Sorry for the delay. I was on spring break and visiting my family.
1262, Cintra
Harry's POV:
Harry watched silently as Geralt and Ciri as well as another man that he did not recognize walked into the little hidden Dryad village within Brokilon. Harry knew what was about to happen, Eithné would no doubt try to turn Ciri into one of her people no doubt seeing the deep potential in her. Nothing Geralt would or could say would change that. Harry on the other hand was very different. He knew there were things he could and would say that would change Eithné's mind.
By this point, Geralt and Ciri were taken to Eithné. Geralt made a polite gesture to the woman while Ciri stood behind him looking as if she wanted to be anywhere but there. Eithné started to speak to them as well as another member of her little village looking serene as could be. Harry smiled briefly at the fact that Eithné could no longer pull such looks when he was around. Eithné, he knew, found his presence to be annoying yet he also knew that he had grown on her a little. He had put enchantments all over Brokilon once to ensure no one could navigate it unless they were a Dryad. Eithné knew of this and he knew she was thankful though she had never said it outloud. They had a strange relationship that he was sure confused Eithné at the best of times. Harry paid back attention to what was é said something else about letting the group rest and stay for the night and so they did. Harry did not sleep that night though, he simply watched Ciri and Geralt for he didn't feel tired at all.
When morning came, Harry was still up and still watching both Geralt and Ciri as they once again engaged in an argument with Eithné over Ciri. Harry continued to stare at the group and watched as Geralt seemed to be arguing harder while at the same time trying to still be polite. Eithné silenced him with a stern look and said something in return before pulling out a cup full of a strange liquid. That was when Harry interfered. He quickly cast the paralyzing then stasis charms on both Geralt and Ciri so they would be frozen and have no idea that time was passing them by. Eithné looked confused for a moment before a scowl crossed her face.
"Harry, come out now." She demanded. Harry obliged her demand and stepped out of a nearby shadow looking sober.
"Hello Eithné, you're looking as beautiful as ever." Harry said politely and with a smile hoping to warm her up a little though he knew the attempt was futile.
"What have you done? I demand that you release them immediately!" Eithné said raising her voice. Harry just shook his head.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that. At least, I can't yet anyway. You and I need to talk." Harry said to her. Eithné glared at him but made no move to attack though for a second she looked as if she was itching to go for her bow leaning against a wall near her.
"What is it?" she asked as she visibly restrained herself. Harry conjured a chair and sat in it while crossing one leg over the other.
"I know that you want this girl right here to join your little merry band of villagers for all eternity. I know you see the great potential as well as power within her. I also know that you know her true identity. So you will understand when I say that you may not have her. That she is not for you to take away from her destiny." Harry said seriously as he looked at Eithné. Eithné did not looked pleased at that.
"You have no right to dictate who joins and who leaves my village Sorcerer. I am the leader here and as the leader I decide who joins and who doesn't join." Eithné said icily back to him. Harry nodded.
"I thought you would say something like that. I once told you I would give you a choice Eithné. I am a man of my word so here it is. Either you let this girl and her witcher companion go freely, or I will burn this village and everyone in it to the ground. Then I will burn all of Brokilon to the ground, not because I necessarily want to see it gone but because I will use it as a message in the future to all those who try and stand against me. Or, you could let them go in which case I will leave you and your people alone and, should you wish it, never return to Brokilon again. The choice is yours." Harry said with a serious look as he radiated power from every pore of his body. He could see that it had a physical effect on Eithné.
"So...That's what this has been about, you wish to control the prophecy?" Eithné asked though it sounded more like a statement. Harry shook his head once again.
"I could give two shits about the prophecy and what it says. I care nothing for it at all. The girl is all that matters to me and her happiness. There will be many in her life who seek to take it away from her and I will be the one to make sure that all who oppose her will eventually be maggot food. None shall stop me or stand in the way of this goal of mine." Harry said. Eithné stayed silently and seemed to be thinking over what he had told her. She looked very displeased at the options she was being given but Harry already knew that she would make the right choice. She loved her family to much to put them at risk against him.
