CHAPTER 1 - FIRE
*** 5 years later ***
Roni
I quickly catch the small jar in the air which I almost dropped a second ago. I need to be more careful if I want to be ready for the afternoon. But I'm so excited that I barely can concentrate. Today I finally meet Geralt again! My learning years are over and I can join him as he promised! I'm unable to contain my enthusiasm as I collect more stuffs for the road.
All these years we only wrote to each other. Okay, it was quite frequently, at least twice a month, but still, seeing and being with him is another story.
"-alright?" Triss waves her hand in front of me as I just notice her. I got lost in my thoughts again, daydreaming...
"What?"
"I asked if you were alright" She repeats herself smirking. She knows exactly how I feel.
"Is Geralt here already?" I question impatiently as she sighs rolling her eyes.
"No." She tells me probably a hundredth of times today "But he can be in any minute" She says but she can barely finish the sentence as I hear Roach's pounding hooves getting closer. I shriek eagerly picking up the pace as I run out of the house. And there he is! I smile like an idiot as he get off of the horse.
"Right on time" I note it closing the gap between us, folding my arms around his neck. Oh, how much I missed him! I inhale his smokey scent as the memories rush me. He did keep his promise, I think tightening my hug as he finally reacts wrapping his arms around my waist. "You haven't changed a bit" I release him a few inch so I can see his face. He may have a little longer stubble, even a real beard, but otherwise, nothing. We lock eyes still smiling as he seems lost for words.
"You grew old" He eventually speaks scanning my lineaments as I raise an eyebrow.
"Complimenting a woman is not your strongest suit, I see" I comment as he realizes what he just said.
"No, I mean, you're so big now" He tries to save it, but honestly he only makes it worse.
"So I'm old and big" I frown pretending to get offended "That's exactly what I like to hear" I tease him wishing to part, but he grabs my hand pulling me back with an annoyed groan. I fall hard to his muscular chest. I hold my breath as I raise my eyes to meet his and what I see there completely mesmerize me. His amber eyes sparkle longingly as his thumb strokes the small of my back.
"You are stunningly beautiful" He lowers his husky voice whispering into my ear as his warm breath caresses my neck. My heart leaps in my chest and the blood throbs in my veins furiously. What's happening to me?
"That's better" I manages to speak nodding as a slight blush creeps across my cheeks.
"And I missed you terribly" He adds burying his face in my hair as he sighs relieved. I smile involuntary, I was waiting for this moment through endless nights and days, imagining how would it be to be in his arms again. Feeling this secure and accepted, yet I barely can believe it.
"Now you're talking" I tease him happily letting him stay like this as he long as he wants. It seems like he needs it just as much as I do.
After a minute he pulls back with a look that sends shivers down on my spine. His amber eyes see through me just like he's searching for something. I suddenly feel naked in front of him.
"What?" I ask him uneasy trying to hide my trouble.
"Nothing" He says obviously lying but I decide to let it go for now.
"Alright, then I'll get my stuffs and we can hit the road" I smile at him as he releases me. I hurry into the house grabbing my packs making a final check.
WWWWWWWW
Geralt
"Careful, Geralt" Triss steps next to me with a smirk. "I know that look" She continues as I still stare after Roni. She's changed a lot, for the good. She is a complete grown up woman, not a scared little girl I left here.
"I don't know, what are you talking about" I deny her suggestion trying to pull myself together.
"You always had a soft spot for red-heads and sorceress'." She explains but it is completely unnecessary. I'm perfectly aware that I'm doomed.
"You would know it, wouldn't you?" I ask her with a small smirk as I walk back to Roach. We have a history and although it is over now it still brings back good memories.
"She is ready, but she could learn so much more." Triss changes the tune after a kind smile. "Geralt, she has such a great gift!" She pleads for once more. In these last couple of months, she tried to convince me to make Roni stay longer. "I haven't seen this kind of power before, she's... different" She adds, getting lost in her thoughts, trying to explain it better, but I know what she means. Roni isn't a simple mage, there's something more ancient in her.
But it's her choice to make.
"Roni held her end of the deal, it's my turn now" I repeat myself. "If she wants to stay, okay, but otherwise no" I make it clear as she nods reluctantly.
"Alright" She gives in. "What about tonight? It's already late afternoon, you won't make far before you have to set up a camp" She reasons and I'm about to consider it, but then Roni interrupts us.
