"CALANTHE" "Mum!" "Mother..." "Please, mum..." "Not now." "Don't spoil the fun." "Horse!" "Horse!" "Mum!" "Pavetta!" "Pavetta!" "We can't help much." "We must get her to the castle." "Phascogale." "Let me..." "Not now." "The princess fainted." "Come later for your reward." "You need to mix this with water and she'll recover immediately." "You also know medicine?" "A bit." "Don't worry, these are herbs." "She needs to drink it and rest for a few days." "Oh, and don't let the medic leech her blood." "Haxo, Where's the knight who saved us?" "He's left, my lady." "You talked to him?" "Yes, I told him to come for a reward." "Fool, what have you done!" "?" "I don't wan't to see you in the castle without him!" "I was told to take you to Cintra." "The queen has ordered..." "Listen, notable." "Kings' orders don't apply to me." "I don't need your reward, It was I who hunted this creature anyway." "Forgive me the talk, it's a habit." "The queen asks you..." "What does she need a witcher for?" "Why does anyone needs them?" "She's got troubles and Cintra...a country like any other." "There are basilisks, werewolves, even manticores." "It's a Witcher;" "Geralt of Rivia." "He doesn't want any reward, and says that he had hunted the beast anyway." "Haughty." "They are strange sort of men." "They say..." "I know who witchers are, Haxo." "Who knows?" "..." "Call Phascogale and Vissegerd." "Why are you here?" "Go back to your place." "Mum..." "Postpone the engagement and the wedding, please!" "Pavetta." "The rulers cannot listen to their hearts." "Cintra needs a king, a man." "You know we are not allowed to rule." "It's the law " " You can't help it." "How can you disgrace me?" "Flaunting me at this feast like a mare in a market, I can't do it this way." "Not a word more." "I haven't married your father for love either." "The kingdom is the only important thing." "Go back to your place, I'll come to you later." "No you won't." "You've promised so many times." "What are you afraid of?" "Help me!" "Escort her majesty." "Pavetta worries me." "Any progress, druid?" "I've only been here for a month, my lady." "Too short." "She's got the pure, primeval power.We've only just revealed it." "Or should I say, excess of power." "We need years of work." "Her grandmother, Aurelia, used to open a drawbridge by rising her eyebrow." "I thought Pavetta wouldn't inherit..." "There are 30 days 'till the wedding." "What then?" "I heard something haunts the castle by night, you know anything about it?" "Haxo, if we think of the same - if anything happens, kastellan..." "I'll strengthen the guard." "I expect you to advise and help me." "You don't do it!" "The Witcher showed up." "Maybe it's destiny." "What do you think?" "Fine." "Tomorrow I wan't to know everything about this witcher." "Everything." "Difficult, yet possible." "Right, druid?" "What happened today, and what we avoided thanks to Geralt of Rivia, is dispensation of Providence worth reflecting on." "Is it a warning or a sign of gods' favour I let to decide for priests and druids." "Geralt!" "Accept our gratitude for you have rejected the rewards and honours." "Be our friend!" "I won't stop you, sirs." "You have your duties." "Haxo, you stay." "Perhaps Geralt of Rivia could stay until the wedding." "I promise to keep him company." "Sir knight?" "I'll stay if there's such need." "You didn't want to listen to our requests, obey an order then." "Obeying orders can be pleasant, believe me." "Let's drink to our queen, who cannot be refused." "What is your concern, Kastellan?" "Something bad's going on, the castle's haunted." "What is it?" "I haven't seen it." "They say it's small, hunchbacked, prickly like a hedgehog, often walkes on the merlons, usually after midnight." "You know much." "What about the guards?" "Don't tell the queen." "It's magic." "The doors are opened, the guards are frightened." "Maybe the wine is too strong, Kastellan." "Check what is going on." "I'll be hanged if I won't protect her." "Protect who?" "You know who." "Excellent witcher." "Very brave." "So far undefeated." "He's got a flaw back from Kaer Morhen." "He underwent the test of a sword." "That's when he defeated the famous Tornvald." "He's unusual, some even call him 'antiwitcher' as he doesn't accept every contract." "He likes to play a wise guy, like druids." "Which is good." "And have you used your telepathic powers, druid?" "The marshal is right." "Geralt has a