"Fine, take them and begone. Never return to Brokilon." Eithné finally spat out. Harry shook his head surprising her.
"That's not how this works, see I can't let them know about me interfering just yet. So here is what you're going to do, instead of your little brain washing juice, you will give them this." Harry said as he held out a hand and a cup appeared out of thin air that mirrored the one that Eithné had in her hand. Even the contents appeared to be the same.
"Give them both this. It will cause nothing more than some hallucinations but will ultimately leave them with their minds and you with the excuse that fate interfered. Do it exactly as I have instructed or the deal will be off and I will kill you all." Harry said to her. He hated playing the bad guy but also wouldn't feel too bad about it. Eithné and her little forest band killed many people and lots of them were innocent of nothing more than stepping into the forest, some not even on purpose. Eithné was not someone he would describe as a good or nice person but rather some who fell into the shades of grey in the world. That wasn't even mentioning the fact of the destruction of many minds of the women who she recruited just so she could mold them into something more to her liking. Had this been Britain, Eithné would have been given a death sentence for all that she had done. As much as he liked her, Harry knew she was getting off lightly.
Eithné took the cup from him and stared at the contents for a moment before looking at him gravely.
"After this you will leave?" she asked. Harry nodded but said nothing.
"Fine, I will give them this and send them on their way with no mention of you. Now begone from my village and I shall pray to the gods that I never see your face again." Eithné said angrily as she waited for him to leave.
"Goodbye Eithné. I hope our paths never have to cross again, for your sake." Harry said as he once more stepped into the shadows of the room and disappeared from view before releasing the paralysis and stasis charms he had put on both Geralt and Ciri. He did not actually leave of course. He would make sure that Eithné honored their agreement and would make good on his threat otherwise.
Luckily there seemed to be no need as Eithné did honor their agreement though she didn't look happy and he had a feeling that Geralt had picked up on it but decided to say nothing for his own safety. Eventually she gave Ciri the cup and saw that it had little effect on her. This was on purpose as the concoction was dulled by magic and Ciri had spades of it. Geralt however was not so lucky and went through quite the unpleasant experience as he fell to the ground. Ciri looked over him but could do nothing. Harry was not concerned as he had made sure there would be no lasting effects for Geralt. He watched the Dryads take both Ciri and Geralt and deposit them into the forest semi near the border where Geralt finally awoke. Harry lifted the enchantments so they would be able to actually leave the place. He watched them walk out of the forest and once more set off down a road. He knew what was coming next but also knew he could not interfere any further so with one last look at the two companions, he disappeared into the night.
1262, Vengerberg
Yennefer's POV:
Yennefer sat in her posh mansion with a nice glass of Evoluce and was once more reading the journal of the man who she believed to be the Black Mage. It had been years now since she had found it and she had already finished it multiple times but there was something that would always bring her back to it. Perhaps it was hope that maybe one day she would find the one detail that would finally help her track the man down. Perhaps it was the foolishness of a woman who no longer had any options left to her. No matter what it was, she still found a purpose to continue to read it every now and again. She remembered when she and Geralt had tried to track the man down together with little success and eventually splitting off after an argument or two. Her heart still ached a little when she thought about it.
"It's at least a good read I hope?" A voice said startling Yennefer who shot from her seat and had a spell halfway done by the time she looked at the man who was sitting down in a chair that looked very much like the one she was sitting in.
"How bold you must be to break into a sorceress's house and then foolishly announce your presence. What is it that gives you such bravery, and speak quickly for you will find I have very little patience." Yennefer said as she glared at the man. The man didn't seem put off at all that he was being threatened by her.
"Oh I just came to pick up a bit of property of mine that you seemed to have acquired." The man said. This caused Yennefer to glare even harder at him.
"I have stolen nothing from you so now it would be best for you to leave before the small patience I told you about wears out." Yennefer spat as she wondered how the man had silently gotten past the protections on her house. He must be a sorcerer and most likely a powerful one. Could he be trying to kill her perhaps? An assassination attempt? But from who, what king had had ordered her head?
