Ciri and I set off along with Ermion and the an Craite siblings. We rode south from Kaer Morhen to Novigrad, thankfully the monsters were few on the road. Once we reached the free city Hjalmar and Cerys led us to their ship and we were off to Skellige. The Witcheress once again ignored me for most of the journey, only sparing me a few quick glances and pointed looks when I made small jokes. We had been sailing for the better part of three days before she spoke to me.
"George."
"Cirilla."
"Can we talk?"
"As you wish Princess. "
She glared at me when I used her formal title. Chuckling as she slapped my foot off of the side of the boat she sat next to me.
"Look, I-I'm sorry for how I've been acting, it's just- It's-"
"Just that you don't like me?"
"No! It's not that I don't like you… I mean yes, wait. No!"
I laughed at the flustered look she got, "You get this 'strange feeling in your stomach when you look at me' I believe is where we left it off at."
"Yes, and well. It confuses me."
"Why's that?"
"Because I haven't felt like this since…"
"Since?"
"Ah! Forget it, this is so difficult."
She stomped away back to her cabin and I shrugged. Ermion joined me on the deck just as Ciri slammed the door to her cabin shut.
"She fancies you boy."
"I doubt it" I turned to the Druid. "She hardly tolerates me as is."
The old man sighed. "If only you knew."
"Knew what? That she's sickened by me?"
"You are quite dense for a Witcher. She tended your wounds while you were recovering. Even stayed up by your side until you awoke."
"That doesn't mean much."
"But it does, I've watched that girl grow up. I've never seen her behave in such a way."
"Even if she did, I just met her. It's impossible for her to have feelings like that based on the short time she's known me."
"Tell me you don't feel the same."
"I-" my eyes wandered back to Ciri's door. "I don't know."
"Then go find out."
The old wiseman gave me a light push forward. I turned to look at the Druid but he was already walking away.
'I can't have feelings for her can I? I hardly know her after all.'
Steeling myself I made my way over to the door and knocked.
"Ciri, it's me. I'm coming in."
"Wait!"
Too late, I had pushed the door open and immediately regretted my decision. Ciri stood at the foot of her bed, arms covering her naked chest. I wasn't prepared for how fast the Witcheress moved. Before I could react she had drawn her sword and pinned me against the door slamming it shut.
"I told you to wait."
My eyes wandered lower and Ciri took noticed. Red began to creep into her cheeks and I felt myself get flipped over her shoulder as she threw me with surpassing strength across the room.
"What the hell do you think you're looking at!"
"A beautif-"
"Finish that sentence and I will gut you!"
"I was going to say 'a beautiful set of brea-'"
Her fist met the side of my head and my world went black. When I finally came back around I was laying on a bed, remembering where I was I bolted up out of the bed and looked around the room. Ciri was sitting on a chair across the room looking at me with concern.
"George I'm-"
"Don't apologize, it was my fault. I should have waited."
She stood up and walked over to me, gently pressing a hand against my temple. I winced when I felt her brush against a tender spot.
"That's quite a mean punch you pack."
"I don't know what came over me, I just. Oh, this is so embarrassing."
"It's fine, you had every right."
"Not when you're still recovering from your wounds."
"Ciri, it's fine. Honest."
"Still, I'm sorry."
"And I'm sorry for provoking you."
We slipped into silence, I looked at the world jumping woman in front of me.
'She is rather beautiful. Fuck it what's the worst that could happen.'
Before I could second guess myself I leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips. Her eyes widened and her hands clenched my shirt. I expected her to push me away or even slap me, I didn't think she would melt into the kiss wrapping her arms around my neck. We broke away a moment later, out of breath and slightly flustered.
"So-"
"That happened." I finished for her. "What now?"
"I- I need some time, I'm just realizing my feelings for you and. It's all very new to me."
"As it is for me."
She looked at me with surprise, "You've- You've never been with a woman?"
"A bad experience in the past, I lost all faith in relationships for a bit. I'm just now realizing as well, that maybe I too have feelings for you."
We shared another kiss before she pushed me out of her room. Before she closed the door she smiled at me for the first time.
