The Long Road to Novigrad (Part 2) (Page 24)

We're still on the road and have been for hours now. The sun is getting lower, and there's no town close by. We stop and prepare for the night. I set up a small fire, and we're quickly relaxing in the evening sun. I make sure the fire is a nice size to keep us warm for the night. I learned how to channel my magic as a fuel source from Lara's Diary. It spoke how it saved her many freezing nights while on journeys.

I've used it for sleeping outdoors. I can keep it lit all night while I sleep. We won't be going cold tonight. As I place my sword on a nearby tree, I see that Ciri is displeased about something. "What's wrong, Ciri?" I have an idea why, but you shouldn't speculate with an upset woman.

She looks at me with eyes not upset at me but frustrated at something else. "I hate sleeping outside... If I were meant to sleep outside on the ground, god would've made me a dog or deer..." I should've known that she wanted a bed to sleep in and not out in the cold. I forget she has the same tastes as some women despite how different she is.

I give a small chuckle and think back on all the times I had to sleep outside... Most of the time, it was in the cold or the rain... Sometimes, I couldn't even have a fire. This is one time that I do get to have one. "I'm sorry that we couldn't reach another inn by nightfall. I think the border is a few miles away. We should reach it tomorrow." After we cross the border, it'll be easy to reach another inn to stay in before we get to Novigrad.

She shakes her head in slight disapproval. "I'm not upset with you, Cera. It's just my tastes have changed in my journeys. I've become slightly spoiled, it seems... I'm sorry..." I see she's been on many adventures herself. I've seen many different and new places too. Lara said our magic is capable of moving between worlds. I've never tried, though. I had too many things to deal with than to try and open that Pandora's box.

I should change the subject to get her mind out off the cold bedless night tonight. Help her think about something she loves. "So, when did you learn how to use your powers?" I left before she could use them. I wonder how well she can do regular magic. I was horrible at it, still am. Elven magic is easier, though.

She looks away sadly. I should've picked something else, huh... "I learned it right after you disappeared... I was going to show you before you left... Train it with you..." I left a lot of wounds on this girl. I can't help thinking she's better off without me. No mortal creature can 100 percent predict the future, after all. I just played the cards I was dealt.

I slide over next to her, and I lean my shoulder on hers. As soon as she feels me, I hear a sniffle. Before I can say anything, she already has her arms around me and softly cries into my neck. I wrap my arms around her and bring her into my lap as I hug her. My legs are crisscrossed as her butt sits in the space. "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Ciri... I don't know what it feels like to have someone abandon you... I was the one that did it to you... I wasn't as hurt as you were... And I hope that you can forgive me one day..." I feel like total shit right now. You never really know how much you can hurt someone until you find out the hard way.

I hear her softly crying, maybe a bit harder now, and I feel her look up at me. Her makeup is slightly smeared and is making a mess of her beautiful face. I rub it away under her eyes as it clears up. "I thought... *Sniffle* You were dead... *Hiccup* And I'd never see you again..." I think I'll be going to hell for hurting such an angel. I bring her into my chest and rock her slowly. I run my fingers through her beautiful creamy white hair.

This used to help when I was in pain. We may be adults now, but we still hurt. Sharing love and affection with her can help a lot. I hear her crying ease up. I should talk about other things than her. "How has Yen been? The last time I saw her was at Kaer Morhen." Getting her mind off her pain will be a good idea.

She's still sitting in my lap with her arms wrapped around my torso, making sure I don't move. "She was hurt more than anyone... At one point, she almost gave up on living..." Well... Shit... I sure made a mess now, didn't I? Cleaning it up will prove difficult, but I'm not leaving anymore. It's time to take responsibility for my actions.

I stay silent for a few seconds before responding. "I shouldn't ask about anyone after I left, huh... I really fucked this up, didn't I..." No point in lying to myself. If I want to fix my problems, I need to face them and not run away. Do one at a time. For now, I'll just focus on Ciri.

She leans her head into my chest. "Yeah, you did, Cera... But I'll never stop loving you any less for what you did..." I don't deserve her. The bad side of me that I keep buried would call her a weakness... The Emerald Death side of me has done terrible things... He's no longer in control anymore. I have the reigns now. This is my life.

I lay down on the dry grass with her still in my arms. We're relaxing as I'm used as a body pillow once again. I don't mind. I find myself liking this now. "I have a lot to make up for... Will you stick around to let me?" I know she loves me, and I love her. I wouldn't blame her if she didn't want me around anymore. As I'm contemplating what her answer will be. I feel her bare hand on my stomach. I feel her fingers take a bit of skin and twist it hard. Quite the burn. She used to do that when I said something stupid growing up.

