A/N: So, like I said, our moment of peace is over. Strap in folks and enjoy the ride. Thanks for all your lovely comments as usual, they feed my imagination and keep me writing. See you next week and read, review and enjoy! :)

Chapter 25

Lambert knew something was wrong even before he smelt them. He had been gathering supplies for his date with Ellie on the lake, when an ominous foreboding feeling crept up his spine. He had paused, mid step in the main hall. His senses on red alert as he tried to pinpoint exactly what had got his hackles up. His medallion was still, but there was a tugging in his gut that told him whatever was going on it involved her.

Breaking into a sprint, he tore through the doors leading out into the upper courtyard. Geralt and Vesemir were stood talking, both of them whipping round to face him as he flew past them.

'What in Melitele's name is the matter?' Vesemir barked. Lambert didn't slow as he shouted back over his shoulder.

'Something's wrong. Ellie's in trouble.' He didn't look back to see if they had got the message, ploughing on through the second yard, jumping the wall to save time. He was vaguely aware of two sets of pursuing footsteps as he came to the archway that separated the second yard from the lower one. He scanned the training ground for movement, certain he had left her next to the training dummies when he had gone back to retrieve his gear. There was no one. Feeling his heartbeat rise in panic, he strained his senses to get some idea of what was happening. That was when he got a whiff of the uninvited guests.

They were concentrated around the main gate to the keep and now, aware of their location, he could hear raised voices coming from that direction. Geralt and Vesemir caught up with him just as he took off again at full speed.

'Gods damn it all Lambert. What's happe-' Vesemir began, his abrupt cut off signalling he too had become aware of the strange scents. 'With me Geralt.' He finished, and Lambert heard them follow.

He slowed to a brisk walk as he entered the entrance tunnel, connecting the main gate of the keep to the lower yard. Eskel was stood facing the open gateway, his sword drawn and held defensively in front of him. Whomever was out there was blocked by his intimidating presence, but it was the much smaller figure pressed against the wall behind him that Lambert was focused on. He was next to her in three quick strides, his eyes sweeping over her, taking in her tense posture. The scent of her fear and distress was sickening, and he felt his hackles rise further until he was practically snarling down at her.

'What's up Blue eyes?' He said tersely. His jaw so tight from supressed panic that it was hard getting the words out. She glanced up at him, her eyes wide and a worrying deep-sea blue. Only one word left her by way of reply, but it was enough to set Lambert's teeth on edge, his skin tightening with anger.

'Gaetan.' She whispered. His head snapped round to look at the gathered men for the first time. He could see in an instant that they were all witchers. The majority from the School of the Cat judging by their armour, only one was different. A great hulking mass of muscle, two daggers strapped to his front, his amber eyes hidden in deep set sockets. Lambert had never met the witcher but he knew of him through Geralt's tales. This was Letho, from the School of the Viper. A formidable killing machine, of monsters and often times, men. Nicknamed the Kingslayer. Next to him stood the far less intimidating, but no more welcome sight of Gaetan. The cat recognised Lambert, his face stretching into a menacing sneer.

'Well met wolf. I see you decided to keep your little pet instead of finishing your contract on her. Is the demon really that good in the sack?'

Lambert moved up with lightning speed next to his brother, his steel sword already half drawn. 'What did you say you fucking whoreson? How 'bout I cut that smirk off your ugly fucking face and see who many whores agree to fuck you after that?'

'Lambert.' Eskel's warning was low, and half hearted. He could feel the anger emanating from his usually calm brother in waves. Obviously, the cat's insult had struck a nerve with him as well.

Gaetan simply snorted, his nostrils flaring as he smelt the air. 'Argh, fuck.' He exclaimed, his face contorting into one of disgust. 'You reek of sulphur wolf. You really are fucking that thing aren't you? Sick.'

