Chapter Text
Death was always a risk when travelling with Geralt. Both (y/n) and Jaskier had accepted that when they each began travelling with the Witcher. However, accepting the possibility and experiencing it were very two different things.
The day had started off rather normal. The trio wandering through the countryside, jaskier chattering away at a mile a minute, Geralt looking seconds away from snapping at the bard and (y/n) enjoying both the chaos unfolding in front of her and the weather. The sun streamed down on the group, warming all three with its rays as the group walked.
They had stopped at a small village to buy some supplies when Geralt was approached by one of the village’s men. He was stocky and well-built. His features showed that he wasn’t a stranger to hardship or defending his farm from wolves and other beasts who’d prey on his livestock. Despite his clear experience with fending off critters, he was covered in scars and more than one new cut. There was a small group of other men who had followed the stocky one when he went to talk to the Witcher, all bore similar injuries.
“You’re Geralt of Rivia right? The Witcher?” Geralt barely looked up from his drink as he nodded. The stocky man let out a sigh of relief, and behind him his fellows likewise seemed to relax.
“We need your help….the last few weeks something’s been attacking the village. We’re not too sure what it is. Moves too fast for any of us to actually see it. All we know is it attacks at night, if it can’t get livestock it’ll take a person. We’ve lost five people to it already… we’ve all put up fights against normal beasts, but this isn’t something normal…..can you handle it?” Geralt almost laughed when the farmer asked if he could handle it. It was what he was built for, after all. Whatever was hunting the village and its people wouldn’t make it past the week.
“Yeah, I can handle it…stay in your homes at night until I do. Even if you hear something or someone being taken. I’ll handle that, you just keep yourselves safe. The farmer nodded and hurried back to the others. Quickly reassuring the group that a Witcher was on their case and things would be dealt with quickly.
Geralt headed for the tavern after he purchased what he needed, he spoke with as many villagers as would talk to him. Despite both Jaskier’s annoying but catchy song and the villager’s desperation for help, many were still scared of him. Eventually he ordered a drink and sat at a table, continuing to talk with anyone who would give him information on the attacks and waiting for (y/n) and Jaskier to show up with their own supplies.
Geralt was finishing his drink when (y/n) and Jaskier finally walked into the tavern and headed for him. Both chattering excitedly about a performance Jaskier had been talked into for the night. Geralt took a look at the pair and put a hand on (y/n)’s shoulder. When she looked up at him, he nodded towards Jaskier.
“Stay here with Jaskier tonight. I’m going hunting, not sure what it is, so I don’t want you two anywhere near it.” (Y/n) nodded a bit, looking a little surprised.
“Yeah, I’ll stay with him….” Geralt nodded a little and watched as Jaskier walked to the middle of the tavern and started strumming his lute. As he gathered more and more attention from the gathered villagers, he started to play.
“When a humble bard
Graced a ride along
With Geralt of Rivia
Along came this song
From when the White Wolf fought
A silver-tongued devil
His army of elves
At his hooves did they revel
They came after me
With masterful deceit
Broke down my lute
And they kicked in my teeth
While the devil's horns
Minced our tender meat
And so cried the Witcher
He can't be bleat
Toss a coin to your Witcher
Oh, Valley of Plenty
Oh, Valley of Plenty, oh
Toss a coin to your Witcher
Oh, Valley of Plenty
At the edge of the world
Fight the mighty horde
That bashes and breaks you
And brings you to mourn
He thrust every elf
Far back on the shelf
High up on the mountain
From whence it came
He wiped out your pest
Got kicked in his chest
He's a friend of humanity
So give him the rest
That's my epic tale
Our champion prevailed
Defeated the villain
Now pour him some ale
Toss a coin to your Witcher
Oh, Valley of Plenty
Oh, Valley of Plenty, oh
Toss a coin to your Witcher
A friend of humanity
Toss a coin to your Witcher
Oh, Valley of Plenty
Oh, Valley of Plenty, oh
Toss a coin to your Witcher
A friend of humanity
Toss a coin to your Witcher
Oh, Valley of Plenty
Oh, Valley of Plenty, ah-ah, oh
Toss a coin to your Witcher
A friend of humanity“
(Y/n) had heard the song an agonizing amount of times before, but that didn’t stop her from singing along with Jaskier and the villagers who joined in as well. The loud, happy music from the tavern covered up the noises of a hunt from outside. Whatever monster that had been terrorizing the village was again on the prowl. The noises that covered up its presence also drew its attention. It slunk towards the tavern and circled it, staring through the gaps of the wooden walls at the crowd gathered within.
