I own Nothing.
After watching the Netflix adaption of The Witcher I came up with this story Idea and have been on the fence on whether or not to post it. I love the series, both games, Tv, and books however I also love D&D...and this was the result. Enjoy and please let me know what you think by leaving a Review below.
Geralt trudged back to camp with a severed head of a Harpy in one hand and a bloodied silver sword in the other. He was limping slightly and every bit of movement made him want to grunt in pain. He had been hired to deal with a group of Harpies that had taken to nesting in a forest outside a small village. The villages used the forest as a hunting ground and to also breed domesticated animals like Cabu. The pesky things had become a problem as they attacked both Humans and animals, anything that entered the forest was now game for the Harpies, and villages relied on the hunting grounds for their food.
It was the same story Geralt had heard countless times before. Winter was not long off the villages needed the meat from the forest to survive, so they had scrambled what little coin they had and hired Geralt to deal with the problem.
Initially, the villages assumed it had only been a small nest, two or three harpies at most. But when the Witcher arrived at the nest he found there were at least a dozen and several of the Harpies were pregnant. This made it even more dangerous but Geralt had been able to kill them all making the forest safe once again.
Geralt looked down at the large clawed gash on his side, thankfully the potions he had taken had stopped the bleeding but he would need several days at least to recover. The rest of his armor was practically no longer usable either as the harpies had torn through it and had left more than a few holes. It was only thanks to Geralt's mutations and an overdose of Potions was he able to keep up with the dammed things and he was seriously considering charging the village extra for new Armor or to at least cover the cost of an inn until he recovered.
It took about an hour of painful walking to get back to where and his bardic companion Jaskier had set up camp. Geralt would normally have Roach with him but he left it at camp for the horses' safety also if Jaskier got into trouble then he would stand a chance of getting away.
As he lumbered into the campsite Geralt noted that it was quiet, he couldn't hear Jaskier idly strumming his lute or practicing his songs. He couldn't hear the bard trying out new lyrics or rhymes from previous adventures.
His yellow cat-like eyes quickly scanned the camp for any sign of the bard but or clue as to where he had gone. Geralt spied Jaskiers lute leaning next to a log and there was an open notebook next to it with a rock holding it in place. Geralt narrowed his eyes, Jaskier never left his lute behind or his songbook…ever.
"Jaskier?" the Witcher called out, hoping the bard hadn't gone too far. He waited a moment before shouting the bard's name again. "Fuck," Geralt swore when he didn't get a response.
It was unusual for Jaskier to not be at camp or nearby to whatever Geralt was hunting lurked. Normally the bard would wait outside a cave or at the base of the hill. Eger to get the story for his next balled out of Geralt and it was about as far as Geralt would allow the bard near monsters.
However, since Geralt was hunting Harpies and they tended to have a taste for human flesh and they could fly, it wasn't safe for Jaskier to be anywhere near the Harpies nest. Also, the closest town was a three-day trek and while Geralt would have been happy to leave the bard to his own devices in town Jaskier preferred to stay near the Witcher.
Jaskier had naturally protested about being left behind and so far away from the action, however when Geralt explained that Harpies could not only fly but swoop down and tear him apart with their talons in mid-air Jaskier had immediately insisted that he stay at camp and camp be made as far from the nest as possible.
The fact that Roach was still here as was Jaskiers lute told the Witcher that Jaskier hadn't fled the camp and seeing as the tents were still up indicated that the bard hadn't been attacked by wild animals either.
Though Geralt knew that was likely due to the nearby harpy nest as Harpies fed on any flesh, they could get so it was likely they had chased all the predatory animals away. Suddenly Geralt heard a twig snap behind him, he whirled around but as soon as he did an arrow pierced his shoulder.
"GHAAA!" Geralt cried out as he stumbled back a bit. He was already dealing with an enormous amount of pain but it had just been made much worse with the added addition of an arrow.
Geralt dropped the harpy's head and reached up to pull the arrow out of him but before he could a second arrow whizzed through the air and embedded itself in his leg.
"Fuck," Geralt cursed as he was forced onto one knee. He scanned the tree line looking for the archer who had shot him. Instead of a single dark-skinned female wearing a pale grey Nilfgaardian mages robe. She had an I'm better than you look in her eye and looked down at Geralt as she approached.
