Warnings:
Contains spoilers for the Witcher 3 Wild Hunt and The Lady of the Lake
Christina Rossetti - Soeur Louise De La Misericorde
I have desire, I have been desired;
But now the days are over of desire,
Now dust and dying embers mock my fire;
Where is the hire for which my life was hired?
Oh vanity of vanities, desire!
As the day went on more and more of the school's students began to gather around the arena watching the fights with great interest, especially when it came time for the Witchers to test themselves, and first up was Geralt. Yennefer and Ciri looked on as he cut his way through countless apparitions, and the former began to ponder Philippa and Rita's new image for the school, she wasn't sure such a facility would have been to Tissaia de Vries' liking and that thought saddened her. After a few minutes, the sorceress turned her thoughts and her gaze elsewhere before rising to her feet.
"Triss, Fringilla, I'd like a word." Yennefer's voice seemed restrained, but there was a coldness to it which could have frozen running water, the other two women looked at her, then at each other, before reluctantly getting to their feet. Triss felt as though she was trailing a bad omen as they followed the raven-haired enchantress away from the arena to a secluded corner nearby. Dread and apprehension drowned her senses, she knew they had this coming, but that didn't make it an easier as Yennefer turned on them, violet eyes sparkling menacingly, locks cascading around her like writhing snakes ready to bite anything that so much as twitched.
"This needs to end, now, once and for all. I cannot bear to sit there any longer and watch you two stare starry-eyed, like some lost lover from a shitty romance novel, at Geralt." She took a step forward and it took all their courage not to step away from the threating scent of lilac and gooseberries enveloped the air around them. Silently Fringilla thanked her luck that she had applied her special spell to stop blushing this morning, unfortunately, Triss evidently didn't have such luck, he cheeks glowing like dying embers. The Nilfgaardian briefly considered whether or not she should share her spell but decided against, it was her little secret after all.
"He's my man, you understand that? While I hate the way you look at him, that hate is no longer born from jealousy, but something else." They desperately continued to meet her gaze and Yennefer could see confusion flash across their eyes. "He's made certain promises to me, I no longer doubt that he could ever be anyone but my man, which is why I ask you to stop this. For his sake. Your dreamy, wistful eyes pain him, can't you see that?! Let him move on, for everyone's sake." Silence hung in the air so thick Yennefer's piercing gaze could have sliced it as she waited for her words to sink in, and Fringilla was the first to speak.
"You have nothing to fear from me Yennefer, I made a mistake and I don't ever intend to repeat it." She drew herself up to her full height as she spoke but somehow, even with her remarkable small stature, the other sorceress still appeared to loom over her.
"I believe you are sincere, especially after what I've heard. Leave us." As Yennefer's violet eyes shifted from her as she released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and swiftly departed, avoiding Triss' pleading gaze. "You, on the other hand, Triss, have yet to learn a thing. It's time to put an end to this selfish desire, as of right now! Put Geralt out of your mind once and for all. While I could no longer ever conceive of you giving him temptation and used to delight at watching your lips tremble and your hands quiver under his famous look as you pitifully sought his forgiveness for all the wrong you have done him, Ciri and I, that time has long passed. I no longer care if you receive his forgiveness but I do care about the pain you and your love-stricken attitude cause him because he is my love."
"I understand Yennefer." Said Triss coldly as the fear induced by Yennefer's dangerous glare was overridden by her own anger and spite. "And you also understand that it's not that simple. How many times, before Ciri, did you two argue and break-up and you tried to forget about him, burying yourself in new spells, politics, men even, like Istredd, to name but one."
"Don't you dare test my patience! And don't you dare compare yourself to me you poisonous-"
"Why not?! You're a hypocrite. You never managed to move on Yennefer! But-"
"For once in your life stop cowering from the consequences of your actions! He's my man Triss, he always has been and always will be! You've wronged us both, grow up and face that, you cannot live in this chimerical reality any longer."
"You'll never change Yennefer! You're not here for Geralt but getting your revenge on me, think of all the people you've ever wronged! You vindictive hypocrite!" The two were practically face to face, their movements inflated in a display of primitive aggression.
"At least I've never betrayed someone I considered a dear friend for the sake of my own selfish voyeurism!" Yennefer was filled with bitter-sweet satisfaction and the corner of her lips twisted into a spiteful smile as Triss averted her eyes and her posture deflated.
