Anomaly VI

I stood outside Ciri's tent beating down the rest of my nerves. The sorceresses had figured out how to activate the sunstone and our plan was to activate it at noon the very next day before the conjunction. With one last night before hell would break loose I wanted to talk with Ciri one last time and figure out the complicated mess that was our strange relationship. If one could call it that. 

"Alright, you can come in." 

I had learned from my mistake the previous time, I had announced myself a moment ago and waited for Ciri to reply. With her permission I pushed aside the tent flap and stepped in. 

"Ciri can we talk?" 

I looked around, the Witcheress was nowhere in sight. I turned back to the entrance and was met with a nude Ciri wrapped in only a towel. 

"Are we not talking right now?" 

I turned around immediately and tried to calm down my racing heart. Who knew that a Witcher could still have a racing heart. 

"Why, why are you naked?" 

"Well, how else would I take a bath?" 

"That's not the point, point is why are you naked." 

I felt her hand spin me back around to face her, glancing down at the woman I sighed. 

"Fine, I just needed to get a few things off of my chest." 

I continued to stand as she went about getting her armor and sword ready with just the towel wrapped around her lithe form. 

"What is it?" 

"You're a very difficult woman to understand, you know that?" 

"What's so difficult." 

"Back to my point, Cirilla. We've established that there are feelings between us, yes?"

"Yes, and." 

"I just wanted you to know that, I've grown to adore many things about you in the time that I've known you." 

"And?" 

"Well, I just-" 

"Oh just shut up and kiss me already." 

She crossed the gap between us in a blink of an eye. Our lips met, and for the first time I felt warmth staring at where our lips met to my very core. Closing my eyes I picked up the ashen haired maiden in my arms as we deepened our kiss. I felt a slight shift in the air as Ciri teleported us to her bed and we fell over onto the soft fabric. 

The rays of light woke me at dawn the next morning. The memories of the night before made me smile as I looked at the sleeping woman next to me. Her slender arm draped over my chest, hair spilling over her back. Ciri mumbled something in her sleep before wriggling closer to me and sighing. I could have lived in that moment for an eternity but our moment in paradise was interrupted as Triss came rushing in. 

The redheaded sorceress blushed when she saw our sleeping forms. The tent no doubt smelled of our night's activities. Ciri began to stir and clutched the blankets to her chest covering her modesty. 

"Ciri, Yen is looking for you. The Lodge wants to see you before the battle." 

Triss spared us one last glance while biting her lip before turning and exiting the tent. Ciri slumped back into bed before planting a kiss on my cheek. 

"Come on, let's get this over with."  

Leaving the warm comfort of each other's embrace we began to get dressed. Quickly slipping into my clothes I put on my newly repaired armor and marveled at Yanne's work. The smith had managed to not only repair the armor but also work in intricate little carvings on the plates that depicted two bears locked in battle. Once I had my swords in their places on my back I glanced over to Ciri who had also finished getting dressed and was about to slip on her sword. 

"What are you looking at?" 

I smiled. "The most beautiful woman in the world." 

She returned my smile before walking over to give me a chaste kiss. I ran a hand gently across the scar on her cheek. 

"Ciri I-"

She placed a finger on my lips and whispered. "Tell me after the battle." 

We left her tent together and I parted with her as she headed to the gathering of sorceresses. making my way over to the cliff side I stood next to Geralt as he watched Emhry's ships sail into the harbor. 

"What's on your mind?"

"Many things, but mostly, this is it. We either win and take out the Wild Hunt for good, or we-" 

"We'll win Geralt, have faith in the plan, and if not, then have faith in Ciri." 

"The Wild Hunt is formidable, even without Imlerith, Caranthir and Eredin are still a danger." 

"We'll manage, we fought them off at Kaer Morhen with less. Now we have help from the Lodge, Emhry, and not to mention Crach and his ships." 

"I can't help but to feel as if I've overlooked something. Something important." 

"We'll manage, and I never got to thank you for the sword. So Thank You Geralt." 

The Wolf nodded before looking at me and frowning. 

"What?" 

"You could at least be more discreet about it." 

"I'm sorry?" 

"I can smell her on you." 

"I- Ah, well yes, it just sort of happened." 

"Take good care of her George. She's my daughter in all but blood." 

"So…. Would it be too soon to call you my Father-in-Law?"

"Yes." 

We looked at each other for a moment before we shared a grin.

"What are you two smiling about?"

Yennefer and Ciri came by and stood beside us, Ciri looked at Geralt for answers. 

"Winds howling." 

"Oh don't you start with me Geralt, what were you two smiling about?"

"Nothing, just coming to an understanding." 

"Hmmm, would this understanding have anything to do with Ciri having a glow this morning?" 

Geralt turned to Yennefer who gave me a knowing smirk. I scratched the back of my head and turned to Ciri who was refusing to make eye contact. 

"I-" 

"I suppose Geralt has given you the talk then?" 

