It was late February now, and the snows that had once covered the entirety of the old fortress had all but completely melted away. The valleys and gorges surrounding Kaer Morhen were now green and lush once again, and the rivers no longer frozen into ice now flowed calmly between the ravines and mountains. The air outside was much warmer now, and the sky clear from the usual dark grey clouds that accompanied the long winter months. Spring was nearing quickly. The thought of that made the Witchers very excited.

Jason himself was indeed very excited for the approaching spring, mainly because he was anxious to finally leave Kaer Morhen and continue the path. Kaer Morhen was his only home, certainly, but the memories that came with the old fortress were too much for him to bare. He needed something to take his mind off of things, something to keep him busy and distracted while the painful memories removed themselves from his brain. And he knew that the only way to keep a Witcher busy was by doing Witcher work. Therefore, he could not wait to roam the world once again, looking for monsters to slay. The third war with Nilfgaard had only just ended not too long ago, there were sure to be plenty of monsters ripe for the killing.

The young Witcher sat on the large stone wall surrounding the fortress, his eyes peering off into the wild abyss that surround the entirety of Kaer Morhen. The view from the fortress walls had always managed to astonish the Witcher, from the times when he was just a boy until even now. The view seemed to be straight from a painting; beautiful mountains covered with trees and snow, low cut valleys and gorges for clear water rivers to flow through, and low hanging clouds that made it all the more spectacular. Jason figured that if he ever did retire from killing monsters, Kaer Morhen would be his permanent home. But that was many years away from now.

There was a slight breeze blowing through area, causing both the trees and Jason's long curly hair to wave back and forth like grass. He sighed, taking his last glance at the sight in front of him before jumping from the wall down to the solid ground. He arranged his scabbards and his leather jacket to a more comfortable position, after which he made his way from the courtyard up to the small yard just before the Kaer Morhen entrance. Already there was Geralt, and the strange ashen haired girl he called his destiny. Jason had already stayed in Kaer Morhen for a few weeks, but he had yet to ever speak to the strange girl. There was something about her that made Jason cringe every time he saw her. An aura perhaps, or maybe something different, he wasn't quite sure what it was.

The two stood in front of one another. Geralt, it seemed, was giving the girl instructions, because he spoke and moved his hands as if telling her what to do. The girl listened carefully and quietly, yet at the same time Jason noticed her breathing heavily, and she was slightly sweating as if she had just ran ten circles around the whole fortress. Jason stopped just in front of them, and leaned against some old wooden barrels, and without saying a word watched the two curiously.

" I've told you this plenty of times, Ciri" Geralt said, attempting to instruct the girl on some unknown matter. " Speed is the key. Not strength, you're not a lumberjack cutting trees, you're a Witcher…"

" I know this Geralt!" the girl exclaimed in a foul tone, interrupting Geralt as he spoke. " I don't need you to tell me again"

" If you know then why do you ignore it?" Geralt asked.

" Because you're too good!" She answered angrily. " And too fast. I'll never be able to hit you"

" There are ways to counteract that, Ciri, you know this" Geralt explained, trying his best to inform the girl. " Remember what we taught you here, all those years ago"

" I do"

" If your opponent is stronger than you. Faster. Better. What can do you do to overcome him? Think, Ciri?"

Ciri closed her eyes for a brief moment, presumably to look for those memories buried deep inside her brain. Jason watched her, wondering himself what Geralt and the other Witchers taught all those years ago.

" Aha!" Ciri finally shouted after a moment, much excitement in her voice. " A faint! A faint can confuse your opponent! Throw him off balance!"

" Giving you the perfect opportunity to strike" Geralt finished for her, a wide smile set upon his overly pale face. Jason smiled as well, seeing as the same exact words ran across his mind. Perhaps they did teach the girl well.

" Now I'm ready!" Ciri practically jumped with anticipation, twirling her sword in her hand. It was a beautiful blade no doubt, if only a little too small.

" Alright, Ciri" Geralt twirled his own blade. " Again"

The two came at each other like a pair of vipers, striking so fast and so true that the gods themselves would be in envy. If there were any. The girl was in fact much better if than Jason had originally anticipated, and moved fluidly enough to at least keep up with Geralt. Although from what Jason knew, Geralt was much better than what he currently displayed.

Ciri through a trio a blows down to Geralt's legs, all of which were parried away with ease. Then in a display of quickness and agility, she executed a half pirouette, and swiftly swung her blade high to Geralt's torso. For any other man, the move would've meant trouble, but for Geralt it proved to be yet another swing to slow. He parried the blow with ease, and swiftly stepped forward while executing a quick thrust. Ciri, not being quick enough to recover from the pirouette in time to defend against the thrust, could only stumble back away from Geralt.

