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“Hurry up Jas! I want to show you my favorite hiding place! Not even Uncle Lambert has found me there!”
“I don’t see how he’d even be able to get to you, all these turns and crouching under every bush you see. I know I look spry but I much prefer to zigzagging around the keep, not over and under fallen trees.”
“You can’t tell anyone when we get there! It’ll be our secret!”
Jaskier playfully rolled his eyes. Ciri wasn’t listening to him at all.
It had been a beautiful morning, a day after a storm that seemed to give new life to the world. A very slight chill in the air and dew on everything. It would’ve been a shame to be confined to indoors. When Jaskier had suggested the idea to a day outside, Ciri jumped at it.
He had meant for them to walk about the garden, show her what wild plants that could be used in potions, but Ciri had dragged him away from the main garden to one of the parts he was less familiar with. It really was pretty much just the side of a mountain; overgrown plants, boulders obscuring the somewhat path, trees knocked from the storm.
It was a place he tended to avoid because if you weren’t a Witcher, which he wasn’t, it tended to be a lot more dangerous, especially after a storm. The ground wasn’t even completely dry, his feet kept sinking in slightly. He would be able to look out for himself just fine, having Ciri with him was just the tiniest bit nerve wracking.
“Darling I don’t even think I’d be able to tell someone about it I wanted to.”
The thought of getting lost crossed his mind, but seeing as Ciri seemed to know exactly where to step despite all the debris in her way, he didn’t seem to worry. Besides, Yenn at least knew they were outside that day, and Jaskier knew she most likely knew where Ciri was taking him. Not to mention any of the Witchers need only follow their scent.
“You should be able to remember the way. This is a lot more clear than it normally is.”
Jaskier nearly tripped. “This is more clear?”
Ciri hummed. “There’s normally a lot more rocks and boulders. I think all the rain washed them away, or at least made them sink.”
“Yes, that’s definitely— not worrisome, having possibly sink into the ground at any given point.”
“You won’t sink, but if you do, I’m here and can pull you out!”
“Ciri darling, it’s not that I doubt your capability to rescue me if needs be, but does anyone else know where this spot is?”
“Papa knows.” She answered, climbing around a boulder. “It was his originally but he gave it to me and said to keep it secret. I don’t think he’ll mind if I show it to you.”
“I should hope not, but if he gets peeved then I’m not taking any blame. It’s impossible for him to be angry at you for anything because of how much he loves you.”
“Then it’s impossible for you too. Papa loves you as much as he loves me.”
A warmth travelled through Jaskier’s person. “Yes, I suppose that’s true as well.”
It was a few more minutes of walking before the ground became slightly more solid and level. They arrived on a small open area devoid of trees The ground was covered in still wet leaves but tuffs of grass peeked through. It also seemed to be eloped in sunlight despite the trees surrounding it. Not to mention all the wild flowers that went along with the grass.
“It’s not as pretty as it normally is, but papa said if you want to see significant change then you should start from the beginning.”
“Wise words.”
“So the next time we come here there should be a lot more flowers blossomed. If we come in the morning before the sun then we should be able to see them open up.”
“I think I’d like that very much. Thank you for sharing this place with me. It’s lovely.”
Ciri took his hand and pointed at a flower. “Did you know that one’s not native to these lands?”
He didn’t, actually. “How in the world did it get here then?”
Ciri had told him about how when Geralt first showed her the spot it was really just a clear patch of dirt, but every time she went there she brought flowers and seeds.
“Papa said he used to come here to be alone, but it’s sad to be alone. I asked everyone what their favorite color was and found flowers and planted then. So if papa ever needed to come here because he was sad, he wouldn’t really be alone because everyone is here for him.”
Jaskier wanted to cry when she started pointing out what colors corresponded to whom at the keep.
“You need to be here too!” Ciri suddenly gasped. “What’s your favorite flower?”
“I get my own flower while the other must share colors?”
“It’s different for people that are really close to papa.” She pointed to a lavender plant. “That one’s for Aunt Yenn for her eyes,” next was light blue tulips, “Those are for Uncle Lambert because they’re like the sky after a fog,” then a rose bush, “and those are for Uncle Eskel to match his shirt he always wears.”
“I’m sorry dear, but I can’t say I have a favorite flower. They’re all too beautiful for me to choose just one.”
She pouted slightly before a grin appeared across her face. “You can be a dandelion!”
Jaskier snorted slightly. “You see me at a weed?”
