Warnings:
Contains spoilers for the Witcher 3 Wild Hunt and Time of Contempt
Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
"What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"
The Witcher drew the curtains shut as Yennefer threw her bloodied shirt in the fire and undressed, slipping into a white nightgown before disappearing under the bed sheets. By the time Ciri arrived, carrying a basket of bread, cheeses, fruit, meat and other items, the Sorceress had once again drifted into an abnormally tranquil sleep, her head resting on Geralt's chest as he sat beside her on the bed, arms wrapped around her, caressing her hand.
Ciri pulled a chair over to the bed and they enjoyed some of the food, made light conversation and played some gwent, soon becoming aware that whatever magic Philippa had used meant that there was no risk to waking Yennefer who was as still as the wine suspended in their goblets. She slept until well into the afternoon, waking to the rather amused faces of Ciri and Geralt.
"What?" She asked suspiciously, wiping the sleep from her eyes and scrutinizing the pair who looked at each other and smirked, the look made her nervous, they were evidently up to no good.
"With one kiss from her beloved, the fair and beautiful maiden finally awakens from her eternal slumber." Said Ciri laughing as Yennefer rolled her eyes and groaned softly, fidgeting around in the Witcher's arms.
"Nay, but she is not any maiden but the fairest and most beautiful maiden of them all, with eyes that shine like violet stars." Said Geralt, chuckling as she pouted at him, tilting her head back to look straight up at him, head still on his chest.
"A Princess cursed by the wicked Owl Witch, who was jealous of her charm, until the noble knight, Sir Geralt of Rivia, and his faithful squire Cirilla, saved her from a fate worse than death and they liv- Hey!" Ciri shouted as Yennefer sat up in bed and threw a pillow in her face, muffling her giggling which was making the chair rock.
"Does the hero of this fable get a kiss from his thankful Princess?" Asked Geralt grinning impishly at the Enchantress, who raised an eyebrow at him one of the corners of her mouth tugged into a suggestive smile as she pulled him close, hands on his chest as she placed a soft kiss on his lips. He saw the glint in her eyes too late she pulled away and a split second later he found himself lying on the floor as Yennefer pushed him off the bed, smiling triumphantly.
"Oh no, don't you dare!" She screamed angrily kicking away the Witcher's hand as it reached for her and glaring at Ciri who was reaching for the pillow lying on the floor. "You've had your fun now leave me in peace, I need to get ready for the Gathering, go on."
She chased the young woman out of the door before sitting down in front of the dresser to begin the lengthy preparations, her cosmetics laid out neatly on the table like the tools in a workshop. Geralt lounged on the bed, watching her in the mirror, he liked watching her get ready, something Yennefer was very aware of as she pulled seductive faces in the mirror, careful to catch the Witcher's eye every now and then.
"Yen, you look truly beautiful." Said Geralt charmingly as the Sorceress proudly presented herself to him, a stunning white and black diamond.
The black dress hung from Yennefer's shoulders with a modestly plunging neckline, a small brown belt decorated with shining silver studs accentuated her slender waist, underneath the belt the smooth black fabric, which tumbled down to the floor teasing it with its touch, parted, revealing the luxurious white silk beneath, as pure as snow, covering her upper thigh, as well as her tall shapely heels, the dark sleeves which gently hugged her arms at the top loosened so that the wide cuffs flowed with her gracious movement, the whole dress was delicately embroidered with subtle silver-white thread which carved elaborate patterns in the cloth. The obsidian star on her neck gleamed, as sharp as her violet eyes and warm smile, shimmering raven locks cascading around her.
"More beautiful than a fabled Princess?" She whispered softly, provocatively walking over to him, dress gliding around her.
"More beautiful than any fabled creation, because there aren't words to describe how dazzling you look." Yennefer laughed softly, eyes gleaming like the stars through their window and she rewarded his candid compliment with a kiss, lilac and gooseberries enveloping his senses.
