The Witcher: Through the Worlds

Chapter 89: The End IV (Power)

Narrator: Battle rages! The final battle against the Wild Hunt has begun. The battle had been fierce, the Navigator Caranthir first unleashed a massive storm of ice, which froze Geralt and the Nilfgaardean forces solid, before the Hunt unleashed their secret weapon. The great white dragon Kilgarrah, brainwashed and controlled by Eredin was unleashed upon the great Imperial Fleet. Kilgarrah reduced the Imperial Fleet to splinters. Soon, Dominik along with his friends, and their force of knights charged with the Skelligan forces to battle the Hunt. Ciri joined them soon after, and she and Dominik set out to find Caranthir and end his icy spell. Before they could however, Dominik found his younger sister Bella, still under the control of the Wild Hunt, under the control of Eredin. While Ciri engaged Caranthir, Dominik battled his sister again, and after a draining fight on both of them, Dominik succeeded in showing Bella who she truly was, and together the two fought Eredin, before forcing the King to escape. Now, Ciri battles Caranthir, while Dominik and Bella fight to reach her and the army, to try and swing the battle back in their favor…

"SHIELDS!" Bella shouted raising her hand and erecting a magic bubble shield around herself.

Dominik slammed his hand into the ice and Quen burst up around him just as a stream of mixed fire and ice cut across one of the Hunt's ships. The ship erupted into splinters and everyone, riders and soldiers alike scrambled at the dragon's being back. The riders around him and Bella on the ice all stumbled, as the two dragons took off into the sky. Both looked much worse off than when the battle had started. Borch bled from a gash on one of his wings, blood running down his gold scales, as he blasted fire towards Kilgarrah again, who got caught on the wing, roaring out and spiraling towards the icy water of the bay.

The white dragon was larger than Borch by a sizeable margin but seemed worse off. His injuries were much more visible with his snowy white scales, although with the tempest of wind, ice and snow, it was becoming difficult to even see the dragon if he flew high enough. Right before he hit the water, Kilgarrah flapped his massive, bleeding wings. The powerful gust knocked aside an entire group of soldiers and riders alike, before Kilgarrah darted back up towards Borch near the clouds.

Up in the cloudy sky, outside the sphere of ice large streams of fire and ice spat out from beyond the clouds. It would have been the most amazing thing he'd ever seen if it were any other day. Ciri had told him a bit about how beautiful the fight had been when she watched it at Kaer Morhen. He had been busy with Eredin and didn't see anything except for the explosion the breaths of fire and ice caused.

The shaking of the ice had made him stumble to one knee. The riders around still all scrambled, they clearly hadn't seen the dragon's incoming like Bella had. His sister grabbed under his arm and hauled him to his feet.

"Come on! We get up we need to move!" She urged tightening her grip around Coram.

He met her eyes and scoffed. "Give me a minute, you did a real number on me you know."

She rolled her eyes at him, and he couldn't help but think how much she looked like their mother doing that.

"You did the same to me," She said turning back-to-back with him again. "You need to reach Ciri, then we need to do something about the dragons before anything else!"

"Bella…" He said slowly, pressing his back up against her. "What did Eredin do to Kilgarrah what kind of spell?"

Bella stiffened. "He's under Eredin's control now as you guessed… the spell is linked to his lifeforce, so the only way we're going to get him back is if we kill Eredin… or… or-."

"Or kill Kilgarrah… it won't come to that," He said, leveling out his sword as the riders all got back to their feet. Bella shifted behind him, and Dominik looked over his shoulder, smiling. "So… would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to this day since we were little."

Her sunken face lifted ever so slightly. "Ha… me too. Come on… let's get you to your princess."

"Bella, I told you we-."

"No," She said, both hands coming to the hilt of Coram. "Let's go save your princess…"

She means it… I can see it.

"Okay… let's see what you can do sis," He said, as another blast of ice ripped through the icy bay.

The riders never stood a chance against the two of them. All at once, all two dozen and their hounds came rushing at them. The sounds of the battle in the distance, and the dragons all seemed to tune out, as all he could hear was Bella's footsteps, her calling out when a rider was behind him, or to move in a certain direction.

He fought with his sister and gods did it ever feel good.

Power surged through him, he spun around Bella and pulled out his crossbow. Bella ducked and he reached over her back, taking aim. A bolt found the eye of a hound, and then from below Bella slid and cut off a rider that was coming for his back.

Coram lived up to its reputation of being able to cut through anything. Bella cut off the rider's arm, before a large spike of ice formed in her hand and shot through the rider's chest. Magic swirled around her limbs as it did for him, and he relished feeling so much power around him. His magic and Bella's merged, smashing into one another. It felt like he had an unlimited reservoir of power to draw from around him, and Dominik took full advantage.

Two came at him from the left and the right. Twirling his sword to a reversed grip he ducked and rolled under their attack. They stayed focused on him instead of going for Bella and rushed to attack again, swords raised. The magic saturating him inside and out, he looked to the right, and saw another discarded wooden shield. He raised up his sword to block one attack and reached the magic out towards the shield forming a fist with his hand.

Magic rushed from his fingertips and enveloped the shield. After the connection was made he yanked his hand back towards him and the shield zipped through the air with more speed than he had mustered yet. It split open the helmet of a rider on his left and then found its way into Dominik's hand. It helped him block a sword strike from one more rider that came for him, and with a quick duck and spin he cut through one riders back and stabbed into another one.

Turning back around he saw Bella surrounded. Riders and hounds tried to corner her, so Dominik rushed the magic into the shield on his arm. Spinning to put more power behind it, he launched the shield out of his hand. He took off in a run towards Bella as the shield split the helmet of another rider who was just about to attack her blindside. Bella spun back around as Dominik pulled on the shield and it found its way back to his hand.

He leapt back towards Bella's side and threw the shield again. It slammed into a hound before Dominik finally brought it back to his hand. He was back-to-back with Bella again, and spun to block the strike of a halberd with the shield in his free hand. He hadn't fought with a sword and shield since his father trained him all the way back in Cintra when he was eleven. He always found a shield to have far too much weight, it inhibited his ability to spin and pirouette, to dodge and roll.

A shield saved his life this time, however. A halberd slammed into the shield cutting through it so the blade jutted out the other end an inch from Dominik's nose.

He reached out with his magic around the shield again and sent it flying to the left. The halberd flew from the rider's hands. It and the shield cut through a hound that was leaping towards Bella, and the rider in front of him only had a moment to react before he spun and cut through his neck, the magic spurring his silver on even faster.

Back-to-back with Bella again they parried and spun around each other. It was almost like how he and Ciri fought, he didn't know how, he didn't know if their magic had something to do with it, but he always seemed to know where she was. He spun around her right, parrying and jabbing his sword forward into a rider's hand. It knocked the sword out from it, and then Bella spun back around him and cut him to the ground.

She ducked and Dominik pulled his crossbow out again. His bolt found the eye or a rider, and he thanked Elise in his mind for the few intense lessons she had given to him on the weapon. While he got on one knee and loaded another bolt, Bella leapt, stepping onto his back and coming down to slam her fist into the ground.

It slammed and cracked the ice beneath them, but a wall of fire shot outwards and engulfed a new wave of riders that had climbed down into the crater. Dominik scoffed as Bella came and got her back up to him again, only a few more rider straggling towards them.

"Ha, I thought you could only do ice," He joked.

"I'm full of surprises as you'll see," Bella said, as the last few approached. "We need to get going, so long as Caranthir is alive this storm will stall your reinforcements!"

"But if we kill him, then it should stop the riders from coming back right?" He said, as the last of the riders charged them both.

Bella yelled as she cut down one, before spinning around Dominik and blasting a bolt of fire at another. She spun back around and shook her head at him.

"The Nagalfar has portals that will stay open!" She said, fighting and cutting down more riders as they spoke. "The only way to get them to stop appearing is if we kill Eredin. Without him and Caranthir they'll retreat, we only have to worry about them calling for more troops from Tir'Nala."

"Don't have to worry about that," He told her, thrusting his hand forward and sending riders flying with Aard. "Avallac'h and Geralt met with Ge'els, he said no matter what happens, the Aen Elle won't answer Eredin's call. Don't rightfully trust Avallac'h, but he went and-."

"You WHAT!?" Bella yelled, cutting the last rider down and spinning back around to face him. Panic filled her eyes as she scoffed. "You let Avallac'h go and speak to Ge'els alone!? Don't you know what they both had planned for Ciri when she was their prisoner!?"

"Geralt was with him, if they planned anything he would have known," He tried to reason, panic rising in him as he saw the look in his eyes. "Ciri told me about what Avallac'h did…. Bella do you know what he's planning!? What he wants with her!?"

It had been the biggest question mark of their plan. He, Ciri, Geralt, they all knew Avallac'h was going to try something, spring some trap or some plan at the battle despite what the elf had promised them. However, even after their trip to his lab, it was still a mystery what the elf wanted to do, why he suddenly helped Ciri in her journey between worlds hiding from Eredin.

Bella shook her head, and Dominik's heart sunk. His sister looked exhausted, her eyes had black bags under them, but her green eyes still sparkled with determination. He still couldn't believe it was her, it was really his sister. Around them, no more riders came, and Bella adjusted her hair behind her before shakily sighing.

"No… they didn't share that with me. I'm guessing Eredin was worried if I did switch sides I'd tell you."

"So… he knows, he knows what Avallac'h is going to try," Dominik said, his cold fingers twitching around Fate.

Bella nodded grimly, looking towards the main bulk of the battle. "He does… I wasn't worried about it at first. But if he talked to Ge'els… my guess is he also- somehow when Geralt wasn't looking- or again after the fact planned something with him. Dominik… do you know what happens if Eredin dies?"

"We throw a party and celebrate?" He said hopefully, standing next to her.

Bella scoffed and looked at him. "Probably for us yes… but do you know what happens with the Aen Elle? They'll need to find another ruler. Ge'els was never the leadership type… and with Eredin out of the way, who do you think would be next in line? The man who-."

"The man who was supposed to marry Lara Dorren… Auberon's daughter," He said, his skin prickling as he looked up towards the opposite end of the Nagalfar. "And… if he can get back Lara's power, control it… that'll put him in prime position."

"That's what I think…." Bella said, shakily sighing. "If… if I had realized sooner what was happening to me. If I had warned you and Ciri we could have-."

"Bella, like I said it's okay," He said, grabbing her arm, and pulling her around to look at him. "Ciri and I… our feelings haven't changed. We'll talk about all of this later, for now… we have work to do."

A small part of him wanted to go back to everyone at camp and laugh. Tell them he was right, and they should have acted against Avallac'h sooner. But now, all he could think about was him getting his filthy hands on Ciri again.

All around the wind, rain and snow only seemed to get worse. Kilgarrah and Borch flew above the clouds, streams of fire and ice still ripped through the sky, torching boats, the mountainside and the icy planes. It seemed to Dominik that Borch was doing everything he could to keep Kilgarrah from breathing his ice down towards the army.

With the army he could see them advancing towards the Nagalfar. The closer they got the more worried he became, what of Faram, Freya and George? What if one of them, or anyone else tried to fight Eredin themselves? He and Bella needed to get there, but more importantly, they needed to find Ciri. He needed to get to Ciri.

Bella nodded at him, her face amok with bruises and scrapes. "You're right. Caranthir is at the other end of the Nagalfar, Ciri's been engaging him, can you sense their magic?"

She pointed her armored finger over towards the opposite end of the Nagalfar. When he squinted, and reached out with his magic again, sure enough he could see it. Giant towers blasts of magic shooting upwards. The magic felt familiar as it did when he reached out before. It was Ciri, he'd know her signature anywhere.

I never should have separated from her… I should have gone with her. But if he hadn't, would Bella had come around? He didn't want to ask himself questions like that now. All he could do was focus on Ciri.

Bella was back, Baelen was dead, that had been one of his three objectives coming into the mission. Now, it was time to finish the other two.

"I'm going to kill Caranthir for what he did to you…" Dominik said, feeling a fire begin to rage in his stomach. The dream played over in his head, his eyes trailing to his sister. Bella's eyes hadn't left where Caranthir was either, she shook as Dominik stepped up. "For what he did to you… your village, your family… you sure you don't want to come with me?"

Bella gulped but shook her head meeting his gaze. "I'm sure…. I can go help your army, and… and I'm going to see if I can do something about Kilgarrah. Get Ciri and… and just in case one of us don't make it, tell… tell her I said I'm-."

"You can tell her yourself," he said, reaching a handout to hold Bella's shoulder. Despite everything happening around them, he smiled. "We're all making it out of this Bell. And before you know it, you and Ciri will be yapping my ear off and tying my shoelaces together while I sleep again just like old times."

It got the small scoffing laugh out of her he had hoped. Her laughing, even the small smile that came to her face then… it made all the fighting worth it so far. Each time he had fought her-no… not her, it was Baelen he fought, no Bella- had been full of pain. He almost died each time; he had wanted to kill her as much as she had wanted to kill him.

Whether it was destiny or not, now he had her back. He'd beaten Baelen, Bella had beaten Baelen, she was gone, dead, buried.

Now it was him and Bella, the last of the Line of Lod. He, Bella and Ciri, the survivors of Cintra.

After everything he had been through, he'd be damned if he let Avallac'h, or Eredin take it from him. He wouldn't be alone again; he wouldn't put one foot back over the edge.

Not when he had so much good now to focus on.

Bella smiled, and to his surprise, lunged forward and hugged him. Her arms of course were armored, and poked into his neck, but he melted into that hug. He hugged back around his sister's waist with one arm his sword falling to his side. Bella had dropped hers, and he felt tears fall onto his neck as she nearly crushed him with her singed skeletal armor on. He was holding his sister again.

He remembered seeing his parents, when he had almost died at Kaer Morhen, and their smiling faces were what came into his mind then.

I got her… mother… father… I got her… I got her…

He missed them more than anything, but at least now he had his sister back. They were the last reminders of Gregory and Sofia of Cintra, two of the greatest people to ever walk the continent.

Squeezing Bella's waist again, he felt a tear go down his own cheek. "I missed you Bell… gods I missed you…. I'm sorry… I'm sorry I didn't-."

"No," she said through tears, pulling back from him. She wiped the tears from her cheek and picked up her sword before she met his eyes, shaking her head. "It's like you said. We'll talk later… me, you and Ciri. We'll all apologize and cry together later yeah?"

He scoffed a laugh and nodded. "We will yeah… be careful Bell."

"I will and you do the same… Caranthir is more powerful then he lets on." She said, turning and sighing as she looked up at the dragons, then towards the battle.

Dominik stepped up next to her once more. "Do you remember Anton?"

Bella spun around her eyes wide. "He's alive!?"

He smiled and nodded. "He is, he's leading the assault with my friends. Faram, George and Freya. Freya will help patch you up best she can. Tell them I sent you."

"Will they trust me?" She said, her tone worried.

Nodding again he smiled. "They will, trust me. Tell them, 'Aen Hanse' they'll be happy to see you."

She nodded again and looked back out towards the opposite end of the Nagalfar. Her eyes went wide as she pointed. "Dominik!"

A loud *BOOOOOM* echoed, and as he turned he saw the puff of smoke shoot up with a swirl of magic.

It came right from where Ciri was.

"Dammit," He cursed, grabbing the swallow with his free hand. He turned to Bella and nodded. "Go!"

He didn't want to leave her, but he trusted her. Also, he trusted his friends to keep her safe when he was gone.

Bella nodded, taking one last longing look at him before she turned and sprinted towards the opposite side of the ship. Magic circled around her limbs, around her arms and she was able to leap and grab the craters edge with ease. She vaulted over the wall and disappeared.

Dominik grabbed the swallow again and turned in the direction of where Ciri was fighting.

"Always try to get to each other…" He said, remembering that night so many years ago in the cave, where he blurted out and admitted that he loved her.

To young Dominik's complete surprise, she loved him back.

It had been history since then. It was then he knew for certain what he wanted for his life.

It was her, and it always had been. Now, was finally his time to take it.

He took control of the magic around him, shooting it through his legs, his arms, and let it invigorate him.

Finally, he sprinted taking off in a faster run then he'd ever moved in his life.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ciri finally had him on the ropes, she could feel it.

Caranthir could see it too.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHH!" She leapt and brought her sword down, her eyes burning with magic, with her powers. Powers that she controlled.

She kept teleporting after Caranthir, she finally had him on the defensive. He came out of a teleport and stumbled, but Ciri was there. She lashed out with the first combo she ever learned, one that Dominik and she used to work on for hours at a time. Caranthir stumbled back as she jumped and struck from the right. He blocked with his staff, but her powers pushed her to move faster. She spun back around off the parry, bringing her sword up from below and like she expected, Caranthir blocked that blow as well, but that left his staff low.

The opening was there, and just like she learned back on the pendulums she spun back around, twisting her sword up towards the Navigator's eyes. Caranthir managed to move, but Ciri still caught the top of her blade and ripped open the Navigator's cheek.

Caranthir screamed as blood flew from his cheek. Ciri's blade had been infused with magic and cut deep. A large piece of what had once been Caranthir's handsome face was bleeding with a gash down to the bone. Ciri swore she could see bone and went to press her advantage again.

Don't look at it, don't look over at the magic. He's fine, he's okay, he'll be here with Bella any second now, she thought as Caranthir blocked her next blow. The magic hurricanes had come back from where Dominik was fighting Bella. It had given Ciri some relief. He was alive, the magic meant he was. It gave Ciri the inspiration she needed to lash out again.

No… when Dominik showed up for her, Caranthir would be dead, his staff broken. After that Eredin was next.

Those explosions though… who's magic is it, his or Bella's? Or is it Eredin's? She knew the King had to be over there, Caranthir had told her that was the plan. It had worked to a tee, and Ciri right away regretted leaving Dominik alone. Or had it been a good thing? Did he get through to Bella like he said he could? Could those hurricanes of magic be the two of them fighting together against Eredin?

A large plume of smoke had been there before the last large explosion. It could have easily been…. No! He's alive Ciri, you know he is, focus on your task.

She turned and saw Caranthir's face gushing blood. Half of his cheek was sliced off, and the magic he emitted roared from him as fiercely as Ciri's did from her. With the magic taking over her eyes she brought her sword down, but Caranthir screamed again, bringing his staff up to block.

Her sword collided with the staff, and Ciri's arms buckled as the magic going through the Navigator's weapon sent up a giant explosion of smoke and magic. Ciri got sent flying back, but she was able to land on her feet crouched. She looked up at Caranthir, who stood heaving across from her. Magic swirled around him like a storm, blood cascading from his ripped cheek. The flap of skin was blowing back in the roaring wind, and the Navigator gripped his face, magic shooting up to it.

He's healing himself! Ciri rushed and teleported forward, but just before she could cut Caranthir through as she landed the Navigator disappeared. A large blast of magic shot outwards, and she got knocked forward. She spun back to her knees and looked up to see Caranthir still standing. She cursed when she saw his cheek reconnected, the magic had healed him. However, she knew from personal experience, that the magic would heal the external wound yes, but the pain would still linger.

"It… matters not here Zireael!" He shouted over to her, spinning his staff and slamming the butt of it into the ground. A ring of magic shot around him blasting Ciri off her feet again. She cringed as she slammed down into the ice again, but the magic that shot through her helped her slowly get back up to her feet.