Lambert's anger was white hot and instant. He didn't even have enough cognitive ability left to form words as he lunged for the other witcher. A feral growl ripping from between his clenched teeth, as he unsheathed his sword and swung it towards Gaetan's leering face. There was a brief moment where he thought he was actually going to connect with the witcher's skull, so sudden was his attack. However, just as the blade came whistling down towards his quarry there was a ringing clang, of metal on metal and his sword was stopped in mid-air. Lambert easily absorbed the shock of the abrupt stop in his arms, but he could feel the force of it rippling throughout his body. Glancing to the side he saw Letho had moved and was now mere inches away from him, his figure towering over Lambert, the glowing amber sparks of his eyes barely visible in the shadows of his face. One of his tree truck sized arms was extended and he could now see that the monstrous witcher had blocked his sword with one of his daggers.

'Hold wolf. Unless you want to turn this into a massacre.' Letho said, his voice a rumbling monotone. Almost as if he were bored of the entire situation. Lambert snarled at him, his vision clouded with red, his blood lust for Gaetan still hot in his veins.

'Enough. Stand down Lambert. Let's hear what they want.' Vesemir's command rang out behind him. Reluctantly he stepped back, lowering his sword but glaring fiercely at Gaetan and Letho.

'I know what they want.' He spat, keeping his body between the cat and Ellie.

'We're here to collect on a contract, and you're harbouring a marked monster in your keep. Not exactly abiding by the witcher code are you, wolves?' Gaetan's gaze had moved past Lambert to stare at where Vesemir was stood over his shoulder.

'Code? Never thought I'd here a cat so invested in a code. Tell me, was it a code that you were all following when you betrayed us at the witcher tournament and slaughtered my brothers?' The tension amongst the group rose, as to a man the witchers wearing cat armour bristled.

'We aren't here to talk about the past.' Gaetan snarled. Vesemir moved so he was level with Lambert. The young witcher caught his stern expression out of the corner of his eye.

'No, you aren't. But I can't forget it when you arrive here unannounced, uninvited, threatening people in my care.'

'People? I thought that thing was meant to be a demon?' Letho interjected, casting Gaetan a questioning look.

'It is a demon. And it's got every single one of these weak-minded fools under its influence. Are you fucking all of them, demon?!' He raised his voice, craning past Lambert to try and see the girl hidden behind him.

'Watch your tongue you stinking sewer rat before I cut it out.' Lambert hissed, raising his sword to eye level again. Vesemir held out a hand to quiet him. The rage inside him was like a white-hot poker, searing his blood and screaming at him to make these whoresons run screeching from their doorway like stuck pigs. It made obeying his teacher all the harder as Vesemir took another step towards them, his hands clasped casually behind his back.

'I would really appreciate if you stop insulting my guest, what was it? Gaetan? Fact is, the demon is within the protection of our keep and therefore belongs to us. If Lambert, who I believe was the first to take out a contract on her head, decides he wishes to fulfil it then it is his pleasure to do so, but I cannot allow you to take someone who I've promised sanctuary to while she resides here.' He took another step until he was nose to nose with Gaetan. 'There's a code for you, seeing as you're so invested in them, all of a sudden.'

Lambert could hear Gaetan's teeth grinding together as he glared at Vesemir. The older witcher didn't even blink as the other seethed in front of him. 'I have a lot of respect for you old timer, but we don't ask your permission. We'll take the creature by force if we have to.' Letho said in his bored monotone, unsheathing his other dagger as if to highlight his point.

'Letho?' Geralt said. The giant witcher looked at his old acquaintance, shrugging.

'Sorry Geralt, but these guys hired me to do a job, and you know me…money's money.'

'Hmm.' Geralt said by way of response, and Lambert could hear his brother's disdain in that one syllable.

'I don't want a fight, but if you insist on continuing down that path, we will have no choice but to defend what is ours.' Vesemir said slowly. The tension ramped up further as the prospect of a brawl loomed.

Good, thought Lambert, let them come. He kept his eyes locked on Gaetan, the first one he would kill. There was an almost calming thrumming noise in his head, as he let his territorial rage build. The need to protect Ellie consuming him.

