#cahir deserved better

[cha-mij]

Ok, I have a theory.

The reason show Cahir is SO different from book Cahir is because they didn't base his character off his book counterpart, but of Morvran Voorhis from Witcher 3.

I think they wanted recognisable elements for people who have played the game but not read the books and so they chose a recognisable Nilfguardian who

A) Has favour at court

B) Has plans to marry Ciri if/when she became heiress

[spielzeugkaiser]

I have seen S3!! It cost me dearly (oh god my sleep schedule and body) but I'm so glad I did because I LOVED IT. so much!! I didn't know they had it in them but aaaaaaaa. Spoilers under the cut!

- I loved the relationships. I LOVED THEM. I could come on board with Geralt-Yen, I really enjoyed both Geralt-Ciri and Yen-Ciri (she's her mum 😭) and Ciri-Jaskier was everything I ever wanted. There were other things happening this season (👀) but that was the absolute highlight for me + Geralt actually showing that he cares for Jaskier and their relationship f i n a l l y being portrayed as the deep and meaningful friendship/bond that it is. I watch the witcher for a lot of reasons but mostly for the found family and VINDICATION aaaaa

- this was such a good Jaskier season, my love, me eternal light, the reason why I fell in love with this show - he had a PLOT, he had his wits, he had agency, he's still so anxious but was there as bait (they!! adressed his trauma in the little ways!) and I love that they went the route of Jaskier telling Geralt about Phillippa, honestly guys, I can die happy now, especially with-

- BI BARD BI BARD BI BARD BI BARD (nearly everything has been said about this, just. This fuels me. I needed this so bad, t h a n k you netflix for going through with what you started in S1). I can't shake the feeling that things are going to end quite badly but then I also. like to whump the bard. sooo, if I end up right.. 👀

- I might have sniffed a little when they made Geralt cry because he didn't want his mum to hurt?? Don't do this to me I am not strong enough, that got me. That really got me.

- Geralt might have murdered some people this seasons (and was SO DOWN to kill Stregebor, I crackled, I love himmmmm) but he was such a good moral compass for Ciri this season? Had so much integrity? Did they actually manage to keep him of his path of neutrality? WISE MAN GERALT? EMOTIONAL DEPTH GERALT??

- Ciri really grew on me this season! They really did her good

- Yen didn't need to grow on me, but ohhhh SHE DID. I loved her storyline. I loved her introspection - family goat Geralt I am crying

- the costumes were not perfect but honestly most of the time they were slaying and Geralts armour is now sooo much better, I'd say, improvements there too!

- black horsie is a Roach too (with subtitles on) I can forgive them

- Otto out there with the plague of '21 ??? Brooooooooo

- Fringilla absolutely deserves to live her best life, yes queen. Also Cahirs first little breakdown??

- so many book scenes I enjoyed gosh YES. I already said that but the Jaskier&Ciri one guys I melted-

- the pacing felt at times a little weird? With weird interceptions of scenes at times, like the wild hunt one at the end of episode 3(?). But that was just a minor thing that made me go. Hmm? 🤨

- I LOVE THAT VALDO IS JUST A GUY. He is just a guy! A funny little man that sings the equivalent of medieval, sappy, cliched boyband songs about love, ppfpfpf. Jaskier you PETTY bitch it's like wanting the Taylor Swift of the continent to die and I love him for it - this is the first season that I could just. watch again? right after finishing??? what a quality improvement!!

[yellowspiralbound]

Since season 3 of The Witcher Netflix comes out tomorrow...here are some of my concerns on adaptation from this season onward. Potential spoilers for the future seasons and definite spoilers for the books. Long post ahead.

The Hansa's Dynamic

I am so worried about how the Hansa is going to be handled in the show. Like shaking in my boots terrified. The showrunners already really messed up Dandelion & Geralt's dynamic...and that's one of the easier dynamics present in the Hansa imo. The dynamic is already going to be screwy because Cahir is a middle aged man and not a petulant teenager if he's present in the Hansa at all (though I think he will be since Emhyr called him and Fringilla out at the end of s2).

Emhyr as a Character

Speaking of Emhyr...I think they might attempt to give him a redemption arc, and I cannot emphasize how bad of an idea that is. They're going to retcon the whole "wanting to impregnate Ciri" bit, which I have mixed feelings on. Like yes, on one hand that's fucking gross but on the other hand, that bit is in there to show how fucked up Emhyr is and why Geralt needs to get to Ciri so quickly; it adds a sense of urgency to the Hansa's travels. If I see Emhyr sympathizers on my dash after this season I will lose my fucking mind.

