Chapter Text
Triss and Yennefer had been together for a couple of weeks and after only one night of sharing her home in Kovir with her and the girls, it was clear that they needed more space. Usually, Triss was the one going back to Vengerberg but Yen had surprised her with a visit so she couldn’t really find it in her to complain. It wasn’t the case for Yennefer though.
“I just don’t understand why you bought such a tiny house, especially when you have the money.” Yennefer declared. “I saw where you lived in Novigrad and this is the total opposite.”
“It was enough for me when I was living alone.” Triss justified herself. “Besides, didn’t you say my house was lovely?” She patted the cushion on the sofa.
“It is,” Yennefer confirmed. “But it is small. I’m too old to sleep on the floor like some common peasant.”
Triss chuckled. They had given her room to the girls and had settled in her office with a mattress. It wasn’t the most comfortable way to sleep but it wasn’t a straw bed on the floor either.
A knock on the front door interrupted their conversation. Since Yennefer was closer to the door, she was the one to open it.
“You are not Triss...” The woman at the door said, her smile falling slightly.
“Sorry to disappoint,” Yennefer replied drily. “And you are?”
“Shayna.” The brunette introduced herself. “I am a friend of Triss'.”
“Shayna, hi!” Triss joined Yen and gave the woman a quick hug. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard you were back in Kovir, and again, not from you.” The healer gave her a fake stern look. “I tried to visit last week but you weren’t there so I tried again today but I see you have company; I can come back later.”
“Nonsense, please come in.” Triss smiled and waved the woman inside.
“Yes, because the house isn’t full enough as it is.” Yennefer rolled her eyes.
“Forgive Yen, the northern air makes her cranky.” Triss closed the door and leaned against Yennefer’s side, looking at her lover with a fond look. “Oh,” She realized she hadn’t introduced Yennefer. “By the way, this is…”
“The horsewoman of war, I’ve heard the stories.” Shayna leaned closer to Yennefer’s face. “You are even prettier than I thought.” She leaned back. “What are you doing in Kovir, my lady?”
“She’s visiting!” Triss rushed to say before Yennefer could dismiss her friend. She knew Shayna was a bit eccentric and not necessarily the type of company Yennefer liked to keep but Triss liked the woman and didn’t want her to feel unwelcome.
“Look what we found!” The girls came back rushing through the back door that led to the garden where they had been playing until now. “You have to help it!” Mina stopped in between Yennefer and Triss and opened her palms to reveal a small baby bird that was clearly hurt.
Triss took it in her hands gently and whispered a spell. A warm yellow light enveloped the bird and soon, it was moving its wings and tweeting. “Here, all good.”
“I really want to learn how to do that someday!” Mina exclaimed.
“And send things flying like Yennefer!” Lucya added as she extended her arm and made a woosh sound, making everyone laugh.
“Alright, little terror,” Yennefer chuckled. “Let’s start with putting that bird back in its nest.” She carefully took it from Triss with one hand and gave the redhead a soft smile before taking Lucya’s hand and leading her outside with Mina.
“Can I be a sorceress and carry a sword?” Lucya asked.
“I don’t see why not, a sorceress should make her own rules,” Yennefer answered. “But first, you should master your magic and that requires a lot of work and patience.”
Triss watched them leave with a tender smile and when she looked back at Shayna, the woman was staring at her with a knowing look. “What?”
“As far as lovers go, you could have done worse.” The healer commented.
“I… How did you know?” Triss didn’t feel like denying it, after all, it had been her conversation with Shayna about the missing girl that had led her here, so she was fine with the woman being one of the first to know.
“I might not be as powerful as you two but I can recognize love when I see it.”
Triss felt her cheeks heat up at the comment, she was falling more and more in love with Yen each day and she wasn’t even trying to stop herself.
“And the girls, were they part of the children you rescued?” Shayna questioned a bit more seriously. When Triss nodded back, she smiled. “Well, I’m glad they found you.” She looked around the living room. “What are you planning to do this afternoon? Why don’t I watch them while you and your lady have some fun?”
“I don’t know…” Triss hesitated. Shayna might be her friend but they had never left the girls with someone other than Ciri until now. On the other hand, it would be good for the girls to spend time with new people. “Let me ask Yenna.”
