545 Witcher Therapy?

Geralt walks out of Kaer Morhen with a frown on his face, he had planned to meet with Ciri and walk around the lake but she never showed. He'd look around inside the keep but found no trace of her. He decides that if she was going to be anywhere then it wouldn't be inside, he steps out onto the courtyard and spots a small figure sitting on the wall and looking towards the valley.

Making his way up he slowly sits next to her, his legs hanging off the wall next to hers. "Beautiful day."

...

Geralt "Hmm, any reason you didn't show up earlier?" he probes.

Ciri "I didn't feel like it." she says simply, resting her chin in her hands.

Geralt "Coulda told me that before I started looking for you... What's bothering you?"

Ciri shakes her head at his question, "Nothing."

Geralt "I've known you long enough to tell when you're bothered by something... And have I ever given you bad advice?"

...

Ciri "It's about the Prophecy, the White Frost." she mutters.

Geralt scratches his beard, "What about it?"

Ciri "It refers to me, "Swallow"... But Reima also possesses the Elder Blood, I don't know what that means."

Geralt "Always been a fool's game, trying to interpret Prophecies Ciri."

Ciri "I know, but during my time with Avallac'h I'd learned a lot about it. He always made sure I knew I was the last of the Elder Blood, he seemed sure of it. But how then would he explain Reima's existence?"

Geralt "You shouldn't trust his words, if he were all that powerful and intelligent he wouldn't be dead now, would he?"

Ciri "I can't just do nothing, the world is ending and I may be the only one who can stop it."

Geralt "I understand your worries, but overthinking it will cause nothing but grief. Let Yennefer transcribe the Sage's journal and then we will see what we can decipher from it."

Ciri nods but doesn't move, still letting her legs dangle over the wall.

Geralt "Hmm, is there something else?"

Ciri "What? No! Of course not."

...

Geralt "Clearly." He states, still not releasing her from his gaze.

...

Ciri sighs, "Ok... Suppose that I am interested in someone."

Geralt's lips upturn, "Hmm, I'm not sure I'm the best at relationship advice Ciri. Almost ruined what I had with Yen so many times I can't recall them all."

Ciri snorts, "If anyone could give advice on my troubles it'd be you."

Geralt shrugs and looks forward at the valley, "Fine, I'm all ears."

Ciri "Suppose I am interested in someone, this person is surrounded by women who love and adore them, almost to a creepy extent... The person and I are already attracted to each other but I am... Not ready to accept them."

Geralt "Why?" he asks, trying to figure out who she's referring to.

Ciri "The Wild Hunt hasn't been destroyed and are probably still looking for ways to capture me, I need to be ready when they try."

Geralt "That's not the whole story." he states, not letting her leave out the details.

Ciri frowns, "I, I also worry about the future... I am not sure whether to not the Prophecy will require my sacrifice to stop the White Frost..."

Geralt scowls, "That's idiotic-"

Ciri "-Just, listen. If that was to be true, then I wouldn't want to harm them with my death."

...

Geralt "I feel as though you are making excuses Ciri, if you truly wished to be with this person then wouldn't you want to make the most of what time you do have? And that's assuming you will die, which I will definitely not let happen."

Ciri "I am not making excuses."

Geralt "Hmm, sometimes I feel like I know you better than yourself. Take some distance to the person you're referring to and think about the relationship you want with them, if you truly want to be with them then work up the courage to say it, if not then let them enjoy their life. These excuses you keep making up will only leave them and yourself troubled, not to mention resentful."

Ciri frowns at the idea, taking some time away from Reima would mean that the other girls would take advantage... She was sure the reasons she gave were valid, but maybe Geralt was right? Maybe she was making excuses?

Geralt begins getting up as the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, lighting up the valley in a beautiful scene. "Wanna go for that walk?" he asks her.

...

Ciri nods after a moment, deciding that she needed to move her legs, plus the weather would only be like this for a while longer as winter would be here eventually. "Yeah... Sure."

Elsewhere :

Atop a large tower is a cell, the room with small holes allowing the cold blizzard air into it, making the Prisoner inside incredibly uncomfortable. The only thing inside his cell that kept them freezing to death was a jagged rock that seemed to always be hot, he couldn't move it and instead opted to hug it constantly to prevent himself from getting too cold.

He shivered constantly as the only people he ever saw were small long-eared grey-skinned creatures that'd give him some disgusting meat to consume, the meal barely even filling him.

"P-P-P-P-PLEASE! LET ME OUT! SOMEONE!"

*POP!*

The sound causes the prisoner to jump backwards, landing hard on his side on the hard, cold, stone floor.

Hinky "Prisoner will stay here until master says otherwise!"

"Who is your master!" he exclaims, over to be jabbed in the chest by a long stick that the House Elf was holding.

Hinky "Do not speak of Master! And stop shouting! You disturbing the Unicorns!"

"Unicorns? This-This is madness!"

*Jab*