I do not own Witcher or any of the characters.
Champion
Eldin deflected his opponent's blade, slamming a palm strike into his chestplate to force him back and glanced around, sighing. All of his allies were down, groaning as they lay scattered around the arena. Eldin sighed as, across from him, Palmerin smirked
"Looks like your luck's run out on this one, Witcher," Palmerin taunted as he and his four teammates surrounded Eldin.
"Seems like it," Eldin nodded. "But who knows? I may yet manage to pull it off."
One of the knights, who held a battle axe with two heads, let out a bark of laughter. "Let's finish this!"
As one, the five stepped forward and struck. Eldin stepped into motion, deflecting Palmerin's sword to the side and slipped out of the circle between him and the axe wielder, then pivoted, slamming his blunted blade into the axe wielder's back, knocking him forward into two of the others. One of the two still standing, who wielded a spear, stabbed at Eldin, but he trapped the sword between himself and his blade, then caught it and turned, using the spear's shaft to hurl its owner away. As soon as his owner had lost his grip, Eldin used his blade to deflect Palmerin's, then drove the back end of the spear's shaft into Palmerin's chest, hurling him backward. Eldin spun, flinging the spear at the other three, catching two in the legs and tripping them, only the one with the axe leaping over it. He charged, swinging his axe around at Eldin, and Eldin dodged backward, evading the blade, then stepped forward again, slamming several strikes into the knight, ending with a blow to the head, dropping him, then spun, slamming a kick into the spear's former wielder, now bearing one of Eldin's teammates' swords. The knight toppled backward and Eldin bent forward as he stepped back, a pair of swords passing over him before his own blade swiped across the back of their armor, knocking both to the ground. Palmerin was on him a moment later, their blades clashing several times before Eldin riposted, slamming his blade solidly into Palmerin's thigh, bringing him to that knee before striking him on the side of the helmet with his sword's pommel. The remaining three charged once again, and Eldin sidestepped out of their path before slashing at an upward angle and catching one of them low in the gut, lifting him into the air before dropping him back to the ground. The next turned and stabbed at Eldin, but he deflected the blade and caught the knight by the chestplate where it opened to allow an arm out, dragging him into the other knight's path. The other knight's blow slammed into the knight Eldin had redirected and sent him staggering away, and Eldin tripped him at the same time as drilling the tip of his blunt sword into the last knight's chestplate once again knocking him to the ground. The one Eldin had tripped began to rise, only for Eldin's blade to crash into his helmet, stunning him. The last regained his feet once again, but Eldin had already moved to attack. He leapt into the air, torso twisted away from him, then twisted back to the front in a devastating thrust, intentionally catching him with a glancing blow to the helmet to avoid accidentally impaling his head, but the force of the blow still sent the knight crashing hard to the ground.
Eldin straightened up, looking around at the unconscious combatants, then up at the crier. He nodded and blew the usual fanfare.
"The world's never seen a fight quite so glorious!" the crier called out. "For showing such verve, each knight was victorious!"
Eldin rolled his eyes, disagreeing with him as far as his own team was concerned.
"Yet in tourneys as in life, but one champion may reign," the crier continued. "Today, he is the one! Praised be his name! He felled a whole host, slew the most! To Eldin the Unkillable, who the strength of lions boasts! He sailed through all trials, each test he passed with ease, but now awaits the last! Will it bring him to his knees? For Gregoire d Gorgon, who on this ground last won, shall spar him for the title, ere the day is done! To the tired remainder, we salute your endeavors! Return home to your wives, your lovers, your whomevers!"
"Well fought, Witcher," Palmerin said as the other knights were scraping each other up, most of the ones Eldin beat needing to be helped steady themselves. "You've earned this victory."
"Thanks," Eldin nodded. "You fought well."
Palmerin nodded, following the other knights off the field. the Crier gestured for Eldin to step out as well, so he followed, Renfri and Aralyn both meeting him with a kiss outside the arena.
"You were amazing!" Aralyn beamed.
