Ciri giggled when he answered her rhetorical question, and nodded. "Well, yeah, but I like swords!", she said, looking up at him almost with the same look of childlike adoration and trust she looked at Geralt with. She nodded as he told her to not expect it too soon.


"No matter!", she said eagerly. "Just take your time. Rather make it good than make it fast, I mean. The best swords can take ages to make, Geralt told me".
Moving on to something also quite pleasant, namely her birthday, she got both giddy - at the thought of birthday celebrations - and melancholic at the thought of those she'd likely never again celebrate it with. But she did answer the question:

"I was born on Belleteyn", she proclaimed proudly, then chuckled apologetically when she realized that'd mean nothing to him, "I mean, on April 30th. It hadn't yet become day at the second day of Belleteyn, so I assume it's April 30th and not May 1st", she explained, figuring out why he asked, and absolutely giddy at the thought of maybe getting a sword of her own for her birthday! She didn't count on it. And again, she would rather that he take his time and make it mastercrafted, than make it quickly.



Eventually the day did turn to bedtime, and this time Ciri didn't protest. The energy from the drink had given her a temporary boost, but as with many other such boosts, the backburner is no joke, and when the effects wore off, she was dead tired, so she went to bed when he told her to without protest this night, thinking to herself that today had been a great day when she got under the covers!

SHe awoke a few hours later, at the sound of something in the walls. She knew intellectually that it was nothing to be too worried about, or Daniel would have told her, but her reptile brain had been conditioned by the escape from Cintra and the teachings she'd received at Kaer Morhen, to react to suspicious sounds. So she went from fast asleep to instantly awake and alert in chilling time.
She quickly got dressed and put shoes on, then headed downstairs to get the wooden sword she'd practised with earlier that day. She was certain it'd be enough. There were no monsters, and any beast dangerous enough to be a thread worthy of a real sword, Daniel would have warned her about, she was certain.
So she headed out the door as quietly as she could, and tried to stalk her prey. She had not received the mutations, but she had paid very close attention to Geralt's and Vesemir's lessons on tracking one's prey, and she kept herself as low as possible to try to see if she could track the beast by sound.

So that should be enough time to get the sword ready. And of course he'll make sure it's his best work. Today's bedtime going without protest shows exactly what's needed to deal with Ciri. Just make her tired. Tired Ciri is behaving Ciri.



Daniel is tired too, though, the crowds in the shopping center and having to keep an eye on Ciri all the time drained him completely, and he's asleep the moment he closes his eyes. It only last a few peaceful hours, though, until a guest wakes him up. This one is well known, or at least Daniel expects it to be. He's never actually seen the beast making noises in the walls and under the roof, but it must be some sort of a ferret or weasel or something like that. It's been visiting for a long time now, Daniel got used to it and even given it a name. So he just turns on the other side and closes eyes again, almost falling asleep instantly, when an intrusive thought rings the alarm again.


Ciri doesn't know about this nightly visitor. "Oh, for fuck's sake..." Daniel growls, getting out of the bed slowly and walks to Ciri's room. Doors open, bed empty, Ciri nowhere to be seen. "Fuck." She either got scared, panicked and he'll find her cowering somewhere, or she decided to go and talk to the intruder. The former is highly unlikely, though. So she'll be stalking the poor animal...looking out of the window, he can't see anything, so he just pulls on some pants, shirt and shoes and walks out. Yep, doors open, her shoes missing, and also the sword. What the fuck does she need the sword for? Daniel makes a note to talk to her about using her real sword, once she gets it. He looks around, but no Ciri in sight.



"Fucking brat, just wait till I get my hands on you..." Daniel mutters. He could just let her get on with it, of course, it's unlikely her or Milos are about to come to any harm, but he wouldn't feel right, getting back to bed, with Ciri stalking the roof, sword in hand....

Ciri had almost caught up with the creature, which she had not seen before. She raised her sword to strike, when a sudden "loud", by comparison, noise behind her apparently spooked the thing. It jolted up, looked at her and ran as fast as its little legs could carry it. She sighed. Well, mission accomplished....for the moment at least. She turned around and saw Daniel standing there. The noise had been his footsteps appraoching.


"That was loud enough to wake the dead", she smirked, playing on a phrase Geralt had once used about her stomach when she'd insisted on training even though her stomach was growling with an equal volume. "I don't know what that thing was, but I was just about to get it when you scared it away. It'll likely be back. I don't know if it can get through the wall and into the house to get to our food supplies; I don't know how strong its teeth or claws are. But I would rather not have taken any chances."

She sighed again. "Guess it'll be back. I'll get it next time", she smiled and then put the wooden sword under her arm, heading back towards the door, her aim being to go back to bed. "What are you doing up, anyway?", she asked as she headed for the entrance. "I thought you were fast asleep". His appearance had indeed surprised her, though not - except for the fact that it had interrupted the hunt - been an unpleasant one. "Are you often plagued by these creatures?", she asked curiously. "Shame there are no witchers here", she grinnned.