Caranthir was awash with power. Two massive elementals ripped through portals next to him. They stood at least three of Ciri, made of thick ice and stone. They rushed to Caranthir's side as Ciri got to her feet, blade leveled.

"Soon you will die to fulfill your purpose! I should have killed you when I had the chance," The Navigator yelled, his eyes feral. He shook his head. "But… no! Avallac'h… he insisted on… his plan…. That is all you will ever be Zireael… Auberon's plaything."

Ciri wanted to erupt then, she wanted to lash forward and cut Caranthir in two. The elementals gave her pause, she stood there, feet shifted, and sword leveled, swirling with magic.

If I charge, those elementals will smash me to bits… what did Uncle Vesemir say about them? How did Dominik say he dealt with them?

She remembered him telling her a story about a contract he had on one. And he used dimeritium bombs… and there's that one spot on the head… I'll need to be quick.

"I'll show you a plaything…" Ciri said, grinding her teeth as more magic shot to her eyes. "It was smart of you… separating Dominik and me, it would've been too easy the two of us fighting you together."

Caranthir glared. "You… are as arrogant as Lara was… denying her true purpose, the one she was born for as you do now…. And just like her… you will die!"

Ciri snorted, narrowing her eyes at the point she wished to teleport. "Well… I guess this is just another chance to win…"

Caranthir couldn't say anything before Ciri dashed forward. She didn't teleport right away, but her magically enhanced legs moved her at great speed. Above her, she watched as Borch roared, slamming into Kilgarrah directly over the Nagalfar grappling one another. They snapped and clawed at the other, torrents of blood streaming onto the fighting army below.

Ciri tore her eyes away just as the elementals smashed their fists forward towards her. She slid low on her knees and teleported. Caranthir hadn't expected her to ignore the elementals, so Ciri was able to cut across the Navigator's armor. He roared, swinging his staff and he caught Ciri on the neck.

Her vision blurred as pain shot through her body. She was knocked to the side, but willed the magic to help her. She spun on the ice coming back up to her feet. Blood dripped from her neck, slowly down her chest right over the ring and her medallion. Both gifts from Dominik.

She looked over towards the magic where she knew he was fighting.

And all the magic was gone.

"No… no, no, shit…" She cursed under her breath. Ice crackled near her, and she rolled out of the way of an elemental's fists.

She needed to get back to him, she needed to see him, make sure he was okay. The magic was gone again. Did that mean the duel was finally over? Was he rushing to her now, did he even know where she was?

A massive fists of ice slammed down, and a teleport saved her life. She stumbled coming out and looked up to see one of the elementals rushing her again. She rolled away from another fist and teleported away to get her bearings. After stumbling for a moment her vision cleared, and she looked up.

She had gotten a decent distance away, but the elementals charged towards her again. They moved at a slow pace, which gave her a chance to survey the field. Caranthir stood at a distance, on one knee his hand over his cheek, cursing as he tried to heal it. In the distance the fighting got louder, and louder. Their troops had to be getting closer to the Nagalfar. If they did, would Eredin show himself? Would he try to slaughter all of her friends? She couldn't take that risk. She needed to be the one facing or against Eredin, Dominik or Geralt.

Geralt… he's frozen somewhere. We won't be getting anywhere without him or the other frozen Nilfgaardeans. I need to end this, she thought as she looked to Caranthir and the elementals getting closer, and it needs to be soon… maybe I can-.

A loud piercing roar of a dragon shook her limbs. Her eyes widened as she leapt and ducked behind a stuck piece of a ship. A giant stream of ice blasted through the crater she fought in followed by another roar. The elementals were unaffected, but she looked over and saw Caranthir barely get a shield up in time to defend himself. Kilgarrah flew dangerously close to the ground, Broch circling overhead. What was Kilgarrah doing down here so close to the ground?

"ARGHHH COME ON, KILGARRAH!" A voice shouted, ripping over the wind and into he depths of Ciri's soul.

Her eyes widened when she looked on Kilgarrah's neck. A head of flowing brown hair, a gleaming steel sword on her hands.

Bella.

Ciri narrowed her eyes, trying to see what the sword looked like but couldn't make it out. Panic raced through her. She watched as Bella struggled and yelled trying to get a hold of Kilgarrah's neck to steady herself. Bella screamed and pleading with the dragon to no avail. Kilgarrah flapped his massive wings taking off higher into the air. He snaked his massive head around to his neck as he rose, snapping at Bella who slid backwards, grabbing onto the dragon's massive bleeding, white wing.

No… no, no, no if Bella's there it… it could mean that…. She didn't want to finish the thought. That sword in Bella's hand could very well be Dominik's the one he carried his entire journey, the one Ciri had repaired for him back in Novigrad.

And if she had it… and was alive... NO! Stop it Ciri…. Stop it, he's alive, he turned Bella back to our side, he's coming for you now!

She had no way of knowing it was true. And suddenly, she saw Kaer Morhen over again. Eredin's sword through Dominik's leg, his sword cutting across his face, not feeling his chest moving on the ground after she awoke. He had died… she had no idea how he started breathing again. If not for Geralt they would have thought him dead.

Had she failed him again? Had he been cut down without him there?

She watched as Bella yelled again, pulling herself back onto Kilgarrah's back as the dragon flew in circle's above the Nagalfar, searching for Borch and trying to buck Bella off his back. Bella stumbled, gripping whoever's sword she held.

Another loud roar signaled Borch's arrival. Ciri looked as she saw the mass of gold on a collision course with Kilgarrah above the battlefield. Bella stumbled still, but soon her and Ciri both looked and saw a massive stream of fire came for the white dragon. Kilgarrah reared his neck back and fired his stream of ice, and just before they collided, sending up a giant explosion and plume of smoke Bella leapt.

Ciri watched her form in black armor-swirling with the same magic Dominik always used- zoom down towards the battlefield. Finally she disappeared in a puff of frost, and on the other side of the Nagalfar, in the middle of the battle, Ciri saw a giant wall of fire erupt.

Where was Dominik? If Bella had been away from the battle… then he should be as well.

Ciri's eyes began to sting, she felt blood trickle down her chest, the ring and her medallion bouncing in the violent wind.

"Aha… it seems… Baelen," Caranthir said, stepping up between his elementals, "has… succeeded in her task… now… for me to succeed in mine."

"Dominik…" Ciri said shakily, tears starting to well in her eyes.

She grabbed the ring around her neck, her heart thumping faster behind her chest. She squeezed, like she had done so many times during her years alone.

In Tir'Nala, stuck with the Rats, every night she was on the run… she had done the same thing. That ring was her reminder her was out there, that Geralt, Yennefer, her family was out there.

But most importantly it reminded her that he loved her, and he wouldn't stop fighting until he found her.

And whether he was dead or alive then… she wouldn't stop fighting then. She couldn't. Not after all she had done to get herself and him to that point.

He is alive… I know he is…. And our life starts now! No more!

"No more… no more of this…" She said, her eyes welling with magic again. They churned violently as she turned back towards Caranthir again. The smirk had returned to his face.

"I'm going to kill you… every last one of you…." She said slowly, leveling her sword again.

And with a burst of magic she blinked forward.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Bella was excellent at executing stupid plans. It had been a specialty of hers her entire life.

At least she thought it was.

Who even was she at that point? Was she Bella of Cintra, the daughter of Gregory and Sofia, sister to Dominik? Was she Eivor and Anora's little girl, the strange orphan who had fallen from the sky, the one all the village boys and girls whispered was a freak with strange powers and 'incidents'?

Or was she really Baelen… and she was simply fooling herself.

I made you Baelen. I helped you discover the true person you are. No matter what you do, you will always belong to me. I will forever be a part of who you are….

Eredin's words cut through her brain like a hot knife. Was she really fooling herself? Even if her brother forgave her, if Ciri forgave her, how would she ever be able to live with herself?

Enough! Stop it Bael…. Bella…. Stop it right now. Do what is right… it isn't too late.

It was what Dominik told her. That it wasn't too late to make a different choice… the right choice.

And what she chose now, was to defend her world, her brother, and the only ones left who genuinely loved her.

So that was why she ran for the edge.

She found the largest ledge she could from the jutting chasms and the debris of the ships. Up in the sky Kilgarrah flew from the gold dragon, his wing was bleeding heavily, along with spots on his body and neck. It was just like before, his eyes were no longer gold, but red with a black web.

She stepped over the body of a dead man who had been impaled in a jutting piece of wood on one of the wrecked ships.

You did this… all of this death… it was all because of you….. Bodies were strewn about, mangled, bleeding, limbs severed, heads smashed. Blood stained the decks and wood of the splintered ships. Bella did all she could to not focus on the stench of the corpses, or the groaning of some men still left clinging to some semblance of life. They were Nilfgaardeans yes… but they were still people, and she had killed them.

Her skin burned, tingling down her arms, in her chest. It was all around her, staring at her as she broke off in a run.

I did this… what kind of monster does this, she said almost slipping on a fresh trail of blood, you're no better then they are, they burned Cintra to the ground… child's play compared to what I've done.

She looked down over the edge, at the battle taking place just near the Nagalfar. It seemed to be that Eredin's forces were waning, but Bella knew better than to get excited. The King was waiting, biding his time for Caranthir to deal with Ciri, for Dominik to come to him, it was exactly what he wanted. Should she have really let Dominik go off to Caranthir and Ciri on his own? She hadn't told him the complete truth. The truth was, she feared Caranthir even more than she did Eredin.

The Navigator had been inside her mind, seen her real memories, found her emotions. He had seen Cintra, Brekka, Eivor and Anora… Kendra. He had seen them all, all those memories and twisted them, corrupted them to fit their vision.

To make her think they were her only salvation. How could she have fought the one who had seen so intimately into her mind?

She was a coward, but she still needed to do something.

Down below she saw the front of the army Dominik had managed to gather. It was mix of Skelligers and knights.

Knights wearing the Cintran coat of arms across their armor.

From the front however, Bella managed to spot the other witchers, Dominik's friends he had told her meet to up with. She recognized them by the Bear School Witcher. The one she had fought at Kaer Morhen. The mountain of a man stood near the front of the army, broken off from the main group of soldiers. It seemed him, and another small group were trying to capture the main plank to get onto the Nagalfar's deck. Bella recognized the others; she had seen enough visions and dreams of her brother to know.

The one in glistening green and gold armor would be the witcher from Toussaint, George. Next to him and the Bear Witcher Faram, were two women wearing outfits which seemed to be Zerrikanian in origin. What they wore was extremely revealing, and Bella had no idea how they were fighting in such wind and snow.

The final one she saw was the blonde. Bella held onto a jutted-out piece of the destroyed ship, the wind blowing her hair behind her. It was freezing, and between the rain and snow it was hard to see but she got a good view of the girl fighting.

She spun with enough grace and precision to leave Bella impressed. She cut down the trained riders with ease, spinning off the two witchers and their companions. The hair on her arms stuck up under her charred and singed armor, as her eyes stung from the rapid wind and her heart thumped at an alarming rate.

Freya will patch you up best she can, tell them I sent you, Dominik had said. Bella winced, grabbing her shoulder and seeing the blood was still pooling. The magic around her was running low, Dominik had somehow gotten even better control of it then she had so she needed to be careful with how much she used when another fight came. The wound was only a small cut now, but still it bled slowly, and there was nothing the magic could do about the internal pain.

Freya will patch you up best she can… but would she really? Would any of them even trust her? How would that even be possible after what she had done?

Trust Dominik, he said they would… trust him. Yes… she had to. She had made the choice, the choice not to kill her brother, to do what had felt right in her heart for so many weeks.

She only hoped that choice didn't come too late.

The dragon's roaring took her attention away from the fighting as she shot her gaze up. Kilgarrah and the gold dragon had disappeared into the clouds, giving the armies a moment to not focus on hiding from them. Bella had been waiting. She had no idea if anything other than killing Eredin could break the spell on the dragon, but she had to try, she had to do something.

After all I've done… this has to be the start.

She saw Kilgarrah zip down from above, the gold dragon right behind. Bella stepped back, using some of the magic she had left to power her legs. She took off in a run through the wind and snow, and just as Kilgarrah came speeding in front of her she leapt.

The magic around her legs helped her soar into the air and focusing solely on the back of Kilgarrah's neck she focused the magic. She pulled on the power of the white frost as she'd been shown for years. It worked yes, as she felt the cold, the ice surround her… but why did it suddenly feel like she was being ripped apart? She traveled the distance in the teleport, but as she landed, she right away felt as if she needed to throw up over the sides. It was as if someone had set off a bomb in the pit of her stomach.

The feeling was erased when Kilgarrah's roar smashed into her ears.

"ARGHHHHHH! DAMMIT! KILGARRAH! IT'S ME, IT'S BELLA!" She shouted over the wind as Kilgarrah swung his neck frantically. Bella had landed on his back like she planned, but the moment she hit his neck Kilgarrah tried to buck her off. She shouted at him in Elder Speech, the language she knew he spoke best, but nothing seemed to matter.

The wind tore through her hair as she felt Coram loosening in her hands. She tightened her grip on the sword and grabbed tight to the crook where Kilgarrah's left wing met his body. Gritting her teeth Bella turned just as the dragon tried to snap at her. She rolled out of the way, the wind and speed at which Kilgarrah moved taking her up into the air.

Cursing and focusing her magic to her arms she grabbed onto the dragon's wing again. She had to duck when a stream of fire passed just nearly over her head. She felt part of her hair singed as it blew back. The wind quickly snuffed out the flames, but she had to strain her arms to pull herself back to Kilgarrah's back.

The gold dragon had finally caught up to them. She yelled as she could feel the strain on her arm almost becoming too much, but Bella pulled herself back over to the dragon's white and bloody torso. On Kilgarrah's spine, she held onto both sides, careful not to drop her sword as she climbed. All over Kilgarrah's back she saw deep cuts and bleeding gashes. Bella knew it would take much more to bring the dragon down, but with each pull to get herself closer to his neck, the more she felt herself remembering how easy it could have been for her to prevent this.

The pain to Kilgarrah, the pain to her brother, Ciri, all the people she had murdered… and most importantly the pain to herself. She didn't care what Dominik said. It wasn't 'just alright' like he claimed.

No, she had a long road ahead of her. A long road before she could stand to be the person in her own skin again, to even be able to look at her own reflection.

A journey is not a journey unless it has a beginning….. You must take responsibility for what you have done… if you fall… you will rise again each time… a better person.

Eivor's words, her second father.

Truer words had never been spoken.

I can't stop… the journey… it starts now!

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She yelled as she pulled up and launched herself forward onto Kilgarrah's neck, wrapping her legs around the white scales. Kilgarrah bucked again but feeling a sudden surge of magic swirling in her gut Bella held firm, holding one hand onto Kilgarrah's horn and the other onto Coram.

The roar of the gold dragon grew distant, as Bella looked to the side and realized how close she and Kilgarrah had gotten to the ground. She looked up and saw the gold dragon circling above, and the minute she turned around Kilgarrah snapped. Bella avoided the jaws and looked again at how close they were to the ground.

They were at one edge of the Nagalfar, and soon they flew over a crater. A crater where Bella felt a familiar pool of magic energy. Still feeling herself more saturated with power she gripped steadily again onto Kilgarrah's back and looked to the crater where the dragon seemed to be dive-bombing for.

She saw Ciri, the familiar feeling of her magical signature hitting her senses.

Her eyes widened as Ciri fought off an assault from Caranthir, two ice elementals rushing for her. She had injured the Navigator, but Bella saw her get caught off guard by the elemental, before Caranthir struck at her. She was knocked off balance to the ground, before she teleported away, towards the other side of the crater.

Kilgarrah roared again, and Bella began to panic, grabbing onto Kilgarrah's horn and yanking upwards, as she'd always done when she rode the dragon before.

"ARGHHHHH DAMMIT! KILGARRAH!" She tried to shout and reason with the dragon again, but her voice fell on deaf ears. Putting all she could into it she pulled, and just before Kilgarrah could slam into the ground he pulled up.

Bella swore she saw Ciri staring at her. She caught her eye for only a moment before Kilgarrah shot up into the air again over th giant mast of the Nagalfar.

She screamed and finally felt herself thrown from the dragon's neck. Kilgarrah circled with speed around the top of the mast, and despite gripping with all she had her hand slipped from the horn. For a minute she fell, almost dropping her sword again. The wind blew her like a ragged doll in the wind, but she reached out and managed to catch onto the top of Kilgarrah's massive white wing again.

"KILGARRAH PLEASE! YOU NEED TO FIGHT IT! I'M SORRY!" She tried to yell again, but when Kilgarrah's eyes turned back to her they were still blood red. He roared again and for a moment Bella thought he was going to blast her with a gust of ice to an icy death below.

The ice almost came from Kilgarrah's maw, but the roaring of the gold dragon stopped him. Bella turned as she gripped her armored hand onto the dragon's wing. It caused Kilgarrah to rapidly flap his free one as the gold dragon quickly dove from above. From just above the Nagalfar Bella saw it. Its golden scales were bloody, but it moved with speed equal to that of Kilgarrah's. It opened its mouth as it sped down, and Bella could see the fire build up in the back of the beast's throat.

She looked desperately to Kilgarrah, who roared defiantly. A massive cloud of frost gathered around the white dragon's mouth, and all Bella could see was the red eyes, unwavering.

I can't break it… nothing will, she thought looking down towards the army then back towards the icy planes leading to the crater Ciri had been fighting at. Narrowing her eyes, she spotted her brother. Holding onto the wing she focused on him, the massive storm of magic forming around him.

Dominik sprinted across the planes towards where Ciri was, leaving streams of magic in his wake. How did he get control like that? How did he have so much magic still? How did he find that power in himself?

Maybe… because he knows what he's fighting for, like he said… Ciri, his friends… me. Bella wanted to help him, leap down and join him in running towards Caranthir.

But she looked back towards the army. A fresh set of new riders had emerged on the summoning deck of the Nagalfar. At least a dozen riders, led by a massive elemental made of stone. It stomped through the Nagalfar ahead of the troops. The monster was massive, Bella had learned that Eredin, Caranthir and other Navigator's could summon the beasts with ease. It was at least twenty feet tall, and it smashed through a line of soldiers as it jumped from the Nagalfar.

It stomped over soldiers, smashing and sending them flying away. It wrecked its way towards the gangplank leading onto the Nagalfar, the battle that was happening there. It picked up one soldier and smashed its head in with its other fists, before roaring, glowing with the magic that brought it to life.

Finally, it turned to where the gangplank was leading onto the ships deck. Right towards her brother's friends. The Bear Witcher-Faram- screamed first rushing to try and intercept but he was knocked back. The Griffin witcher tried a sign, but the blast from his Aard sign was no use, and his sword even less so.

Freya the blonde reached for her belt and darted forward. Bella's eyes widened as she ducked and rolled under an attack, sticking something in the cracks of the rocks that made up the elemental's body. She ran for cover with her allies, and a large explosion sent shrapnel up in an explosion. The elemental tumbled, but soon regained its footing.

No… that won't work, she said, looking at her brother's friends all slowly having to retreat, they're going to lose all their progress…

She looked back over to Dominik, getting closer as he ran towards Ciri. He'd be alright, especially if Ciri fought with him. Bella had fought them both at the same time, she knew how unstoppable it could be.

