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QUICK FIC 21
Golden Apples
The legend was one of the oldest of the Continent. Maybe even the oldest.
A man named Bragi Boddason – it was said that he was a Prince of Skellige, first born of an unknown King – decided to explore the known world and to sing its beauty before coming back and do his duty.
It was during his travel back to Skellige, that he met Iðunn, a woman who lived near the Yaruga River. Iðunn’s family’s members were farmers since they could remember. They had orchards were they grew apples’ trees, mostly.
It was love at first sight. Iðunn’s father didn’t want to let go his oldest daughter and first child. So, he asked for the young man to stay with them for a year and help them with the farm. He agreed.
The year was one of the happiest Bragi ever had and really, time flew way too fast. He said goodbye to Ivald, Iðunn’s father and Hesperie, Iðunn’s sister.
Brokk, Iðunn’s brother, would stay at the farm but Eitri, Iðunn’s other brother and the baby of the family, would go with them. To protect Iðunn’s virtue. As he was a blacksmith, he was less needed.
Things with Bragi’s father didn’t go as smoothly as with Iðunn’s father. Oh, in front of the Court, he acted surprised, a little bit annoyed but welcoming. But when they were alone…
When they were alone, his father’s rage was unstoppable. Unfortunately for the King, Bragi was his only living son and the only other heir possible was his cousin Tyr. Who, in his not-so-humble father’s opinion, would be a worse King than Bragi.
Bragi thought that his cousin would be a fine King, his ideas far less bloody than his father’s. If he could, Bragi would go back to Ivald’s farm and spend his time between composing and helping his love’s family. The next morning, in front of the court, his father claimed to have two conditions to accept Iðunn in the family.
First, she needed to spend one year at Court, learning what it mean to be a Queen. After all, his son spend one year being a farmer, that would be only fair. And it was. That why Bragi feared the second condition.
“As for the second condition…” his smile was somewhat cruel “Iðunn brought an apple tree from her family orchard. She told me that the first fruits will show in one year time. So, this is my condition for you; the fruits of this tree must be golden apples.
- What?
- You heard me. The apples must be golden apples. Not merely yellow apples but real golden apples.
- It’s… It’s not possible! I brought a pink apple tree because it has the best chance to take here.
- Well, maybe you could pray to Melitele? That’s your family’s Goddess, isn’t it? You’re dismissed, it’s time to begin your education.”
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“Is there a moral at your story, Jaskier?
-Hush, Geralt! Why are you always so grouchy? Can’t you enjoy a story?
- I like your story, Jaskier!
- Thanks Cirilla. At least, someone has taste, in this family!
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For a year, Iðunn learnt all the things she needed to be queen during the day. And during the night, she went to her tree, to pray Melitele and cry. She was the only one to tend to the tree.
The year was agonizingly slow but it finally passed. The night before, Iðunn took care of her apple tree a last time. The apples were a beautiful pink. She cried and prayed a last time.
The Court was reunited and everyone, for once, concurred. Iðunn learnt everything perfectly and was going to be a great Queen. The King already knew that, that why he added the second condition.
Iðunn brought them to the glass garden were the tree was, turned the key and opened the door. The Court, and the King, followed Iðunn and Bragi. When they arrived in front of the tree, they couldn’t believe it.
The apples were golden and shining, like the sun’s rays. Everyone was baffled, Iðunn first, but soon, everyone congratulated them. Everyone, except the King.
“No!
- Father?
- No! I refuse! She’s not going to be Queen! I forbid it!
- But Father, she met the two conditions that you set up yourself.
- Because I thought she would not make it! The first one was feasible but I specifically add the second for her to fail!
- And I didn’t! Are you going to deny your own words? Are you a liar?
- Don’t talk to me like that! That probably Magic! Foul Sorcery! Eat one of your apple! So I can be sure it’s not poisoned!”
Iðunn did as she was told and eat one of the golden apple. And to the eyes of every person who was there, it’s like the weight of the last year was lifted. An old member of the Court then said
“You pray to Melitele, yes? She’s a Goddess of Fertility and Abundance. But also a Goddess of Love. She probably saw your plight and since you, more than anyone else here, fall under her jurisdiction, she helped you. This apples are a blessing, not a curse.”