"I didn't say you stole it only that you had acquired it, and you do most definitely have it. In fact, unless my eyes are starting to go, you were just reading it right now." The man said as he summoned the journal that had fallen to the ground into his hands and opened it to the page Yennefer was sure she had just been reading.
"Hmm. I see you were reading about the part where I was messing with Witcher mutagens. I had some success with that, I raised the odds 1 to 10 out of every child being a witcher to 6 or 7. Not a complete success but I had become busy with other things at the time as I am sure you already know." the man said as he gently closed the book and looked at her. It didn't take a second longer for Yennefer to understand just who exactly she was talking to.
"You're the Black Mage?" she asked though she already knew the answer. The man just nodded.
"My friends call me Harry and I'd ask you to call me it as well. I'd also like you to not let that get around." Harry told her. Yennefer knew his real name from Geralt already but it was nice to have confirmation directly from the source.
"Have you come just for your book then?" Yennefer asked wondering if he had possibly found out she was looking for him.
"Aye. Though I find it curious that it ended up in your hands out of all the people in the world. Could you perhaps tell me how you acquired my book?" Harry asked, though Yennefer got the feeling he was doing so only out of formality than anything else.
"A traveling merchant claimed to have found the book in a cave he spent the night in and sold it to me for a few orens. I don't think he knew it was yours." Yennefer explained. Harry nodded at her explanation.
"Funny how that works out. I suppose it was Fate more than anything else, that bitch. Well, now that I have the book I should be off. Thank you for it's return." Harry said as he stood from the chair. Yennefer's eyes widened as she put her hands out to stop him.
"Wait...I wish to ask you some questions if you would. Afterall, I did technically pay for the book you're now taking. At least allow me to ask you some things in repayment for my money that I spent on it." Yennefer said to the man. A ghost of a smile appeared on Harry's face as he stared at her in amusement.
"You seek to be reimbursed for recovering my lost property that you feel you own because you paid a random merchant for it who found it in a cave where I left it. Is that correct?" Harry asked her. Yennefer looked him in the eyes and smiled alluringly at the man.
"Yes of course, you won't mind spending a little time with me would you?" Yennefer asked sensually, trying to charm the man into staying. The man just threw his head back in laughter which both angered and annoyed Yennefer.
"You're a century to early to be trying to charm me into doing something Lady Yennefer but nevertheless, I suppose I can spare a few moments. Speak quickly and I will either answer honestly or not at all." Harry told her. Yennefer breathed a sigh of relief, at least she had gotten him to stay, despite the fact that he had practically insulted her.
"Excellent, as you can imagine, I found many surprising things in your journal. Is all of it true?" she asked. She figured she would start off light then work her way into what she really wanted.
"It is." Harry responded simply. Yennefer had hoped he would elaborate but he simply stared at her pleasantly and waited for her to ask something else. She had to stop from gritting her teeth in annoyance at the man.
"What was the world you left like?" She asked trying to remain civil.
"Advanced, beautiful, and boring. I understand you're trying to butter me up before you get to what you really want but I have to go soon so could you just ask me what you desire so I may be off." Harry finally said. Yennifer scowled but soon wiped the look from her face.
"So be it. In your book you mention several times your ability to heal almost anything and if you can't you usually can find ways to. Is this true?" Yennefer asked.
"It is." Harry said as he continued to look at her. Yennefer just realized the man hadn't blinked once as he stared her directly in the eye this entire conversation. It was almost unnerving especially from one who looked so young.
"Good. As you may know, sorceresses are infertile and cannot conceive children." Yennefer started.
"Most not all. There are rare exceptions to every rule but continue with your point." Harry said to her. Yennefer wished she could scold him for interrupting but was currently in need of his help so therefore would need to play nice for the time being.
"Yes well. I wish you to heal my reproductive system if at all possible." Yennefer finally said. There was a moment of silence as the man just looked at her and Yennefer could tell he was surprised.