Milva's Pregnancy & Related Scenes

I suspect that Milva's pregnancy is going to be cut entirely or play up the rest of the Hansa's concern for her as a weird "men think they can control women's bodies" thing which Milva will have to fight with them about so the show can be appropriately pro-choice without exploring any of the pro-choice nuance the books bring up. I can just see Regis talking to the guys about it being turned into a "the father deserves a say in a woman's choice to abort" scenario instead of the "I will give this woman her abortion regardless of what you all think about that (and I've made that VERY clear) but I think she's making this choice because she believes you all will abandon her/not support her if she wants to keep this baby and someone needs to make sure that she knows that won't happen" scenario that it actually is. This is also plays into my concerns about the Hansa's dynamic as changing that scene changes it irreparably.

Characterizing Nilfgaard as a Nation

Right now I feel like the show could go one of two ways 1) Nilfgaard is wrong in everything it does or 2) Nilfgaard is right in everything it does (if Emhyr gets a redemption arc). The show has already made a show of the Northern Realms' racism, which is book accurate mind you, but I fear this will translate to a sort of "Nilfgaard is the better nation as its less racist" scenario. While Nilfgaard is better in that aspect and a few others, it is still a militant slave nation. Nilfgaard and the Northern Realms both have their evils and their virtues; that's a big point in the books and the games. Neither nation is 100% good or 100% bad - they're just nations. I don't think the show will be able to handle that kind of nuance.

Jaskier & Radovid...

Apparently, Radovid is supposed to be one of Jask's love interests this season. Radovid is a massive racist, a war criminal, and a teenager. I'm sure all of that's going to be retconned but for fuck's sake just make a new character if you're going to age up and completely change the personality and insanity of an existing one. Important note: I am 1000% in support of queer Jask. I have never shipped that man with a woman in my life (even in the books and games) but for the love of God why did his LI have to be fucking RADOVID??

Mistle & the Rats

If they make Ciri and Mistle a love story, I am going to be disappointed but not surprised. Let me be clear: Mistle is a rapist and an abuser. I suspect they will change that to shoehorn in a queer relationship (even though Triss and Philippa are RIGHT THERE if they want a semi-canon wlw couple). The Rats as a whole are definitely going to be made into more robinhood-like characters because God forbid a main character like Ciri is morally grey or does questionable/bad things.

Geralt's Disability

If this season ends with the Vilgefortz and Geralt fight, as I suspect it might, Geralt will be disabled permanently by the end of this season. The dryads do not fix it. Magic does not fix it. Geralt becomes disabled and stays disabled. His disability becomes a hindrance during the books and the reader actively sees him grapple with the fallout of this. I do not trust this show to handle that - especially with how much more closed off Geralt is in the show compared to the books. If I had to guess, Geralt's disability will be handwaved away or mentioned in passing and never actually shown to impact him which is not cool.

[andordean]

11, 16, 25, 32 for the new Author's ask (you find it pinned atop my tumblr) because I am curious.

11. Are you partial to a certain character/pairing or are you more equal-opportunity? If you are partial to any character/pairing, why do you think that is?

CIRI. Because she decided to invade my brain and forced me to write her a path she would be happier on, because she got me into writing, because she's mostly ignored by the fandom for reasons unknown*.

Pairings: a few years back when I was more active in the fandom, I would read any pairing with her (except for familial, and Mistle), and I discovered some amazing writers in the process. Now, I mostly read Ciri/Cahir if there's anything new at all published, because spoons are low.

16. What’s an AU you would love to read (or have read and loved)?

I'm likely to devour any hansa lives AU (a favourite), because all of them deserve better.

25. What other websites or resources do you use most often when you write?

A dictionary to check whether the word I'm planning to use means what I think it means. 😂

32. What’s your ideal fic length to read?

Around 5k, I'm struggling nowadays with reading fic, low energy that I'm trying to direct to offline things.

Thanks @valandhirwriter ! 💜

*(sarcasm)

[astaldis]

Lost Scenes Thursday! Get to know your favourite authors better. Show five scenes from either abandoned fics where you regret they will never see the light of day, or five scenes from WIPs where you are impatient to see them out there. Long, short, one-liner... it's all good reading. Tag five other authors where you are curious.

