ELVEN RUINS - Unknown destination
Gabriel searched at least five another corridors when he spotted her laying on the ground. His heart skipped a beat. There was still a chance she could survive the fall. He's never believed in Gods but now he wished he would. Because only some miracle could save her. He started running towards her when suddenly into his way jumped a Wolf but two times bigger than usual. Gabriel got surprised but at the same times he was cursing himself that he was so blind and he didn't notice him. The Wolf immediately attacked him but only now Gabriel noticed it wasn't the ordinary Wolf but it was ghost of the wolf. Gabriel started using all of his techniques what he has learned and he was succeeding. The Wolf didn't have a chance against him. Gabriel did a pirouette, then jumped on the side, repelled the Wolf's bite and he made a final blow. But in that moment the ghost of the Wolf disappeared and Gabriel hit only the air. He stayed confused but then he was pushed to the ground. The Wolf attacked him from behind and bit his arm. Gabriel sighed painfully but managed to quickly stood up. Then he repelled some of the Wolf attacks, waited on the best opportunity and he stabbed the Wolf. He didn't wait any longer and he went towards her.
"Ciri.." Gabriel knelt down next to her. She was unconscious and her forehead was full from blood. She had to hit her head when she landed on the ground. Gabriel leaned closer to her chest and started listening her heartbeat. Thankfully she had it.
He noticed she was also slowly breathing.
"Ciri, wake up." he softly slapped her face with his hand. "C'mon, Ciri.. we're running of time." he started shaking her arms.
"Cirilla.. please wake up." he again slapped her face. He started to be helpless because she wasn't waking up. Then he got an idea. He leaned his lips towards hers and he was ready to kiss her.
Suddenly his face stopped hers hand.
"Do not even think about it."
"I knew it will work." Gabriel gave smiled from ear to ear.
"You came.." she tried to smile.
"I couldn't let my friend die.." he said teasingly. Ciri almost started blushing because of his words but she managed to stay calm and answered. "Thank you."
"We need to go. Geralt is not in the very comfortable situation right now." he explained.
"What happened?" she started to be worried.
"Later. Now he needs our help." Gabriel looked at her legs. "I think your head is alright for now but can you walk?"
"I thinks so." she tried to stood up but then she sighed painfully and fell down to the ground. "I take it back, I can't walk. My leg is broken." Ciri looked frustrated at Gabriel.
"Be glad I have strong muscle because then you would have to be crawling." he was ready to raise her into his arms but she stopped him.
"Gabriel, your arm is bleeding.."
"I don't know what are you talking about."
"Gabriel, I can literally see your arm is.." he interrupted her.
"Is fine. I've been worse." Gabriel raised her into her arms from the ground. "Where it will be my princess?" he made a cocky smile.
"Don't enjoy it that much.." Ciri rolled her eyes.
"You have no idea how much I'm enjoying it.." Gabriel kissed her cheek and then he immediately got a slap on his face.
"Well, I deserved it."
"Yes, you did."
Gabriel then started searching for exit with his eyes but in that moment he froze because he couldn't believe his own eyes.
"I must tell you Cirilla, you have a talent to end up almost dead on very special places.." he started smiling. "Look."
"What are you talk.." her words stuck in throat.
"So, you will have you treasure after all."
Geralt's adrenaline was working on hundred percent. He managed to kill two Scolopendromorphs but three were still lasting. But he wasn't stupid, he knew there are more Scolopendromorphs in this big nest and if Ciri and Gabriel won't return soon, he will lose the fight.
"Geralt!" she screamed.
The witcher got a hope.
"I found the crystal!" Yennefer told him when she entered into a room. She said a spell and one Scolopendromorph flew out to the wall. She stepped next to Geralt.
"Where are they? They should be here already." Yennefer told him worried and then used a spell again.
"I don't know."Geralt did a pirouette and stabbed one Scolopendromorph.
"I will go to fin.. " suddenly she was interrupted by a scream of monsters. Three more Scolopendromorphs climbed out from the ground. Geralt looked at her.
"I'm running out of my energy.. I don't know how long I'll be able to fight.." the witcher started heavily breathing.
"I'm gonna cover you. Just fight till you can."