No… he'd want me to save his friends, she thought, looking to Coram in her hands as she dangled from Kilgarrah's wing, I don't think it'll cut through stone normally… but maybe…

She bit her lip as the wind almost threw her from the wing. Another roar came, as she looked and saw the gold dragon getting closer, fire starting to spit from his mouth. Kilgarrah reared back his head and ice shot in a spiral from his jaw.

Making her decision Bella leapt, using her legs to propel her as far as she could, just as the massive explosion of fire and ice collided above the Nagalfar.

Despite knowing what she was doing, Bella screamed as she fell at first. The explosion of fire and ice sent smoke up around her, but she kept her course, looking down as she fell from hundreds of feet in the sky towards the battle below.

Her eyes fell on the elemental, who had picked up another soldier and threw the poor man dozens of feet across the battlefield. It moved towards Dominik's friends, and that was when Bella finally got control of the fall. She felt the saturation of power come back to her, and she focused it all into her limbs and her sword. She watched as the magic spiraled up her sword, and again she realized that it wasn't dark blue like it normally had been.

It was bright, vibrant, and made her feel more alive than it ever had.

Her hair streamed out behind her, she narrowed her eyes and realized the elemental had to be even taller than she once assumed. She narrowed herself, holding her arms to her sides and letting herself fall with even more speed. Dominik's friends had tried to fight the elemental again, Faram tried to use his strength to keep it at bay, but even the Bear School Witcher wasn't strong enough. He was knocked back into the line of soldiers, and Bella saw it advance on Freya, and George, the rest of the innocent men and women just fighting to defend their homes.

"I will take responsibility for what I've done…." She whispered to herself as she fell, the elemental getting closer, closer and closer.

Her eyes closed, and she saw everything that had been taken from her. Two families, a woman she loved, her innocence, her very mind.

It was nothing compared to what she had taken from other people in the last two years.

She had harmed people, had killed so, so many, ruined the lives of more… and she wouldn't run from it.

A journey awaited her, a long one, but all journeys started somewhere. She wasn't going to let anyone else die in something she could have prevented.

And she'd be damned if she let them take her brother, and his friends, the only things she had left.

Her eyes opened, and she felt magic erupt in them. "And if I must fall… I will rise each time a better person!"

The magic shot from her like a supernova. She teleported away in a puff of frost, and when she reappeared she found herself falling just above the elemental that was going to smash more of the soldiers. The massive beasts of stone raised one of its fists, and Bella screamed as she raised up her sword. She fell down and swung, it smashed into the rock and Coram, runes glowing, and edges spurred on by magic cut through it like a piece of parchment.

Soldiers screamed and retreated around her, but Bella kept her focus. Her sword cut down and smashed into the snowy ground below. She shouted out in Elder Speech and flames erupted forward in a massive wall, engulfing dozens of the riders that had come from the Nagalfar, sending them back in a burning blaze as if fire from a trebuchet. The blazing riders scurried, screaming and dying as a large cheer went up from the left flank of the army.

Bella's feet slammed into the ground, it would have killed her normally or at least broken her legs. Her magic softened the blow, and with a loud thud both sides of the elemental fell besides her into the ice.

She breathed heavily, stumbling for a moment as the magic slowly subsided from around her and Coram. Around her it formed in a sort of fine mist. She reached out to it, willing it to heal her fatigue and it quickly went to work. A long breath left her, as she slowly turned back around.

She turned around to the sight of Dominik's friends, stunned looks on their faces.

All of them looked at her, hands tightly wrapped around their swords. Faram, George, the two Zerrikanian women, and Freya. Panic built up inside her for a moment. She looked down at her armor, singed and burned, but still… it was the armor many of the riders they were currently fighting wore.

The irrational side of her brain and the rational side fought over simply discarding it. The rational side was winning out, she didn't think it wise to throw away her armor in the middle of battle.

But each second she wore it, her skin crawled. She looked over at Dominik's friends, and found herself at a loss for words.

Around them it was calm for a moment, but she knew the left flank would close in on them soon, so she forced herself to speak.

"Uh… um… hello," She said, feeling dreadfully awkward. She looked over all of them. "I… I'm-."

"You're Bella!" Freya said, stepping up from the right a smile on her blood-stained face. The blonde scoffed, her large sky-blue eyes somehow full of excitement. "You're Dom's sister! Guys, he did it!"

Bella in the middle of the battle, found herself blushing. "I… I am, how… how did you know-."

"Ha, well you look just like him!" Freya said, walking up towards her. Bella instinctively flinched back, which made Freya pause for a moment. She tilted her head at Bella, before reaching to the bandolier on her shoulder, and holding a small vial out for Bella to take. "Here take this, I know you probably have magic like Dom to heal you, but this will help the fatigue."

Bella looked at the vial for a moment. She looked next to Freya's eyes, trying to gage how sincere she was. Her blue eyes were large and wide, black bags forming under them. She had clearly been fighting for a long time. Bella was nervous, but she reached and took the vial with a nod. Uncorking it she took a moment but drank.

A relieved sigh left her, as the effects were almost instant, the taste of strawberries flooding her tastebuds. It was the best tasting potion, or drink Bella had in weeks.

She scoffed, tossing the vial aside and nodding at Freya. "Ha… thank you. Oh, um, Dom told me to tell you… Aen Hanse? I don't know what it means but-."

"HA! I knew the stubborn bastard would pull it off!" Faram cut her off, eagerly jogging over to her. Bella tried to scramble back, but Faram caught up to her and clapped her back. He clapped it with a laugh so hard Bella almost fell forward. He beamed a smile down at her. "Welcome to the family lassie! Now tell us, where is our intrepid hero?"

"Yes, we have been waiting for word of his progress," George said, joining them with the two Zerikannian women. He looked at Bella and smiled, nodding dutifully. "And do you know of Ciri? Our progress has been steady, but we cannot advance until Caranthir is dealt with."

Bella's insides churned as she looked at them. All of them smiled at her, smiled as if nothing was wrong. Shaking off her astonishment she looked at them all again.

She let out a slow shaky breath. "Ciri's fighting Caranthir I saw her when I was atop Kilgarrah. Af… after Dominik and I… fought, he went to help Ciri, I went to try and free Kilgarrah."

"Not successful I take it?" Freya said, her hand gripped around a longsword as she looked up to the two dragons fighting again.

Bella shook her head. "No… the spell is too strong. It's linked to Caranthir and Eredin. It will only break if Caranthir and Eredin die."

"Ha! What are we waiting for! Let's go clear a path to the bastard then!" Faram said slapping her on the back again. He smirked down at Bella hefting his silver to his shoulder. "Between all of us!? Fucker doesn't stand a chance! I know firsthand how tough you are lass, gave me a right thrashing you did at Kaer Morhen!"

She cringed and sank into her shoulders. "Yes… um.. I… I'm sorry about that I-."

"Bah no need to apologize lass!" The Bear Witcher said, spinning his sword and turning towards the left flank. "Let's go help clear a path! After Dom and Ciri are back we take the ship!"

"And the soldiers frozen by the spell," George said with a nod, looking to Bella with a smile. "I assume you are with us my dear? That was a display of magic like I've never seen!"

Bella found words hard for her again. She fumbled for words as the wind nipped at her cheeks. It was all so much. Why were they being so accepting? What had Dominik told them about her? Was he really that confident she was going to flip sides?

She stumbled under the weight of their glares. "Yes I… but first I… I wanted to… to say, well I um-."

"Of course she's with us! If Dom trusts her, then we all trust her," Freya said, coming to her aid. The blonde stood next to her and smiled with a nod. "Together, we can end this! Come on, let's go help Anton on the left, and retake the plank onto the ship!"

The others all nodded, and Bella didn't know if she was blushing or if her cheeks were just red from the snow. George, Faram along with the Zerrikanian women took off towards the left. It took Bella a minute to recover her mind, and let what happened sink in.

Of course she's with us! We all trust her. How could they? She was the enemy no less then an hour ago.

"Hey, I know you're probably nervous, but it's alright, you can trust us!" Freya said, grabbing onto her arm. Bella turned and the blonde smiled at her again. Her ponytail blew back behind her as she nodded assuredly. "You're Dom's sister, that makes you a part of this family."

"How can you trust me? Just like that?" She spit out without thinking, her eyes spiking with tears threatening as she met Freya's gaze. "I was just your enemy an hour ago. I… I almost killed Dom and I-."

"But you didn't," Freya said, smiling again. "You made the right choice. And like I said, I trust Dom with my life, if he trusts you then so do I. And you can trust us, we all look out for each other. Everything that happened is in the past, all we can do is look forward now."

Bella knew she was blushing this time. Slowly she nodded, her skin tingling as a smile managed to come to her face. "Thank you…."

Freya smiled again. Did she always smile that much? She let go of Bella's arm and nodded towards where the others had gone. "You're welcome, now come on and let's-."

A loud *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM* cut her off, and almost made them both fall. Every soldier seemed to stop and for a moment there was nothing but silence. Bella frantically looked to where she saw a new plume of smoke clearing in the air, the dragon's sill in the clouds.

"What was that!?" Freya asked frantically, coming next to Bella again.

Bella looked over towards the explosion, her mouth going dry. "That… that came from where Ciri was fighting Caranthir."

"Then that must mean Dom reached her right? Did they kill him?" Freya asked.

Bella looked up towards the ship, portals were still opening. The battle soon resumed, as more started pouring from the Nagalfar, but soon something stopped them.

All around them ice and snow started torrentially falling from the sky. The wind picked up speed, chunks of ice fell over Bella's head, her and Freya both were forced to hold them up. It got darker around the battlefield, the only light that of the fires burning along the graveyard of ships. The air got colder, the wind nippier, as the snow turned to rain, a torrential rain that pounded against Bella's neck.

The spell that covered the Hunt's arrival, the icy sphere, it had been broken.

"Ciri did it… she broke Caranthir's staff," Bella said slowly, looking over to Freya. "She… she actually did it."

"That's good right?" Freya said her eyes beginning to panic. "You said it was… but then why do you still look scared."

Bella gulped as she saw the portals still opening on the deck of the Nagalfar, before she looked back over towards where she knew Ciri, and soon Dominik would be.

Slowly she shook her head. "Because… Caranthir isn't dead. His staff may be broken, but portals are still opening. That means he's still alive."

Freya looked at her frantically. "But you said that-."

"Ciri might have broken the staff…" Bella said, suddenly feeling every bruise Caranthir had ever given her pulse. "But… it doesn't mean she killed him."

"What can we do!? We have to help her!" Freya said.

Bella met the blonde's eyes. "Dom's on his way, and… he won't let anything happen to her. And soon the frozen soldiers should be waking up, we need to press now!"

Freya scoffed. "But we can't just leave them to fight alone! What about-."

"You said you trust me," Bella said, "well trust me now when I say, Dominik won't let Caranthir kill him… he'll be alright. Let's go help the rest of your troops, he's going to meet up with us here!"

Bella looked at Freya and waited for the blonde to scream at her, to demand they go now, to question whether or not Bella truly was on their side.

However, she simply nodded. "Okay… come on let's go!"

She turned and ran, leaving Bella stunned again. She took one last look over towards the crater and sighed.

"Be careful big brother… you to… big sister," She said slowly, feeling guilty even saying the words. How did she think she had the right?

After that, Bella turned and took off towards where Freya had run.

It had to start somewhere.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ciri had never felt so awash with power. Was this really the full extent of it? With each second that past she felt it move quicker through her limbs, it invigorated her, and most importantly bent to her will.

She leapt, her eyes awash with magic as her sword stuck into the first elemental before it even had a chance to move. The magic swept down her blade sinking into the icy flesh like sand. The second one went to smash its massive arm towards her, but she leapt back and disappeared again, landing with her legs wide hand on the ground ready to rush again.

Caranthir looked stunned, as he stumbled back. The fragments of the elemental exploded, cutting across his scarred face. His blonde hair stuck out at all angles, his neck and cheeks were bloody as he steadied himself. He growled and slammed the bottom of his staff into the ground, and the next elemental attacked.

Ciri had been expecting it. The first lesson she and Dominik both learned at Kaer Morhen was to always- no matter who it was- to have respect for your opponent's skill. You needed to treat every foe like they had the capability of killing you while you fought, even if you knew for a fact that they were nowhere near your equal.

Caranthir and the Hunt had made one of the largest mistakes you could make, they underestimated her.

She dashed forward as the elemental smashed its hand down towards her. Ciri was simply too quick, she teleported around the fist, behind the beast, slashing at its joints. Her sword cut it like it would a normal person thanks to the magic, and the elemental roared. Dominik had told her normally only silver and bombs would be effective, and she cursed herself for not taking him up on his offer of lessons to make some of the more advanced bombs he'd learn to make.

However, with the power she felt then, she didn't know if she'd need it, or if he'd ever need it. It was salivating, thinking of the amount of good Dominik and she could do with their combined powers. How many people could they save? How many lives could they change for the better if they continued learning to hone their powers?

She needed to get to him first, and they needed to end this.

The elemental roared and tripped forward, and Ciri went to press her advantage, but she heard the portal open behind her. She spun and got her sword up in time to block Caranthir's strike as his staff came down on her head. Before her knees had buckled, but now Ciri held firm, she pushed up as the Navigator looked down at her. His eyes were bloodshot, formally pale green. He must have been considered handsome amongst the elves. Had he been there when Avallac'h forced her to go to Tir'Nala? She couldn't remember.

She'd remember if she'd had seen him. The types like Caranthir were the worst, the ones who charmed you with their good looks, but were really more monstrous then any scaled beast you'd encounter in the wild.

"You… are too late Zireael," He shouted, pressing down on her sword, "your efforts… are futile. You and his descendent will die!"

"We'll see about that!" She said, the magic flashing in her eyes again as she teleported forward.

Caranthir had expected it because he disappeared before she could. She spun back around to see the Navigator stumbling. Her eyes widened, her lips practically salivating as she saw the perfect opportunity to lunge. She readied herself to move, but the elemental got to her first. It's massive icy fist almost crushed her head, but she rolled forward and spun back around, and teleported forward again her sword pointed. She reappeared and her momentum carried her sword right into the center of the elemental's chest. It's core rippled with magic, and Ciri blinked forward again her sword cleaving through the ice and cutting the beast in half.

It fell to the ground in chunks of ice just as another cloud of magic erupted over near the opposite side of the Nagalfar. The blast had come from exactly where Bella had landed, and Ciri could feel her magic radiating, the cloud left by the magic still clearing above as Borch and Kilgarrah darted up into the sky.

"Ahh… Baelen… has done her job," Caranthir's voice droned from behind her. Ciri spun to see the Navigator standing again, that fucking smirk on his face as he looked at her. "Your vision… your little lovers… pathetic hope has turned to ash. They BOTH will die here today… you have failed… you all have failed again."

No! Stop, don't listen, you know better than he does, she thought, her eyes unable to leave the cloud of magic. Dominik still wasn't there yet.. but she could feel his magical signature, she could feel his magic. Only it was stronger, it was if it had somehow doubled. Her eyes didn't leave the cloud Bella had left behind. How was it possible? She knew Dominik had power, the power of his ancestors, but what she felt then it was more than she had ever felt.

She couldn't explain the magic, but she knew one thing… Bella being there either meant she had come back to them like Dominik had predicted… or she had killed him.

It had been her worst fear that she left him to die again…and she could have just let it happen.

"How many more… must die Zireael?" Caranthir said, as Ciri heard the footsteps getting closer. "How many must die… because you refuse your purpose?"

No… he's alive… I know it, they all are. They're relying on you… do something for them… finally do something, she thought, her back still turned to Caranthir as the footsteps got closer.

"It is as Eredin said… you are weak. You will all soon bow to us," He said, the steps right behind her now. "You will not escape it again… this is the only reason left for your miserable existence… you filthy half-breed."

Tears finally welled in her eyes. Not because she was upset, not because she was hurt. Not because Dominik could be dead-she knew he couldn't be- not because of Caranthir's words.

The tears fell because she knew that day, she truly wasn't that same foolish little girl that had been trapped in Tir'Nala so many years ago. She was something more, so much more.

Her hand tightened around her sword. Their worst nightmare has come true… a half-breed controls their sacred power….

A small part of her hoped that Lara Dorren would be proud. Happy her power was finally going to be used for good when that day was over.

"And now… you die, and then finally you shall… be of use," Caranthir said, he was only a step away from her now.

Ciri let the magic dissolve, and Caranthir took the bait.

She imagined his smirk behind her, as he cackled and swung his staff. The wind picked up again, and just as the staff swung for her head Ciri shot the magic through her again. Within a second she had teleported her power under her complete control.

Caranthir swung and missed, striking on the air as Ciri reappeared behind him. She knelt and struck across the Navigator's torso with everything she had. Blood sprayed as Caranthir yelled in pain and Ciri went back on the attack. She spun and came back up for another attack, but the stumbling Navigator disappeared in a puff of frost.

Ciri spun right away as she heard the groans of pain. Magic exploding from her like a bomb she spotted Caranthir knelt and stumbling out of his teleport. She pressed, feeling the power surging in her and blinked forward with her sword pointed out, intent on cutting clean through the Navigator's body.

At the last second he noticed her, blinking again and stumbling away, but Ciri was on him before he could recover. She yelled and leapt, her anger erupting out of her as she came down. Caranthir had to teleport again less she cut through him, and Ciri finally knew she had him. She had the opportunity she had been looking for and she took it. She spotted him again and teleported, the magic working the second she commanded it.

She came down on him again from behind. He spun and saw her, teleporting away, but Ciri knew exactly where he was going.

As soon as she landed, like she was spinning on the pendulums again she rounded back spinning and cutting her sword up just as he reappeared. Caranthir managed to block part of the blow with his staff but Ciri's sword still cut up across his chest. Blood sported from the Navigator as he growled in pain, but Ciri brought her sword back down before he could do anything else. The strike was blocked but using one of her first learned combos she dropped to her knees and cut across the side of his calf. Her sword hit the slits of his armor and he fell to one knee as she rounded for another strike.

He blocked the first strike but Ciri's magic overpowered his knocking his staff off balance. Ciri spun, coming back around and striking from below, bring her sword up just as Caranthir desperately raised his staff up to block again. Her magic overpowered her again, and with an explosion Caranthir's staff went flying from his hands, and the Navigator got sent flying back.

Ciri lowered her sword, looking out as Caranthir groaned out in pain, his blood soaking up the icy crater beneath him. He was alive- she knew better- but she had beaten him, she finally saw it. Her eyes were awash with power, her vision was tinted white blue, it felt as if her veins were going to pop out of her limbs, but the power was hers to control.

Caranthir's face was scared, it bled but he grabbed onto his stomach as he stumbled, his staff just out of his reach. Magic swirled from the top of it, still active and seeing the Navigator move pushed Ciri into action.

"CIRI!"

His voice stopped her, she spun back around and saw Dominik sprinting along the top of the crater. Ciri's heart leapt out of her chest. She knew he was alive but seeing him sprinting towards her made happier to see him then she had ever been save for the Isle of Mists.

He was worse for ware, his armor was singed and cut through. He bled from some placed on his neck, but magic swirled around him in a large cloud of mist as it had been before.

He was alive, and that was all Ciri needed.

