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TWL Chapter 233: The Lion’s Burden and the Princess’s Tears
🕑 Added 2024-10-13 21:42:55 +0000 UTCTriss was in Kaer Morhen, where during the day she was Yennefer's assistant in Ciri's magic classes. The red-haired sorceress had already spoken to Mousesack beforehand to arrange their arrival, so everyone in the castle knew there would be a visitor today.
Perhaps that was why Ciri had been distracted all day. During the morning potions class, she almost turned the lesson into an alchemical bomb-making class.
She was sitting in the classroom, but her mind had already flown to Lann's arms.
With the windows open, the sound of hooves approaching from outside was suddenly heard. Yennefer, who was giving the lesson, barely had time to see how the ashen-haired girl covered herself with her griffin cloak and, with lightning speed, shot out the door.
At any other time, Yennefer would have burst into screams of fury and sarcasm, possibly even taking out her frustration on Geralt. But today, she simply smiled, took a sip from her glass of wine and leaned on the windowsill, watching the newcomers enter the courtyard.
A golden-haired knight, followed by a group of warriors with amber snake eyes, advanced through the cold air outside. From the great hall, an elderly white-haired witcher came out to greet them with open arms.
That old man was none other than Vesemir.
Unlike Geralt's white hair, a product of his mutations, Vesemir's hair had been dyed by time and old age. Few witchers managed to live to his age.
The old witcher's face lit up at the sight of Mousesack, and his expression grew even brighter at the sight of the tawny-eyed young witcher accompanying him.
Lann, after Mousesack's introduction, was preparing to meet the castle's owner when he suddenly felt a rush of air and, a moment later, something familiar collided with his chest. Then, an equally familiar voice echoed in his ears.
"Lann!" Ciri exclaimed.
Well, maybe not as well known… at least her weight had increased since they last saw each other. In fact, upon touching her, he noticed that she had begun to develop some curves.
Lann, initially surprised, smiled and quickly returned the young woman's embrace. Finally, Ciri's body and heart united in a single feeling.
Mousesack, Vesemir and Yennefer, who were watching the scene, smiled almost in unison.
Lann gently patted Ciri's back, knowing it wouldn't be easy to part with the girl, who seemed to have taken root in his chest.
He held Ciri in a one-armed hug and, with his free hand, waved to Vesemir.
"Hello, I assume you must be Master Vesemir. I am Lann Lannister of Cintra. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm sure you've heard about me from multiple sources," the old witcher replied with an enigmatic smile. "I've heard a lot about you too."
With a casual gesture, Vesemir waved his hand at Lann. "You don't need to call me master or anything. My wolf pups simply call me by my name."
"Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Vesemir." Lann responded, quickly adapting and shaking the witcher's hand.
Then, with a smooth movement, Lann lifted Ciri slightly and stepped aside, revealing Letho, who had been behind him the entire time.
If Lann was there as a family member, perhaps even with some political duties, the members of the Viper School were there out of pure camaraderie between witchers.
"You've traveled a long distance and must be tired. Also since you used the portal, you'll need to rest even more." Vesemir laughed. "I'll show you to your rooms. You can tour Kaer Morhen if you wish. My boys are out hunting, preparing a hearty dinner for the rare visitors."
Lann smiled and said: "I am already looking forward to it."
"I know you have many things to tell me. We will discuss it over dinner." Vesemir added in a solemn tone, addressing Lann.
Then, with a kinder expression, as if the previous seriousness had been just an illusion, he added: "Ciri, you can take Lann to his room. I will take care of the other guests."
"Okay!" Ciri replied, her voice muffled from Lann's embrace, but still reacting to external cues.
...
After an initial moment of attachment, Ciri quickly broke free from Lann's arms, although she continued to hold on tightly to his arm.
She didn't look back, she just walked with her head down. At first, Lann didn't notice anything strange and thought of joking with the girl, but soon he noticed the expression on her face.
After the initial euphoria, Ciri once again appeared worried and thoughtful.
Lann tried several times to talk to her, but she didn't respond at all.