Geralt slowly tried to rise to his feet however the moment he did the woman flicked her hand and Geralt was flung through the air, losing his silver sword. He crashed into a nearby tree. He grunted and groaned as he landed on the ground.
Geralt hated mages. But he was a Witcher, he could endure any pain and torture. Geralt could also feel the last remints of the Swallow potion he drank earlier trying to heal him. The Witcher knew it would not last long but if it was just one mage then he might be able to beat her and recover.
Even though he would never admit it, Geralt was worried about Jaskier. He still had to find out what happened to the bard.
As Geralt once again attempted to push himself up he heard the sounds of heavy boots and armor. A second later a regiment of soldiers stormed into the camp. He looked around doing a quick count.
There was at least a dozen all armed and their swords were drawn. This wasn't good, he suspected there might be more hiding in the trees, or at least there would be some archers since none of the soldiers in the camp had any bows on them.
Geralt had not expected such a strategic ambush. It made him wonder what he had done to garner Nilfgaard's attention, after all, he hadn't taken any contracts from them and most Witchers tended to steer clear of Nilfgaard territory unless necessary.
Tuning back to the woman who Geralt assumed was in charge. He glared at her.
"Can I help you?" Geralt asked.
The woman walked up to Geralt again but stopped a few feet in front of him and looked down at him with an unimpressed and disappointed look on her face.
"Geralt of Rivia I assume," the woman said, her voice was sharp but also held a tone of condensing.
"Who the fuck are you and what do you want?" Geralt demanded.
"I am Fringilla, magical advisor, and sorceress to the king of Nilfgaard," Fringilla introduced "and what I want from you is for you to give me your child,"
Geralt blinked a few times in confusion. He wasn't sure if he heard correctly.
"You want my what?" Geralt asked.
"Your child, you will give it to me," Fringilla demanded.
"Hmm…you could at least buy me dinner and a few drinks first," Geralt joked.
The woman did not look impressed or laugh. She raised her hand and Geralt was flung across the campsite once more. This time crashing face-first into one of the tents.
"I am in no mood for jokes," Fringilla said with a warning tone.
Geralt rolled over onto his back with a groan and breathed heavily. He tried to sit up but several soldiers pointed out the tips of their blades at his chest. Daring the Witcher to try something. Geralt lifted his head and assessed the situation this woman didn't have a sense of humor.
"Lady I don't know what you've heard but I'm a Witcher. Witcher's can't have children, the mutations made me sterile," Geralt claimed "and I certainly didn't have any kids before I was mutated,"
"I know Witchers are sterile, what do you take me for? Some peasant farmer?" Fringilla scoffed "I am talking about your child of surprise,"
This made Geralt jerk his head upwards and look directly at Fringilla. What would Nilfgaard want with his child surprise? More importantly, how did they know about it?
"How do you know about that?" Geralt asked with a dangerous tone.
"Nilfgaard knows many things," Fringilla claimed.
"Then you know I don't have the child, I never claimed them nor do I want them," Geralt said firmly.
"I am aware, which is why we are going to escort you to Cintra, there you will claim your child surprise and hand them over to me," Fringilla demanded "do this and we can all go our separate ways,"
"No," Geralt responded.
"No?"
"No, I will not claim that child, no child should be separated from their parents,"
"That is not your decision to make. Destiny has chosen to give you a child and you will claim it and seeing as you don't want it I will relieve you of your burden,"
"Fuck Destiney and fuck you," Geralt said.
"If you think Queen Calanthe is just going to let me waltz in there and take her grandchild then you know nothing about her at all," Geralt said seriously.
"She will have no choice, destiny has revealed its hand,"
"She believes in destiny as much as I do," Geralt scoffed and lay his head back down "you're wasting your time, you'd have better luck taking Cintra by force than breaking up that family,"
"I see, so it is safe to assume you won't be complying, even if I offered you 1,000 crowns?" Fringilla offered.
"Let me make it clearer for you. Fuck off," Geralt said.
"pitty then we shall have to take more drastic measures," Fringilla sighed. Geralt didn't want to know what the mage meant by taking more drastic measures. But Fringilla raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Geralt tensed, expecting to be hit with more magic, however, nothing happened. Instead, two more soldiers entered the camp. They had a bound bruised and gagged Jaskier between them. The bard's eyes went wide with relief when he saw Geralt and the guards threw Jaskier to the ground.
