Chapter 5: Telling her Tale

The trio travelled for the whole day, stopping only for short periods to allow the horses a break and to graze. They traveled away from the Mountains and into the thick forest that seemed to go on for eternity. Barely any light could get through the tops of the trees, casting the whole forest floor in thick dark shadows. It left Ciri feeling on edge as they continued to move deeper into the forest, following the dirt path that had been worn down by the many travelers before them.

The forest had gotten almost completely dark, when Jaskier spoke up. "Oh magnificent Witcher," he called up to Geralt, from his spot in the back of the line. "Us humans can't see in the dark like you can. Perhaps we should stop for the night."

Geralt pulled Roach to a halt, turning to look back at his companions, both clearly worn out and tired from the day of travelling. Nodding, he looked around and pulled them slightly off the path into some coverage of tall, thick trees. Dismounting Roach, he tied the mare to one of the tree branches, keeping it loose enough that she could graze. Following suit, Ciri slowly slid off her mare, and tied her on a branch opposite of Roach. Jaskier tied his pony to a separate tree.

"We really should name our beasts," Jaskier suggested to Ciri, as she watched the two men pull the saddles off of the horses. She accepted her saddle bag when Geralt passed it to her. "Hmm, actually, I think I might just call mine Beast. Seems to fit. Beast, the mighty pony." He laughed at his own joke.

Ciri giggled while Geralt just rolled his eyes. Turning to look at the beautiful bay mare, Ciri thought for a few moments. "Aspen," Ciri murmured quietly, her hand on her mare's neck.

The men looked over to her. "That's a nice name," Jaskier commented, while Geralt said nothing. While they got to work building a fire and setting up the bed rolls, Ciri grabbed a brush from the horse supplies and began to clean Aspen, spending time on her muddied legs and working out all the dirt from the hair until she was left soft and clean.

Once she was spotless, she looked over to see Geralt and Jaskier talking quietly around the fire, while Geralt sharpened his sword and the Bard roasted a hare the Witcher had shot earlier. Looking over at Roach, Ciri noticed that the chestnut was also dirty, so she moved over and allowed the mare to sniff her hand. The mare's ears instantly pinned and her head shot up, causing Ciri to stiffen. "Easy now," she cooed softly, as she reached up anyways to drag the brush gently along the chestnut's coat.

It took a few minutes, but Roach finally relaxed, allowing Ciri to work out all the dirt, sweat and grime that had built up in her coat over the last day of travel. "She doesn't let many touch her," Geralt's voice came from behind her, causing Ciri to jump as she turned to look around at him.

"She's smart then," Ciri replied, thinking of all the people who have grabbed her against her will as of late. She continued to brush the mare's flank, aware that Geralt was standing next to her watching.

"Tell me what happened to you since the attack on Cinatra."

Ciri stopped her brushing, her shoulders stiffening as she remembered fleeing the city. Moving over to Beast, she began to comb through his tangled and wild mane, feeling Geralt's eyes on her back, and Jaskier's who sat listening from the fireplace.

Inhaling slowly, she began her story. "The attack came quickly, and we had no hope of winning. My grandmother was injured, and she knew that we were not going to overpower the Nilfgaard. She sent me away to escape and find you, Geralt. She told me that you were my destiny, and that it was vital I find you. I got captured leaving the castle grounds… he grabbed me, a black knight. I felt something spark inside me, and in my terror, I screamed. It stunned him, the ground split wide open, and I fled.

I met a boy, Dara, in the woods who led me to a camp full of refugees. But the Black Knight's army found the camp, and Dara and I fled together. I then realized that Dara was an elf. We found a clearing, which surrounded a large enchanted forest, and it entranced me and made me enter."

Geralt's brows furrowed as he listened to her story, while Jaskier remained quiet.

"We met Queen Eithne and her Dryads in the forest… it was beautiful there, but I sensed something was wrong. A man, masquerading as a trusted mage Mousesack, came and wanted me to leave with him. So, Dara and I left, believing it truly was Mousesack.

Dara realized before I did that something was wrong, and I began to question Mousesack, who eventually gave away that he was not who he claimed to be. Dara got knocked out, but I got away, only to be captured by the Black Knight, who is named Cahir. Dara eventually released me, after using the Doppler…

I was eventually by myself, and was discovered by some old friends. Four men, and they all turned on me. I didn't know what they were going to do, and I was so scared, that my powers took over, and when I woke up, they were all dead, even the horse I'd been riding. It as awful, they were brutally killed, and I had done it."

Geralt grunted. "We discussed this already, you did nothing wrong."

Ciri sighed. That may be, but she still felt guilty. "I was found by a woman, who took me to her farm. When I went to run away, I found you, in that forest. I was so tired, and hadn't felt truly safe until I was with you."

By the time she was done speaking, the plucky pony was just as clean as the two horses, looking like a whole new creature. Geralt reached over and place a hand on her shoulder, the heat from his palm surprising her as it warmed her through her cloak and dress. "You won't ever go back to that. I will keep you safe," he said, before sliding his hand off and moving back over to the fireplace where Jaskier had just finished cooking the hare.

Ciri went over and sat crossed legged by the fire, sitting a few feet away from Geralt. Jaskier handed her a leg from the hare, and she thanked him as she quietly ate, grateful for the food that warmed her belly. Once she had finished, the day of travelling finally caught up with her as her eyelids grew heavy. Immediately, Geralt picked up on this and gestured to one of the bed rolls, the one closest to the fire, placed between the two others.

"That one is yours," he told her. "Get some sleep, we'll be moving on at dawn."

Nodding, she moved over to the bedroll and took her shoes and cloak off before climbing inside. It was surprisingly warm thanks to being near the fire. Her head barely hit the small cloth pillow before sleep had taken her.