Zireael and Rhena

Ciri awoke the next morning, still tightly holding a sleeping Syanna, who was taking small, labored breaths. Ciri realized she needed to loosen her hold slightly, and was relieved to see Syanna taking bigger, more relaxed, though still quite weak inhalations. She pushed Syanna’s hair off of her forehead and planted a kiss when Annarietta came in, holding a tray of food.
‘Good morning, Ciri… I um prepared breakfast for us all to share.’
‘Anna what time did you wake up? This is a feast!’ Ciri exclaimed, looking at the massive assortment Anna was carrying: breads, cheeses, scrambled eggs, potatoes, fluffy hot cakes, and a smattering of different fruits. It smelled delicious, and Ciri was honestly surprised that Anna knew how to cook given that everything in her life had been served up to her on a silver platter.
‘Yes I know what you are thinking… but Syanna and I used to sneak into the kitchen after our parents went to bed to have all the foods we were not allowed to eat. If we woke the chefs then our parents would find out so we had to learn how to fend for ourselves to remain undiscovered.’
‘Not allowed to eat?’ Ciri was horrified by the notion.
‘Hmm yes our parents did not allow us to eat desserts or cheeses, so as to maintain our womanly figures and that we may be marriage material to some prince down the line. Pretty much all fatty things were not allowed, seafood was considered too dangerous for the royal family, poultry was only served at feasts, pork was too fatty, the list goes on. We essentially were allowed to eat salads, beef from the palace cows (lean cuts only obviously), and other stupid nobility foods that paired well with Sangreal. Though to be fair Sangreal makes anything taste better.’
‘It seems you both had a depressing childhood,’ Ciri said, feeling bad for Syanna’s rough circumstances but also understanding she had significantly more freedoms than Annarietta. The duchess laughed in response. This made Ciri finally take her focus off the food, and noticed that Anna was wearing servant clothes that she no doubt found mixed in with the other linens, a plain white cotton shirt, and brown field pants, an extremely casual look that she wore so nonchalantly, and made Ciri relax, knowing that the duchess could be stripped of her titles and nobility in order to care for her sister.
At the sound of laughter, Syanna began to stir a little, opening her eyes to the sight of her lover and sister sharing a meal together at the foot of the bed.
‘Anna what are you doing here?’ Syanna said, confused, ‘Why are you dressed like that?’
‘Well hello to you too, sleepyhead. I am here to tend to you, dear sister. I can only apologize that I did not come sooner. You were exhausted last night so you probably don't remember me coming in and setting up next to you.’
‘It’s okay… thank you for being here. Ciri can you help me sit up?’
Ciri crawled over to Syanna to help her sit up in bed by sitting behind her and holding her from behind, allowing Syanna to lean back onto Ciri’s chest where she could be supported by her firm embrace and small kisses along her neck. Anna did her part and popped little pieces of bread and cheese into her mouth, along with the occasional grape and small potato. Eating noticeably made Syanna’s condition improve as her gaze was beginning to regain its normal intensity and she began to smile and speak more at a typical volume. But still Ciri could tell it was hard as Syanna would still shake and slump when Ciri was not holding onto her, which she didn’t mind at all, since they spent most of their time like this anyway, holding each other and kissing and eating.
‘Ciri… I talked to Yennefer and BB, and I asked if Syanna and I could stay here while she recovers. They were enthusiastic about this idea, but I wanted to ask you before we make any plans to stay.’
‘Anna of course! But we would not have the same luxuries and comforts of the palace… are you sure you would want to stay here?’
‘It is alarmingly clear to me that we would be safer here, in a smaller estate, surrounded by witchers and sorceresses, than we would at a grand palace, surrounded by non magic wielding guards and stiff rules and regulations about courtly behavior. I should like to help my sister by cooking and cleaning and sleeping by her side, and I would not be able to do this anywhere else. If you really are certain we can stay, then I will send word that I will be absent from court for several months while we rehabilitate Syanna. In my stead I will appoint Damien, who knows how to run day to day operations.’
‘Anna of course, please stay. I too would feel better having Syanna recovering here, next door to Yennefer, Triss, and Philippa. Additionally when Geralt returns from his hunting trip, he of course will offer added protection.’
