AN:
Marmottine: W:O:A is a one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) Heavy Metal festival in the world, also known as the "Wacken Open Air". It takes place in a small village of Wacken in the northern parts of Germany.
Its motto is "Faster-Harder-Louder", and it really is. It has his own weather description: "Wackenwetter" (Wacken- weather) meaning: Storm, Rain, more rain, even more rain and a lot of mud. (there was only one or two years with sunny weather the whole time). If you can sleep there, you can almost sleep anywhere and in any situation.
Hope this helped you :)
And to the Lambert problem: he isn´t a dick on purpose (well most of the time), this situation is new to him and he doesn´t know how to act.
Don´t worry, we will see them getting closer in the near future ;)
Have fun reading this chapter :)
Millie´s POV
Two weeks went by, Lambert and Milli were headed towards the next destination.
The Witcher had planned to stop in Novigrad, before heading towards Kaer Morhen.
Once, to stock their supplies and second to meet with some friends and maybe do one or two contracts.
Just like he had told her, the man taught the woman every evening in the art of fighting.
They started with simple hand to hand combat and stances, soon joined by her dagger. Milli was a quick learner (much to her own surprise, usually physical stuff wasn´t her strength) and she would be able to defend herself, should the need arise again.
And as promised the Witcher showed her the sign he used to reign the fire and every time they would start a one, she would try to use that sign. But it didn´t work for her. Though she thought, she had seen the fire flicker in a strange way, when she used it one night.
Beasts and other humans left them alone for the most part.
Every once in a while, (what means at least once a day) they encountered a pack of nekkers, ghouls, alghouls; even a noonwraith and some drowners (when they rested near a little stream).
Every time, Lambert would dismount and take care of them, leaving her behind with the horse.
Every time that happened, Lambert would grumble things like ´Damn monsters. Just leave me alone´, ´can´t you just die on your own?´ and would be moody for a while after that.
It became more and more clear, that he didn´t like the life as a monster hunter (and who was she to blame him) and only did it because he had to. She made a mental node to ask him about that.
It was in the middle of the day, when a sharp pain went through Millie´s abdomen. Doing a quick math in her head, she groaned. Shit. Couldn´t you wait till the evening. Stupid female body.
"What´s wrong?" The deep voice of her companion pulled her out.
"We need to stop for a moment. I need to take care of something." She whispered, she felt a bit uncomfortable speaking with Lambert about it, and the fact she would be bleeding for the next couple of days couldn't be of their favour in a world full of haemophilic monsters.
"We will make camp later. It can wait till then; these woods are not exactly the safest place." He declared, not bothering to stop his horse.
"I know. But I think it will be better if we stop for a minute and I take care of it." She tried to reason, hoping she could convince him without arguments.
"What´s so important? It´s not like you are dying."
Oh come on. You are a monster hunter, you should know about these things.
"Do you know how the female body works?"
"Do you think me that stupid? … Oh. Hurry up. Can´t risk attracting monsters to our position."
He finally stopped his horse and dismounted.
Took you long enough to get that.
"I will do as quick as possible. But I first need something out of my bag." She rummaged through her bag on the look for herself made tampons, before disappearing behind a big tree.
She knew Lambert would have her back.
Slipping down her trousers, she saw a little blood had already found it´s way into her panties. Not wanting to waste more time, Milli hurried up and cleaned her (now blood covered finger) with some wet moss.
That could have end badly..
Stepping around the tree, her eyes felt on her companion, who had his silver sword in his hands- ready to strike.
"We can leave." She declared, and he nodded in approval.
"I want to get more distance between our camp and this area. I think there is a cave with a little stream, a three-hour ride away."
"Sounds good for me. I want to train the sign a bit more. I think the fire moved a bit the last time."
"If you say so." He chuckled, and silence fell between them again.
Riding became more uncomfortable for the woman with every minute, because of different reasons: First, because she feared her self-made protection wouldn´t work like it should and she would end up staining her clothes and Lambert´s armour with blood. And second, because her period always came with cramps and backpain; and backpain while riding a horse sucks trice as much as usual.
"Why are you sitting stiff like that?" Her companions deep voice startled the blue haired woman.