Geralt's' eyes zoomed in on the bruising near Jaskier's eye and his split lip, it looked like the Nilfgaardian soldiers had beaten him a bit. Likely when he tried and failed to flee the campsite. Now the bards missing presence made sense, the Nilfgaardians had taken him.
Geralt balled his fists in anger at seeing Jaskier hurt. He didn't like nor desire to kill humans and he tried not to get involved but that was no longer an option. He tried to send a look to say it would be all right and that he would handle the situation.
"Now then, shall we try this again? Claim your child for Nilfgaard or your bard dies…slowly," Fringilla said in a deadly tone. As if on cue one of the men who brought Jaskier out pulled him back by his hair and pressed a dagger to his throat.
Jaskier let out a muffled cry of panic and stared at the blade fearfully before his eyes flicked back at Geralt.
"Stop it," Geralt shouted. "He has nothing to do with this,"
"That's not what I hear," Fringilla said. "I hear that Witcher's don't have feelings, that they are incapable of caring for anything but coin. I wonder if that's true,"
Fringilla looked over her shoulder at the man holding Jaskier.
"Take him into the woods and kill him in the slowest most painful way you know. But ungag him first," Fringilla ordered. She then turned to look back at Geralt "I want the Witcher to hear him scream,"
The two men nodded and they pulled Jaskier to his feet. One held him up while the other ungagged him and then started to pull him out of the camp.
"Gods no, please…Geralt help me," Jaskier begged as he was dragged away.
"Stop, let him go or I will kill you and all your men," Geralt threatened but Fringilla merely laughed.
"Now we both have something the other wants, I want your child of surprise and you want that sorry excuse for a bard to live," Fringilla stated "though I have no idea why,"
"So, it's time to choose, who is more important. A child you don't want and have never met or a bard who follows you around like a lost puppy?" she demanded.
Geralt didn't answer.
"Think quickly Witcher, my men and I aren't known for our patience," Fringilla warned.
Geralt looked over towards Jaskier and the bard seemed to now understand what the Nilfgaardian wanted.
"Geralt don't, forget about me," Jaskier tried "Don't give them the child,"
Hesitation filled Geralt's' face if he let Jaskier die then Nilfgaard would lose their only advantage and given enough time he could take them out and escape. Unfortunately, the mage seemed to pick up on Geralt's thoughts and responded accordingly.
"You know what I changed my mind, don't take the bard," Fringilla ordered. The men dragging Jaskier stopped and looked at each other and then at the mage in confusion. Jaskier breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't going to be tortured to death.
"Kill the bard right here, right now in front of the Witcher," Fringilla ordered.
The men dragged Jaskier over to Fringilla and the mage moved aside so Geralt would have a good view. The soldiers surrounding Geralt inched their blades ever closer to the Witcher's' neck. One of the men threw Jaskier to the ground and held him there with his boot and drew a small knife. Jaskier squirmed under the boot but could not get away and the guard raised his knife and plunged it downward.
"Alright fine…I'll do it. I'll give you my child surprise," Geralt yelled out.
Fringilla waved her hand and the guard appeared to have frozen in mid-strike; with the blade inches above Jaskiers heart. The bard breathed a sigh of relief but still stared in fear at the frozen Nilfgaardian out of fear he would start moving again.
"Wonderful, so glad you can be reasonable," Fringilla said happily "Let him up,"
The soldiers all took a few steps back but didn't sheathe their blades, Geralt glanced at Jaskier as he stood up; though it was painful for Geralt as he could no longer feel the effects of his swallow potion. It was clear that there was no way he could free the bard or himself before a fatal blow would be struck. He did not trust this mage to not release the guard and have him finish the job.
"If you or any of your men touch him. I will kill you," Geralt growled. To his credit, Fringilla looked frightened and that she believed him.
"As long as you co-operate, he will not be harmed. After all, I have no use for a dead hostage," Fringilla assured.
Fringilla turned away from Geralt and raised her arms and did a circular motion and a portal appeared in front of her and Geralt. As it was still forming, Geralt glanced over to Jaskier and saw the bard wiggle himself out from under the frozen guard's boot and inch away from him. The other guard didn't appear to care if Jaskier was under the boot or not. But he was close enough to kill Jaskier should the Witcher try anything.