"No way" She walks out with her bag on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Triss, it's nothing personal, but I've been waiting for this for five years now" She says placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Thank you for everything" She hugs her tight before stepping closer to me. "Ready, Wolf?" She asks, a playful glint dancing in her eyes.
Being ready? No. But I'm willing to put up with anything this journey might brings to us...
WWWWWWWWWWWW
Roni
"So in the end you had to kill her?" I ask in disbelief. Geralt just told me a story of Stregobor and Renfi. Poor girl, they treated her as a monster and they were surprised she had to act like one to survive...
"Yeah, she went too far" He admits it reluctantly. Anyone would sense he still feels remorse for how things turned out.
"It wasn't your fault. You had no other choice" I try to reassure him, but he remains silent, still staring into the flames of our campfire. I have no idea what else to say, he's clearly torturing himself. I release a quiet sigh being sure that the conversation ends here when he starts speaking again.
" My first monster was bald and had exceptionally rotten teeth. I came across him on the highway where, with some fellow monsters, deserters, he'd stopped a peasant's cart and pulled out a little girl, maybe thirteen years old." He says reliving the memories as I listen very carefully. "His companions held her father while the bald man tore off her dress, yelling it was time for her to meet a real man. I rode up and said the time had come for him, too—I thought I was very witty." He adds scoffing. "The bald monster released the girl and threw himself at me with an axe. He was slow but tough. I hit him twice. Not clean cuts, but spectacular, and only then did he fall. His gang ran away when they saw what a witcher's sword could do to a man" He continues as I hold back a breath. I don't want to interrupt him. "They'd told me again and again in Kaer Morhen not to get involved in such incidents, not to play at being knight errant or uphold the law. Not to show off, but to work for money. And I joined this fight like an idiot." He shook his head in disappointment.
"You were no idiot at all. You saved the girl" I can't help myself and correct him. He finally looks me in the eye. His expression shows nothing but pain.
" And do you know why?" He asks and I know somehow he's going to prove his point. " I wanted her, sobbing with gratitude, to kiss her savior on the hands, and her father to thank me on his knees." He admitted it honestly then turned back to the flames. " In reality her father fled with his attackers, and the girl, drenched in the bald man's blood, threw up, became hysterical and fainted in fear when I approached her."
"Geralt..." I sit closer to him, desperately wanting to comfort him.
"I swore I'd never interfere ever again."
And yet he broke his own words, saving me...
A lump forms in my throat as I instinctively reach out for his hand to squeeze it, letting him know how grateful I am.
"Thank you"
"Sometimes it does worth it" He says simply, his thumb gently caressing the back of my hand, making my heart skip a few beats. "How come that I tell you more in this couple of hours than I ever did to anyone else?" He asks then, scoffing, rubbing his face with his palms as I release a small chuckle.
"Is that a bad thing?" I question challenging, but I'm happy he opened up to me.
"Mmm" He shakes his head. "Just unusual"
"It's okay. You'll have plenty of times to get used to it" I ensure him with a smug smile as he rolls his eyes lightheartedly.
"Fine, but now get some rest, we leave at dawn" He notes, ordering me seriously as I nod. Our first destination is Kaer Morhen. Geralt will teach me everything I need to know about him and the witchers.
Still excited it takes me a while to fall asleep, but filled with anticipation.
WWWWWWWWWWW
Geralt
The woods are silent and calm, only the fire is cracking from time to time, giving a steady rhythm to the night. I haven't slept in a while, but I'm not tired. I have a lot to think. Mostly about Roni. There's something about her I just can't figure out.
Her murmuring in her sleep brings me back to the present. Is she having a nightmare again? I wouldn't be so surprised, we all have our demons...
The air suddenly starts to vibrate, just like the night I found her, as she levitates a few inches above the ground.
"Fuck" I swear under my breath.
Didn't Triss teach her how to control the powers?
But I don't have too much time to hesitate, I quickly step to her.
"Roni" I call her, but of course, nothing. "Ron" I reach out to bring her in my arms, but with a loud scream she pushes me back with huge force. I fall hard, knocking my back to a tree.
What the hell? I groan in pain as now at least she seems awake.
"Geralt? Oh my god" She looks at me horrified. She tries to get up, but immediately she stumbles and falls.
"Don't move" I tell her clenching my teeth, standing up to help her.
"I'm sorry, so sorry" She mumbles shivering, shaking like a leaf.