"They never stood a chance!" Renfri agreed.
"Thank you," Eldin smiled. "Now if I could just get them to agree to change my damn crest."
Both women laughed.
"I like it," Renfri grinned. "That princess was sexy."
Eldin and Aralyn rolled their eyes.
"Down girl," Eldin said. "No hitting on paintings. Save it for the Dutchess. You'll need the help."
Renfri shrugged. "I'll get her."
Eldin shook his head as the crier walked over, nodding. Eldin followed him into the arena, Aralyn and Renfri returning to the stands.
"It is time," the crier said. "Step into the arena. Should you suffer any grievous harm during combat, have you any last wishes, any missives you wish passed to your loved ones?"
"I'm fine, thanks," Eldin said, drawing his sword. "I'm not going to get hurt."
The crier nodded, turning to the stands. "The brave knight Eldin is claimed Unkillable! A claim he has earned, every last syllable! Now entering the grounds, a titan of infamy! Gregoire de Gorgon, victor of last year's tourney!"
Gregoire stalked into the arena opposite Eldin, and Eldin sighed. To say Gregoire was a mountain of a man was an insult to Gregoire. He stood nearly as tall as some small cyclopes Eldin had slain, his posture seemed as though he wore light armor, despite the thick plait mail he was entirely covered by, his left hand held a claymore like a normal knight would an arming sword, and when he lifted it in a wave to the crowd, his movement was quick and precise, proving just how negligible its weight was to him.
"Well, shit," Eldin sighed. "This aught to be interesting."
"I wish both combatants good fortune and fame!" Vivienne called out from above.
"I've seen you with your two women," Gregoire said in a deep, gravelly voice. "I saw you turn an honorable challenge into a common brawl. You have no honor. You have no valor. You are no knight."
"It doesn't qualify as a brawl if I knocked both of them out with one punch each," Eldin countered. "And the number of women I share a bed with is none of your business. But if you feel so offended, you're welcome to challenge me to a duel. I'm going to fight you anyway."
Gregoire readied his sword in silence, so Eldin did the same. Both charged, and when Gregoire swung overhead, Eldin dodged to the side, allowing Gregoire's blade to slam into the ground as Eldin slammed his own blade into Gregoir's shoulder. Gregoire grunted, then swiped the back of his fist at Eldin, who ducked out of the way, narrowly evading the blow. The crowd roared with cheers as Eldin closed in again. Gregoire's sword swept around at Eldin, but Eldin carefully dodged around behind Gregoire, slamming a blow into one side, then the other before dodging backward and avoiding a blind slash. He stepped forward, slamming an overhead blow into Gregoire's chest. Gregoire roared in effort, slashing from directly overhead, but when Eldin avoided it, the blade embedded itself into the ground. Eldin's blade slammed into Gregoire's back, driving him forward into his own sword's pommel about navel-level, bending him forward, then slammed an upward slash into Gregoire's helmet, sending him staggering away. Eldin followed, striking Gregoire's unprotected left side, then his right shin on the outside. Gregoire barely stayed on his feet, staggering backward another two steps before stopping himself and slashing at Eldin. Eldin ducked to the side, then slammed his sword into the back of Gregoire's knee, taking the leg out from under Gregoire. As Gregoire crashed down on that knee, Eldin leapt into the air, flipping his sword around, holding onto the cross guard with his sword's hilt extending between his middle and ring fingers before driving the sword's pommel directly into the side of Gregoire's helmet, sending him crashing to the ground hard enough to shake the ground. Gregoire kicked out at Eldin as he was landing, catching him in the gut and hurling him backward, making him drop his sword, then clambered to his feet quickly. Eldin landed in a backward roll as Gregoire charged and moved to meet Gregoire's charge. Gregoire slashed, but Eldin dove into a roll, slipping past Gregoire and snatching his fallen sword up from the ground as he rolled to one knee facing the way he'd come just in time to lean backward, narrowly avoiding Gregoire's blade, then lunged forward, driving the end of his blade into Gregoire's lower gut, forcing him back only a single step and rattling the bones in his own hand. Gregoire struck again as Eldin was standing, and Eldin grit his teeth, bracing the flat of his blade with his entire upper right arm, blocking the strike but being sent flying as a result. His sword crashed down beside him and he snatched it up again as he shoved himself to his feet.
