Plans are Afoot

I could hear the raised voices inside, the four of them discussing what to do next. It didn't surprise me that Avallac'h knew about the Lodge of Sorceresses and was suggesting that we go to them, asking for assistance. I don't think he was aware of the events that had taken place recently, the fact the Lodge had been destroyed, the fact many who had once been members were either dead, incarcerated or missing.

Geralt hated the very idea of asking the Lodge for anything. That's when I decided to walk inside. Not to offer my voice, but I figured my presence alone might change things. "What do you think, Dragonborn?" Avallac'h asked.

"If we need the help of magical practitioners, I can't think of any group of people better to assist. But they are clearly not going to help out of the goodness of their heart. Then add to the fact that I only know where two, maybe three members are. Triss is here. Yennefer, nominally a member… Keira Metz is a member…. I think Phillipa Eilhart is still alive as Radovid had us searching for her."

"Margarita Laux-Antille and Fringilla Vigo are likely still alive," Yennefer added.

"Francesca and Ida? Think they'd agree?" Triss wondered.

"Send Ragnar to talk to them. I'm sure they'd agree rather quickly," Yennefer replied, hearing humour in her tone.

"Keira?" I wondered.

"I doubt she'd return to help again," Triss admitted, "She walks her own path now."

That's when Yennefer decided now was the best time to drop her own bombshell. "I have something to tell you both, Ragnar and Geralt. Something… you might not like to hear." Geralt and I shared a glance before Yennefer continued. "I've made an agreement with the emperor. In exchange for its help, the Lodge will be granted amnesty and find asylum in Nilfgaard. That will be our bargaining chip. Triss, I wish to leave today to find the sorceresses. Will you help me?"

"Nilfgaard? You think I want to live in fucking Nilfgaard?" I asked.

"It's the best option available, Ragnar! Do you really think Radovid would offer those same terms, considering he's burned nearly everyone capable of magic within his borders?" That shut me up quickly as she was right, of course. "Geralt?" she asked.

"I'll worry about that later. What matters most is Ciri. We must protect her at all costs."

Ciri blew up. She was present, of course. She always was. But she was rarely given a chance to speak, and we were almost talking as if she wasn't there, or at least capable of thinking of her own ideas. I didn't blame her reacting the way she did. "Dammit! Again you plan without even asking what I think! I've had enough of this! I won't be taken somewhere like a... bundle! I will not sit and twiddle my thumbs! I'm sick of waiting, sick of hiding!"

"We're just trying to think of your safety, Ciri," I stated.

"Not you too, Ragnar. If there was anyone here I thought would listen to sense and reason, it would be you."

I'll admit, that jab hurt. "Zireael possesses a great power she cannot control," Avallac'h added, "She is a danger to herself, to others. Until she learns to control it, she should remain isolated."

That just pissed her off even further. "Bullshit. Utter bullshit. And I am tired of standing here while you talk as if I'm not present, or at least not capable of looking after myself. I'm done. Goodbye."

I didn't think she'd disappear from Kaer Morhen, but I understood her fury. I made to go after her, Geralt grabbing my shoulder. "Leave her," he said, "She still grieves. We all do."

"Okay, what are we doing?" I wondered.

"Ciri needs more training," Avallac'h replied, "But we cannot wait forever. The Wild Hunt won't give up in their pursuit."

"And the rest of us?"

"Triss and I should head to Novigrad soon and attempt to make contact with the Lodge." Yennefer then looked at me. "You should stay here with Geralt and Ciri, Ragnar." I definitely looked at Triss. Seemed like Yennefer was making the decisions… "I've already discussed it with Triss. Neither of us can afford distractions right now."

"So Geralt has been told too then."

"Yeah, I have," he muttered, not sounding particularly happy either.

I followed Triss upstairs to our room, watching as she immediately started packing. When her shoulders slumped and I saw her start to shake, I stood up from my chair and walked across the room, turning to take her in my arms. "I don't actually want to leave," she whispered, "But it's what we must do."

"I know."

"And Ciri needs you and Geralt right now. Geralt to keep her in line and you to… It's why Jutta will come with us too."

"What?"

Triss looked up to meet my eyes, caressing my cheek. "Spend some time with Ciri. Make sure she feels loved above everything. And whatever she wants, support her. I don't mean here in bed, I mean whatever is on her mind."

