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astaldis · 8 months ago

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Whumpers-Monthly Issue no 28 - Falling

On The Run - Chapter 2: Down the cliff

Fandom: The Witcher (TV)

Whumpee: Cahir

Caretaker: Yennefer

Published: 2022-01-01; Completed: 2022-03-11; Words: 30,667; Chapters: 12/12

When they reach the edge of the cliff, they are both breathing heavily and shivering in the cold ocean breeze.

"That looks like a feasible place to climb d-down." Cahir points at a spot to their far right, his teeth chattering slightly. There the cliff is less high and steep and leads to a lonely little half-moon-shaped beach, which would look quite romantic if the sand was white, not black like the cliff.

"How do you know there is a cave for us to hide in down there?"

"I d-don't. But see that darker spot in the r-rock face? C-could be a cave."

"Could be anything," she huffs, but still follows the Nilfgaardian as she has no better plan, or any plan at all. They'd just have to take the chance.

Luckily for Yennefer, Cahir slows down considerably as they walk toward the targeted spot, most of his energy reserves apparently spent. When they finally arrive, he looks more likely to collapse again than to be able to climb down a cliff. But he stays on his feet and closely inspects the cliff face, searching for the safest route down.

"Here. I go first. You follow after." He indicates the place with a nod, gets down on his knees and starts to swing his legs over the edge. His arms are shaking as they have to bear most of his weight until his feet find a safe hold in the rock.

"Sure you can handle the climb?" Yennefer is really worried now. This is so not a good idea. "I didn't save your neck and went to all this trouble just for you to break it."

"Worry about your own neck," he grinds through teeth clenched in concentration while continuing to descend. Yennefer looks on as Cahir's upper body and head slowly disappear from sight. Stubborn idiot! He could at least rest a little first. What if he falls and breaks his bones? She is not going to pick up the pieces, that's for sure. However, in case he does crack his neck, having to continue the escape on her own is not exactly a delightful prospect, despite the man being a bloody-minded, bigoted White Flame zealot and a pain in the arse most of the time. Although they do not look much alike, the Nilfgaardian definitely reminds her of a certain Witcher more often than she cares for, too. Similarly grumpy and obstinate. Typical alpha male behaviour. Which she hates with a vengeance. And, totally in spite of herself, finds annoyingly attractive - in Geralt, needless to say, not the Nilfgaardian. An attraction that has brought her nothing but trouble and heartbreak.

When Yennefer cautiously looks over the edge of the cliff some minutes later, Cahir has already, and against all odds, made it down the first, rather difficult part of the climb and is now standing on a broad bridge-like ledge leading to the easier middle section.

"Come!" He motions her to start climbing.

Cursing her long dress, Yennefer squats down next to the cliff and gingerly moves her legs over the edge. As she is considerably shorter than the Nilfgaardian, it is even more difficult for her to find a safe foothold in the rock. Several times she fears that she might fall. Will Cahir be able to catch and save her if she does? Or rather, will he even try to catch her if she falls? At least the dark, almost black rock seems to be pretty solid and does not crumble under her weight or between her fingers. Unused to this kind of adventure, her fingertips are already hurting badly, her carefully manicured nails probably broken beyond recognition. Inwardly Yennefer breathes a heart-felt sigh of relief when, eventually, she feels strong hands grip her around the waist, helping her down the last few steps until she is safely standing on the ledge next to the Nilfgaardian. Of course, she cannot admit to him that she actually liked the feeling.

"I had it under control," she grumbles.

"'Course you did. But better safe than sorry." He lets go of her waist, turns around and starts to climb down the rocky slope lying before them. Although it is easier, it is still no walk in the park to navigate their way down, sometimes hopping from rock to rock, sometimes squeezing through a narrow crack in between big boulders, sometimes slithering down a steep, gravelly patch more or less on their butts. It takes them a lot longer than anticipated, too, to reach the last part of the descent, another sheer-walled drop of approximately fifteen metres. Yennefer starts climbing when Cahir is almost half way down, trying, wherever possible, to use the same ledges, protrusions and cracks as the Nilfgaardian. It is slow going and not only physically, but also mentally straining as she has to concentrate hard to not make any mistakes, any wrong movement threatening to send her plummeting down the cliff. But she is making steady progress, even catching up on Cahir a little. Now she can hear his heavy breathing from hardly more than two metres below her.

Yennefer looks down cautiously. Not very far to the ground any more. A few more strenuous minutes and they'll have made it. In one piece. Carefully placing her right foot on a narrow ledge a little further down, her eyes trained on the rock face again, she proceeds.

Suddenly, there is the frightening noise of something, or rather someone, falling and heavily hitting the ground. Fuck! Of course, things would not go as smoothly for them as she imagined just seconds ago. From the precarious position she is in at the moment, Yennefer cannot look down to find out what has happened and is relieved when she hears Cahir swear. Not dead. That's something.

