Chapter Text
I walked out of the house when I heard gasps and commotion right outside my window. The townspeople were startled by the sudden appearance of foreigners that stood out amongst the common folk. One was a burly man with white long hair that carried two swords on his back. The other one was a smaller man with brown hair. Unlike the first, the second one wore bright clothes that nearly made it seem like they weren’t travelling together, were it not by the fact that the latter was talking to him.
My horse at the front of the house neighed and moved around, restless by their presence. It was then when I realized the first man with the white hair had yellowish eyes that shook me to the very core.
Absently comforting the horse, I caressed his head as I stared at the two mysterious figures. I was startled when the man suddenly turned to me, like he was feeling my eyes on him.
I had the sudden realization that I knew his kind, despite not having encountered one before. The swords, eyes and hair were enough to confirm it. Not to mention that mysterious, supernatural and slightly dark aura that surrounded him.
The other one carried a lute on his back, which made me chuckle at the great contrast between the rather unlikely pair. He turned at the sound of my laughter and grinned as he watched me.
My heart sped up in anticipation, but I took this opportunity seeing where they were headed.
“Excuse me” I spoke up, regaining the attention of the witcher as he had looked away from me. I cleared my throat when my voice quivered and continued. “I-“
“You are excused, my lady” The bard gallantly bowed to me, offering his hand. “I’m Jaskier, it is a pleasure to meet you”
Hesitantly, I rested my hand over his and observed him wide-eyed when he kissed it.
“I’m Y/N” I muttered, politely smiling to him before turning back to the witcher. “Do you happen to travel to the mountains?”
“Yes” Was all reply I got from him.
I patted my horse’s neck and walked closer to the witcher, only acknowledging Jaskier with a side glance as I passed him by.
“I’d like to go with you, uh…” I trailed off, hoping to hear his name. He just stared blankly at me, calm and unbothered.
“Geralt” The bard said for him. “His name is Geralt, and we’d love you to come with-“
“No” The witcher named Geralt bluntly cut him off. “I want no responsibility with you, it’s enough that I let the bard come with me”
“Oi” Jaskier chimed in, clearly offended. “If I didn’t go with you, there would be no one there to write epic ballads about your deeds”
“And what a shame that would be” Geralt sarcastically said, making me laugh. I caught a hint of a smile in the corner of his lips at my reaction.
I cleared my throat, hoping to convince him. His neutral expression returned so quickly that I wondered if I had imagined him smiling.
“I insist on going, I will pay you to escort me there”
I lifted my chin up with dignity when I realized his expression was stoic after my request. The witcher pursed his lips and shook his head.
“I’m not a bodyguard”
“Fine, then a guide”
“The answer is no”
I looked at Jaskier, still standing there looking at me. Smirking at the way he stared, I tilted my head and crossed my arms over my chest.
“Then I will go with the bard” I had to suppress a wider grin when I noticed Jaskier jolting up in surprise to my statement. “It so happens that he and you share a path”
Geralt only grunted, averting his gaze to focus on Jaskier. The aforesaid beamed and earned a resigned sigh from the witcher.
“Do you have a weapon?”
“I do, a dagger”
“Bring it, we leave at first light”
I smiled and nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and fear. I had been wanting to go to the mountains for a long time, and I finally got to. To unveil the mystery that they presented.
-
None of us uttered a word as we made our ascent to the mountain. That, of course, with the exception of the bard. Geralt and I remained silent, but Jaskier had too many thoughts that apparently were too urgent to keep hidden. I smiled in spite of myself, amused and oddly endeared by his energetic and talkative self.
“Say, lady Y/N” Jaskier suddenly looked up to me. “May we share your horse?”
I held the reins tighter and eyed him warily from my higher perspective on horseback.
“Can you not ride with Geralt? I thought you were friends”
“He won’t let me”
“Don’t touch Roach”
“He even named his horse, I fear he cares more about it than about me”
“Without a doubt”
I laughed at Geralt’s reply, and he exchanged a quick glance with me. A thought suddenly came to me that witchers weren’t as terrible as people said they were. At least certainly not Geralt, I quite got a liking to him already.
