I woke to the odd noise of a cow mooing, the distinctive sound of milking, the milk splashing into a bucket and someone humming. I opened my eyes and found I was in a long animal stall with a small, black and white kitten curled up beside me, purring in their sleep. I stared at the tiny creature. Where was I? Why was a cat so close to me? I didn't dare touch the impossibly tiny kitten, what if it moved? What if I hurt it? I could feel the kittens gentle breathing against me and didn't want to disturb its sleep.

After a long moment, whoever was tending to the cows stopped and a young woman with curly auburn hair appeared at the gate of the stall,

"You're awake" She greeted cheerfully and opened the stall, "Here, have some water" She handed me a cup filled with water. I drank it quickly, it tasted amazing against my sore throat. I handed it back,

"I hope Betsy isn't bothering you, she likes warm people to cuddle and is very particular as to who she lets get close to her. You can stroke her if you like, she likes pets, especially behind her ears"

I gently petted the kitten, whose eyes opened and wriggled closer into me and purred contently.

"Who are you?" I asked the girl,

"True, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Amelie, Ian is my brother. This is the family farm; my father is very anti-Witcher after one took his nephew as a child surprise. Even if that entire incident was his own brothers' fault but that isn't the point… What was I supposed to be telling you?"

"How did I get here?"

"You collapsed after you left the Baron's castle, Ian had to get help to get you onto your horse to get you here. I'm a healer you see, training under another healer in York she's amazing but again she doesn't like Witchers. Haven't the foggiest why. Hence why you were brought here.

Um, do you know four men by the names of Geralt, Lambert, Eskel and Vesemir?"

"Yeah, why?"

"They're here and claiming to be your friends, they are your friends? They've been very worried about you, upset Buttercup the cow by playing their instruments. She hates music for some reason"

"Yes, they are"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, where are they?"

"Wait here, I'll get them. Don't you dare move, I've put in far too much effort into healing your back for you to undo all my work by being stupid"

"No, don't get them yet. I'd like to take a healing potion before I do and for that I need to meditate"

"Very well, where is it?"

"Can you please pass me my saddle bags?"

They had been piled by the door, she passed them to me. I found my potions box quickly; Vitality was easy to find and I swallowed a dose.

That felt better already.

"I'll tell the boys you're awake, how long will you be meditating for?"

"I'm not sure, a few hours perhaps"

"Okay"

She walked away. Perhaps I could have waited until after talking to the bards before taking the potion but I wanted to put it off for a little bit longer. I was warm, comfortable and reasonably well rested. For once in my very long life, a creature that wasn't a horse, didn't shy away from me at first sight.

I sighed, settled into position, with one hand on Betsy and slipped into meditation.

Meditation is like trying to sleep but still aware of what's going on around you. It's easier to draw out of meditation if you're attacked than when you're sleeping after all. I knew that Vesemir, Geralt and Eskel and Lambert were sitting with me but that was all.

By the time I stopped mediating, the itching had faded, my back felt stronger and I felt more human. Vesemir, Geralt, Eskel and Lambert were sitting around me eating their dinner. Betsy had moved to Eskel who weaved around his legs.

As they realised, I'm awake, a heavy awkwardness seemed to taint the mood.

"Water?" I croaked, as the one closest, Eskel poured me a cup and handed it to me.

"How do feel?" The bard asked,

"Much better, should be back to normal within a few weeks" The bards looked at each other and then at me.

"I'm sorry" Blurted out Lambert, setting down his bowl. "You explained to us the Witcher code, it didn't really occur to me what the lack of interference actually meant. I didn't mean to hurt you, I just reacted and I was pissed off. it's no excuse. I'm no better than those scum who throw stones at you"

"Lambert…"

"Don't interrupt or I'll never say it. The Baron reminded me of my own fucking father, he was a bloody drunk and he would hit me or my mom. She's a Queen who deserves so much better than she does. I send her money when I can but… I'm forbidden from seeing her and my kid sister. Dad threatened them if I ever returned to Bath and he caught me.

Sorry again, I'm a shitty friend. I reacted badly and I just… I don't want my father to ruin another part of my life"

He balled his hands into fists

"I'm sorry Juliet, we've all been shitty friends to you" Said Geralt, "Words can't make up for it, but actions can, even if it takes a hundred years, I'll prove it to you"

"I'm sorry too if you never forgive us then it's entirely understandable. I can offer eternal servitude?"

"I saw a man treating his daughter like no girl should ever be treated by her father and I reacted badly too. For a professor and a father, I still have a lot to learn. I'm sorry"

"Eskel, you're already my slave for life after I saved you from gamblers two months ago"

"I don't remember that"

"You were very drunk"

"Oh"

"Well, all of you are tied in with this mess and it all links back to Lamberts dad. We can't let your father win, so, you'll all just have to find a way to make it up to me. Your smart boys, you'll figure out a way and Lambert, you are nothing like those people"

"Well, we'll just have to join you on the path then won't we or how else will we figure it out?" Asked Eskel,

"Are you sure you want to?"