"I'd be foolish to think you could forgive me," she said after a few moments, raising her eyes from the floor, trying to swallow the lump which had formed in her throat. "no matter what I do. But I've lost the will to hold that against you anymore. For his sake, as you say, but also for yours and for mine, I can ensure never to remind Geralt of his mistake but you cannot force myself to forget what has been." Yennefer seemed to scrutinize her for a moment, and Triss forced herself to look into her penetrating violet eyes, now a bottomless as the ocean.
"Good. Then enough talk." Stormy locks billowing behind her as she stormed off leaving Triss alone with her thoughts.
When Yennefer re-joined the group the look on her face confirmed what Ciri thought, especially when she saw Triss sit down several seconds later, looking anywhere but at the arena where Geralt was still fighting. At least they've gotten it out of the way, she thought to herself, yet despite Triss' dejected face, Ciri found herself oddly dispassionate towards her.
"How are you feeling?" Yennefer asked several minutes later as the Witcher returned from the arena eyes trailing behind him.
"I'm getting old." He replied plainly, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"You've gotten out of shape in your retirement." Ciri joked, prodding him in the arm as he took off his swords and placed them on the bench.
"Come here." Geralt understood what Yennefer meant and was quick to comply as he pulled off the armor and shirt covering his upper body and knelt on the ground in front of her with his back to the sorceress. Ciri was sure she heard several of the students sigh dreamily before turning their jealous gazes on Yennefer as she lightly rubbed her hands, which were pulsating with soothing white magic, over his back and shoulders loosening up and relaxing his muscles. All her spare time in Toussaint had provided her with the much-needed opportunity to practice her healing magic, something that up till now she'd had little care for, but many things had changed since then. Now she had a Witcher she was determined, more than ever, to keep in good health.
"Thank you, Yen." He said drearily, before closing his eyes to better indulge in her calming, warming magic.
"Well as you said before, we haven't worked this hard to find our peace only for the Lodge to ruin it, which is why I cannot allow my Witcher to fall apart."
As Yennefer worked her magic and Geralt sat there blissfully, Ciri cast a sideways look at Triss who was blushing and staring intently at Eskel as he was called up, yet the raven-haired sorceress did not cast her gaze upon her with a look of content, rather her face showed signs of concern perhaps even worry as she concentrated on what was at current most important to her.
"Yen, that's enough. Save your strength for when you're called." Geralt said after a while as his fellow brother made his way back over to the school passing Lambert, who was up next, as he walked to the platform.
"Stop fussing so much Geralt, I can manage. Besides, I imagine Philippa will have me going last, likely hoping this meeting will run well into the night, so stop worrying." She replied irritably her focus broken, but her face softened as Geralt gently pulled one of her hands from his shoulder and held it in his own, brushing his thumb affectionately over the back of her smooth hand.
"Please Yen." His medallion stopped vibrating.
"Very well." She remained silent as Geralt placed a kiss on the back of her hand, watching him carefully as he pulled his shirt back over his head and moved to sit down beside her, putting his leather chest piece next to his swords. Yennefer sat there, staring into the distance thoughtfully as Eskel discussed some of his recent contracts with Geralt and Ciri as they watched the third Witcher's fight, though not nearly as intensely as Keira who unlike last time was not able to save Lambert's skin if he needed it.
The audience now consisted of proportionally more students than members of the meeting to the point at which almost all the benches were full, minus the one containing the Lodge and the one on which Yennefer, Ciri, and Geralt sat, as the students stared at the latter with a mix of awe and fear, particularly the former as sparks practically shot from her eyes whenever she caught someone pointing in their direction which soon quelled them. While half the students watched the arena with great interest the other half seemed more interested in the various strangers sitting among them and a few of them had even been brave enough to talk with them as the voices of Hjalmar, Zoltan, Dandelion, and Ves carried across the seating.
"Ciri." Called out Philippa as the apparitions froze and reset.
"Good luck." Said Geralt to the young woman now getting to her feet as she adjusted the belt of her scabbard slung across her back unnecessarily.
"One more fight and you'll never have to look at these specters again. You'll do fine." Said Yennefer and Ciri nodded at the pair before heading towards the platform causing many heads to turn.
