The Witcher: Through the Worlds

by TheWitcherDom

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

93. Something Ends, Something Begins

The Witcher: Through the Worlds

Chapter 93: Something Ends, Something Begins

Narrator: The battle… is won. The forces of the continent, an alliance of the brave men and women of Skellige led by their Queen Cerys An Craite, alongside the group called the True Knights of Cintra, led by the valiant Sir Robert Anton, banded together with the Lodge of Sorceresses, a few very brave Nilfgaardian soldiers, and of course, some of the Witchers of Kaer Morhen. They were led by Geralt of Rivia, Dominik of Cintra and Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, the now legendary witchers George of Toussaint and Faram of Undvik, and of course the prodigal surgeon and scholar Freya Kaminski of Ellander. And of course, the hero that few expected… Bella of Cintra. Formerly known as Baelen, Commander of the Hunt, who was in reality Dominik's long thought to be dead younger sister, thanks to the efforts of her brother, she joined the side of the Continent in the midst of battle. After this, the inspiration for my most recent ballad 'The Rise of the Young Wolf' took place. Dominik, alongside his sister both battled the legendary King of the Wild Hunt, Eredin aboard his command ship the Nagalfar. The two siblings defeated the King, saving Ciri and stopping the impending invasion of this world... Now, the world can rest easy, knowing that the conflict was won. The Wild Hunt is defeated, the continent safe… but at what cost?

Geralt could remember only around a year ago now, he had loved being in Vizima. Despite him being there during the start of the Catriona Plague, it was still where his new journey after losing his memories had mainly taken place. As he walked through the palace, he spotted the place where he first spoke to Adda. The now Queen of Redania, had changed much from the entitled young woman Geralt spoke too then. In the few weeks since the Battle of Undvik, when word had gotten out of Emhyr's retreat in the face of battle, the defection of some of his soldiers, and a particularly nasty 'rumor' as it had been called in the palace, that had been circulating concerning the Emperor and his daughter… Geralt could see that Adda hadn't exactly lost her touch for political maneuvering. No battles had taken place yet, but Adda was already beginning to sow the seeds of chaos within the Empire. Quite impressive for only a few weeks as Queen.

He could see the difference as Geralt walked behind Emhyr's chamberlain, a different posh looking old man from the last time Geralt was there with Dominik. Even getting in, he had been patted down in addition to giving away his weapons. Every man and woman, no matter their rank was searched rather aggressively upon entry to the palace. The streets were becoming barren, nothing but patrolman kicking beggars, people much too afraid to come out of their homes.

And the amount of strung up corpses, heads on pikes, and stockades with weeping men women, children and elderly he saw in the streets sent shivers up his spine. Emhyr was responding to the started unrest the only way he knew how. With blood and violence.

As Geralt walked through the palace, up towards the steps to the man's study, he could see the construction of taking down the Temarian colors was still in progress. He saw even more people huddled in corners in hushed whispers then he had before. His sensitive ears could pick up parts of conversations. He heard the normal rumors being discussed, who's sleeping with who and whos' maneuvering above their station.

However, he could also hear more interesting stories.

Queen Adda had been welcomed by the Church of the Eternal Fire from Novigrad. They proclaimed her as her dead husbands' successor in the war against magic, non-humans, destined to lead the North against Nilfgaard and forge a new Empire.

Adda, had responded by officially excommunicating herself from the church. Denouncing their practices and customs as barbaric, and officially exiling the Witch Hunters from Redania. She had been recruiting and making appearances throughout many small hamlets personally, citing the Empire's cruelty and barbarism as new reasons to band together. Due to Emhyr's recent new aggressive advances towards Kaedwen, in Velen, new advances into Lyria and Rivia, the burning of villages and taking of slaves from more Northern land had whipped the Northerners into a frenzy. This had led to Adda's armies growing, and her excommunication was slowly becoming forgotten. The North was ready to fight, and Adda was providing them the opportunity.

Emhyr was digging his own grave, and Adda had provided him with his shovel. Geralt knew the Emperor was smart, it would be an interesting chess match for him to watch from afar. He only hoped that Dominik didn't get himself too caught up in the conflict.

He heard other small bits of peculiar information. Adda had right away reopened the gates of Oxenfurt Academy. Had rehired Sigismund Dijkstra as her spymaster, and formed a new policing force of elite soldiers, led by Vernon Roche the former Blue Stripes commander. The force oversaw weeding out all non-human and magic discrimination in Tretogor, Velen and the surrounding areas. It was also them in charge of Adda's refugee relief acts, where refugees from the war, human and non-human alike were all taken in and helped in Oxenfurt, Tretogor and new refugee camps that were being built in areas like Velen.

The church of the Eternal Fire was of course furious and tried to take it out on the non-humans as they had been before, but all had been flocking to these camps, to Adda's banners. Novigrad was in turmoil, and at first it seemed like the church was going to wage a holy war against Adda. However, recently, forces from the Novigrad underground, led by 'Whoreson Junior', and the King of Beggars who were now backed by Adda, we working to suppress all preparation for such an event. It had helped Adda focus on Nilfgaard.

Yes, the new Queen of Redania had been terribly busy in her first few weeks. The only odd piece of news Geralt heard, was that apparently Adda had been paying out handsome sums to merchants, not for their goods… but for their wagons. Wagons by the dozens and hundreds were being brought to Oxenfurt, for what reason the whispers didn't know. Geralt could only imagine what they were for. On one hand, Adda was apparently having dozens of new studies on weapons undertaken in Oxenfurt Academy.

On the other… she was hoarding wagons.

Some of the whispers were excited, promising the Emperor would crush the widow Queen soon, and conquer the North. Others spoke of his increased paranoia and a wish to end the war while they were winning.

The whispers would go away when he walked by, and the start again when he passed. One good thing about being a Witcher, was that most ignored you after their initial shock wore off. Yes, it truly was a vipers nest he was in, one which could very well be plotting the complete takeover of the North. He had no doubt that some of the people in that room, truly did want what was best for the continent, and for the Empire.

Others didn't care about the distasteful rumors about the Emperor and were simply out for dominance.

In the streets, Geralt saw slaves being whipped, men, women and even children being beaten or hung… yes, while his days of adventuring and meandering in politics would be done, he would find himself hoping for Adda to put the Temarian colors back up in Vizima. To restore the streets to how they were before.

Especially, because he knew that the rumors were true.

It's about time that got out… fucking degenerate. He would never forget that day at Stygga, what the man had wanted to do. He had no idea how anyone could possibly defend it and support a man like that. However, ignorance was bliss, and he learned in his many years, people went through great lengths to ignore truths they found inconvenient or troublesome.

He didn't even want to be there himself. If not for Yen's suggestion of the idea, he would have been perfectly fine with simply never seeing Emhyr again. But as usual Yennefer was right, this had to be done, to ensure his families safety. It would disgust Geralt, being in that man's presence again, just like each time it had been, but he had done far tougher things in his life before. He could stomach one more meeting.

And I certainly wasn't sending Dominik…. No, if he had let Dominik, or even Yennefer go, the entire palace may have ended up in flames, along with them both being dead.

Geralt didn't forget about the assassins that Emhyr had sent after his son, Dominik had fought them off, but if they continued… it would be hard for him to live his new life. Freya, George and Faram had told him Emhyr demanded Dominik and Bella at Undvik. No, the man wouldn't stop sending the assassins, and sending Dominik right into the man's palace would have been foolish.

So now it fell to him.

And I need to hurry… I'll have to ride hard for White Orchard to make it on time.

"Pl… please remember to bow in the presence of his majesty," the new chamberlain said, as Geralt followed behind up the spiral staircase towards the study.

Geralt originally didn't have any intention of bowing. However, he looked at the terrified, frail old man, and begrudgingly sighed and nodded. He wouldn't be the reason this man was executed or worse.

The morning sun shone through the stained-glass windows, and Geralt clenched his fists, pushing down the anger like he normally did as the chamberlain opened the door.

"Your Imperial Majesty… as… as you requested," The man said, giving a low, groveling bow. "The Witcher, Geralt of Rivia!"

Emhyr stood alone in the study in his royal fine clothes like normal. It still baffled Geralt how a man with such regal poise, could be such a monster. He had the urge to spit in the man's direction, however remembering the old man next to him, he gave a sloppy half-hearted bow.

"Your Imperial Majesty," He said, with as much a mocking tone as he could muster.

The Emperor didn't turn, he waved his wand dismissively. "Leave us…"

The old man stumbled as he quickly exited, the door slamming behind him.

And yet again, Geralt was alone in a room with a monster. It had been the case hundreds of times in his life, but this time he felt particularly angry.

If only this monster had a contract….

"New chamberlain?" Geralt said, sarcasm laced in his voice. "A shame, the old one and I were such good friends."

"Report… now," Emhyr said, still not turning to him.

Geralt crossed his arms. "Someone's grouch today, I missed you on the field at Undvik… a 'tactical retreat' was it? Heard it took your ships another week to pick you up, but only one made it through the Skelligers blockade. What a glorious Emperor you were that day, leaving hundreds of your soldiers to be captured or killed while you escaped! You must be so-."

"REPORT!" Emhyr hissed, spinning around to him again, his eyes seething as he glared at Geralt and shook his head. "Another word that's not a report, and you will be executed within the hour."

Alright… calm down Geralt, he told himself, trying to not crack a smile at making the man lose his temper.

"Fine…" Geralt said, narrowing his eyes and shaking his head. "Your majesty… Ciri is dead."

Emhyr had turned back to face the window, looking out the intricate design towards the sun. The man's shoulders didn't slump, but Geralt heard his heart begin to beat quicker. He was nervous… afraid. He had no regret in his heart, he knew what kind of heartbeat indicated that, it was slower, more monotonous. Emhyr's heart raced, and while he didn't look back, Geralt knew he had to be scowling.

Just like always… the man had never cared for his daughter. Simply the power that he could wield by controlling her. Seeing his reaction then, only made Geralt even more sickened by him. First, he tried to rape her, force her to marry him… then he tried to hunt her down to force her into a throne she never wanted, all so he could pacify his nobles because they were angry at a war he had started.

Ciri had been his way out, his way to solve all his problems. Just like almost everyone… he had only wanted to use her. That wouldn't be the case anymore.

"How did it happen?" The man asked, still not turning around.

"The White Cold," Geralt said, trying to make his voice sound sincere. "You're familiar with the prophecy? Ciri tried to stop it. She did… but paid the ultimate price."

It wouldn't work for long, Geralt knew this. However, if it could even buy them a few weeks, then the trip would be worth it. They weren't stupid, they'd know to be careful.

Emhyr turned back around, his eyes were cold, calculating and they fixed on Geralt. "And the body? Where is it?"

Geralt shook his head. "I doubt it'll ever be found…"

"Who else knows?" The man asked, walking to the side of his study.

"Avallac'h, elven sage," Geralt said, spitting the name out in disgust. "But I doubt you'll ever find him, and if you do… we got much bigger problems."

The sage would undoubtedly be back, they had all gathered that much. It would be a while… but when he did, Geralt wouldn't hesitate this time to cut his head off.

"And Yennefer?" Emhyr asked, still facing the wall.

Geralt's eyes narrowed. "That's none of your business."

"She is my court sorceress," Emhyr said, more forceful. He turned back to her. "Where is she?"

"She's resigned, asked me to pass along the message. Said you'll never see her again if you're both lucky," Geralt said, crossing his arms again. "Won't matter, sure there'll be plenty of willing sorceresses for you to use."

Emhyr rolled his eyes and shook his head. His eyes narrowed; his voice spat out the next question.

"And your… little brat of a boy?" He said, his tone disgusted. "Did he meet the same fate?"

Geralt took a calming breath and shook his head. "No… he killed Eredin, saved us all. Saved me, you, every man, woman and child on this continent. He's a hero… like his father."

"He's nothing but an arrogant brat, who is every bit as despicable as his father," Emhyr spat, shaking his head. "He's no hero… and one day, he will meet the same fate as Gregory."

"Maybe… but it won't be by your hand," Geralt said, trying to keep his tone from seething. He shook his head and met Emhyr's glare with one of his own. "He'll be staying with me and Yennefer…. So, I highly recommend you stop sending assassins… because I promise all of them will end up dead."

Emhyr sneered. "It's no less then he deserves. A knife between the ribs, poison slowly wasting his body away… is the exact kind of fate lesser men like he and his father deserve."

"It won't end well for you if it continues…" Geralt said, taking another step closer to the man. "Besides… I think you have much more important people to worry about then Dom. I suggest you stop digging your own grave… just a little advice."

Emhyr didn't say anything back, but Geralt could see the rage seething higher behind the man's eyes.

Am I even gonna make it out of here alive…? Better not stick around to find out.

"If that's all… your Imperial majesty?" Geralt said, spitting out every word.

Emhyr sneered at him, before turning his back to Geralt again. "Did… Cirilla say anything? Ask you to convey any messages?"

Geralt almost laughed.

"If you're asking if she had a miraculous change of heart before the battle after you met with her, then no she didn't. She told me what you did before the battle the last time I saw her," He said, shaking his head in disgust. "There's nothing I hate more than my time being wasted. So, stop acting like a concerned father. We both know you only cared about using Ciri to get your nobles off your back. You never gave a damn about her.

"If you did. You wouldn't have burned her fucking home to the ground when she was a girl. You wouldn't have sent assassins and knights to capture her when she was a child. You wouldn't have tried to fucking rape her and force her, your own fucking daughter to marry you. If you cared, you wouldn't have done any of that, so don't pretend to care now to fucking appease me. You were a horrible father, you're a degenerate, a tyrant, and if Ciri had told me to tell you anything, it would have been exactly what she told you herself. So, you have your answer."

Geralt scolded himself for losing his temper. Everything that had happened all just came up to his throat, and he found it hard to stop himself. He half expected to be thrown into the dungeon, or have his head chopped off in that room. He even mentally prepared himself to blast a sign forward at the man and was concentrating his ears to listen for more people coming.

However, Emhyr simply shook his head. His glare was enough to melt stone, but Geralt held it until the man simply shook his head.

"Everything I've done… I've done to better this continent," The man said, seething as he shook his head and sat back down at his desk. "It is for the good… of all."

"Trying to rape your own daughter was 'for the good of all'?" Geralt said, unable to stop himself again. "Was you trying to drag Ciri from Stygga, trying to rape her and force her to marry you a gesture of kindness for the good of the continent? Are you just trying to tell me you're 'misunderstood'? Well… you're not. You're what I said… a degenerate, who's only ever cared about your own personal gain."

