"Any - oof - time now ladies!"

Geralt, Philippa, and Keira were fighting a golem.

Well, more specifically Geralt was fighting a golem, while Keira and Philippa dug through his pouch trying to find Elementa oil.

"We're trying!" Philippa cried, as they sorted through his many vials.

Golems were a pain and a half to deal with. Strong as all hells, massive and made of stone and rock, and created by magic to have one goal in mind - kill intruders. They weren't particularly intelligent beings, being made from magic their linear goals made them predictable to someone skilled. There were a few ways to deal with them. If one had a massive amount of dimeritium, they could use it to disrupt the magic that binds a Golem together, leaving them to fall apart into pieces. But the amount of dimertium needed was something that wasn't feasible for most people, so there was the next best thing, and go to for Witchers.

Elementa oil.

Acidic in nature, and suited for dispatching of Elementa beasts, and the only thing that was going to get Geralt's weird through the hard skin of the Golem. Issue was that at present Geralt's pouch was lying on the other side of the room - managed to slip loose from his hip as he tried not to get crushed by the Golem's spike covered arms. So all he could do at the moment was hang onto the Golem's back, trying to keep it distracted as Keira and Philippa searched for the right vial.

"Try faster please!" Geralt yelled as the Golem bucked and swung him all around.

"There's more than a dozen vials in here!: Keira noted.

"It's *grunt* the blue one!" Geralt instructed, nearly losing his grip on the Golem

"There are 5 blue ones!" Keira pointed out.

"Dark blue!"

"You're going to need to be more specific!." Philippa shouted. Geralt climbed up onto the shoulders of the Golem, thighs going around its neck to hold on as it tried to shake him off.

"Tissaia de Vries' favorite color!" Geralt stated.

"Oooohhhh!" the two sorceresses realized in unison. Philippa grabbed the vial, a deep blue, with ever the hint of green. She threw it to Geralt, who caught it with one hand. He quickly popped open the vial, and spread the contents over his sword.

"Zireael not recognized." The Golem's voice roared. "Intruders. Destroy the intruders."

"Sure thing big guy." Geralt countered, lifting his sword, and plunging it hard through the top of the Golem's jagged head. The Elementa oil did it's job, Geralt's sword piercing through the hard rock as if he was cutting into a man. The Golem faltered, staggering on it's large feet.

"Intruders." It said, voice growing quieter and magical runes on its skin losing its glow. "Intru-"

The Golem fell to its knees, cracks forming on it's skin, before falling forward and breaking up into pieces. Geralt landed on his feet, yanking his sword from the monster's head.

"Hate Golems." Gerlat grumbled. He then looked at Philippa and Keira with a scowl.

"Oh don't give us that look." Keira said. "You should've led with the Tissaia description. Would've saved us a lot of time."

"Hopefully that's the worst of the surprises." Philippa sighed.

"You know if you say that out loud, it never ends up being the case." Keira commented.

The three continued forward, continuing through the dark ruins, prepared for any other hostilities they might face.

"So…" Keira started after a period of silence. "Once you finally find Ciri, what will you do? Any plans?"

Geralt glanced to his side at Philippa before he spoke. Philippa very much didn't appreciate his look. "Depends what she wants."

"Imagined it - how it will...transpire? What will she say? What will she look like?" Keira continued.

"No." Geralt said gruffly, with a bit more bite than he had meant. Keira was reminding him of just how long it had been since he saw his Ciri.

His Ciri.

"I'm sorry." Keira apologized, picking up on his discomfort. For getting ahead of myself. At times I forget...we hardly know each other, certainly not enough to discuss personal matters. Some of us haven't had the time to get to know you."

Philippa knew that was directed at her, and bit her tongue to not curse the blonde. Geralt noted her reaction and smiled a bit.

"Not to worry. We'll get there."

Now that REALLY annoyed Philippa.

They continued on until they reached a small room. On the far wall was another outline of a door, with drawings of swallows around it.

"Another teleporter." Geralt said.

"Let's activate it quickly, I have the feeling another Golem is about to surprise us." Keira rushed.

"Would've been useful for the first one." Geralt mumbled. He went to the portal and placed his hand on the swallow symbol next to it. Like the one before, the portal hummed, before opening a passageway.

