We continued enjoying the festivities as the night progressed. Many men stepped up to offer themselves and their kingdom's for Pavetta's hand and I could see why. She was gorgeous, but she seemed sad. I watched her for a moment while a few princes offered themselves to her. I could tell she wanted nothing to do with any of this. I didn't blame her.

I would occasionally meet Geralt's gaze and I could tell he wanted to speak to me more. I wanted that too, but I knew getting to close to the queens table was a bad idea for my companions and I. Princes and lords from neighboring lands seemed too dumb to question our being at this party. I was especially annoyed of the one from Nilfgaard who talked about his potent seed. I thought Thor was gonna burst out laughing for a moment. I could tell through the Queens badmouthing of him and his kingdom that she was sowing a deep seed of hatred in the man.

Jaskier's playing was, thankfully, a good way to enjoy the evening. If I was ever able to come back, I would have to record his voice for later.

Suddenly a commotion is heard and I turn to see someone fighting their way into the party. Thor goes to move toward the commotion and I grab his arm holding him back.

"Forgive my late intrusion, Your Majesty, and for the misunderstanding with your guards. Please! I come in peace." The man calls as he makes his way to the spot where the other lords had previously stood vying for the princess's hand. "I need but one moment of your time." He kneels down before the queen and her table as he continues, "I am Lord Urcheon of Erienwald, and I have come to claim your daughter's hand in marriage."

The three of us look from the kneeling lord to the queen. The queen looed angry whereas her daughter looked happy to see the man.

"A knight... of no renown... from a backwater hamlet... Who dares to enter my court, without revealing his face?" Th queen replies narrowing her eyes at the man.

"I apologize, Your Majesty. A knight's oath prevents me from revealing my face until the sounding of the twelfth bell." The man replies and can hear the honesty in his voice.

"Bollocks to that." A man says as he instantly moves forward and removes the knight's helmet. The crowd, save for Thor, myself, and Wanda; gasps as the man's appearance. He had the head of a hedgehog.

"Witcher..." I hear the queen start and I turn to see him looking at the knight. "Kill it." Pavetta's eyes shoot to her mother as they silently beg her to stop.

"No." Geralt refuses.

"Whatever the price." The queen offers.

"This is no monster."

"I order you." She seethes.

"This knight has been cursed."

"You're as useless as the rest of them." She pauses before ordering, "Slay this beast!"

My eyes fall to the princess who has started to cry and my heart bleeds for her. A couple guards attack him, but he makes short work of them.

"Lioness of Cintra," he calls pointing the tip of his sword towards her. "I have come to claim what is rightfully mine! Pavetta. By the Law of Surprise."

The room erupts in whispers as Thor and Wanda look at me for answers and I shake my head. I had no idea what he was talking about. All the sudden I hear more swords be drawn and turn back to the knight to see that more guards have started to attack him. He lasts a few minutes until there are more guards than he can handle. He is suddenly knocked to the floor and I find myself unconsciously moving toward him.

"No!" I hear Pavetta cry out as a guard raises his long axe. I burst through the crowd just in time.

"Stop!" I yell out making the guard freeze in his tracks the axe frozen in air long enough for Geralt to slice it in half with his sword and then kill the guard. His eyes find mine and I could tell he was angry. The rest of the room looks at me and I slowly make my way closer to him.

When I reach him Geralt places me behind him and glances at the Knight on the ground. The knight quickly grabs the axe part of the severed long axe and stands up beside us. Geralt's eyes find mine as he whispers, "Don't use your gift." I glare at him but nod.

"Kill them all!" I hear the queen yell and I instantly turn to see a guard coming at me whit a sword in hand.

I dodge right as he swings his sword down at me. I turn back to prepare for another attack to see Thor holding the man in a headlock knocking him out.

"What's a party without a brawl?" Thor asks as he hands me an Asgardian sword. Taking it from him, I watch as he reveals another one from his side. As he unsheathes it, his eyes start to glow as lightning sparks from his hands becoming one with his sword.

"Don't have too much fun!" I call out as I turn back to the fight only to see a lord smack another with a chair and say, "The Law of Surprise has been called. You kill them... kill me."

I glance over at Thor to see that he had also watched the encounter and a smirk fills his lips. The room has now erupted into chaos.

"Stop!" I hear the queen call and I turn to see her with her sword outstretched towards Geralt and I freeze. "Stop!" she orders again making the room freeze and Geralt lower his sword. Him and the queen have a silent conversation with their eyes.

"Duny!" I hear Pavetta cry out as she rushes over to wrap her arms around the hedgehog Knight. His arms wrap around her as he lifts her into the air holding her tightly. "I told you to stay away." Pavetta cries holding Duny's face in her hands.