And they both did. They both were fighting. Geralt was dancing with his sword and Yennefer was using the spells. They were ready to give their children some time even if this would cost they own life. But fortunately the destiny was on their side today.
"Geralt! Yennefer!" Gabriel entered into the room holding Ciri in his arms. On the other hand Ciri was holding the treasure in hers arms which they found. Yennefer turned to them. Geralt couldn't because he was too busy with stabbing Scolopendromorph's chest.
"Go towards the door!" she commanded them. But Gabriel made a step towards them and he was ready to help them.
"Go towards the door Gabriel! Ciri is injured!" Yennefer said more angrily now. Her mother's protective mode was immediately activated.
Gabriel didn't protest this time and did what Yennefer told him to do. Yennefer did a spell which dazed one of the monsters and turned to Geralt.
"I'll go to activate the portal. When I'll tell you, you'll run to the door."
Geralt nodded. He was ready to give her all the time she needed. Then Yennefer started running towards the door.
When Yennefer came towards the door, Gabriel was already waiting on her.
"I'm going to help him until you'll prepare the portal." Gabriel told her while he was still holding Ciri in his arms.
"No." Yennefer stated and she started preparing the crystal on it's place.
"He is losing too much energy. He needs help Yennefer!" Gabriel raised his voice.
"I know! But I won't risk your life too. You'll stay here!" she said with the anger.
"Fuck it!" Gabriel put Ciri down and he was ready to go.
"Gabriel don't." she managed to stop his arm.
"Sorry Cirilla." he looked straight to her eyes and then he ran towards Geralt.
Ciri just sighed.
"Geralt, beware!" Gabriel screamed at him.
The witcher immediately jumped on the side and avoided the hit from the monster. Gabriel then appeared next to him and started fighting with the Scolopendromorphs too.
"You should have stay there." Geralt told him while he was catching his breath.
"And let myself miss this fight? No way." Gabriel made a hit and cut couple of Scolopendromorph's legs.
"One day you're gonna regret your recklessness.." Geralt did a pirouette and then repelled the monster's attack.
"One day certainly.. but not today." Gabriel stubbed the Scolopendromorph on whom Geralt used sign AXIE.
"Why this thing isn't working!" Yennefer cursed.
"Just calm down first and you'll find out. You're not thinking clear when you're stressed." Ciri was trying to stop her frustration. Yennefer tried to move the crystal in various directions.
"Something is wrong. It's still not working."
"You need to think like Elfs. What would they do if they would want to prevent an escape from here?"
"They would do a protective spell.." Yennefer said thoughtfully.
"Well, maybe but.."
"No, of course they would. There is an old spell for protection but nobody use it anymore. Ciri you're a genius!"
Yennefer then said spell and crystal started shining.
"It's working!" Ciri started shining. Yennefer smiled at her then turned to them.
"Geralt, now! Run!" Yennefer shouted on him.
Then she activated the crystal and the portal opened.
"Gabriel, go first!" the witcher commanded him.
"But.."
"Go!" Geralt started repelling the attacks to give him time to run.
Gabriel then started sprinting towards the door.
"Take her and go!" Yennefer told him when he came to them.
Gabriel immediately raised Ciri into his arms and jumped into the portal.
Yennefer then looked at Geralt.
"Geralt! Run! I can't hold the portal too long!" she shouted at him.
Geralt heard her. He knew he has to hurry but he had to wait on best opportunity to run. He wasn't attacking anymore just repelling the monster's hits because he didn't have enough power. Yennefer saw that. She saw he was getting slower but she couldn't go to help him. She had to hold the portal for him and she hated it.
"Geralt, please!" her heart was beating almost in her throat.
"Give me two minutes!"
"We don't have that much time!"
"Make me time!" Geralt started slowly backing up towards her while he was still repelling the attacks.
"I can't. It's not possible. The crystal can be used only once!" Yennefer started to be frustrated.
"Hold it little longer Yen. I know you can do it." the witcher told her calmly. He didn't want to scare her more and he knew she was very scared when she was using this tone of voice.
"Geralt, please move!" she was not too far from panicking now.
"Thirty seconds." the witcher continued in stepping backwards.
He needed to get closer to that door so he could do one final attack.
"Geralt, the portal started closing!" now she started panicking.
"Then let's say goodbye."
"What?!" Yennefer almost got a heart attack when he said it.