When Yennefer finally reaches the ground, the Nilfgaardian is sitting in the black sand leaning heavily agains the rock wall, very pale and sweaty, his eyes closed, but there is no blood anywhere, at least not that she can see, nor is any limb at a weird angle. So, probably nothing broken. He is holding his right foot with both his hands though. Exhausted, Yennefer sits down next to him.

"You alright?"

#whumpers-monthly #issue no 28 #the witcher tv #the witcher netflix #cahir mawr dyffryn aep ceallach #yennefer of vengerberg #cahir x yennefer #yennefer x cahir #enemies to friends

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astaldis · 7 months ago

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Rereading my favourite Cahir x Yennefer season 2 AU series Touch of a Sorceress for the third (or fourth?) time. 🙈

If you see this you’re legally obligated to reblog and tag with the book you’re currently reading

#cahir x yennefer #yennefer x cahir #the witcher season 2 #romance #the witcher fanfiction

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perseruna · 1 year ago

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the way cahir was just chilling somewhere in a corner during both of these scenes is so funny to me like i know he thought yennefer and jaskier were in a crazy situationship

#sorry curse of thought of 2.04 #the witcher #yennskier #yennefer x jaskier #yennefer of vengerberg #jaskier #cahir

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thedemonofcat · 7 months ago

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The most enjoyable aspect of the Hansa is when they bully Geralt for his attempt to be brooding and insist on going it alone.

It's a found family and despite Geralt's resistance, refusing to be a part of it simply isn't an option.

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moondust-production · 1 year ago

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Ciri & Cahir | Let Me Be The One

«It's hard, it's hard leaving love I know, what

I don't want to beat this on my own

It's hard leaving life by you

It's hard, now it's too late for me»

youtube

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redskull199987 · 1 year ago

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Heyy hii I'm not sure if you're still taking requests, but I'll try my luck. Can you write something about Cahir and the female Witcher reader? Thanks in advance if you write.

If I am being brutally honest, I had a lot of fun writing this. Season three renewed my love for Cahir, so I hope you like this:)))

A Bond

Cahir x female!witcher!reader Request

Word count:0.9k

Warnings:it's all fluffy. I probably got carried away and let my inner Jaskier come out

Summary:You and Cahir had been friends for a long time and as he needs your help, you don 't hesitate to be there for him…

Masterlist

You and Cahir had known each other for a long time. You had met him on your travels through the country, as he was attacked by the beast, you were hunting. He was rude at first, but still thanked you.

The rest was history.

You started running into him over and over again. To a point where it was inevitable that a friendship would form. With you, Cahir could be himself. He was just a normal Person. No Nilfgaard, no white flame, no war. Nothing of that mattered to you. You were neutral. All you were interested in was his person. And he knew that your interest was genuine. And he let it happen. He let the friendship form and prosper. An unfeigned friendship that connected you.

And when he was cast out, thrown away by his master, like an old doll he didn't want to play with anymore, Cahir came to you. He found comfort in you. He had been through so much, but for once in his life, he felt safe. At peace. He might even say “Home”.

Of course, he would never tell you that, but it surely was on his mind, everytime, he looked at you. Everytime you returned to his small hut, after finishing a Witcher contract. Bruised and battered, but back with him. And only him. Only Cahir got to see you like this. He took pride in knowing that he was the only person in this world, you would trust this far, besides your brothers maybe.

But you told him that you only saw them once a year, in the winter. You told him stories of Kaer Morhen and how you had grown up there, under Vesemir´s care.

You told him that it was hard for you at first, being the only female Witcher. But it had gotten better, the older you got. The more you learned and saw in this world. You realized that no one really cared, as long as they could use you for their dirty work.

“How was it?”, Cahir asked, forcing himself to return to the present moment. He had let his thoughts wander, after a pleasant silence rose between you, as he carefully cleaned your wounds.

“It was alright.”, you finally said,”It was a small kikimora. Still young and inexperienced.”

“In fighting?”,Cahir asked, not really knowing a lot about the beasts that your job involved. You had told him some things, but a kikimora was new to him.

You only smiled at him, before finally answering his question:”No, not in fighting. In killing."

He was quiet for a second, not knowing what to say, upon that statement. But luckily, you just continued recounting what had happened.

“The Monster´s head was worth a lot of coin though. I won't have to leave for at least a month. The money will be enough.”

Cahir smiled at you, glad that he got to spend more time with you.He slowly got up from his place in front of you and sat down beside you on the bed:”Thank you. You don't have to do this. Supporting me in my exile, I mean. But you still do it anyway. And for that I am thanking you.”

“Oh Cahir.”, you smiled, your hand rising to softly caress his face. He closed his eyes, letting himself fall into your gentle touch.

“I would proudly ride into death for you, without hesitation.”, you mumbled, as he opened his eyes. You heard how his heart picked up a beat. How his breath stocked for a second, his eyes lingering on your lips, instead of your yellow orbs, which were intently watching him, awaiting his next move.

You had often thought about your relationship with him. Often let your mind wander to what ifs.

What if you were more than just close friends? What if you knew that you wanted to spend the rest of your lives together. Never leaving each other. What if…

“I love you.”