"My back hurts and this is the most comfortable posture right now. And the worst part is, that I will feel like this for the next couple of days. Just ignore my sights and groans." She mumbled, knowing there was nothing she could do, there weren´t hot-water-bottles in this world.
Just like the day after the Katakan attack, he pulled her back against his armoured chest to rest and ease her pain.
"Thank you, Lambert." She whispered. Her body thanked him as well.
The next five days went by in a fly. Lambert was able to brew a tea that helped to ease her pain, but she was glad when her body finally decided, it has lost enough blood for one month.
Luckily, they didn´t encountered more beasts than usual.
But now she had to face the next annoying thing about her body. She would be horny, very very horny.
"There is a settlement close by that could have contracts for me to take care of."
"Lead the way."
It was settled and an hour later they dismounted in front of an old house.
"Master Witcher. You come in time of need. A leshen is terrorizing our town. He sends his wolfs to kill our stocks. We need your sword. We offer a hut to stay and two hundred crowns. Do you take our offer?" One villager said as soon as he was close enough.
"I will. Show us to our hut then."
The hut was located on the outskirts of the village (Milli would say it was seated in the woods more than anything else) and it was old. But beggars can´t be choosers.
There was a little stable for the horse and Lambert took care of their things, while Milli went inside the hut to look around.
Simpler than Dava´s and Sapra´s. And it will get cosy in that bed over there. Fireplace, check. Table with a chair, check. Basin to bath and wash the clothes, check. Better than sleeping in the woods, double check.
"There is a river on the back for us to get clean water. And the man said there are clean sheets in the box."
Nice way to tell me what to do.
"Sure. Let me get the bed ready first and then I will start getting water. I believe you want to take a bath as much as I do."
And with these words spoken, the female began with her tasks.
In the meantime, the Witcher had spoken with the villagers about his contracts and where he would find the leshen.
Her arms hurt from carrying the buckets full of water around and in the house and tried to get the fire starting.
Come on you stupid fire!- Finally, and it just took me five tries to start you. Now do not get out again.
The water began to steam, when her male companion entered and began to take of his armour.
He had told her one evening, his armour was called wolf armour- because it was typical for his school to use it.
He secured the door and windows, before placing his swords on the table.
Milli took a seat on the bed and massaged her aching arm and shoulder muscles.
"Leshen, where the ghosts of the forest, right? The once with the ravens and wolfs?" the young woman asked, remembering the things the Witcher had told her about this world.
"They are guardians of the woods they are living in. They are old and kill anything that threatens their territory. They are dangerous and hard do kill. The villagers must have disturbed his peace and now he is in for revenge. I want you to stay in this hut, and keep the door closed. Keep the dagger on you at all times." The man ordered, worry was evident in his voice.
"I will, how long do you think this hunt will take you?"
"A day, two at most. I will go early in the morning looking for it." Lambert explained while rummaging through his bag, he was looking for the ingredients for the oil he would need to kill it.
"If you get some meat, I could make a stew while you are away."
"Maybe I will go for a hunt later." He answered.
"I will need some time to get the oil finished, you can take a bath in the meantime. Promise I won´t look."
He had seen her pained movements and he became the feeling it was a continuous state for her while on the road with him and he didn´t like it."
Lambert filled the basin with the warm water, before returning to his task.
She grabbed a towel and pulled it around her body, before getting undressed. With her back to her companion, Milli stepped inside the basin (making sure the towel stayed dry) and submerged, to get her hair wet as well.
This feels strange. Bathing with him in the same room. Need to shave again. Will do that tomorrow, at least I have something to do then.
She was finished with cleaning her body in under five minutes, her hair, was another thing. It now reached the nearly the middle of her back. And she was still wondering why the blue strands (she had dyed in the past) were now growing in that colour naturally.
Maybe the wolf or whatever brought me here thought is belonged this way. Just like the drones in that one Dr Who episode.
It took her almost ten minutes to untangle and wash her hair, groaning and hissing in pain and annoyance from time to time. Her shoulders were still hurting and the confined space of the basin didn´t help to ease it.