" Get up" Geralt urged, staying in his usual fighting stance. " Quickly now"

Ciri did not hesitate to follow the Witchers instructions, and rose to her feet and balance quickly.

" Now attack!" Geralt ordered. " And use your feints!"

" I will!" She lunged.

" Parry! Good! Thrust! Good! Feint! Pirouette! Too slow! Now back away! Quickly! The fight has changed and you're on the defense!"

" Not so fast, Geralt!"

" You're opponent won't slow down just because you ask him to! Defend!"

" But I won't be fighting a Witcher!"

" Defend!"

Jason watched them with a smile on his face. Geralt sure did now how to teach. Not quite like Vesemir but close.

" Half pirouette, Ciri! Beautiful! Now jump back quickly! Good! Reverse! Counter! Excellent! Parry! Again! Again! Now jump away! Good! Counter thrust! Too slow! Recover!"

The girl was struggling to keep the pace, but she did not falter against the immense pressure from Geralt. Jason certainly was impressed.

" Parry, Ciri! Quick parries! And move! Nicely done! Now counter! Look for the opportunities, Ciri! You have to look for them!"

Jason could see quite a few opportunities. Mainly because Geralt had reduced the speed of his thrusts and pirouettes to give the girl time to counter. Jason thought about calling them out, but figured it best not to.

" Dodge! Now parry! Parry! Spin! Reverse! Half spin! Reverse again! Counter! Whoah! Good feint! Nicely done, Ciri!"

" You still partied my blow with ease" Ciri snarled, taking the time to catch her breath.

" It wasn't with ease" Geralt assured her. " But yes. I did parry it"

" So then what does it matter!"

" It matters because you took advantage of the opportunity" Geralt said. " Without me telling you. You saw the opportunity, and used your feint. That in turn gave you the perfect chance to counter"

" But…"

" You shouldn't get discouraged just because I parried the blow, Ciri. I'm a Witcher. I see things much quicker than most men. If that was anyone else, their guts would be spilled across the floor right now. You did good"

Ciri as it seemed could not stay angry for long, because she now looked at Geralt with a smile across her face.

" That feint and counter were impressive" Geralt complimented the girl.

" I would hope" Ciri said. " Coen taught me those"

Coen, Jason said to himself. He had always been close friends with him, ever since he had first arrived at Kaer Morhen so many years ago. It had been such a long time since he last saw him.

" Coen?" Geralt raised his eyebrows, then gave a quick and somewhat awkward glance at Jason. Ciri, then did the same, causing Jason to become even more confused than he already was.

" Yes" Ciri confirmed, turning away from Jason. " A long time ago"

" Good of you to remember them" Geralt too turned away from his comrade. " They'll be useful"

" Mhm. So what's next, Geralt? Shall we go to the pendulum? I always hated that thing"

" No" Geralt shook his head. " The pendulum is no use to you anymore. You've grown past that"

" Then what?" Ciri impatiently questioned the white haired Witcher. " You said you'd train me hard today, just like the old days. We can't be done now"

" You're right, we're not. Stop complaining, otherwise I'll let Lambert train you instead. But for now I have something different in mind"

" Do tell"

" Today" Geralt said with a smile. " I'm going to show you how to make bombs, and how to properly use them"

" Really?"

" Yes. Now follow me, Ciri. You have much to learn"

Jason gave Geralt a smile and a nod, signaling that he would not be joining the two in their endeavor. Instead, he began to make his way to the entrance of the old fortress. He had awoken very early today, and had not eaten since very early the day before. His stomach now growled with hunger, and his mouth began savoring for anything. But as he entered through the large doors guarding the entrance, he could only put his head down in dismay.

Today was Lamberts turn to cook. And the only thing Lambert knew how to cook was noodles. Unfortunately, he didn't even cook them well.

" I don't believe that's correct" Triss said, her green eyes gazing intently into the fiery hearth. The glow from the flames clashing against the chestnut of her hair produced a glistening glow which Ciri had always been fond of. Back when Ciri first arrived at Kaer Morhen, nearly a decade ago, she was sure Triss was the most beautiful woman in the world. She would always watch how the Witchers would look at her; eyes glued as if she were a finely sculpted statue, comepletely enamored by the fantasy of the sorceress. Even Geralt, try as he might've could not keep his gaze from her at times. Ciri always admired her, even to this day.

" Not at all" Triss continued, her gaze focusing back onto those sitting around her. " The north is weaker now than it was before the third war...Nilfgaards most recent invasion, though repelled, has left us in disarray"

" The war just ended" Eskel said. " Of course there is going to be disarray. It takes time to recover"

" I know that" Triss returned. " But to think the north will be stronger because of this conflict is premature, false even. Most of the realms don't even have a monarch to rule over them as of yet"

" And they won't" Yennefer said, her black curls draped all over Geralts lap as they sat on a silk pillow on the floor. " Forgive me, but I don't put much faith in Radovid to keep his promise to restore the old borders"

" Which is why I say we are in disarray!" Triss confirmed.

