Chapter 9:

The little serpent has left, and the great serpent has come. - Muqtada al Sadr

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The Next day:

Current Year: 1259

I slowly woke up in a bed. It was much more luxurious than the one I was used to in the training barracks. I slowly raised myself up, taking off the covers. I looked to my right and saw… Fringilla...Sleeping soundly. Well, this was an unexpected development.

I looked down at myself to see that someone had obviously clothed me. I wasn't wearing these when I underwent the tri-

The immediate thought of the trial sent me to the ground and onto my knees. I was clutching my head in pain. The memories soared back to me. I remember the powerful...man or entity from when I was in his "domain". I also remember seven whole days of torture. My photographic memory was turning out to be less than helpful in this situation.

I remember what happened when I woke up. My whole world was...Pain. But then there was something else. There was Fringilla. She took care of me when she didn't have to. She bathed me and clothed me and then I… I kissed her. If the FBI existed in this universe, Fringilla would certainly be catching a case.

I looked down at Fringilla's sleeping form and my heart....Hurt… God damn it! I've come down with sorceress affliction. The same thing that has gotten Geralt into trouble over and over again. I looked at Fringilla and I knew I liked her. I knew she was a good person on the inside, she did help Yennefer in the books find Ciri after all. She did originally come here to scout out if the school should be destroyed… She was under orders though, she couldn't really refuse. Damn, this whole situation is a mess. I need to moderate these feelings. If Fringilla knew I liked her she could probably use that to her advantage and try and manipulate me or something. Whatever, I need to focus on my situation. I need to check and see if my plan worked.

All of a sudden I heard the running footsteps wearing heavy boots. Suddenly the door to Fringillas room swung open. The sound startled Fringilla, awakening with a gasp. Outside the door stood Letho Of Gulet in the flesh.

He looked at me and smiled, then he walked over with his arms outstretched before embracing me with a spine crushing bear hug.

"Ha ha!" Letho Laughed. "I knew you had it in you kid! Prodigies like you don't just quit and die on the operating table!"

I smiled while desperately wanting Letho to let go of me. He was huge and his muscles were crushing my organs.

"Don't they teach you not to barge into the rooms of young maidens at this school, witcher?" Fringilla said frustratingly after being rudely awoken.

"Oi sorceress… I originally came to see what happened to Harkon as it was your watch last night… Why is he here, sleeping in your bed? You some kind of kid diddler?" Letho said with a toothy grin.

Fringilla blushed like a tomato and then managed to stutter something out.

"Th-that's not true! H-he finished his trial last night and I cleaned him! He wouldn't leave so I decided to let him sleep in my…" Fringilla looked down at the bed, probably realizing she shouldn't say anymore. This situation made her out to be the one in the wrong.

"I'll never understand you sorceress's…" Letho said with a sigh. "You all want something you can't have…"

Letho made a mock depressed face then smiled. He was certainly enjoying the teasing. He's a lot less jaded now than he was in the game. He probably becomes like that once the school is destroyed. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like that is going to happen in this timeline.

"Alright, enough of that. Harkon, Ivar wanted to see you in his office as soon as you were awake." Letho said, this time with seriousness.

"Alright, let's go." I said as I began to walk out the door with Letho. My body hurt and I desperately needed more rest, but Ivar probably has something important to say.

As I was leaving, I looked at Fringilla who was still in bed. She met my gaze. I waved to her and told her we'd talk soon. I still needed to make her the next dose of the potion after all.

We walked through the hallways of the keep. It was noticeably quieter than usual. None of the other witchers seemed to be in a good mood.

We reached Ivar's office. Letho told me he had work to do and left, leaving me alone. I opened the door to the office and saw… Well, Ivar was there, but it couldn't be that Ivar because he was kissing my mother.

"Oi! Get your filthy lips away from her ya whoreson!" I said. What the fuck did Ivar think he was doing!?

"Sweety!" My mother broke away from Ivar and ran over to me. She wrapped me up in a fierce hug. Happy to see me and have me alive.