"Is this a bad time to mention that I hate Portals?" Geralt asked, "Couldn't we just ride to Cintra?"
"No," Fringilla responded and focused on her portal. Geralt turned his attention back to the portal as it finished forming and reviled the familiar-looking walls of Cintra.
"This portal will take you to a hill overlooking, Cintra's walls. You have 24hrs to collect your child and bring her back to the spot you arrived. I will open the portal then, should you not be there we will torture your bard to death and send you his remains piece by piece," Fringilla threatened.
Geralt nodded in understanding. He took one last long look at Jaskier who was now standing and looking with pleading eyes towards the Witcher. Geralt turned back towards the portal. He moved to step into it, he hated portals in general.
However just as he was about to step through Fringilla was suddenly tackled to the ground by Jaskier and she lost her focus. Instead of Cintra the portal now momently viewed a swirling bright multi-colored abyss.
Before either, Geralt or the guards could react Jaskier jumped up and shoved Geralt through the portal and Fringilla screamed in rage as the unstable portal closed behind the Witcher.
"Foolish bard, what have you done?" Fringilla roared in anger.
"Saving my friend from you," Jaskier said smugly "you can't claim the child without Geralt. This way you lose,"
He didn't know much about Magic or portals. However, he had spent considerable time with Geralt and by association Yennefer and Triss Marigold. While Jaskier was not overly fond of Yennefer he didn't mind Triss. She was nice and unlike Yennifer or Geralt, Triss had an appreciation for his bardic talents. Triss had even had tried to teach Jaskier a bit about how magic worked.
On one visit, Jaskier had asked about portals Triss had explained that portal magic connected two different places and allowed travel. If the concentration was broken the portal would become unstable for a brief moment and close.
Jaskier had asked what happened if someone went through an unstable portal but Triss wasn't sure. She assumed that they would wind up in a random location between the two points; at least that was the theory anyway as no mage had tested to see what would happen and Jaskier now prayed that Triss had been right and Geralt was now somewhere between the Nilfgaardians and Cintra.
"You fool, the Witcher just went through an unstable portal; do you have any idea what happens to people who go through unstable portals?" Fringilla yelled as several guards grabbed Jaskier and forced him onto his knees.
"They show up somewhere between the two points," Jaskier answered weekly.
"That's an untested theory," Fringilla scowled. However, the anger quickly faded as she realised, she had been given an opportunity "and now we can test that theory," she grinned.
She turned to one of her guards. "Get my bag, I have a tracking spell to perform,"
Jaskier frowned, he had forgotten people could be tracked by magic. As soon as the spell was complete Fringilla would make a new portal and that would mean Jaskier's momentary heroic act would be in vain. Gods he hated being heroic as much as Geralt hated Portals.
Jaskier cursed, he would have only brought Geralt a small amount of time before the Nilfgaardian forces would catch him again and then they would be in the same situation all over again. Only this time Jaskier had no doubt they wouldn't have another chance to escape.
Geralt found himself floating on his back in a sea of bright pale multi-coloured mist. He found his body wouldn't move but considering the amount of damage he had suffered both from the harpies and being tossed around by the Nilfgaardian mage it was understandable.
He glanced around not knowing where he was, he couldn't see the portal as it had closed behind him and this strange place was made his body numb and him drowsy. Despite the fact he was concerned about Jaskier, he could not find the strength to move or even come up with a way to get back to the bard; all he wanted to do was sleep.
Even though he didn't know where he was, he felt strangely at ease in this strange mist that surrounded him. Geralt let out a deep breath, he was about to close his eyes when a figure wearing a hooded green cloak that covered half of the figure's face appeared suddenly above him.
Geralt blinked, despite the figure was facing down towards Geralt and right up in the Witcher's personal space, their noses were almost touching. The Witcher couldn't make out whether this figure was male or female as all he could see was the figures' lips and pointed chin.
"Now what do we have here hm…?" a male voice asked. The figure had a soft yet mysterious tone to it, he began looking up and down Geralt's' body. Geralt tensed as he didn't know if this figure was a threat or with the Nilfgaardian.
