Chapter 44
The following morning came with a clear sky and the golden sun shining over the land, bringing with it warmer temperatures. The cold snap seemed to have passed in the early hours of dawn, and the open water of the river had sunlit steam rising from it. The elves were up and about, with Valonna standing at their fire with Errol, who was very much recovered, but still had not spoken to anyone in the Witchers' group since the incident. But that morning the Speaker and Valonna seemed to be having a disagreement of sorts, with the woman finally walking away from him, while he walked toward Geralt's camp.
Regis was up and making their breakfast when he heard the elf approach and Geralt slid down from the back of the carriage.
"Where is she?" the Speaker asked in a demanding, harsh tone.
The vampire put the kettle on the cooking grate and peered curiously at the man as the Witcher came to his side.
"And a good morning to you, Speaker Errol." Regis replied. "Being that Root is the only female of our party I'm going to assume you're inquiring after her. She's asleep still. Can I be of service?"
"You have been of great service to me already, sir. And I appreciate it. But I demand to see the beast." Errol said and the Witcher's eyes narrowed.
"You're really trying my patience. I understand your circumstances but you're pushing it." Geralt replied.
Dandelion then crawled out of his tent and stood by his friends, having heard the elven man's raised voice.
Errol glanced behind the three men, seeing the woman carefully climb from the back of the wagon and head toward a nearby tree.
"You!" he barked and shoved past them.
Confused Root turned toward the voice and was startled by the figure coming toward her, his blue eyes filled with fire. She limped backwards on her injured feet, wincing in pain.
"Why!? Why did you save me? Answer me you filth! What's your reason?!" he spat at her. "Answer me!"
"I…what?" she stammered and squealed as he gripped her shoulders and shook her.
"What's your motive you monster?!" he screamed into her face.
Both Regis and Geralt rushed to grab the man and held him back, restraining his arms behind him while Dandelion helped a very embarrassed and wet Root get back into the carriage to change.
"You answer me right now you disgusting creature! You must want something!" He yelled after her. "Let me go!"
They released the elf but both men stood protectively in front of the carriage, barring him from going after her.
"You can't hide her from me for long. I will have my answers!" he said and spit.
"You will not touch her again." Regis said in a soft but deadly tone that made the elf step back, unsure why he was suddenly filled with dread.
"I know what she really is. You may have all been fooled by her charms but you'll see. When her fangs come for your throat, you'll see." Errol replied.
It took all of Emiel Regis' willpower to keep himself from baring his own fangs at the bigoted man, even as he understood why the elf bore such hatred toward werewolves. Then from inside they heard,
"Root, I don't think that's a good idea…"
The forest maiden slid from the back of the carriage and nearly fell, crying out as her injured feet touched the ground. Regis and Geralt turned and helped her, and the vampire closed his eyes, knowing what had happened to the stitches. He glared at the elf. Root limped toward Errol, her green eyes blazing.
"You want to know what I want?!" she screamed at him. "I want people to stop judging others based on who or what they are! I want elves to stop killing humans, dwarves to stop killing elves, humans to stop killing everyone else! How's that for starters?"
Root advanced on him, limping, and the elf backed away from the furious woman who continued.
"I want people like you to stop hating me because of circumstances of my birth that I had no say in! How's that? I want vampires and witchers, werewolves, leshan, dragons and all other manner of beings to learn to live together! I'd like a world where I didn't have to fear for my life going into a city! Is that enough? What else would you like to know, Errol?" Root said with Regis and Geralt standing near by.
"Why did I save you? Is that all?" she screamed at him, her voice raw. "I saved you because you're a person! Because you're part of our group. Because Cera and Valonna need you! I have done nothing to you but you hold me responsible for your pain simply because I share the blood of wolves! I AM NOT YOUR ATTACKER, ERROL!"
The elf was speechless as Root continued to advance on him with fury in her clenched fists. But she stumbled, crying loudly as her wounds tore, and she fell into the snow, blood staining her footprints.
"Regis…" she groaned, and the vampire was instantly by her side. "Help me…"
Regis touched her and cradled her limp body in his arms, lifting her easily.
"Her wounds have re-opened, Geralt. Get this man out of my sight before I lose it." He said and climbed into the back. "Dandelion, I need your help."
The elf backed away as the leather clad, cloaked Witcher advanced on him with blazing golden eyes, slipping the steel sword from the sheath on his back.
"No!" called out Valonna's voice. "No, please, Gwynbleidd! I beg you."
The elven woman raced to the Speaker and stood in front of him.
"I know it was wrong what he said. But please spare him! The bleidd beanna is right, we need him. Please, White Wolf, show mercy!" She pleaded.
