"And they lived happily ever after.. the end." Keira finished.
"I like the way you tell the story of Cinderella better then the way daddy tells it." 5 year old Rayanna said with a smile.
"How does your father tell it?" Keira asked curiously. She was baby-sitting while Triss had drug Geralt to a royal ball.
"In daddy's version Princess Cinderella gets eaten by a Zeugl." The young child said innocently.
Keira Metz rolled her eyes and sighed. "That would be the way he'd tell it."
Little Rayanna giggled. "You're funny aunt Keira."
"Why thank you my lovely." Keira replied.
"Tell another story!" Rayanna encouraged, bouncing up in down on her knees.
"Oh no you don't.. its already past your bedtime little dear." Keira said, getting up from her chair by the fire, placing her hands on her hips.
At first Rayanna shrunk away from Keira's harsh tone, but soon saw the beloved sorceress give her a wink and a smile. Rayanna quickly returned her smile and jumped into her arms. Huging her arms around Keira's neck and her legs around her waist.
"I love you Keira." The child said sweetly. Her red and white locks framing her face.
"I love you too." Keira said. "Now, lets get you tucked in."
"Oh Geralt ," Triss said, stifling a laugh. "Try to not look so uncomfortable."
"But my dear, I am uncomfortable." Geralt said. He hated balls.
"Its the first one I've asked you to go to since Rayanna was born." Triss reminded him.
Geralt grumbled, but she was right. Very rarely did she ask him to accompany her to these things.
"At least I get to see you in that dress again." Geralt said. It was the dress she had worn all those years ago to the masked ball.
Triss blushed. "Didn't think you'd remember."
"How could I forget."Geralt said, his voice draped with love.
Triss smiled and kissed him.
"Come on," She said. "One more hour and we can head home."
"How was she?" Triss asked as soon as they walked through the door.
"Fine. Went right to sleep." Keira reported.
"Excellent. Thank you Keira." Triss told her friend.
"No problem. She was a delight as always." Keira said. "Oh and Geralt-" She said before departing.
"Yes?" Geralt asked.
"Leave stories like Cinderella to me from now on." Keira said simply.
Geralt laughed a bit. "Deal. So long Keira."
While Geralt was bitting farewell to Keira Metz, Triss was checking on her sleeping daughter. As she was about to leave the room she heard Rayanna's voice faintly whisper.
"How was the ball?"
"You're suppose to be asleep little one." Triss whispered back.
"I was, but then I heard daddy's laugh.." The child whispered, her voice heavy with sleep.
"It was wonderful." Triss told her.
"Maybe next time.. I can go with you?" Rayanna asked.
"Maybe," Triss said brushing her hair back from her face. Looking down at the thing, other than Geralt, she loved most in this world.
"Get some sleep." Triss whispered.
Rayanna nodded and rolled over. Quickly closing her eyes. "I love you.."
"Love you too." Triss said, kissing her goodnight.
"Rayanna I've been thinking." Geralt said.
"What?" Rayanna said.
"I've been thinking- no never mind." Geralt said playfully.
"Dad what?" Rayanna giggled.
"Nope, no, never mind, you're not ready." Geralt teased.
"Daddyyyy." Rayanna said, shaking his arm.
"Oh alright alright. You've twisted my arm. Today I am going to give you your first mare to break and own. " Geralt said to his daughter.
Rayanna's eyes shown bright as stars. "Really!?" She said.
"Go check out back." Geralt instructed.
Rayanna smiled before turning quick and scampering out the door. Her eyes bright when she saw it. A beautiful sliver mare. Ray's little mouth gapped open as she smiled ear to ear.
"Caught her wild this morning before you woke up." Geralt said, coming up from behind her.
Rayanna turned to face him as Geralt knelt down to eye level. "Breaking a horse is no easy task. You will get dirty, and you will fail several times before you succeed."
Rayanna nodded. "I'm ready." She said with confidence.
Geralt watched as his young daughter got bucked off time and time again. As she was still on the ground at one point the horse came flying at her. But before Geralt could call out to warn her, she rolled out of the way and catapulted herself onto her feet before starring her mare down.
Geralt was astounded.. for she had reflexes no normal child could posses. Her reflexes were that of a witcher. As he stared back at his daughter something else astounding happen...
