summary: Yennefer and Geralt decide to enjoy the time they have left together.

of the start and the end
part five: and i believe

Jaskier snores loudly by the campfire, head lolling backward. His arms remain crossed against his chest as his lyre with its carefully mended strings leans against his log. It's tempting to break it again, but Yennefer, despite the rumours that attach to her heels, isn't that much of a monster.

The crackling of the fire is gentle.

"You do realise that we will have to leave sometime, right?" Yennefer looks at the bright fire, eyes burning slightly from the smoke filtering off it. It warms her face to the point where she's convinced she's blushing.

Geralt makes a noncommittal sound. His knee bumps against hers when he shifts on his log. He sits impossibly close, a beating fire to her right. She isn't quite sure what makes her warmer—the fire in front of her or the man beside her.

"Maybe," he says.

Yennefer inhales deeply through her nose, feeling it become stones settling in her gut. She feels weighted down. It's a familiar feeling, one she has carried before Tissaia had bought her a brand new life.

"Everything has an ending, Geralt. Did you not realise this from the tales that latch themselves onto your heels and follow you wherever you go?"

He sighs heavily, the fire swaying at his breath like he's the wind. "Yen," he says roughly. She doesn't turn her gaze to look at him. From the corner of her eye, she can see him run his tongue over his teeth. "Yennefer," he says again, voice hushed this time. "This doesn't have to end."

With a tilt of her head, she regards him kindly. "At the crossroads where we met, I needed to go right. You were going left."

"I can go right."

Planting her hand on his thigh, Yennefer turns so she can face him fully. "No, Geralt. You are going left."

"I don't have to go left," he says, brows furrowing deeply. "Why do you make this so fucking hard?"

She smiles. "It's my specialty to make things difficult for you, Geralt." It's very stubbornly that he allows a small upward curve to his lips. Smiling looks good on him. It makes him appear unstoppable. "We'll meet again, if the stars align."

Stubbornly, he grunts, "They will."

"You have a lot of faith in the universe."

"Why not?" Geralt arches a brow at her. She finds herself amused by it. It livens his face, makes him appear youthful. "It's what brought us together. I trust that it'll do so again."

Yennefer bows her head, smiling down at her knees. The fire crackles loudly. Glancing over at Jaskier when he seems to snort a snore, she looks back at Geralt and rubs her hand up and down his thigh. "Then I suppose we best make the most of it."

He smiles, cheeks flushing a nice pink.

"Is that a blush I spy on my witcher?"

He grins toothily. "Your witcher?"

Yennefer bites her bottom lip before she nods. "My witcher." Allowing it to hang between them heavily, Yennefer slides her hand up his thigh to his hip. His gaze follows, brow arching a little higher. He makes an amused noise low and rough in his throat. "Blushing looks good on you, Geralt. You should do it more."

"Yen," he smiles, shaking his head. "I'm not blushing."

"No?" She arches her brow as she gazes intently at his face. It takes a moment before he ducks his head. "I think I spy it here." Yennefer brushes her fingers against his cheek.

"Stop it."

Tapping the tip of his nose, she leans towards him. "Make me, Geralt."

notes.

And that's it! I really enjoyed writing these little small ficlets and trying to delve into the minds of Yennefer, Geralt and Jaskier. Thanks to everyone who read these!