They will not take her from me. He chanted, the grip on his sword tightening. The only regret he had was having his brothers involved. Eskel would kill for Blue eyes as easily as he would, but Geralt and Vesemir shouldn't die for his choices. Still, he couldn't think about them now, he just had to think about killing as many of these whoresons as he could and getting Ellie to safety.

The other witchers were reaching for their weapons. There were four others he didn't recognise from the School of the Cat, along with Gaetan and Letho making it six. Witchers were so few and far between these days that it was impressive he had managed to gather so many. An ominous thought crossed his mind, what was the price on Blue eyes to get the attention of so many of his kind?

Gaetan leered at Lambert as he drew his own sword, it was obvious the time for talk was over. These fuckers weren't leaving without a fight. 'I'm gonna' enjoy killing you demon fucker.' He snarled.

Lambert felt his own lips curl up, baring his teeth. 'Likewise.' He gritted out, preparing to strike low, going for the whoreson's legs first.

'Stop this!' Ellie's voice rang out. Lambert turned, fearful that she had left the safety of the keep's gate and was coming towards him, but she was stood in the archway, her eyes a storm-tossed navy. 'No one is going to die for me today.'

'Surrendering would make things easier, although…I do love a good fight.' Letho said, easing his tense stance, his daggers held loosely at his side.

'I'm not surrendering.' Ellie responded, her tone was commanding. Not a trace of fear in it. Lambert felt his heart swell with pride, and a sliver of dread at what she was planning.

'Then we'll take you by force demon. The contract wanted you alive, but we can deliver you in pieces and still get a good price.' It took every ounce of strength for Lambert not to swing for Gaetan again. The cat had turned his attention to the girl, his amber eyes blazing with unconcealed hatred.

'Let's make a deal.' She said calmly. The witchers all turned to stare at her.

'Ellie?' Vesemir's voice was low with warning. She ignored him, her eyes fixed on Gaetan.

'Pfft, if you think I'm making a deal with you, you're as crazy as these traitors.'

'Make this deal and you'll have a better chance of collecting your contract than if you try and fight your way to me. There may be more of you, but if you harm any of my friends I promise I won't go down without making it extremely hard for you first.' Gaetan deliberated for a moment. One of the other cats leant forward and murmured low in his ear.

'Be careful brother, you shouldn't trust a demon.' Gaetan waved the other witcher away.

'What's the deal?' Ellie smiled, but it wasn't her normal sunny grin, this was a bitter, nasty smile that didn't reach her eyes.

'I'll give you seven days to try and capture or kill me. If any of you manage to do so, you can have me, and no one here will retaliate against you.'

'Like fuck we won't!' Lambert erupted. What was she doing? Did she really think they'd just let these fuckers waltz into Kaer Morhen and take her from them? From him!

'No. You won't.' She said, her glare flashing to him. Lambert glared right back, trying to convey his disapproval at her plan through a look alone.

'And what do you get out of this?' Gaetan asked, interrupting their domestic.

'If none of you capture or kill me by the end of the seven days, you leave, and never come back.' Gaetan smiled, glancing round at the group with him. Lambert felt a cold stone of fear settle in his stomach.

'I want to add my own terms.' He finally said, jutting his chin out. An arrogant, begging to be punched, expression on his face.

'Of course.' She replied.

Gaetan's eyes scanned him and his brothers, still stood in a protective arc in front of the girl. Lambert felt Eskel bristle under his stare, the usually diplomatic witcher emanating an aura of loathing. He had felt uncomfortable with his brother's infatuation with Ellie for a long time, but right now he was never more grateful for the steadfast ally in keeping her safe.

'Firstly, you leave the keep.'

'Go fuck yourself, you slimy feline.' Lambert spat, taking a step forward. Letho appeared in front of him, blocking his line of sight with Gaetan. The towering witcher stared down at him with those sunken pits for eyes and shook his head slowly. Lambert ground his teeth together in frustration.