“Please” Jaskier insisted, tugging at my sleeve. “May your heart be kinder than his”
I rolled my eyes at his dramatic antics and sighed. In the end, however, I held my hand in the air. The bard smiled and clung on to it without thinking, using it as an anchor to climb on my horse. Geralt had to quickly hold me by the arm to avoid my falling when Jaskier pulled too harshly.
Once I was stable again on my saddle, I glanced at him over my shoulder. He dedicated me an innocent yet handsome smile. I had to grin back, even if in resigned amusement.
“Why were you so adamant on coming to the mountain?” Geralt asked me, diverting my attention from the bard.
“Why are you? Is there some sort of monster for you to hunt?”
“I asked first”
The both of us seized each other up, but neither of us spoke. The only moment the witcher looked away from me was to send Jaskier a warning glance to remain silent.
“It’s not your business, witcher”
“Not yours either, Y/N”
“Can’t we all just get along?”
I smirked at Jaskier’s attempt to come to an agreement. I budged, knowing Geralt wouldn’t. In any case, telling him the truth shouldn’t have any negative consequences.
“I was always curious about what lurked in the mountains, all those tales and stories…” I paused, having to make an effort not to let my imagination run wild. “But I never was… I… Well, I never had a guide, until now”
Geralt watched me carefully for several seconds, apparently seeing through me and into my very soul. In the end, however, he calmly spoke back.
“We’re looking for something, yes”
“What is it?”
“A dragon” I pulled on the reins to stop the horse with his words. A heavy feeling of emptiness settled on my stomach. Was that what awaited us up there?
“Pardon me? I’m sorry… Did you just say ‘a dragon’?”
“Is there a problem?”
“Don’t worry, my lady, nothing will happen to us with Geralt by our side”
I turned to Jaskier behind me and scowled at him. He arched his eyebrows in surprise.
“Don’t call me that, I told you my name” I complained, staring at him for a moment.
His piercing blue eyes watched me carefully. He lifted his hands from where he held on to the saddle for balance, showing me his palms in a sign of apology and surrender.
My mind returned to the task at hand when I heard a soft but certain chuckle coming from Geralt. When I looked at him, I urged my horse seeing as he was ahead of us already.
“There is nothing to fear, Y/N” The bard gently patted my shoulder, his tone cheery and carefree. “Worry not, for the great witcher Geralt of Rivia will protect us”
“I’m not afraid” I merely replied, clutching the dagger in my belt.
However, the empty feeling in my stomach seemed to deepen, spreading to my throat there were a firm lump had formed.
-
We reached the open entrance of a big cave. The ground beneath us was dry and earthy.
When Geralt stopped and climbed down his horse Roach, I halted as well. Before I could do anything, Jaskier had jumped down and offered me a hand and a charming smile from below.
Giving in to his charm, I accepted his help. He held me by the waist and carefully lowered me into the ground in front of him. I dedicated him a soft smile as a silent thank you and turned to Geralt. The witcher had his sword out and walked towards the cave with determination.
I patted Jaskier on the shoulder and hurried by Geralt’s side, spreading dust under my feet as I dashed.
“Are you going to slay the dragon?” I cautiously asked him, tapping his arm. “Won’t that anger it?”
Geralt stopped to look at me, calm and unfazed as usual. He just watched me, not uttering any words. His expression didn’t change either, making it impossible for me to guess what he was thinking as we locked eyes. I frowned in anguish, but he didn’t budge.
“Besides” I insisted, breaking the tense silence. “Has it hurt people? As far as I know, no one in the city has any complaints about it. I-I hardly even knew there was a dragon!”
The witcher grinned in an enigmatic way and carried on. With every step he took towards the entrance, my heartbeat increased a tad.
I glared at Jaskier when his hand held on to mine. He opened his mouth to speak, and I could tell he was about to say something that included the words ‘my lady’, because he quickly corrected himself before he even talked.
“I’m only trying to comfort you, Y/N” He drew his hand back under my stare.
“I don’t need comforting” I took my dagger, noticing my fingers hurt from how tightly I had been holding on to the handle, and followed after Geralt.
“Great, alright, apologies” Jaskier muttered behind me, reluctantly walking after me. “You stubborn beautiful woman”
I glanced over my shoulder to him, seemingly startling him because I had heard him. When I smirked at him, he frowned and watched me in curiosity.