‘Ah yes I did notice that the lord of the estate was absent, but I am confident in your abilities as well, Ciri, even if I was angry when I first arrived. I trust you with Syanna, and I know that you were ultimately responsible for saving her life.’
Syanna had her mouth full as this conversation was taking place, but simply nodded slowly at the things being said, and Ciri knew that Syanna would have preferred to stay here anyway since she always felt stifled at the palace. What was surprising was that Syanna seemed to agree with Anna staying at Corvo Bianco as well, since she spent most of her time at the palace avoiding her sister.
‘Thank you Anna, I appreciate that, sister,’ Syanna said after finally swallowing her food. ‘It means a lot that you would give up so much responsibility to care for me.’
‘Syanna don’t be ridiculous; you are family and you are the most important thing in the world to me.’
Both of them started to develop tears in their eyes, and Ciri felt her heart swell for her lover, who was just yesterday so broken and close to death, and now very much clinging to life, repairing a relationship that had been almost as dead as she was yesterday.
‘Then it is settled; the three of us will stay here and all improve our constitutions in the countryside, eating to our hearts content, and enjoying the arrival of summer. I heard from BB that this year’s harvest will be divine as well!’ Anna exclaimed, seeming genuinely excited to be able to care for here sister, and Ciri guessed also to get away from the responsibilities of court.
‘This sounds lovely. Though I do have some unfinished business, but that can wait until Syanna is feeling a little better,’ Ciri said distantly, knowing that now that Syanna was going to be okay with time, she had to track down Syanna’s attacker and uncover whatever plot against her lover. Ciri also knew that she would have to wait until Syanna was stronger to press her for the truth of what happened and what part she had to play in the sinister plot against the duchy that Geralt had gotten so mixed up in all those years ago. But perhaps she would be able to ask Anna after Syanna went back to sleep. Thankfully, Ciri did not have to wait long as Syanna began to lean back into Ciri, letting a soft snore escape her lips as her full tummy had sent her into a pleasant after breakfast slumber. Ciri moved aside and set her down gently, tucking her in for a nap and helping Anna clear away the food so that Syanna could rest.
Once they were in the kitchen cleaning up, Ciri had to ask.
‘Anna… I need to track down whoever did this. And to do this, I need to know the truth of what happened. I know Syanna is too weak right now so you have to tell me the truth.’
Anna placed the dishes in the sink and sighed. ‘This is a long story, Ciri. And I am afraid I cannot tell you everything, since only Syanna can tell you what was going through her head at the time. But I do owe you some explanation. Let’s go outside and sit.’
They left the kitchen, bringing a carafe of wine and a bottle of water for Ciri, making their way to the cushioned wicker chairs that BB had set out under the big trees overlooking the vineyard in the back of the estate.
‘I assume you know that there was a vampire terrorizing Beauclair some years ago…’ Anna started, and Ciri nodded. ‘Yes well, it turns out that this vampire was being blackmailed by an unknown rogue to execute gruesome murders of well known knights in Toussaint. Each murder was tied with the hypocrisy of a key chivalric virtue, and each knight was found in a more disgusting condition than the last. We asked Geralt to take the case on, suspecting something magical at play. So he came and unearthed an elaborate plot and case of blackmailing against the vampire committing the crimes. Someone had kidnapped his lover, Rhenawedd, and was pulling strings to force him to kill in order to protect her life. And while nobody could forgive his actions, I could sympathize with this… although my distinct lack of romance in life is another story. Anyway, Geralt’s solution was to free his lover, thereby relieving the vampire of his need to kill. And when Geralt had found and freed his lover, he discovered that his lover was none other than Syanna, pretending to be a woman named Rhenawedd, who did the blackmailing herself and called on the vampire to do her bidding, ultimately resulting in her almost taking my life.’
Ciri was speechless. She knew that Syanna was conflicted, abused, mistreated, all of it. She knew that Syanna was dark and twisted and more, but what she did not expect was that Syanna would even turn against her own sister for the life that her parents could only be to blame for.
‘I understand that you must feel uncomfortable with this, truly I understand. But I only ask that you not judge my sister too harshly, because she had every reason to feel the way she did. Though her actions are inexcusable, I cannot fault her for how she felt.’
