The Long Road to Novigrad (Part 1) (Page 23)

I feel the light coming through the windows as we're sleeping. I sit up and clean the sleep out of my eyes as this is the first light. Ciri's still sleeping, and I'm firmly locked in her arms and legs wrapped around me. I have stray thoughts of just staying right here and enjoy the sensation of her skin on mine. Waste time away with her and ignore all of our troubles. I clear my head and focus on the goal. "C'mon, Ciri, it's time to go." I shake her slightly, and she begins to move.

She groans in a tired voice and doesn't look happy. She was always a morning person growing up. I guess that changed about her. "Time to leave already?" She didn't get the sleep she wanted. I'm still tired, but I'm used to sleepless nights. She looks like she's going to lay down and go back to sleep. That isn't happening on my watch. I pick her up in my arms and carry her to our clothes. She relaxes in my arms as our heat warms each other.

I'm enjoying that I get to take care of her at this moment. I place her in a soft chair, and she opens her eyes and looks at me. "It's time to go, Ciri. The sooner we get to Novigrad, the better." She looks at me while she's still in her underwear. I toss her clothes to her, and she hugs them to her chest and looks at me with a tired smile. I don't know what she's thinking, but I won't wait any longer. "C'mon, Ciri, I'm already dressed." This doesn't speed her up, however. She stands up in her underwear and puts the clothes on the chair.

She gives me a full view of her in her underwear. Beautiful white laced underwear that's very tempting. "What's the rush, Cera.~... Novigrad isn't going anywhere.~..." She sure plays a mean game. I'm not going to be dragged into this again. I can't help looking up and down her body a few times, though. She gives a smirk and comes closer, and starts kissing me with her soft body on mine.

I'm slowly losing myself, and the only thing that brings me back is my drive to find Avallac'h. I pull away, much to her disappointment and more than slight anger. I can tell she's displeased. I might want to hurry and explain myself.

I think quickly, but her displeasure grows more and more the longer she waits. "I wouldn't stop you if we had the time, but we can't afford the time for our desires right now. When we do it, it will be longer than last time." I see her relax and accept with rosy cheeks. I'm being truthful. I want it all night long, not 30 minutes in the morning.

She turns around and bends forward with me, still looking. Damn it, Ciri... I'll pay you back for this. As I'm getting an incredible show, it gets cut off with her pants fully covering her lower half. My head clears as she turns around and puts her shirt on.

I prepare our weapons and hand hers to her. "Next time, I won't take no for an answer." I'll have to accept that and prepare for next time then. "How do you think we should get to Novigrad with all these checkpoints? They won't let us through easy." She brings up a good point. If they don't let us through, then we'll have to make a path. I'm not opposed to killing if it means I get to Novigrad.

The part of me that wouldn't do that died long ago. We need to do what we can to win, and if that means doing the worst, I'll make that hard choice. I wouldn't force that on anyone else. The more time we have to search in Novigrad, the better.

I know they have a border that goes across the river that leads straight to Novigrad. If we can't get through and there are too many to kill. We'll have to take a long way around. It'll be a detour, but it'll be a simple journey since we aren't soldiers. "We'll play our best options for the time being. We're both smart. I'm confident that we'll come up with something that'll work in case it proves difficult." I know she has a good head on her shoulders, and I know we make a deadly team. I wonder why it has to be so hard. This war couldn't have come at a worse time.

We exit the Inn and make our way to our horses. We unstrap them and hop on. We take off towards the end of the walls protecting the inn and start our journey—slowly riding side by side. I can see that something is bothering Ciri. It'd be best to ask her and help clear her head so she can focus.

I bring my horse closer to her and look at her. "What's bothering you, Ciri?" I want to help with whatever problems she has. Yen told me sometimes a girl just wants someone to listen instead of fixing her problems. I can do that too. I've already done that for her in the last two days.

