingdoms happenings?"

"Quite the opposite in fact," Phillipa said, not deterred. "We offered her a partnership. We offered her protection and training to control her powers, and with Kiera's convincing, we even decided to extend that offer to you as well, not something we normally would ever consider."

Dominik rolled his eyes. "Again, how flattering. So how would it go? You show Ciri and I how to use our powers, and then we go along with whatever you all say right?"

Phillipa scowled. "No… you would be a part of those decisions. I don't think you quite understand the amount of power and influence you and Cirilla could wield. She need but say the word, and she could control the largest empire the-."

His eyes erupting, Dominik took a large step towards the sorceress. "I swear to every god you can think of… if you try and force her to go anywhere near Emhyr, there is no place on the continent you will be able to fucking hide from me. Do you all know what that fucking degenerate tried to do to her!?"

In a moment, his lungs felt like they were about to erupt. It was bad enough that the next day he had to bring Ciri within the same vicinity as the monster, but he'd be damned if he let anyone force Ciri to go to the degenerate.

Phillip shook her head and scowled again. "She informed us yes…. We have no intentions on doing such a thing, so there's no need for your attitude or anger. What I'm trying to convince you of, is the good the Lodge can do for you and Cirilla both. Cirilla is a princess, a rightful Queen, and you yourself, are the son of one of the most legendary knights on the continent."

"I prefer to make a name for myself, as opposed to riding my father's cotails," Dominik said quickly, his anger still spiked. "The same goes for Geralt. If I become well known, it'll be for my own deeds."

"And that is an admirable goal. Cirilla told me of the life you want, to be able to help those in need," Phillipa said, meeting his eyes with the band around her own. "But my question to you is, do you not realize how we can help you accomplish that goal? My hope is that you will see the wisdom in the both of you joining us, and then-."

"Stop right there, let me save us both some time, because I know exactly what it is you want from me now…" Dominik growled, putting he pieces together.

His anger spiked as he scoffed and shook his head, eyeing Phillipa, as he swore he could see Ida crack a smile next to the sorceress.

He shook his head at Phillipa. "You couldn't convince Ciri to join the Lodge, because she knows as well as I do, there's no reason for us too. We have our own ways we can learn to control our powers, and have power as well over our own lives, where we won't have to answer to you, or the rest of the lodge."

Phillip scoffed, and looked over to Ida with a begrudging look of defeat. "It seems you were correct Ida, it's useless for the both of them."

Ida amusingly smiled. "It was a valiant effort Phil."

Dominik looked between them both, his anger simmering in his gut. He met Phillipa's eyes that were stuck behind the headband.

"I want to stress that I'm forever grateful for you coming, even if I know it's your only option. Tomorrow could be the end of us all, and it takes courage one way or another to fight no matter the reason," Dominik said, slowly shaking his head, letting out a sigh. "But like Ida probably told you, I won't try to change Ciri's mind if what she's decided is what she truly wants."

"I expected as much, but I couldn't not try," Phillipa said begrudgingly as she crossed his arms. "I was wrong in Vengerberg, I thought the connection Cirilla spoke about with you was nothing more than childhood infatuation… but again I will admit I was wrong."

"You were, it's more than that. I love her, she's my best-friend… my destiny," Dominik said, reaching up to the swallow around his neck. "And I know that her entire life, people have done nothing but try to use her, take advantage of her, tell her what she should be doing with her life. That's not going to be the case anymore. She is going to decide what she wants to do, and I'll be right there to support her. If she says in a few weeks she changes her mind and wants to join your Lodge? Then I'll be right behind her. If she had a change of heart, and wanted to rule Nilfgaard, I'd shave my non-existent beard, and invest in a tacky outfit. If she said, she wanted to go live and be a goatherder the rest of our lives, I'd sell my swords for goats. The bottom line is, I won't ever try to convince her to do something she doesn't want to do, something that makes her feel uncomfortable. I love her too much, respect her, trust her more than anyone, and I know she feels the same about me."

His hand tightened around the swallow as he looked at Phillipa again. "You speak of how much power we could wield, is it so hard for you to imagine that some people, simply don't want power? I don't want power, Ciri doesn't want power, we never did. We don't want to rule over people, we don't want any more power than we already have. We don't, because we know the effects that too much power can have on people, we've seen it, from Emhyr, to Radovid, to even Eredin now. You and others may scoff at us wanting a simple life… but the bottom line is, we want that simple life, because we simply don't want for much, for anything really, except to be with one another… and we don't care whether that's as a King or Queen, as witchers, or as peasants… all we desire is each other, and to hopefully leave the world a better place once we leave it…"

Dominik didn't know where all the words had come from, he assumed they had been pent up for weeks. For weeks Ciri and he had to both listen to schemes, hear about how people wanted to control her, wanted her to do this or that, from the Lodge, to Avallac'h, to Emhyr.

But the bottom line was what he said, they knew what they wanted, and all they had to do, was survive one more day, and they'd have it.

Dominik saw the breeze, whip through Phillipa's black hair, and the sunset, casted a glow of Ida's cinnamon curls as the elven sorceress smiled. After he felt the words finish leaving him, his heart began to pang.

He wanted to see Ciri then, the sun was nearly set, and he wanted to spend between then, and when the battle began with her.

Phillipa looked up at him and nodded, a small smirk coming to her lips. "You know… despite your attitude and snark… I must say I respect you, Dominik of Cintra. The same way I respect your adopted mother. You have Yennefer's tenacity and conviction, you stay true to what you believe it, and fight with everything for the ones you love."

Dominik could tell she meant it sincerely this time and hearing the comparisons to Yen couldn't help but make him smile.

"Yen… I wouldn't be here without her, quite literally," He said, remembering his mother being the one to save him in Claywitch. "Her and Geralt both… I've wanted to make them proud for years… I love them both."

"And they are, Yennefer speaks at lengths about you and Cirilla both," The sorceress said, bowing her head, and holding her smaller hand out to him. "Very well, I will respect both you and Cirilla's decision. If as you said… you ever change your mind, feel free to come and find us. As for now, tomorrow we will defeat the Wild Hunt."

Dominik was floored for a moment, seeing the sorceress give up so easily. A small part of him wanted to investigate further, it screamed at him that she was giving up far too easily, that she was going to cook up another scheme.

However, he decided he didn't have the energy to worry, and didn't particularly want to investigate further. He was going to find Ciri and his friends and try to have one last night of peace.

He shook Phillipa's hand, nodding at the sorceress. "Thank you… thank you again for your help in this and thank you for respecting our decision."

"It's nothing, as I said… I have great respect for the way you hold true to what you want," Phillipa said, turning from him but continuing to speak. "Cirilla says we may not see either of you again… I hope that isn't the case."

She walked away, towards the door to the ship's cabins, leaving only Dominik and Ida Emean. A long sigh left him, he ran a gloved hand through his hair and looked to see Ida smiling at him, her arms crossed as she strode next to him. He leaned over the railing of the ship for a moment, watching the swallow dangle from his neck. He held it still with his hands, for a moment, finding it hard to believe that it truly had stayed with him for going on ten years then. It had always been there, as a reminder, as a promise.

A promise that he and Ciri would always try to get to each other, that they'd always be there. The eight years apart he thought would be the biggest test for them both, for their relationship, for the strength of the bond they shared.

However, he learned that yes, that was a large test… but the biggest one would come the next day.

"So… I also hope she's wrong, that this won't be the last I see of you both," Ida said from next to him, her hands resting on the rail.

Dominik chuckled looking at her. "Well, for you, Triss, Yen… maybe Kiera we'll see you again I'm sure. But to be honest, a small part of me wants us to just go off an live in a secluded hut for the rest of our lives… just the two of us."

"And why don't you?" Ida inquired, an amused smile on her face.

"Because we'd both get dreadfully bored. Also well…" Dominik said, a smile coming to his face as he thought of Fiona. "we have other things we need to do as well."

Ida nodded, the smile not leaving her. "Young love… it's a beautiful thing. Will you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Cherish her… always," Ida said, her face falling a bit as she looked out over the water. "Love should be cherished… because you never know when it can be taken away from you…"

Dominik could hear the hurt in her tone. He met her eyes when she turned around. "You… really loved Connor didn't you?"

"I did yes," Ida nodded. "But… he was too damn noble for his own good as you know…"

"I won't let his sacrifice be in vein…" Dominik said quickly. "I promised I wouldn't, and I won't."

"I know you will do everything in your power…" Ida said slowly, looking and meeting his eyes. "Is it true… what I've overheard… your sister?"

Dominik didn't know how she knew, and he didn't feel like trying to figure out, and he knew there was no point in lying. The truth would be revealed tomorrow for everyone anyhow.

Slowly he nodded. "It is… I'm going to get her back."

Ida sighed and shook her head. "Dominik… do you remember the question I asked you? When you called me, and I said you had to answer truthfully?"

He paled, remembering the question in vivid detail. The answer hadn't changed.

Nothing would be worth potentially losing Ciri for him, not even if it meant almost certain doom for everywhere else.

"I do…" He said slowly, crossing his arms.

Ida nodded again. "I ask you the same thing again… but different this time. If you had a way, to save not just the continent, but this world, and all others from certain doom… but it meant that Cirilla… and your sister, had to face near certain death… would you be strong enough to let them do it?"

"No… my answer hasn't changed Ida," He said right away, shaking his head. "They're both going to survive. I don't know how I'm going to do it… but they will."

The sage looked deep into his eyes and narrowed hers. "You understand the totality of what I ask Dominik? What if… the only one who could save us all from certain death, was your Cirilla, but she had to face near certain death herself-."

"The answer is still no Ida," He said, trying to keep herself from snapping as he gripped tighter to the wood of the railing.

Ida sighed and shook her head. "I mean not to upset you… it was just my way of confirming."

Dominik turned his head to her. "Confirming what?"

She stiffened as she looked at him. "That… you truly are just like Connor."

He tilted his head. "In what way?"

"Connor just like you… would sacrifice the world, himself if it meant he could save a friend, especially one he loved," Ida said, shaking her head. "It's the reason he died… because he knew that he would either kill Eredin, and avenge his sister… or die, thus according to him, letting the prophecy come to pass."