However, upon seeing him she realized something else.

Bella really had been trying to tame Kilgarrah. Dominik had done it. Baelen was dead. Bella had won.

She had time to smile at him, but when she saw his eyes widened her heart dropped.

"CIRI BEHIND!" He pointed out behind her, with his free hand. He had his silver drawn and ripped his crossbow from his waist taking aim behind her. His bolt fired and Ciri spun with it.

It just barely grazed off Caranthir's cheek as he scrambled for his staff. Ciri's magic returned to her in a second and she rushed forward.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed as she leapt, the magic enveloping her body again.

"CIRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Dominik yelled out behind her, his voice drowning in the wind as Ciri leapt forward.

Caranthir scrambled to pick up his staff but Ciri kept her course. She thrusted out right towards Caranthir's head. Dominik, she saw in her peripheral had just about reached Caranthir with his silver, but it was too late.

Ciri's sword smashed into the top of Caranthir's staff, and all the magic that had been holding the barrier of magic and ice around them, all of Caranthir's magic that he poured into the staff seemed to shoot back up her arms. Her own magic collided with it, and she heard a loud shatter as the *BOOOOOOOOOOOM* of the magic exploded outwards.

Her head hit the ground, and her mouth tasted like it was full of sand. She groaned out as pain shot through her chest. Shakily she spun and after three tries got her sword back in its sheath on her back. She tried to get up, but the moment she tried to crawl and put any pressure on her legs she fell back to the ground onto her stomach.

Gods… did… did I fail? Did… did I lose again? Pain shot through her head even trying to think. Her entire body tingled as if it was on fire. Yennefer had told her, that there was such a thing as too much magic coursing through your body at once. Had that been what happened? Had she absorbed too much magic in the blow?

She blinked and her vision returned to her. She could barely move her limbs, but when she was able to see she groaned. Above her, she could feel rain starting to fall down into her eyes. It wasn't snowing anymore, the ice sphere that had been surrounding them was gone. She breathed out in relief, but still felt the tingling fire coursing up her arms. The only light she could see was from the moon, and from the fires burning near the battle. Never in her life had she felt such fatigue. She pushed the magic carefully through her limbs to try and heal any wounds, but the magic was only good at healing external injuries quickly, it took much longer for it to heal the fatigue.

One thought did race through her mind, however. She had done it, Caranthir's staff was broke.

But you still have to get up… come on! Get your ass up Ciri, come on! She tried to urge herself up, but the ache in her bones was simply too much. All her limbs felt seconds away from breaking each time she tried to move. She could only roll but pushing through the pain she felt around her neck.

Both were still there, her new medallion and the ring. She always instinctively made sure it was there, after every teleport, every fight, that wouldn't change now.

Now you have to get up… fucking move, she thought. Dominik had been caught in the blast, and Geralt would be somewhere now. Her friends, all of them, they still had work to do.

"Almost… Zireael," A raspy voice came, and Ciri managed to turn her head. Caranthir, covered in bruises and bleeding, but still somehow walking stalked up next to her. "Almost… but again… you failed. You… have accomplished… nothing."

His staff was broken but could easily still be used as a weapon. He looked down at her, his eyes almost demonic as the ones she saw in Eredin. He would have been proud of that surely. She tried to move, tried to roll away, but all she felt was pain in her limbs as the magic simply took too slow to heal her.

Her heart was what sunk next, as she saw the smirk return to Caranthir's face.

I… I failed… I really did…. I… I couldn't do it… I couldn't kill him. She blinked away the tears and the pain and found herself able to grip her hands into fists as Caranthir spun his staff above her.

"And now… you die," He said, his staff spinning above his head. "You… were a fool-."

"GET AWAY FROM HER!"

"GAHHHHHH!" A crossbow bolt protruded out of Caranthir's shoulder, and both he and Ciri spun their heads around.

Dominik had gotten up, he sprinted towards them his legs and arms intertwined with magic. He moved at almost a blur as he leapt and struck for Caranthir. The Navigator knocked aside his first strike and spun, smashing his broken staff into Dominik's stomach, blasting him back with magic that made Dominik skid backwards. He got back to his feet, and Ciri locked eyes with him for only a moment.

She saw panic in his eyes, but she had to refocus on Caranthir who growled and turned back around. He raised up his staff, and he heard Dominik screaming again just as it came down to smash her chest.

She closed her eyes, her hands still wrapped around the ring. Not knowing what to do, she refocused her magic.

I'm sorry…. She said to Dominik in her head.

And she teleported.

She'd find her way back to him, she always would.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The last thing Dominik wanted was for Ciri to leave, but when she teleported he breathed out in relief. He had seen how unable to move she was, if she was out of danger that was okay with him.

However, he didn't know that for sure. He knew she more than likely hadn't been focusing on where she teleported. Now, with the magic barrier broken, the spell broken, the Nilfgaardeans would join the fight, and they'd finally be able to push closer and onto the Nagalfar.

They'd have to deal with Eredin soon, but that paled in comparison to finding Ciri.

He'd find her, they promised each other they wouldn't lose the other again. Now however, he knew he couldn't go find her. Not until one head of the snake was dealt with.

And Dominik would be more than happy to lop it's head off.

Caranthir had the same smug look of superiority Avallac'h had, which just like with the sage gave Dominik and even greater urge to remove his head from his shoulders. The battle had roared back to life, the two elementals laid dead in heaps where Ciri had cut them down. His mad dash across the plains had taken a lot out of him but seeing Caranthir in front of him surged something within.

This elf was the reason Bella had turned out like she did, almost more so then Eredin. He had been the one to kill Bella's girlfriend, to raid her village and take away her mind.

Yes, he had plenty more reason to kill him other than just the smug look he had.

It looked like Caranthir was about to say something, but a loud explosion from behind the Nagalfar made them both turn. On the other side below Borch and Kilgarrah clashing in the sky, a large plume of magic shot upwards. It left behind a plume of smoke, and Dominik couldn't help but smirking when the magic felt oh so familiar.

His lovely little sister had indeed met up with his friends it seemed.

He turned and looked to Caranthir who seemed flabbergasted.

"Your plan failed!" Dominik shouted. He spun back around to Caranthir; Fate held out in his hands as he had to keep himself from laughing like a mad man. "You underestimated Bella, just like you do the rest of us! Looks like your magic wasn't quite as strong as you thought!"

Caranthir spun back towards him. With the magic sphere gone, the real weather was finally coming down. The wind blew back the Navigator's hair, Ciri had done a real number on him. His face was scarred, his stomach bled, but somehow he still stood. A large cut ran across his cheek, he clearly had healed it, but it looked as if Ciri had nearly cut his cheek clean off.

He was going to finish the job. The wind he could handle, but he found it a cruel twist of fate that the rest of this final battle was going to be in the rain. It wasn't enough to smother all the flames that had been set throughout the plains, giving them light, but it was enough to remind him of the days he had to slog through Velen with Geralt.

It had been worth it in the end, and he wasn't going to let it be in vein.

"It… matters not. You are all filthy little half-breeds," He said, raising his arms as magic shot from them both. "Even… if you defeat me here… it matters not. You… cannot win! Your filthy sister… Zireael… you will all never be rid of what we've done."

"No… we won't," Dominik said, twirling the silver to a reversed grip as the magic spread around him. He shifted his feet and readied himself as Caranthir opened portals. "But it's a fucking start."

Three portals ripped open as Caranthir picked up his staff. A few riders stepped out and Dominik had to back up. Caranthir on his own he could take he knew, but if he kept opening portals, sending out hounds, riders and possibly more elementals it would be a challenge. He had his magic of course, but it would eventually run out, and even after Caranthir there was still plenty of fight left.

They slowly approached, circling him as he kept his eye on Caranthir. He spun his sword back to a forehanded grip, and cracked his free-hand's knuckles, ready to go for his crossbow if needed. He was already planning his way to attack, three riders behind, two more and Caranthir at his front, the wind would normally have been a factor, but he knew his magic would keep his steady. Slowly, he sucked some of the mist in and willed it through his limbs. His arms and legs became incased with the spiraling magic, as more portals opened around him.

Shit… maybe I should've asked Bella to come with me. Caranthir stalked towards him as more riders surrounded him. The Navigator's staff didn't swirl magic at the top anymore, but still, Dominik knew it could be just as deadly with his magic.

"So then… witcher," Caranthir said, smirking as he held out his hands, "shall we?"

Dominik grinded his teeth, swinging his sword in an arc to keep them at bay. He met Caranthir's eyes again and scoffed. "About twelve on one? Too afraid to do it yourself?"

"You… would be a waste of my time," The Navigator said, holding onto his staff now with both hands, ready to swing, "come then… show us your skill. First you… then the treacherous Baelen… then finally Zireael-."

Dominik saw the flash of Aard coming from Caranthir before the Navigator did. He only had a second, but Dom slammed his fist into the ice, and the yellow Quen bubble shield shot up around him. He kept his hand dug into the ice, and the Aard blast sent Caranthir back to the ground and all the riders around him stumbling backwards.

He let the shield up and went to take advantage, he went to leap towards Caranthir and cut him down, but he was beat to the punch.

The Navigator had stumbled back to his feet with the help of his staff, and just as he stood Geralt leapt down from the side of the crater in a flash of silver.

"GERALT!" Dominik yelled, unable to keep the smile from his face.

Geralt spun and struck at Caranthir again, his armor dripping wet, his silver hair fallen around his shoulders. Caranthir was caught so off guard he barely managed to block. Taking advantage Geralt spun and shot his hand forward again. Aard slammed into Caranthir's chest and sent him shooting backwards into the wall of the crater.

His adopted father spun back around, his yellow eyes scanning around the field, and when they landed on Dominik he was next to him in an instant his silver raised.

"Get a little held up?" Dominik said, a small laugh leaving him as Geralt got his back up against his.

He scoffed, a small smirk on his face. "You know me, don't really like the cold too much."

"Almost as much as I don't like the rain."

"Yeah… final battle in the middle of a rainstorm," his father said, his sword leveled towards the recovering riders. "Must be your worst nightmare."

"Well it certainly isn't ideal," Dominik said, a breath of relief leaving him as he leveled out his sword. He looked at Geralt from his peripheral and couldn't help but remember all the way back to the inn at the crossroads. The first time Geralt and he had fought, it felt like years ago. That had been the start of the journey, him and Geralt, looking for Ciri.

Now, they were finally here, the battle they had been talking about. Dominik knew that he and Ciri could handle themselves… but seeing Geralt there almost made him break down and cry then. There was a certain safety he felt with Geralt. It stemmed all the way back from him finding Ciri and he after Cintra. From all the times he had fought to save them both. He loved the man, like a true son loved his real father, and after so much pain during that battle so far, Dominik felt like he could finally do anything, that now they'd finally win.

"I'm really glad you're here…" He said, both hands twitching around the handle of his sword. "When… when that first wave of ice came…"

Geralt nodded from behind him, shooting him a smile. "Good to finally be here…. Now where's Ciri? I know she got told to stay ashore, but I expected her to be with you by now."

"She was," He said, his heart sinking. "But we separated, I found my sister, she fought Caranthir, she broke the top of his staff and stopped the spell but was hurt, she teleported away just before you showed up.

Geralt cursed but nodded, looking back around to him. "Damn… we need to find her, and quick."

"I know, Avallach's going to try something soon," Dominik said, remembering Bella's warning, "something big… Bella told me we can't let her near him."

"Well, that's nothing we didn't know," Geralt said with a shrug. "So… I take it things with your sister went well?"

A smile came to Dominik's face as he looked to the Nagalfar. "It did, she's with the others trying to secure our way onto the ship."

"And Kilgarrah?"

"She told me he's tied to Eredin and Caranthir," He explained, "only way to free him is to kill them both."

"Path's clear then," Geralt said, holding his silver out with both hands. "You ready?"

"Been ready for eight fucking years…" Dominik said, as all the riders seemed to regain their footing.

Caranthir finally had risen, his staff was in hand. He looked more awash with power now despite his appearance. His wide demonic eyes locked onto him Geralt.

"Witchers…" He said in a slow drawl, twirling his staff, "so be it… let us end this."

"Yeah… let's," Dominik said under his breath, nodding to Geralt again.

After that, they both lunged and lashed out into the fray.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Bella almost didn't recognize Anton he was so old. However, that didn't stop her from rushing for him when they reached the main bulk of the army.

She and Freya had caught up with Faram and George, Bella moving and passing them all with her magic. Above the battle between Kilgarrah and the gold dragon was getting dangerously low to the ground. Kilgarrah was gaining an edge, the night and howling storm of ice and wind blowing in gave the white dragon natural camouflage. Bella hoped that the gold dragon could hold on, because if Kilgarrah turned his aim on the army the battle would be effectively over.

Freya shouted for her, but her voice got drowned out over the wind. Bella saw Anton with a small group of knights baring the Cintran colors, and it stirred something in her.

She had been a scared, frightened little girl then, helpless. Now however, she was saturated with magic, speeding towards the knights who she assumed had to have known her father, fought under his command. She cut down any rider that came near her, they had never stood a chance against her when she trained, and they didn't then.

However, she almost stumbled when a man, wielding an axe and shield in red fur armor came rushing towards her. Bella tried to shout for the man to stop, but he swung his axe at her. She kept her sword pointed away from him, and side stepped. He missed his swing and tried to attack again, and Bella was forced to grab his arm and toss him into a wall of ice.

Her eyes widened, and she looked down at her armor, cursing. More of the man and women along with the riders all started eying her, shouting to go for her. The riders had a way of communicating, word traveled fast among the Hunt's ranks, especially since they had a language only they understood, along with magic.

Word would travel much slower amongst her new army, and Dominik hadn't sent any message that Bella was now fighting for them. She looked and saw men and women of Skellige, others in plate baring the Cintran coat of arms as well, and finally Nilfgaardeans, the sight of the golden sun on their breastplates, flashing her back to that day in the streets.

Pain shot through her head as she finally stumbled to her knees, soldiers from both sides approaching her. The real events of the massacre that night, all her true memories were slowly starting to flood back into her brain, but it felt as if the thoughts were bursting a dam inside her head. She stumbled back to her feet, using Coram to push herself up.

She saw another large man with a massive axe swing down towards her, Bella ducked and rolled to the right, trying to yell and beg for them to stop, but the pain in her mind was unbearable. Through the agony, she looked up and saw Anton, right near a gangplank that would lead towards the Nagalfar's main deck. A massive group of riders were amassed, coming down from the planks, and protecting the entrance to the ship with everything they had.

Bella was confused, which only made her head throb even more. Why were they defending he ship so fervently? Was Eredin… actually becoming worried? Where was Ciri now, had Dominik reached Caranthir as well? The army she, Freya, Faram and George had followed was near the Nagalfar's front end. Freya had explained on their mad dash to the army after Bella's entrance, their forces had been split, and now they were with a massive wave of knights and Skelligers, led by the woman Bella had almost killed before Dominik intervened led them.

A sword cutting through the air shocked Bella back to the battle. She ducked back, the sword slicing off a piece of her hair, as she saw that same woman, a younger one, who couldn't be much older than her swing a new sword and shield towards her.

"WAIT!" Bella shouted over the wind, rolling as another sword blow almost cut her in half. She rolled back up to her knees, her eyes pleading. "I'm not-."

The woman struck again, and Bella blocked, caught so off guard she was sent stumbling. She looked up from the ice and saw the woman wearing a crown. Her red hair flew down her back, and she seemed intent on cutting Bella in half, as Bella had almost done to her not long ago.

Dammit… it's nothing less than you deserve, she thought, as she ducked past another attack. Bella was almost ready to throw her sword aside and surrender, as the young woman attacked again.

Her sword almost reached Bella, when shouting made her stop. A rider came swinging with a massive axe. Bella recognized the armor, extra plating, larger pauldrons and a more intimidating helm. It was given to riders who had achieved the rank of captain, field leaders when someone like Bella, Imlerith or Caranthir weren't around. They were the most skilled of the riders, and this one came swinging with his axe at the woman.

She raised a shield and got sent stumbling back by the swings power. The captain advanced, swinging down again, his axe imbedding into the woman's shield. She tossed it aside, momentarily distracting the captain and rose to her feet, sword in hand. She lunged forward, a mistake that Bella saw coming. Her sword was knocked into the dirt as the captain recovered. He swung the butt of his axe and struck the woman's nose, blood spurted onto the ice. She almost bumped into another one of her soldiers as she side-stepped another attack from the captain's axe. She cut across his arm, but the captain was simply too strong, he cursed from his bleeding hand and smacked the woman aside. She fell to the ground, and that was when Bella finally felt herself able to move.

As a knight, your duty is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, a voice said in Bella's head. Was that her father? Was she finally remembering things that he said to her, finally after all these years?

Bella could remember herself being enraptured by the words her father spoke, of the adventures and battles he fought in. She had wanted to do it herself; she had asked her father if she could be a knight, despite her being a girl. Sir Gregory had said he had plenty of women he took as knights, and they were some of the finest warriors he ever knew. Queen Calanthe, her mother Sofia, they had been warriors, fighters, knights in their own right, and that was what Bella wanted to do. She wanted to fight, to protect people, and in doing so, see all the exotic places of the continent, Spalla, Zerrikania, Toussaint.

Juxtaposed to Dominik, who wanted to be a knight, learn to fight so he could protect Ciri, and Cintra, Bella wanted to extend beyond that. She wanted to save people everywhere, she wanted to see everywhere.

That had been her dream, she finally could remember. She could remember all the times her father would help her fall asleep, telling her that one day he'd teach her to be a knight like he was doing for Dominik. Her mother would sit her and her brother down, tell them stories before bed about all the missions she had gone on, all the people she rescued.

Bella could finally remember it all, all of it as it really had happened.

But do I even deserve it? After all I've done? How can I be a knight, when all I've done these last years was kill?

She gritted her teeth and grabbed Coram from the ice next to her. The woman rolled past another axe swing but couldn't get up. Bella shot her magic through her limbs and shot to her feet, teeth clenched, eyes narrowed she rushed forward.

No… don't think about it now. Now you protect the world. She knew what Eredin's plans were, all the horrible, intimate details. They didn't need to be explained to her brother or anyone else, they had plenty inspiration already. Bella however, she knew exactly the things Eredin would do to all the people of this world, she'd seen it happen on other worlds.

And she wouldn't let it happen, not to her brother, her only family left, or anyone else.

"Protect those who cannot protect themselves…" She whispered under her breath as she dashed forward and caught the captain's axe on her sword.

The woman behind her on the ice scrambled to her feet. In front of her, the captain looked down at her through the slit of his faceplate.

"Baelen…" The raspy voice clanged through her ears.

Hearing the name again made something erupt in her. She yelled and magic shot through her arms. It gave her the strength to push the captain's axe upwards and spin. She cut down across his torso as she did and spun back towards him. He swung out with his axe, but Bella deflected the blade in a series of parries. She kept moving her feet, the magic spurring her on until the captain slammed his axe down from above.

Bella side-stepped letting the axe smashing into the ice. After that she swung Coram upwards, splintering the axe's shaft. The sihil she wielded lived up to its reputation of being able to cut through almost anything.