" Don't get too excited, Triss" Lambert said, entering the conversations whilst devouring the largest single peice of bread Ciri had ever seen. The Witcher always managed to eat and talk at the same time, against the wishes of everyone around him. It was miracle Keira put up with antics.

" Lambert..."

" Eskels right" Lambert continued despite the protest. " The north is recovering sure, but it won't be like it has been in the past"

" And how's that?" Keira asked, wiping the bread crumbs which had falling onto her lap.

" Divided" Eskel said confidently. " If it's as Yennefer said, and Radovid doesn't restore the old borders, then the north will be united under one ruler"

" Hah!" Keira dismissively shook her head. " United under a lunatic is not something we should see as good for the north"

" Didn't say it would be good, just stronger" Lambert said.

" You forget" Yennefer interjected, leaning further onto Geralt. " Radovid hasn't assimilated the entire north. Kovir and Poviss remain independent and very ademant about their differences with Redania...there are also many lesser kingdoms still not attained, Lyria and Rivia for example"

" Hmm" Eskel started, a frown on his face. " And how long will that last? How long before Radovid comes knocking on their door?"

" They'll resist" Keira said, a tone less sure than usual.

Ciri sighed. She always hated talk about politics, or anything to do with the affairs of kings and kingdoms. She was a princess sure, yet she had always cringed at the mere mention of anything relating her to ruling. She was not made for it. She never had been. The subject of it simply bore her to death.

It seemed she wasn't the only one either. Sitting below her, Geralt seemed completely oblivious to the conversation ensuing around him, his eyes not shifting once from the raven haired sorceress laying atop him. He instead focused on playing with every strand and curl he could get his pale fingers on, his hands running through Yennefers scalp in a slow motion, his face dotted by a wide smile unbeknownst to the sorceress.

Ciri smiled.

The young curly haired Witcher sitting next to Ciri didn't look very interested in the political gander either. Jason sat slumped on one of the old chairs, his arms crossed and legs extended in front of him. His eyes were closed, and his relaxed breathing gave a hint that he had fallen fast asleep. But Ciri knew better. He wasn't asleep. He was simply passing the time. Like a Witcher. She could see his ears prickling.

" I'm just saying"'Eskel began once again, attempting to prove his point to the sorceresses. It was strange and funny. Ciri had never known him to be such a political man. " Kaedwen, Temería, and Redania are all under one banner now...three of the major northern kingdoms pulling their strengths together can only make them stronger, less disjointed if you may. One army, one economy, one goal"

" It can't last" Triss refuted emphatically. Eskel and the other Witchers were perhaps far less interested in politics that Ciri knew, but Triss Merrigold lived for it.

" Why not? Nilfgaard manages it...maybe Radovid aims to make an empire of his own"

" Hah! A northern empire?" Triss shook her head in disbelief. " You're a Witcher, Eskel...no offense but you know about as much about the political climate as I do about killing drowners in a swamp"

Ciri heard a slight laugh coming from her side, and she turned to see Jason smirking at the slight insult that Triss has just flung at Eskel. Perhaps he was paying more attention than she thought.

" Damn...Triss" Lambert laughed as well.

" You can't see things from a Witchers perspective" Triss said, ignoring Lambert. " You must look at the grander picture...the north is not the south, it's people are not the same"

" Witchers we may be, Triss" Geralt finally spoke, his eyes however still fixated on Yennefer. " That doesn't make us idiots"

" I apologize if I offended you, Geralt" Triss claimed, her gaze shifting at the Witchers around her. She even looked Jason who paid no mind to any of it. " Or any of you, I obviously don't mean too...however the scale in which the various aspects of politics in the north work can't be fully understood by those who prefer to expel themselves from society and claim to be 'neutral'"

" Neutral?" Yennefer raised her eyebrows in jest. " You know that's hardly true Triss...although the rest is"

" Hmm...perhaps" Triss smiled. " The point is that the governments of the north are complicated at best...an empire would not work here. There are far too many different schools of thought for it to work. Different ideologies, religions, philosophies, and far too many hostilities between nobles and peasants alike. That's not even counting the many treaties in place for times like these...the treaty of Lan Exeter for example states that Kovir and Poviss must always remain independent and neutral, preventing any form of assimilation. There are just too many obstacles, even for Radovid to overcome"

" I think you underestimate his insatiable ambition, Triss" Geralt responded. Ciri herself knew very little about Radovid V, also known as the stern. But she knew what Geralt and others had told her. He was not someone Ciri wished well upon. " I've met the man...if he even has a sense of human decency left in him"