Thank you so much for asking @valandhirwriter! Only, I fear I don't have much to share 🙈 Just a little snippet from the next chapter for the Cahir x Sabrina fic I'm working on at the moment. Here it is, the start of chapter 6 of The Interrogation Game:

Sabrina takes her time. First she had a pleasantly undisturbed, long late morning nap and now she is soaking in a wonderfully relaxing hot tub, luxuriating in the delicate fragrances she added to the water and savouring the exquisite sparkling wine she is treating herself with. After the exhausting night and all the hiking hither and tither, it is a well-deserved gratification. The Nilfgaardian is not in danger of dying from his injuries anymore, she is pretty sure of that, and thus not in need of urgent care. Yet, he is clearly not fit enough to do much besides resting. So, all in all, he is rather useless to her at the moment. As the locking spell's effect will last until fairly late in the evening, there is no way he can escape from his unusual prison, no worries there, plus nothing dangerous is inside the bags she left with him, no knives or pointy forks or glassware that he could use to attack her or to hurt himself - unless he chooses to throttle or hang himself with the help of a ripped apart blanket. The man appears to have some serious mental issues with all these nightmares of his, and Sabrina is not a psychologist. However, she did not get the impression that Cahir is desperate enough to try such drastic measures to escape his imprisonment. Well, if he does end himself, then good riddance, one enemy of the free North less, but it would definitely surprise her. 

No, Sabrina is almost a hundred percent certain that she will find the prisoner alive and with his health much improved once she returns to the cave. If only she did not have to walk all the way back there. Things would be much easier if she could use a portal, obviously, but it is impossible. The explosion of Tor Lara can still be felt in the structural matrix of magic on the island and the lingering chaotic effect of its warped portal is too unpredictable and dangerous. Ending up with a missing limb or with her body parts scattered about all over the continent is not a desirable prospect, but it is a possible scenario if she did try to portal. It is not worth the risk. With a deep sigh, Sabrina sets out toward the cave in the late afternoon, carrying another bag filled with provisions.

Fun fact: It's the very first fic on Ao3 with this pairing. I got it from the Witcher Wheel. Just spin it twice to get a ship. It's fun!

[geraskierficrecs]

An Offer You Can’t Refuse Update!

New chapter here.

Teaser:

Jaskier stared at the blank screen and tried to swallow down the bile rising in his throat.

It had been years since anyone had called him by his name.  He closed his eyes and fought through the grief and instinctive panic at the reminder of the last night he’d been Julian.  

It’s better this way, Julian.

Cahir had sounded almost fond even with the blood dripping from the tips of his claws.  Jaskier could still see the reflection of the flames in his eyes.

That boy had deserved to die, he thought now.  He’d been a spoiled brat.  Weakened by the belief that his world could never be toppled or changed.  Julian would never have survived the world outside of his pack.  Likely, he would have turned into one of the obnoxious, self-absorbed pricks like the Slater boy.

“What did Geralt say?” Aiden asked, coming up behind him to drop a cup of coffee onto the table beside him.  When Jaskier gave him a curious look, the wolf shrugged.  “I stole it from the counter because the lady who bought them was rude to another customer.”

Jaskier nodded and took a slow sip to avoid answering immediately.  “He doesn’t believe me.”

There was no way to hide the hurt the simple statement caused.

“Did he…say anything about Lambert?” Aiden asked, aiming for casual and missing by a mile.

“No.  He didn’t say much.”

Everything you told me was a lie.

“We could try again.  Maybe Eskel or Lambert could–”

“No,” Jaskier said, shaking his head and taking a deep breath.  “We focus on the plan.  Nilfgaard has to burn.”

[jaskiersvalley]

This is GENUINE SERIOUS BUSINESS ANON HATE so you better take it seriously you Letho cosplayer bot you! You're just a moist sock and deserve all this hate for being way too funny and smart!!

Ooooh! Some 'serious' anon hate going on here XD This has been sat in my inbox for far too long because I was having too much fun laughing at everyone else's 'hate' and their responses then promptly forgot I hadn't replied. But long enough has passed now that I look foolish now rather than just super late to the party. I can live with that. And, as always, an ask gets a ficlet in reply. But an ask like this? It gets "rewarded" with dubious morals, questionable medical knowledge and some bittersweetness.