"I would not expect a mutant to understand…" The Emperor said, shaking his head, trying to remain calm, but Geralt could see the anger. He waved his hand towards the door and shook his head. "If there's nothing else?"

Geralt was eager to leave, before he did something else, he regretted. He gave another mock bow and curled his hands into fists as he walked towards the door to the study.

Feeling the urge to say the words overwhelm him, Geralt stopped and met the Emperor's eyes one last time.

"One day… you'll get what you deserve." He said, before narrowing his gaze. "And if you keep sending assassins after my own… it'll come quicker than you think."

Emhyr shook his head. "You deign to think you, or your little brat are worthy enough of my attention now? You're wrong… go Witcher… I never want to see you again."

Geralt nodded in agreement. "The feeling is mutual."

And Geralt slammed the door shut, before taking in a calming breath. Not in many years had his patience been tested as such.

But when he opened his eyes, he found himself smiling.

Now… to that meeting, Dom will be furious with me if I miss it, he said, walking down the spiral staircase.

It was time now, finally for what he had been dreaming of for a long, long time.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Avallac'h winced at the sting, as the slave doctor pulled the last needle through his eye. No amount of magic would have been able to save it, and even he didn't have the power to simply grow another one. The pain in his eye was kept at bay, by the seething unquenchable rage swirling in the pit of his stomach. He sat in that chair in the palace, the moon's rays streaming into the hall of the throne room. Finally… he sat atop it as he always should have. As was his right. He belonged here; this chair was his… so why did he still feel this rage boiling inside him?

Because… one phase of the plan was a success… but the others… I failed.

He wasn't accustomed to failure. The few times in his life he had haunted his memories, and drove his rage, his desire to get what he wanted.

Now… he wanted blood. The blood of the ones who wronged him… and the other power he was always promised.

And I shall get it back… I will destroy them… or I'll die trying.

His hand closed into a fist and shattered the goblet of wine of wine. The crimson liquid oozed down his hand and the glass clattered to the ground.

The slave doctor, a tall slender human woman yelped and jumped back, yanking the needle and thread from his eyes and Avallac'h yelled, shooting to his feet and clamping his hand over his missing eye.

"YOU INSUFFERABLE SLAVE!" He said, spinning and smacking the woman to the ground. He spat down in her direction. "ARE YOU HUMANS CAPABLE OF NOTHING!?"

The woman cried on the ground, grabbing a bruised cheek and looking up at him. Her tears only drove his rage, as the images of that beach and tower flashed in his head again. The woman sobbed and begged, but Avallac'h kicked her in the stomach, before raising his hand.

"Well, well, well, taking your anger at your failure out on the help are we Avallac'h?" A condescending voice said from the other end of the hall, followed by a slow clap. "Yes, go on! Beat her senseless, I'm sure that will make you forget all about your humiliation and defeat again at the hands of a few humans."

Avallac'h growled as Ge'els strode towards the throne. The seneschal stood and looked at him cross armed, that condescending look on his face.

He turned and kicked the woman on the ground again, resisting the urge to throw Ge'els through a window. If he wanted any hope of having what was his, he needed the man. He glared down at the crying dark-haired woman and spat again.

"She isn't 'the help'. She's filthy slave, like they all should be," He said, before turning to glare at Ge'els again. "And I wasn't defeated! I had the girl at my mercy, I simply-."

"Yes, made a 'tactical' retreat. The boy didn't cut out your eye, Zireael didn't completely play you for a fool, and you did so wonderfully beating up the little girl who used to be Eredin's pupil! Yes! Very well done indeed Avallac'h," Ge'els said, mock clapping at him again, before turning to the slave on the ground. "My dear, do be a gem and go fetch one of the proper servants, and after that you may return to your enclosure for the day."

"Thank you, my lord…." The woman said quickly, holding her cheek and stomach as she ran from the throne room.

The door slammed shut and Avallac'h scoffed. "Pathetic humans… we should eradicate the lot of them left in Tir'Nala."

Ge'els scoffed at him. "Are you mad? Think about how the economy would crumble! All that free labor from the slaves gone! It would be a disaster, the gate is already closed, we're running low as it is."

The seneschal again sighed and shook his head. "That problem of course… was supposed to be solved when we had Zireael in our grasp those years ago. And was supposed to be again when you had her in your grasp… again. But no, you and Eredin both once again completely bottled the task of getting back our sacred power. You said you had it under control…"

"I did!" Avallac'h snarled, turning his back to Ge'els again. "She was mine to command… she would have done as I said if not for that insufferable boy."

Ge'els laughed heartily. "AHAHA! You honestly believe that? You still have hope she's going to be your little plaything? You think after defeating the White Frost, she would have simply come back with you? Let you fuck her and squirt out a child for you to experiment on? After everything you've done, that we did to her, are you really arrogant enough to believe she would have followed your orders forever?"

"I didn't see you coming up with a better plan Ge'els!" Avallac'h spat.

"It's because I agreed with Eredin! We should have simply captured and killed her. You had her in your grasp, we had her Avallac'h!" Ge'els said, his tone growing hostile. "Twice we had her in our grasps, you had her in your grasp! Both times we simply could have killed her, and taken what was ours, but no! You insisted on keeping her alive! You came up with that ridiculous plan of trying to force Auberon to sleep with her. All so you could conduct your sick little experiments in hopes of bringing Lara back. You're like a whining child that was denied his favorite toy!"

Avallac'h didn't move, his hands trembling with rage. It was all supposed to go so perfectly. Zireael was supposed to give him back what he was denied. If only he had a few more years, he knew he could have created the perfect specimen, a purely elven specimen that looked like Lara again, that had her power. It was all so perfectly planned. Have Zireael defeat the White Frost, and whether she survived or died, he'd be able to retrieve her blood, and finally get what he deserved.

Had he really gotten as arrogant as Eredin?

No… it was all that boy's fault. He will pay for this… for ruining years of planning…

Ge'els scoffed behind him. "What was it you were saying they always said to you? You have a problem handling rejection. Well, I must say Avallac'h, I tend to agree with them here. Will you really let our people continue to suffer, all because you didn't get to fuck the woman you wanted too!? And you were really enough of a fool to believe she would simply follow you. Humans aren't complex creatures Avallac'h! After what we'd done to her it was a miracle, she didn't kill you on sight! Are you stupid enough to believe she simply was going to forget about it all!? We should have killed her when we-."

"Are you finished yet…." Avallac'h said, his voice dark, as he fitted his hands behind his back, gripping his hands till the knuckles turned white.

Ge'els laughed behind him. "Ha… you really are a sick, twisted bastard, aren't you?"

"Yet you will follow me… follow my new plans," He said, his tone even and unyielding.

"HA! Your obsession with Zireael is sick, disgusting Avallac'h even by your standards," Ge'els said, waving his hand. "Our people, our once proud people have suffered because of your obsession with her, and your sick little experiments. What makes you think I will follow you now?"

"Because I am your only option," He said, turning back to Ge'els, the feeling of only seeing out of one eye still odd to him. However, he still glared towards the seneschal. "And you also know you don't have the power to stand against me…. Now, I will ask again, are you finished with your ramblings? We have work to do."

The seneschal laughed again, crossing his arms and glaring back. "Aha… and what plan would that be? Do you have a way to try and continue your little fantasy? We are weak now Avallac'h! Auberon would be disgusted with what we've become, and it's all because of you and Eredin's arrogance!"

"Eredin was weak…" Avallac'h said, shaking his head and turning to look out the window over the city… his city now. "And you're right… we are weak now. We've grown soft and complacent."

"In no small part thanks to you botching out two chances to regain our glory," Ge'els said. "All for pursue a woman who wanted nothing to do with you…. How do you plan to make up for this? Will we chase Zireael for years upon years again!? Do we even have the power to stand against her and both of Alexander's descendants after they learn to further their power?"

Avallac'h gently ran his hand over his now empty eye socket and sucked in a breath.

Dominik of Cintra… Bella of Cintra… and you Zireael… you all do not know what you have unleashed this day…. I will have what is mine…

"We don't… not now, so we will rebuild. We will bide our time, build up our forces that Eredin so recklessly threw away. Yes… we will be feared across the cosmos again," He said, turning sharply back to Ge'els. "And as for finding Zireael… we will wait as well. She isn't an idiot, and neither is the boy… but one day they will stumble, they will stumble, and they will reveal themselves. We will let them stumble, let them fall and use their power… lull them into thinking they are safe."

He looked down at his bloody hand, and smirked. "But… one day when they fall… when we've regained our power…. We will be there to pounce… and I will have both the retribution I deserve… and what is mine by right."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Dominik had never seen such a beautiful day, in-fact he was so distracted by it, by the beautiful orange sunset rays over White Orchard, he almost didn't see the quarterstaff coming for his head.

"Gotta be quicker than that!" She yelled, just as the length of wood was about to smack him in the side of the head.

He yelped, stumbling back, and Ciri took full advantage of it, lashing out with a series of strikes from both ends of the staff. Dominik hadn't trained with a quarterstaff in an extremely long time, however Ciri seemed to have new intimate knowledge of the weapon.

"For god's sake princess," He said, as the regained his foot, blocking her blows again. She met the end of his staff with hers and they locked eyes. She was smirking at him, and Dominik could only scoff in amazement. "Where'd you learn how to use a staff like that? I've never seen some of these moves from you before."

She proceeded to smile at him as she nearly beat him into the dirt. The sun was absolutely gorgeous, and she glowed even brighter than she had before. In the previous few weeks, he found himself fawning over her, simply taking long moments to sit and look at her even more frequently than he already did. The two of them had been in White Orchard for almost two weeks, it was almost time for Geralt to check back in, and the two of them had taken full advantage of their time alone.

There had plenty of baths, long romantic nights, dinners, walks, and of course training sessions. The two of them were probably the only young couple on the continent that found swinging two lengths of wood at one another by lantern light a romantic evening. They had proceeded to make love in their room for hours afterwards, so Dominik thought it was plenty romantic enough. Yes… two weeks and he still could hardly believe it. A part of him expected to blink and be back at the makeshift camp he, Geralt and Yen had set up in the tower on Undvik.

Ciri had told them to her, her battle with the White Frost only lasted for a few minutes. For him… it had been three days. He had barely said a word, Geralt and Yen had begun to think he'd really gone comatose.

But, like the queen amongst women she was, Ciri eventually walked out. It was in a burst of light that nearly blinded him. It still seemed to that day she had a bit of that glow. Neither of them had used their power since then, but still she looked even more beautiful than he could remember, and he didn't think that had been possible.

And for the first time in many, many, many years… Dominik was ready to say that he was okay… truly… finally okay. Not even just okay… he was happy.

Even as Ciri's quarterstaff came smacking up towards his head.

"Better pay attention!" She shouted at him, stopping the staff inches from the side of his head. "Wouldn't want to bruise that handsome face of yours, now would we?"

"It's already scarred," He said, grunting as he knocked her staff aside and tried to attack her again, this time doing everything he could to somehow not get distracted. That would be hard, especially when that sunset made her look so god damn beautiful. "Besides you're the better looking one in this relationship!"

"That's debatable!" She said, twirling her staff and lunging with a move he'd never seen before. "But I am pretty damn gorgeous, aren't I?"

"Never agreed with anything you said more princess," He said, getting smacked on the arm, pain shooting through his arm. "GAH! Dammit where did you learn all of this!?"

Ciri leapt back, before spinning her staff in a perfect kata and bringing it to a guard position under her arm.

"I'll have you know love, you're now facing a master of the quarterstaff and spear," She said, performing another impressive kata and smacking Dominik's staff out of his hand. "It took a few months, but I was able to get the hang of it! Do you yield yet?"

Dominik's face flushed red with embarrassment, this was third time in a row shed disarmed him, and overall, she was beating him quite handily a lot the last week they'd been in White Orchard.

It's because im distracted by… well her, he thought, unable to keep the smile off his face as he looked from the staff pointed at his neck to her face. She was sweating profusely, her makeup was slightly smeared down her cheeks, her hair was loose in her bun, still beautifully shining from the light. The ring and the wolf medallion he got her bounced around her neck, and her emerald eyes sparkled with mischief, that confident, exhilarated, thrilled look that made them shine. They were the eyes he had fallen so in love with when he was a child.

The most important part ever… was the smile she had. That cute scar on her upper lip upturned, her eyes absolutely elated as she looked at him.

It was the most beautiful thing that Dominik had ever seen in his life.

"You're so beautiful… do I tell you that enough?" He said, his voice soft, as he felt a true sense of genuine awe.

Despite being in the middle of a sparring session she blushed, but kept the staff pointed at him. "You do… and I'll remember that later tonight you can be sure, but now… do you yield?"

He scoffed a laugh and shook his head. "Not a chance."

He grunted as he knocked her staff away and dived to the ground to retrieve his own. He grabbed it from the ground and brought it up just in time to block her blow. Their weapons locked and he let out a breath of relief, looking at her with awe again.

"I don't recall ever seeing you use a spear," He said, spinning out of the clinch and circling you again. "Where'd you pick it up?"

"Another world," She said, twirling the staff like she had been born with it. "I had a really good teacher, one of the greatest warriors I've ever met actually. He was a master of a spear."

"What was his name?" He asked, wiping the hair stuck to his forehead.

"Kaladin," Ciri said, yelling as she lunged out again and struck. Dominik parried the blows, but Ciri was quick, and almost got him again. She smirked and twirled the wood. "He's the best with a spear I've ever seen. Taught me everything. He can also fly."

"Fly!?" He said, scoffing as he slowly approached again. "How did he do that? I can't think of any magic that does that."

"There's a special kind of magic on his world. I stayed there for a few months," She said as they engaged each other again. After a series of moves she readjusted her bun and stepped back. "It was a beautiful one actually, I saw a lot really grand things there, but getting to know Kaladin and his soldiers was my favorite part."

He should have guessed it had been another world. While she fought, he could see she wasn't using the spear in any way he'd seen anyone use the spear on the continent. She moved between different positions with the staff and toyed with him as if he were a recruit back at Kaer Morhen. She stepped to the side, and the sun's beams hit his eyes. He couldn't see her for a second, but soon found her as she smacked his hand, and he dropped his staff into the dirt yet again.

Ciri pointed her own staff to his neck again. She was still smiling, and despite the loss Dominik couldn't stop doing it either.

Beautiful… just… beautiful. He looked from the spear to her eyes and scoffed.

"Well, he certainly has to be good if he taught you all this in just a month," He said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I humbly surrender to you milady."

She smirked at him, twirling the staff under her arm, and tossing to the ground. With the satisfied look on her face, she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and yanked him closer to her.

"Good… good," She whispered, bringing her lips up and kissing him.

