Work Text:
Blind Destiny
BY: WolfaMoon
Summary: Season 4 Spoiler: After getting injured. Jaskier’s world turns dark.
Blind Destiny
Jaskier remembers a blow but is wondering why it is dark out still. Moving he feels like he wants to vomit. Feeling the cloth around his head he shakes.
“Whomever patched me up, thank you.” The dwarves voices from behind him in the dark. Commenting, that Regis could have done better.
“Jaskier, we need to move” Geralt voices reaching for the rising bard.
“But it’s still night out.” Geralt's hand on Jaskier grows tighter on him. The dwarves look up at the sunlight sky above them. Cahir steps closer but stops at Geralt’s growl. “What’s going on? I will not be what slows us down.”
“It’s daylight, Jaskier.” Zoltan voices.
“What?” Jaskier moves to rub his eyes but it cause pain to flair through his head. There is smell of leather, horse and onion and a hand on his face. He can feel Geralt looking at him but he cannot see him back. “Geralt, I can’t see you. I...” His voice trembles in fear. Yellow eyes take in the scared blue ones unseeing upon him. “Geralt?”
“I’m here Jask, I have you.”
“He needs rest,” Cahir voices. Geralt releases Jaskier to stand. Remaining close as he feels the bard still have a hand on his leg. An assurance that his friend is still there. Listening to the conversation between the two.
Then Milva returns and inform them about the crossing.
“Besides Jaskier needs to rest, we should be at our strongest when we rescue Ciri.” Jaskier tilts his head toward her as one of the dwarves taps her.
“He cannot see,” Yarpan informs her. Jaskier feels air movement than arrow calloused fingers touch him. It startles him and he groans.
“It’s me, Jaskier.”
“Milva?”
“Yes,” his hands trace up her arm to her face and he smiles at having it confirmed.
“Thank you.”
“You need to rest, get better.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Knowing everyone is waiting on his weakness. The mere human, useless bard of the group. Only here out of loyalty and friendship, his family.
“We will not leave you behind.” Geralt voices crouching with a grunt to be on the same level as Jaskier.
“Maybe you should.” Jaskier voices. Geralt’s hand tightens on Jaskier.
“I will not leave you again, I promised you, remember.” After the mountain. After the basilisk. Their time in Kaer Morhen where they built up their friendship. Made promises to always be there for one another. Jaskier nods.
“When you made that promise I was not a liability. I will not slow you down.”
“We need rest.” Milva voices close to them. She motions to Jaskier and Geralt grunts.
“Rest will do you some good Jaskier.” Geralt makes a move to stand but Jaskier holds him in a death grip. Sighing mournfully for his friend he sits beside Jaskier pulling him toward him. Jaskier clings to him. Zoltan chuckles and voices that maybe the rumors were true about the two of them being together. Yarpan growls at Zoltan’s words and shakes his head. Knowing there is so much more to the bard than what the man projects.
Cahir comes over with a saddle to sit behind Geralt so he can rest upon comfortably while holding the bard. Geralt glares at him but nods in silent thanks for what he did. Cahir nods.
“I’ll see what we can hunt for food around here.”
“Thank you, Cahir.” Jaskier voices softly. Not being able to see but his hearing is still well pitched.
“Be back soon bard.” Jaskier smiles.
“He really does grow on you.” Geralt hmms back in reply. “What are we going to do if this does not abate?” Jaskier waits for a reply from Geralt but receives none.
“Rest Jaskier. We will see tomorrow.”
“And if it doesn’t.”
“I’ll keep my promise.”
“Which one?” Jaskier moans as the pain flairs and darkness calls to him.
Geralt starts as Jaskier slumps heavily upon him.
“Jaskier? Jaskier?” Moving a little to check his friend. Milva is leaping to their side to move the hair from the bards face.
“He’s just passed out again. He’s in pain, Geralt. He needs to rest, as do you.” She places Jaskier's jacket over him again. “And we need to figure out what we are going to do if his sight does not return.” Geralt pulls Jaskier closer to him. He’s only solid, by his side, constant in this world.
“We will rest.”
~
The dwarves mingle amongst themselves trying to make soup.
“So what is their relationship?” Zoltan asks Yarpan.