The captain only had time to shout obscenities at her in Elder Speech, before in one swift spin and stroke his head fell from his body. The armor clunked to the ground, revealing to Bella the young who had just been ready to cut the captain down herself. Her nose bled, surely broken. Her mane of gingery red hair sprayed out wildly behind her back, and for a moment she stared at Bella, the bulk of their army pushing forward around them.

"Who are you!?" She shouted at her, her sword slowly leveling. Her eyes widened as she looked deeper into Bella's eyes. "What did you do with Dominik and Ciri!?"

Panic rose in Bella. "I didn't do anything! I… I'm… I'm..."

Should she go around telling other people she was Dominik's sister? His sister, who had less then an hour ago been leading the enemy forces? Her brother's friends may have accepted her, but would the rest of the army? Would Anton?

The young woman in the crown growled over the wind, "Talk! NOW! Before I-."

"Aye! Sparrowhawk! Sword down, she's with us!"

Bella's head spun around, and she breathed out in relief, her sword dipping to the ground when she saw Dominik's friends rush up behind them. The sounds of the battle clashed in her ears; the army they were with had beaten back the riders near the Nagalfar's front end. They were rushing to jump into craters, and help Anton push the main bulk of the forces onto the deck.

Bella quickly looked and saw the old knight fighting. They had almost cleared a path onto the deck. However, Bella knew better, only a few at a time would be able to get onto the main deck. So long as Eredin, and Caranthir lived as well, more portals were going to open further down the plains, more riders would rush them from behind.

"Bella!" She turned and saw Freya rush ahead towards her, Faram and George both behind her. The blonde came up to her side, panting, her cheeks red from the cold. She looked up at Bella with concern in her eyes. "I was shouting for you to stay with us! We hadn't gotten word out you're on our side yet, I was worried some of our men would try to attack you."

Bella again, couldn't tell if her cheeks went red from embarrassment, or from the cold as she looked at the blonde. "I… um… sorry, I saw Anton and I-."

"Hold on!" The young woman said next to her, her eyes widening as she looked up at Bella. "You're Bella!? You're Dom's sister!?"

Bella nervously nodded, her heart nearly popping out of her chest. "I… I am. I'm… I'm sorry for-."

She looked over to Freya, and Faram who had come next to her. "Dominik and Ciri vouch for her?"

"Aye they do, she's a tough lassie," Faram said, smirking at Bella, his silver sword dripping blood. "Gonna help us kill the rest of these cunts!"

"You can trust her Cerys, Dom sent her to help," Freya said, again, somehow making Bella's face go red at their praise. How much weight did her brother's name hold?

Cerys scoffed, a smile coming to her face as she turned to Bella. "Ha, sorry about almost killing you then. Cerys An Craite!"

Bafflingly, the woman held out her hand. Bella looked at it incredulously, before she hesitantly shook it.

"B… Bella," She said, biting hard on her lip. "Um… I'm sorry to about… well…trying to kill you."

Cerys waved it off. "Oh no worries, Ciri told me about what happened to you. Said she knew you'd come back! Now, let's get back to the task at hand!"

Bella wanted to protest, stuttering, but Freya tugged on her arm, giving her a reassuring smile. It calmed her nerves a bit. Hearing that Ciri and her brother really had never given up on her… it made Bella somehow feel even guiltier.

Cerys looked to Faram and Freya. "Have either of you seen my brother?"

"Last we heard, he was staying behind to get the stragglers coming out of portals," Faram explained, looking up at the two dragons chasing one another.

Cerys breathed out a sigh of relief and nodded. "Our da, is pushing with Sir Anton towards the plank, what about Dominik and Ciri?"

It took Bella a few seconds to realize Cerys was talking to her. "Oh, they should be alright. Dominik, he and Ciri are dealing with Caranthir. After he's dead, only Eredin will be left to deal with."

"What about the Nilfgaardeans, have they been a problem?" Freya quickly asked next to her.

Cerys snorted and spat on the ground. "Some of them went crying and swimming back towards shore. Emhyr, that coward ordered their retreat. Some have stayed and are fighting, however. The sorceresses are keeping the Nagalfar in the bay."

Bella's skin crawled. Emhyr? The Emperor of Nilfgaard was here, within their reach? A dark feeling crept up in her, one she squashed down right away.

Faram scoffed next to them. "Bah, fucking cowards. Probably waiting for us to finish the Hunt before they get at us next!"

"Probably," Freya said to cut him off, "but we'll worry about that when it happens. For now we need to focus. We should go on with what Dom and Ciri said. Cut off the heads of the snake. They'll deal with Caranthir, we need to get them a Path to Eredin-."

"Look alive my friends!" George had jumped back down from a craters hill and rushed to join them. The southern witcher's sword was dripping blood and steaming. "Anton has pushed and almost capture the last crater! It seems Crach has just about made it onto the ship!"

They all scrambled up towards the wall of the crater, and for a moment Bella thought they'd left her. A small bit of relief left her when she noticed Freya lingering to wait for her. She smiled at her. How could she smile so much in the situation they were in? How was she not disgusted with Bella, how were they all not disgusted with her, like she was with herself?

She pushed the thoughts away, they could wait. She followed Freya up to the side of the crater and stood next to the blonde and Cerys. Bella's eyes widened as she took in the scene. Sure enough it had been as George said. Their army was making tremendous progress.

However, Bella knew the fight was still far from over.

To her left she saw the plains of ice, the graveyard of ships. Multiple smaller groups of their soldiers were fighting as portals opened sporadically. Smaller skirmishes led to bigger ones, as Bella spotted Anton again. He led a larger group, in a much bigger crater near the Nagalfar. They all ducked as the two dragons swooped over-head. It was easy to see that the gold dragon was slowing. In the dark and snowy night, the only light from the fires scattered across the icy plains, that Kilgarrah held a massive advantage. The white dragon disappeared into the sky, in the clouds and even Bella could barely see. Her magic slightly enhanced her sight, but she didn't want to waste it then.

The armies recovered from the dragons swooping, and Bella's eyes widened when she saw the large group of men in An Craite colors right near the gangplank onto the Nagalfar.

Faram burst a laugh. "HA! We almost got the bastard!"

"We are winning the day, that is for sure," George said, his tone careful. "But… it has not been without cost, and we are far from done."

"You're right…." Bella said worriedly, her voice carrying over the wind.

All of them turned on her, and suddenly Bella shrunk under their gaze. However, they didn't glare at her. They all nodded, Freya smiled, and they all seemed to be encouraging her to talk. She still didn't understand how, she didn't want to say anything herself. What right did she have to influence their plans?

However, they all seemed to be waiting for her, so she sighed and looked at them all.

"Well… even if we reach Eredin now, it would be no good," Bella said, shaking her head, remembering the Hunt's planning before the battle.

Freya looked at her curiously. "Why not? If we can overwhelm him with numbers…."

It was Bella's turn to scoff. "Even we somehow manage to beat him, get him near death, so long as Caranthir's alive this won't end. Caranthir will be able to sense when he's in danger. He'll teleport them away. We can't kill Eredin until Caranthir is dead."

"Aye…. What do we do then?" Cerys asked, looking at her.

"What? You… you're asking me?" Bella said, genuinely confused at them asking. Cerys had an aura of command around her, and the crown… she remembered Eivor describing one like it on the former King of Skellige.

Cerys looked at Bella confused again. "You obviously know them better than us!"

"But… but I nearly killed you! How could you-."

"Lassie! That's in the past," Faram said looking and smirking at her. "I'm sure you want that fucker dead as much as us!"

"He's right, we told you Bella we trust you," Freya said next to her, flashing that genuine smile at her again. "Tell us what we should do."

They all looked at her, George smiled at nodded, he had a calming presence about him. Bella's mouth went dry again, a small part of her brain thought this had to be some sort of cruel trick. They had all trusted her so quickly… it made her… happy… but it also made her heart nearly shatter. What had she done to deserve it, other than just being Dominik's sister?

She cursed in her head, why she thinking like that now? Dammit you need to focus! You can do this, come on Baele-…. Bella. Your name is Bella… and you can do this.

Her gaze turned out towards the Nagalfar. Eredin was surely there, on the deck. Could she even go and face him? She had only found the strength before seeing Dominik in danger. Could she lead the people next to her, that had so rapidly trusted her to fight them?

She had to try… she had promised Dominik she would, and more importantly, she had promised herself.

Letting out a breath she shook her head. "Eredin's waiting for Dominik, Ciri or Geralt to come to him. He's hoping Caranthir takes one of them out at least."

"BAH, like hell that'll happen," Faram said with a smirk.

Bella nodded. "You're right… but we still need to be weary. Caranthir is powerful, and his staff is broken, so we know Ciri at least did that…"

"If Eredin is waiting for them," George said, "we should be there to help them fight."

"You're right, but like I said until we know Caranthir's dead we can't do anything about him," Bella said, eyeing the closest craters to the Nagalfar. "We need to buy Dominik, Ciri and hopefully Geralt time to kill Caranthir."

"How will we know when he's dead?" Cerys asked.

Bella pointed to the left. "Most of the portals will stop with his death. If that happens the Hunt had a failsafe. Eredin, if Caranthir dies, will unleash one last horde upon us of mostly hounds. A last-ditch effort to try and get Ciri."

"And I assume we can't stop that," Faram said, his silver hefted to his shoulder.

Bella shook her head. "We can't, not unless we want to let Caranthir live. No… the best we can do for now, if secure the area around the middle of the Nagalfar near where that gangplank is. After that, we keep that area secure, until Dominik and Ciri meet up with us, that way we know they've dealt with Caranthir…"

She expected some objections, but they all simply nodded. Cerys next to her smiled and clapped her back. "Solid plan, I'm going to go rally with my brother! You all go ahead towards the plank, try and link up with my Da if you can!"

Without another word, Cerys leapt down the crater, and started sprinting, her red hair blowing behind her. Bella's brown hair did the same, her bones and feet aching as she looked to Dominik's friends.

George smiled, an impressed look on her face. "Aha, you speak like a true general my dear!"

"Well my father was a knight…" Bella said sheepishly.

Faram laughed and cracked his knuckles, before picking up his silver. "Baha! A damn natural she is! Can't wait to see more of you after this lassie!"

"He's right," Freya said, flashing her brilliant smile back over at Bella again. "You're a natural, Dominik said you would be."

Bella's heart thumped as he looked at them. "Did… did he tell you anything else?"

Freya slowly nodded. "He did… he said that he never doubted for a minute you were still in there… you were still his little sister."

The words cut Bella deep. A sharp pain ran through her head, but she gritted her teeth and fought through it. Her brother had never given up on her… trusted her even after she tried to kill him three times. After she tried to kill Ciri, tried to bring Kaer Morhen to the ground, after he knew she slaughtered that village in Skellige.

He never stopped trusting her… and she wasn't going to let that trust be misplaced.

She shakily sighed, wiping away a tear with her free hand and nodding at his three friends. "All right then, come on, let's get moving. Dom said he'd meet me at the Nagalfar… and I trust him…."

And with that, they all followed her as they leapt off the side and the crater, towards the fight below.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The riders didn't stand a chance against Geralt and he, especially not with the magic Dominik could feel flowing through him. He almost laughed during the fight, thinking back to the first few fights he had with Geralt during this journey.

The Dominik that fought then, would have killed the Dominik from that time, and it frankly wouldn't have been close.

He reached out, grabbing a discarded sword from the ground and latched onto it with his magic. It zipped through the air and cut through a rider's chest. Its hilt came right into his waiting hand, and just before he could spin around to fight another Geralt had done it for him.

"Neat trick," He said, smirking as he spun around Dominik again, and cut into another of the riders.

"Just picked it up," Dominik said back, wading into the riders that charged with two swords now.

He cut down under one's chest, before spinning and throwing the sword he'd picked up. Spurred on by his magic it impaled into a leaping hound before Dominik spun back around Geralt. The two of them parried, and knew exactly where to be, where to angle their swords to make sure the riders stood no chance. He ducked under Geralt's arm as his father spun and cut a rider down, and that was when Dominik saw the old, large piece of wood. He reached out and pulled it towards him and spun, raising it to block a sword that would've cut across Geralt's back. The rider above him slammed his sword onto the piece of wood, but feeling new magic invigorate him he pushed the piece of wood up and spun, cutting his silver across the riders back before tossing the piece of wood towards Caranthir who had been trying to advance while they were distracted.

"GO!" Geralt yelled to him, as he skillfully danced between two riders and cut them both down, only a handful more coming through portals.

Dominik nodded and dashed towards Caranthir who's blonde hair whipped through the churning wind. The Navigator charged at him, and Dominik spun his sword to a throwing grip like he was throwing a spear. Putting his full power into the throw he sent it flying towards Caranthir point first. The speed would have right away impaled any normal soldier, but Caranthir smacked it out of the air with his staff and his silver impaled down into the ice.

Caranthir smirked like he had won, but his eyes quickly widened when Dominik ran at him still. He raised his staff to swing and rushed towards Dominik again, unaware of what he was doing. Dominik held his hand out, the magic still swirling in it, and just before Caranthir could swing at him Fate zipped through the air point first and stabbed across the Navigator's torso.

He screamed as Fate came back to Dominik's waiting hand, and seeing the Navigator bleed it spurred him on.

"YOU TORTURED MY SISTER," He screamed, leaping and cutting down. Caranthir blocked, but Dominik continued to lash out, feeling anger seep from him like sweat. "WENT INSIDE HER MIND, MANIPULATED AND CHANGED HER MEMORIES!"

The Navigator knocked aside his silver and lashed out himself. Dominik stepped back as the top of the staff almost grazed his nose before he ducked under the next horizontal strike. He came up and cut across Caranthir's stomach before the Navigator knocked him aside with a growl. The fist slammed into Dominik's head, but the magic quickly went to work healing it and he was on Caranthir again.

"YOU BURNED HER VILLAGE, FORCED HER TO TRY AND KILL ME," The anger kept secreting from him, he felt the wind around him thrash, but all he could focus on was getting his sword to cut through Caranthir's neck. "YOU MANIPULATED HER, TURNED HER INTO A WEAPON AND FORCED HER TO KILL!"

He had the Navigator down to one knee; he slammed his sword down onto his staff. Again, and again, and again he put his raw strength into the strikes, trying to cut down into flesh. All he could see were the dreams, Caranthir above his sister, her screaming in pain as the Navigator tortured her.

He saw Caranthir dragging his fingers across her unconscious face, telling her what a perfect weapon she would be.

Something exploded inside him. He thrust out his hand, intent on blasting the Navigator with Aard, but before he could Caranthir shot his hand forward. The two blasts of magic slammed into it each other. A large burst of magic and smoke shot up and Dominik got sent stumbling back.

Before he could do anything, he felt a puff of frost on the back of his neck. He spun just in time for a staff to smack him in the chest. All the air was sucked out of him, he tried to call on his magic to soften the blow, but when he tried a pain shot through his chest. A small explosion shot up from his hand when he tried to shoot a sign, and he stumbled backwards to his knees, his hands smoking.

His eyes widened as he looked down at his smoking hand. He could remember back when his powers were first starting to activate, all the times they had. His hands would smoke, and he'd feel as drained as he did then.

Caranthir's laugh made him shoot his head back up. The Navigator had that smirk on his face, as he stomped towards him.

"Your sister… did those things herself," he hissed, stepping up and twirling his staff to swing towards him, "because… just like you and Zireael, you are nothing but tools. Tools… to be used by your betters, and that is all your sister will be… all you will be… a pawn-."

He went to swing his staff down on Dominik, but a flash of silver blocked it. It rang with a loud clang as Geralt stood above him, murder in his eyes.

"Now… you die," Geralt hissed as he flung Caranthir's staff up and lunged out.

Caranthir barely had time to react as Geralt cut across his arm. He soon got his staff up to block Geralt's quick blows, almost as fast as the ones Dominik was throwing with his magic. The two danced and spun, no more riders left to come to Caranthir's aid. He teleported and landed behind Geralt, but the witcher was too quick, he spun and knocked Caranthir's staff up before lunging with a thrust.

The Navigator recovered and blocked, entering another dance with Geralt as Dominik scrambled to his feet, trying to will his magic to heal the wounds he'd received.

Instead of healing him, the mist churned, slamming into his chest and steaming off of him like he had been cooked over a fire. Pain erupted through his body, as if his insides were being set alight, and as Geralt leapt and fought with Caranthir, Dominik finally looked up around himself, and saw the magic.

It had changed to dark blue, nearly black.

Gods, you need to calm down you're getting out of hand! The magic still, however, became more and more erratic. Every second he looked at Caranthir, all he could see was what happened to Bella, what he had done. How could a man not be angry in that moment? How could he not want to tear the Navigator limb from limb for what he did?

He cursed and struggled up to his feet, his body smoking. Geralt moved with skill against Caranthir, and the Navigator seemed equal to the task. Geralt lunged with a perfect spinning combo, but Caranthir was ready. The Navigator knew he couldn't match Geralt in pure combat, so next he resorted to his magic. Caranthir disappeared before Geralt could cut him down and reappeared behind him. Geralt barely had time to move and raise his sword to deflect, but before he could do anything else Caranthir disappeared again. He kept teleporting, unable to let Geralt get a foothold.

We need to get on him together, he thought struggling forward, falling to his knees, but I need… to get up.

How could he do it? If he struck down Caranthir, he didn't feel it couldn't be in anger. Geralt had always taught him, that vengeance led you down dark paths, ones that would never end well for any party involved. His father had said the same things, that knights, they fought to protect those who could not protect themselves.

But what he was doing now, he was doing for vengeance. For Bella, for Ciri, for his friends at Kaer Morhen, that was why he fought that day.

Was it possible for him to have his vengeance, while also doing something good?

He groaned again, struggling up to his feet, sucking in a deep breath as he gazed over towards the Nagalfar. He hadn't seen or felt any indication of Ciri's magic yet, but he could see the flashes and feel Bella's magic from that side of the field.

After all she had gone through… she was still fighting.

Because she knows what's at stake… so much more than our petty revenge… no, this is about protecting people. Protecting Ciri, his sister, his family… and all the people who would die if they failed.

"Protect people who cannot protect themselves," He said under his breath, curling his hand around his sword, watching Geralt deflect Caranthir's blows. "That's what witchers do…"

That's a reason I fight, why Ciri fight's… I can protect people… and then live my life how I always wanted. With my family… and the knowledge I did my part.

He looked at Caranthir appear at Geralt's side, striking the witchers swords. And what he did to Bella… she overcame it, he failed… they all can be beat.

The mist around him, slowly got lighter in color. It was possible for him to get his revenge, his vengeance, but also fight with peace of mind.

It was because he knew in getting his vengeance, he was protecting millions more who'd die by the Hunt's swords.

Caranthir lashed out at Geralt with quick strikes before teleporting away, and this time he finally caught Geralt on his sword hand. Geralt's silver clattered to the ground, and he watched his father duck blows as Caranthir pressed his advantage. Dominik finally saw his chance and feeling invigorated he ran.

No… he felt like he was gliding across the ice.

His feet barely touched the ground as he moved towards Caranthir, leaping into the fight just before he could smash his staff into an un-armed Geralt. Dominik felt like he was skating along the ice below him, as Caranthir growled and swung around to swipe at him.