It was perfect. She was perfect.

He savored every second her lips were touching his and held her as close to him as humanly possible. He wasn't wearing any armor, just the shirt underneath, while she didn't have her corset on, revealing her sweating mid-drift. She was utterly alluring to him, and he just as easily could have stayed there with her all day doing just that.

She pulled back from him and chuckled at seeing the look on his face. "Are you ever going to not look like that after I kiss you?"

"Never," He said, kissing her again and making her cheeks go completely red.

Ciri rarely got flustered, but when she did, he considered it a personal achievement. She laughed breathlessly and held a hand up to his face.

"I love you… I know I don't say it enough but-."

"Nonsense, you don't have to say it all the time for me to know."

She shook her head, and gave him that brilliant, beautiful smile. "No, I do. You… you never gave up on me… never. Not after Thanedd… and not after…"

He didn't need her to finish. He couldn't stop looking at her, gazing into those entrancing eyes that had him caught in said trance from the moment he met her. The idea of not waiting for her. Being with anyone other than her? It was ridiculous to him.

"It's because I couldn't imagine my life without you in it…" He said, holding her sweaty waist close to him as she smiled again. He gave her the smile back and shook his head. "I went through eight years without you and… well I couldn't imagine a day without you now. All that time alone? It was worth it… and I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with you."

A tear welled up in the corner of her eye. It slowly trickled down her cheek which he was quick to wipe away. It was too beautiful of a day, too amazing of one for her to be crying.

She held onto his hand after he wiped the tear and pressed it against her cheek. He trailed his finger down her cheek, across her scar, and she melted into him. She squeezed her arms around his neck and didn't let him go. A thunderstorm could've hit, a snowstorm, lightning, a tornado, but nothing was going to rip him away from her now.

No… it was going to be the two of them. Most people looked a long time to find the person they want to have experience and go through life with them. Some never found them.

Dominik had… and he'd done it when he was eleven years old.

She pulled back from him, wiping the tears from her cheeks and chuckling breathlessly.

Her eyes looked up and met his, and she smiled again. Gods that smile… I've always been sodded beyond belief for her… I didn't know it was possible to love her more.

"Every day I thought about you… every damn day," She said, wiping the last of the tears that fell. "This… this is what I've always wanted. I know I'm not good at expressing it all the time but gods Dominik I love you… I love you more then you'll ever know."

He would never get tired of hearing that, and it would always amaze him.

He decided then was a good time to kiss her again. He did, and she responded eagerly. She wrapped her arms around him again and they kissed for what seemed like an hour.

Eventually-unfortunately so- they remembered they were out in public at the back of the inn. Also, the need to breath overtook him, and they both breathlessly pulled back from one another.

Dominik nodded, surer than he'd ever been in his life… that he was happy. And god did it feel so great.

"I love you too… you Ciri. Not Zireael, Lady of Worlds, Space and Time, Lion Cub of Cintra, Princess Cirilla or any of those," He said, waving his hand dismissively, but keeping hold of her. He slowly looked back down and met her eyes. "No… I don't love any of those… I love Ciri. You."

She laughed nervously and breathlessly, shuddering in his arms as she got red. He laughed at her as she shook her head, and he could feel goosebumps running up her arms and body. Smiling she looked back up at him and shook her head.

"Aha… I'll be sure to remember that later too…" She said. "We are going to have a very good night tonight handsome."

"If the sun and Geralt could speed their process up so we can get to it that'd be great," He said, making her laugh as they finally separated, and Ciri went to pick up their practice staffs. Dominik wasn't afraid to admit he watched her backside as she picked them up, before smiling as she turned and tossed his staff back to him.

"So," He said, trying to imitate Ciri's spear twirling. "Tell me more about this master spearman you met. Kaladin. Was her taller? Better looking than me?"

She rolled her eyes which made him laugh. Effortlessly Ciri kicked the spear into her hands and performed a series of twirls and spins, before snapping it under her arm.

"Oh hush, for your information our relationship was strictly platonic. He was a great friend, so were all his men, even if one man with one arm kept hitting on me."

"Were you on your own? Was this before or after Avallac'h?"

"Before. I visited most of my favorite worlds then," She said, as he followed her over to the fence, they had boxed around them. Behind the inn at White Orchard was a plot of enclosed land normally used for flowers and herbs, but the innkeep had been allowing them to use it to spar.

Ciri placed both the staffs against the fence and grabbed the waterskin that they had hung on it. Dominik came up next to her, hugging her from behind, squeezing around her waist and burying his head into her neck. He kissed a spot on the side of her neck, and she laughed, sighing contentedly and leaning back into him.

"Well, well well, someone's very attentive and loving today," She said, placing her hands over his around her waist.

He sighed, unable to stop smiling. "Just taking it all in princess…. So, tell me more about your friend."

She pulled out of his hug and smiled, handing him over the water which he drank thankfully. The sun setting, and a small part of him began to worry.

It's getting late… what's keeping him? I hope he didn't get caught up in Vizima…. It was either that, or maybe the sword maker was being difficult. The road into White Orchard was nearby, he would've been able to see easily when Geralt arrived. He finished drinking and handed the water back to Ciri, who smiled and winked at him as he stared at her.

Can't wait to see the look on her face…. She had been wanting a silver sword ever since they had first gotten back to Novigrad from Undvik. They'd stayed at Dandelion's to lay low, make sure no Imperial Scouts, or any Wild Hunt remnants would be after them. During that time, they'd figured out what they'd do.

The two of them still had some time before they were supposed to go and get Fiona. Still however, they'd paid for a letter to be brought to Claywitch for the girl, letting them know they'd survived, and were going to be there for her after those three months.

After that, Geralt had set out for Vizima, Yen had gone North towards Kovir with Triss. She was trying to find lodgings, a new place for her and Geralt to settle down and relax, although Dominik thought they may end up at Kaer Morhen, at least for a bit. Geralt mentioned how he wanted to help Vesemir and Eskel with getting their new academy at least up and running.

That was of course after he spent a few weeks with Ciri and he. They planned to head North first; it was going to be too risky heading further south.

And after that… life, life as they had always dreamed.

A life that they both deserved.

It's funny… I spent so long trying to get here… trying to get to her, he thought smiling at her as she splashed some of the water on her neck. Now… I have it all, her, the life I always wanted…. There's nobody else left between it, nobody left to fight… I… almost don't know what to do with myself.

He knew Ciri had to be feeling the same way. They hadn't fought since Undvik. Not monsters, bandits, soldiers… they hadn't fought anything unless you counted their sparring matches. Yes… they had both healed from their wounds on Undvik, they haven't had to use any magic. Was this what peace of mind was really like? It had been some time since he experienced that.

And gods did it feel good.

The sun beat down on his neck, as he leaned against the fence next to her, keeping his one arm wrapped around her waist as she sighed with a smile, looking out over the rolling hills and meadows, caked in the orange sunset rays. It was like they were in a real-life painting, and he didn't want to leave.

"All of his men were kind, but Kaladin was my closest friend on that world," She said, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I met two of his princes as well, Adolin and Renarin, very kind both of them. I wish you could have seen! In that world they have these massive swords, as tall as a man but light as a normal blade, and they can cut through anything even stone or steel!"

He scoffed. "Sihil's can do that. Remember I told you, Bella cut Eredin's arm clean off, armor and all."

She rolled her eyes and smirked. "Yes, but that's because you had been beating him senseless already. And that's just a figure of speech, they can't cut through steel or into mountainsides, these swords could! One was worth an entire Kingdom; they could turn the tides of battles all on their own!"

"Did you see any in action?"

"Up close and personal actually, one almost cut me in half," She said smirking, as if she was proud of the achievement.

His eyes widened. "You found yourself in all sorts of trouble, didn't you? How'd you survive if it could cut through anything?"

"I did. You see, Adolin the prince was dueling other men in the army for their weapons. You have the blades, and there was plate made of the same material as the swords," She explained, like she was a teacher giving a lecture. "The plate was massive armor that was also light. It could block any kind of blow, except for strikes from the blades."

"And this Prince Adolin was trying to win them from his own army? Why?"

She shrugged. "That I actually didn't understand. You see it was one Kingdom, but with multiple High Lords and armies, they all squabbled, were out for themselves. Adolin's father was one of these High Lords and wanted to stop the squabbling so-."

"So, he decided to take away these super weapons from them by having his son win them…." Dominik inferred. "Smart plan, my father used to say. 'If a soldier is misbehaving, take away their weapons, make them feel vulnerable'. So… his son was dueling for these weapons… how'd you end up involved?"

She smiled, seemingly happy to get back to her story. "Well, you see Adolin was having a hard time getting people to agree to duels, because they knew what he was up too. So, he bet his own blade and plate against a man, and said he would fight him, and anyone he brought. We all thought that it would just be two against one. Adolin was plenty good enough for that, but-."

"But when the other guy showed up, he brought more than only one," He guessed, and Ciri's smile said he got it right. "Because he phrased it in the wrong way. So, it was a lot more than two on one."

"Four on one," Ciri said, fiddling with the ring around her neck. "Renarin tried come out and help, the rules said anyone could but… he wasn't much of a fighter. Adolin was losing… they were trying to kill him to get at his father. That was when Kaladin jumped down to help."

"Did he have that armor? Or one of those swords?"

Ciri shook her head. "Neither all he had was a spear. Despite that he helped Adolin but… but as I was watching I… I couldn't just leave them both to fight alone."

Dominik laughed, unable to stop himself. He smiled, his heart pounding. "So… to help the people you'd known for a few weeks… you jumped down to help fight."

"They were my friends, I couldn't leave them," She said, sounding slightly offended. "Why are you laughing?"

He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Because that's right on brand for you princess. You'd do anything for a friend. It's one of the reasons I love you."

She got all flustered in the face again and scoffed. "You know… you're really setting yourself up well for tonight."

"I look forward to it," He said, smirking as he nodded for her to go on.

She laughed and smiled. "Well, after I leapt down, I thought the whole arena was going to start a riot. Women have… different roles in that world. But it was enough to distract the men fighting Adolin, and together, me Kaladin and Adolin were able to beat them all."

"Did you have to use your power?" He asked.

She sighed and nodded. "I did yeah… it was the only way I could help. It's the reason I had to leave. For… complicated reasons, Kaladin was thrown in jail after the fight. That's another story. I tried to stay, but… I went out on a patrol with some of Kaladin's men when… a few of the Hunt's scouts found me."

"Were any of the men hurt?"

"No thank god," She said. "They were all great with the spear. We fought them off but… that signaled to me Eredin must have caught onto my trail. I managed to make it until Kaladin was released. I… explained to him about my powers, he deserved to know, he noticed them in the fight. I said my goodbyes and… well I left."

He saw the disappointment in her eyes. "You sound like you really liked it there."

She sighed and nodded. "I did… it was beautiful. Kaladin… he reminded me of you. I think you would have really liked him… he's like us."

"Witty? Charismatic? Incredibly good looking?"

She laughed and nearly fell off the fence, but eventually met his eyes and shook her head. "He's those things yes but… when I say that I mean… he's seen things. He's seen and been through things at his age, that no man or woman should ever have to experience. Despite it all though… he fights… fights to protect not just the people he cares about… but everyone."

"And is all the stronger for it in the end," Dominik said, slowly nodded as they both hopped off the fence. He smiled and helped her down. "I would love to meet him. He sounds like a really great guy."

Ciri perked up at the words. "And I would love to see him again, have him meet you, see how he's been. Same with all the people I met there… they were in the middle of a war when I left."

Dominik shrugged. "Well, let's go visit them once we have some free time, did you mention me at all?"

"I did yes in detail, like I did to everyone I met," She said, smirking and rolling her eyes when he grinned like a madman. "Don't let it go to your head now."

He laughed. "Ha, don't worry do I ever? But like I said, you said we could travel to other worlds, promised me even. Think you could get us back there?"

The look of excitement on her face would be enough for him to walk through a snowstorm. She did the most adorable thing when she was excited, like she was still a child, she'd be up on the balls of her feet, smiling the entire time.

And gods… is she beautiful. Her eyes, her lips curled into that cute smile, her hair loosely in its bun… he would be in disbelief his entire life a woman this beautiful was in love with him.

"I think I could yes! We'd just need to give it a few weeks," She said, the excitement bubbling out of her lips. "Just to be sure Avallac'h or any other Aen Elle aren't tracking. Before we get Fiona, I'll take you! I promise, it'll be amazing, I can't wait for you to see some of the animals and plants there! You and Kaladin will get along great, and just wait until you meet Shallan!"

Dominik laughed at her enthusiasm. Hearing Avallach's name mentioned stirred something in his gut, but he was determined not to let it ruin his mood. The elf was gone, and according to Yen, and Bella it would be a while before they saw him again. According to his sister, with the battle of Undvik, and the state of the Aen Elle world, it would be at least a few years before they were ready to try anything like they had here again, if they ever did.

They would. Avallac'h would be back for Ciri, back for him, Dominik had never been more confident of anything in his life.

However, he wasn't going to worry about it now, perhaps for a while. Ciri and he had both agreed, that they would keep use of their power to a minimum just to be safe. It didn't matter, they didn't need it anyway.

All they needed was each other.

"Ha, okay princess it's a plan," He said, reaching out to hold around her sweaty, bare waist again, smiling as she melted into him and held her hands around his neck. "We'll make a trip to… what was this place called?"

"Roshar," She said, smiling as she lazily swayed in his arms, smiling at him. "We'll do it before we get Fiona. I don't think it would exactly be the best place for her, they were in the middle of a war last I checked."

He scoffed and nodded, a small bit of anxiety welling up in his stomach. "Good point. Alright princess, we'll make our way there. Hell, we can even go to more-."

"You know, I thought you two would be hard to find," A voice said behind them. "But I should have known you'd be attached at the hip like always!"

Dominik turned, and his heart exploded. He smiled, relief flooding his body, but before he could move, Ciri had already done it.

"Bella!" Ciri shot from his arms and ran to Dominik's sister.

Relief washed over him as he had to take a minute to realize it was truly her. His sister was just as tall as Ciri and was nearly knocked over when Ciri slammed into her. Bella looked stunned for a moment, but Ciri wrapped her arms around her neck without giving her time to say anything. Bella looked over Ciri's shoulder at him, and Dominik simply couldn't stop smiling, but he could see the anxiety in his sister's eyes. He nodded to her and gestured towards Ciri, and Bella nervously scoffed a laugh, before melting into Ciri's hug.