By the time the Lady of Space and Time had begun to fight all eyes were upon her, and the voices began to quiet down. While Ciri's swordsmanship, speed, and grace were enough to make anyone stop and gaze in wonder it was the rare flashes of blue light that caused the most kerfuffle as Ciri vanished in the blink of an eye, reappearing behind her assailant, cutting him down with deadly precision. But despite the ease with which she dealt with the Hunt she was evidently relieved when the battle ended and when she sat down Yennefer hugged her tightly, they didn't need to speak, Ciri's face burying itself in the sorceress' comforting locks spoke for her.
Yennefer hadn't been entirely correct, she was second to last. The moon had begun to rise, pushing the sun out of its throne in the sky as Geralt followed behind her carrying her magical apparatus as they descended to the bridge.
"Good luck." He said as he handed the equipment to the sorceress who smiled at him in thanks before departing over the bridge.
The Witcher leaned against the stone banister as he watched from the base of the stairs, on the small stage holding the two podiums and magical spheres. Once Yennefer had reached the middle of the platform she turned to face the school, planting the two magical staffs into the ground and a small blue sphere appeared around her as she began the spell. Her body seemed to struggle against the magic as she forced the barrier out, further and further still until it surrounded the entire school. Geralt saw her arms tremble as she tried to steady her heavy breathing.
"A very powerful and strong barrier." Said Ida to one of the other sorceresses. "And very dangerous, respectable spell-work indeed." The Witcher turned to the voices behind him.
"Dangerous? What do you mean?"
"I'm guessing that Yenna likely left that information out, didn't she?" Said Rita knowingly peering down at him. "Magic, Geralt, is chaos. There is always a risk when using it and that risk grows with the magnitude of the spell. Something like this, if not cast properly, well, I'll spare you the details. Phil, how long are you expecting her to hold this?" She turned her gaze to her fellow headmistress.
"Well, until she faints of course. Is that not how long she held it for last time? So that would be the most accurate means of getting the information we need." Said Eilhart indifferently glaring at the Witcher with malicious amusement. She either didn't notice, but most likely didn't care, about the glances from her fellow sisters who clearly thought she was being unreasonable, even when it came to a situation involving Yennefer.
"Not going to let that happen." Said Geralt coldly, taking a step towards her. "She cast the spell, you have the information you need. That's enough."
"Who are you to dictate what information I need?" Said Philippa rising to her feet, drawing herself up to her full formidable height like a bird of prey asserting its clear dominance. They stared at each other in silence, Geralt's predatory eyes full of undisguised animosity. "But fine, if only to get Yennefer's pet wolf to stop bothering us." Philippa replied sarcastically, staring at the Witcher for a few more seconds before calling an end to the spell and sending Triss on last.
"Didn't think to tell me it was dangerous." Geralt said gruffly as soon as Yennefer was back on the other side of the bridge. She cast an angry glare in the direction of the Lodge before turning to him.
"I didn't want to concern you Geralt, or Ciri for that matter. There was no other choice so what was the point in doing so?" Sincerity shone in her eyes as she gazed at him and he knew he couldn't be angry at her for it, despite wanting to. In a way, this affection was part of what he loved about her.
"Still, I'd rather know Yen." Their fingers brushed as he took the equipment from her, his eyes never leaving her.
"If there is ever a next time, I will endeavor to tell you Geralt, you have my word." He nodded in thanks. "Now come, let's… what on earth is she doing?"
Following her gaze to the arena is was clear that something was wrong, whatever Triss was doing wasn't what he'd witnessed at Kaer Morhen. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the darkening night sky like a swirling mass of smoke directly above the arena which a few seconds ago had been clear and cloudless. And the cloud was getting bigger.
"Triss what are you doing?" Shouted Philippa as she and the other members of the Lodge stared up at the ominous sight manifesting above them.
"That's not me!" She called back, her voice showing signs of panic. "I don't know what's going on."
"That's not supposed to happen." Said Eskel who had just come running down the stairs to join them as the crowd began to point and whisper fearfully at the stage. "Somebody stop it."
"We can't." Said Eilhart calmly glowering at him. "It's protected by a magical barrier, you can't teleport in or out and you can't cast spells over the barrier. Whatever's happening Triss had caused so she can solve it."