Dominik ducked and glided, turning himself quicker then he'd ever felt himself move and cutting across Caranthir's stomach. The Navigator growled and knocked Dominik's sword aside and lashed out again. Geralt fired a sign-Aard- and stopped Caranthir from teleporting. Seeing the opportunity, Dominik met Geralt's eyes and gestured to the side, towards where Geralt's silver had been knocked from his hands.

Gliding forward and striking again towards Caranthir, he reached out with his magic and enveloped it around Geralt's silver. He shot his hand to the left, just as Caranthir swung his staff towards Dominik's head. He leapt back, Caranthir's demonic eyes enveloped by dark blue magic. He struck and Dominik blocked with Fate spinning effortlessly for Caranthir's back. The Navigator spun to block and did, but that gave Geralt the opportunity Dominik was trying to create.

The silver sword flew through the air to Geralt's waiting hand, and his father stepped through the attack, cutting Caranthir's other side. His blood spurted across the ground before he yelled and spun back to Geralt, teleporting again.

Geralt wouldn't have had time to spin around, but Dominik got to his back. Gliding and coming to a stop he blocked Caranthir's blow and sent his staff off balance. He struck out again, but the Navigator disappeared. He reappeared behind Dominik, but Geralt was there to block the blow again.

Over and over, Caranthir tried and failed to get behind them with his teleports. Dominik would attack and Geralt would defend, and when Caranthir tried to move he and Geralt moved as a pair.

They had taken away the Navigator's one advantage.

Dominik blocked his staff upwards and slammed his fist into the Navigator's chest. His magic spurred on and protected his hand, but he formed the sign for Igni. With the magic enhancing the power, a large burst of fire erupted in Caranthir's chest. The Navigator screamed as the smell of charred flesh hit Dominik's nose. Geralt spun around him, and Caranthir just barely got his staff up. Geralt's blow sent knocked his staff from his hands before he spun and cut across the Navigator's chest.

Dominik followed up by gliding behind Caranthir and cutting across his legs, blood pooled below him, and once he fell, Dominik blasted his hand to the Navigator's back and sent him flying forward.

Caranthir's once handsome face bled profusely. The gash Ciri had given him across the cheek reopened, half the Navigator's face was nothing but a flab of skin. His chest had been set aflame, it had been tempered by the wind and Dominik's Aard blast, but the entire front of Caranthir's armor had been melted. Dominik could see his bare chest, splattered with a massive bruise, blood trickling down as the Navigator heaved.

Dominik's eyes shot up, and finally he saw the magic leave Caranthir's eyes. His eyes were as demonic and pale as Eredin's but held the same cold calculation as Avallach's did.

He and Geralt were doing their world, and all worlds a favor by ridding them of the monster in front of them.

Finally, it felt as if his feet hit the ground a long breath leaving him. Geralt nodded to him, and they both raised their swords and stalked towards Caranthir, who was trying in vain to use magic to heal himself. As Geralt and he approached, the Navigator cursed and stood up slowly, using his staff to do so.

"It… matters… not what you do here," The Navigator hissed, his blood shot eyes looking between he and Geralt. "You… will die… Zireael… will die…. Eredin will… set your world aflame. You… you will all be made slaves… under the might of the Aen Elle! We… will BURN YOUR WORLD-."

"Ciri made you all look like fools when she was just a kid," Dominik said, his sword tip pointed out towards Caranthir. He was unable to stop himself from smirking as he looked to Geralt. "Must be pretty embarrassing that for a so called 'superior race', eh Geralt?"

"Yeah… pretty embarrassing indeed," Geralt said, his eyes narrowing, a fire seeming to burn in them as he gazed at the weakened Caranthir. "You all talk a big game… but in the end… you're nothing but petty bullies, who've picked on worlds you know are weaker… and today, you all finally pay for it… for all you've done."

"Don't you understand?" Dominik said, "you're pathetic, you, Eredin, Avallac'h," he said, hissing the sage's name, "you all think yourself high and mighty. But like Geralt said… you're all nothing. Now, all the genocides you've committed, all the people you enslaved, all those worlds you burned… they'll have a little bit of justice."

Caranthir seemed unable to stand for the slander they had casted upon his race. The Navigator lunged with his staff, swinging it down towards Dominik like it was an axe. He side-stepped and spun, before jabbing his silver blade clean through Caranthir's right leg.

The Navigator screamed, blood spilt onto the ice and Dominik looked up towards the massive elf, who somehow now… seemed small.

"Eredin's next…" He hissed, twisting the blade in Caranthir's flesh, and savoring the sound of the Navigator's screams of pain. "That's for my sister… Bella."

He yanked his sword from the Navigator's leg, and somehow he still stood. It reminded Dominik of himself at Kaer Morhen, after Eredin had yanked his blade from Dominik's flesh.

Caranthir however, still moved. He groaned in pain, losing more blood then anyone-man or Aen Elle- could lose and live for long. He tried to weakly swing up his staff again, but this time Geralt stepped forward.

Before the Navigator could bring his staff down, Geralt plunged his silver deep into the melted hole of his chest armor. Caranthir howled, before dropping his staff. Geralt stood, his elbow bent, sword plunged into flesh. Spazzing, his arms twitching, Geralt pressed forward, plunging Caranthir onto his back. Dominik got to one side of him, as the Navigator reached and grabbed Geralt's sword as he spasmed. Geralt responded by twisting the sword in Caranthir's chest.

He twisted, until Caranthir's arms grew limp, and they fell to the side near Dominik and Geralt's ankles.

And when they did, Dominik let out a breath he felt he'd been holding for weeks.

Geralt breathed heavily as he removed his silver from Caranthir's chest with a squelch, looking over to Dominik with a tired look. "Good job… it's amazing how much you've improved since we started this."

Dominik scoffed, slinging Fate onto his back. "Well… the secret magic I learned about certainly helps."

Geralt shrugged. "It does yeah, but beyond that. Your signs, your footwork, your sword skill… I'm proud of you, for even more than just that. Proud of you for making it this far, for all you've done."

Dominik's chest got warm at the praise. He smiled sheepishly, the churning wind, rain and bits of snow cooling his hot skin. The storm was getting worse, but that didn't stop him from smiling.

"Thanks Geralt… had some good teachers."

"Ha, but I certainly didn't teach you that new trick," His father said, gesturing down towards Dominik's feet. "It was like… you were gliding, how'd you do that?"

It was his turn to shrug. "Don't know… just… happened. That's beside the point, I'm sure Yen can explain more of it later. For now we should get moving."

Geralt quickly nodded. "You're right, we need to find Ciri. If Avallac'h is going to try something now we need to get to her first. Where'd you send your sister?"

The mention of Bella made him look towards the Nagalfar. He could her the sounds of battle and see the explosions from what he was sure had to be Bella's magic. Above, Borch and Kilgarrah clawed at one another. Borch seemed to be in much worse shape then Kilgarrah, as the white dragon made quick darting attacks. In the night, the snow, clouds and icy storm, Kilgarrah must have been naturally camouflaged, while Borch's gold scales made him an easy target. Dominik cursed, as he remembered what Bella said.

Caranthir and Eredin needed to die for Kilgarrah to be free.

He turned back to Geralt. "She went to the Nagalfar to join the others. Hopefully everyone knows she's on our side now. Between her, Faram, George and Freya I'm sure they've got a foothold."

"And Ciri? Where do you think she is?"

"She was hurt when she teleported, so I don't know if she was able to determine where she went, she could be anywhere," Dominik said, his worry growing. "But the last time we talked, we said we'd meet up at the Nagalfar with the rest of the army. Maybe she's making her way there."

"Hopefully," Geralt said, nodding at him reassuringly. "Don't worry, she's tough she'll-. GAHHHH!"

"DAMMIT!" Dominik screamed as well; the conversation had distracted them both from Caranthir below them.

The Navigator's eyes had shot open, he had a grip like iron around he and Geralt's ankles.

Dominik scrambled to get his sword, but Geralt's was already out. He watched Geralt swing his sword down, but Caranthir gripped harder to their legs.

He go to see that demonic smirk, before Caranthir teleported them both.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Dominik always counted himself as a great swimmer but being dropped right into the depths of icy water in the bay was a lot even for him. His magic was still in a glowing mist around him, it illuminated his surroundings. Debris, weapons, dead bodies, it all floated around him before he felt the tugging on his leg.

He looked down, holding his breath as Caranthir tried to drag him further down into the debts. Geralt was next to him, and they both kicked down, and finally their grips were too much for Caranthir. Dominik saw blood seeping and mixing with the water, he met the Navigator's eyes, and saw the life slowly seep from them.

Finally he stopped pulling as Dominik's swung his opposite boot through the water into the Navigator's head.

Caranthir sunk like a stone. The once grand navigator, so powerful, mighty, proud, skilled, the 'natural prodigy' Ciri had told Dominik he was called, sunk to the bottom of the ocean far from his world. His armor melted; his face nearly cut in half.

And Dominik loved watching the life drain from his eyes.

One less monster to terrorize this, and other worlds, he thought the magic shining bright around him.

His throat started to constrict, in addition to the magic, he could see light above the surface. Fires burned, he could see the streams of fire and ice. The battle continued to rage, and all he could think was one thing.

He needed to get to Ciri as Geralt said. Next to him in the water, he saw Geralt frantically waving for him. Dominik met his eyes and he pointed upwards. They both nodded and Dominik began to swim.

Growing up his mother had always told him being able to swim would end up being a necessary skill. She would dunk him under water, throw him straight into the lake outside Cintra when he was younger. He always hated the lessons then, but now he could see why she had been so insistent. She had been an exceptionally smart woman his mother, and now her lessons were paying off.

After keeping his eyes up, and nearly running out of breath he emerged. His head shot above the water and he sucked in as much air as he could. He coughed and spat out water, as he frantically grabbed onto land, or what was actually a large icy plain.

Above him he could see Kilgarrah was now the hunter, while Borch was the hunted in the sky. He used one hand to hold himself over the ice, his lower half submerged while his other checked his gear. Both swords were still there, and when he felt around his neck the wolf and the swallow were both still there. Breathing out a sigh of relief he looked up again, and saw Geralt had gotten onto solid ground, his silver hair soaked his armor dripping.

"Come on we need to move!" He urged, holding a hand down.

Dominik took it and Geralt yanked him up. His hair was stuck to his forehead, it was mattered down his neck. The chill was unbearable for a moment. As he stepped out onto the ice he almost stumbled and fell. He looked at Geralt and nodded, before Geralt rushed to what Dominik noticed was half a destroyed ship lodged in ice.

While Geralt look Dominik let out a steady breath, feeling the magic around him. Curiously for a moment he wondered what his powers could truly do. Decided to quickly test it, he willed the magic around his body, and it took away a small bit of the ache that he felt. It dried his armor, and his limbs weren't soaked through any longer. It didn't dry his hair, but the coldness of his bones left him. He managed a scoff, as he turned back to the water they'd crawled out of.

He saw that they were close to shore, and what he saw there made his blood boil.

"Fucking coward…" He hissed, watching Emhyr's men move.

They were a decent ways out into the bay, but they were close enough Dominik saw Nilfgaardeans frantically running to pack up camp. Emhyr was running.

Dominik wasn't surprised. They'd have to deal with him later.

He scanned closer, seeing if he could spot Avallac'h as well, the more pressing threat,.

The sage couldn't be found, neither could Ciri, so she hadn't made it there. It made his stomach lurch and made him spin back around to where he saw Geralt.

"Geralt!" He called after his father, rushing to the half a ship. "We got a problem, I can't see-."

"Come look at this hurry!" He shouted back down to him.

A large mast pole stuck upwards. Geralt held onto one side, as Dominik held onto the other when he got there. He sucked in a breath. They could see practically the entire battlefield. The plains and craters of ice all leading up to the Nagalfar had small skirmishes, as portals opened at a much smaller rate. Small groups of their soldiers fought, but Dominik saw the main fight was near the ship itself. He could see Bella's magic, but that didn't have his focus.

"CIRI!" He yelled out as he saw her a distance away. She seemed to still be in pain as she rolled. Dominik wanted to start running after her, but before he could riders advanced towards her.

She was on an empty ledge of ice, and as soon as she saw the riders coming she teleported again from her back. Like that she was gone, and Dominik cursed.

"Dammit we missed her!" He shouted over the wind.

Geralt shook his head. "No time to worry, let's get moving we have to find her!"

He nodded in agreement, meeting Geralt's eyes. "You're right, let's go meet up with everyone towards the Nagalfar and-."

"DOWN!" Geralt grabbed his arm and they both leapt forwards.

A loud crash splintered the ship they had been standing on. A massive form of golden scales had crashed into it. Borch roared in pain as Dominik and Geralt stood not far away. Dominik had pulled out his silver, Geralt doing the same and they both seemed ready to rush to the dragon's aid somehow.

Kilgarrah was there before they could. A large stream of ice shot towards Borch, who met it with a roar of fire. The gold dragon stopped the blast before taking off into the sky again just as Geralt grabbed his wrist again.

They both ducked down as more ice streamed overhead. Dominik cursed as Geralt pulled him up to look at him.

"WE NEED TO MOVE!" He had to shout over the roar of the dragons.

Dominik nodded and they were both off. They sprinted, and for the first time in his entire life Dominik was able to keep Geralt's pace.

His magic spiraled around his limbs, still in a fine mist as they climb, sprinted and climbed. As they passed them, he or Geralt would stop to cut down a rider or close a portal with Yrden. Anything that came their way fell to a flash of silver. It was as if he was gliding again as he ran. His feet barely seemed to be touching the ground as he moved with Geralt at his side. Small groups of their straggling soldiers, the ones who had been sent to fight and keep the portals closed cheered as they passed by. They all rushed and followed towards the Nagalfar after Dominik and Geralt closed the portals.

Dominik couldn't focus on them. A part of him wanted to shout out, to cheer with them, but the image of Ciri hurt on the ice had been burned into his brain. It was all he saw, her alone, having to flee.

It was what she had done for so many years on her own. He wasn't going to even make her have to do it again.

He sprinted next to Geralt, and the Nagalfar got closer and closer. Each step brought him closer to Ciri, to Eredin.

To Eredin.

The King had to be on the ship, surely knowing that Caranthir was dead by then.

A throbbing pain in his leg almost made him slip. For a moment, his face had caught fire, his cheek steaming.

You're as ready as anyone can be for this…. He looked to Geralt next to him, his silver hair flowing out behind him, silver sword in hand.

Geralt would be there, his friends would be there, hopefully Ciri would be there.

Or he could end up fighting alone.

Either way, he fought Eredin again now. It had only been a few weeks since he was almost killed by the king. What difference could a few weeks really make?

The power saturating around him told him the difference it would make. He clutched harder on his silver, forcing the throbbing to stop. There was no getting out of it, and he didn't want out of it. Ciri had told him what Eredin and Avallac'h tried to do to her when she was younger, and while the sage would have his day, Eredin's would be now. If not for the King, Ciri could have come to see him after Rivia, but now. Eredin chased her, so she had to run.

And he had to search. She had been running for so, so long, and he had been searching for the same amount of time. They would both have rewards for it.

He followed Geralt to a ridge, which led down to the deck of a destroyed ship. They both leapt down, and a rider's head flew backwards almost smacking Dominik in the face.

"AHHHHH! HAHA! COME ON! COME ON!" A booming voice yelled.

Dominik looked and the door to the old cabin of the ship burst open. Riders charged from the sides as well, but men wearing Clan An Craite colors intercepted. Dominik joined them with Geralt, they cut down riders as Dominik looked and realized the voice belong to none other than Hjalmar An Craite.

He had never been so happy to see the man in his life.

Hjalmar laughed like a mad man as he knocked away a rider's sword with his axe. He then spun and split the riders helm, before swinging again and removing the head from shoulders. It fell the ground with a squelch of blood, and Hjalmar managed to control his laughter long enough to see Geralt and he, which only made him laugh more.

"AHA! Dominik, Geralt! Good to see ya both!" The An Craite said, wiping his axe on his armor.

Dominik almost laughed himself, but Geralt cut ahead of him, just as the last of the riders fell around them to Hjalmar's men.

"Hjalmar have you seen Ciri!?" Geralt asked frantically.

Hjalmar's eyes went wide, and he nodded. "I saw her teleported near the Nagalfar, but she had to get away from some of the enemy!"

"Dammit!" Dominik cursed, looking out over the plains. "What about Cerys and Crach, and the rest?"

"Cerys wasn't here too long ago, said your sister of all people saved her! She and your friends are pushing with Anton towards the middle of the ship!" He said, coming up next to himself and Geralt. "And my Da should just about have the path to the ship's deck secure!"

Dominik looked, and sure enough they had gotten even closer than he realized to the Nagalfar. It was only a short distance away and was where the main bulk of both armies crashed.

Men in Clan An Craite colors swarmed near the gangplank, as the rest continued to go to work securing the area. Dominik saw a clearing out towards the left, an entire crater, where he could see blasts of Bella's magic shooting up from above. He looked to Geralt who saw it as well and they both nodded at each other.

Geralt turned back to Hjalmar. "Go join with the main bulk, we're going to find Ciri and kill Eredin. Their mage is dead, less portals will open!"

Hjalmar shook his head. "Cerys told me about what Dom's sister explained! After Caranthir dies, Eredin has a failsafe, a large number of their reinforcements will be coming now!"

Dominik cursed under his breath, but if Bella had said it would happen he knew it was true. He bit lip and could spot a Cintran banner flying in the battlefield.

They would hold, the people of Cintra always would.

He looked at Hjalmar. "Go join anyway! We're gonna gather my men and get going to take the ship. Time for the last push!"

"AYE! LET'S GET MOVING LADS!" Hjalmar cheered, clapping Dominik on the shoulder before waving to his men to follow.

They all climbed up the ridges, and past the craters, rushing towards the bulk of the army chanting like madmen. Dominik couldn't help but smile, and it was interrupted when Geralt tugged at his arm. He met his father's eyes and they both nodded again, before darting off in the opposite direction Hjalmar had taken off in.

The crater they saw all their allies in was larger than the rest. He had no idea why they were off split from the bulk of the army, but he knew he couldn't leave them alone. No matter how skilled, going to clear one of these craters on their own could be dangerous.

Once again he glided across the ice with Geralt at his side towards the flashing lights of magic they could see coming from inside the crater. Loud cheers hit his ears, and he looked over towards the army which was making even more progress. Hjalmar must have gotten to the main force with Anton's men, because the cheer from them was the loudest. They were winning, somehow they were winning.

So why did he still feel so nervous? Where was the failsafe Bella spoke of? And why was it all just… so easy? With Borch distracting Kilgarrah, they hadn't had to deal with the dragon. What was Eredin waiting for?

The thoughts were pushed from his mind momentarily when he heard the fighting of his friends finally get within earshot.

Geralt had pushed ahead and he followed, climbing up a small ridge of ice to look down at the crater below. It was massive, a few portals were open, with riders and hounds pouring out as they attacked his friends and sister in the middle. Bella stood with Freya, Coram in her hand, watching the blondes flank, while Faram and George worked to moved towards portals. Over towards the Nagalfar, more troops were making headway towards the deck, and he cursed realizing if they made it onto the ship itself, Eredin would more than likely rip them to shreds. He needed to gather his friends, he needed to get there himself.

