Game of Thrones: The Dangerous Traveler (MULTIVERSAL)

GOT: The Dangerous Traveler 11

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Year 282 A.C. – Braavos

A girl with white hair, hidden beneath a hood, walked cautiously through the crowded streets of Braavos' market. The city, with its canals, bridges, and architecture reflected in the calm waters, seemed both fascinating and oppressive to her. The inhabitants wore colorful clothes, and the constant buzz of commerce echoed everywhere. But for her, Braavos was not a refuge—it was a trap where time was her worst enemy.

As she moved, her gaze remained in motion, studying the merchants, guards, and sailors passing by. This world was different from the many she had visited before; here, magic seemed to belong to the past or to legends. Yet, she knew she couldn't stay. Every time she used her gift to jump between worlds, they tracked her. No matter how long it took, they always arrived. She had to find a way to leave quickly before the city became her tomb—and that of all the innocent people living in it.

Among the crowd, a woman with a kind face and dark eyes approached her with a friendly smile. She wore a simple brown tunic and carried a basket full of fresh fruit. She extended an apple toward the girl.

"Would you like one? You look tired."

'Is this one of those stories where the old witch gives the princess a poisoned apple?' the girl thought suspiciously. In the end, she took the apple with a trembling hand and added, "Thank you. This is an... interesting city. Is there anything I should know about it?"

The woman tilted her head, as if evaluating the girl. "It depends on what you're looking for. In Braavos, you can find almost anything: ships to take you far away, friends to protect you, or trouble if you're not careful. But tell me, are you new here? I don't even know your name."

Ciri took a bite of the apple, her gaze fixed on the woman. "You could say so. I'm trying to understand this place. It seems... different. And my name is Cirilla. Call me Ciri, it's shorter."

"A pleasure, Ciri. And you're right," the woman said, smiling. "Braavos isn't like any other place in this world—well, maybe a bit like Pentos. Where are you from, then?"

"The Narrow Sea?" the woman asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or even further?"

Ciri briefly looked away toward the bustling market, trying to buy time. "Let's just say it's not easy to explain."

The woman let out a small laugh. "Many things in Braavos aren't. But I'll give you some advice: if you want to go unnoticed, maybe you shouldn't look so... alert."

"Alert?" Ciri asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Yes," the woman replied, taking a step closer. "You have that look of someone who expects danger around every corner. Here, people notice those things."

Ciri frowned. "I'm tired. That's all."

"Of course," the woman said softly. "But even the tired need to know where they're going. What are you looking for here?"

Ciri remained silent for a moment, weighing her words. Finally, she said, "I just want to find a ship and leave this city."

The woman nodded slowly, as if considering something. "That's possible. There are many captains willing to take you far away... for a price."

"And you?" Ciri asked, her tone more challenging. "What do you want from me?"

The woman seemed surprised by the question, but only for a moment. Then she smiled again. "Nothing. I just thought you might need help. But if you prefer to go on alone..."

"I do," Ciri said quickly, but her voice betrayed a slight nervousness.

The woman inclined her head, as if accepting the answer, but her eyes continued to scrutinize Ciri carefully. Before they could continue the conversation, a thunderous sound interrupted the market's buzz. The air seemed to grow colder, and everyone looked up. In the sky, a luminous rift opened, as if the fabric of reality itself were tearing. From that breach emerged five figures, mounted on spectral steeds. The Wild Hunt had arrived.

The market fell silent. Even Lyn, who had faced many horrors in his life, felt a chill run down his spine. The riders were not mere warriors; they were something older, more terrifying. For a moment, panic gripped everyone.

Ciri looked at them with fear.

First was Eredin, at the center as always. His presence was like a weight on the air, a hunger felt before seen. His black armor seemed to absorb light, adorned with spikes jutting from his shoulders and forearms. His helmet, that grotesque skull with twisted horns, made him seem less man and more beast. Ciri couldn't see his eyes, but she knew they were there, staring directly at her.

To his right rode Caranthir, so tall and slender he seemed to float above his mount. His armor didn't shine like Eredin's; instead, it reflected a faint glow, as if each plate were embedded with fragments of stars. His mask had no face, only two slits for eyes that glowed with a cold, distant blue, like a corpse lost in ice. Ciri had always been unsettled by how he seemed to dematerialize and reform as he moved, as if space itself couldn't decide whether he should exist.