They three walked through, prepared for what they might face on the other side. When they emerged, they weren't in any immediate danger. In fact, on further inspection they realized-

"Wait, this is where we saw the Wild Hunt." Keira noted.

"All that, just to cross a bridge." Philippa added grimly.

"Which means the Hunt is a full day ahead of us." Geralt voiced in aggravation.

"Don't be so sure." Keira countered, trying to be the voice of positivity for the three. "The Hunt likely ran into the same kind of puzzles we have - the difference is they have a navigator, but we have a Geralt. Ciri expert. There's a chance they lost their lead trying to figure out the elf's mysteries and security measures."

"Let's hope. Come on." Geralt urged. The three quickly followed the Hunt's trail into the next chambers. The next room, there were several Golems - well what was left of them, frozen and in pieces.

"They destroyed the elf's sentries." Philippa stated.

"Clearly they're not here for a friendly conversation with the elf." Keira said sarcastically.

"Meaning you ever thought they might've?" said Geralt.

The three kept moving, climbing a set of stairs before another large cavern. As they got closer, the air got cold. Sure sign of-

The Hunt. There they stood, on the far side of the large room. Their mage looked to be doing some kind of spellwork, trying to open a passageway of some kind.

"Shaar'az!" The mage cast, blowing a hole in the rock, leading into another passage. The other Hunt member noticed the three, and they began to speak in old elvish to each other.

"They got held up here." Geralt said. "Let's get over there."

"And what are we going to do once we're over there?" Philippa questioned cautiously.

"We'll find out soon enough."

The three began to cross the room. It was large and open besides the remnants of pillars and rubble on the ground. The Hunt continued to speak to each other for a moment, and then, the others left through the hole in the wall, leaving only the Navigator. The Navigator lifted his arms, scepter in one hand and glowing.

"Shaent tah'vir!" The Navigator bellowed in his raspy voice, waving his arms as he cast his spell. Immediately several portals opened in the middle of the room, and from it came a stream of wind, snow and ice, almost so forceful it knocked the trio over. The Navigator then walked through the hole behind him, before sealing it off with an icy blockage.

"What is this?!" Keira asked, shouting to be heard over the wind snapping past their ears. She wrapped her arms around herself, never feeling cold like this before

"The White Frost! Mage from the Hunt summoned it! Can either of you seal those cracks it's blowing through?!" Geralt shouted.

"They're too far!" Philippa pointed out. "We need to get closer!"

"Demetia Crest's Surge!" cast Keira. "I can use it to get us close enough to the portals! Come on before we freeze to death. Da'arian annoi!"

"Cold won't be the only thing coming from those portals. "Philippa, we'll have to cover her." Geralt informed. Philippa nodded her head and prepared herself.

Keira's spell cast a large protective barrier around the three of them, shielding them from the cold and ice.

"Ready! Stay close!" Keira announced. They began to walk, they couldn't move too fast or risk disrupting the shield and their only protection. They moved to the first and closest portal. Keira maintained the shield with one hand, and with her other, began to try and close the portal.

"Should I do it?" Philippa offered.

"No, I'll handle it!" Keira said adamantly. "Just keep me covered."

No sooner than she spoke, did creatures begin to emerge from the portals.

Hunt Hound. Horrid creatures - ice brought to life with viciousness and spite. Closest things to companions beings like the Wild Hunt could have, and representative of their masters, they were ugly, cold, and deadly.

"Hunt Hounds!" Geralt called, drawing his silver sword. "They're made of ice. Use fire spells on them."

"Right." Philippa nodded, setting her palms ablaze, ready for a fight. Geralt and Philippa played defense for Keira as she tried to close the portal. Any time a hound got close, Philippa would blast it, or Geralt would slash at it with his sword. The Hounds weren't particularly cunning beasts, but they made up for it with numbers and sheer reckless abandon, throwing themselves at the trio as Keira worked to close the portals.

As they progressed and moved through the room, the Hounds came at them from all sides, doing their best to do damage.

"Blasted things!" Philippa hissed as she sent another hound to pieces with her fire, while Geralt cut off one's head. "Can we hurry this up Keira!"

"This…isn't as easy as it looks!" Keira said, trying to concentrate.

