The Untold Truth Of Ciri From The Witcher

Like her mother, Ciri is a child of surprise, linking her destiny to Geralt of Rivia. Geralt plays a pivotal role in the betrothal of Ciri's parents, Princess Pavetta and Emhyr var Emreis, who travels to Cintra under the alias of Duny. As we see in Episode 4 of Season 1, when Duny comes to Cintra to claim Princess Pavetta's hand in marriage, he has a legitimate right because of the Law of Surprise. Long ago, Duny saved the King of Cintra's life, taking the Law of Surprise as his reward. When the King returns to Cintra learns of his wife's pregnancy, the unborn princess becomes Duny's surprise.

Similarly, Geralt saves Duny's life when he presents himself at the banquet and asks for Pavetta's hand in marriage. Unbeknownst to Duny, Pavetta was already pregnant with their child, giving Geralt a claim to their child of surprise. The possibility horrifies Queen Calanthe, and she opposes it adamantly. Geralt, scoffing at fate, leaves Cintra, claiming he shall never return. In the series, Geralt comes back to Cintra 12 years later, and only because he suspects Nilfgaard will invade Cintra's borders. Geralt presents himself at court, offers to take the princess away, and vows to keep her safe.

Of course, Geralt doesn't take possession of Ciri in Cintra, leading both characters on a series of adventures while trying to find each other. In the series, they finally meet in the forest near the cottage where Ciri is taken in by a kindly woman she met at the market. In the books, Geralt has saved this woman's husband's life and accepts the Law of Surprise as his reward. In the books, Ciri is his child of surprise not once but twice! But in Netflix's adaptation, Geralt asks for a cup of ale as his reward instead, and he wanders into the woods near the cottage to find Ciri.