“Watch out!” Geralt suddenly yelled, putting an end to our flirting.
I clutched the small dagger in my palm, looking ahead. A loud and high-pitched screech made me grit my teeth and run inside the cave. My heart was racing. It seemed about to break through my ribcage and jump out of my chest.
As I reached the witcher, who was already inside, I was taken aback by the sight I was welcomed with. The metallic sound of blades against one another was barely audible when that ear-piercing screech echoed around the spacious walls of the cave. The majestic dragon stood there, flapping its wings and complaining at the intrusion. For a moment I was unable to look away from it, fascinated by the way its green scales reflected the sunlight from outside. I was brought to reality, however, when I heard the witcher groaning and looked back to the group of seven men.
“Who are those?!” I exclaimed, unable to look away from the men Geralt fought with.
“Treasure hunters” Jaskier suddenly got serious, tugging at my arm.
I didn’t move, wrapped up in my indecision and shock. My companions hadn’t come to slay the dragon, they were there to protect it. To save it from those who wanted to kill it for their own purposes.
I saw Geralt holding his hand up, and a powerful wave wiped the enemies away from him. That showcase of magic and strength seemed to bring me out of my stupor.
“Where are you going?” The bard tightly held on to me when I made to move.
“To help Geralt!” I looked at Jaskier, even if my voice trembled and my fingers shook around the dagger.
“He will be alright, he-“
“No, he’s outnumbered! I won’t stand by, even if he’s capable to holding his own!”
“Don’t be stubborn, Y/N… Y/N!”
Jaskier called me when I ran over to Geralt and kicked a man that had approached him, taking advantage that the witcher’s back was to him. Seeing this, Geralt frowned at me but didn’t say anything. He pointed a finger to the ground, there were one of his swords had fallen.
I lunged forward to grab the sword, still tightly holding on to my dagger with the other hand. I assisted Geralt how I could, kicking and slashing and parrying.
When I heard Jaskier swearing under his breath next to me, I briefly turned to him. He was punching one of the men, who happened to be about to throw himself at me. I watched my companion as he held his hand to his chest in pain. Then, his eyes widened and he made to say something as he pointed somewhere behind me.
I quickly turned around, just then seeing one of those men coming to me. However, I wasn’t fast enough to retaliate. His sword sliced my side, making me wince at the sudden intense pain. I growled as I casted the sword upon him, but he blocked it. Geralt was there quickly, taking care of him for me.
“Oh, no” Jaskier held me by the arm, gently tugging at it so I would turn around to face him. “You’re injured… You got hurt, didn’t you?”
I gawked at him, too unfamiliar with the sensations overwhelming me. My hand automatically flew to my side, there were a crimson liquid stained my fingers. I got light-headed at the sight of blood, my own blood, and dropped my weapons. Jaskier had to hold me tighter when I staggered forward dangerously.
“G-Geralt!” He called out, just as the sound of the battle ended. “Help!!”
I heard the witcher’s footsteps growing closer. In the meantime, Jaskier panicked and his hands moved up to my shoulders, back down to my arms and to my shoulders again in restlessness. A ring in my ears was overpowering the sound of his urgent voice.
“Calm down, Jaskier” Geralt tore me away from the bard and lied me down on the ground.
When his yellow eyes fell upon me, I mentally chastised myself. I had to stay calm, the wound probably wasn’t that deep. I would be alright, and they would help me.
“My satchel” The witcher told his friend. “Jaskier, quickly!”
“Right, right!” The aforesaid hurried off.
Geralt carefully lifted my shirt to look at the bloody wound. The pain spreading to my side made me think that was the source, but the gash started in my stomach. I held on to Geralt’s black shirt when I saw the damage, trying to even my breathing. It felt like my life was being drained from the spot where the sword pierced my skin. A great mixture of feelings came over me, bringing uncertain tears to my eyes.
“It’s the first time I’m injured, it was my first real fight, I…” I whispered to him, gulping when a coldness clawed at my heart. “I was… I’m scared”
Geralt’s furrowed brows softened slightly at my words. He parted his lips, but before he could say anything Jaskier had arrived and anxiously handed him the satchel. Not a second after, the bard was kneeling next to me like his friend was.
