Jaskier hummed as he made his way out through the castle gates of Cintra. He had come for Cirilla's naming day banquet like he does every year, a… kindness on Queen Calanthe. Well, he says kindness, but it was more for her to make sure about Geralt's stance on not claiming Ciri still stands.
It worked out well, he was able to teach Ciri a few things about Witchers at night with Eist's approval and he was able to stop in to see Levana for another Lark Charm. Maybe the fourth time is the charm?
"Julek." The familiar name had Jaskier freezing, his heart lurching.
"No one has called me by that name for a long time." He gritted out through clenched teeth, turning his eyes towards Mousesack.
His dark eyes studied him intently. "So, it is you, I wasn't sure that night of Pavetta's Betrothal, for who would think Julien of Kerack, known as Julek the Kinslayer to be Jaskier the Bard? It took some time, but it finally clicked when I heard the tales you tell the princess, if you recall, I was there for one of them."
Rage bubbled up within Jaskier at that, the name he was given with no chance to explain. "I am no Witcher, have not been for a very long time."
"I can see that now, a curse so intricate." Mousesack hummed and sighed. "I did not come to antagonize you; I came to warn you that there have been whispers of Nilfgaard readying for something. It won't be soon but there are whispers."
"And why are you telling me?" Jaskier asked, swinging his lute to his back and straightened. "Geralt will still not come for Cirilla; he is very adamant about that."
Mousesack sighed. "This I know but I know you care for her, as does King Eist. It was under his command for me to tell you, for you to choose in time."
A grunt escaped Jaskier's lips as he took in the information, nodding to the Druid as he began to walk once more. He'd have to give it thought, he knew that Nilfgaard was preparing for war, he didn't know when, but rumours were spreading. They had already disrupted the south, enough to cause even some of his acquaintances to keep north.
"Does he know? Geralt, does he know you're a Witcher?" Mousesack called softly, barely within Jaskier's hearing range.
Pausing, he turned to look at the druid over his shoulders. "No and again, I am no Witcher."
Anger churned within him with each step he took away from Cintra's main gates towards the outer section near the walls. His eyes scanned his surroundings as he forced his body to portray the bumbling bard he always was, just in case he was being watched.
What usually was a ten-minute walk turned into nearly an hour as he weaved in and out of the small market stalls. Stopping now and then to browse what was on show, and buy some more oils and lute strings but his hand never left the hidden dagger.
Though that high alert lasted till he stepped foot into the small apothecary, his body nearly collapsing against the now-closed door.
"Buttercup, I've been expecting you for the last two hours." The voice was still as sharp as ever but there was exhaustion creeping into the edges.
"Levana, I was accosted by Mousesack when I left the gates, the topic of choice had me on high alert, I didn't know if he had me followed or not, so I took the long way," Jaskier replied with a disgruntled sigh and turned to face her finally.
Dark green eyes stared unimpressed at him, her usually braided updo was unbound and hung around her face and as he took note of her current attire Jaskier began to feel a smidge of guilt. "I did not know the hour grew late, I'm sorry Lev."
Levana waved away his apologies and pulled out the small pouch. "This is the fourth time I've had to make this charm for you Buttercup, yet they have not gone to their intended recipient. Collecting strays, Violet will be so proud."
"I swear, every Witcher I've run into is either on the verge of death or they've been treated unjustly. How could I just let them go and not have a way to contact me, so I know that they…" He trailed off his indignant rant as he saw her lips pull into a smile though there was something unknown in her eyes. "What?"
"Say's the Witcher himself," Levana replied softly, gently.
Jaskier jerked, why was everyone saying that today? "I am no Witcher, Lev. You know this."
Levana frowned and moved to cup his cheeks, her thumbs brushing under his eyes. "That curse I gave you has evolved in a way I did not intend it too. But I shall let it drop for now my sweet, come let us have some tea and you can inform me of all that's happened to those goslings of yours."
"Why does everyone keep comparing me to a goose!?" Jaskier spluttered with outrage as Lev pushed and prodded him to the back room.
"Honestly, the fact that you're just as vicious as a mother goose when her young are in danger is why even I've heard of your blacklist Lien for towns just denying a Witcher entry." Levana sighed exasperatedly as she began to make tea, pushing him into the chair by the fire. "Though I am proud of you, she would be too."
Jaskier's good mood vanished as he turned his eyes to the small painting above the fire, it was of his sister and Levana on their wedding day. Violet's amber eyes shone with how happy she was, it truly was one of the last times Jaskier had seen her so human, there in that moment of bliss before everything was taken from them.