Ciri grabbed my hand and stormed off pulling me along. I turned to look at the two we had left behind. They were seemingly having a discussion and Yennefer pulled Geralt away into a tent. Turning back to Ciri as we stopped towards a more secluded section of the camp I tried to sense what she was feeling, other than the embarrassment that is. I knew that the Lodge wanted her for something, in the games it's pretty much implied that they want her to join them. 

"What did the Lodge want with you?" 

"Philippa wanted me to join, something about 'with the proper training you can bring about a new age', I told them I'd think on it." 

'Interesting, that detail wasn't in the games.' 

"And? Are you going to?" 

"I'm not sure, I don't think I want to be involved in their schemes." 

"Whatever you choose, let it be your own choice. Your life is your own. Don't forget that Ciri." 

She looked at me, before taking my hand and sighing. 

"I thought I knew what I wanted,"

"But?"

"You came along and screwed it all up." 

"I'm sorry?" 

"No, not like that. I mean that before we met, I always thought that my life wasn't my own and that I would constantly be on the run from my father, the Lodge, Eredin. Now with you in the picture, I feel like I can finally breathe. Is that a strange thing to say?" 

"Not as strange as you think." 

"I don't know what lies ahead for me George. I don't even know if we'll live through this." 

"Then we'll take it all in stride, one step at a time. I'll be here with you through it all." 

"It's strange thinking that we've only known one another for a few months. I feel as if I've known you my whole life." 

"What's not to say that in a past life we did in fact know one another."

"Are you saying we're soul bonded? That we're destined for one another." 

"Not particularly," I pulled her into my arms. "Though perhaps we should make our own destinies going forward." 

"My, I didn't know you were a poet." 

"What can I say, you may have very well sparked a whole new aspect to me princess. "

She pulled away just as the sky darkened, clouds began to form and a chilling wind blew in from the ocean. We looked out to the sky just as in a clap of thunder the Naglfar emerged from a massive portal in the sky before crashing down into the ocean. Horns sounded from the Nilfgaardian ships, in the distance ships from the Skelligers dropped their sails and began to move forward towards the dark ship. Geralt came running to where Ciri and I stood, he had his sword drawn and ready. 

"The main assault has begun, Emhry's ships will prevent them from fleeing into the ocean, the Lodge will block their attempts at teleporting out. Keep Ciri here, I'm going in once Crach arrives." 

The White Wolf ran off before Ciri could protest. She looked at me, "You can't stop me from going into battle, I'll not stay here while everyone risks their lives for me." 

"I wasn't planning on it," I drew my sword. "Now are you coming or not?" 

Ciri smiled before drawing her own blade. Grasping my hand she teleported us to the ice sheet down below just as the lead ship in Crach's fleet smashed into the Naglfar. Blue portals opened on the ice shelf, hounds and warriors charged out just as more ships crashed against the Wild Hunt's vessel. Ciri charged on ahead and beheaded multiple warriors using her powers. Dodging a sword and casting the Volun sign sending out a blast of lightning that cooked several hounds before blocking a slash from a skeletal warrior. 

I had been quite shocked to learn that there had been more signs than just the basic ones available in the games. The book I had found had contained descriptive diagrams and instruction on the various other signs developed by the Griffin School. It even had theories on how certain signs could be combined to form new signs. I assumed that it wasn't commonly available knowledge as no other Witcher I had met or seen cast anything other than the six or seven everyone learned at each school. 

Stabbing the warrior I quickly cast a Quen sign on myself and charged after Ciri. The fighting had spilled out from the boats and the ice sheet onto the land as more warriors arrived through portals. I felt my medallion buzz and instinctively ducked as a bolt of magic flew over my head. Turning I spotted Caranthir with a new staff step out of a portal. Ciri arrived by my side and growled out. 

"He's mine." 

With that she teleported and began to attack the Wild Hunt's Navigator, combining both her power and powerful slashes she began to push the mage back. I fought off hounds and warriors alike as they emerged from portals. Closing the portals with Yrden I kept a close eye on Ciri as she continued to fight Caranthir. Blasting away a hound I cleared the last of the stranglers and joined Ciri in her fight. Steel rang out as we each landed hit after hit on the mage who blocked with his staff. 

I focused my intentions and cast Igni and Aard at the same time causing the Navigators cloak to catch on fire. This allowed Ciri to land a mortal wound on Caranthir, sinking her sword deep into the elf's chest. The Hunt's general screamed in pain before falling on his back. There was a wet coughing noise as the elf laughed, raising his staff one last time the mage spoke in elder speech. 

"I win." 

The staff began to glow and the crystal cracked, I knew what was next and barely managed to tackle Ciri to the ground. Casting Quen and focusing all my willpower on the sign I shielded us from the explosion that still managed to shake my bones even with the shield. The glowing orb began to crack and just when it was about to fail the world froze. I turned to Ciri who was looking around in shock, and over the sky large portals began to open. The Conjunction of Spheres has begun. 

Elsewhere, Geralt had finally dealt a mortal blow on Eredin, leader of the Hunt. As Geralt checked on Crach's wounds Ciri and I got back to our feet and looked around, monsters were springing up from the randomly opening portals caused by the Conjunction. 

