The Witcher: Through the Worlds

Chapter 90: The End V (Love & Destiny)

Narrator: Vengeance, retribution, justice. All were to be gained in the final battle against the Wild Hunt that faithful day on Undvik. Retribution for the hundreds of atrocities, they had committed, not just against those close to Dominik and Geralt, but to all the worlds that felt their cold, deadly touch. After fighting and defeating Caranthir, the Hunt's Navigator, Dominik and Geralt both rushed to find Ciri. They could not find her, but they did meet up with the rest of their friends. Faram, Freya, and George had been assisted by Dominik's younger sister Bella, who turned to their side to help defeat the Hunt and kill Eredin. Unable to find Ciri, and seeing the battle coming to a head, Dominik and Geralt both headed to final confrontations. Geralt, with help from Belal climbed aboard the great gold dragon Borch three-jackdaws, in an attempt to help removed Kilgarrah- the great white-dragon still under Eredin's control- from the fight. Dominik meanwhile led his three friends towards the Nagalfar. He at first waited for Geralt… but destiny waits for no man, and after being separated from his friends, Dominik boarded the ship, to face the true moment of his destiny…

Dominik had figured out that he didn't just feel like he was gliding. No… he really was. His feet didn't touch the ground as he ran unless he instructed them to do so, it was as if he was skating. The days of skating on the frozen lake, outside Cintra, Kaer Morhen, Ellander, even a few days earlier in Skellige with Ciri all came back to him. She had always been effortless on the ice, and it seemed that the lessons she taught him would come in handy.

He sprinted, barely touching the ground up the gangplank, he spun and cut down two riders. The speed at which he moved between them baffled even himself. He cut the riders down, looking at the two An Craite men who had been fighting those riders. They looked at him with awed eyes, and Dominik assumed he had to be quite the sight. His eyes were glowing, his green iris's in the middle of white-blue magic, that magic swirled up his sword, down his limbs, and when he spoke the men shot to attention.

"Get the rest of your men and get away from the ship! Enforce the left, start clearing the portals!" He shouted, pointing out towards Anton's army. "Where's you're Jarl!?"

"He went aboard the ship sir! Ordered that we take it," One shouted over the wind.

Dominik shook his head. "This ship is useless, get the men and go!"

"What about Jarl Crach!?" The man asked.

He shook his head. "I'll get him you go now!"

The two saluted him, and darted back down the gangplank, yelling to their men and Dominik finally turned to the ship.

The ship truly did seem to be made of bones. It was staunch white, and the gangplank and deck creaked as he ran. He came out onto a subdeck and spotted a set of steps to his far left. He turned and ran for them, looking out over the side at the battle as he did.

Freya, Faram and George had battled their way to join Anton. The old knight rallied a group of his knights. All of the men and women who fought looked exhausted, but he didn't see a single sign of letting down as Anton urged them forward. Did Dominik's father look like that on the battlefield? It had been something he always wondered.

Anton with help from his friends, got the group of soldiers that had been stuck out from the wall near the ship and they finally turned from it. They charged back out towards the plains of ice, and now with a better view Dominik could see the 'last attempt' that Eredin had thrown. All along the plains again portals were springing to life, new riders pouring out from them. Now they'd have to begin the long arduous process of clearing out the craters and closing them again. In the distance he saw more An Craite banners, moving towards the Cintran ones, and he smiled, knowing Cerys and Hjalmar must have finally gotten together. A small part of him was annoyed they'd have to clear the plains again.

However, he knew that if he could beat Eredin here, then it would be over. They would win, all the men and women fighting would be safe.

It was a big if, but he had to take the chance.

He heard the roaring of the dragons above and looked up to see Kilgarrah and Borch darting at each other once again. Having Geralt to direct seemed to be doing Borch wonders, because he noticed how much more alert the gold dragon seemed as Kilgarrah darted out of the clouds. Borch flew towards the mountains, away from the battle like they had planned, but as they got further away the more Dominik worried.

There would be no Geralt, no Bella, and no Ciri to save when he fought Eredin this time.

He didn't want to disobey Geralt's order to not engage Eredin. However, Crach was on the deck above, a friend, he couldn't leave the man.

Dominik also wouldn't deny how much he itched to get another chance at Eredin. For Ciri, for Bella, for his friends, for all the worlds he'd burned.

For a week he couldn't walk after his last fight with the King. Now, he would either win, or he would die, there wasn't going to be any in-between now.

He was so caught up watching his friends along the side of the deck, a rider almost fell upon him. He had come from the steps in front of him, the sounds of fighting-and men dying- on the above deck spurred him on. The rider clunked in his plate down the steps and ran towards Dominik axe in hand. He swung from the left, and Dominik leapt back letting the axe strike the wooden wall of the ships besides him. With a magic enhance strike he swung up, lopping off the rider's arm before flipping him over the edge of the ship.

With a splat the rider smashed into the ice below, and Dominik dangerously realized how high up the ship truly was. Spinning back around he heard another set of armor coming towards him. He saw the rider just in time, he lashed out with a blade. Dominik knocked the strike back up into the air, spinning and cutting swiftly across the rider's neck before he found himself finally at the steps up onto the main deck.

And he felt himself unable to move.

His leg throbbed violently. He felt more than just the sting of the wind against his cheek.

This… this is actually it. It isn't training anymore, no more preparing, he thought, before right away shaking his head, dammit Dominik how many times are you going to do this?

He had worried at many points in the battle and many points before about this fight. How couldn't he? If not for Ciri and Freya, for Yennefer's magic and near constant care, he'd be unable to walk, or even dead right now. That was what happened the last time he fought the being he was going to fight again. He looked up and spotted Borch's golden form flying a distance away. Should he simply just sit and wait for Geralt?

No… Crach is up there, if Eredin enters the battlefield it'll be a disaster you don't have time!

The scar on his right cheek felt as if it was being pulled back slowly, agonizingly. He could remember ever single detail of the fight at Kaer Morhen. He had been toyed with, played with like he never had been before in a fight. He was Dominik of Cintra, son of Sir Gregory, of Geralt of Rivia, trained at Kaer Morhen, never in his life had he felt himself so easily bested. The only way he even got a hit off, was because Eredin had been toying with him so much. As soon as he began to actually use the skill he had, Dominik hadn't stood a chance.

How would this be any different?

Around him, the mist of magic churned. A small tendril of it slowly flew past his face, down to his neck. He saw the swallow gently blow not in the wind, but in the tendril of magic. It slowly moved through his body, as if… reassuring him. He may have just been going completely mad, but he swore he could feel it urging him on, telling him it would be okay, that it had his back, and would watch after him.

Most importantly, it helped him remember, that he wasn't alone.

He was a carrier, a carrier of powerful magic. The heir of Alexander of Lod, the greatest sorcerer to ever walk the continent, of Leila of Tir'Nala, of Connor and Lara of Lod, his children the ones who ended Falka's rebellion, who fought off the entire Wild Hunt by themselves.

The heir of Sir Gregory of Cintra, Cintra's greatest knight, it's hero, Queen Calanthe's champion. The heir of Sofia of Cintra, it's greatest agent, savior of Cintra.

He was the heir to Geralt of Rivia, the white wolf, the greatest witcher to ever walk the continent, of Vesemir his mentor, Eskel, Lambert, the last witchers of Kaer Morhen. He was the heir to Yennefer of Vengerberg, of Triss Merigold, heroes of Sodden Hill.

He was heir to all the people who had sacrificed for him, trained him, taught him, cared for him, prepared him for this very moment.

And most importantly he had the greatest reason to fight.

You've killed how many men to get to the woman you love? A hundred? A thousand? One more stands in your way….

He finally found himself able to move. His eyes shot open in a small burst of magical energy, and it was as if his limbs were injected with more then he'd ever had. He moved the steps and burst out onto the top deck of the ship, Fate held tight in both his hands, out and ready, swirling with magic.

And Dominik saw blood, so much blood.

"Fuck me…" He said, his eyes widening, before a blood curdling scream got his attention back.

Blood was caked across the deck; bodies were strewn and mangled. The screaming came from a man, which a rider had stuck halfway up a mast pole with a massive sword. Dominik could hear the rider laughing as the man's arm was severed. The screams pushed him forward, and the rider didn't even have a chance to turn around before Dominik lunged forward swinging Fate. Between his raw strength, and the magic enhancing his sword he cleaved through the rider's head. It rolled to the ground and the body slumped to the ships deck spewing blood. He quickly reached for the man stuck to the mast, a sword stuck through his chest holding him there, but Dominik knew there was nothing he could do.

The man spasmed, his eyes wide as he looked at Dominik and reached out a hand. His bloody fingers grazed the side of Dominik's face, and the man's blood wetted his cheek before the man's hand went limp and his eyes closed for good.

Dominik shook, a spike of anger running up his chest. He cursed and rounded the mast, just as another rider rushed for him. He knocked the riders strike aside, spinning to his back and plunging his silver clean through the rider's chest. More footsteps rushed towards him, and Dominik ripped his sword free, spinning and throwing it into the chest of another rider that came for him. After the rider fell, Dominik reached out and formed a connection to his sword with his magic. It zipped through the air and back into his waiting hand as he finally got a good look at the deck around him.

All of Crach's men were dead, they laid mangled and strewn about the deck. Some crawled desperately in their last moments, others had limbs severed, their guts ripped open. All good men, great men who had come to fight for their worlds. A swirling tempest was building inside of him, as he could remember Kaer Morhen, the burning pyres they had to light, and the many they'd have to light after this battle.

He could remember throwing the torch onto Declan's pyre, his friend, his comrade, who should be alive fighting with him then. His life had been worth more than Eredin's more than any of the Aen Elle. So had Arno's, the man who helped calm him before battle, Elise's fiancé, Adda's best-friend. Vigi and Folan, and all the men who had died that day, they had all been worth more then any of the Aen Elle.

The tempest seemed to explode, as he rushed past the middle of the deck, past the giant middle sail of the Nagalfar, almost slipping on the fresh blood, their faces in his mind. Ciri's face in his mind, the face of his sister, and thought of the thousands that had died at the Hunt's hands on his mind.

A loud boom of thunder erupted above him, along with a stream of fire as Borch chased Kilgarrah through the skies. The snow had turned to rain, it began to pour, as fire and lightning lit his way while he ran. Lighting and thunder shook his bones, but the magic kept him moving, and finally he reached near the main command upper deck.

And he saw Crach.

"CRACH!" Dominik screamed, as he saw the Jarl lashing out against Eredin's massive form.

Eredin seemed completely unbothered from when Dominik and Bella fought against him less then an hour ago. Eredin stood at least eight feet tall as he normally did, he towered over Crach as he did over everyone, but somehow to Dominik he seemed even larger. An icy storm blew around the King, but he moved so effortlessly as Crach swung a massive axe, that Dominik didn't know if he were even using a portion of the true power he could wield. The blade he had used to mark Dominik's cheek and nearly crippled him parried and struck effortlessly with only one hand, despite it being at least as long as a man was tall.

Stop staring and RUN! He urged himself on as Crach lashed out. The Jarl hadn't heard his call, the thunder and wind drowning out his voice. He cursed as he continued to sprint. Crach was hurt, and hurt bad, the Jarl stumbled back, his axe dragging on the blood-soaked deck.

Rain started pouring down on him, as a massive clap of thunder drowned out the words that came from Eredin. He didn't wear his faceplate, his demonic, monster eyes staring at Crach as one would stare at a kitten trying to knock down a piece of pottery.

Crach bled, grabbing his bleeding chest. Dominik assumed he said something as well, and he knew what would happen next so he sprinted, urging the magic to move him, to move him and get him to Crach. He felt himself begin to glide again, only a few meters away.

A rider came to cut him off, and Dominik tripped.

"DAMMIT!" He cursed as he fell, slipping on a wet pool off blood the second his foot hit the ground. The rider swung a halberd down towards him. He rolled out of the way, coming up to his knees and swinging his sword in a sweeping arc, screaming as it cut clean through the riders leg. The rider fell, and Dominik swung up, cutting deep into the body before he got to his feet.

His body throbbed, the magic swirled in his mind, around his limbs, and seemed to pull his attention back to Eredin and Crach.

Dominik looked just in time for Crach to lunge forward again, one hand on his axe, one desperate lunge.

"NOOOOOOOO!" He screamed and sprinted forward again just as a clap of thunder rattled his very soul above.

Eredin still looked amused, he knocked Crach's axe into the wood of the deck. He smacked the Jarl across the cheek. Crach stayed on his feet and tried to turn again, and just as Dominik burst past the last mast pole, onto the command deck he had seen Bella train on so many times in his dreams Eredin spun.

The King's sword cut across Crach's chest, knocking him back and sending him skidding across the deck.

Crach landed right at Dominik's feet.

"Aha… brave… but a fool," Eredin said, his voice low, but amused. He glared at Dominik with a smirk, his sword resting on his shoulder. "Just like the rest of you…brave yes… but foolish to resist."

Ignoring the King Dominik looked to Crach at his feet. The Jarl's eyes were open, looking up at the sky, and right away Dominik fell to his knees, Fate dropping to his side. He knelt down, his hand going across Crach's chest, they shook as he tried to push the magic down into the Jarl's body. He hyperventilated, his mind erupting as each second he had his on Crach's chest, more of the Jarl's-no… his friends blood- slowly creeped onto his gloves.

"Don't move, Crach I got you," He said rapidly, his voice low under the wind. Under him Crach only choked, his eyes finally turning towards Dominik. Blood pool from the side of the man's mouth, and with each second Dominik's chest felt like it was imploding in on itself. He noticed Crach slowly moving his hands, reaching towards Dominik's side, and he tried to stop the man. Moving would make him lose blood faster.

"Just relax, don't move! I can fix this," He said, looking at the blood gorge across the man's armor, and across his bare chest. Tears fell onto his body, mixing with the blood as Dominik commanded the magic to seal the wound. "You'll be alright…. I can fix this… I can fix this, I… I can…. I can… I can… I can fix…."

The magic wasn't doing anything. Even as he saw it trying to slowly stitch together Crach's chest, the Jarl's face was pale. Rain splattered down onto his cheek, drenching his red beard and hair back onto the deck. It mixed with the blood. Eredin's sword had cut deep, and Dominik tried moving the magic faster, but each second that passed, Crach's chest rose slower.

No… no no no no… nobody else… gods nobody else, he thought, trying to push the magic to move faster, forgetting that he needed it to sustain his own injuries from the battle.

He remembered when he broke down crying over the walls of Kaer Trolde, after he thought he lost Ciri's trail for good. The armor he wore now, the silver next to him, the confident he gained that day, the will to go back on, it was all thanks to Crach.

Now he was dying in front of him.

"COME! FUCKING COME ON! WORK," He screamed, gripping tighter on the chainmail Crach wore. "FIX IT! COME ON, FUCKING FIX IT! YOU STUPID FUCKING MAGIC, WHY WON'T YOU WORK!?"

Crach gurgled on his blood again, and Dominik pushed and pushed harder on the magic around him. He felt a poking at his brain, as if the magic itself was trying to tell him something.

More thunder erupted above him, a bolt of lightning illuminating Crach's pale face. He knew now what the magic was trying to tell him.

No amount of it would save the man below him.

His tears fell down onto the man's chest, as he pressed against the wound. "No… no no no, I can fix it! I can fix it Crach I swear I… I can fix you; Hjalmar and Cerys will come for you, I can fix it I swear, I… I can-."

"No… no…" Crach finally managed to form words. Dominik head turned, and he saw the blood seeping from the side of the Jarl's lips.

He met Crach's pale eyes, the man's beard, his hair was all mixed with blood and rainwater. It still pounding on the back of Dominik's neck, wind chilled his bones, as the magic slowly returned back to him. He shook his head unable to look away from the Jarl or move his hands from the man's wound.

"I… I can do something," He cried, tears freezing to his cheeks, "I… I can get you to Yen, to Geralt, somewhere, someone will-."

Crach slowly shook his head. The man's eyes didn't leave him. Dominik heard a small clang of metal, and next to him Crach had managed to grip the handle of Fate. A loud groan of pain left the man, as his other hand reached over and gripped Dominik's sword hand. Dominik's hands shook like leaves in a windstorm, as Crach thrusted the hilt of Fate into his hands.

Dominik was crying more now, as he slowly wrapped his fingers around the silver's hilt. Crach's hands both firmly grasped around his and the sword. The sword the Jarl had given him. The sword that finally made him feel like a real witcher.

Take that blade lad, and may it finally help you find her. Getting that sword had felt like it only happened yesterday, but in reality it had been almost a month.

Crach looked at him, slowly nodding, squeezing harder as Dominik found himself crying more.

Miraculously, a smile crossed Crach's lips. "Your…. Father…. Pr… proud…. Proud…"

Dominik broke, and sobbed as he nodded at the man. A second later, he felt Crach's hands loosen, slowly, bit by bit.

Until finally they fell limp off of his.

Dominik kept one hand gripped to Fate but kept the other to Crach's chest. It wasn't moving. Crach's head slowly slumped back onto the deck, and Dominik finally knew he was gone, and there was nothing he could have done.

He reached up; his gloved hands covered in Crach's blood as he slowly closed the man's eyes.

"The people around you… they always seem to die," Eredin's voice over the wind, "don't they boy? Your mother… father… sister, your friends… and soon… Zireael."

Thunder rang out overhead, lighting and fire illuminating Crach's body below him, along with the blood staining the deck. A tempest unleashed around him, wind swayed and moved the ship even stuck in the ice. The sounds of battle were drowned out by the wind, the thunder, the rain. It's always the fucking rain…

Another thunderclap erupted overhead, and inside of his chest Dominik's felt something erupt inside him.

He rose to his feet, as he heard Eredin laugh.

"A touching moment indeed… you humans, so… sentimental," The King said, his armor cluttering as he kept his demonic, amused eyes trained on Dominik. "It almost takes the thrill out of conquest…"

Dominik didn't say anything. He didn't want to say anything. He looked around him, a decent sized space, no bigger than the courtyard he had fought Eredin in at Kaer Morhen. Eredin looked to him, his eyes had a curious look to them, clearly he had been expecting a response.

"This man… like all of you pathetic humans," The King said, his sword still hefted to his shoulder, "refuse to quit… it's almost admirable. It will be… fun watching that fighting spirit… slowly… slowly wither away, as you are all made slaves."

Enough open area for spins and pirouettes. I have the magic to enhance my signs like George showed me… to open and area for Bear, not enough room for Cat or Viper. Dominik slowly shifted his feet, both hands to the hilt of his silver, one foot in front of the other, weight shifted evenly, ready to pounce or spin to either side.

Wolf School stance, the fist he'd learn, how he'd fought for most of his life. It would serve him well now, just like it always had.

Eredin tilted his head, even more amused now. "You know… I was hoping you showed up with the Witcher. That way… I could kill you in front of him… before doing the same with Zireael."

Crossbow is loaded, one samum, one dancing star… I've been neglecting bombs since I got silver… hope it doesn't come back to bite me, he thought, keeping his stance, his eyes not leaving Eredin, or his sword. The sword that had plunged into his leg. It was jagged along the edges, three prongs at the top.

"But I will settle for just you… after all, your ancestors fell to my blade," Eredin said slowly, his eyes narrowing, the amused look slowly leaving him. "Today, I kill you… then your treacherous little brat of a sibling… and I will finally have eradicated the line of Lod… the line that disgraced the superior race."

He can probably teleport like Caranthir… need to be careful… hopefully this magic isn't a fluke. After he thought it, he felt a poking at his brain, as if the magic were offended at the very idea, before it slowly swirled down around his legs, his arms, and filled his eyes.

Eredin looked annoyed now, as Dominik didn't react, only getting control of his breath.

"You know boy… I was going to kill Zireael quickly," He said slowly, his eyes trying to peer into Dominik's soul, "but now… I've decided I won't deny myself… the pleasure, of slowly bleeding her dry, her blood finally serving its purpose."

The swallow bouncing against his chest echoed over the thunder, but Dominik didn't move, didn't speak.

"No words?" Eredin said, feigning surprise. He gave Dominik an amused look again, "I must admit, I was hoping for that same bravado you showed at that crumbling castle, the same fire. I must say I'm disappointed, I expected… more."