very complicated personality." "Mages and druids who know him say he's sometimes a human, sometimes a witcher." "He's very serious about his job but mostly he defends the weak." "Suprisingly, even the elder blood - he doesn't demean them, if not the contrary." "They are closer to him." "He can even be compared with a wizard." "Come on, he's a statuesque character." "Any weaknesses?" "Yes, the human features." "He's emotional." "He's got a soft spot for women, romances, even lasting relationships, like the one with Yennefer, the sorceress." "I heard they can't..." "He can." "A bit too much." "What's more, he's rowdy, not avoiding conflicts." "But he never contracts humans." "He's a model witcher at this point." "He's got enemies." "Like Falvick - ex-witcher, now Nilfgard's spy." "You know what I think." "What's your advice?" "Send him away." "He's honest like a child and dangerous like a scorpion." "Move him to a chamber in our wing." "Look." "Beautiful, fertile soil" " Cintra." "Woods, rivers, valleys, the ocean." "Everyone lives in a harmony - humans, dwarves, elves." "Peace and prosperity." "You're a wise ruler, my lady." "You're right." "Nevertheless, some day blood will flow down these rivers." "Why?" "I don't know that." "Everything ends at one point." "Something else begins." "We, the Aleantolids, are supposed to have the saint blood." "Blood of elves and humans." "As long as we rule, there shall be peace." "The legend isn't important, what matters is that people believe it." "Not too long from now, this country will have a new king, Pavetta's husband." "There's currently no good candidate." "Can't you wait for him?" "Pavetta's young." "You've heard of Nilfgard?" "Little kingdom to the south." "Not so little anymore." "It's ruled by a martial oligarchy." "They are always at arms." "Conquer, blood and sword." "Rule of their race - these are their slogans." "Their aim is an access to the sea." "With that, they could conquer their neighbours, soon they'll be here." "That's why we need to unite and Pavetta must marry the prince of Skellige, king's nephew." "Thus, I must throw a banquet for the candidates of her hand... like the stupid custom requires." "I understand, my lady, but the problems of humans and the high society aren't my concern." "I know." "I want you to stay here until the wedding and keep an eye on everything." "Protect Pavetta." "For me?" "You don't like it?" "I do." "One more thing but the most important." "I've heard that knight Duny of Enerwald, known as Hedgehog, claims some rights to Pavetta." "Silly, but it happens." "On what grounds?" "He invokes some conversation he had with my late husband long time ago." "He can disturb the feast." "I want you to stop him." "Stop him?" "Fatally?" "I leave you the choice of the means and methods." "Your majesty mistakes me with someone I am not." "Geralt, you talk to the queen." "I am not a hired assasin." "You pride yourself on it very much." "This Hedgehog supposedly has a non-human form." "He could be a monster." "So?" "I'll investigate into it." "Tomorrow I'll go to Erlenwald." "Why not today?" "I want the news of my departure to spread out." "I have a favour to ask you, my lady." "If it's only sensible." "From now on sleep in Pavetta's bedroom." "But why?" "A strong magic creeps in the castle." "It's like someone casts a strong spell and then disenchants it." "I was also struck by it's strength." "Pavetta might be under its influence." "I understand that the guards are also paralysed?" "Could be." "But they might be unaware of it." "They're also afraid of the consequences." "You may be right." "It's the best advice I've had in some time." "Pavetta?" "Pavetta, where are you?" "Geralt, what's wrong?" "Wake up, Geralt." "Yennefer... it's you, good to see you." "Kill him, Geralt." "Kill him for Cintra and for me." "I'll kill him, Yen." "You leave for Erlenwald." "What do you intend?" "I've got something to do in a place where your power doesn't reach." "I didn't want to do anything bad." "Just to show I know and I ask for something." "I have no friends, no-one's willing to help me." "You go to kill, I see it in your eyes." "I don't know yet." "Where did she get it?" "She touched you with her power?" "Unintentionally." "She almost killed me." "Poor child." "That's scary." "What's this sign?" "Sign of a monster killer." "Witchers' medalion." "We're closed!" "Give me a pottage with cheese and meat." "How