Jaskier’s hands held my arm, and I clutched on to them. The sight of his worried eyes on me mildly comforted me as I saw Geralt with the corner of my eye. He was holding a small bottle filled with a dark liquid and poured the contents on my open wound.
I screamed out in agony, hoping that at least that burn meant that I was starting to heal. I held on to Jaskier as I started to feel my strengths fail me.
“What did you do?!” He complained to Geralt, throwing him a confused glance.
“That will stop the bleeding” The other only said, rummaging through his satchel until he picked up some bandages.
I breathed out, suddenly exhausted. My eyes closed, and I felt two soft hands on my face.
“Y/N? Stay awake!” Jaskier’s voice urged me, but I was already far away.
-
A gentle music brought me out of my slumber. A vaguely familiar voice quietly sung along with it, bringing me calmness as my senses slowly returned, and along with it, the pain.
My side felt like it was on fire, starting in my stomach and spreading the burning sensation across my side. I feebly moved my hand to that spot, feeling a small protuberance under my clothes there where bandages had been wrapped around my wound.
Despite feeling like I had been unconscious for a long time, I didn’t feel rested. My limbs were heavy and so were my eyelids. Slightly disoriented when I heard the distant sound of running water, I frowned. Weren’t we on the mountain last? With the dragon and the treasure hunters and…
I opened my eyes and quickly sat up, sharply breathing in when everything returned to me. The brief battle, Geralt and Jaskier. My injury. All that anguish came back to me, leaving me breathless.
“Y/N!” Jaskier called out, dropping his lute and running to my side. “It’s alright, breathe”
I tried to do what he said, and my laborious breathing slowed a bit after several seconds. My heart was violently thumping against my chest, but I found it slightly harder to put a remedy to that.
With the bard’s help, I carefully lied back down on the improvised bed they had prepared for me with the softest patch of ground they could find and a rolled up blanket under my head. I glanced around me, noticing we were in a forest, the threat of the night put at rest by the warmth of a fire. I spotted Geralt standing next to it.
Grimacing at the mere thought of blood, I carefully lifted my shirt to see my bandages. Luckily, they were clean and spotless. I heaved a sigh of relief.
“How are you?” The bard insisted, patting my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Were you worried about me, Jaskier?” I showed him a weak smile. “We only just met”
He gawked at me, astonished by my response. Bet he wasn’t expecting me to say something as such while being sick and helpless. He looked away, flustered by my implications.
“A speechless bard” I paused for a moment, still tired. “A rare sight”
“Don’t mock him” Geralt’s voice came, putting an end to Jaskier’s incoherent mumbling. “He might cry”
I laughed, but grunted as I pushed myself to my feet. The bard immediately stretched his arms out in alarm, but didn’t actually touch me. I took a brief moment to compose myself, recovering from a sudden dizzy spell, and nodded to him. Then I dragged myself away from them and closer to the gentle stream with its lovely music that had awoken me along with Jaskier’s singing.
He stayed behind with Geralt, arguing about the witcher’s comment.
“I have the sensitive soul of a poet” Was his excuse, followed by a proud hum.
“And she has the soul of a warrior” Whether Geralt didn’t think I could hear him or didn’t care, I wasn’t sure. “Believe me, Jaskier, I know”
I walked away from them until their voices became a distant and unintelligible murmur. My heart was restless after the latest events, but the course of the stream brought me tranquility. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the quiet moment.
A sharp scent suddenly brought me out of my calmness. Opening my eyes, I looked out in the distance in fear. Watching the town in the horizon, small from my perspective, I confirmed that the smell that the air carried was something burning. Smoke and ashes.
The blackness of the sky was illuminated by an incandescent orange light of flames.
I gasped and quickly turned around, so harshly that I made my side sore. Even more so than before. I absently held my hand over it as I spoke to them.
“What’s that?” I anxiously asked them, gathering their attention away from their mundane squabble. That caused the atmosphere to change completely, from relaxed to serious.
“Oh, that, uh…” Jaskier approached me, throwing glances to Geralt as the witcher lingered on his brooding silence. “Well, you see…”
“What… happened?” Their avoidance was only testament of a tragedy.
“The dragon” Geralt stated in the background, plain and bold.
“The… dragon?” I repeated in bewilderment.