"You wish to have a child. Why?" The man asked curiously. Yennefer's heart skipped a beat.
"Do I need a reason to want and try my hand at being a mother. Most women, it's expected of them, why should I be denied the chance." Yennefer said in an almost frustrated tone. Harry once more just looked at her. He sat silently as he seemed to be contemplating something in his head.
"I...can unfortunately not give you what you ask for. I am sorry." Harry said to her. Yennefer felt her body fill with rage at the words but quickly calmed herself.
"May I ask why you will not help me? If it's about money…" Yennefer tried.
"It is not about money. It is simply about me not being able to meddle in certain matters that might affect certain things. My hands are tied on this my lady. I am sorry." Harry responded sadly. Yennefer looked down for a moment and did her best not to let tears escape her eyes at that moment. All these years thinking that he would be the answer only to find yet another dead end. Perhaps she was stuck in this lot in life. Maybe she just deserved it.
"I can not heal your organs but...I do see a child in your future." Harry said calmly. Yennefer's eyes shot up and looked at him.
"What do you mean, are you saying there is something else that can heal me?" she asked
"No, but I do see a child. A girl. You will love her very much and she will love you. An unexpected child at that. She will be quite the surprise I am sure. Remember to keep you eyes open for possibilities Lady Yennefer as they present themselves to us everyday and in the most peculiar ways. I must leave now but perhaps I should leave some parting words before I go. Always remember that the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb." Harry told her as he stood and looked to be about to leave the room.
"Wait, hold on. What does that mean?" Yennefer said. Harry smiled.
"It means the family that YOU choose will always be more important than the one your blood chooses for you. Goodbye Lady Yennefer. Enjoy the rest of Beltane." Harry said and with that he was gone. Yennefer just stood there staring at an empty room with surprise and then annoyance. The man had not used a portal to make his exit. He had simply warped and disappeared into thin air. She had never seen anything like it before.
Yennefer sighed to herself after spending a few more moments in the room by herself. She went to her room and prepared for bed. That night she dreamt of Geralt. A wonderful dream for her.
It was Beltane after all.
1262, Cintra
Harry's POV:
Harry stood on top of one of the highest buildings in the city of Cintra and watched the horizon. He could see the Nilfgaardian army from here and there seemed to be thousands marching towards the city. He watched the towns people scramble for cover as well as leaving the city while the city guard and what remained of the city army prepared to defend the city to their dying breath. They probably were only a thousand men strong if Harry estimated correctly. Even if he didn't already know what was happening, he could have easily guessed. Cintra would be crushed, it was no longer a matter of if but when. Ciri had not told him how long Cintra had lasted but if Harry had to guess, he would say that this would be over in 24 hours. Nilfgaard was coming from three sides leaving only one side for people to escape. Sadly there was a river that slowed down the escape of the townspeople. Harry wasn't concerned about that though. He was only concerned about the royal family. It seemed that Calanthe was not going to let the city go down without a fight and she seemed to want to lead that fight. Harry watched both forces finally meet just outside the city with a great roar.
Harry sighed. To be completely honest, he was quite tired of wars. He had partaken in a few while he had been here for causes he had felt were just. Nothing major but involved enough that he was honestly tired of seeing people die to satisfy rulers greed for power and land. Nilfgaard was no different and he had a feeling that sooner or later he would come to blows with them. He didn't like their 'conquer the world' attitude nor did he like this Emhyr var Emreis. He reminded Harry of Lucius Malfoy. He was glad Draco had eventually given up the whole blood purity thing and just stayed out of politics entirely. Lucius however, had to die and had done so by his hand. Emhyr would probably be the same. Plus there was the whole situation of him being obsessed with Ciri. Couldn't have that.
As he continued to stare at the battle, a crow flew down from the sky and landed on his shoulder. Harry didn't even look at the bird as it put its beak at his ear and, surprisingly, whispered into it.