"You think she has plans?" Triss nodded. "The Wild Hunt?"

"She hasn't told me, but considering how she's feeling, there is no doubt she desires vengeance. Yen is telling Geralt the same thing right now. She's right, in a way. We've just done what we think is necessary. She's survived a long time without any help from us. She's no longer that little girl we once helped raise."

"That's exactly why I still feel a little weird about it."

"I know. But she is now a young woman who, right now, needs someone like you more than anything."

Triss and Yennefer departed later that day, and I think it's fair to say that Geralt and I immediately felt depressed about things, so decided getting drunk together that night was the best thing. Conversation immediately turned melancholy, both of us releasing the last bit of grief contained in our hearts. No tears from Geralt again, as he couldn't, so we sat side by side as I released them for him. "You're a good friend," he said.

"We finish this together. All the way to the end."

No idea how much we drank before deciding going to be would be the best idea. I wasn't surprised to find Ciri in my bed when I reached the top of the stairs. Thankfully, she was asleep so I just about managed to undress myself before collapsing onto it myself. Waking in the morning with a rather bad hangover, I did smile as I felt her cuddling into me, though whispered that I hope she wasn't expecting too much that day. "Cuddles," she whispered, "That's all I want right now."

And that's when she finally released her own grief. She was like Triss in a way, Yennefer too. Rarely showed too much emotion. She sobbed in my arms that morning, and I think it did her the world of good. Cleared her mind, allowed her to focus on what was next, whether it be her training or whatever idea she had in regards to the Wild Hunt.

She eventually sighed and got up, watching her stretch, showing off her naked body. "You're beautiful," I whispered.

"Bet you say that to any naked woman in your bed."

"I generally sleep with beautiful women. Though beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

She smiled before leaning over to give me one hell of a kiss. The sort of kiss that was always bound to provoke a reaction. I made her giggle as I pulled her closer to me, breaking the kiss so I could stroke her cheek, her eyes gazing into mine. Feeling her straddling my lap, only the thin blanket keeping us separate, she smirked. "Well, it's working at least, Ragnar."

"I'd throw myself off the balcony if it didn't."

"Would you like my company tonight?"

"I'll stay sober today."

She kissed me again before getting up and dressing. She really did have a long pair of legs and I had no problem admitting that I liked that feature about her. "Maybe I could put them over your shoulders tonight, Ragnar?"

I chuckled at how up front she was about a number of other things she suggested before heading downstairs. She was comfortable in her sexuality and also how much she wanted to enjoy herself with me. Little wonder Triss had made sure I was left alone with her. I'd honestly never given the idea much thought, simply because although I knew she'd nursed a crush, I thought that was it. Seemed her feelings for me had run deeper. She'd already confessed to missing me more than anything while she was gone, almost as much, if not even more than anyone else. She knew how to make a man feel rather important.

Geralt and I kept ourselves occupied with training. Little point in doing anything regarding the keep. Once we left the final time, it would lie abandoned for the rest of time. Geralt went so far as to suggest blowing it up, leaving it as little more than rubble. The idea was amusing but it would have been a waste of time. In a way, it could be a memorial to everyone who had lost their lives. In a century or two, it was likely that witchers would be myths and many would wonder who or what had once lived at Kaer Morhen.

After dinner that evening, Geralt and I noticing that Avallac'h kept his distance from us, Geralt headed to his own room, wishing myself and Ciri goodnight. No insinuation but I had a feeling he knew what was happening, and apart from his not so subtle warning to me before the battle against the Hunt, that was it. He would trust us both to be smart.

Heading upstairs together, I'd already moved the lounge to the balcony, making sure I'd grabbed a bottle of wine as we sat together, a goblet in hand, taking in the view. With no natural light around, the sky was filled with billions of stars. It was all rather magical. She sighed and I felt her relax, as if the weight of the world left her shoulders for a moment.

"You ever wonder who I've been with?" she wondered.

"No. None of my business really. Do you wonder about me?"

The question made her chuckle. "I'm not sure we have the time for that." I glanced at her, earning a kiss on my cheek in reply. "I'm joking. I don't need to know either. All that matters is that we're here together. That's all I've ever wanted."

