Yennefer was laying on her side, observing the empty space on her bed. It had been like that for several nights now. She took a deep breath and got up. She had no desire to leave her bed that day, even more that early in the morning, it was still dark outside. However, she had obligations with the Chapter.
At least it will keep my mind busy, she thought resigned.
She sat down in front of the dressing table and looked at the empty bed reflected on the mirror. He had left many days ago but his presence lingered.
Carefully she combed her black curls, trying to push the memories of him to the back of her mind.
She dressed slowly, unwilling. She chose a white blouse complemented with a black velvet vest adorned with small flowers and a long black skirt. She left the top buttons undone and adjusted her obsidian star necklace.
The sorceress sat again by the mirror and observed her own reflection.
Cold indifference, that mask suited her well.
She carefully applied a thin line of black kohl above her eyelashes. She could hide perfectly all the anger, frustration and sadness that made her heart ache so much.
Many days had passed since he left, but she could not make those feelings go away. In a cycle, first she felt deeply worried about him. Then she felt anger, she got furious with herself for worrying so much and with him for not caring. Afterwards came the sadness and frustration; he had left and there was nothing she could do.
Yennefer opened the perfume flask and dropped some on her neck and wrists. She was completely dressed up but she felt a desperate need to go back to bed. She restrained her urge and got up. She took a deep breath and gathered energy to open a portal.
In wartimes, the Chapter of Sorcerers summoned all the mages that took part on royal councils and decided the fate of the northern realms. This time was no different.
"Yennefer," Philippa Eilhart was the first to salute her kissing the air by her cheeks, as it was custom for the enchantresses. "I'm glad to see you."
"It is always nice to see you, Philippa," Yennefer smiled warmly. She honestly liked Philippa, but she knew it was always important to keep a cautious distance when dealing with her, as Tissaia had advise her once, it was dangerous to get caught on her schemes.
"I've heard you have done an excellent job advising King Demavend. I am optimistic that today we will reach an agreement that will satisfy everyone."
"Those agreements are very difficult to reach, Philippa." Fercart joined them. The short sorcerer kissed Yennefer's hand. "Yennefer, beautiful as always."
"Agreements like those are easily achieved when everyone is on the same side, as I believe we are," said Philippa softly with a forced smile. "When everyone shares the same interests…"
"You mean the interests of the Chapter." Sabrina interrupted; the red-haired enchantress was King Henselt main advisor. It was often said that the king of Kaedwen would not get up of his bed in the mornings without asking Sabrina first.
"Can't we wait until everyone arrives before we tear each other apart?" A handsome mage known as Dagobert of Cidaris said amused.
"That is actually a good idea, Dagobert." said Artaud Terranova entering the chamber where the sorcerers were waiting for the beginning of the meeting. He was as imposing as expected for a member of the high council of the Chapter of the Sorcerers. "Please, let us wait for the remaining guests at the table."
Yennefer sat down on the heavy wood chair and observed Sabrina, who sat across her. She was wearing a purple dress with a deep neckline, not very appropriated for the occasion, she evaluated.
"I do not understand why we have to wait for the others. Yennefer and I are already here…"
"Protocol of the Chapter, Sabrina." said Philippa dryly.
"Oh well… I guess we can catch up with the gossip while we wait then, right?" The sorceress from Kaedwen blinked an eye on Yennefer's direction. "How is the Genie hunting going, Yenna?"
"Marvelous, my dear." Laughed politely Yennefer, wanting to end the conversation as soon as it started, she was not in mood to deal with the inconvenient enchantress that day.
"I heard you were more successful hunting witchers, though," Sabrina giggled, receiving an annoyed look from Philippa. "Witchers, spies… we have a lot of exotic preferences here today, don't you agree Phil?"
Triss Merigold and Keira Metz arrived just in time to interrupt the awkward conversation.