And without anyone the wiser, he took an apple and ate it. The man, who were burned by the years, seemed, almost suddenly, looking 20 years younger.
The King, seeing the result on the old Noble, couldn’t hide his greed.
“These apples are going to make me immortal! I’m going to rule Skellige until the end of time! Then… Then, I will conquer the rest of the Continent!”
Faster than lightning, he took one of the apple and ate it. But the result wasn’t the one he wanted. Instead of getting younger, he got older. And older. And older. Until all that was left was his skull.
Bragi took it.
“You always have been too greedy for your own good…
- The King is dead. Long live King Bragi!
- Long live King Bragi!”
Bragi sighed.
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“See! There is a moral! Don’t be a butthole!
- Cirilla! Language! And it’s not over yet!
- There is more?
- Let me tell you the end.”
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The coronation ceremony was quick and nontraditional. Bragi gave the crown to his cousin Tyr.
“Be a good King, Tyr, first of the Tuirseach.”
The apple tree stayed in Skellige but was back to his traditional color of pink. But still, the cider made of its apples helped fight most of the ailments.
Bragi and his bride went back to her father’s farm, where they married. Bragi, like he wanted, split his time between the farm labor and composing poems.
When Iðunn gave birth to their first child, they planted an apple tree and both prayed Melitele that their child would be healthy and grow old. And it was the same with their second, third and fourth child.
They were all healthy children, smart children, hardworking children. They had a good life and healthy families of their own.
The story of the unnamed King was known of everyone and no one wanted to feel Melitele wrath. The grandchildren, numerous, scattered in the wind.
It is said that another tree of Golden Apples grew in the care of Iðunn and her husband. And it is said that the apples didn’t worked for Iðunn the same way that it worked for her husband.
But Iðunn wasn’t jealous. She was worried. They both ate one apple and if she was rejuvenated, her husband looked like he was 20 years old again. And he didn’t seem to age at all.
It took another 20 years for him to look like he aged and it was like he was only 25. She knew Melitele had something in mind for her husband and she told him so.
“My love, my days are coming to an end but your life has just begun.
- Do not say something so silly, dear heart, I’ll join you, one way or another.
- No! You have to promise me! If the apples work that way for you, this is probably because the Gods have something in mind for you. A mission. I’m pretty sure the effect of the apples will stop once you did it.
- I don’t want to live without you, dear.
- Oh, my darling” she put her hand on his cheek and he rubbed it like a cat. “I will always live. As long as you remember me, as long as our family is alive, I will be there.”
Bragi buried his wife one week later. He buried his children, and grand-children and great-grand-children. But he lived, like he promised his wife. And he roamed the Continent, trying to fullfill his unknown mission.
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“Do you think Bragi still roam the Continent, Jaskier?
- I’m pretty sure, Princess.
- It’s just a story, Cirilla.
- Yennefer! Woman of little faith!
- But she’s right. It’s only a story. A good one, I will give you that.
- Ah ah! A compliment!
- Don’t let it go to your head…”
The little group split up at the beginning of winter. Jaskier would go back to Lettenhove.
“I need to see something. I’ll get to your refuge later. Do not worry, Vesemir is aware.”
When he arrived in Lettenhove, he was welcomed by the Viscount he named right after meeting Geralt.
“Welcome home, Jaskier.
- It’s good to be home. Nothing unpleasant?
- No, do not worry. Your room is ready.
- Thank you, Bran.”
Jaskier went to his room, or better said, went to his wing in Lettenhove’s castle. His suite had an office, that he barely use since there was no window and so, no natural light.
On a desk, was a skull, its jaw separated from the rest. Against it was an apple. A Golden Apple. Three normal looking apples were a bit further.
“ Even dead, you’re greedy, Father.”
He left the office and decided to join his family. He will take the rest of the day and tomorrow to reconnect with them and then, Bragi would prepare for his greatest work: the story of the Lion Cub Of Cintra.