"Still wonder why, to be honest."

"I look at you and see myself in some ways, regarding a gift that makes us unique."

"I think you're special regardless. One or two reminders of Geralt in temperament, but he was always bound to rub off on you."

"All I know is that I understand why you've had a few women in your life. And I don't mean just your physical attributes. You're a good man, Ragnar."

"I try."

"Want to make love now?"

Chuckling, I replied, "It generally just happens, Ciri."

"You know me. I like to make sure whatever is on my mind happens. And what I want is you with me all night. And every night until we leave this godforsaken place for the last time."

Placing my goblet down, I turned towards her, and immediately kissed her. Gently at first, pulling her towards me, though she eventually just lifted herself up to straddle my lap, fingers running down the face or through the hair of each other, neither of us wanting to break the kiss too quickly. When I started to unbutton her tunic, she suggested heading inside where it was warmer would be a good idea, standing up, feeling those long legs of hers wrap around me as I carried her inside. She was lighter than I would have thought.

Her feet on the ground again, we slowly undressed each other, and with each piece of skin I exposed of hers, I definitely kissed it, earning plenty of giggles as she was surprisingly ticklish. Down to her underwear, I couldn't help just look her up and down. This was a different night to our first hurried experience before battle. This time, she turned a little shy as I hugged her.

"You're poking me," she said with a chuckle, feeling her hand slide underneath to grasp my cock, "I really want…" When she trailed off, I met her eyes, her cheeks colouring. "God, why am I feeling so…"

"Because we're not staring death in the face this time." I caressed her cheek again. "This time, we are making love and we'll wake in the morning together, ready to face whatever life will throw at us."

"I love you, Ragnar," she breathed. That earned her one hell of a kiss, ending up together on the bed, her fingers running up my arms and onto my back. Breaking the kiss, I moved down to her neck, earning a gasp as I sucked at the soft skin, perhaps biting in softly to the skin, making her laugh. She took off her bra as I moved down towards her breasts, sucking at them, gently biting her stiff nipples, her body already starting to move and react as I would expect. I looked up constantly into her eyes, hers alive with the passion and desire I knew she had for me.

Kissing down her stomach, I could almost feel her excitement growing as I reached her panties. I took them off with my teeth, making her laugh again, throwing them somewhere behind me as she slowly spread her legs, her excitement easy to see in how her pussy glistening in the light of the fire behind me.

"Thought about you doing this all the time," she whispered, "Triss… told me how much you love doing it."

I made her giggle when I leaned down and just breathed on her, making her shudder. Then I tasted her for the first time and, by the gods, I loved it. I quickly had her writhing on the bed as my tongue probed her depths, not leaving anywhere untouched before I used my tried and trusted techniques of usually bringing a woman to orgasm. Didn't always work. I either got it wrong or my lover wasn't feeling it. Ciri… was definitely feeling her, wrapping a hand around each of her thighs to keep her somewhere steady.

"Ragnar," she breathed. That way a woman breathed your name when you were doing something right. The way a woman breathed your name when you were definitely going to make her cum.

When she did, the way her back arched as she orgasmed, the way she cried out my name, the way she almost begged me to keep going until it was over, I knew that was the moment that sealed it. we would find a way of making it work. Just like with Triss. Just like with Jutta. Just like with Cerys.

I kept going but she eventually asked for something else, kissing up her body before our eyes met, watching her face as I slowly slid my cock inside her. The smile that spread, lighting up her face, was something I'd see every time I'd close my eyes going forward. The delight and joy, but also the happiness, it was something I had actually rarely seen. And that made me feel… sad.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing. Just… you look happy and I realised…"

She shushed me. "Let's just make love, Ragnar. We have all the time to talk later."

As turned on as I was, I'm not embarrassed to admit I didn't last all that long first time around. She didn't mind, simply enjoying the feeling of being inside her, and I made sure I remained gentle, watching her face the entire time… well, I may have looked down occasionally to watch my cock disappear inside her, and that certainly made me smile. "Loving that view too," she said.

I came and rested for a couple of minutes as always, feeling her wrap a leg around me to make sure I stayed inside her. Then, remembering what she said, I positioned those long legs of hers over my shoulders and that made her cry out, "Holy shit, you feel deep now." I smirked as she added, "Fuck me."

