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"Geralt?" The ashen-haired woman pushed the door using her elbow. The last mixture had exploded and her hands were covered in dust. It was cool inside the house, very cool. Compared to the heated cellar, it felt like heaven. "Geralt?" She called again but to no avail. Quietly she opened the door to the master bedroom, peeking inside.
"Have you seen Geralt?" She said, seeing a dark-haired woman on the bed. The mage was in her black day dress, hiding with a book from the heatwave that was frying everything outside. She slowly turned her violet eyes to Ciri. She wasn't happy to have her reading interrupted.
"No. You need him for something?"
"Yeah. This elixir he told me about. I'm trying to make it but it doesn't work. I need him to help me."
"Well, then you have a problem. He is probably somewhere in the fields and I have no idea where."
"Gods... Why does he always have to disappear when I need him the most?"
"I share this sentiment," the sorceress said nonchalantly.
"Damn it. I am stuck with it. I have no idea what to do."
"Perhaps rest a little and try later?"
"You don't understand! I need this elixir now!"
"Come here," sorceress said softly, which was very strange to hear in the voice that usually left no room for opposition. Even now it sounded a bit like that. Ciri wasn't sure why she even listened to it; she was too old for that. "Closer," she said again. "Sit with me, Ciri."
"I don't want to bother you," the ashen-haired woman mumbled.
"Care to tell me what's wrong?" the sorceress asked, putting her book away.
"It's too hard to explain. I am not even sure myself. It's so irritating!"
"I understand. We shall wait for Geralt then."
Ciri said nothing. Sometimes Yennefer would put everything in such a way that left no room for arguing. Then Ciri could do nothing else but agree. She sighed deeply.
"Hush, my daughter," the woman whispered and let the Witcheress lie down, nestled against her. Ciri rested her head on the sorceress' stomach and closed her eyes.
"Hm, Geralt didn't come for lunch," the black-haired mage mused. "I don't think he will be coming back any time soon." She stroked Ciri's hair gently. Ciri didn't understand why would she. Her hair felt coarse, definitely not something anyone would want to touch. She blamed woman's sentimentality for that gesture. Ciri wasn't the same young girl that had time to keep her hair clean. But she didn't mind. She trusted the sorceress for so long. That she would always be kind and gentle with her.
"Since Geralt got the land he changed a lot," Yennefer continued quietly. "Overlooking the harvests, planting vines himself. Your father acts like a petty nobleman." Ciri chuckled at the suggestion.
"You are exaggerating! He is just concerned about your estate."
"There are some limits, my little one. Sometimes he seems to forget that."
Ciri went silent. Somehow, she remembered the nickname Yennefer gave her a long time ago in Ellander - the ugly one. She wouldn't use it often now but still sometimes. Of course, she meant it only in an endearing way but bad thoughts would creep into Ciri's mind anyway. Sometimes she felt so terribly ugly and unwanted. The scar on her cheek still felt like something strange and not a part of her. Yet she couldn't do anything to cover it up or mask. She hated it so much. This and her hair too. Her braid was always dirty and oily. Her face also so fucking ugly, she hated how people feared her. She hated looking at reflection of herself because it made her feel so depressed...
"Daughter, please stop."
"Mom! Don't read my mind!"
"And you stop thinking about such things. Immediately!"
Again, Ciri said nothing. There were times when she would argue with Yennefer, but with time she learned to respect her mother's wishes in silence. Sorceress loved her without a reason and unconditionally, so there was no other way but love her back. Ciri couldn't help but cringe at memories of screaming at Yennefer. She was glad that sorceress wasn't easy to scare off or take offense, because she would have left her a long time ago. She sighed quietly. Who would she be without Geralt and Yennefer?
"Mama? Is there really nothing you can do with this scar?"
"My daughter... You are beautiful and this scar changes nothing."
"I don't feel beautiful."
"You are beautiful, no need to have complexes."