Imlerith rode on Eredin's other side, a hulking mass of steel and muscle that dwarfed the others. His heavy armor seemed part of his body, and the helmet with spiral horns was so grotesque that even his companions seemed more human beside him. His face, always partially visible under the helmet, was marked by deep scars and pale skin that seemed dead. Ciri knew his strength was as overwhelming as his presence, and she had personally seen what he could do with the warhammer strapped to his back. There was nothing subtle about Imlerith; he was the embodiment of brutality.

Nithral rode behind, but not for lack of importance. He was faster, more agile. His armor, though as dark as the others', had sharp edges, as if each plate were designed to cut. His helmet, shaped like open jaws, was a constant threat. Ciri had the misfortune of facing him once, and she could still remember the ruthless precision of his strikes. His cruel smile, when he revealed his face, was that of someone who enjoyed the hunt too much.

Finally, there was Ge'els, the quietest of them all, but no less terrifying. His armor seemed more delicate, covered in engravings that glowed faintly with a reddish hue, like embers about to die. His helmet, crowned with fine spikes, revealed a pale, cold face, almost beautiful, if not for those red eyes burning with something more than mere hatred. Ge'els was different; there was something about him that suggested control, as if he were the only one capable of reasoning amidst that storm of chaos.

They didn't speak. They never did. But Ciri could feel them, each with their own presence wrapping around her like a tightening noose. This wasn't the first time they had hunted her, but each encounter reminded her that, even if she escaped, they would always return. And each time, they seemed more determined not to let her live.

"That," the woman whispered in disbelief. Her tone no longer held the sweetness from before. Her eyes then turned to the girl, who seemed to recognize them.

At the same time, Ciri, knowing she had lost any chance of going unnoticed, closed her eyes and focused her power despite her exhaustion from using it a few days prior; the recovery she had undertaken confined in an inn hadn't been complete, but it would suffice for now.

A pale light began to envelop her as she murmured something under her breath. Lyn, sensing the change, stepped toward her, placing a hand on her back just as Ciri's power erupted.

The light exploded, enveloping them both in a blinding flash. When the glow faded, Ciri and the woman were gone, leaving behind a market in chaos and the riders frantically searching for their prey.

The duo now found themselves in a completely different place, evident as the bright light faded away.

In the new setting, the scorching sun beat down mercilessly on an endless ocean of dry, yellow grass. Ciri opened her eyes first, feeling the desert heat on her skin and a slight dizziness from the exhaustion that accompanied her world-jumps. In front of her, Lyn Corbray was on his knees, catching his breath, his face marked by a mix of confusion and fury.

"What the hell just happened?" Lyn demanded, his tone sharp as he looked up at Ciri. His eyes scrutinized her intensely, but there was also a spark of vulnerability. He was still wearing the woman's mask, but his tone was different. He was no longer acting.

Ciri slowly stood up, swaying slightly before regaining her balance. She looked around, recognizing that they were in an arid plain she didn't recognize. The sky was clear, and the horizon seemed to stretch infinitely. "We teleported," she replied coldly, trying to maintain her composure.

"I figured that much," Lyn retorted, getting to his feet. His clothing, though designed to look simple, was covered in dust. "But you... you did something. Something that shouldn't even be possible. What are you?"

Ciri looked away, crossing her arms defensively. "It doesn't matter what I am. What matters is that we're here now, and we're alive." The change in the woman's demeanor toward her didn't go unnoticed.

Lyn took a step toward her, his expression hardening. "That doesn't answer anything. First, you appear out of nowhere, then that rift in the sky, and now... this. Start talking."

Ciri sighed, knowing she couldn't avoid the conversation. She also couldn't just leave the woman to her fate or silence her—that wasn't who she was. "Those men you saw, the riders. They're called the Wild Hunt. They're relentless hunters, and I'm their prey."

Lyn raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "And why are they after you? What did you do to them?"

"Nothing," Ciri replied, with a hint of frustration. "I'm... special, according to them. My blood, my ability. They can use me for something I don't understand, but I'm not going to sit still and find out."

Silence stretched between them for a few moments. Lyn watched Ciri carefully, his mind working to process what he had just heard. Finally, he broke the silence, his tone more restrained but equally intense. "And now, what do we do? Do you have a way to go back or at least get us out of here?"

Ciri shook her head, her gaze falling to the ground. "No. Not now. I'm exhausted. These jumps take more energy than I have right now."