The old Dominik would have given Eredin the reaction he wanted, but not anymore.

Dominik didn't want to say anything, didn't want to say anything. However, he decided to indulge the King in six words.

He shook his head towards Eredin as he glared Dominik's way. "I'm done talking… now you die…"

Eredin laughed, that same smirk that all the Aen Elle seemed to have coming to his fate. He removed his massive blade from his shoulder, looking at it, and then back to Dominik again.

The King kept that smirk. "No talking? Very well… I did have something I wanted to tell you… but now… I will wait and tell you… as you expire."

Dominik's heart thumped with the boom of thunder. The magic started swirling faster around him as he let in a slow breath. The thoughts creeped up on him, what could Eredin possible have to tell him that was so important, he'd actually want Dominik to know? He felt the poking at his brain again, as if the magic had its own conscious, and was trying to keep him focused.

He let out a shaky breath, keeping his stance, but what could he possibly-.

"Come then… Witcher," Eredin said, saying the word as if it were an insult. He slowly raised and put his faceplate in place, his sword dipping towards Dominik. "Come and show me the power you wield… show me your spins, pirouettes and feints… I simply wish to observe."

And if destiny truly did always come to past as it had his whole life, bringing him to Ciri, to Geralt, revealing his powers, it was coming to pass then. Hundreds of years ago, Alexander had sworn that his line would always protect the Elder Blood. Dominik had never thanked the old man for doing that, if he hadn't, would Dominik ever had met Ciri?

He didn't have time to think, because destiny was coming to pass then and there, as the icy mist around Eredin grew to a storm to match the magic around himself.

In the blink of an eye, his final test began.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"HIGH LEFT, ABOUT 45 DEGREES FROM THE CLOUDS!" Geralt shouted over the winds, as Bella had to grip the Witcher's waist to not fall.

Just as Geralt had shouted, Kilgarrah burst through the clouds spraying a burst of ice towards them. Borch- who's name Bella finally learned- lurched out of the way, and blasted fire towards Kilgarrah as he passed, hitting the white Dragon's wing, causing him to screech in pain as he flew up into the clouds again.

Bella ached at hearing Kilgarrah's pained screams, but the aches quickly went away, when Kilgarrah recovered. The dragon had fallen, but darted back up towards Borch's underside, a blast of ice coming from below.

"PELIO CREAS ANAY!" Bella screamed out the spell, smacking her hands together as a massive shield shot up around Borch.

The ice smashed into it and exploded. The rain and wind around them had already almost blew Bella off the dragon's back, but the explosion then finally sent her flying. She yelled out as she fell, but suddenly felt her wrist yanked. Geralt had turned just in time, holding onto one of Borch's horns as he grabbed Bella just before she could fall. Bella looked up at the older witcher who gritted his teeth and yanked her back behind him.

Her heart thumped along with the thunder around them, Geralt looked worried for a moment, before Bella settled back down.

Is he really worried about me? Or is it just because Dominik vouched for me… either way why would he not let me fall? She cursed in her mind, the man had just saved her from falling and here she was questioning it.

"You okay!?" Geralt yelled over the wind.

Bella nodded, her gaze going back down to the battlefield below. Across the graveyard of ships, the army had splintered off from the Nagalfar. The soldiers looked like ants from how high they were. She watched as the scrambled through the plains, racing to the portals to fight the last of the riders who were coming out. Bella knew most of the portals wouldn't stay, but this was Eredin's final push for a reason. She tried to reach out and sense Dominik's magic but couldn't. He had told Geralt he wouldn't engage Eredin yes, but she was sure Geralt knew just as well as she did, he would more than likely ignore that order.

She was hoping he didn't, that he saw some sense and didn't engage alone. It wasn't because Bella didn't think he could win, it was because she knew that was exactly what Eredin wanted. She knew the King had more then likely shifted his plans. After missing Ciri when she came onto the field, he was now going to use Dominik to try and lure her out. He thought that if he could kill Dominik quick enough that would make Ciri reveal herself for him to capture.

Bella worried about Ciri yes, but even believing in her brother's abilities Bella shuddered at the thought of him fighting Eredin alone. Dominik had pleaded with her that they could fight the King together and kill him, that they were strong enough. Could that be true? And even if Bella did, could she even do it? Attacking the King before she hadn't been nearly as confident as she showed. The very idea of standing before him, sword raised, trying to kill him… she wasn't nearly strong enough. Yes, she had saved her brother, but she knew what Eredin was capable of, still felt the bruises and bore the scars across her body of what he could do. It was part of the reasons he decided to join with Geralt and get to Kilgarrah.

Kilgarrah. The only one who had believed in her from the very beginning.

"BELLA!" Geralt yelled over the wind and got her attention. Her head snapped up; her eyes frozen as she met the Witcher's gaze. His intense yellow eyes almost frightened her, the urgency in them was paramount. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?"

"I'M FINE!" She said, having to yell and be heard over the wind, thunder and rain. A loud roar brought her attention back to her objective, you need to stop! Fight now, grieve and figure things out later, Kilgarrah needs you. She noted the white dragon speeding away from them. "Get me closer! I'm going to teleport to him!"

"That's suicide are you crazy!?" Geralt said back to her, Borch roaring and speeding after Kilgarrah.

Bella met the Witcher eyes from behind him. "Probably, but I have to try something! The spell isn't supposed to end until Eredin's dead but… but maybe I can get through to him if I try again! I can't stay back and do nothing!"

"You're definitely Dom's sister that's for sure…" She heard him mumble, before he look at her again, the wind blowing back his silver hair. "You don't have to prove anything… you know that right?"

"You're wrong…" She said right away, blinking away the frost building on her eyelashes. She stared at Geralt, feeling her stomach swirl beneath her skeletal armor. "Please let me start."

Geralt seemed to be biting his tongue. Bella looked over at Kilgarrah who swept towards them quicker now. Her last attempt hadn't worked, she had been too tame. Around her, she could feel her magic saturating her limbs. It poked at her, as if it somehow had a consciousness of its own. It never felt like that before, and it had never been the color it was now. Bright white-blue, a beautiful color as opposed to the dark seeping blue it had been before.

It invigorated her, urged her to act, and Bella was disgusted. She didn't deserve power like this. She hadn't learnt to use it the right way, all she had ever known how to use her magic for was death, to help kill, invade and enslave. No, she wasn't worthy of it, but if it meant doing even some good now, then Bella would use it.

Geralt met her eyes and sighed. "Alright… just be careful. Borch! Get as close as you can! Right, ninety degrees coming from below!"

He looked back at Bella and she nodded. Borch roared, flapping his bleeding wings and speeding towards Kilgarrah who came from the direction Geralt had yelled out.

The massive white dragon came for them. Geralt nodded at Bella to go, and Bella breathed in the icy air. It pierced her lungs, but being careful she stood, holding onto Geralt's shoulder for support, before reaching to her belt and pulling Coram out. The wind almost knocked her over, but she held steady, the sword wasn't slick with blood, it had simply washed off after her previous fights, sihil's had tendency to stay this clean. The sword was beautiful, and she could now vividly remember the days sitting at the hearth with her brother admiring the runes.

Now those runes pulsed darker then she'd ever seen. The edge gleamed as she sucked in a breath. Cursing at her hair blowing back, she quickly stuck her sword away. She tied the locks of brown hair behind her head, in a ponytail she'd seen Freya wearing. She tired it tight down the length, and quickly redrew her sword just as Kilgarrah got closer.

"GO NOW!" Geralt yelled, as he urged Broch to fly up.

Bella saw the white form get closer. She narrowed her eyes, focusing her magic and tugging at the power of the white frost like she had been shown. She leapt from Borch's back just as Kilgarrah sped under Borch's stomach and teleported.

She felt the ice circle and envelope her. It seemed to clash with her other magic, her head exploded with pain as she finally felt herself reform. The air was quicker, the wind colder, the rain harder as she finally found herself on another dragon's back. She almost flew backwards, grabbing onto Kilgarrah's horn to stop herself. Coram almost slipped from her grasp, and she had to reel it in, finding a place on Kilgarrah's neck just as she had been at the start of the battle.

When you massacred hundreds… without even blinking…. She shook the thoughts away, not wanting focus on them. Her timing was good, because as soon as she landed and settled herself Kilgarrah finally bucked his neck back and came to a stop. Bella yelled as she nearly slipped back but grabbed hard to the horn. The dragon had stopped to avoid an oncoming Borch, who flew away, daring Kilgarrah to chase. Kilgarrah for the moment didn't fly away, and Borch didn't come back around, more then likely at Geralt's order.

Bella regained control as Kilgarrah's white head turned back. His red and black eyes, the cursed ones glared at her as he roared, trying to snap at her on his neck. Bella narrowly avoided, grimacing as she cut Coram along the side of the dragon's neck, making him roar in pain and almost buck her off again.

"KILGARRAH!" Bella shouted, struggling to hold on as Kilgarrah roared. She looked and met the dragon's eyes, feeling her own awash with power and magic. "I AM BELLA OF CINTRA, DESCENDANT OF ALEXANDER, I CALL ON YOU TO FULLFILL YOUR OATH!"

Kilgarrah roared in response snapping at her again. Bella had to roll of Kilgarrah's neck, her magic made it possible for her to hold onto the crook of Kilgarrah's wing. Magic swirled up her arm, invigorating it as she screamed and pulled herself back up. Kilgarrah's head met her, and she swung her sword out in an arc to make him back away. She found her way back onto the dragon's back, just as Kilgarrah reared his head back to blast a stream of ice towards her.

As he did Bella shot her hand forward and a blast of blue magic erupted. It quickly turned to flames, and made Kilgarrah roar in pain as the ice didn't come out. He snarled, snapping at Bella again. She narrowly moved out of the way, as Kilgarrah roared, his rows of dagger like teeth showing in front of her.

"PLEASE KILGARRAH!" Bella shouted, hearing the pain behind the dragon's roar. The spell was slowly witling away Kilgarrah's spirit, his sense of self. If it didn't break, he'd soon become a mindless servant of Eredin, bound to his life-force.

Bella felt tears sting at her eyes with the ice. She had done this to him. So many nights she had teleported away from the ship, standing on a precipice. Kilgarrah was there, even when she didn't need to summon him, he was there. Always he would tell her of Alexander, of what a great man he was, and how his capacity for greatness lived on in Bella. Even in her darkest days, when her mind was the cloudiest, when she was freezing villages on hundreds of wars, dragging slaves to the Nagalfar… Kilgarrah always returned. He easily could have not come, the blood oath was gone, but he came because Bella needed him.

Now she had to do the same for him.

The dragon snapped at her again, and Bella was forced to cut her blade across Kilgarrah's cheek. Coram, cut through the scaly flesh with a small amount of difficulty, but still, the sihil drew blood. He roared, blood dripping from the side of his head, as Bella looked up into his cursed eyes.

"I'M SORRY! KILGARRAH I'M SORRY PLEASE! YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THIS!" She yelled, as the dragon continued to violently flap his wings. Each roar stuck a knife into Bella's heart, so much pain was in that roar, and she had caused it. "I'M SORRY! KILGARRAH PLEASE, PLEASE I'M SORRY!"

He roared again, snapping his jaws towards Bella, and she rolled away. She slipped on his blood scales and had to grab his wing again. She dangled there, her sword in her other hand as she tried to pull herself upwards again. She couldn't because Kilgarrah was there. His jaws just barely missed her again, as Bella finally cried. He roared in frustration, his eyes on Bella. His jaws could reach her, and any attempt to use ice would have frozen his own wing. So he snapped ta her, relentlessly he tried to sink his teeth into her flesh, and with each miss Bella almost fell.

You did this… you caused this, you did Bella… all of it, she thought, tears freezing to her cheek. She didn't know if she'd have any feeling left in her limbs if not for her magic. It circled around her limbs like it did for her brother, but Bella had no idea how she was doing it. She still felt the prodding, the poking at her mind, the urging. It told her to move, to fight, it encouraged her, but with each minute that passed, each snap of Kilgarrah's jaws Bella could only move out of the way, her fingers curled to the crook of the dragon's wing.

"This is my fault… I did this… I deserve this," She said, as Kilgarrah roared and she narrowly avoided the dragon's jaws. Tears fell down to the air below her, her arm beginning to shake as she looked at the pain in Kilgarrah's eyes as he roared at her.

Bella wept shaking her head and looking at the dragon. "You were right! Kilgarrah you were right! You were right I… I did have a choice, but I chose wrong! I'll never forgive myself, but please, please Kilgarrah hear me! It's to late for me… but I won't let you fall! I WON'T LET YOU OR ANYONE ELSE SUFFER FROM MY MISTAKES!"

She cried but a burst of magic shot from her. It exploded around her, she started glowing like a lighthouse. Bella's heart raced, it almost thumped from her chest as the magic made Kilgarrah screech. His head shot back around him, and Bella was able to pull herself back up onto his neck. He kept screeching as Bella looked below and saw that the light was starting to burn Kilgarrah's scales. In horror she realized how much pain she could cause and commanded the magic to subside.

To her complete shock, the magic obeyed. It had never obeyed her with such speed, and without causing her to smoke. All she could think was how many were suffering; how many were in danger. Kilgarrah, Dominik, Ciri, Geralt, all their friends below who had believed in her, accepted her without a second thought. She couldn't let them suffer for what she'd done. It didn't matter if the person she hated most in that world was herself, what she thought she did or didn't deserve, she had to fight.

"I WON'T LET YOU SUFFER! I WON'T LET MY BROTHER SUFFER, CIRI, OR ANYONE ELSE," She said, standing up on Kilgarrah's back, just as the dragon spun his head around to her again. The dragon spun back around, looking at her and roaring, ice beginning to form in the back of his throat. Bella held her sword in one hand and formed the magic to her other hand.

"IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I'VE DONE! HOW DISGUSTED I AM WITH MYSELF," She found herself screaming, "I'LL PROTECT THEM! AND ANYONE WHO CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES!"

Bella launched the magic straight at Kilgarrah's head before the ice could come her way. It slammed into the dragon bringing out another roar of pain. It sent him stumbling in the sky and Bella fell forward, grabbing onto Kilgarrah's neck with one hand and making sure her sword didn't drop with the other.

Kilgarrah bucked but Bella held firm. The roar hit her ears, but she heard something else.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH! B-BELLAAAAAA! GAHHHHHHHHH!"

"YES! KILGARRAH!" Her head shot up, and Kilgarrah was looking back at her. His wings spasmed, he roared and screeched but Bella found herself smiling, crying more as the dragon met her eyes.

In the center of the black and red eyes, she saw a single speck of gold. Kilgarrah looked at her, his body still spasming with pain and between it and the wind, she was forced to hold on but fell back to the crook of his wing again as Kilgarrah's bloody head turned back to her.

"AGHHHHHHHHH! BELLLAAAAAAAAAAAA!" He screamed again, his voice deep and booming through the clouds. He spasmed more, and she heard another roar. She looked behind her as she held on and saw Borch coming back around, more than likely to get her.

"KILL! KILLLLLLLLLL HIMMMMMMMMMM!" Kilgarrah's pain screams turned her back. She looked up at him, finally feeling her fingers slipped as he peered down at her. "ONLYYYYYYYYYY! ONLLLY WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

Killing Eredin… it was the only way. How she got Kilgarrah to speak she'd never figure out, but she did know it wouldn't last long. She right away looked down as she was slipping, and she spotted the Nagalfar.

As soon as she did, she saw another glow. A burst of light similar to the one that she was exhuming now.

Her brother. "DOMINIK!"

She shouted as the glow soon disappeared, and she could feel his magic even from where she hung then. The magic poked at her brain, urging her to go help, to go reunite, to reach him.

To go fulfill her destiny.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHH BELLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Kilgarrah screamed in pain again, and finally he bucked his wings.

And Bella finally slipped.

She screamed as she fell, she heard Geralt yell her name from the back of Borch, who Kilgarrah darted for, blasting ice and slamming forward.

Bella fell, fell into open air and felt Coram slip from her fingers. Panicking she looked and saw it falling above her, being blasted by the wind as she was. Remember what Dominik had done in the fight they had, she reached out, commanded the magic to attach to the blade. She willed it forward, and the magic obeyed again, bringing the sword zooming through the air into her waiting hand.

She spun back around as she fell and saw the Nagalfar again. She could feel Dominik's magic as she fell, and below her she could see the once any sized soldiers getting closer. Her heart nearly exploded and panicking again she quickly called on the White Frost.

Disappearing from the sky, she soon found herself tripping into a bank of snow and ice. She couldn't get up for a minute as her legs were numbed by the fierce cold, but her magic quickly warmed her.

Thank you… she said, finally coughing as she stumbled up to her feet. The magic poked at her brain, as if acknowledging her thanks. A warm feeling washed over her, but it quickly faded as she grabbed Coram from the ground and looked up.

She hadn't specified the Nagalfar to land in her panic. She stood on the shore overlooking the battle, the bay where all the ships had been coming from. The plains of ice and ships stretched out before her, the Nagalfar seeming to be miles away. However, if she focused, she could still feel her brother's magic. It was as if her own magic was connected, telling her where he was. She could see clearer, felt energy shoot through her like never before. It swirled up her arms, up her sword, down her legs, and she could feel what was happening to her brother.

She could hear him grunting, yelling as he struck. She felt his pain, his anger, his attempts to control it, but most importantly his determination, his hope.

Bella also heard Eredin, his laughing, cackling, his belittlement of Dominik's efforts, his taunts and his jibes. It had been just like he did to Bella, trying to make those he thought beneath him feel like they were nothing. As if they only existed because of him.

Pain coursed through her body. Every scar, every strike, every beating, ever training session, every slow caress of her face, it all hit Bella in that moment.

Her body trembled, as she could feel all of it, all the abuse within her in that very moment. She was horrified, she didn't want to move.

But she heard Dominik's attacks, could feel her brother's pain and determination, his will to fight on. Fight on her for her, for Ciri, for that world, to protect the people of it.

"If he can… then I can," She said slowly, the magic reacting in her mind, happy with her choice. What she felt didn't matter now.

She was broken by Eredin, the girl she had been was killed, beaten and ripped from her. He had taken everything from Bella, her family, her mind, her innocence… yes, Eredin had succeeded in breaking her.

But she'd be damned if she let him do the same to her brother, and anyone else again.

"Baelen…"

Bella whirled around, as she heard the footsteps. As she turned she felt the magic of the portals behind her opening. Three had opened behind her when she turned. A half-dozen riders stepped out, led by one captain, a massive axe slung to his shoulder.

The filed out around her, as Bella pulled both hands to her sword, the magic urging her, telling her it was time… time to fight again.

Bella looked back out towards the Nagalfar. More riders were close to the shore, fighting men in craters closer to the shore. No, she wouldn't be able to teleport, she was going to have to run.

Only a legion of riders of the Hunt stood between her and her brother, her and destiny.

She'd faced worse in her training.

Bella didn't give the riders time to say anything else before she yelled, and with magic helping her she lashed out at them.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Surely you can do better boy," Eredin shouted, swinging towards his neck. "Your pathetic ancestors could not stand against me, and now you will fall as they did! I will drag Zireael to the world. I will kill her slowly bit by bit while I watch the life drain from her."

Dominik fought. He fought like he had never before. He was glowing, he felt the light and magic radiating from him like a star as he struck and spun from his Wolf School stance. His feet didn't stop, he glided as Eredin moved effortlessly between attacks. The storm of ice around the King clashed with his magic. It helped Eredin like Dominik's magic helped him, only multiple times already Eredin had teleported, launched ice towards him, and Dominik still hadn't gotten off a clear attack.

Eredin still seemed like he barely was trying.

Dominik had said nothing, not a word the entire fight, despite all the words that spewed like bile from Eredin's lips behind his faceplate.

"Where is your bravado now?" The King taunted, spinning and cutting down for his neck. "I was hoping to at least be entertained!"

Eredin only lashed out with one hand. The icy storm spiraling around him he lashed back out with a series of swings, all aimed towards Dominik's neck. Dominik backed up, almost tripped over bodies until he felt his back up against the mast of the ship. Eredin laughed and swung out again, a strike which would have struck clean through his neck.

