The Witcher - As Uchiha Madara! - Chapter 233 - A Brief Conversation with Mousesack.

[Chapter Size: 2000 Words.] Third Person POV Sea. ... ... It didn’t take long for them to finish eating at the tavern and head to the castle

[Chapter Size: 2000 Words.]
Third Person POV

Sea.

...

...

It didn’t take long for them to finish eating at the tavern and head to the castle, as Mousesack had invited them there after securing two carts to climb the small mountain by the road.
The druid had insisted on riding in the cart with Madara and Ciri, not missing the chance to talk more with the children he had watched grow up in Cintra so long ago, before the war had separated them.

"So you were saying this group of elves is after the girl?" Mousesack asked, concerned.
Their conversation revolved around the war, from when they got separated after the invasion of the capital to their arrival at the witcher school—something they had already discussed before, when the druid visited Kaer Morhen. Madara and Ciri had stopped sharing new information as he asked about how they had been over the past years.

"Yes, they're after my blood," Ciri said, while the man seemed thoughtful, scratching his beard as the cart rocked.
"That reminds me... you told me this over twelve years ago," he said to the boy, while Ciri looked at Madara, raising an eyebrow. "It was one of the first conversations we had, when I found you in that little abandoned house where you were sleeping." He was quite surprised by Madara's prediction, who had said that Ciri would be hunted—and now it was really happening.

"You never told me that!" Ciri looked at Madara suspiciously.
"Yes, it's true. There are things we need to talk about before we move forward with this," Madara said, while Ciri looked a little surprised, yet curious and wary, wondering what he wanted to say before the wedding.

Ciri noticed the confusion in Mousesack's eyes and explained.
"There's something we wanted to talk about. Actually... you know, we're together now—I mean, we've always been together... but we want to make it official... that's why we're getting married," she said, a bit embarrassed. "And we’d like to do it here in Skellige, if that’s not a problem," she admitted, while the druid raised an eyebrow, quite surprised by this.

But quickly, Mousesack smiled. He looked at the two with satisfaction.
"Since I saw you studying in my lab as children, I knew you’d be connected forever. I'm glad it happened in the end. Even after all the misfortunes you've faced, you still stood firm, strong, and above all, united."

"True," Ciri said with a brighter smile, agreeing with Mousesack’s words, happy that everything was turning out this way, while Madara remained silent but serene.

"Calanthe would be very proud. She wanted this too, in the end... and she always knew it would happen. I miss her so much..." he said, remembering clearly how they had said goodbye, with her wishing to end her own life after the fall of the kingdom—and he had to respect her wish.

"Yes..." Ciri murmured, with a small, sad smile.

Mousesack turned to Madara, trying to lighten the mood again, while he remained calm, there, beside his future wife.

"You seem to have gone from facing noble gangs or even wars to dealing with uprisings against non-humans, dragons, and beings from other worlds. But... are you ready for what's coming? Because having your own family seems to be more challenging," he said with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

"It’s certainly a different kind of challenge, but there’s nothing we can’t face together, right?" Madara said with a small smile, as Ciri squeezed his hand.

"Yes, we'll do it together," she said with a blush, while wearing a happy smile.

"Anyway... how do weddings work here?" Madara suddenly asked.

"You don’t know?" Ciri looked at him, shocked, as he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Neither do you," he teased, while she forced a smile, agreeing with him.

"True... Uncle... Grandpa Mousesack, how do weddings work here?" she asked, laughing.

The man smiled at that.
In truth, Madara had never looked into it. He only brought it up with Ciri because he wanted to make their union clear—and any woman would want to be the wife of the one she loves. He didn’t want to accidentally father a child labeled a bastard or leave Ciri with the status of a mere lover. Most importantly, it was what Ciri truly wanted. He didn’t know exactly what a wedding would be like, but he wasn’t worried either—he would just do whatever needed to be done.

"Well, we can explain that when we see King Bran Tuirseach," Mousesack said at last, still finding the situation amusing. "But don’t worry, there’s nothing stopping us from arranging a wedding at the castle. We can easily get witnesses and documents, especially since, given your importance, it’s good to have everything properly recorded so you can use it in the future and so there’s no doubt that you're husband and wife to anyone who questions it," he said, closing his lips with thoughts of the past.

He knew very well what this union would mean for the entire North—with Ciri as heir to the throne and Madara having more power than any king could dream of, it would also represent the fear and envy of all monarchs.

"Grandpa, we're still going to take back Cintra. It’ll be our home. It will be the most powerful kingdom on the continent... no, in the world! And you’ll always have a place to come back to, if you still want..." Ciri said carefully, seeming to read his expression and thoughts.

"That sounds good, my girl. But I must admit that maybe I’m not so eager to return... Not that I don’t love Cintra. I love it with all my heart. I lived many years there, in service to Calanthe and Eist. But I carry many traumas from what happened. I don’t know if I’ll be strong enough... But it’s not that I wouldn’t be available to visit. We can talk about that in the future, don’t you think?" he said in the end, and Ciri agreed.

