Chapter Text
Love, Jaskier knows well, hurts. It tears at you, steals the breath from your longs, the finite beats of your heart, your very sanity, etc, etc.
Which is perhaps why the sorceress Anabel has him tied up on her bed.
She inches toward him with what looks like a leather strap. There’s a metal clasp on the back. It looks perfectly ordinary. Expensive, maybe, but nothing he hasn’t dealt with before. Yet, the look in her eyes makes him feel wary. “Okay, darling," He says, holding his hands up, palms facing forward. "I know what I said before, but I think I change my mind. So, if you'll be so kind...”
“Oh, Jaskier. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this.” She lifts the bit of leather upwards, close to her head and waves it about. “However, you’ve spent a little too much time thinking about that witcher of yours.” Anabel sits on the bed and leans in close.
Jaskier shrinks into the pillows. While he knew there were those that could read his mind, he didn’t think anyone would actually look into his own mind. Yennefer, sure, but not one like Anabel. “Yes, speaking of Geralt." He gulps. "He will be waiting for me. With big, scary swords.”
“I doubt it.” She says. Then, he shows Jaskier what she’s been hiding all along: a mask. Or, a muzzle of some kind. Though he has no talent for the craft, even he can tell there is chaos brimming from the offending article. “He doesn’t appreciate you the way I do. So! Until you learn what’s best for you…”
The cool leather tingles against his skin as she lays it over his mouth. He struggles against his bonds, squirming away from the sorceress. It’s of little use-– she immobilizes him with her magic. The muzzle fits over him perfectly: it securely fits over his jaw, preventing movement of any kind.
“And just so we’re clear, Jaskier… No one else will hear your voice again. Not unless I will it,” she tells him, before kissing him over the mask. Then, she rubs her thumbs over his cheeks and smiles. “Your songs belong to me now.”
There may be a muzzle on his face, but it feels as though a noose hangs around his neck. The worst is yet to come… but Jaskier will do everything to protect his voice.