"Thank you, my dashing knight." She said, smoothing out a crease in Geralt's clothing which of course was complimentary to her own, a short black doublet with the same embellishments sitting on top of a white shirt, his medallion hanging around his neck. "Now, let's go find our little swan, and remember to enjoy yourself Geralt, one more night and we can be free of this place, of this world."
He nodded, taking her on his arm as they walked to the door. If truth be told, though he was anxious to leave this place, to once more hide away in their tranquil vineyard, their home, he was not completely apprehensive about the event. Today he would be able to recognise several friendly faces in amongst the mages, Lambert, Eskel, Hjalmar, Cerys, Ermion, Roche, Ves, Dandelion, Priscilla, and Zoltan were all attending which was sure to lighten the mood.
He also no longer feared the inquisitive minds of the Lady and Lord Magicians, though many had been surprised by his appearance some years before, searching his mind for thoughts despite etiquette, he doubted that would be the case now, the grapevine in this community was magically enhanced and the incident in the square and common room had likely meant that news of their retirement had been whispered into every ear that lent itself to idle rumours and gossip, but also because a part of him wanted to watch them choke on their envy and on their contempt and vile misjudgements. For them to see their happiness and to choke on it, to choke on their words about an unloving mutant with a lust only for blood and a poisonous manipulative Enchantress with a heart of ice. It would bring them both bittersweet satisfaction, to retreat from this political war with the last laugh.
As expected Ciri was waiting impatiently for them outside, and Yennefer sighed and embraced her, admiring her daughter. Her elegant emerald dress hovered just off the floor with silver and gold patterns intrinsically sewn into the smooth fabric, it had slightly transparent sleeves and a slit down one side of the dress, below the waist, Yennefer's gift, the lovely little swallow hung around her neck and a silver pin held back her unruly hair.
Offering Ciri his other arm, the trio joined the colourful and talkative congregation parading to the palace's hall like peacocks.
The central hall was slightly different to what Geralt could recall, the changes likely resembling Philippa and Rita's own taste. It had maintained its T-like shape, but the top of the room, the top of the T, was covered not only in large windows which stared out into the night sky but was also connected to a balcony on which a magnificently carved fountain of several mages, a dragon, and a unicorn stood. The roof was so high that the carvings of constellations and stars it depicted seemed just as out of reach at the real night sky. On the table lining the walls were various dishes and pageboys scurried in and out of the crowd with trays of wine. Once again, he found himself stunned by the magnificence of the palace.
Yennefer reminded them of all the faux pas to avoid and what etiquette demanded of them, such as minimal eating and drinking, no use of magic, no avoiding other people, no sitting, greeting others in the appropriate and respectable manner, no mumbling, no gambling, no sneaking out before midnight and comporting oneself with dignity. Which the trio summarised as only minimal fun.
The assembled group was considerably smaller than on the last occasion, not only had a large number of mages been killed, but a fair few had refused to attend the event, fearful of the incident which had occurred last time. But there were still plenty of figures flooding the hall which made it hard for Geralt and Ciri to pick out familiar faces. As Yennefer steered them around the room for all the gawking and curious Sorcerers and Sorceresses to cast their gazes on, her pride satisfied she allowed them to stop at one of the tables. The pair were enjoying some of the seafood as Yennefer greeted several colleagues one of which caught the Witcher's attention.
"Good to see you again, Dorregaray of Vole." Said Geralt, nodding towards the Sorcerer who had approached them.
"Geralt, Yennefer, how pleasant it is to see you again, finally I find myself in agreeable company." He said, making a sweeping gesture towards the rest of the room.
"Delighted to see you again," said Yennefer offering her hand to the mage who kissed it as etiquette demands, "allow me to introduce our daughter, Cirilla of Vengerberg." Ciri, following the Sorceress' lead, offered her hand.
"Glad to meet you," said Ciri smiling at him, "I've heard stories about your fascination with endangered species."