"It's okay, Roni, I'm fine" I embrace her fast, reassuringly, but I almost yelp in surprise as our body touch. She's ice cold. Inhumanly. "Shit" I pull her closer to the fire, covering her with a blanket as I sit right behind her, providing more heat from behind. "What's going on, Ron?" I ask her quietly as she support her back on my chest.
"Just... a bad dream" She says her voice failing her as I tighten my arms around her. I know it's bullshit, but I let her regain her power before discussing it further more.
A good half an hour passes when I finally feel her heat rising back to the normal again. I sigh in relief, resting my chin on the top of her head.
"So..." I start expecting.
"So?"
"Care to explain?"
"I don't know... It really is just a nightmare" She shrugs weakly. "I mean, it's not even terrible, it's just..."
"About what?"
"There's a man, in full armor. His face is covered by a metal mask with spikes on top in a circle. Just like some kind of a crown..." She starts hesitantly as I feel the tense knot in my stomach. "He says nothing, just holds his hand to me. He wants me to go with him, but I know I mustn't. Something horrible would happen if I did. I feel it. And the cold... that terrible cold..." I instinctively pulls her in closer as she trembles while my mind races fast. Eredin... The Wild Hunt... Is it possible she described him? "I have no idea why did I react like this, usually it's not this bad..." She adds, making me stop.
"Usually?" I ask suspiciously, but she remains silent. "Did it happen before?"
"Yeah. I mean, I just woke up and feel a bit cold, nothing special" She admits it reluctantly.
"Since when?" I ask urgently, but she just shakes her head. "When?" I bark louder than I planned but we can't waste time.
"I don't know!" She raises her voice too. "It probably started a year ago"
"For god's sake, Roni!" I huff in frustration. "Why haven't you told me?"
"Like how? Oh, Geralt, imagine, I have a constant dream about a man who wants to take me away? Not a biggie, just thought you might want to know..." She questions bitterly. "What would've you done? Leave everything behind and come to me?" She scoffs disappointed. "It wasn't important, Geralt. It isn't." She adds, leaning back against me, exhausted.
I take a deep breath, then let it out in a long sigh. I have a really bad feeling about this, but I don't want to scare her. Who knows, maybe I'm even wrong and her dreams mean nothing... Hopefully Vesemir will know more. We have to get back to him as soon as possible.
"I would've come, you know" I answer her in a calmer tone. "And it is important. I really want to know everything that happens to you"
"Good, in this case..." She nods considering. "The last few days I started to have cramps and crave things... I think I soon might be on my period" She whispered as the matter of fact, obviously mocking me.
"Not funny" I groan, nudging her lightly, finding one of her ticklish point. She squeaks chuckling, wanting to flee, but I hold her secure and tight.
"Hey, you shouldn't take advantage of an innocent, defenseless girl" She complains, making me chuckle this time.
"Oh Roni, you are anything but those" I ensure her as she settles back, getting comfortable again in my arms.
"I hate that name, by the way" She says casually as I frown puzzled. "Roni... Every time you say it, it sounds like a child whom you should't take seriously." She explains without a question as I hum, thinking.
"Amrynn" The word leaves my lips unawares, but making perfect sense.
"Hmm?"
"It means fire in ancient elven." I explain to her.
"Right, because I have red hair... How original" She says and I'm pretty sure she even rolled her eyes too.
"No." I start patiently. "Fire is life. Can't live without it." I state the truth as I realize how much it fits her. "It keeps you warm when cold" I continue quietly, playing with her hair absentmindedly. "Safe in the night" I add, gently sweeping her locks away from her neck. "Guides you through dark places" I lean close instinctively, inhaling her sweet scent deeply in. "But it can easily destroy you if not treated or handled right" I husk, my nose slightly touching the soft spot behind her ear. She gasps eagerly, her chest rising and falling more rapidly.
"But can you... treat it right?" She ask barely audible, yet challenging while tilting her head a bit to offer her neck to me. I groan longingly, wanting to make her mine, right here, right now, not caring about the consequences.
"I let you be the judge of that" I murmur against her skin, placing a soft kiss on her neck.
"Geralt..." She moans my name, shutting out all the little reasoning I have left.
"There you are! I've been searching for you forever!" A male voice surprises us from behind.
I jump up quick, pulling out my sword and point it at the stranger's throat in a second.
Whoever it is, has a good chance of dying tonight...