She looks at me with a strained smile. "I've heard bad things happening in Novigrad while I was talking to the Baron before we met... He said that Radovid is becoming worse in his treatment of non-humans... The church of the Eternal Fire is making it hell for anything they consider evil and in surrounding places." It's been a long time since I was in Novigrad. Radovid could spell trouble for us. I don't know what he and this church have against non-humans, but we'd be smart to avoid him.

I think, and I know that isn't what's truly bothering her. "Is that all that you're worried about, Ciri?" I hope I'm not pushing too hard right now. I'll know by her reaction.

She looks at me with flushed cheeks and answers. "It's a lady problem, Cera... I'm afraid you can't help with that..." I see now. Despite that, I still want to help. If it's about combat, I could have some pointers. Before I can tell her, she can tell me anything, be it a lady problem or not. She raises her hand and stops me. "It's okay, Cera. I don't want to bother you with something so trivial." It's not trivial to me.

I'll respect her wishes, even though I really do want to help in any way I can. "I won't bother you about it then, Ciri. I want you to know something, though. You can tell me anything." Ciri smiles and nods her head. I want her to know that. We're a team, and we'll have each other backs. Be it in battle or affairs outside of combat. She'll tell me about things like this when she's comfortable.

~~~(POV Ciri)~~~

I shouldn't tell him till I know for sure. I know that there was a big risk when we did it without any protection. I won't worry since he'll be the father, but I should've been more responsible... I lost control of myself when I was with him, like some whore... I really hope he doesn't think less of me. That could be why we haven't had sex again yet, but he isn't like that. If he were, he would've left me after we had sex in the guest room at the Barons. Yen would criticize me if she knew what I was thinking right now. I was already a week late for my period. My body tends to keep my eggs longer than a normal woman.

Unknown to her, this is an effect of the Elder Blood. An unconscious connection was made between the two when they were kids. This resulted in the magic of the two knowing if the other was close. After Cera was waiting in Crow Perch, Ciri's magic had sensed him and begun to prepare. They never stood a chance when it came to potential offspring. It was going to happen no matter what they did. Special magic does special things. Much to the shock of others, the descendants of Lara Dorren have all gone through this. Even the parents of Cera and the parents of Ciri had this happen to them.

I need to prepare if I'm pregnant. I read some books about it on my journeys, but I'll need to confirm with a mage or doctor in Novigrad when I get the chance. I hope this won't ruin any of our plans for The Wild Hunt or our plans together in the future. I'm going to be with him for the rest of my life. I cant stop the smile at the thought of having a family with Cera.

I turn to him and see him smile at me. His perfect teeth and amazingly handsome face melt me a bit more than I care to say. "What's got you in a good mood all of a sudden?" I can't tell him yet because I don't even know. I can just give a vague truth, though.

I smile at his smile, and my mood is quickly improving. I explain to him what I'm thinking in a positive and happier tone. "I was day dreaming about the future... After The Wild Hunt and this war." He gives me a type of smile that makes my loins burn. One that teases and makes me feel weird. He asks a question I'm not ready to answer yet.

He leans over and wraps his arm around me as our legs get squished between the horses. "Why would the war affect us after The Wild Hunt? That's a strange thing to think about." Shit!! I said too much!! He doesn't know that I'm a princess of many thrones. This'll affect his future too. I won't let him leave my side and if I'm to take a throne in the future. I won't consider any of this if Cera can't be with me.

The thought of retiring to a farm or plot of land with him by my side doesn't sound bad either. In fact, having a family at Kaer Morhen sounds wonderful. "Well, the world will change after this war. How can it not affect our lives." He looks at me, knowing I came up with that answer in desperation, but he doesn't press the subject. Respecting my need to keep something from him. I need to be careful with what I say to him. The way he treats me makes my heart race...

We continue on our slow journey as we follow the path and watch nature as we continue to talk about our lives and journeys. This is a great day. In my opinion, I even consider it a date. I don't know what Cera is thinking, but I know he's happy right now.