“No! Of course not! I was talking with Aunt Yenn and she said you reminded her of a dandelion because of all the things you can do!” She picked a nearby one from the ground. “The flowers are pretty, you can use the leaves in food, the roots are good for medicines—”
“It’s alright, I was only teasing—”
“—and when the flowers die, their seeds are scattered across the land and me and Aunt Yenn both agreed that the wind carries the seeds like it also carries your songs across the land!”
He wasn’t expecting that. A well in his heart seemed to overflow and reach his eyes.
“Did I say something wrong?” Ciri asked, voice quiet. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
Jaskier wiped his eyes. “No darling, you didn’t say anything wrong. I’m crying because I’m extremely happy right now and can’t contain it.” He knelt in front of her. “I’d be honored if you thought of me as your dandelion.”
They sat there for a while, Jaskier asking Ciri about every flower and who they represented then telling her facts about certain ones she might not have known.
It was peaceful in a different way, one Jaskier hadn’t felt in a very long time.
“As much as I love it out here, I think we should head back.” Jaskier said looking at the sky. “I’m sure we’re well over when your lesson should have ended. I’m also not too keen about those clouds rolling it. Perhaps the rain isn’t over yet.”
“Okay, but if you ever want to come here again, you can.” Ciri took his hand and began leading them back on the worn, washed out path back to the keep.
“I don’t know how you’re so confident on where to go. If I was plopped in the woods, I’d just end up getting more lost trying to find my way out.”
“That’s how I was at first too; papa would always tell me to lead us back so I would get used to it. I got turned around a lot. But I know the way now. I bet I could lead us back in the dark!”
“I bet you could too darling, but I don’t think Geralt would be happy if we were out all day without word. No doubt he’d come looking for us.”
“Papa’s a big worrywart. People say he’s scary but I think that comes from him being scared himself.” She climbed over a fallen tree. “Like when you were stabbed by that girl, papa looked really scared because you got hurt, and that made him scary to everyone else.”
“Love and fear make people act out in ways no one expects. I’m sure it’s—”
Leaves crunching made his words stop.
Jaskier’s head quickly snapped to the left. No one should’ve been coming from that direction, quick literally up the side of the mountain. The trail they were on was a supposed secret only know to Ciri and Geralt, and if a group had gone out for a hunt, they would’ve gone outside of the keep grounds and up the mountain.
“Jas?”
It was an animal. Probably just a deer or some sort of cat. Maybe a bear at worst. Because there was no way any sort of creature would be able to get that close to the keep without any of the people inside knowing.
Except…
It was bipedal. That he could hear, and if it was someone from the keep, they would’ve called out.
“Hello? Is someone there?”
Not a someone, but something had made its way through the debris just enough for Jaskier to get a look at it and tell himself not to panic.
It looked feminine; long red hair, slender body, bare chest, along with pointed ears, long, sharp claws, white skin, and what looked like red welts on its chest, arms, and legs.
Jaskier had often seen it in books he looked through, or heard about it from tales any of the witchers were willing to share with him. The question was— how did an Alp get inside the keep boundary without being detected?
His mind had been wiped clean with only one thought replacing everything: get Ciri to safety.
He put himself between her and the creature when a second thought went through his head, he had no weapon, and he doubted Ciri had one. They didn’t need weapons in the keep boundaries, much less in the garden of all places.
“Jaskier…”
“You know the way back?” He asked, not taking his eyes from the alp.
“Yes, but—”
“When I tell you, I want you to run as fast as you can. I’ll be right behind you.” He began shuffling back, stopping only momentarily to pick up a large blunt branch from a tree.
“Don’t stop running until you’re inside the keep walls.”
“Jaskier—!”
Jaskier kept backing up until they back up into a fallen tree. The Alp didn’t stop its approach, keeping its eyes trained on them.
“Get over the tree.” Jaskier could feel her gentle shake on his back as she held him while getting over. “Remember, don’t stop until you’re in the walls of the keep. Go.”
“But—”
“Run!”
Ciri hesitated for a second before she took off. Jaskier waited to see what the alp would do, almost expecting it to give chase but it just stayed, locked on him. He’d read about it enough, knowing that they go after sleeping prey, paralyzing them with some sort of toxin so they can feed. He knew he would be the target when he sent Ciri running.
He maneuvered himself backwards over the tree, the alp slowly advancing on him. He didn’t know the way back, not backwards and certainly not while running from a creature that would definitely kill him if given the chance.
