Jaskier is summoned away in the middle of the night. What's going on?
My legs are getting a bit stiff so I walk between Roach and Yennefer's filly as I strum my lute. Geralt smiles down at me before scouting ahead, the dirt kicking up from Roach's hooves making a small dust cloud. Ciri sings along with my tune and Yennefer quirks a small grin. The strings sound a lovely melody and Ciri giggles when I call Geralt a spry wolf. Geralt leads us to a small clearing, the wind blowing through the fields and creating a welcome reprieve from the heat of the evening. The sun is starting to set and Geralt suggests we stop here for the night and camp. Ciri dumps her bag to the ground and plops down beside it, pulling her book of spells from her satchel.
"You need to set out your bedding Ciri before it gets much darker." Yennefer unrolls her own bedding, pausing to scold Ciri. The girl rolls her eyes but obeys, rolling out her furs before falling gracelessly into them. Yennefer rubs her forehead and shakes her head. She grimaces at me and I shrug, unsure how to deal with teenagers myself. I pull Geralt's bedding and mine from Roach's saddle and place them together. I feel my face turn red when Yennefer chuckles quietly. Geralt returns with three rabbits slung over his arm and grins when he sees the placements of our furs. He winks at me and I duck my head shyly. I shouldn't feel embarrassed or shy anymore but it's hard. He drops to his knees and begins skinning the rabbits, sending me sly grins now and then. His eyes shine with hunger and I don't think it's for the rabbits. Yennefer lights the makeshift fire pit and we settle around it as the meat roasts.
"Play us another song Jaskier while the food cooks." Ciri sits with her knees pulled up to her chest and leans against Yennefer, a wide smile on her round face. Yennefer reads quietly from a book and nods when Ciri bumps her shoulder. Geralt leans over to kiss my jaw, before resuming sharpening his sword. I pull my lute from my satchel and gently strum the strings. I play a gentle ballad of star-crossed lovers, of the tribulations they've faced, the heartache that nearly destroyed them. Ciri drops her head to Yennefer's shoulder and closes her eyes, losing herself in the sweet music. Yennefer closes her book and runs her fingers through Ciri's hair, her violet eyes shinning with warmth. Geralt hums along with my voice, having heard me sing the song to him while he recovered at the inn. I finish the ballad on a happy note. Ciri opens her eyes and smiles at me, her teeth bright in the darkness.
"That was lovely Jaskier, thank you." I look over to see Geralt staring at me, his yellow eyes filled with love. After we've picked the bones clean of the delicious meat, I snuggle under our furs, plastering myself to Geralt. Yennefer tucks Ciri in and slides underneath her own furs. She mouths goodnight to us and rolls over, her quiet snores soon following. Since we're sleeping in an open field tonight, I can clearly see the stars twinkling in the black sky. Geralt caresses the soft skin at the nape of my neck and I place small kisses to the curve of his jaw. He stares at the night sky with a pensive look on his chiseled features.
"Coin for your thought?" I poke Geralt's side and he huffs, amused. He rolls, tucking my chin under his head and I sprawl out on his chest. I toy with the wolf emblem on his chain and he traces the line of my spine.
"Just can't believe I'm here with you. I never thought in a million years I could find a love like this." I hesitate to voice my next words, unsure if I can keep the slight bitterness from my voice.
"You never felt this way about Yennefer?" I whisper, not wanting Yennefer or Ciri to overhear our conversation. Geralt grunts and stops rubbing my back. I still, my heart thumping with fear that I've messed up. Geralt rolls to his side, turning to face me.
"What I had with Yennefer can't even compare to what I have with you Jaskier. You hold my heart and you alone have the power to destroy it." Tears sting at me eyes and I hastily blink trying to keep them from spilling. Geralt pulls me closer, our noses bumping together.
"I love you Jaskier, and I will slay any monster, cross any sea as long as it meant that you would always be by my side." I sniffle as the tears spill free. Geralt wipes them away, his hands warm and gentle. He brushes small kisses along my face and I giggle softly when he tickles my jaw.
"I love you Geralt. As long as you'll have me, I'll be by your side." Geralt gazes at me, his eyes tender. He cups my jaw and kisses me sweetly on the lips. He pulls me closer and I fall asleep to the rise and fall of his chest beneath me.
...