“When… When the treasure hunters erupted in the cave, it fled” Jaskier spoke lowly, so much so that I could barely hear him. There was wariness in his voice that frightened me. “And flew over the town… Your town…”
My eyes filled with tears, so I avoided looking at him directly. It was then when I realized that we were alone except for Roach’s company.
“Where’s my horse?” I choked out, trying not to blink so I wouldn’t shed the betraying tears.
“Your horse…” The bard repeated, playing with the ring in his hand. “Of course, your horse, well it…”
“Ran away” Geralt completed the sentence, not making eye contact with me even from his far away position.
That was it, the last bond that tied me to my home town, gone. I had dared to venture into the unknown, explore the mysterious caves in the mountains like I had always wanted to. But it came with a price, as I was left isolated from my past. I had nothing else, no one else other than Geralt and Jaskier now. I had been brave once, and I would have to be again in order to move on. As with visiting the mountains, easier said than done.
Rid from my remaining energies, I plopped down on the ground and screamed to let all my anguish out. I tore my throat, which ached with the aftermath. That still didn’t make all the sorrow subside.
My reflection on the water only seemed to make everything worse. I presented an awful appearance. Pale, disheveled and weak.
Too caught up in my reflection, I jolted up when an arm fell over my shoulders. When I looked, I could nearly read the empathy in Jaskier’s eyes when they locked with mine.
“I’m sorry, Y/N… That is awful, that it happened” His voice was dripping with sadness, and despite his attempts, it didn’t make me feel any better.
“I want to be alone” I quietly told him, shrugging his arm off.
“No, I shouldn’t leave you alone in-“
“Go away!”
Jaskier paused at my outburst and sighed. Nodding in silence, he walked away and left me to my lonesome. To dwell on my disgrace in peace.
-
Their presence close to me brought me a comfort that I didn’t know I could achieve. The silence was overwhelming, and I suddenly missed the sound of the lute’s music. I couldn’t speak up even if I wanted to, since my voice felt too meek, raspy and hoarse. In any case, it had been too long to interrupt the quietness now. In all honesty, I wasn’t even sure how long it had passed, although it felt like hours.
I didn’t react when a figure walked closer to me. Giving it a side glance, I could distinguish Geralt’s burly frame dressed in all black, confusing in the darkness of the night. He didn’t say anything at first as he crouched down by my side.
“Better?” He solely told me, abruptly interrupting the soft noises of the forest in quietness.
“Yes” I dried my wet cheeks and rubbed my eyes, sore with all those spilled tears. “Sorry about that”
“You shouldn’t be ashamed of crying” Geralt’s words surprised me, so I faced him.
We paused for a moment. I could tell he knew what I was thinking, that it was quite ironic to be given lessons about emotions from a witcher. But it wasn’t ironic at all.
“I’m not ashamed of crying” I had to suppress the instinct to look back at the desolate town to avoid looking at all that foreign suffering that resonated with my own. “I’m ashamed of crumbling down”
“There’s no shame in that either” The witcher stood up and offered me his hand. “As long as you pick yourself back up”
I took a deep breath and nodded, taking his hand and letting him pull me to my feet. We lingered there, looking back to Jaskier sitting by the fire. He absently-minded strung the chords on his lute, not playing any tune.
“Is he mad at me?”
“He’ll get over it”
I smiled, even if Geralt couldn’t see it since he was returning. The bard lifted his head when he heard me following after him. His eyes were fixed on me as I neared the fire. Mine fell over his hand, there where a violent purple now colored his knuckles.
“I’m not trying to inflate your ego, bard” I said as I occupied the spot in front of him. “But I’m missing your beautiful music”
A slow smile arrived to Jaskier’s lips. It was hard to tell because of the dim light, only the fire next to him illuminating his features. Nonetheless, I could almost sense it.
“And what song would you like to hear?” He prepared, adjusting the instrument over his lap.
Just then, Geralt sat with us, clearly annoyed at our interactions. I briefly set my eyes on him, but he didn’t reciprocate. Hence, I focused back on the bard.
“I quite liked the one you were playing before” I recalled the soft tune and the calmness it brought to me.
“Your wish is my command, my lady” Jaskier paused, putting his fingers to the lute.