Levana sighed and pressed the cup into his stiff hands. "I am sorry Julien; I know you didn't wish to do it… I know now why, after Uval was killed in the cleansing she lost her mind, there was nothing either of us could do."
YOU KNOW NOTHING OF LOVE JULEK!
I loved her too!
No, you did not. So I shall take what you love and twist it, maybe then you'll understand how to feel.
"It's fine Levana, I have come to terms with the curse." Jaskier swallowed thickly as she shook the words from his mind. He had loved being a Witcher, chose to be one after his father sent Violet away.
Of course, he ran after a year of trying to find her, but he had stumbled across Gron instead, he begged him to take him back, to make him a Witcher like both his siblings. He regretted begging the moment he was brought to the keep; it was not the schools he knew his siblings went to but Melitele preserve him he did his best.
When Violet died, when he had… Levana took all her rage and sadness and cursed him into the life of a human once again, afraid and weak like he hadn't been since he was a child in a house of Alfred. He of course found that he could be himself again once he had on his medallion, but it would cause pain the longer he wore it. In time, he grew used to the curse, his new life and made a name for himself.
And in time he and Levana had come to settle in a peaceful understanding.
Guilt begets guilt.
"I'll be returning to Brokilon Forest for some time Julien," Levana stated, her eyes averted but a cheeky smile pulling at her lips. "I've made you four more pendants, just in case."
Jaskier opened his mouth to speak but snapped it shut as a whimper crossed his mind, hand flying to the Lark Pendant around his neck.
Jaskier… Aiden whispered after a moment, pained. Help…
Aiden!? Where are you?... he replied urgently, his body tilting forward in the chair as if he could see him.
Hurt… in the mountains south of… Spalla… hunt gone wrong… Aiden was gasping, even mentally and it had Jaskier surging to his feet and grabbing his bag and lute, eyes turning to Levana. "I need to get to the mountains south of Spalla, can you portal me?"
"I can, you may need these." She replied, pushing some vials into his hands. "Throw them and fire will ensue so make sure you're a safe distance away, be safe brother."
The portal ripped open behind him and without hesitation he stepped backward, taking one last look at the vibrant eyes of his sister-in-law till it closed on him, leaving him in the dark with only the full moon as a guide. The bitter wind cut through him, but he was not deterred.
Aiden, where are you? He asked through the pendant, eyes scanning the mountain peaks off in the distance and took off running when vague images were pushed down the enchanted pendant.
It took him several hours to make his way up the path towards where Aiden had silently led him, his heart hammering as he clutched the silver dagger in his hand and one of the vials Lev had given him. Stupid, stupid, stupid… he thought angrily as he continued to push forward. A dagger would do very little against a beast to take down a Witcher.
Two Witcher's he corrected as he crashed into a small clearing, the bodies of a mated pair of Arch griffins and a royal one spread around. In the middle of it all rested Aiden, he was slumped over with his hand grasped tightly around a silver sword and the other wrapped around another body.
"Fuck, Aiden!" Jaskier called as he rushed forward, not caring about the corpses and the blood that would coat him as he crashed to his knees next to them. His hand shot forward and rested against the pulse point of the Cat Witcher and the unknown one, sighing in relief at their slow heartbeats but that relief didn't last long as he took in their wounds.
A screech filled the air, one that had Jaskier raising to his feet in panic, his eyes shooting around to see a fledgling off to the side, not yet mature to leave the nest but just as dangerous. Snarling he let the vial fly, he would not let this beast kill his friend, his brother.
Fire exploded and crawled over the feathers and fur of the beast, consuming it. His dagger followed the vial in one swift movement as the beast still lumbered forward pained, but able. Thankfully his dagger struck true, and the fledgling dropped, either by knife or fire.
"Jaskier?" Aiden slurred as he looked up with a hazy pitch back eye.
"Can you walk Aiden? I can't carry you and your friend." Jaskier urged as he knelt to Aiden once more, placing his hand on his shoulder.
Aiden was confused but he nodded, he was exhausted and injured, his hand broken but he was able to move. His eye scanned the field, taking in the new blazing fire off to the side… there was something that he should remember but couldn't.
"Coën, his name is Coën." Aiden murmured as Jaskier pulled Coën up.
"Alright, where are your horses? Your gear?" Jaskier asked and began to follow as Aiden ambled away, taking in the way the Cat Witcher stumbled and stared around him in confusion as if he couldn't understand where he was.