far to the castle?" "Got a business to our lord?" "He's out." "I'll wait." "I didn't ask for company." "Eat what's yours and get out of this city." "We'll dance, scum." "You've drawn a sword, a big mistake." "You've come to kill me?" "No, I could have done it back in the forest." "You're so sure?" "Silver...for monsters." "Yes." "Unfortunately you're not one." "Leave us alone!" "Thank you, good people, I won't forget it." "Duny, show me your face." "No." "Not yet." "Are you afraid?" "Do you have a monster face?" "Easy, blockhead." "Do you know the droit du surprise?" "I have the right to Pavetta, she's mine." "Go home, Hedgehog." "The droit du surprise is a privillege of some, it's a right of honour and sacrifice." "You know nothing about it." "You're a dummy ashamed to show your face but not ashamed to sneak to your lover right beside her mother." "You've used Pavetta's magic to acquire it and now you act like a payed mistress." "Witcher, it's past midnight, I'll have a human face 'till dawn and then, then a hedgehog muzzle." "Why?" "I don't know." "One can be freed from a spell." "Not me." "I've spent all my life with this." "A long time ago, magicans said that only the droit du surprise would disenchant me and it happened... 16 years ago." "King Roegner, Pavetta's father got lost while he was hunting." "He broke his leg, I saved him." "That's when he promised he'd give me what he finds when he's back." "He didn't know Calanthe was pregnant." "The droit du surprise is crystal clear." "I didn't know about Calanthe..." "But you knew about the droit du surprise." "Tell me, did you help him on condition?" "I don't remember now." "But maybe I had hope..." "Who wouldn't?" "You should have declared it openly." "With my mug?" "When?" "After midnight?" "To who?" "There are ways." "But you deflowered her to strenghten your claims." "Tell Calanthe I inherited the crown of Maecht." "I'm in alliance with Redania." "Tell her it's better than the marriage with Skelige." "You tell it." "Well, thank you." "However, it doesn't improve our situation." "King Roegner told me something before he died." "It was so unclear and ambiguous I thought he was in maligna." "He'd been silent for so many years, suddenly he said a few words and died." "Should I have treated him seriously?" "We all know that our gracious lord was saying strange things before he died." "He wasn't himself anymore." "I'd outlaw Hedgehog as a liar and a thief of a kings domain." "It went public." "Since he openly made his claims, he won't come to the castle, we won't let him to." "We'll cordon off the castle and the wedding will take place." "Great idea, marshall." "Can I speak to you privately?" "Speak, we have no secrets here." "I dare to say Pavetta and Hedgehog lived together like husband and Wife." "Pavetta's not a maiden anymore." "How do you know?" "I was struck with Pavetta's magic just like the guards." "Virgins have no magic powers." "That's true." "These are not sure proofs..." "I'd like to be wrong, my lady." "Stay here." "It's true!" "I wanted to tell you but you never had time!" "You rejected me, I'm just a thing you needed to sell well." "Any kid in the town enjoys more affection and happiness." "But now it's too late." "I love him, leave me alone!" "Right." "Postpone the wedding, my lady." "We need time." "Skellige's deputation are carrying over the sea, others are coming." "Too late." "Queen..." "You were supposed to kill him!" "We have had nothing but misery since you're here!" "I'm sorry..." "Speak." "The droit du surprise applies to specific things or people." "Not to indirect rights." "Even if he has the right, it's the right of Pavetta, not Cintra." "What are you talking about!" "He'll take the crown, Cintra must have a king." "What if there'd already be another king?" "You're crazy." "I'm an intruder here and I'll soon leave, we'll forget about each other." "Let me tell you something though." "Marry someone." "You're beautiful, everyone would dream about marrying you." "You need to announce it fast and postpone Pavetta's engagement." "Let Hedgehog come and hear about it, then you'll know what he's up to." "Don't forbid the marriage of Pavetta and Hedgehog, if the droit du surprise applies to this marriage then...." "It's their decision." "How would you know it?" "Queen." "He had been taken from his parents' house." "He's a surprise-child himslef." "Stay." "I'll say it again, be my friend like