He leapt down, Geralt following him, yelling out as he slammed his hand into the ground. The purple Yrden glyph ripped to life around him, Geralt landed a few feet away closing another portal with his sign, and finally only a few remained. The riders caught inside the massive glyphs stood frozen, and Dominik and Geralt spun and moved to cut them down.

Dominik spun and lopped the head off one rider, before coming up and stabbing his sword through another. He looked up and saw a group rushing for Freya, and Bella. It would have been too many and their backs were turned, so he rushed and threw his sword.

His silver zipped through the air and he reached out to control it, it stabbed and implanted itself into a rider's chest, making Bella turn. He reached out and shot his hand to the right, the sword came out of the rider's chest, zipping to the right and killing another just before it could cut Freya down.

Bella's eyes widened she saw him, and she shouted as ice formed in her hands. "GET DOWN!"

He ducked and rolled, and a spike of ice flew past his head. It slammed into a hound that was leaping for him, killing it just as Dominik reached his sister, and slid down on his knees. He was still gliding, and when his own magic mixed with Bella's it created a tempest around the both of them. She spun around him and cut down one rider, before he ducked down and pulled out his crossbow. The bolt found its way into a rider's chest before he leapt and stabbed it clean through. Bella spun and rolled over his back, kicking away a hound before she stabbed down through the ground killing it.

Bella and he spun and cut through riders like that for what felt like hours. He looked to the right and spotted Freya, who leapt and joined them. Despite a cut across her cheek, bags under her eyes, and no magic or mutations to help sustain her she still rolled up next to Bella and himself. She got to a rider just before it could cut Dominik down and performed a perfect parry and spin, cutting the riders side before coming back around and stabbing through its neck. She met his eyes and smiled, winking at him, and Dominik almost laughed. Bella spun around him, stepping in front of Freya and cutting down one more, before blasting a wave of fire out of her hands towards the advancing riders.

"AHAHAHA! OH YOU'RE ALL REALLY FUCKED NOW!" Faram's voice cut in behind them.

He spun around with Bella and Freya, in time to see Faram holding a rider up by his neck. The rider was just as tall as he was, and wore massive armor, so seeing his friend holding him up like that baffled Dominik. However, he quickly remembered Faram had arm wrestled a giant and won. The Bear Witcher stabbed his blade clean through the rider's stomach and yanked it out. The body fell limp and he spun just in time to punch a leaping hound out of the air, before ending it with another squelching stab.

Faram protected George and Geralt, who both rushed the remaining portals as riders emerged from them. George got to his portal first, spinning between two riders and coming around to stab one and blast another back with Aard. A hound finally leapt for him, but he shot out his hand and a Quen shield popped up around him. It was so powerful it sent the hound shooting backwards. It slammed in a bloody mess into the wall of the cavern before George lowered the shield and slammed his hand into the ground, his purple Yrden glyph closing the portal just as Geralt got to his.

Dominik still got amazed watching Geralt fight. Even with powers, he had no doubt he'd still be put into the dirt by the witcher in minutes. Geralt spun and pirouetted quicker than any person Dominik had ever seen. He spun and cut the neck of a rider before his spin brought him perfectly to do the same to another. He blasted the last rider back with Aard before slamming and closing the portal with Yrden.

And then the crater was blessedly quiet for a few moments. The sounds of battle, and the dragons overhead quickly returned, but as Geralt, Faram and George rejoined them, Dominik felt an odd sense of calm and familiarity to feel in the middle of a battle. Faram was the first to speak as always, laughing as his armor and beard were covered in blood.

"AHAHA! YOU DID IT MATE!" He said, slapping Dominik's shoulder and laughing, before doing the same to Bella. "Lassie here told us what was happening!"

"Caranthir's dead then?" Freya asked quickly afterwards, the fatigue in her eyes evident.

Dominik looked to Geralt, then over to Bella, who anxiously seemed to be awaiting his reply. He smiled at her, she still seemed as if she could fight for hours. Her magic was floating and combining with his, calm, as if it were happy to not be fighting against itself anymore.

"He is," He said, smiling at his sister, "sunk to the bottom of the bay."

Bella shivered as she breathed out, meeting his eyes and nodding as she shook. "Thank you…"

Dominik scoffed. "Thank Geralt, don't know if I'd have made it if he didn't show up. Oh, Geralt, by the way, this is Bella as I'm sure you know."

Geralt smiled over at her, but Bella seemed to shrink under his eyes. It reminded Dominik amazingly of the first time he had met Geralt.

"Good to officially meet you," Geralt said, smiling still he nodded at her. "Dom's told me a lot; hope we'll see more of you after this is over."

Dominik smiled at the flustered look on his sister's face. Bella looked absolutely flabbergasted, as everyone smiled at her, he noticed she stood particularly close to Freya, which didn't surprise him. Freya had a calming way about her, even if she was covered in blood and scratches in the middle of a battle.

Bella finally nodded. "I… thank you. I… I'm sorry for-."

"Bah! What have we told you about apologizing lassie!" Faram cut her off, smiling as he turned towards the Nagalfar, which George was doing as well. "Today, we end this! Tomorrow, we drink!"

Bella even managed a smile, stepping back closer to Freya again as she met Dominik's eyes. He found himself able to read exactly what she wanted to say, despite her not saying it out loud. He nodded reassuringly, before turning back to everyone.

"How did you all end up out here?" He asked, looking towards Geralt. "Geralt and I ran into Hjalmar, he said you were all trying to secure the area around the Nagalfar?"

"A large group was coming from out here, Bella was able to sense them," Freya said, nodding towards Bella. "She's been the one doing the planning mostly."

"Takes after our father then…" Dominik said, meeting Bella's eyes as she looked at him a fond smile on her own lips. "So, what happens now? Caranthir's dead, now we're stuck between two enemies."

"Two?" Freya asked.

Geralt nodded next to him. "Yeah, Eredin on the ship… and Avallac'h was suspiciously missing from the shore when we were near there."

"That means we have to find Ciri, have any of you seen her!?" Dominik said, feeling his panic begin to rise again.

Bella shook her head, her brown hair whipping back behind her. "No… we thought she'd be with you. We need to move on the Nagalfar now! Eredin's going to launch dozens of portals, a last-ditch effort!"

"And Avallac'h?" Geralt said.

Bella bit her lip. "We don't know where he is now. And I'm sure Ciri's smart enough to avoid him."

"We need to find her then," Dominik said, his hand tightening around Fate. "Let's make our way towards the Nagalfar then-."

"GET DOWN! DOWN MY FRIENDS!" George yelled, rushing back towards them with Faram.

A loud roar pierced the air, all eyes turned upwards, as they saw massive streams of fire and ice coming towards them. Dominik shot his hands to the ice, a massive Quen shield appeared around him, Geralt did the same, and he watched as Bella grabbed Freya around the waist and pulled her to the ground smashing her fist into the ground and making a magic shield shoot up around them both. The fire and ice passed overhead, and Dominik looked up to see Borch stuttered and falling towards the ground. Kilgarrah, his wings bloody flew off back up into the clouds, into the icy tempest that was forming around them. He lost sight of the dragon, as the roars of Borch got closer. Dominik hadn't seen the golden dragon so up close until then.

Borch slipped on the ice as he landed in the massive crater. His wings were bleeding, a large cut ran across his neck and face. The dragon was still towering over them, roaring defiantly as he scanned the skies for Kilgarrah. After it was clear the white dragon was gone, more than likely leaving to momentarily recover, Borch growled in pain as he looked down and saw the group of them standing before them.

Geralt let down his shield, and then they all did the same. Bella seemed mortified, but Freya helped her to her feet and the two joined him. Dominik rushed towards Geralt, who looked up at the dragon.

"Borch!" He yelled, "you okay?"

Dominik got to Geralt's side with his friends just as the dragon let out a low growl.

"I… I am alright," The dragon said, his voice still deep and pounding in Dominik's ears. He turned his golden scaled head towards the Nagalfar. "What is the status of your mission!?"

Dominik looked up and answered. "One of the commanders is dead! We're trying to find Ciri, any chance you saw her from up there?"

"I've been a bit pre-occupied," Borch said, growling in pain still, "but I've tried to keep track of you all. I've not seen Cirilla, but as I passed, I noticed new portals opening, the Hunt is launching one last massive attack!"

Dominik cursed and turned to Bella. "Do they have anything else after this?"

Bella shook her head. "No, this is his last effort. The numbers will overwhelm us, we've been fighting for too long and the riders will be fresh, he held them in reserve."

"What if we kill Eredin? They'll retreat won't they?" Geralt said, turning from Borch.

Bella seemed to shrink again, shivering she nodded. "They will yes, they're useless without his command. If he dies, they'll retreat within minutes!"

A cold sweat ran down Dominik's back. "The path's clear then, we kill Eredin and find Ciri, if we all-."

"We still need to be careful!" Bella interrupted looking between them and then up to the sky. "The spell they used bound Kilgarrah to Eredin. If he senses Eredin's near death he'll swoop in and try to help," She said, looking up to Borch, "do you think you can hold on?"

Borch growled. "It is not my strength that is the problem, it's my sight! I can't see a damn thing in this tempest! Kilgarrah keeps disappearing in the night and the clouds, and the ice conceals him!"

It had been obvious from watching the fight above but hearing it Dominik cursed. Looking above into the clouds, he could hear Kilgarrah, and if he squinted he could pick out his distant form, but he could see how going so fast, Borch would have a problem. They all needed a solution if what Bella said was true they needed to move quick. He was about to suggest something, anything, when Geralt met his eyes.

His yellow witcher eyes glew, and before Dominik could protest he turned to Borch.

"What if I went with you? Ride on your back," Geralt said, sliding his sword onto his own back as he met the dragon's eyes. "I can see through the night, and the clouds. We could lead him away, they you can drop me back here."

"Geralt are you fucking insane!?" Dominik said, stepping up next to him. "You wanna ride the fucking dragon yourself as it clashes with another dragon?"

"You got a better idea?" He said, meeting Dominik's eyes and shaking his head. "Only one we got. We'll try to bring Kilgarrah down, or lead him away, either way I'll be back."

"And I'll go with you!" Bella said from behind him.

Dominik's stomach lurched as he turned to see his sister. "Are you both crazy!? Bella you tried getting to Kilgarrah it didn't work!"

"I know," She said, sliding Coram to her belt. "But… I was the one who caused this, let them take Kilgarrah in the first place. My magic can help keep Geralt safe, and attack if Kilgarrah gets close. I'll go if he'll have me."

"I will, but we'll need to go now," Geralt said, as Dominik looked to anyone of his friends for support.

George and Faram had run off to watch the battle from afar again. Freya met his eyes, but they both seemed to understand the same thing. They weren't changing any minds. Kilgarrah's roar pierced through him. He looked down to Bella first, who seemed to be pleading with him. Was he really going to tell her no? That she couldn't go try and right the mistakes she made? Dominik didn't blame her for them, but she knew Bella blamed herself. Was he really going to try and control what she did, like Eredin and the Hunt had?

No, he couldn't do it. At the least he knew Geralt would watch over her, be there with her. Around his neck, the swallow trembled. The last few hours had been the longest he'd been apart from Ciri since he found her. Of course he knew that in the future there would be longer periods then this, but given the circumstances, he felt his bones trembling. He had to find her, and he had to make sure it was safe for her.

He eyed the Nagalfar and could see the magic coming from it. Slowly his fingers curled around the swallow around his neck. The metal was cold and had stains of blood. He'd wash it later, for now, he'd go fight again.

The Cave of Life flashed before his eyes. That last trial, Eredin's ghostly form attacking him.

I'm not ready… but I have to go, he thought, just as he did in the cave, I may die… but if we don't try we'll all die for sure.

He let out a sigh and looked to Geralt in front of Borch. "Fine… you and Bella go, I'll head to the Nagalfar, get aboard and-."

"NO!" Geralt hissed, turning back and glaring down at him. "You wait until I get back before you go on that ship, do you understand!?"

Dominik stared at Geralt, incredulous. "What!? Geralt, you can't seriously expect me to-."
"You heard what I said Dominik," He cut him off again. "Don't go engage alone, you wait me for me to get back, it won't be long!"

"We don't know how much time we have!" Dominik argued back. He felt the hair on his arms stand up as he met Geralt's intense glare. "You don't think I can handle it!?"

"It has nothing to do with that Dom, last time I let you fight alone you almost died," He said, his voice straining, choking on his words. "I had your corpse in my arms, I won't let that happen again! You wait until I get back understand!?"

Dominik wanted to argue further, but to his annoyance he understood why Geralt was doing this. He didn't even give Dominik time to argue further, before turning to Borch and nodding. The gold dragon laid out its neck, and Geralt began the process of climbing on.

He wanted to shout, to say something else, but the words died in his mouth as the wind howled in his ears. His arm was grabbed, and he turned to see Bella looked up at him. Tears were almost in her eyes; her makeup was smudged. She squeezed his arm reassuringly, and despite the worry in her eyes she nodded at him, and Dominik found himself hugging her after that.

"Be careful…" He said, as he pulled back.

Bella didn't say anything, only giving him a small smile. He was perplexed how much she reminded him of their mother, how similar she looked. If Bella had been born with blonde hair, she would have been a perfect copy. She rushed past him to join Geralt, who helped her up onto Borch's neck. Both of them looked at him as he saw Freya come up next to him. He bit his lip, still trying to contain his anxiousness, as they nodded and Borch took off into the air. As the dragon flew away the flapping of his massive wings almost knocked him over.

He turned and saw Freya next to him, George and Faram still looking out towards the battle.

Just like how it had been at the start of the battle.

Sighing he looked at Freya next to him. She smiled up at him reassuringly, and Dominik felt her calm reassuring presence overwhelm him. He still felt his gut boiling at what he knew was coming, but for a moment he was calmed. Freya had that effect on people.

"Thanks for looking after her," Dominik said, gesturing up towards Borch who was growing smaller with Bella and Geralt on his neck.

Freya smiled and nodded as they both turned and jogged towards Faram and George. "You're welcome, I like her. She's very smart, a bit timid now."

"Can you blame her?" He said, as they climbed up the wall. "She was just tortured by the Hunt for two years."

"And it takes an incredibly strong person to fight now after that," Freya complimented, looking up towards Borch as well. "I think… she'll make a fine addition to our little family."

Dominik smiled, and didn't fail to notice how Freya's gaze lingered. However, upon getting up to the top of the crater's wall he heard the fighting get louder. Faram helped he and Freya both up next to George and him, and when he saw the battlefield his stomach lurched.

Anton and his men had joined with what was left of the forces of Hjalmar and Cerys. They were at the left end of the ship, pushing towards the center. Another large army of theirs was led by Crach, they were much closer to the center of the ship.

"We have to move to help them," Dominik said, looking to his three friends. "Remember, keep an eye out for Ciri too, she's what's most important. If you see her, yell and we'll rush to her. If not, we just need to get to the gangplank of that ship and-."

"Dominik!" George yelled, turning and looking at him. He pointed out his silver and Dominik followed his gaze to the center of the ship. "It looks like Crach and his men are attempting to storm the ship!"

"That's good isn't it!?" Freya said, sliding her sword back out.

Dominik's heart leapt to his throat. He watched as a group of red armored soldiers climb aboard the Nagalfar's deck. He felt Fate trembling in his hands. Crach had given him the sword, his first silver sword. Now the man was storming Eredin's command ship, where Dominik knew the King himself had to be.

It was suicide, but Crach didn't know that.

"WE NEED TO MOVE!" He yelled, leaping and sliding down the slope of a hill. His friends quickly followed, following him as he burst off into a run. "THEY CAN'T STORM THE SHIP YET! WE NEED TO STOP THEM!"

He sprinted forward and his friends followed, just as the icy plains beneath them shook.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Dominik had never been in the main bulk of a battle this size. When he rushed past the main bulk of Anton's forces towards the gangplank to the Nagalfar, he felt as if he ran into a wall. He ducked around soldiers, dodged spears, swords and halberds, his silver flashing as he cut riders down who got too close. The shaking beneath them had stopped, it had been a result of the mass of portals that had opened around the plains. It was as Bella said, one last massive wave coming to Eredin's aid.

It had forced Anton's army to turn backwards to watch their flank, as a majority of them landed on the plains outside the Nagalfar itself. However, he still saw Crach's large group of Skelligers holding right beside the gangplank, a few fighting on the plank itself. He darted towards that but stopped when he heard his friends yelling out behind him.

"DOMINIK!" He stopped, magic spinning around his limbs as he recognized Freya's voice.

His friends had gotten stuck in the battle. Faram and George covered for Freya, who was trying to help tie together a wounded soldier's leg. The plain where they were on was unstable, it had a large slope, of ice that the Nagalfar was stuck in. The soldiers were getting stuck, their backs against the ship, pushed back by the riders who had come in the last wave. Dominik cursed and almost bit through his lip, he looked and noticed Freya finish wrapping the soldier's leg. The portals out on the plains were still open, more hounds then riders finally coming out. He heard Anton's voice from a small force coming to aid the ones trapped against the ship. The orders were to go and clear the plains. With Crach up on the Nagalfar, they seemed to think Eredin was dealt with.

They don't understand… no normal man can kill him, he thought, and soon found himself stuck.

To his right he saw Crach's soldiers fighting a desperate battle to keep control of the entrance to the Nagalfar. On his left, he saw Faram, Freya and George accosted by a new group of riders.

Fuck… I wish Ciri were here…. She was better at these difficult decisions then he was. It would also sooth his nerves. He looked back to the plank leading to the ship, he could hear fighting coming from it as well. What if Ciri was there on the deck? What if her thoughts before teleporting were to meet him at the Nagalfar and she was there?

But behind him… his friends were fighting for their lives.

Dammit… fucking fuck, he thought, grabbing the swallow around his neck. I can't leave them… I have to-.

"GO! GO ON MATE!" Dominik spun around when he heard Faram's voice.

He saw the Bear Witcher with a rider gripped up by the neck. He snapped it and tossed the body to the side, in a triangle with George and Freya, watching each other's backs and working their way towards the riders attacking the main bulk of the soldiers. Faram looked at him again and must have seen Dominik gawking.

"WELL!? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR MATE!?" He yelled over, waving and urging Dominik to go. "GO KICK THAT FUCKERS ASS WE'LL BE HERE WHEN YOU'RE DONE!"

"HE IS RIGHT MY FRIEND!" George shouted as well, blasting fire towards an oncoming rider before cutting him down. He shot his gaze over towards Dominik as well. "WE WILL ASSIST THE ARMY, GO! WE WILL BE ALRIGHT!"

"HE'S RIGHT!" Freya yelled from his side, ducking and rolling under a strike. She came up and stabbed a rider in the back, looking at him and waving him on. "GO!"

Dominik didn't have a chance to object. They all turned away from him, fighting their way towards the army, and out further towards the distant craters where portals were still opening.

Everything around him fell silent, and his leg throbbed.

He looked back out towards the deck of the Nagalfar above, and his insides went cold. Sweat beat down his forehead, and his stomach erupted. His magic seemed to react to it, churning and humming louder, as Dominik slowly reached up towards his cheek. His gloved hand trailed along the scar under his right cheek, and it tingled the entire time.

He had been dead, and the one responsible for it was on that ship. Not many men got to face death twice. Geralt had been near dead, and he'd come back, facing death this day as well, so he wasn't alone in it. Every bone in his body wanted to turn, to run, to re-join his friends and simply wait for Geralt like his father had instructed.