The queen moves closer to them her eyes focused on Duny's visage. Duny releases Pavetta as he turns to face her. He kneels in front of her laying his weapon down at her feet.

"Your Majesty, the Witcher speaks the truth." Duny says as he stands up, "I was cursed as a young boy. My whole life a living misery, until the day I saved your husband, King Roegner, from a certain death. By tradition, I chose the Law of Surprise as payment. Whatever windfall he came home to find... would be mine."

"Oh, the stupid bastard. Better you had let him die." The queen seethes anger lacing her words.

"You knew he'd come," Geralt starts causing me to move closer to him. "And you pushed me to kill him."

"And you," The queen turns to her daughter turning her anger on her. "Carousing with the beast that swindled your stupid father!"

"'Tis no swindle." The lord from before that fought for Geralt and Duny speaks as he nears the queen. "Asking for payment with the Law of Surprise is as old as mankind itself."

"Don't lecture me, Eist."

"It's an honest gamble." Eist remarks. "As likely to be rewarded with a bumper crop as a newborn pup. Or... a child of surprise. He could not know."

I Look over to see Pavetta take Duny's hand.

"Destiny has determined the surprise to be Pavetta." Eist continues.

"When I heard that King Roegner had returned to find a child on the way... I abandoned all thought of claiming the Law of Surprise. I knew... I knew no woman would ever accept me like this." Pavetta places a hand on Duny's chest as if to reassure him as he continues, "And so I waited... I waited until the twelfth bell when the curse breaks. I never intended to meet her. Duny assures the queen making my eyes find Geralt's for a moment before I turn back to them. "Just to watch her from afar." Duny adds his eyes meeting Pavetta's as she gives him a sad smile.

"Until destiny intervened... and our hearts collided." Pavetta says as she stares deeply into Duny's eyes and I bite my lips as I realized she was admitting to them having premarital relations, which in this world was a big no-no.

"And at dawn, I awoke with her in my arms and me... like this." Duny concludes making my heart hurt for the two of them.

"Who are we to challenge destiny?" Eist questions the queen as he nears her. "Life was saved, debt must be paid, or the whole order of the world falls apart."

"Honor destiny's wish," A man I recognized from earlier as Mousesack speaks, "Or unleash its wrath upon us."

"There is no us!" The queen speaks her voice low and angry. "I bow to no law made by men who never bore a child!" She yells and I nod slightly, the feminist in me agreeing with her. "Is there not a man amongst you who does not cower before destiny?" her eyes turn to fall upon Geralt. "You, Witcher. Who has known monsters of every fang and claw... are you afraid too?"

"No." Geralt answers honestly making the queen smirk. "I've seen mothers lash themselves raw over the death of a child, believing they crossed destiny, ignoring the stench of the fifty other children in the plague cart outside. Destiny, helps people believe there's an order to this horseshit." Geralt finishes and I wince at the memory of seeing it once when I was visiting him in my dreams. "There isn't. But a promise made must be honored. As true for a commoner... as it is for a queen."

The queen's sighs and I find my eyes looking down at the ground in front of me.

"I love Duny, mother." Pavetta speaks. "I will marry him. I will finally be free." I look back up at them as my hand finds Geralt's free one. His fingers intertwine with mine as we continue to listen to them.

All eyes fall on the queen as she hands her sword over to Eist. Tears fill her eyes as she holds her hand out towards Duny and Pavetta. Duny takes it and as the queen pulls him in close, she whispers into his ear. "Here in your destiny." Then she pulls away and all is still for a moment before the queen pulls a dagger from her side and goes to stab Duny only to have Pavetta scream.

"No!" She screams causing everyone in the room to be thrown backways away from her and Duny. Geralt pulls me into his side as he crashes into a pillar. The room was like a hurricane with Pavetta and Duny in the center where it was calm. The windows shatter inward, the shards of glass raining down on the fearful crowd. This was getting more dangerous by the second.

I look around the room to see everyone staring at them in fear and I glance over to see Wanda look from them to me.

"Wanda!" I call to her as I motion for her to use her powers. She nods in understanding and I watch as she creates a forcefield around the chaos of the winds encasing Pavetta and Duny along with it. "Geralt, you have to get me close to them." I cry as the winds start to disappear from around us only being visible and chaotic inside the ball Wanda created.

"No, it's too dangerous." He argues making me narrow my eyes.

"I can't hold it much longer (Name)!" Wanda cries and I can see that holding her forcefield around Pavetta was taking its toll on her.