"We have to do something." 

"What can we do? There's too many portals."

"The Lodge, as much as I don't like them, they'll know." 

Ciri grabbed my hand and teleported us to the cliff where Yennefer shot down a wyvern with a spell as Triss and the rest of the sorceresses either tended the wounded or maintained their spell keeping the Naglfar trapped. 

"Ciri, where have you been!" 

"That doesn't matter right now, we have to do something about the Conjunction." 

Just then a messenger arrived, the man quickly notified the Lodge that Geralt had just killed Eredin and Crach was being carried in to get his wounds treated. 

"Geralt has killed Eredin, sisters, we can release the spell." 

"Finally, what of the conjunction?" 

"Philippa, there isn't anything we can do." 

"Oh yes there is Merigold, that tower in the distance holds the key to ending this battle." 

"Well what are you waiting for?" 

"I fear you may not like the answer Yennefer." 

"Spit it out Philippa." 

"Ciri must step through the portal that appears at the heart of the tower." 

"No." 

"It is the only way." 

"I won't have her be in anymore danger." 

Ciri grabbed my hand again before teleporting us to the tower before Yennefer and the others noticed. I stumbled on the uneven ground before catching myself. Ciri rushed to the tower, before she could go in I grabbed her arm and pulled her back. 

"Ciri wait." 

"What, I have to stop this." 

"We don't know what lies on the other side of that portal. The conjunction will end on its own just like the one before it." 

"We don't know how long that will be George, there's also the White Frost, Avallac'h told me about it when in my training. It consumes worlds it may very well be on its way here. I have to stop it." 

"Ciri, I'm not going to lose you when I've just got you." 

"You won't lose me. Now please, let me go." 

I knew she would be fine, however I couldn't shake the feeling of things going wrong. It was a weight in my gut that I had felt many times before in my past life. Just before everything goes wrong it would be there warning me. I struggled a bit more with my internal battle before nodding and pulling Ciri in for one more embrace. 

"Go, before I change my mind and chain you to this tree." 

She smiled before giving me a light kiss and running to the tower. Just then several monsters emerged from a portal and rushed me. Dodging their swipes I struck one down before blasting another with Volun. Another portal opened and I got ready to fight more monsters. Except Yennefer and Geralt stepped out of this portal. Running the last monster through with Aerondight I turned to face the duo. 

Geralt ran up to the tower followed by Yennefer. Following them inside I watched as Ciri spun around to look at them just as the portal opened. 

"Ciri!" 

"Don't try and stop me." 

"We're not." Genuine shock crossed Ciri's features.

"You're not?" 

"We just came to wish you luck." 

The Witcheress nodded and hugged her adoptive parents before smiling. She stepped back and with one final look, stepped through the portal. 

Yennefer leaned into Geralt's shoulder, the Wolf put an arm around her. Cleaning the blood off of my sword I sheathed it on my back before standing next to the couple. 

"So what now?"

"Now we wait," I turned to Yennefer. "It's all up to Ciri now."

From playing the game I knew she would be back, yet I knew not everything would be the same. My very existence in this world was an example of that. 

"It's strange." 

"What's strange?"

"Somehow I know everything will be alright. Despite that, I cannot help but to worry for her." 

I put a hand on the old witcher's shoulder, "She's a strong woman, whatever it is in there I'm sure she can handle it." 

"You have my thanks for all you have done George." 

"And mine." I turned to the raven haired sorceress, I had never heard her thank anyone before. Not even in the games. 

"The conjunction should be over now, the rest of the lodge will handle the stragglers. I heard Crach is going to throw a feast in Kaer Trolde. Coming Geralt?" 

Geralt turned to leave after one final glance at the portal, he turned to me expecting me to follow.

 "I'll find my own way back." 

"Then we shall see you back at Kaer Trolde." 

I nodded and watched as Yennefer practically dragged a protesting Geralt through the portal she had just opened. Smiling at their antics I turned back to the portal and sighed. 

'Ciri will be fine, stop being such a whipped simp.' 

After berating myself I looked at the blue portal one last time, Ciri would show up soon enough. As I turned to leave my exit was delayed. I heard strange whispers as if the voices had been in my head. Turning back around I saw a vision of Ciri stumbling through a frozen wasteland. A flaming shape began to form, the whisper's intensifying as heat washed over me. 

'Somethings wrong, this all feels off.' 

Closing my eyes I cursed silently, I knew it was a stupid idea and the chances of landing where Ciri landed was slim. That vision has been much too real, and if she was in danger I wasn't taking any chances. 

'Screw it, what's the worst that could happen?'

I stepped through the glowing portal and immediately answered my own question. My vision faded and I felt as if I was falling through an empty void. Pain coursed through my body, it was like going through the Trial of the Grasses all over again. I bit back a scream and forced my eyes open through the pain. My world began to blur, darkness threatened to overtake my vision and I blanched. I felt myself crash into the ground just before I finally lost consciousness.