At first you barely heard him. His words were so quiet. His voice shaking and his eyes darting everywhere else, but your face. He wasn't usually this hesitant. He was an outgoing and stern person. Always sure of himself and his capabilities. He used to be a Nilfgaardian officer after all.

“Cahir.”, you mumbled, after a few seconds of burning silence. He finally looked at you. His expression now a bit more confident. His heartbeat had slowed and he finally dared to look you in the eye.

“I love you, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach. With all my heart.”, you smiled, your eyes almost glowing with excitement.

Cahir didn't need to hear anything more, before he finally leaned in. Your eyes closed and his lips collided with yours. He was gentle and sweet. Passion laid in his actions. And you knew that he meant every little bit, he had told you.

“I love you.”, he said once again, before slowly pushing you back against the bed. You followed along with his movements, until he was hovering above you.

“I love you.”, you also repeated. You were bare in front of him. Not in a physical way, but emotionally. No one had ever known you as Cahir did. Not even your brothers. He knew your heart and soul. Something that you had shown no one before.

And as he slowly lathered kisses over your body, your moans and whines mixing with his groans. As you fully let him in, you knew that he was the only one you would ever love this way. He became part of you and you part of him.

An unfeigned bond, that was never to be broken again.

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casualwriters · 1 year ago

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Mid Spoiler for season 3

Throwing the cloak down from sneaking out to understand what was going on with your sister and farther, the chase of finding her was driving him mad, and to occupy his mind was the wedding he had no care who you love or what you wanted all he wanted was to keep the kingdoms strong. Stopping by the corridors to rest your eyes it was a long day in Nilfgard hearing Rumors that Cahir was back and begging your father for another chance so he killed Gallante, you were well known to ease dropping on your farther conversations. "Princess " the guard smiled at you as you enter the door "have a good night" bowing your head to him opening your door to see Cahir leaning on the vanity table where the maids help do your hair.

"Cahir" the name felt weird on your lips "y/n" a rare smile infected his face. Walking over you hugged him " you can't be here" your faces were close frowning ''the marriage" he said. Cutting him off "can we not" you were forbidden to even talk to one of your farther guards more so fall in love with one you both knew if any news got out he would be stripe from his title and not welcome to Nilfgard you couldn't do that to Cahir that was the only so called family he had even if he was thinking what he was doing was wrong. Cahir kissed your forehead smiling there was no one who fitted you more. Cahir he brought the more reasonable side wrapping his arms around your, waist he lifted you up causing you to squeal. "Stop that" laughing he sat down on the bed you followed "when is it" he broke the ice as your head fell on his shoulder, " A couple days, less than a week" smiling at him

"We can still make the most of them " he chuckled holding your hand smiling looking up at him " mm a night with you can't be that bad guard" chuckling he kissed your lips as you soon enjoyed talking and spending the few more days with your guard.

#the witcher #cahir x reader #geralt x yennefer #yennefer of vengerberg #geralt rivia.#emperor emhyr #the witcher spoilers #the witcher s3 #please reblog ❤#cirilla of cintra #jaskier #the witcher games #the witcher fanfiction

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moonlightpirate · 2 years ago

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Masterlist

This is getting long so time for the keep reading cut!!!!

Return to The Madding Crowd

Chapter 1: The Storm

Chapter 2: A Fall Day

Chapter 3: To Love or Not to Love

Chapter 4: Proper Lady

Chapter 5: The Letters

Chapter 6: The Wedding Ball

Law of Destiny

Chapter 1: Stuck in Cintra

Chapter 2: The Journey Home

Chapter 3: Wide Awake

Chapter 4: Love and Dreams

Chapter 5: Damsel in Distress

Joey Batey and Jaskier

Secret Worlds series

The necklace

Together again

Dancing Under The Stars

Inkpot Gods

Chapter one

Chapter two

Chapter three

Meeting the Lettenhoves

That Unwanted Animal

Part two Meeting the Lettenhoves

Adam Warlock

Goldilocks

Chapter 1: Thunderstruck

Valentines Day One Shots

Someone To Say

Madly

West Side Story

Somethings Coming

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railroad-migraine · 2 years ago

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Reopening requests for:

The Witcher (Netflix) x Reader!

Check out my Witcher Masterlist here 💜

#jaskier x reader #mod poet #the witcher x reader #cahir x reader #yennefer x reader #geralt x reader #jaskier imagine #witcher x reader #dandelion x reader #julian alfred pankratz #yennefer of vengerburg x reader #cahir mawr dyffryn aep ceallach x reader #geralt of rivia x reader

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hornydotsblog · 2 years ago

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#the witcher #cahir x yennefer #cahir mawr dyffryn aep ceallach #witcher cahir #yennefer

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witcherrarepaircommentexchange · 1 year ago

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pairing:

Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach & Yennefer z Vengerbergu | Yennefer of Vengerberg

fic:

On the run by Molanna

After Yennefer and Cahir have escaped on horseback from the site of the failed execution, they are stranded on the Isle of Thanedd with no plan, no resources, no anything. Will the unlikely duo make it to Gors Velen in one piece?