'He has scouts in the city searching for her now. The army is a distraction. To the North-East. We are tracking them.' the crow murmured as it hopped of his shoulder and took to the skies in the direction it had just told him. Harry looked into the direction and did indeed see a swarm of crows to the North-East, further into the city. He took one look back at the battle before apparating towards a rooftop in the middle of the swarm of inconspicuous crows that no one seemed to be paying attention to. They also were not paying attention to him as he looked down into an alley and saw three men in a panicked rush to not draw suspicion yet they were moving towards the castle. His eyes never left the men as they ducked down an alley probably not knowing it was a dead end. Harry apparated once more into the alley entrance and covered it in charms to steer everyone clear of it.
"Hold up Kalisk, This is a dead end you twit. If you can't read the goddamn map then let me read it." A man said with an accent.
"Hold on a moment I know where we are. We're here, we just took a wrong turn but were close." The man identified as Kalisk said pointing at a piece of paper he had in his hands. Harry said nothing as he waited for the men to turn around and notice him and he didn't have to wait long.
"Wait a moment, who's this?" The final man who had not said anything yet said as he finally looked back at Harry who simply continued to stand there. The man named Kalisk turned to him. With all the men turned to him, Harry could understand why the king would choose them. They clearly weren't the smartest but all three could pass for locals of Cintra.
"Evening gentleman. Wouldn't happen to be out and about for a kidnapping would you?" Harry asked them in an almost pleasant tone. They had an immediate twitch that confirmed his thoughts.
"Kidnapping? No sir. We are just a little lost you see. Trying to get out of town before Nilfgaard shows up like everyone else." Kalisk responded
"Oh? How long have you lived in this city?" Harry asked curiously.
"Oh ever since we were little!" Kalisk said as his friends nodded nervously.
"Yet you do not know how to leave nor do you seem to be carrying anything to take with you. How strange. I'm afraid I don't believe you gentleman which is quite unfortunate for you since I am sure you can guess what happens next. Well you can guess the end result, I doubt you would have guessed how we're getting to that end result. No matter. Try not to scream." Harry told them calmly.
"Alright enough of this. Let's gut the bastard and be done with this." The man to Kalisk's right said as he pulled out a dagger. His companions followed suit. Harry said nothing, he simply waved his hand and silently summoned the daggers from their hands to directly in front of him in the air. The man started to curse.
"Shite, he's a sorce…" Kalisk tried to say but Harry did not let him finish. He rotated the daggers in the air to point back at their owners and banished them with as much precision he could muster. He was rewarded with three simultaneous 'schlick' noises as the daggers entered the men's throats. Harry smiled as he gave himself a mental pat on the back because of the precision he managed which he had been working. Harry looked at the dead bodies and decided to simply leave them there. The Nilfgaardians would eventually find them when they took the city or they wouldn't. Either way, Harry couldn't care less as he apparated away from the murder scene.
The Next Day
"Listen to me child. Gestan will take you to the river. You must cross it and get to the otherside. Find the Witcher. He will take care of you. Do you understand me?" Calanthe said as she was down on one knee in front of her granddaughter. Harry hated these type of scenes. Watching families get torn apart was the worse part of war. Especially when you knew the family which Harry must definitely did at this point.
"I don't want to grandmama! I want to stay with you!" Ciri said as she clinged to her grandmother with tears leaking down her face. Calanthe wrapped her arms around Ciri for what was going to be the last time.
"I'll always be with you Ciri. Inside you. I love you more than anything, always remember that...Gestan, take her from here. Don't stop till you've crossed Yaruga. Protect her with your life." Calanthe commanded. A young man waiting in armor a few feet from them nodded his head. He walked over and picked Ciri up and literally dragged her away from Calanthe.
"It has been a honor my queen. I will protect her to my dying breath." Gestan said as he bowed one last time and ran out of the throne room with Ciri who still screamed in protest.
"NO GRANDMAMA PLEASE DON't MAKE ME GO. GRANDMAMA!" Ciri screamed as the man took her out one of the side doors. Calanthe watched them leave with tears pooling in her eyes. A rarity as any who knew her could tell you.
