Bottled Appetites

Eira POV

She hadn't replied to Geralt when he had told her about the Djinn. That there was a bottled Djinn somewhere in the little stream that they followed. Every few metres that they had walked, Geralt had stopped to start fishing with a small net. Every fishing spot, took hours to clean out , and Eira had been silently watching him.

It was stupid. Yet, she didn't dare to speak up anymore after the cave. The witcher had tried small talk in his own, grumpy way. The Elemental wouldn't have it. Not when Geralt grew more reckless and put his own life at risk due to sleepiness. She asked more then one time what the reason of his sleepiness was and didn't got an answer from the Witcher.

"You can help, you know," Geralt grumbled and turned to look at her.

He stood in the knee high water with the net in his hands. Eira stretched her legs a bit and leaned back against the tree.

"I can," she admitted. "I won't, though. Seeing that using a Djinn to cure your sleepiness is dangerous. The Djinn needs three wishes."

He stared at her, but Eira stubbornly crossed her arms before her chest and answered his stare with one of her own. Her decision was made in this ; she wasn't going to help.

"Then why are you here for?" He asked with a light tinge of anger in his voice.

"To try and keep you from killing yourself," she snapped.

Eira saw the Witcher shrug and go back to his fishing while Eira closed her eyes. She let her head rest against the tree and enjoyed the cool breeze that caressed her skin.

Some hours must have passed and Eira felt herself doze off. When two hands came to rest on her shoulders, her eyes snapped open and Eira saw the Witcher still in the water.

"Jaskier," she whispered and glanced over her shoulder with a bright smile.

The bard grinned widely, the corners of his eyes smiled with his mouth before he pressed a chaste kiss on the top of her head. In one swift movement he sat beside her and Eira felt her magic hum happily inside her. Especially when he wrapped one arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him.

"Found you," he said happily and let his gaze travel over to Geralt.

"What on Earth is he doing? Fishing?"

Eira sighed, an unhappy sound and her lips formed a tight line when she followed the bard's gaze.

"What's wrong?" Jaskier asked, noticing her discomfort.

"He can't sleep," she said. "He decided it would be a good idea to fish a Djinn out of the river and make a wish."

Jaskier arched a brow and stood up to walk towards the water.

"Geralt," he said and the Witcher turned to face him.

An annoyed look crossed Geralt's face and he sighed that even Eira could hear.

"Bard," he said and turned to throw the net out again. "What do you want?"

"You think fishing for a Djinn is a good idea?"

"Yes," was all Geralt said while pulling the net back in.

"Why?"

"Because I can't fucking sleep!" The witcher snarled and Jaskier glanced at Eira who had left her place by the tree.

She knew this had the potential for a fight and went to touch Jaskier's arm.

"Leave it," she murmured, "I tried. You can't talk to him."

"When can you talk to him?" Jaskier arched a brow.

"He just says what's on his mind without thinking, Jaskier," Eira warned him.

"Really?" Jaskier smirked. "Geralt, how do you find my singing?"

"Like a pie without filling," the witcher replied without skipping a beat.

Eira felt her eyes roll to the back of her head, heard Jaskier huff and puff and for the first time since she inhabited a human vessel, the Elemental knew what it was like to have a headache.

"Geralt!" She spoke loud and got a surprised look of the witcher.

Geralt just shrugged, threw the net out again and pulled it back.

"Finally, I knew it was here somewhere," the witcher murmured and came towards Eira.

He lifted up an old jug and his lips twitched up slightly.

"The Djinn," he clarified as if Eira didn't know what he meant.

The Witcher's fingers travelled towards the stoney cap, ready to open it when Jaskier suddenly sprung forward and put his hands around the jug. Eira took a surprised step forward to intervene when needed.

"You don't need a Djinn to help you sleep," Jaskier said and Eira could see the worry written in his features.

The laughter lines that normally decorated the cheerful bard were now replaced by worry and a tinge of fear.

"Let go, Jaskier," Geralt warned and pulled a bit at the jug.

Only for Jaskier to pull at the jug himself.

"No, I won't let you do this. It's dangerous."

"Let go," Geralt spoke again and put more strength when pulling the jug towards him.

"Guys, stop," Eira muttered and took another few steps closer to the two.

Another pull from Jaskier's side and both men were now shouting at each other. Eira was ready to intervene when it happened ; the cap shot off in the bard's hands, a gust of wind travelled over them and the water.

Eira focused, tried to see the Djinn that no doubt just escaped its stone prison.

"I just wanted some bloody peace," Geralt said, his gaze in the same direction of Eira.

The grunts and hoarse moans reached Eira's ears and she turns on her heels to the sound. Her eyes widened in horror, saw the blood that dripped of Jaskier's throat and down on his white shirt.

"Jaskier!" Her voice loud and high while she ran towards him.

A thick lump formed in his throat and the bard's eyes were panicked while his fingers claw at his neck.

"Can't breath," he managed out before he fell on his knees.

"Geralt," Eira took Jaskier underneath his arms, but wasn't strong enough to carry him. "Help."

The Witcher didn't hesitate and moved quite fast.

"The Djinn did this. He needs a doctor. Preferable, one that uses magic."

Eira couldn't help the worry that filled her body and trembled slightly.

"Where do we find one," she mumbled and helped Geralt with supporting Jaskier.

"I'll carry him, Eira," Geralt locked eyes with her. "We'll find one. I know an Elf not far from here."

They walked slowly. Geralt was able to help Jaskier along the way, but his ragged breathing send Eira into a fit of worry for his life. When they finally reached a campement and were led to the Elf Geralt talked about, the Elven man took one look at Jaskier's throat and shook his head.

"I can't cure this. I don't have enough power," he admitted. "You need a sorceress or druid. He might die."

Jaskier mumbled something they couldn't understand and Geralt took one look into the fearful eyes of Eira.

"We wouldn't want that," the witcher said matter of factly.

"There's a sorceress in the castle of the mayor," the Elf spoke hurried while he touched Jaskier's throat.

The bard's hand searched frantically for Eira's and only calmed down when he found it. She kneeled before him and her fingers rested in his hair. His wide, blue eyes locked with hers and were full of fear for his life.

"You'll be fine. We'll go to that sorceress," she said. "You'll be fine, okay?"

Jaskier nodded and Eira pressed a chased kiss on his forehead. Geralt grumbled, grabbed the bard underneath his arms and walked out of the tent.

"Don't worry, Eira," he told her. "Jaskier will be cured."

"If it wasn't for your Djinn," she snapped angrily, "he wouldn't have to fight for his life."

"A subject for another moment," the witcher told her and guided them easily towards the mayor's castle.

Eira didn't hold back when she saw the building, ran towards the door and knocked it hard and loud. She did, however, took a large step back when a short, naked man answered the door. A lazy grin on his face when he saw her.

"The mistress of the house needs apple juice," his voice sang and the elemental arched a brow.

She sniffed the air around them, her magic instantly reacting on the illusion that surrounded the castle. A shroud of magic seemed to lay over it and she shortly glanced towards Geralt behind her.

"She's here," was all he said and Eira didn't doubt for a second when she passed the threshold of the castle.