[ She collapses into his arms, fire in her hands extinguishing. He already knows she won't hurt him. Not like that, not again; he remembers learning to trust her, the clawing ache it entailed. It means more to him than the easy calm they've held for the past eight centuries.
Geralt holds her tightly. Light shivers run through her as the roaring flames around them slowly die. In Ciri's time, I do not survive. Is that what they're returning to? He doesn't know. He remembers what they left behind in fragments, but not where they were, not what lies ahead. He thinks of Dean, who may not be there when the sky finally shatters. (It is supposed to break. He sees that now. That it is not to be stopped, as he first thought.) Perhaps there will come a time when Geralt will not be there, either—for her or Ciri.
But not yet. ]
Yes. [ Geralt rests his hand against Yenner's cheek, then leans forward until their foreheads touch. The delicate scent of lilacs fills his senses. She is solid beneath his hands in a way she has not been in a long time. (She feels real.) ] She'll be waiting for us.
[ So they must return, to Ciri if nothing else. It's the only way they stay together. He's sure of it. He is. He has to be because what is left of this dream except ashes? Maybe that's all it ever was. Maybe there was nothing of this world except houses made of sawdust.
When he finally releases her, he isn't sure how much time has passed. His eyes are fixed on hers, searching. ] I have to find Jaskier. Will you get Ciri?
[ He needs his friend, too. Ciri is out there somewhere; he had to leave her to get to Yennefer, but she won't have gone far. She understands the truth. Still, he'll feel better if the two of them are together. ]
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Geralt holds her tightly. Light shivers run through her as the roaring flames around them slowly die. In Ciri's time, I do not survive. Is that what they're returning to? He doesn't know. He remembers what they left behind in fragments, but not where they were, not what lies ahead. He thinks of Dean, who may not be there when the sky finally shatters. (It is supposed to break. He sees that now. That it is not to be stopped, as he first thought.) Perhaps there will come a time when Geralt will not be there, either—for her or Ciri.
But not yet. ]
Yes. [ Geralt rests his hand against Yenner's cheek, then leans forward until their foreheads touch. The delicate scent of lilacs fills his senses. She is solid beneath his hands in a way she has not been in a long time. (She feels real.) ] She'll be waiting for us.
[ So they must return, to Ciri if nothing else. It's the only way they stay together. He's sure of it. He is. He has to be because what is left of this dream except ashes? Maybe that's all it ever was. Maybe there was nothing of this world except houses made of sawdust.
When he finally releases her, he isn't sure how much time has passed. His eyes are fixed on hers, searching. ] I have to find Jaskier. Will you get Ciri?
[ He needs his friend, too. Ciri is out there somewhere; he had to leave her to get to Yennefer, but she won't have gone far. She understands the truth. Still, he'll feel better if the two of them are together. ]