We mixed up soft and sweet, and hard and fast, the rest of the night. Like most of my lovers, she thoroughly enjoyed riding me, and like most of them, certainly enjoyed a few orgasms when doing so. She found enjoying in getting on her knees as I fucked her from behind, admitting that she enjoyed almost the submissive feel as I leaned forward, whispering very naughty suggestions into her ear.

When she suggested we get up and fuck her on the balcony, I was game for anything. She sat on the railing, wrapping her legs around me to make sure she didn't fall backwards, and I'm sure her cries would have been heard across the valley. Hearing her cry, "Fuck me, Ragnar!" and it echo around made us both laugh.

Ending up back on the bed, her legs wrapped around me, we were both feeling rather tired by now, but neither of us wanted to stop either. Our lips barely parted by now, her fingers running up and down my back. She was getting a little emotional by this stage too, I think many of her fantasies having now been lived out.

"I love you," I whispered. And that just made her cry. I stopped moving as she hugged me.

Curled against me a little later, loving her position of being spooned against me, she held my hands against her chest as we lay there half asleep. "Did you mean it?" she asked, for the first time hearing her sound unsure.

"Never say those words without meaning it. Always loved you in a way, Ciri. But now that we're intimate… That love will obviously change."

"I love you too. I'm in love with you, Ragnar. Guess I'm like some others, right?"

"Aye."

"I've wanted this for so long, to share your bed. Never thought it would happen, to be honest. Glad I'm wrong about that."

"I have some very understanding women in my life."

We finally slept, and we only awake when there was a cleared throat, both of us waking slowly to find Avallac'h standing at the foot of the bed. Ciri was a little shy. I could only chuckle. "Come on, a little privacy, please."

"At least I'm not Geralt standing here. And Ciri can't lie in bed all day with you. Her training must continue."

Ciri sighed next to me. "Give me a few minutes, then I'll have breakfast, then we can begin again."

"Very well. You have twenty minutes."

Though it was obvious she didn't want to, she eventually got up and I joined her, dressing ourselves together, cuddling, kissing and laughing. Mostly it was to keep her happy as I knew she was enduring regarding all her training. I didn't want her to get frustrated or give up too easily, which I knew she was prone to doing. I couldn't blame her, as my gifts had come easy and without training. Her power was something else entirely. I didn't really understand it. All I would do was support her as best as I could.

After breakfast, I stayed at the table with Geralt, and I couldn't exactly meet his eyes. Eventually I heard him chuckle. "Ragnar, she's smiling and she's happy. That's all I've ever wanted." He paused before adding, "She's in love."

"Aye," I said softly.

"So I know my warning probably wasn't necessary, as I know what you're like with women who love you, and women you love in return." He paused a breath. "Do you love her?"

"Aye."

"Good. She's going to need that going forward."

"You're being far more understanding…"

"Ragnar, I don't care who else you fuck and love. But if Ciri accepts that, and more importantly, is happy with you, then I cannot raise a complaint. She's an adult and capable of making her own decisions."

"Didn't plan on any of this. I honestly thought her feelings would have faded."

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Hmmm. Good point."

It must have been another week at least before the situation changed. Ciri slept with me every night. Well, she slept with me after we spent a long time making love. She was ready and willing to blow me the very next night after that first real time we'd made love, and she proved rather talented indeed. She chuckled when I told her how good she was, admitting it must have been a natural talent. "Only done that once before," she admitted.

"Well, whoever it was certainly was a lucky man indeed."

I enjoyed returning the favour, and then some. We had a little fun, and I think I ended up eating her out everywhere around the fort. Except Geralt's room. That would have been a step too far. But if there was somewhere she could sit down and I could get on my knees between her legs, we made use of it. As for fucking… we wore each other out every night, and while we tried to find a little time for each other each day, Avallac'h was relentless when it came to his training regime, and he did not like being disturbed just so Ciri and I could disappear and fuck each other for an hour.

Waking up one morning to find Ciri missing, I figured I'd just slept in. Dressing and heading downstairs, I found Geralt and Ciri alone at the table as always. Grabbing a plate, filling it with meat and bread as always, I sat down and started chewing away as Ciri filled me in with her plans. I didn't reply, simply glancing at Geralt occasionally, and he supported her idea. When she asked me if I did, I told her we could leave immediately, if that's what she wanted. That earned me a grateful kiss on the cheek.