" I don't underestimate anyone, Geralt. You should know that"

" Of course" Geralt confirmed, garnering a slight eye from Yennefer. " All I'm saying is that you're speaking of a man who's lost most...no, all sense of normality. I can tell you, Triss, Radovid of Redania doesn't give a shit about treaties, pacts, or even borders. He cares only for his ambitions"

" I remind you, Geralt" Triss said. " As you well know I served as king Foltelt's advisor for some time. I've dealt with Radovid and his consorts many times before. I know just what kind of mind dwells within that head of his, and that's why I know he'd never be able to sustain an empire... he may have repelled Nilfgaards advances, but Radovid is not the shrewd leader Emyr is"

" Triss is correct" Yennefer agreed with her friend. " We must also see that, yes, perhaps Radovid pays no mind to treaties...but those around him do"

" Aside from Radovids obvious political and personal flaws" Keira said, now leaning closer to Lambert who had finished eating. " You also have to take in account that he'll have plenty of opposers, inside and outside of the ranks. Prosecuting mages may make the common folk and the church reasonably happy...but, and excuse any bias...you can't run a realm to complete effectiveness without the, hmmm, let's say guidance we magicians provide"

" Heh..." Geralt grunted. " The guidance of a sorceress is what drove Radovid to madness in the first place"

" Oh, Geralt" Triss' eyes flared, even causing the flames of the hearth to enhance for a second. " Don't tell me you believe that for even a second? Yes...Phillipa may have been tough, even a bit harsh on young Radovid. And yes...king Vizimirs 'death' ultimately gave Sigismund Dijkstra and Phillipa reign of the kingdom until Radovid came of age and took it for himself, however that doesn't excuse the atrocities the kings committed since then. Certainly not his mental state. It would be unfair to put all of that on Phillips's shoulders"

" Yes" Geralt nodded. " And now he's made enemies of both of them. But don't fret, Triss, as many uneasy feelings as I harbor for Phillipa and Dijkstra alike, I don't blame either one of them for Radovids lunacy"

The white haired Witcher didn't blame them for Radovid, yet he blamed them for many other things. Ciri knew all to well. The uneasy feelings he harbored towards them, Ciri knew, were mostly because of her. It wasn't only them however. Any who dared get in Geralts way when it came to Ciri met his full fury. The thought of it made Ciri smile to herself.

" Your fits with Dijkstra and Phillipa don't much matter anymore, Geralt" Yennefer dismissed, stroking Geralts white beard which had grown since the winter months had passed. " Let's leave them be, please. You've already given Dijkstra two broken legs as a memento to remember you by and he's since not showed his wretched face. Phillipa on the other hand, was taken aback when Nilfgaard lost the war...she thought she'd rule by Emyr and...ahem, you know who's side. Considering it didn't work out that way, she's also fled. There's little chance we'll be seeing them again soon"

Ciri shook her head. Geralt grunted, but chose not to refute the sorceress. Per usual.

" Aha" Triss spoke again. " You see, Radovid has made many enemies in his endeavor. Many powerful enemies at that. Every mage in the north who he hasn't burned at the stake of course, but we mustn't forget the others"

Ciri began to yawn, her eyes turning to look over at the younger Witcher. She envied him at the moment. She never grasped how they could simply sit there, practically asleep yet fully aware of what was going on around them. It was just one of the few traits they couldn't distill into her during her time at Kaer Morhen.

" Temeria may be under Radovids rule at the moment, but the relationship between the two countries hasn't been well in years. Ever since king Foltest refused Vizimirs offer to marry princess Dalimira, the two nations have had a rather cold and hostile association. That extends down from the government to the noble families, and even further down to the common people...to put it simply, they don't like each other. Temerían nobles won't be pleased to have Redania reigning over them, and I fully expect them to rally against their rule at some point"

" Patriotism at its finest, eh?" Lambert smirked.

" Stupidity more like" Yennefer interjected, her eyes rolling with hint of annoyance. " Patriotism...a word to describe someone's loyalty to what...Imaginary lines on a map? A country and rule that cares little for them? Don't jest"

" Not the sentiment of most, Yen" Triss argued. " Whatever you or even I feel towards it, patriotism plays a large role in north. People will always be willing to give their lives for a banner"

" All of this is fair, Triss" Eskel said. " But you're talking possibilities...things that may or may not happen"

" Highly probable possibilities" Triss nodded. " As I've already said, and again, take no offense...It's obvious I'm far more suited to discuss the situation, and as you've rightly pointed out, possibilities stemming throughout the north. These things will happen, Witcher, believe me. It's only a matter of time"

Eskel sighed, a shake of his head coming with a rough clearing of his throat. Ciri had seen that look on his scarred face many times before, usually appearing whilst arguing with his fellow witchers about something or the other. It was face was resignation. A face he made when he grew tired of a conversation he was clearly not prepared for. The argument went the way Ciri had figured it would of course. A Witcher and sorceress differed in many things. Their knowledge of politics being one of many.