Lambert snorted, rose and leant against the wall,

"Of course, we do"

"You also punched me because an asshole noble reminded you of your father. I'll need time to heal, so please take that time and seriously think about this. I will never force you to do anything you don't want to but moments like this could easily happen again"

"What did happen?" Asked Eskel frowning,

"Nothing exciting"

"It's not nothing, it looks like you've been struck by a whip" Said Vesemir. Understanding seemed to dawn on Geralts face,

"Did you know that we were arrested" He said, his piercing eyes on me,

"I did hear that particular rumour"

"Baron's daughter told me that she saw you go into her dads' study when we were there. You knew"

"Ian told me"

"And you thought what… that you'd come and talk the Baron out of it?"

Geralt glared at me,

"Geralt?" Asked Eskel,

"She took the punishment for us…" Breathed Lambert,

"Guys…"
"Tell us the truth!" He yelled,

"You know the answer"

"And I'd like to hear it from you"

"Then yes, I did"

"Fuck"
"How many times did he beat you?!" Demanded Geralt,

"You really don't want to know"

"Juliet…"

"Geralt…"

"It was what, fifty for Lambert, twenty each for the three of us. Juliet, did he whip you one hundred and ten times?" Asked Eskel,

"Yes"

"Why?!"

"Why what?!"

"Why would you put yourself through that?!" Demanded Lambert, "And after I…"

"Do you really think that I care for you so little, that even if you betrayed me in the worst way possible, I wouldn't do everything in my power to help?! I swore to you that you had my protection, I'd already failed you. I wasn't going to do it again.

At the time I thought you hated me and I would never see you again. I don't matter like you do, your bards and the kind of punishment the Baron had in mind may have permanently damaged your bodies. I wasn't going to let that happen to you. So, I told the Baron that it was my fault and you were forced into fighting the guards by me. The Baron agreed to let the four of you go and took it out on me"

Lambert strode out of the room his hands in fists,

"I'll go and check on him" Said Eskel who followed Lambert out of the room,

"Help me up?" I asked Geralt,

"You need to rest"

"And I'm going to go and check on my friend whether you'll help me or not" I rose to my feet, my knees wobbled and Geralt gently pushed me back to the cot.

"Stubborn woman, sit down, you need to rest"

I pouted,

"No, don't try that on me. Let us take care of you now" Said Geralt, helping me to lie back down again.

"I still can't believe you did that for my sons" Said Vesemir,

"And for you too. You're my friends, family after all"

"You're like a daughter to me Juliet, you do matter. You matter to us"

"I'd be proud if you were my father"

"Then as your father, stay in bed and rest. Don't do that to me again"

"Yes dad" He smiled but his eyes filled with moisture,

"You must be hungry, there should be more of that soup left. I'll be back" Said Vesemir as he walked away.

"Why do you think Lambert left like that?"

"He isn't used to hearing that he's worth something. Lambert's father hurt him in so many ways"

"I want to hunt down Lambert's birth dad now and introduce him to a Striga"

Geralt shuddered,

"You'll need to regain your full strength before that"

"Geralt, I'm curious, may I ask you something?"

"Always"

"You never talk about them"

"Who?"

"You're birth parents. You don't have to tell me"

"Because my mother abandoned me. I was very young. Her name's Visenna a sorceress, though I don't know my father. When I was five, we went on a cart ride, Visenna stopped the cart and sent me to get water in a bucket. By the time I returned, she'd gone.

Vesemir found me not long after. Don't know what would have happened to me if he hadn't, he's been more my parent than Visenna ever was"

"You really love him"

"I do. He taught me how to be a bard, how to be a man. Taught me how to play the lute, how to read and write, how to love and how to cry. Do you remember your parents?"

"I'm old Geralt. I can't remember them well. I know my father loved me, I remember him chasing me through a field and spinning me in the air when he caught me"

"It's a nice memory"

"Hmm, my mother sold me to the Witchers. I know they're nobility but I can't remember the rank"

"Are they still…"

"Nah, died a long time ago"

Vesemir returned then, carrying a large bowl filled with soup that smelt amazing and a hunk of warm, thick bread. Geralt helped me to sit up and Vesemir handed me the bowl,

"Eat slowly, you should only have soups or weak broths until your stomach gets used to food again"

As I ate, Vesemir and Geralt told me stories from Geralt's youth or their time in Oxenfurt. Slowly, Eskel and Lambert drifted back. Lambert's knuckles were bandaged. Before long, the two bards joined in on the conversation telling their own stories and horrendous attempts at poetry.

I laughed until my chest and mouth were sore from laughing.

I had missed them. Things weren't perfect but it was getting there.