Geralt's eyes pierced the elven man, who in some way seemed to have come to his senses, standing speechless in the snow, terrified as the master swordsman held him at sword point. The Witcher sheathed his blade and turned away from them without a word.
"These are worse now than before." Regis said, his voice quivering with anger. "See where the skin has newly torn? I have to take these old stitches out and redo them. And she's bleeding again. Geralt, ah good, you thought to grab the kettle. Excellent. Dandelion, here, take this cloth, soak it in the hot water and be ready to clean as I snip these stitches."
The vampire carefully cut the old thread from her foot and the ugly wound bled freshly as it opened. Dandelion was ready with the steaming cloth and pressed it to the slit.
"Oh, gods, that's bad." The poet said, looking up at the surgeon.
"It is. Geralt, hand me that vial of white powder in my bag. Yes, that one. This should clot the blood." He said, sprinkling it generously over the wound. "Her blood is clean, no infection. I have to work quickly with the stitch. Start snipping the threads on the other and get a clean cloth, Dandelion. Good work."
The three men worked together and soon the woman's feet were re-stitched, clean and wrapped in the sterile gauze. Regis wiped his hands on a clean cloth and sighed.
"Regis." Geralt said quietly. "You could just…you know…"
The vampire nodded. "I know. But believe me when I say that her becoming addicted to my blood would be far worse of an ordeal to handle than this. I've considered it. No, this is the better course of action, to allow her body to heal on its own. If she was unable to regenerate, or her life was in danger, then of course I'd like her drink."
The Witcher nodded and he and the bard climbed out of the carriage to attend to their camp. Regis covered the woman up with a warm blanket and lay beside her for a while as she slept.
As afternoon approached, the sun warmed their camp to a wonderfully appreciated temperature such that the horses wandered around, pawing through the softened snow to graze on the grasses beneath. The elven camp was silent, as if all of them were embarrassed and ashamed over what their Speaker had done. Valonna would not meet their gaze. The children, however, were delighted with the warmer weather and they showed it by building forts and having snowball fights with Dandelion. At one point, little Cera found her way over to the Witcher, who was sitting by their fire tending to his chain maile and having a pipe. He smiled at the little half-elf.
"Bleidd beanna OK, Gwynbleidd?" she asked. "Come play?"
Geralt shook his head, and held the pipe. "No, I'm sorry, Cera. Root, wolf woman, is still unwell today. I know she misses you though."
The little girl took a piece of folded parchment from her coat pocket and handed it to him.
"Give to her?" she asked.
"Of course, little one." He said and patted her.
"Come on, Cera!" Dandelion called. "Your turn to be it!"
The Witcher had to give it to the bard. That man could charm anyone; men, women, kids, it didn't matter. He knew how to brighten anyone's day and make them happy. Although he reminded himself that his old friend equally knew how to drive a person absolutely mad with his loose tongue. Cera turned and dashed back to the merry group of kids as the brightly colored bard deftly avoided being tagged.
"He's a good man." Regis said, coming to the fire. "And I need a proper kettle of tea. I dare say if I see that elf he's going to regret it. I notice he's been invisible since this morning."
"You and me both." Geralt said, holding the pipe in his teeth while unsheathing his blades to clean them. "There is something that still puzzles me though."
"Oh?" the vampire said, dropping the plants into the water to steep.
"We still don't know what happened between Root and Arklan. That half-elf said nasty things, and yet Root…well, she almost seemed to pity him. But with Errol I notice that he too says nasty things, but we don't see that same side of her. What makes them different I wonder?" Geralt said, oiling the steel sword.
Regis considered that while pouring his tea.
"I've thought about that too. One thing I've noted is that Root seems to tolerate comments about herself with a sort of resignation. But do you notice how she gets really upset when comments are directed toward you?" he replied.
Geralt paused and thought about that, remembering the conversation in the dungeon, as well as the recent conversation with the cultists.
You just had to have a conscience didn't you, White Wolf? You, who call yourself a witcher, a slayer of monsters. Yet look around you! Here stands a woman born of an unholy union between a filthy beast and a certain breed of vampire. Two of the foulest creatures to pollute our world and you would call her friend!? How dare you stand in judgment over me when you yourself are acting against your very nature, what we created you to be! You're a disgrace. A mutant freak…
Part of our faith means killing the unworthy. Elves are not meant to live alongside the master race, nor are you. Witchers were a mistake. A foul abomination made by lesser, unenlightened generations. We undo that mistake with every death. So you see, you do have a quarrel with us whether you want to or not.