"Now that the members of Temeria's royal council, Triss Merigold, Keira Metz and Fercart are all here we can start. The attendants: Philippa Eilhart right hand of king Vizimir of Redania, Yennefer of Vengerberg advisor of King Demavend of Aedirn, Sabrina Glevissig from the court of King Henselt of Kaedwen and myself, Artaud Terranova, representative of the Chapter of Sorcerers. We all were summoned on this occasion to discuss and decide about the future of the Northern Realms in face of the conflict between the kingdoms of Aedirn and Kaedwen over the region of Lormark. Also, present in this assembly are Dagobert from Cidaris, Zavist from Kovir and Vanielle of Brugge, each representing the interests of their respective regions, even not being part of an official royal council. Philippa could you please report the situation?"
"Of course, Artaud," Philippa bowed her head respectfully. "According to informants of both parties, an unusual movement of troops on the northern bank of the Pontar trigger series of small conflicts on the region. These events had severe consequences on the economy of the northern realms. For instance, the flow of the caravans transporting silver from Aedirn was stopped for several weeks, which raised the price of the metal to a proportion never seen before. I'm sure that if it was not winter the consequences on harvest goods would be hard to control…"
"I wish to remind you, my dear confreres," interrupted arrogantly Sabrina, "That the region that lies between the Pontar and Dyphne rivers originally belonged to the kingdom of Kaedwen for many years…"
"That was more than hundreds of years ago." Yennefer interjected annoyed. "Lormark is officially part of Aedirn. Please Sabrina, do not forget that the Pontar river is the clear border between the kingdoms of Kaedwen and Aedirn and this is recognized for all the kingdoms in the northern realms according to the Maribor Treaty."
"I agree with Yennefer, even Henselt's father, king Radovit II signed the treaty," nodded Dagobert, who was known for his excellent knowledge in history.
"We should not lose time and resources fighting each other," Fercart observed calmly. "Nilfgaard is breathing in our necks. Newly enthroned Emperor Emhyr var Emreis and his troops are moving north. He wrecked Nazair and Metinna without mercy."
"Plus, it is madness to move troops on the winter! We definitely should stop this conflict," the blonde wizard from Kovir argued rubbing his beard.
"And it will end, Zavist, as soon Aedirn gives in its domain over Lormark," Sabrina said with a defying look to Yennefer.
"It's not going to happen Sabrina," answered Yennefer angry. "The Pontar is an important trade route for Aedirn. Even your Kingdom's economy depends on the production of the manufactures of Vengerberg. I know for fact that Vengerberg's goldsmith corporation is the main buyer of kaedweni rubies and emeralds, I'm sure you are also knowledgeable of that. I do not need the information of spies to know that the production of textiles in your country is not enough to supply its demand…"
"I'm well informed of my country's economy, thank you Yennefer." Sabrina rolled her eyes.
"Then you should do your job and stop ill advising your king! He does not have the economic strength to support himself after Aedirn stops all its relationships with him, because that is the first thing I'll advise King Demawend to do if you do not give up!"
Yennefer noticed that some of the mages around the table looked at her startled, only then she realized she had been yelling. Philippa gave her an approving smile instead.
Sabrina got into her nerves, however it was not needed to take her frustrations and anger on the kaedweni sorceress, Yennefer reprimanded herself mentally, even if Sabrina really deserved it.
The sorcerers discussed for many hours until they reached an agreement that both Yennefer and Sabrina would intercede before their kings in order to stop the conflict. Henselt must be convinced that he should remove his troops of the Pontar valley in exchange of a series of commerce tax reductions from the part of Demawend. Yennefer did not show how worried she was about the fulfillment of her part on the deal.
"I was so happy finally see someone put that viper from Kaedwen in her place, well done Yennefer!" Triss giggled lightly clicking her glass on Yennefer's.
After the meeting, a luxurious dinner was served. As soon as the formalities were over, Yennefer got a glass of white wine and sat by her dearest friend and as far as possible from Sabrina.
"Well, I'm sure she got exactly what she wanted." Yennefer smiled bitterly. "Sabrina is very astute, I'll be very surprised if she is not working for the traders of precious stones."