"My Lady? What shall we do?" A knight behind her asked. Calanthe wiped her tears and controlled herself before turning around. There were knights and nobles now flooding the room.
"Barricade all the doors. Cintra shall never bow to Nilfgaard. If they want the throne then they will have to take it from our cold dead hands." Calanthe answered. The knights face hardened but he nodded. Harry had seen enough as he sat crouched in the rafters of the hall. He quietly apparated away to an alley where a horse was tied and hidden waiting for him. He hopped on the horse and waited for a few moments among the now burning city. He tried to ignore the screams of pain and terror he could clearly hear. After a few minutes, he saw a black horse with a man in full armor and a small person he was holding onto, speed by as fast as their horse could go. It was the flash of white hair that gave away the final hint of who was on the horse. They sped by but Harry continued to wait as they were not who he was waiting for. He didn't have to wait long either as it was maybe 20 more seconds before a storm of horses went by all with men in full black armor and all going the same direction as Ciri. When the last horse went by, Harry kicked his to get it running and chased after the black armored men. Apparating wouldn't be able to keep up with this as it was a constant chase and he couldn't simply wait ahead of them because he was unsure of their path as well as not wanting to let Ciri see him. So he rode and he rode hard.
It didn't take them long to exit the city and start approaching the Yaruga. Sadly, it had seemed that Gestan's luck had run out. It seemed that one of the Nilfgaardians had a crossbow with them and had struck the man's horse in the head causing it to fall down dead. Gestan wrapped himself around Ciri as they fell to protect her. Harry slowed his horse to a stop and thanked whoever listened that they were in a small forest and he had some cover to stay hidden. He watched briefly what was happening. Gestan stood from the ground clearly injured. He shoved Ciri in the direction of the river.
"Go princess. Run and don't look back, I will stall them as long as I can." Gestan said as the Nilfgaardians got off their horses and pulled their swords.
"Gestan…" Ciri said with tears.
"I SAID GO. RUN AND DON'T LOOK BACK!" Gestan yelled as he charged at the nearest man and surprisingly was able to to catch him off guard and pierce threw a chink in his armor at the neck. This time, Ciri decided to listen and ran as Gestan fought like a caged animal. As soon as Harry felt Ciri get far enough away, he moved in to help the man. He wasted no time
"Sectumsempra" Harry said. The curse was basically an invisible sword that slashed into a target multiple times. Harry had modified it for group use so it would send more of a wave a swords in a direction and when it found a target, it would only slash them once. So less power than normal but with a sword slash it hardly mattered unless you were magical. You were either going to be dead or dying. And dead or dying the five men who it hurt were as they all screamed and fell to the ground with their armor not helping a bit. This seemed to alarm the last 4 men as their commander, a man who was in heavy armor with black bird like wings on his helmet.
"Finish the man and go for the girl. I will deal with the sorcerer." The man said menacingly.
"Hm. Not likely. You see I happen to know that you caused someone I care for to have nightmares for years. That's a lot of suffering that I need to pay you back for." Harry retorted with a sneer.
"We shall see." The man said as his boys went back to attacking the injured Gestan. Harry summoned a long branch and transfigured it into a long sword. Harry circled the man. Yes, he could have, easily murdered the man with magic, but sometimes you just needed to get up close and personal in a way that magic simply could not replicate. That, and Harry had A LOT of anger and frustration built up from the last twenty-four hours.
The man took a step forward and swing with a horizontal slash with his broadsword. Ciri had once told him that he should never try to block a sword strike. That he was built more for speed than for strength. Remembering this, Harry swung his sword diagonally across his body to hit the man's sword upwards and giving Harry an opening to dodge under it. Harry was no witcher but he did consider himself pretty fast and this man WAS in heavy armor. Despite this, the man recovered quite quickly. Harry, however, decided to go on the offensive. He feinted right but actually lowered his blade from a downward slash to a horizontal one catching the man off guard. Sadly the blade simply scraped against the man's armor.