A faint angelic tinkling rings in my ears and I pull away from Geralt, rolling to my back. I pull the bedding over my ears, trying to block out the enticing melody but it just sounds louder in my head. I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. Geralt sleeps soundly sprawled on his back, his arms slung wide. He is a tempting sight and I move to cuddle back into his embrace. The song rings in my head, louder than before and my body jerks, as if needing to follow the music. My heart urges me to crawl back in beside Geralt but the music overrides it, forcing my body to move out of the bedding and away from Geralt. My mind grows fuzzy and I stumble away from our campsite. The trees and foliage thicken as I move into the forest. A light shines from between the trees and I push away branches to see a shimmering pool of water. My feet pull me closer to the sparkling oasis and the sounds twinkle like a thousand bells in my head. A man steps from the pools, his glistening body seeming to shift from human to a creäture with fins and a tail. He curls his finger beckoning me closer. I wade slowly into the water and tilt my head. The man smiles at me, his eyes unfocused. My heart races in my chest and some of the fog clears from my mind. I turn away from the handsome man and look around. How did I get here? Where is Geralt? A shadowed figure lurks in the trees and I squint, trying to see who it is. The man holds up his hand and grips my chin. His skin swirls and shifts as if under a glamour of sorts.
"Welcome Jaskier." The mans voice is laced with a shadow of sound, as if someone else is speaking at the same time. I shake my head, trying to gather my thoughts. The man grins at me and pulls me closer. The music shrills in my head, chasing away all thoughts. My mind is blank except for the man before me, his face filling every available space.
"I need you to do me a favor my darling. It is very important and only you can do it." The voice is a whisper in my head and I lean forward, craving it. The man chuckles and leans down to kiss my cheek. His scent is addicting and I surge forward, needing more of him. He pats my face and holds me at arm's length.
"Anything, I'll do anything you wish." The words tumble from my mouth but I don't recognize them. My heart aches in my chest and an image appears in my mind as if conjured directly from it. A white maned man with striking yellow eyes smiles at me and I pull away from the stranger in front of me. I blink slowly, some of the haze leaving my mind.
"Where am I? Where's Geralt?" The stranger snarls and grips my jaw, his nails digging in my flesh. He leans close, his breath ghosting over my parted lips.
"You are nowhere and everywhere my darling one. Listen closely for I have a task for you." I grab the strangers arms and try to push away. He tightens his grip and crushes his mouth to mine. I'm immediately assaulted by his taste and my mind empties, all thought evaporating except for the deep gnawing ache to please him. I can't remember who I am or what I'm doing here. All I know is I need to please this beautiful man before me. The stranger wraps me in his arms and my body grows lax in his embrace. My eyes droop and I lean closer, his scent intoxicating.
"Anything master." The stranger grins at me, fangs slipping out to skim at my throat. He sinks his teeth in my skin and an agonizing burn spreads through my veins. The fog is gone and I scream inside my mind, urging my body to listen and pull away from this demon. The poison burns my skin and boils my blood and yet I lay complacent in his arms as he spills his venom into my body. The fire raging in my blood burns away any competent thought and I slump forward, my mind once again empty. My subconscious is fading and I struggle to stay alert. The monster holding smiles at me, my blood dripping from his lips. His eyes are dull and empty as if under someone else's control.
"The task I have for you little darling, is to kill Geralt of Rivia." It's no longer the mans voice I hear in my head but the shadowy whisper from before.
'No way in the seven hells will I hurt Geralt!' I scream in my mind at the shadow but all I hear back is a dark chuckle. I feel an excruciating force and everything goes black. The last thing I hear is a ghostly snort.
'Geralt!' I try to scream for him but my lips don't move, my body no longer mine to command.
...
Geralt's POV:
I surge out of the furs, my heart hammering in my chest and sweat trickling down my neck. My senses are on high alert and I grip my sword, looking for the threat . Yennefer stirs in her bedding, her hair sticking up in all directions. She looks at me curiously and I shake my head. I look down and snort. Jaskier is curled in a ball, his hands tucked under his head like a babe. I lean down and place a kiss to his throat. A bump draws my attention and I pull the collar of his tunic down, seeing a faint pink bump on his smooth skin. I trace it and he stirs.
"Geralt?" He sits up and grins sleepily at me. He rubs his eyes and stretches, covering his mouth when he yawns.
"Did you sleep well?" I brush his sleep tousled hair and he frowns.
"I feel like something bad happened in a dream but I can't remember what." His nose scrunches up and he rubs his forehead. I kiss the tip of his nose and he smiles at me.
"I'm sure it's nothing. Try not to let it worry you." Jaskier nods and rubs his eyes. I slide from our furs and start to gather up our belongings. I stop to tease Ciri about her hair and she screeches and smacks my arm.
...
Jaskier's POV:
My mind is a blank and it aches like I drank a barrel of ale. I've never felt this terrible, not even when I had that drinking contest when I was eighteen. I watch as Geralt teases Ciri and she smacks his arm. He grabs her in a headlock and ruffles her already tangled hair. My heart aches like its broken and I feel sick. I scrub my hand over my sticky face and stumble to my feet. Unease swirls in my stomach but I'm not sure from what.
"Jaskier! Come have some breakfast." I plaster a smile on my face and hurry over to Yennefer. Whatever it is, I'm sure I can handle it as long as I have Geralt by my side.