"Yes, which is why I'm very glad that you, Witcher Geralt, have decided to set down your sword and that none of you are decorated in trophies, just look at around, it's awful, see those shoes made from wyvern leather just there." He said, pointing towards one of the Enchantress who caught his eye and smiled spitefully back at him. "Arrogant and vindictive crowd, I'd much rather stay away from this gathering, but I need my connections, as for you, why return to this political mess?"
"You cannot deny that curiosity also drove you here, as it has with me. But that alone is the reason." Said Yennefer calmly, raising an eyebrow at him to which he shrugged in response.
"I see that your time away has not done anything to dull your senses and sharp wit," said Dorregaray forthright, swirling the wine in his goblet, "beware, I see several others eyeing you up with suspicion."
"Thank you, but now if you'd please forgive us I see Keira over there, farewell." They left the table quickly, trying to avoid being cornered by the other mages looking at them. "I heard he spies for Kovir now." Whispered Yennefer, Geralt sighed.
As they made their way over towards some familiar faces their progress was halted several times by unavoidable conversations, as mages greeted Yennefer and nonchalantly inquired about her business, evidently trying to uncover whether the Duchess had a new spy, this pleasant, disguised interrogation extending to Ciri and Geralt. Yennefer easily deflected their inquisitive glances elsewhere, her violet eyes narrowing dangerously when the mages did not heed her charming threats which soon urged them to move on. Eventually, they managed to reach a small group gathered in front of one of the large windows, a group that the mages were eyeing with a mixture of undisguised antipathy mingled with dangerous interest.
"Did they try to question you?" Asked Triss, who was wrapped around Eskel's arm, her silver and blue dress sparkling as she turned to them.
"Heavens, some of them are so desperate for any information they've resorted to clawing for straws, it's truly pathetic." Said Yennefer, snorting, and Keira laughed.
"They find it hard to believe that any mage isn't involved in politics." She said, hastily slapping Lambert's hand as he tried to reach for more food, he growled at her and quickly downed his wine before she had a chance to take that from him as well. "Lambert, I'd ask if they taught you manners at Kaer Morhen if I hadn't seen Geralt, even Eskel behaving so well." She scoffed, folding her arms, the Witcher just rolled his eyes but didn't comment.
"This etiquette is even more suffocating than in the royal court." Moaned Roche who was leaning against a wall, carefully watching the other occupancies while Ves glared at anyone who looked as though they wanted to approach the Commander, warning them off. "The wine tastes like Piss, the food is less than I'd eat on rations and one slip up to the wrong person could see bloodshed."
"It's worse than any battlefield I've ever seen," said Zoltan, taking a swig from the hip flask he's snuck it, several of the others looking jealously at him as they fiddled unhappily with their goblets, "and I was at the Battle of Brenna, these mages look at us with as much disgust and mercy as the Witch Hunters looked at non-humans. I swear the next Sorcerer who walks past me like I'm a piece of dung they stepped in will end up with my fist in their snotty, smug face." Several of the others laughed.
"Speaking of smug, where are Dandelion and Priscilla?" Asked Geralt, still smiling.
"Practicing on the balcony." Answered Triss, tucking a piece of auburn hair behind her ear and gazing out the window towards the fountain where two brightly coloured figures were sitting. "Rita managed to convince Philippa to let them play."
"How?" Asked Keira in surprise. "And why? Does Rita have something on Phil I wonder? No, she's too scared to try something like that…"
"I don't want to think about it." Replied Triss. "But apparently Rita felt it was necessary to 'lighten the mood' I mean, there's still a lot of hostility, Ida and Francesca are wise to be keeping themselves distant and look how few of us there are, oh, so many faces missing." She said sadly holding a hand to her face, lost in thought.
"You lot on the continent don't know the meaning of the word banquet." Shouted Hjalmar, guzzling down a handful of salmon, ignoring his sister's grunts of disgust. "Come to Skellige and we'll show you how its really done." He heard several Sorceresses nearby giggle slightly as they watched the foreign warrior out of the corner of their eye.