Ciri turned her head away. Sorceress' touch was gentle but still she felt so ugly and bad that it burned her like hot iron. "You are lying to make me feel better."
"Did I ever lie to you?"
"No..." Ciri said after a moment of consideration. "But you are biased."
"Good point, perhaps I am biased. But how can I be not? I don't lie when I say that you are a beautiful girl."
Ciri rolled her eyes. Sometimes Yennefer was unbearable. They were too old for that, both of them. This thought was the only reason she didn't chuckle at sorceress' words. She wanted to keep composure.
"I asked if you can do something with it."
"No, Ciri. But I think you look really serious with this scar. It fits you."
"Now you are not being serious!"
"I am, completely. It might be helpful in certain situations. It makes you look strong and intimidating, my daughter. Men who are not worth your time will get scared, leaving room for the real ones. You can't imagine how much it simplifies the whole thing."
"Mama..." Ciri groaned. She hated when Yennefer spoke to her like that. She was with men before, there was no need to teach her. And it felt embarrassing when coming from her mother. "I am not a child."
"Forgive me for forgetting, my grown child."
Ciri rolled her eyes again but this time smiling.
"Maybe tomorrow we will put up some nice make up, dress up and go to Beauclair?" Yennefer proposed. "You will see how men will drool at the sight of you."
Ciri giggled at the idea without stopping herself.
"They would drool because of you. Geralt would be jealous if you did that!"
"If I can't even dress up nicely then let him be jealous."
"Mom! You are terrible!"
"Fine. We will take him with us. But I am not taking responsibility for men ogling us. It's his problem if it bothers him."
Ciri sighed. "I can't understand why you can't be just nice for him."
"I am nice for him, more than you can imagine. Unfortunately, the fact that you can't notice it will have to remain unfixed. Have you seen this dress I bought you?"
"Seems expensive," Ciri muttered.
"Geralt paid. But don't worry, my little one, if you don't like it, I can return it."
"Do they accept returns?"
"Will have to..." sorceress replied and Ciri giggled like a child. Every trip to the market with Yennefer proved that her mother wasn't an easy customer to deal with.
"No, I kinda like it. Though it looks too luxurious..."
"Ciri, it will look wonderful on you. Believe me."
"Thank you mom. For that and..." She wasn't sure how to finish.
"Come here, give your old mother a hug."
"My hands are dirty."
"Why would I care about some dirt. Come here, my daughter."
She pulled the ashen-haired woman in her arms and pressed a kiss to her hair. Then another. Ciri wrapped her arms around the woman and closed her eyes, relaxing in comforting silence. Yennefer let Ciri slip to lie down on the sorceress' stomach again.
"I love you, mom."
Smile flashed on mage's pale lips.
"Love you too, sweetheart."
Ciri liked to sleep in Corvo Bianco. Her parents' presence would always make her sleep well and without nightmares. Now Ciri also dozed off quickly. She woke up when the door creaked open. Her senses were sent on alert. The shadow of a man standing in the doorway cast down the sorceress' face. With one eye open Ciri silently watched her mother. She didn't make a slightest movement.
"Very productive day I see," the Witcher grunted.
Sorceress replied in a slightly irritated tone. "Oh, shut up, Geralt."
"Touchy." Ciri almost could see him grin. "Where will I sleep if the bed is already taken?"
"Do you mind your daughter sleeping in your place? Besides, it's still early."
"Yeah, gotta get back to the field."
"Stay."
"What, Yen?"
"I am taking Ciri to the city tomorrow. You are coming too."
"Hmm, unplanned trip? I don't think I have time for that..."
"Better you find some time, Witcher. Where are you going now? Your daughter needed your help."
"Did she?"
"Yes. Don't leave her in need, Geralt. Hey, Ciri. Geralt is here. Wake up, daughter..."
Ciri moved slowly, reluctantly. The bed was extremely comfortable...