"You fought honorably sorcerer. You chose not to use magic even when knowing it put you at a disadvantage but even you can see this is the end." The man said in a deep voice. Harry nodded.
"You're right. It seems I am out of practice with the blade. Much too heavy. Problem is for you that I am a sorcerer." Harry said as he stabbed the sword into a ground and instead picked up a much smaller stick. A stick which was soon a beautiful dagger.
"I need more speed is the problem." Harry said.
"Speed is no matter. Skill is what matters." The man said. Harry nodded.
"I think we can both agree on that." Harry said and charged straight at the man. The man quickly lifted his sword and swiped at him only for Harry to drop to his knees and slide under the incoming blade and past the mans legs. Harry quickly spun and sliced right behind the man's knee caps causing him to yell in pain, drop his sword, and fall to his knees. Harry stood up and walked casually back around the man. The man looked downwards as he was on his hands and knees.
"I still didn't use magic, does that mean I was being honorable?" Harry asked rhetorically as he pulled his longsword from the ground and walked closer to the man. Who was trying to get up but could not bring himself to do it.
"It would seem you made me underestimate your skill."The man said as he got off his hands and looked up at Harry. Harry could even see the dark brown eyes within the helmet.
"Call it what you want. You hurt someone I cared for. A fatal mistake. Any last words?" Harry asked as he rose the sword above his head. The man looked him in the eyes but still didn't bother to take off his helmet.
"Long live the emperor." the man said.
"A poor choice. I can guarantee he won't live as long as he would wish." Harry said as he brought the sword down hard killing the man almost instantly. He left the sword in him and walked away back to Gestan who was laying on the ground with the last four men dead next to him. He jogged over to the man to see him staring at the sky with glassy eyes. Harry sighed.
"Sorry man. I hope you find the peace that eludes men in life, in death." Harry said as he closed the man's eyes and sent a silent prayer for him to whatever god maybe listening. He sat down by the man and took a breather.
Calanthe's POV:
Calanthe stood in the tallest tower of her castle and looked out over her burning kingdom. She heard the screams of terror from down below as well as the loud banging coming from the barricaded door behind her as the Nilfgaardians tried to break through and capture her to do god knows what with. They would never take her though, SHE would not be taken prisoner to be either kept as leverage or worse. She looked down at the drop.
"You sure you want to do that Calanthe?" a voice asked behind her. She looked back swiftly but did not turn her body for fear of accidently slipping. She saw a man with hair as black as night and eyes that shone like emeralds. It had been more years then she could accurately say but she would never forget that face.
"Apollo? Or do you prefer the Black Mage?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Harry actually. I once cured you of a deadly ailment Calanthe, it was one of my prouder moments. Are you set on this path?" Harry asked her seriously.
"That depends, are you here to give me back my kingdom and beat back the Nilfgaardians?" she asked. Harry shook his head.
"I am not...but I could take you away from here. You could stay hidden with no one the wiser. Just say the words and we will leave." Harry told her. Calanthe looked back over her kingdom and felt a tear slowly make its way down her cheek.
"I was born the queen of Cintra. I wish to die as one as well." Calanthe finally said. Harry said nothing in response for a moment back to her.
"...If that is truly your wish, I will respect it." Harry said.
"Wait, I have a granddaughter, she is making her way to Yaru-"
"Do not worry, I have already made sure that she got across safely before coming here. I can not say the same for Gestan. The man died making sure she had time to escape. A true knight." Harry said. Calanthe breathed a sigh of relief in hearing that her granddaughter was safe.
"Thank you. It seems you have a habit of helping my family." she commented.
"More than you could possibly know." Harry told her. She nodded but didn't ask him to elaborate.
"I don't suppose you know anything about death?" she asked almost rhetorically as she once more walked to the very edge.
"I'd like to think so considering I have died once before." Harry told her. She raised an eyebrow but did not turn around.
"And?" she asked
"...It's quicker and easier than falling asleep." he replied. She smiled.
"Good." with that she stepped off.