He’d given himself too much credit. If he had something silver then maybe he’d be able to stun the creature, but he wasn’t nearly as in shape as he thought himself. So he just kept backing up, turning slightly when his back hit something, never taking his eyes off the monster in front of him.
But then there was a snap behind him. And his name was called.
“Jaskier!”
He turned on instinct. Ciri was standing on an upper ledge, fear in her eyes.
Then snapping again. He turned and the alp was right in front of him.
“Fuck!”
Jaskier swung the branch at its head, not waiting to see if it was stunned before turning around and running. “You we’re supposed to run!”
“I wasn’t going to leave you when you don’t know the way back!” Ciri matched Jaskier’s volume as they both ran. “I’m not going to leave you!”
Jaskier didn’t bother arguing. Ciri was just like Geralt; not related by blood but the same in every way that counted.
The two of them just kept running. Neither could tell their own steps from the ones definitely following them. Unfortunately, two sets stopped.
Jaskier felt a burning sensation go up the back of his left calf, and his footsteps stopped, turning into a skid. He heard Ciri call his name from a few feet in front of him. He turned around so he was on his back. The alp was nearly on top of him, one of its clawed hands dropped with his blood.
There was no way he would be able to outrun it now.
“Ciri…”
It was over him. His jaw had looked like it unhinged like a snake. At least it feasting on his body would give Ciri a chance.
“Ciri, you run. Start running right now.”
“No! I won’t leave you!”
There was another branch, and a few rocks in arm’s reach. He wouldn’t go down without a fight at least.
“Go now!”
And then, Ciri screamed.
***
“They’ve been gone all day.”
“Please, it’s barely past midday. A few hours, they’ll be back soon.”
Geralt huffed at how easy Yennefer dismissed his concern. He didn’t think he was nervous when neither Ciri or Jaskier was at his side, but Eskel, Lambert, and Yennefer, mostly, had made fun of him, calling himself worrywart and worse mother hen than Eskel was with his goats.
He didn’t mind. He knew he was over anxious about his concerns, but something about that day was just different. He didn’t like how the sky was.
“I’m going to look for them.”
“Geralt—”
Then he heard it. Hell, it was so loud he figured everyone heard it. He heard Ciri scream.
Geralt had gone running through the keep faster than he thought was possible, barely registering people running beside him. He was out in the courtyard, voices and questions going ignored. The conversation with Ciri this morning playing through his head.
“We’re going to be outside today since it’s been raining for a while!”
“It’s nice to see the sun has graced us once again. I’m sure lots of plants were thankful for the rain.”
“I’m going to show Jas our place!”
“Are you?”
“Yes! I think he’d really enjoy seeing it! That’s okay right?”
“Course it is cub.”
There shouldn’t have been anything dangerous on the pathway to the flower clearing. But then again, he’s never taken Ciri there right after a fresh rain. The thought of either of them being under a tree or trapped in a landslide made him shiver.
He started running, through the garden and down a barely recognizable path, several pairs of of feet behind him, when a gush of wind hit him, carrying a scent he hated.
Jaskier’s blood.
The closer he got, the stronger the smell, and it was making him sick. He was expecting the bard to have been impaled by a falling tree with how strong it was. He didn’t think he’d see an alp trying to claw Jaskier’s neck to ribbons, and Ciri standing behind him, not knowing what to do.
The next instances were a blur to him. Jaskier had yelled, Ciri screamed, and Geralt was suddenly standing over Jaskier, the alp’s head rolling down the side of the hill. A blind rage left him momentarily deaf, but after seeing the creature’s head and body go down the hill, sounds started to come back.
“You’re alright cub. Are you hurt?”
“The fucks an alp doing this close to the keep?”
“Why did no one detect it?”
“Geralt you need to move so we can get him.”
Right… right.
He looked down to see Jaskier, panting and sweaty, his leg bleeding like a faucet and his chest— his chest had three long gashes on it, also bleeding but not as horribly.
“Geralt.”
He moved so he was knelt by the bard’s side. “You’re going to be okay.”
“Ciri— is she alright?”
“She’s fine. You’re the one leaking all over the ground.”
A puff of air came from his mouth, an attempted laugh. “But you’re here now. So everything will be okay. I mean everything except this shirt. I really must stop wearing ones I like.”
Geralt snorted. “I’ll get you a new shirt.”
“I’ll hold you to that. In the mean time, I think I’m going to pass out now so if you could help me get home, it’d be much appreciated.”
***
Jaskier didn’t like waking up with slight recollection of what happened in previous days, nor did he like attempting to move only for waves of pain to shoot through his chest and leg.