Dominik paled again. "The prophecy that he and his sister would be reborn in the form of his descendants… you really think it's me…and… and Bella?"

Ida shrugged. "It could be yes… or perhaps not. All I know… is that tomorrow, hundreds of years of conflict, hundreds of years of destiny is going to come to a head. It all started with Cregan and Lara, Alexander, and Leila of Tir'Nala… and now, it will end with you, your Cirilla… and your sister…. Are you ready for that?"

"Do you want me to answer honestly?" Dominik said, his hand fidgeting around the swallow again.

"I'd prefer if you did yes," Ida told him as she crossed her arms.

Dominik sighed again and met her eyes. "No… I'm not ready. How could anyone ever be ready for something like this? It's impossible."

"A fair point," Ida said, a small amused smiled passing her lips. "You're wise beyond your years Dominik."

"Eight years on the Path alone with just your thoughts does that to you," He said.

Ida chuckled lightly and met his eyes again, sighing. "You know… in your eyes I see Connor…. Not just in your eyes, I can sense his magical signature in you. You have so much more power then you know Dominik… good luck tomorrow, I believe that you and Cirilla may just save us all yet."

Dominik couldn't help but feel his face heat up. He of course had people tell him for days that he would be able to actually accomplish what he needed to do the next day. However, hearing it from Ida then, it felt different. She had known Connor, Lara, Alexander, knew how powerful they were… and now she thought he could do what they couldn't.

He bowed his head to her. "Thank you… for all your help Ida. I won't forget it."

"And I won't forget about you any time soon Dominik of Cintra," She said smiling, before waving her hands towards the town. "Now go on, I'm sure Phillipa and I have kept you from Cirilla and your friends for long enough!"

Dominik chuckled, and nodded. "Thank you… I'll see you tomorrow before-."

"Actually… I'm terribly sorry Dominik, but there is one more thing," Ida said, her eyes widening as she seemed to remember something quickly.

He stopped a foot from the plank and turned back to her. "What is it?"

She crossed her eyes and looked at him suspiciously. "In the short time I've known you, I've been able to clearly deduce, you are not an idiot."

"Um… thank you?" He said with confusion.

"Yes… and I've known Yen for years, as well as Geralt, neither of them are idiots either," Ida said, slowly shaking her head with a small scoff. "So I must ask… why in the gods name is the sage here?"

The mention of Avallac'h dropped his stomach again as he sighed. He truly had no idea either, for the last two days, and quite frankly since he had met the elf, it had taken all his self-control to not cut the elf's throat.

However, despite his hatred for the sage, he saw the small bit of logic in having him there.

He met Ida's eyes and sighed. "Because… he's the only one who knows the magic that can summon Eredin and the Hunt."

Ida scoffed. "You don't trust him?"

"I wish I could have killed him every day since I met him," Dominik said honestly, crossing his arms. "Ciri has had to stop me from doing it a few times."

"And you're telling me there is no other way to summon the Hunt? Can't Cirilla just use her powers to have them sense her? That's what happened at Kaer Morhen is it not?"

"Eredin won't be fool enough to fall for that again unfortunately," Dominik said. "Avallac'h has the only way we can force them to appear. We don't have the time to find another way…"

Ida narrowed her eyes. "I don't have to be a fellow elven sage to know he's up to something. I've observed him, and the sunstone for the past few days, He salivates over it like a dog to a bone, surely you must know he has other plans, not just for the stone, but for Cirilla as well."

"He says that he wants to get rid of us, just as much as we want to get rid of him," Dominik said, not believing the words as he spoke them.

Ida picked up on this and shook her head. "You don't believe that… what do you plan on doing about him?"

Dominik had thought about it for days. As long as he kept Ciri close during the battle, she'd be safe, from Emhyr, and from Avallac'h, between himself, Geralt, and the rest of his friends, they wouldn't let anyone take her.

"We'll let him summon them," Dominik said, biting his lip and holding the swallow around his neck. "After that… well Geralt and I will keep Ciri close. If he really does leave after it's over good, if not… we'll deal with him."

"A risky plan, killing him now, cutting his throat while he sleeps would be much simpler," Ida said with a dismissive hand wave.

Dominik laughed heartily at her bluntness. "HA, gods if only, I'd do it right now… but no, I trust Ciri when she says we can handle it. So, we'll see how it goes… but he won't get his hands on her… I won't let him."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I believe you will, however, I must urge you to be careful. He may not appear as much, but Avallac'h is one of the Aen Elle. He has much more power then you and Cirilla know. He won't be an easy adversary to face if it comes to it. His magic is powerful, please, keep your wits, and be careful."

He paled for a moment, but in the end it wouldn't matter.

It didn't matter how strong Avallac'h was, how strong Eredin was, none of them would get her.

And now he wanted to go and see her, he wanted all the thoughts to abandon his mind. He met Ida's eyes and bowed respectfully. "I will be, I promise. I won't let any of them touch her."

Ida smiled again at him and nodded. "I believe you when you say that… go on now, I've kept you long enough! Go enjoy this last night."

She bowed her head in respect, and Dominik did the same.

He looked out over the town again, over towards the largest building in the cluster, the inn. Ciri was there, his friends were there.

But most importantly, a peaceful night was there, one he sorely needed.

Meeting Ida's eyes he smiled and lifted his head back up. "Thank you again… I hope that I'm worthy of your trust, and well… everyone else's."

"You are child," Ida said, a small smirk coming to her face. "I've heard much about your travels from Yen… you've grown much since Cintra, since Kaer Morhen, since the start of this journey itself."

He couldn't stop the smile that came to his face. "Yeah… I have haven't I? But to be honest… it's always been for the same thing."

He had grown. If he saw himself from even two months prior in Claywitch, compared to how he was now, he'd laugh.

From Alayna in Claywitch, to Eredin tomorrow… it was all for the same thing, one singular goal.

That life with Ciri he always wanted.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The warm fire of the inn was a welcome change from the howling night winds outside. Dominik shivered still however when he entered, the roaring laughter and singing of rowdy Skelligers hitting his ears right away. The inn had multiple fireplaces, the one long table in the middle was packed to the brim with men, women, even a few children, all eating, drinking, and singing as attendants all carried more food and drink to them all. He couldn't help but smile, they all merrily sang, like nothing was wrong in the world.

And right away, Dominik left his troubles at the door, as his skin tingled with heat, and a familiar loud voice hit his ears.

"AYEEEEEE there he is! Dominik! Over here mate!" Faram's booming voice carried over the crowd, not even distracting them a bit.

The noise from the rest of the patrons still was plentiful, and a few drunken men walked past him, but thankfully had massive arms. He spotted the Bear witchers arm waving him over, he was in the corner of the inn, right near one of the roaring smaller fire pits.

And around him was everyone else, George, Freya, and then of course Ciri.

She was dressed like she always was, but still, to Dominik she was a vision, absolutely stunning as she turned from next to Freya and smiled over at him from across the room. His heart melted at the sight, as he was careful not to knock anyone over as he strode over to the group.

Before he left the ship, he had left his swords, and taken off the top of his armor, leaving it in he and Ciri's cabin. He noticed she didn't wear her sword either in that moment, but all Dominik decided to focus on, was the way her eyes lit up when he came over to the bench she saw on.

"There you are," She said playfully, kissing his cheek as he sat down next to her. "What took you so long? The boys said you stayed back at the ship for something."

His face heat up where she kissed him. He looked and saw that his friends were all waiting for his answer as well. He took notice of a sword leaning behind the bench that Faram and George sat on, and then looking over to Freya he couldn't help but smile.

He didn't want to worry about anything except for them and making sure the last night they had together there was a happy one. Looking back at Ciri, he snaked his arm around her waist, and gently kissed her, earning a smile from her and smirk from everyone else.

"Long story, not important now, I'll tell you later," He said, squeezing around her waist. She nodded, and leaned into him, leaning her head back against his chest. Dominik smiled at her, looking over at Freya now, being careful to speak over the rest of the people in the inn.

"So Freya, according to Faram and George, I've confirmed what I already knew." He said, smirking as he met the blonde's eyes. "You're an absolute fucking genius!"

A laugh came from Faram, George, and Ciri beneath him as Freya blushed. She looked down and swirled the mug of ale she had in her hand, nervously laughing, her face red as she looked at him.

"Well, thanks to Ciri's help… I managed to finally get it to work!" She said, eagerly looking at them all, but to Faram and George in particular. "I finally got it to work! Can you believe it!?"

Ciri reached down, picking up an empty mug from the floor, filling it with ale and handing it to him. He smiled at her, and clanked the mug to hers, as he gulped down as much as he could, while Faram laughed heartily.

"Haha we never doubted you for a minute goldilocks!" He said, downing almost his entire mug of ale as George laughed next to him.

"Aha… he is right Freya, we had the utmost confidence in you," The griffin witcher said, looking over to Ciri who was still leaning against Dominik. "So Ciri, you've seen it in action! The design was absolutely ingenious. How is it in action?"

Ciri smiled from against his chest. "Well I can indeed confirm, Freya is absolutely brilliant. With that weapon, the Hunt won't know what hit them, it could take out quite a large group," She said, looking up and smiling at Dominik. "I think we should take it with us when we go with Anton, from the spot on the hill we're planning, we can use it to maximum effect."

Freya quickly looked at him and nodded. "If you want Dominik we can go and get it again! That way you can see it, make sure it works for yourself and-."

"No need," He said, smiling at her as he shook his head. "Even if Ciri didn't just tell me it works, I trust you Freya. I've known you longer than anyone here, I already knew how brilliant you were, and I've no doubt that this weapon of yours, is going to blow them to tiny pieces."

Freya's cheeks got pink again. Dominik could tell, from both her words, and how she acted, that Freya did still have feelings for him after they first met. He did love her, she had become one of the most important people to him, and it seemed to him then that she had finally felt that way as well.

Ciri cuddle up closer to his chest, sipping some of the ale in her mug, smiling up at him wildly. He kissed the top of her head, and they all turned back to Freya who nodded, both her hands wrapping around her mug.

She nodded at Dominik and looked at them all. "Thank you… I… I know that well… I'm not a real witcher, I… don't have special magic in my blood. But still… I want you all to know, I'm going to do everything I can, to make sure we all make it through tomorrow. And well… I can show you all what I'm capable of."