Gregoire chuckled, stomping after him, and pulled the sword back, but as he slashed, Eldin rolled under the blade, his own sword crashing into Gregoire's thigh, forcing the leg backward out from under Gregoire. Gregoire stabbed his blade into the ground to catch himself, and Eldin greeted his helmet with his blade, sending Gregoire staggering backward and crashing to the ground. However, once again, Gregoire began to rise immediately. Eldin reached back, grunting as he ripped Gregoire's enormous sword from the ground, and tossed it to the ground beside Gregoire. Gregoire watched him for a moment, then picked it up and stood. Then, Eldin charged again. Gregoire slashed and Eldin ducked, barely managing to deflect the blade over himself with his own, but using the added force to spin, his blade whipping around and taking Gregoire's legs out from under him. As Gregoire crashed to the ground, his helmet bounced away. Eldin moved to hold his blade to Gregoire's throat, only for Gregoire to grab his ankle, then roll, hurling Eldin like a sack of flower across the arena. Eldin bounced and rolled to a stop, then began to push himself up, picking up his sword as Gregoire stood, donning his helmet once more. Eldin shook his head. Gregoire was a monster. He'd have to use all his force to just the right spot to take him down without being able to inflict wounds. He'd handicapped himself more than he realized. Gregoire gestured for Eldin to approach for the next round of useless strikes, and Eldin took a deep breath before charging. Gregoire had revealed a habit during the fight to always strike from Eldin's left first. Normally, with his size, not a huge problem against other knights, but for Eldin, it was just enough. Eldin stopped short, barely evading the first strike, then all but launched himself at Gregoire, gripping his sword with both hands. Then, he twisted, bringing the sword around with as much force as he could muster. The tip of his blade, where there was the most momentum and force, exploded into the side of Gregoire's helmet, and there was a deafening "PING!" as Eldin's blade snapped a few inches from the guard. However, Gregoire staggered to the side, dropping his own blade, and then crashed to the ground hard. Eldin landed on his feet, watching Gregoire, and for a few moments, he was unmoving. However, just before the crier could blow his horn to end the fight, Gregoire rose again. Eldin groaned in annoyance, flipping his broken sword's hilt to the same grip he'd punched him with before, and charged. Gregoire stopped at a knee, shaking his head to try and clear his obvious daze.
"Go to sleep!" Eldin shouted, once again leaping into the air and delivering a devastating blow with the pommel of his blade in a straight punch.
This time, Gregoire crashed to the ground and remained there, groaning lowly. Eldin sighed, folding forward exhaustedly and tossing the hilt aside. Finally, the crier blew his fanfare and the crowd exploded into cheers. Eldin sighed, straightening up again as the crier announced him as the victor. Eldin made his way up to the spectator box where Vivienne had been watching and where he was to receive his reward from Vivienne. Once he was there, he knelt, allowing Vivienne to first place a wreath of laurels on top of his head, then bring over a golden sword with an open basket hilt.
"As patron to this grand tourney, I've the honor to decorate our grand champion!" Vivienne called out, turning to the crowd. "His vow he made on the love of his heart's captor! And it was doubtless this vow that carried him to this splendid victory! He showed great courage, great strength, this composure! He fought nobly, with honor, and thus rightfully deserves the title of this year's champion of the arena!" She turned back to him as he stood. "We'll talk later, in my tent. Don't forget to wave to the crowd."
