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Lambert felt his shoulders loosen as they rode into town, the happy, chattering buzz of festival preparations filling his ears. He could smell the sweet treats being baked for the children, and the spice of wine and mead and cider being mulled.
Aiden shot him a suspicious look. Lambert couldn't blame him, given how little he'd actually explained about what they were doing there, but he'd wanted to catch his Cat off guard for once. He wanted to see the look on Aiden’s face when he finally saw what Lambert had planned.
“You think there’s any decent contracts?” Aiden asked, eyes flitting about. He was never particularly comfortable in towns, but Lambert was hoping it would change here. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s particularly worried, so I doubt there’s anything big. Might not make much for your trip up the mountains.”
Lambert shook his head with a grin. “We’re not here for contracts,” he said, gesturing for Aiden to follow after him. “First stop is the bakery, then we drop off the horses and bags.”
Aiden frowned, but followed.
Most people they passed ignored them, though a few smiled or waved at Lambert. It made for a pleasant way to end the season, with people who recognised him and were happy to see him. It was certainly better than how he spent his winters; locked up in a crumbling, cold keep, with only other Wolves for company. He knew how much he’d always pissed them off, and how they all had somebody they wished had lived instead of him. It was hard to spend a whole season around people who only barely tolerated him.
That was why he’d arranged for this surprise.
He left Aiden outside with the horses while he ducked into the bakery, grinning at Brand behind the counter.
“Cutting it fine, there, aren’t you?” Brand asked, arms folded across his chest. “We were starting to think you weren’t coming. Festival starts tomorrow, you know.”
“I’m here now, aren’t I?” Lambert replied. “Now hand over the pastries; we’ve been on the road all day, and we’re hungry.”
Brand rolled his eyes as he wrapped a couple pastries in paper and slid them over the counter. “You’re going to ruin your dinner, eating sweets at this time,” he said, shaking his head.
Lambert laughed. “You sound like your mother.”
Aiden gave him a curious look when he stepped outside, but Lambert just handed over one of the pastries with a grin.
Aiden sniffed the treat, then took a small bite, pupils going round with pleasure as the sweet taste burst over his tongue. Lambert would have to find a way of making them on the road if Aiden liked them that much. His Cat deserved sweet treats from time to time.
“Which way to the inn?” Aiden asked, mouth full of pastry.
Lambert shot him another smile, nibbling at his own treat. “Just follow me,” he said, beckoning Aiden after him.
They passed two taverns and an inn on their way through town, and Aiden grew more confused the longer they walked. It wasn’t until they reached the edge of town that he spoke up, however.
“What are we doing, Lambert?” he asked, eyeing the path Lambert had turned toward.
“Just trust me,” Lambert said. It was a surprise. Telling him now would just ruin it.
“Wolf-” Aiden started, but Lambert cut him off.
“Just around this corner, and then you’ll see,” Lambert promised, turning to face the Cat. “Do you trust me?”
Aiden drew in a deep breath, considering the question. They’d been travelling together on and off for more than a decade now, and Lambert knew Aiden trusted him in a fight. But this was a little different, and he knew not to take the lack of immediate answer as a slight.
“I trust you,” Aiden said, voice slow and careful. “I just don’t like being this far North. Too many of your brothers around, especially this time of year. I know you wouldn’t risk it, but…” He trailed off for a moment, eyeing the path again. “I don’t want to find one of them at the end of this road.”
Lambert bit his lip to keep from laughing. Aiden was going to lose it when he found out.
“I swear I’m the only Wolf you’ll see here,” he said, hand over his heart.
Aiden gave him a sharp nod, and pressed on. The house got a raised eyebrow as they turned the corner. The smoke rising from the chimney had Aiden slowing. The sound of Mara singing while she did housework had him stop in his tracks entirely.
“Wolf, you’re going to have to explain what we’re doing here, and fast,” Aiden said, eyes narrowing. “People generally don’t like it when witchers show up at their homes unannounced.”
Lambert grinned. “This is home,” he said.