The expression on Triss's face was very much the opposite, her grin glaring for all around her to see as she watched the Witcher's disappointment. It was nice to see her smile. It seemed to Ciri that everyday she smiled less and less. Ciri never talked to her about it however. She didn't know how. This being one of many traits the Witcher did manage to distill into her.

Ciri herself was relieved, evident by the pleasant smile on her face. It was well into night, her heavy eyes reminded her constantly. Talk of politics made her weary, very weary. She cared very little for it. She had far too many other things to concern herself with.

" Oh, Geralt" Yennefer called out from behind the Witcher trudging in front her, her black curly locks flowing against the cool breeze while her usual black boots garnered the dirt from the ground beneath her. " You're telling me you ran this path every day as a child?"

" Mhm" Geralt answered, turning and smiling at the sorceress.

Yennefer cursed beneath her breath, her ankles and feet beginning to feel the pain beneath the weight. At this point, she had begun to lag greatly behind the Witcher, now wishing she hadn't agreed to accompany him on the walk in the first place. It was obvious, of course, that she wouldn't be able to keep up the pace with the Witcher for the entirety. The path itself was long and full of hills, both big and small, intended to fully work the muscles in young Witcher candidate legs. Yennefer may have considered herself the better to Geralt on many things, however physical fitness and prowess was not one of them. Geralts superior physical attributes was something Yennefer was always fond of.

" C'mon, Yen" Geralt called, his deep raspy voice emanating from even further out. While in her thoughts it seemed Geralt had left her even further behind.

" You needn't walk so fast, Geralt!" Yennefer shouted, more than a hint of frustration in her tone. She deeply regretted the walk now.

" Yen..."

" What"

" Are you angry?"

" Yen..." Geralt sighed as she caught up, watching the sorceress with his glowing eyes. " It's not so bad. We used to run these as children, surely you can..."

" Ugh..." Yen didn't even let the Witcher finish, instead raised a dismissive hand as she blew by him. She wasn't angry, not truly. She simply wished to watch him wonder. It always made her smile watching him struggle to figure her out.

Geralt only grunted, now walking side by side with her. She could smell the scent of her soap on him. It was pleasant. More so than his usual smell of monster blood and guts which had taken many weeks and baths to finally get rid of. She liked it better this way. If there was one thing she would permanently change about Geralt, it was obviously his smell following a hunt. For now though, she attributed that and any other small things about him she didn't absolutely love to his personal charm.

" How long is this path, Geralt?" Yennefer asked, her mind already keen on returning to the keep.

" Not long" Geralt answered. However Yennefer figured his definition was far different than hers. " We've already passed one river crossing, as well as the fork, that was the halfway point"

" They really made you young Witchers work" Yennefer said, quite taken back. It was difficult to think of children having to run the path every day.

" It paid off" Geralt said, plainly.

" It's evident" Yen nodded. " And did you make Ciri run this path as well?"

Geralt didn't respond, yet Yennefer knew what the answer was.

" I see" she simply said. " Well don't worry...I'm not mad that you did, you only did what you knew"

" Hmm" Geralt nodded. " I acted on pure instinct...i didn't know what to do with a child, let alone a girl. The others weren't much help either as you know...heh, we were clueless. Truly clueless"

Yennefer giggled.

" But what do you expect five Witchers to do with a child"

" You don't expect anything" Yennefer grinned. " You were truly out of your element. I suspect fighting a Zeugl in a trash heap was more comfortable for you"

" It was, and still is"

" I disagree on the second part" Yennefer said. " Say what you will, I believe you've improved on your skills as a caretaker"

" Don't jest, Yen"

" Come now, Geralt" she smiled widely. " You must admit that even despite your clearly flawed parenting techniques brought upon by your Witcher training, you did about as well as one could've hoped"

" Even when you compliment me, Yen...it still sounds like you're insulting me"

" Don't fret" Yennefer shook her head. " I'm whole heartedly praising you"

" Heh. For once" Geralt smirked.

" Matters little" Yennefer dismissed. " We only have to observe to see where I'm coming from"

" Forgive me, Yen...but what exactly are we observing"

" Ciri, if course" Yennefer said as the duo continued to trudge through the forest. " That is the topic at hand"

" I though it was my 'parenting technique', as you put it"

" Part of it. However, that falls directly under the end product"

"...Ciri"

" Yes...our little Witcheress"

" She's not so little anymore"

She wasn't, true. It had been a very long time since Ciri could be considered little.