#cahir mawr dyffryn aep ceallach #cahir #yennefer of vengerberg #yennefer #cahir x yennefer #cahir/yennefer #witcher rarepair #the witcher #the witcher netflix #witcher fanfic

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astaldis · 9 months ago

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For the Whumpril prompt 6 Dizziness and the Angstpril prompts 19 Trembling and 22 Drained

Chapters: 4/? Words: Fandom: The Witcher (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach & Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach & Geralt of Rivia, Cahir Mawr Dryffyn aep Ceallach & Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach/Yennefer of Vengerberg, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach & Vesemir, Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon & Jaskier, Geralt of Rivia & Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy & Vesemir, Jaskier & Yennefer of Vengerberg, Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon & Geralt of Rivia Characters: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, Geralt of Rivia, Vesemir (The Witcher), Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, Yennefer of Vengerberg, Coën (The Witcher), Lambert (The Witcher), Jaskier | Dandelion Additional Tags: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach Whump, Whumptober 2023, ��Alive Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach Has a Bad Time, Witcher Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Title from a The Amazing Devil Song, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Major Character Injury, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Buried Alive, Sacrifice, Sickfic, Blood and Injury, Broken Bones, Friendship, Magical Exhaustion, whumpster-dumpster's Whumpril 2024, chaos-company's Angstpril 2024, Uncle Jaskier, lullaby, Tumblr: whumpers-monthly, learning the truth, Grief/Mourning, can't sleep, weak pulse, Found Family, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, Eventual Fluff, Family Fluff Summary: At Kaer Morhen, Cahir tells Ciri something that makes her scream ...

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justinewt · 1 year ago

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Nostalgia For Innocence - THE WITCHER Fanfiction Chapter Four

[THE WITCHER FANFICTION-MASTERLIST]

Previous Chapter / Next Chapter

Summary: After ending her year-long imprisonment in a dungeon in Cintra, Revynah had gone to a friend of her mother's, Anika, also a druid from whom she hoped to get some help before following Geralt's tracks to Aretuza. In this cottage in the woods, she rested, regained her strength and was confronted with difficult emotions and memories that she had long suppressed.

Words: 5.2k

Warnings: The Witcher season 3 SPOILERS Part 1 (some dialogues from episode 3 "Reunion"), title based off a quote from Albert Camus, violence, blood, guts, fights, heart-to-heart, fluff

Revynah looked at the little cottage that stood among the trees, a light mist floating in the woods. Gently tugging on the reins, she guided her horse with her and looked around the property, walking past the plant drying racks, when a man's voice spoke a few feet behind her. The mage turned and exchanged a look with him. She frowned slightly, wondering what the unknown man was doing in her mother's friend's house.

“Who are you?”

“I should be the one asking this question. I live here.” She parted her lips, about to respond something and ask him again who he was when another voice rose nearby and said her name. A voice she hadn’t heard since she was a young girl. Anika stepped towards them, a visible look of surprise on her face as she stared at the young woman. The man seemed surprised as well but not for the same reason.

“Otto, this is Visenna’s daughter. Revynah.”

“Anika, you should be resting.” He suddenly looked worried to see the druid up and running and took a few steps towards her, gently grabbing her shoulders. They exchanged a few words, Revynah heard him insist that she go back inside but she pushed him aside and returned her attention to the sorceress.

“I never thought I’d see you again after Visenna sent you off to Aretuza. Let’s go inside.” She had a soft smile stretching the corners of her lips and motioned for Otto to get the young woman’s horse and led the latter inside the small house. Revynah quietly followed her. The smells of the dried plants and flowers hung above her head brought her memories of her mother’s home, and candlelit lanterns on the walls bringing hints of warm orange light here and there to the room. The druidess had her sit on a small bed nestled in an alcove. She briefly closed her eyes and the first thought that crossed her mind after she sat down was how comfortable the mattress was and how soft the sheets felt under her hand. She hadn't had such luxury in a year, and she had missed having an actual bed. With her back to her, standing on the other side of the room, Anika leaned over a pot that was simmering gently over a fire and she slowly stirred what was brewing in it with a wooden ladle. “How did you end up here after a century?”

“I summoned a portal.” Anika stopped in her gesture and hung the ladle on a small notch in the wall. She knew that the druidess’ question didn’t ask for such a literal answer, but she was tired and didn’t think before deciding to be sarcastic out of the blue. The woman turned around and Revynah gave her the reply she wanted. “I’m looking for Geralt, but I ran into some troubles.”

“If you had arrived earlier, you would have met him. He was just here.”

