To all of you who have come and gave my story a chance, I thank you. But first I feel I must tell you readers a few things.

First, If you havent read any of the Witcher books, I advise that you read them. They are excellent. And Although It wont be necessary to understand this story, it will help a bit. Especially with a few characters and events.

Second. This story takes place after the Witcher 3, and therefore based on player choices some things may be different in this story than they would be in someone elses.

Third. I hope you enjoy. And please feel free to leave a review if you feel you have anything yo say.

The harsh, snowy winds of winter collided savagely against the old walls of the worn down fortress. The walls creaked like charred wood, and the windows sounded like they would come crashing down at any moment. The frost stuck to the windows like glue, making it near impossible for anyone to see the outside. But there was no need. The night was dark, and the weather even colder. Not a soul would think to be outside now.

The temperature outside the fortress was freezing, but on the inside it was much more warm and pleasant. It always was. The bight, warm flames rose from the great hearth up into the chimney. The warmth radiated from the flames, suckling into the flesh and bones of the inhabitants sitting around the enormous dining table of the great hall.

Ciri sat on one of the wooden chairs surrounding the table, in between Geralt and Yennefer. Opposite of them sat the chestnut haired sorceress, Triss Merigold . And next to her sat Keira Metz, and Lambert. No one sat at the head of the table. No one even though too.

The flame from the hearth continued to roar and crack, yet it was drowned out by the voices of the six sitting along the table. Ciri watched them as they spoke and laughed with one another, smiling. She enjoyed these nights with her friends. She needed them.

They had already been conversing for much of the night, and they continued to even now.

Lambert and Keira seemed to be the most talkative, for they had much to talk about. They had apparently been to many places in the past few months, and done many things, including but not limited to the cure of the catriona plague. Ciri had seen its effect up close and personally. It was a horrible disease. The cure was a great gift.

The beautiful auburn haired sorceress Triss Merigold kept mostly quieter than the rest. She would smile, and laugh at some of the stories, jokes, and insults, but she did not say much herself. Even when asked a question she answered very quickly and plainly. She wasn't her usual cheerful and talkative self Ciri noticed. But she kept it to her herself. There was no need in pointing it out in front of everyone.

Geralt and Yennefer seemed to be the complete opposite of Triss however. The two were very talkative throughout the night, despite the fact that they had very little to tell. After the events of skellige, and the end of the third war with nilfgaard, Geralt and Yennefer retreated away from the usual rubble and into their own solitude. The two had spent the last several months alone in Kaer Morhen, away from everyone and everything. Even Ciri. But she did not mind. They deserved their happiness together. And Ciri still had much of the world left to see and discover. There were also plenty of monsters that needed killing.

The night was beginning to grow older as the group conversed, and the wind outside seemed to grow harsher by the passing time as well. Even with the talking and laughing, Ciris eyes began to feel heavy, and she started to yawn in periodic intervals. The others did not seem sleepy at all, except for Triss, who Ciri noticed seemed even more tired than her. It was probably why she was so quiet Ciri figured.

Slumber threatened to overcome Ciri soon, therefore she decided to retreat to a room herself rather than fall asleep with her head on the table like a drunkard. She bid farewell to her friends, and after some protests by Yennefer and Lambert, she stood up yawning, streched, and began her descent into the darkness of Kaer Morhen. She was ready to sleep, and she was about to, but she was stopped in her tracks.

The reason being that suddenly, and without warning or thought, there came a series of loud knocks from the large doors guarding the entrance of Kaer Morhen. Immediately Ciri and the group sitting at the table pricked their ears at the sound.

Geralt was the first to stand, grabbing his steel blade which was leaning on the edge of the dining table. Lambert stood up next, and after him Yennefer. Keira and triss remained in their seats while Ciri stood still like a stump. The knocks rang across the vast halls of Kaer Morhen once again, this time with even more force. Even the the walls and windows seemed to vibrate against the force.

The two Witchers—Geralt and Lambert approached the large iron doors with caution. They held their swords in their hands, and did not loose focus on the doors.

They neared them, and from the outside Ciri could hear a voice. She did not recognize the voice however. It was muffled and overtaken by the cracking flames from the hearth, and the harsh snowy winds from the outside. But it seemed that Geralt and Lambert did recognize the voice however, because the two Witchers immediately lowered their blades and relaxed their bodies. Then without thought, Geralt proceeded to open the large iron doors.

At first the only thing that entered the entrance of Kaer Morhen was the cold ice. Quickly the ground close the entrance began to be covered with ice. But then, much to everyone's surprise, entered the cause of the anxiety.