He looked to the side and saw Crach's fallen axe. Dominik reached out, connected his magic to the weapon, and just as he raised his sword to block Eredin's blow he shot his free hand out toward the King. Eredin hadn't been expecting it, and the axe's blade cut deep into his arm. A scream came from behind his faceplate, blood spewed from his arm, and Dominik took full advantage, pushing the King's sword away and spinning to his back.

Feeling himself gliding again he cut across Eredin's back and blood started dripping to the deck below. It wasn't a kill wound, but he felt a small bit of pride well up inside him, he was able to wound the King, and Eredin seemed to know it.

Growling and turning back around Eredin yanked the axe from his arm, still bleeding he tossed it aside and turned his blade on Dominik again.

"A neat… trick boy," He hissed, swiping his blade against the deck of the ship as he yelled, "BUT IT IS FUTILE!"

Before he could do anything, Dominik was knocked back by a blast of ice coming at him like a wave on beach. He yelled as he fell back, his sword falling from his hands as his boots were almost frozen. His back ached, and the magic quickly went to work trying to heal any bruises he may have had, but Eredin was on him again in seconds. He appeared in a puff of ice coming down with his sword, and Dominik barely had time to roll to the right and get up to one knee.

That was when the King's sword came for him again. It swung out towards his back and Dominik shot his blade up to block before it could cut through him. Gliding, feeling a storm well up inside he shot to his feet and got behind Eredin again to lash out. Eredin saw it coming this time and spun back around to block his blow. The two of them exchanged blows, but Dominik noticed now how Eredin's demeanor had shifted. He swung with both hands on his black blade, he struck with more purpose, the attacks were precise, coordinated, and each one tried to slowly whether down Dominik's defenses.

The whole time he felt himself awash with light, with magic as he glided across the deck. Eredin tried again to cut his blade across the ground to send a wave of ice in his direction. Dominik this time leapt, gaining balance on the railing of the ship, before leaping up to the steps that led to the Nagalfar's wheel. He was above Eredin now and jumped, coming down with his sword to cut from above, but the King saw it coming. He spun up and knocked Dominik's blade aside, sending him stumbling to the ships deck.

In seconds again the King rushed for him, but before the black blade could maim Dominik again he shot his hands up as Quen erupted around him. Eredin's sword bounced off the shield and remembering a tactic George showed him, erupted the shield the minute the sword made contact. All the weight and power behind Eredin's strike was sent back against him. Remembering more of what George had showed him again, he formed the proper sign for Igni with his sword hand. Flames shot up Fate's blade as Dominik struck out towards the stumbling King again.

Eredin saw the flames coming again and shot his hand forward. Dominik met it with another Quen shield, but this time he was unable to send the attack back. With his sword still in flames, Dominik stumbled, and Eredin disappeared in a puff of ice. Reappearing behind Dominik the King struck. Dominik felt the cold steel connect with his shoulder and pain erupted through his body. It almost caused him to drop his sword, but as if the magic already knew what to do and was watching over him it went to work sealing the wound, but the pain still lingered.

Dominik may have been able to heal himself, but if Eredin cut him enough even the magic would have a hard time keeping up.

Spinning back he swung his flaming sword out and it clashed with Eredin's black blade. For a moment, the two locked blades, and with his advantage in height Eredin was able to press down and make Dominik's knees buckle. The slits of the King's faceplate bore down on him, his voice raked on it like a knife against steel.

"You thought you could make a difference boy!?" He hissed, pressing hard against Dominik's sword. Dominik's shoulder burned as the magic healed it, and it seemed torn on whether to help him push back or heal him. He commanded it to finish healing him, now he held on only with the pure strength of his own arms. Each second he felt stabbing pains up them both, but he kept strong, keeping on one knee and keeping the fire shooting up his blade.

Eredin laughed as he pressed, harder, and harder again. "You do not understand the powers you fight, or the powers you wield. You think you could stand up against us? You!? You aren't even a real witcher!"

I can't beat his strength, I just can't, Dominik thought nearly biting through his tongue as Eredin's blade approached his neck, the flames of his own blade burning his cheek.

He had to figure out another way. In terms of strength he would be outmatched, and he knew he couldn't end the fight in a single blow. The flames caressed his cheek, and he yelled looking down to his belt. Seeing the bombs and crossbow there an idea sprang to life in Dominik's head. Eredin had the advantage of height and strength, but even the largest of men could be bled dry.

Focus on major pressure points and artery's, they didn't teach you here just to teach you to heal. In every fight there will be at least one opening. Gaeten had gone over several of the major arteries in the body with Dominik while he trained with the Cat School witcher again, and remembering the man's lessons now, along with Letho's helped the idea spring to his head.

Let's hope the slit in the armor is big enough… he thought, his eyes trailing down to the King's leg. He couldn't do anything about Eredin's height or strength advantage, but perhaps he could turn the King's advantage into a disadvantage.

"You, your ancestors, Zireael, Baelen," The King hissed, the ice from his storm attacking and snuffing out the flames on Dominik's sword, "you are all NOTHING compared to the SUPERIOR RACE!"

Eredin pressed again, and finally Dominik felt the magic finished with the wound on his shoulder. He would have to have Freya look at it after the battle still, it still ached, but it wouldn't pain him for now. Finally he felt the magic at his command again, as he remembered George's lesson so long ago. All his mentors were going to help him this day.

Channel your chaos! Control your emotions and unleash them into your signs!

We go for the kill each strike. All it takes is one well aimed blow to kill a man.

We believe the gods gave you two hands; you should use them both for your weapon.

He met Eredin's eyes, the cold wind nearly blowing him off his knee. "You talk too much."

Eredin was about to respond, but before he could, Dominik again erupted in light. His eyes shot open completely awash with magic, and his previously frozen sword erupted into flames. Smoke from the burning and melting ice puffed up around him, a surge of strength shot through Dominik's limbs and he rolled to the right. The momentum from Eredin's attack brought him forward, he stumbled, and Dominik rolled behind him, pulling his crossbow from his belt. He saw the area he was aiming for, the inside of Eredin's left leg. The slit in his armor was just big enough for the barbed tip of the special crossbow bolts Elise had given to him before he left Novigrad.

If I don't hit that artery this is useless, he thought, narrowing his eyes towards the top of the King's leg. The femoral artery, his own had been sliced when Eredin plunged his sword into Dominik's leg. Normally a person would be dead within minutes if it were cut in any way. Freya had described the process of performing surgery on him in excruciating detail. She told him she had to sew back together the artery; it was the first thing she had to do. If not for Yennefer, Triss and Kiera keeping it together with magic- and his own magic keeping him alive- then Freya's needlework, he would have died. It was one of the most important arteries in the human body.

But does Eredin even count as human? He, Avallac'h and the rest always talk about being different, a superior race. Will this even bother him? He pushed the thoughts from his mind, he didn't have a choice, and second guessing himself was no good now.

He took aim and fired. The crossbow, Arno's crossbow-one of the friends who'd be alive if not for Eredin- launched. Testing a theory he willed the magic to spew from his crossbow. The bolt shot through the air, and just as Eredin pulled his sword from the deck, the bolt lodge itself into Eredin's thigh and the King screamed out in pain, spinning back around to Dominik, glaring at him.

"By the way…" Dominik said, looking at the bolt lodge in the King's thigh, before looking up to the eyes of his faceplate, "their names are Ciri… and Bella!"

Eredin cackled, as if the bolt in his leg barely affected him. "Aha… finally, words from our brave challenger. Come then boy and meet the fate that shall befall the rest of your world."

Panic began to build up in him, Eredin barely flinched. Had he missed the artery? Did Eredin even have a femoral artery? Was the King right, and the Aen Elle simply didn't have the limitations they did?

He also has magic… need to give it time, he thought, and his eyes widened when he saw Eredin cackle again. However, instead of lunging out towards Dominik again, he looked down at the bolt protruding from his leg. As if it were a splinter, he reached down as if to pull it out. Seeing the perfect chance, and not wanting that bolt to be free, Dominik shot his hands to his belt again.

Yelling over the sounds of the battle again he ran forward, striking at the King and lighting the samum bomb in his hands. He struck down and exchanged blows with Eredin, the magic enhancing and moving his arms and blinding speeds to match the King's. Knowing the bomb would explode soon, he ducked down and struck his blade, but not towards Eredin's flesh. He struck it upwards between Eredin's legs, but not trying to strike the body.

Instead, he sheered the edge off the end of the crossbow bolt. The small splinter of wood fell to the ground, and Eredin looked down towards him. He couldn't tell if the King was shocked, but his next move was exactly what Dominik predicted. The King smacked punched him aside, and the magic and power behind it sent Dominik skidding back across the deck.

"You think your petty little tricks makes a difference boy? I should have waited for the witcher," Eredin said with a wave of his hand, as Dominik struggled to one knee. "He would have provided suitable challenge for me… not-."

A loud *BOOM* erupted beneath Eredin's feet, as the samum bomb Dominik had dropped before he was punched exploded. It sent Eredin falling backwards, stumbling down to one knee and sending up a massive cloud of smoke. Seeing the advantage again Dominik scooped Fate from the ground, screaming as he rushed forward towards the knelt King. He leapt through the smoke and came down with an overhead swing aimed towards Eredin's neck.

His plan had somehow worked, and Eredin looked up, his armored charred just as Dominik came down, but right before he could cut through Eredin's neck the King disappeared in a puff of smoke. Dominik's sword cut clean through the railing of the stairs leading up to the wheel. Knowing where the King was going to come from he spun back around just in time to raise and block a strike that sent him stumbling back to the middle of the deck. Eredin was on him again in a flash, coming forward and spinning to cut him through, but Dominik again got his sword up to block and for the next few minutes he was on the back foot, unable to steady himself.

Eredin's armor was singed from the fire earlier and the bomb, but the King was relentless, no longer holding anything back as he swung. Dominik fought back, letting the storm that had been swirling inside him loose, and deciding he needed a change, he switch to the stance he learned for the School of the Cat, dodging and rolling past a strike that cleaved down a railing to the ship. Splinters of wood fell down onto the fighters below, and Eredin growled as he spun and saw Dominik come back up to his feet.

Dominik to his back and pulled out the silver dagger, leveling it out, holding it under his sword to keep it leveled.

"Come and get me then," He said, magic starting to build up in his eyes again, "if you think you can that is."

"I will show you boy," Eredin said, anger starting to slowly drip from words. "I will show you the power I wield, and how feeble you are against it. I will show you the power, of the SUPERIOR RACE!"

Is there really something superior to them compared to us? That bolt's been stuck where his femoral artery should be for way longer than it should and he's still standing. Had he really missed? No, he knew he hit the artery, he studied too much of the body to have been wrong. Since he cut off the edge of it, the barbed tip of the bolt was stuck in Eredin's body. It wouldn't be able to be removed without a surgical hand, removing the armor and digging in with a pair of tweezers.

But even in all the time that had passed since then, Eredin still stood, showing no signs of slowly down.

I'm not fighting a man, an elf, he's nothing I've ever seen before… I was in over my head at Kaer Morhen, he thought, keeping his two blades leveled. But just like Kaer Morhen, he needed to protect Ciri now, so it didn't matter what he was. The thunder and rain continued; his hair stuck down over his eyes. Water and blood dripped from both of his blades, the magic swirled around him, as if ready to protect him itself when needed.

Eredin stood before him, slowly raising his blade with both hand, and Dominik saw the storm brewing around him. It was an uncontrolled tempest of ice, and only made the King appear even larger. He wasn't fighting a normal opponent, he fought something that had never been seen on the continent before.

He really could be some kind of god, he thought as the magic moved faster around him and he gritted his teeth, but either way… he's a monster, and he wants Ciri.

Dominik shook his head towards the King. "You're just a monster…. And I'm a witcher… I kill monsters."

At the words Eredin attacked, with speed and ferocity he came and lunged, and Dominik put all his effort into watching Eredin's blade. It was all he focused on, he glided across the deck. He felt like a storm, a storm large enough to match the one of ice Eredin had around him now. The magic obeyed his commands eagerly, as he dodged he'd reach it out, connecting it to shields, splintered pieces of wood, old weapons and launched them towards Eredin as he came for him. A shield hit the King in the shoulder, and he growled knocking it away before spinning and lashing back at Dominik again.

Dominik parried the sword to the ground with a quick cat like spin, getting around to Eredin's side and latching out onto another shield. This one he launched towards Eredin's leg, but the King cut it out of the air. Seeing the moment Dominik rolled towards the King, reaching to his belt and pulling out his last bomb. Dancing Star, one of his favorites. Seeing Dominik so close, Eredin went to punch at him again, his sword too long with Dominik in such close quarters. Thanks to having his dagger out, Dominik cut it across the King's arm. Blood shot from the wound, coating Dominik's face. Eredin growled in frustration as when he came around again Dominik dropped the lit bomb and rolled out of the way shooting up a Quen shield as the bomb exploded.

The fiery bomb exploded and Eredin yelled out as it engulfed his storm of ice. Seeing the smoke pop up, and finally seeing the golden opportunity he let the shield down and ran through the smoke again. Screaming as he leapt he shot through the smoke like a glowing, magic beacon, straight for Eredin who was busy willing the ice to put the flames out on his armor. His faceplate had cracked, half of his face, one demonic eye shown as Dominik screamed and fell down towards him with both weapons ready to end the fight, end the war, and finally end the pain that the being in front of him wrought.

He was inches away, Fate just about to slam down into Eredin's shoulder, plunging through his neck and killing the King then and there.

But Eredin screamed back up at him, grabbing his arm as part of his sword stabbed down into the King's chest. Fate's point was plunged three inches deep into the side of Eredin's upper chest, but the King's hand had reached out around Dominik's neck, holding him at a length too far for him to stab it any further, the King's other hand gripped tightly around the hand that held his dagger, and for a moment, Dominik was completely immobilized as Eredin squeezed at his neck, holding him up as if he weighed nothing.

Dominik looked down, trying to will the magic to do anything, but he could think straight. He choked as Eredin squeezed, but as the King did, Dominik was able to twist the blade, and for the first time, he saw a flash of pain appear in Eredin's one eye. Half his faceplate was gone, so Dominik looked into the monster's eyes as he narrowed them towards him.

"You… you have gotten better boy… I'll give you that much," The King hissed, squeezing tighter, and as he squeezed tighter Dominik twisted. A sickening crunch and squelch hit his ears, as Eredin grunted in pain, the hole on his chest growing. The King's eye became awash with ice, with power, magic, and malice. He squeezed tighter around Dominik's neck and shook his head.

"But… did… did you think it would be that easy?" He grunted, before in the blink of an eye he dropped Dominik to the deck of the ship.

Right away Dominik coughed, keeping his hands gripped on his weapons and trying to regain his breath. The magic tried to help, but Dominik knew it wouldn't do much. He was sucking in a large breath, when he heard the clunk of Eredin's plate, before the back a cold, rough, armored hand grabbed onto his soaking wet hair.

Dominik looked up as Eredin growled down at him, with his free hand the King waved it next to him.

A portal shimmered to life, and Eredin tossed him through it.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"DAMMIT!" Dominik cursed as he hit ground and was sent tumbling, his dagger and sword clattering from his hands.

He felt an even colder breeze shoot through him. As he blinked he realized he wasn't on the Nagalfar anymore, the light of his magic had grown dim, and he could only see by distant fires. He almost fell over a cliff, only stopped by smashing into a large boulder. Coughing and rubbing around his neck, he realized the sun had finally gone down, and now he was far from the Nagalfar, or the battlefield as a whole.

He realized it when he sat up on his knees and saw the tower. The tower from his dream so long ago. It was dark but from the distant light he could see it vividly and could remember the horrible dream he had inside it.

After a moment, the magic started to glow again, going and healing the open wounds that he had. Scrambling- his eyes not leaving the tower- he crawled to his dagger and sword. He slipped his dagger back to the sheath on his waist, and shakily stood, his legs buckling as he coughed again, still finding it hard to breath. He wouldn't have been able to see in front of him if not for the magic. The cold breeze and the rain smashed into him like a brick, the cold stinging his eyes, but he was able to pick out the flames in the distance.

His clothes drenched, Dominik looked out and realized he was overlooking the bay, over the shattered icy plains. The screams and sounds of battle were distant echoes, and above he could see Kilgarrah and Borch still streaking at each other. His heart panged, worrying for Geralt, and for his friends, what could happen if he weren't there? And where even was he? He felt grass below him, and he was able to shakily get to his feet eventually.

But as soon as he did he heard the clunking of armor and Eredin came at him in a flash. Dominik turned and only had time to form the sign for Quen. The bubble shield popped up around him just as Eredin's sword came down on him. It smashed against the shield and erupted with magic, sending Eredin and he both stumbling away. Dominik tripped, almost falling backwards over the edge, but was able to grab the massive boulder he'd smashed into to steady himself.

Hauling himself back up and steadying his stance, he looked out to see Eredin standing across from him. The swirling icy storm around the King and Dominik's magic finally illuminated the battlefield. He had no idea if Eredin had meant to transport them there, but Dominik saw how small the area at the top of that cliff was. It was covered in grass, snow and rocks, plenty of easy spots that he could trip on, that combined with his limited visibility was going to make this part challenging. Mutated yellow witcher eyes would have done him a world of good then.

Shakily breathing out, he leveled his sword and shifted his stance. One foot in front of the other, evenly distributed weight, both hands on the sword, held leveled out under his chin.

Ground yourself mate! Faram's voice practically echoed in his ears as he shifted to Bear School stance, and Eredin laughed again.

"Your spirit is admirable," The King said, glowing in a torrent of ice. He leveled out his sword, and Dominik could see bits of his own blood. He had done some damage to the King, not nearly as much as he would have liked, but still a good amount. His skeletal armor was charred, and Dominik could see that the spot he'd managed to stab his blade into the King's upper chest was still bleeding. Consciously he looked down, and still didn't see the King struggling in any way walking. He cursed, realizing he may have really missed his target.

I'll have to try something else, he thought surveying the field around him, it's a smaller area, Bear will have to do… but I do need to get back to the Nagalfar. Seeing as Ciri hasn't taught me to teleport yet, I'll need him to do it.

He took a step back, and pebbles under his feet tumbled down the side of the cliff. Below was nothing but a bed of rocks and falling from that height would surely kill him or Eredin. Noticing that formed an idea in his mind, as he turned back to the King, as he slowly circled Dominik again.

"You have grown since out last encounter," The King said, half of his face showing. He stopped and shook his head. "Perhaps you will pose a challenge after all."

"I've been told I'm tough to kill," Dominik said, "and that I'm stubborn. Just happens to run in the family."

Eredin chuckled again, his voice feeling like a knife in Dominik's ear. "Yes… the same could be said for me. You do not really think you stand a chance here boy? You know that my plans will be successful, it would be better for you all, to just surrender now."

"Don't be so sure," Dominik hissed back, tightening his grip on Fate. "You're bleeding, and this time it's much more than just a drop."

Eredin reached and pressed his fingers into the bloody stab wound on his chest. "Aha… yes it seems it is… but your efforts are still futile. You stand no chance… a human does not have the power to stand against me."

"Wouldn't be so sure about that either," He said, not being able to help the smirk coming to his face. "Didn't two humans disgrace your so-called superior race? Alexander and Cregan were both twice the man you'll ever be."

"And you have their arrogance boy!" Eredin hissed as Dominik clearly hit a nerve. He brandished his sword and the ice around him swirled faster. "You will die as they both did. And after you, the other abominations they created. And after that… that treacherous sage."

"You could kill Avallac'h first," Dominik joked, "and I'd thank you for it."

"Your loyalty to him is quite surprising," The King said, and Dominik cursed as he realized he talked too much. Eredin smirked at him, "You're aware he tried to pawn Cirilla off on our King? Forced her to his bed, treated her body like a cut of fresh fuckable meat?"

"I'm WELL aware of what he did, and he'll get what's coming to him!" Dominik snapped, the magic around him swirling around his limbs again. "But I'm also aware YOU were a part of that plan as well. You'll pay for it, both of you will die for it!"

Eredin simply shrugged, smirking at Dominik, standing tall as if his injuries were mere annoyances. "At least I'm honest about my intentions. Tell me boy where is Avallac'h now?"