"No thanks, the last Skellige feast I went to, we were on the menu." Said Geralt, catching Yennefer's eye and grinning slyly. "The sight was unbearable."
"We'll Skelliges have always been a little grizzly." She replied as Ciri shook her head in despair, shrugging at the others.
"But they have an undeniable sweet tooth." Yennefer pursed her lips, frowning and after several seconds sighed.
"Fine, you win this time Geralt." She said smiling at him. "But, you still have a long way to go if you want to catch up with me."
"Wait, you're keeping score."
"Of course I am, I'm winning." Geralt shook his head.
"Of course, Yen."
While the Sorceresses spent some of their time mingling with the other banqueters, occasionally dragging their Witchers and Witcheress rather reluctantly along with them, though Keira soon gave up after having a rather heated argument on the balcony with Lambert, Ciri and Geralt reserved most of their time for the small group of non-mages huddled in the corner, provoking a lot of disapproving looks with their ruckus laughter, these glances modestly attempting to conceal their envy. After a while, Yennefer glided back over to the Witcher's side gently taking his arm in hers as Rita, who had just left the Enchantress' side to head out to the fountain, went to fetch Dandelion and Priscilla.
"I fear you may soon have to rescue your uncouth companion from this sea of vipers," she said as the two bards passed by them, grinning stupidly, unaware of the storm they were walking into, "but we'll see. Maybe these vile peacocks will lend an ear to them rather than secrets and rumours for a change."
"Let's hope Priscilla can keep Dandelion from putting his foot in it." Sighed Zoltan as several of the Sorceresses pointed at him, smiling seductively.
"That's like hoping for a miracle." Said Ciri under her breath as the small group emerged into the limelight to more clearly hear the music, thrilled to have some form of entertainment, some merriment to drown out the buzzing of idle and dull gossip.
Several of the mages looked inquisitively at Dandelion as he egotistical introduced himself and Priscilla in a manner very closely resembling the fanfare and unnecessary airs and graces the mages themselves used, and several turned to the bards with mounting amusement, looking at them but without breaking their conversation. However, when the subject of their first ballad became evident the lull of voices did somewhat die down as the song rather dangerously endorsed their narcissism, Dandelion vauntingly singing their praises with a great deal of beautiful and glamorous embellishments.
The second performance bought as much entertainment as joy as it glorified the heroics of the Sorceresses, the Witchers and their companions in defeating the Wild Hunt mostly focusing on the battle at Kaer Morhen and Skellige, about the Raven Sorceress, the White Wolf and the Swallow of Destiny. Philippa watched the duo like a hawk ready to swoop down on them if they changed so much a connective.
There was some commotion amongst the Magicians afterwards, and Philippa smiled pompously as several colleagues accosted her at once, eager for information which she no doubt enjoyed flaunting over them, and people we're casting jealous glances towards Yennefer, Geralt, and Ciri who were smiling happily among themselves.
The third ballad had a very peculiar effect as the mages tried to compose themselves seriously and coldly which was made difficult by the ridiculous blaspheming of the eternal fire and the Witch Hunters. Geralt found it rather satisfying to witness as did the Sorceress clinging to his arm who was tacitly drawing his and Ciri's attention to some of the ballad's most peculiar effects, somewhat vindictively.
Several other performances to follow, though again dedicated to magic, did not appeal as much to the mages egotism and little attention was given to the bards, but the atmosphere seemed remarkably calmer and Geralt's medallion only vibrated ever so slightly as the magic crackling nervously on hundreds of fingertips subsided.
"Would you look at that," said Zoltan chuckling to himself, "the idiot didn't fuck it up."
"There's still time, don't worry." Said Yennefer, scowling at Geralt as he pinched some of the grapes from her hand. "You might still have your chance to save him, now or after the gathering." She gestured towards a group of Sorceresses whispering and giggling amongst themselves, gawking at the bards as Dandelion winked at them.