They both stood there, embracing for a moment as Dominik watched. Bella's brown hair, the light brown that she shared similarly to him was flowing down her back. Around her back as well, was the same sheath Geralt had given her on Undvik, and he could see the lion hilt of Coram jutting out from it. She wore a dark brown hood which wrapped around her upper shoulders, while the hood was down her back. A leather corset which held the strap of her sword along with a few pouches snaked around her waist, over a pair of tight black trousers and thigh high brown boots. She also had on an olive-green long-sleeved top, which wrapped all the way down her arms where she wore another darker pair of fingerless brown gloves. The shirt came up, and tied across her chest, but if Dominik looked… he could see the corner of the deep scar that ran across her shoulder.

The one Avallac'h had given to her, the one Dominik would repay the sage in full if he ever saw him again.

I am going to kill that elf one day… he thought, before quickly shaking his head, determined to not let thoughts of the sage ruin the day he was having.

A cool breeze washed over the yard, as Ciri's grip on Bella finally loosened after several minutes, and she pulled back in his sister's arms.

Bella looked completely dumbfounded still. Dominik couldn't help but laugh, as she struggled for words looking down at Ciri who was still smiling.

"Ciri… I… I can't even begin to tell you… to tell you how-." She tried to get words out, but Ciri quickly stopped her by shaking her head.

"Bella if you're about to apologize to me, stop," She said, smiling still as she finally let Bella go. "You have nothing to be sorry for… I'm just so glad you're alright."

"So am I…" He said, smiling and scoffing a laugh at her. "Anton told us before he left, along with everyone else you gave Avallac'h a hell of a fight."

Bella's eyes fell and she slowly shook her head. "I was humiliated… scarred for it now."

"Well join the cool scar club, members include me, Ciri and Geralt," He said, closing the distance between him and his sister. "No matter what… I'm just so… so happy to see you, to see you're alright. You scared us when you disappeared."

He wrapped his sister in an embrace. Unlike with Ciri- who he could tell she was still nervous around because of what happened- she squeezed him back with just as much fervor. It was nice to finally be able to hug her without both being decked out in armor. He took in every second of that hug with her and remembered these hugs when they were little. Her long brown hair smelled like lavender, and tears silently fell down her cheeks as she held him.

She had been in surgery and under Freya's care for a few days after the battle. At first on Faram's ship, then at Kaer Trolde. After Ciri had come back, naturally Dominik had went to see her with Ciri in tow. Freya like he expected, was able to get his sister back into shape after only a few days. He didn't fail to notice how particularly close Freya paid attention, and fawned over his sister, and how other than Dominik himself Freya had been the only one Bella had really spoken much too. Bella had still been horrified to talk to Ciri, despite Ciri slamming her with a hug the moment she saw her, not showing any signs of anger.

Yes, in the few days he went to visit his sister he saw the look in her eyes. She looked almost lost, and he didn't blame her. Her entire world had changed in a matter of weeks, and it had been the third time it had been tossed on its head. First after Cintra, then after her new home in Skellige… now she was finally free of the Hunt and didn't know what to do with herself.

He had talked it over with Ciri at length, and they had both originally thought Bella was simply going to come with them. Neither of them wanted to be separated from her, and with all the damage the Hunt had done to her, they knew they needed to help. Yes, Ciri and he had accepted the fact that even before Fiona, they wouldn't get to travel with just the two of them alone, but they didn't mind. Bella was family, and you didn't leave them behind.

However, that plan was tossed out the window as the day they were set to leave Kaer Trolde for Novigrad Dominik woke to Freya pounding on he and Ciri's door. Falling into his trousers from being naked, he opened it to find Freya in near tears, panicking saying Bella wasn't in her room.

Cerys and Hjalmar were about to send out search parties for them, when Freya had found the note hidden in Bella's sheets.

Thank you… for everything. I'm okay… but please… don't come looking for me.

The note had nearly torn him in half, but after the initial shock, he knew she'd eventually come and find him. Freya had still wanted to go out and look, but Dominik had promised to send her word of Bella as soon as she was spotted again.

And he had been right. He didn't hold it against Bella for leaving. He knew exactly what she was feeling. Sometimes you just needed to be alone.

The wind howled, and Ciri joined the embrace with he and Bella. She wrapped her arms around them both… and Dominik shed his first tear as well.

"It's like we never left Cintra," Ciri said, making Bella and he both scoff a laugh.

All of them pulled back and went about wiping their tears. Dominik had to do a double take. Ciri and Bella right next to him… he would have leapt headfirst at any monster, powers or no powers to even have a one percent chance at this only a few weeks ago. For the first time in years… he'd gone weeks without seeing the visions when he blinked of Bella being shot down in Cintra.

Because his sister was alive. And the woman he loved was alive.

I am lucky… despite what I've thought all these years.

Ciri finished wiping her tears first and looked at Bella in bewilderment. "Bella where… where did you go! We were all worried sick about you, poor Freya still wanted to send out a search party!"

"I think you broke her heart," Dominik said in an amused tone as he smirked over at his little sister. "She was pretty fond of you."

Bella's eyes widened and she bit her bottom lip. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare her- I mean anyone! I didn't mean to scare anyone! But I… I just… needed to be alone. I… I needed to think. I'm sorry I waited so long to find you…."

Ciri waved it off, still smiling like a madwoman. "Don't worry about it. The important thing is you're here now! Dom, we need to get a letter to Freya right away," she looked over at Bella and smiled. "She was insistent we send word as soon as we saw you."

Bella's cheeks, got beat red. "Is… is she alright? Where is she now?"

"Our friend Elise got her a job with Adda, the new Queen of Redania," Dominik said, a hint of pride in his voice. "She heard about that weapon- 'the Kaminski'- she designed for the final battle. She's in Oxenfurt at the academy now, Adda's chief engineer."

"She got her license from the Queen to open her own medical facility there as well," Ciri added, wiping sweat from her brow. "She's working with Adda to get more refugee camps set up for people fleeing the Black Ones. I can't think of anyone better."

"Neither can I…" Bella said, her cheeks still a lighter shade of red as she looked and smiled up at them both, a nervous air about her. "She was… very lovely. Didn't hesitate to help me," she looked over at Dominik. "Is… is it true that at one point you two were… um…"

"We were yeah," He admitted, not nervous or embarrassed to admit the fact around Ciri anymore, although she had teased him about it several times. "We'd all be dead without her. She's one of the best people I know."

"And she's single!" Ciri quipped, before laughing as Bella's face-which had just returned to normal-got completely and utterly red again.

Dominik's heart warmed; it had only been a few times he saw his sister smile since the battle had ended in those few days afterwards.

He crossed his arms and smiled watching Bella fluster as Ciri laughed, mhmm… I think we can make a trip to Oxenfurt sooner rather than later together.

Bella nervously laughed, trying in vain to make the blush leave her cheeks. "Aha… well um… good for her. What about Faram? George and… and Anton?"

Dominik shared a look with Ciri who amusingly finished laughing. In their unspoken language which consisted of blinks, head nods, and simply looking at one another he knew exactly what she was trying to say. We'll have to make sure they see each other again.

Ciri turned back to Bella and Dominik almost lost control of himself from seeing the way the sunset casted that beautiful, luminescent glow over her. The sweat trickled down her torso, down her cheeks and exposed neckline, under the ring and the wolf medallion. It took every urge in his body to not grab her then and there.

Control yourself Dominik… plenty of time later on, he thought, taring his eyes away and looking back to Bella.

"Faram stayed in Skellige with Cerys and Hjalmar to help them stabilize things. He's also still helping the people of Undvik settle back on their island," Ciri said, smiling as she seemed to be in complete elation. "Anton went and joined up with Adda, he's one of her top commanders now."

"And as for George, he went back south to Toussaint. Said he wanted to get warm for a few months, do some work down there," Dominik said, smiling as well as for the first time in a long time… he simply couldn't find a reason to not do it. He met Bella's eyes and nodded. "He actually gave us all a great idea at Dandelion's inn back in Novigrad. We're going to have a reunion, every year over at his inn, stay together for a few weeks."

Bella tilted her head. "A… celebration?"

"Of us defeating the Hunt!" Ciri said, nearly bouncing on her toes from the excitement. "A few weeks every year around this time to celebrate what we did! Us, Geralt, Yen, Faram, Freya, George, Faram, all of us at Dandelion's!"

Dominik scoffed when he saw Bella's baffled expression. "Ha, I completely forgot you never met Dandelion! You'll love him, Priscilla and Zoltan. They own a cabaret, The Chameleon in Novigrad. Dandelion's the bard who-."

"Wrote all the songs about Geralt and Yen. I've heard of him… you're right I haven't met him yet," Bella said, before a small smirk came to her face her eyes meeting his. "But I've heard his newest songs. 'The Ballad of the Young Wolf and the Swallow'. Along with 'The Tale of the Young Wolf'."

Dominik sighed and rolled his eyes while Ciri laughed. "Gods that song… I'm sorry Bell, you deserve to be mentioned in it. I told him to wait!"

It had probably been Yen or Geralt who told the bard to go along and start performing the song anyhow. Skalls in Skellige at Hjalmar's boisterous request were already singing songs of him killing Eredin. They had left out any mentions of Bella, Dominik didn't know if any of them knew yet about Bella's part in it. However, Skellige songs tended to stay in Skellige for the most part. None of them had mentioned Ciri either thankfully, the songs had stemmed from the men who saw Dominik rushing to the Nagalfar to confront Eredin after Crach's death.

On the Continent however, it was a bit different. The plan they came up with to help better protect the fact Ciri had survived from Nilfgaard had come from Dandelion. The bard and Priscilla had simply added on a few extra stanzas to 'The Ballad of the Young Wolf and the Swallow', which they had performed at their party the night before they left Novigrad for Skellige, the one Dominik had requested for Ciri that night.

The few stanzas at the end described, how the 'Young Wolf' Dominik of Cintra, killed the King of the Wild Hunt to save 'The Swallow', Ciri. It then went on to sing about how the Young Wolf wept when The Swallow sacrificed herself to save them all from the White Cold.

'The Tale of the Young Wolf', was the first ballad about Dominik's life, which described more of the love story between Ciri and he, and how he sacrificed everything to save her in the end. Yes, while he hated the attention he already got as 'Geralt of Rivia's son', he was now the center of one of the newest most popular ballads in the Continent. He hadn't been noticed yet blessedly, but it was worth it.

The ballads along with Geralt going to Emhyr, them being careful with how much they used Ciri's real name in public and with officials, it would hopefully be enough to make the Emperor and most of the Continent genuinely believe Ciri had died. It wouldn't last forever, but it would still be enough to give them the life they deserve, the life they always wanted.

The only part Dominik was really upset about, was that the ballad wasn't accurate. He would be dead; he never would have beaten Eredin without Bella. Bella was even the one to 'kill' Eredin, she struck the final blow. Yes, they both fought and were equally responsible for killing him, but it was Bella and he who did it. He had ordered Dandelion to not perform the song till they found Bella and gotten her permission that she wanted to be in it, but he assumed Yen or Geralt told the bard to go ahead anyhow.

Bella however scoffed and shook her head. "It's alright trust me…. I don't deserve to be in that song anyhow. It's bad enough I know what I did… I don't want anyone else."

Dominik saw the shift in her. He met Ciri's eyes again before she turned to Bella, closing the space between them and holding a hand on her arm.

"Bella we would not have been able to do this without you. You deserve to be recognized just as much as the rest of us," She said, trying to sound reassuring.

Dominik nodded, coming to Bella's side again. "She's right Bell…. Eredin would have killed me had you not shown up if you had not beaten his influence."

"And I wouldn't have stood a chance on my own either…" Bella muttered, wringing her hands and looking down at her feet.

He scoffed. "We did it together, all of us. Bella… you're a hero."

She tensed and took a step back from them. "I'm no hero… don't call me that I don't deserve that title. I almost killed all of you."

"But you didn't!" Ciri said, shaking her head. "You fought of the Hunt's influence, you found yourself like Kilgarrah said."

"And yet…" She said, slowly looking between them, "that doesn't change the fact I'm responsible for hundreds, thousands of innocent deaths…"

Her voice was shaking, and Dominik could remember being that way himself. I remember it oh so well… because it wasn't that long ago.

It had taken him months, years even to get to where he was… and he still knew that deep down he wasn't completely okay. Simply better than he'd been in the last eight years combined… and he knew with Ciri and Bella, he'd be able to get to the point where he had no bad days.

So, he'd be there for his sister now.

He went and pulled her into a hug again. He learned that a hug from the right person would always be able to take some of that pain away.

It seemed to work for Bella. Ciri joined him, and for a few moments Bella cried silent tears as she melted into them both.

"You're coming to these celebrations every year, no complaints," Ciri said, running her hands through Bella's long brown locks. "Bella… we're here for you… we always are. We love you."

"She's right Bell," He said, his head buried down into his sister's hair. "I haven't been there for you in… in years. We can't do anything to change the past… we can't control it anymore. We can control our future. That… that's something I've taken a long time to learn."

Bella shakily sighed, as Ciri pulled away to give them a moment. She leaned against the fence and smiled at him, her face flushed and her green eyes nearly in tears again. Bella squeezed him, and Dominik returned it with just as much energy.

He was hugging his little sister… something that was impossible only a few weeks ago. He'd savior it every chance he got.

She pulled back from him, makeup trailing down her cheeks. Bella smiled again. He missed that. Just like when they were young, she had a smile that could bring light to anyone's day. She had been so happy and full of life then… and he'd help her be like that again. It may have seemed impossible to Bella now, but if he could do it himself, then anyone could. It requires the right people around you, some days were bad, others were good, it was just about focusing on that good, and remembering how it felt.

You can't force your brain to unlive trauma, it didn't mean you were a victim forever… it didn't mean you were powerless. It didn't dictate who you were as a person now.

Bella pulled back, and looked up at them both, her voice low and soft. "Thank you… the both of you…. For not giving up on me when… when it would have been easier."

"Never," He said, wiping the collection of tears that had threatened to fall. "You're my little sister… you always will be… and I'll always love you."

"And that goes double for me," Ciri said, smiling wildly again as that spark of excitement bubbled up in her eyes. "I can't wait to start teaching you witchering! Between the three of us we can take on any contract, and no monster will stand a chance."

Dominik scoffed and nodded looking between them. "Let's pump the breaks here ladies, I am the one who's been on the Path all these years, I'll show you both how it's done."

Ciri turned around with her hands on her hips in an eerily similar way to Yen, smirking at him. "Don't you get a big head now mister. I did just put you in the dirt four times in a row."

"That's because your supercharged flying friend from another world taught you how to use a spear!" He said defensively scoffing and crossing his arms. "We'll see how it goes when we have swords again."

Ciri proceeded to roll her eyes at him again. "Please! When I actually try you barely last five minutes!"