"Mother! Did Ivar use Axii to make you do that!? That fucker! I'm gonna poison his food for weeks!!!" I said while glaring at Ivar the entire time. This bastard won't be smug when I'm done with him

He just looked away sheepishly and my mother blushed.

"No....sweety it's ok. Come sit down, we have a lot to talk about." My mother said to me. She used her sweet tone of voice and I couldn't say no.

I still glared at Ivar. He looked away, his cheeks having a slight red tinge. Huh, I didn't know witchers could blush. I sat down and then my mother explained to me the situation. Apparently, Ivar and her had been on and off dating for a couple years now.

My jaw reached the floor when I heard that. I thought Ivar was just making a joke about it when he told me earlier he could be my new step dad. This...This whole situation is extremely strange. However, I need to make certain of Ivar's intentions. I'm not just gonna hand him my mother if he isn't serious.

"Ivar." I said. My tone was grave as I glared at him like a serpent.

"Uh.. Yes, Harkon?" Ivar said extremely meekly. I haven't seen him afraid in… Well, ever.

"Do you love her?" I asked, deadly serious. If Ivar didn't give me the answer I wanted then it would be his head on a pike.

"Yes! Yes I do, Harkon! I've loved her for awhile now." Ivar said in a rather happy tone as he glanced at my mother. She smiled back at him with a reassuring smile.

"Then ask me." I said while glaring at him. He looked confused for a second before speaking up.

"Ask you what, Harkon?" Ivar said.

"Ask me for permission to marry her of course. I will not be giving my mother to a scoundrel like you unless I have certain assurances of your devotion." I spoke with a smile. A devilish one.

"Harkon. I don't thi-" My mother tried to say before I cut her off.

"Silence! This is non negotiable." I said while turning my glare on her. She looked shocked at that, I had never had an outburst like this before after all. Afterwards she just looked meekly down at the floor in silence. I waited for a moment before continuing.

"So Ivar? What is it going to be?" I looked at Ivar once more. My stare intensified. He looked at me with trepidation before speaking.

"Harkon, do i have your per-" Ivar tried to speak before I cut him off.

"Uh Uh Uh." I said while waving my finger. "On your knees. If you're going to do this, you're going to do it right and proper."

Ivar looked exacerbated at the amount of bullshit I was putting him through. He relented however and then walked over to me and got on on his knees. He looked up at me and then continued.

"Harkon, may I have your esteemed permission to marry the beautiful flower that is your mother Revna?" Ivar managed to intone. He sure was embarrassed, there is no one in the world, not even kings, that have spoken to Ivar like this before.

I looked at him for a moment before slapping both of his shoulders. I smiled a true smile at him before speaking.

"Of course, father. Welcome to the family! I do hope you understand the wonderful opportunity I'm giving you here." I boisterously proclaimed, but not before whispering something else to Ivar in secret. "Make her unhappy or be unfaithful to her and I'll kill you."

I meant what I said too, but this development is fine. It would be good for my mother to have some love in her life. I trust Ivar to heed my warnings. He is a smart man after all.

Ivar got up from his kneeling position and then looked at my mother. She had tears in her eyes. Happy to be betrothed to a man she obviously loved. She certainly was cute when she was in love. The two of them ran at each other and embraced. Acting like the newlyweds they were.

"This is a lovely time to be alive, is it not my family? Well after that tear jerker, it's time to get down to business. What was the outcome of the trials?" I said, wanting to know. It was a mistake, it seems like I have severely brought down the mood.

Ivar looked at me before he spoke in all seriousness.

"You're the only survivor, Harkon…" Ivar said, seemingly said at the disastrous results of this trial.

I frowned at that, but it did not portray how I really feel. I expected the random Nilfgaardian boys to die. They were weak and didn't deserve to be witchers. Ulf and Vivienne though, they might have survived. They seemed strong enough. It's a shame, but what can you do with these trials? Sometimes things get messed up. An extra mutagen, here, too much wolfsbane there. Their deaths couldn't have been prevented. That is, if Torsten had double checked the brews after he had returned to the workshop.

I do so love it when a plan comes together.