Prologue – I promise
Roni
I wake up in cold sweat, terrified as my scream still echoes in the cool night air reminding me of my dream. It was a dream, right? A dreadful nightmare...
"It's okay, you're safe now" A deep, husky voice reassures me as I sit up abruptly. I'm in the forest.
The Drowners! My eyes searching through the environment in horror. It is real. Everything that happened this night is real!
"They are gone" He adds seeing my panic as I finally manage to look at him. His milk-white hair and stubble beard makes an unusual contrast with his amber eyes. He wears a huge scar over his left eye making his look more surly, yet it rather comforts me.
"You're a witcher" I note the obvious catching a barely visible smile in the corner of his mouths as he holds his hand for a shake.
"Geralt of Rivia" He introduces himself as I accept his gesture. His skin is warm and he has a strong yet careful grip as his fingers wraps around my hand.
"Roni Rappen" I say my name with a nod. Most probably he is the reason why I am still alive. "What happened?" I ask quietly pulling my leg close to my chest still trying to progress that the threat is over.
"I've seen a huge lightning and then I felt the waves of energy" He starts to explain as the flames of the campfire dance in his eyes making it impossible to look away. "I hurried here and found you laying on the ground unconscious with Drowners tore apart around you." He adds as I frown. This part was only vague fragments of a memory. "Unfortunately the outburst wasn't strong enough to kill all of them."
"You saved me" Yet again I declare the apparent. Seems like this trauma made my mind quite slow... "I don't have any money" I get concerned. I know they work for a great prize, it's one of the reasons why we couldn't afford one.
"I haven't done it for gold" He shakes his head. "Although I do wonder what were you doing here alone in the middle of the night" He raises his eyebrow questioning.
"It wasn't my intention, trust me" I murmur repressing my anger. "Those stupid villagers made me. They dragged me out babbling about my inherited power and me, killing these creatures" I start folding my arms around my chest. "Next thing I know that I'm surrounded by Drowners..." I say as Geralt scoffs irritated.
"That's not how it works"
"Yeah, well be my guest, tell them" I look away gazing the fire. "My mother was a sorceress" I admit "Or she is, I have no idea" I add whispering under my breath as I start to shudder violently. The campfire is hot, but this cold and exhaustion got under my skin right down to my bones. Geralt stands up laying his cape on my shoulders as I pull it tighter on me. It smells like stable, leather and a bit of battle yet this mixture strangely calms me. He doesn't say a thing but his heed encourages me to continue. "She left me when I was eight. Found a noble man for herself and fled. She said she would come back for me, when everything is settled... Horseshit!" I spit in disguise as I feel his inquisitive gaze on me.
"You have great power in you" He finally speaks measuring his every word. "It's a gift" He adds as I chuckle insanely. He probably thinks I'm mad, but I don't care.
"A gift?" I ask scoffing. "All I got from my mother was this fricking magic and I never asked for it"I start raising my voice. "I couldn't care less and I'm not going to use it ever again" I tell him feeling the tears gathering in my eyes. She left me eight years ago without a blink of an eye. I want to forget her, erase every memory of her, but I can't. This heritage is the worst joke of nature. "I want nothing from her!" I practically shout this to him. Any normal man would put me back to my place but he just closes the distance between us sitting next to me.
"Sorry" He says gently caressing my cheek, wiping away the escaped tears. "I'm sorry" He repeats himself locking eyes with me as I finally realises he doesn't only mean his remark but my whole situation.
His hand lingers there for another second as I close my eyes welcoming the comfort. I feel miserable. All my life, all the people I knew, they betrayed me. First it was my mother and now my own village and here's a complete stranger, even a witcher, who shows more concern towards me than anyone ever did.
Silent sobs choke on my throat as I attempt to regain my control. Come on, Roni, you're not going to break down right now, are you? You've been through worse! I try to pep talk myself, but honestly, it's not really working as I let out a quiet whimper. It is my worst night so far...
"Roni..." Geraly says my name with such tenderness that it breaks my heart. Does he really have to be so kind? He's making me weak. I was strong before and now I'm crying like a baby.
I hide my face supporting my forehead on my arms as the crying intensifies then suddenly I feel strong arms wrapping around me tight.
"It's alright" Geralt murmurs with annoying acceptance as rage rise in my chest. "It's okay" He repeats himself stroking my forearm reassuringly.
"Let me go!" I snap trying to push him away. I feel him freezing in surprise, but otherwise my hit means less than a bee sting to him.
How dare he? He has no right to be here now, he too will leave as he has a chance.
And that's fine. I don't need no body, I can take care of myself.
"I said, let me go!" I hit harder desperately without any use, he only tightens his embrace around me. "No, no, no" My resistance weakens more and more as my voice fails me. I find myself against his hard chest. He smells like smoke, dust and rain soaked ground. I inhale deep finally letting myself go as his steady heartbeat slowly lulls me to sleep.
Geralt
I take another look on Roni. She is so peaceful now, but it doesn't deceive me. She's fighting hard with her demons and so far she's not on the winning side. She's just a little girl, yet she had to go through a lot already and her future isn't that bright either. She has powers. Powers that has almost endless opportunities and powers which can easily end her.