Choose a Different Path

Whatever it was that Tissaia had done to Cahir, it had left some permanent marks. At first it hadn't been obvious, the fainting spells and funny turns chalked up to being on the run, to sleepless nights, to not having enough to eat, to having lived through horrors beyond most people's imagination. It wasn't until Geralt took his ragtag group to Kaer Morhen that it became apparent more was at play than trauma and lack of physical care.

At first they thought things were getting better. The instances where Cahir's movements slowed to sluggish and clumsy before sinking to the ground unresponsive were fewer. He hadn't passed out at all in Kaer Morhen, even seemed to be able to smile again.

Eskel had a lot to do with the smiles. For reasons he wasn't going to question, Cahir had taken quite the shine to him. And Eskel was never going to reject affection, not even when Geralt glared at him while Cahir was slumped against his shoulder and softly snoring away. In a way Eskel found Geralt's near enough fatherly attitude endearing. He'd seen the way Cahir and Ciri bickered, teased and generally terrorised each other. But while Ciri was more like a niece, childish in her youth, Cahir had lost that attitude years ago. Not to mention that Cahir was the one who initiated the start of whatever it was between them.

Of course it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Eskel had more than once watched as Cahir, for seemingly no reason, stumbled or slumped over, eyes glazed and unresponsive to touch. Each time he came back, he was upset, confused and sometimes defensive to the point of lashing out. Yet after a while he began reaching for Eskel for comfort, mumbled "what's happened" and "where am I" were tearfully asked into Eskel's chest. It was rare for Cahir to remember what had happened in the run up to such an episode, mind completely blank, not even the odd whisper of memory to help clue them in to the cause.

As quickly as they had fallen in love, found solace and comfort in each other, things were just as quick to falter. Cracks were appearing, Cahir was much more inclined to stay by the fire while Eske itched to be out of the keep. They clashed over whether the cold made old injuries hurt more, just because Eskel had more scars didn't mean his opinion on winters not actually making things worse had more weight to it than Cahir's experiences. Meanwhile, Eskel grew fearful of losing Cahir who was only a fragile human after all. They were doomed from the moment they met, Eskel had come to realise. If he didn't die first on the Path, Cahir was sure to succumb to old age eventually.

Arguments became more frequent and, with that, Cahir's dizzy spells increased too. It didn't take a genius to work out that stress was what set him off yet Eskel was powerless to protect him from it. Especially as he seemed to be the source of so much of it. He loved Cahir, he really did, but he didn't know what more he could do to prove it.

In the end he didn't have to. They were in their shared room but Cahir was pacing, throwing his belongings into a pile on the bed, not that there was much in the way of that.

"I can't do this," he seethed. "I'm not some child to coddle, not some pet to pamper. I love you but you're suffocating!"

Conflict had never been Eskel's strength. His bulk and general appearance meant that he looked imposing enough that few people picked fights with him and the few that did usually used their fists instead of words. Most considered him too much of a brute to be a worthy opponent in verbal sparring.

"But you're so young. And fragile!"

Whirling around, Cahir looked downright murderous. "Looks, as you well know, can be deceiving. I don't make decisions for you. And you don't make them for me."

"I don't though."

"You do!" Cahir yelled in frustration. "No training because it is cold. Should have a bit more food because I look like I needed it even though I said I was full. You put more wood on the fire because it was colder than what humans tend to like. And that was all just this morning!"

"I did it all for you!" Voice raising, Eskel ran a hand through his hair, ready to tear it out. "I love you and I want the best for you."

Suddenly Cahir deflated as he looked at Eskel with sad eyes. "Do you though? Or do you love and want the best for what you want me to be?"

"You! It's always been for you and your needs." Tone shifting, Eskel felt the argument slide into something beyond annoyance.

Sadness tinged the air as Cahir shook his head. "I can't do this. Sorry." Before Eskel could ask what he meant, Cahir held a hand up to silence him. "I'll move my things into a separate room. This is your home, don't feel you have to skulk around and avoid me. I won't make life difficult, I promise."

"This is it?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry I couldn't be what you wanted."