Faram genuinely laughed. "Bah, you're kidding right lass? We all know what you're capable of!"

"He is right Freya," George said reassuringly, drinking wine instead of ale as he smiled over at her. "You are as tenacious a warrior as I have ever met. We wouldn't want anyone else by our sides tomorrow!"

Freya went to protest, but Ciri sat up from his chest shaking her head. "Freya, do you realize what you've accomplished? It would have taken the most brilliant of scientist, of weapon smiths, weeks, months even to make you what you have four days! Tell her Dominik."

He scoffed himself, looking at Freya and shaking his head. "I'll just echo what they said. Freya, I wouldn't be sitting here today if not for you. You've been working yourself to the bone to help us all, not even just with building this weapon. We all see it, you're brilliant, and well… we wanted to thank you, for everything."

Freya nearly choked on the ale she was drinking. Coughing, she looked between them all, as they all couldn't stop smiling. The music from the bard in the inn, beautiful lute music, drums, a beautiful voice singing songs of Skellige, it all invigorated him, and seemed to do the same for his friends. Ciri's warmth leaned up against him, as she could barely contain herself, and seeing that excitable look on her face, Dominik was still amazed at how beautiful a person could be to him.

"Oh come on," Freya said, blushing again as she looked between them all. "I didn't do anything that deserves thanks."

Dominik scoffed. "Operating on my leg and making sure I was able to walk again is something I think deserves some thanks."

"He's right," Ciri piped up, a laugh leaving her. "You saved me at Kaer Morhen, not to mention… talking to me when I needed it most."

"Aye they're both right," Faram said, a soft smile coming to the massive witcher. "The food and wrapping up our wounds are just a bonus!"

"Good bonuses at that!" George said with a laugh. "Not to mention, we simply enjoy you company. Our Hanse wouldn't be the same without you. So… we decided, with the battle tomorrow, we'd get you a little something, Faram?"

Ciri shifted excitable in his arms, as Dominik watched Faram pulled the sword out from behind him. He noticed, how it had been shortened, perhaps a few inches shorter than his swords. It was sort of like Ciri's slimmer, more fit to Freya who was smaller herself. Still however, he recognized a witchers blade when he saw one. The symbol of the school of the wolf, an imprint in the shape of he and Ciri's medallion was stamped into the pommel. It's sheathed, was decorative brown leather, and Faram quickly pulled a smaller sheath out from under his seat again.

Freya's eyes widened, and Dominik couldn't help but laugh with Ciri at the flounder expression on her face. The roaring laughter of the patrons behind them continue to echo through the hall, as their fire crackled, and Freya looked at them in disbelief.

"A… a sword?" Freya said, as if she hadn't seen one before. Gingerly she took it in her hands as Faram handed it to her, and when her eyes fell on the pommel she floundered again. "You… you guys this… this is a witchers sword! You… you got me a witcher sword!"

Ciri looked up at Dominik smiling like a madwoman before she looked back over at Freya with a smile. "Well… you are one of us after all. We thought it'd be nice for you to have tomorrow, and well… when you get to Kaer Morhen to train, you'll need a proper blade!"

Freya already had the right armor. Dominik still had no idea where she had gotten it, but even Geralt had said he had a set of armor just like the one Freya wore, so it clearly was going to be effective. However, more importantly, Dominik saw Freya's eyes well up, her icy blue irises almost had tears spilling over. Also however, he could see just how excited she looked.

She took the sword in her hands, standing up off the stool in front of them all. With a racking sound hitting his ears, Freya unleashed the steel, and even Dominik had to whistle in appreciation. It had that smell of a freshly washed and oiled blade, it even sparkled in the firelight, as the steel was immaculate, without a single nick. Ciri sat up from off his chest, standing to join Freya, and Dominik quickly followed with Faram and George. All of them stood around her, as small tears fell from Freya's eyes.

"Well… don't just stand there with it!" Faram said, crossing his massive arms and smirking. "What do you think, try it!"

Freya floundered again, looking at them all. "But… but we're indoors!"

George scoffed. "We'll give you some space, go on!"

They all took a few steps back. All the other patrons were far too preoccupied with the new jig the bards were playing, and one rowdy man dancing on the table to worry about them in their small alcove and fire pit. Freya looked at them all, and her hands shaking, the smile unable to leave her, she took a stance he recognized as an old training stance Geralt had showed him and Ciri when they were younger.

Freya twirled the blade around her, with precision and skill, moving to a reversed grip, a forehanded one, twirling it around her back, lightly striking out at the air, and tossing the blade between her hands. It reminded Dominik of himself and Ciri twirling their wooden swords on the pendulums when they were young, and apparently Ciri felt that same nostalgia. His arm was still wrapped around her as they both watch Freya twirl her sword. She looked up at him, leaning up she planted a soft kiss on his chin before leaning up against him as they stood.

Dominik held onto her, held onto her with everything he had. He still had the days where he thought it was all some crazy, sick dream. Ciri couldn't really be back could she? Or eight years, over a thousand straight days, he hadn't seen her, she was gone, out of his reach. Day after day, night after night, he was alone, completely alone with nothing to do, except think about how he had failed, how he had failed Ciri, Geralt, Yennefer, and how he was then paying the price for it.

And now here he was, Ciri in his arms, friends around him. Something Ida said to him, had kept bobbing around in his head, and no matter how much he tried to shake it, it was all he had thought about.

'All I know… is that tomorrow, hundreds of years of conflict, hundreds of years of destiny is going to come to a head. It all started with Cregan and Lara, Alexander, and Leila of Tir'Nala… and now, it will end with you, your Cirilla… and your sister…. Are you ready for that?'

Hundreds of years of events unfolding, over and over again, history repeating itself as it often did, all of it had led to that moment. To him there, Ciri in his arms, his friends around him, his sister out there waiting for him to be there for her, to save her. All of it had begun, with Lara Dorren and Cregan of Lod, with Alexander and Leila of Tir'Nala. The moment of his destiny, the moment that all of it was adding up too, amounting too, it all happened tomorrow.

Him meeting Ciri in Cintra, the city being sacked, Geralt finding them, training them, Ciri disappearing, Stygga Caste, Rivia, Claywitch, Geralt and Yennefer finding him, the search for Ciri, the Isle of Mists, the Battle of Kaer Morhen, the Cave of Life.

All of it finally led to tomorrow, where he would have to succeed where his ancestors failed.

However, as he looked at all of his friends then, George and Faram laughing, Freya finally starting to stumble from dizziness as she laughed, and most importantly Ciri smiling in his arms, he was more confident than he had ever been.

And finally, after years upon years of it being the opposite, of every day being harder and harder to wake up too, Dominik wasn't alone anymore.

He wasn't alone, and he was going to make sure it stayed that way.

"Woah, woah! Easy there goldilocks! Save some for the Wild Hunt!" Faram laughed, ale spilling from his mug as he back away from Freya's new sword.

Freya laughed, as she came to a stop, her sword pointed out towards the fire. Dominik finally laughed with Ciri, as Freya slid the sword, carefully back into its sheath, unable to contain her laughter, and her tears as she looked at them all.

"You guys I… I don't… I don't know what to say," She said, almost unable to form words, as she smiled, shaking her head in disbelief. "This… this is more then I deserve."

George laughed, his gilded green and hold armor reflecting the firelight. "Oh please, stop with the modesty! There's actually more, I believe you lost one of these at Kaer Morhen yes?"

George took the smaller sheath from Faram and twirled it in his hands. It wasn't that different from the silver dagger Dominik had kept strapped to his hip then. The pommel was polished to perfection as well, and Freya carefully took it. She unsheathed it and looked at them all dumbfounded again.

"I… I did, I lost the last one I had at Kaer Morhen," She said, scoffing as the gentle tears still came down her cheeks. She looked at them all and laughed. "Ha… I paid out the ass for that last one… George, Faram, Ciri, Dominik I… again I… I can't describe how much this means… I… I love all four of you, I really… really do."

"And we all feel the same," Ciri said, stepping away from Dominik and pulling Freya into another hug. "Don't ever think, that you have to prove anything to us…. We all think you are much more, then just a pretty face."

Freya finally laughed out and sobbed at the same time. She gripped tightly to the sword, and the dagger, looking around at them all with the tears coming down her cheeks. Dominik noticed the scar horizontally across her, and he could remember her telling him she had gotten it at Kaer Morhen. He could remember first finding Freya again in Novigrad, he had absolutely no idea what to say to her, the one woman who he was ever with other then Ciri.

However, despite the cold reunion, it was one of the luckiest days of Dominik's life. He quite literally could not be walking in that moment if he hadn't found her.

He wouldn't be alive without all of the people around him now, especially the woman wrapped in his arms again then.

Freya laughed out a sob again, wiping her cheek. "I… thank you… all of you. I have no idea where I'd be without you all. And… and to think Dominik I… I was so cruel to you when I first saw you again."

All their eyes looked to him, and Dominik couldn't help but smile. Words couldn't describe what they all meant to him, and what it meant to have them by his side tomorrow.

He let go of Ciri, smiling at Freya. "You had a right to be that way. But now… you're here, you're all here and… and I really can't begin to thank you all enough."

"He's right," Ciri said, coming up next to him, a mug still in her hand. "You all could have returned to your lives, stayed out of this… but you all came to fight."

"The thought to leave, never even crossed my mind," Freya said, smiling as she placed her new sword and dagger against the bench and joined their little circle again. "You're both my friends, some of my best, I wouldn't be here without you. Besides, I'm not about to let the Wild Hunt invade my world, without giving them a fight."

George nodded from next to Freya. "She is right. You are our friends, Geralt, Yennefer, everyone at Kaer Morhen. We don't just fight for each other however, I refuse to sit back and let the phantoms have this world. Tomorrow, we go and face them… together and as long as we hold true to that, fight as one, I know we will be victorious. They will not have our world, or any after this!"

Dominik smirked, knowing the wine was finally getting to his southern friend. However, it was nothing compared to Faram, who downed the rest of his wine. Ale dripped down his knotted beard, and the bear witcher laughed, pouring himself more as he threw his arm around George and held his mug up.

