Chapter Text
Prove yourself worthy of your bard.
Those were the last words the masked man said before he left Lambert chained to an anchor. Jaskier was 300 ft away, locked in a tower, waiting for the Witcher to save him. Lambert groaned, the sun was beating down on him, the steel anchor weighed more than he liked to admit and the chains were tightly locked around his body, he could feel them weighing him down in the sand. He began to walk, straining as he did so. The anchor felt as if it was dragging him backward.
He stumbled and fell to his knees. He slammed his first on the ground, grains of sand flew catching the wind. Lambert snarled as he stood upright, this man had taken his ward, he was supposed to be protecting Jaskier and bringing him to Geralt. Yet he got him kidnapped, and now he was chained to an anchor and the only way to get to him was thorough walking.
It felt like an unbearable task. It didn’t feel possible, he had nothing but the close on his back and the anchor chained to him. His elixir had been taken just as his weapons.
He couldn’t remember much about the night before, he saw only flashes as the sun beat down upon him. Red, orange, and yellow hues, a faint tune that dug in his mind, the twinkling of stars above, the smell of sea salt.
Those are what he remembered.
Waking that morning he recalled feeling muscle pain, Jaskier’s presence no longer accompanied him. The heavy weight of the chains dawning on him, then a face.
Half masked, and a darker voice.
“Prove yourself worthy of your bard.”
Reaching for a sword Lambert did not find the trusty silver blade, nor did he find his poison. Only the anchor.
He growled as he continued to walk, he let out a pained gasp of air as the anchor caught a rock and he was pulled back.
He would get to Jaskier, one way or another.
He pulled himself to his feet once more. The sand shifted under his feet as he turned towards the anchor. He grabbed the chain tightly in his hands, his jaw tightened as he began to pull and walk backward.
Slower, but more efficient.
He was no longer catching rocks or shells with the upper hooks of the anchor. His course would not be stopped, he needed to get to the bard he and his brother so desired.
His feelings for him were not to be said, but he did not know what the masked man could be doing to the man while he struggled to pull the anchor through the sand.
Jaksier’s ankles were bound with silver chains, he was sitting upon a cushioned chair, his clothes no longer comfortable but much more revealing. He had a silver collar that felt tight around his throat and the chain shook as he moved ever so slightly from side to side in panic.
“Play for me, I want to hear another song. I could hear you last night, your song like a sirens call.”
“I do not wish to play for you! You took me and harmed my companion! What have you done with him!”
“Shh now,” the man stood his mask still on, “he will be able to find you soon enough. I told him how to find you, but you’re mine unless he can prove his worthiness of you. I won you as a prize fair enough.”
“You blindsided him at night as we rested by the fire! You took me to be your musical slave, I am no jester I will not entertain you. I will not be yours to dress up and toy with. My songs are my most guarded, I will not give them to someone who plays dirty.”
Jaskier yelped as the man grabbed his face, Jaskier squirmed under his touch. “I won you, I stole you, you are mine. So sing for me or I will find other ways to entertain myself with you.”
Jaskier froze, he did not want to do anything with or for this man but some things were safer than others. Jaskier looked him over, his eyes looking him up and down with concern. “What song can I play for you?”
“Start with the one you were singing on the beach.” The man smiled, he released Jaskier’s face and stepped back. He sat across from him as Jaskier began to play once more.
Lambert continued to pull the anchor across the sand, his feet burned from the warmed up grains, sweat dripped down his forehead. He was shaking as he continued to walk, his body felt as if it would give way at any moment. He grunted and continued to pull, he needed to get to Jaskier.
He looked behind himself to check to ensure his path was mostly free of any blockages. He took mental notes of large rocks coming up as well as trees that would force him to move.
He let out a heavy sigh, he didn’t know how he would get there. He didn’t know he he would ever finish this horrific experience, he let out a groan as he kept dragging the anchor. “Fuck… Jask…”
He could hear the soft sound of a lute but he wasn’t close enough to truly hear his song clearly. Yet the tune began to bring memories back from that night.
Jaskier was singing, his finger work on the lute impressive. He never wanted to admit it, but Jaskier’s music truly was a wonder to behold. He loved the way he could create any tune he wanted to. He always had a wonderful view of the world, his songs beautiful too. He could remember the song from that night, he could remember the fire going.
That’s what was in different hues, a warm light. One he wanted to keep going, it was chilly that night, even with the fire going. He then remembered hearing Jaskier’s song end abruptly. His cry loud, he screamed for him. He remembered hearing his name leave Jaskier’s lips, the cry desperate.
He couldn’t remember why, only the man that morning.
He continued to drag the anchor as fast as he could, it strained his body but he knew what he must do. He knew he had to do anything in his will power to get to Jaskier.
He needed this damn anchor off of his body.
Jaskier continued to strum his lute, he only hoped Lambert would save him. He didn’t truly know what happened to him after that night, he didn’t know if the man was screwing with him and that he was alive or if he just had to come to the cave he was being kept in.
The chain around his neck was tight, it burned. “Please… just let me go…”
“When the Witcher comes you will be free. If he even makes it to you.”
Jaskier lowered his eyes. He continued to play his lute, his voice shook as he sang. Lambert continued to pull on the anchor, the chain rattled but he was in pain.
He just needed to find his bard, protect his bard.
He continued to drag the anchor through the sand until he came to a point he could hear Jaskier’s voice at its highest point.
His song was sad, it was clear he was being forced to sing but he only hoped the man would actually let him free once he knew he was there.
“Man in the mask!”
Jaskier’s head turned quickly, that was Lambert’s voice. That meant Lambert was here to save him. “He’s come for me.”
“Shame…” the man stood as he gripped his face once more, “whoever returns will have you. You may still be mine or, that damn Witcher will have you again.”
Jaskier lowered his eyes. He only hoped it would be Lambert who came back up the stairs for him, not this mad man.