Just like that, Cahir walked out of the room. Eskel watched his back, rigid like that of a soldier going into battle. Except there was no battle, Cahir wasn't a soldier anymore. Lost and at a loss for what to do, Eskel followed a minute later. He couldn't be there when Cahir moved all his things, left Eskel's room how it had been before the winter.

Noises from the Great Hall drew him in. Desperate for a distraction, Eskel shuffled in, shoulders hunched. Lambert was kneeling on the ground, yelling at Geralt to get something soft while Ciri stared wide eyed. Cradled in Lambert's hands was Cahir's head, his body rigid as another of his spells wracked through him. It was worse than they had seen before but Geralt didn't seem overly worried. He trotted back with a folded throw.

"He hasn't had one like this in a while," he commented idly.

Uncertain whether he was allowed next to Cahir, Eskel kept his distance. He watched as Cahir was rolled onto his side as his muscles relaxed. Eyes which had been rolling slowly blinked and tried to focus, only tears were quick to blur his vision as Cahir came to. It broke Eskel's heart.

"Esk?" Cahir's voice was a wobbly croak as he blindly reached out.

Resolve to keep his distance breaking, Eskel sank to his knees next to Cahir and cradled him against his chest. After everything, Cahir still called for him.

The usual, teary question of "what happened?" was met with broad strokes across Cahir's back and the reassuring rumble of "you took a funny turn. You're okay now." Eskel couldn't help himself. "What do you remember?"

A head shake and a sad whine was the first response. "I don't- I don't know. We went to bed. But we're not there now. Where am I?"

Distressed sobs were buried into Eskel's soft shirt. His mind was spinning. Cahir didn't remember that morning. Didn't remember the final couple of straws that broke their relationship. Didn't remember breaking up with Eskel. If Eskel was a better man, he would have been honest. But he was only human, he saw a second chance at happiness. And this time he could probably get it right. As long as Cahir never found out, never remembered that morning.

"You're safe in Kaer Morhen. Vesemir is bringing you a warm, watered down cider. While you drink that I'll go make sure our bed is setup, okay?"

Slowly, Cahir untangled himself from Eskel's shirt. Wiping at his eyes, he nodded and accepted the drink Vesemir was holding out for him. Standing, Eskel didn't run but he hurried back to his room. Their room. Swiping everything off the bed, he made it look like they were in the middle of having a tidy, adding his own clothe to the pile with Cahir's. Bed ready, he raced back to the Great Hall where Cahir was bundled in the throw, empty tankard on the ground next to him.

"Come on, I'll get you back to bed, okay? Then we'll see how you're doing after a nap, yeah?"

Meekly, Cahir nodded and allowed himself to be picked up, feeling so much like a weak kitten in Eskel's arms.

"Thank you," hu murmured, eyes closed.

"No," Eskel replied. "Thank you."

[lledron]

Ciri, Cahir and Tara.

I hate Cahir. Literally, but it makes sense to switch sides with him after so many brainstorms. I hate that Ciri's love interest is going to make him.Besides, Cahir has more chemistry with Fringilla, but Fringilla deserves someone better. Cahir deserves another religion and good psychologist. Tara met her father-in-law (Gerald). He just needs to meet her mother-in-law. I don't know, in season 1, Tara and Ciri were friends and I thought it would be nice to do a little "puppy love" plot. Also, it would be a nice way to give Calanthe one last fuck you.

[bite-dispenser]

Cahir deserves better

(Dandelion and Regis as well)

[boundlss]

Cahir is startled by the realization that Geralt's response has elicited a nearly-inaudible huff of laughter from him. It had struck him as an incredibly typical thing for Geralt to say, and that was probably why he'd laughed at it.

"'Sometimes' is more of an acquiescence than I had expected," Cahir comments, leaving unsaid that it was more than likely an especially generous addition in regards to Geralt's attitude towards himself. He settles on a more apppropriate way of conveying the same message; "I am glad to be included in the band of people whose company is sometimes enjoyable to you."

From a less honest person, those words might have been said in jest, or with some sort of biting cold. From Cahir's mouth, though, they mean nothing more than what the words alone convey. As Geralt looks at him, he reflects that he is indeed glad of Geralt's generally subdued attitude towards him recently. He is not quite a humble enough man to delude himself into believing he doesn't deserve to be treated better.

He turns his eyes away in a surprisingly leisurely motion---rather than looking away out of fear, he's once again looking out at the scene the two of them had extracted themselves from out of a general desire to look; nothing more.

