POV Geralt The days blurred together without my really noticing.
Of course, for most people, that much time passing tends to build stress rather than ease it that was especially true for Ciri, who, after every training session with Vesemir, would rush off barely showered to go check on the two sorceresses.
As for Triss and Yennefer… let’s just say Yennefer eventually gave up trying to claim space in the tower where I slept, knowing Triss had already settled in with me.
So she’d commandeered an entire room for herself instead, reshaping it with magic to make it livable for however long this would take.
Triss, meanwhile, had naturally moved into my room she often came to comfort me, even when I didn’t show I needed it.
In her eyes, apparently, it was obvious I still blamed myself for what had happened with Aiden.
Speaking of Aiden: his condition hadn’t changed much.
He still had at least one of the two sorceresses at his side at all times, continuously feeding him protective magic and training his heart to withstand it.
From what I’d eventually pieced together and I rarely understand much about magic, no matter how many times Yen smirks at my questions Aiden was like a glass of water exploding from the inside, and Triss and Yen were acting like craftswomen, working to contain the overflow while reinforcing the glass itself, so there’d eventually be no more danger.
Shaking my head slightly, I went back to Ciri’s training.
That day, Triss was resting while Yen watched over Aiden.
Despite the biting cold, I’d suggested she stay inside; she’d shot back, sharp: “I’m not a princess who needs protecting.” And yet, once outside, she’d taken my cape without even asking.
Ever the gentleman, I’d wanted to say something but her glare had lodged the words firmly in my throat.
Anyway.
Noticing she wasn’t quite herself, I said calmly: “Ciri.
Your legs.
You’re being too passive.” She sighed and went back to the drill for several minutes, but I could tell something was off.
I walked over, grabbed two logs, set them down in front of her which stopped her cold, confused and sat on one, gesturing to the other.
“Sit down, Ciri.” She grumbled: “I don’t need…” I cut her off calmly: “Ciri.
Sit down.” She huffed and sat, arms crossed, carefully avoiding my eyes.
Great.
Teenage moodiness?
Or is she still worried about Aiden I’m worried too, but this is the first time it’s hit me this hard.
Think, Geralt.
Rubbing my hands together, searching for the right words, I heard Ciri, still facing away from me: “Is Aiden going to make it?” I nodded.
“Of course he’s going to make it.
He’s in the hands of the best sorceresses I know and trust me, I’ve known plenty of sorceresses.” I caught my own slip a beat too late, of course: from a distance, I heard Triss call out, half-amused, half-pointed: “Oh really?
Plenty of sorceresses, huh?” I… decided not to deal with that for now, staying focused on Ciri, and continued calmly: “Look, I know this is hard, but…” She cut me off, slightly offended: “Stop treating me like a kid.
You think I’m blind?
I know exactly how hard this is.” I sighed, watching her close herself off again.
Protection, information, combat those I can handle.
Feelings?
I felt two hands slide onto my back, gently massaging the back of my neck, and Triss’s familiar perfume drifted around me.
She said, softly: “Ciri, forgive Geralt.
This is hard for him too, you know especially watching you turn into a real young woman.” Ciri looked at her, nodded as if I’d suddenly ceased to exist, and answered, as if she’d finally found someone who understood her: “Yes!
Exactly that!” Triss laughed softly, settled herself onto my lap without ceremony, and continued: “Ciri, Geralt’s just not good with words he’s never really had to deal with a young woman growing up before.
A boy like Aiden, that’s much easier for him.” She gently took Ciri’s hands, looking her straight in the eye: “Listen, Ciri.
What Geralt was trying to tell you is that you’re not alone in this.
Vesemir blames himself.
Lambert blames himself.
Eskel blames himself.
And Geralt blames himself, enormously.” Ciri glanced at me briefly, gripping Triss’s hands a little tighter.
Triss went on: “Honestly, he understands exactly what you’re feeling.
