Chapter Text
Jaskier was honestly quite happy where he was right now.
Sure he wasn´t as creative as he was while traveling with Geralt. But he still wrote some halfway decent songs. And he was finally able to sing all of his songs again without a breakdown. Which was a win, as far as Jaskier was concerned.
Oxenfurt was also more accommodating then expected. Sure he got a fixed timetable for his courses with the students, but he also got his travel time whenever he wished.
It was one of the things Jaskier was adamant about.
He told the chancellors he would not be able to stay in one place for too long. He needed to get out and travel to be able to write songs. And while it took a bit to convince them, it seemed his reputation preceded him and it would boost the academies standing if he worked there as a teacher.
So Jaskier was sure to always finish his lectures at a point where another instructor could continue when he wanted to travel again. So far it worked out well. And his darling students were quite smitten with him as a professor. It helped that he did not have the usual stuffiness the rest of the teaching staff exuded.
Cáerme was also doing well. Though it had taken a while until she was comfortable with the stable hands in Oxenfurt. Not that they had much work to do with her. Jaskier made sure to take good care of her as often as he could. Not only was she still his trusty traveling companion, she was also one of the few living beings that had a fixed place in his heart. ...among a certain white wolf. Though Jaskier tried not to dwell too much on his feelings. Even if the pain got easier to bear with time....he was not quite there yet.
His wandering thoughts were actually the reason he was packing his things now. It was a sign that he was staying in one place too long again. So he would go travel a bit, sleep in the woods and just try to survive for a week or four and then he would be fine again. Then his thoughts would stop wandering where they should not. Was this healthy? Probably not. But Jaskier did not want to deal with the hurt and the feelings left behind. He would turn a blind eye on them for as long as he could.
Jaskier had already gotten some food from the kitchens, the head chef wishing him safe travels, so all that was left was his cloak and his lute. He would not travel without either. The bard was sure Cáerme was also anxious to get out of the city for more than a measly hour.
Maybe he could write a new song for his students while he was traveling. He was always the most creative on the road. With this, Jaskier put on his travel cloak and took his pack. There was a skip in his step as he made his way towards the stables.
He was already looking forward to his travels.
Jaskier had been traveling for over a week now. Sometimes riding on Cáerme and sometimes just walking beside her. His mood was higher than it had been in a long time. The weather had stayed good and he had been able to write a new song. Even if said song was not one he would play for company. Cáerme, of course, being the exception.
They would be arriving at his favourite flower glade soon. There was a small stream nearby where he would be able to get water and wash up. The glade was very hidden inside the woods near Tretogor, so he would be safe enough to rest there for a while.
He had found it on accident when he was chased out of the city by a mad wife (or was it husband? The bard was not so sure anymore). He had gotten lost back then...and it took him quite some time to get back to the road. Luckily he had already packed up when the spouse returned, so at least he had all his stuff ready. Though some more rations would have been good.
Even though he would only have a willow and a small alcove as a shelter, he looked forward to spending a week in his lovely glade. Enjoying nature and time away from civilization.
(Not to mention the week after, which will be spent in a spa in Tretogor.)
The bard had also made sure to stock up on rations and food in the last city. Even if he had got ten quite good at hunting small animals, he did not want to risk running out of food, if he could avoid it.
When Jaskier saw the crooked stone, which looked like a goldfish if you asked him, beside the well worn path, he made sure to lead Cáerme off of said path.
It was still a bit of a way, but they would arrive in another two hours time. Jaskier imagined he could already smell all the lovely flowers.
The bard made sure to look for the signs he made himself so he wouldn´t get lost again. He was always surprised that nobody had distrubed them in his absence. On the other hand...who would care to right a fallen tree or to remove a crooked stone if it was off the path.
Cáerme followed him without complaint, already used to her bards strangeness. Her ears flicked when the human started to hum. A senseless tune, not one the horse had heard before.
She nickered quietly, steps never faltering in the underwood.
A happy bard meant more apples and treats. So she would enjoy.
Jaskers eyes brightened when the woods finally thinned. He started a slow jog, being carefull not to fall. He did not want to harm his precious lute after all. He started a small sprint as soon as he passed the last trees, spread his arms and took a deep breath.
Cáerme, already used to her companions weird ways, followed more leisurely, nipping at the grass.
When the bard let out the deep breath he took, he felt lighter. He felt like this trip would be it. He would be fine after this.
With a spring in his step he moved towards the willow at the edge of the other side, he would clean up the ground a bit before making his camp. Then he would gather firewood, make his dinner and play his lute. The perfect vacation.
Maybe Cáerme would let him put some flowers into her mane. They would surely look beautiful!
And so the first three days passed without incident. The most eventfull things were Jaskier falling into the nearby river because he slipped on a rock and that the bard managed to capture a hare on the third day. He would be enjoying the rest of that meal today.
The day started like all the other days. Calm and quiet.
It was actually his animal companion that woke him with her snuffling around his hair. Probably looking for some more apples.
He spent the day washing his dirty clothes in the river also giving Cáerme a bath, which she seemed to enjoy, finding some eatable mushrooms in the surrounding woods and picking flowers to braid into Cáermes mane in the evening.
All while mulling over new lyrics and humming nameless melodies.
It was actually in the evening when the peace was broken.
The sun had already set. A small fire had been made.
Jaskier had eaten his leftover hare stew ,now with added mushrooms, and was humming a new song, while braiding the beautiful forget-me-nots into the black mares mane when there was the sound of twigs snapping.
The bards singing instantly stopped. He looked around as he moved closer to Cáerme, ready to run if the situation called for it.
Jaskier tried to make out the direction from which the sounds were coming from. He was pretty sure they were coming from the east. Opposite of the Willow where he made his camp.
He tried to keep his anxiety in check, not moving around to much. Even Cáerme seemed to be cautious. Not a good sign.
It was then , that a figure burst into the glade with hurried steps.
White hair whiping around as the figure seemd to frantically search for something.
Eyes instantly finding Jaskier from across the small glade.
The Figure stilled, seeming to take in the bard before it.
Was it not for the white hair, Jaskier was sure he would not have been able to make out who the figure across from him was. His mind blanked. His hands instantly stopped gripping Cáermes mane.
How was it possible. How did he always find himself in situations like this?
There was a small rumble before the figure let out a single, rough, word.
"Jaskier."
This seemed to wake the bard from his stupor. He looked at the witcher and said the only thing that came to his mind.
"Fuck."
And so Jaskier turned around and moved towards his camp. This was not happening.