This falsely peaceful evening and stretch of time it belongs to look, from this angle, almost like the life Cahir can never return to.

"I'm glad," Cahir repeats, after a stretch of silence that goes on for far too long. "I'm sure the opinions of others are mostly inconsequential to you, but because I have nothing left to turn to outside of this, it puts me at ease to have heard something like that."

geralt  raised  a  brow  ,    curiosity  piqued  at  the  young  man's  observation  .    he  was  right  :  geralt  hadn't  exactly  been  secretive  about  his  dislike  for  the  entire  situation  .    he  preferred  to  travel  alone  ,    or  with  those  who  were  not  simply  stuck  to  him  to  be  stuck  to  him  ;  he  would  rather  grumble  about  it  ,    on  the  days  when  clouds  wrought  damp  atmosphere  and  rain  and  made  his  limbs  act  against  him  ,    or  on  the  days  when  something  happened  and  their  troupe  wasn't  able  to  travel  very  far  .    this  often  made  him  dislikable  to  the  rest  of  the  hansa  ,    but  he  couldn't  ever  bring  himself  to  care  .

yet  still  ,    they  remained  at  his  side  .    cahir  remained  at  his  side        and  at  the  side  of  the  rest  of  their  band  ,    of  course  .    even  after  geralt  had  insulted  the  young  man's  honour  ,    spat  his  cynism  into  his  eyes  and  traded  blows  with  him  beneath  blazing  skies  ,    still  ,    he  stayed  .    still  he  stayed  ,    and  did  not  hold  any  of  that  against  geralt  .    it  was    …    odd  ,    not  having  someone  throwing  back  his  misconducts  and  wrong  notions  in  his  face  whenever  circumstances  allowed  it  .    whatever  cahir  had  been  taught  during  his  life  at  vicovaro  ,    it  kept  him  deferential  and  modest  in  ways  the  witcher  couldn't  even  fathom  .

somehow  during  his  train  of  thought  ,    a  deep  frown  had  pressed  its  way  into  geralt's  forehead  .    it  did  not  leave  even  when  he  realised  it  was  there  ,    so  he  turned  his  head  ,    facing  away  from  cahir  so  that  he  didn't  spot  it  .    ❛  i'm  not  offended  ,    ❜  he  said  first  ,    in  case  he  was  about  to  hear  some  apology  or  question  about  it  .    that  would  only  make  him  cross  all  over  again  .    he  knew  himself  better  than  that  ,    and  cared  enough  to  warn  against  it  happening  ,    this  time  .    ❛  and  i  believe  you  .    strangely  enough  ,    i  believe  you  .    ❜

then  he  took  a  long  breath  .        ❛        and  as  for  my  denial  of  my  need  for  you  all        i'm  denying  nothing  .        ❜        and  he  absolutely  ignored  the  fact  that  he  was  denying  it  even  now  .        ❛        i  would  much  rather  find  myself  unescorted  in  times  like  this  .    no  matter  how  difficult  it  might  be  .        ❜        he  paused  ,    deliberating  on  his  next  words  .    they  felt  vulnerable  .    he  hated  the  feeling  .        ❛        …    but  i  have  found  ,    in  travelling  with  all  of  you  ,    that    …        ❜        another  brief  consideration  where  he  forced  himself  to  speak  .        ❛        i  rather    …    enjoy  your  company  .    sometimes  .    and  sometimes  ,    you  can  all  go  to  hell  .        ❜        he  looked  back  ,    frown  turned  scowl  .

[wandalives]

Thinking about how much Cahir loved Ciri. He didn’t expect anything of her. Didn’t expect her to love him back or even be kind to him. He crossed the entire world to save her and dreamt about their future together, with details he couldn’t possibly have known unless they had a connection somehow. He loved her so much he sacrificed his life for her, and didn’t look back. I have to sit down

[deacf-coffee-is-a-sin]

Me whenever I see Milva’s gwent card:

[devendrasbeard]

Great Escape

Prompt: Surprise / Gift Giving Relationships: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach/Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon Rating: G Content Warnings: none, just fluff! Summary:  Ciri hates birthdays. Cahir is determined to change that.

Also on ao3!

Ciri hated birthdays. The cruel realisation of her own mortality and fragility scared her, and birthdays only multiplied that feeling. Ever since she turned eighteen and became an 'adult', the impending doom of inevitable death scared her even more and more. She hated birthdays and she wished the people around her hated at least her birthday just as much.