‘But how could you forgive the attempt on your life?’
‘I know more than anyone that I failed Syanna. And I would have deserved it more than any of those knights, Ciri. And that weighs on me every single day.’
‘Anna it wasn’t your fault either… I’m not sure who is to blame here.’
‘I stopped asking myself that a long time ago. We were all to blame for how things turned out, but all that matters now is that Syanna has seemed to have softened. And though I know I could never ask for her forgiveness, nor her mine, I appreciate the effort she puts in to sit at my table and eat with me, and I in turn tried to extend her liberties where I could and spend time with her when I am not in court.’
‘I still can’t believe this… and I don’t know if I can forgive her for keeping this from me.’
‘I know, but in her defense I think she is so taken with you that she didn’t want you to see her at her worst so soon, not when she is scared you don’t feel the same.’
‘Well she does not give me many indications that she feels as seriously as I do, not verbally anyway.’
‘Understand that it is hard for Syanna to confess to caring, since every time she does that it is taken from her. The fact that she has stuck around with you for so long says it all. Trust me. For someone so damaged and hurt, this is sometimes the best they can do.’
And with that, Ciri understood. If she really did love Syanna as much as she felt she did, she would have to accept and understand how she was trying her best. Trying to overcome her trauma and come to terms with her actions, while still trying to open herself up to love and a relationship with Ciri must have been weighing on her greatly. And not to mention the fact that she must have a huge target on her back, from both humans and nonhumans alike.
‘Well… yes. Thank you for telling me all this, Anna. I appreciate it. And I think I should also warn you that um… the sorceresses like to get up to… things quite frequently, so if that makes you uncomfortable then it might be advised you wear ear plugs.’
The duchess laughed and replied, ‘Ciri how old do you think I am? I am younger than Syanna but I am not a child. Whatever they do I am certain I can handle it.’
‘Okay well don’t say I didn’t warn you once their strength returns.’
‘Hm well when that happens perhaps I can join them, I need a release too you know.’
Ciri’s eyes bugged out of her face a the thought of her mother figure(s?) and her lover’s sister all getting tangled up in each other, but also noted a distinct feeling of arousal at the thought. Ciri had once been with Triss, many moons ago, and had nothing but positive things to say about it. But now that Triss herself was a mother with Yennefer, it all was a little weird and Ciri tried her best not to think about it. But it also helped that she slept in the barn most of the time, unable to hear Triss moaning through the bedroom walls. But regardless, it would be another weird thing to add Annarietta to the mix.
‘Was being with women another thing that your parents forbade?’
‘Ah yes that more than anything else.’
‘I’m sorry. That must have been hard.’
‘It’s alright. But that is another reason why I want to protect your relationship with my sister as much as possible since I really owe her actually.’
‘Oh?’
‘Yes… Syanna was sent away as a teenager, and I must have been around 15 at the time. But one night we snuck away to attend a soiree at the Mandragora, a fancy house of artists and sex and the like. As was tradition, we both donned masks and entered the party, completely anonymously. And while we were there, incognito, we felt a completely new sense of freedom, being able to abandon our court personalities and sensibilities in order to engage in activities for pleasure, sex being one of the most forbidden things for us…’

*****
As soon as they were admitted into the soiree, Syanna was immediately fawned over by a horde of women, since she was always able to flaunt her dark and mysteriousness, not even five minutes after their arrival she had stolen away to one of the alcoves with five women giggling after her. Anna didn’t follow, but guessed as to what she spent the next hour doing. Anna was much more shy, and took to first eating the forbidden foods that were out on tables in enormous quantities. Then dabbled in various shows and artists that were offering demonstrations and whatnot. But then her entire world fell away as her attentions were centered on the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Even through her mask she could see her radiance, her poise, her figure being hugged by the sheer dress she wore, revealing flawless, olive tanned skin that made Anna’s breath shorten as she looked up and down at the woman in the center of the vast courtyard, right in front of the gigantic fountain. In her hair was a Koviri orchid, a light cream color that contrasted with the deep chestnut brown of this woman’s mane. Oh gods, Anna thought to herself, dear gods this woman. She set everything down on the nearest table and went to this woman. As soon as she was an arms distance away, about to say something, anything to get her attention, Anna’s world fell away again as she opened her mouth and started to sing.
