Chapter 37

Eira's POV

When she stuck her toe in the damping bath water, Eira hissed first before she felt the heat engulf her feet. The redness on her skin told her the water was way too warm but she didn't care. In just a few seconds, she lowered herself totally in the tub and sighed happily. The tingling of the warmth on her skin made her feel alive once more.

The soap that Jaskier had left smelled like the forest and Eira scrubbed herself clean. From head to toe and back again. Her long hair took some time to completely soak in and for a moment, she wondered how the hell she would be able to get the whole thing unknotted when she stood before the mirror in a long white robe.

Her fingers went through her locks and she cursed silently.

"I can help with that," Yennefer spoke from behind her.

Eira's eyes caught the Sorceress' by looking in the mirror.

"I can do it," she murmured and saw Yennefer smile.

"It's quite long. Let me help, it'll go faster," the woman countered back and pointed at the chair. "Sit."

Eira turned and tightened the cord around her robe. She nodded in agreement and made her way to the chair. With one hand movement, Yennefer had a brush and pushed the Elemental down on the chair. The Sorceress' hands were cold to Eira's skin, which sent a shiver through her.

Yet, Yen's fingers moved gentle and fast, unknotting, combing and repeating the movement over and over again until Eira's hair shone and could be braided. All the procedure happened in silence, something the Elemental was grateful for because her mind was chaotic. Her features were like stone, but inside her thoughts raced through her head about what happened. Still unsure if this was all real, or that the Other played tricks.

"How was the other Elemental? Do you know where she is?" Yennefer finally asked when she tied the thick braid together.

"Evil," Eira answered and glanced at the dark eyes that stared back at her from the mirror. "And no. Nilfgaard is big."

Yennefer snickered to break the tense silence between them while Eira looked down at her fingers.

"You should have seen the panic in the bard's eyes, dear," the Sorceress said. "No matter how dumb I think he is, Jaskier truly was worried about you."

Eira kept quiet, just nodded and stood up again.

"So was Geralt," Yen added with a smile and caressed Eira's hair. "So was I."

"Thank you," Eira said and could muster up a smile. "I'm really hungry and Jaskier will be waiting for me."

"Of course," Yennefer said and took a step aside.

The movement made her dress ruffle on the ground and Eira swiftly walked past the sorceress. She wasn't scared of Yenner, she just didn't trust her enough to tell Yen all about the Other. There was always a glint in the sorceress' eyes when it came to subjects about power. The last thing that Eira wished for, was Yennefer to ever come into contact with such a powerful being as the Other.

"You look worried," the gentle voice of Jaskier brought her out of her thoughts.

The smile that crept around her lips when she heard his voice, was sincere and still plastered on her face when Eira turned to face him. He leant against the wall with his shoulder and answered her smile with one of his own. Eira, still exhausted, felt better when the bard looked at her like that. As if nothing had changed in all those months separated.

Something tugged at her heart strings and her smile faded slowly. She changed when he had left her that time and Eira wasn't sure she could completely forgive him.

"You promised me food," she said, her voice light yet her thoughts were dark. "And maybe you could tell me about Oxenfurt."

Jaskier's own smile dropped, but only for a moment.

"I will," he spoke brightly and hooked his elbow in hers. "Let's eat together. Geralt will join us as soon as he's done with...whatever he's doing."

His body was so close that Eira suddenly felt flustered while Jaskier led her inside. She couldn't help how her body reacted to his closeness and her heart throbbed wildly inside her ribcage. The elemental felt both relieved and sad when the bard took out a chair for her.

They started eating in silence, but the uncomfortable silence was soon replaced by both of them telling the other what happened in their months of being seperated.

"You stayed with an old friend?" Eira asked in between bites and saw Jaskier turn his gaze towards his plate.

He played with his fork while he nodded.

"Yes. Someone I knew from my years in college. She now works in the library."

An odd feeling of jealousy suddenly crept inside Eira and she swallowed to hide it.

Jaskier chuckled while he put his fork down.

"She was helpful because I got access to the library whenever I wanted. Even at night."

Eira nodded and even mustered up a smile.

"I'm not evil," she suddenly spoke. "I know most elementals went rogue and turned dark. I'm not."

Jaskier's features turned serious and he reached out to touch her hand.

"I know. I always knew," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I panicked."

His voice hoarse and breaking with his apology. Eira believed him. It was hard not to see how he was looking at her for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry too," she spoke honestly and her free hand came to rest on top of his. "I should have been honest from the start. I didn't mean to hide. I was scared."

Jaskier suddenly stood up, pulled her up and circled his arms around her in a gentle embrace. His warmth engulfed her and Eira released it was the only warmth she could enjoy. The way Jaskier held her against him, his chin rested on her hair while one of his hands caressed her back, made Eira sob quietly.

"I missed you," she whispered into his neck and pressed a kiss on his skin there. "It was like something was being ripped out of my chest when you walked away."

She felt him tremble against her and Jaskier tightened the hug before he pushed Eira a bit from him. Their gazes locked and Eira saw the tears that pricked behind his eyes.

"I was a total jerk," he murmured. "I missed you every second of every day that passed. It was self-torture," he added dramatically.

Eira laughed through her tears, suddenly relieved to have the dramatic and funny bard in her arms.

"Kiss me," she spoke with a smile.

Jaskier's eyes widened and his lips turned into a playful grin.

"With pleasure, my lady," he replied before his hands cradled her face.

His thumbs wiped away the tears and the bard's gaze flickered over her features. Eira couldn't help her gaze travelling between his lips and eyes.

"Don't ever cry for me," Jaskier whispered in a serious tone, "I won't ever survive knowing you're sad because of me."

It was a promise she couldn't make and Eira thought Jaskier knew that because the bard closed the distance between them. The touch of his lips must be what coming home must feel like. Eira never had a home to return too, but she was sure that this was the feeling ; safety and warmth. Relieve washed over her and hands circled around his neck while deepening the kiss.

Her knees grew weak, but Eira knew this was normal. She read novels where people fell in love and this was one of the effects, apparently. Her lips tingled happily and she was soon out of breath when the elemental felt Jaskier's passion grow.

"Great, now I can't sleep again," Geralt's voice made the pain jump away from each other. "And I lost my appetite."

Eira bit her bottom lip, cheeks a bright red and locked eyes with the Witcher. He shook his head, yet there was a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. Both Jaskier and Eira glanced at each other with a playful grin before joining Geralt at the table.

"What are we going to do about the Other?" Eira asked when Geralt had his first sip of warm wine.

The witcher locked eyes with her and shook his head.

"Nothing," he spoke, startling Eira with his answer.