Geralt didn't have a time to tell her that he wasn't saying goodbye to her but to the monsters because in that moment he came on the place where he needed to be. He needed to act quickly. He did sign AARD and two Scolopendromorphs were thrown backwards almost two meters. Then he did a sign YRDEN which trapped the monsters for a while. Now was the best time to run.
He turned around and started running. But he was slower than he thought he would be. Those two spells took him too much energy.
Yennefer meanwhile came back to the mind when she saw him going towards her.
"Geralt! Faster!"
"I'm trying." he sighed painfully. Because of adrenaline he didn't notice that he has injured thigh which now started heavily bleeding. It slowed him down totally. Now he wasn't running but limping and Yennefer almost turned gray because of that.
Geralt was almost there. Just ten meters left. Yennefer stretched her hand to help him and she was pushing him closer towards her with hers eyes. She couldn't use a spell to help him because she needed to use all her power to keep the portal open.
But the destiny was again on their side today.
Geralt managed to take Yennefer's hand and she immediately pushed him with her into the portal.
SOMEWHERE ON THE PATH - Redania
Gabriel and Ciri were laying on the ground and trying to catch their breaths. They were exhausted physically but also mentally. They were laying outside next to Elvens Ruins. Their horses were still there waiting on them.
"Yennefer will kill you for not respecting her command.." Ciri looked at him.
"I don't care. Many people wants to kill me already." Gabriel answered without interest.
"But this is different. You could endanger me and Geralt by your choice. She will never forgive you this."
Gabriel sat down.
"I would only endangered both of you if I wouldn't go to fight with Scolopendromorphs."
Ciri tried to sat down and sighed painfully. Gabriel noticed it but he didn't make any move to help her.
"I know, I saw you helped Geralt a lot. But Yennefer is always right, especially when it's about people she loves. She won't accept your opinion no matter what you will tell her." Ciri explained.
"If they won't return then this will be the last problem." he told her without emotions.
"Why are you like this again?"
He stood up and looked at her.
"Like what?"
"Emotionless."
"I'm who I am."
"This is not who you are and you know that. We talked abo.." he interrupted her.
"I'm not Matthew! How about to stop trying turn me into him!" he told her angrily.
She didn't say anything for a while.
"At least he's not a dick.."
Gabriel didn't show on himself how her words disturbed him. He just turned angrily his back to her and went further away from her.
He was so angry. He was angry and she didn't understand it. He couldn't tell her what he felt when he saw her fall down, that he still felt uneasy because of it. He couldn't tell her that it broke him inside. He couldn't tell her that only with her he can feel emotional because nobody gets him like her. He couldn't tell her that. He couldn't tell her more. Not now. But never.
Suddenly the teleport opened and Yennefer and Geralt landed on the ground. Yennefer immediately squeezed Geralt in a hug.
"Are you alright?" Geralt caressed her face when he looked at her.
"
Yes, I am." she smiled at him. "But sit down my love. You're exhausted." she kissed him on his lips and then helped him him to sit down on the ground. Geralt didn't protest he was glad it was over. He knew they need to talk about everything. But now wasn't the right time. There were more important things first.
Gabriel was watching them without a word. Yennefer's eyes stopped on him for a second but she didn't say anything to him and went to Ciri.
"My daughter." Yennefer knelt down to her and hug her tightly. "You have no idea how scared I was about you." she caressed her face and kissed her forehead. "I'm so glad you're alright."
"Well, my leg is broken and my forehead is full of bruises but I think.."
"What? I'll do the healing spell.." Ciri interrupted her.
"Mom, it's alright. It can wait for a while." Ciri hugged her tightly. Yennefer relaxed a bit.
Ciri looked at her. "I'm glad you and Geralt are okay. I was really worried." she told her honestly.
"Today we ran away from gravedigger's shovel and I really hope we haven't enervate all luck on this stupid expedition.."
Yennefer laughed a bit.
"At least we managed to find the treasure. I fell down exactly into the room where it was. What a coincidence." Ciri shrugged her shoulders.
"Yeah, what a coincidence.." Yennefer was trying to smile.
Geralt was listening their conversation. He knew that Yennefer was just pretending she is okay in front of Ciri. But he knew Yen. He knew that today she went through hell with her emotions and that it will take some time for her to heal.