" All things considered" Yennefer said. " You did well. Ciri, after all she's been through, has become a very fine young woman"

" We both did well, Yen"

The journey through the forest path led Geralt and Yennefer through a large ravine, the river crossing separated the one part of the path from the other. The river crossing was wide yet a bit shallow, however the river having just a few weeks ago been unfrozen flowed frantically. Around the path was a dense thicket of trees, shrubs, and plentiful thorned bushes, many of them sprouting from the hill leading out from the ravine. It was a pretty sight to say the least.

" Geralt" Yennefer started, her arms folded across her chest as she eyes the orange reflection of the setting sun on the river. " Please tell me you don't plan on having us cross this river on foot"

" No, Yen" Geralt raises his eyebrows and smirked condescendingly. " I plan to fly us across"

Yennefer only narrowed her eyes intently at the grinning Witcher.

" It's only water, Yen"

" Water that'll seep through my boots" Yennefer irked. " I'd rather not ruin such a good pair"

" You have many more"

" Not like these"

" They all look the same if you ask me"

" Interesing" Yen glared at him. " I don't recall asking you"

The two gave each other silent glares.

" Yen..."

" Yes, Geralt"

" Won't you cross, please?"

" I've already..."

" Fine"

He was on her in a flash, his extraordinary speed closing the gap between before she could utter a word. He placed one hand on her back, the other behind her knees, and in one swift move lifted her from the ground with ease. Yen screamed, more out of surprise than anything else, yet in mere moments the scream turned to laughing, her violet eyes locking onto the Witchers yellow ones. He smiled, and she returned the favor; just before giving him a deep kiss.

" Now" the Witchers graspy voice resonated through the sorceresses ear. " Across the river we go"

" Damnit, Geralt" Yen, through the laughter, managed to compose herself enough to speak. " You almost dropped me there"

" I doubt it" he bluntly replied.

She sighed.

" Very well then...across we go. And woah! Slowly Geralt! You're splashing all the water on me!"

They crossed river quickly, Geralt made sure of that, and continued their march through the path so infamous to the past young Witchers. They made their way through at least two more ravines, five medium sized hills, and at least another four miles of dirt path surrounded by an endless sea of trees. The sun had set even further now, getting closer to the horizon than the duo were to the comfort of the Witcher's keep. The small breeze which had been blowing since dawn was no longer as small, the wind pushing against Yennefer with greater strength, her arms hugging her body tightly. Geralt, as usual, didn't seem to mind at all.

Eventually, the path came to an end, as Geralt had promised, with the two arriving at a circular stone area atop a large hill. There were candles placed around the stone clearing, almost like the place of a ritual, yet Yennefer highly doubted Geralt brought her all this way to perform some ritual. It wasn't until she reached the very peak that she realized why he brought her.

Yennefer sat herself on the low stone circular wall, facing away from the direction which they had had arrived. Her eyes peered in awe, gazing over the picturesque landscape in front of her. The gorges, valleys, and ravines slicing through the thicket of trees was wonderous, with the sunset directly in front of her acting as the icing on the green cake. It was like a colorful moving painting, the stronger winds swaying the dense forest, and the river flowing like a blue stampede trampling down the mountains surrounding Kaer Morhen.

Yennefer took a deep breath, the chilly air pleasantly filling the innards of her body. She looked over at Geralt, who was lighting the candles around them with his igni sign, having to go back forth more than once due to the winds. Yennefer simply watched, even despite the fact that with one simple spell she could ignite all the candles at once. She thought it best however to let the Witcher work. He always did prefer to work alone after all.

" It's gorgeous" Yen said, smiling as the Witcher took his place next to her.

" Funny" he raised an eyebrow as he grinned. " I was just about to ask you what you thought"

" I know" she smirked. " So instead of waiting for the inevitable question to transfer from your mind to your mouth, I took it upon on myself to answer"

He grunted.

" You know how much I hate it when you..."

" I know...but what's the harm? We shan't keep secrets from each other, remember?"

" Isn't very fair" he shook his head. " It only works one way. I can't keep anything from you, yet you can keep everything from me"

" I haven't kept secrets from you in a very long time, Geralt"

Once more, the Witcher only grunted, his gaze turning away from the sorceress and onto the landscape. It was normal this, the two getting into a small argument only for the Witcher to inevitably back down. Sometimes though, Yennefer wished he wouldn't, and instead gave her the same as he took. She wouldn't always feel like the villain then. She knew Geralt better however. He was a man of few words.

In any case, Yennefer also knew the reality of things. Arguments between the sorceress and the Witcher would happen often, much to the annoyance of them both, yet as often as they occurred they rarely escalated into more than just a simple battle of words. Perhaps it was the love they had for each other, or perhaps it was the fact that both of them deigned arguing with one another. They never stayed mad at each other. Not for long. Yennefer, contradicting her usual style, attributed it to love. She was sure Geralt felt the same way.