“What? When?” She instantly went to stand to get closer, but pain shot through her back after accidentally pulling on the skin around the open wounds and she winced, falling back onto the bed behind her. She brought her hand to her side, her palm hovering over her back without daring to touch it. Anika set the Geralt subject aside and handed her a small vial. She drank it, figuring it was something to ease her pain and let out a sigh. Anika sat beside her, silently telling her to let her take a look at what was hurting her. Revynah gritted her teeth as she slipped her arms out of her sleeves and held the front of her robe above her chest as the garment fell down her back, revealing the pitiful state it was left in after the tortures she had endured for months on end. She had gotten rid of the grim covering her body by washing herself at that famr early, but the wounds were probably getting infected anyway since she didn’t have access to potions and because of the toll it took on her, she clearly didn’t have the energy and power to heal herself to such extent. Taking care of her health would be possible with Anika’s help though. Revynah turned her head upon hearing the wooden door of the house open and close as Otto came in. A silence followed as he witnessed the damage. He looked in shock and meeting Anika’s gaze, he went to take something from the crowded surface of the dining table and went back outside, leaving the two women alone.

“What kind of troubles did you run into?”

“Nilfgaard.” The mere mention of the Southern Empire of the continent was enough to throw a chill over the whole room. She would never tell how ironic it was for her to end up tortured by the very man she had agreed to serve after he pulled her out of the rotten hole in which the mages languished during the entirity of the usurper's reign which lasted for two decades, until he was overthrown a little less than ten years ago. Emhyr had been the man to save them and until a couple years ago, she used to think he was the ruler she wanted to follow but now, even if it meant losing Cahir to the White Flame, she would never go back to being a pawn under Nilfgaard’s thumb and in any case, if she did go back, she would be sentenced to death immidietaly, unless she got better and retrieved her full potential and power. She might have never graduated from Aretuza but she was still a pretty powerful mage. The simple fact that she survived so much torture without ever taking any potions was astounding and showed the great extent of her strength and resilience.

Now, she wanted to focus on reuniting with her brother, and it was all that mattered to her. While Anika busied herself with preparing potions and ointments to help heal her wounds and body, Revynah proceeded to tell her about all she went through during her imprisonment in the dungeons of Cintra, how she was stripped naked and hanged from the roof of a cold cell and flogged almost everyday, pieces of her skin and flesh ripped off by the repeated blows, drenching the floor with her own blood as it streamed down her body all day long, how she was sometimes waterboarded when the guards were instructed to stop beating her or she would die too quickly. She told her that on top of everything, when she was free from torture, she still had to drink rancid wine with other prisoners that tested it for poison for the emperor and how she was barely given any food ever. She glossed over her involvement with Nilfgaard in the late 50s and purposefuly chose not to tell the druidess about what she did in the past, including the acts it took for her to get the name of The Aguara of Nilfgaard. Anika didn't need to know, and it wasn't relevant to the tortures. Throughout her bloody story, Anika said nothing, letting her tell all the details she wanted to say outloud. She then promised her she would help and do her best to alleviate her suffering and fix her, though the scars it caused in her mind would be hers to tackle. Revynah drank another potion, to help fight infections and enhance healing. She felt the heat emanating from Anika's hands as she stretched her palms out facing her bruised back, concentrating all her power on it. She grunted when she felt her skin slowly pulling on itself to close the wounds.

“Leave the scars. Don't make them fade away.” She asked, gritting her teeth. Anika didn’t try to argue with her and withdrew her hands once thick raise scars formed all over the skin of her back. Looking at them was unsettling and disturbing and It was far from pretty or nicely healed but it was exactly why Revynah wanted to keep them this way, because if she ever found herself on a battlefield again, she would show them off to shock anyone who would lay eyes upon them and the first person she wanted to shock was Cahir, to try and knock some sense into him. She never wanted to lose him and if she were to lose him to Emhyr’s influence, she would let him go and stop fighting but if she could bring him back on her side, she would try anything. Anika applied an ointment to the scars before wrapping a clean cloth all around her torso so the ointment could penetrate her skin and then gave her a potion that knocked her out of sleep-in seconds so she could sleep peacefully. without being bothered by any pain. She had that same dream again where she saw a tall, broad-shouldered man on top of a hill, with white hair and wearing this necklace with a wolf's head on it. This time, when the man disappeared and left her alone, she found herself in the blink of an eye at the edge of a cliff, the waves crashing against the rocks below. Looking around, she recognized Aretuza in the distance, the school perched on the magical island of Thanedd with its tall tower reaching almost to touch the cloudy sky and its palace beside it. She stood right at the edge of the cliff and woke up when she fell but as her back hit the water, she saw the witcher from the wolf school standing where she was a second prior, though she couldn’t discern his face.

She felt somewhat better after having some rest and straightened up on the bed. Anika and Otto were seated at the table, eating the brew that had been cooking in the cauldron. They noticed that Revynah had woken up and the druid ended their discussion to bring her a bowl which she devoured. She hadn't even realized how hungry she was, she had gotten so used to this constant feeling of emptiness and void in her stomach from being starved over the past months. She thought that she must be a very pitiful sight, she must have lost so much weight since her imprisonment but the fact that her wounds were closed, and healing was a step forward. The rest would follow, unfortunately, she couldn't stay with Anika indefinitely, she would have to leave soon. She got up to peek out the window as she saw the sun's rays still beaming outside.