Dominik let up for just a moment, thinking on that question. It had been poking at his brain ever since he didn't see Avallac'h on the shore, and now he didn't know where Ciri was either.

Those few seconds almost proved fatal as Eredin lunged for him.

He disappeared in a puff of frost first, reappearing at Dominik's left before he swung. Staying in his Bear School stance that Faram had drilled into his mind for weeks, Dominik dug the balls of his feet into the ground and parried. He stood, grounding himself and perfectly deflecting every strike that came his way. The magic worked around his arms and legs. It enhanced Dominik's movements yes, but it was all his sharp eye and instincts that kept him able to block the incoming blows. Occasionally he'd spin, pirouette or shift his stance, but each time Eredin lashed out Dominik had a counter. Unlike the Cat School stance, Bear focused on defense as well, but more on staying strong.

And Dominik had to stay strong, his limbs despite the magic helping him ached with each blow Eredin delivered nearly shattered his forearms. Dominik managed a single look out over the edge, fire, magic and the dragon's breath were still blasting well into the night, and he had to believe that they were close to the end. The fire had the icy plains well illuminated, but on that precipice Dominik relied on the light of his magic to see where the King was moving. It was a fine line he walked, as the Bear School stance helped him not be tripped up by his lack of vision, or by the multiple hazards on the field.

"AHA, you are weak boy!" Eredin shouted, striking down from overhead, pressing down and staring his one eye down at Dominik again. "Fight! Face your death now!"

Dominik pushed up and looking down formed another idea. The magic invigorated him, and he was able to escaped the clinch, and just before he rolled away he slammed his hand into he ground, and the glyph of Yrden appeared. Coming back up to his knees, Dominik saw Eredin try to move but he was completely immobilized by the glyph. Not giving the King any time to recover he fired his hand forward and Aard ripped from his fingertips enhanced by the power of the Line of Lod in his veins.

Eredin yelled in frustration as the blast slammed into him. The King's sword fell from his hands, and not believing his luck Dominik dashed forward again. He had no bombs left, so he relied on his blade and got in close to the King. The glyph didn't affect him, but Eredin still had the advantage in strength. Dominik lashed out and struck, but Eredin held up both his forearms as if deflecting a punch. The King growled in pain as Dominik's sword cut across his arms, and blood was spilled. However, Eredin remained unfazed.

Now in within his grasp, Eredin smacked away the strike from Dominik's blade and Fate clattered to the ground.

Now weaponless Dominik tried to reach for his dagger, but Eredin came down and punch across his face again. The armored fist collided with him and Dominik felt his head ringing. As he stumbled back, he saw the glyph of Yrden disappeared and Eredin rushed for him again. Still falling back now in a panic, Dominik spotted a larger rock near his feet and reached out with his magic. He flung the larger stone and it smacked hard into Eredin's helm. Dominik heard a satisfying crack and saw the next half of Eredin's faceplate fall to the floor.

The blow to the head sent Eredin stumbling as well, and Dominik finally fell.

He landed hard on his stomach and felt blood trickling down into his eyes. Blinking it away, he realized he could barely see. The grass and the rocks below him were a blur as he coughed and climbed to all fours. His head pounded as if still being struck. The blow to the temple from the King's massive, armored hand then had hurt more then any wound he received on his journey so far. He tried to think, tried to figure out where he saw his sword, but all he could feel was the pounding. The blood started trickling faster, and fighting through the pain, Dominik pushed the magic to help him.

The magic quickly went to work, but Dominik knew that it would only seal the wound, the internal injury, the pain in his head would be there.

Soon he was able to see straight but coughed and fell onto his back. Above him, he saw beautiful streaks of fire and ice from the dragons, along with the sky being dotted by stars. He and Ciri were often fond of simply star watching. He missed her, missed her dreadfully. It had felt like years since that very morning when he lay in bed with her. He wanted so badly to simply do that, lay with her and sleep. A long nap that lasted days because the gods knew they deserved it.

A loud yelled shook him, and he felt a massive foot smack into his ribs. The pain was minimal compared to his head, but still he groaned as he coughed up blood and tried to rise again.

"Why… why do you continue to try!?" Eredin hissed, another kick landing into Dominik's ribs. He groaned and screamed again Eredin came with another assault. "You stay on the ground where you belong! Where your ENTIRE RACE belongs! Do you hear me boy!? STAY DOWN AND DIE!"

A massive kick was delivered into Dominik's stomach again, and this time magic was put behind it. He was shot back, and if not for his own magic Dominik would have been smashed against the massive boulder. Pain exploded in his back, through his stomach, through his entire body. His magic could only do so much to heal him, and Dominik coughed up more blood as he stumbled to use the stone to try and bring himself to his feet.

He heard the clattering off steel, and Eredin's rasping voice again. "You INSOLENT BRAT! I said, STAY DOWN!"

"I CAN'T URGHHH!" Dominik yelled, trying to stand up straight, before falling to all fours again, clutching the ribs of his armor, his head pounding.

Eredin scoffed, now above him. "Your pride does you no good boy! Now stay down and die, stay down in the dirt where you belong, where you, Zireael, Baelen, all you pathetic humans belong."

Dominik groaned and coughed trying to push himself up again, but he only spat up more blood as he tried. He looked to the right and saw his silver only a small distance away. If he could get to it-.

He coughed and fell forward again. His face fell into the mud, mixing with blood as the rain poured down onto his head. He had been in situations like this before. Piss drunk, face down in muck, hurting, aching, wishing for death to finally come take him. So many times, had he been at this point. Himself from a few years prior, would have welcomed this, welcomed the death. He had gone down fighting, he had nothing else to fight for those years ago.

It had been dark as well, just like it was now. His magic worked so rapidly in his body; Dominik could barely see in front of him. The light he exhumed now was dim, but Dominik still climbed back up to his hands and knees.

He wasn't like he was years ago now. He had looked out over that edge, almost leapt, almost died. Back then, when he had nothing, nobody. One end of the continent to the other, alone, nobody to hold, nobody to love. Everything had been ripped from him twice. He'd had two families killed, he'd lost, lost, and lost more. He'd failed, failed and failed again. You didn't truly know pain, until you looked in the mirror and hated what looked back at you, when the best part about being alive was when you were asleep, so you didn't have to experience the pain of being awake, you knew what true pain was.

If he could survive all of that, then he could survive this, and he could stand.

And above all, now he wasn't alone. He had people he loved, the one he loved more then anything. He wouldn't go back to where he was, he refused.

Eredin scoffed as Dominik grunted and crawled, slowly towards his silver. "You disappoint me boy," another kick to Dominik's ribs, "I expected too much… but I will admit you were right about one thing."

Dominik reached the sword, groaning as he slowly wrapped his hand around the silver. Eredin hadn't kill him, he stopped to gloat, to try and belittle him further, it was exactly what Dominik has assumed he'd do.

The magic finally stopped healing him, and Dominik redistributed it inside himself.

"You were right in saying you're stubborn," The King said, standing tall over Dominik, the tip of his sword grazing the back of Dominik's neck. "But your pride and arrogance will only earn you a slow death… pitiful."

"It… it's not about pride, it's… not about arrogance," Dominik said, coughing as the magic slowly formed back in him again. He dug as deep into the reservoir inside himself as he dared, and felt he power surge back inside him.

He groaned and shook his head, looking back up at Eredin again. "It… it's about protecting the one's I love. The one's who make this all worth it. You don't scare me… I've face off against much, much worse then you. I didn't die then… and I won't now, not while I've still got too many people alive who love me. If I die… it would crush them."

Eredin sneered. Dominik noticed blood slowly tricking from his forehead, his demonic eyes full of malice, anger as he dug the sword onto the back of Dominik's neck.

"Yes… how very touching of you," The King said, kicking Dominik again. Groaning Dominik rolled, holding onto his sword.

He stopped fight near the edge of the cliff, again, just like he planned.

Eredin's sword was removed from Dominik's neck. The King hefted it over his shoulder, smirking as he looked down at him. "However… sentimentality will not help you either… today you die, and finally this world shall be ours… Zireael shall be ours, and I will have Baelen's head."

Dominik watched the King heft his blade upwards, another smirk on his lips. "Any last words, before I send you to your ancestors?"

"Yeah…" Dominik said, closing his eyes and feeling even more of his magic unlock inside him. "Their names… are Bella… AND CIRI!"

Eredin swung down, and Dominik shot open his eyes. He erupted with new light, and spun his sword out from under him. Holding both ends he blocked Eredin's sword blow and stopped the attack mid-strike. The magic shot through his arms as Dominik focused it there, and feeling new energy erupt inside of him Dominik pushed, first getting up to his knees, and then to feet. Remembering the scene of Faram arm wrestling the Ice Giant of Undvik, Dominik did his best impression as he pushed. He felt the very cells of his arms combust and explode as he pushed. Eredin was so much taller then him, but still Dominik felt he could match the King in strength then with how much power exploded inside of him.

Eredin yelled in frustration and pushed again, his icy storm shooting forward, and smashing into Dominik again. He nearly fell backwards, but in response Dominik formed the proper sign and fire erupted to life on his blade, and he was able to take a single step forward. Magic filling his eyes he shouted and pushed Eredin's sword to the side. Right away the King came to strike out at him again, but Dominik was still in Bear School stance and it helped him finally see the opening the stance called to wait for.

The attack from Eredin's blade came from Dominik's left, and reaching out he grabbed Eredin's wrist just before the blade could cut Dominik neck and pushed the attack away. Stepping forward he angled his sword the proper way and with as much strength as he could muster cut deep across Eredin's stomach.

The King yelled out in pain, as Dominik spun his sword and turned back to the King in Bear Stance again. Eredin howled in frustration, grabbing his torso. Again it wasn't a wound that would kill, but Dominik could see blood rapidly rushing out of the wound. It would heal on the King he knew, now for the first time Dominik saw true pain flash in the King's eyes.

Eredin looked back to him and growled. "You will pay boy! I will wipe you and your miserable line from this earth! I will gut Zireael slowly, bit by bit, drop by drop before each of my soldiers has a turn to fuck the blood out of her! YOU WILL PAY!"

"HER NAME," Dominik yelled, feeling a new storm explode inside him as he looked at Eredin steps from the cliff's edge, "IS CIRI!"

Dominik rushed forward with a yell, and Eredin met him, however Dominik for the first time was faster. He smashed into the King with his elbow, and all his magic transferred into he attack. Eredin stumbled back, and Dominik went with him, feeling the King grab onto the back of his armor. Keeping one hand on his sword, the other wrapped around the King Dominik didn't stop churning his feet as he pushed.

He pushed until Eredin and he flew over the edge of the cliff.

Dominik screamed as he was hurdling towards the earth but kept his grip firm on the King's neck now. Eredin kept hold of him as well, and for a second he met the King's eyes and could see the shock, the pain.

And with a begrudging grown Eredin teleported with him in hand.

Just like Dominik had wanted.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Dominik smashed into ice and was almost stepped on. He rolled out of the way of a soldier's boot and found himself grabbing ahold of Fate before he spun back up to his knees. He was right in the middle, in the chaos of battle. All around him he saw Skelligers, Knights, Nilfgaardeans beat back riders of the Hunt in the middle of a massive icy crater. One rider rushed towards him, seeing him on one knee and went to swing a mace at him. Dominik rolled out of the way and came to cut back across the riders' legs. Power surged through him and around his sword. It cut deep across the rider's calf and coming back up this feet he stabbed through his chest, right through the slits of his armor.

Blood splattered onto the ice and Dominik had a moment to take in what he saw. It was a giant cluster, of men and Riders. Dozens of corpses were flayed across the ground, dead, swords and aces sticking from them. However, the men and women didn't stop fighting, they were pushing back, and the riders were finally on the brink. Dominik wanted to cheer, to celebrate like he saw some of the men doing as riders were hacked down. They were doing it, doing what Dominik had said they'd do before the battle.

They were making the self-proclaimed gods, the self-proclaimed superior race bleed.

In that moment he regathered his strength, feeling the magic almost as excited as him. It resurged through him, swirling down his legs and up his arms. It had healed the open wound on his forehead, but blood still lingered. He was covered in bruises and scrapes, as the magic didn't take away the internal pain he still ached, his head still pounded, but he felt reinvigorated as he watched his troops fight, the self-proclaimed superior race falling beneath their feet.

"YOU PITIFUL HUMANS," a voice cut through the sounds of battle. Dominik looked, and Eredin finally stood. His helmet had been torn off, his black hair blew in the wind, a blood cut down his forehead. His black sword dripped blood as he cut down one the Cintran knights. He slammed his sword into the ground and a wave of ice ripped crater. It knocked over, freezing and killing Dominik's troops and his own rider's all the same. Just before it reached him Dominik leapt back, digging his hands into the ice and leaping to the top of the crater's icy walls. He swore he head his name distantly called but he was too focused on Eredin.

Some brave men and women tried to charge the King, but each of them were cut down with a single stroke. Dominik watched from atop the icy walls horrified, every nerve in his body yelled at him to run, so he did, he ran along the icy crater walls towards the other end where Eredin stood cutting down his troops. Ordinary soldiers wouldn't stand a chance, and it seemed with each kill that Eredin regained new power.

He saw one young elven woman, wearing the Cintran coat of arms across a suit of chain rush towards the King. Dominik remembered her, Valena, one of Anton's scouts. She ducked one of Eredin's sword blow and chopped across the King's shins with a blade. Eredin yelled out, but not in pain, in frustration as the attack seemed to be the bite of a flea to him. He backhanded the young elf, and she was sent tumbling back. Eredin advanced for the kill, but as his sword came down it was stopped.

Sir Robert Anton of Cintra, the last true knight of Cintra intercepted the blow. He kicked Valena out of the way, as Eredin growled and advanced on the old knight. Anton wore his plate, the same plate he wore that faithful night so many years ago, the three lions embalmed on the chest as he stood strong and pushed Eredin's sword to the side. Eredin seemed shocked, shocked a human like Anton could possibly block his blow. However, Anton hadn't spent over forty-five years as a knight in service to Queen Calanthe for nothing.

The old knight fought like an uncage lion, lashing out towards Eredin and deflecting blows. He fought like a true knight, like Dominik's father had taught, defending he helpless, the ones who could not protect themselves.

All around the crater the riders started to thin, but Dominik knew there was plenty more coming through other portals. Again he swore he could hear his name called in the distance, but all he was focused on was Eredin. More knights and soldiers had begun to try and circle the King, but between blocking Anton's blows, Eredin shot ice and swatted them aside like flies.

Anton scored a hit, thrusting and stabbing Eredin's shoulder and making the King bleed. Eredin howled again, fiercer, more ferocious as Dominik could see the annoyance in the King's eyes. He struck back at Anton hard, knocking the old knight backwards to one knee and coming down again. Anton blocked the blow, but his sword was knocked away, and finally Eredin raised his sword for the killing blow just as Dominik got around the other side of the crater.

"EREDIN!" Putting all the power into his legs he leapt as he screamed, Aard ready in one hand, and Fate ready to strike in the other.

Eredin turned his attention from Anton just as Dominik came down. Determined to save the old knight's life, his friends life Dominik put all the magic he could into that one strike. A loud *BOOM* erupted as Eredin raised his sword, but Dominik took the chance to slam his fist into the King's chest, and Aard erupted on the King's already singed armor. Eredin got sent stumbling back into the icy crater walls, and Dominik turned back to Anton.

With his eyes streaming magic he yanked the old knight to his feet just as Anton fumbled for his sword. He was alive, a wound across his cheek and blood on his armor, but Dominik knew the man had survived far worse.

He met the old knight's eyes and before he could say anything pointed away. "Take the men and clear out of this crater! Under NO circumstance is anyone to engage Eredin, am I understood!?"

Anton's head finally seemed to clear, and he shook his head. "Dominik I can't just leave you here! I swore to your father I'd protect you, and I can't-."

"The best way to protect me is to make it so I only have one thing to worry about!" Dominik yelled, turning to see Eredin growling in anger as he stomped towards him again. Quickly he turned back to Anton. "That's an order commander!"

Anton had the slightest hints of smile somehow at the corner of his lips. He nodded to Dominik, before turning to the crater with smaller skirmishes. "CLEAR THE CRATER! MOVE TO THE NEXT!"

Eredin yelled in frustration as finally he stood across from Dominik. He let Dominik's troops and his own riders run from the crater, before long it was just the both of them. He stood across from the King, seeing the frustration and anger clearly written across his face.

The long cut ran all the way diagonally down his head, and Dominik could see drops of blood slowly trickling from many other wounds. It was nothing that would be life threatening for the King he knew, but it was progress.

He simply wished he weren't so damn tired himself.

"You… you will burn with the rest of them boy!" The King yelled, his blade pointing towards Dominik again as the ice swirled around him. "You will burn, as your women and children are taken slave, your homes destroyed, I refuse to be killed by a FUCKING HUMAN!"

Dominik smirked, leveling his blade and shifting his feet. "Well, come on then! You won't kill me standing all the way over there!"

Eredin came at him, teleporting in a flash of ice which let him get on Dominik in a second. He ducked back avoiding a sword and almost tumbled, but his heightened speed helped him steady himself, bringing his sword up to block the onslaught of blows that came his way. Something changed in Eredin as he fought. Vesemir had told him you never knew a man so intimately as when you fought to the death, and after fighting for over an hour Dominik felt he knew Eredin personally by then.

It only made him want to kill the King more. However, it seemed their time fighting had made Eredin determined to do the same. He wanted to kill Dominik before or course, but he had been toying with him, holding back as if he thought only half his strength would be enough to kill Dominik, that Dominik wasn't worthy of him using the full extent of his abilities.

That all changed in the crater then. Eredin struck and spun, with more grace and speed then anyone his height should have been able to muster. Dominik fell back into Wolf Stance, a sort of hybrid of all the other schools. One foot in front of the other, balls of his feet, one hand on his sword the other ready to launch a sign and help keep his balance. Each second you were in Wolf Stance, you had to be ready to spin or pirouette. He could remember Geralt and Vesemir drilling him in the proper way to spin. You didn't spin to look pretty during combat, you spun to avoid a blow, or attack while dodging.

That's what Dominik did, staying on the back foot, letting Eredin launch his blows. He'd launch Aard at the King's hand to stop an attack he knew he couldn't block with his sword. It was a giant magical dance, as ice from Eredin storm kept slamming into him, but in response Dominik would push on his own magic to meet it. They moved in a blur, Dominik assumed it would have been a spectacular sight to anyone else watching, but to him, it was life or death, not just for him, but for Ciri as well.

Eredin screamed and struck from overhead. The power he put into it was immense and when Dominik blocked he finally felt his arms shake and buckle sending him tumbling to one knee. Eredin struck him in the chin after a spin with the pommel of his blade and Dominik's world went blurry again. He lay in the ice as he could feel the blood trickling down his cheek. He thought about sending the magic to heal the wound, but if he did it would mean he would move a fraction slower, and with how Eredin was moving he couldn't afford it. His concentration had lapsed for a second, and now he was on the ground.

He didn't have time to recoup, Eredin came for him again, swinging his black blade down into the ice. Dominik rolled out of the way and gripped tighter to his sword, but his head was pounding, his brain rattling like the thunder around him then. He couldn't think straight, his vision was blurry, but he got his sword and stood again. He couldn't stop now if he did they were all dead.

"Bit by bit she will die," Eredin said, "one tiny cut at a time, slowly she'll bleed, bleed and fuel the machine of war that cause your world to burn!"

Dominik vision was blurred again, it hurt to even think. Eredin's sword came for him again, and if not for his magic enhancing his reflexes he surely would have been cut in half. Even still he got his sword up weakly, Eredin's sword hit it, and the continued force of the King's blow slashed across his arm.

He screamed and all seemed to fall silent except for it. All he heard was the sound of his own screams, and the ripping of Eredin's sword against his arm. Already stumbling with his vision blurred, Dominik fell.

He fell face first into a pile of snow, ice and debris from ships, and all he felt was pain. It was internal, as the magic seemed to be panicking around him. He had no idea where to even direct it, what to even think, it hurt so bad to think. The slightest thought felt like a bomb of shrapnel erupting and pinging around inside his head. He coughed up blood, and he knew that was a bad sign, although he couldn't remember why.