He feels responsible for Aiden, and he thinks it’s partly his fault Aiden ended up like this.
Actually, you two are incredibly alike both stubborn as mules the second anyone tries to convince you it’s not your fault.” She rose from my lap, pulled Ciri into a hug, stroking her hair as the girl went still for a moment, then continued softly: “Ciri, Aiden’s going to pull through.
He’ll come back to make you laugh, to stand by your side again and I bet you know him better than I do: he’ll ask to see you first, much to Geralt’s dismay, and right after that, he’ll ask for food.” Ciri let out a small laugh, wiping her tears with her sleeve, amused despite herself: “Yeah, that’s exactly him.
Even when I’d get hurt during our training back in Cintra, he was always the one comforting me first even when he was the one more injured.
You’ll see, Triss, how impressive he is.” I smiled softly, watching the two of them open up to each other bit by bit.
Getting up from my log to give them some space, I hesitated a moment, then gently brushed a hand down Triss’s back, a silent thank-you.
I felt her shiver slightly without even turning around, but I could easily tell she’d understood the gesture.
I headed back inside, leaving the two of them to talk.
Arriving in the dining hall, I found Eskel and Lambert deep in a game of gwent, though I could easily tell, from their faces, that they were still worried.
I patted Lambert’s shoulder.
He jumped, startled: “Geralt?
What about training?” I shook my head.
“Ciri was struggling with her feelings about Aiden’s situation.
Triss picked up on it right away, and she’s handling it like a champ way better than I could.” Eskel teased: “So the White Wolf admits he lost to a redhead?” I shrugged.
“Not exactly a huge loss, in my book especially when it’s her, the redhead in question.” Lambert burst out laughing, pointing at Eskel: “I’ll bet you anything, I know Geralt he probably did that on purpose just so we’d talk about his conquests.” Eskel took a drink, answering: “Bet’s on.” The two of them turned to look at me.
I sighed.
A few hours later, after a few rounds of drinks with Lambert and Eskel which Lambert ended up winning, as usual I found myself, arms crossed, in Aiden’s room, where Yen was working.
Catching me staring at Aiden without a word, she finally said, gently: “You really do care about him, don’t you.” I blinked, looked at her I’d almost wanted to say no, but the words stuck in my throat.
I just said: “Yeah.” She looked mildly surprised, but I saw her nod and continue, softly: “You know, we’ve never really talked about this, but after our bond broke, I wanted to curse you, even kill you.
Deep down, I genuinely believed you’d just used me.” I started to answer, but she stopped me firmly: “Let me finish.” I nodded, silent.
She went on, calm: “But seeing you like this, with him, I finally understood it was really you.
You never abandoned me, even without the magical bond.
Maybe your feelings changed, but I finally get why you never said anything back then, when I cursed you out loud after the bond broke you took every word, even the worst ones, without flinching.” Yen looked me straight in the eyes, serious: “Remember this well, because it’ll be the only time you ever hear it: I’m sorry, Geralt, for what I said back then.
You didn’t deserve that.” I was genuinely stunned Yennefer of Vengerberg, apologizing?
Someone should mark the date on a calendar.
I was about to tease her: “Sorry, I didn’t quite ca….” But she cut me off sharply: “Don’t play with fire, witcher.” I stayed quiet, turning my eyes toward Aiden: “Friends, then?” A silence followed, then she answered softly: “Yeah.
Friends.
But if you ever make Triss cry, I really will turn you into a white wolf, put a leash on you, and hand you over to her you’ll become her actual white wolf.” I nodded seriously she’d absolutely follow through even though I’d never had any intention of making anyone cry.
Speaking of her, right then I felt two arms wrap around me from behind; she rested her head on my shoulder, pressing a kiss to my neck, and asked softly: “Did you two talk?” Yen answered first: “Yeah, him and me, we’re friends now.