The figure maneuvered his way around Geralt's body taking in all aspects of it. Moving and twisting as if the figure was a snake. But given that Geralt was floating, the wither wondered if there was an up or down in this place. Since the figure hadn't made any attempt to harm Geralt could only assume that the green cloaked man was curious about him.
"Now how did you get here?" the figure wondered and lifted his hand to his chin and tapped a finger on his right cheek. Geralt opened his mouth to respond but found he could not speak. The Witcher's eyes widened with panic and Geralt tried to lift his arm to reach his throat but found he could no longer move at all.
'Shit the mist," Geralt swore "What the fuck is this place doing to me?' Geralt wondered, he was trying to keep calm but it appeared the green figure picked up on his distress.
"Ah lost your voice and use of limbs, have we? Worry not, it and your other body functions will come back when you leave," the figure assured.
The figure moved to Geralt's' left side and examined the injures the harpies had left. Geralt tensed up as the figure was about to touch his wounds but quickly withdrew his hand and its head snapped upwards. Geralt wondered what had caught the figures' attention but saw nothing but more mist.
"Ah, I see…interesting…very interesting," the figure said softly. The figure then looked back at Geralt and the Witcher swore he saw a thin small smile form on his face.
"Oh, what fun this will be," The figure chuckled. Geralt didn't like the sound of that "But first, we can't have a mortal in the Astral Plane," the figure stated.
Geralt watched as the figure reached out and gave the Witcher a light tap on the chest. The second the green cloaked stager touched him Geralt felt himself being flung downward at an alarming speed.
"Mind the bump on re-entry," the figure called after Geralt as the Witcher plummeted through the Astral plane.
Suddenly beneath him, a pale green door appeared beneath Geralt, and in a second Geralt passed through it. Once on the other side Geralt saw the stars in the night sky above him and the door close and vanish as if it was never there. Geralt felt the wind go through his hair and he was too focused on the sky above him. However, he quickly regained his senses and realised that he was falling from the sky. A quick glance with his eyes and he saw the trees below becoming very close.
"Fuck," was the only thing Geralt said before he crashed into the trees below. By the time he landed with a thud on the forest floor, he was already unconscious.
Fringilla should be pissed, she should be annoyed but yet she was strangely calm. After the withers bard had talked her to the ground and pushed Geralt through an unstable portal Fringilla had used every tracking spell she knew to locate the white wolf.
However, each spell came could not find him. That meant that Geralt was no longer of this world. While Fringilla was annoyed at losing Geralt she could now claim to have the answer to what happens to people who travel in unstable portals. It was simple and now 100% proven.
They die.
After her last spell, she was certain that Geralt of Riva was dead. Fringilla turned and walked over to Jaskier who was now being held in place by four guards. Jaskier looked up at her fearfully as she approached.
"Good news and bad news. The bad news is your wither is dead and it's all your fault," Fringilla said coldly.
"No…that can't be, Geralt can't be dead," Jaskier said "Your lying,"
"You pushed him into an unstable portal on a theory I just confirmed to be untrue. I have used every tracking spell known to man and each came up with the same response. Geralt of Riva is no longer of this world, he is dead by your hands," Fringilla claimed.
This news left Jaskier in shock. He had not intended for this, he wanted Geralt to go somewhere else, somewhere he could heal and then come back to get him when he had time to plan. Jaskier had never once intended to kill his best friend.
"W…What's the good news?" Jaskier asked solemnly. Though he was afraid of the answer.
"You just helped me prove what happens when people go through an unstable portal. Thanks to you I will go down in history as the mage who made this discovery," Fringilla said.
"What's…what's going to happen to me and…and Geralt's' child surprise,"
"Oh, we'll now have to invade Cintra. Shouldn't be too hard if we catch them off guard," Fringilla shrugged "well just take Cintra's lion cub as a prisoner of war,"
"What of the bard?" one of the men asked.
"Take him back to Nilfgaard and lock him up in the palace's dungeons. I don't care what you do to him as long as he lives," Fringilla ordered.
"If the withers dead why don't we just kill him and be done with it?"
"Because that's no fun and I may need a test subject for some spells I've been working on," Fringilla claimed. She then opened a portal and walked through it leaving Jaskier behind with the Nilfgaardian soldiers.
"I'm sorry Geralt," Jaskier whispered silently as he was pulled to his feet by his captors and taken away.