'Secondly, you don't use any weapons, or get any aid from your wolf bodyguards. It's just you versus us. Monster versus witchers. Agreed?'

'Not exactly a fair fight.' Geralt said. His sudden contribution earning him a sour glare from Gaetan.

'Agreed.' Ellie's answer took all of them aback, all of the wolves that was. Gaetan's arrogant smirk grew and he gave a triumphant look to his gathered crew. Eskel and Lambert both erupted at the same time.

'El, don't be stupid. We can take them!'

'If you think I'm gonna' let you go through with this Blue eyes, you've got another fucking thing coming!'

Ellie's eyes darkened to a deep blue, bordering on black. The air growing hotter around them. 'Shut up! Both of you. I'm not asking for your permission, and I won't let a massacre happen because of me.' She stepped out of the shadow of the gateway, and weaved between Vesemir and Lambert's shoulders to stand in front of Gaetan. He flinched back as she held her hand out to him, and Lambert couldn't help smirking at the sign of weakness from the witcher. Still, that fear was weighing him down, pushing on his chest. She was strong and capable, but alone against six witchers? Even he had his doubts whether she would make it through this. He knew Ellie; he knew she wouldn't change her mind if it meant keeping him safe. She was stubborn like that. It was why he loved her.

'Seven days. If I catch any of you, you're out. You catch me, and I'm yours.' Lambert felt helpless. He watched in slow motion as Gaetan raised his hand towards hers.

'You have a deal demon.' He said, an unmistakable smug note to his voice. In his head, he'd already won.

He gripped Ellie's forearm, and she clasped his. The girl's slender fingers tightened around the muscle of his arm for a brief moment, the air becoming unbearably hot and metallic on his tongue. He registered the shock on Gaetan's face just as he saw Ellie's eyes turn an ominous, inky black. She was withdrew her arm, sliding her fingers along the witcher's skin. Gaetan let out a yelp of surprise and snapped his hand back, but not before Lambert saw the vivid scarlet mark on his inner wrist. It glowed red for a second before dimming. Like a brand. It bared a resemblance to Ellie's own mark; a perfect triangle but instead of two more triangles inside it, there was a cross instead.

'Bitch.' Gaetan swore, staring in outrage at the mark she had left. Lambert frowned, unsure what it all meant, but as he looked over his shoulder at the others he saw Geralt's eyes focused on Gaetan's new scar with an intensity that alarmed him.

'The deal is done.' Ellie said solemnly. Her eyes drifting back from black just enough to see a glimmer of blue in them again. 'The hunt begins at sunset. I'll leave Kaer Morhen then.'

Without another word she turned and walked back into the keep. Lambert watched her go, his heart beating rapidly in his chest. What had she done?

'Gentlemen, for obvious reasons I won't be inviting you to stay in the keep. I'm sure you'll be able to find somewhere comfortable in the forest now that the snows are easing.' Vesemir's tone was light, but his look was as cold and unyielding as steel. The old witcher gave the gathered group one last cursory sweep before turning and following Ellie back inside.

Geralt shadowed him, his shoulders tense. Then it was just Eskel and him left. His scarred, older brother gave them all a venomous look, before spitting on the ground near Gaetan's feet.

'Coward.' He said darkly. Stalking off, but not before giving Lambert a similarly deadly glance. Blames me, does he? Jackass. He thought.

'We'll get your freaky demon girlfriend, wolf.' Lambert's head swung back round to zero in on Gaetan. The cat witcher grinned nastily at him. 'And then, deal or not, we'll be back to finish you…traitor.'

With a control that Vesemir would have been proud of, Lambert analysed each of the witcher's faces with an impassive look. He memorised every scar, every feature, every detail of them. Storing it away for future reference. Then he looked back at Gaetan, his mouth twisting into an equally ugly sneer as he leant into him.

'And deal or not, I'll be looking forward to it.' He hissed. Then, quick as a flash, he moved back inside the keep and made sure to send the heavy wooden gate crashing down in their faces.

