Chapter Text
Jaskier was walking down the road, slowly but steadily making his way towards north. He was in a good mood. Admittedly, he has had some problems in recent months, but it looked that they were all already behind him.
After his encounter with the Fae princess, he discovered that Nilfgaard had gone deeper into the Continent than he expected, which made his pursuit of Geralt much more difficult. In the end, he decided to wait out the winter in an inconspicuous little town, working in a local stable. Not a very appropriate job for a nobleman, but Jaskier already ceased to be one a long time ago. Being a famous bard with connections to the wanted Witcher could have put him in an additional trouble, so he temporary changed his nickname and image. He had let his hair grow slightly, so that he could now tie it into a short ponytail, he also had a short stubble now. He began to dress in less flashy colors as for not to be so conspicuous. The only thing he didn't part with was his lute.
So now, when the snow already melted, he left the town, playing light tones to himself. In a few days he should reach the place he met Geralt last spring. There was a possibility that the Witcher didn’t leave the keep this year, focused on Ciri’s safety. Jaskier decided that if he won't bump into the Witcher, then he will be just roaming around, hoping to accidentaly step into a trail that leads to Kaer Morhen. The bard more or less knew where the ancient building was supposed to be.
He tried not to think about the possibility of being eaten alive before he ends up in the fortress.
On the road ahead of him, a lonely figure riding a horse began to loom. Jaskier's heart skipped in a hope that this might be Geralt, but soon he realized that the rider's posture varies greatly from the one of his Witcher's. At first the bard wanted to hide, but then he understood that the stranger had already noticed him. When the man got closer, Jaskier saw that he is indeed dealing with another witcher here. That one looked nothing like Geralt, with his dark hair and even stubble, but Jaskier’s attention was rather drawn to a wolf-shaped necklace resting on the man’s chest. That witcher had to be from Geralt’s school, which meant he was probably coming straight from Kaer Morhen.
Jaskier made his decision. He won’t have a better chance.
„Hello, good man!”, in a frivolous gesture he blocked the witcher's passage. „Can I take a minute of your time?”, he asked.
The unknown witcher spurred his horse, frowned and growled menacingly.
„Get out of my way, poor man, if you value your life”.
So, dryness and hostility must have been an innate trait of witchers, then. Nonetheless, Jakier smiled broadly. He really didn’t think that witcher would hurt him. That is, if he was taught the same principles that Geralt.
„You see, I’m looking for my dear friend and couldn’t help but noticed that you happen to have a very similar medalion to the one he owns”, the bard continued.
„I am a witcher”, the man grunted as if that explained everything.
„I know that. That is exatly my point!”, Jaskier waved his hand, underlining his words. „By chance, don't you happen to know Geralt of Rivia?”.
That question provoked a rather unexpected reaction. The witcher jumped off his horse and grabbed Jaskier by the coat flaps, shaking him furiously.
„What do you want from by brother?”, he roared. Definitely knew Geralt, then.
„Before I start to explain, I’d like to point out that Geralt might be a little bit unhappy if you kill me right here”, he whispered.
„Who are you?”, growled the witcher.
„Well, during the winter I used the alias Dandelion, as not to bring him more trouble, because as we both know, certain people in black armors are looking for our mutual friend and I may or may not know far too many information about him”, he started.
„Get to the point!”, another strong tug by the coat.
„Geralt knows me as Jaskier, but I don’t suppose he has ever mentioned…”, before he could end the sentence, the other man huffed.
„Impossible. The bard’s dead”, so he told his brother about him, after all.
„It turns out I’m not! Believe me, it was a surprise for me too”, Jaskier explained. „And that’s exactly the news I want to share with Geralt”.
Seeing the witcher's suspicious gaze, the bard continued.
„Ask me about him. Something personal, that only those close to him would know”.
The witcher was thinking for a longer moment. Jaskier could basically see wheels turning inside of his head. Then the man’s eyes shone with an obvious amusement.
„The bard was adding fragrance oils to his baths. Every winter Geralt complains that we don't have them in the keep. Irritates me every time, since he should just asked the bard to let him take some. So, what kind of oils they were?”.