“Brothers would be a good coin to use for them, not lovers. Sure the bard loves Geralt and the witcher loves him back but not in the same path. Jaskier is the younger brother who keeps the morale and cheering for his older, fighter brother. They are family. And Jaskier got hurt helping him and that hurts him more than any physical wound upon his person.”
“So what happens if the bard does not regain his sight?”
“Than I better see what I can do.” Regis comes out from the woods giving everyone a start and a groan from Jaskier.
“Regis,” Geralt voice with warning.
“Ger?” Jaskier stirs.
“Regis is here to see to you.”
“That, um,” wise. “Thank you.”
“Your blood smells sweet.” Jaskier doesn’t know what happens but knows that Geralt has moved to be in front of him and Milva has drawn her bow and a presence, Cahir, is behind him. “I merely mean that there is no smell of infection.”
“Except I can’t bloody see.” Jaskier voices needing to be apart of the group defending him.
“Please, allow me to help.” Geralt groans as he sits back down next to Jaskier. “And I will help with that as well.”
Regis crouches down in front of Jaskier who’s unseeing eyes seek the comfort of his friend. Geralt sits back down next to him and holds his hand. The vampire smiles at this, nodding. Glad that the witcher can show comfort to his friend.
“I am going to ask you some questions.”
“And how does that help my eyes?”
“It gives me a perspective on how inflicted your mind is from the injury.”
“Alright.”
“What is your name?”
“Which one?” Jaskier laughs. This gets a chuckle out of the Yarpan. There is silence. “Julian Alfred Prankratz, Viscount of Lettenhoven. Jaskier the Bard. Professor Jaskier Prankratz. The Crimson Avenger,” He snorts. “And the Sandpiper.” Cahir whirls around at the last name spoken. This is the sandpiper. The witcher’s bard,
“You’re the Sandpiper?”
“Not like he hides it.” Yarpan voices. Cahir moves away from them.
“You were part of the network.” Jaskier adds about Yarpan.
“Ey, I was.” Jaskier smirks with a nod but grimaces.
“Not doing that again.”
“Nor would I recommend it.” Regis takes a small mirror out to shine light right into Jaskier’s eyes. The pupils react.
“That’s good.”
“What’s good?”
“Can you name the people around you and point to where they are?”
“Geralt,” point to his left. “Milva,” Points to the right. A gesture toward the cart. “Yarpan, Zoltan, & Percy.” He points forward, “Regis,” the high vampire smiles. The hand moves to the right of Regis. “Cahir.” They all turn to see him come out of the woods with more wood.
“We needed more wood.” Cahir voices stepping toward the fire. “Is Jaskier alright?”
“He identified where you were by sound.”
“My hearing has always been good. That’s why Valdo Marx’s music is grating.”
“Yes his voice is that. I gather that is why he has so many back up singers.” Regis voices which causes Jaskier to snort and wince
“Can you help him?” Geralt wants this to move along. Needs to know his friend is alright.
“I will make a poultice to hopefully relieve the pressure in your eyes.”
“And if that does not work?”
“Than I will have to relieve the pressure.”
“That does not sound good,” Jaskier moans.
“Lay down, get comfortable while I prepare.” Jaskier tries but collapses and misjudging the maneuver.
“I’m alright.”
“Jaskier, do you remember how you received the injury?” Regis asks.
“Um, when we escaped?”
“And how did you escape? Better yet, what is the last thing you remember before waking here?”
“Um, Radovid, then Geralt's scream. Did Radovid hit me because I would not stay with him?” Jaskier looks sick. Regis is by his side moving him over the bedroll to vomit beside his bed. Not much comes up because they did not have that much. He groans as he spits out the last. “I don’t feel good.” Geralt pulls him back to lay on the bedroll. “Sorry,” he groans. Percy comes over to kick dirt over the bile that came up.
“We’re going to make some soup,” Percy informs Jaskier.
“Sounds grand. I’ll take it in my room please.” Percy smirks moving to Zoltan to see what they have left. “Geralt?”
“Right here,” resting a hand on his shoulder. Jaskier sighs in relief. The witcher still amazed at the faith this human has in him.
“You will feel a weight over your eyes. You need to keep it on till tomorrow. Do not try to open your eyes.” Jaskier stiffens when the poultice is placed upon his eyelids. Then maneuvering with Regis as he wraps linen around his head making an effective blindfold. “Rest while we finish preparing our meal.”