"George."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
She closed the door before I could ask what for. I put a finger on my lip and smiled at the lingering feeling of her lips on mine.
"What did I tell you."
I nearly jumped and reached for my sword as I spun around. Ermion stood behind me with a knowing smile on his face.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough. I must say, that was quite the commotion in there lad."
"Not a word you hear?"
The old man chuckled silently before walking back to wherever he came from. I sighed and made my way over to my cabin on the boat. Closing the door behind me I slumped down on the bed.
"What the hell did I just get myself into."
The rest of the journey to Skellige was even stranger. Ciri no longer glared at me, yet she still kept her distance. There were a few pleasantries here and there. A 'good morning' or 'evening' here and there. She did say she needed time to sort out her feelings. I also remembered that in the games, her tattoo was her tribute to 'someone she held dear but was no longer around'. I wondered if it was mentioned in the previous games or if it was strictly a story in the books.
Once we docked at Hindarsfjall, Ermion and the siblings set off with their warriors back to the mainland. Ciri and I traveled to Lofoten, apparently she had someone to thank here. Making our way up the dirt path to the village I looked around. There were signs that the Wild Hunt had come around in the ice and snow that lingered on the thatch roofs.
"Skjall should be around here, I hope he got away from the Hunt."
"He helped you escape?"
"Him and an elven mage named Avallac'h. Though I don't know where the other went. He went missing just as Skjall drew the Hunt away."
Curiously Uma had been absent from Kaer Morhen. The poor guy was probably still the Bloody Barons court jester. I followed Ciri up into the village where she eventually approached a crowd gathered around a burial mound.
"Excuse me," they turned to her. "By any chance have any of you seen Skjall?"
"What do you want with 'im" the villager spat the words out like poison. "Craven went to slay Morkvarg."
"Craven?"
"Aye, that coward does not deserve a name after fleeing from battle."
"Fleeing from battle?"
"Are ya deaf lass, that's what I said."
Ciri gripped her sword and I set a hand on her shoulder before she could draw it. Shaking my head I stepped forward. Discreetly casting Axii on the villager I glared at the man.
"Where has Skjall gone?"
"H-he's gone to Freya's Garden to regain his honor by slaying a beast."
The other villagers looked at the man in shock at having responded to Skjall's name instead of 'Craven'. I cursed under my breath remembering the werewolf you had to fight in the caves beneath Freya's Garden. The curse left the werewolf practically unkillable and everytime you killed him he would just respawn a day or two later.
"Thank you for your cooperation, you may go now."
The villager nodded before walking back to the other villagers. Pulling Ciri along we made our way out of the village and through to the path to Freya's Garden. She yanked her hand back and glared at me once we were out of the village.
"Why did you stop me?"
"You would have been no better than them had you attacked them. Now come on, we might still make it on time if we hurry."
Ciri looked conflicted before nodding and following after me as we ran to the garden. Once we made it to the walled off grove I helped Ciri over the locked gate before scaling the low wall myself. Drawing my silver sword I began to look around for Skjall's tracks. Spotting a bit of trampled ground I called Ciri over and we followed the trail to a dilapidated cabin at the heart of the garden. There was a scream from inside and Ciri drew her sword.
"Ciri step back."
She backed away as I used Aard to blast open the door. Jumping into the dark hall first I scanned the room for signs of the man. Ciri came in shortly after, there was another scream followed by an inhuman roar that shook the room. Following the sound we were met with another locked door. Before I could cast a sign Ciri kicked the door down and rushed into the hidden entrance to the cavern below the house. Downing a Cat potion followed by a Thunderbolt potion I took in the darkened surroundings. Spotting Skjall's prone form I dashed over to the fallen man and checked his pulse. He was wounded but fortunately he was still breathing. Ciri rushed over just as a hulking werewolf came charging back into the space.
"Get him out! I'll be right behind you."
