It was a beautiful, bright summers day with a gentle breeze barely enough to alleviate the intense heat. I held Pegasus' reins as we walked along the forest path, with the trees providing a little relief. Geralt walked beside me with Roach, whilst Eskel and Lambert were playing a game of who can drop the most small items into Geralt's hood without their brother noticing. Judging by his expression, Geralt already knew and was waiting for his opportune moment to strike. Vesemir watched the air of a tired though indulgent father. Eskel moved to drop a fallen leaf into Geralt, who moved like a striking snake and tackling Eskel to the ground. I burst out laughing. Lambert tried to slip a leaf into my bag, I caught his wrist before he could,

"How do you do that?!" Cried Lambert, wiggling his fingers

"I'm a Witcher my friend"

"So, you admit that we are friends"

"Yes, you are my friend"

"Ah! Hear that Eskel? I'm her favourite bard!"

"Fuck off Lambert!" Said Eskel, he probably meant to shout it but it's hard to yell when you're in a head lock like the one Geralt held Eskel in. "Besides, everyone knows that Geralt is Juliet's… Oomph! Get off me you horses arse!"

"Admit defeat!" Demanded Geralt

"Never!"

"Then I won't let you go"

"You bastard" Eskel kicked Geralt's legs from under him and the two fell to the ground. Vesemir sighed, strolled over to the bards and pulled them apart by their ears. The two rose slowly, both wincing,

"Behave you two or I swear I will put you over my knee and spank you"

"Please don't behave" I said,

"Don't encourage them!" Cried Vesemir. "Now, apologise to each other"

"No!" Vesemir squeezed tighter,

"Apologise!"

"Fine. Sorry" Spat Eskel, who looked like it physically pained him to say it.

"Now you Geralt"

"Sorry" Vesemir released them and they groaned and straightened.

"You ruined my second-best doublet you oaf" Said Eskel,

"You'll live" Replied Geralt dryly, who took off his once white shirt and used it to wipe the sweat off his chest. Fuck. The sweat dripped over his muscular chest,

"Hey Juliet? Are you alright? You're looking a little red" Teased Lambert

"Fuck off" I told him, swallowing hard and letting Lambert go, he leapt out of my reach with a grin.

"And you Lambert, stop winding up Juliet. Juliet, you stop encouraging the boy's bad behaviour"

"I make no promises"/p

As the hottest part of the day came, we stopped by a gentle babbling brook. Geralt and I led the horses to water and they drank greedily. Eskel lay down on the grass, Lambert yanked off his boots and all but leapt into the water.

"It's bloody cold!" He exclaimed and jumped straight back out again

"It's fresh water you moron" Drawled Eskel. Lambert flicked water at him. "Oi!"

"Boys…" Said Vesemir warningly,

"He started it!" Cried Eskel and Lambert at the same time.

"Why did I let you boys come with me again?" I asked.

"The abandonment threats got old six years ago, we all know you aren't going to just up and leave us now" Said Eskel, lazily wafting his hat in my direction,

"Hmmm. Maybe I'll just run off with Geralt instead" the bard turned to look at me. Before anyone could reply, a child screamed nearby.

"Stay here" I ordered, running in the direction the noise came from. Of course, the others followed me. On the dirt path that led out of the village, a child lay on the ground on their palms, sobbing hysterically. A well-dressed noble man loomed over the child, surrounded by a sea of guards.

The man heard the bards and looked up,

"This is a human matter, not a Witcher one, move along" Said the man, with a cold, sadistic look in his eyes. I couldn't smell a trace of alcohol on him.

"The child yours?"

"Yes"

"Then why is she crying?"

"I don't have to explain my parenting to you but if you must know, the girl was playing and fell over. I will take care of my daughter"

The girl was still sobbing. The man plucked the child off the ground and settled her on his hip. She was too busy crying to react. I swallowed hard, balled my hands into fists to stop myself from reacting and strode back the way I'd come.

The bards followed.

"Juliet wait!" Cried Lambert. I ignored him and didn't stop until we were back by the horses.

"What?" I snapped,

"Why the fuck did you leave them?! That man is obviously not her fucking dad! Or at least is horribly cruel to her!"

"I couldn't"

"Couldn't what?!"

"I can't interfere in human matters"

"Fuck that! I've seen you interfere loads"

"Don't you think I want to?! I want to kill that man and run away with the child but I can't do anything"

Why not?!"

There was no proof at all that anything was wrong…"

"She was terrified of him!"

"We don't know that! Children spook easily, she might have done something slightly wrong and feared her parent's reaction, we don't know the truth! That man is nobility, I rescue that child from him without undeniable proof that something was wrong, then it'll be a monster kidnaps a beloved little girl from her father.

It would only make things worse for her and for us. What am I supposed to do with a child? The path is no life for children. At least with him, she can have a roof over her head and food in her belly, with us there's no way to guarantee anything and if I get killed on a hunt then she'd be sent straight back to her father.

I'm sorry Lambert, but there's nothing I can do for her"

"He slapped me. I moved my head at the right time so he wouldn't hurt himself too much. He then walked back towards the village, with his fists clenched and muttering a stream of profanities. I turned away so I wouldn't have to see the disappointment in the eyes of the bards.

One by one, they all left me. Geralt took Roach with him.

Sometimes I wished the rumours that Witchers have no emotions were true, at least then this wouldn't hurt so much.

Had I just ruined the best thing that ever happened to me?