"AEN HANSE as Dominik likes to say!" He said, getting a laugh from everyone as he down more. Wiping his beard, he laughed again. "Aha, and what fucking company we have! A tremendously handsome mountain of a witcher from Skellige, a bleeding poet of a witcher from Toussaint!"

"A poet worthy of the halls of the duchess herself!" George said, getting a laugh from everyone again as Faram went on, moving and placing his massive arms around Freya, himself and Ciri.

He nudged Freya. "We got a fucking prodigal surgeon, who's more wind then woman with a blade!"

Freya laughed and Faram eyed Dominik and Ciri with a smirk. "We got the children of the famous White Wolf! A lass with the power of fucking space and time themselves flowing through her veins! And last but not least, the youngest witcher, to ever travel the path, a descendant of one of the most powerful mages in history! This Eredin cunt stands no fuckin chance!"

Everyone laughed, even Dominik himself, he noticed Ciri tense slightly beneath him however, but before he could ask her what was wrong, George stepped in the middle of their circle. The Griffin Witcher smiled and held up his mug.

"A hanza we are! And tomorrow, we face the wraiths, and we beat them back!" George said louder, even a few of the patrons behind them cheering as he went on, looking at the rest of them. "I spent years on the Path, telling myself I would rather travel alone… but now, I don't see myself able to ever return to that! Tomorrow, we will win a great victory and then-."

"And then we get piss drunk again like wild badgers!" Freya said, getting a laugh from everyone in the circle, however Dominik was focused on Ciri, who was smiling, but he could still feel her tensing.

Faram laughed heartily, looking over at he and Ciri now. "Aha goldilocks is right! Tomorrow, Dominik and Ciri are going to kick Eredin's ass! We're going to kick those icy fucks right back to whatever world they came from! And it'll show the fuckers, that they picked the WRONG world to invade!"

A loud cheer came up from behind them, as apparently Faram's voice had carried. Quickly the other patrons returned to their revelry, as Dominik couldn't help but smile himself. However, when he felt Ciri's hand clamp over his, squeezing it as she tensed, he looked down at her, seeing her smile was clearly forced.

No… I won't let her worry, not tonight, he thought.

He smiled down at her, and she must have felt him looking at her because she glanced up at him with her forced smile. Dominik leaned down, holding her face and kissing her gently, getting a true, real smile from her. She squeezed onto his hands tighter, but Dominik smiled gently letting go of her and picking up his mug.

"You mean WE are going to kick Eredin's ass!" Dominik said, stepping in the middle of all his friends, looking at them all while he smiled and held up his mug. "For so, so long I was alone, I had nobody, nobody except my fucking horse! It's to the point now where Clop can practically read my mind!"

Laughs came from his friends. His eyes drifted to Ciri, who chuckled, smiling at him, leaning back on one leg, her fist under her chin, that cute, amused look on her face.

That look… it's worth everything, it is everything, he thought, the smile not leaving him.

"As little as two months ago, I thought that I was destined to die in some monster's cave, my body rotting away there, because who would have looked for me!?" He said again, looking to his friends again. "But now… I have you lot. My friends-, no… my family. George! You southern prick, I'd be splattered all over a cavern floor if not for you! I'd still be some Bruxa's thrall if not for you!"

"HA! She wanted you as a bit more than just a thrall my friend!" George laughed, raising up his mug of wine.

Another laugh, and Dominik did himself, shuddering dramatically as he remembered the Bruxa he had hunted with George and Faram when he first met the griffin witcher.

"You're damn right about that!" Dominik said loudly, as the laughs hit his ears. Making sure to see Ciri was indeed still smiling, he looked over to Faram. "And you! You tall bastard, did you tell them all about the time you arm wrestled a fucking GIANT and WON!? Saving my ass in the process!?"

Faram boomed a laugh, raising his mug so fast, Freya laughed as ale spilled into her hair.

"BAHA I wouldn't have been there without you mate!" The Bear Witcher said, stepping up to him and wrapping his massive arm around Dominik's shoulder. "This man! This fucker right here, let me tell you, fighting down that SAME giant with nothing but a little fucking knife! What kind of crazy fucker does that!? THIS crazy fucker does that! And tomorrow, he's going to fight and KILL the King of the fucking Wild Hunt!"

A loud cheer rang up from a few of the patrons who had taken interest in them again. Dominik couldn't stop laughing himself, however, he looked over again, to see Ciri's face had finally fallen again. Shaking off the small crack that formed in his heart, he kept his smile, and looked over to Freya, waving her over.

"No way I can forget about you!" Dominik said, laughing as he swung his arm around Freya's shoulder, with their friends and more people starting to watch. He smiled and held out his arm to everyone else. "Freya, now please, let everyone know, how many fucking times have you saved my life?"

Freya laughed, her arm around him as well, her mug of ale dripping to the floor as they swayed. Dominik didn't feel any drunker then usual yet, however Freya next to him clearly had been a few mugs in from before he arrived. He laughed and smiled at Freya but kept his eye on Ciri as the smile slowly returned to her face. He noticed as well, multiple men and women had gathered to watch his little speech.

It was clear that all the people there, were fighters in some way combined with the townsfolk. Some of them he even recognized as part of Faram's crew, and men wearing Clan An Craite colors. Most of them would be fighting tomorrow, and it was clear Ciri was thinking of that. She looked back and met his eyes and he smiled, winking at her, which made her crack a small smile as Freya stumbled net to him and laughed again.

"HA, five? Six? Seven? I dare say I've lost fucking count!" She said, downing the rest of the ale in her mug.

Dominik scoffed loudly. "At least that much! Did you all see what she fucking did!? How much of a fuckin genius she is! She made a brand-new weapon, the likes of which we've never seen in FOUR fucking days! And tomorrow it's going to blow the Wild Hunt away!"

"YEAHHHH!" A loud cheer went up, mugs raised into the air, ale spilled to the floor as laughter echoed.

Freya left from his arm, and Dominik looked to see the small smile on Ciri's face was still there. He met her eyes, and smiled, biting his lip he admired how absolutely beautiful she was. From head to toe, she was absolutely stunning, and he must have been staring for too long, because her face got red as she blushed.

He didn't know if it was the ale finally starting to get to his head, or just from how god damn much they went through the day before, but Dominik couldn't recall a time he wanted her more. The two of them in a room alone, just each other, making love, falling asleep in each other's arms.

He loved that woman, and he would for the rest of his life. He chuckled, and Ciri did the same as more people chanted, and Dominik dramatically rubbed his chin, pretending to be deep in thought.

"And who else is there huh? Mhm… who else could I possibly be forgetting?" He said playfully, laughs coming from Faram, Freya and George.

Ciri started chuckling more, as Freya gently pushed her forward towards him. Dominik laughed, scooping her up with one of his arms. He twirled her and she laughed, the rest of everyone who was watching doing the same. Their drinks spilled, but Dominik finally brought her to a stop, kissing her with as much as he could muster in front of everyone.

A loud chorus of cheers erupted again, as he gently pulled his lips back, winking at her. She rolled her eyes and laughed, smacking his chest as he brought her up to a standing position, as he looked out at his friends again, holding Ciri in his arms.

"And after all that time… I finally found this beauty," He said, smiling over at Ciri, as the patrons seemed to return to their own revelry. Faram, Freya and George around them all smiled, and Dominik slowly looked at Ciri again. "I don't only have my friends now… but the woman I love, the most beautiful fucking woman in the god damn world!"

"You suck up," Ciri scoffed, the red not leaving her cheeks, as she kissed his scarred right side, and Dominik turned back to his friends.

He looked at Ciri, the smile finally back on her face.

There it is, that smile, that beautiful, beautiful smile.

Tightening his grip around her he looked at her. "I wouldn't be here without you… if not for you, I wouldn't have had the strength to go on. Without you well…"

"He'd be even more fucking sour then he already always is!" Faram boomed, getting a laugh from everyone.

Freya and George both burst out laughing, and Dominik rolled his eyes, the smile still unable to leave him. He looked back at Ciri who sputtered out a laugh, which made the joke completely worth it.

She finished laughing and smiled at him, gently holding her hand up to his face. "I love you… so much… you stupid boy."

"I love you too princess…." He said, before turning to the rest of his friends, his mug raised up again with Ciri on his arm. "And I love you three too… I wouldn't be here without you all. I wouldn't be here… I wouldn't be the person I am today without you four… I can't put into words how much it all means to me that you're all here so well… I'll only say one thing."

He looked them all in the eye, his friends, his best-friends.

No… my family.

He raised his mug to the center of the group. "Aen Hanse!"

"Aen Hanse!" Ciri said quickly next to him, raising her mug up as well.

"Aen Hanse!" George declared loud and proud next, stumbling as he raised his mug as well.

Freya scoffed out a laugh, and almost slurring she raised hers as well. "Aen Hanse!"

"AEN HANSE! HAHA! WE'RE GONNA KICK THE FUCK OUT OF THOSE ICY CUNTS!" Faram bellowed, as all of their mugs clanked together, ale and wine spilling from them.

Dominik pulled his mug back; all his friends laughing around him and drank. He downed almost the entire mug as the music from the bard in the inn, along with all of the patrons got even louder. Next to him, as Faram, George and Freya all drank, he felt Ciri place a kiss on the side of his neck.

It was so sudden he almost moaned then and there. His reaction made her laugh, and he looked down at her smiling.

"Ha… and what are you laughing at prince-," She cut him off by kissing him again.

She smiled and leaned her lips to his ear. "I rented the room here tonight, I… got you something, I'll head there and get it ready in a bit, join me after a few moments?"

He smirked as he held her. "You want me to join you alone in our private room, in this very romantic last night before the fight of our lives? Gods, such a tough choice, I'll have to think about it a bit."

She rolled her eyes but smiled and he laughed. Playfully smacking him Ciri nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm asking… for now, let's hope your dance moves have improved, and let's get some food!"

Dominik laughed and nodded, before Ciri smirked, and pulled him along towards the dance floor, ushering their friends along as well.

He let himself be pulled, as he couldn't stop looking at her, looking at her and smiling.