Lyn clenched his fists, frustrated, but said nothing more. He simply looked toward the horizon, where the sun was slowly beginning to set. Finally, he spoke again, his voice calmer but with an edge of sarcasm. "Well, it seems thanks to you, I'm now lost in the middle of who-knows-where, being chased by specters from a damn horror story. Thanks. As if my life wasn't already screwed enough."

Ciri looked at him seriously, her tone softer. "I didn't mean to bring you with me. I'm sorry."

Lyn let out a dry, humorless laugh. "You think that helps? Apologizing isn't going to get us out of here."

"I know," Ciri admitted, looking him directly in the eyes. "But I can't change what happened."

After another silence, Ciri spoke again. This time, her tone was different. Her piercing gaze focused on the girl's details, and her voice took on a sharper edge of curiosity.

"Your way of acting changed, too much," the white-haired girl said.

"Did it? Someone in my circumstances would have more drastic changes, I'd say," Lyn replied.

Ciri looked at him cautiously and asked, "Who are you?"

Lyn smiled, a gesture that was half arrogance, half sincerity. Slowly, he brought a hand to his face and, in a fluid motion, removed the mask that hid his true appearance. His original face emerged: a young man with refined features and sharp eyes that gleamed with cunning.

"My name is Lyn Corbray," he declared, stashing the mask in his belt. "The woman you met in Braavos was just a disguise. But you... you piqued my curiosity. I decided to follow you, to learn more about you. Look where it got me," he said with a dry laugh.

Ciri narrowed her eyes, clearly irritated. "Why would you do something like that?" she asked.

Lyn shrugged, as if the answer were obvious. "Because the world is full of secrets. And you're one of them."

For a moment, the silence between them was almost tangible. Ciri, visibly uncomfortable, decided to break it. "I don't know what you expect to find, but I warn you, I'm not willing to be studied like a specimen."

Lyn chuckled softly, a sound devoid of real humor. "Oh, don't get me wrong. I don't intend to dissect you, just to understand you. And, to be fair, you have plenty of questions too, don't you? Like, for example, how someone like me can change faces so easily."

Ciri watched him cautiously, weighing his words. Finally, she spoke, her tone softer but still wary. "I thought magic was gone in this place."

Lyn raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what makes you think that? Besides, if you find the lack of magic strange, you seem to be from even beyond the Narrow Sea."

"Stories," Ciri replied quickly, avoiding revealing too much and ignoring Lyn's last words. "I've heard that dragons are gone, that sorcerers no longer exist. If that's true, then you're... an anomaly."

Lyn smiled again, this time with a flash of pride. "Let's just say I'm... special. Like you, apparently. But let's drop the subtleties for now. If we want to get out of here, we'd better work together."

Ciri nodded slowly, though her expression remained cautious. "Agreed. But if you try anything strange, I assure you, you'll regret it."

"Don't forget that the victim here is me, stranded in the middle of nowhere who-knows-how-far from home," Lyn retorted, tilting his head slightly in a mocking gesture.

Ciri simply looked at him seriously.

"Well, alright. I won't do anything... too strange. Now, we'd better find shelter before nightfall. This place doesn't seem very welcoming."

"We should," Ciri replied, and the duo walked for a while. "Do you really have no idea where we are?"

"Eh... I mean, there are several possibilities. It could be Dorne, the Dothraki Sea, the Jogos Nhai Plains, or something else," Lyn said, glancing sideways at the girl's reaction. "And it seems you don't know any of these places. Interesting."

"Don't make it too interesting," Ciri replied with a huff, but after a few seconds, guilt flashed across her face. "I... I'm really sorry. You shouldn't be here. I got you into a lot of trouble."

"Meh," Lyn replied, now seeming much less concerned about his situation. "Truth is, you saved me from a very long and tedious chat with a guy. One of those who think they're cool and mysterious. Maybe this trip won't be so bad," Lyn commented, and Ciri nodded. The young man also heard her let out a small chuckle.

'At least he's pleasant to listen to and not some boring guy. He reminds me a bit of Jaskier, a darker Jaskier,' the girl thought, and imagining her home made her miss it. Her mood sank again.

But Ciri would keep fighting, and one day, she would finally be free from the Wild Hunt's pursuit. It was a promise.

---

The whole Wild Hunt thing will be conveniently AU.