"We're also going to Vizima," Geralt added.

That caused me to choke on my food, Ciri gently patting my back as I swigged on a tankard of apple juice. "You fucking serious?" I had to ask.

"I've explained everything to Ciri."

"And it's my choice," she added, "I know neither of you would particularly like it, but he is my father…" I glanced at Geralt again. Hearing her say that… "We will visit Vizima first and I will listen to whatever he has to say. Then we will proceed to Bald Mountain. There, we will strike our first blow against the Wild Hunt. Imlerith will be the first to die. The rest will join him soon afterwards."

"Avallac'h?" I wondered.

"Is not aware. I have already written a letter, asking him to meet us in Novigrad, where the others are waiting for us."

"Sounds like you have all this planned."

"I wake up in the morning and look at you each time," she whispered, "And I know that, for us to be happy, for all of us to have a future, we must end them. No more defending, constantly finding ourselves on the run. Now is the time to go on the attack, catch them off guard."

"When are we leaving?"

"Dawn. Tomorrow morning." She leaned closer to my ear. "We'll make love a final time in this place tonight."

"I can hear you," Geralt muttered, "Just keep it down while we're on the road and it'll be fine. I'm not going to make a big deal because you two want to fuck each other senseless constantly." I couldn't help burst out laughing at his bluntness. Ciri actually blushed, but cuddled into me. Geralt didn't quite smile but… he seemed to approve. "As I said, you're adults, responsible, and quite obviously care for each other." He paused again. "Thought this would be more awkward for me, but what I can see is you smiling, Ciri. First time I've seen you smile this often in a long time."

She got up and practically squeezed Geralt hard enough he probably couldn't breathe for a couple of seconds. But I could see the grin form as he hugged her back. I knew the fact we would both be supporting her in this endeavour would mean the world to her. Definitely the two most important men in her life, as I had a feeling Emhyr meant very little to her, and we were heading to Vizima out of… maybe a sense of obligation. I wasn't going to ask as it was her decision in the end.

Ciri was emotional that evening during and after making love. Kaer Morhen had been her home for part of her life, and I think some of her fondest memories were of living there. She could look around and see reminders of those who had come and gone, and there was no doubt the memory of Vesemir would linger longer.

We were the last to leave next morning except for Avallac'h, who would wake to find us gone, a note left where he could find it letting him know what we were doing. No doubt he would be unhappy but none of us cared. I agreed with Ciri. We had tried it on the defensive, and it is often said the best form of defence is attack.

Stopping at a nearby hill, we turned to take one last look at Kaer Morhen. Hearing Geralt sigh, he added, "You know, I am going to miss this place."

"No desire to return?"

"No, Eskel was right. Without Vesemir, it just won't be the same. Not many witchers remaining anyway. This will just become another out of the way crumbling ruin, likely picked over by scholars in a few centuries time, wondering who or what had made their home here."

"Think they'll forget about witchers?"

"Unless there is a school that starts recruiting, our order will eventually fade away." Geralt shrugged. "Got to admit I don't care one way or the other. I'll make my life elsewhere in the future. May even find somewhere I can finally call home."

"Thinking of settling down, witcher?" Ciri asked.

"Yeah… maybe…"

Turning our horses around, we didn't look back again as we followed the path to the main road that would eventually lead us south. It took a week to ride, as although time was of the essence, the three of us enjoyed our time on the road. Geralt would often ride by himself at the front, and after a couple of days, Ciri wanted to ride with me. Geralt scoffed when she asked but there was that smirk which suggested he was enjoying the budding romance unfold.

I did enjoy teasing her while riding along, making her either laugh or squeal quite often, nothing untoward, generally just tickling her. During the evenings, we would sleep together in a bedroll and generally behave as Geralt was right there, but my fingers might have been busy from time to time, which certainly put a smile on her face, forcing her to turn around and kiss me to cover her whimpers and moans.