I turn my gaze back to the fire with a deep sigh. This night didn't go as I planned. Nor will the next few days. I have to take her to Triss. Roni has to learn to control her magic and no mage would accept her. Triss is her only hope even though she refuses to use her abilities she has no choice if she wants to live...
Only a few minutes pass as she starts tossing and turning again. Poor girl, having a nightmare. I watch her, frowning, not being able to decide whether to wake her or not, but when I see the turquoise flames in her palm I react fast.
"Roni" I gently caress her forehead, but nothing. "Roni" I repeat it a bit louder yet she just groan in pain. "Roni!" I finally snap her out of the agony as she takes a great breath like she just come back from the deep. Her breathing is shallow as her chest raises and falls quickly. "They're not coming back, Roni, you're safe, I'm here" I grab her shoulders with a soft squeeze as I look in her eyes. She slowly comes back completely as I see recognition in her look.
"Geralt..." She calls my name relieved as she starts to calm down.
"Hey" I release a small smile smoothing her tousled hair back from her face. "You're okay, no monster can haunt you anymore" I tell her as she nods reluctantly.
"It wasn't the Drowners" She says quietly and I understand it.
Of course. She wasn't simply attacked by them. Her people threw her out and left her alone to die.
My heart clenches at the sight of her broken expression.
"Come here" I pull her in again and this time she doesn't resist. She cuddles closer to me as I embrace her tight. "No one can hurt you" I ensure her stroking her back. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, alright? You're with me now, no one's gonna take you away" I vow to her as she snuggles to the hollow of my neck accepting my proposal.
"Thank you, Wolf" She mumbles half-asleep as I can't help but a fond smile creeps across my face. I know that her path won't be easy, she lost her family, her home and her faith in the world. I'm not exactly the best man to give any of these to her, but I have to try. She needs me.
Convincing Roni to stay with a sorceress to learn her magic is not going to be simple if it is not even impossible. She hates her heritage for clear reasons, but it doesn't change the fact that she has to regain control.
"Are we close?" She questions me endlessly as we trotting to Triss. I told her she's a friend who needs favor. She's so excited, she chattered along the whole trip, that I almost feel bad.
"Yes, we are very close" I tell her as I soon spot Triss' house in the woods. "We are here" I hop off Roach and help her off too as Triss comes out to welcome us.
"Geralt?" She smiles at me surprised "What do I owe the pleasure?" She asks as she notices Roni.
"She's a witch" Roni now turns to me angry. She has a sharp mind for sure, once she will be a good sorceress...
"Sorceress" I correct her buying some time. I wanted to talk to her in a way calmer situation, but obviously I don't have a choice. "Roni, she's Triss, a good friend of mine" I start "And yes, she is a sorceress, a very talented one who - I really hope - will help you to learn controlling your powers."
"I told you, I'm not gonna use it again! I loathe it, it disgust me and there's no way I'm gonna do it!" She shouts in a huff. "Damn it, Geralt, I thought you're different" She folds her arms around her chest totally clamming up.
That's just great. Everything goes according to plan - I raise my eyes to the sky desperately.
"Roni, you have to stay. If you don't learn it, it will kill you" I try to reason with her, but yet again, no use.
"Stay?" She raises her eyebrow as she cries out in a high pitched voice. "You want me to stay here?" She continues stepping closer to me. "You want to get rid of me, just like everyone else! I can't believe I actually trusted you!" She hits my chest in frustration as tears gathering in her eyes.
"You're gonna die otherwise, don't you understand?" I cup her face so she finally looks me in the eye. She's hurt, more than ever and I hate myself for it, but that's how it goes.
"Then so it be, I don't care!" She spits it like venom as she's starring daggers at me.
"Well, I do!" I raise my voice too and it finally gets her attention. "I want you alive, Roni. I didn't save you to watch you destroy yourself." I admit it and for a moment I see consideration in her gaze. "I'll come back for you." I start but she scoffs turning away.
"Oh, yeah? I've head it somewhere already" She remarks it bitterly and she continues before I can speak. "You know what, it' okay. Thank you for saving me, but for now, I'll be alright alone." She says attempting to march away but I grab her arm.
"Don't act so childish" I say but immediately regret it as I see the sparks in her eyes. "For God's sake, Roni" I cry out tiredly. This is so not how I expected. "What I said is all true. You are with me. I care about you. Right at the moment I saw you I knew you're different." I confess defeated. "You don't trust anyone and you have every right to do so, but I made a promise to myself that I'll keep you safe. And I always keep my words." I explain to her honestly. "Right now swear to you that as soon as Triss says you're ready, I'll be here. You come with me if you still want. I'd be more than happy. " I say lifting her chin up a bit. Her azure eyes are unreadable but somehow they give me hope.
For long moments she says nothing and this silence is killing me.
"And you'll teach me how to fight" She eventually ads as I let out a sigh, feeling relived.
"Okay."
"And you write to me" She demands as I smile. There's nothing I wouldn't give to her.
"Alright"
'After every quest" She continues testing me, but I just chuckle.
"Even without a quest" I say as she finally gives me one of her charming smile.
"You'd better" She nudges me with a half-smirk as we turn to Triss now who apparently enjoyed our little show. She now just beckons us to come in.
We approach the house. My steps are light and so is my heart. Roni will get the chance to live a relatively normal life.