Jaskier’s continued to play for the crowd, with each song he played he glanced over at (y/n). Wanting to make sure she was enjoying whatever he had decided to play. Each time she caught his eye, he’d send her a wink. And with each wink, (y/n) would laugh a little and duck her head, a strange thrill running along her spine every time. Jaskier eventually started slowing down his performance. At the end, he took a little bow and waved before moving towards (y/n).
“I hope the pretty lady enjoyed the performance.” (Y/n) laughed a little and nodded.
“It was delightful, Jaskier. I loved all of it.” Jaskier winked, causing (y/n) to laugh again before she stood. Around the pair, the villagers started to leave the tavern. As the first one made it out the door, the creature lurking outside struck. Upon hearing the screams of fear from the villagers Jaskier and (Y/n) paused then rushed to the door. Outside it was chaos, the attacker was leaping from victim to victim, leaving behind a bloody path.
As villagers scattered trying to avoid being grabbed Jaskier felt rather than saw the creature jump at him, the force of the impact sent him toppling to the ground. As he landed, his hands came up to protect the more vulnerable bits of his anatomy. At first Jaskier thought he had been lucky and escaped uninsured, but a stinging sensation drew his attention down to his stomach where several long gashes were now located. He cursed a little at the injuries and looked around for (y/n). Surprise filled his expression when she wasn’t beside him, or even anywhere he could see.
The bard looked around frantically for the woman but couldn’t find her. He tried to stay low to avoid attracting attention back to himself. All around him, people were running and screaming as the creature continued its attacks. Eventually the attacking creature moved on, making its way towards the forest, still attacking fleeing villagers as it went. In its wake, it left a bloody mess of injured villagers and one injured bard. Jaskier went from person to person, offering what help he could while still desperately looking for any sign of (y/n), his own rather pressing injury mostly forgotten as he searched. He was about to check on the last person when a new scream sounded from the woods surrounding the village. Jaskier’s head snapped up, and he took off running just as several frightened villagers ran from their hiding spot among the trees.
Jaskier hesitated a moment, he had seen the creature make its way to the forest and while he was not prepared to face it again he knew (y/n) wasn’t either and the possibility she was alone and in need of help made him take the first steps into the woods. He hummed to himself as a way to fill the pressing silence and to keep back his fears of whatever was lurking in the shadows. It didn’t help much, as he searched the woods, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. His hand continually came up to rub the back of his neck at the prickling feeling that contained to follow him though the forest.
Jaskier continued to trek further through the trees, then paused when something slick made his foot slip. He looked down, and his breath caught for a moment. There was a scary amount of red seeping into the ground. He prayed it was just a cow or a sheep that had been dragged back to the forest. The screams were human, but he prayed anyway. Even one of the villagers would be preferable. He hated thinking that, but anything, anyone was better than the monster grabbing (y/n). His prayers went unanswered, when he finally found the source of all the blood his heart sank. (Y/n) was slumped against a tree, barely conscious, blood purring from her body like some macabre fountain
Jaskier ran to (y/n) as his panic rose, his own ability to patch a person up was rudimentary, he could bandage a cut and handle injuries but the deep gashes now decorating (y/n)’s body were far beyond his abilities.
“No, no, no! Shit…fuck…where’s Geralt when you need him?!” (Y/n) took a ragged breath and muttered, almost too soft for Jaskier to hear.
