Malena

Malena is a side quest in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, set in Chapter 1 in Lobinden near Flotsam. Geralt sees guards harassing an elven woman, Malena, whom they accuse of spying for the Scoia’tael and leading soldiers into an ambush.

Investigating the cave beneath Flotsam where the soldiers vanished, Geralt finds their bodies being eaten by gorgers, with elven arrows still in them. This shows the accusation is true.

What happens next depends on whether Geralt tells the guards what he found or covers for Malena, who then sets an ambush for him at the waterfall. The outcome differs again if Geralt has an agreement with Iorveth. The quest is left unresolved if Geralt leaves Chapter 1 first.

Walkthrough

Talk to Malena in Lobinden.
Go to the cave beneath Flotsam and follow the bloody trail inside.
Defeat the gorgers and examine the soldiers’ bodies.
Talk to Malena and decide whether to reveal the elven arrows.
If you protected her, meet Malena by the waterfall near the elven ruins and defeat the Scoia’tael ambush.
Find Malena at the ruined hospital and decide her fate.
If you told the truth and she asks to be followed, follow Malena and fight off the Scoia’tael by the cliffs.

Quest Consequences & Choices

Geralt can refuse to get involved, in which case Malena is arrested.

If he covers for her, she lures him into an ambush. He can then exile her, hand her to Loredo’s soldiers or kill her. If Geralt has an arrangement with Iorveth, the Scoia’tael let him go and Malena leaves with them.

If he reveals the truth, she is either taken straight to jail or leads the group into an ambush by the cliffs. Whether most of the soldiers die or Geralt protects them affects the commander’s reaction, and Malena ends up arrested either way.