I want to be a friend of yours." "You see it yourself help me." "Dukes Lestek and Mestivogius from far Vinlandia!" "Eist Tuirseach from Skellige, brother of king Bran together with king's nephew, kinght Crach an Craite!" "Where's Pavetta, my lady?" "Honorable guests." "Bad news should be told quickly and good news should be savoured." "I'd like to announce that Pavetta cannot become the queen of your dreams today." "Important reasons made us postpone this ceremony..." "However, queen Calanthe would like you to stay until the wedding, no matter when it will take place and who will be betrothed." "Duny of Erlenwald, known as Hedgehog!" "This is the cause of all troubles." "Hedgehog of Erlendwald." "He claims to have better rights to Pavetta than any of you." "We want to respect these rights, investigate into them and then judge." "Hedgehog says he once rescued king Roegner and that he, in return, promised him his daughter." "Even though there was no daughter at that time." "Show us your face, Hedgehog, and sit with us." "I will stand." "I've come to execute my rights." "My face I'll show to you after midnight." "Then stay there, Hedgehog without-a-face, and don't disturb the feast." "I, the queen, will announce you." "This is Eist, the future king of Cintra." "Forgive what I'll say." "I loved Calanthe for years." "I dreamed about her." "I'll love her and respect her." "The wedding's tomorrow but I'm a warrior not a ruler." "Therefore I'd like you to help me with your advice." "I shall help my husband as much as I can." "And now I ask you, my beloved vassals, to unanimously approve this marriage." "Long live Eist I, the new king of Cintra!" "Long live!" "Thank you." "Let's rejoice now." "You called me Yen." "I don't remember." "It was a dream, your dream." "Let's repeat this dream." "I didn't want it." "Reach under the table." "No." "Give me your hand." "Can you feel it?" "You've said 'I will kill him, Yen.' Do it." "Do it now!" "I've promised you nothing, Aurora." "It was a dream." "You've got a sword in your hand." "You've promised." "You have to." "Think about your destiny." "Why do you leave us?" "It's midnight already, my lady." "I don't feel very good." "Take off your helmet!" "Not yet." "Say it!" "Say it Calanthe, have the king promised to keep the droit du surprise?" "Was it about Pavetta?" "Yes!" "I want only her." "Not a kingdom, nothing more!" "Just her!" "What?" "!" "The princess?" "This pig's snout?" "Never!" "Kill him!" "No!" "She can't control it!" "Let's strike together!" "You have Pavetta." "Hedgehog of Erlenwald." "I give you Pavetta." "Duny, it dawns...and you still have your face." "You've removed the curse." "You've said 'I give you Pavetta.' You've fulfilled his destiny." "Which means everything ends well." "And you, Geralt?" "What about you?" "My lady." "You wanted a friend and you have one." "Like for like - your words." "Or a sword under the table and the bell that rung too early." "You dissapointed me." "It's not my world." "Geralt, you've done so much for us, for me, stay." "I ask you too." "I want to reward you, say what you want and I'll give it." "I don't want anything." "But you can't leave just like this." "I remember what you said in Erlenwald." "You don't like me, tough luck." "But you must have the reward." "He can't ask for anything except for the droit du surprise." "Leave him alone." "Geralt, go now." "Please." "What's the threat if we promise something that doesn't even exist." "Geralt, I can't thank." "Go if you have to." "Maybe it's better." "I'll keep you in my heart." "Witchers cannot demand anything from the kings, right?" "Right, queen." "Wait." "It's better to settle now and have it past us." "Otherwise he'll come later to ask for something, I know them." "You've promised me anything I'd want, right?" "True." "All right then." "You'll give me what you have, yet you don't know about." "I'll come back to Cintra to check if the destiny was favourable to me." "This is what destiny says." "I wanted to tell you but I wasn't sure." "Yes." "I'll have a baby." "Stay on the path of destiny" "Which is the fight." "Your sword will never taste rust" "But sparkle with blood." "And another of your rights " "It is surprise." "Whoever dares to mutiny" "Shall meet the sword of destiny" "Stay on the path of destiny" "It is the fight." "Your sword will never taste rust" "But sparkle with blood." "Sparkle with blood." "Sparkle with blood."