The Witcher - As Uchiha Madara! - Chapter 237 - The Banquet of Skellige 01.

[Chapter Size: 1900 Words.] Third Person POV Skellige. ... ... They continued entering the place through the same corridor they had taken th

[Chapter Size: 1900 Words.]
Third Person POV

Skellige.

...

...

They continued entering the place through the same corridor they had taken the first time they came to meet King Bran.

Geralt came right behind them, but his gaze fell on the two with a questioning gleam.
‘Something changed between them... they seem more comfortable in each other's presence...’ Geralt couldn't help but notice how they seemed lighter, almost like it was natural for them to be touching.

Maybe that's why it made him think there hadn't been anything like that between them before, which was a bit strange, but he seemed to have gotten over it by now.
Which made him think. ‘What happened while they were out there?’ he wondered.

There were four castle guards standing at the entrance, while a man holding a piece of paper was probably the master of ceremonies.

“Ah! Platinum hair, black hair, and very well dressed! You must be the two the king was waiting for.” the man said upon seeing them.

“Looks like they were expecting us after all.” Ciri chuckled.

“And how could we not? You two disappeared the whole day.” Geralt spoke from behind them with a still displeased tone.

“We were taking care of some very important matters, father.” Ciri replied, giving Geralt a playful look.

He made a face, still not used to her addressing him that way—it was both comforting and uncomfortable at the same time. He needed to ask Yennefer's opinion as soon as they entered that hall.

“I'll announce your names now.” The Master of Ceremonies was about to act immediately.

“Wait. We'd like a more discreet entrance. I don't want our names announced to the entire hall—we’d be swarmed with questions, and for now, we just want to find our friends.” Madara interjected before the man could really proceed.

“Well... if that’s what you wish, I only ask that you present yourselves to King Bran. He personally asked me to look for you outside the hall. He was certainly worried when your friends couldn’t say where you were.” he warned without resistance. He also seemed to know he was in front of important people, even though he didn’t quite know who they were, apart from some rumors going around the castle claiming the girl was a princess.

“What happened to the idea of not hiding anymore?” Ciri teased Madara.

“You know everyone will try to talk to us the moment we walk into that hall with our names announced.” Madara said, while she nodded, agreeing with his reasoning.

The sound was quite loud, and they could hear a lot behind the door they stood before. The banquet was full of music, shouts, and laughter.

The Master of Ceremonies nodded and gave a signal to the four guards, who went to the enormous handle and began to pull, the light from inside the hall revealing itself to them as the scenery unfolded before their eyes.

There were many tables spread throughout the place, with various people gathered around them, talking and drinking, some even seeming a bit hostile.

There were drinking competitions, while the men of Skellige, mostly with thick arms and bellies and hairstyles very reminiscent of vikings, even had women among them competing like the men.

There were even people playing Gwent. Madara and Ciri stood there, taking in the scene, and followed their gaze toward the center of the hall.

A huge bonfire had been set up in the middle of the place, with people roasting at least three boars and a bull while the servants distributed them among the tables along with drinks.

There was a band playing in one of the corners of the hall and further ahead, near the main table where the king, his family, and Mousesack sat, nearby, a table with Yennefer, Dandelion, Crouch with his children, and Zoltan were there laughing.

Geralt approached them. “Come on. They're waiting for you.” he said with a nod, starting to move.

“Good luck, don’t forget to see King Bran first.” The Master of Ceremonies seemed intent on making sure they did that after canceling the announcement of their names.

“Looks lively.” Ciri sounded excited.

“Were you expecting a Cintra party, full of pompous nobles trying to gain your grandmother’s favor?” Madara said as they walked through the doors.

The people around them noticed their presence as soon as the doors opened, but Geralt seemed even more recognizable than the two of them, as they could hear the witcher’s name being spoken from their lips, perhaps because it had been announced earlier, while those who noticed the pair were certainly whispering in search of information, not recognizing them.

But they could tell the two were quite important, and the pendant on Ciri’s chest was not something anyone else there could have.

“Dinners weren't always bad. There were some where a few murders happened, and they needed Madara Uchiha’s services to investigate, others we danced a lot.” Ciri said with a silly smile.

“But I like this kind of atmosphere more. I remember it being like this until I was five when I visited the isles. Seems it hasn't changed.” Ciri finished.

“Let’s see the king then, the man didn’t leave and is waiting for us to do just that. After that, we’ll head to our friends’ table.” Madara said, and Ciri agreed.

They proceeded with Ciri still keeping her arm linked with Madara’s during the walk to the main table, on their way to meet Bran.

Geralt followed them, constantly being called by someone who knew him. “He seems very popular.” Ciri commented, glancing at the witcher's uncomfortable face.

He was dressed quite well, with his hair tied back and noble shoulder-padded clothes that were a bit exaggerated—something Madara didn’t like to wear, although Ciri said it wasn’t ugly.

He always preferred less flashy clothes, favoring discreet-colored noble doublets without extra air volume in the shoulders or anything like that.

Ciri wore her blue dress with her hair down, but part of it was tied in the back, leaving a braid behind her head. She also wore blue flats.

Madara, wearing his black doublet with some details, kept his hair tied back in a ponytail. His hair was getting longer, now past his neck and already down to his back.

He was gradually adopting the adult Madara Uchiha hairstyle. Though it had a lot of volume in the front, Ciri always said she liked his hair and had never complained about wanting to see it grow.

