I decided that it would be interesting to bring what really is in the book :)

How do they meet, what do they feel about each other, how does it work. Its quite amazing and interesting. And...ohh so different from what Netflix did.

I have seen some people say (not entirely without reason) that Yen + Ciri had a rocky start. Well, yes it does. But please....there is a big difference from what it happened in the book and any serious hate / distrust between them lol

So what happens?

One needs to set things up just a bit in order to allow for a full understanding.

Geralt + Triss were the first to seriously notice and mess with Ciri´s magic connection. Triss tried to find out more about it but after interacting with Ciri she finds out that she is simply out of her league. After which both Geralt and Triss agree they should call Yen to help with Ciri. Their plan is to take Ciri to Melitelle Temple, leave Ciri there under Mother Nenneke´s protection, allow Yen to go there and pick Ciri there. And this is what they will do.

Now...there is a small detail in all this which makes a huge difference and is going to dictate Ciri + Yen first encounter: That Geralt simply decided not to tell Ciri a thing about Yennefer lol And Triss pretty much does the same thing lol This really makes Ciri nervous towards Yennefer because she cant possibly understand why those 2 people could not tell her a thing about this someone who is supposed to come and take care of her. Its frightening to Ciri.

So, when the day comes and Yen arrives the Temple, Ciri is told to go meet her. And.....Ciri goes pretty much against her will and very willing to run away at first chance lol

Now, this is a serious issue because Yen can read a room and she can read minds too. So, the very start of their relationship is a serious clash in which Yen is like "Ohhh I would like to see you try" (where she is daring Ciri to attempt running away and see how it would go).

Yennefer, true to her colours, also comes a bit cold and harsh. But, that´s very much Yen being who she is. She is very much toying around with Ciri just to test the girl and see how will she react.

There is also an added stress between Yennefer and Nenneke. They both discuss about Geralt in front of Ciri (which leaves Ciri pissed). Nenneke is very much trying to call Yen to admit her feelings towards Geralt and Yen will have none of that. They are not very direct with their words so Ciri is once again clueless and pissed. From Ciri´s point of view she can only understand that there is some huge problem between Geralt and Yennefer. That´s pretty much what Ciri can take.

However, there is also an instance in their very first interaction which is quite sweet:

After Nenneke tells Yen to be nice and show some heart with Ciri, Yen replies that it´s going to be complicated because people say she has no heart lol But Yen also adds that she and Ciri will try to find a way around it....and with this line Yen opens up a real warm smile towards Ciri which Ciri immediately feels true.

The relationship is still not wonderful :)

In what appears to be the next hours, Yennefer and Ciri will clash over if Ciri might be a magic user or not.

In this talk Yennefer is going to increase her toying around with Ciri and Ciri shows all her remaining rebellion towards Yennefer. Its quite a funny interaction. With lines like:

"I cant do magic because I am still a virgin"

"I am sorry to disappoint you but someone fooled you big time!"

"you do not understand....I....I did not yet...."

"imagine I do understand what you are talking about"

"so...I cant do magic because I am a virgin"

"ohh welll....go and have sex with someone then, but please be quick about it. We do not have much time to waste"

(sorry that I am kind of translating from my own language to english. If someone would like to post the english dialog, I bet its pretty close to this)

However, at the end of this dialog their relationship starts to change. Why?

Because, one of the conditions established by Yen to teach Ciri is full honesty. And Ciri, being the smart teenager, wants to know if Yen will also be honest with her. Which the answer comes as a Yes of course.

And then Ciri does the question which was the cause for all her distrust towards Yennefer:

"What is there between you and Geralt?"

To which Yen, quite honestly answers:

"hope, fear, longing for each other....I suppose that´s it. And you were cruel to ask it but this is what it is"

(once again sorry that I am translating to english and not using the official english dialog)

And this is where Ciri realizes there is love between them ;) And from here, Ciri is no more hostile towards Yen. Yes, she still sometimes will do stuff because.....teenager!!!!! But its very much mild misbehaving at places. Its quite funny / sweet. Ciri just isnt your "yes mam" teenager lol And be sure Yen will answer always in all her best Yennefer style :p

But they do develop amazing chemistry together quite quickly. And already in Blood of Elves Ciri says she does not want to loose Yen EVER (this should be immediately after Jarre, when Ciri is scared about the incoming war and she tells Yen she does not want to be alone again and she does not want to loose Yen).

Ohh, and yes, Yennefer calls Ciri "ugly one". But its really more like "little ugly one" or "sweet ugly one". And its quite clearly both teasing and showing motherly affection towards Ciri ;) When Ciri ends up questioning her own beauty, Yen tells her that she was born blessed and has natural beauty which does not need magic to be enhanced.

This is the real book story how they met, how they became quickly close. This is an entire book chapter which for obvious reasons I somewhat condensed with some added explanations here and there.

I wanted to write this because the nature of their relationship is one of the most beautiful treasures in the entire Saga. And its one which has been somewhat corrupted since Netflix decided to do their thing. I am particularly tired of people trying to justify Netflix with "their relationship started bad in the books too". Seriously......there is bad and there is bad. Yes, its technically correct they started bad in their very first meeting. But its literally almost only their very first meeting. They literally start to bond in the next hours lol Is it immediately mother / daughter? No, not immediately. But that should not be expected and would not be realistic. However, they are immediately working together after their very first meeting. With things to improve, sure! But already working together.