It took them an hour of walking till Jaskier found himself at a camp set in a small cave, well it wouldn't even be classed as a cave, more of an overhang of rocks. He quickly settled Coën on one of the bedrolls and began to remove the armour, taking note of the acid burns across his shoulder and neck slowly healing but it was the large gash across his side that had Jaskier worrying.
Aiden ambled over with the other bedroll and collapsed in it.
"Is there anything I need to know about that's pressing? No major wounds that will risk you dying while I help Coën?" Jaskier asked as he tore through his bag for Swallow and tipped it into Coën's mouth, his hand pausing on Kiss. "What potions did he take?"
"Cat… Bindweed and… and... Petri's Philter?" Aiden replied with a confused frown as Jaskier let out a slew of curses in many languages.
Jaskier was kicking himself as he hastily rushed to one of the bags, he knew to be Aiden's and dug through it, empty vials clinked back at him but at the very bottom was the potion he was looking for. Petri's Philter was highly toxic and on top of Cat, Bindweed and Swallow Coën was dangerously toxic, thankfully Aiden had White Honey on hand.
Curses still left his lips as he rushed back and poured the potion down Coën's throat carefully, making sure he didn't spill a drop. There wasn't enough to spare and Coën's life depended on it to purge the toxins while Jaskier did his best to make sure that the wounds wouldn't cause him to bleed to death.
He quickly built a fire, pouring one of the vials Lev gave him on it to get it lit in a hurry, it burned bright and hot, but it did what was needed. His hands were steady as he cleaned and stitched the jagged wound, eyes flickering to the acid burn with worry, he could clean it and rub salve on it but he wasn't sure if what he had would work on a Witcher.
His hand went to the pendant instantly. Eskel…
Jaskier? What's happened? Eskel replied in concern.
He listed off the ingredients of the paste he had always carried on him, it was one he was taught long ago when he was first turned human that was a cure-all so to speak… Will it work on a Witcher?
Eskel's reply was careful and concerned. Yes, it should. What has happened Jaskier?
Was called for help… Jaskier replied as he began to smother the paste over the wound and wrapped it tight, noticing then the way his collarbone rested. Fuck, broken.
It concerned him greatly when he fixed the bone the Witcher didn't stir.
Where are you? Are you safe? Eskel's voice was more insistent and concerned.
Somewhere south of Spalla, the griffins are dead, thank you Eskel. Jaskier replied hinting at the end of the conversation as politely as he could in this situation.
He managed to heal and stitch all the wounds he could find on Coën, his eyes taking in the Griffin Medallion with a slight hysterical bewildered gaze before he moved to Aiden.
Aiden's armour was easy to remove, Cat's preferring lighter leathers than the other schools, thankfully he wasn't injured beyond the broken hand and the jagged cut on his hairline. Oh, he had plenty of bruises but they were now a putrid yellow of healing and in another hour they will vanish completely.
"Fuck that hurts you bastard," Aiden hissed as Jaskier rebroke the fingers and aligned them.
"Why is it whenever I see you Aiden you're hurt?" Jaskier said in lieu of retorting to the insult. "Though I haven't seen you for a season."
Flopping back on the roll Aiden grunted. "Just lucky, I guess. How're you here Jas?"
"You called for me," Jaskier replied as he held out a swallow for Aiden to take, sighing as the Cat threw it back with a grimace. "Rest now, we'll talk more when you're not concussed."
When everything was settled, Coën and Aiden on their way to healing Jaskier sat back with a grimace, his body was aching from carrying Coën back for a fair distance. Though Geralt was heavier, the trek went from a spattering of trees to rock terrain making it harder to navigate, which in turn made Jaskier overcompensate his movements. Plus, he's been awake for two days now, goddess bless was it only yesterday he left Ciri's name day celebration?
His sister's Fangs, now Aiden's rested in his hands by his side, Coën's swords cleaned and resting between the other two. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he tilted his head back and let his eyes slip close, just for a second.
X
Aiden woke with a gasp, his whole body aching and panic settled as last night's memories came back. His hand flew to his side for the silver Fang, pausing when he felt cloth instead of armour. Looking down he blinked away the brightness, letting his eye adjust to the sudden change of night to day and saw his armour was gone, hand splinted.
Coën rested next to him, still deeply asleep and wrapped in swaths of bandages.
He breathed in and snapped his head around to see Jaskier asleep against the rock wall, hands gripping the Fangs with familiarity.