"I think you're onto something there." He said, drawing deeply on the pipe.
Geralt told Regis about what the cultists said about witchers and the vampire nodded.
"Errol's venom is directed at her, well mostly. And he seems to take issue with you and I for being in a relationship with her. But we all know his real problem is her non-human nature. And so I wager that Root accepts that kind of nasty commentary about her as, well part of what she believes she deserves in life. As exampled by things we've learned recently. Where as she seems to understand that when such things are directed at others it's a violation of sorts, cruel and it upsets her so she fights back. I'd be willing to bet that if Errol had said those things about me, if he knew that is, or you, that he too would be as dead as Arklan aen Caem." The vampire said, sipping his tea.
The Witcher nodded and slipped his swords into their coverings with a click. He tapped out the pipe and sat warming his hands.
"Well, hopefully the elf learned a lesson today." Regis continued. "We won't kill him. And we cannot allow her to kill him either, at least for the sake of the children and Val. But he learned we won't let him abuse her, verbally or otherwise. The man is free to have his bigoted thoughts, as far as I'm concerned. But should he lay a hand on her again…"
"He won't have hands." Geralt growled. "Let's not think on it. I'm still pissed about this morning."
"Indeed. As am I. But on that note, Root has been in bed for about two days with little to eat or drink and no exercise. My concern is that our lady is used to being wild and active. It saddens me to see her so confined, having to sleep much of the time." Regis said.
The Witcher nodded in agreement. "The main trouble is she cannot walk very well, if at all at the moment, especially in this snow. If I felt she could get around on her own, I could perhaps bear her refusing pain relief during the day. Or at least manage it with some of your other medicinal plants."
"Well, she was able to start walking, albeit very carefully, this morning but…well yeah…" Regis said and both men fell silent.
"You're the expert, Regis." Geralt said, pouring some coffee. "I leave it to you to decide what's best and we'll follow your lead."
Dandelion waved to the children as he walked back to camp and they ran back to their families for a late lunch. He was out of breath and warmed himself at the fire.
"Whew, those kids will wear one out!" he said. "It's a shame they have such a jerk for a Speaker. I'll get some lunch going for us and we should think about supper too, gentleman. Is Root still asleep?"
Regis nodded. "Yes. I'll wake her in a bit to check her dressing and help her get some necessities done as well. I suppose I'd better get another decoction ready for tonight. That way she can eat and move around a bit as before."
As evening fell over the land, and the winter sky became a dark shade of violet, the vampire climbed into the back of the home on wheels with food. Generous portions of venison steak, mashed potatoes, steamed parsnips and carrots with butter and a chunk of bread filled the plate, enough for a hungry werewolf. He set it on the nightstand and sat next to Root, who was sleeping so deeply and peacefully that he hated to wake her, knowing she'd be in agony. He'd woken her a few times earlier to help her relieve herself, and seeing her struggle as she limped out into the cold, her eyes brimming with tears of pain, was so difficult for all of them. Regis lightly touched her cheek, waking her from the deep sleep. She blinked and turned to look at him, trying her best to smile.
"Hello, my love." She said softly.
"My dear, Root." He replied helping her sit up. "I've brought dinner. Up you get."
"Thank you. Oh goodness I'm hungry." She said, gratefully accepting the plate.
Regis was pleased to see her appetite was good and strong and the woman devoured the meal, finishing off the gravy with a sweep around the plate with the bread.
"I also need to check the dressings." He said, carefully uncovering her feet and examining them.
The stitches were holding and clean, so the healer was satisfied with the work he and the others had done.
"These should be fine until morning." He said, taking her hands in his. "I have some more of the redcoat decoction going if you'd like that instead of sleeping again."
"I would like that. Oww…" she said, wincing. "Who knew I'd ever tire of that?"
Regis grinned at her. "Tire? Is that supposed to be funny, my dear?"
Root laughed lightly, a sound that brought joy to his heart. Regis leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
They both turned as Geralt opened the flap of the carriage.
"Alright, idea." He said smiling at Root. "Can we bring her out, Regis? You have to come see this. And it's warmer."
The healer nodded. "Yes. Root just slide forward until Geralt can pick you up. I'll bring the blankets."
"No, wait, wait!" Dandelion said before the Witcher took her out. "Blindfold her first."
"Wait, what? Owwww…" Root said with a pout. "What's going on?"
"You'll see, Roo." The bard replied. "You'll love it. Just close your eyes."
Regis used one of the cloths in his bag to blindfold the woman as Geralt picked her up and carried her to a place by the fire. Regis then covered her, his eyes looking out into the distance and seeing what she could not.
