"Dear friend,

It seems I have garnered a champion to aid in my quest to correct the gross misfortune that has befallen you.

Triss, sweet Triss, is going to make sure that every t is crossed, and every i is dotted.

You will be here with me. I want everything. And I shall have it.

I feel my chaos coursing through me as I think about performing this spell. Every molecule of my being thrums with a desire to be near you again. This will work. It must. There is simply no other way.

I am with you, always,

your friend,

Yennefer"


Once Yennefer has gathered a sizable collection of sources and tomes, she concedes to Triss' suggestion. Her suggestion of telling the other mages what her plan is.

The goal, Triss explains, is to ensure that everyone understands the reason why Yennefer will be gone for long periods at a time. To understand why she may not be available to help decide on specific aspects of their new homestead. To understand why she has little time to do anything but lock herself up in either the library or the Rectoress' study. Their study.

Yennefer sighs as she rubs her temples. It feels like the umpteenth time she's done that. She rolls her shoulders back and walks into the gathering of witches.

And she tells them.

The hush that falls upon the room is echoing.

Then, all at once, everyone speaks up.

"You can't be serious!"

"Think of what you're saying!"

"Are you encouraging this?"

"What will come of this place?"

"Never mind this place- what will become of you?"

Yennefer raises both her arms. A pulse of silencing chaos ripples through the room.

Emotions now calmed and having gotten them all to quieten, Yennefer gestures silently to the seats that everyone had stood from.

"Please, sit and I will answer your questions. Be warned," She pauses as she watches them all sit down, glancing from one face to the other, "you will not be able to sway me. My mind is made. I will be going through with this. It is simply because I value you as individuals that I am even telling you what I am going to do."

Yennefer can tell that some of her compatriots are not happy with what they are hearing, but she does not care. They will get over it. Or they won't. That's something that they will have to deal with and is not her burden nor her cross to bear.

Yennefer clears her throat, "I am serious," she says, answering Sabrina's outburst first. Her eyes find Sabrina's as she nods once. Sabrina sighs and nods in return.

"Triss is not only encouraging this, indeed, she is aiding and abetting." Yennefer continues, the subtle quirk of her lips forming the smallest of grins as she glances at the aforementioned woman.

"I have it on good authority that nothing shall become of me that hasn't already." She chuckles sardonically, "That isn't saying much, now, is it?"

The thick suppressive air that had seemed to fill the room at first seems to suddenly lift as gentle chuckles and slight smiles flit around the attendees.

Triss speaks up for the first time since everyone has gathered.

"Yennefer is not being careless. Had she been, she would have run amok, by herself, the moment the idea took her fancy." Triss pauses and looks to Yennefer.

She places a hand near Yennefer. It's close enough to show solidarity without touching her, and says, " I believe she may have found a way to right this incredible wrong. At least. I believe she has."

Philippa shakes her head, "You believe she has."

Yennefer gives Philippa a roguish smirk and says with an air of cockiness, "Actually, Pippa, she knows it but wanted to portray me with some semblance of humility, I daresay."

Philippa bites back, "Yennefer, this isn't a minor side quest given to you by a lowly nobleman with some coin."

Keira raises her voice to cut in quickly , before Yennefer can respond, "You stated that you aren't going to change your mind. Good. We don't want you to. But you must be absolutely certain that this is what you want to give your all to."

Margarita nods, "And it must truly be your all, Yennefer. We will make sure you-" Margarita's voice breaks, and her eyes dart away, overcome with emotions

No one in the room points this moment out, and she is all the more grateful.

"Thank you for listening and taking this all in," Yennefer says measuredly, making sure to speak every word clearly. Inflecting every syllable with everything she cannot say out loud.

The huddled masses silently give her their thanks as they slip out of the room, one at a time, swift and breathless.

When it is just Ciri left, Yennefer splays her hands on the table and lets out the long sigh she had been holding.

"That went well," she mutters, eyes flicking over to Triss and then to Ciri.

The blonde looks at her contemplatively before holding her arms out, silently asking for an embrace. One that Yennefer is willing to give at any given moment.

Once Yennefer has Ciri in her arms, Ciri whispers into her shoulder, "This is dangerous."

It's not a question. Both are well aware of that.

Yennefer's hold tightens around her body slightly as she barely nods against Ciri's head but says, "It's nothing I can't handle ."

Burying herself even more into Yennefer's body, Ciri's voice is further muffled as she mumbles against Yennefer's chest, the vibrations filling Yennefer's soul, "I love you, Mother . Please, just," she pauses as she takes a deep breath, "Please don't be reckless."

Yennefer's heart skips a beat and then speeds up exponentially as she pulls away just enough to gather Ciri's face in both of her hands, presses her lips to her forehead, and kisses her repeatedly , emphatically whispering, "I love you, my daughter, I love you. I promise, with every breath of my soul, we will come back to you, darling one. Never lost."

Ciri's voice is tearful yet steady as she whispers in return, "Always found."