After a short argument, Triss managed to convince Yennefer to go out without the children. They changed into their traveling outfit and soon, they were standing in front of Triss’ house.
“I know you said you wanted us to have a moment alone at some point but I didn’t expect it to happen like this,” Yennefer stated. “Just us handing the girls to a woman with a fashion sense that would make Dandelion green with envy.”
“Well,” Triss grinned. “Life can be full of surprises and I’m glad that it’s offering me a chance to woo you.”
“Oh?” Yennefer arched an eyebrow, the hint of a smile on her lips. “And what do you have in mind, my dear?”
“We could have lunch at a nice tavern,” Triss took Yennefer’s hand in hers. “And if you behave, maybe rent a room and make love for a couple of hours.” She winked. Their desire for each other was strong but having children around made it hard to be as spontaneous as Triss would like, especially since their relationship was new, but they managed.
Yennefer smirked. “I shall be on my best behavior then.”
In a chivalrous gesture, Triss opened the door of the tavern and motioned for Yennefer to enter. She knew it was a bit ridiculous but Yen deserved to be treated well and honestly, the amused smile her lover gave her when she half-bowed made it worth it.
“Lady Triss, what a lovely sight!” The owner, a tall, bulky man greeted her. “I thought you had all but forgotten about little me.” He scratched his beard.
“How could I?” Triss stepped forward with a smile and let the man pull her into a bear hug. “It’s good to see you, Kynan.” She heard the clearing of a throat behind her and patted the man’s back so he would put her down. “I brought a guest.” She reached for Yennefer’s arm and pulled her closer.
“My lady, welcome to my humble tavern.” Kynan put a fist to his chest and bowed, receiving a nod from Yennefer in return. “Let me show you to a nice table.”
Once they were seated, Yennefer asked. “Another friend of yours?”
“Yes. When I first arrived in the city, I felt a bit lost.” Triss revealed. “After a couple of bad days, I decided to go for a walk but of course, it started raining. I found refuge here, looking like a drowned rat and I guess he took pity on me.” She shrugged. “We talked and at some point, Kynan pulled out a map and showed me all the best places in town.” She smiled at the memory. “I’m not going to pretend that I don’t like the luxury of the palace but when I’m tired of all the protocols, I like to come here, it’s simple.”
Yennefer nodded in understanding. “Does he know who you are?”
“Not at first,” Triss answered. “But one day, a few advisors and I received members of the Barkeepers Guild and he was among them. He stared at me, clearly confused. I can understand why, I was dressed for court not for a trip to the tavern. I remember, I was wearing my emerald green dress with golden patterns.”
“I love that dress on you.” Yennefer gave her a hungry look.
“I’m sure you like it best off me.” Triss winked. The cute laugh Yennefer let out made her smile proudly. “Kynan didn’t know how to address me after that,” She continued. “But I insisted that he shouldn’t change anything.” She saw the man approach and stopped talking.
“Here, on the house,” Kynan put a pitcher of wine on the table. “Just because I missed my favorite redhead.” He winked.
“I wonder what your wife thinks of that.” Triss giggled.
As if on cue, a woman with red and gray hair appeared next to him. “Her wife thinks ye should take him, might gimme a break.” She said with a strong Skelligan accent. “How are you, lass? We were startin' to think you’d left town without even a word.”
Triss glanced at Yennefer and then back at the woman. “I was traveling.”
“But she’s back…” Kynan looked at Triss for confirmation. “She’s back!” He smiled happily. “And she brought a friend.”
“I see that,” The wife nodded. “Another pretty lassie to prevent ye from working.”
“I only have eyes for you, my dear.” Kynan kissed his wife’s cheek.
“Yeah, yeah, keep that sweet nothing for our patrons and get back to work.” The woman ordered him before going back to the kitchen.
“Today we have grilled chicken and potato wedges, would that be alright?” The owner looked between the two.
“Perfect,” Triss replied with a small smile. Once they were alone again, she turned to Yennefer. “I know they only offer one meal unlike the place I took you last time with the girls but…”
Yennefer stopped her with a wave of her hand. “I’m sure it’s better than whatever place Ciri would have taken us if she were here.”
