{14}

Darkness.

We talked.

"Why do you do it?" I asked.

He stared at nothing in particular, stroking my arm with his thumb as I leaned against him.

Like he was cleaning me.

"I was ordered to by the Emperor."

I shifted, "is that it?"

He sighed, "I don't know. I owe him my life."

"By sacrificing countless others," I said calmly.

He made a sound, like a chuckle and a scoff, "it's always been like that."

"But does it have to be?" I asked.

He took a long moment to consider my question, "my father was like me, but he too died in war. My mother died of a broken heart. The Emperor took me in. I have a duty to fulfill."

Expectations.

A boy.

Lost.

I giggled like a little girl, "so you're some sort of prince?"

I felt him smile, "not officially."

"Yet he'd send you away. You must really be valuable to him."

He shifted, "I..."

"Violence is all you've known?"

He nodded, "it's all I've been taught."

"So you weren't violent to begin with then."

He shook his head.

The beast stirred, resting its head.

"You don't have to do this Cahir. The violence I mean. All the bloodshed, and for what?"

He stopped tracing his thumb on my arm, "What else can I do? We've gotten so far. I can't turn back."

I moved from him, still calm I said "We...". I peered into his dimly lit eyes, "just, think about it, please."

"Come back to me, Mirabel." He almost begged.

"I... can't."

A broken heart.

Well, two really.

I stood, re-dressing myself in the darkness, "I wish."

I wish.

He stood, "what will you do?"

Inching close to my clothed body, he placed his hands on my arms gently, "please don't go."

I pursed my lips as they ached for his, "think."

His hands dropped, his eyes pained.

And I exited the tent.

Walking briskly through the night, I returned to our campsite, most of the Witchers asleep, others awake, their golden eyes watching in the dark.

Unmoving.

The White Wolf looked at me and grunted.

He knew.

"Let me rest," I said, laying on the cold soil.

My eyelids drooped, staring at the grains of dirt and frosted grass,

and as my eyes closed,

a single shining, iridescent tear fell.

Darkness.

----

Yennefer.

"Yennefer..."

Someone shook the young mage from her aching slumber, and as her violet eyes opened, she caught sight of Fringilla.

Yennefer groaned, but woke quickly when she'd noticed her sister's panic.

"Ready your things, we must leave at once."

"What..?" The purple mage inquired confusedly.

"I'll explain in a moment. The others are ready. We must move quickly."

Standing groggily, Yennerfer's vision filled with stars as she nearly fell over. Her sister steadied her and pushed her into the concealment of the trees.

"Where are we going?" she asked as they paced swiftly.

But her questions were quickly answered as she caught sight of her brothers and sisters...

And Her.

And them.

Tissaia looked ghastly, everyone did.

Triss.

Coral.

Yennefer's mentor rushed over, embracing her. The young mage could barely register what was happening, blinking a few times in weak surprise.

"You're safe," Tissaia shuddered in relief, using a tone that sounded like a mother comforting her child.

She looked to Fringilla then, lifting a hand. Yennefer's sister shuddered, her breath caught in anticipation, but her eyes opened as Tissaia stroked her cheek, "thank you."

"What now?" someone asked.

"We prepare," Tissaia started, "they're here already. Our magic will wear soon, we must hurry."

"Prepare?" Yennefer inquired.

"To fight," Tissaia replied.

----

Light began to peek between the trees, and accordingly, my eyes fluttered open.

I sat up, staring at the fire one of my brothers lit.

They watched me.

Geralt gave me a quizzical look, "we've caught food. It's been a long night. Eat."

They must have moved deeper into the forest whilst I'd slept, the tall trees concealing the smoke from the pit.

A bit dangerous though.

I stretched, cracking my joints, then reached for some of the food.

My brothers already had their share.

So I ate awkwardly.

They watched me.

And once done, we sat in silence.

"What do we wait for?" I questioned.

"Who," someone said.

I tilted my head like a Raven.

"They'll be here shortly, so we wait."

I nodded unknowingly.

"Come," Geralt said.

I walked over to him, sat, and leaned.

He wrapped his arm around me, holding me close, keeping me warm despite my cloak.

Warmth.

Comfort.

Love.

"You know why," I said after some silence.

He grunted.

"When it comes to him, I want to be the one to make the choice."

The Wolf looked at me empathetically.

"I'm sure."

I thought back to my beginnings, Brienne, and my time at the School.

I fiddled then with the pendant around my neck,

School of the Wolf.

A story for another time.

And as I looked up, staring at the blue-grey sky, I wondered how things would play out.

I rested my hands on my stomach, my gloves shielding them from the chill.

And I sighed, closing my eyes.

A peaceful moment,

before the Fall.