Tired… so… so tired… he thought, coughing and dropping his sword next to him as climbed to all fours. Every bit of his head, from his skull, to his brain, to his jaw to h is eyes, all of it stung, he had never felt such an intense pain in his mind. His sword lay next to him… what was it's name again? Even remembering brought him pain, his brain felt like a puddle of muck slowly swishing around the inside of his skull.

"FOOLISH BOY!" Dominik turned around to hear the voice just as a sword came down to strike at him.

Panicking he rolled away, picking up his sword and trying to stand again. He managed to stumble to his feet, as Eredin laughed and turned to him. Fumbling with his sword he shuffled his feet, adjusting too… a stance he couldn't remember the name of. Which was it? Wolf, Bear, Griffin, Cat, Viper? His head pounded to even try and think of it. He sucked in a shaky breath, the rain bearing down and adding more pounding to his head, the sound of the thunder bursting his ear drums as Eredin advanced on him.

"You dared fight against your betters," Eredin said, "you dared to think you could defeat me!? I am a King, King of the most powerful race to grace the cosmos, and just like the rest, your world SHALL FALL! Your ancestors were nothing, your people are nothing, you are nothing!"

Dominik stumbled in his stance; his sword loosely held with both his hands. He looked down at the swallow dangling from his neck. Ciri. Some things he could never forget, no matter how damaged his brain was. He needed to find a way to buy time, to let the magic recover him so he could at least think and replan his attack.

He just needed a minute to rest because he was tired. More drained, more exhausted then he had ever felt in his life.

But you can't stop now… figure it out. He brought two hands up to his sword, shooting the magic to his head, and switching his feet to… Bear Stance. It hurt more than anything, his head erupted, but he could remember. Blood slowly trickled down his cheek, and Dominik slowly tried to shift his feet to the right posture, to ground himself, but the minute he tried to move forward he stumbled forward, his sword dipping into the snow.

Eredin laughed. "BAHA, pathetic. I had high hopes for you boy… but it seems I yet again give humans too much credit… now you die… you die as nothing."

"I… I'm a fucking witcher," Dominik said, gritting his teeth and pushing back up to his feet.

Sneering Eredin raised his blade, and advanced. "Then you die a witcher. After you lay dead at my feet I'll-. GAAAHHHHH!"

Eredin had just raised his sword to strike down at him, but before he could the King's blood splattered to the ice below. Another clap of thunder erupted ahead, and it rattled Dominik's head the point where he yelled in pain and stumbled, falling backwards onto a pile of snow and ice he grabbed the sides of his head. It was as if someone was pounding nails into his temples, and as he scrambled to sit up, to find Eredin again his vision was blurry, but he saw another flash come by and strike Eredin's calves again. The King yelled out in frustration, which only hurt Dominik's head more, but soon his vision finally managed to clear, as he took advantage of the situation and sent the magic to try and slowly take some of the pain away. It wouldn't get rid of it completely, but it could sooth the pain to the point he could fight.

But when his vision did clear, he tried and failed to jump to his feet again.

"FREYA!" He had no idea where Freya had come from, or why she was alone at the moment, but she scrambled away from Eredin, diving just out of the way his sword as he angrily swung towards her.

Am I ever going to stop owing her my life? The thought bemused him, but he quickly tried to get up again, but stumbled from the pain shooting through his head again.

Eredin struck down towards Freya but using a move he himself remembered learning at Kaer Morhen, she stepped forward and spun around the attack. She twirled his blade and cut her witchers sword across the wrist of Eredin's sword hand. The King yanked his hand back and bellowed, his hand dripping blood to the stones. Slowly but surely, Dominik knew those injuries would add up.

But I need to help her, she'll die on her own, he thought, pushing the magic to move faster, trying to remember all the amazing moments he had with Freya, with his friends, to try and get it to move faster.

"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU RIDICULOUS HUMANS!" He shouted, "YOU WILL LEARN YOUR PLACE BENEATH ME!"

He slammed his sword towards Freya again, but this time she wasn't fast enough. She yelled as Eredin's sword crashed into hers. Her blade went flying, landing near Dominik's as he tried again to get up, but he could only crawl towards the blades. He even had to do that with one arm, when he felt his right one erupt, blood still gushing from the wound. He had directed the magic to his head, to try and slowly heal those injuries, and it was slowly working, but he knew it had to be faster.

He tried to yell for Freya again, but she didn't seem to need help. The force from Eredin knocking her sword away had sent her falling back, but she smirked at Eredin as he stretched out his sword towards her.

That woman has more balls then most men, he thought, Faram's right, I do know how to pick'em.

Eredin struck, and Freya leapt back out of the way again. "YOU IMPUDENT GIRL, HOW DARE YOU-."

A giant *BOOM* erupted from underneath Eredin's feet. A witcher bomb, one that Freya had somehow hidden at the King's feet exploded. Dominik recognized Grapeshot as the bomb, it caused a giant explosion of silver shrapnel, which all got caught up in Eredin's icy storm and sent him tumbling backwards, yelling as the silver got sucked into the slits of his armor, seeming to melt on the King's skin. He didn't yell out in pain, but in frustration again as for a minute, the King tried to get the silver away from him and recover.

Freya took the opportunity and saw him crawling. Her blonde hair had been knocked out of its ponytail and her curls fell soaked down her back as the rain pounded down on her. She fell to her knees, grabbing both their swords and moving them to the side, before grabbing Dominik and leaning him back against the ice, her blue eyes wide as she looked down on him.

"What hurts most, tell me and be quick!" She yelled over the wind, going right away to her bandolier as she held the back of his head.

Dominik could barely hear her, but his head became awash with questions. "Fr…Freya… F… Faram, George where… where-."

"We saw you teleport back and fall," She said, uncorking a potion and tilted his head back, "we came for you, they got stuck in riders behind him."

"How… how many times… is this now?"

She seemed on the verge of tears as she tossed the potion bottle away. "Too many, hold still, and don't blink!"

The potion was as good as it always was. A pleasant taste of strawberries, and right away he felt invigorated. It was far from him being back to normal, but it certainly helped. His magic slowly spread out along his body, he still had it focused on his head, as each clap of thunder still sent shockwaves through his brain.

Freya propped open his eye, looking down into his pupils. Her face only fell more as she pulled back, looking at his arm now, her gloves staining with his blood as it hadn't stopped. She cursed, but Dominik could still barely hear her. The thunder boomed again, and his head rattled from it as Freya pulled out her knife and cut off a long section of his own tunic. Her stomach showed, exposed to the elements as she wrapped the fabric around his arm, tying it into a tight knot. Her hands moved with he skill of an expert surgeon, as she pulled the knot tight and looked back to him.

"You have a concussion," She said, panicking. "It's bad, your pupils aren't responding, I… I don't know what to do now I-."

Dominik saw the ice before Freya did. He had no idea how, but he heard Eredin shouting and striking his sword to the ground. The ice flew down in a wave, Dominik grabbed Freya around the waist and shot his hands up. Quen erupted around them both, reminding him of the first time they had fought a bruxa together in Novigrad. The ice slammed into the yellow shield with an explosion, and after it had gone Dominik let it down and with a groan pushed himself to his feet.

Freya helped him, as they both fumbled for sword, as Eredin clunked towards them again. His armor was blackened, and he could see bits of blood trailing from the King's face, along with other spots on his armor. Now however, the storm of ice around him had grown, and he shoot his head stomping towards Freya and he again. Freya got to her feet before him, holding up her sword, just as the King got to them again.

"I've had enough of these ridiculous games!" He yelled, swinging out towards Freya again. She stepped in front of Dominik and blocked the strike but got sent sprawling out to the side.

Eredin saw Dominik barely able to move and sneered, turning to Freya who had dropped her sword again, groaning as she held onto her arm. Dominik knew the pain simply absorbing one of Eredin's blows could give someone, and Freya didn't have magic to help.

Eredin's black sword flashed, as he raised it to strike at Freya again, ending her. Dominik tried to spring upwards, finally feeling some semblance of balance return to his brain, but he cursed when his arm buckled beneath him as he tried to rise. The magic responded to his command again, going and rushing to heal the wound on his arm, sealing it but Dominik looked up and was too late.

The sword struck down towards Freya. She rolled out of the way of the first attack, but Eredin quickly turned on her for a second. He raised his blade again, but this time as soon as it raised, a giant blast of magic, blue telekinetic energy soared over him. It was larger than any Dominik had seen even his own. It slammed into Eredin and the unprepared King got sent tumbling to the ground. Freya breathed out, scrambling away back towards him, and above him another blast came just as Eredin tried to rise again.

"AHHHH! FINALLY! COME HERE YA UGLY BASTRARD!" Faram leapt down in front of him. The Bear Witcher didn't even have a blade in hand. He sprinted like a mad man straight for Eredin as the King went to rise again.

Eredin yelled as he quickly rose, pointed out towards them as Faram rushed. "YOU DARE-."

Faram slammed into him with no regard for his own safety. Eredin didn't even have time to swing his sword before Faram slammed into the King, punching straight through the slit where Eredin's faceplate was supposed to be. Faram's massive fist connected with the King's nose, and Dominik heard a sickening crunch, as he yelled out and stumbled back. He still held his sword, but Eredin grabbed onto his face as Dominik saw dark red blood fall to the ice, quickly washed away by the rain.

"Oh I dare you ugly fuck you bet I do!" Faram yelled, not drawing his silver, pointing it at the King as he finally rose. "When I'm done with you, your head will be where your ass is supposed to be, and your ass will be where your head is supposed to be!"

"You shall try, you arrogant buffoon!" Eredin yelled, going to swing at Faram again. "I AM KING OF THE-."

Another Aard blast came, and with grace and skill, George waded into he fight. He had leapt down from behind Dominik and moved with enough grace to catch Eredin off guard. George stood tall with his silver sword in flames, as it battled against Eredin's fire.

"I shall not let you have this world!" George shouted, "and I shall not let you have my friend's you demon!"

Eredin yelled in anger again, striking back out towards George, but that was when Faram came in. He cut across Eredin's back, and the King screamed before turning and blasting his hand towards the Bear Witcher again. Faram was knocked back by a blast of ice, Dominik yelled out for him, but the Bear Witcher was back into the fray in seconds. George and Faram both battered against Eredin, but the King had finally regained his balance. He deflected their blows and began to spin with more power and precision again, finally regaining his composure, it seemed like he was more then a match for two witcher at once.

Freya held onto him as he slowly got up to one knee. The magic had been hard at work, Freya's makeshift bandage helped, but almost bled through. He tried to get to his feet again as he watched Faram and George dash and strike towards Eredin with purpose, holding their ground for now, but he knew they'd be worn down eventually.

I need to get up… I need to, he said, trying to get up using Fate to do so. He could remember his swords name again, which was good, but still when he tried to move he stumbled, his legs shaking.

Freya stopped him, gently sitting him back as the rain poured on them both. Dominik looked over at her, and she slowly shook her head. She squeezed his arm, not looking away from him.

"Dom… your magic is the only thing that can fix you right now," She said, as if the words killed her. She shook her head again when he tried to say something, "you stay here, heal yourself, I'll help keep him busy!"

"Freya… you… you can't, he… he'll-."

"No… this is what we signed up for, we won't let him kill you, or Ciri," She said, getting up and grabbing her sword. She looked back to Dominik and smirked at him. "Who knows, maybe we'll kill him."

"FREYA!" He tried to shout, but she rushed towards Eredin before he could do anything. He made an attempt to run after her, picking up Fate but he stumbled back to the ground, to his knees, and could only watch as he three friends fought.

Freya came running in, trying to slide and cut across Eredin's legs again. The King was ready, knocking her blade aside and going to strike for her again. However when his arm went back, Faram reached out and grabbed it, yanking the King back to punch again. This time Eredin was prepared and knocked Faram's fist aside punching the Bear Witcher back. Faram stumbled and it gave George an opening. George spun around Freya and engaged Eredin in a flurry of strikes. His golden blonde locks had fallen from his ponytail, and the rain tried to squelch the flames from his silver sword. George held strong, deflecting blows and even managing to cut across Eredin's arm.

The King screamed in response, striking back out with George. He put him on the back foot and shot ice towards him. George met it with a Quen shield, but Eredin kept advancing. Finally he got too close, and George couldn't hold from the weight. The shield erupted and sent George back, where Eredin tried to advance. Before he could cut George down Freya leapt and stabbed at the King's side. She cut across the side of Eredin's torso and deflected one blow from the King as he turned around. Dominik could see Eredin's nose was dark black and blue, blood and twisted, but it only spurred him on further. He swung down at Freya as she spun and would have cut her through but Faram came to knock the blade away. His three friends fought like a well-oiled machine, covering each other's flanks, attacking and defending at the perfect times, just like they always had.

But it still won't be enoughI… I need to do something, he thought, gritting his teeth and pushing himself to his feet.

Still he was tired. The magic around him worked, but it had slowed, as all he could do for a moment was watch his friends, his hansa, fight to protect him. They had sacrificed everything, and he could leave them to fight again.

But when he took a step, he fell to one knee, Fate's point dug into the ice. He looked and saw bodies scattered about, most had been pushed away by the magic he and Eredin used, but there was still blood. So, so much blood.

And gods… gods I'm so fucking tired…. He was. Not just from the fight that day no, he was tired from it all. From having to fight each and every day. Why did he have to fight so much? Why from the age of elven, did he and Ciri have to fight like this? How was any of it fair, they had been children, all they had wanted was each other. Other people got to simply live, why couldn't they have done the same? Because of ancestors they had never known about? Because the Aen Ell simply wanted to hold a grudge? What had they done to deserve it?

He had been fighting since that day his family was killed in Cintra. Fighting, with the one person who had made everything worth it. Around his neck, he looked at the swallow again, grabbing it as he always did during his days alone, when the times got hard. It wasn't even just Ciri now. It was for his friends fighting out in front of him, for Geralt, Yennefer, Triss, all the friends who weren't there. For Fiona, who was waiting for him, who he promised he wouldn't die.

For Bella, who would need him after this was over.

No… I'm not stopping now, he thought, grunting as he slowly rose to his feet. He sucked in a deep breath, in the middle of the rain, thunder and wind, he looked over at Eredin fighting back his friends. He closed his eyes and took in a settling breath.

Around him, the magic finally calmed, it seemed to agree with him. He could stop now. He had fought so long to simply get to this day, a day where he could earn he and Ciri's freedom, the life they always wanted. He didn't even know where she was then, but he needed to find her… and he wouldn't have let a thousand men stop him, let alone one elf with an over inflated ego.

For the world… he thought, as voices started clattering in my mind.

Get them my boy… control it! Alexander.

You can do this, focus on the good, control it! A woman's voice, Lara of Lod?

Kick his ass, he's afraid of you! Take advantage of it! Another man's voice… Connor of Lod.

Do it! Get up and fight son!

His mother. The Line of Lod. Despite not recognizing her powers, he thought his mother could have been the most powerful and impactful of all of them inside him now. Alexander, Connor, Lara, his mother… he was a carrier, and he carrier all their power.

And it was his too control.

His eyes opened, and the pain momentarily washed away. He erupted with light and twirled his sword to a reversed grip as the magic responded to him. He had been controlling it before, but then he felt something new unlike inside him, a hidden reservoir of strength that he didn't know he had. He looked up and saw the dragon's fighting and wondered if his sister and Geralt could see him now, before looking back to Eredin.

He's afraid of you. That was what Connor of Lod's voice had said. Connor had sacrificed himself so that a new prophecy could be fulfilled. One that said Eredin would fall at the hands of the Line of Lod.

Time for that to become a reality….

Dominik dashed forward, seeing his friends finally beaten back. Freya tried to get behind Eredin and stab through his back while Faram and George distracted the King. She rushed forward for the stab, but Eredin heard her, he spun around and knocked her sword out of her hand and struck down with his armored fist. It slammed into Freya's stomach and she screamed out in pain as she got sent flying back. Something erupted in Dominik at seeing Freya knocked aside, he picked up his speed as Faram and George finally rushed forward for a last mad dash. They couldn't beat Eredin in close calculated combat, so it seemed their last hope was a mad rush.

As soon as they did George and Faram lashed out and struck ferocity. Eredin however was ready, Dominik had no idea how he'd kill such a monster, but he would find a way. He always found a way. Bad thing always happened to him, but he just did what he knew best. He kept on fighting.

Eredin's helm had flown off, only his long black hair stuck to the back of his armor from the rain. His face was pounded with a black and blood nose, along with multiple new marks that were bleeding. It would have normally given Dominik hope, but now, it only made Eredin's snarl look more monstrous, worse then any Fiend of Leshen he and his witcher friends had faced.

George struck first but Eredin blocked it, giving room for Faram to come in for a thrust. Eredin saw and grabbed the silver with his bare hand. Faram tried to yank free, but for the first time in his life the Bear School Witcher wasn't strong enough. Eredin held firm, yanking Faram forward and striking a fist across Faram's chin. Faram fell and Eredin went to swing again but George's Aard blast stopped the killing blow. The Griffin Witcher stepped in with perfect grace, George had always fought like he was dancing, with expert precision and movement.

It worked for a while as Eredin had a hard time keeping track of George's sword. The Griffin witcher spun and struck down Eredin's arm, but it only seemed to bother the King. George tried for a feint next but Eredin was ready, and cut down across George's arm. He slammed the black blade down again, and George barely had time to parry. He did but got sent stumbling back, and just when Eredin went for the kill shot Dominik arrived.

He yelled and leapt, getting higher then he ever had. Eredin spun only in time for Dominik to see the look of shock in his eyes before Dominik came down with a thrust. His magic erupted around him as he glew like the beacon of a lighthouse, his eyes completely filled to the brim with magic. Everything Dominik saw had the light blue tint, and he slammed his blade, managing slam down his blade towards Eredin's shoulder where he had been aiming. George and Faram darted out of the way as the explosion of magic sent up smoke.

Dominik felt his sword slam into Eredin's but soon it cut down, all his strength was put into the strike and it managed to push Eredin's sword down and the silver soon sank into the King's shoulder, bringing him down to one knee as for the first time, Dominik heard a yell of pain.

All went quite save for the boom of thunder and howl of wind, along with the swirling of he and Eredin's own separated storms of magic. Dominik looked down at the King with his magic filled eyes and pressed his silver deeper into the Aen Elle's flesh. Eredin grunted, biting his teeth together to the point where blood slowly seeped from the King's mouth.

And he laughed.

"Look… look who finally decided to get up…." He said through his gritted teeth, "it… it has been a valiant effort boy but… it will be futile!"

Eredin erupted a plume of ice around him.

It shot Dominik and his friends back, but Dominik managed to regain his footing. Eredin stood, as Dominik looked and saw George make his way over to Freya, who had just barely been able to stand again, before being knocked over by the blast.

"GET HER OUT OF HERE!" He yelled over to the Griffin witcher, and charged at Eredin again, his silver flashing and swirling with magic.

George and Freya both seemed to want to argue, but Dominik didn't see them for long as Eredin met his charge. Again he fell into a whirlwind of black steel and silver with the King, magic clashing as Eredin was simply too good for him to get the upper hand. He matched every combo Dominik through no matter how quick, and no matter how precise it was, but Dominik fought anyway. If he didn't everyone else would die, and he'd rather die fighting, fighting like he always had been.

"AHA! HE FINALLY BARES TEETH!" Eredin shouted, seeming to delight as he knocked Dominik's sword away and spun.

After spinning Eredin kicked him in the chest. All the air was knocked out of Dominik's chest as he got sent flying back. Sending the magic straight to his chest the air returned to him, and he was able to see where he was landing and get back up to his feet with a stumble. That's tumble cost him as Eredin was on him again, but before the King's sword could strike at him, Faram had rejoined the fray.

The Bear Witcher intercepted Eredin's blow and started lashing out besides Dominik. Dominik wanted him to move and get to Freya, who George had pulled up to help walk, but he wouldn't turn down the help then.

He would have done it, Dominik was going to effectively end his own life had Faram not intervened, it was fitting the Bear Witcher fought with him then.

Dominik spun around Faram who's massive frame concealed him and was able to strike towards Eredin's left arm. He cut across the slits and the King howled, giving Faram the opportunity to punch him again. Faram's massive fist almost caused as much damage as his blade. It collided with the side of Eredin's head and gave Dominik the chance to cut across the King's shin, but that was when the magic erupted around him again.