But he simply couldn't. Crach was on board, another of his friends. Eredin would kill him if he weren't fast enough.

And if Eredin remained alive, then there was no way Ciri could be safe. No way that they could start their life and get the life they deserved.

In the end, he was fighting for a lot of things. He didn't care about the politics of the fight itself with Nilfgaard or Skellige, and while he was glad he was protecting people by fighting, it wasn't the main reason he had joined the battle that day, the reason he'd been fighting since he was eleven years old. He grabbed the swallow again, he had fought for one reason, and it wasn't to protect the Elder Blood.

It wasn't about destiny; he didn't care what his destiny was.

However, destiny and love were often one in the same.

So he ran, straight towards the plank leading to the deck of the Nagalfar. Towards possible death, but towards his destiny, nonetheless.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ciri groaned as she finally found the strength to move. After she had landed, escaped the rider that almost attacked her, she had fell unconscious. She had no idea how long it was for, but all she could think of as her eyes opened, was where Dominik was, where her family and friends were. Her eyes flittered open, expecting to see the sky, to be somewhere on the icy plains where she had been fighting, but she wasn't.

She looked up and saw the large roof of a tower. The wind chilled her bones, but realizing she was somewhere unfamiliar she scrambled up to her feet. She spun, completely overwhelmed by just how high up the ceiling was. Her mind buzzed, and it wasn't until she saw the streams of fire and ice, heard the explosions. It seemed the tower had three massive exits, and from where she stood, Ciri could see out towards the bay. She felt around her neck, and breath out in relief when the ring, and her new medallion were both there.

Her eyes turned to the exit and she rushed towards it, I need to get back Dominik was fighting Caranthir. If Geralt joined him, they've certainly beaten him, they'll be looking for me and-.

She tried to walked out of the arch but was tossed back. An explosion of magic went up in her face as a barrier erected of swirling magic just as she was about to leave. She fell onto her back, and cursed, groaning as she sat up rubbing her head.

"I suggest against trying that again Zireael…"

Ciri's head snapped, and when she saw the sage standing there, his back to her, Ciri felt her blood begin to boil. She scrambled up to her feet, hand going to her sword. Avallac'h stood with his hands in front of him, Ciri couldn't see them. If you couldn't see an opponent's hands, they were dangerous. The elf muttered words in Elder Speech under his breath, and only turned from a small spiraling room of the tower as Ciri got closer.

Ciri met his eyes and felt herself explode. "What is this!? You said you were leaving as soon as the battle was over!"

The sage rolled his eyes in the same condescending way he always did. "And the battle is yet to be concluded Zireael. Caranthir is dead, and now your repugnant boyfriend goes to fight Eredin," he said, sighing in annoyance, "if I'm lucky, he'll kill the brat and I can-."

He stopped when Ciri's sword pressed against his neck. She had drawn it faster than she could ever remember. She still felt too fatigued to use her power. Her draw then was completely of her own skill. The tip of her blade was right against the side of Avallach's neck, and with one simple flick she could end the sage in seconds. She looked around her and realized all the exits had the same magical barrier around them.

She brought her eyes back to the sage, glaring, this was his plan, he was trying to trap me here… but why?

Ciri didn't want to figure out. "You have ten seconds to teleport away, and never show your face to me again, or else I will kill you where you stand."

The sage rolled his eyes, much to Ciri's annoyance. "You will not kill me Zireael. You won't strike down an unarmed man-."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Ciri said, digging the tip of her sword deeper into the sage's neck, "I'm in quite the foul mood, and seeing your face only made it worse. Besides… I have quite a bit I could kill you for…"

For a moment they were silent. Ciri saw a small drip of blood crawl down the sage's throat. Outside the tower, the wind got louder, faster, and Ciri could hear the distant screams of the battle. Everything that had been done to her at the hands of the elves, at the hands of Avallac'h was going through her head. She remembered Tir'Nala, every single agonizing day that Avallac'h forced her to spend there. All for hopes of keeping her to experiment on later. It was all on top of what she found in his lab. The sick experiments he was trying. He stalked her line for generations.

All because the woman he had loved rejected him, loved someone else. Now he hoped to find some kind of sick payback in her. She had remembered the days after escaping the Aen Elle, every day she wanted to kill them all, Avallac'h, Ge'els, Eredin, Auberon, she had wanted to kill them all. Now, she was finally going to get that chance.

Ten seconds passed, and Avallac'h didn't move. Ciri felt a sick excitement climb up inside her. She met the sage's eyes and shook her head.

"Times up," She said, pushing harder on her sword, Avallach's eyes widening as she did. She shook her head, scoffing. "And they said you were intelligent."

"Kill me if you will Zireael," The sage hissed just before her blade could cut across his jugular. He glared at her. "But if you do… know you will be condemning your world, and many others to certain doom."

"I actually think," Ciri said, her grip tightening on her sword, "that I'd be doing my world, and every world a favor by ridding it of a sick fuck like you."

"You may think that, but you are wrong," He hissed again, his eyes traveling upwards. "Kill me… and that portal will open unstable and destructive."

"WHAT portal!?" Ciri demanded, following his gaze upwards, and her eyes widened when she saw the sunstone.

It stayed hovering in the air, spiraling with magic. Avallac'h looked back to her, that fucking smirk coming back to his face. "That portal… the portal… that if not properly contained by me… will open this world to the mercy of the White Frost in a short time."

Ciri's sword almost dipped, and her chest erupted at hearing the words. The White Frost. She could remember seeing the destruction, the complete obliteration of ice and snow it had caused to other worlds. It was an unstoppable force, that drove entire races, entire worlds to extinction. She remembered seeing them. Avallac'h had made it a point to show them to her, to help her understand the gravity of the force she would one day face.

"AND YOU FUCKING BROUGHT IT HERE!?" She shouted, her sword trailing more blood across the sage's throat.

Avallac'h didn't move, only a look of distaste on his face as he scoffed. "I didn't bring it here, it would have made its way here eventually, as it will to all worlds. I merely-."

"Accelerated the fucking process you shit!" Ciri said, her stomach boiling with anger, her sword unmoving from the sage's throat. "It could have been years, ages before it came here! Now you've doomed my world, my friends, the people I love! YOU BASTARD!"

Avallac'h scoffed just before Ciri could cut his throat. "I have doomed nobody. The White Frost was coming Zireael, you know this."

"I do, I know that fucking prophecy by heart!" She said, hearing the words that have haunted her echo throughout her head.

"Exactly," Avallac'h snapped, sounding as if he had finally gotten her. He met her eyes, hands neatly folded in front of him. He stepped aside from her blade. "Only you have the power to stop the White Frost. Yes… your world may have had plenty of time, it could have been decades, hundreds of years before it came for this world… but some don't have that time, some worlds only-."

"Your world doesn't have much time… it's being destroyed by the White Frost…" Ciri said slowly, the realization dawning on her. Her sword dipped to the ground, as it all finally made sense. "That's why Eredin wanted to invade… because the White Frost is destroying your world. He wanted to use me to invade this one… but you… you don't want to do that… you want me to destroy the White Frost itself!"

Avallac'h stepped down from the chamber with the sunstone. He paced for a moment, looking at Ciri while she digested what she had just realized.

This was it; this was what Avallac'h had been working towards. It was the reason he trained her, the reason he had tracked her down a second time, was so fervent about her learning to control her powers. Of all the things he could have been planning, this was the last they all had been expecting.

Avallac'h had brought the probable apocalypse to their doorstep. He had done it to save his world, and the hundreds of others that were in current danger from the White Frost. That may have seemed admirable in some eyes. Ciri under other circumstances may have even though it so as well. However, one thought nagged at her, and enraged her even more.

She knew Avallac'h didn't care at all for any world except his own, he had made that clear plenty of times. He was trying to make his choice seem moral, but Ciri knew his true intentions, he hated humans, and any other race besides his own. Avallac'h also had no idea Ciri now had complete control of her powers. Even as she stood there, she could feel it sifting in her. She could summon it in a moment, summon it and kill Avallac'h, go and save Dominik who could be fighting Eredin with Geralt. Avallac'h had no idea Ciri could control her powers now, he thought she couldn't… but he was going to send her against the White Frost anyway.

The sage sneered at her. "You are correct…. It is your only purpose, it was Lara's purpose, that and to keep us as the dominate race in the universe! I merely righted the wrong committed to us! I'm saving hundreds-."

"Oh quit with your bullshit," Ciri snapped, her anger spilling over. "You don't give a damn about other worlds! If you did, you wouldn't have helped enslave hundreds of them, kill thousands on people on them with Eredin and the Hunt! You wouldn't have helped in the genocide the Aen Elle have committed on those worlds! You don't care about anyone but yourself, and your world. You're hoping Geralt or Dominik kill Eredin, and then you get me to destroy the White Frost… and when that's done, and the King of the Aen Elle is dead… who will they turn too to rule? You… the one who got back the Elder Blood and saved them all…

"You're hiding your own sick ambitions behind so called 'noble goals'. You don't give a damn about me! You never did! Well your plan's failed, unless you can miraculously teach me to control my powers by the time the portal opens, I can't do anything against the White Frost! You've failed!"

It was a lie, but she wasn't about to reveal to Avallac'h she could control her powers now. It was clear Avallac'h was trying to kill two birds with one stone. Send Ciri to face the White Frost. He thought-no, hoped- she would defeat the White Frost and die in the process. If he knew she controlled her powers at that moment, she didn't know what he would do. It was clear he wanted both of those goals completed. The sage seemed to mull her words, and had an unmoving face, and Ciri could tell she had struck the truth.

Avallac'h liked to pose as if he was a pillar of integrity among the Aen Elle, but he was even more crooked then the rest. She had heard, knew of the atrocities he, and the rest of the race committed. That was a reason they wanted her years prior, the gate they used to travel between worlds, to commit atrocities, to bring back fresh slaves was failing, and they needed her power to keep it active. Now… years later they wanted her for something more. Avallac'h may have been trying to paint it as a noble goal, and if anyone else had come up with the plan, she would have agreed, especially since she controlled her powers.

However, if she did this now… she'd feel disgusting. She'd be saving the Aen Elle, when in reality, they deserved to be wiped from the universe, they deserved to end up just like the other desolate worlds she'd seen.

But did all the other worlds that the White Frost was going to annihilate? And of course there was her own world. Dominik, Geralt, Yennefer, Fiona, all their friends… if what Avallac'h said was true she knew she couldn't leave them to this fate.

Ciri started to form a plan on her own. It would hurt the ones she loved… Dominik in particular at first, but if she could pull it off… if she could make Avallac'h believe he'd won for just a bit longer… then perhaps all of those things could be accomplished. First however, she needed more information.

Avallac'h scoffed, a victorious smirk on his face. "You truly were never as smart as you saw yourself girl…. It does not matter, if you control your powers or not. This location will soon open the portal…so long as you enter and approach the White Frost your power will destroy it…. It was the only thing you'd ever be good for… your only purpose. And after it's over… I will finally be rid of you, rid of the grotesque, disgusting reminder of what should have belonged to me….."

Ciri ignored the insult. The female elf in Avallach's lab had said that was what the sage wanted, so why should she be surprised he said it here? She looked over towards the exits. Even passed the magical barrier, she could see the figures of Borch and Kilgarrah flying in the skies. However, her thoughts weren't on them.

He said Caranthir is dead… that means Dominik did it. And if he couldn't find me at the Nagalfar…. It meant he was fighting Eredin or would be very shortly. Her body trembled. Could she teleport out of the tower? It didn't seem likely, either Avallac'h had placed some protection around it to prevent her, or if she did, he'd simply open the portal, or it would open on it's own.

No, he held the power now… but it wouldn't be for long. She looked at the sage, her hand slipping up and around the ring.

"Dominik was right… you were always out for yourself," She said softly, scoffing, trying to sound as defeated as possible. "We should have killed you weeks ago like he said…"

"Like you, your brat of a boyfriend thinks himself much smarter then he actually is," The sage said with a wave of his hand.

Ciri shook her head. "This is why you were so insistent we fight the Hunt on Undvik… Dominik's dream… he tried to warn me…. Gods he was right."

Avallac'h took the bait, like Ciri knew he would. He smirked satisfactorily. "Even still… all these years later you are still the same foolish little girl, unworthy of the blood that runs in your veins… at least now we can make some use of you… since you failed in that as well."

Ciri had to turn away, hand gripping the ring to hide her rage. She needed to sound defeated, like she had no hope left and was resigning to her fate. Because Avallac'h didn't care if she lived or died, he seemed as if he'd prefer if she died in the attempt.

She had to make him believe it.

"I guess I am…" She said through gritted teeth, still not turning around. "What chance do I have of surviving?"

He scoffed. "Considering how poorly you've controlled your powers and done in our lessons? Close to zero. But I did teach you just enough to be able to defeat the White Frost."

"That was all you ever cared about," Ciri said, trying to sound bitter. "You didn't care about showing me to completely control my powers… only enough that I did what you wanted. You could have waited to open this portal, taught me for longer to completely control my power so I would definitely survive the attempt… but you didn't care… you're a selfish bastard, who hides behind fake 'honor' and 'morality' you sick fuck."

"You sound surprised Zireael," The sage said, and while Ciri didn't see him, she assumed he rolled his eyes. "You're nothing but a disgusting reminder, unworthy of what's been bestowed upon you…. You will more than likely die yes… but you will do something good with your life."

"Save your world… a world full of murderous monsters," She spat, unable to stop herself.

"And thousands of other innocents," Avallac'h said, his tone becoming inpatient. "We've not the time for this. Today is the day I'm finally rid of you… now, are you going to cooperate?"

Ciri stepped up to the barrier of magic. If she squinted, she could see the Nagalfar. She obviously couldn't make out any figures other then Borch and Kilgarrah in the air. However, as she held the ring and looked out over the ship, she simply knew Dominik was there.

Watching then, holding onto the ring, it reminded her of all the days she spent looking up at the sky, holding the ring, thinking of getting back to him.

She wasn't going to be there to fight Eredin with him… again.

But he promised he'd be alright… he'd come back, she thought as she let out a shaky breath.

Their life started tomorrow. A roadside inn, a warm fire, a large dinner, a warm bath, and a 'do not disturb' sign on the door. All of that sounded lovely, a dream she had been having for almost a decade. Dreams became reality if you worked, fought hard enough, and they definitely had. He'd be alright, he'd win.

He wasn't going to be happy when he found her again, after she told him what she'd do. He'd want to kill Avallac'h and would beg her not to enter that portal. She would cry, he would cry, and Ciri accepted it would happen. It was going to rip her apart, doing this to him. She had to believe in herself. She had to believe, that this, what she felt, was true, true control of her powers, and she'd make it back.

No matter what, she'd see him. People linked by destiny always found one another.

This is your story Ciri… only you decide how it ends, her grandmother's words echoed through her mind. She knew how she wanted her story to end. She turned back to Avallac'h and she knew, knew how she would make it end.

She would enter the portal and defeat the White Frost. She would survive and return to her family, to the love of her life. She'd save thousands in the process… and she'd make sure Avallac'h paid for all the hell he put her through, for sacrificing her.

Well… he thought he was sacrificing her. He was going to be dreadfully surprised when she remerged from that portal.

She met the sage's eyes and nodded. "You are a bastard. An egotistical, self-centered bastard. Who one of these days… will get what you deserve…. But I'll do it… but not because you said so, not to save your world… but to save the thousands of others… and because it's what I choose to do…"

Avallac'h smirked, but rolled his eyes speaking in a condescending tone. "Yes… very noble of you Zireael, very noble indeed…. I care not for your reasons; do the one thing your miserable existence will be good for…"

Ciri grinded her teeth but nodded.

He underestimated her, just like they all did.

Just like the rest, it would be his demise.

A/N: IT'S FINALLY TIME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE FIGHT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, BEEN ANTICIPATING! ROUND 2! THE FIGHT FOR THE WORLD! MEN VS ELVES, GOOD VS EVIL! WILL DOMINIK GET HIS REVENGE FOR WHAT HAPPENED AT KAER MORHEN!? TO HIS SISTER!? TO CIRI!? NEXT CHAPTER YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT! CHAPTER 90, DOMINIK VS EREDIN ROUND 2 IS NEXT!

Okay I'm sorry but I am HYPED, to write and bring you this next chapter. I have had the final battle vs Eredin planned in my head, exactly how it will go for so, so long and I an PUMPED to finally write it down for you all to read! This chapter meanwhile… a few key developments come about.

Now, I obviously would like ALL witcher fans to read my story xD However, I don't think it would be very appealing to hardcore fans of Avallac'h and the rest of the Aen Elle as you can all tell by that last part xD What happens there, has always been my personal interpretation of what Avallach's true intentions are. I've never liked him in the slightest, even when I hadn't read the books to know about all the horrible things he did in them.

Obviously, if you do like Avallac'h and are a fan of the Aen Elle characters, that's perfectly okay, I'm not saying you're wrong, or trying to force you to not like them, but this is simply how me and I feel a good amount of other people have seen them. Avallac'h, Eredin, Caranthir, the Wild Hunt, the Aen Elle… they aren't good people lol. I see them glorified a lot, as if they aren't and that always confused me. I mean, they've literally committed genocide against entire planets, invaded multiple worlds, killed thousands, and taken slaves from them all. Avallac'h, Eredin, Auberon… they all were there for that, helped in that, so I never did understand why some people like them, or think they're anything less then evil.

AGAIN, if you don't think the same as me, that's perfectly fine, it's just our opinions on a fictional world lol I'll still like you even if you think different of them, I'll still talk to you and respect your opinion even though I disagree with it, as I hope you'll do the same to me xD

As for the REST of this chapter, I don't believe I've wrote so many fights in one-chapter xD Ciri gets the better of Caranthir and breaks his staff! Dominik and Bella finally fight together as one! Dominik and Geralt team up and finally bring an end to Caranthir, as Dominik begins to show even more power with his own magic as he gains more control. Next chapter he has to put all of his training to the test, all five schools of witcher combat, all his magical power, to finally bring an end to Eredin…

But what I loved MOST about writing this chapter, was finally getting to write from Bella's POV. I considered doing it a lot of times before but thought it would ruin the surprise of her reveal as Dominik's sister. But now, we can delve into her mind, and I cannot wait. I've said before other than obviously Dominik and Ciri, she would be my favorite character to write in these stories and you'll all see why. She is so complicated, and I loved writing her conflicted feelings and worries. We'll dive more into her in the sequels, but now we have a little taste…

SO, I've rambled enough! I'm off to work on what I hope will be the best fight scene I've ever wrote. As usual if you enjoy, please be sure to follow this story AND my personal profile! We only have four chapters left to go in this story, and I will be posting sequels and short stories once its done! We're up to 350+ follows on this which is absolutely insane, thank you all so much!

And also as always, if you all really like this story, and want to see amazing fanart for it, along with talking to me about the witcher, or seeing how I write, and even seeing previews of new chapters and stories, ALONG WITH seeing previews of my original in development fantasy series, be sure to go follow this stories Instagram page.

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Thank you all SO much for reading, I can't believe this is really almost done, and I cannot wait to share more of Dominik and Ciri's story with you all! Have an amazing day, stay safe, and I'll see you next time!