"That's because I'm a gentleman! I wouldn't dare hit a woman, even in sparring. Besides, Geralt says if we wanted too, we could last hours sparring."

"He's a smart man Geralt," Ciri said, smirking at him. "But I have the same advantage I've had since I was eleven years old!"

"And what's that!?"

"That you are completely and utterly obsessed with me," She said, smirking still.

He rolled his eyes this time. "Using that against me? Low blow Princess."

She nodded with a pride. "You bet I do! It's not my fault you find me utterly alluring."

"It kind of is actually."

Her face got red, and she looked over at Bella. "I promise we only argue about stupid stuff like this. We need to get you your own bed roll and a horse. We'll pay for them, as for being a Witcher, the basics are easy enough to pick up."

"Maybe we can go to Kaer Morhen before we go get Fiona!" Dominik said, the idea beginning to excite him more and more. He smiled at his sister, and then back at Ciri. "Who knows Freya's already heading to Kaer Morhen after working with Adda for a while. Maybe Bella can go and-."

"I'm not going with you both…." Bella said, her eyes going to her feet when Ciri and he both turned to her, their eyes stunned. "I… I'm sorry I… I just can't."

Dominik's stomach lurched. Words eluded him, he waited for Bella to say she was joking, that she just wanted to see the looks they gave when she told them. The wind was nippy, but for the first time all day it was cold to him. He waited for the joke to come.

But it didn't. Bella looked between them both, before her eyes fell to the small blades of grass in front of them. Dominik felt numb for the first time since the battle had ended.

"Bella… what, what are you talking about," Ciri said, stepping up and gently grabbing her hand. "You can't leave! We've barely got to spend any time together."

Bella squeezed Ciri's hand and shook her head. "I… I just can't Ciri. After everything I've done? I… I don't deserve this, this wonderful life together you two are going to have."

"Bullshit," Ciri said, "Bella you deserve it as much as anyone, you're a hero!"

"A hero who has the blood of thousands of innocents on my hands," Bella said, her face falling as she took a step away from Ciri. "I… I need to go. Go on my own journey like the two of you did. And… and somehow make up for what I did."

Ciri looked at him, and he still couldn't speak, before turning back to Bella again. "Bella, you more than made up for it! You killed Eredin, you protected us from Avallac'h, you saved all of us," she finished pleading with Bella, and turned to him. "Dominik say something to her!"

Dominik looked over and saw Bella had turned to him. He met his sister's eyes, and he could see something buried deep behind them.

I looked like that before… for years upon years. And I was by myself too.

"Bella…" He said, taking a step towards her. "You don't have to do this. Please… don't leave again just after I got you back."

Tears welled up in the corner of Bella's eyes as she met his gaze. "I don't want to leave… but Dominik I have too. I… I'm not well… I may seem like it now, you may think it but… but I'm not."

"Even more the reason for you to come with us!" He said. "Ciri and I, we know what it's like to be hurt, to feel what you're feeling. We've been through it alone!"

"People are what help you Bella," Ciri said, sound desperate next to him. "Please… don't think you have to face this alone. We're here for you, we can help you, we don't care what you did!"

Bella shakily sighed and looked at her feet again. "It'd be too dangerous… if… if I hurt the two of you, I… I don't know if I'd be able to live with myself."

Dominik scoffed. "Bella that's ridiculous, how and why would you possibly hurt us? If this is about-."

"The morning I left…" Bella said, cutting him off and taking in a sharp breath. She shook in place, turning her back to them. "The… the morning I left, when… when I woke up I… I was… I was her again."

Ciri looked to him first, baffled as he was, and then back to Bella. "What… who?"

"Baelen…." Bella said, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned back to them, tears in her eyes. "I… I woke and I… I was just her again. I panicked, thought I was captured, I tried to contact Caranthir and was shocked that he was dead! I almost killed three guards in the hallway, I snuck up behind them, a knife in my hand ready to do it before I finally got control back…."

Dominik's heart dropped. Bella quickly wiped her tears and shook her head at them. "I… I may have won that battle against her for now but… but all it would take is me waking up as her one morning… and I could kill you both. I won't let that happen… besides, I… I just need to find myself again on my own… redeem myself on my own."

Dominik looked and saw Ciri had tears in her eyes as well. She grabbed onto his arm and he realized that her hand was shaking. His chest was imploding in on itself.

How could I let this happen? I can't just let Bella go off on her own, he thought, looking up and seeing the distress in her eyes. I can't let her go through what I did alone… no matter how strong it made me in the end.

Bella had finished crying and wiped the tears from her eyes. The sun casted her shadow over them, and for a moment she was larger than them both. She shakily sighed again, fixing her hair and looking at the two of them, waiting for a response. Dominik didn't know what he could say to that, because he saw something new when he looked in his sister's eyes.

She may be broke… but she's determined… and stubborn, he thought. Just like our mother, our father, Ciri… and me. She's not going to be talked out of this.

Still, the idea of letting Bella leave alone made his skin crawl.

Ciri composed herself first. "Bella… please let us help you with that! We'll find someone who can help heal your mind! Mine was shattered after I escaped the Aen Elle, I had an old monk help me, I still remember how he did it! We'll help you kick Baelen out for good, we can do it together."

A small smile came to Bella's face as she looked over at Ciri. "Thank you Ciri really but… but nobody can do that…. Nobody can beat Baelen, can kill her for good… except me. I'm the only one who can kill her and… and make up for all I've done."

"But it wasn't your fault Bell! It was Eredin, Caranthir, they had you under their control," Ciri begged, grabbing hold of Bella's hand again.

"Yes, that may be true but… but I still did those things," Bella said, shaking her head and looking at Ciri again. "The control started to break months ago and I… I still did what I did. I need to atone… find some way to put things right. I won't be able to live with myself until I do…"

Dominik's chest erupted again. "Bella… you don't have to make anything up to us. Please… don't think we're upset about anything you did that… that we love you any less for it."

Bella grabbed his hand as well, looking between him and Ciri for a moment, the redness of her cheeks showing she had been crying long before she got there. Finally, she sighed, and a small smile came to her face.

"I know that you both do… and honestly that's what's kept me going," She said, turning to Dominik now. "I… I would be dead. You never gave up on me, from the very start. I know you both forgive me but… but Dominik I don't forgive myself. I don't know if I ever will but for myself, I need to do this. People may not know what I did but I know what I did, and I need to find a way to make up for it… atone for it."

Ciri next to her wiped her smudged makeup and crossed her arms to stop them from shaking. Dominik looked down to Bella again, his arms still shaking. He met her eyes, and for a moment it felt like they were children again. One of them crying, hurt, sick… and the other was doing all they could to make them feel better.

"Bella…" He said, squeezing her hands. "You don't have to do this... Please! Let me talk to Dandelion, he'll start adding how you were the one to kill Eredin with me. People will know, it doesn't matter what you did, you saved us all! We could-."

"Do you remember what Father used to say? When he talked about doing what's right," She said, cutting him off, and going on before he could say anything. "No one single act of good, no matter how good… doesn't immediately wash away all the bad."

Dominik tried to form words, but none that were appropriate came. I always did hate it when she was right….

He slowly nodded, before Bella wrapped him in an embrace, new tears falling from her cheeks.

"Thank you… big brother," She said. She squeezed his neck, and Dominik wrapped her back in a hug, the same large ones they had always given each other when they were younger.

My little sister is a grown up… and she's leaving.

Ciri came over and joined the hug, squeezing around them both as Bella buried her head into them both. Minutes passed, and they all simply held each other again. The both of them, it had been nothing but a dream he had for years. All of them, grown up, alive and together.

But we won't be together… Bella's leaving. Why… why don't I feel more worried?

He knew he should be worried about letting his sister go off alone but… his mind simply wouldn't let him.

After a few moments, Bella pulled back from them, and for the first time she was smiling. Not a small half smile… but a real one, a genuine one. She was as tall as Ciri, which wasn't that much shorter than him. She seemed to stand up straighter, she fixed the sword on her back, smiling at both of them. The bright glow from the sunset seemed to finally shine off her, making her glow like a radiant star.

She'll be okay… I know she will, he thought, a small smile coming to his face. She is my sister after all. If she can kill the King of the Wild Hunt, she can survive the Continent.

Ciri wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "Where… where will you go? I mean at first, where do you think you'll go?"

"Cintra," Bella said without hesitation.

Alarm bells went off in Dominik's head, his eyes went wide as he looked at her. "Bell… Cintra's been controlled by Nilfgaard for over a decade. It… it isn't the same place as before."

Bella nodded. "I know it isn't… damn Black Ones have taken over our home, but… but I just feel like I have to go back. Pieces of my memories are still missing. They're coming back… but far too slow for my liking. I'm hoping being back there it… it'll speed the process up."

"And after that?" Ciri asked.

The smile on Bella's face grew and she shrugged her shoulder with a sigh. "After that well… I don't know. I'm going to go help people; however, I may be needed. Who knows, maybe Toussaint, Zerrikania, Spalla."

"You always did want to go see exotic places…" Dominik said, unable to keep the smile from his face.

"You're right… and… and I'm really glad I remember that," Bella said, the smile still on her face as she shrugged her shoulders again. "There are tons of places I want to see where I can help. Maybe I'll see the gold tower in Nilfgaard, they can't all be posh bastards."

"You'd be surprised…" Dominik said, getting a snorting laugh out of Ciri and one out of Bella as well.

They both finished laughing and Bella smiled at them both. "Or maybe I'll visit Tretogor, I've actually never seen Oxenfurt Academy maybe I'll go there. And I have heard if you travel deep enough into the Korath Desert you can find some interesting ruins."

Ciri visibly shivered next to him. "Believe me, the Korath Desert is not pleasant. I speak from experience."

Dominik nodded, but then smiled at Ciri. "Yeah… but I bet Freya would be delighted if Bella went and visited the academy don't you think?"

Bella stiffened across from them, making them both laugh.

Ciri finished laughing, that beautiful smile on her face as she wrapped Bella in one last hug. "She will be…. And she's also going to be at our celebrations each year, right?"

Bella's red cheeks deepened, and she nodded. "I… I'll try I swear it."

She let go of Ciri, and then turned to Dominik again. Smiling his sister slammed him in one hug, and Dominik responded with just as much fervor, the sun suddenly warm on his skin again.

My sister… she's really alive, he thought. For eleven-years, it had been his biggest shame… failing to keep her mother's last request. He had been thinking of them both, even more then he normally did lately. He would never forget them in that… vision? Dream? The space between life and death? Whatever it was called… he'd never forget seeing them.

You said you were always watching… he thought. He smiled as he held onto his sister, looking at Ciri over her shoulder. Well… I hope you're proud… I did… I really… really did it. I got them back… I got them back.

Ciri smiled and stepped closer to him, holding onto his arm. "Please… please promise Bella if you're ever in any trouble you can't handle, you'll contact us somehow."

Dominik's heart dropped again as he turned back to his sister. "She's right… Bell I… I know you say you need to go by yourself but… but what if we need you or just wanna see you?"

Bella smiled at him and held her hand up. "You already know how…. Kindred blood will always find kindred blood. If I ever need you… I'll send you a dream, and you do the same for me. And Ciri…." She said, looking down around her neck, "do you mind if I borrow that for a moment?"

Ciri looked hesitant at first. Dominik knew the feeling. Whenever the swallow she had given him wasn't around his neck he felt a momentary panic. It was as if the small silver bird was physically part of his neck. Eventually however, Ciri nodded, unclasping the ring from around her neck and placing it in Bella's outstretched hands.

Bella let out a breath and took a step back from them. Her eyes went to the bronze in her palm. She reached out and held her opposite hand over it.

She closed her eyes, sucked in a breath, and when they opened, they flashed bright blue.

"Memetan… sue, es… bloed…." The words echoed gently in Elder Speech, and the magic from Bella's eyes went away. Around the ring, a luminescent white light appeared. For a few seconds it glowed, before returning to its normal bronze state.

Bella smiled at her work, before handing it back to a bewildered Ciri. "Think you can remember those words?"

Ciri scoffed as she tied the ring around her neck again. "I already have one I'm remembering every morning; I don't think this one will be a problem."

She winked at Dominik as she said that and being in front of his sister when she did it made his own face get red. Bella was clearly smart enough to understand what the 'one other spell' Ciri remembers every morning, and laughed at his frazzled face. After a minute Ciri was laughing as well.

And with the both of them laughing at him, it truly did feel like he was back in Cintra again.

"Ahaha," Bella finished laughing, wiping the remains of her tears and smeared makeup from her cheeks. "So, all you need to do is apply a little magic to it and repeat the words. Use it if you ever need me. I… I'll try to come see you both when I can, I'll send letters for you to that inn in Novigrad. If you're in danger, call for me… just… please, understand that this is my journey I must go on…. You both went on one by yourself… this one's mine."

Dominik bit his lip again. "Bella… neither of us went on those journeys alone willingly…"

"He's right," Ciri agreed, "we didn't want too, we were forced to. It isn't too late Bell… you can still come with us."

Despite their pleading, Bella smiled and shook her head at them. "I know... and… and I love you both. I appreciate it I do but… but this is different. This is something I need to find on my own… and you're both going to have to let me."

"Well, you know I disagree," Dominik said, crossing his arms as he met her eyes. A smile somehow came to his face. "But… that never stopped you before. It won't know."

"We're going to miss you Bella… a lot," Ciri said, she was squeezing his arm harder now, trying to keep herself composed.

Was he really going to say goodbye so soon after finding Bella again?

No… because this is far from goodbye. Just like with all of us… we'll never really be apart. We're family, and they're always with us one way or another.

He soon felt Ciri slipping her hand into his, and like always, it sent a wave of warmth up his arm, down his stomach and through his body. She always did that. He looked at her, and saw her makeup smudged down her cheeks, but a smile was on her face. And gods is she beautiful when she smiles… her smiling… Bella's smiling… so long as that's the case, I can smile as well.

"I'll miss you both too… but we'll see each other again, soon," Bella said. She took another step back from them, smiling before letting out a breath of relief. "I… I don't know where this will take me… but I promise I'll contact you if I'm in trouble. I'll write and… and I won't disappear again. I swear it."

She's telling the truth… Baelen may be lingering in her mind… but this is my sister.

"Good luck Bell…" He said, squeezing Ciri as she did the same to him.

"We… we hope you find what you're looking for," She said, holding onto his arm like her life depended on it.

Bella was tearing up again but nodded. "So do I… and… if I don't… I'll get ahold of you."

She nodded at them both one last time, and as she turned her back to them Dominik's knees almost gave out.