" Greetings, Eskel" Geralt was the first to greet the dark haired Witcher as he entered.

" Wolf…" Eskel returned the favor, gripping Geralt in a hug. " Lambert", he then greeted with a nod of his head.

" You returned?" Geralt asked immediately. " I didn't think you would"

" Neither did I" Eskel answered with a shrug of his shoulders. " But I did not come alone"

" Finally found a woman that can overlook your face then?" Lambert gave his comrade a smirk.

" Very funny" Eskel said, visibly annoyed. " But no. I've brought an old friend. A surprise"

" Old friend? Who is it?" Geralt raised his eyebrows.

" See for yourself"

Once again the great hall was filled with silence and anticipation. All three sorceresses sitting along the dining table glanced at each other momentarily, then shrugged their shoulders obliviously. Geralt and Lambert waited patiently, and quietly. And Ciri kept her eyes focused on the entrance of the old fortress. No one knew who would walk through the door. No one except for Eskel. And he kept a smile on his scarred face.

After a moment, he finally entered. The man. The stranger. Dressed in all black leather with a cloak covering most of his head and face. On his back hung two swords.

" Greetings, Gwynbleid" the stranger greeted from under the cover of his hood. His voice was slightly deep, but had a hint of youth in it as well. " It's been a very long time"

" A surprise indeed" Geralt approached the man, gripping his hand and embracing him in a quick hug. Once they released each other, then stranger turned his attention to Lambert.

" Take the cloak off, Jason" Lambert said as he neared the man. " We can barely recognize you"'

The man did as he was told, and upon first seeing his appearance Ciri and the other sorceresses almost gasped with disbelief.

The man was slightly taller than Geralt, and leaner, but the definition of his body was still clear. He had long, black, semi curly hair extending down below his neck. His face, which from what Ciri could see in the distance, gave the impression of a young man in his twenties, although she was not certain. He had no facial hair either, only a slightly pointy nose and and thin arching eyebrows along with those glowing yellow eyes. The more Ciri looked at the man, the more he reminded her of Coen. The thought made her lower her head.

After greeting each other with open arms, the two Witchers separated.

" Surprised to see me?" Jason asked as he watched his comrades.

" We are" Geralt admitted.

" In truth" Lambert joined in. " We thought you were dead"

" I thought the same of you" Jason replied. " I thought the same of all of us…but it seems we were all wrong"

" Fortunately" Geralt agreed with a slight smile and a nod of his head.

" Enough talk about death" Eskel said, getting in between the men. " Let's close these doors, we don't want the heat to escape. And you, Jason, come on. We have others to introduce you to"

The strange Witcher nodded his head in confirmation, and then followed his comrades back to the table in which the sorceresses found themselves. He greeted them, quickly, and without much interest it seemed. To Yennefer, he gave only a nod and a semi smile. To Keira, a smile. And to Triss a bow of his head and a greater smile than he gave the other two. Then, the attention turned to Ciri, who still found herself standing alone and away from the table. She felt a slight chill crawl down her back as the man looked at her. But fortunately he did gaze long. After Geralt introduced the two, the man gave a quick nod, then turned away from her quickly. He did not say a word, and neither did she.

" Now you have been introduced to everyone" Eskel said to Jason after the greetings were finally completed. " Now we can move on from this"

" And we can drink" Added Lambert, who had already reclaimed his seat next to Keira. " A celebration to old friends"

" How about it?" Geralt asked.

The Witcher known as Jason took a while to respond, likely contemplating the offer from his fellow comrades. But after a momentary thought he finally answered.

" I apologize" he said. " But the road here was long. I think I'll rest now"

" I as well" Eskel agreed.

" Are you sure, boys" Lambert urged them, holding a small tankard in his hand as bait. " Not even one little drink?"

" Leave them Lambert" Keira said to the Witcher. " I think it's time we go to sleep ourselves. My eyes are beginning to feel heavy"

" Mine too" Yennefer claimed as she yawned. " Come Geralt. Let us go to bed"

" Fine" Lambert gave in, drinking the last of his mead in one final gulp. After he drank it, he burped, then wiped his mouth clean.

The group sitting around the table now began to disperse their own separate ways. Triss retreated alone. Keira with Lambert. And Yennefer and Geralt were ready to head up the stairs and to their slumber as well. But before they did, Geralt spoke to the mysterious Witcher.

" It's been a very long time since I was last here" Jason's eyes wandered across the great hall as he spoke. " I have forgotten much"

Geralt glanced back at Yennefer, who had been waiting for him. With a gesture of his head, he urged to go on without him. Ciri, for some strange and unknown reason, continued to stand and watch the two.