“Come on,” Triss laughed. “She’s trying new things, where is your sense of adventure?”
“It stops at the risk of food poisoning.” Yennefer lifted her chin.
They kept talking as they ate, with Triss sharing stories and Yennefer commenting and laughing. It felt nice to just enjoy each other’s company without worrying about witch hunters or the girls interrupting.
Despite Triss being the one who invited Yennefer to lunch, her lover insisted on paying for their meal. Not wanting to argue forever with her, she let the woman put coins on the table and made her way toward the exit. Just as Triss was reaching to, once again, open the door for Yennefer, she heard Kynan call after them, well after Yennefer. He seemed to hesitate in the way he should address her. They might be wearing traveling clothes to not draw attention but there was no mistaking Yen for a commoner, she had an aura of elegance that many envied.
“My lady, this is too much, I can’t...” The man looked a bit embarrassed as he tried to return some coins to Yennefer.
The raven-haired woman shook her head. “Keep it, just make sure you have pies next time we come.”
“I… Thank you.” Kynan nodded. “I will.”
“How much did you give him?” Triss asked once they were outside. She always left more as well but she hadn’t seen how many coins Yennefer had given him.
“It wasn’t that much,” Yennefer answered.
“You’re sweet.” Triss smiled. She knew that if she hadn’t been friendly with the man, Yennefer would not have left such a big extra and she appreciated the gesture. She kissed her lover’s cheek and locked arms with her as they started walking in comfortable silence.
After a more than enjoyable time at an Inn, Triss and Yennefer teleported back home. When they opened the front door, they found Mina and Shayna sitting on the floor, mixing ingredients on the tea table while Lucya was on the sofa, napping.
“What is going on here?” Yennefer questioned.
Triss was wondering the same thing. She didn’t know what she had expected the girls to do with Shayna in their absence but certainly not alchemy.
“The little one got bored, you need to find her playmates her age,” Shayna stated, unfazed. “And this one.” She nodded at Mina. “Kept asking me to show her how I make potions.”
Triss glanced at Lucya who was slowly waking up and sighed. She knew Shayna was right, the girls really needed to make friends now that they were safe but until they fully moved to Kovir, it was complicated.
“I’m sorry,” Mina apologized. “I didn’t mean to do anything wrong, it’s just that, my dad never wanted me to help and...”
Lucya made grabby hands in Yennefer’s direction so Triss let her take care of the girl and focused on Mina. “You didn’t do anything wrong, it’s okay to be curious.” They had often used magic in front of the girls but they had never worked on potions with them around. Mina’s parents might have mastered alchemy but Yennefer had never been able to get a clear answer on what type of business they owned with Lucya’s mother or if the girls had ever noticed signs of healing magic. “What are you working on?” She joined them on the floor as Yennefer settled on the sofa, cuddling with Lucya.
“A potion for sore throat.” Mina showed her the contents of her bowl.
Triss nodded with a serious face. It was more of a healer’s remedy than a real potion but it was a perfect way to start and she was grateful that Shayna had suggested that. It allowed Mina to satiate her curiosity while not putting her in any danger.
“Are the girls at the temple learning potions too?” Mina questioned.
“No.” Triss knew that it was something Nenneke could teach at the temple but they had agreed to focus on other teachings, especially since some girls could barely read.
“You should teach them.” Mina declared. “Yennefer said you are really good at it.”
Triss glanced at Yennefer who winked at her. “We’ll see,” She looked back at Mina with a smile. “For now, let’s focus on your first potion.”
At night, while they were cuddling on the mattress, Triss could tell Yennefer’s mind was leagues away so she moved a bit closer and asked quietly. “What are you thinking about?”
“The girls…” Yennefer sighed. “They need friends, and to be around more of their peers. I saw the worry on Mina’s face when we came back, as if it was wrong of her to touch anything related to magic and I don’t want her to feel that way, ever. We don’t know yet how their magic will develop, but if it’s powerful, they’ll need teaching and not just from us.”
“I know.” Triss had been thinking the same thing and she was glad to see that they were on the same page.
“They should still enjoy their childhood while they can but, we need to be prepared,” Yennefer stated.