"You have the easy jo-AGH!"

In her chastising of Keira, Philippa let her guard down. For just a moment, but long enough for a Hunt Hound to slip in and slash the back of her calf with its claws. Typically when one is cut, they immediately feel warmth as their blood spills onto their skin. But Philippa felt nothing but cold on her leg, like her wound had been filled with ice.

"Philippa!" Geralt shouted, dispatching the offending hound with an igni. Philippa hopped on one foot, the other leg freezing and in pain. Geralt went to her, letting her lean on him for balance. "Are you okay?"

"No. I'm absolutely fucking livid." She seethed angry and embarrassed she got caught off guard. They three kept moving, Geralt holding up Philippa as she blasted at approaching hounds with renewed vigor and intensity. Slowly, but surely, they made it through the room, closing each portal one by one. Once the portals were closed and the room was no longer a frigid tundra, Geralt and Philippa dispatched of the remaining hounds, before settling down for a moment to collect themselves. Philippa fell to her bottom, and brought her hands to her calf, rubbing it frantically.

"Cold..cold." She repeated.

"Are you alright?" Geralt checked again.

"It feels as if my leg is encased in ice." Philippa admitted, teeth nearly chattering. She cast a warming spell on her cut to alleviate the pain and discomfort.

"Will you be able to stand?" Geralt asked in worry, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll be fine." Philippa bit sharply, not wanting to be coddled. She cast a healing spell on her leg, and while it still hurt like all hells, she was able to stand on her own. "Just a scratch. And- Keira?"

"Hm?" Said the straw haired sorceress. She sounded airy, like she was in a daze

"Your nose is bleeding."

Keira pressed her fingers to the underside of her nose, and examined the blood."

"Oh. would you look at…that…."

Keira swayed on her feet, and her eyes rolled upwards. She began to collapse, but Geralt's reflexes kicked in and he was to Keira in half a step, cradling her head and lowering her to the ground.

"Keira?!" Philippa asked in worry, not caring about her aching leg as she moved to kneel by them. "Keira, are you all right?"

"It'll pass... That took...a great deal of power - more than I've used in a while." Keira said hoarsely. Philippa's stomach filled with guilt at rushing her.

"Just don't faint on us." Geralt said gently.

"Geralt, if she can't go on-" Philippa began to panic.

"You can't leave me here!" Keira said urgently, grabbing Philippa's wrist. Philippa's mouth gaped a bit, offended and horrified that Keira thought she might be left behind.

"Never Kirry." Philippa assured, stroking Keira's hair.

Geralt cleared his. "I'd like to say we have time to recuperate here, but-"

"I know, I know. The show must go on." Keira said, attempting to sit up.

"Here." Philippa offered, giving Keira her hand and helping her to her feet. "Lean on me if you have to."

"No matter how much you've tried, you're not my mother Philippa." Keira said smartly. "I'll be fine. Let's just get this entrance unblocked so we can continue."

As if to prove that she was fine, Keira quickly blew apart the ice blocking their way. "Come. We might still catch them."

Keira began to try and walk through the door, but Geralt placed his hand on her shoulder, stopping her. Keira looked at him with a confused brow.

"Thanks for your help." Geralt said gruffly, but sincerely. "I know you'd rather be anywhere else right now, and you could be, but you stuck by us. Thank you."

Keira gave him a genuine smile. "Oh don't be getting sentimental on me now, Witcher. Admit it, you and Philippa would have hardly made it this far without me."

"Of course." Philippa agreed facetiously

"Now, let's be on our way." Keira said, pulling away from Geralt's touch. "Let's meet these phantom riders."

The three made their way through the passage. It was a straight line, with the only direction they could go being forward. That made things simple. They felt the familiar cold as they continued, a warning of their guests. They emerged into the next chamber: It was large and open like the last - almost as if it was a ballroom. Standing in the middle of the room, waiting, was a member of the hun in all his horror."

"Nithral." Geralt said, immediately drawing his sword.

"You know him by name?" Philippa asked in shock.

"I rode with the Hunt for nearly a year." Geralt said gravely. He got acquainted with them more than he would have cared to admit during his time as a rider/hostage.