Dominik got Quen up in time but Faram didn't. He was knocked back next to Freya and George, and Dominik remaining by himself with the King again. Seeing his friends hurt, something erupted inside him again. He was beginning to think that perhaps his anger could do good to help power his magic, so long as it was balanced with the good like Alexander instructed.

Eredin rushed for him and Dominik met him with Aard. It knocked the King's charge off balance, but Dominik was still forced to go on the defensive. Eredin struck at him with a form of fighting Dominik had never seen. It was as if Eredin was the wind itself, each of his attacks made Dominik's arms buckle. The magic kept him moving, but still his head was pounding. The magic had given him enough to move on, that combined with Freya's potion and the new reservoir of power were the reasons he was standing then.

But it still didn't do anything to help him end the fight. Eredin was simply still better then him, and Dominik had no idea how he was still alive. However, if he had lasted this long, perhaps there was a chance.

All it takes is one blow to kill a man… or monster…. Dominik yelled out and struck again. Finally coming off the defensive he spun around Eredin and jabbed for his back, but the King was ready.

He spun and struck at Dominik with lightning speed. Dominik leaned back, the tip of the blade centimeters away from his already scarred right cheek. He could feel it graze the scar, as he spun right after the blade passed and swung up.

Eredin yelled as Dominik's blade, infused with magic cut his arm. Blood gushed from the King's arm and from the King's yells of pain Dominik felt he finally had landed a significant blow. Eredin spun before he could celebrate, controlling the icy magic around him he launched it towards Dominik again and he got sent flying back. Blood from Eredin's wound dripped onto Dominik's face, as it mixed with his own.

He tumbled and rolled, his sword falling from his hand as he could hear his friends yell out his name. Scrambling he picked up his sword and slowly jumped up to his feet just as Eredin was on him again.

"A VALIANT EFFORT AS I SAID," He bellowed, "BUT AGAIN USELESS! TODAY YOUR LINE ENDS!"

He struck down and Dominik blocked it but just barely. Eredin swung again and came down at an angle, he leapt back and as if in slow motion he looked down and saw the swallow around his neck.

Dominik avoided the attack, but Eredin's sword cut straight through the longer iron chain that held the small silver bird.

"NO!" He yelled leaping forward over another blow and just missing it. It fell onto the ice and Dominik tried to roll and pick it up, but Eredin was there.

He struck down and Dominik rolled out of the way. "BAHA! YOU PATHETIC WEAK HUMANS! SO DISTRACTED BY YOUR SENTIMENTALITY! IT WILL BE YOUR DOWNFALL!"

Dominik tried to get to the swallow again, but as Eredin stomped towards him it disappeared in the snow. Cursing Dominik dodged another blow and came back up to his feet. He scanned the ice, the fight all but forgotten and finally spotted it a small jog away.

But Eredin was on him again. He yelled and struck, Dominik spun to try and block, but his sword was knocked away towards the swallow, and Eredin spun back around to cut right where Freya had applied the bandage on his arm.

He screamed but now saw his sword right near the swallow on the ice. Pushing through the pain and urging to magic to move him faster.

"NOW HE RUNS! WHAT WOULD YOUR ANCESTORS THINK BOY!?" Eredin swung at him as he ran, and jumping forward Dominik avoided the strike and slammed into his sword and the swallow.

He picked the small silver bird in one hand and his sword in the other, just in time to turn and see Eredin swinging down. Dominik managed to move, but not fast enough to get his sword up.

"GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He screamed as Eredin sword cut across his arm and he fell.

His own blood splattered onto the ice and he felt his whole arm burn. It erupted, all throughout his arm it stung, and crawling away with one hand clenched on the swallow he yelled out again. Groaning and hearing Eredin's plate coming up behind him, all he could do was slowly slip the swallow into one of the pouches on his belt.

If I die I'm going to make sure you're with me…. He cough up blood and just as the swallow was put away he felt his hair yanked up on his head. He tried to make a grab for his sword, but it was just out of reach. Eredin yanked him to his knees by his hair, and Dominik felt the soft kiss of his blade leaning against his throat.

"You… you THOUGHT YOU COULD DEFEAT ME BOY!?" He yelled, as he looked down at Dominik again from behind him. Dominik tried to say something but Eredin yanked again. "YOU ARE WEAK! YOU'RE ALL WEAK!"

"DOMINIK!" Freya's voice screeched, as he looked and saw all three of his friends, swords raised on a distance away.

Dominik looked at them all as Eredin laughed, his sword digging into Dominik's throat. He met Freya's eyes as she stood with George supporting her. She was crying as Eredin laughed more and yanked harder on Dominik's hair.

But the arrogant fool hadn't disarmed him completely.

Faram looked like he was going to burst from the anger in his eyes, as George seemed to be holding Freya back from rushing herself.

Eredin yanked on him. "YOU ARE ALL FOOLS! AND SOON YOU WILL BE SLAVES!"

Dominik's hand inched closer to his back, as thunder boomed overhead, and dragons roared above. What was Geralt doing? Had he fallen from Borch? What about Bella?

No, he needed to focus, and despite his hand shaking, Eredin didn't notice him slip it to his back. The King was busy gloating, and Dominik winced when he felt the blade nick his throat. The magic was working on his one arm, but it still limply hung, burning and erupting in pain. He looked to the left and saw his silver not far away and planned the attack in his head.

"FIGHT YOU COWARD!" George yelled; his silver pointed as his other arm supported Freya. "YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A CUR! ONE WHO WILL BE ERADICATED!"

"BAHA! THE ARROGANCE OF HUMANS!" Eredin was unhinged. Gone was the smooth talking, cold, calculated King of the Aen Elle, Dominik now really did face a monster. The demonic laugh left Eredin again. "YOUR WORLD WILL BURN! AND I SHALL-."

"FIND BELLA!" Dominik shouted from below Eredin as he yanked his silver dagger from the sheath he placed on his back, and slammed it with all the strength the magic gave him backwards, into Eredin's shin, straight through the slits of his armor and into his flesh.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Eredin screamed as Dominik twisted the blade inside the King's flesh.

He heard Faram laugh, and George slowly let Freya down to the ground and they both began to charge. More cheers went up from the battlefield in the distance, as more and more he could hear the shouts of triumph from the craters beyond them.

They were winning, it was finally almost over.

But I still have a ways to go, he thought as he twisted and yanked his dagger out of Eredin's leg, before diving and rolling out of the way of the King's blade, I guess it's a good thing Fiona gave this back to me after all…

He missed that girl, her excitable eyes that reminded him so much of himself and Ciri. He'd see her soon, and she and Ciri were going to raise her to be the greatest witcher to ever live. They'd give her the life he and Ciri always wanted themselves.

But first he had to deal with Eredin.

He got to his sword but just as he did Eredin recovered and struck. Dominik rolled and winched in pain as he tried to raise his injured arm, but Eredin grabbed his strike, his demonic eyes looking down at Dominik bloodshot and dark.

"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU BOY!"

And just before George and Faram could get to him, Eredin opened a portal and threw Dominik through it, as Dominik swore he heard a new voice call his name.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Dominik slammed into wood, and groaned again, as he realized he was right next to Crach's lifeless body. His sword clattered next to him and seeing the corpse of his friend made him scramble back and grab his blade again. Seeing the corpse he could tell he was back on the Nagalfar, back where the fight had started, and he got up to his feet, breathing heavily his arms shaking as he saw Crach's corpse looking lifelessly up at him, along with so many others.

So many died… would they have if I were quicker? He looked down at his sword hand, and realized it was shaking along with his other gloved hand. Shakily he reached into the pouch he had put the swallow in and managing to get his hands to calm for a moment, he tied it back around the chain his neck. He slid it onto the chain with his medallion. It wasn't going anywhere on a chain with that. The red eyes of the wolf medallion were beaming with light as his magic swirled around his body.

He had to finish this, and he had to do it now.

"This… this is the end boy," Eredin's voice shot into his ears. He spun just as the King stepped through the same portal as him.

Every time he had seen the King before, he was calm, poised, and had an evil gleam in his eye, and he always had that same fucking smirk all the Aen Elle had, that smug look of superiority.

All of that was gone. Eredin's helmet was gone, blood dripped from gashes on his arm, the hole Dominik had put in his shin, along with blood dripping from his broken nose. More blood dripped from gashes on his forehead, but still the King looked as if he was far from dead. Dominik's eye drifted to the King's leg, it seemed Eredin really didn't have a femoral artery, and he'd need to find a different plan.

He had done damage yes, and at times he even felt like he was winning, but it still wasn't nearly enough.

Eredin's eyes were pale, but more frightening then any monster Dominik had ever fought. His sword had been cleaned of blood by the rain the same as Dominik's, and Eredin pointed it towards him.

"I… shall rid this world of you, Zireael… Baelen," The King said, bringing both hands to his sword, "and then I shall burn it to the ground… and rule what comes next. After I end you."

Dominik almost laughed. Every time Eredin mentioned Bella, he could see the anger flash in the King's eyes. The fact he truly wasn't able to control Dominik's sister had been a huge blow to his ego.

He is afraid of you, take advantage of it! Had Connor of Lod's sacrifice really worked like Ida had predicted? Was this really his destiny?

Destiny or not, Dominik would still kill Eredin there.

He smirked and held out his arms. "Well! You've been trying for over an hour now… and here I am…"

And I am so… so fucking tired, he thought, switching to Cat Stance, bending his knees more and ready to spring at a moments notice, the magic invigorating him.

Eredin sneered at him and responded by charging.

He teleported as soon as Dominik swung, and came up behind him. Dominik still moved quick, but with each strike his head pounded, his bones aches, all the fatigue would catch up to him soon if he didn't do something, gain some advantage. Eredin made him slip he moved so quick, but Dominik avoided the next kick that came, and struck again. He hit Eredin's shoulder with a thrust, but the King rammed his shoulder into Dominik as a response.

Wind knocked out of him again, Dominik fell back into Bear Stance as Eredin rushed towards him, bent on the kill. The defensive form of Witcher combat did its job, helping him fend of Eredin's attacks, and just as he got some space, Dominik switched back to Wolf Stance, leaping and trying a thrust at Eredin's chest. The King knocked it aside and spun around him, trying to strike at Dominik's back.

Dominik switched to Cat Stance and rolled out of the way. Seamlessly he switch between stances, between styles of Witcher combat, and each one gave him exactly what he needed.

He stayed in Cat Stance for a while, and realized he was simply making Eredin angry. The King wasn't going to run out of energy, so Cat and Bear stance could only be used for defense. Eredin's armor was singed and blackened yes, but it had kept the King alive so far.

He needed to strike at the one open part of the King's body.

Yelling and striking from Wolf Stance, Dominik twirled his sword to a reversed grip and confused Eredin with a hybrid style of Wolf Stance and Cat Stance. He would dodge, and doge, dodge, but he would lash out when Eredin wasn't expecting, much more then was normal for Cat Stance. He blocked one blow and knocked it away which made Eredin spin and strike at his back. Dominik threw his sword up behind his back and barely blocked. For a minute they stayed locked and Eredin yelled as their gazes met.

The King pushed, but Dominik ducked and rolled, coming up and striking across Eredin's torso, drawing blood to only enrage the King further. He came back around with new vigor, and the next strike made Dominik's arms sting again and he started to fall backwards.

Seeing his advantage Eredin pressed on him, just like Dominik had expected.

Eredin struck hard from the right, probably trying to cleave straight through Dominik's neck. Dominik raised and parried the strike, and feinted like the strike had knocked him aside, but with the slick ground, and remembering the move he worked so hard to master, which had worked for him at Kaer Morhen he spun on the ball of his foot.

He leapt up as he fell, using his momentum to jab his sword towards Eredin's exposed eye he fell back, keeping him out of range of Eredin's sword. The move had been executed perfectly.

But for the first time in some time, Dominik saw Eredin smirk. He had been expectin this, it was the one move that had worked for Dominik at Kaer Morhen, he had been stupid to try it again.

Eredin stepped back away from Dominik's jab like he had been expecting it. The King had taken Dominik's bait on purpose, and as soon as he landed, he knocked Fate from Dominik's hands and punched him in the stomach.

His armor and the magic around him softened the blow, but Dominik was sent flying backwards. He slammed into and broke an empty set of barrels, and groaning he thanked the gods that Crach had upgraded his armor. His stomach exploded, and he was able to crawl to all fours, and groan in pain as he got to one knee, seeing Eredin standing and laughing above him.

The King approached, and leveled out his blade, pointing it to Dominik's chin.

Dominik looked up, and saw the triumphant look in the King's eyes.

I… I lost… I failed… I… I failed again, only this time…. I failed more then just Ciri. The point dug into Dominik's chin, slowly trailing along the scar on his right cheek, and Dominik thought of Ciri, and of Bella. He had no idea where either of them were… and he had failed them both, along with every one of the men and women out on those icy plains.

Eredin tilted Dominik's chin with the point of his blade. The rain only seemed to intensify, making what was happening to Dominik even worse. Do I really have to die in the fucking rain?

Eredin breathed heavily, laughing and shaking his head at Dominik. "Aha… you… you did well boy… I will give credit where it is due."

"I'm flattered…"

"You should be… it is not always I give my enemies such mercy when I kill them," He said, trailing the sword up Dominik's cheek again. "It has healed remarkably."

"Only thing I'll ever thank Avallac'h for…" Dominik said, spitting on the King's sword. "So… care to tell me something, one last request?"

Eredin chuckled, "and what would that be?"

"That if you kill me… you kill that fucker later," Dominik said, scoffing, shaking his head as the sword kissed his throat again. "Or who knows… maybe I'll escape, and I can finally kill you both."

"Your weak attempt at humor, does you now favor," Eredin said slowly, his smirk returning, as Dominik noticed something behind him. The King spoke again, "as for your request… Avallac'h will have his time, he will die just as you and Zireael…"

"Well I thank you for your courtesy…" He said dryly, his eyes narrowing passed Eredin, and widening when he saw someone climbing up the mast pole.

Eredin looked at him with that smirk. "You should be… but I'm afraid a quick death is all I can provide, along with killing Avallac'h when I see him, as I should have long ago."

"Should have let Alexander kill him," He said, his eyes going to the mast pole, "it would have done us all a ton of favors."

"Perhaps…" The King said, "but although he may be a disgusting traitor… Avallac'h is still one of us, an Aen Elle. And he deserved better then dying at the blade of a pathetic human."

"You still call us pathetic…" Dominik said, a smile forming on his face as he looked back to Eredin. "Yet… your entire army was killed by humans… and you are going to be killed… by humans."

Eredin didn't seem to pick up on him putting emphasis on humans, as in more then just him. Of course he didn't. Eredin had the same flaw all the Aen Elle had… they thought themselves invincible.

The King snarled and dug into his neck. "I've had enough pleasantries… now you die. After which, Zireael shall finally-."

Dominik couldn't stop himself, he cut Eredin off, as a fit of delirious laughter came over him. He looked up on the mast pole and it only got worse. Even when Eredin snarled and dug the blade deeper into his neck, Dominik couldn't stop laughing.

"AND WHAT," He yelled, "is so funny boy…"

Dominik smiled, looking back at Eredin again. "It's because… your worst nightmares come true. And now… you're completely and utterly fucked!"

In a flash Dominik reached out with his magic and latched back onto his silver sword a distance away. It flew in the air and stabbed Eredin in the side. The King yelled, and stumbled back, and just as he pulled Dominik's blade free and tossed it aside a bright light erupted from the mast pole, at least ten feet above him and the King.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Bella screamed as she came flying down from above, shining like a falling star as Coram was spiraling with light blue magic, and her eyes were completely overtaken by the same light that Dominik's were.

"BAELEN!" Eredin yelled and went to strike up towards Bella as she fell, but just before Bella hit him, she teleported away in a puff of frost.

Before Eredin could even spin around Bella had reappeared behind him, and with a yell Bella gathered the magic in her hands.

"CRYNVAEL PELIO COMA ANAYE!" Bella screamed the spell in Elder Speech, and lightning erupted down from above into the palms of her hands.

She slammed them forward into Eredin's chest, who barely was able to raise a magic shield of ice to defend himself. Still the force slammed into the King and sent him shooting backwards, slamming against the mast pole and crumbling into a pile of bodies.

Bella looked as if she were going to charge, but turned and saw Dominik there, smiling like a madman. He swore he saw a genuine smile on his sister's face. She scooped up his silver and tossed it to him as she jogged over to him. Her eyes widened when she saw the blood dripping from his arm, and right away grabbed it with her free hand.

"How long ago?" She asked, as she muttered a spell in Elder Speech, and suddenly, her magic attacked the wound, and Dominik felt new vigor run up his arm.

Above them, the two swirling pools of mist around them intermixed, as if happy to greet an old friend.

"Not too long," He said, keeping an eye on Eredin as he slowly stood up, cursing in a language Dominik couldn't understand. He looked and met his sister's eyes. "Was Geralt okay last you saw him?"

"He was yes, I fell of Kilgarrah. I got through to him, killing Eredin is the only way," She said, pulling back her hand. "We have to kill him… not just for him, but for everyone. Dominik, after this we need to find Ciri before-."

"I know…" He said, taking in the sight of his sister, before scoffing. "You have the gift of good timing Bell."

A small smile came to her face. "Mother always said… I was exactly what everyone needed…"

"That's still true," He said, a smile coming to his sister's face as he said it.

The makeup under Bella's eyes was running in streams down her cheeks. Her skin was shining like glass from the rain having washed away the blood, but Dominik could still see faded scars. Her eyes were baggy, but still shining despite the situation. Her armor was in as bad a shape as Eredin's, and he could see her arms shaking as well.

He reached out and held her wrist, meeting her eyes and smiling. "So… what do you say we kill this son of a bitch?"

Her hands curled into fists, and she slowly nodded. "I saw that sounds wonderful… big brother."

"I've missed hearing that," He said without thinking.

"And I missed you… all of you," She said, freeing herself and turning to Eredin, "now, let's-."

"BAHA! YOU BAELEN! YOU DARE USE MY OWN LESSONS AGAINST ME!?" Eredin shouted, pointing his blade towards them, his eyes turning to Bella. "I MADE YOU, YOU FILTHY HALF-BREED! EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO, ALL YOU ARE IS THANKS TO ME!"

Dominik was about to shout something, to step forward but Bella held out an arm. It was shaking in her armor. He looked at his sister's face, and he saw her eyes narrow. They narrowed into slits, and the more she looked the more she shook. Tears started welling in his eyes, but before he could saw anything Eredin spoke again, this time in his calm, razor sharp tone, one which sent new shivers down Dominik's spine.

"You are only what you are… because of me girl," He said, snarling over at Bella and slowly shaking his head. "I made you into the perfect weapon you are now. The ferocity, the tenacity, the killing instinct, your skill, your magic… all of it I forged with these hands."

He held his blood fingers up, looking at Bella again. "These hands forged you… and will always be upon you….. Do you remember the price… of failure Baelen?"

Dominik couldn't stay still, he pushed past Bella, magic erupting out of him and filling his eyes as she twirled his sword to a reversed grip. "YOU DID NOTHING! I swear, I'll-."

"I'm going to kill you…" Bella said, her voice cold, devoid of emotion as she stepped next to him, Coram at her side. She held it up at Eredin, her hand began to shake, and tears finally fell as she shook her head. "DO YOU HEAR ME!? I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU! KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID! FOR MY PARENTS, FOR FUCKING KENDRA!"

Dominik knew then she wasn't talking about their parents, she was speaking of her second family. He knew what it was like to have a second family, and think them all dead… the only difference, that Bella's actually was.

Eredin laughed, and it cut through the air like a hot knife. "Do you not understand Baelen? No matter what happens here… you will not be rid of me… you will never be rid of me girl. Every time you use magic… every time you swing your sword… you'll feel me, feel my influence," he slowly held up his fingers again, "you'll hear my voice… you'll feel my touch… you don't understand… even if you manage to kill me… I will never die. Because I will live on, in you Baelen…."

"DON'T FUCKING CALL ME THAT!" Bella erupted with magic next to him, taking her stance, and right away Dominik did the same, falling into Wolf Stance for its versatility and his knowledge of it.