“It’s morning. The potion you drank put you into a heavy sleep yesterday afternoon. Get some more brew.” She thanked Otto and refilled her bowl to the brim, the soup almost spilling on the floor at every step. She sat next to Anika.

“I can’t stay. I need to get going.”

“You’re very much like your brother, or maybe he gets it from you.”

“Gets what?” She glanced at Anika, taking a spoonful of the brew.

“You’re both so driven.” She gave her a sweet look. Revynah looked into space, thinking about her brother.

“I wish we had the chance to grew up together.” Her nostalgia got less sad and warmer as she remembered the cute little boy Geralt was, brown curls, full cheeks, always running after her. Her little brother. But he had grown since. She felt a wave of regret and sadness wash over her, but her nostalgia got warmer as the memories of their childhood came back in her mind, playing out before her eyes. She chuckled, hearing her brother’s bubbly laughs echo in her mind. “We only ever wanted to please our mother. To make her happy. I wanted to become a druid, just like her. I always helped wounded animals... I would take Geralt mushroom picking with me too. He almost ate a poisonous mushroom one day. I’d gotten distracted...”

“Visenna had always been proud of you. She said that as a child, you already had so much potential. That’s why she thought sending you to Aretuza would be the best option for you.” There was a heaviness to Anika’s voice and the use of the past tense as she spoke of the druidess made her eyebrows twitch. She broke into a cold sweat when the realization of what Anika’s gaze was hiding hit, though she kept a calm expression on her face.

“She’s dead?” There was a silence and Anika didn't even have to move her lips to answer her question.

“She talked about you and Geralt a lot in the end.”

“What happened?” She enquired in a low voice. She wanted to know. “Did she suffer?”

“Geralt asked the same thing.” She chuckled softly but her expression got grave as she continued. The two women looked at each other. “She was mistaken for an elf while helping a villager. She was beaten very badly. Does that make you feel better or worse?”

“I never wanted her to hurt.” Revynah’s eyes drifted to the side, and she stared at her soup getting cold in her bowl without really looking at it. Giving them some privacy for their conversation, Otto quietly stood up and went to take care of something somewhere else in the cottage. “Just wanted her to know what she did.”

“Maybe you didn’t grow up with your brother, Revynah but even apart, you became very similar. It is as if you each have a mind of your own but share the same thoughts. Geralt said the exact same thing when I asked him this question.” She sighed. “Your mother knew. Love for a child forces parents to make the hardest choices of their lives. Impossible ones, even. Chances are, they toil over it for the rest of their lives.”

“What does Geralt remembered of our lives?”

“He said your mother smelled like embers. From—”

“From keeping those measly fires alive for the long nights.” A melancholic smile dawned on her face.

“He remembered the hunger and how you and your mother’s stomachs growled twice as loud as his.”

“I always gave most of my food to Geralt.” Revynah nodded, her eyes progressively getting tearier and as she blinked, a tear rolled down her cheek but her voice ddin’t break. “She used her magic to create elaborate meals that we couldn’t afford. What— what else did he say?”

“That he would have done anything to make her smile. He spoke of the day she left him. She needed water so he went to get her some.”

“Yes. I wanted to go get it with him. He was so little. I wanted to help him lift the bucket of water because I thought it might be too heavy for him but, she drove away before he came back.” She frowned, slightly shaking her head. “I started telling her he wasn’t back yet. I asked her to wait for him that I would go find him and bring her the water quicker, but she told me to sit and be quiet. I didn’t understand what was happening. All I could think about was Geralt. I knew he would be scared when he saw we left him. I didn’t know, so I thought… I thought we would go back for him, but we were leaving the forest. I remember feeling so anxious when I saw this huge, dark tower. And Tissaia… she was so intimidating. I cried. I begged mother not to leave me and she just asked me to be good and promised to come back to pick me up when I finished studying at Aretuza.”

“She loved you the best she could. To save you, she had to let you go.”

“She didn’t save me. She pushed down a spiral of loneliness and loss. Oh, I hated her for it… This can’t have been the only choice.”

“It wasn’t. It’s simply the one she made.” She put a comforting hand on her arm, driving her attention on it. Revynah frowned stronger, closing her eyes shut.

“She never came back at Aretuza. Or maybe she did, how could I know? I hated it so much there that I ran away first chance I got before graduation. I thought I’d managed to hide from the Brotherhood, get a normal life… I didn’t get sterilized at the academy, so I even had a family for a while but, I guess I’d never been that well hidden from them.” She clenched her fist. “I had a son. I even named him after Geralt because I thought he died. The Brotherhood, they got my family killed. My child. The man I married. Even his parents. They didn’t leave anything on their way. So, once again, I ran. I ended up in Nilfgaard. I thought I was far enough from the mages. This time, I was, but I lost myself in chaos.” She didn’t want to tell her about all she did at the time, but she felt the need to say it out loud to someone. Emhyr knew but she never actually told him directly. She needed to look at someone in the eyes while confessing to this. Anika kept quiet. There was nothing she could say that would ease the pain Revynah was feeling from everything she went through in her life. “I spent the next 6 decades, alone in a foreign land and I— I killed people. In every village I came by, I killed a few villagers. In less than, I don’t know, ten years, people started talking about an aguara gone rogue, and I got the name of The Aguara of Nilfgaard. There was never lots of mages there so I was, with too much power and too many feelings I couldn’t cope with. I was angry at everyone and everything…”

“Revynah…” Anika’s hand slipped from her arm when the sorceress stood up, wiping away tears with the back of her hand.