Eskel looked as though he was about to argue but his voice was drowned out by an almighty crack and a burst of blinding light. There was also a scream. Triss. A bolt of lightning shot down from the lingering mass above narrowly missing the sorceress as it struck the ground just in front of her, shattering the stone platform and sending her flying backward with its unnatural force. Before anyone could react there was another flash which struck one of the stone columns forcing Triss to roll aside towards the edge of the arena as the stones smashed into the ground she had been lying on a split second before. A third bolt shot down collapsing the edge of the platform and Triss screamed as the ground beneath her began to fall away and she disappeared over the edge.
"Shit!" screamed Yennefer as she began to run across the bridge almost slamming straight into Eskel who shot past the pair in a streak of red closely followed by Geralt and Yennefer. They raced across the bridge following Triss' cries as she hung onto the ledge for dear life, the sea beneath her churning with a sudden ferocity as though anticipating a new catch while lightning continued to rain down over the small area sending rocks hurtling towards the sorceress as the stone tiling, railing, and columns shattered under their touch.
Just as the trio was nearing the platform a bolt of lightning demolished a large segment of the bridge just ahead of them, stones tumbling into the dark depths bellow. Eskel, who was ahead of the others, threw himself across the gap just as the ground beneath him began to disappear and only just made it be the skin of his teeth as he grasped hold of the edge of the ruined bridge connected to the arena, hauling himself up and rushing towards Triss.
"Yen stop!" Geralt yelled as he desperately tried to halt himself as he watched his fellow Witcher only just make the dangerous leap which had now gotten wider. Arms flailing, he teetered dangerously on the edge and he felt fear begin to grip him before he felt Yennefer's hands under his arms as she pulled him backward causing them both to fall against the cold stones of the bridge. Geralt heard the sounds of crumbling rock as the bridge just behind them began to collapse.
"Run!" He yelled, hauling Yennefer to her feet and pushing her in front of him as they desperately raced back. Ciri and Keira, who has just begun to set foot on the bridge looked, for a brief moment, taken aback by their sudden change in course before they quickly stepped back as, along with the rest of the audience, they saw the edge of the bridge pursuing the Witcher and the sorceress as the stones just behind them collapsed and disappeared into the sea. The school watched on anxiously. Geralt could feel that the gap between them and their imminent descent was getting smaller, he didn't think they could outrun it.
"Jump!" He yelled just as the ground beneath him began to loosen as he pushed off hard using his hands and his own momentum to help propel Yennefer forwards. The Witcher managed to clear the gap as his chest slapped into the cliff face now freed from the bridge his hands clawing at the stone tiles as his legs dangled over the sea. After seeing that Ciri and Keira were helping Yennefer up, Geralt grasped the outstretched hands of Roche and Lambert who heaved him up.
"Yen, are you alright?" He asked moving up to her. She nodded and was about to say something when Keira screamed.
"Triss!" The group watched on helplessly as Eskel dived forwards reaching for the auburn-haired sorceress just as another flash of lightning struck the arena causing the edge to crumble away as Triss plummeted into the dark water below quickly disappearing from sight as the waves crashed around her. The Witcher picked himself up into a crouching position and dove into the sea after her also vanishing from sight.
They ran over to the edge of the cliff, peering over the stone railing hoping for a sign, anything. Geralt looked to see if he could dive in as well, but the base of the cliff as far as he could see was littered with jagged rocks, there wasn't anything he could do, cold and unpleasant helplessness washed over him. But Yennefer could, several orbs of light appeared around her before she directed them into the sea which had swallowed the others. The magic orbs descended to the sea floor and began to circle like fireflies around the sight of Eskel and Triss, her leg trapped beneath a pile of stones which had tumbled in after he. The Witcher was desperately trying to remove them one by one but was making slow progress.
"Keira helps him lift the stones," Yennefer called, her voice steady and calm as she directed the others. "Be prepared to teleport them when they reach the surface, focus in on my spell." They all nodded in unison and the group stepped away from the edge to make way for the sorceress.
Illuminated by Yennefer's light Geralt saw the rocks around Triss pulsate with blue magic before they gently glided away. Eskel grabbed her around the waist and began to slowly swim to the surface, his movements hindered by the churning waves. When the emerged, spluttering, the luminous orbs still fluttering around them they quickly disappeared in a flash of light just as a huge wave came crashing down.
They reappeared on the platform beside the two podiums along with a torrent of water which soaked the tiles beneath them. The Witcher held Triss in his arms as she coughed up seawater gently pulling the hair from her face and covering her body with his own as she began to shiver.
