Jaskier hummed slightly, breathing in the cold air. Geralt was heavy on his lap, but truth be told there is nowhere else he would be.
His hands ran through Geralt's long hair. He could feel the man relaxing even more against him.
The times they spend like this were too long and too far in between. Only deep in the forest is where Geralt would let him be this vulnerable.
"Tell me a story." Geralt's voice was low and slightly rumbly. He was far to relax to care about anything tonight. Maybe this is what the poets always talked about when they described the feeling of being home.
Because this is home.
Jaskier was silent for a few moments, gathering a story in his mind. It was something he only heard in passing. Apparently it had come from another land.
"Once, long ago, there was an old farmer and his wife. They had made there home in the mountains, far from any town. Their only neighbour was a malicious bad badger.
"Every night he would come out and run across the farmer's field. He would spoil the vegetables and the rice that the farmer spends his time cultivating.
"In the end the badger grew so ruthless in his mischievous work. And caused so much harm every-where on the farm, that the good-natured farmer couldn't stand it anymore. He was determined to put a stop to it.
"So day in and day out, night after night, he waited and hoped to catch the badger, but it was all in vain. One day he laid traps for the wicked animal.
"That was the day all his troubles and patience were rewarded. For one fine day on going about his rounds, he found the badger caught in a hole he had dug and disguised for that purpose. He was delighted at having caught his enemy, and carried him home securely bound with rope.
"When he reached his house, the farmer said to his wife, 'I have at last caught the bad badger. You must monitor him while I am out at work and not let him escape, because I want to get my revenge on him and have hot badgered soup for support tonight.'
"The farmer said that as he hung the badger up to the rafters of the storehouse and went out to his field working in the fields.
Jaskier took a minor break, his hands running down Geralt's back. There was a slight smile on his face when he continued.
"The badger was in distress, because he didn't like the idea of being made into soup. And he thought for a long time, trying to plan an escape. It struggled to think clearly in the uncomfortable position, since they hung him upside down.
"At the entrance of the storehouse, looking out towards the fields, trees and sunshine, stood the farmer's wife. As the badger watched her, a wicked plan formed in his mind. 'Dear lady.' The badger started. 'you must be weary doing such heavy work in your old age. Why don't you let me do that for you?
'My arms are strong, and I could relieve you for a little while.' The old woman looked up to the badger before she answered. 'Thank you for your kindness, but I cannot let you do the work for me because I must not untie you, for you might escape if I did. And my husband would be furious if he came home, and you are gone.'"
Geralt smiled slightly as Jaskier mimicked an old woman's voice. He closed his eyes again, allowing Jaskier's voice to flow over him like a gentle stream.
"Now, my dearest, you must know the badger was a cunning little thing. And he said in this sad, gentle voice: 'You are very unkind. You must untie me, for I promise not to escape. If you are afraid of your husband, I will let you bind me again before his return. When I have finished pounding the barley.
'I am so tired and sore tied up like this. If you would just let me down for a few minutes, I would indeed be grateful!'
"This old woman had a simple and good nature, and even when she tried she could never think badly of anyone. Much less did she think the badger would deceive her, in order to get away. The black-and-white, bristly creature looked In a sad plight hanging downwards from the ceiling by his legs.
"So in the kindness of her heart, and believe the creature's promise that he would not try to run away, she untied the rope and let the badger down.
"The old woman then gave him the big, heavy pestle and told him to do the work for a short time while she rested. He took the solid piece of wood. But instead of doing the work as told, the badger sprang upon the old woman and knocked her down with it. He then killed her and made a soup of her in her own kitchen.
"But even then the badger didn't escape to freedom. Oh, no. He was more wicked than that. Instead, he stayed and waited for the return of the old farmer.
Jaskier closed his eyes, laying down next to Geralt. Holding his hand slightly. He felt a yawn slipping out. Without a thought, he opened his eyes again, looking up at the stars.
"The old man had worked hard in his fields all day and as he worked, he thought with pleasure that the badger would spoil no more. When dusk started, he left his work and went home. He was tired, but the thought of the nice supper of hot badger soup, cheered him up.
"The thought that the badger might get free and take revenge on the poor woman never even crossed his mind." Jaskier stops to swallow.
Geralt's hand tightened around Jaskiers. "That is just sad. I guess he was then forced him to eat the soup the badger made." Geralt's voice was low.
A light swat against his chest made him smile. "Let me finish, dear heart." There was a cheerful note to Jaskier's voice.
"But yes, the old man ate his wife. The badger had used dark magic to take on the form of the woman.
"When the old man was finished with the soup, the badger transformed himself back to his natural form and cried out, 'You wife-eating old man!' The badger laughed loudly and scornfully as he escaped out of the house and ran away to his den in the hills.
"It stunned the old man into silence and could hardly believe what he had seen and heard. As h realised what must have happened, and the whole truth sunk in, well he was so horrified that he fainted right away.
"When he came around, he bursted into tears. He cried loudly and bitterly. He rocked himself back and forth in hopeless grief. It seemed too terrible to be real that the badger had killed and cooked his faithful wife while he was working quietly in the fields.
"Now in these same mountains there lived a good-natured old rabbit. He heard the old man crying and sobbing, and at once he sat out to see if there was anything he could help his neighbour. The old man told him all that happened.
"When the rabbit heard the story was he furious at the wicked and deceitful badger. He told the old man to leave everything to him and he would avenge his wife's death. The farmer thank the rabbit for his goodness in coming to him in his distress.