“I have to go now. There are things I need to get done before trying to find Geralt. Did he tell you where he was going?”

“He left for Aretuza.”

“Then I’ll go back to Aretuza.”

“Wait. Before you go, I have something to give you.” Revynah watched Anika go get a small box in a drawer and come back. She looked at her in confusion, unsure what she was talking about. She reluctantly took the box from her hands. “It was your mother’s.”

“My mother’s?” She opened it, not really expecting much from whatever was inside but the shine of the chalcedone amulet on a thin and fine golden band got her to widen her eyes. She couldn’t get her eyes off the piece of jewelry. “What is it?”

“It was a diadem she wore. She wanted me to pass it on to you.”

“How do I— how do I use it? Do I just wear it?”

“I never used it myself, but she told me it grants you protection against mind spells. It allows you to understand the nature of every wound or illness and to cast spells on demand, like telempathy and detection.” As Revynah carefully slid her fingers to pick it up from the box, which she then put down on the table, she went to put it around her head when Anika stopped her for a second. “She also said that it greatly affected her physical and mental health over time. You need to be careful.”

“I will. Thank you, Anika.” She gave a nod to Otto before leaving the house. She had a new destination now, Aretuza. But before going there, she had a stop to make before heading towards the magic school. She had something before finally reuniting with her estranged brother. She walked to her horse and put the diadem in the bag hanging from the side of the saddle and she mounted. She rode away from the house, taking a moment to weigh the words that had been said in Anika and Otto's home before opening a portal to get to where she wanted faster. What she was planning to do required for night to fall so she went to the nearest village to eat something at the inn. She got off her horse, observing the few people around, a child was playing with a dog near the fence, a woman was sitting in front of a house and washed a cloth in a wooden basin and a couple men talked loudly near the door of the roadhouse and a few others walked around the place, living their daily lives. Revynah grabbed the diadem and placed it around her head, passing her hair over the band. She was curious to try its powers. She tied the rein along some other horses and caressed the mare.

“I still need to name you.” The animal puffed out, whipping the air with its tail. She took a hot second to make up a name and decided to name her Ròswen, which meant white rose in the Nilfgaardian dialect. Obviously after so long, Revynah spoke the language fluently and she chose a name referencing the gift she had made to Cahir a couple years ago, and it was fitting because the mare’s dress was as white as snow. The sorceress then walked into the inn with a small pouch in her hands, with coins in it. She used florens for so long too that she had to double check if her money was the right currency. She got herself some ale at the bar and went to sit in a corner. There weren’t that many people, it was a small town, and it was just noon. She figured it might be livelier in the evening, but she didn’t have the luxury to spend the rest of her day in this hole. After eating a plate of food, she ordered, she spotted a lone guy on the other side of the room.

She had an idea to bring some fun to this dull town. She stood up, walking straight towards him and pretended to accidentally spill her drink on his boots so she could get up close with him. He groaned and started complaining but she bent over, plunging her eyes in his. The two guys that she had seen talk outside were now sitting at the bar, chatting. She ordered to go start a fight and to groan like a rabid animal. She sat in his place, leaning against the wall, nonchalantly eating the chicken he left in his plate and watched the men jump at each other, causing some mayhem in the small establishment. She enjoyed the show for a moment until the guy was knocked unconscious because even though his face was covered in his own blood, he kept going, as if he was mad. She had finished his food anyway and quickly disappeared from the village before people came at her for being a witch and causing trouble, which she was doing, and they would be right because her causing trouble in a quiet town was absolutely related to her having powers. She also stole the man’s knife after he left it on the table.

She went back into the forest, out of sight and when she was about to open a portal, she saw an animal with orange fur not far from there. The poor fox seemed in bad shape, and she decided to approach. Exactly as Anika had told him, the diadem let her know from a single glance that his hind legs were broken and he was dying, sprawled at the foot of a tree. He wasn't a young or baby fox; he was an adult and quite a big one but that didn't change the fact that he was dying. She chose to put it out of its misery and took a deep breath before slitting his throat. She watched a pool of blood grow and taint the dirt when she got an idea. When she first heard that people named her the aguara, she decided to play the part and skinned a dead fox, it was as big as the one right there and she wore the skin as a cape. But back then she had gotten the whole thing preserved so it wouldn’t rot. Maybe she would do the same for this one or discard it later. She wasn’t resuming her role as the Aguara of Nilfgaard anyway. She proceeded to cut the skin off its flesh and broke the neck to pull the skull of the corpse. Her hands and forearms were covered in blood but the more blood the better. She stood up and put the head over her hair and she closed her eyes when she felt blood dripping over her face and she got back on her mount, quickly opening a portal to get to the forest near Cintra, to the exact spot where the soldiers dumped Fringilla and she. She tied her horse to a tree and grabbed some of the ingredients she got from Anika’s house, some saltpeter and phosphorus to make a dragon’s dream bomb for later. She followed the smell of the bodies in decomposition and slowly walked around the fire and she waited until nightfall. When she heard the voices of a couple soldiers approaching with a cart, she knew it was almost time.