She stepped out of the college building to see Cahir's car parked across the street, her boyfriend stepping outside as soon as he saw her. "Happy birthday Ciri," he said when she was finally in his arms.

"I'm gonna kill you one day," Ciri whispered through gritted teeth. "I swear to god, if any of my classmates heard you..."

He sealed her lips with a delicate kiss and opened the car door for her. "Get in, I have a little surprise for you." He smiled cunningly.

"Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, if you have another surprise party planned, not even my dad will be able to save you from my wrath."

Cahir raised his hands in a defensive manner. "No parties. I've learned my lesson last year."

He remembered what had happened last year, shortly after they'd started dating. Cahir finally got the courage to ask his boss, Geralt, if he could date his daughter. Very old fashioned, but he felt it was the right thing to do, before he'd make a move at Ciri. Geralt raised his brows at him but from the look on his face, Cahir could see that the gesture earned him some extra sympathy points from the older man. "Ciri is her own woman," he'd told him. "If she wants to date you, I have no say in this."

And then Cahir has found out that Ciri's birthday was coming up next month, so trying for a nice and remarkable gesture, he organised a surprise party in his friend's pub.

After she'd entered the place and was met with over twenty people shouting "Happy birthday!" at her, Ciri froze and then immediately started crying. When she tried to run out of the pub, Cahir moved at her, going for a comforting hug, but she wriggled out of his embrace and broke his nose in the process.

He was left in the middle of the room, surrounded by Ciri's friends he didn't really know that good yet, blood dripping from his broken nose and the candles slowly melting onto the intricate birthday cake.

So yes, no parties, no big surprises. Since Ciri didn't break their relationship off after last year's disaster, he decided to try for a different approach, for a present he couldn't even call literally a present.

They got into the car and drove off. Cahir put Ciri's favourite album on and they sat for a while in comfortable silence, Ciri watching the landscapes change behind the window, Cahir tapping the steering wheel to the rhythm of the song that was currently playing.

"Where are you taking me and how many people will be there?" Ciri asked after a while. "I want to... be prepared this time."

"Where I'm taking you is a secret," Cahir smiled, "but the amount of people that will be there is exactly two - you and I."

Ciri let out a sigh of relief and Cahir saw from the corner of his eye that she was smiling. He gave himself a mental pat on the back and felt that fuzzy feeling coiling deep in his heart. He was lucky to have her - fierce, confident, and with the most unique hair colour he's ever seen.

After another hour on the road, Cahir turned from the highway to a little dirt road leading them through pine woods. And when he finally parked the car and Ciri opened the door, as soon she stepped out she was hit with a refreshing smell of sea breeze, the sound of waves hitting the cliffs and the faraway screeching of seagulls.

"You took me to the seaside?!" She flung herself at him, arms wrapping around his neck, and gave him a warm, long kiss.

Cahir took her hand and led her towards the sea, grabbing a little basket from the trunk. "I know how you always wanted to come to the seaside but said it was too crowded. So I found the most recluse place at the whole coast. I'll be immensely surprised if we meet anyone here."

Ciri screeched and let go of his hand, running towards the beach, quickly dropping her shoes and stepping into the water. She laughed loudly and wholeheartedly, kicking the water with her bare feet, jumping over the waves like a ten year old child.

Cahir sat at the grass on the edge of the beach and watched her with amusement and awe. He wanted to make her feel good, he wanted to give her exactly what she wanted and needed, and seeing her being this carefree, this happy made his heart grow with fondness.

"Ciri!" He shouted at her and waved at her to come back to him. He'd prepared a little picnic while she was running around and getting soaked.

Ciri sat on the little blanket he put on the grass and hugged him. "Thank you, Cahir."

He kissed her delicately, brushing a wet strand of hair from her forehead. "Will such a present be okay?"

"It's more than okay," Ciri admitted with a smile. "Just to be clear, this will not make me like birthdays, but I won't mind you bringing me here every once in a while."

"I will, for as long as you'll keep me around."

