'Galahad.'
'Yes?'
'Be quiet.'
He coughed, and fell silent. Both were silent staring at the sun. they stayed that way for a long time.
'Lady of the Lake?'
'I asked you not to call me that.'
'Lady Ciri?'
'Go ahead.'
'Come with me to Camelot, Lady Ciri. You have to meet King Arthur, he will show you honour and reverence … I will … I will always love and worship …'
'Get up! Or not. While you are kneeling you can rub my feet. they are hurting me terribly. Thank you. you are very kind. I said my feet! Feet end at the ankles.'
'Lady Ciri?'
'I'm still here.'
'The sun is about to set …'
'That's the truth,' Ciri bent down and buckled her shoes, then stood up. 'We'll saddle the horses, Galahad. Is there somewhere around here where we can spend the night? Ha! From your look I can see you know this land about as well as me. But no matter, let us set out, whether to sleep in the open or in the woods. Let's not let twilight catch us near the lake. The night will be very cold here … What are you looking at?'
'Oh,' she said seeing the young man blush. 'You're smiling at the thought of spending the night in a carpet of moss bed under a hazel bush? In the arms of a fairy? Listen well, young man, I do not have the slightest desire …'
She paused, looking at his blush and sparkling eyes. Seeing something there, in his face, which was not really ugly. Something squeezed her stomach and gut, and it was not hunger.
Something is happening to me, she though. What's wrong with me?
'Do not bother!' she almost cried. 'Let's saddle the horses!'
When they were in the saddle, she looked at him and laughed out loud. He looked at her, his eyes filled with amazement and questions.
'Nothing, nothing,' she said easily. 'It was just something I was thinking. Led the way, Galahad.'
Carpet of moss, she thought, holding back a chuckle. A hazel bush. And me in the role of a fairy. Well, well.
'Lady Ciri …'
'What?'
'Will you come with me to Camelot?'
She held out her hand. He held out his hand. Holding hands, they rode side by side.
The devil, she thought, why not? I bet any money that this world has jobs for a witcheress.
'Lady Ciri?'
'Let's not talk about it now. Let's ride.'
They rode off towards the sunset. Behind them they left a darkening valley. Behind them was a lake, and enchanted lake, a lake blue and smooth as a polished sapphire. Behind them were left the boulders littering the shore. And pine trees on the slope.
That was left behind them.
And everything else was in front of them.
THE END
Andrzej Sapkowski - [Witcher 06] Page 53