No matter what happens… I have you, and that makes it all worth it.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ciri straightened the dress in the mirror, scoffing as she still couldn't believe Freya had talked her into buying it. A beautiful emerald green cut off dress, the same color as her and Dominik's eyes. She hadn't had anything like this Cintra, and while she very rarely compliment her own looks, she couldn't help but feel satisfied looking at herself in the mirror. Her hair spilled in brushed ashen locks down both her shoulders, the dress was pulled tight from both sides. It was tied in crisscrossing patterns down her sides, which showed her skin. She hadn't bothered putting on her corset, or anything underneath it, because she knew that it wouldn't be on her for exceptionally long. Despite not having had to put one on in years, she had managed to get the dress on easily enough. It cut off just above her breasts, no straps or anything over her shoulders. Her neckline was exposed, and she bit her lip, as a cold chill ran through her.

She looked and made sure her makeup was perfect, and as usual it was. She had done it hastily in the time she had, worried Dominik would walk through the door at any second. However, it seemed Freya had been serious when she said she would 'do everything in her power, even dragging him away', to keep Dominik from coming to their room too soon.

Ciri still marveled how someone smaller like Freya could put back so much ale.

Finally she sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. The dress was incredibly beautiful, and while she knew Dominik would find her that way even if she were wearing an old sack, she had a feeling he would like it just as much as she did then. She placed the brush she had been using back down on the vanity and took in her appearance once more. Shakily sighing, she tried for a smile, and she knew that it would come to her once Dominik finally came into the room.

But as she sat down on the stool then, she had to cover her hands over her stomach. Ever since hearing the speeches and seeing all the men, women, the soldiers in the hall it hadn't stopped churning.

And tomorrow, he's going to fight and KILL the King of the fucking Wild Hunt! Faram's voice continuously echoed in her brain.

Dominik was going to fight Eredin again tomorrow, just like he had done at Kaer Morhen.

Ciri had no doubt about Dominik's abilities of course, and she would also be there with him. Ciri herself had gotten the best of Eredin in her flight from the world of the Aen Elle. However then, Eredin had massively underestimated her, she was just a child then, she knew he wasn't going to make the same mistake again. Eredin was arrogant, but he knew when to apply that arrogance and when not too. He wouldn't underestimate Ciri and Dominik this time, he would come at them with the full totality of his strength.

Eredin would come, along with Caranthir… Bella, and the Hunt in its entirety.

All the people next door in the inn, along with hundreds more could die tomorrow.

She looked in the mirror, twirling the bronze ring around her neck as she tried to steady her breathing and relax her queasy stomach. It didn't help, and she could do nothing but sit there, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

So much was happening tomorrow, and there were still so many uncertainties. She remembered back at Kaer Morhen, how they had just barely beaten the Hunt back with a skeleton crew of fighters. They'd have much more soldiers themselves, however, the Hunt would retaliate with just as many, they hadn't faced the full force at Kaer Morhen.

They had been lucky to survive then, Dominik had been lucky to survive. If not for Yen, Triss, and Freya's quick hands, he would be dead. And now, again they faced them the next day. For the previous few days, she had almost been excited, because after the Hunt was dealt with, they could finally start their life, travel the Path together, finally go and get Fiona, and properly be together.

However, the slow seeds of what else could happen tomorrow were sprouting in her mind. At Kaer Morhen, Dominik had fought Eredin himself, she had been helpless, injured, unable to fight by his side to keep him from dying.

But she wouldn't be tomorrow. She had promised him, that she'd never leave his side again, and she would keep her promise.

Sighing she met her own gaze in the mirror, and adjusted the ashen locks over her shoulders, forcing a small smile to her face.

"Write your own story…." She said, repeating her grandmother's words to herself, as she shook her head. "Only you can control how it ends…"

The lock to the door turning made her jolt up off the stool. A smile, quickly formed on her lips, as she could hear Dominik laughing behind it. Hastily, she straightened the green dress again, smiling as the door creaked.

"Haha! Ciri! Freya told me what she was talking to you about earlier," He said, his voice sounding absolutely delighted.

Ciri's breath caught up in her throat as she smiled, blushing red like she was a little girl again. When she was younger, she could remember how she quickly would always try to hide her blushing cheeks when he smiled like he was now, when he looked as handsome as he did now. He wasn't wearing anything special, just the loose white top he normally had on at night, his trousers and boots, and of course, the swallow and his medallion around his neck.

She teased him now, and when she was younger that he was only a bit taller than her, but he made up for it plenty by being strong. Broad shouldered, defined arms, with plenty of scars Ciri had yet to hear the story of, and she of course knew as well that his chest was large, his torso bulging with muscle. Despite how hard his stomach and chest were to the touch, Ciri found them extremely comfortable when she laid with him, her head laying on that chest.

And seeing him then, knowing what was happening the next day, it made her face get beat red, as she appreciated just how truly amazing it was, that he was hers, that he had waited for her.

I love him, there was never a doubt….

His smile was infectious on her as he scoffed. "That's so amazing for her, I'm glad she was able to tell me. She's going to make one man or woman very lucky-. Wait… she was pretty drunk, damn, I really hope she actually wanted to tell me, and it wasn't just the-."

He froze when he saw her, and it only made Ciri's cheeks redder, as she laugh her hands on her hips as she looked at him. His jaw went slack, as it quite literally fell open, as he floundered for words, his eyes not leaving her, her body, her figure. She had never had anyone look at her the way he looked at her. He didn't look at her like she was some piece of meat, like she was just someone that he found attractive.

No, he looked at her with pure, unfiltered love. He loved her, and he loved her more than anything, and she could feel it all through how he looked at her then. So many people had claimed to love her, claimed to have feelings for her, that they wanted her to be theirs. Mistle, Galahad, Cahir, multiple men and women in different worlds. However, none of them seemed to take the time to look past the surface level of her, to her true, real self.

In that moment, Dominik's jaw didn't drop because he saw a beautiful woman in a dress. His jaw dropped, because he saw her the real Ciri, her true self.

And he was the only one to ever love her for that, love her because she was Ciri.

"Ha… well hello handsome," She said, striding over to him, smiling up at him. She got up in front of him, and his hands gingerly wrapped around her. A shooting pleasurable tingle raced up her spine at his touch, as she placed her hands on his chest and looked up at him. "Did you have fun?"

That smile… that damn smile, she thought, smiling broadly as he couldn't stop, his cheeks seeming to be in a permanent upwards position.

"Ciri… gods… gods Ciri," He said, his voice low, course, sexy. His hands traveled up the sides of her body, her fingers touching her bare skin through the crosses in the dress. She shuddered, as he looked at her, still completely enamored by her. "You… you're beautiful… gods I… I never thought you could get more beautiful…"

"You like it?" She said, trying to keep herself from blushing too hard at his praise. She smirked, lightly laughing as she looked down at the dress. "Freya suggested it. It's… your present, well… I'm your present you could say. I… know that it isn't something really special, but well I… thought that maybe-."

He cut her off with a kiss, his lips fitting perfectly with her as his soft, full, wet lips softly kissed her. Ciri melted, her mind, completely muddled as all she could think about was the euphoria she felt with his lips against hers, and how she wanted that feeling everywhere, and next wanted to stop feeling it.

"Ha… I love it. Gods, I don't think I've seen you in a dress since Cintra," He said amusingly, as she pulled back from him with a smile, pulling her close to him. "Well, unless you count that one time with Triss when you were 'indisposed'."

They both laughed, and Ciri's heart flipped in her chest. She looked at his face, his scarred, handsome face as he laughed and smiled again.

"I think you may be right, it actually feels quite nice," She said with a small smirk as she looked up at winked at him. "I can pack it and bring it with us as we travel if you'd like. Wear it on formal occasions, or just when I feel like looking beautiful."

"You look beautiful in anything, I'd find you beautiful if you wore nothing but a sack," He said, leaning forward as he held her in his arms and kissed her, before smirking. "But… yes, I will admit I wouldn't be opposed to you bringing it with us."

She scoffed out a laugh and nodded. "Alright, alright, whatever you say handsome…. you know, that was quite the speech you gave out there."

He smiled at her, pulling her into a tight hug, his head burying into the crook of her neck. A small laugh left her, as he planted a small kiss on the side of her neck, squeezing her tight, making her feel safe, relaxed, and most importantly loved.

"Just trying to give everyone a little inspiration before tomorrow," He said, pulling back with that gorgeous smile he had. "And well… I wanted to say how thankful I was to everyone. I wouldn't want anyone else by my side. Especially you princess…"

She went to smile but faltered. It started creeping back again, the uneasy feeling in her stomach. She paused, her hands resting on his shoulders, as suddenly, Ciri found it hard to meet his gaze.

If she looked at his face, she'd see the scar running down it, the scar he'd gotten the last time they fought the Hunt.

Tomorrow he could get much worse than that, so could everyone she had just celebrated with.

Dominik apparently sensed her discomfort in his arms. She felt his fingers gently move to her chin. Gingerly, he moved his face back to look up at him, as he looked at her with soft eyes. She loved his eyes, eyes that matched hers, ones, she could always count on for reassurance.

"Hey…" He said, his voice soft and light. "What is it?"

She finally looked up at him, gripping tighter on his shoulders. Biting her lip, the uneasy feeling in her stomach continued, and for a minute a flash appeared in her eyes.

She saw Dominik, could hear the loud thud of his body hitting the ground, the sound of Eredin's sword, ripping into his flesh at Kaer Morhen. Suddenly she shuddered, her knees feelings weak, and Dominik had to catch her.

"Woah, woah easy there princess," He said, steadying her in his arms. He smiled at her, meeting her eyes, and shaking his head. "I get it, being that beautiful all the time, must be extremely exhausting! Well no worries princess, I'm naught but a simple lad at your beck at call!"

Ciri met his eyes and slowly shook her head. "No… Dominik it… it's just-. Hey! Haha, stop put me down!"

He hefted her up off her feet, one of his arms holding up under her legs, as he carried her like a bride, as if they had just been married and were heading off into the sunset. It was a dream for a moment for Ciri, as she felt like she was flying. Quickly she grabbed onto his neck, pulling herself closer to him as he looked and smirked down at her.