What Anna heard next was the most angelic, beautiful, sensual, and sultry voice she had ever heard. That had to be none other than Cecilia Bellante, the most famous singer in all of Toussaint, Anna thought. She first heard of the young upstart when she heard her father murmuring something about her to some of the men in his study, something about how she was perfect last time, young and fresh, and other disgusting obscenities she was so used to tuning out from her father. And here she was, and as disgusting as her father was, she almost couldn’t help but agree that Cecilia was so ravishing and so full of youth and vibrance that Anna felt guilty over the things she was feeling for such a woman. After all, Anna really only barely considered herself a woman, being only 15 and always being made to do things, never allowed to think for herself. But looking at Cecilia here, though she herself could not be more than a few years older, was so much more of a woman than Anna, with her full hourglass figure, sensual sways of her body and the deep, velvety voice that come from her mouth. Anna was completely enraptured by her performance, so enamored with everything about her, that as soon as she finished, Anna ran up to her to try to speak to her.
‘Please forgive the intrusion, but I have to tell you you are the most beautiful and talented woman in all Toussiant. All the world!’ Anna gushed.
‘My my… aren’t you sweet,’ Cecilia laughed as she put her arm around Anna, ‘Thank you, sweet one. What did you like about the performance?’
‘Everything. Everything. You are complete radiance and your voice is that of another world. My entire world fell away watching you, that was just amazing.’
‘Haha slow down, little one, I might think you were coming on to me if not for you being so young.’
Anna realized how pathetic she must have sounded and immediately closed her mouth and looked down in shame. But Cecilia picked her chin up in her hand and planted a soft, wet kiss on her cheek. ‘I don’t mind you coming on to me, but please tell me you are not more than two years younger than me…’
Anna quickly lied ‘I am 17 I assure you. Just a late bloomer.’
‘Ah great fortune only a year younger than me! Come with me, and let’s stop by the food tables to grab a bottle of wine hm?’
Cecilia grabbed Anna’s hand, which made her gasp and blush as she was being led by the older girl across the courtyard to the food to grab the wine, and then to a private alcove up the stairs looking out over the courtyard. Ha, Anna thought to herself, quality over quantity since Syanna may have had five girls in one of the lower alcoves, I will have the finest lady of all in a private alcove above everyone else.
Anna was feeling cocky at this, but extremely nervous in all other aspects. This would be the first time she had ever had sex with a woman, or at all as a matter of fact. Kissing the other girls of nobility in the backrooms during a long, boring feast was one thing, but this was something else entirely. Anna was shaking and her hands were completely cold, as she timidly followed Cecilia into the alcove, parting the sheer curtains and being led into a cozy, room with a huge bed on the ground, surrounded by pillows and candles that were lit all along the walls on the ground.
‘Shall I pour the wine, sweet one?’ Cecilia said, her back turned to a nervous Annarietta.
‘Y—Yes please,’ Anna stuttered back.
‘Hm a little nervous? First time?’ Cecilia still looked down at the wine.
’N—No, I have been with plenty others, just none as beautiful or radiant as you,’ Anna tried to recover.
‘Haha smooth still, even though you seem to be shaking like a leaf, little one,’ Cecilia finally turned back around, sensually taking a sip of wine into her mouth while offering Anna a glass with her other hand. ‘Do you wish to leave?’
With that, Anna was tired of being looked at like a little girl. She wanted Cecilia, there was no question about it. She walked over and planted a kiss with her cold, shaking lips on Cecilia’s as Cecilia giggled a low and sultry moan into Anna’s mouth as she began to undo Anna’s hair so she could rake her fingers through the young duchess’s long dirty blonde locks.
‘So pretty,’ Cecilia moaned into Anna’s ear as she began to kiss along the side of her neck, taking Anna into a firmer embrace, squeezing her tightly against her. Anna instinctually mirrored what Cecilia did, letting down the older woman’s hair and holding her back just as tightly as she felt Cecilia’s warm mouth kissing and sucking on her sensitive skin that nobody had ever touched before this way. Cecilia slowly started to undo Anna’s dress, unbuttoning every single button in the ridiculous line of buttons that fastened Anna’s dress in the back that stretched from her hips to the base of her neck. She was going so slowly, kissing Anna’s neck and collarbone and shoulder all the while, as Anna started moaning and feeling the warmth returning to her body. She was turning more flush with arousal with every pop of a button, and eventually, Cecilia reached the top, now the only thing holding Anna’s dress up was how tightly they were embraced. Cecilia peeled herself away from Anna to allow the dress to fall to her ankles, leaving Anna completely stark naked in front of the singer.