His mild anger is disarmed instantly, when Ciri turns around and acts like all is completely normal and is not at all worried to see him there, acting like she just went to get a drink and now is her way to bed, nothing out of the ordinary. The 'what the hell are you doing outside with a sword at this hour' disappears.


"Oh yeah, he'll be back. I call him Milos. He's sort of a ferret or something like that. Annoying, dumb, but he'll probably die soon. He's been coming for...fifteen...years..." Daniel stops, realizing that this probably won't be the same animal. "I guess there's a whole line of them." He admits.


"Anyway, he's harmless. They eat chicken eggs and such. None of my concern, if neighbors want him dealt with, they can stalk him themselves. Or hire a witcher." By now, Daniel realizes he has completely lost the initiative and any discipline dished out at this point would more likely meet with offense taken, rather than lesson learned.


"He woke me up as well, usually I just ignore him, but since you're here, I was kinda...concerned...what your reaction would be. So I went to check." He walks back with Ciri, without as much as mentioning she should be in bed right now. This is gonna make a nasty precedent when she's like, fifteen, sixteen and sneaking in from some illegal party.



"I'm off to bed then. Try not to stalk the rooftops with a sword, okay? It could cause comment." So much for 'just wait till I get my hands you...' he thinks, as he heads to bed.

Ciri couldn't help but giggle cutely as she saw the cogwheels of his mind turning as the realization that this would likely not be the same animal that'd been coming around for so long, dawned on him.

"Well, if they wanna hire a witcher, let's send them to the forest and wait for a gust of wind", she joked as she headed inside, then looked back at him curiously.

"You're not concerned with wild animals breaking into your pantry and stealing our food?", she asked, someone puzzled, as that had been a mainstay of worries of common people where she'd come from. The worst they had to deal with at Kaer Morhen in that regard was cats.



__________________________________





A few days later, Ciri was met at the breakfast table by a package, and she grinned. It was apparently tthe clothes they'd ordered for her, and she exitedly rushed to her room and began to sort it. It didn't take long before it was all done, and the "best" of the hand-me-downs had also been saved.
There was no more clothes, so why was the box still not feeling empty?
She looked into it and let out a squee of exitement as she picked up that doll she'd noticed, but hadn't dared to presume to get. She was so happy! She hadn't known at first, the night she'd seen it, why it had elicited such a desire in her, but now she knew, as if from muscle memory:
This doll was very similar to a doll she'd had as a little girl, at Cintra, before the world fell apart and changed. Except much more detailed. She sniffled as she caressed its cheek, then carefully put it down and almost flew down the stairs hugging him tightly, not giving a single thought to the coffee he was currently drinking. Nor, really, noticing it.

"THANK YOU!", she exclaimed in a high-pitched exited voice, and she was giddy with exitement. After a few moments, she let him go and sat down across from him, still smiling ear to ear.


"I hadn't dared to get it", she began. "I didn't want to burden you more than necessary. But the reason I noticed it is that....that it reminded me of a doll I had when I was a child", she said, seriously, as if she didn't consider herself a child anymore . "I didn't bring it when I had to flee Cintra. I had almost forgotten it, when I saw that on the strange device we used. Thank you", she looked at him with deep affection and gratitude, before she began eating her breakfast.



_________________________________________


Some five days later, Ciri had seen a lot of firsts. She'd been reluctant to do so, but she had eventually gone out into the village on her own, very quickly encountering some of the other children. Word had spread very rapidly in such a small place, and she was almost overcome with the attention lavished upon her, not to mention the questions. She stuck to the cover story very well, making sure to darken her tone and expression when conversation fell upon the subject of "her mother", and thankfully most almost instantly changed the subject to get away from the awkwardness.


The fifth night, Friday, she and Renata were "hanging out", they'd say - "playing" grownupss would say - in the area around Renata's house. It was a good place, with hills and tall grass to hide in. Ciri was trying to teach Renata how to draw, as it turned out that her own drawing skills were supposedly better than expected, and she wanted to help her friend learn too. She took so much pride and joy in this, that she didn't notice the passing of time. It was only when Renata's mom came and called her in, that Ciri had a horrible realization. It was much, much later than Daniel had told her to be back!
She said goodbye to Dina, and hurried home, running as fast as her little legs could carry her, then opened the door.


"Uhm...h...hi", she said sheepishly, then continued. "S...sorry, we....we lost track of time."

Daniel's peacefully looking out the window, sipping his coffee, when Ciri run in and hugs him out of nowhere talking about...a doll? It takes him a second to recall that indeed, when they were shopping, he added it to the cart. Poor kid doesn't really have any toys, and she stared at it for so long, he just had to. It was clear she didn't want to ask for anything that's not strictly necessary. And so he manages to control the cup without spilling and coffee and returns the hug, smiling.


"I'm glad you like it." He says, as they sit down to breakfast. So far, it's going well...