She was on her horse when rode through the gates of Vizima, and it wasn't a surprise we were recognised immediately, six horses riding out from the palace grounds to meet us on the road and make sure we went straight to the palace. Walking through the throne room, the reconstructions still taking place, we wandered through to the small garden where Emhyr and a bunch of nobility, I assumed mostly from Nilfgaard but no doubt a few Temerians now suckling at the conqueror's teat.

My old friend Mererid had been there to meet us, escorting us and announcing our arrival. "Your Imperial Majesty, Gerald of Rivia, Ragnar Dragonborn and…"

"Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, Queen of Cintra, Princess of Brugge and Duchess of Sodden, heiress to Inis Ard Skellig and Inis An Skellig, and suzeraine of Attre and Abb Yarra." Ciri looked at me and rolled her eyes. The nobles all took a knee and bowed their heads around Emhyr. He noticed her reaction. "Get used to it. Before long every soul from Nilfgaard to the Dragon Mountains will kneel before you." Then he looked between Geralt and I. "I did not expect either of you to keep your word. I figured you would have hidden her away from the world."

"We're here because Ciri was interested in whatever it is you have to say."

"You have a lot of titles," I whispered into Ciri's ear, "Can I have one?" Despite the occasion, it made her giggle.

Things… took a turn when one of his servants turned up with a pot of gold. Filled with lots and lots of gold. That's when Ciri looked between the pair of us. "You're not going…"

I took her hand. "No. I have what I want," I said, loud enough for Emhyr to hear and for him to look at me in disgust.

"We don't want your coin," Geralt added, "You wanted to speak to your daughter. Here she is. Speak to her. She will hear you out, then we leave to deal with other issues."

"Unlike you to turn down coin. And I know you're a mercenary, Dragonborn. Sure you've done plenty of jobs for coin over the years."

"I think I can speak for Geralt when I state we are both adamant we don't need nor want the coin." I noticed Geralt agree with a nod of the head. Ciri squeezed my hand, no doubt grateful that we wouldn't take the coin either.

"Very well, I see the honour in your decision. May I offer both of you a new stallion, pure Nilfgaardian stock. We have many horses in our stables. I will ensure you are each given a pure thoroughbred for your journey's north and south. Treat it as an expression of my gratitude for bringing my daughter here."

Geralt and I shared a glance, both of us nodding. "Thank you. We accept your generous offer," Geralt stated.

"Now forgive me. I wish to speak to my daughter."

Mererid escorted Geralt and I into the main hall, where we ended up conversing with Morvran Voorhis again. He seemed delighted to see us both, and I'll admit I'd grown to like the man, even if I did still consider him the enemy at times. We discussed the war, as although still a stalemate, battles were still raging across the front, neither side able to make that decisive thrust that could secure victory. Part of me did wonder what Ciri would do if she did become empress. Would she continue the war? Would she desire peace? What would she do with the newly conquered territories? Part of me was almost tempted to suggest she do it, as she had a good heart, and would be a good ruler.

But it would her decision, and only her decision, in the end. I knew we would all support her, no matter what.

She was perhaps with Emhyr for an hour before she came bursting through the door, clearly unhappy. "We're leaving. Now."

"So nice to see you again, my lady," Morvran stated.

Ciri was polite enough to stop and nod. "Likewise, General. But it is now time the three of us were on our way. We have matters to resolve."

"I wish the three of you well. I hope we can all converse again soon."

Ciri grunted some sort of response and walked towards the doors leading out. Shrugging, I followed her out, Geralt falling in alongside. In the courtyard, Ciri was almost seething with anger. Geralt just had to ask, "Well?"

"If he thinks he can buy me, he is sorely mistaken."

"Buy you? What do you mean?" I asked, "I thought he would have just…"

"I don't want to talk about it," she replied sharply. Enough that she realised immediately how short with us she was being, adding softly, "Not now, at least. I'd rather focus on the matter at hand."

"We'll head north and camp for the evening. You don't have to explain everything," Geralt stated.

Walking to the stables, word had obviously been sent as there were actually three horses, two black steeds for Geralt and myself, while Ciri was given a white horse to ride. That made her smile, at least.

Back on the road north, we stopped while still within the borders of Temeria. As the war had well and truly moved north by now, Nilfgaard was well and truly in control, their soldiers continuously patrolling the main roads, and nearly every village was passed through had a small garrison to offer protection.