Eredin looked at them both, as Bella and he erupted with bright blue magic swirling around them.

And the King was afraid, Dominik could see. Eredin and Connor of Lod's prophecy had come true… Connor of Lod's death led to that moment then. To another set of siblings from the Line of Lod facing down the King.

However, this time, they did it together.

Now Dominik guessed he'd see the true power of destiny.

With a scream Bella rushed at Eredin first, and Dominik quickly followed, the end finally beginning.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"DAMMIT!" Geralt cursed, looking down at the magic explosion from the ship. "I told him to wait for me before he engaged!"

"I have known him on for a short time," Borch said, flapping his massive wings and scanning the clouds, "but I can tell, that he has too much of you in him old friend!"

Geralt knew that to be true. Had he really expected Dominik to simply stay and wait? No, of course he would have gone to fight, the battle was too close to being over. They needed to find Ciri, and before they could do that, Eredin had to be dealt with.

"If it makes you feel better," Borch said to him, looking down towards the ship, "his sister is with him!"

That did make Geralt feel a bit more confident. That girl practically oozed power, and if anyone could beat Eredin, the two of them could. However, Geralt was still not going to take any chances.

He looked down at Borch and shouted. "I'm sorry but I need you to drop me back off down there! I have to get down and help them!"

"I understand my friend!" Borch yelled back, his eyes darting between the clouds. "Between you all hopefully Eredin will perish and Kilgarrah can regain sense! I shall hold him until-."

Geralt saw the flash in the darkness and his eyes widened, "HIGH ON YOUR LEFT MOVE!"

The stream of ice shot through the air and hit Borch's wing. Borch screamed and bucked almost sending Geralt flying. Kilgarrah zipped through the air and slammed into the gold dragon, and when Geralt looked over Borch's whole wing was covered in ice. Cursing he was finally thrown from the dragon and sent flying towards his impending death below.

He looked and saw Borch struggling to stay in the air, flapping his one unfrozen wing to try and reach over too him, but Geralt could see his falling as rapidly as him. Down below the shore of Undvik, a small cluster of buildings rushing for him. He tried to look around, to find some kind of handhold, or try to maneuver himself towards the water, but Borch was in the way and nothing he saw would have sufficed. Geralt had indeed been in many situations where his life was threatened, but at the moment he braced himself for broken bones, could he even survive a fall like this?

Borch roared again, and Kilgarrah shot down at them. Borch shot fire towards the other dragon, and it collided with a stream of ice, sending up another explosion and pushing Geralt further away from them both. He looked and saw himself about to slam into a mountain, before all he saw was black, and for a moment he thought he really had died.

Instead, he felt he familiar horrible sensation of his stomach churning, his skin tingling along with a rattling in his head. Thunder boomed overhead, and he fell out of a portal into a puddle of mud. It got into his mouth and Geralt cursed as he coughed and felt his bones ache. His swords clattered behind him as he rolled and managed to stumble up. He looked around and noticed he was on a shore, not far from where the Nilfgaardean camp had been. It was now suspiciously packed up and missing.

Damn coward… Geralt thought, spitting out mud and looked out over the plains, gotta get to that ship.

"GERALT!"

Geralt spun and never in his life did he think he was ever so relieved to see Yennefer. She rushed up to him, her outfit somehow completely clean, but stuck to her from the rain. Geralt hugged her, but it was quick, as she frantically looked up at him.

"Are you alright!? I saw you falling," She said.

He nodded, groaning at his bones aching. "I'm alright yeah, I assume I have you to thank for that portal?"

"What would you do without me?" She said in that cheeky, sarcastic tone Geralt loved, before she shook her head again. "Triss spotted you falling, and I opened the portal."

"She okay? What about the rest of the Lodge?"

"They scattered, the Hunt's forces are almost crippled," She explained, "they won't be retreated, Eredin was engaged, so they went to help where they could."

Geralt was surprised, a part of him expected some of the sorceresses to run at the first moment they weren't needed.

He nodded. "Good, Yen have you seen Ciri!? Dominik and I couldn't find her!"

Yen's eyes widened, panic setting in. "No! I thought she would be with the both of you, where's Dominik!? I could sense his magic but couldn't locate him from the cliff's!"

Geralt looked out towards the Nagalfar. "He's… a bit pre-occupied."

Yen stepped up next to him, realization setting into her face. "Geralt… tell me my son isn't on that ship fighting Eredin right now!"

"I told him to wait for me… didn't listen, inherited that from us."

"Geralt!" She yelled, turning to him. "Are you mad!?"

Geralt sighed and shook his head. "His sisters with him, he'll be fine for a bit, I need to get moving and reach him, can you teleport me!?"

Yen froze. "His sister? That means that he-."

"Yes, he did it," Geralt said, "he got through to her. I met her, she's with us. Now can you teleport me to-."

"LOOK OUT!" Yen shot her hands up and a massive shield of magic erupted around the two of them. It's blue light deflected the streams of fire and ice that slammed onto the shore. An explosion of magic shot up, and just before Yen lowered the shield, Borch with his frozen wing slammed down onto the shore.

Yen let down the shield and Geralt ripped silver from his back just as Kilgarrah landed. The beast was larger then anything Geralt had ever seen, and finally seeing him up close he realized he would probably never see something so large again.

He remembered when he met the dragon in human form, he was calm, composed, intelligent, but now he seemed like a real monster. His gold eyes had been turn into dark black and red slits, and blood was mattered down his snowy white scales. He roared and it shattered Geralt's ears. Borch got back to his four legs, but with his frozen wing he wouldn't be flying any time soon.

Next to him Yen ignited a spell in her hands, and she looked to him. "Geralt, what do we do!?"

For the first time, she genuinely didn't seem to know. Geralt cursed, looking over at Kilgarrah. He remembered hearing Bella talk to the beast, hearing him scream before she fell, so he assumed that the only way they would get Kilgarrah back was with Eredin's death, that was why she had let herself fall and teleported back to the shore.

Kilgarrah roared back at Borch, and Geralt could see what was happening. It went against everything he wanted, every instinct he had, but he knew that Yen and he wouldn't get out of that situation. If Yen took even took the few seconds to open up the portal, Kilgarrah would be on them. Borch wasn't fit enough now to protect them, and if the gold dragon fell, all was lost, it would mean Kilgarrah could get back to Eredin, back to where Dominik was.

He had no idea where one child was, and the other was facing the King of the Wild Hunt, and Geralt couldn't do anything.

No… there's one thing I can do, he thought, twirling his sword and looking to Yen.

"Only way Kilgarrah is free is if Eredin dies, we can't kill him so that's the only chance," He said.

Yen looked at him, concerned. "Then let me teleport you, help Dominik and Bella kill Eredin!"

"We won't have the time, you've used a lot of power, he'd be on us before you could," He said, his heart sinking as he met her violet eyes. "Only thing we can do… is help Borch keep him busy to buy Dominik and the rest of the army time."

"We can't just abandon him Geralt," Yen said, panic setting into her voice, "I refuse to leave him alone again! I can't-."

"He's not alone," Geralt cut her off, "his sister is with him, they can do this…. I'm not asking to abandon him… I'm asking that we both trust him."

Yen seemed to swallow the next argument she had, which for once, Geralt was glad for. Normally he liked when she challenged him, but on this she could see he was right. Spells ignited in her hand, she looked beautiful in the rain then.

He nodded to her, and turned as Kilgarrah roared over at Borch, who stepped behind them.

"It seems we fight together again my friends!" The dragon bellowed, roaring over at Kilgarrah and stretching his wings over them. "Let us hope we find as much success as last time!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Bella seemed to understand that Dominik had been fighting longer, that she was fresher then he was, so she took the offensive before him. Dominik hung back, lashing out after Bella had darted forward. Eredin blocked her blow and she quickly moved to his side, just as Dominik attacked. She got off a hit on his torso, racking Coram across the King's armor, but Eredin spun and fired a blast of ice towards her. Bella met it with a shield but got sent back, and Dominik was alone for the moment. Eredin turned his attention back to him and struck again.

Getting into Bear Stance, Dominik parried and blocked each strike that came his way. Feeling born anew with refreshed power he saw the battle in an all-new light. He struck out with a thrust at Eredin's torso after blocking a strike, but the King teleported away. Right away Dominik spun, knowing what was coming, but before Eredin could attack him Bella leapt from the right. On the bloody deck of the ship they move and struck as one.

He knew exactly where she was at all times, and just knew where she would move as if he was inside her head. He struck out towards Eredin's chest again, but the King parried, punching Dominik in the stomach and going to swing his sword. Bella saw and stepped in front, launching magic she had gathered into her hand towards Eredin's sword hand. It smacked into the King but only seemed to annoy him. Dominik recovered as Bella went on the offensive. Making sure to keep track of her flank he kept close to her, striking out the second after she would.

Eredin's jagged black blade somehow moved with new fury. It was almost as if two against one was finally an even match for him. Bella could match Dominik's own skill with a sword, he had fought her enough times to know, he could only hope it would be enough then.

Bella struck, but Eredin parried the blow and with a quick spin was at Bella's back. He slammed the hilt of his sword into her back and sent her falling forward. Eredin went to cut her down, but Dominik rushed and shot up Quen around himself and his fallen sister.

Eredin's sword bounced off Dominik's shield, and Dominik discharged the damage back at the King. Seeing that Bella was coughing and recovering from the blow she took, Dominik rushed forward, switching to Viper stance. It was possible to use the stance without having two weapons, so Dominik moved into the stance and twirled his sword to a reversed grip, which was natural with the stances quick, slithering movements.

He ducked down under Eredin's next blow and cut across the King's shin, before coming up and cutting across his back, but as soon as he did the magic around Eredin erupted again. Dominik barely had time to shoot up Quen before ice slammed into him. He got sent stumbling back towards the ships railing, and Eredin rushed towards him. Dominik looked up and saw the sword swinging down on him and ducked away. The King's sword cut clean through the ships railing, and Dominik rolled back up to his back.

He fire Aard, seeing the perfect opportunity to knock the King from the ship. He launched, but the King teleported, and Dominik spun just as the sword came for him again. It nicked his torso, but still he groaned in pain, feeling his stomach erupt. He stumbled and Eredin took advantage, Dominik parried one blow, before he heard Bella yell from behind Eredin again.

His sister came leaping rushing forward to strike, but Eredin heard her, knocking aside Dominik with a powerful strike and turning. Dominik tumbled to the deck and looked up to see Eredin swinging at his sister, but Bella was ready.

She moved in a way which would have made their mother and father proud. Her spin and parries were perfect, and it was as if the blade had been born in her hands, combined with the magic spiraling around her she was alike a blur, a storm that had been unleashed upon the King. A storm that Eredin had made himself.

"YOU HAVE NO HOPE BAELEN!" Eredin said, deflecting blows, "YOU ARE NOTHING WITHOUT ME!"

"I'LL SHOW YOU NOTHING!" Bella screamed as she moved quicker, and Dominik finally got himself to move again.

He ran forward and spinning around Bella he attacked Eredin's flank. It was if the King had eyes in the back of his head, he spun and blocked Dominik's strike, kicking him before turning back to Bella who had resorted to blasting more magic towards him. It wasn't ice, fire or lightning, it was pure, raw magic, which she filtered in her hand and blasted towards the King.

The only problem was the blast hit Dominik as well as Eredin. It came in a wave and the King was able to teleport away, but Dominik got hit. He yelled as he got sent flying back, slamming against the steps up to the wheel of the ship.

"NO! DOM!" Bella screamed for him, pure torment in her voice as Dominik groaned and crawled back up to his feet, his body aching under his armor. He was so, so tired.

He looked up as Bella started running towards him, but she was so distracted trying to get to him that she didn't notice Eredin reappear behind her.

"BELLA!" He tried to yell for her, but she didn't turn around in time. Eredin his sword from the left and Bella got Coram up to partially deflect the blow, but the King's sword still racked across her arm.

Bella screamed, her blood spraying across the deck of the ship as she fell to the right.

Seeing his sister there, his sister that he hadn't protected before, seeing her attacked then erupted something inside him that he had never felt before. Only a few weeks ago he thought his sister was dead, that he had failed her like he failed Ciri before and failed his parents. His little sister, his best-friend, the light of everyone's lives, she hadn't deserved the fate that had befallen her and for so long he thought there had been nothing he could do.

But now there was. Bella writhed as she grabbed her arm, she knew how to heal herself but Eredin was advancing too quick. He would damn if he let her get taken from him again, not when there was so much he needed to ask her, to tell her, to do with her.

It was his little sister, and she was alive, a small part of him still couldn't believe it.

He willed his magic to work for him again. It spiraled around his limbs and shot through his eyes as he scooped his sword from the deck and yelled in a made rush.

"You are still WEAK Baelen," Eredin yelled, not even hearing Dominik over the thunder and wind. He pointed his sword down as Bella writhed. "You miserable half-breed! I'll do what I should have done-."

He didn't have a chance to finish his sentence as Dominik was one him. Forming the sign for Aard, Dominik cut down across Eredin's sword arm and fired his sign. It slammed into the King and he stumbled backwards. Dominik landed in front of Bella, slamming into the ground and leaving blackened marks from the magic across the wooden deck.

"YOU SHALL DIE WITH HER BOY!" Eredin yelled as he steadied himself and launched towards Dominik again.

"DOM!" Bella shouted his name as she writhed, grabbing her bloody arm. He had to buy her time, time to heal herself, and she seemed to realize it as well. He looked over at her for a second and just as Eredin reached him Dominik reached out and caught Coram as Bella threw it to him.

Catching the sihil, he crossed it over with Fate and blocked Eredin's next strike, before immediately falling into Viper Stance again. Coram was a bit shorter then his silver, which made it easier to move, and remembering the moves he had studied from Letho pressed a relentless attack. He wouldn't swing with one sword, defend with the other, and each time Eredin blocked one attack another would come with his opposite sword, and finally in the fight he felt like he had the edge, he was the storm and it was unleashing upon Eredin.

Eredin thrusted, but Dominik leaned up, before leaping another step back and throwing Fate towards Eredin. The King like he expected deflected the blade, but as soon as he did Dominik latched onto it with his magic and willed it back towards him. Eredin had been going to strike down at him when the sword zipped through the air and cut his arm. Yelling in pain Eredin's sword fell to the ground and Dominik rushed for him again.

The King growled as he dodged the barrage of attacks he sent with both swords. Behind him he heard Bella yell behind him, but her words were drowned out by a blast of thunder as Dominik didn't relent.

He struck towards Eredin bringing both blades down, but as soon as he did the King stepped back and blasted his hand forward. Magic shot from the King's hands but Dominik slammed both swords into the ground and formed Quen around himself. The magic slammed into the witchers shield and sent up a puff of smoke, seeing the cover Dominik emerged and rushed out of it. He leapt, letting the magic carry him high into the air, and finally seeing Eredin he slammed into the ground pounding Aard into the deck.

A massive blast went up around him, bodies and weapons flew, but Eredin teleported just in time. Dominik got up, realizing he had left another blackened mark on the deck, but right away felt magic slam into him from behind. He got caught off guard and fell forward, dropping Coram. He managed to roll up and see Eredin coming for a strike and raised Fate to block just in time.

Pushing Eredin's sword aside he rose to his feet, but as soon as he did Eredin lashed out with speed again. He knocked Dominik's silver aside and slammed his fist again into Dominik's stomach. He was able to get up Quen, but still the force of the blow had taken away all of the icy storm around Eredin. It slammed into Dominik and sent him back again as he dropped his sword.

With a crash he landed against a wall, which above held the wheel of the ship and Dominik's back burst with pain as if a shrapnel had erupted inside of it.

"ARGH FUCK!" He cursed as he struggled to rise. He bled from cuts on his face, and he could feel blood trickling beneath his armor as well. The blinking of Eredin's armor got his attention, and he raised his hand up with the sign for Quen just as another blast of icy magic came for him. The sign blocked the spell, but he was sent back again.

He tried to rise but his limbs finally erupted. The magic tried to heal him, but it was much slower at healing his internal pain, and all he could do was cough as Eredin's shadow from the burning fires around them towered over him.

"This time…" The King said, out of breath as well, "you will finally die-."

"NOOO!" Bella cut Eredin off just before the King's blade could swing down on Dominik. She leapt from the right and fired a blast of magic from her hands. It was more powerful than anything Dominik had ever seen, and the meek shield Eredin raised in time to block didn't stop him from being blown back into the railing of the ship.

Dominik saw the murder in Bella's eyes as she stood in front of him. She had picked Coram off the ground, and finally seeing tears in her eyes as well she screamed and dashed towards Eredin again.

Bella fought in the same stance and style he had noticed Eredin fighting in. All of the training he King had given Bella came back at him then. He was able to get up to block the first few blows from her, but Bella was too relentless. He tried to stop, to taunt her, but before he could open his mouth Bella would attack. The sound of their swords slamming against one another echoed over the thunder, and after a minute Dominik tried to rise himself, seeing Fate only a small distance away.

The minute he tried to move he fell to all fours again, the rain pounded down on him as thunder boomed, and he looked up to see Bella fighting Eredin, pushing him up against the giant mast pole.

She struck, struck and struck, pulling off combos Dominik had never seen. Eredin's magic and hers clashed, both of their arms and swords moving faster then any normal soldier. Bella's blades move with perfect precision, as she knocked away one of Eredin's strike, before ducking under another and striking at the King's knee.

Her blade cut across the King's armor and Eredin fell. He fell to one knee and before he could do anything else Bella spun back around and struck from above. She slammed her sword down on Eredin's as the King only held his blade with one hand. She struck down hard, over and over again, screaming and sobbing with rage as she did. Her hair was mattered and bloody from the rain and fighting, she dripped blood from multiple wounds, but his sister didn't relent. He heard her start to scream over the rain.

"MADE ME TRY TO KILL MY BROTHER, BETRAY MY ONLY FRIEND," She struck down hard, even knocking Eredin's sword to the ground. "PLAYED WITH MY MIND! BASTARD, BASTARD, YOU BASTARD!"

She came down with another strike at the now weaponless King and for a moment Dominik though the battel would be won, that Bella would deliver the killing blow.

But Eredin yelled and caught Bella's hand just as she came down. He squeezed and Bella yelled, dropping Coram. He reached out his other hand, shooting up to his feet and grabbing Bella's throat, lifting her off the ground, as he gritted and spoke through bloody lips.

"You… are NOTHING GIRL. Just as you always have been!" He spun and threw her into the mast. Bella's back slammed and she yelled out, her magic simmering as Eredin pointed down at her, his magic starting to form in his hand. "You were nothing before me… and now, you DIE AS NOTHING!"

Dominik saw Bella struggle to rise and Eredin about to fire. Ignoring his injuries he shot all the magic into his legs, screaming as he sprinted directly for Eredin again, reaching to his back and pulling the dagger from its sheath.

Bella groaned and cried out in pain again as she fell, her magic swirling around her, as if it were worried about her. Eredin's blood dripped from his bruised and beaten face, but he snarled as he raised his hand and magic formed in it, a large ball of ice that he was ready to bring down and end Bella as she weekly climbed to all fours.

"I'm almost disappointed…" Eredin said, spitting at Bella as he shook his head, "and i would be… had I not planned to kill you anyway. NOW DIE YOU FILTHY-."

Dominik leapt just as thunder boomed overhead. The leap took him higher then it had even let him go before. He looked over Eredin and came down with his dagger, ready to plunge it into the King's neck just as he was ready to launch his spell.

But Eredin turned around.

Dominik yelled as he did, but before he could bring his dagger down for the killing stroke, Eredin reached out and caught him around the neck. His other hand shot out and grabbed the hand holding Dominik's dagger as it was inches from the King's eye.

His throat constricted and Dominik tried to yell, to move against Eredin's grip but it was futile. He went to punch Eredin with his free hand, but when he tried to move Eredin squeezed around his neck again. His breath quickly started to leave him, and Dominik could only wiggle the finger around his dagger. Bella below him was coughing and dazed, and Eredin looked between them both before his eyes fell back to Dominik.