"I can't! It is my duty, as your boyfriend, as your lover and hopefully future husband, to make sure that you are always happy, healthy, and safe," He said, making Ciri's cheeks redder then they had been all knight as he gently looked down at her. "And to be there for you… always, so now, I'll humbly offer my services, to carry you to bed!"

Before she could protest, she broke out in a fit of laughs as she gripped on tight while he carried her to the other side of the room.

The bed was large, fluffy, and would provide the both of them the comfort they were looking for this last night. It was a welcome change from the bed in their cabin back on the ship. Dominik sat down on it, and Ciri fell right into his lap, her legs laying across his lap, his arms still wrapped around her. She melted into him, her head resting into the crook of his neck.

He didn't pry at her, didn't ask her any questions. He was good at that, to Ciri it was a symbol, of just how well they knew each other. Dominik knew she didn't want to speak of it in that moment, what was wrong, the thoughts that kept gnawing at her. He always knew when to pry her to talk, and when to simply let her be. She loved him for that, it was the same way in reverse. Ciri could always tell when he needed to talk about something, and when he needed to be left with his thoughts.

But they were always there for each other to hold, because holding the person you loved, as Ciri had learned, sometimes was all you needed, words weren't always necessary.

And for those few moments, they weren't, as Ciri leaned into him, her hands shaking in her lap. Quickly however, Dominik's hand gently went over hers, and Ciri gripped onto his fingers with her trembling ones squeezing them as if her life depended on it. She didn't want to leave that room, didn't want to go fight the next day, do anything except sit there with him.

He gripped back on her fingers, his other hand gently weaving its way through her hair.

She shakily sighed, realizing she had been right.

The unease in her stomach slowly melted away, replaced by warmth, love. She shakily sighed, looking up at him as she sat on his lap.

"I don't want to leave…" She said, sighing as her head fell back to his shoulder. "I don't want to leave this room… can we just stay here?"

She felt him kiss the top of her head. "We can stay as long as you want princess…"

"But we can't…" She said, her skin trembling as she looked back up at him again. "You're going to have to fight Eredin again tomorrow…"

He had already known what was on her mind, this she knew for a fact. He knew her too well, she could tell that he knew exactly what she had been thinking, as was so often the case. The two of them were so similar, yet different enough to where they were unique. She couldn't describe the feeling of having someone, that you trusted, loved so much, that you felt you knew them almost more then you knew yourself.

However, that was the case with her and Dominik. It had been a bond strong enough to still be like it was then, despite being apart for eight years.

And it was only going to continue to grow because she wasn't leaving again.

"You mean we are going to fight Eredin," He said, his hand still holding onto hers, while the other continued to comb through her hair. "Me, you, Geralt, Faram, Freya, George, and we're going to kill him."

She knew he was trying to be reassuring, but his words on made her shudder again. Carefully she leaned her forehead against his, shakily sighing as she looked at him.

"Dom… the last time you fought…" She said, shaking her head as her eyes begun to sting. "I couldn't do anything… you almost died… I can't let that happen again… Dominik I can't."

"And it won't, I never want to see you like that again," He said, his hand moving from her hair to rub her back. "The last time wasn't your fault Ciri. You know, one thing Alexander told me when I saw him in the cave, was reminding me that I wasn't alone. We're going to do this Ciri, we are. Besides, I'd like to think I know at least a bit of what I'm in for now."

Ciri found herself scoffing as she shook her head. "I know what you're doing… gods Dominik I know you're being confident for my sake. How could you be so calm about this?"

He managed a laugh, which made Ciri roll her eyes. "Because what would you do be doing if I were freaking out? You'd be shaking even more then you are now."

"So you are scared to fight them then?"

"Terrified, who wouldn't be?" He said, playing with the long locks of hair going down her shoulders, speaking softly as he met her eyes again. "But well, I know we're strong enough to win."

"We said that at Kaer Morhen…" She said, unable to look at his scarred face again.

She felt his hand cup her cheek, pulling it to meet his eyes. "And in the end do you know what happened at Kaer Morhen? We beat them back… thanks to you. We are strong enough, and do you want to know why? It isn't just because of the powers in our blood, not because we'll have hundreds of soldiers, it's because of the reasons we're fighting. Eredin and the Hunt, they're fighting so they can invade our world, set up shop, before they start going and doing the same things to other worlds, taking slaves, and killing thousands in other worlds, just like they've done for hundreds of years. But us, me? I'm fighting tomorrow for you, to keep you safe, and give you the life you deserve. I'm fighting for Bella, to save her and not let her down like I have before. For Geralt and Yen, so they can finally stop fighting and have some fucking peace. For Faram, George and Freya. For Fiona, so that she'll have us to teach her to control her powers, to have us to train her and give her the life we always wanted!

"That is what gives us strength Ciri, that is what's going to give me, and the rest of us the strength to win tomorrow, because we don't fight for power, for our own personal gain, we fight for love…. I'm fighting for love. Deep down, I don't give a damn about prophecies, destinies… I'm doing this because I love you, more than fucking anything. My blood isn't going to give me the strength I need to fight tomorrow, my training isn't, not my signs, bombs, anything… it's you Ciri, you are what's giving me the strength to do this tomorrow… that's why we're going to win tomorrow… and then the day after? Me and you, we start our lives together."

Tears had started falling, but with the tears, came her smile. Ciri didn't know how he did it, how his words had such an effect on her, but they did then as the always did. He didn't stop looking at her the whole time, his thumb gently ran over her hands which had stopped shaking, and every moment his hand ran up her back, she felt the tingles, the butterflies well up in her stomach.

She met his eyes, and when he saw she was crying his eyes widened.

"Ciri? Ciri hey, stop you don't have too-."

This time, she cut him off by kissing him. Her hands cupped onto his handsome face, smashing her lips onto his with a mixture of salty tears. His lips were still sweet, and she wanted more of them, more of him. She wanted him to make the uneasiness go away, make all her worries go away, which he always did. Her lips, moved with his, a sweet kiss at first, before it become deeper, more passionate, intense, raw. She moved her dress up, managing to sit and straddle his waist, wrapping her arms around his neck, as he did the same around her waist.

She didn't stop, moving and griding her hips against him, as she keep deepening the kiss, not wanting to move from that position. Her hand trailed down his stomach, across his torso as his hands explored every nape of her back. A tingle of sensation ran up her stomach again, as it did every night they got into a position like that.

However, that night it was even more intense, the passion, the raw desire, the want for him to know how much she loved him. She could feel between her legs heating up, as with each move of her lips, each grind of her hips, she wanted him more.

A need to breath finally brought her lips off of his, as they sat there, leaning their foreheads against one another's.

"Ha… so? We okay now?" He said softly, stroking his thumb across her cheek, wiping the tears that remained.

A small laugh left her, as she met his eyes and nodded. "Yeah… I… I'm just wondering, when did you become so fuckin wise?"

He laughed, and it was the sweetest thing Ciri had heard in days. She did the same, before he shrugged, his hands staying on her hips.

"Hey, I've always been this wise, you all just never believed me," He said, smirking as he cutely bit his lip.

Ciri rolled her eyes playfully. "Well I'm sorry but you could barely string sentences together around me the first few times we saw each other, that first impression is hard to shake."

"Even after ten years?"

"Yes, even after that," She said playfully, leaning down and kissing him again. "Although I will admit… you're so much smarter than even you know… so much stronger."

A soft smile came to his face. "I'm strong thanks to you, and everyone else princess…. I was alone for so, so long… I won't be alone again, I just found you… I won't let you go."

"And I won't go anywhere," She said, her eyes narrowing as she firmly shook her head. "Nothing is going to take me away again. Where you go… I go, that's how it's going to be. I love you… so much, you stupid boy."

The smile again, that brilliant smile as he softly kissed her again. "Where you go… I go, I love you too princess."

That one kiss sent her mind into overdrive. Suddenly, while she loved the dress, thought it extremely beautiful on her, and despite even how much she clearly saw Dominik loved it, it in that moment felt restraining. She wanted it off, his shirt off, nothing but the two of them.

She went to kiss him again, intent on pulling his shirt off, his trousers, everything until there was nothing between them both. However, she saw his head go down to the pocket of his trousers, a massive smirk on his face.

"Oh yeah, before I forget, I got something for you too," He said, reaching his hand to his pocket.

Ciri stopped, tilting her head, her heart racing, excitement building up. "You did? What is it?"

He looked at her again, smirking still. "Well, technically, you were the one to find it, I just saved it for you. I saw how much you liked it and well…"

Her eyes widened, and her heart nearly exploded. "Dominik… you didn't."

"Oh but I did," He said playfully, handing the camera to her. "I snagged it before we left the lab, figured I'd make it a little present for before the battle. So… happy?"

Ciri ran her hands over the small device in her hands, still marveled to that day how it worked. She still had the picture of the two of them in the lab in the pocket of her trousers.

However, she marveled even more at the man holding her, wondering how she could possibly be so in love with one person.

She didn't answer him, simply grabbing hold of his face again, and kissing him with everything she had. She could taste the ale the ale he was drinking, taking in every bit of his sweet lips in that one kiss, she pressed herself against him, trying to transfer all she was feeling into that one kiss.

And when she felt one of his hands hold onto her ass, she lost it.

She pressed her lips hard to his, grinding her waist against his crotch, his cock pressing against her. She smiled when she heard a struggled breath leave him, as she gently pulled her lips from him. She kept smiling at him, gingerly placing the camera on the nightstand. Ever since they had started having sex the week prior, she liked to think she had been able to pick up on some his smaller signals. His hands grabbed onto her ass while she was in his lap, and when she looked at his eyes, she could see the want in them, the look of pure desire, lust, it was the look he often got before they made love.

He was still slightly nervous Ciri could tell, not about actually having sex, but starting it. There hadn't been a time yet when he asked her to have sex, there hadn't been a time when he simply kissed her suddenly, then down her neck, before fucking her. A small part of her wished he would take the initiative now and then, but she understood why he didn't. He knew what she had been through, what happened with Mistle, and in the Cave of Life the day before, he apparently had seen it. He knew that Emhyr wanted to rape her, was going too, that she had been forced to try and fuck Auberon to get out of Tir'Nala, he knew all the details of those times, so it made him hesitant to do anything without him asking her first, without asking her at least six times if she was sure.