"When the rabbit saw the farmer was growing calmer, he went back to his home and lay his plans to punish the badger.
"The next day the weather was fine, and the rabbit went out to find the badger. The evil creature was not to be seen in the woods or on the hillside or in the fields anywhere. So the rabbit went back to his den and found the badger hiding there.
"Although the badger had dark magic, was he scared of the farmer's wrath? The rabbit called out: 'Why are you not out on such a beautiful day? Come out with me and we will cut grass on the hills together.
"The badger, never doubted that the gentle rabbit was his friend, willingly consented to go out with him, only to glad to get away from the neighbourhood of the farmer, and the fear of meeting him or being trapped once again.
"The rabbit led the way miles from their homes, out on the hills where the grass grew tall and thick and sweet. They both set to work to cut down as much as they could carry home, to store it up for their winter's food. When they had each cut down all they want, they tied it in bundles and then started homewards, each carrying his bundle of grass on his back.
Jaskier quieted down when he noticed that Geralt's breathing was even. It almost looked like he was fast asleep.
"Why did you stop, love?" Geralt's voice was heavy.
"It looks like you are asleep, love." Jaskier grabbed one bag, taking a mouthful of water.
"I just enjoy listing to you. Your voice is soothing. Will you continue, please?" Geralt was more alerted but still lulled into a peacefulness.
"Off course, love." Jaskier smiled slightly, taking another sip of his water before he lay down again.
"Where was I… O yeah. They had gone a little way before the rabbit took out a flint and steel, striking it over the badger's back as he stepped along in front, set his bundle of grass on fire.
"The badger heard the flint striking and asked, 'What is that noise, 'crack, crack'?
" 'O that is nothing.' Replied the rabbit. 'I only said crack, crack because they called this mountain Crackling Mountain.'
"The fire soon spread in the bundle of dry grass on the badger's back. Hearing the crackle of the burning grass, the badger asked, 'What is that?'
" 'Now we have come to the Burning Mountain.' Answered the rabbit.
"By this time the bundle was nearly burned out and all the hair had been burned off the badger's back. He now knew what had happened by the smell of the smoke of the burning grass and ran as fast as he could to his hole.
" 'What an unlucky fellow you are!' said the rabbit. 'I can't imagine how this happened! I will bring you some medicine that will heal your back quickly!'
"The rabbit went away glad and smiling to think that the punishment upon the badger had already begun. He felt nothing could be too bad for the animal who was guilty of murdering a poor, helpless old woman who had trusted him. So he went home and made an ointment by mixing some sauce and red pepper together.
"The rabbit carried this to the badger, but before putting it on he told him, it would cause him great pain, but that he must endure it, because it was a wonderful medicine for burns and scalds. The badger thanked him and begged him to apply it at once.
"There is no language a humble bard can use that can describe the pain of the badger as soon as it had pasted the red pepper all over his sore back. He rolled over and over the entire time lamenting. The rabbit, just looked on, feeling that the farmer's wife was being avenged.
"The badger was in bed about a month, but despite the red pepper application, his burns healed, and he got well. When the rabbit saw the badger was getting well, he thought of another plan by which he would ensure the creature's death.
"So one day he went to pay the badger a visit and to congratulate him on his recovery. During this conversation, the rabbit mentioned he was going fishing, and he described how pleasant fishing was when the weather was fine and the sea smooth.
"The badger listened with pleasure to the rabbit's account of the way he passed his time. He forgot all his pain and his month's illness and thought what fun it would be if he could go fishing, too. So, he asked the rabbit if he would take him the next time he went out to fish.
"This is just what the rabbit wanted, so he agreed. The rabbit then went home and build two boats, one of wood and the other of clay. At last they were both finished, and as the rabbit stood and looked at his work, he felt that all his troubles would be well rewarded if his plan succeeded, and he could kill the wicked badger now.
"The day came when the rabbit had taken the badger fishing. He kept the wooden boat himself and gave the badger the clay one. The badger, who knew nothing about boats, was delighted with his new boat and thought how kind it was of the rabbit to give it to him.
"They both got into their boats and set out. After some distance from the shore, the rabbit. Suggested that they should try their boats and see which one could go the quickest. The badger fell in, and they both set to work to row as fast as they could for some time.
"In the middle of the race the badger found his boat going to pieces. For as you know, water has softened the clay. He cried out in great fear at the rabbit to help him. But the rabbit answered he was avenging the old woman's murder, that this was his intention all along.
"And that he was happy to think that the badger at last met his desert for all his evil crimes. Then he raised his oar and struck at the badger with all his strength till he fell with the sinking clay boat and was seen no more.
"At long last his promised to the old farmer was done. The rabbit turned and rowed shoreward. When he beach, he hurried back to tell the old farmer everything.
"The old farmer was at long last at peace. For in the night he never could sleep or at daytime stop thinking of how his wife's death was unavenged, but from now on he could sleep and eat as old.
"Some say he begged the rabbit to stay and share his home, so from there forth the rabbit went to stay with the farmer and they both lived together as good friends to the end of their days."
The first thing Jaskier notice was Geralt's arm around his waist, his breathing even and deep. Jaskier gave a slight smile.
"Sleep well my love." Jaskier closed his eyes, soon fast asleep.
Quick disclaimer: I retold the story as I read it from the classic treasury fairy tales.
The fairy tale is from the Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki.
I hope everyone enjoyed the story. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Please tell me what you think of the story.
I can also be found on Tumblr lover-of-midnight