That was so not the kind of question Jaskier was waiting for. It left him speechless for a brief moment. Geralt always told him he hated those stupid smells, but then allowed to add them to the bath anyway, so the man could have a point after all…
„Chamomile, lavender and some sandalwood. But only a little, because too much makes Geral’s head hurt”, he answered.
The witcher was looking at him a moment longer and then let him go, a wide smile spreading on his face.
„What a surprise!”, he laughed. „And a relief to be honest, because recently Geralt turned into even gloomer pile of shit! It’s nice to fianlly meet you, Jaskier! Although, I expected a more colorful outfit after what Geralt told us about you”.
„I’m undercover”, Jaskier smiled back.
„I’m Lambert, by the way”, the witcher introduced himself.
„Nice to meet you, Lambert”, the bard shook the outstretched hand of the Witcher. „So, can you help me with finding Geralt?”.
„The Wolf didn’t leave the keep, at least not before I went on my way”, Lambert started. „I can’t give you straight directions to Kaer Morhen, you have to understand we are obligated to keep it in secret, even more in the recent times. But I can give you a few hints…”.
At the end, Lambert gave Jaskier meticulous details of the forests around the Witchers’ keep, focusing on a few things which will allow the bard to take the right direction. Then the men exchanged a few pleasantries, Lambert expressed the hope that they will meet the next winter in Kaer Morhen and headed on his way.
On the next evening it turned out that Lambert’s hints were not needed.
Jaskier decided to stay for the night in the inn in some inconspicuous village. He stepped over the threshold and looked around for a good place to rest. He was planning to hide in a corner, the presence of a stranger in such a small settlement could cause unnecessary attention. His resolve shattered as his gaze met the back of the man sitting on the other side of the room. Jaskier grinned like an idiot. There was no way he was mistaken.
Jaskier wondered many times what his first meeting with Geralt would be like. Now he just knew he had to make a show out of it. He was a bard after all, and this was the perfect occasion to give an unforgettable performance.
Geralt hadn't noticed him yet, he had to be absorbed in his own thoughts. Which was strange, because normally the Witcher was very sensitive to his surroundings.
Jaskier quietly took the lute off of his back, mentally prepared himself and then yanked on the strings, bringing out the familiar sounds. He noticed that the Witcher’s back immediately tensed.
„When a humble bard
graced a ride along
with Geralt of Rivia
along came this song…”
Geralt spinned around with a remarkable speed, his wide eyes locked on Jaskier. The bard pretended not to see him, leaning nonchalantly against the counter. The small group of people who were at the inn began to clap and sing along with the bard. Soon, Jaskier was dancing around, encouraging people to be even louder. At one point he turned on his heel and winked playfully at the witcher. It looked like Geralt was in some kind of shock. Regardless of this fact, Jaskier finished the song and thanked the audience with a low bow. Only then did he turn towards Geralt.
„I love the way you just sit in the corner and brood”, he spontaneously decided to recreate the scene of their first meeting.
When his words were met with no reaction from the Witcher, Jaskier slipped onto the opposite bench.
„No one else hestitated to comment on the quality of my performance, except for you. So, three words or less”.
Geralt was staring at him blankly.
„You are dead”, he finally said.
„Those… are three words, I guess”, the bard nodded approvingly.
They stared at each other some more. Jaskier sighed.
„So, remember that one time when you told me I will end up in some deep shit if I’m going to sleep around with wrong people?”, he started. „Well, you were right. It turned out that I seduced that Fae princess, who kind of cursed me to look like a ghost, of what I had no idea about, of course. But at the end she was touched by my sacrifice and decided not to kill me permanently, so here I am”, he spread his hands in a welcome gesture.
The Witcher was processing what he just heard for a moment, then frowned angrily.
„You are not dead”, he stated.
„No, I’m not”, the bard confirmed.
In the blink of an eye, Geralt jumped up from his seat, grabbed the bard by the collar and angrily pushed him against the wall.
„I should kill you for your stupidity!”, he roared.
„It would greatly spoil my efforts to stay alive”, the bard argued weakly.