“Don’t tempt fate” I cocked an eyebrow, and he smirked in response.
As he began playing and singing, I looked up to the sky. The stars were shining bright, promising a better future. As I waited for the moment the dawn came, I lied down and indulged in the sound of the music. That along with the warmth of the fire and the comfort of their presence lulled me to sleep.
-
Morning was crueler than I thought, starting with the nightmares. The remainders of what I had lost while I was away. Of everything I had left behind.
Jaskier and Geralt were arguing as we packed our things and extinguished the fire. I didn’t mind them, not being bothered to intervene even if the conversation concerned me.
“Will you refuse to help her? She lost her horse, she can’t walk!”´
“I didn’t say that, Jaskier, but… Y/N, where are you going?”
I didn’t pay too much mind to them, only walking to leave that place behind. The forest led to the path we had followed to go through it. I didn’t hesitate to follow it.
“Wait, hold on!” Jaskier easily caught up with me. It seemed like I was slower than I was willing to admit. “We haven’t solved the matter of-“
“I can walk” I barely glanced at him, feeling stupidly stubborn and determined.
“No, you can’t! Y-You are sick and weak! Let us carry you or… or…” He interrupted himself when he heard Geralt and Roach behind us. “Y/N, please, we can…”
“I’m alright, I can walk” I insisted, even if making an effort to even drag my feet.
“No use, there’s no use!” Jaskier continued walking with me, but threw his arms up in exasperation. “So obstinate!”
“She’s wounded, not sick” Geralt told him, again speaking up even if I was in ear shot. “Nor is she weak”
“I didn’t mean weak like that!” Jaskier retaliated, still as exasperated.
I shook my head and continued walking, not wanting to put up with their bickering again. I was far too tired for that. It was enough effort to stay on my feet and continue putting one foot in front of the other. Regardless, I couldn’t stand still. I had to move forward, and I needed to do it myself.
Resting my hand on the dagger in my belt, I seemed to find a bit of balance and stability on the cold handle. It was a small weapon, but certainly enough to keep me safe and alive.
“Y/N!” Turning to the sound of my name, I saw Jaskier hurriedly returning to my side. Geralt was close behind, riding Roach and staring at me.
“What is it…?”
“You may not need my help, but…” Jaskier opened his arms in a kind gesture. “Please allow me”
I looked up at Geralt as he reached us, not daring to mention Roach. Even if I had the feeling that he would let me ride the horse if I asked him, only because I was injured. Still, I had to prove myself that I could do it. It wasn’t that far.
A pang of guilt struck me in the heart, knowing Jaskier hadn’t meant to hurt my frail ego. He truly hadn’t meant any harm, he was only trying to lend a helping hand.
I sighed and gave in, knowing none of that meant that I couldn’t have help in doing it myself. Not being done for me, just having some assistance. I leaned on Jaskier as he wrapped an arm around my waist. I held on to his shoulder while he helped me walk in my feeble state.
“Forgive me” I tiredly hung my head low, staring at our boots as we walked. “I… Truly, Jaskier…”
“I understand” Jaskier softly interrupted me, laughing a little. “I should have known better anyway”
I had to chuckle and shake my head. His foolish carefree nature seemed to relieve my restlessness. A deep voice requested my attention, so I looked up at Geralt.
“I could let you ride on Roach if you really need it” He told me in a neutral voice. “But don’t get used to it, just this time”
“Thanks, but I prefer making Jaskier suffer rather than the horse” My smile, although forced at first, became genuine with Geralt’s amused expression.
“Don’t get too corny” He said nonetheless. “Or I leave you behind”
“And that’s how you repay me, I see” The bard grunted, holding my weight up. “Fantastic”
“You know, you can write a song about the obstinate woman with the soul of a warrior” I told him with a smile, even if clutching my side when it felt a little sore.
“I’m way ahead of you, my lady”
“Never mind, I’ll walk-“
“Alright, alright” He chuckled, tightening his grip on me. “I couldn’t help it, you know…”
It seemed like we were coming to an understanding at last. I was glad, I wouldn’t like anything coming between Jaskier and I. Nor between me and Geralt.
I might have lost a lot in this day, but as I prepared to begin a new life, I realized I had gained something. I felt lucky to have Geralt and Jaskier.