Geralt looked around the room, taking in the people present…everyone that he cared about was in the room, and it made something within him feel warm as he looked from face to face. Jaskier and Ciri curled up in bed together, Jaskier sound asleep after telling Ciri a series of entertaining stories as Ciri giggled and laughed. Ciri was comfortably snuggled against him, and Geralt knew by her heavy blinks that Ciri would fall asleep soon. He knew he probably should send her to her own bed to sleep, but he had been able to tell how much what had happened to Jaskier had frightened her, and now that Jaskier was well on the road to recovery, Geralt didn't think one night curled up beside Jaskier was going to make much difference.

Vesemir was there too, sitting in one of the chairs they'd brought into the room, pretending to read a book, but instead watching everyone else in the room over the top of the pages. From the angle Geralt was at he could see the smile that was tugging the corners of his teacher's mouth upwards.

Eskel was tending to the fire, while Lambert was leaning against the doorframe, a mug of ale in his hand. There had been a minor altercation over dinner when Lambert had found out that Eskel had drunk the last of Lambert's White Gull, but that seemed forgotten now. Geralt knew that over the coming week Lambert would mix up some more batches to replenish the supply.

Yennefer was sitting in the chair Geralt had spent most of his time in since their arrival at Kaer Morhen, at Jaskier's bedside. She'd helped change Jaskier's bandages, checking how well the bard was healing, as well as making sure that Jaskier ate the entirety of the bowl of soup that had been brought up for him. Jaskier had only just graduated onto more solid foods, rather than bone broth, and the change seemed to be going well.

It was the first time they'd all been in the same room. Yennefer was the one who had suggested it, although Geralt thought that she might have brought it up with Vesemir first. Her reasoning being that Jaskier was doing better, and that he wouldn't want Geralt to miss out on spending time with his brother Witchers, but would feel lonely without some company. Geralt could also guess Yennefer's ulterior motive…to talk about what they would do to try and find out more about who Jaskier's father was.

They all knew that Yennefer was planning on going to Lettenhove the next day to try and find out the truth. Jaskier wasn't strong enough to go, and had already stated that he didn't want to go anywhere near his family, so there was no point delaying the trip on his account. Geralt didn't feel comfortable about sending Yennefer on her own, although he knew that she was well and truly capable of looking after herself, and he wasn't stupid enough to consider telling her that himself

Eventually it was Eskel who brought up the topic.

"Are you still planning on going to Lettenhove tomorrow, Yennefer?"

"Yes, I plan on leaving early and being back before nightfall. Vesemir has informed me that he plans to stay behind and mind the keep, so to speak."

"I…I think I would like to come with you, it might be helpful if you're asking about Witchers to have one with you. It might jog some memories."

"You should go too, Geralt," Ciri added from where she lay on the bed, "Surely they've heard of Jaskier's fame and his songs of the white wolf. Having his muse there might be helpful."

"If I go I may be gone all day, Ciri," Geralt reminded her, not comfortable with leaving Ciri and Jaskier behind.

Ciri, however, shook her head, "No, you should go. We'll have Vesemir here in case something goes wrong, and Jaskier's a lot better than he was. I think he would want you there, he know you he trusts you, no offence to either of you," Ciri through a charming smile towards Yennefer and Eskel.

"None taken," Eskel nodded in reply while Yennefer simply rolled her eyes.

"What about you Lambert, are you staying or going?"

"I think I'll stay behind," Lambert decided, "If Eskel needs to finish off my White Gull after only hearing a story of what those bastards did to Jaskier I don't think I'm going to be able to refrain from punching one of them in the face."

"Yeah, don't do that. You're better than that, they aren't worth the damage something like that would cause to your reputation, after all, Jaskier's spent the last twenty years building up the reputation of Wolf Witchers. No murdering or maiming nobles and ruining all his hard work," Yennefer told him sternly.

Eskel and Geralt both nodded, although Geralt couldn't help feel a little disappointed…he would have very much liked to punch at least one of Jasksier's older brothers in the face. Eskel looked disappointed as well, but Geralt could see that Eskel had come to the same conclusion as he did. Jaskier was right. The Pankratz family weren't worth it.

"it's settled then," Yennefer nodded, "We set out early this morning, gentleman, I will not tolerate tardiness."

Geralt and Eskel both nodded, and Lambert set his drink down, reaching into his doublet for something, pulling out his deck of cards.

"Great, now that's all settled, who is up for a game of gwent?"

Ciri poked her head into Jaskier's room, quietly, peering in to see if the bard was awake or sleeping. He'd still been asleep when she'd awoken, and she'd ducked out to do her morning routine and have a quick breakfast

To Ciri's surprise Jaskier was awake, tapping a tune out on his furs with his fingers.

"Hello Cira, how are you this morning?"

"Well, how about you?"

"Feeling better by the day," he nodded, "I'm beginning to feel a bit cooped up to be honest, come and sit with me, and if you could bring my Lute over, I would appreciate it. We could have a little entertainment before breakfast arrives.

Ciri hurried into the room, fetching Jaskier's lute case and bringing it to him. Jaskier took it out and examined it closely, checking it for signs of damage, before he began to test the strings, tuning them as he went.

"Are you worried about today? About Geralt and Yennefer and Eskel?"

"A little," Jaskier confessed, "I know that they are all very capable of looking after themselves, but my family are…not nice, and well, I really hope that nothing gets said that provokes Geralt…or either of the others, to do something…bad."

"Could that happen?"

"It's very possible, unless they've changed a lot since I last knew them, which admittedly is possible, it has been quite a while."

"But you still think it's going to happen."

Jaskier sighed, "you've been around nobles, Ciri, you know how it is. My parents were never interested in managing any of my brother's behaviour, and since Bazyli became Earl…there wouldn't have been anyone with the power over him to correct his behaviour, not unless some Duke or the King stepped in, which is unlikely. We're not that important in the grand scheme of things."

Ciri nodded in understanding. She'd witnessed more than a few nobles getting a thorough dressing down from her Grandmother during her youth over various things. Eist used to make her giggle, whispering funny commentary into her ear as her grandmother delivered scathing reprimands to anyone who had displeased her, especially nobles who thought overmuch of their own importance. Sometimes Calanthe had turned to glare at Eist for making Ciri giggle during such times, but Ciri had seen the way that her grandmother's lips would turn upwards, as if she was fighting her own amusement, and known that the Queen hadn't exactly been all that cross with them.

Jaskier smiled and closed his eyes, "You don't know how many times after the first time I met your grandmother…your mother's betrothal feast…I dreamed about your grandmother giving my family a scolding they would never forget. Unfortunately, it never happened, not to my knowledge."

"I don't recall anyone from Lettenhove ever being at her court," Ciri confirmed apologetically.

Jaskier shrugged, "Ah well, we can't have everything I suppose. Now…do you have any requests? I don't know how long I will be able to sing for, but I think I should be still able to play for awhile."