He laughed and squeezed harder around Dominik's neck. "BAHA! AND YOU BOY! Did you think you would be a hero this day!? Did you think you would be able to save the woman you love and ride off into the sunset? YOU ARE A FOOL! YOU WILL ALL BOW BEFORE ME! BECAUSE THAT IS ALL YOU ARE! A FILTHY HALF-BREED! YOU ARE NOTHING!"

Dominik croaked and gargled, coughing as Eredin squeezed. He looked down into he King's eyes, and slowly shook his head.

"I… I told you…. I am a witcher."

Dominik dropped the dagger in his hands.

It fell right down into his waiting free hand, and twirling it to the proper angle he used all the power he had left to jab it between the slits of Eredin's armor. It pierced the King's flesh deep, and Dominik twisted as he plunged it between two ribs, jabbing inward and twisting.

Right into a cluster of veins, where if a man was stabbed, he died, no matter how tall and strong.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Eredin's pained scream rippled over the sound of thunder, and he imagined every warrior fighting in the battle stopped then and there. He dropped Dominik to the ground, stumbling back and grabbing at the dagger still wedged between his ribs.

Dominik gaped for breath as soon as he fell and hit the ground. He cough and above him Eredin kept yelling in pain, his eyes wide, red, as blood trickled from his mouth. He looked at Dominik and tried to weakly raise his hands to blast another spell.

"GET AWAY!" Bella screamed and shot to her feet from behind him. Dominik rolled out of the way and to one knee, as Bella slammed her hands together, bringing the magic around her into one attack and slamming her fist into Eredin's chest.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The King screamed in pain again shooting back and slamming into a wall. He cracked the wall itself, as the wheel to the Nagalfar and debris fell on him.

Dominik saw his dagger fall from Eredin's chest, and right away he lashed out with his magic and pulled it back to his waiting hand. He did the same with Fate, sheathing his dagger and letting his silver fall back into his hand, right away falling into Wolf Stance, as Bella rushed up next to him forming a stance of her own.

He looked over at her and saw her red cheek and crying eyes. "You okay!?"

She nodded, "Yeah… you?"

He nodded as well. "Yeah… Bella after this we need to-."

Eredin's pained cries, and the rumbling of wood got his attention. He and Bella both turned back and leveled out their blades, as Eredin slowly rose from the pile of wood. He held onto the spot in his torso, which was bleeding profusely, to the point where not amount of magic would have been able to stop him before he bled out. His sword had found its way back to his hand, but he could only barely raise it up.

The King's face was black and blue, bloody as his nose was twisted at an odd angle, and all the color had drained from it. Parts of his armor had been turned completely black, as he bled from nearly every one of his limbs. He tried to step forward but stumbled, anger bubbled to his face as he pushed himself up with his sword. His eyes were wild and monstrous, and the being that had once thought himself a god, now stood weak before them. The one who had hunted and tortured Ciri's life for so long, now grimaced in pain as he bled from a gaping hole in his chest that Dominik had created.

Eredin looked at them both, weakly holding out his sword and waving it at Bella and he. "You… you both dare to think you can defeat me!? I AM KING! KING OF THE SUPERIOR RACE!"

He coughed as he said this, pushing himself up high with his sword again. Bella looked like she was about to burst, but Dominik couldn't help but laugh.

It was a delirious laugh… because he was so, so damn tired. "BA! Your superior race finally made the mistake of invading a world that had a chance to fight back! Today you are nothing!"

"I AM KING BOY!" Eredin shouted, delirious himself now. He brought both hands to his sword, groaning as he did and attempted to step forward. "I WILL NOT DIE AT THE HANDS OF-."

Eredin's eyes went wide again, as he yelled out in pain and fell to one knee.

The King gripped the inside of his right thigh, right where the body of Dominik's crossbow bolt was still lodge in his flesh.

Eredin growled, shaking his head. "You… you cannot hope-."

"Femoral artery…" Dominik said, the smile coming to his face, as Eredin looked up at him, a pained grimace on his lips. "Looks like you have the same weaknesses as us after all…"

Dominik knew a normal person had a minute or so to live if their femoral artery was cut. However, to Eredin's little credit, he stood, shaking as he brought both hands to his sword. Bleeding bruised and beaten, the King snarled at them one last time, nearly tipping over from his wounds.

He looked over at Bella, and his sister nodded.

And they charged at the King together one last time.

Eredin lasted much longer on his feet then Dominik guessed he would. Bella and he struck out together, but Eredin was able to block the first few initial blows as he staggered. Dominik came up striking from below, before transitioning into a perfect spinning leap. He came down and crushed his blade through Eredin's sword cutting across the King's shoulder as he did.

The King yelled out in pain but stayed on his feet. Bella right after Dominik attacked came in striking from below, cutting across Eredin's thigh and bringing him to one knee. For what felt like hours he and his sister battered the King of the Aen Elle. They attacked, launched spells and beat the King down, beat him to one knee as he attempted to stand, and each blow he felt himself getting closer, felt the kill coming soon.

Dominik locked blades with the King, who tried to press down on him. Seeing this Dominik side-stepped, and cut across Eredin's back. The King fell stumbled forward again, barely able to stand as he weakly spun back to strike at Dominik again. Bella's spell of raw magic slammed into Eredin's sword hand, stopping the strike as Dominik spun and struck his sword upwards.

His blade satisfyingly cut up across Eredin's cheek. Blood sprayed from the King like a fountain as he stumbled back, his cheek ripped open by Dominik's blade, giving the King a scar in the same exact spot Dominik had one now. Seeing his work Dominik moved to finish the job, but despite being weak, Eredin still had his massive size. He lunged in a frenzy Dominik hadn't been expecting, and Dominik was forced to jump back, but as he did he launched Aard towards the King before spinning back to his front.

Aard knocked Eredin right into the path of Bella who screamed. All the anger and torment, all the years of abuse, all the emotion oozed out of her, as Eredin weakly tried to strike down towards her.

Bella's screamed overtook the sound of the thunder as when Eredin's strike came for her she side-stepped and struck upwards. Magic completely enveloped her sword, and when she struck the King Coram cleaved clean through Eredin's arm at the elbow.

The King howled, as multiple booms of thunder and bolts of lightning hammered the earth. Eredin's elbow and forearm fell to the deck next to bodies of the dead, blood spewing from the stump like a waterfall as the King's black blade fell and was swept off the deck.

Dominik saw the King stumble, somehow still standing, and seeing the face of Ciri, Bella, Vigi, Folan, Arno and Declan he screamed and struck.

Performing a magically enhanced spin to put as much power behind it as he can he struck Fate across Eredin's chest through the slits of his armor, and finally the King stumbled backwards. With a large thud that came as soon as thunder erupted overhead, Eredin fell slumped up against the steps up to the destroyed wheel of the Nagalfar.

And for what felt like hours, everything seemed to fall silent.

Dominik looked first at Bella next to him, who seemed just as baffled as he was. They both turned and looked at Eredin. The King's blood stump of half and arm hung lifelessly at his side, but Dominik could still see his eyes flickering open and closed, he could hear the groans of pain, and while he normally didn't revel in people's pain, Eredin was a major exception, as were a few.

Seeing the King half dead now, writing in pain as Bella and he approached, Dominik had never felt prouder of himself in his life.

I did it… I really did it, he thought, looking to Bella who slowly walked next to him, a small smile came to his face, no… we did it.

Bella and he got to Eredin, and when the King looked up, he found the tip of Dominik's sword pointed at his throat.

For a moment none of them said anything. Dominik wanted so badly to plunge his sword forward, but something had been nagging at the back of his mind from the time the fight had started.

Eredin coughed up blood as he lay slumped before them. "It… it seems… that… that I… under… underestimated my opponents…"

"You did," Dominik said, his sword touching Eredin's throat. Venom dripped from his voice as he looked from the King. "That's for Vigi and Folan, for Arno and Declan… for Ciri, and for my fucking sister."

Bella said nothing next to him. She only tensed, as she glared at Eredin, Coram dripping rainwater next to her. They had won, but Dominik could see something deeper behind her eyes, there was still so much she needed to overcome.

He'd be there to help her… the fight was finally over.

"Aha… you… you genuinely believe this is over? It… it is not," Eredin said, coughing up more blood as he managed to shake his head. "You… you will never be rid of me…. I… I shall live on in your nightmares of this day… of all I have done, killing me… will solve nothing."

"No," Bella hissed from next to him. Dominik looked at her, tears were falling down her face. She shook her head, her arms starting to shake as she looked down at the King, "but it's a fucking start."

Eredin laughed through a cough again. "Aha… oh… oh Baelen… sweet… sweet… excitable Baelen… it… it isn't the start of anything. I can die… knowing… knowing I live on."

A fit of coughs came, as the blood from Eredin's stump of an arm washed around he and Bella's feet.

"I… I live on… in you Baelen… don't you understand my dear?" He said, his voice slowly starting to fade, but his eyes didn't leave Bella. "You… can't kill me… I'm part of you now… and always will be-."

"SHUT UP!" Bella screamed and tried to lunge forward and cut through Eredin's head.

"BELLA WAIT!" Dominik yelled, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back, having to hold her back as she trashed to get free of him. He looked at her and shook his head. "One more thing…"

She struggled for another minute, but slowly nodded, and Dominik let her go.

He slowly turned back to Eredin, his sword pointed out towards the slumped, defeated King again.

"You said you have something to tell me?" He said, glaring at the King as he shook his head. "Said you'd tell me as I expire, well… seems like the roles are a little different."

Eredin genuinely laughed again, which caused him to coughed and nearly fall over. He looked at Dominik and Bella again, an amused look in his eyes.

"I… I thought you'd have figured out by now… especially you Baelen," He said, looking past Dominik now as he shook his head. "Avallac'h… has fooled us all… he's taken Cirilla…."

Dominik turned to where Eredin was looking, and his heart fell to the pit of his stomach.

It was the tower from his dream, and Dominik cursed himself for being so stupid.

Eredin laughed again, deliriously, "BAHA! You… you fool… Avallac'h will take her… sacrifice her, and… and if she somehow survives… he'll take her and fuck her because of the chance he was denied so long ago! HA YOU FOOL, HE WILL-."

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Bella screamed and sobbed at the same time, and Dominik heard a loud squelch.

Bella had slammed her sword down and cleaved it clean into Eredin's skull. The King's skull split open, and Dominik watched as Bella sobbed. She yelled, anger, venom, lament and repulsion spilling from her voice, from her cries as she struck down at Eredin's lifeless corpse, butchering the King's head more and more with each strike.

"YOU BASTARD! BASTARD!" She screamed as she struck down, again and again and again. "BASTARD BASTARD BASTARD ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Bella's screamed turned to a sob, as Coram eventually cut clean through Eredin's skull. The King's head split open like a watermelon, blood and brains from the King spilling onto each side, mixing in with the rainwater, onto Dominik's boots, but even as the head split Bella didn't stop.

"BASTARD, YOU… YOU BASTAAAAAAAAAAARD!" She cried out, tears gushing from her eyes as she kept striking at the lifeless mangled body what was once the Aen Elle King.

Dominik looked on, horrified, his stomach lurching, his heart aching as Bella struck at the lifeless corpse, years of anger and pain spilling out of her. Dominik watched her for a moment, remembering himself doing that to several monster carcasses or tree trunks over his years alone. He could feel it, see it, and hear the pain oozing from her. The magic had disappeared, she wasn't using it anymore, every strike then was purely from the strength she had in her body.

He didn't stop her. He didn't stop her because he knew that stopping her wouldn't help. She needed to get the anger out, just like he always had.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT, YOUR FAULT, YOUR FAULT YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" She screamed again, still cutting down on the corpse. She cried, and eventually fell to her knees. Her strikes got weaker, and weaker, striking the sword at Eredin's lifeless body.

She sobbed again finally, Coram cluttering out of her hand, and she cried.

"My fault… it was my fault… I did it all… all of it…. I did it… fuck… fuck…"

"Bella…" He feel to his knees next to Eredin's body, next to her, her tears falling onto the bashed in lifeless corpse.

"I did it… I'm a monster… a fucking monster." She cried again, and this time, Dominik hugged her. Ignoring their armor he pulled her close and squeezed her like they were younger, and his sister cried into him.

She melted into him, reaching and squeezing at him, desperately clinging to him as she sobbed.

They stayed like that over the corpse of the former Aen Elle King, a tormentor, a tyrant, a monster, one who had ruined both of their lives.

"He's gone… he's gone for good," He said, his face burying into his sister's hair as he held her there in the rain and she cried, "you're not a monster… you're not… you're my little sister."

Bella didn't say anything, only crying into him and squeezing for another few minutes. Dominik didn't mind, but each second that passed, he'd glance at the tower. He could see the storm slowly starting to form over the top. The dream he had of the place was still vivid in his mind. A wolf, a swallow, and a specter. It all made so much sense now, and he was a fool for not acting sooner.

He will sacrifice her…. Eredin had no reason to lie, he seemed to revel in the truth. No, he hadn't been lying, and the fight truly wasn't over just yet.

Bella shakily sighed and looked up at him, seeming to look past him after a moment, towards the tower again.

Dominik slowly helped her to her feet. "You okay for now?"

He knew she wasn't okay overall, he'd help her later, he simply needed to her to hold on for just a little longer.

She nodded and grabbed her sword from the deck. "For now… Dominik, we need to get to that tower, I remember what it's called now."

He turned and looked at the tower with her. "What is it? And why does Avallac'h have such an interest in it?"

"Tor' Gvalch'ca," She said in perfect elder speech, "the tower of the falcon. It's an old elven sight, saturated with powerful old magic. With the sunstone, Avallac'h will have the power to open an interdimensional portal."

"What!?" Dominik said, "I thought only Ciri had the power to do that!"

"Normally she does… but with the stone, the tower, and all the magic here," Bella said, slowly shaking her head, "he'll have the power to open one…"

Dominik's chest exploded. "We gave him everything he needed… fuck. I knew I should have killed him! FUCK! What's he going to try and sacrifice her for? Ciri should be back, she wouldn't let him take her!"

Bella slowly turned to him, her expression grim. "It's clear now… and I don't think she would in this situation. Dominik… the reason Eredin wanted to use Ciri to invade this world, is because the world of the Aen Elle would soon be destroyed… by the White Frost."

The White Frost. Ithline's prophecy. Dominik's spine trembled.

"I'm not going to weep for the Aen Elle…" Dominik said, "but… but if that prophecy is true-."

"He's going to open a portal to it… to the White Frost," Bella said, her voice starting to tremble as she met Dominik's eyes. "And if she enters it… and can't control her powers, it… it'll kill her."

"But if she can't control her powers, then how could she destroy it!" Dominik said, panic setting in. He knew he had to move, but he was trying to convince himself what he thought wasn't going to be true.

Bella bit her lip. "That's not true… if she can control her powers she can survive but… but even if she doesn't, her essence and power will still be enough to destroy it… so-."

"So Avallac'h doesn't care…" He said, his heart dropping again, his anger rising. "That bastard gets what he wants either way! He was using her like a pig for slaughter!"

The cold truth set in. The swallow trembled around his neck; his gaze shot to the tower again. "But… but Ciri won't care… she'll try to save us all from it…"

"If she's anything like I remember yes…" Bella said, grabbing Dominik's arm. "Come on, we have to-."

Growling cut her off. Dominik reached out with magic and wrapped it around Fate. The sword flew into his hands, as Bella fell into a stance next to him. They stood in front of Eredin's mangled corpse, as dozens of hounds started slowly creeping onto the deck of the Nagalfar. With the death of Eredin, it seemed like they had all gone feral. They stalked towards Dominik and Bella both, to where Dominik eventually lost count.

He couldn't have counted well anyway… all he could think about was Ciri. Avallac'h had planned this, let them gather so much magic in one place, got the sunstone for him. The words of the female elf they had discovered in the sage's lab came back to him. He'll use her to fulfill her purpose and then he can finally be done with her.

No… Avallac'h didn't just not care if Ciri died or not. He wanted Ciri to die doing it. If she did, the reminder of Lara Dorren's love affair would be gone, and the White Frost would no longer threaten his world. Some people may have seen what Avallac'h planned as good… as the lesser evil, sacrificing Ciri, but to Dominik, there was no greater or lesser evil, only evil. Avallac'h easily could have taken the time if he really cared to train Ciri to use her powers more, to fully control them so she could survive the encounter without any issue, but no, he didn't. He didn't care what happened to her…. Dominik didn't know why he was surprised; he had been able to see this since the moment he met the elf.

It wasn't Avallac'h he was worried about now… it was Ciri.

If you had a way to save, not just the continent, but this world, and all other worlds from certain doom… but it meant your Cirilla had to face near certain doom… would you be able to let her do it?

Ida's question made sense now… had she known this was coming? It didn't matter because Dominik's answer was still the same. He trusted Ciri's strength… but he couldn't take such a great risk of losing her again. He didn't care how selfish he sounded… he needed her.

He looked at Bella and a realization came to him.

His prophecy truly in the end… really had been about Ciri and coming next was the decision he had to make that would seal her fate.

The hounds growled as they inched closer to Bella and him, but Dominik could only look at the tower. He was going to get to it.

Right before the hounds could leap, before he could ask Bella to teleport them, another portal ripped open behind them. Hands grabbed him and Bella from behind, and Dominik was yanked back into the portal with her, just before the hounds leapt for them.

And he teleported towards the true moment of his destiny.

A/N: My friends I have a confession to make… I actually cheered out loud after finishing this chapter xD I'm still baffled that I actually did it, that I reached this point. I really just wrote the battle with Eredin that I had planned in my head since the very start of this story, and I am so so happy with how it turned out. For those wondering, yes, this is always how I intended for the final battle to playout. From Dominik learning the dagger drop move from Letho back in chapter 48, to the prophecy we learned Connor of Lod got, to Dominik and Bella changing history and fighting together, as opposed to going alone like Connor and Lara of Lod did. Slowly but surely our boy got stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and now finally he defeated the one who had been ruining everything for him. Bella as well, we didn't see too much of her in the grand scheme of this book, but in the sequels were going to really dive further into her, but for now, our siblings are victorious. I'm a sucker for badass duos in books xD Whether it be sibling/sibling, two best-friends, or two lovers just being badasses together, as you can see by the multiple duos we see in this story. Dominik and Bella, Dominik and Ciri, etc… xD

However, as everyone who's played the Witcher 3 knows, we aren't over yet. Now Avallac'h is springing his grand plan. Now this has always been how I perceived Avallach's plan in the Witcher 3, I always thought he was an arrogant prick who didn't give a single damn about Ciri, ready to sacrifice her no matter what. You're free to disagree lol but that's what it's like in this story. Avallac'h is ready to unveil his plan, and Dominik now has a massive decision ahead of him, and so does Ciri. Now we all know Ciri controls her powers, and so does she… but if she reveals it in front of Avallac'h, his plan crumbles and they won't be able to get back at him.

So… what will Dominik do is the question. He's beaten Eredin, and that itself was hard enough, but now… he faces something even harder, and it will be equally as hard for Ciri. What will they do? What about Avallac'h? What else does he have up his sleeve? What about Faram, Freya, George, and the rest of the army? What about Emhyr, where did he retreat his men too?

We officially are going to have THREE chapters left in this story. I was going to put the next two into one, but I simply have too much happening, so we're going to have two more chapters of the final battle! Next chapter we'll see what happened with Geralt, Yen, Borch and Kilgarrah, before we check in with Ciri and then we finally head to the tower for the finale!

As always as well if you guys really enjoy this story, and want to see fanart, behind the scenes writing stuff, or just want to interact with me go and follow my Instagram for this story dominik_of_cintra

Soon, I'll even have in game screenshots from the wicther 3, where I've had some talented friends even managed to take a real in game npc, and make them look exactly like Dominik, before posing him with Ciri for some amazing pictures. So we'll get to see Dominik actually IN the Witcher 3!

As usually everyone, thank you all so so much. If you enjoy this story, please be sure to favorite and follow it, and ALSO follow my PROFILE ITSELF! You need to make sure to follow my personal profile itself, so that when I post the sequels and short story collections based off this story you can be notified! I want everyone who's loved this story to be able to read its sequels!

I want to thank you all so much, I've published now over 2 million words in less then a year. I didn't think it would make it this far, and its partly thanks to all the awesome support. So, as usual everyone stay safe, have a wonderful day and I'll see you all next time!