Bella held up one hand, the sun starting to go down over the mountains. Her shadow was larger than the entire fenced in garden Ciri and he had been sparring in. Blue wisps of magic flew from her palms, and before he knew it a swirling blue portal slowly spun into existence. A gust of wind blew back Bella's hair, and she turned to look at them both again. She had started crying again but held up her hand to wave to them both. Next to her Ciri waved back, before wiping her own eyes, but Dominik stepped up from her.

"Bell!" He said, doing his best to stop his voice from cracking. Bella turned back to him, tears coming from her eyes. Her eyes that were his, his mothers, Alexander's. Bright emerald green, to Dominik, it was the most beautiful color in the world.

He shakily sighed, but didn't look away from her, and his voice broke as he spoke. "E…Eivor and Anora, Kendra…. Mother and Father… they would all be so… so proud of you… just like I am."

Bella sobbed, a smile coming to her wet face as she nodded. "I hope so… thank you. I'll see you soon… big brother."

She turned, walking through the portal. Seconds later it closed…. Bella was apparently in Cintra… half a continent away.

He found himself looking at the spot where the portal had closed, staring at it as if Bella were simply going to reappear and tell them she was joking. Reality set in after a minute, and the spot on the ground he looked at was still indeed a clump of weeds.

If he looked back at it now, he had been a complete and utter idiot.

How did I not know it was her… she practically spelled it out for me after our first fight outside Oxenfurt… how the hell didn't I know?

That night in Cintra… he had held her corpse. I thought she was dead… I had her dead in my arms. I don't know if it was her powers, or pure luck that helped her survive… but either way, I thought she was dead.

The idea of his sister being alive, had been something so asinine, so completely and utterly impossible, that the thought of her being Baelen never could cross his mind. All he had been focused on was finding Ciri, and with good reason, everyone else from his first family was dead.

And now… she's off again. I missed all her life growing up… and I see her as her for a few days… now I have to let her go. I know she'll be alright… but why are my hands shaking?

He deduced… that it was simply because he was going to miss her.

Another, warm, smaller hand slipped into his trembling one.

"Hey… you okay?" Ciri said, standing close to him, holding onto his arm.

He turned, and saw her bright, radiant, beautiful smile. He remembered how she said she was originally scared, that he would find her less beautiful with the scar under her eye. Dominik couldn't imagine her without it now.

But how in god's name did she think she could ever not be beautiful?

She was smiling, Bella had been smiling.

He had Ciri back, he had his sister back. It was more than he ever could have hoped for.

And for the first time, in a long time, Dominik finally felt more than okay. He was happy. It had been such a foreign, fleeting thing for him for the last eight years, he almost forgot what it felt like. Yes, he was 'happy' at times over the years, with his friends, and at plenty of times since his journey started from Claywitch. However… a lingering threat, a lingering problem always hung over him. A dark cloud, one that would follow him wherever he went. It had consumed him, taken over and controlled who he was… and it stopped him from being able to say that he felt the day was worth waking up too. He had looked over the edge, into the eternal pit of nothingness, of blackness, and so… so many times he wanted to take the leap.

This though… he thought, looking into Ciri's eyes. This… this life is worth waking up too.

It wasn't that he wanted to die…. He simply didn't want to feel that way anymore. The feeling of his past failures, Ciri's disappearance, his parent's deaths, Geralt and Yennefer's 'deaths', they had destroyed him.

But just because the past was painful… it doesn't mean the future will be.

And even still his life wouldn't magically be nothing but sunshine and rainbows, he knew this oh so well now.

Life would get worse. It always did. Life got worse… then it got better. Then it worse again. Then better.

That's how life is… you're lying to yourself by saying everyday will be fluffy kittens and vanilla pudding. Not every day will be sunshine… but there will always be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say. It's the truth.

Dominik looked down at Ciri, and then back up at the sky.

Not a cloud in sight, dark or otherwise. He was warm, today and probably for the next few weeks there would be sunshine.

Eventually the sunshine would recede… and that was okay because it would always come back.

Especially with the woman standing next to him now.

He turned towards Ciri, grabbing her hands, smiling at her. She smiled back at him, those brilliant eyes like pools of clear emeralds.

This… this is what real warmth is like.

He leaned down and kissed her, to which she responded eagerly.

"I'm alright… thanks princess," He said as he pulled away.

And he meant it.

She smirked and laughed nervously. "Ha… I don't know what's gotten into you, but I like it…. You know she'll be okay right? And… and we will be alright now?"

"I know," He said, kissing her again. "I love you Ciri."

"I love you too," She said, before pulling away, and tugging his arm along with her. "Come on, let's go have a drink. Geralt should be here any minute, and I'm quite thirsty after thoroughly trouncing you like I did."

She smirked as she let go of his arm, picking up and spinning one of the staffs they had been using. Again, she performed a perfect series of spins, before snapping it into place under her arm. Whoever this Kaladin was that taught her, certainly was a good teacher.

"So? Are you just going to keep staring at me all day, or are we going to drink?" She teased, tossing one of the staffs to him.

He caught it with a laugh and nodded. "After getting trounced like I did, I could use one too. As for staring at you? Well sorry but I've had this problem since I was eleven."

"And what problem is that?" She asked, as he came up to her.

He scoffed and pulled her close. "You said it! It's that I'm completely and utterly enamored by you."

"Obsessed is more like it." She said with a smirk.

"Are you complaining?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

She shook her head and kissed him. "Not one bit…."

"Good," He said, letting her go and sighing as he hefted the staff to his shoulder. "Come on, hopefully I have better luck with Gwent then I do with staffs."

She snorted a laugh as she walked past him. "I wouldn't hold my breath love."

"You never know," He said, following her, "maybe these new cards Zoltan put into print will give me an edge!"

"We'll see, come on handsome let's get a move on," She said, waving for him to follow.

And Dominik followed her, unable to stop smiling for the first time in a long time.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ciri downed the remaining ale in her mug, as she looked over the monster deck cards in her hands, towards Dominik whose eyebrows were scrunched in determination.

He gets the cutest look on his face when he does that, Ciri admired, unable to laugh as she knew exactly what he was going to do. So handsome, so powerful… yet so helpless at this game.

His determination to try and win despite this was one of the many quirks he had which made her love him so much.

She kept her hood up, as no to arose too many glares. Dominik and she had been in White Orchard for a few weeks, Nilfgaard had moved out and they hadn't seen any Imperials, but Dominik had been insistent.

I'm going to have to get used to this, especially with him, she thought, smiling again at the cute, concentrated look he had. He's going to be protective for the first few weeks, it's only natural, and he had good reason.

Emhyr wouldn't believe Geralt for long, if at all. Thankfully Adda had his attention now, which would hopefully give the two of them time to disappear. Yes, in the White Orchard tavern then, it was mostly elderly men, women and children. Almost every fighting man had rushed to Adda's banner to fight Nilfgaard. Skirmishes had been going well for the new Queen so far, she'd heard, Adda had moved quickly in her first few weeks.

I hope it keeps up… it would be nice to be able to stay near Novigrad without having to worry about Imperials, what with Dandelion's being our main base.

Yes, they would travel all over the North and as far south as they could, but Dominik and she both agreed, when they weren't traveling to a specific destination they'd try and stay around Novigrad. What with Bella and others sending messages for them there, and it being the one place they knew they would always have a place and be safe.

But for the first few weeks… it's me and you handsome, she thought, smirking at him and rolling her eyes. And Geralt of course, I do hope he makes it here soon.

Yes… her, Dominik and Geralt. A dream I've had since I was a child… and now it's actually come true.

So precious few good things happened to her in her life. Most of them involved the two. Eight years of running, running, running, nothing but constant running. She could hardly sleep the last eight years without feeling as if she should keep one eye open.

And she had been beaten down… so many times by beings and people most normal folk didn't believe in. Yes, everything that happened, every chase, every fight, every wound had gotten her here. Did she wish things could have been different? Of course, she did. She wished she and Dominik hadn't had to go through what they did… but she couldn't do anything about it now.

Overcoming trauma to her, wasn't something special. It took someone powerful yes, extremely powerful and brave to stand up to it, to face it. However, the trauma itself hadn't made her strong, the things that happened to her hadn't made her or Dominik strong.

Trauma only brought out the strength that you already had inside yourself to fight it, and that was what they had done.

And finally… she had what she wanted. Ciri, for the first time in years could say with certainty, she was completely, utterly, unequivocally… happy.

And I deserve it, we both deserve it, she looked up at him again over her cards. Me and you against everyone handsome… just like it's always been, just like it will always be.

"Are you going to make your move," Ciri said, "or are you going to pass. Honestly handsome, I've told you a hundred times to stop using Northern Realms."

"Northern Realms is where I was born," He said, moving one of his cards around, "it's where my sword and Gwent loyalty lie. Besides, with the new additions Zoltan made they're just as viable as Monster or Nilfgaard."

"Nilfgaard and Monster got new additions as well," Ciri noted, smirking down at the one card she had left. "Some pretty heavy hitters in them."

"Never catch me using one of them," Dominik noted, his eyes darting to one of his three remaining cards. "Don't think I could stare at Emhyr or Eredin's face for long enough as my leader card."

Ciri scoffed and pulled her hood down. "It should help you knowing that Eredin quite literally has no head or face anymore thanks to you."

"That was Bella," He said, picking one out from the three. "I've told you, in reality I didn't do much."

"You held him off for hours," Ciri said firmly. "Bella told me you gave him the real killing blow when you stabbed him. I'm not going to listen to you discredit what you did for the rest of our lives mister. You saved me, saved everyone. You and Bella killed Eredin together, neither of you could have done it alone. I won't hear otherwise, am I understood?"

He eyed her for a moment, and Ciri blushed.

"What, what is it?" She asked. That damn smile… it's always don't his to me.

He laughed and just shook his head. "Nothing… just… 'the rest of our lives'. It's really happening."

"It is," She said, only blushing more as her stomach was amok with that pleasant tingling sensation, he often gave her. "Me and you against everyone handsome."

"And Geralt for a while."

"Yes," She said with a laugh, "and Geralt for a while."

"You know, we're going to have to be careful where we sleep on the road with him," He said, winking at her. "Might have to watch our volume, he does have that super sensitive Witcher hearing, we make a peep and he'll hear it."

Ciri smirked at him. "Oh? And what about when we're in an inn like this? Will the fear of Geralt in the other room, or passing by patrons stop you?"

"Trust me princess," He said, looking up at her and smirking himself. "When you wanna do it, we'll do it."

"And what if you wanna do it? But you have to convince me?"

He shrugged, not leaving her gaze. "Then I guess I'll have to convince you. You'll find I can be just as persuasive as you."

"You make it out as if it'll be happening a lot," She said, her cheeks heating up and a familiar sensation running through her body. "I can't say I'd complain."

"Neither would I," He said, his voice low, gruff, sexy. "I happen to really enjoy having sex with you princess."

She feigned being surprised to hide the tingling sensation running up her stomach. "Oh, my Dominik! Again, such salacious things coming from you!"

"Well in the middle of the battle with the Wild Hunt, you told me you'd enjoy me making such remarks milady," He teased.

Ciri scoffed. "I do. Sofia and Yennefer raised a proper gentleman, which I love… but as I said, I'm still waiting for you to simply tell me you want to fuck me now and then."

His face got beat red as he held the cards up in front of his face again, and Ciri felt a laugh come from her gut.

But, after a few moments of laughing, her heart pounded. He's so sweet… he knows what that's been like for me… what happened. Truly, what did I do to deserve this?

It's because he loves me, not Zireael, The Lion Cub of Cintra, The Lady of Space and Time, or the Lady of Worlds… no… he loves me, who I really am.

It had drawn her to him from the moment they met. She genuinely believed, she could have been born a peasant… and Dominik still would have loved her. After so many years of being chased, raped, beaten, attacked, used for what she was, who she was born as and what she was born with.

Nothing in the world made her feel more complete, safer than being loved by him, having him with her, and loving him back.

And now, we get the life we always wanted… the one we deserve. It was almost too good to believe, that after so many years of wanting it, aching for it… it was here now.

He scoffed, sighing and nodded. "Fine, I promise that when the want arises, I'll tell you how much I want to fuck you, happy?"

"Delighted. Not all the time of course," She clarified, before her smirk returned. "But sometimes… it's quite sexy to be honest. Now go on! If you want to get to your reward for all those incredibly sweet things earlier, you'd better make your move!"

He blushed and Ciri smiled at her ability to make him do so. The truth was, she was just as completely smitten with him as he was with her, she believed more so even. He claimed he did… but no, Dominik would never truly understand the depth of what he had done for her… how much he meant to her.

"Alright princess, I think I got you this time," He said, a prideful smile coming to his face as he played his card. "Faram of Undvik! I must say, Zoltan's artist truly captured his likeness."

Ciri snorted as he played the card of his friend in his melee row. The card had an image of Faram standing atop the body of a dead rider of the Wild Hunt, smirking as his bloody silver was held out in one hand, flames from Igni alight in his other. It had ten attack power, and was one of the newest, most sought-after cards in the Gwent world.

Dominik smiled as he held back his other two cards.

Ciri raised an eyebrow. "Not going to play your other two?"

"Aha got you this time princess! You see, it's 1-0 to you," He said, seemingly awfully confident in himself, "but you used almost all your cards! You played yourself," he said, pointing to the card in front of her, "which you probably thought would win you this round too, but now since I played Faram, his rally ability activates, doubling his and George's strength."

Ciri gazed at the card next to Faram's in front of Dominik. Sure enough, it had their Griffin Witcher friend proudly implanted. It depicted George standing with his flaming silver sword held high, and a massive ball of fire in his other hand, in front of a group of soldiers. His 10-attack power doubled to twenty, along with Faram's to twenty, and then Ciri gazed to the back row, to Dominik's row used for siege cards.

Still thinking he'd won, he pointed to it. "And then Freya's attack is doubled thanks to Adda's leader ability, putting my number for the round at a clean sixty! You only have yourself out now, and nothing you have in your hand that could possibly take that over. I'll win this round, and then you'll have no cards for next round, victory for me!"

Ciri scoffed as she examined Freya's card. It had their blonde friend, out in front of a line of soldiers, her sword raised summoning a volley of arrows. The soldiers behind her were huddled around a machine, 'the Kaminski', Freya's new weapon which was now being rolled out in bunches by Adda's army.

Dominik's math was sound. Freya's 10-attack power was doubled thanks to Adda-who had replaced her father as the leader card in the Northern Realms deck- it now stood at twenty, giving Dominik sixty points for the round.

She looked up and saw how confident he looked, and Ciri almost felt bad. You poor, sweet, handsome man, this is almost hard… almost.

