"How long have you known?" Ciri asked quietly.
"Since I came to you on the Naglfar," Avallac'h said.
"Even then you already knew... why did you agree to marry me?" Ciri asked.
"I told you the reason why, it's because I love you," Avallac'h said.
"But why? You haven't even had the chance to couple with me. We've been married for six weeks already yet all we've done is kiss and hug. My bruises are almost healed but I still can't stand to see you naked.
"And now you're supposed to take care of me when I'm pregnant with another man's child?" Ciri asked.
"Ciri, you are my wife. Your child is my child, our child," Avallac'h said.
"I don't want it, Avallac'h. This child was supposed to be yours. What if it grows up to become like Eredin?" Ciri said.
"You are not the child of Geralt and Yennefer by blood, yet you feel closer to them than to Emhyr, correct?" Avallac'h said. He carefully kissed her on the lips.
"Why are you so good to me, Avallac'h?" Ciri asked. "What did I do to deserve this?"
"In another life, Ciri, I was not a good person. And you have suffered enough in this life, you deserve to be happy," Avallac'h said.
"I want to make you happy, Avallac'h," Ciri said. "I want us to continue where we left off at Kaer Morhen."
"Are you sure, Ciri?" Avallac'h said. "What about the baby?" He rubbed her belly protectively.
"Yes, I'm sure," she said. "We will make love gently, so the baby will not be harmed, okay?" She kissed him, deeply this time. "Mmm, you said if you were in better shape, you'd do more than kiss me?"
She guided his hands to her breasts. Ciri shivered but not out of fear this time. Avallac'h was about to pull his hands back but she did not loosen her grip on him.
"I like it when you touch me, Avallac'h," Ciri said. "Please, I miss you."
"We have been together for six weeks yet you miss me?" Avallac'h said, smiling. There was heat in his gaze which sent a warm tingle down her spine. "We will go slowly and stop at any time you feel uncomfortable, okay?"
"Okay, Avallac'h, " Ciri said. She led him to the bed where she stripped him, one piece of clothing at a time. Finally he was left in his underpants. She pulled it down and Avallac'h was fully naked at last.
Ciri surveyed the scene. Her loving husband was lying on his back on their bed. He patiently awaited her next move, a mixture of love and lust in his gaze. She let her hand explore his body, tracing a finger from his collar bone, down his chest and belly and stopped right above his pubic region.
"When you're ready, Ciri," Avallac'h said, panting. He was ready to burst.
She undressed, straddling his body. Slowly, she lowered herself on him. Avallac'h's hips jolted upwards.
"I'm sorry," he said apologetically.
Ciri moved, grinding herself against him. He gave a long, low moan of satisfaction. It excited her to know she pleasured him. "No, I'm the one who should be sorry. You've been waiting for too long," she said.
Ciri rocked her hips faster and gasped as a burst of pleasure erupted between her legs. Avallac'h's arms steadied her. "Gently, my love. We don't have to rush," he murmured.
...
*You seem happier now, Star-eye*
"Yes, I am happier now. My child is Sparrowhawk's but Fox said he'll love the child just the same," Ciri said.
*Good luck, Star-eye. I will be leaving now. Come visit me when you like* Ihuarraquax neighed once and teleported back to his world.
...
A baby boy was born, his hair was black like Eredin's. Ciri did not want to hold the baby.
"Take him away, Avallac'h. I don't want to see him," she said.
"Ciri, what's wrong?" Geralt asked.
"Geralt, Yennefer, a word please," Avallac'h said.
Once outside, he told them the truth. The baby was not his, it was Eredin's.
"What?" Yennefer said. "But what of the boy? Who will take care of him?"
"I will love the boy like my own son. He is after all, Ciri's child," Avallac'h said. "The boy is innocent, free of his father's sins." He held a finger out to the baby which the baby grasped.
Avallac'h smiled, his smile full of love. He moved to kiss his little son when he saw a streak of white through the baby's black hair. Avallac'h laughed with joy.
"Look at him, his hair is just like his mother's. I hope Ciri will come to love her son. I will name this child Is'hak, it means 'he laughed'," he said.
Avallac'h brought Is'hak to Ciri. "My love, look at our son. His hair is just like yours," he said.
"Truly?" Ciri asked. She tentatively touched the baby's hair. She laughed when she saw the white streak. "You're right, he is my son." The baby reached out for her face and Ciri kissed his hand.
"I have named him Is'hak," Avallac'h said. "Is'hak aep Crevan Espane. My son."
...
Not long afterwards, Ciri was pregnant again. Another son, this time his hair was completely grey like both Avallac'h and Ciri.
The half brothers were both treated equally. Geralt and Yennefer delighted in the company of their grandsons.
"Is'hak! Isma'il! Come to grandpa!" Geralt said, greeting them.
"Ever since you've had your grandsons, you no longer greet me first," Ciri said, pouting.
"Sorry, Ciri," Geralt said. He embraced her before running off to join the boys.
"You know how Geralt can be just like an overgrown boy sometimes," Yennefer said, rolling her eyes.
Ciri laughed. "I missed you, mother," she said, embracing Yennefer.
"And I miss you too, daughter," Yennefer said. "Now there's only the two of us, the rest are all males."
"Papa! Look at what grandpa gave us! Wooden swords!" Ciri's sons chorused. Isma'il looked up to his older brother and was always found wherever Is'hak was.
Avallac'h smiled. "Yes, your mother used to train with wooden swords together with grandpa Geralt. Your mother was a tough, warrior woman and that was how I fell in love with her."
Ciri pulled Avallac'h towards her and kissed him.
"Eww!" The boys said, grimacing.
They all laughed.
"Alright, who's hungry? Grandma's cooked her special roasted beef for her favourite grandsons," Yennefer said.
"Me!" Is'hak said eagerly.
"Me too!" Isma'il said.
They all sat down for a meal. Ciri and Avallac'h smiled at each other. They were happy at last.