"Dandelions on his own this time." Said the Witcher shaking his head. "I'm retired."
"Zoltan looks like you've got a new employment opportunity." Joked Ciri, fiddling with her swallow necklace.
"I think I'll pass, I can't imagine the pay is worth it."
"We thank you for your most gracious hospitality and for being so kind as to lend us a moment of your precious time." Said Dandelion with a charming smile and an elaborate bow an hour later, well into the night.
"We request but one more song," said Priscilla, smiling radiantly around the room with a joy that any enchantress would find great difficulty in replicating, "to thank Lady Yennefer of Vengerberg. The Wolven Song."
Geralt smiled at the Sorceress wrapped around his arms her lips tugging into a sweet smile as they were absorbed by the song, which here, in this moment, seemed more beautiful than ever. Damn Yen, I want to kiss you. He thought. He felt Yennefer's hand slip into his as she turned to him.
"You needn't ask Geralt, not here, not anywhere. Never again." She said softly, squeezing his hand. Their senses submerged in the beautiful song floating around them, they felt and saw only each other as they kissed, and Yennefer sighed deeply. "I love you, Geralt." She purred quietly, their faces lingering as they pulled away, blocking out everything else around them.
"And I love you, Yen, forever."
Geralt wished that moment could have lasted forever. Friends gathered around them, united by differences as much as similarities, gleefully enjoying the peculiar company, for eternity. Their child of destiny beaming at them cheerfully, free from her demons at last, able to live her life in peace, with them, for eternity. The woman of his dreams, his raven-haired beauty locked securely in his embrace, gazing up at him lovingly, eyes shining with the happiness they had finally attained, for eternity, never to be parted from his side. But wishes are fickle things, built on a foundation of manipulation, tricks, and illusions. Wishes are like a reflection, they bring what was asked, not what was wanted. And like reflections, wishes cannot be escaped. Like a reflection, wishes are eternal.
Time seemed to slow as the room went eerily quiet, each breath, each footstep, each heartbeat impossibly loud. As was the whistling. The uncanny tune rang in his ears like the bells of a funeral, filling his heart with inescapable sorrow as dread clawed at his soul as though trying to wrench it from its host, filling his body with icy crystals that pierced his flesh tearing him apart from the inside out. He felt the shadow which had only recently departed him slink from the shadows, sending a shiver down his spine as his hairs stood on end and his senses became alert. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught his reflection in an empty silver dish. He saw the demon clinging to him. Peered into devilish eyes that were not his own. Saw death staring back at him. His face burned.
A slow, melodic applause echoed around the room drawing the eyes of all in the room, like the pied piper charming the vermin and the weak-willed, as a figure, who's face was as pale as a white clover, promises, dressed in a tunic as yellow as the bird's foot trefoil, revenge, and blue trousers as cold as the water of a fountain, dread, slowly but purposefully approached the Witcher, dark brown eyes searing with malevolence. Yennefer gasped. She recognised this monster from Geralt's nightmares and of course, he knew her, he knew everything.
"A beautiful ballad, but I dare so no tale could truly immortalise the beautiful love of the mighty lovers of yore, Lady Yennefer of Vengerberg and Sir Geralt of Rivia, or of their love for their child of destiny Her Highness Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon." Said the figure wisely as he bowed deeply before them, right hand on his chest, left arm extended out to his side.
"What do you want, Gaunter O'Dimm."
Hamlet by William Shakespeare - Chapter 12: Reflection
"to my shame I see The imminent death of twenty thousand men, That for a fantasy and trick of fame Go to their graves like beds,"
Notes:
Hey guys, hope you enjoyed the latest chapter. At long last the mysterious figure has been revealed, hopefully some of the things which have been happening will make more sense now, such as the nightmare in the prologue. I tried to subtly hint at who it was, I've had a couple of people guess right, wonder who else did! Now, what could he want…
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 ( ) for all the feedback and suggestions.
Until next time guys, have a great week – Eileniessa