Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf, inwardly smiled as he walked into the village at the base of the mountains that concealed Kaer Morhen from unfriendly eyes. Geralt had passed through the village every year on his way to the Witcher's keep, and then again every year when he and his brothers were coming back down, heading out onto the Path once again, as had countless Witchers through the generations on the way to their mountain home.

The villagers were used to the coming and going of the Witchers over the centuries, and were much friendlier towards the Wolves of Kaer Morhen than anywhere else on the continent. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that most of the supplies for the Witcher's castle came from the village, and the Witcher's all stopped and resupplied in the village, bringing coin into the local economy. Even as Geralt walked into the village he was greeted with smiles and nods of greeting, rather than fear or hostility.

"We'll stay here tonight," Geralt told Jaskier, who had been following dutifully behind, and Ciri, who was perched on top of Roach, "we'll resupply tomorrow and then we'll start the Witcher's trail early the day after.

Jaskier nodded, and then shivered. Geralt refrained from rolling his eyes. On his mental list of things to procure was a winter cloak for Jaskier. Nothing the bard had really was going to be warm enough once winter really set in. It was still autumn now, and already there was a chill in the air. The first major snowfall was bound to be only a few days away. Geralt typically wouldn't return to the keep this early, but he didn't want to risk taking the Witcher's path when it was too treacherous with ice and snow, especially when it was Jaskier's first time to Kaer Morhen, and when they had Ciri with them too, although it wouldn't be her first time to the keep of the Wolf school of the Witchers, having spent an extended time there last winter.

Ciri dismounted from Roach and scratched the mare's nose affectionately, and Roach let out a contented noise and leaned into it the pressure. Geralt sighed, knowing that his horse was getting rather spoiled.

"Here," he passed Jaskier some coins, "get Roach stabled for the next few days, I'll organise some rooms for us."

The Bard nodded, and he and Ciri headed for the stables attached to the Inn, leading Roach between them, while Geralt headed into the Inn. Geralt stepped into the dimly lit building, and let a genuine smile cross his face when he spotted a familiar face behind the bar.

"Geralt…it is good to see you once again," the barman and innkeeper, Aleksy, greeted. Aleksy's family had fun the inn for generations, and were well used to the comings and goings of the Witchers, having been witnessing it from the cradle. Aleksy's son, Nicolai, a lad a few years older than Ciri, was in charge of the stable.

"Aleksy," Geralt nodded, "has anyone else come through?"

"Vesemir came down…two weeks ago for supplies before the trail became too bad for the cart. Eskel passed through about five days ago."

Geralt nodded. Eskel typically was the first to arrive during the winter, but not all the time, and with the looming presence of Nilfgaard it wasn't surprising that Eskel had decided to return slightly earlier than normal.

It only left Lambert unaccounted for, although Geralt wasn't concerned about the youngest of his brothers. Lambert was usually the last to return the Kaer Morhen, if he returned at all, sometimes opting to spend the winter elsewhere. Eskel had sometimes teased Lambert about not realising that winter was coming until it was too late to make the journey North, but Geralt knew that Lambert was probably spending those winters with his best friend, Aiden, a Witcher of the Cat School, having found some secret place where they could hide away for the winter together.

"Could I get two rooms, beside each other, if possible, for two nights…and a hot bath too please?" Geralt asked, and Aleksy nodded, eager to please.

"Of course, Geralt. You still got the young lass with you then?

"Hmm," Geralt nodded, and Aleksy nodded, but wisely said no more, fetching the room keys. Geralt took them with a nod, and then went back outside to check on Jaskier and Ciri's progress. Satisfied that Roach was comfortable and well cared for, with Nicolai busily brushing her down and checking her hooves and filling her feed bucket.

Geralt grabbed his bags off Jaskier, freeing the bard up to manage his own things, before leading them back into the inn, escorting them to their rooms, located beside each other. Jaskier took one, while Ciri and Geralt shared the other, as they had fallen into the habit of doing. While the three of them had all shared rooms before, especially when coin was tight, it was not comfortable for any of them, and none of them liked the idea of Ciri staying in her own room, it was simply too dangerous, even this far in the north, with Nilfgaard so far away. The arrangement also had another advantage. Ciri frequently had nightmares, and with them sharing a room it meant that Geralt was there to sooth her when she woke up, or even wake her up if he noticed that she was showing signs of distress.

Geralt and Ciri got settled in, until there was a soft knocking on the door. Geralt answered the door, and found one of Aleksy's daughters there, who smiled and informed them that the bath was being prepared for them.

Ciri took the first turn in the hot water, while Jaskier and Geralt waited outside until she was finished and clothed once again. Jaskier took his turn next, and Geralt took the last turn. By the time Geralt finished and was dressed once again, Jaskier and Ciri were both downstairs in the bar, having secured a table in the corner, secluded, but with clear vision so that Geralt could watch everything. Once Geralt had joined them Aleksy's wife approached them with a smile and three bowls loaded with a thick, warming stew, loaded with meat and vegetables, along with some freshy, crusty bread, still warm. All three dug in hungrily, and Geralt noticed that Jaskier's lute was propped up against the wall beside the bard.

