Why Is It Difficult For Elves To Have Babies In The Witcher

The Witcher Season 2 covered a lot of ground in the mystical world. Much of it was taken up by the elves and the depth

By Soniya Hinduja
February 13,2022
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The Witcher Season 2 covered a lot of ground in the mystical world. Much of it was taken up by the elves and the depth of their history and their way of living. The new chapter also showcased how hard it is for the elves to have babies. But why is it so? Netflix has adapted The Witcher from a series of novels and short stories written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.

The franchise came to light after being turned into video games created by CD Projekt. Previously, The Witcher also earned itself a movie and a TV series iteration in Poland in 2001 and 2002. Netflix was the first to introduce an English adaptation of the lore when it launched the series in December 2019. Soon after that, the title became the network’s biggest show of all time.

The Witcher Season 1 took its own take on Sapkowski’s books by telling the story of its three main characters through individual narratives. The first season followed a non-linear timeline, leading towards the season finale where all paths aligned into one.

The show featured Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), and Ciri (Freya Allan) as the main characters. The Witcher Season 2 continued their story in a less confusing and more thrilling way. The new season also introduced a bunch of new entries into the fold. These included Francesca Findabair (Mecia Simson), an elven sorceress who acted as the leader of the elves and constantly made sure that her people were safe and protected. 

Francesca And The Elves In Season 2

Francesca Findabair
Francesca and Fringilla, at Nilfgaard, in The Witcher

The Witcher Season 2 used Francesca’s story to portray the elves’ struggle with having babies. Francesca’s surprising pregnancy played a huge role in the new chapter. Voleth Meir, or the Deathless Mother, sensed the presence of Francesca, Yennefer, and Fringilla (Mimî M. Khayisa) and their pain. The demon appeared to the three women in different disguises. To Francesca, she came in the form of Ithlinne (a legendary elven, healer and oracle).

The Deathless Mother urged Francesca with the possibility of a flourishing elven race through the birth of a pure elf. But to earn this, she had to form a friendship with Fringilla and Nilfgaard. As time passes, Francesca gives birth to a baby girl. But as soon as she ends her alliance with Fringilla, her baby is ruthlessly killed. Apparently, Francesca’s baby was a beacon of hope for the elves. This is because their community had not seen a pure elf being born and survived in years. But why is it so hard for the elves to have babies? 

Also Read : How The Witcher Portrays Elves As Rivals, But Not As Villains

Why The Elves Cannot Conceive Easily

The Witcher
The Witcher Season 2 Francesca Findabair – leader of Elves

As compared to humans, elves have a longer life. The elves believe that they weren’t born, like humans, but created. This gives them a sense of superiority. This is why elves differ biologically from humans. Unlike their lifespan, their fertility only lasts during their youth. This fact pulls the elves back in the power race, as they have no way of keeping their race populated enough to stand against the others.

Other than their short-lived fertility, their overall biology makes it impossible for them to sustain successful childbirth. This is why the birth of Francesca’s baby was a monumental event for the elves. The birth of a pure elf allowed their race to hope for a better future for their community. However, Francesca’s baby was murdered in the crib. This enraged Francesca and she went on a spree of killing all the Redanian babies she could find. 

The Witcher Season 2 proved that elves are an equally important part of the Continent. In addition, the finale showed Istredd telling Francesca about Ciri and the fact that she has Elder Blood coursing through her veins. It is likely that The Witcher Season 3 will focus on the elves and their way of living. The show will probably explain history better than the books. Whether or not the upcoming Netflix show will see the elves celebrating the birth of another pure elf baby into the community is still a mystery. However, The Witcher has already made several modifications to the books. The show could pick a similar approach in depicting the history of elves.