Philippa and Keira looked at him in shock. Philippa knew he had a history with them - but she didn't know it was so…personal. She'd have to question him about it later when they made it out of there. If they did.

"You are stubborn, dh'oine." The elf spoke, pulling his own weapon from his back - a great axe, with a head nearly as big as Geralt's torso. "And I see you've brought 'sorceresses' to assist you."

Nithral almost sounded amused in his deep raspy voice, seemingly amplified by his skull adorned great helm. Despite having Witcher, and two of the continent's finest sorceresses in front of him, the elf stood unconcerned and waiting. His dark grey, jagged armor - made of metals not of this world covered him from head to toe. He was a full head and a half taller than Geralt, towering over the three, and his armor only made him seem larger. Geralt rode with him. He knew what he was - he was a savage and a sadist, even by the Wild Hunt's standards. Geralt had seen him tear a man down the middle, not cleaved - TORN.

Nithral stood there waiting for them to make the first move. Geralt looked to his sides at Philippa and Keira. Though the two sorceresses would never admit it, they were unnerved. The Hunt had that effect on people.

"Geralt, we shall help you." Philippa said, taking an offensive stance. She sounded like she was more trying to convince herself than anything. Keira nodded in agreement, but Geralt could see how unsure she was. Her energy was still depleted from shielding from the frost and closing the portals, and Geralt could see Philippa was clearly favoring one leg.

"Step back." Geralt said, as he began to walk toward the armored elf.

"Stop telling us what to do." said Keira, walking alongside him, hands glowing. Philippa walked on his other side, also ready.

"Aha!" Laughed Nithral. "I love it when they fight! I wonder how long you'll last."

The elf gripped his axe tightly, raising it to chest level. It had to be near 20 pounds, but the Huntsman lifted it with ease. Geralt circled to the elf's left side, while Keira and Philippa circled to his left. Nithral still stood waiting.

Philippa was the one to try and take initiative, throwing the first strike - a powerful bolt of lighting. Keira followed suit, with her own blast of lighting. Both bolts hit the elf square in the helmet. The bolts of lighting bounced off his helmet, being redirected around him, and nearly hitting Geralt.

"You presume to use such rudimentary magic against me?" Nithral growled, head turning to look at the stunned sorceresses. "It was my people who brought it to this world!"

Taking the moment of distraction as an opening, Geralt charged at Nithral, hoping to catch him off-guard. Geralt was never that lucky, and Nithral parried Geralt's thrust with his axe. He turned his body fully toward Geralt, slashing at the Witcher with a horizontal swipe at shoulder level. Geralt jumped backwards, avoiding the blow. The Huntsman lifted his axe above his head to try and deliver a downward blow, but Keira and Philippa intercepted it from behind.

"lina, która wiąże!" They said in unison. From their hands shot magical tethers, like lassos, wrapping around the blade and forearms of Nithral, stopping his downward swing. They dug their feet into the ground, bodies and magic straining to hold him.

"Now would be a good time to attack Ge-AHHH!" Keira began. She was cut short by Nithral suddenly bringing his axe down hard, cracking the stone as it made contact with the ground. Geralt had dodged it easily with the extra time allotted to him by the sorceresses, but they didn't dissipate their spells in time. The might in which Nithral brought his axe down didn't break the tether - instead it took Philippa and Keira clear off their feet, sending them flying head over heels across the room, landing behind Geralt with violent thuds.

"Philippa! Keira!" Geralt yelled, looking behind him. The sorceresses groaned in pain, landing hard on the unforgiving stone.

"Worry about your fate before theirs!" Nithral barked. He spun, swinging his axe high at Geralt's head. The Witcher ducked under it, and went on the defensive.

Nithral swung wildly at Geralt with his axe. He didn't have much form nor grace, but one didn't need it when you had a giant axe and the strength to cleave a horse in two in one swing. Geralt parried and dodged the strikes - it would've been a fool's errand to block any of them head on. The elf's superior strength and the weight of his blade would've likely ended with his sword knocked from his hand, or a broken wrist. So Geralt stayed out of range - He was faster than Nithral, not by much, but enough to keep from coming into contact with the business side of an axe.

Geralt bided his time. It would be useless to swing wildly - he wasn't getting through the Huntsman armor, enhanced strength or not. He had to wait for the perfect opportunity.