Ciri knew it was something that would go away eventually. A part of her did want him to at times, lean her against a wall, kiss her neck which would eventually lead to them fucking. He would take the initiative like that in time, but Ciri could see that in the moment, he still always made sure he heard her say, yes, she couldn't even nod, he had to hear her say yes.

In the end, Ciri found it incredibly sweet, considerate, and a lesson most people should take after.

But in that moment she wanted him more than she ever had, she wanted to make love to him, and forget about everything that was happening. She wanted them both to be ignorant for one last night.

"You know… I actually think this dress present was a bad idea…" She said breathlessly, her lips inches from his as he pulled her up against him.

His hot breath hit her neck as he was centimeters from her lips. "Why do you say that? You're beautiful… so… so beautiful."

She blushed, her lips grazing his. "I may be yes… but well… I don't think I should have bothered with it."

"Why?" He said softly.

"Because" She said, gently kissing him. "Well… I already want you to take it off me."

It took a second for the words to register in his head it seemed, which almost made Ciri laugh. He started floundered for words, his cheeks beat red, but Ciri silenced any words with a deep kiss, her hands trailing down his stomach. Before he could say anything else, she gently lifted his shirt up over his head, revealing his bare body, hard, sculpted, scars littering it, dominated by two larger ones. One diagonally from right to left, and another on his bottom ab, much fresher than the other. Gently her hands trailed down his torso, he shuddered under her touch, making her smile more.

He adjusted himself under her, and she could feel his hard member against her still. It sent shockwaves up her stomach, between her legs as she felt his hands travel up her back. She leaned in, gently kissing him again, but before she could push him back to the bed, he looked up at her.

"Ciri I-." He started, but she cut him off with another kiss.

"Dominik… it's okay," She said, knowing exactly why he was going to say and ask. Her hand traveled down to the hem of his trousers as she looked at him. "I love you… I love how sweet you are, but please, please shut up and-."

"Shut up and kiss you, yup got it," He said, an embarrassed red hue in his cheeks, before he smiled and nodded. "You'll never have to ask me twice."

Ciri smiled, feeling the desire take over her. She grabbed his one hand that was already on her ass, and gently guided it up the side of her body. She stopped it, at the top of the dress, right where the not keeping it up was, she moved her other hand to the other one. He must have understood what she was implying because his fingers worked and untied the knot. She did the same on the other side, and gently she stepped off him, her feet hitting the cold stone. The fire in the rom crackled, warming her as the dress gently fell to her feet.

Dominik's jaw loosened again, as he looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He looked down her body, at her breasts, her torso, her legs, completely bare. Finally he managed to find words, a small smirk coming to his face.

"Prepared were we?" He said, admiring her figure.

Ciri blushed, she had washed quickly when she first came to the room, leaving Freya to distract Dominik in the dining room. She hadn't bothered wearing any small clothes, she had known they would come off eventually, so decided to save the time.

Dominik got up, his strong, callused hands wrapping around her waist. The feeling of his strong hands on her bare skin, so close to her womanhood, it finally sent Ciri over the edge. Her hands went to the waistband of his trousers, as he smiled and looked at her.

"I love you… do I say that enough?" He said, his tone light and joking. "Most people say I do, but you know, I don't think you understand just how much-."

She put her finger over his lips again, looking deep into his eyes. "Dominik… shut up and make love to me you stupid boy."

And that was all she needed to say.

She untied his trousers, and they fell to the ground, only his undergarments keeping his cock away from her womanhood. His lips smashed onto hers, and Ciri could feel him finally unleashing the inner desire she had seen building up in his eyes all night. She climbed him like a cliff, he helped her, as her legs wrapped around his waist, he hoisted her into the air, his lips not leaving hers, their tongues meeting in his mouth fighting for dominance.

Between her legs got hotter and hotter, and when he kissed down her neck she wasn't afraid to admit how loud she moaned. His name left her lips, and she felt the assault of his lips down her neck continue. He turned her around, and she yelped when she felt herself being lowered, but her excitement rose, as he was finally on top of her. He got between her legs, and right away she wrapped her arms around his neck, as he continued kissing her, lower, lower on her neck until he was just above her breasts.

"Dominik… gods…" She moaned again, his name leaving her lips again, as his one hand steadying himself above her head, his other traveling up her bare leg. She felt her womanhood quiver anxiously, excitably, as his hand moved between her legs, his finger gently moving over her entrance, just as he kissed between her breasts.

Another loud moan left her, her legs quivered as she gripped one hand onto the back of his head, her hand fisting through his hair, while the other, slowly trailed her nails down his back.

She could feel his tongue flicking over her right breast, his wet lips kissing her, as he finally entered her with one of her fingers, gently moving deeper inside her, and Ciri melted, yanking on his hair as she moaned, her voice echoing in the room.

"Fuck… fucking fuck," She moaned, her one leg, quivering finally wrapped around his waist, as he kissed back up her neck, sweet, delicate little kisses that sent Ciri absolutely mad, making her want more and more.

Breathing heavily, his hot breath his her neck again, as he gently nipped at a weak spot on her neck a few inches below her earlobe, and it sent the heaviest shock down her chest yet. It felt as if a jolt of lightning had been injected into her heart.

"FUCK!" She said, moaning loudly as she pulled harder on his hand, her nails digging in his back.

Breathless, Dominik laughed. "Ha… found a spot on you didn't I?"

"Fucking hell… fucking hell Dominik don't stop," She moaned, leaning forward, and smashing her lips onto his again. His finger inside of her, picked up speed and Ciri moaned into his lips, feeling his tongue run along her lips, only furthering her desire for him. Her one hand stayed in his hair, pulling, and yanking with each moan, while her other quickly went down towards his waist. His finger pulled out of her, and she whimpered, but quickly kissing him with a new fierceness, as he helped her pull down his undergarments, finally making him as naked as she was.

Tomorrow could very well be there last day in that world, their last day alive, so that night she wanted to feel every inch of him, touch every single inch of his body. And she wanted him to kiss every single spot his lips could reach, she wanted to hear him moan her name, she wanted to moan his name, she just wanted him.

"Ciri… Ciri are you-." He started, but Ciri cut him off, by burying his head between her breasts again, and it seemed to sufficiently answer his question.

He kissed and dragged his tongue along both her breasts again. Ciri's head finally rolled back, but while keeping one hand in his hair, her other reached down to his crotch. Her hand wrapped around his hard cock, and right away his legs buckled, as he melted on top of her.

"Ciri… fuck… Ciri gods." Finally he moaned, and it only made Ciri wetter, as she pulled him closer to her, bringing his lips to hers as she stroked his hard member, wanting more then anything to finally have it inside her.

"I love you… I fucking love you," She moaned between the long, rough, passionate kisses they shared. He grunted out another moan, his cock bulging in her hand as he kissed along her neck again, focusing on the spot just below her ear, the one that had made her jolt.

He planted a long kiss on that one spot again, before gently biting his teeth down on it, and Ciri's legs bucked up.

"FUCK, FUCKING FUCK," She moaned, her voice echoing off the walls of the room. She pulled him back to her, her one hand staying on his cock, stroking it with renewed force as she met his eyes, the both of them full of one thing.

Lust, lust for her, pure desire. He wanted her, and she wanted him.

"Make love to me, gods Dominik make love to me please," She said, leaning and kissing him again. "Please, gods I want you, Dominik I-."

This time he finally cut her off with a kiss. A guttural moan left him, as he reached down, and moved her hand off his cock. Ciri looked at him confused for a moment, before he attacked her neck with a new barrage of small kisses and love bites. She moaned, as he moved her hand above his head. She wondered what he was doing for a moment, and even got excited, thinking perhaps he was going to hold hand there and finally let loose, fucking her then and there.

But now, it was better then that. He held her hand above his head, locking his fingers with hers, and just as he gently bit down on his new favorite spot in his neck, Ciri felt the tip of his cock, tease her wet entrance.

"Dominik…." She moaned loudly again, as he kissed up to her lips.

"I love you… I fucking love you," He moaned, and Ciri almost yelped again, but it came out as a long, loud moan as he finally entered her, and she could feel his hard cock finally inside her.

They had sex, every night since that first time in Novigrad, but in that short sample size, Ciri never felt such euphoria, such an explosion of pleasure inside her gut from feeling him inside her.

She yanked on his hair with her one hand, gripping tightly to his other, as he kept her hand above her head.

"Gods… fucking gods yes… Dominik I love you," She moaned, as he thrusted inside her, his other hand trailing up her leg, gripping hard on her ass as he angled himself to go deeper.

He moaned her name, loudly into her ear, and Ciri nearly felt herself climax then and there hearing it. But after that was when he finally started thrusting, his cock hitting deep inside her, filling her to the brim with small explosions of euphoria, pleasure like she had never felt before. Her hand gripped his above her head, and she wanted with everything to keep it there, but as he picked up speed with his thrusts, she felt herself loose all semblance of control, as she simply wanted him to keep fucking her, making love to her, harder, faster.

And it seemed he felt the same, as loud growling moan left him, which made Ciri loose control.

"FUCK!" She moaned, feeling a particular thrust hit deep inside her, as she wrapped both her arms tightly around her neck.

"Ciri, fucknig FUCK!" He said, moaning as loud as she did, his one hand gripping her ass as his other wrapped around the back of her neck.

She wrapped her legs around his waist as he fucked her, pulling him as humanly close, feeling his cock deeper, and deeper inside her. He picked up the pace more, and Ciri's moans reached new levels, as she could feel a climax coming.

"Dominik… fuck… fucking fuck I'm going to-. GODS!" She moaned, cutting herself off, as she finally felt herself finish, far quicker then she ever had in the other times they'd made love.

His eyes widened, and for a moment his pace slowed as he looked at her. "Ciri… Ciri are you-."

"Don't you dare fucking stop," She moaned, kissing him hard, and quickly he hastened his pace again.

Ciri didn't want it to end, she didn't want that night to end because she knew what awaited them tomorrow, and she wasn't finished being ignorant yet.

Not to mention the completely dominating euphoria that had overtaken her body, the sheer pleasure, and lust for more that had overtaken her. She wasn't finished with him yet, and she moaned loudly as he plunged deeper into her then he had the whole night.

