Tir ná Lia -
There were a lot of things Ciri noticed when she stepped into the capital city of Tir Na Lia the first time. She blinked at everything, the elves, the buildings, the trees, her eyes adjusting to the strange illumination in the sky. Beside her, Avallac'h stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his magic already did its work, an illusion that masked her human features, to anyone who looked at her, she appeared elven. Perfectly, flawlessly elven.
But she did not feel elven. She felt like a stranger wearing someone else's face.
"Welcome," Avallac'h said, his voice soft, almost reverent, "to Tir Na Lia. The city of the Aen Elle. The seat of our people's power."
Ciri took a step forward.
The city sprawled before her like a dream, spires of white stone rose toward the sky, their surfaces so smooth and perfect that they seemed to have been grown rather than built. Bridges arced between the towers, their spans so delicate that they looked like they would shatter at a touch yet they supported the weight of countless elves who moved across them.
The streets were wide and clean, paved with stones that seemed to glow from within. Fountains flowed with water that sparkled, and gardens of plants that Ciri did not recognize bloomed in riotous colors deep blues, vibrant purples, golds that seemed to burn with their own inner fire. The air was filled with the scent of flowers.
And the elves.
They were everywhere, tall and slender, their features sharp and elegant, their hair flowing in shades of silver and deep, dark black. Their voices low and melodic, they wore clothes of materials that Ciri could not identify, their colors rich and deep, their designs intricate and beautiful.
Ciri walked among them, her eyes wide, her breath caught in her throat. She had seen wonders before, the halls of Cintra, the beauty of Kaer Morhen in the winter snow, but this was a different world.
"There isn't a place like this back on the Continent," Ciri said, her voice barely a whisper. "Dol Blathanna maybe? Though I've never been there so I can't tell..."
Beside her, Avallac'h nodded slowly. His silver eyes surveyed the city.
"There isn't," he confirmed. "Even before the humans took over the world of the Aen Seidhe, the world of the Aen Elle was still superior in every regard. Our architects, our mages, our artists, they created wonders that the humans could never hope to replicate. And they did it without the chaos, without the conflict, without the endless, petty squabbling that defines your species."
Ciri did not take offense. She could not, the truth of his words was written in every spire, every bridge, every glowing fountain.
"Why," Ciri asked, turning to look at him, "are the elves you warned me about... the Wild Hunt, Eredin, all of them, why are they looking for me in my world? When your world is far more peaceful? You could all just stay here and try to prevent what's going to happen with some other way, you are clearly strong enough, you clearly have some strong mages too."
Avallac'h's expression shifted, the calm satisfaction faded.
"Our world is doomed, Cirilla, there is no elven sage that can stop it." His voice was quiet. "Many of our people are not aware of the impending doom, and we wish to keep it that way. Ignorance is a kindness, in its own way."
Ciri's brows furrowed. "Is there really no other way?"
Avallac'h was silent for a moment. He led her away from the main thoroughfare, into a quieter side street where the crowds thinned and the silver light fell in dappled patterns through the leaves of trees that grew from the walls themselves.
"The White Frost," Avallac'h said finally. "It is coming, Cirilla. Not in a century, not in a millennium, soon and we don't have much time. It will consume this world, as it has consumed others before it, and the only way to stop it, the only way to save our people, is the Elder Blood, you."
Ciri's blood ran cold. "So let me get this correct, this so-called Eredin is out there in my world looking for me to kidnap me, and you want me save his world first ?"
"We want you to save all worlds," Avallac'h corrected. "Yours included because it is next in line, the White Frost does not discriminate, it will sweep across your world as surely as it will sweep across Tir Na Lia. The only question is whether we will be ready to meet it."
He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle but insistent.
"That's why preparing you to get stronger and control your abilities is the best way for salvation. For all of us."
Ciri pulled away from his touch. Her heart was beating faster now.
"And the ones that want to capture me?" she asked. "Eredin? The Wild Hunt?"
Avallac'h's expression darkened. "Eredin is the leader of the Wild Hunt, appointed by none other than our beloved king to seek out the one with the Elder Blood. But Eredin's methods are cruel, and his riders are selected from among our finest warriors." He paused. "The fact that you are here, under their very noses, is the best way to hide. They would never expect you to be so bold, I'm doing this against my King's wishes, and it is a crime that I might get punished for."
Ciri's jaw tightened. She understood the logic, she even understood the necessity, but understanding did not make it easier.
"I get all of this," Ciri said, her voice rising with frustration. "But can't we just do this back home? I don't wish to stay here any longer. I was impressed with this world for a while, I would love to spend some time here in the future, with the people I care about. But right now, I just want to leave."
Avallac'h's expression did not change. "You have shown progress lately with your powers. Your jumps are not so random, but in order to leave this place, you need to do it yourself. You have the ability but not the discipline."
The words hit her like a slap. She had heard them before, in different forms, from different people, but she could not take it from him.
She snapped.
Her hands shot out, grabbing Avallac'h by the collar of his elegant robes. The illusion around her flickered, her ashen hair flashing through the elven disguise. Nearby, several elves turned to stare, their expressions caught between shock and concern.
Avallac'h did not struggle, he did not even flinch. He simply looked at her with those ancient, silver eyes and spoke in a hushed voice.
"Not here, Cirilla."
Ciri's chest heaved with barely contained fury. She could feel the eyes of the elves upon her, could feel the weight of their judgment. Slowly, reluctantly, she released his collar and stepped back.
"Can't we just kill this bastard Eredin and trick your King?" she demanded, her voice low and fierce. "Get this over with? We can train, or whatever you want freely in my world. I have people that would protect me there from any sort of danger."
Avallac'h straightened his robes, his expression was calm, patient, as if he had weathered a thousand such outbursts.
"There is still the option to visit my king and explain our intentions," he said carefully. "I have respected your choice, but my king means well. He would never force you to do anything against your will. There is a reason why every Aen Elle in this world respects him deeply. Even Eredin does."
Ciri's eyes narrowed. "Out of the question!" she snapped. "If he dares bring up marriage or anything even remotely similar, I'm afraid I would not be able to control myself and slit his throat!"
Avallac'h sighed. It was a long, weary sound, the sigh of a man who had dealt with stubborn, headstrong women for longer than most civilizations had existed.
"That would not be a wise thing to do," Avallac'h said. "It is not as bad as you might think it is."
"Yes it is!" Ciri's voice rose again. "No more words, or I swear I will make a scene and blow our entire cover!"
She turned and walked away, her boots echoing against the stones of the street. Her fists were clenched at her sides, her jaw tight, her heart pounding with a fury that she could not quite contain.
Avallac'h watched her go. His silver eyes were not surprised.
"The blood of Lara Dorren," he murmured to himself, shaking his head. "It seems even carries the same personality. The same stubbornness."
He followed her at a distance, giving her space but never losing sight of her.
/-\
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