I feel her twist even more. I really said something stupid this time. "You're an idiot, Cera...  I would never want you to leave me. Not again..." Her voice gets even smaller. "Not like I can have you leave now after what happened..." Now that's vague. I've always been perceptive, but I'm thoroughly confused now.

I should ask her what she means by that. "I admit I'm confused after that last part... May I ask why you said that?" I say in a soft and calm voice. She can be honest with me about anything.

~~~(POV Ciri)~~~

I said I wouldn't tell him, but it's constantly on my mind... I can't stop thinking about a child between us... I'm still unsure if I'm pregnant. It's too soon to tell, but I should still tell him there's a risk. It's the right thing to do. I gather all my courage and open my mouth.

I lose my voice for a second, and it comes back knowing that Cera is a good man. "The night we had sex... It was a dangerous day for me... I might end up pregnant... I plan to find out in Novigrad... Please don't be upset..." I feel his breath catch, and fear comes crawling up my entire body, causing me to shake. Suddenly, I feel him hug me tighter, and I release tears I didn't know I was holding in. Since when was I such a cry baby?

I hear him take a breath. This is it. He's going to freak out and leave. Comforting me one last time before he goes. My hysterical and scared mind goes through this. However, I hear the sweetest words I've ever heard in my life. "I guess I'm going to have to save up to buy us a house, huh? I never thought I'd be a father before I turned 22, but if it's with you, Ciri, I love the idea of a family. More than I thought I would..." I burst into tears. I should've known better. Cera wouldn't abandon me again. The pain from last time was clouding my mind.

I compose myself as best as I can. I haven't let go yet as we lay here. The sun is almost all the way down. "I wonder if Geralt and Yen would help their irresponsible kids with some money?" He talks in a light and jokingly voice. I laugh at that too. If I'm pregnant, we won't hear the end of it from them.

An important question comes into my mind, and Cera needs to hear it too. "What if I'm pregnant, Cera? What are we going to do about our enemies?" I know he's smart and a great warrior, but I don't think he'll let me fight if I'm with child.

~~~(POV Cera)~~~

That's a damn good question. As I was on cloud nine, I totally forgot to think about that. I would have to keep her close. I wouldn't stop her from fighting until she began to show. As much as I don't like her fighting at all, I'll need her help until we get more allies. I'm still one man only capable of so much.

I have a temporary solution. "We'll continue what we've been doing. Until we know for sure, we'll just be extra careful, okay?" She needs to approve of this plan too. She's the one carrying our possible child.

I hear silence at first, and I think she may be asleep until I hear her voice. "It'll have to do until Novigrad... We'll get help there..." Guess she approves. I didn't plan for this to happen, but I'm not mad or upset in the slightest. I wonder if we should get married. I don't want our kids to be called bastards.

I can have some fun and play a joke on her. I wonder how much she will flip out if I ask her to marry me right now. "Hey, Ciri..." I should make it seem serious. This is going to be so funny.

I feel her shift and shuffle under me. "Yes, Cera..." She sounds much better than before.

I take a deep breath to calm myself. This is making me a little on edge. "Will you marry me..." I say it in the most sincere, loving voice I can give. I feel her stiffen under me. Hehe, it worked. I feel her crawl up my body. This isn't what's supposed to happen. She's now face to face me. I can see her beautiful blue-green eyes. They're full of love and confidence. Perhaps this was a bad joke to play at this sensitive time.

I feel her hands rub up against my neck and slightly cup my cheeks. "Yes, Cera... I'll marry you..." She says all of it in a loving and serious voice. "I want a ring from you while we're in Novigrad." As soon as she finishes saying that, she gives me a deep gentle kiss. It's exactly like our first one. Unlike our first one, we move our mouths together, slowly enjoying the sensation. That really backfired on me. Am I engaged now?

~~~(POV Ciri)~~~

That backfired on you, didn't it, Cera. I feel kind of bad trapping him like this. On the other hand, he set it up. Now he'll be mine and only mine in the eyes of society. I'm not as easy to trick as he thinks—a nice cherry on top of all the sweet things that happened in the last couple of hours.

Unbeknownst to the two, the possible 'child' is, in fact, Children. The two eggs are healthy and fertilized as the process continues with no complications. They're in for a surprise at Novigrad. The love of the two is blossoming into something the two weren't prepared for. All they can do is live the life that they've created for themselves. Not that they're unhappy with the outcome.