"Please Geralt!" I beg and he nods. He grabs my shoulders and using his feet puts the against the pillar and pushes.

"Pavetta!" I cry as I near her only to have her ignore me. Wanda falters for a second the strain of holding Pavetta's chaos at bay becoming too much for her, causing a stray piece of glass to hit my face slicing my cheek open. I wince as I feel the blood start to drip down my cheek.

"That's enough (Name)!" Geralt warns from beside me and I feel as he tries to pull me back to safety and I shake my head anger filling my body.

"Pavetta!" I yell anger in my words. "Pavetta! Look. At. Me." I scream out and she does. Our eyes meet and I let out a sigh of relief as I yell, "STOP!"

Pavetta and Duny fall to the floor as the chaos instantly disappears. I watch as Wanda falls into Thor's arm completely spent. He gives me a nod letting me know that she is okay and I instantly feel my knees give out from under me. Geralt's arms wrap around me as he catches me before I can fall. He holds me tight not letting me go.

I look up into his amber eyes to see the anger fill them. His fingers reach up to touch the cut on my face and he groans in anger. Geralt helps me to my feet and I look over to see that the queen has made it to her feet and was closing the distance between her and her daughter. Tears fill the queen's eyes as she wraps her arms around Pavetta holding her tightly.

I look around the room to see everyone returning to their feet. Thor and Wanda walk over to Geralt and I, their eyes focused on the cut on my cheek.

"I'm fine." I whisper to them only to have Wanda to rip a part of her dress and place it on my face.

"I thought your grandmother's gift had skipped you... as it did me. It seems I was wrong. About so many things." The queen says her eyes focused on her daughter. "Destiny has spoken! And I have listened. The Law of Surprise will be honored. Pavetta will marry... Lord Urcheon." The queen announces causing the room to erupt in murmurs.

"React poorly, and you won't just face the Lioness, you will be facing the sea hounds of Skellige. Because queen Calanthe... has agreed to my proposal of marriage." Eist calls out causing the Queen to look at him with a smirk filling her lips.

"There will be two vows here tonight!" Queen Calanthe calls out. "I assume that agreeable."

The lords and princes of the room nod in acceptance of her order.

"Delightful." She adds and I smile softly. Pavetta got her love.

Wanda pulled her hand from my cheek to examine my cut and a sigh of relief leaves her lips.

"It's not that deep, probably won't leave a scar." Wanda reassures making me nod.

I turn to Geralt knowing he wants to scold me but he doesn't. Perhaps it's because of the situation we were in, or perhaps it because of our surroundings. His hand takes mind as he holds it tightly. Candles are soon handed out to everyone. After they are lit everyone makes a circle around the queen and her daughter. Pavetta and Duny are on their knees before Queen Calanthe as they start to take their marriage vows.

"Pavetta." She pauses as she wraps a cloth around her and Duny's joined hands. "Duny. With my blessing. I thee bind."

Calanthe releases their hands and they turn to kiss each other, they kiss sealing their bond, but soon after Duny barks and then starts to growl as he collapses to the floor writhing in pain. Geralt holds me back as I move to help him. We watch as he suddenly turns into a human. His quills replaced by dark curly locks. Duny smiles at Pavetta before he wraps her in his arms and kisses her passionately.

"The Twelfth bell has not yet rung." Pavetta exclaims as she caresses Duny's face.

"What has happened?" Calanthe asks as she stares at the two of them in confusion and shock.

"I think your blessing of this marriage... has fulfilled a destiny." Mousesack announces a smile on his face.

"The curse has been lifted." Calanthe breathes a smirk on her lips.

"This has the makings of my greatest ballad yet." I hear Jaskier say from beside me and I shake my head.

"If you're alive in the morning. Don't..." Geralt pauses as he looks over me to see Jaskier in the eyes of a busty lady. "grope for trout in any peculiar rivers until dawn."

I look from them to Thor who nods slightly and starts to move Wanda toward the exit. We didn't belong here; it was time for us to leave. I go to pull away from Geralt to leave only to have him start to follow me out.

"No, wait! Wait!" I hear Duny call out and I stop in my tracks I turn back to them to see him looking at me. "You and Geralt have saved my life. I must repay you."

I glance up at Geralt unsure of what to say when he speaks, "You've proven yourself to be the kind of man who would do the same for either of us. We want nothing."

"No, please." Duny's eyes fill with sadness. "Please, Geralt of Rivia, and..." He pauses.

"(Name), of Asgard." I answer gripping tightly to Geralt's hand.

"(Name), do not feel like you're doing me a service. I cannot start a new life in the shadow of a life debt." Duny pleads.