For a second, Ray stood completely still and it almost appeared as if she were lost in thought. Suddenly she took a firm stance, facing her horse and reached out her arm, her hand looking like she was saying "Stop." Then.. she began to speak. But it didn't sound like speaking... it sounded like singing almost, in a language that Geralt did not understand.
The horse stood still and looked at her for a few moments before walking towards her and touching her nose to Rayanna's hand. Ray stroked the horse's cheek and hugged her before placing kisses on the sliver mare's face. She then picked up the bridal at her feet and put it on the horse, slipping the bit between her teeth. Rayanna then preceded to lay the mare down before climbing on her back and clicking her tongue, causing the horse to rise.
Rayanna trotted up to her father on horseback. A big smile on her face.
Later that evening...
Rayanna played quietly in a corner while her parent bricked about something. They weren't arguing or fighting or anything just lazy banter about politics on this dark night.
"And just how would have you have me advised our king hmm." Triss said with wit.
Geralt was about to reply with something snarky yet playful before Rayanna interrupted.
"Stop falling in love, sire no further bastards, and don't wage stupid wars." Rayanna said out of nowhere.
Triss and Geralt just stared at her.. she hadn't even turned to look at them. She was still playing, seemingly oblivious to anything they were doing.
"What did you say?" Geralt asked.
"What you told mommy." Rayanna said innocently, as if it was a no brainer.
Again, Geralt and Triss exchanged glances.
"When did you hear your father say that dear?" Triss asked, almost breathlessly.
Rayanna furrowed her brow as if confused all of a sudden. "I... I don't know... just now?" A question and not an answer.
"No.. more like over a decade ago, before you were born... In another time, in another land... about another king." Geralt said.
Rayanna abandoned her toys for a moment and leaned back a bit. Such a serious expression on a girl only five years of age.
"I don't know.." She said. "Some times I feel like part of me goes to a different plain. A plain between this world and the next were its past, present, and future all the time... and I don't know... I just- know things... its like instincts. Like with the horse today." She truly tried to explain to her parents, maybe even to herself a little too.
Triss and Geralt stood there speechless.
"Am I in trouble?" The young girl asked after a moment.
"Hey, of course not." Geralt said, lighting the mood. He stepped forward, picked up his child and gently tossed her in the air before safely catching her. A cheerful laugh escaped Rayanna's lips. She smiled ear to ear.
She stared at him a moment before hugging him. Geralt returning his beloved daughter's hug.
"I love you daddy." Ray said.
"I love you too wolf pup. Now, go get ready for bed. Your mom will be in in a minute to tuck you in." Geralt said.
"Okay." Rayanna smiled.
Geralt placed her on the ground and she scurried off.
"There's no doubt after today that Rayanna, is beyond the shadow of a doubt a true hybrid of both Witcher and Sorceress." Triss said.
"No one has ever been both. Not even Ciri.. though she's as close as the world's ever come." Geralt said.
"Till now." Triss said.
Geralt climbed out of bed to see what was taking Triss so long. It had been several minutes since she'd gone to tucked little Rayanna in. Geralt walked down the hall and cracked the door to Rayanna's room and peeked in. What he got was a beautiful sight... mother and daughter, curled up together. Rayanna's tiny arms wrapped lovingly around Triss. And Triss weaving her fingers through her daughter's hair. They looked so much alike.
"And then your father said let's go-"
"But you wanted to see the famous maze first." Ray told her mother.
"Mhm, that's right. Then your father valiantly pursued me into the maze. I hopped up on to the edge of the fountain, ahh, I felt as innocent and joyous as a child. But suddenly-" Triss said, giving Rayanna a tickle. "I fell!"
"And daddy caught you!" Rayanna finished.
"And he kissed me.. and I kissed him back." Triss said with a voice full of love. "As fireworks lit up the sky."
"I like that story." Rayanna said sleepily.
Triss smiled and kissed her daughter goodnight. "I love you, you know that."
Rayanna smiled and nodded, before falling fast asleep.
A moan of delight came from Triss's lips as she and the witcher made love. Afterwards curling up in each other's sweet sweat.
"You know what.." Geralt breathed heavily.
"What?" Triss whispered into the crock of his neck.
"I like that story too.." Geralt said.
Triss smiled against him with eyes closed. "Me too."
Hey friends :) Hope you liked Chapter 7! What's been some of your favorite moments so far? R&R! R&R! :)