"But, you also got what you wanted," Triss smiled beautifully and drank a large gulp of wine.
"Yes… yes I did." Yennefer said not wanting to share her apprehensions with her friend, especially not when someone else could hear.
"And how is your witcher?" Triss blinked her eye adorably.
"I have no idea," Yennefer shrugged, putting all her effort to try to sound nonchalant about it.
"Oh! So you could break the spell?"
"I didn't have to, you were right. Witchers are very resistant to magic. Or maybe Istredd was right. Maybe both." Yennefer shrugged again looking at her glass.
"You do not seem so happy about it," Triss whispered touching her arm in a comforting gesture.
"I'm fine," said Yennefer noticing the disbelief on her friend's face, she knew her too well. "I'll be fine."
Yennefer pulled tighter her fur-trimmed mantle around herself, the night was cold and snow fell softly. She chose walking home instead of teleporting because the chill winter breeze always calmed her. Once again, she had left the royal council irritated with the King's stubbornness and the stupidity of the rest of the council members.
As she had expected, it was a difficult task to convince Demawend to accept the treaty suggested by the mages, from which he obviously knew nothing, as the assembly of the sorcerers had been secret. The trick was to convince the King that the treaty was his own idea; otherwise, her neck might be in danger.
When had everything gone so wrong, so out of my control? She thought bitterly.
She could not even escape and hide with Istredd as she would normally do in a situation like this; she would run to him and ask for his advice and get lost on their reveries about magic and life. She was still furious with him for his dishonesty. However, it was definitely not in his arms where she wanted to nestle.
Forlorn, she wished that Geralt would be waiting for her at home. He would calm her down and make everything go away, at least for the night.
She slowed down her steps, as she was not in any hurry to arrive to her dreaded empty house. She reproached herself mentally for being so over dependent on the men on her life.
She stopped when she turned the corner of the street there was a dark figure leaning against the front door of her house. She held her breath when she recognized him. She could recognize him anywhere.
"Geralt," she whispered softly feeling her heart ache at the simply sight of him.
"Yen, I… " The witcher said walking to her.
"Please, don't say anything."
Geralt obeyed and in silence he hugged her tightly. Yennefer did not react, she did not know how. She wanted to push him away and yell at him to leave and never come back. She also wanted to embrace him and never let him go. She remained still, feeling like the warmth of his body traveled through her skin to her veins, melting her heart like it was the sun on a spring morning after a long winter.
Yennefer leaned her forehead on his chest. He kissed her ear softly and then he carefully touched her chin and raised her head. She looked into his eyes and all the anger and sadness that had piled up inside of her disappeared. Geralt toucher her lips carefully with his, this time Yennefer reacted kissing him passionately, putting all the longing she felt for him on the kiss. Geralt responded pulling her tightly against him.
After a moment Yennefer broke the kiss, took his hand and led him inside of the house.
"Yen," Geralt whispered pulling her hand, making her turn around. She hushed him pressing her lips against his. She did not want to say anything, she just wanted to erase from her memory those weeks without him, when she thought she had lost him.
"Yen," he repeated gently pushing her curls aside and kissing her neck.
"Geralt, don't…" she whispered and kissed him again while she undid the ties of his linen shirt. He looked so handsome with it, just like the image of him imprinted on her memory that had haunted her for so many nights. She did not want to be without him anymore.
They made love hungrily, trying to make up for the lost time when they were apart.
She knew that both of them were wrong and they shared equally the burden of the pain they caused to each other. However, nothing of that mattered anymore because they were together again.
Yennefer was laying on her side, observing him in the place on her bed that had been empty for so many nights. Those nights seemed now like a distant dream.
"Does it still hurt?" she whispered drowsily, touching carefully the pink scar on his shoulder.
"Not much."
"I'm glad," she whispered laying her head on his chest. For the first time in many nights, Yennefer fell asleep easily, lulled by Geralt's slow heartbeat.