“You’re bleeding….”
“I’m bleeding?!? Have you seen yourself?” The bard’s voice cracked a bit, and he swallowed thickly, trying to remain focused on fixing what he could. He jumped when he felt a chilled hand rest on his cheek.
“You have such pretty eyes…. So startling blue….. Like someone captured the sky and just….shoved it into a glass or something.” Jaskier couldn’t help a stressed laugh at (y/n)’s description of his eyes.
“You’re not thinking straight…. Just relax, you’ll be fine….”
“No… I’m thinking straight….. You’ve got beautiful eyes. And a beautiful personality…you’re just beautiful in general… I think that’s why I love you.” The bard stopped, those three words were everything he had wanted to hear for so long, and they couldn’t have come at a worse time.
“Hey…..say something…”
“What should I say? The woman I love is dying in front of me and I can’t fix it!” (Y/n) hummed a little, a pleased little smile making its way onto her face.
“There….that’s all you have to say….you love me, that’s all I wanted to hear….” Jaskier snorted softly and shook his head as he continued to try and stop the flow of blood. His own wounds were starting to become serious, but he was far more concerned about (y/n) and keeping her alive. His vision has started to blur, and he was having trouble focusing on the injuries decorating (y/n)’s body, but he remained determined, trying his best to fix what he could as fast as he could. He didn’t realize he had lapsed into a focused silence for several minutes. When he finally remembered his voice, he spoke in a joking tone, hoping a little back and forth banter would keep (y/n) awake.
“You must have some wicked selective hearing if me confessing is all you heard.” The bard paused for a moment when there wasn’t the response he had been expecting. His eyes flickered up to (y/n)’s face, and his blood turned to ice. The light had left her eyes and she was staring blankly ahead. When jaskier raised a shaking hand to find a pulse, he came away with nothing. His hands shook more as he slowly processed what had happened. He heard a twig snap behind him, and with that small noise he let out a gut-wrenching scream of grief. He didn’t care if the noise was from the creature coming back to finish him off. At least he wouldn’t have to face a day without (y/n).
It wasn’t the creature that was behind Jaskier. It was Geralt, his sword was coloured with the blood of the attacker. After returning to the village empty-handed, he had quickly set out again when he saw the destruction the creature had left in its wake, hoping to find it before it killed anyone. When he saw Jaskier on the ground in front of (y/n)’s body, he paused. Hoping he wasn’t too late to help.
Geralt walked forward and reached Jaskier just as another heartbroken cry ripped free from the bard. The Witcher hesitated and placed a hand on the other man’s shoulder. The force of the bard’s sobs shook his body hard enough Geralt’s hand shook along with the cries.
“You’re injured….that needs to be looked at by a healer.” Jaskier didn’t answer, just gripped (y/n)’s body tighter as he sobbed. It wasn’t until he felt the strong grip of his Witcher friend pulling him away from her body did he finally react to the rest of the world.
“NO! NO! PLEASE NO!” Geralt flinched at the cracks in Jaskier’s screams as he fought to return to (y/n). Geralt held him securely as he strode towards Roach. He understood Jaskier’s desperation to stay with (y/n) but that desperation would kill him if he wasn’t treated soon. The bard continued to struggle against Geralt until his own blood loss pulled him under. From there the ride back to the village was much quieter, the silence made geralt’s skin crawl. Silence and Jaskier weren’t things that normally mingled.
The ride back was far too silent, in geralt’s opinion. When he finally reached the village, where the healer was already getting to work on the other injured people, dropped Jaskier off with the reassurance he’d be taken care of before he went back to the woods to find (y/n)’s body and give her a proper burial. When he found the spot however, there was no body. Aside from the blood on the ground, it was like (y/n) hasn’t even been there. no disrupted ground or leaves, no cloth left behind. Nothing. Geralt searched for a few hours, trying to find any trace of his friend. When it became evident the search wasn’t going to be helpful, he headed back to the village, wondering how he’d explain it to Jaskier