"Fine. I..." Geralt starts but I stop him from continuing.

"We, claim the tradition as you have, the Law of Surprise." I say and Queen Calanthe's eyes widen.

"Give us that which you already have but do not know." I add and Geralt turns starting to walk away pulling me along with him.

"No!" I hear Calanthe cry out and I turn back to face her. "What have you done? Who even are you?"

"I am (Name) of Asgard, I am gifted with the gift of persuasion. I hail from a kingdom of gold. I have no intention of ever returning to your castle to claim anything."

"And Fear not Your Majesty, if I am seen in your kingdom again, it'll be to kill a real monster, not lay claim to a crop or a new pup. Destiny can go fu-" Geralt's words are cut short as Pavetta vomits on the floor in front of her.

"Pavetta?" The queen calls as she kneels down at her daughter's side cupping her chin. "Are you..."

They all suddenly turn to look at Geralt and myself.

"Fuck..." Geralt and I exclaim in unison before we turn and walk out of the room, Geralt pausing momentarily to grab his sword from a nearby chair.

We make it to the hall where Thor and Wanda were waiting only for Mousesack to reach us and call out to Geralt.

"Clearly the girl has access to immense primal power." Mousesack calls out causing us to stop moving.

"Yeah, and no idea how to control it." Geralt adds from beside me.

"I'm gonna stay." Mousesack says a smirk on his face. "Guide her."

"You're a good man, Mousesack." Geralt replies a soft smile on his lips.

"You should stay too." Mousesack adds his eyes moving between me and Geralt. "Both of you."

"I can't." I say my brow furrowing.

"This has been enough partying for me. We're getting out of here." Geralt replies to Mousesack as his hand gripping tightly to mine.

"You both are bound to this now. Whether you like it or not." Mousesack adds as he moves closer to us.

"I'm not for changing." Geralt starts giving me a chance to look over at Thor and Wanda who were looking at us with looks of confusion in their eyes. "You know me better than that."

"Yes, I do, but you can't outrun destiny just because you're terrified of it. It's coming, Geralt. Not believing won't change that."

"Bullshit." Geralt argues causing me to look between the two men. "This was just a girl using her magic to stop her mother from gutting her lover. Nothing more."

"So, you say," Mousesack starts. "But the bond that will come into being between the two of you, and this child... When it is born, will be extraordinary."

"Child?!" Wanda exclaims from behind me causing my eyes to widen at her sudden outburst. "(Name), what did you do?"

"Can we talk about this later?" I plead causing Thor to move Wanda down the hall to give the rest of us moment.

"If you both dismiss it, leave without claiming this... Child Surprise, you will surely unleash true calamity upon us all." Mousesack states and I feel my heart clench. I didn't want to hurt anybody.

"I'll take that chance." Geralt concludes making Mousesack sigh. "Mind yourself. True words are rare birds in courts like this. Watch for daggers in your back. Or, more likely, poison." Geralt releases my hand as he reaches up to gently grasp Mousesack's shoulder. "Be careful, old friend."

"Take care of the baby, please." I add as Geralt steps away from him and starts to walk away towards Thor and Wanda. "I don't want to cause any harm to anyone. If I had known I would never have asked for the Law of Surprise. Please, just take care of the baby. I'll try to change his mind."

"I doubt you will be able to change his decision. I will do what I can." He replies and I nod.

"Thank you," I give him a soft smile before I turn and follow after Geralt.

"(Name), explain yourself!" Wanda demands when I reach them.

"Wanda, I didn't do it on purpose. How was I to know Pavetta was pregnant?"

"She's pregnant? What does that have to do with you?" Wanda inquires her eyes narrowing at me.

"Her husband stopped us when we were about to leave, he wanted to repay Geralt and I for saving his life. He wouldn't take no for an answer so... I asked to claim the Law of Surprise. Which means that he gives us that which he has but does not know."

"And that's a child... you laid claim to someone's child?!" She yells out.

"I didn't know that was what I was doing!" I reply matching her tone.

"In her defense," Geralt intrudes pulling her attention to him. "She didn't know, no one did."

"Look you seem like a really good guy, but what she did was stupid. Especially knowing we are going home and not coming back." Wanda concludes making Geralt's brows furrow as he turns to look at me.

"Wanda, can we please talk about this later? I need to talk to Geralt. Please, just give me some time." I beg.

"(Name)," Wanda starts only to have Thor grab her shoulders gently.

"Take your time, we'll meet you back at the pub in the morning." Thor offers pulling Wanda away and down the hall leaving Geralt and myself alone.

I turn back to him to see him looking down at the ground his jaw clenched tightly.