"Triss! Are you alright?" Asked Keira anxiously as she knelt beside her. She looked at her and nodded but said nothing, instead, she tried to bury herself in Eskel's warmth.
"What the hell happened Triss?" Asked Philippa irritably as she pushed her way through the group gathering around her. "What went wrong?"
"That wasn't me." She replied looking up at the woman looming over her.
"Phil you can't honestly believe Triss could have caused that do you." Said Rita, as she brushed past Eilhart and stood beside the figure huddled on the floor. "I've seen plenty of spells go wrong, but never like that."
"Well, what do you purpose happened, Rita?" There was silence, Yennefer and Geralt caught each other's eyes, as did Dandelion, Priscilla, and Zoltan. "I'll look into this tomorrow but for now. Everyone go back inside if I see one person come anywhere near the training area until I say otherwise you will be severely punished." The students didn't need asking twice as they quickly obeyed the headmistress and dispersed from the area, Rita and Philippa disappeared after them.
"Can you stand Triss?" Asked Eskel kindly, still holding onto Triss.
"Yes I think so, but help me please." With the aid of the Witcher, she slowly stood wobbling slightly on her left leg which had been brushed and cut by the rocks. She was still shivering. Without a word, Yennefer took Triss' shaking hands in her own and muttered a spell which caused warm light to envelop the sorceress body and her shivering to cease.
"Thank you, Yennefer." She replied graciously, wiping some of the water from her face.
"I'll help you to your room." Said Eskel, taking one of Triss' arms as she smiled thankfully at him allowing the Witcher to lead her away up the stairs leaving a trail of water behind them. The others stood in silence for a moment staring at the pair and at the ruined arena behind them, awe struck.
"That was close, too close." Said Ciri after a while. "If Eskel had been any slower…" Again, there was silence as the realization of her words sunk in, along with dread.
"Could this bloody week get any more dangerous." Said Zoltan, peering up at the sky which was once again calm, showing not a trace of what had just occurred. "The cave, the riot, then this. Somethings afoot."
"It's been a bad fucking week sure," said Lambert as he began to head for the stairs, "but so what? You think this is bad, try spending the week as a Witcher. It's been a shit week, but in this world, that doesn't mean a thing."
"I've got a bad feeling about this," said the dwarf quietly as most of the group departed, "I can feel it in my gut." None of the other commented they didn't want to believe it.
"Geralt, what's troubling you?" Asked Yennefer as she lay her head on the Witcher's chest, lightly tracing her fingers over his scars as he pulled the covers over them before wrapping his arms protectively around her waist.
"I can't shake off what Zoltan said." He answered after a brief pause. "I feel like somethings coming Yen, somethings coming for us. I don't know what but I fear it, I fear for you and for Ciri." He gently took one of her hands in his as he spoke, absentmindedly entwining their fingers together.
"Well, whatever it is, we will face it together as we always have. I shall not allow myself to be taken from you easily my love. I can promise you that."
"I love you, Yen."
Despite all the drama the sorceress quickly drifted off to sleep, her hand still wrapped around his. But Geralt found himself awake well into the next day, still distressed by the things he did not wish to burden his raven-haired beauty with. That storm could quite easily have been her, but there was something else that kept him awake, the fragments of a nightmare lodged in deep memory which seemed to evoke a sense of dread in him, it seemed so familiar yet distant to him. It bothered him because he couldn't understand its meaning or its promise. After tonight, he had almost completed it, only two remained.
Baudelaire - Journaux intimes: Chapter 7, The Mages
"the supreme and unique pleasure of love is the certainty that one is doing evil"
Notes:
Hi guys! Hope you enjoyed the latest installment, things just keep going from bad to worse, don't they? I hope you enjoyed my Yennefer, Triss and Fringilla discussion, I wasn't really sure how to pull it off but I gave it my best shot!
On the exam front this time tomorrow I'll finally be free! The end is in sight.
Also I've updated past chapters, mostly grammar and spelling but a few extra phrases here and there, I feel that this story is very much progressing along with my skills.
As always feel free to PM me your thoughts or leave a comment, I love hearing from you. My thanks to vic-of-thor (Tumblr) for all the kind words and support and to korbel05 (fanfiction) for all the feedback and suggestions.
Until next time guys, have a great week – Eileniessa