Dara

Dara is a young elf boy who befriends Ciri.

Saving Ciri from Nilfgaard’s Soldiers
Encountering her in the woods, Dara stops Ciri from eating poisonous berries. He gestures her in his direction and offers her a rat to eat, and although she declines, she eventually eats it. Dara initially does not speak in order to hide his elvish accent and wears a hat to hide his ears. She notices that he is cold and gives Dara one of her gloves before running off to join a Cintran refugee camp. Dara does not follow.

The Nilfgaardians attack the Cintran refugee camp in the late hours of the night. Zeke’s mother angrily orders their slave to collect her belongings, but after being both verbally and physically abused, he becomes enraged and stabs the woman to death. Dara cuts through the tent and pulls Ciri to safety as this unfolds, and the two of them rush off into the woods.

The following morning, Dara takes off his hat, revealing to Ciri that he is an elf. He then speaks to her for the first time, introducing himself.

Entering Brokilon Forest
Dara awakens to find Ciri walking mindlessly into Brokilon forest, home of the dryads. Dara chases after Ciri, screaming her name as he runs through a field filled with corpses. Only when he is shot in the shoulder by an arrow does he stop.

Taken in by the Dryads
Dara is taken into Brokilon forest by the dryads, where he is reunited with Ciri as they treat his wounds. They remove the arrow from his shoulder and pour water on the wound as the waters of Brokilon are potent. Eithné, queen of the dryads, informs Ciri and Dara that all newcomers in the forest must drink the water. If they bear ill intent towards Brokilon, they will die. But if they’re pure in heart, they will survive and stay there. Over time, the waters of Brokilon lessen the suffering they’ve endured and make them forget.

Dara questions why the dryads referred to Ciri as Fiona. She explains that a druid named Mousesack who helped raise her, warned her not to let anyone know who she is outside the castle. And now the black knight is after her. Ciri reveals that she’s the princess of Cintra, and Dara grows angry as it was Ciri’s grandmother, Queen Calanthe that ordered his family’s death after Filavandrel’s uprising. The soldiers laughed as they raped women and killed babies. However, he doesn’t blame Ciri. Dara wishes to stay in Brokilon forest in hopes that over time his pain will lessen. He advises Ciri to do the same, but she has to find her destiny.

Dara drinks the Brokilon water, and he assures Ciri that everything will be okay. Eithné passes the bottle to Ciri and tells her to drink and leave her past behind. Ciri does just that, but unlike with Dara, nothing happens after Ciri drinks the water. Eithné takes Ciri to Shan-Kayan, a large tree in the center of Brokilon forest, the source of their water.

Leaving Brokilon Forest
The general objects to Ciri staying in Brokilon after learning from Shan-Kayan that she is the princess of Cintra. However, with the Nilfgaardians already scouring their borders, some suspect that Ciri may be their only chance of survival. With this in mind, Eithné announces that Ciri will be allowed to stay. While learning how to craft arrows with the dryads, Ciri is reunited with Mousesack, supposedly returned to take her back to her rightful place. He claims that he knows where to find Geralt of Rivia, who she’s been promised to through the Law of Surprise. While Ciri appreciates the dryads’ hospitality, she’ll be leaving with Mousesack and wants Dara to join her. Ciri gives the leader of the dryads a hug and departs with Dara and Mousesack.