When they finally reached the room prepared for Lann and closed the door, Ciri still had her back to him.
"What's wrong, my princess?" Lann looked around the room with some discomfort before smiling. "Are you still mad because I left you here without coming to pick you up?"
Lann sincerely apologized: "If that's the case, I apologize to you."
Ciri wrinkled her nose where Lann couldn't see her.
"It's not because of that. I know you've been busy, doing everything for Cintra. I know I can be here because you protect me, Yennefer and Triss told me many stories of dethroned princesses. I know I've been very lucky." Ciri said.
"So I worked very hard in Kaer Morhen, and never asked to leave here on my own initiative, because I wanted to make myself useful as soon as possible, fulfill my responsibilities as a princess, and help you as soon as possible."
Hearing Ciri, Lann's expression softened.
He walked forward gently, rested his elbows on Ciri's shoulders, and his left hand crossed over the girl's collarbone to hug her shoulders, while his right hand gently stroked her soft hair on top of her head. "But still, you're angry, aren't you? I understand, it's one thing to understand logic, but when you're faced with a real-life situation, it's different."
"No, that's not what I'm angry about." Ciri frowned even tighter, and her lips moved for a while before she uttered a name.
"Triss..."
Lann's face and hands froze at the same time.
At that moment, he remembered that, since he had arrived at Kaer Morhen, he had not seen Triss. Knowing the character of the red-haired sorceress, she would normally have appeared already, even taking on the task of introducing him to Vesemir.
But until now she hadn't appeared. Was she avoiding him?
"I'm a child, I know, but I'm not stupid." Ciri sniffled, as if she had a cold, and continued in a dull voice: "Ever since Triss helped you in Novigrad, she's changed. She's more distant with me, she avoids me. And when she has no choice but to teach me, it seems as if she's trying to please me on purpose."
"I prepared myself mentally when we were in Brokilon. I took care of Triss and left you to take care of her."
"Some things… have already happened, right?"
Lann remained silent at Ciri's question. Not only had such things happened, but they had happened many times.
"I also understand some things. My grandmother and Mousesack didn't teach me deliberately since I was a child, but I understand them. For example, political marriage, I have heard and learned from books and everyone's conversations, and I also know that this is a necessary way."
Ciri seemed to be actively finding excuses for Lann, and her voice became more and more muffled: "But I still can't help but feel sad... I wish I could grow up faster. I only needed five more years... No, four... three... Three years! In three years I would have already grown up..."
"Couldn't you have waited a little longer…"
Lann looked down. They hadn't seen each other for a long time, but now Ciri had grown to the height of his chest.
But Ciri… If it were only three years, in my previous life, it would be illegal! I might even have to go to the police station to have a good chat with the policemen…
Lann tried to find the right words, but before he could react, Ciri had already vented some of her emotions and finally turned to him.
She first headbutted Lann hard in the chest, but because Lann's physique had been strengthened many times, she let out a cry of pain. As Lann worriedly approached to check if she was hurt, she nimbly slipped away and, using the witcher combat techniques she had learned, landed several punches on his body.
Then, rubbing her aching hands, Ciri stood with her hands on her hips and said: "You have three years, Lannister! Do you understand? In these three years, I allow you to use any means to strengthen Cintra, to gain as many allies as possible. But after these three years, when I am grown, you will no longer be able to do as you please!"
The little princess raised her chin. "Because by then, you will be the prince of Cintra! Or you can be the king if you want... In short, you are the lion of Cintra, this is your responsibility! And... and you are also my knight, this is also my order to you, do you understand?"
Ciri tried to keep a serious face, but Lann could see that her hands were shaking slightly, perhaps from pain or other emotions.
Lann sighed and took Ciri's hands. These hands were no longer the soft hands of a princess. They were rougher than those of any peasant her age, covered in calluses and burns caused by magical experiments.
Perhaps sorceresses could restore their softness with magic, but at this moment, those hands honestly showed the suffering their owner had endured.
"Of course, my princess." Lann said: "I will carry out your orders."
The freezing wind outside the window seemed to have calmed down a bit.