That opportunity came when Nithral swung his axe overhead again. The blade came hurtling down, and Geralt leapt out the way, but not before quickly signing Yrden where he was standing. The elf's axehead crashed into the ground, and into the purple runes of the sign. The sign did it's job, and Nithral was unable to leave the axehead from the ground. This was Geralt's moment to deliver his own offense. Geralt leapt forward, striking out with a sidekick to Nithral's head. The elf barely moved, grunting as Geralt's boot came into contact with his helmet. Geralt went to deliver another kick, but Nithral quickly let go of the handle of his axe to capture Geralt's foot and calf in his arms.

"Pest!" Nithral growled. He turned, jerking and twisting his body suddenly. He spun, using his grip on Geralt's lower leg to throw the Witcher several yards behind him. Gerlat landed hard on his side, quickly rolling to his back. With a hard yank, Nithral was able to break the sign, and free his blade. He spun around, and jumped in the air, higher than any man or elf should've been able to do, especially in armor. His axe raised high in the air, he came down like a ballista intending to turn Geralt into a stain within the ruins.

Thinking fast, Geralt held out his arm to the left side. "AARD!" He yells. The force of telekinetic blast pushes Geralt out of the way of the oncoming attack. Quickly he rolls to his feet, and Nithral is on him again, not giving him a moment of rest. Nithral's axe was coming close, too close.

"Quen." Geralt signed quickly, right before Nithral's axe came into contact with his chest. The sign absorbed the cut, but not the full force of the attack. Geralt was sent flying backwards, landing on one knee. He tasted metal as blood filled his mouth. He inhaled deeply, assessing the damage.

Three. cracked ribs. One digging into a lung - not puncturing yet.

"Don't worry Geralt." Nithral taunted as he sauntered over, slinging his blade over one shoulder "Surrender now, and I'll take you alive. You're much more useful as bait for the Daughter of the Gull than as a corpse."

Geralt rolled his eyes and spat out a glob of blood.

"You talk too much." He said, standing to his feet and readying himself. Gerlat swore he could tell Nithral was smiling under his helmet.

"You're right. More fun this way." The elf laughed, before starting another barrage of attacks.

Across the room, Philippa stirred. She groaned as she rolled to her side. Her body hurt, almost as bad as her pride.

"Keira?" She said, looking at her friend next to her. The blonde didn't move, simply groaning when shaken. Philippa looked up, seeing Geralt and Nithral engaged in battle. Philippa could tell Geralt was hurt, his movements were a bit slower, a bit less precise. It was time for her to pull her weight.

She pushed herself to her feet.

Lifting her hands, she pointed them at the Huntsman.

"Żyj w kamieniu!" She shouted.

Nithral took a step toward Geralt, only to realize he couldn't move his foot. He looked down to see that his right foot had been encased in stone, growing out from the ground and holding him in place - stone that was moving up his body.

"What?!" He yelled in confusion as the stone moved up his body, encasing more and more of him. "No! N-"

The elf was cut off by being fully encased in a stone pillar.

"Looked like you needed the help." Philippa said, walking over to Geralt.

"You kidding? I had him exactly where I wanted him." Geralt said, taking a moment to catch his breath.

"Are you alright?" Philippa asked, becoming serious as she saw the trickle of blood coming from the corner of Geralt's mouth.

"Just a few broken ribs." Geralt stated. "Is Keira okay?"

"She's still unconscious. I can revive her and we can find what we need and get out of this hell-hole."

"Right. We need to-"

Geralt stopped his sentence short, and his ears perked up.

"Geralt?"

Suddenly, an urgent look spread on his face.

"Philippa! Move now!"

Geralt tried to step towards her, but it was too late. The only warning they got was the sound of stone cracking, before Nithral's stone imprisonment exploded into hundreds of pieces, sending shards of rocks and dust flying. Philippa was knocked off of her feet. Gerlat was able put his body in front of the worst of it, but Philippa didn't go unscathed - tiny pieces of stone zipped through the air, cutting her cheeks and arms.

The dust made it hard to see, the sound of the explosion made Geralt's ears ring. He needed a moment to collect himself, but he knew he didn't have one.