Not waiting for her response I blocked a swipe from the beast's claws before slamming the monster into a distant wall with Aard, rushing forward I made several slashes on the beast's belly before punching my fist through the wound and casting Igni. Morkvarg's scream of pain was cut off as I cast more Igni signs in his belly, each one more powerful than the last. Surprisingly the werewolf was still alive and managed to free himself from my grasp. There was now a massive hole blown through its stomach but the beast still persisted, it charged at me again. Dodging and parrying more swings and bites I eventually managed to shove a grapeshot bomb down the monster's open mouth. Not waiting to see if it would be effective I blasted the cursed pirate back with another Aard sign just before his head exploded sending gray matter and bloody viscera everywhere.
With the beast dealt with I made my way out of the cabin while trying to get as much of the blood off my clothes as possible. Outside Ciri was cradling Skjall, I could hear the faint pounding of the man's heart so I knew he was still alive.
"How is he?"
"He's still breathing, but he's badly wounded. He needs help."
"Let's bandage his wounds first before we move him."
Ciri nodded before wiping away a few stray tears. Pulling a few clean bandages from a pouch I bangaged Skjall's wounds before hoisting him over my shoulder. Together Ciri and I made our way out of the garden. The trip back to Lofoten was silent with Ciri trailing behind me.
Once we reached the village we made our way over to the inn, kicking the door open I set Skjall down on a table and walked over to the bar. The innkeeper looked at me with fright as I trailed werewolf blood across the floor.
"This man needs his wounds treated, can you do that for me."
It wasn't really a question and the barkeep understood. The man quickly nodded before dashing out to get someone who could treat Skjall's wounds. The doors burst open again and the angry villagers entered the bar. Ciri stood guard over Skjall as I reached behind the counter to grab a drink.
"What is the meaning of this! Why have you brought back Craven?"
"Be silent."
"You shut your mouth outsider this has nought to do with you."
I downed the vodka and turned around to face the angry crowd. Crossing my arms I glared at them as Ciri continued to watch over Skjall.
"As far as I'm aware, you sent an innocent man, who by the way, didn't run from battle, but instead drew the enemy away, to kill an unkillable werewolf."
"Why should we believe you!"
"Because I'm a Witcher? It's my job to know these things, and you, little pissants, should just nod and smile because if it wasn't for the man you call 'Craven'. Your whole village would have been razed to the ground by the Wild Hunt."
"Bu-"
"Listen, I just got back from fighting the unkillable werewolf I just mentioned so if you could be so kind as to piss off, that would be fantastic. Thank you."
The villager at the head of the crowd turned red with anger and stepped forward, pulling a knife from his belt he glared at Ciri then at me.
"Listen, you may have heard that Witcher's only kill monsters. But if you choose to attack her or me," I stepped closer to the man until I was right in front of him. Leaning forward I continued to speak right into his ear. "I will split you from your head to your balls before you can say 'oh shit'. Am I understood?"
The man dropped the knife before running out of the inn leaving a trail of piss behind him. The crowd slowly dwindled until only a few remained.
"Is it true? Did he really lead away the Riders of the Hunt?"
"Aye, he did. He even saved me." Ciri answered as I poured myself another shot before downing it in one gulp. Feeling my recently healed wound throb once my anger and adrenaline wore away, I sighed.
"Then it is our responsibility to care for him lass, we apologize for the trouble."
Ciri looked to me and I nodded. She sheathed her sword and stepped away from Skjall just as the innkeeper returned with a woman in tow. Ciri stood next to me as the villagers carried Skjall away to a room to be treated. Once they were all gone I let out another sigh and poured myself a fresh round of vodka.
"Thank you, had you not stopped me from attacking those villagers earlier we might not have been able to save Skjall. I was being foolish."
I turned to Ciri who was looking up at me, tears threatening to fall from her emerald eyes. Gently wiping them away I raised her head.
"You don't need to thank me Ciri, it was the right thing to do."
She nodded before taking my cup out of my hand and downing the rest of the drink. Handing my cup back to me she slumped into a chair and let out a sigh.
"Now, threatening the villagers, THAT was foolish on my part, but it sure felt good."
She let out a giggle, "Ah, so the great Witcher George does make foolish decisions."
"Was that a giggle? From the Mistress of Time and Space, what would your ever stoic father think?"
"I think he'd have laughed at that too."
"You're probably right."