Madara had thought that this style, being more realistic, might look a bit bad with the expected large Uchiha hair, but it wasn’t looking bad at all, and he could feel many female gazes on him whenever he showed his face in public, which made Ciri uncomfortable.

Though they were receiving exactly that in this moment as they walked through the hall drawing attention with Ciri, she didn’t seem as bothered as before—she seemed much more confident now, making Madara wonder if it was because of the conversation they had earlier that day, possibly the most important one they’d ever had together.

He also felt they were more connected—it was so natural that they didn’t even seem to notice it.
Perhaps sharing secrets Madara never intended to tell anyone since coming to this world had been liberating, when he had finally shown who he truly was.

And he could see that Ciri felt the same way, perhaps happy that he trusted her that deeply, even after everything she had been through.
She had handled it well despite the sadness, frustration, and even fear that came with multiple revelations—and now she seemed much better.

They walked around the bonfire and made their way to the main table while Yennefer and the others noticed them for the first time.
The two smiled casually as they greeted them with a silent wave.

Geralt ended up sitting in front of Yennefer, watching them as they passed and went toward the main table.

“They just arrived now...” she said in a questioning tone to Geralt and seemed a bit disappointed by their lateness, but her eyes had a gleam as she looked at the young couple.
“But they look different... did something happen?” she asked, also sensing the different atmosphere between the two.

“They didn’t give me any details... but yes... something happened. But they seem happy... Ciri...”
He seemed hesitant to explain how Ciri had changed her behavior.
“She’s calling me father...” he said, looking a bit embarrassed, while Yennefer’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Really?!” She sounded skeptical—Ciri had never shown that, even though their relationship had always been just that.

“Yes, twice. Let’s wait for them to come back so we can talk more.” Geralt said as his friends called him, though he still wanted to see the interaction between the king and the two.

“So, you think he can’t fight?” King Bran asked in a serious tone.

“Of course I can, father!” the young man said before his mother could answer her husband.

“You're still too young! I won’t let you take part in this.” the king’s wife said with a glare full of anger at her son.

“I did exactly the same thing when I was your age. You're overreacting.” the king said in a stern tone.

“You intend to send your heir into this madness?! Bran, you’re being ridiculous—the boy doesn’t have to be like you.” the woman replied.

“Heir? The throne of Skellige has no heir, Birna! When I die, it won’t be Svanrige who takes the throne. A new ruler will be chosen by the main men of Ard Skellige.” Bran said with a serious tone.

“They have to choose your son.” The queen sounded quite convinced of her words.

The king was about to respond to Birna and her delusions of gaining power, but he soon saw the two young ones approaching with the royal guards moving to stop them.

“Ah! You’ve finally arrived—let them come to my table!” King Bran exclaimed loudly, making the entire main table and many others turn their eyes toward the approaching couple.

“Hello, Uncle Bran!” Ciri smiled brightly, with the king himself having asked her to call him that.
Though informal and even a little disrespectful, Bran didn’t mind—it had been Eist, his younger brother, who raised her in Cintra alongside Calanthe, so to him, Ciri was family until his death.

“My girl, you look wonderful. Your grandmother would be delighted to see you now. And that necklace... is that the same one Calanthe used to wear?”
King Bran looked surprised, chuckling a bit, setting aside all his conversation with his wife to speak with the two.

“Yes, Madara gave it to me earlier today. My grandmother left it for me before the battle against Nilfgaard.” Ciri said as the king nodded.

“I see... in any case, you two seemed busy to be arriving only now. Were you exploring Ard Skellige?” he asked with a laugh.

“We explored a bit, yes. We killed a cyclops that was stealing cows from a farm near the center of the island.” Ciri replied.

“A cyclops?! Just the two of you, really?!” He seemed surprised.

“Of course, it was actually pretty easy, to be honest. We’re good at killing giant monsters. We’ve fought everything from giant worms to dragons.” Ciri said, still sounding excited.

The king looked stunned for a moment, wondering whether she was telling the truth or not, but then smiled.
“So you've had many adventures together. Why not join us? I’m sure my son could learn from other young people with stories like yours.” the king asked, still wearing his cheerful smile.

“We can, but could we greet our friends first?” Madara was the one who spoke, and the king didn’t seem offended by the refusal.

“But of course. Geralt and Yennefer were almost chasing you out of the banquet anyway. In any case, make yourselves at home. This banquet is in honor of your future union—to show that Skellige sees you as friends.” King Bran said, though it was much more about Ciri than Madara—not that the latter was offended by it.

“Thank you.” Ciri said, about to walk away.

“Wait! We need an announcement.” the king requested as Ciri looked at Madara, then back at the palace men, as the music quieted down.

“Today, I wish to announce the marriage between Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, the Princess of Cintra, and Madara Uchiha, the powerful warrior we've all heard so much about in recent years.

So I would like to dedicate this feast directly to the young couple—so that they remember Skellige will always see them as friends, from this day until my last! I give them a warm welcome, and may everyone here share my sentiments!”

He announced as everyone listened to the king, murmurs and comments filling the hall as all eyes turned to Madara and Ciri.

“Looks like our discretion just got destroyed.” Ciri stepped closer to Madara, laughing.

“It’s not like no one would’ve found out later anyway. We can survive this. At least we made it to the main table, don’t you think?” Madara smiled, and the two walked toward Geralt’s table as the music returned to the hall.