Ciri nodded and looked up at him. "Yes, yes very impressive move handsome. Now… are you sure that's all you want to do? Absolutely sure?"

He hesitated for a moment but nodded. "It is! Better luck next time princess, I didn't go easy on you this time."

Ciri laughed and sighed as she cooed at him. "Oh, you sweet, brave, handsome, stupid boy… I love you but… you really need to stop playing this game."

She placed her final card on the melee row, and Dominik face dropped.

"You've gotta be kidding me…" He said, before mumbling under his breath. "I told Zoltan not to make me a neutral hero…."

"Dominik of Cintra," Ciri said, pulling her hand away from the card with a smirk. "The Young Wolf, The Son of Geralt of Rivia, Slayer of the King of the Wild Hunt! My incredibly handsome and sweet lover. Fifteen attack power as a base, but when he's played in a row with 'The Swallow', Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, both his and her attack power are doubled."

"Putting them both at thirty…" Dominik muttered, folding his arms indignantly. "And combined that's sixty, still not enough to beat me! And now I'll just play one of my other cards and win this round!"

"Again so quick to try and win, you forget the basics," She said, smirking as she tapped the card in her leader spot to her left. "I activate my leader card, the man you slew, Eredin. His ability doubles the total strength of all my melee cards, bringing Dominik and Ciri's total to-."

"One hundred and twenty…" Dominik said, sighing and shaking his head before he mumbled again. "Me in a monster or Nilfgaardean deck… I told Zoltan to make me a Northern Hero."

Ciri smirked and gazed at the picture on the two cards. She and Dominik's cards both had 15-attack power, and if played next to each other, the pictures on them seemed to form one. The two of them back-to-back. In Ciri's her eyes were awash with blue magic, fighting the Wild Hunt, and you could partially see Dominik's back in hers. In Dominik's like her, his eyes were filled with magic. In one hand he held his sword, the other his crossbow as the magic went up and down his arms as you saw him fighting the Hunt.

And if you put the two cards next to one another, the picture was clear, them fighting side by side.

I remember when we almost made each other fake gwent cards when we were younger… she thought, smirking at Dominik's annoyed, flustered face. Now we're official ones… who would have guessed.

Of course, she was technically dead, but that wouldn't stop her from enjoying the achievement.

"You win…" He muttered, cleaning up the card and sighing. "For the fifth time in a row."

Ciri laughed as he packed away their cards and took a long drink from his mug of ale. She waited until he placed the mug down, before reaching over the table, grabbing the neck of his shirt and pulling his lips to hers.

She kissed him, and then pulled back her lips, keeping them inches from his. "Get used to it handsome…"

He scoffed as she released him and they both sat down. He let out a sigh, and Ciri saw that goofy smile return to his lips.

That same smile… ever since we were eleven, he still gets it.

"Despite the losing," He said, holding up his mug and looking at her, that loving look to his eyes, the look that made her blush and feel like she was a little girl again, "I think I'm going to get used to this very quick."

She held her mug up and clanked it against his, winking at him. "I think I will too handsome… I love you."

"I love you too," He said, winking before she laughed and they both drank.

The ale slid pleasantly down her throat, to her stomach which was in knots like she was a sodded little girl again.

Well… it's just because I'm a sodded woman now… how many people can say they've found their person at my age? Not many I'd guess.

No matter what happened, good days or bad, fighting for their lives on a contract, relaxing in a tavern, making love in their room, in sickness and in health… she had him, and he had her.

And that was worth all the trauma, everything she had gone through.

"Well, well, well did I miss the Gwent?" A new voice said, as Ciri almost choked on her ale she looked up so fast.

Dominik did the same, and at the same time they both let out a breath of relief as Geralt smirked down at them both.

Ciri looked at Dominik, and then back to Geralt who was smirking like a madman. He wore his armor and swords but looked weary from the journey. Ciri slid down the bench, giving him room to sit down before she handed him the rest of her ale.

"You did, you missed me winning five straight," She said, smirking at Dominik who rolled his eyes in annoyance. Ciri laughed at him, then noticed him looking down beneath the table. Her excitement at Geralt arriving however, took precedent as she looked at her father. "So, it's done then!? You told him?"

"And what took you so long," Dominik asked, looking from across the table. "You look like you rode poor Roach near dead, you were supposed to arrive earlier."

Geralt scoffed. "You should see the security Emhyr's set up in Vizima, can't walk three steps without a solider asking your business," he turned and smiled warmly down at her, "but… yeah, I told him. Had a few… choice words for him. Don't know if he believed it or not, either way word around court is Adda's hitting him hard."

"We've heard that here as well," Dominik said.

Geralt nodded. "Yeah, so… either way, you're both free."

"And the assassins!?" Ciri asked quickly, her heart rate rising.

"Don't know," Geralt said, downing the rest of Ciri's ale. "Told me he didn't have time for it anymore but… I'd just watch your backs. I think we'll be alright for a few months, so long as Adda keeps him busy."

"And she'll keep him plenty busy, don't need to worry about that," Dominik said, smiling at her reassuringly before he looked to Geralt. He spoke carefully, which peaked Ciri's curiosity. "And… the… other meeting went well?"

Before Ciri could ask what, he was talking about Geralt nodded. "It did, he was a little late, but got what we needed."

Ciri scoffed and looked between them. "What are you two talking about? Did you develop some secret codded eye blinks or something the last few months?"

They both shared a smile again which annoyed her, but before she could ask more Geralt shook his head.

"You'll see in a bit, in the meantime," He said, turning to the pitcher of ale she and Dominik had ordered. He poured himself a large mug, looking between them. "I trust you two enjoyed your few weeks alone together in this peaceful little village."

She narrowed her eyes at him, and then over at Dominik who was already acting like they hadn't said anything. She was about to look under the table, but Dominik spoke up and got her attention again.

"We've enjoyed it immensely right Ciri?" He said, looking over at her, that handsome smile spread across his face.

She nodded, glaring at him, before turning to Geralt. "He's right we have. We were just talking about the 'ground rules' you're going to have to set when we travel!"

Geralt shuddered like he was freezing, making them both laugh. "You're right about that. Sleeping bags gonna have to be at least twenty feet away. And please, if you're gonna fuck, at least wait till I'm asleep and you're both keeping watch."

"But what about your mutated, enhances ears?" Dominik asked, smirking still as he poured himself more ale.

Geralt gagged. "Good point… gonna have to make myself some earplugs."

Ciri laughed and didn't fail to notice Dominik smiling and then looking back down under his seat. He came back up so fast, he didn't notice Ciri looking at him.

What's he got under there that's so interesting… and when did Geralt give it to him without me noticing?

He looked at Ciri and winked, which was incredibly cute, but it didn't squelch her curiosity.

"Oh yeah, Geralt I can't believe I almost forgot," He said, turning to their adopted father, "we found Bella, we… she found us."

Geralt's eyes lit up. It was the oddest thing. Besides of course herself, Dominik and Freya-who Ciri was now determined to make sure the two saw each other again- Bella had talked to Geralt the most of all their friends. Yes, Bella and Geralt had gotten on extremely well, one day when she Dominik and Bella were visiting others who were wounded after she had returned, Geralt spent near the entire day at Bella's bedside with Freya. She had no idea what they talked about, but it was clear Geralt had taken quite a liking to Dominik's sister.

He had been worried when she left but seemed to relax hearing Dominik's words.

"Thank god… is she alright?" He asked. "Why isn't she with you now?"

Dominik's face paled, and he sighed. "She… said she had to go out on her own."

"She wanted to try and make up for the things she did with the Hunt," Ciri finished for him, seeing he was clearly still struggling with the news. She looked over at Geralt. "We… tried to convince her to come with us, but she said it was something she needed to do by herself."

Geralt nodded understandingly. "Well, some people just need time to reflect. Bella's smart, powerful, I'm sure she'll be alright. Know where she went?"

"Cintra," Dominik said, sighing and finding his voice. "She told us her memories are still a bit choppy. She's hoping going there will help fill the gaps. Said she'd write and check in."

He spoke in a low tone, and suddenly became interested in the content of his mug. Ciri's heart ached, both for Bella and for him. She knew he understood, she did as well, but it didn't mean that they weren't upset about it. The truth was Ciri had also been looking forward to having Bella along with them.

But Vesemir had always said, everyone's journey takes them in different directions, everybody goes on one. Some people's journey included a large group, some only a few… and some people's journeys were on their own.

Dominik and she's had been on their own, and those journeys had led them to where they were now, back to each other. If destiny had its way like it normally did, Bella would find their way back to them. What with her being Alexander's descendant as well as Dominik, she was Ciri's destiny as much as he was.

Yes, she'd be back.

However, Ciri also didn't forget about their other destiny awaiting them in Claywitch.

Geralt looked down to Ciri, who gestured towards Dominik and nodded. He nodded back to her and turned to Dominik with one of those reassuring smiles Geralt always gave.

"Don't worry about her Dom. Haven't known her for long, but I see a lot of you two in her," He said smiling with pride at them both. "And if she's anything like you two, I know she'll be alright. If she can survive the Wild Hunt, she can survive anything. You'll see."

Ciri smiled and looked to Dominik who sighed again, taking a large gulp of ale.

"I hope you're right," He said, sighing as he shook his head. "I should probably start a letter for Freya tonight, she'll wanna know."

Ciri had agreed. She was going to do everything she could to see the two together, the blush on Bella's cheeks at Freya's mention was plenty enough to spur her on.

Dominik, however, still didn't seem incredibly happy about the idea. She was about to say something, when Geralt smirked and spoke before her.

"Well… if it puts you in a better mood," He said, nudging his head under Dominik's seat. "Why don't you give Ciri her present?"

Her head shot over to Dominik. "Present? Is that what you two have been smirking at each other about? You've gotten me something?"

Right away Dominik's smile returned, before he reached back under his seat and pulled out a sheath.

"Ha… of course we did. You defeated the single greatest threat to every world in the cosmos," He said, placing the sheath on the table in front of her. He gave her another one of those cute winks and smirked at her. "And we both love you, you're witty, talented, beautiful and did I mention I love you? Put Geralt and I back a good amount, but if it's as good as the man's reputation says…."

He looked over at Geralt who smirked and nodded.

"Tested it out myself, just as good as advertised," Geralt said, smiling at Ciri's stunned face. "That's why I was so late, man was hours late for our meeting. But it all went smoothly."

Ciri was at a loss for words. "It… it's…"

Dominik and Geralt both had a laugh at her expense as she pulled the sword into her grasp. Her other sword was in her and Dominik's room, she had no idea why they'd get her another.

She saw them smiling at her, and their smiles warmed her as she trailed her bare hands along the hilt and pommel. The sword was incredibly light, even more so then Zireael was. The hilt was the same color as her other sword, but the pommel was painted bright white. The craftsmanship and design on the hilt and crossguard were exquisite, and Ciri almost felt the urge to put her gloves back on as she was holding it.

"Well? Go on, take a look!" Dominik urged, leaning forward on his seat, eagerness painted all over his face.

Ciri scoffed a breathless laugh. "This is beautiful… it… it's," she pulled the first few inches of the blade out and she gasped. "it's silver!"

"Yup!" Dominik said, smirking and laughing at her stunned reaction. "Haha, made by one of the best weapons masters in the North. Geralt and I thought it was high time you got your own, fair warning, carrying two swords takes some-."

He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence, because Ciri dropped the sword back to the table, reached across it and grabbed the color of his shirt again pulling him to another kiss across the table.

He laughed into her lips as she was in near tears. She pulled back, scoffing a laugh, smiling to the point where her cheeks actually hurt but she didn't care. He fell back to his side of the bench laughing like a goof, and she finally turned to Geralt.

Geralt laughed at her reaction and smiled at them. "I also think I have our first contract. We can head out tomorrow if the two of you think you're ready."

Ciri looked over at Dominik, who composed himself with a shaky sigh and smiled at her again. Smiled like she was the most beautiful person in the room, the only person in the room.

He let out another sigh and looked to Geralt. "What's the contract did they say?"

Geralt nodded and kept smiling. "Village to the west. Master Ort told me he heard rumors of a Striga prowling the woods there. How much time was it before you had to go and get Fiona again?"

"Three months, plenty of time for more than a few adventures," Dominik said proudly, smirking over at Ciri now. "I think it's a very fitting first contract for us all. Ready to put that new silver to use princess?"

"Yeah," Geralt said next to her, nodding down at the sword, which Ciri had picked up again. He looked down and smiled as he met her eyes. "What do you say…. Witcher?"

That's what I am… what I'll always be, just like it was always meant to be.

She pulled the blade a few inches out of its sheath again, looking and smirking at Dominik and Geralt both. The first chapter of the story's over… time to start writing the next one.

Her heart filled like it had never been before, Ciri nodded. "Let's try it out then."

And she slammed the sword back into its sheath.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ciri kissed him as soon as they walked into their room. Dominik laughed, caught off guard for a moment before grabbing onto her, her one hand still outstretched holding onto the silver sword. She covered her lips over his and he stumbled as he grabbed around her waist as they soon were waltzing together in the middle of their room. Ciri attacked his lips a hundred times and Dominik didn't mind one bit, he held onto her and held her like her kiss was what gave him the breath to live.

He laughed into her lips, and soon she was doing the same. He stumbled back until he was leaning back against a dresser, and Ciri still didn't relent.

"Dominik this… this is brilliant!" She said into his lips, kissing him again after she did.

He smiled and accepted them again, unable to stop smiling. "Ha, so I take it you like your present then?"

"I love it!" She said, finally pulling back from him, taking a few steps back and holding up the light brown sheath which held her knew blade. She pulled it out fully, the silver glistening in the candlelight of their room before swinging it twice. "It's beautiful! I… I can't believe it's mine, I'm a real Witcher now!"

Dominik scoffed. "You were always a real Witcher don't get it confused. Geralt and I just thought since we're heading out for the Path, you may as well have one. Don't want you to be like me and have to use nothing but bombs and oils the entire time."

"You still have to show me how you've improved some of those recipes mister," She said, smirking at him, as she skipped over towards the corner of the room. Dominik laughed as he saw her hurry to where her other sword was leaning against the wall. She heaved both sheaths onto her back, and spun in place, smiling over at him as she did. "Ha, and now how do I look? Do I look Witchery enough? You were right, it does feel a bit odd having two on my back."

"You look amazing," He said, putting extra emphasis on each word, turning towards the mirror set above their dresser. "It feels weird at first, but you'll get used to it. Hope you're ready princess, the Path isn't all it's cracked up to be."

