They decided to leave in the middle of the night which was, according to Jaskier, a terrible idea. But apparently, they couldn't leave during the day.

The bard had to admit that Geralt might not have been wrong about this. If they had waited for the day to visit the city and escape, Jaskier's parents might have sent an escort with them. Or worse, they might have refused to let him leave the mansion.

This is how they found themselves sneaking swiftly in the middle of the night. The night was quiet, except for some bit of noise here and there. Some metallic sounds and hushed fabric coming from their escapade. Guards about to pass in front of them. More guards in the distance, only heard by Geralt. A night owl. But in general, a soundless night.

With his enhanced hearing, it was not difficult to swipe past the guards. Jaskier being silent was strangely helpful too. Of course, Geralt knew about his friend's new muteness, but it was his first time experiencing it on the field. Maybe the bard would explain what was wrong after their escape.

They had been moving efficiently until an alarm rung in the mansion. They were in the middle of the gardens. Geralt turned his head back sharply. Guards were running around called by whatever had happened inside. Jaskier looked alarmed. He shuffled closer, looking wildly around. It was not like he could see anything, so he had to rely on Geralt's guidance. He didn't look afraid per se, but there was a faint touch of determination to escape, wildly covered by his desire to not get caught. Geralt decided that his goal would be to take his bard to safety.

He walked back against a tree when he heard guards coming their way. With all this commotion, it was more difficult to move by ear. The guards didn't see them, and they were able to go their way. Geralt pushed Jaskier in front of him and they kept going.

"Halt!"

Jaskier froze in front of him. One of the guards had found them.

"The Witcher! What are you doing with...Wait, are you kidnapping the Viscount's son?!"

The guard unsheathed his sword. Geralt took out his sword too, deciding that being safe was more important than appearing innocent. Jaskier grabbed his arm with a frown.

"Don't worry." Grumbled Geralt. "I won't harm him."

Unless he calls the other guards, Jaskier thought, which he will do soon.

But Geralt surprised him by making quick work of the guard. He warded off a blow and knocked out his enemy before he could do anything.

"Jaskier. Lead the way."

They walked faster, escaping guards here and there. It was easier to evade them now that they were walking in small groups. The cover of the night was also greatly helping the runaway duo, especially since Jaskier knew the pattern of the area quite well.

They arrived at the stables, and Roach was there, waiting for them. As well as a small group of men that were probably ordered to guard the horse in case the witcher came for her.

"Fuck" Grumbled Geralt.

Jaskier turned to him, waiting for instructions.

"We need to change the plan."

I can see that. Jaskier's rolled his eyes. So what now?

"You go over there. Look innocent."

Jaskier got up and followed the plan. As soon as he appeared in the open, the guards rounded around him, asking him questions about what had happened. Jaskier answered making very vague gestures in the hope to slow them down. Geralt used the distraction to go to Roach. She was an intelligent horse, and she knew not to make a noise when her master silently prepared her for a quick break out. When Geralt jumped to ride her, a guard saw him.

"The Witcher's there!"

Then the place became a mess. Guards ran to the witcher, leaving Jaskier defenseless behind. Geralt made Roach spring past then and grabbed Jaskier on the way. There were shouts everywhere and the witcher was a bit overwhelmed, but they were already close to the gate. Of course, the doors were closed. Geralt tried to find a last-second plan, when Jaskier nudged him, pointing in a certain direction. The guards didn't have time to catch up with them before Geralt guided Roach away, following Jaskier's direction. Finally, he saw the reason for their detour: there was a dip in the wall. Roach jumped easily over it, and they escaped in the night.

As the shouts became whispers in the distance, Geralt made Roach slow down. They would need her endurance later if someone caught up to them. Right now, the easiest way to shake their enemies off their trail was for them to enter the forest. And so they did. Geralt stopped Roach a few meters away from the road behind a huge rock. Moments later, a group of men on horses ran past their point and Geralt relaxed. He could not feel anyone else coming after them.

"Are you fine?" Geralt asked.

Jaskier nodded. He dusted himself and brought his hand to his head. Geralt waited patiently for Jaskier to finish getting a hold of himself. When he was ready, Jaskier turned to Geralt.

Jaskier could not see in the dark, which was why his eyes were hovering a bit over Geralt's face. He didn't seem to notice that he was rubbing his throat either, but Geralt decided to keep this question for later. It was not urgent. The most important thing had been to get Jaskier away from there. And that was done. Now they just needed to find a place to stay for the night, which meant probably camp outside.

But the dark of the night was helpful, and their enemies were gone, and Geralt felt like Jaskier needed a minute. He was tense and nervous, most likely worried about their escape. Geralt didn't feel as tense, considering that he could hear their enemies coming from afar, and he knew that there was no one around.

Now that they were alone though, it was probably time for him to get hand he was pretty excited that Geralt wanted to know more but now wasn't the time. The chase had him nervous, and it was night, and Jaskier was sure they were not far enough to be safe yet.

He whipped around to face the witcher and looked left and right with alarm. Geralt seemed to understand.

"Hum. Are you feeling better?"

Jaskier raised an eyebrow. Did Geralt just ask him how he felt? After the whole fiasco at the mountain, the last thing Jaskier was expecting was for Geralt to worry about his health. For a second, he had even thought that the witcher had dropped him there to let him go before leaving himself. He was a little shook that Geralt wasn't asking for his money right away. Or maybe Jaskier was imagining things. It had been a while since he had a normal friendship feeling. He was probably too fucked up to recognize kindness now that it was in front of him.

Not knowing what to say, Jaskier answered with a vague hand gesture.

"Then let's go. We have to find a safe place to camp."

Geralt invited Jaskier back on Roach, and they set off. Setting camp was a quick affair. Geralt found them a safe place and, without Jaskier chatting up the whole evening, they went to bed early.

Well, Jaskier went to bed. And after a rather long time of tossing and turning. Geralt stayed alert. He kept awake all night to make sure that no one was sneaking around their camp. He heard Jaskier move around the whole night. He was too fidgety to rest properly.

Geralt himself wasn't totally happy with how the events had unfolded. He had hoped for answers, not running away from a mansion. Coming back from the hunt, he only wanted a peaceful evening of talk with Jaskier. He had been looking for him for a long time now, and he had been too startled to find Jaskier in the middle of trouble to ask anything. Although it seemed that Jaskier had an affinity with problems because, once more, he had found himself not only muted –by magic, Geralt could feel that thanks to his medallion- but also running away from some kind of danger. In his own house. How could someone so tiny always find himself in the biggest trouble?

Better let the bard sleep it off, and hope that the next day would bring more answers than questions.