"DOMINIK!" She said, yanking on his hair again, as she smashed her lips onto his.

He tried to say something through the kiss, but Ciri didn't listen, all she cared about was that he didn't stop, and he seemed more than happy to oblige. She had already came once, and could feel a second time quickly on its way, so she smashed a kiss to his lips, before she pulled her womanhood away from his cock.

His eyes widened as he looked at her. "Ciri? What are you-. Gods!"

She flipped him on his back, catching him by surprise, making Ciri giggle at the red look on his face. Finally, she was on top of him, straddling his waist, his still hard cock onto inches from her womanhood again. She bit her lip, the lust for him again coming back in full force. He looked up from below her, his hands gently trailing up her flat stomach to gently massage her breasts.

Ciri moaned as she could feel a slow burn of pleasure building up inside her. She grabbed both his hands, holding them over her breasts, not particularly wanting them to leave.

"Gods you're beautiful," He said below her, making Ciri blush as she looked down at him. He had that embarrassed goofy smile on his face as he breathlessly shook his head. "I… I'm the luckiest man in the world, I really am I-."

Like she had before that night, she cut him off by softly kissing him. This time, she trailed kisses down his neck. She had remembered from the previous nights all of the spots on his neck that made him the weakest. She listened to the honey sweet sound of him moaning her name, as she trailed her lips to the side of his neck, gently nibbling as she placed small kisses on one particular spot.

"Ciri! Fucking fuck you… you know that-."

"Why do you think I'm doing it?" She said softly, kissing to his lips again, as she gently ran her tongue along his lips, deepening the kiss as she brought her lips to his ears. "Just let me kiss you… be quiet and let me kiss you."

A moan made her realize he indeed got the message. His hands trailed down her back, gripping onto her ass hard as she assaulted his lip with small kisses. A small part of her thought about trailing them down his chest, perhaps even all the way to his cock, but Ciri wanted him now, wanted him then. Perhaps she'd do that another night, but in that moment, she wanted to make love to him.

"I love you… you stupid boy," She whispered in his ear, gently moving her womanhood over his cock.

She sank down, and a long, soft moan left her, as she felt every inch of his hard member bury inside her. He was large, but Ciri didn't mind, she loved every inch of him, from his eyes to his cock, everything about him was exactly what she wanted.

"Fuuuck… fucking… fuck I love you," He moaned, her name leaving his lips multiple times as she rode him.

She noticed how much he loved it when she rode him like she did then. She moved her hips, moaning herself as she felt his cock bury and move deep inside her. Another guttural growl left him, as he gripped hard on her ass, and Ciri felt herself moaning louder as well. She placed her hands down on his hard chest, leaning down to gently kiss him as she moved her hips faster, started to bounce as opposed to ride, feeling him enter deeper, and deeper inside her.

"Ciri… Ciri gods don't fucking-." She cut him off by kissing him hard again, he thrusted up with his hips, and she moaned out loudly.

The lust, the desire, it al came to her mind, how much she loved him came to his mind as she started moving even faster, kissing him hard as she did. She didn't want to make love anymore, she wanted to fuck, she wanted him more than then she had ever wanted anything.

"Dominik fuck me, gods please, please fuck-. "

This time she was cut off, by him flipping her onto her back again. She had time to meet his eyes, and see an almost animalistic look in them, and before she could comment to him how utterly sexy she found it, she yelped out a moan as he thrusted into her.

"DOMINIK!" She said, as all she could think about was how perfect it felt having him inside her.

"I love you… I fucking love you Ciri gods I'm never going to stop," He said, his voice deep, course and raw as he plowed into her, and Ciri gripped onto his head in response, burying his head between her breasts.

"Don't stop, don't you fucking stop!" She said, feeling her climax coming as he plowed into her.

She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, sweat dripping from every pour of her body, as she pulled him in for a deep, wet kiss. She felt him quicken even more, her legs buckled, feeling as if they had been turned to pudding, and finally a loud moan left him.

"Ciri… Ciri I'm gonna-."

"You're fine don't stop, don't you dare fucking stop," She said loudly, her entire body shuddering as his cock went deeper and deeper, faster and hard.

She felt her second climax coming, as she moaned louder and louder in his ear, not wanting him to stop even after he had finished, wanting to stay in that bed making love to him for the rest of their lives.

"Fuck, fuck, fucking FUCK, gods Dominik, I love you, don't-. GODS!"

He moaned out loudly at the same time as she did, as a climax, larger then she had ever felt before dripped from her. She didn't dare let him leave her arms, as he finally fell limp over her body. She had used the spell Yen taught her that morning, so she simply laid and enjoyed the feeling of him still inside her for a few moments. His body was sweating from every pore, just like hers was.

Both of them breathed heavy, as their wolf medallions, the swallow and the ring all were tangled around their necks. Still unable to catch his breath, he looked down to see the swallow around his neck, caught tied up in the chain of the ring around hers. They looked at each other and laughed. Carefully, he reached and untangled the two chains. After they were undone, Ciri looked up at him, unable to stop smiling as she gently trailed her thumb along his cheek.

"I… I love you… gods I love you," She said, shaking her head, a breathless laugh leaving her. "That… that was… gods that was amazing."

"It was…" He said breathlessly, a small smile coming to him as stroked her cheek, gingerly along her scar like he knew she liked. "But I do think we may need to check the bed, you know, for clumps of my hair you may have pulled out."

Ciri burst out laughing. "AHA… yeah… sorry about that."

"Don't apologize, it's sexy, I like it," He said, laughing with her as he leaned down for another kiss.

She obliged, kissing him deeply, and for a few minutes they stayed like that, deeply, passionately kissing as each movement of his lips sent new shocks down Ciri's spine.

But like always, they both eventually needed to breath.

He smiled down at her, gently rolling to the side of the bed. They both moved the blanket out from under them, and Dominik pulled it over them both. Warmth, both from the blanket, and from his arm wrapping around her rushed over her body. The fire she started was crackling, and the fatigue from the long day finally began to set in, as her body buzzed with pleasurable tingles, more then she had ever felt in her life.

Right away, she snuggled up into his chest. Like she had noted before, his chest was hard when she had touched it, but when her head lay there, it was better than even the fluffiest of pillows she had slept on. His one large arm snaked around her neck, wrapping around her as Ciri laid her cheek on his chest. She resting one of her hands under her body, the other relaxing on his chest as well. His other hand gently held onto hers, before she felt him kiss the top of her head.

And in that moment, he was all that mattered, all she could think about, and as long as she had him, she knew she'd be okay.

It was as Geralt always told them, as long as they stuck together, they'd both be alright.

"We're going to be okay… won't we?" She said, her eyes fluttering.

She was too tired to look up at him, but she assumed he had that goofy smile on his face. She knew him too well, she didn't need to look at him to know. She'd look at him tomorrow, and the next day, and every day for the rest of her life.

"We will be… get some rest princess," He said softly, as Ciri felt him kiss the top of her head.

Rest. It was something she knew she deserved, that she needed, but felt so, so far away for so much of her life.

She'd get it now, and after tomorrow she'd have it for the rest of her life.

One more fight, one more day.

She'd been fighting since she was eleven years old, what was one more day?

"Hundreds of years… hundreds of years, of destiny, of history repeating itself," Dominik said quietly, clearly thinking she was asleep.

He sighed and Ciri could tell he looked down at her. "It all comes down to this…. I won't let them take you… I won't let any of them take you from me again…"

And Ciri believed him.

A/N: And just like that ladies and gentlemen, after 85 chapters, we've finally reached the final battle of The Witcher: Through the Worlds. I never once thought that I would make it this far, I thought I would get bogged down before the Isle of Mists, and never be able to finish. However, with constant support from you all, and my absolute love for the witcher, and the characters I've created, I was able to get here, and I am so, SO excited to bring you the epic conclusion to the story of Dominik and Ciri. These two have meant so much to me, they inspired me to write and come up with an idea for my own original story, I have fanart of the two, an Instagram page where I've met so many amazing people, and I can't describe how amazing it's been! We're the THIRD most popular story on this website for the Witcher based on favorites and follows, and we STILL have so much left!

First however, let's review this chapter!

First we get what is without a doubt our most important dream of Bella yet. We see her conflicted, the battle within herself that's raging. The battle between Baelen and Bella. Bella is honestly one of my favorite characters, there is so SO much about Bella I can't wait to explore, but for now we begin to see just how deep she goes. WE see a vision she has of her parents, and then Eredin and Caranthir make a request of her to prove her loyalty…

After that, we have some more hansa bonding. As you've all seen, for the last few chapters Faram, Freya and George have been a bit in the background. Its been because we've have important events like Bella being revealed, Fiona, and of course the cave of life. However, this chapter we finally get some more bonding of the hanza. We see that Freya had been working on a new weapon, and the guys and Ciri have a present for her!

Ciri goes, and we learn a bit more about Freya. Of all Dominik's friends, she's without a doubt going to be the most complex. Faram and George are amazing yes, but they're older, they're witchers, they know what they're going to do, while Freya is still young and anxious to make her mark.

The weapon she made is based off the ancient Korean weapon the Hwacha if you all want to go and check it out! We also learn what Freya's mindset is, and something very important for later down the line ; )

After getting her new sword, Dominik meets up with Borch Three Jack Daws again, and the dragon gives him some advice for the coming battle, along with some for how to take care of Fiona. And before anyone asks, YES, we are going to get a short story where Dominik and Ciri take Fiona to meet Borch.

After that, we get a rousing speech from Dominik, a moment of bonding from our new Hansa, before Dominik and Ciri spend their last night together. I hoped this sex scene is better then the last few, because I've been trying to make them better xD However, I tried to make this as sweet as possible, a nice, touching moment before we finally begin the climax of the story.

I've been waiting so long to get to it, and I can't wait for you all to see. Stay tuned!

As usual, if you like this story, be sure to follow and favorite this story, also favorite and follow my profile itself so you can keep up with when I post sequels and spinoff!

If you want to see fanart for this story, and my original stories pictures of Dominik and Ciri, of Fiona, of the hansa, and covers for new stories, go and follow dominik_of_cintra on Instagram to see more! Thank you all so much, and as usual stay safe in these trying times and I'll see you all next time!