"What?" Aiden asked confused, how did Jaskier get here?
The longer he stared the more he noticed how pale Jaskier looked, how bloody and then the memory of the baby Griffin. He was up and at Jaskier's side in an instant, hands pressing to the human's frame as gently as he was able to find the wounds that caused that amount of blood.
"Wh-what? Aiden what're you doing?" Jaskier coughed out with a dry sleep-filled rasp.
"Where are you hurt?" the tone was harsh and abrupt, causing Jaskier to snap into alertness, his hands stilling the Cat's.
Golden blue met bright sky blue desperately. "I'm not hurt, the blood is yours and Coën's."
Relief shot through Aiden so suddenly he found himself tipping forward, head resting against Jaskier's chest. The steady thump of the human's heart a comfort and as Jaskier wrapped his arms around him slowly, Aiden let his body go lax completely and savoured the embrace.
"How're you here?" He asked after a moment.
"You called for me, I got a witch to portal me here. Took me a bit to find you." Jaskier replied just as soft. "Do you not remember?"
"Not really, the hunt went sideways fast." Aiden's voice was muffled. "Was supposed to just be the Royal Griffin, it had been picking off trade caravans. Turned out we stumbled on a territorial pair of Archgriffins and the royal fighting, wasn't prepared properly… Coën went down, and I took a claw to the head."
"I was in Cintra when you called for me, you sounded hurt. When I portalled here you gave me vague senses of where to go but nothing else." Jaskier explained, running his fingers absently through Aiden's hair on the other side of the scratch. "Are you better now?"
"Much, my hand is stiff but useable, head clear. I'll be able to go hunt for food, will you be fine here with Coën?" Aiden asked as he reluctantly pulled away from the embrace.
The Fangs were pushed into Aiden's hands. "Here, take these. I'll be fine."
"Alright, won't be long."
While Aiden left to find them food Jaskier moved towards Coën once more, his fingers unravelling the bandages quickly to check the stitches and apply more salve. It was odd, the wounds were better than they were last night but if it was Geralt, they would have been a healthy pink of a healing wound by now.
Then again, he hadn't met a Griffin Witcher before so perhaps they healed differently.
Once he was sure the wounds were clean and mending as best they could he sat back near the simmering fire, tossing a few logs on to get it roaring once more and pulled out his lute.
His fingers plucked a melody, one that had been forming in his mind since he woke up. A cat and a fledgling fighting a battle together, an epic ballad. He had written of the Dark Wolf, Lambert's drinking song and now this. He wasn't sure how he was able to continue to keep all this from Geralt, he wasn't sure why he was to begin with.
But he played the songs in taverns when requested, Geralt never asking and well… if his brothers never said anything then Jaskier won't.
Idly Jaskier switched to toss a coin as he paced near the fire.
"I know that song," A voice rasped, startling Jaskier bad enough to twang the chords aggressively and painfully.
"You're awake," Jaskier hummed as he placed his lute back in the case and knelt by Coën who was staring up at him with bloodshot eyes. One was a brilliant golden blue like Aiden's the other a dark gold. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I was used as a massive chew toy for a Wyvern," Coën muttered, his eyes narrowed as he watched the unknown human tend to him. "Who are you? Where is Aiden?"
"Well, that was close, more like three Griffins. Aiden went to find us some food, I'm Jaskier." Was the reply.
Coën blinked in surprise and let out a huff of laughter. "You're the Wolves Bard."
Startled blue eyes snapped to Coën's in a blink. "I'm sorry, what? Wolves… Wolves as in plural not just Geralt's?"
"I sometimes winter in Kaer Morhen, Eskel spoke of you when I caught him staring into space with a worried frown. Lambert told me after one too many cups of White Gull. Geralt is Geralt but he's mentioned you too." Coën rasped, thanking the human with a smile as he passed over the water pouch. "I take it you've helped Aiden too?"
Jaskier nodded silently in marvel.
"And now you've saved me, thank you Jaskier." Coën thanked honestly, truthfully. "Coën of the Griffin School."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Coën, when you feel a bit more like yourself again, you'll have to tell me some stories of the others I can lord over them. But for now, rest up, I will wake you when Aiden returns, your swords are by your side." Jaskier replied with a cheeky grin, laughing softly as Coën gave a wicked grin back and replied in an affirmative.
When Coën was healed enough to move on his own once more, all three of them made their way back towards civilization.
And if Coën patted the little Lark Pendant that rested against his medallion with a soft look of wonder, no one but Aiden would know.