'What the fuck were you thinking?!'

'I was thinking I didn't want to see you all risk your necks for me. I can look after myself. Unable to die, remember?' Lambert let out a laboured breath, pinching the bridge of his nose as his anger threatened to cloud his judgement.

'Yes, you're unable to die, but you heard them. The contract wants you alive! Whoever hired them knows what you are and needs you for something. And you just want to gift wrap yourself and hand yourself over?' Ellie let out her own heavy sigh.

'No, I intend to win.' Eskel shifted awkwardly next to the fighting couple.

'No offence El, but alone, with no weapons, against six of them. The odds aren't great.'

'I agree with him.' Lambert said, jabbing a thumb towards his brother. Eskel gave him a filthy look.

'Well, no offence, I'm pretty sure some of you would've died, if not been seriously injured if I'd let you fight back there. So, I came up with something with less collateral damage.' She glared at the two of them, arms crossed defiantly in front of her. Lambert wanted to shake her. Force some sense back into her head.

'It's a good plan.' Vesemir's gruff voice made them all turn. He was stood a few feet away, Geralt, Merigold and Yennefer behind him. 'If you can evade them for that long.'

He gave Lambert a warning look as he walked towards them. The young witcher bit his tongue. 'My child, are you sure about this? Facing off against six experienced witchers without weapons sounds like a fool's errand. At least take something to defend yourself with.'

Ellie shook her head. 'The deal is made. If I renege on it now I will be forfeit to them.' Her face split into a wide smile. 'Besides, I don't need a weapon to evade or incapacitate them. I'll have the forest.'

Vesemir looked about as convinced by her statement as Lambert felt, but he didn't say anything else. Eskel huffed in frustration.

'Why did you give them so long as well? A whole week?' He said.

'I needed them to accept the deal. They wouldn't have gone for it if I gave them less time.' She smiled at them serenely, her eyes still a darker shade of blue than Lambert would have liked. 'I appreciate all your concern, but I'll be fine. Either I'll force them to leave or they'll take me off your hands. All that matters is you're all safe.'

Lambert opened his mouth to protest but before he could an imperious voice cut in. 'What a very noble and sanctimonious demon you are.' All eyes turned to Yennefer. She swayed towards them, her mouth pulled into a bitchy sneer. 'Did it ever cross your mind that this was what we've been waiting for?'

'They aren't demons Yen, I would've known.' Ellie said, her tone defensive.

'But they might be working for one. If you leave the keep and they catch you, we might not be able to help.' Lambert had to admit that even he agreed with Yennefer on this occasion. All of his fears and anger at the situation had just been voiced by the witch.

'I've already asked too much of you all.' Ellie muttered, her eyes flicking up to meet his.

'It's too late to change things now, like you said. What's done is done. We can't assist you, but we can certainly keep an eye on things.' Vesemir had taken charge, addressing the gathered group of witchers and sorceresses. 'We'll patrol the forest. At least if anything unexpected happens we'll know about it.'

'I'll take the first watch.' Lambert said before Vesemir had even finished speaking. The old witcher eyed him sceptically for a moment, before nodding his head.

'Fine. Eskel will take over once the sun is up.'

He could feel Ellie staring at him but he wasn't about to let her force his hand anymore. She had put herself in this position without consulting him, he'd at least be able to keep an eye on her.

'You can't do anything if they win you know. That was part of the deal.' A long silence followed Ellie's words. It was broken not by Lambert, but by Eskel kicking out at a nearby brazier. It clattered loudly, sparks flying from the sudden disturbance, the flame inside flickering wildly.

'Shit. So, we just stand by as they drag you away in chains, or worse…in pieces?'

'Yes.' She said simply. Lambert could feel a pressure building behind his eyes as he looked at his brother. His unvented anger from earlier simmering under the surface of his uneasy acceptance of Ellie's choice. Vesemir broke the tension in his usual fashion, by avoiding the subject entirely.