"Is this ready for her to drink?" Geralt asked, and Regis nodded.
"Yes. Three cups like before should do it." He said, noticing Root's shudder of pain. "I know, my dear. Here you are."
Root drank the foul tasting herbal, and after the third cup she waited patiently for that feeling of relief she knew was coming.
"When can I take this blindfold off, Dandelion?" she asked. "Ack, that tastes awful."
"When we know you're feeling the effects." He said, looking to Regis.
"Give it a bit." He said, keeping her warm. "There's a slight delay before it kicks in"
"Well, I can't see anything. How are you going to know if anything is going on?" she replied.
"When you forget about the pain." Geralt replied, as all three men sat around the fire with her.
After about ten minutes of listening to the fire crackle, Root sighed, a sound of happiness and relief, and leaned into Regis.
"Oh yes…that's sooooo good." She sighed, her voice breathy.
"Now." Regis said, and slipped the blindfold from her eyes.
Root blinked, slightly blinded by the firelight and saw the faces of her friends near her. The happy and cheerful Dandelion, looking absolutely stunning such that she blushed, not ever really thinking of him that way; her powerful and mighty hunter Geralt with glittering golden eyes, white hair and a playful smirk on his scarred face; and the love of her life, Emiel Regis, pale, immortal and handsome, his eyes reflecting the fire.
"Look up, darling." Regis whispered in her ear and he pointed to the sky.
Root followed his finger and gasped as her eyes were riveted on the ribbons of color that filled the sky like a multi-colored river of light. Greens, blush colored pinks, purples, fiery oranges and more flickered into the vault of the sky, shimmered, and then danced back into the starry darkness. But to the forest maiden it was as if they were close enough to touch. Amazed and stunned, she reached for the bands of the aurora as if she could pull them from the heavens and play with them. The sky was clear and beautiful, the temperature much warmer and the elves too couldn't help but rejoice with a bit of music and dance, as if they could join the northern lights in their wheel about the sky.
"Happy solstice, Root." Geralt said softly, kissing the top of her head.
"As the days get brighter, so too are our days brighter with you in it." Regis said, his voice full of love.
"Aww that was going to be my line." Dandelion said with a wink. "A very happy solstice evening, Roo."
"Ah, speaking of which." Geralt said. "Cera brought this for you."
The Witcher handed Root the folded parchment and she opened it to see a lovely child's drawing of a big brown wolf pulling kids around on a sled. All happy and smiling. She held the picture to her chest and sniffed. Root had never felt so alive, loved and cared for than she did at that moment.
"I love you all so much." She said, looking at each of them. "Thank you."
There were no words needed to express all they felt, everyone knew. And as the redcoat medicinal really kicked in, Root began to laugh and giggle at every little thing they said and did; enjoying the aurora as they flickered over the river and painted the far distant mountains, where in lie Kaer Morhen, in shades of deepest green.
"Now they're like your eyes, me minne." Regis said, enjoying a pipe and Root became fascinated by the smoke whenever he exhaled.
She watched it swirl around him, mesmerized by the trails it created, while Geralt carved a piece of wood and Dandelion strummed his lute. By that time, Root had completely and utterly forgotten about her injuries and as the mandrake began to kick in, she yawned sleepily.
"I haffa bee." She said, rubbing her eyes.
Geralt nodded to the other two men, brought her to the nearest tree, helped her go and then cradled her in his strong arms.
"Sleepy time for you." The hunter said softly. "Come on."
"Good night my Regis…nigh nigh Dandelion…" she said, waving at them.
"I'll be in shortly, my love." The vampire said. "Sleep well and deeply."
"Nighters, Roo." The bard called as Geralt stepped up into the back.
The Witcher laid her down gently and Root smiled up at him, a very deep, sexual longing in her pine green eyes. She spread her arms out over the pillows, inviting him. Geralt stripped off his clothing and grinned at her.
"You're going to be asleep in a few minutes, Root." He said, lying on his side next to her. "Mandrake root, remember?"
"I can stay awake." She said, looking at him through heavy lids. "Please, Gwynbleidd?"
"Not tonight." He said softly, holding up his wolf pendant. "Look."
To the woman's hallucinating mind, the pendant shimmered as if it were made of ice, sparkling in the dim candlelight. She reached for it but Geralt playfully held it just out of her reach each time.
"Ice wolf…my White Wolf…my…white…wo…"
The Witcher lowered the pendant as her voice trailed off and her hands lay still on the pillows. He covered the now sleeping woman and pinched out the candles. He then kissed her forehead and laid one arm over her protectively, getting a bit of good sleep himself.