"You're going to play tonight?"

"Yes," smiled Jaskier in reply, "I think the people of what is essentially your home town will love to hear songs of your exploits and adventures. Besides, I know you mentioned resupplying on some things before we leave, and I know we have some money, but some more couldn't hurt."

Geralt nodded in reply. Once Jaskier had eaten his fill he got up and began to perform as more and more people trickled into the bar. Obviously, word had spread that Geralt had arrived on his way to the mountain, and the lute that Jaskier carried had made it obvious that he was finally bringing his famous bard. The townspeople had shown up eager for a performance, one that Jaskier began to provide enthusiastically. It had been a long time since Geralt had seen the inn so crowded, and Jaskier was relishing the experience of performing for such a fervent group of people

Aleksy offered Geralt a mug of ale, and Geralt took it with a nod of thanks, watching as Jaskier pranced around, while Ciri cheerfully clapped along and smiling, even singing along with the rest of the town when Jaskier performed one of his more well-known pieces.

When Jaskier launched into the opening notes of Toss a Coin the entire inn cheered so loudly the windows rattled, and everyone enthusiastically sang along to the chorus. Geralt cringed at the noise, but Ciri was laughing, and Jaskier was obviously having the time of his life having such an audience, so he gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the noise.

Eventually though Geralt felt Ciri begin to lean against him a little, and knew that it was time to call it a night. He briefly made eye contact with Jaskier, flicking his gaze upwards to wordlessly communicate what was going on. Jaskier nodded in understanding, before retuning his attention to the crowd. Gently taking Ciri by the arm, Geralt guided her upstairs, and let her snuggle into the sole bed of the room. Geralt set up his bed roll on the floor, listening to the music drifting into the room from downstairs until the noise began to fade, although Geralt didn't let himself sleep until he heard Jaskier's familiar footsteps come up the stairs and enter the next room. Only when Geralt was sure that both Jaskier and Ciri were sound asleep in their respective beds, as safe as they could get, did Geralt let himself fall asleep

THE WITCHER

The next morning found them all up early, with Geralt banging on Jaskier's room door until the bard blearily opened it with sleep filled eyes and sleep tousled hair. Jaskier, however, brightened at the prospect of doing some shopping.

They spent the majority of the morning walking through the market, with Geralt leading them from place to place. Geralt stocked up on herbs and potion ingredients that he knew he wouldn't be able to find up near Kaer Morhen, as well as a new belt for Ciri, as hers had broken. They went to the blacksmith, and Geralt got his swords checked over, as he often did when he was passing through this village, and bought himself a new whetstone to sharpen them, and Jaskier purchased a leather-bound journal for his music and any inspiration he had.

Geralt then led the way to the tailors. Although it was not a spot he had ventured to many times in the past, the tailor recognized Geralt on sight.

"Ah, Master Witcher, welcome, and to you too young miss. I trust you stayed warm last winter?"

Ciri nodded, as Geralt remembered how warm the clothes that he had bought her nearly exactly a year ago from the very same shop. Not once had Ciri complained of being cold during the whole winter. They had been left up at Kaer Morhen during the year, as they were too bulky to carry around with them while they were on the path, and would have been barely ever used during the warmer months anyway.

"They were wonderful, thank you," Ciri replied with a smile.

"We were hoping to get some warm clothing for my friend here." Geralt indicated Jaskier, who stepped forward with a smile. Geralt rolled his eyes as Jaskier and the tailor began discussing different styles and cuts, both of them getting very involved in the conversation as the tailor, having some idea of what Jaskier needed, began to sort through his stock. It took longer than Geralt had anticipated, but eventually Jaskier was fully kitted out with everything he would need to wear during the winter, although Geralt could tell that the bard was not impressed about the lack of colour. Jaskier said nothing about it though, and Geralt knew that Jaskier was reminding himself how cold it would be at Kaer Morhen, and that warmth was far more important than fashion.

Despite not being impressed with the idea of his winter wardrobe, Jaskier was rather pleased with the fur lined gloves that Geralt had insisted on, knowing how important Jaskier's fingers were to his profession.

The final stop was to collect some extra food items that they wouldn't be able to get up at the mountain, but would still keep well and not spoil over the winter months. Vesemir had already stocked up for the winter, from Aleksy's report, but he probably wouldn't have factored in Jaskier when guessing how much he would need, especially if Lambert returned for the winter months too. By the time they returned to the inn, all of them helping to carry their new items, it was beginning to get late, and they decided to have an early supper, and Jaskier played a short few sets of music, before they retired for the night early, ready for an early start up along the Witcher's trail to Kaer Morhen in the morning.