Eldin nodded and accepted the sword then turned to the crowd. He held the sword to his chest, then turned profile and extended the blade at an angle, a salute-like gesture the knights from the group combat event had done. The crowd roared with cheers. He held the stance for a few moments before stepping back and accepting the scabbard from Vivienne, sheathing the blade before leaving the arena. He joined Aralyn, Renfri, Palmerin, and Guillaume for a few celebratory drinks, then headed to Vivienne's tent with Guillaume once the sun had begun to set. Vivienne turned toward them, then hesitated upon seeing Guillaume.
"You told him?" Vivienne asked, hesitantly.
"I did," Eldin nodded.
"Lady Vivienne, I understand how you feel," Guillaume said.
"How could you understand?" Vivienne snapped.
"My aunt, Countess de Launfal, once contracted a strange illness, one that ate away at her from the inside," Guillaume explained. "She grew weaker by the day, the light fading from her eyes. I remember her saying that the worst was not the pain, but losing mastery of her own body. She was so helpless. I fear you feel the same. The Witcher knows a way to lift the curse from you and let it rest on me. A way for me to save you from this feeling. Please, allow me to do this for you, Lady Vivienne. I love you, Vivienne."
Vivienne's gaze fell to the floor, her hands gripping each other in anxiety.
"I could have died in that arena," Guillaume said. "I sought to slay a Shaelmaar, for you...but now I see the fool I was, now I see I risked my life for no purpose. Yet with this, I can truly do something for you."
"I do not wish to inflict this horror on anyone," Vivienne said softly. "You wouldn't say this if you knew what I really looked like." She raised her eyes to Eldin. "Witcher, I look to you as one elder, and, hopefully, wiser. Do you think this is a good idea?"
"I believe that this is the best option," Eldin said. "It's the right thing to do. And, as I said, it's nearly impossible to get the conditions for this method right, anyway. It may not work. But I still believe we should try. Guillaume was right. He's risked his life in completely pointless ways to prove his love for you. But through it all, what he wanted to prove was the same. He's in love with you. He's willing to risk anything for you. I think you should let him try to ease your burden."
"Very well," Vivienne conceded. "I was prepared to die, thus I am also prepared to try something mad. Now, we must go to my pool in the woods, yes?"
"Yes," Eldin nodded.
They all collected their horses and rode to the clearing together. Once there, they made their way into the clearing and to the pond. Eldin knelt on a large rock near the water to wait as Vivienne adopted her true form and shed her dress, Guillaume standing by the water, facing away from her. Finally, she walked out of the bushes, Guillaume turning to her. She had her arms crossed over her torso shyly as she walked over to stand beside Guillaume.
"So...this is my true form," Vivienne began. "It's not too late, you may still change your mind. It would bring no shame."
"My mind is made up," Guillaume declared. "My resolve is firm. If you can handle it, so will I. You are beautiful to me, even as you stand now." He offered her his hand, and she slowly uncrossed her arms, turning to him.
"Oh, that's clearly rubbish," she countered, but took his hand all the same, both turning back to the water.
"Close your eyes, both of you, and don't move," Eldin instructed, both complying.
"Guillaume?" Vivienne spoke out hesitantly.
"Yes, my love?" Guillaume asked.
"If you become as I am now, I wish you to know, I shall not leave you," Vivienne vowed, Eldin smiling slightly at the fact that she'd indirectly agreed to spend their lives together.
"Picture yourselves reflected in the pool of water," Eldin instructed. "Your true selves. Human. Normal. Focus hard."
As they complied, Eldin's medallion twitched, then jumped. In the reflection, their hands began to glow.
"Now, open your eyes," Eldin said.
Both complied, and for a brief instant, their reflections shot inward, merging. Then, water exploded up into them, drenching both and hurling them backward. A moment later, two normal, soaking wet humans were lying in the grass, one of them a beautiful, naked, blonde.
"Damn," Eldin snorted. "Think it might have worked."
Vivienne recovered first, covering herself as she walked toward where she'd left her clothes. Guillaume groaned as he stirred, glancing at Vivienne as she passed, but turning his eyes away as he pushed himself up to sit against a tree.