*crack*

"Que-" Geralt began, trying to get the sign incantation past his lips. But he was a millisecond too late. Geralt tried to shift himself backwards, but he couldn't move fast enough as Nithral's axe slashed through the dust and air, connecting with his side, right above his hip. The Gambeson of his armor did what it could, but it wasn't enough.

Geralt felt the unnatural cold of the Huntsman's weapon come into contact with his skin, slicing into him, followed by a searing, yet freezing pain. Geralt tried to bring his sword up to offer some form of retaliation, but he felt like his limbs weighed 1000 pounds. Next thing Geralt felt was a boot come into contact with his chest, kicking him squarely, and putting him on his back.

There was the puncture.

The dust began to settle, and Nithral was the only one standing in the end. He looked at Geralt's unmoving form and scoffed. He then turned his attention to Philippa.

"Witch!" He boomed, stomping toward her, armor clanking menacingly as he did. Philippa tried to crawl on her back, putting any amount of distance she could between her and the Huntsman. Her heart was beating out of her chest, and dread filled her stomach as Nithral got within striking range. The elf lifted his axe high over his head, like a horrid moon.

Philippa didn't know why - she didn't bring her hands up to shield her face, or outward in some form of feeble defense.

Instead, her arms crossed protectively over her stomach.

Nithral's axe came down, and Philippa figured she'd be dead the very next moment, that this was a pathetic place to die.

But much to her surprise, she didn't die. A light blue barrier came around her, and Nithral's axe bounced off of it.

"Wha-?" Philippa began in confusion. She tilted her head back to see none other than Keira, protecting them with a shield spell.

"Bah!" Nithral yelled, striking the shield once more. Keira struggled to maintain the shield, her energy still drained, and possibly a concussion on top of that.

"Philippa." Keira rasped out. "I don't know how long I can hold this shield. We need *grunt* to think of something."

Philippa tried to make a fist with her right hand, but all she got was a twitch and a lot of pain.

"I think my forearm is broken." Philippa admitted. "I'm not sure what I can do."

Nithral struck Keira's shield again, causing her to fall to one knee."

"Well you better think of something fast."

Behind Nithral, Geralt stirred. The cut on his side was deep, pooling at his hip. His pants were stained maroon, and his skin was growing pale - paler than it already was. With great effort, he sat up, brain barely registering where he was. Then he saw Philippa. On her back, pleading from her face and arms, as Nithral lorded over her. He saw Keira, fighting a losing battle to protect the two of them.

The three of them.

Then he saw red.

Geralt was back on his feet before he realized it. He picked up his sword upside down, griping it tightly by the blade. Then he moved. He closed the gap between himself and Nithral faster than he thought he could, especially in his condition. Before the elf could react to Geralt being behind him, Geralt already made his move. He lifted the hilt of his sword over his shoulder, and brought it down diagonally across the side of Nithral's head as hard as he could. The Huntsman grunted in pain and surprise - armor or not, being hit full force with the hilt of a blade was going to have an effect. The elf stumbled half a step, before Geralt lifted his sword and hit him again. And again. Each strike somehow harder than the last, the sound of metal on metal echoing in the room. Geralt beat Nithral down to a knee, then to his hands and knees, repeatedly cracking him over the head with his pommel and hilt, beating him into the ground.

Keira and Philippa watched in shock as Geralt silently beat Huntsman, who not a few seconds ago was a terrifying figure, like he was nothing more than a child.

Geralt lifted his blade far above his head, and brought it down one last time, connecting with the back of the elf's head as he was on his hands and knees. The strike hit with such force that his blade shaped in two. Nithral laid on the ground, groaning and moaning in pain. Philippa managed to push herself back up to her feet. Slowly she began to walk towards Nithral's prone body.

"Philippa, what are you doing?" Keira asked, trying to stop her, but Philippa pulled away from her grasp.

"Step aside Geralt." Philippa ordered, voice flat. Geralt looked at her, eyes still wild, but obeyed without a word. He stepped back and allowed Philippa to stand where he was over Nithral. The elf groaned, and rolled to his back, looking up at the sorceress.

Philippa didn't say a word at first. She simply lifted her left hand, palm facing upwards, fingers splayed. Then she spoke the words -

"Wice"

Immediately Nithral's body went rigid. He struggled to move, but all he could do was move his head from side to side.