“Heavy bastard.”

“Let’s get this over with.” As they swung the first corpse, throwing it on the others, it rolled down and bumped into Revynah's ankles. The silence that followed showed her that they noticed her standing there. She heard them draw their swords out of their scabbards. “Who the fuck is that?”

“Turn around now. Show your face.” The other tried to give her an order but she disappeared. Distraught, they looked around, squinting their eyes as they rose their voices, ordering her to stop this sorcery and show herself. When she did, she was standing behind behind the two men. The flames of the fire below reflected on her bloodstained face. They let out an audible gasp, stepping back and brandished their swords at her. They were shaking, trying to keep their composure but she was aware of the fear she subjected them too. Those two men were among the soldiers that took part in her torture, and she wanted revenge over them, but her plan was also to send a message to Emhyr. She took one step after another towards them.

“Stay back!” A smirk appeared on her face and her lips moved in a whisper. The soldier screamed as his wrist suddenly twisted with a sharp bone-crunching sound. He let go of his sword and it fell to the ground as he held his arm, loudly crying in pain. His peer was frozen in place, unable to run away and it was due to the amulet sitting on her forehead. He was staring at the bright stone with wide eyes.

“Pick it up.” The soldier picked up his weapon and as if in a trance, he sliced in broken hand off and plunged the sharp blade deep into his abdomen. He staggered and fell on the bodies below. He gagged on the blood that filled his mouth and gave a wide look of terror at Revynah who was unphased by the sight of his death. Her head snapped back towards the second guy when she heard a branch crack under his foot. He froze in place again, still holding his sword towards the sorceress. She reached out to the side and attracted the bloodied sword to her hand. It was pulled out of the soldier by an invisible force, and he was briefly lifted, falling back with a soft thump. The man in front of her stood his ground as she approached, and their swords clashed in a concert of metallic noises. She let the blade of her sword slip, and she saw a surge of confidence and arrogance in his eyes. When he was just beginning to believe he was getting the upper hand again, she struck so quickly that it took him a second to realize she had severed the hand that held his sword and cut him across the stomach. He dropped to his knees and stared at the guts he was keeping from falling out with his remaining hand. Revynah grabbed his jaw and forced him to look at her. She must have been a real sight of horror to him after what she had just done, and the mere fact that she was wearing a dead fox skin and her face and hands were as if made up with the blood staining them.

“W-why?” He tried to ask as he choked on his blood. She crouched down, still holding his face, clenching her fingers so tightly on his jaw that the bone was close to shattering under the pressure.

“Look closer, and ask again.” Her voice was cold and accusatory. He stared at her, and she saw in his eyes that he recognized her.

“It’s not possible. Y-you were dead.”

“I don’t die. You can’t kill me.” She raised her voice, shouting in his face with rage and resentment. She quickly gathered herself as she felt the thrill of the revenge killing come back and she herself got scared of where her mind might go. Wanting to get this over with quickly, she called upon the mind control power of the stone and ordered him to get up, hold his guts until he reached Cintra and ask the first soldier he came across that he needed to talk to Emhyr about urgent matters and when brought to him, to tell the White Flame that the Aguara lived and then let himself die at his noble feet.

With a sigh, she watched the soldier move unsteadly, staggering among the trees as he walked away towards the fortified city. The final stage of his plan could now unfold. She hissed at her horse and followed her whinny to find her in the dark. She untied the rein from the tree, got on her mount and trotted back to the fire, taking in her hand the bomb she had earlier. She threw it to the ground and sped her horse away as the bomb released a cloud of gas that quickly spread around the dumping ground. The flames danced dangerously close to the smoke and the forest turned into a huge inferno. At that very moment, Revynah rode at full speed through a portal to get herself to Gors Velen. The island on which Aretuza was standing was magic and she couldn't conjure portals to get her directly to the school so the Temerian city was the closest she could get. Taking advantage of the calm of the night, she skirted the town and went to the water's edge where she removed the fox skin, placing it on her mare's rump and she took off her dress to clean herself and wash the blood of her hair and skin, using the bandage as a a cloth. She bathed in the water, closing her eyes to let herself be lulled by the sound of the waves.

[To be continued…]

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Published (08/08/2023) by Andrea

Taglist: @cathrin2405 @kika64

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