‘No undergarments…? How can someone that shows up to the Mandragora wearing nothing underneath her dress be so nervous?’ Cecilia whispered into Anna’s ear while biting her cartilage and sticking her tongue into her ear. Anna moaned and shivered as Cecilia began to again wrap her arms around her.
‘I guess I was hoping to see you, but now that I have met you you seem to have completely exceed my expectations,’ Anna managed to get out, breathlessly as she felt her pleasure spike as Cecilia bit down on her pulse point, sucking and biting the tender flesh. She started to undo Cecilia’s dress, her fingers regaining some warmth and feeling increasingly more sure of herself. Thankfully Cecilia’s dress was just loosely tied together in the back, so simply undoing the already loose bow liberated Cecilia from her dress as soon as Anna pulled away to let the singer’s dress fall. In a dress, Cecilia’s body was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, but before her, naked, vulnerable but proud, Cecilia was truly divine. Anna was melting, and her desire was exploding in her pleasure as she looked at the flawless woman in front of her.
Cecilia gave a sultry half smile and reached out to grab Anna’s hand and lead her to the bed. Anna wanted to worship her, but Cecilia had other plans as she sat on the edge of the bed, pulling Anna into her arms, still standing, as Cecilia kissed her stomach, dipping her tongue in Anna’s navel, grabbing her ass possessively, whispering and muttering about how beautiful the young duchess looked with under the moonlight pouring through the alcove’s clear skylight in the ceiling. Anna took Cecilia’s head in her hands, tenderly stroking her hair as she kissed her way around Anna’s midsection. Eventually Anna couldn’t take it any longer and pushed Cecilia back onto the bed, mounting her and kissing her again, relishing the feeling of their lips finally being on each other’s again.
Anna couldn’t get enough of her lips, her tongue, even her teeth as Cecilia would peel away to occasionally bite Anna on her bottom lip. It was torturous how neither would move to touch the other’s sex, both of them biding their time and pouring their hearts and souls into just kissing and letting go. Anna had so much to release, all of the forbidden feelings towards women, all of the forbidden activities of pleasure for its own sake, all of the hidden desires she had ever had were being released in this moment, into the lovely and talented and perfect Cecilia Bellante. What a gift, Anna thought, what a marvelous gift to be here with her, reveling in her gift and her beauty. Finally, Anna made the slightest motion down to kiss all over Cecilia’s breasts, savoring how her taut nipples felt on her tongue and between her teeth, letting her hands explore the singer’s body ahead of her mouth, feeling ever so lightly above Cecilia’s sex, noticing how wet the singer was and how Anna was feeling the same slickness forming between her own thighs.
But such a moment could not be savored for Cecilia immediately threw Anna on her back and wasted no time in getting her head between Anna’s legs and into her pussy. Parting Anna’s lips apart and drinking her juices, Anna was shocked into orgasm already, screaming as Cecilia was expertly licking around Anna’s clitoris. Anna, feeling everything for the first time, could not hold on for long as she grabbed Cecilia’s hair and tumbled into her first ever orgasm, being surprised at how much tension was released as her body shook and she began to squirt. Cecilia kept going, and Anna felt a second release coming and coming again, until the singer finally came up for air, wiping the cum off her chin, smiling and returning to kiss the young duchess. Anna wanted to do the same, but Cecilia prevented her from parting their lips and breaking off their kiss, thus Anna returned the favor and pinned her to the bed, still keeping her mouth on Cecilia’s and began to enter her slit with her fingers. Cecilia’s moans made Anna shiver with pleasure as she felt her pride swell again for bedding this amazing woman and making her feel such pleasure. Then it was Cecilia’s turn to climax as she grabbed Anna’s arm tightly and moaned into her mouth, still not breaking their kiss as Anna felt the singer’s pussy pulsate around her fingers, producing more cum than even Anna had.