Slowly, Philippa began to curl her fingers inwards to her palm, as if she was crumpling a piece of paper. The sound of metal scraping could be heard as Nithral's armor began to transform, coming in upon itself. Nithral's limbs twisted, his chest plate grew tighter and tighter as his armor was becoming his downfall. Soon the sounds of bone cracking and breaking was heard, along with Nithral's screams. His screams didn't last long as soon he was too constricted to even breathe in, and the only thing coming out of his mouth was gurgles and blood.

Keira watched eyes wide, as a Philippa she hadn't seen in years remerged.

Red seeped through his helmet's eyes and his struggles ended with an extra loud crack as his spine went. The once mighty Huntsman laid there in a heap of mangled limbs and metal.

The only sound for a moment was the sound of Philippa's breathing.

"Wow." Geralt spoke after a while, smiling at her slightly. "You really are something."

With those words, he promptly collapsed.

For the next half hour, Keira and Philippa worked to stabilize Geralt.

Witcher were hardy, but he had lost a lot of blood, and every breath he took his lungs were doing their best to drown him in what remained in his body. The two sorceresses performed every healing spell they knew on him to try and help him. Philippa dug through his back to force him to swallow some of his mutagens, anything to keep him with them.

Once Geralt was breathing on his own - or at least not spitting up blood every time he did - the two sorceresses sat down across from each other on either side of Geralt. Bruised, battered and drained. Neither spoke for a long time.

"Philippa." Keira said carefully.

"Yes?" Philippa answered wearily.

"...you're pregnant."

Philippa didn't feel like lying. She was too tired. So she just answered with a short, but honest. "Yes."

Keira had been the one to ask, but she still seemed shocked upon hearing it. She knew she was. They way she protected her belly above anything else. It was so subtle, but as clear as day.

"I…How did this happen?" Keira continued. Shifting to her knees and leaning forward.

"Well, when a man and a woman."

"Philippa, I'm serious."

She was. More serious than she had been in a long time.

"I don't know." Philippa whispered.

"This isn't…this isn't something you can keep from me Phil!" Keira said, looking hurt. Philippa realized Keira thought she was lying. She didn't really blame her. "Now is not the time for secrecy!"

"It's not a secret. I really don't know. It was a mistake." Philippa admitted.

"A mistake?" Repeated Keira frowning. She wasn't satisfied with Philippa's vague responses.

I…I was working on a potion. I was trying to regrow my eyes."

"Like-"

"I swear on my magic if you say 'like Vilgefortz' I will cave in the ruins on top of all of us."

"Sorry. Continue."

So she continued. She explained. Explained everything. Her potion. Geralt's arrival. The means in which it became compromised, their travels, Nilfgaard. Everything. Keira sat there and allowed Philippa to talk, unjudging and attentive.

-And that brings us to now, in these damn ruins." Philippa finished. Keira just looked at her, and she waited for a reaction of some kind.

And then Keira laughed.

"I'm sorry." Keira said, trying to stifle her laughter, and failing "Goodness me."

Her laugh grew, from her typical giggle, to a full on guffaw. Laughter echoing in the gave. Philippa didn't know whether she should be in disbelief or angry.

"I spill my heart out to you, and you laugh at me?" Philippa seethed

"I'm sorry." Keira said, wiping a tear from her eye. "It's just - well this certainly couldn't have happened to two better people.

"I shouldn't have told you anything."

"No! I'm glad you told me. This is…Philippa this is amazing. Do you know how many others have searched for the cure to our infertility for years? Hells, Yennefer-"

"Don't mention her." Philippa snapped suddenly.

"So…what does that make the two of you?" Keira asked, eyes bouncing between her and Geralt.

"It doesn't make us anything. Just two people caught by circumstance." Philippa dismissed.

"Come now, you're not as callous and dumb as all that." Keira said with a slight smile, which in turn made Philippa frown.

"I don't know." Philippa admitted quietly. "None of this…none of this is how I expected it to be.

Philippa hadn't noticed she was gently stroking Geralt's hair as she spoke. Keira did though. The straw-haired sorceress just smiled. She thought Philippa could be very gentle when she wanted to.

"It never is, is it?"