_____________________________


That miight not be said for five days later, when Daniel stands in the kitchen looking at the clock. Ciri went out, looking for adventure and possibly new friends, but she was also supposed to be home when he told her to be. It's more than an hour later, and it's becoming clear someone will be eating her dinner standing up. He's not concerned about any danger, there's none to be had in this place, and of course, soon enough, he can see her through the window, running home.



"Oh, look who graced us with her presence." At least she has the sense not to sneak in and apologize for being late right at the entrance. "Dinner was supposed to be an hour ago." He says calmly. In fact, he's not angry at all, and completely understands why she's late and all that, but he also said to be on time and by now, Ciri knows quite well what the consequences will be.



"Found a couple new friends, did you? Okay, I'm happy about that, but you were also supposed to be home on time." Daniel pulls up a chair to the middle of the kitchen and gets a spoon from the cupboard. "Come here. What exactly did I tell you, when you were going out?" He asks sternly, as he sits down, ability which he's about to take away from Ciri for a little while...

Ciri cringed at his sarcastic remark. She deserved that, she supposed. She was about to apologize again, when he pointed out when dinner was.


"I...I'm sorry", she said. "I...I didn't notice how late it was..."


When he pointed out that she was also supposed to be home on time, Ciri nodded. "I know...", she said quietly. "Me and Renata were pla....hanging out, and I was teaching her how to draw, and we just didn't realize how late it was, and I'm sorry", she finished, not realizing that she ranted a bit there.


She watched him a bit confused as he put up a chair and went to grab a spoon, but when he said down, told her to come over, and rhetorically asked her what he'd said when she left, the little girl paled, and her hands flew back to her butt, even though she did come closer as he ordered.

"T...to be home on time", she admitted, and then added "But I'm really sorry, and I won't be late again, I promise!" she countered his unspoken point. She gave him the "puppy dog eyes" as she stood next to him, whimpering, remembering the last time she'd spent some time over his knee, and how horrible that had been. "Please don't spank me!", she pleaded. "I won't forget again, I promise!"

When she realized that it was no use to try to talk her way out of her bottom-warming, she sobbed, and began to lower herself over his knee, the chair high enough that she couldn't reach the floor either with her hands or her feet; feet which she noticed peaking out the other side of the chair as she hung her head in painful, dreaded anticipation.

While she's trying to talk her way out of this, Daniel notices how reluctant she is to admit she was playing and decides to get to the bottom of it sometimes. For now, he needs to deal with her being late, but the puppy eyes make it exceedingly difficult. The pleading doesn't make it any easier for him, and if he hadn't already declared what's going to happen, he could, possibly, be persuaded to relent.



She gives up on her pleading moments before he reaches out, so he just helps her over his knee, realizing the chair is too high for her. Well, she'll live. He'll just have to hold her in place a bit firmer. Soon, she's in position and there's nothing to stop him, even though, once he again, he feels like a total bastard, even though it's necessary.



"Too late for that, Ciri. And you can bet if any of your friends were late like this, same fate would be awaiting them at home." Daniel says, as his palm starts landing on her backside, for now leaving pants in place. He can't blame her for saying whatever she thinks might get her out of this it's only natural.

Ciri gasped as she felt his hand on her butt again. Her pants still up, but she had a sickening feeling that this was not going to last. She felt herself pinned firmly in place, so that she couldn't really move. She reached her hand back to try to cover her butt after the fifth or so smack, when the sting started to spread slowly. Not at wildfire-levels yet - that would surely come later - but very much still a harsh reality she didn't want to live in.

"Please don't!", she pleaded "Auu!", for the moment more in shock and surprise at the stinginess of each smack, than in pain.

When he did eventually take her pants and panties down, she gave him a final pleading look "I've learned, I have!", she promised. "I won't be late again, please!"
Little did it help, and back over the knee she went, this time with no protection for her backside, and when the spanking resumed, it was much, much, MUCH worse.

"Auu!", she complained again, struggling as hard as she could and kicked her legs wildly, obviously to no avail as the spanking continued without interruption, and she felt herself more and more losing it as the sting, pain and embarassment of her situation truly set in.

Despite the pleading, pants go down and sound of slaps on her bare, quickly reddening backside gets louder. Struggling, kicking wildly, all to be expected, but he can't really let her do that. Daniel knows better than to actually require her to take her spanking without it, so in a quick move, he restrains Ciri's legs with one of his and applies a bit more pressure to her back, making her butt stick out more, an easier target. While the spanking is of course painful and uncomfortable, just as it should, it would be outright cruel to require her to fully cooperate.

"I certainly hope you'll keep it mind next time. I don't mind if you're a couple minutes later, but more than an hour, that'll definitely make sure you won't be sitting comfortably for a time." As he speaks, he gets into a sort of comfortable - at least for him, predictable tempo of spanking, with just enough force behind his slaps so he can keep it up for a long time, without doing any real harm, while making sure it's a memorable occasion for Ciri, her butt a shining beacon of redness after a while. He cries and complaints aren't easy to listen to, and he's fully aware how much it hurts, but that doesn't stop him. "I don't want to be overly strict with you, since you behave most of time, but when you don't, it will have consequences."