'The sun is not long from setting child. You should prepare what you can before you need to leave.'

She sighed heavily. 'No need. I'll slip away now if it's all the same to you.' She walked over to Lambert, ignoring everyone's awkward looks as she placed a gentle hand on his arm. 'Please don't do anything stupid.'

'You know I can't promise that when it comes to you.' He growled, cupping her cheek with his palm. She gave him a sad smile, her eyes soft as he leant down to kiss her. It was slow and passionate, enough to convey his disapproval of the whole thing but not too much to sour the tender moment. He didn't care that the others were still there, let them see…especially Eskel. Too soon for his liking she broke away. Her eyes drifted open, her smile a little less sad now.

'Don't make me do anything stupid Blue eyes.' He said, his voice husky from the kiss.

'I'll see you in seven days.' She whispered back, her own kind of promise, before leaving them all stood awkwardly in the hall.

'What now?' Eskel said, breaking the silence.

'Now, we watch and wait.' Vesemir said, folding his arms. 'Just hope the girl knows what she's letting herself in for.' Lambert felt the bile rise in his throat as the truth in Vesemir's words sunk in. Yennefer let out a derisive snort before sweeping off to her tower. Merigold fidgeted, her expression desperate.

'Maybe there's a protection spell I can use?'

'No, she said we weren't to intervene and we won't.' Vesemir said sternly. The sorceress glanced at Geralt who was stood rigid and immovable next to her.

'The mark she left on that witcher's arm, you said you'd seen something like it before?'

'Yes, on me.' Lambert frowned, giving his brother a mistrustful look. 'It's binding. Whatever they agreed upon, the witcher will be held to it as much as she will. We should just let events play out.'

'Fine. Gods protect her.' The old witcher huffed, turning stiffly and leaving them. Geralt and Merigold followed soon after, until it was just him and Eskel left. The two witchers stared at each other sullenly.

'We're not seriously going to let them take her if they win, are we?' Eskel's voice sounded hollow in Lambert's ears. The pent-up rage and frustration making it hard to think sensibly about anything.

'You heard her. Don't do anything stupid.'

'We can make it look like an accident.' There was an edge to his voice that made Lambert's hackles rise. An accusatory look in his eyes that had the younger witcher clenching his hands into fists.

'Look, I don't know how demon shit like that works. It could back fire and end up hurting her.'

'But we at least have to try…'

'Shut the fuck up Eskel. Stop trying to make me feel guilty for just happened.' Eskel's expression darkened.

'I was ready to fight them Lambert. They came to my home and threatened my…'. Lambert took a deliberate step towards him.

'Your what, exactly?' Eskel let out a laboured sigh, the tension leaking out of him.

'My friend.'

'Is that so?' Lambert bit out between clenched teeth. He had wanted to punch something since that whoreson Gaetan had shown his ugly face, and his brother's dangerously personal reaction to Ellie's agreement was really pissing him off.

'I've not said anything about the shit you pulled during the celebration, but you better back the fuck off Eskel.' There was a flash of challenge in the scarred witcher's eyes, but it subsided instantly.

'Sorry Lambert. I over stepped. I'm just worried about El.' The fight went out of him the moment he saw the pathetic figure Eskel suddenly was. He had always liked him above his other witcher brothers. His gentle, easy nature hard to hate, even for him. The last thing he wanted was for them to grow apart because of something they could agree on; that Ellie's safety was paramount.

'It's fine.' He said, unclenching his fists and rubbing a hand on his neck. 'We'll do like Vesemir said, watch and wait. If she fucks it, we'll revisit that accident idea of yours.' Relief flooded Eskel's face, and the ghost of smile pulled at his mouth. 'If these fuckers think they can wander in and take what they want, we'll make sure they regret even being born.' Lambert grinned nastily.

Eskel's smile stretched wide in answer. 'That's more like the Lambert I know.' He said, his eyes reflecting back the fierce determination Lambert felt.