" Geralt"

" Yes, Yen"

" It's getting colder...come closer"

He did.

" Do you remember your childhood here, well?" Yennefer had begun to wonder, surprisingly even to herself. She had never really been interested in Geralts childhood, for she figured it had been a bland one. Waking up every day only to train to fight monsters wasn't exactly amusing to the sorceress.

" I..." It seemed even he was caught by surprise. " I do...at least some of the moments"

He seemed to reminisce, judging by the way his eyes blankly gazed at the darkening sky.

" You would find it boring"

She would've, no doubt. However his tight lips proved little in the way of expression. Perhaps he knew what he was doing, perhaps not. Yet despite his lack of words, Geralt showed Yennefer more than a few memories stemming from his childhood in Kaer Morhen. Many of them involving Vesemir and Eskel, whom Geralt had many times expressed his close ties with.

" Hmm, Yen"

" Yes?"

" Spring is coming"

" Obvious assertion, Geralt"

" I was just thinking" he ignored her comment. " The lads are excited"

By lads of course Geralt meant the other Witchers, who ever since the snow began to recede around the keep had grown quite anxious and jittery. They were like children awaiting their playtime, except the playtime of the Witchers being a highly dangerous pastime.

" You asked me for memories of my childhood" Geralts raspy voice was pleasant. " I remember the days, the weeks before spring came...how the feeling around Kaer Morhen would change from one day to the next"

" Did all of you Witchers get that way? Like Lambert and Eskel? So..."

" Spending months stuck in a keep is torture for us, Yen"

" Children"

" What?"

" You Witchers are like children"

" We were hardly ever children, Yen"

She moved closer to him, much closer. It was getting colder, the sun beginning to set below the horizon dragged the temperature along with it. The wind blew even stronger now. And the sound of the night creatures began to emanate. A chorus of cries. A melody of vocals combined with cracking wood. Yen breathed again, deeply. Her cold body pressing against the Witcher. He smiled. She didn't have to look at him to know.

" Spring is coming" he said once again, his hands gripping Yennefers bare shoulders. " You can see the changes. In the trees, the clouds, the animals. You can see it, Yen"

" You've said that already, Geralt" Yennefer remarked. " I know quite well the changes signaling the end of winter and beginning of spring"

" I'm just thinking" again, he repeated himself, much to the dismay of Yennefer. " How long have we been here, Yen? You and I? Here at Kaer Morhen?"

" Seven months...seven months and eleven days. All alone"

" No one to bother us"

" Not until Lambert and Keira arrived for the winter. Does Lambert always arrive so early?"

" Ocassionally"

" A pity"

It was a pity, though it hardly got in their way. The castle was more than big enough for the couples to stay out of each other's way during...intimate moments.

" But why, Geralt, I'll ask. Why are you so fixated on the arrival of spring?"

He pondered, in silence. Whatever had just crossed his mind, it had been dwelling there for a while. Hiding. From the sorceress.

" I see"

" Yen...please don't read my mind"

"I wouldn't have to, Geralt...if you'd just say what you wanted to say. For example, that you brought me here, to this romantic setting only to tell me you're leaving"

" Don't be angry"

" I'm not"

" It's not you, Yen" he quietly, said, shaking his head. " It's not you. It's..."

" I know who it is" Yen snared, a little more aggressively than she intended.

" Then you understand"

" Understand your reasoning, yes, though not your logic, Geralt"

" I still remember our agreement, Yen" he gripped her a bit tighter. " The one made in Skellige, just before our battle with Eredin. I still remember...we were to get away from everyone, everything. I still remember, Yen. And I still intend to fulfill that...I'll only travel until next winter. With..."

" Did she ask you, Geralt" Yennefer could feel the witchers increased heart rate. " Did she ask you to go with her?"

He didn't answer.

Yennefer sighed, deeply.

No, Yennefer thought. Of course she didn't ask you, Geralt. Of course not. Because Ciri has learned from you. She's learned to do things on her own. To not ask for help. No matter the need. You made her that way. You and me. You, me, and everyone else in her life. She's always been alone, no help. But she's adapted. Another thing she's learned from you, Witcher. No. I know she didn't ask for your help. I know it's you, Geralt. I know you can't resist the urge to be with her. To protect her. To watch over her. To keep her close. I know it was your choice, Geralt. I know.

Ah, well" Yennefer said, her eyes shifting back to the landscape. " It's unfortunate that Ciri has never been able to resist your help"

" Yen"

" No, Geralt. Let me speak, please"

He nodded.

" It's unfortunate. Unfortunate because I know you can't help but help her, and she can't help but let you. Unfortunate because you fail to understand the frailty of your logic for this. Or perhaps you understand and simply don't care. In your eyes, Geralt, Ciri is still that little girl you brought to Kaer Morhen all those years ago. That scared child who had just witnessed what no child should ever see. A terrified child in need of your care. Of your protection"

Geralt tensed.