PHILIPPA'S HOUSE - Oxenfurt
When they came to the house Eskel and Lambert were already waiting on them. They quickly understood that the trip to find the treasure didn't go as planned because they all had it written on their faces. Yennefer just shortly explained to them what happened, she was also tired as hell. The witchers then took Geralt to the bed, they gave him the needed potions, took care of his wounds and let him to sleep. He needed it the most from everyone. Yennefer took care of Ciri and did a healing spells. Gabriel disappeared God knows where and they let him go.
Then they went to sleep. They all needed a long deep sleep.
Ciri woke up early. She went to wash herself properly. Yesterday she didn't have enough power to do it. Then her stomach remained her she is hungry. She went downstairs to make breakfast. She was still limping. Yennefer tried her best with healing spells but her leg was broken in multiple ways, so it will take some time till she will walk normally again. When she came downstairs she got surprised because she saw Yennefer how she was talking to Gabriel. She didn't hear what they were saying but she wished she could hear. She was still mad at him because of how he was behaving yesterday. But she wondered what they were talking about. She also wished Yennefer will humiliate his ego for it somehow. She didn't want to think about him anymore, so she went to prepare breakfast.
"How was you meal?" Yennefer asked her when she came towards the table and sat down to the chair.
"Good, I was hungry as a wolf." Ciri said with laughing.
"I can see. You've eaten for two." Yennefer smiled.
"Well, yesterday wasn't just ordinary day.."
"No, it wasn't. And I hope it days like these won't be anymore."
"Me too." Ciri admitted.
Yennefer then smiled.
"I shouldn't be telling you this because it's a surprise but Matt.."
"Ciri!" Matthew shouted happily.
"Is here.." "Yennefer finished with laughing. Ciri gave quick look at Matthew and stood up from the table.
"How?" Ciri she looked again at Yennefer.
"I sent him a letter yesterday when you were sleeping."
"Thank you." Ciri smiled at her. Then she turned to Matthew who in that moment raised her from the floor and hugged her tightly.
"Are you alright? I came as soon as possible." Matthew caressed her face and put her down again on the floor.
"Yes, I'm fine, just a cripple for a while." Ciri smiled at him but then she saw Gabriel standing in the corner behind Matthew. He was looking at them. She quickly found Matt's eyes and pretended no interest.
"Don't worry love, I'll take care of you." Matthew kissed her on her lips. "You won't even notice it and you'll be healthy as before." he hugged her. Ciri now had a view on the corner where Gabriel was standing but he wasn't there anymore. Ciri didn't know to tell if she was happy or sad that he wasn't there. But she buried this thought as quickly as it came to her mind.
After a while Geralt entered in the room with almost sleeping Jahve in his arms. Yennefer stood up from the chair and went to them.
"He woke you up?" Yennefer pressed her lips on the witcher's.
"Kind of." Geralt laughed and caressed Jahve's hair. "But he was searching for you mostly."
"Bad dream again?" she said a bit worried.
"Yes." Geralt gave Jahve into Yennefer's arms. She immediately snuggled him closer to her.
"We have to figure out what is causing it. It can't happen so often to him." she looked in Geralt's eyes.
"I'll try to find someone who can help us with it." the witcher caressed hers face.
"Thank you." she kissed him again. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. The potions and proper sleep helped me a lot."
"I'm glad to hear that." Yennefer smiled at him. "I'm going to put him in a bed again. He didn't sleep much tonight. Want to join us?"
"I'm going to the town for a walk. My organism needs some movement now. I'll find you both later." he kissed her cheek.
"Alright then. I'll be waiting." she smiled.
"Yen, take some rest too. I can see your tired."
"Don't worry about me witcher."
"But.." she silenced him with kiss.
"Later." she caressed his face with her hand and then she left with Jahve.
Geralt just smiled at them. He loved them so much.
"Ciri, want to join me for a walk?" the witcher turned to her.
"I thought you will never ask." Ciri laughed.
Matthew coughed.
Ciri realized it and turned to him.
"Sorry Matt.. would it bother you if I'll go?" she was trying to smile.
"Not at all. I heard that the witcher's charm is irresistible. Now I know the rumors were true.." Matthew said with laughing.
"Finally someone said it!" Geralt said proudly.