They were both in supreme ecstasy, and both of them realized they still were wearing their Mandragora masks. Giggling, Anna pushed Cecilia’s off, revealing the rest of the singer’s flawless face, high cheekbones, and a thick, mature brow above her piercing blue eyes. When it was Anna’s turn, Cecilia had just peeled off Anna’s mask to reveal the duchess, which forced a gasp to escape Cecilia’s lips as the sounds of screams erupted from the courtyard.
Cecilia quickly leapt up, with Anna close behind, both of them hastily putting their clothes back on as they looked down into the courtyard to see palace guards dragging Syanna out of her alcove, naked, by her hair, the women she was with were knocked out on the ground.
The guard holding Syanna’s head yelled out, ‘WHERE IS THE OTHER SISTER. WHERE IS THE DUCHESS?’
Syanna, bloodied, but still awake screamed, ‘PLEASE I CAME ALONE SHE IS NOT HERE. I SWEAR TO YOU SHE IS NOT HERE.’
‘We know she left the palace with you, you whoring cunt, now tell us where she is. Your father will have your head for this betrayal… Anna Henrietta would have no exposure to this disgusting whorish life if not for you. NOW TELL US WHERE SHE IS OR SO HELP ME I WILL PUMMEL YOU TO THE GROUND YOU BITCH.’
Syanna didn’t respond and simply spit in the guards face. Anna, panicking, kissed Cecilia with tears in her eyes and apologized for everything. Cecilia kissed her back hesitantly, not knowing what to do or how to feel, but Anna knew she needed to help Syanna. She ran down the stairs to stop anything from happening, but it was too late. The guards had taken their turns beating on the naked Syanna, and when Anna finally appeared, they simply grabbed her by the arms and escorted her into the carriage waiting outside, while one guard threw the unconscious Syanna over his shoulder and threw her on the back of his horse. Anna was writhing in protest, tears streaking down her face as she watched her naked, bloodied, unconscious sister being treated like an animal, and when they finally got back to the palace, the guards threw Syanna down in the middle of the palace grounds where their father was waiting, and two guards escorted Anna upstairs. Anna was scared for Syanna, who was already on the verge of either getting exiled or executed, but the guards kept their firm grip on Anna’s arms, despite all her screaming and thrashing. They practically carried her to her room and locked her inside, and from Anna’s tall window, she could not see what they were doing to Syanna outside, and Anna eventually fell asleep at her window, tired from straining to see, the trauma she had just experienced, and her first sexual experience. All of it would be forever bound in blood, she thought. She would never indulge herself like this again. She would never look at another woman again. And she would never ever put Syanna at risk again.
*****

Ciri was crying as she listened to Annarietta’s story. She and Syanna had both endured so much it was all too much for Ciri to bear. Anna concluded by saying ‘The next morning when I woke up, Syanna was gone, her room was completely empty, and I never saw her again and everyone acted like she never existed. I died that morning. I locked myself in my room for the next year after that, refusing to get out of bed and barely eating or sleeping. And I never saw Cecilia either, until that one night Geralt and I had to return to the Mandragora to attempt to catch the vampire’s blackmailer, who turned out to be working for Syanna, and ended up murdering Cecilia. I had arrived just in time to see her throat slit as she lay on the ground of the very same alcove she shared with me. Haha life is funny, huh?’ Anna was wiping her own tears away as she laughed at her tragedy. Ciri hugged her and cried into her shoulder, and Anna hugged her back, crying, sobbing, ‘I know it is my fault Syanna went away. They always blamed her for my misdeeds and my attraction to women, all of it. So I know I am responsible for her protection and wellbeing.’
‘No Anna how could that be your fault? You deserve happiness too, Anna. You really do. You have endured so much.’
‘Thank you, Ciri, but for now I am happy enough that Syanna is safe,’ Anna replied before getting up to stretch her legs. ‘Enough crying, gods that was ages ago. Come, let’s prepare lunch for Syanna, no doubt she will be hungry when she wakes up.’
And with that, the Duchess of Toussaint shook off all of her pain and went into the kitchen to prepare lunch for her sister, Ciri tagging along close behind.