“Does anyone have any family recipes they would like to share?” Jaskier asks in his world of dark.
So they begin to tell stories.
When the soup is down, Geralt helps Jaskier sit up against the saddle. The ointment that Regis had placed on his injury is making it feel better.
“Hands,” Jaskier raises them to have a bowl set in them. “Slowly drink it. If you begin to feel sick, stop.”
“Yes,” he takes a tentative sip of the soup. It’s quiet around him. “The soup is really good.” They all chuckle around him. Taking a few more sips before resting it in your lap.
“You okay, Jaskier?” Milva asks.
“Um, it’s delicious but if I can’t eat anymore.” He’ll be sick. “Does anyone want?” There is a silent noise of movement.
“We will save it for later.” Geralt voices taking the bowl from his friends hands. The fingers flex with them relieved of the weight.
“It’s good.” Lifting a hand to his head.
“Headache?” Cahir asks.
“A whole calvary inside my head.” Jaskier groans. Geralt moves to help Jaskier relax. Jaskier trembles as he moves. Geralt looks to Regis to know if this is normal. The vampire can only nod that it is. Geralt maneuvers to lay beside the bard. They had done this in the past. The tremors lesson under his arms. Geralt relaxes.
~
Milva comes into camp the next morning to see Geralt holding Jaskier close to him. Cahir is standing guard looking over them before turning to her.
“I know the bard is important to the witcher. But he is not a warrior.” Milva smiles a knowing smile.
“True the bard is not a warrior but he is compass. He leads us in directions we didn’t even know we needed. Also with him here, Geralt is more human. Will take breaks that he would not allow himself too.”
“Maybe we should educate him on how to use a blade or a bow.” Looking at the sleeping Bard.
“You think Geralt is going to let you near Jaskier with a sword.”
“The bard seems to trust me.” Turning back to her.
“Jaskier, has a big heart. And he sees more than he does.”
“Because he is destiny’s guide.” Regis voices coming up from the water with a bucket.
“Then his eyes should be recovered.” Regis hmms to Cahir’s conclusion.
“And why do you think, Jaskier is that,” Milva looks over at the duo.
“Who sang witchers back into the world?” Regis points to Jaskier. “How did Geralt meet the enchantress Yennefer?”
“A djinn wish,” Milva points out.
“After Geralt inflicted a wish upon Jaskier which he than took to Yennefer, to cure.”
“Cirilla,” Cahir starts.
“A party where Jaskier was hired to play and he brought along Geralt. All these stepping stones are overshadowed by the reason that lead him there. And who does he always look too before stepping.”
“Jaskier,” Cahir voices. “Does he know?”
“I don’t believe so. But take in this. He is injured giving him time and Geralt time to get better.”
“So Jaskier, will be okay?” Milva looks to Jaskier.
“Let’s go find out.” Regis moves over toward them which has Geralt move and growl protective over Jaskier. “Easy, Geralt.” Cahir and Milva share a look before heading toward them.
“Jaskier,” Geralt reaches down to Jaskier who did not stir. Regis reaches down to touch the bard. Jaskier jerks badly grabbing his head.
“Ah,” Regis moves to kneel beside the bard.
“What do you feel?”
“A spike through my head.”
“Let’s check your eyes out.”
Regis carefully removes the cloth and begins to use it to wipe away some of the poultice.
“Don’t try and open your eyes yet. I know you want to but you need to wait.”
“Understood.” Jaskier tries to remain still but his fingers are dancing like crazy on his lap. Geralt lays a hand over his.
“Just breath Jask,”
“I am breathing.” Regis chuckles as he washes the last bit of poultice away from. Then one more dunk and pass of water.
“All set. Slowly open your eyes.” Jaskier tries but closes them quickly. “That’s good. That means your eyes are reacting to the light.”
“And how it’s pounding in my head.” Jaskier opens his eyes and blinks and cringes.
“Jaskier,” Geralt ask still with concern. Jaskier blinks, turning to look at Geralt and smiles.
“Well I will not be slowing us down any longer.” Regis looks to Cahir and Milva and smiles.
“Destiny.”
~~
The End