---

@witcher-rarepair-summer-bingo

[usedupshiver]

an AU where somehow Cahir managed to get Ciri out of Cintra without scarring her for life in the process and she doesn’t run away from him the first chance she gets

so when Geralt happens to come across her, it’s not one kid lost in the woods it’s two of them, one pain in the ass girl, and a boy who’s like I have no idea what I’m doing please help me

and the only solution is to adopt them both, because apparently destiny is doing a buy one get one free deal today and what’s a poor witcher to do?

[javert-delacour]

My favorite Nilfgaardian

Who claims he isn't a Nilfgaardian

[astaldis]

Nauseous - Long, Long Way

@whumpers-monthly

Fandom: The Witcher

Wumpee: Cahir

Caretaker: Regis; Geralt; Milva

Published: 2022-10-14; Completed: 2022-10-30; Words: 16,617; Chapters: 7/7

Summary: On their way to Stygga Castle, Geralt's Hanza runs out of provisions and fodder for the horses. But is going to the farm to buy some really a good idea? Written for Whumptober 2022.

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Category: Gen

Characters: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach; Geralt of Rivia; Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy; Maria Barring | Milva; Angoulême; Dheran aep Ceallach

Additional Tags: nowhere to run; cornered; Confrontation; what could go wrong?; dislocation; No One's Coming; knees buckling; repeatedly passing out; Forced to Kneel; You Better Start Talking; No One Left Behind; rope burns; Anger born of worry; manhandled; Bedside Vigil; Waking up disoriented; tied to a table; Silence Is Golden; Enough Is Enough; Pushed to the limit; Stumbling; at the end of their rope; dead on your feet; no way out; say goodbye; It's been a long day; Comfort; Take me instead; you're safe now; Head trauma; what doesn't kill me; Hold Them Down; Hidden Injury; note to self: don't get kidnapped; a light at the end of the tunnel; The Hansa | Geralt's Company (The Witcher); Friendship

Excerpt from Chapter 5 - You can rest now

Cahir blinks his eye open once again, and looks up into the concerned faces of his three friends.

"You're here," he murmurs drowsily.

"Of course, we are, silly. You didn't think we would leave you behind with those fuckers, did you?" Cahir makes a sound that resembles more a no than a yes. "Good, for we wouldn't," Milva continues. "We are a Hanza and you are our brother, even though you are a bloody Nilfgaardian. No, sh, don't say it," she adds quickly. "We know, you are not a Nilfgaardian, I was only teasing. Because I'm glad we have you back. Although you look like shit."

"Better a brother who looks like shit than one who is a shitty brother," Angoulême declares wisely in between bites from a dried sausage she found among Milva's loot.

"My- My brother," Cahir says, suddenly agitated, trying to rise and look around but Geralt holds him firmly down.

"He's alive. And I'll see to that he stays alive," Geralt promises. "Although your brother definitely doesn't deserve it."

"It's not his fault. I- I'm the traitor."

"What? It's not his fault? You have hit your head pretty hard, haven't you? That is utter bullshit, Cahir!" Milva has to make a real effort not to shout at her sick comrade or grab him by the shoulders to shake some sense into him. He cannot actually believe that it is his own fault his brother mistreated him?

"I do agree with you, dear Milva, from the bottom of my almost five-hundred-year-old heart," Regis, who has suddenly appeared next to the archer like out of thin air, interrupts, "however, I am sorry to say that this is not the time to discuss these matters. Cahir needs to rest. Any form of excitement has to be avoided at all cost." He turns from Milva to the patient. "How do you feel, my dear boy? Can you see me clearly?" Cahir tries to focus, but it does not work. The faces of his companions are hardly more than a blur of hazy colours and vague shapes in the orange light of the fire. Their voices are also slightly distorted and there is a constant, underlying ringing in his ears that makes it even harder to understand what they are saying. He shakes his head. And immediately regrets it as a wave of dizziness floods his aching skull and he suddenly feels sick to his stomach.

"N-Need to-" That is all he manages before his stomach lurches and he starts to retch. Regis's speed of reaction is remarkable. In the blink of an eye he is kneeling beside his sick friend grabbing him by the shoulder and turning him onto his side so he would not inhale any pieces of vomit and asphyxiate. Unfortunately, the movement causes Cahir's shoulder to explode with agony and he cries out in pain. He goes even paler than he was before and starts to shake all over.

"Fuck! I'm going to kill that bastard brother after all!" Geralt shouts. Luckily, Cahir does not hear him as he has fainted again.

Read the complete story on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/42385659