“Don’t try to move yet. Just because we’ve sealed your wounds doesn’t mean you’ve recovered.”
“And here I thought I might take an evening stroll through the keep to say hello to everyone.”
Yennefer rolled her eyes. “Since you’re immediately sassing, I think it’s safe to say you’ll make a full recovery.”
“But will you be here to hold my hand the whole way?” Jaskier squinted as he opened his eyes.
“Afraid you’ve only got two hands and they’ve been pretty occupied the past two days.”
“Two days?”
Yennefer nodded. “You lost a significant amount of blood from the wound on your leg and have been out cold since Geralt brought you back. Every day, him and Ciri would be in here holding your hands, waiting for you to wake up.”
Jaskier let out a relieved sigh. “Ciri’s okay then.”
“Cub’s fine; wouldn’t stop crying about how it was her fault you got hurt. Refused to eat or leave your side until you woke up. Geralt had me put a sleeping draft in her tea because she was waring herself thin. Geralt too.”
“I’m— guessing he didn’t fall for the sleeping potion in the tea trick did he?”
“Eskel and Lambert had to practically drag him out and force him to sleep for a few hours.” She shrugged. “I told him I’d let him know you were awake.”
“But…?”
“But he only left a few hours ago and I doubt he’s gotten even an hour of sleep yet, so I’m going to let him wait.”
“Won’t he—?” He gestured to his ears. “Doesn’t he know I’m awake?”
“I have a silencing spell in place. I’m the only one who knows you opened your eyes.” She sat on the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“I don’t suppose okay is an apt answer?” Jaskier smirked. “It feels like when your extend a muscle too much and a really bad paper cut rolled into one, but much less than that! Meaning I know it’s there but it doesn’t hurt like it once did.”
Yennefer nodded. “You should be able to get out of bed in a few days, but you’re not allowed to go anywhere without someone with you. I don’t want you taking a fall and undoing all the work.”
“I think I can get used to a bit of bed rest. Thank you, for helping me.”
“Don’t you dare make a song out of this.”
“I would never.” Jaskier shifted slightly. “Why— was there an alp inside the walls?”
“They suspect it was because of the rain. A good chunk of the hill had slid, opening and closing caves in the mountain. Lambert said they found one that lead outside of the wall and that’s how it was able to get in. What it was actually doing though, no one’s got a clue.”
Jaskier merely nodded and shut his eyes. He didn’t think a simple conversation would take so much out of him.
“Do you think you’d be able to stomach something before going back to sleep?”
“Not particularly.”
“Sorry, it wasn’t a question.” Jaskier rolled his eyes. “You’ve been out for two days and you need to eat. And I know you’re definitely not in the mood for more visitors since you’re on the verge of passing out so I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
It was a bit of a surprise when Yennefer activated a portal. He expected her to leave through the doors, but after thinking for a moment, he realized her entering his room with food would signal to everyone be had woken up. And though he did want company, he most likely wouldn’t last more than ten minutes before passing out.
Apparently he did anyways because he opened his eyes to Yennefer gently shaking his shoulder. “I didn’t think you were this out of it. But then again, alps are nasty creatures and you are but a simple bard.”
“I feel as though you’re insulting me. Shame on you, for I am a wounded man.”
Yennefer rolled her eyes. “I would not insult you if I did not think you’d get better. Now eat your soup.”
Jaskier’s eyes went to the bowl that was currently sitting beside him. “Did anyone see you?”
“I think the cook might have, so I might not be the one by your bedside next you wake.”
“I was surprised to see only you this time I woke. Almost like you want me to yourself.”
“Shut up and eat your soup.”
***
Jaskier could feel the energy from the bodies around him as he slowly woke.
There was a pressure of a full body on his right side, but not quite the full length so he figured Ciri was curled next to him. Then someone sitting in the windowsill and someone sitting in the chair near the fireplace.
Then there was the one he had grown used to; used to sitting by, used to standing with, walking with, sleeping with. He didn’t need to open his eyes to know that Geralt was right next to his left side, holding his hand, rubbing gentle circles on the top with his thumb.
He opened his eyes slightly and gave it a squeeze. “Good morning.” Geralt’s eyes snapped. “Or evening considering the darkness.”
Geralt’s eyes had a gentleness to them as he peered at Jaskier through the darkness. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. Yennefer told me it was a few days before I woke.”
“Too many.”
Jaskier smiled. “I’m here now, and I won’t be going anywhere. Not for a very long time.”