" But you fail to understand, Geralt, that Ciri is no longer that child. She no longer needs you to hang over her shoulder like some watchful bird. She's an adult. An adult woman that is more than capable of caring for herself"

" This is different, Yen" Geralt spoke, softly. " I'm not doing this because of some misguided opinion I have of Ciri. I know what Ciri is, and I know what she is capable of. I know she can handle herself. I know this well. I made sure of it. We, here at Kaer Morhen, made sure of it"

" Yet you insist..."

" I insist on nothing" this time his voice was a little sharper, louder, angrier. " I only..."

She stopped him with a simple gesture of her finger, a small flame emanating from its tip. The Witchers eyes widened, only slightly.

" The candles went out" she said as she opened her palms, the multiple candles around them lighting all at once.

He tried to speak again. She stopped him. Again.

" Hush, Geralt" this time she placed her hands on his lips, her index finger still a bit warm from the spell. " Hush now. I know why you must go...or rather why you feel you must go...please, Geralt, don't talk. Allow me...allow me to say what I need. That is to say that, yes, I am, well no, perhaps not angry...no, more sad than anything. Sad that you wish to leave... I am however, a rational woman. A rational woman, Geralt, that like you, has strong emotions for that girl. And for that reason alone, I understand your need"

This time, he voluntarily remained quiet. In his mind however, the thoughts raced.

" I have no doubts you'll return to me, Geralt. You'll always return to me"

His increased heart rate was like a melody to her, thumping quietly beneath her ears as he softly pushed her away from him. On his face, an expression that told Yennefer many things. A face of one who was at the very least, content.

" Thank you, Yen"

" Geralt..."

" But you're wrong...wrong about the reason I brought you here. I didnt bring you here just to tell you that, I brought you here for this"

He leaned over to her, his arms engulfing her, his lips crashing into hers. She felt his warmth, his gratitude, and more importantly his passion. The kiss was deep, and long, and by the look on Geralts pale face she knew there was more to come.

" Wait" she placed her hand on Geralts chest, gently and with difficulty pushing the Witcher back. " We can't do this here, Geralt...don't look at me like that, it's far too windy, and cold"

He didn't care, not at all. Instead, he came closer, pushing past Yennefers rather weak resistance.

" We can't go back to the keep, Yen...too many people"

" No. We won't go back to the keep, Geralt. We'll go someplace else"

In a flash, the portal opened, Yennefer tightly gripped the Witcher, and with as much force as she could muster pulled into the black abyss. They landed on hard rock floor, only managing to land on their feet because of the Witchers superior balance and reflexes. She saw his gruntled expression, yet that only lasted for a mere second, quickly changing back to the way it was on the hill. With another spell, a thick blanket appeared on the floor below them, and a small light flowed from Yennefers hand to a small distance away from them.

" I don't need the light, Yen" Geralt caressed her, placing her gently on the blanket, his lips stuck to her neck.

" I'd rather see you"she moaned, her hands running through his milky hair. " You see well in dark caves, Geralt...I'm quite different...oooh, Geralt"

He moved lower and lower, with another spell, the both of them were naked. Yennefer moaned louder.

" Come with us, Yen" he said, rising back up to meet her face, again kissing her with passion. " You should come with us...me and Ciri. She'd like nothing more"

" You know I hate traveling conventionally" Yen barely let out the words, the pleasure only just allowing her those few. " Now hush. I don't want to hear anymore of it...I said hush, not stop...go on Witcher, go on...ooooh"

He didn't speak of it anymore. He was too busy.

In the beginning of March, the snow disappeared, whisked away by a warm wind blowing from the south, from the pass.

Triss was irritable, likely from the wind blowing against the old castle walls. The Witchers were excited, even Geralt. All of them unusually talkative. Spending the evening talking about what awaited them on the trail; vampires, leshens, ghouls, basilisks, and a drove of countless other creatures Triss couldn't name. She could see it in the way they spoke, the way they looked at the outside, an unusual spark in their glowing eyes. It bemused her. More so, it infuriated her.

The Witchers, like always, remained indifferent to what was going on in the world. A trait which Triss had always held against them, especially Geralt. They cared little for the state of order, always alluring to their upbringing and mutations as a direct result. To them, the world falling apart was a far fetched idea, a false warning made by wizards, kings, merchants, and superstitious peasants. In their eyes, it mattered little who ruled, or even if anyone ruled at all. The world would always be in need of Witchers, the sign of the times didn't matter.

Triss shook her head.

It was spring. The Witchers were excited. Triss, on the other hand, was not. She was fearful.

Incredibly fearful.