Anyone who would look at the face of the Witcher right now was probably going to faint from fear. Not Jaskier, though. Geralt's eyes flashed with incredible anger and still, Jaskier thought it was the most beautiful view in the world.
„Hit me, I deserve it”, he said calmly.
The Witcher pursed his lips in a grimace. Jaskier closed his eyes, bracing himself for the impact of Geralt’s fist. He felt a sudden tug on his coat.
And then Geralt’s lips were on his.
Jaskier made a startled noise, which was effectively drowned out by the actions of the Witcher. For a moment the bard was freezed on the spot but a mere second later he was already returning the kiss. As for the rough man Geralt claimed to be, his lips were truly soft. Jaskier could have stayed in that kiss forever. Unfortunately, it ended way too soon.
Geralt stepped back slightly and opened his mouth to speak, but the bard was faster.
„I think I need you to hit me like that once again, just to be sure your message on my stupidity reached my brain”.
„What brain?”, Geralt smirked. Jaskier looked indignant. The Witcher probably guessed that the bard’s expression was an announcement of a longer argument, because he simply leaned in and kissed him again.
„You, freaks!”, shouted someone. „Take a room and don't scandalize decent people!”.
Geralt broke the kiss. Jaskier was sure that this comment would make Geralt back down and pretend that nothing has happened. But Geralt only glared at the man and then grabbed Jaskier's wrist.
„We will”, he stated, pulling the bard towards the stairs.
„Wait! My lute!”, Jaskier resisted, overcoming the pure shock. He rushed for his instrument and then turned to Geralt. „Lead the way!”.
The Witcher only smiled. Jaskier could see a relief and happiness mixing in those yellow eyes.
The next morning they were lying lazily on the bed, their limbs tangled together.
„I can’t believe I got a witcher in my bed”, Jaskier sighed.
„You didn’t”, answered Geralt. „It’s me who got a bard in mine”.
„That’s… a valid point”, he laughed. The Witcher leaned to hush him with another kiss.
„We should get up”, Geralt said when he moved away from his bard. „I promised Ciri I’ll be back as soon as possible and I already extended my trip”.
And just like that they were on the road again. Jaskier missed their travels and was relieved that everything was gong back to normal. Well, maybe not everything, because now Geralt seemed to be smiling more, he even became somehow more talktive. They were also sleeping together in one bedroll and often getting out of it way too late. But those were changes Jaskier didn’t mind at all.
After a few days they were standing in front of the huge fortress. Jaskier felt overwhelmed by its size. He wanted to throw an infinite number of questions on Geralt, but before he could voiced out even one, the gate opened. A small figure sprinted out of it, which was met with a loud "Ciri, wait!" from the inside.
The princess didn’t listen and literally threw herself at the Witcher. Geralt laughed and returned the hug.
„You are back!”, she shouted. „I was so worried!”.
Geralt started to reassure her that he was fine. It took a moment for the girl to notice the presence of another person. She looked at Jaskier with wide eyes.
„Who is that?”, she asked the Witcher quietly.
Geralt let go of her and turned to face the bard.
„He’s a friend”, he smiled. „You actually met him before”.
„I didn’t”, the girl crossed her arms over her chest.
„I beg to differ, princess”, the bard interrupted. „It’s just that you didn’t see me. I’m Jaskier, the famous bard at your service”, he bowed.
Surprised, she looked at Geralt. The Witcher nodded in confirmation. The girl made a loud squeak and this time she threw herself on Jaskier. The bard stumbled in surprise, but then hugged the girl tightly.
„It’s nice to be able to see you! We missed you so much!”, she muttered into his chest. Jaskier was taken aback by the fact that Ciri immediately accepted him as someone who was close to her.
„So what our bard actually did this time?”, he lifted his eyes to look at Yennefer, who was coming their way, smiling widely.
„That’s a long story”, replied Geralt. „Let’s go inside first, because it surely will take Jaskier hours to familiarize us with all of the details”.
"He will stretched the facts anyway", the sorceress pointed out.
Jaskier looked between Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri and for the first time in a very long time he felt that he belongs somewhere.
It seemed he finally found his home.