He pulled off the top of his shirt and unfastened the silver knife-the one which had taken down the King of the Wild Hunt- before placing them on the floor near where his armor was neatly laid out. Their room was the largest one the inn had available, with a bed plenty big enough for them both, a small side table, window, and the best part in Dominik's opinion, a massive tub big enough for both.

"Oh, I'm sure I can handle it; I have some good teachers. Also don't act like you weren't completely helpless at some lessons when we were younger," She said, as Dominik went to work pulling folding his shirt. He heard her placing down both her swords. "We split the bestiary up for a reason while training."

"This is true," He said, yawning as he rolled his shoulders in the mirror and examined his face. "I was hopeless on certain things without you to help. I think I got most monster groups memorized by now though, weaknesses and strengths, all of them. I'll be sure to teach you all I know my darling."

He turned to wink at her, which made her scoff roll her eyes. Dominik's gaze lingered when he saw her pulling the knots out of her hair. It spilled down her back before she started pulling off her top and corset.

Gods is she gorgeous… how lucky am I to get to be with her? He liked to think after the last few weeks, he knew every single curve on her body, and loved every single part of her. Seriously, I mean look at me, how did I manage to end up with her?

Curious, he examined himself in the mirror, looking at his bare chest, stomach and face. He never thought himself particularly handsome, even before the scars. The scars dominated his body now, he assumed some women may have found them handsome due to his more chiseled looking face, sharper cheekbones and jawline. However, the scar would be the first thing most people looked at now.

Even after all the weeks of it being there, Dominik still found himself often simply running his hand over the mark. Right from the corner where the bridge of his nose met his right eye all the way down his cheek.

Gods, Eredin was inches away from doing to me what I did to Avallac'h. Bella had described the sage's face during their fight. Apparently, his magically enhanced dagger blow had cut almost the entirety of the sage's cheek off, and completely taken out his eye. Bella told him how the flab of cheek blew off the sage's face.

I should've stabbed instead of cut… could've ended him there, he thought sighing into the mirror. Doesn't matter now… I will… someday. I'm going to watch him slowly bleed out in front of me.

The idea of Avallach's cheek flab however sent a sick feeling into his stomach, and a shiver down his spine. Right, let's not think about that right now.

Pushing the thoughts from his mind he rubbed his arms before looking down at the tub and smiled. Set out all around it were a series of candles on iron candlesticks. With the snap of his fingers, the candles all lit, illuminating their room perfectly.

"Oh, brave Witcher, I'm such an honored young maiden!" Ciri said in her mocking voice, and Dominik could hear her trying to laugh. "I'm truly blessed to learn from the great Dominik of Cintra himself! The Young Wolf! The Slayer of the King of the Wild Hunt! Witcher extraordinaire, taker of young women's virtue!"

"Virtue?" He said, snorting a laugh as he walked over to the tub. "Seriously?"

"I am!" Ciri's voice said behind him, feigning offense. "I was nice and proper young lady, the model young princess until I met you."

He scoffed, running his hand through the water in the tub. "Okay miss, 'let's sneak out of the castle and run away to a magical forest full of dryads when I'm nine years old'. You really were the model princess."

"Hey, if I hadn't done that then I would've had to marry some fat princeling," She said from behind him again. "And I also got to meet Geralt, so you should be thanking me for doing that mister."

"Okay, okay fine, thank you Ciri for running off into an enchanted forest alone," He said, standing up, and unbuckling his trousers. "You were a model princess your entire time, so virtuous, and me, the incorrigible guard captain's son stole that virtue from you! Despite the fact you threw the apple at me first."

"Are you really going to complain that I did?" She asked.

"No…not at all," He said, pulling his trousers out from around his ankles, standing in just his knickers over the tub again. A question came into his mind, one he realized he had been wondering for an exceptionally long time. "Why… did you throw that apple at me? You knew who I was, we'd just never met. Why didn't you just ask my father to introduce me?"

"Because well… I thought you were incredibly cute," She said, her voice lower, a fondness to it as he could hear her shuffling and moving behind him. "And… I was worried that if… if I were introduced to you as the princess, you'd act different. I… wanted to see if you liked who I was without knowing my title first."

A warmth washed through his chest. "Well… don't gotta worry about that. I loved you then, I love you now… and I'm going to love you for the rest of the time I got on this earth. Looks like it might be a while too, Alexander said that our magic will probably keep us alive for a bit longer than most people."

A few seconds past before she shakily sighed and spoke again, sounding as if she was out of breath.

"You… you know you're being awfully sweet today, more than usual," She said. "I… I love you. You know I… I actually had something I was supposed to tell you a few weeks ago, but I completely forgot."

"What's that?" He said, grabbing some of the flower petals they had been using for their baths, and gently dropping a few into the water.

"Do you remember when I told you… I saw my grandmother? In the Cave of Life?" She said.

He smiled, more warmth flooding his body. "I do yeah… I really miss her. I… I wish I had gotten to say goodbye. Wonder what she'd think of us ending up together like this now, hope she wouldn't mind."

"Oh, she wouldn't have minded trust me," She quipped, sounding almost giddy as she laughed. "Ha… she really wouldn't have minded. Do… do you remember how back then, I said it was odd, and I was worried, because grandmother hadn't tried to marry me off since I met you?"

"Of course," He said, scoffing as he dropped in the last petal, admiring the ring of candles around the tub. He laughed as he shook his head. "It was my worst fear to be honest, one of the reasons I didn't tell you how much I liked you. I wonder who she-."

"Dominik…." She cut him off, laughing as she spoke breathlessly again. "She… she said that she was going to let us be together! If the Nilfgaardians hadn't invaded, she was going to tell us when we turned twelve a few months later. You would've been King of Cintra!"

Dominik looked down at the swallow around his bare chest and neck. His fingers gently twisted it in his fingers, what felt like a permeant smile on his face.

When was the last time I smiled like this? It… it had to have been in Ellander… with Ciri before we got separated. He let the revelation of hers sink into his mind. Me… King of Cintra, huh… I would've been hopeless at it. That's such a big thing to learn but… but why don't I care about how I could have been King?

He smiled down at the swallow. Because… all I ever cared about was you… it was always you.

Him, and Ciri. Destiny or not, he was more thankful for the life he led, the one that led him to her, then he was for anything else in his life.

And now he had her, he really, truly had her.

He squeezed the swallow, and soon found himself looking out the window, towards the large full moon that stared back at him.

Queen Calanthe… Pavetta… mother… father… I got her… I kept my promise. I got her back… and I'm going to keep her safe, for you… for me… and most importantly for her… and one day we'll all see each other again.

He felt a warm pair of slim arms hug him from behind, slipping around his waist and squeezing at his hard, toned stomach. Ciri's breath trickled down his neck, her chest pressed against his muscled back, and he sighed contentedly, spinning around to meet her.

She wore only her small clothes, and looked up at him, eyes shining, ashen locks falling over her shoulders and back. Her hands found their way around his neck, and he pulled her close, both smiling madly at one another. She smiled and worked the fingers of her right hand through his messy brown locks of hair, it was soothing, the most soothing thing he'd felt in his entire life. He trailed his hands up and down her waist, her back, exploring every curve, every nape, every piece of her he could.

Soon, his one hand found its way to her cheek while the other rested at her waist. She continued smiling and playing with his hair, simply standing there in his arms, holding onto him while he did the same to her.

This… this is what real warmth feels like…

"Dominik?" She said, softly, smiling ear to ear, that beautiful, beautiful smile. "Did you hear what I said? You could have been King of Cintra!"

"Ha… you know, I don't really care much about that," He said, holding her pressed up against him, his thumb trailing down her cheek, down her scar.

She scoffed and laughed, the most beautiful sound in the world. "Haha… you may be the first man to ever learn he could have been a King and said, 'I don't care much'."

He shook his head, his emerald eyes not leaving hers. "Well, most men don't have a woman in their life as amazing as you… I would trade being King of a hundred Kingdoms if it meant I got to spend the rest of my life with you. I… guess if Queen Calanthe really meant that… well then… then this was always meant to be."

"Seems like it…" She said, resting her head on his chest. "Do you mind?"

"No… not one bit," He said, running his hands through her hair.

Juniper and cedarwood… ever since you were eleven princess… gods is it beautiful.

She pulled her head off his chest and looked at him. "Good… because neither do I. So… are you ready to spend forever with me? Like you said, we may live a long time."

Dominik met her eyes… it felt so good to be this warm.

"Ciri," He said, his thumb gently stroking over her cheek again. "I've been ready for that from the minute I met you… and every minute since."

She looked as if all the air had been sucked out of her, like it was hard for her to breath as she smiled. He felt goosebumps travel up her arms, and the smile he loved never left her face. She only kissed him once, but it was long, soft, sweet, and it was if a hundred bombs went off all over his lips at once.

And just like every time she kissed him; it was the most amazing thing he ever experienced.

"Okay…" She said breathlessly, her chest rising and falling under her breasts, which were still up against his chest as she looked up at him. "Let… let me pay you back for that. Come on, that bath is calling our name… what do you say handsome?"

A warm room at the inn. A hot bath. Ciri. Their life together in front of them… it was all he ever had dreamed off.

He nodded. "Yeah… come on princess, let's get all cleaned up… then… then get some rest."

She pulled him into a kiss again, and this time for much longer than a few seconds.

Dominik finally could say with certainty, with the utmost clarity… that he was happy.

He was happy, he was warm, he would never look over the edge of that cliff again.

And after everything that they both had been through… he and Ciri were finally going to get the rest that they deserved.

A/N: So… here it is ladies and gentlemen… we've reached the end. I was originally going to do the narration from Dandelion that normally plays after you finish a playthrough of the Witcher 3, however that makes everything so final, and as you all hopefully know, I have plenty more I'm going to write for sequels. If I put a definitive ending credits like that it would contradict some things I have planned. So, we end on well… what the story had been about this whole time, Dominik and Ciri's journey to heal themselves. And as I said, it's not going to right away be healed… but for now they're okay, they're warm… they're happy.

I honestly won't lie about how emotional I got writing this. When you commit yourself to something like this and have written over 2,000,000 words in a single year for one story well… you grow so attached and grow so in love with your story. Yes, I know only a few of them are my own original characters, but I liked to think THIS version of Ciri, Geralt, Yen and all the already made characters are mine, THIS version of them are what I created. I hope that makes sense, it's also part of the reason I'm so late updating this, I… just didn't want it to end. I know I have sequels, but this is emotional after spending so long writing to actually finish. I never thought I would make it to the Isle of Mists, let alone the actual end…

A big part of that is thanks to all the support I received from you all on here, and on the Instagram page I created for this story. I have tons of fanart, dozens of new friends and followers, and even came up with the ideas for my own original story thanks to this story, and you've all been a big part so thank you.

Like I said last chapter, in this one we don't have too much happen. We mainly learn about what's been going on in the world in the few weeks since the Battle of Undvik. I wanna clarify it's been about 3-4 weeks at this point. Our first sequel will take place a month after this last chapter.

So, what do you all think about what we heard? How successful will Adda be? Why's she hoarding wagons? What will happen now with Emhyr? How far will he go? What about what we heard Freya, Faram and George are up too? What about Dominik and Ciri now having to use their powers as little as possible?

Also, we get a foreboding scene with Avallac'h. I actually originally wrote this with that scene at the end but to be honest, I didn't wanna end the story on that kind of tone. After so much death, destruction and fighting, I wanted to have something nice and sweet to finish. So, we get it in the middle… and yes, we will be seeing Avallac'h again. He's going to be involved in something much much bigger down the line I can't wait for you all to see.

We also see Bella, and learn what she'll be doing. Now, I originally did think for a bit about having Bella go travel with Dominik and Ciri however, I feel myself and everyone else would much rather just see Dominik and Ciri alone for a few short stories, and then of course Fiona. Also Bella is like super powerful xD Like, any problem or threat that arises from them, the three would be able to absolutely crush whatever it is lol We WILL see Bella in sequels in the future, and some short stories, but she will only come in if the problem is a BIG one.

NOW THIS NEXT NOTE IS IMPORTANT EVEN IF YOU SKIP READING THE REST OF THE NOTE READ THIS BELOW!

SO, if you've all read my profile you'll know I have four sequels planned. I have those four, along with a series of short stories which I will post episodically as I write them.

The FIRST Sequel, which I give about a week or two before the first chapter is done and ready (Since I do need to give myself a small break xD) will be The Great Northern Gambit: The First Push.

The Great Northern Gambit: The First Push, will be a shorter sequel. It was originally going to be a short story, but I had too many ideas. Go and read the synopsis on my profile for more information! It will be about 15-20 chapters, MAYBE less, not entirely sure. After that we'll have Hearts of Stone, which will also be about 15-20 chapters, Blood and Wine which will be around 25-30, and the finally Pain and Remembrance will be the last DLC, that will probably be around 30-35 chapters as well.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY AND MY PERSONAL PROFILE! I don't want any of you who want to read the sequels to miss out, so be sure to follow them! Or go and follow the Instagram for this story which is dominik_of_cintra

dominik_of_cintra

One again that is the Instagram name, I have TONS of amazing fanart for this story, and my original in development story. If you wanna chat with me, see cool artwork and talk Witcher and other fantasy stuff go and follow there!

I also will be posting a small update on this story when each sequel starts, so be sure to again follow this story and my personal profile so you can know when it comes out!

So… this is our last AN for this story. I remember a year ago writing this, and saying to myself 'nobody is going to like this, why bother posting', but in the end I said screw it and posted it anyway. I got mixed reviews at first, but I had some AMAZING people who have helped me through it, you all know who you are ; ) I've had people tell me this story has helped them through rough times, has helped make them smile during a horrible pandemic, and that my original characters are some of my favorites. That's why I write stories, to make people happy, and I really, really hope that I made some of your years better by writing this.

Thanks to all your support I actually accomplished this. I have read in a bunch of places that most writers who write pro, try to write around an average of 100,000 words a year… in one year I've wrote a story with 2,000,000 it's given me the confidence to truly truly have a go at this original story I'm planning, and so… thank you ALL, thank you Faram, George, Freya, Geralt, Yennefer, and most importantly Dominik and Ciri.

Now… for the final time, I never like to seem like I'm begging for reviews, but since this is the very last chapter, if you all could please, just let me know what you think how the story made you feel, how long have you been reading, what you liked what you're looking forward to seeing in sequels. It can be as long or as short as you want, but I really wanna hear your thoughts and see what you're all looking forward too the most.

SO, finally… all good things must have an end. This without a doubt won't be the last story you all get from me, so I HOPE I will see you all in the next story, because the story of Dominik and Ciri, the Young Wolf and the Swallow… is far from over…