It was a few days' ride to the small harbour where Ciri knew where we could get a ship across to Bald Mountain. The night before we were to cross, we camped near the shore, making sure there were no monsters that could cause us any trouble. It was only there that Ciri finally told us what Emhyr wanted from her. What she told us was of no real surprise, and pretty much what Geralt had assumed and mostly knew. I learned of some new information about Ciri's past, but nothing I actually needed to know about her.

"I'm going to patrol the shore," Geralt stated, "Give you two some… alone time before tomorrow."

"Geralt," Ciri stated in a tone that suggested he was being silly.

"Look, I know what it's like heading into battle like this. I'm sure Ragnar knows what I'm talking about."

Chuckling, I nodded. "Each time before some big event that I knew was going to end in a fight, I fucked to my heart's content the night before."

"And considering what we will face tomorrow, the only thing I'm going to miss tonight is Yen… or a nearby whorehouse… So I'll wander the shore and give you two time."

"Thanks, Geralt," I stated.

"Just don't take all night. I would like to meditate at some point."

Ciri gave Geralt maybe five minutes before she leapt on me. And it was easy to see what she was eager for, as all she did was unbutton my trousers and drag them down enough to release my cock, quickly taking off her own trousers and panties, eagerly lowering herself down on my cock and releasing a loud groan. "Ragnar, we haven't done this in a few days now. You realise that?"

"Trust me, I know. You have been beside me every night."

"After we kill Imlerith, I want you to just… fuck me. All night. Can you do that for me?"

"Any reason why?"

"Apart from it'll be you doing it? That's the best way I can think of celebrating. Imagine what I'll want when we defeat the Hunt entirely."

"Er, anal?"

That made her laugh out loud. "Ragnar, trust me on this one. Already thought about it. Definitely want to do it with you."

"Threesome?"

That made her lean down and kiss me. "Bet you'd love me and Triss together?" she asked quietly as she started to slowly ride me.

"Would that be weird?"

"No, weird would be if you asked it to be me and Yennefer."

"Don't think Yennefer would want to fuck me."

"I think she would fuck you if she wasn't with Geralt. Want to fuck her?"

"I try not to think about it."

"Let's say she was single…"

"Then yes. She drives me up the wall something chronic but there's no missing her beauty."

"And what do you think of me?" she asked softly.

"Ciri… you know what I think about you."

"Tell me. Please…"

"Well, you are certainly… Beautiful. Intelligent. Courageous. Most importantly, don't care about whatever destiny you have, the blood that flows into your veins, who you might be, who was part of your past, but whatever happens, I'll be at your side to the end. That's my vow as a Nord. My word is my bond."

She kissed me and started to ride me a little faster, no more conversation taking place, replacing any words with kissing and caressing, little surprise she ended up naked on top of me as my mouth found other erogenous zones of her body to please. She eventually cried out as her first orgasm hit, her body moving in a way I already knew well, moving my body so she would end up underneath me, quietly begging me to fuck her.

Our lovemaking perhaps lasted a little longer than Geralt probably anticipated, as he eventually yelled out from a distance that he was coming back. I was busy pounding her by then, both of us naked, so I stopped long enough to yell out, "Ten minutes!"

"Twenty!" Ciri yelled.

"Just hurry the fuck up! I need to meditate."

Ciri and I shared a glance and burst into laughter before she kissed me softly. "Okay, let's make this a big one. Together," she whispered.

By the time Geralt walked back into our small camp, we were covered by furs, Ciri cuddling into my side. He didn't say anything, simply placing his swords on the ground, and kneeling by the fire, the opposite side of where we lay. I couldn't help glance at him over the flames. He looked at me and shook his head. "I understand. Trust me. You've… been respectful since we left Kaer Morhen. Both of you. Thanks."

"Just as awkward for us," Ciri stated, "Considering this is all new and all we want to do is…"

"Yes, I know exactly what you want to do, Ciri. Now, please, just get some sleep and I'll keep an ear out for anything dumb enough to approach."

She snuggled into me and whispered, "I love you," into my ear. She fell asleep rather quickly. Before I closed my eyes, I chanced a glance at Geralt over the flames. His eyes were closed but I could see the faint smirk on his face. I guess he liked hearing those words as well.