“We’ll still love them even if they can only do parlor tricks though,” Triss said, borrowing a term Geralt had often used to compare his signs to their magic.
“Of course,” Yennefer assured her, almost affronted that it could be otherwise. “We both know the sacrifices magic requires.” She paused. “It’s not just them, there are the girls at the temple too. I keep thinking about what you said before you left Vengerberg, about how helping them was a difficult task to carry alone and I somehow took it personally.”
Triss frowned and pulled away slightly. “I wasn’t trying to make you feel guilty. You helped me, helped them without asking for anything in return, you did more than your part.”
“And yet I feel like it’s not enough, that’s why we should talk about your school idea.” Yennefer declared.
“Really?” Triss didn’t want to get too excited but it would be a lie to say that Yennefer’s offer didn’t make her happy. She leaned on her elbow to watch her lover.
“I still want to keep my house in Vengerberg, so we can go back now and then, and my shop as well, for now at least,” Yennefer informed her. “But they all deserve a home, a chance to learn and I could help with that because we need someone powerful in charge and apart from you, I don’t think I can trust anyone else to do things right.”
“Gods, I love you.” Triss had said it often since they officially started their relationship and had yet to hear it back but she didn’t mind. Yennefer was showing her every day how much she cared, so she could be patient.
“I’m not saying it will be easy,” Yennefer warned.
“I know.” Triss nodded as a wide smile spread on her face.
“And Mina and Lucya need to come first,” Yennefer added.
“I know, but I believe we can make this work.” Triss rolled on top of Yennefer. “Now be quiet and kiss me.”
A month later
Triss had spent her day in endless meetings and the only thing that had helped her stay sane was the thought of making it home to Yennefer and the girls in Vengerberg for the weekend.
She was now in Yennefer’s sitting room, cuddling on the new sofa that was a lot bigger than the last one and perfect to accommodate the both of them. Triss was recounting her day while Yennefer was playing with her hair, it was the perfect way to spend the evening after the day she had had.
“… And that’s when General Sinnette made his comment. Apparently, he saw us together in town and felt obliged to share his opinion on the matter.” Triss rolled her eyes at the man’s ridiculous attitude. Rumors had been slowly growing about their relationship but she hadn’t confirmed anything yet. She knew that, at some point, it would become public knowledge but until then, she just wanted to enjoy her time with Yennefer.
Yennefer hummed. “I can’t wait to have a word with this man.”
“I don’t need you to defend my honor,” Triss replied even though she appreciated her lover’s protectiveness.
“I know.” Yennefer kissed her forehead.
“But I have to admit, I’d like to see that.” Triss lifted her head to capture Yennefer’s lips. They kissed lazily for a while before she pulled away. “And I’d love to do more with you.” She gave her a quick kiss. “But I had a long day.”
“Already tired of me?” Yennefer raised an eyebrow.
“Never.” Triss pecked her lips.
“I have something that should improve your mood.” Yennefer disentangled herself from Triss and stood up. “Wait here.” She left the room and soon came back with a letter, handing it to Triss.
“What is it?” Triss had expected Yennefer to come back with a nice bottle, or sweets, or even rose oil for a massage but not a letter.
“Read it.” Yennefer sat back on the sofa.
Triss skimmed through the beginning of the letter and realized it was serious. “… Recognized Lady Yennefer of Vengerberg as the legal guardian of Mina…” She stopped reading and squealed. “Yenna! This is so great!” She pulled her into a tight hug. The girls were officially Yennefer’s now.
“Keep reading,” Yennefer told her as she broke the embrace.
“Should Lady Yennefer of Vengerberg die or be incapacitated,” Triss continued reading out loud. “Triss Merigold of Maribor would receive the wardship of the children until they come of age.”
“Laws are what they are so I couldn’t do more,” Yennefer said, almost apologetically. “But I still wanted your name on that paper, because you are raising these girls as well.”
Triss’ eyes blurred with tears. “Thank you.” She sniffled. She would have raised them even without any official document but it made things more real, more tangible. She put the letter aside and kissed Yennefer. “Thank you.” She moved to straddle her and started peppering her lover’s face with kisses.
“I thought you were tired,” Yennefer murmured.
Triss smirked as she reached for Yennefer’s belt. “I just found some renewed energy.”