"And how have you been here? You took over as the king’s druid, right?" Madara asked, as the man nodded.

"Yes. I’m leading most of the druids on the isles and have been helping at court as much as I can with Eist’s brother. That’s why I’ve already arranged for us to go to the castle with the king waiting for us. Do you remember Crach? And his children?" Mousesack asked Ciri, as she nodded.
"Yes, but it’s been a long time... I was five the last time I saw them," Ciri thought.
"Yes. His children are your age. Grown and strong. Maybe they haven’t had as many adventures as you two, but they might be good company amid so many old folks like us. And there’s also Svanrige Tuirseach, King Bran’s son," he said, knowing that the two lived mostly among older people and never seemed to have made friends with others their own age.

The conversation continued as the two carts passed through the gate. The guards checked them, recognized the druid’s cart, and let them through to the entrance.

Getting out of the first cart, Geralt, Yennefer, Zoltan, and Dandelion soon joined Mousesack with the couple. Ciri and Madara noticed a man waiting at the castle entrance with two young people at his side.

"Geralt! It’s been so long!" Crach exclaimed upon seeing his old acquaintance.
"It really has been a long time, Crach. How are you?" Geralt approached, giving him a hug.
"And you must be Yennefer... Geralt used to talk about you when he came here," he said, introducing himself.

Then Dandelion and Zoltan also greeted him, but it was the two young people who drew more attention when Ciri and Madara came closer.

"Well, Crach, here is Cirilla... and Madara," Mousesack said, as the man looked at the two, especially the girl.
"My God... you’ve grown so much, Cirilla. I remember the little brat who used to run around with my children when your grandmother visited the isles."
"Hello... it’s been a long time," Ciri said with a simple smile.
"Well, these are my children. And you must be the famous Madara. A strong young man from what I see, I’ve heard much about you too," Crach said, while Madara simply nodded.

His gaze turned to the young man who, suddenly, pulled an axe from his belt, catching everyone by surprise, and knelt before Ciri.
"Cirilla, I remember like it was yesterday when we played together. And now I’m ready to start a family. Please, marry me," he said simply, leaving everyone speechless, while Ciri grimaced and Madara raised an eyebrow beside her.

"What are you doing?!" his father immediately scolded.
"Because I’m ready to have a wife, father!" he replied, only to receive a smack on the head from his own sister, who moved quickly upon hearing her idiot brother’s nonsense.
"You idiot! What are you doing? Can’t you see what’s going on? They’re together!" The girl looked at her brother as if he had nothing in his head but foolishness.

The young man seemed a bit dazed before looking back at Ciri, then at Madara, and then again at Ciri.

"I'm getting married, and this is my husband," Ciri said quickly, pulling Madara’s arm toward her, while the young man’s sister burst out laughing.
"Not this time, you fool! After everything we've heard, do you think you can just show up and win over someone who’s already promised to another? My name is Cerys an Craite... and this idiot is Hjalmar an Craite. Sorry about him." She introduced herself to Madara. "But I must admit..." the girl continued, analyzing Madara with intense eyes. "I’ve heard you’re as powerful as an entire army. How about taking a second wife?"

She declared it, making the whole place fall silent once again—until her father smacked her on the head.
"What are you doing, you idiot?!" he shouted at his foolish daughter.

Ciri grimaced once again upon hearing this second-wife nonsense and had to pull Madara’s hand even closer to herself, seeming a little threatened as she eyed the two idiotic siblings, especially the girl.
Madara didn’t know what to say about the two of them.
The boy, however, didn’t seem to have given up. He stood up and turned the axe toward Madara.

"Then let’s fight for Cirilla’s hand!" he challenged.

Madara simply smacked him on the head when he got close enough, knocking him out cold. So fast, the boy didn’t even see it coming.

"HAHAHAHAHA!" Everyone fell silent for a moment, until Cerys started laughing.
"Nice hit. He deserved it, not having much in his head and saying whatever he thinks," she continued, still laughing.

"Uh... I apologize for my idiot children," Crach said at last and looked around. "Let’s take you all inside. I’m sure King Bran will receive you well, he’s already waiting."

He spoke as Mousesack returned to the rest of the group.
"Well then, let’s go. We have much to discuss," he said, while Crach told his daughter to put her brother somewhere until he woke up or the guards carried him inside.

Cerys began dragging him away, frustrated.

The throne room held few secrets. It was a large hall with a chair at the top, where King Bran could be seen. Beside him stood a woman and a young man—his firstborn.
Crach and Mousesack approached, guiding the group until they stood before them.

"Should we... kneel?" Dandelion whispered, but the king seemed to hear it.
"Here in Skellige, we don’t kneel before our king. We simply show respect.
Either way, you are welcome. It’s always good to see unfamiliar faces... And we haven’t forgotten the friendship we share with Cintra. It’s good to see you again, princess. My brother always spoke highly of you," he said, looking directly at Ciri.

Out of respect, when war broke out, both kingdoms fought side by side against Nilfgaard, though they ultimately lost. Still, they recognized that the hope of Cintra’s return remained. Royal blood still flowed in the girl’s veins.