" Come" Geralt said to the man. " I'll take you to your room"

And with that, the two Witchers made their way from the great hall and up the stairs to the rooms. Ciri was now alone. And finally, since there were no more surprises, she retreated as well.

The stairs and hallways leading to the upper rooms of the fortress were cold and dark. Any ordinary person would have trouble seeing in the darkness, and would probably run into every wall and doorway. But fortunately for the two men currently walking the dark halls, they were not ordinary people. Geralt could see in the dark just about as well as he could in the light. Jason could too. So the two had no problem walking in the darkness.

The stroll down the hallway and up to the rooms had been silent, and without even looking at him Geralt could feel the awkwardness which clouded over his comrade. He didn't blame him though. Geralt felt it as well. For good reason. The last time Geralt had even spoken to the boy was more than twenty years ago. And up until now he thought he was dead, much like the rest of his companions. Not many survived the attack on Kaer Morhen those years ago.

Despite the long years of absence, Geralt still remembered him clearly. Jason was one of the younger Witchers, like Lambert. And he had great skill. Geralt would watch him train at times. He was very fast, even for a Witcher. Geralt even sparred with the young Witcher once. Jason's speed surprised him greatly, but in the end experience and finesse triumphed. Vesemir always saw the boy as a skilled candidate as well.

They continued down the elongated hallway, silently, until finally the young Witcher decided to break the silence between them.

" The girl" Jason started. " Your surprise?"

" My destiny" Geralt corrected.

" Eskel tells me she has… Extraordinary abilities"

" He speaks the truth" Geralt confirmed. " Ciri is an extraordinary girl"

" She must be" Jason said. " Not just any girl can be the white wolf's destiny"

" Ciri was special long before she met me"

" I've heard the story" Jason said. " It was always destined"

" Not always" Geralt said. He briefly thought back on that day. The day he saved the prince Dunny, in turn allowing him to pursue his love with the princess Pavetta. With gratitude, they offered him anything. And Geralt, not wanting much, called upon the famed law of surprise. At the time, he thought it was a mistake. But looking back upon it now. It was the best decision he had ever made.

" Always" the young Witcher repeated once again.

" And you?" Geralt asked, changing the subject of conversation. " You've been away for along time. You haven't even wintered here. What's been keeping you?"

Jason did not answer initially, and he seemed to be searching somewhere in his mind for a plausible answer. After a while, he finally found one.

" Regular Witchers work" he said.

Geralt did not reply. And after a long a dreadful moment of silence the young Witcher spoke again.

" It's true isn't it?"

" What is?" Geralt raised his eyebrows in confusion.

" I did not believe Eskel when he first told me" Jason continued after a brief moment. " I thought it a jest..but now that I'm here…"

Geralt instantly knew of what he spoke of, and just thinking about it made him close his eyes tightly.

" …Its true"

The young Witcher turned away from Geralt. Both his hands were clenched tightly. And he did not speak for a long while. Geralt did not try to speak to him either. He needed his time.

" Damn" Jason finally cursed, although not too loudly. " I never thought the day would come. I thought surely the old man would outlive all of us"

Geralt stood silent.

" I should have returned long ago" Jason continued. His voice had different tone to it now.

" You couldn't have prevented his death" Geralt looked at his comrade. " None of us could"

" I know that" Jason shook his head. " But now I'll never get the chance to see him again…dammit!"

The combination of sadness and anger in his voice were apparent. And the way his eyes and mouth clenched tightly together gave further indication of his emotion. Geralt had never seen him like this before.

" He died for a better reason than most" Geralt tried to assure him, although it did not seem to be working.

" Is there ever a good reason to die?"

" Protecting the people you care about…"

" You mean the person"

Geralt did not say word in response. He knew exactly what Jason was referring to. And even though it angered him. He could blame the young Witcher entirely. Jason was angry at the news of Vesemirs death. Nothing would change that.

The rest of the walk was filled only with the sound of wind and ice, and the creaking of old stone walls and windows. Once they had reached the room in which the young Witcher would sleep, the silence was broken once again.

" Geralt" Jason spoke to him in a calm tone. " Forgive me brother…I did not wish to offend…I do not blame her for what happened to Vesemir"

" You don't have to apologize" Geralt responded in a similar tone.

" I only wanted clarify…"

" I know" Geralt interrupted. " I understand"

" Good" Jason nodded and smiled. " It feels good to be back here"

" It's good to have you home again"