"Not gonna lie, honestly didn't think anything would happen," Eldin admitted. "When I read about the ritual, the descriptions were so dramatic, and they all stipulated a requirement that I honestly have never believed in."
"What requirement was this?" Guillaume asked.
"True love," Eldin said.
"You have true love for that elf companion of yours, don't you?" Guillaume asked. "Or maybe for that female Witcher?"
"Renfri's with us because we treat her decently and she enjoys having sex with us," Eldin said. "We care about her, but it'd be closer to say that she's a dear friend that we share our bed with. And with Aralyn, I agree that she and I love each other, but I don't think it qualifies as true love. Our love was born from trauma and comfort. From horrible things worse than any monster could imagine. Our past is too filthy, too mangled with the scars of evil men for it to qualify as true love."
"A love born of something terrible is no less true," Vivienne said, walking out of the trees in her dress again. "I can't believe it worked. Guillaume, do you feel alright?"
"I was struck hard, as if by a battering ram, but now I feel not at all different," Guillaume said. "Apart from a slight itching on the skin."
"That might be from the blow, or it might be a warning that you'll sprout feathers," Eldin shrugged. "Either way, it worked. Vivienne is cured. And I'm sure that, if you do grow feathers, you could try having them plucked."
"True," Guillaume nodded. "Thank you, Witcher. What now?"
"Now?" Eldin asked. "Now you get to live your happily ever after. You get to enjoy a long life as a human."
"Thank you," Vivienne bowed her head in thanks. "You've done us a great service."
"We'll not let you go without payment," Guillaume said.
"Keep it," Eldin said. "I don't need anything for this. I didn't do anything. This was all you two."
Guillaume sighed, but nodded in acceptance.
"Oh, I have so much to make up for!" Vivienne said. "Balls to attend, distant lands to see!"
"Free at last," Guillaume said, then grinned. "As a bird!"
"Oh, I find you droll!" Vivienne said, partially teasing. "I had not noticed before!"
"But you will not fly away without me?" Guillaume joked.
"That remains to be seen, I think," Vivienne said dryly, despite the smile on her face. "Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Witcher. I truly can never repay you."
"Don't worry about it," Eldin said. "Take care, both of you."
Both of them nodded and left the clearing hand-in-hand. Eldin waited by the pond for a while, taking in the beauty of the clearing before also leaving, returning to his tent and finding Renfri and Aralyn waiting, Renfri wearing Eldin's laurels. Together, they all rode to Corvo Bianco When they arrived, Eldin leaned on a railing, staring out at the vineyard. It was much more picturesque at night than he'd realized the first time they'd visited Corvo Bianco, granted it was a bit ruined by the corpses and the Bruxa, and he hadn't taken the time to admire it the one other time they had visited when they were dropping off their guest who had been a Spotted Wight.
"Everything alright?" Aralyn asked, leaning on the railing beside him.
"Helping them just...got me thinking," Eldin said.
"What about?" Aralyn asked.
Eldin remained silent for a long while before answering. "I was only able to help them because they shared true love. I never believed in true love."
"What about ours?" Aralyn frowned. "You don't believe our love is true?"
"I was always told that true love was pure and innocent," Eldin said. "Ours...The way we met..."
Aralyn turned to him, turning his face to her. "Just because bad things happened to me before we met doesn't make our love any less true, and neither does including Renfri, or potentially others. Eldin, I don't love you because you're better than my past experiences. I love you because you are a good man, and because for a full decade you made me the most important thing in your life and went out of your way to protect me and tend to my every need. If that's not pure, then nothing in this world is. Is your love for me any less? Does your love for me truly depend on my past?"
"No," Eldin shook his head. "No, it doesn't."
"Then our love is true," Aralyn smiled. "You worry for no reason."
Eldin smiled, kissing her. "Sorry."
"I'm not," Aralyn smiled. "Now, I believe Renfri still has something of yours."
"You're right," Eldin smiled. "We should go and punish the thief."
Aralyn nodded, grinning widely, and they headed inside, finding Renfri in their bed, already naked and waiting.
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