I warned him that if he ever made you sad, I’d turn him into a white wolf for you.” Triss laughed, shooting me a look mixing desire and teasing: “Like a pet… mmh, wouldn’t mind that, actually.” I rubbed my forehead: “Triss, don’t start.” She laughed again, resting her head against my shoulder.
I asked, curious: “And Ciri?” Triss murmured in my ear: “Sorry, girls’ secret.
But I can tell you she’s doing a lot better.” I nodded, my eyes still fixed on Aiden: “Thanks, Triss.” She pressed a kiss to my cheek without another word there wasn’t much left to say to prove we loved each other.
That’s when Vesemir walked in, slightly out of breath, as if he’d just discovered something important, and asked hurriedly: “Am I interrupting?” We all shook our heads.
He continued, arms crossed, calmer now: “Yennefer, tell me honestly: how much longer before his body wakes up?” Yen, the most knowledgeable of us all on the subject, frowned.
“Honestly?
At least a few months, best case scenario.
His body’s completely wrecked, to put it kindly.” I clenched my fists, instinctively, the guilt rushing back all at once.
Triss took my hand in hers and turned to Vesemir: “If you’re asking that question, you’ve already got something in mind.” Vesemir nodded and pulled out the flower I recognized immediately Aiden’s, the one we’d already discussed.
He addressed Triss: “Listen, Triss.
You’re the best alchemist Geralt knows, and even I, with all my years of experience, can’t hold a candle to you on this front.
Could you…” He hesitated, glanced at Yennefer, then continued: “If his body were no longer human, but a witcher’s instead could he hold on?” A dead silence and a bone-deep chill fell over the room.
Instinctively, I stood, ready to say something harsh to Vesemir he was proposing putting Aiden through that trial?
Even without saying a word out loud, I categorically refused the idea of him going through it.
But Triss laid a hand on my chest, calming me instantly.
It was Yen who answered, cold, almost cutting: “Are you hearing yourself right now?
You want to put him through more suffering, Vesemir?
I didn’t realize your secret passion was torturing children.” Vesemir wasn’t fazed by the remark and pressed on: “Answer my question, Yennefer.” She sniffed coldly, thought it over for a long moment, then answered: “In theory, yes.
But from what I know, in his current state, he has zero chance of surviving the Trial of the Grasses.
That would be nothing short of sentencing him to death.” He nodded, then turned to Triss: “I know that.
That’s exactly why I’m asking you, Triss: if you had the full formula for the Trial’s potions, could you modify it using this flower?
Call it an old fool’s crazy idea if you want, but I feel it, deep down this flower might be exactly what could save Aiden.” I stared at him, stunned, nearly furious: “You kept the formula?!” He didn’t even answer me, keeping his eyes locked on Triss, who was deep in thought.
After a long silence, she finally answered, grave: “I can try.
But I, and only I, will decide whether it’s possible and I’ll be the one administering the potion myself, personally.
Those are my conditions, non-negotiable.
Even though I like you, Vesemir, I have the final say on all of this.
Is that acceptable to you?” He nodded.
“Yes.
Completely acceptable.
I’m counting on you, Triss.” I turned to her, anxious: “Triss… you know how horrific that trial is.
I’ve told you already.” She stroked my cheek, gentle: “I know.
But I also know my own skills in alchemy, and this flower carries a purity of magical energy I’ve never encountered before.
If anyone can pull off modifying the witcher’s potion, it’s me.
Geralt, trust me, okay?” I clenched my jaw, feeling utterly useless in the face of all this but seeing the sincere, determined look in Triss’s eyes, I finally let the tension go, and said simply, softly: “I’m entrusting Aiden to you, Triss.” She smiled tenderly, kissed me, and murmured: “I’ll save Aiden.” Then she went to join Yen to gather all the information they’d need about his condition, before getting to work.
I stayed a while longer, watching Aiden’s sleeping face.
Aiden… You’ll wake up, kid.
I swear it.