Before he could explain further, there was a high pitched shriek of joy, and Artur came flying out of the house to fling himself at Lambert, who caught him around the middle with a laugh, and swung the boy up onto his hip.
“Uncle Lambert!” Artur cried, throwing his arms around Lambert’s neck. “You were gone forever! Papa didn’t think you’d come back in time to go to the bonfire with us tomorrow.”
“I would never miss the Saovine bonfires,” Lambert assured him. It wasn’t strictly true, since contracts or bad luck had kept him from celebrating with them in the past, but he always tried to be there.
“Wolf,” Aiden said warningly. “Explain.”
“Artur, this is my friend, Aiden,” Lambert said. “Wanna say ‘hi’ to Aiden?”
“Hi!” Artur chirped, promptly shoving his thumb into his mouth. He was getting too old to be allowed to keep up the habit, but Lambert wasn’t going to correct him.
“Aiden, this is my nephew, Artur,” Lambert explained. “And this is my childhood home. I brought you here so we could all celebrate Saovine together. And, if you wanted… Well, I… I thought maybe we could spend the winter here?”
Aiden gave Artur a tight smile and offered his hand to shake. “It’s very nice to meet you, Artur. Your uncle hasn’t really told me very much about you.”
Lambert could smell Aiden’s anger brewing, and felt his stomach twist. He’d wanted to do something nice. Something that would let them stay together for the winter, instead of having to spend the season worrying about each other. But he’d fucked up. He’d assumed too much, pushed too hard. Of course Aiden wouldn’t want to be stuck up North in Kaedwen with him all winter. Lambert had nothing to give that would be worth putting up with him for that long.
“Hey, is your Papa home?” Lambert asked Artur, getting a nod in response. “You should go let him know I’m here.”
He set Artur down, and let him dash off back inside to his father. Taking a deep breath to steel himself, he turned to face Aiden again.
“What the fuck are you thinking?” Aiden hissed. “Bringing me here to meet your family? Lambert, are you insane?”
“I’m sorry,” Lambert said, shoulders bunching up around his ears. “I didn’t… I just… You don’t have to stay. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed you’d want to come.”
“I can’t tell if you’re trying to rub your happy little family in my face, or if you’re just so monumentally stupid that you’d invite a killer into their home.”
“I said I was sorry!” Lambert snapped. “I was just trying to give us a place we could be together over winter. I know it was stupid, okay? Fuck. You’re the one always talking about how we never get enough time together.”
Of course it had been a lie. A sweet, harmless lie to keep Lambert from getting his feelings hurt. And now he’d ruined it by thinking someone could possibly want to keep him around. His family only had to see him a couple times a year. The other Wolves could barely stand to have him around for one season. Why would Aiden want him for more than a few weeks at a time?
Aiden’s face softened, and he reached out for Lambert’s hand, clasping it in both of his.
“I will always want more time with you,” he said, voice soft and sincere. His heartbeat was steadier than the beat of a drum. “But no human would want an uninvited witcher intruding on their home. Especially not a Cat. I don’t want to cost you this, just by being here.”
“You’re not uninvited,” Lambert croaked. “They wanted to meet you. Fuck. I haven’t been able to shut up about you, and they wanted to get to know you.”
Aiden gaped at him for a moment. “They want to meet me?”
Lambert nodded. “You’re important to me, and they want to know you.”
Aiden pressed a kiss to Lambert’s knuckles. “Let’s go meet them, then.”
Spinning around the Saovine bonfire, a crown of harvest flowers on his head, Aiden watched Lambert laugh. It was a beautiful sight; his Wolf unburdened and full of joy. Such a rare sight was surely worth a winter spent in a town full of humans. And so far they had all been pleasant enough. Only a few suspicious looks, and a child staring openly at his ears.
Lambert had shared something precious with him by taking him here. He’d been allowed to share in Lambert’s most closely guarded secret, though he’d done little to earn such trust.
Perhaps they could find the caravan in the spring, and Aiden could introduce Lambert to his own family. If Lambert could trust Aiden with his family, then Aiden had no qualms about showing Lambert that same trust in return.