Finally satisfied with the state of her hair, the young woman grabbed the towel again and tugged it around her body.
She quickly got dressed in clean underwear, and the shirt she usually used to sleep, before drying of her hair.
Damn I can nearly braid the hairs on my legs.
The Witcher was still preparing the oils for his sword, his back turned towards the but she knew he knew it would be safe to turn around now.
"Can I use your knife tomorrow to shave again?"
"Yeah. Why didn´t you used it just now?"
"I thought I have something to do then while I am waiting for you tomorrow."
This earned her a little chuckle.
"I will leave it on the table for you then." He answered still facing away from her.
Milli had emptied the basin almost completely, so the man won´t have to wash in dirt water.
She had laid down on the bed, when her companion got up and immediately undressed, not bothering with the fact his female companion was there as well.
Just like the first evening in the last village, Lambert walked around naked as the day he was born and stepped into the basin.
Damn.
She had been able to see anything (not on purpose, but it was like a car wreckage, she wasn´t able to look away), his muscular upper body, his contoured ass-cheeks, the defined thighs, and his more private parts (that weren´t too small).
Heat began to gather between her legs and she hurried to think about something different, scolding herself about the dirty thoughts that crossed her mind.
Facing the other direction, the young woman tried to relax and stretched her body.
It didn´t take long and the splashing of water was heard, the Witcher had finished his bath and was now on the drying up.
Images on waterdrops running down the toned body she had just seen, plopped up before her inner eye and she felt arousal start to rise again.
Suddenly she felt the bed dip and drops of water falling on her naked legs.
Did he felt me staring? Of Course, he did, what were you thinking Milli. But what is he doing? Why is he behind me? What. Is he naked.
All these thoughts went through her head at once and she felt like a dear in head likes must do.
She was afraid to turn her head around and laid there in anticipation- her head stuffed in the pillow.
"You moved like you were hurt." He declared with a deeper voice than usual.
"My muscles are just stiff from the time on the road and carrying the buckets of water inside." She mumbled into the pillow. Waiting for his response.
"Mhm."
"I am alright. Really. No injuries, only sore muscles." She tried to reassure him, not wanting to come over as weak.
"It can get a lot worse if they get stiff." He whispered, and his hands found their way to her hips, his thumbs digging into her flesh and she instantly felt the pain retreat.
That feels good.
A little moan of relieve escaped her lips and her face instantly became red.
Shit.
She felt him let out a silent laugh, his hands and the bed vibrated.
"Your back is hard like a floorboard and it will hurt more in the morrow. I could help you, if you want." He offered, while drawing little circles in her flesh with his thumbs.
Mhm Massage sounds good.
Not one to decline a free massage (she couldn't remember when she had the last one) she accepted.
"Yes please."
"Lay down and relax." He mumbled, and she was able to feel his body shift. He placed his knees next to her hips and she felt his crotch brush against her back.
A shiver ran up her spine and she cursed her body for the reaction.
He lifted her shirt up above her head and she felt water drops fall onto her back.
With gentle but firm hands, the Witcher began to knead her back from the bottom up to the shoulders and back, the pain faded and quick only a pleasant sensation was left.
Milli enjoyed the strong hands caressing her body, and she felt her body overcome by sleepiness, sending her into a relaxing sleep.
Lamberts POV
Lambert didn´t realise it at first, he had been in his own thoughts.She
She had made good progress in her fighting lessons and he felt more assured in leaving her behind after the incident with the witchhunters. He had been worried out of his mind for his companion, he wouldn´t admit it to his brothers, but she had grown on him.
It was nice for once not to travel alone, to have someone for company and she didn´t treat him like others do. Yes, at the beginning (and still sometimes) she was cautious around him with what to say or behave; but he was sure she would be like that with any other male she would have forced to travel with.
He felt a connection towards her, he wasn´t able to pinpoint. He cared for her, wanted to see her safe and feel her close.
Every time he checked her injured back, he felt a little tuck at his heart and he had to force himself to not let his eyes and thoughts wander.
So, when he had discovered the room, Rina and her husband offered them, had only one bed, he was barely able to suppress his smirk.
She had asked him, if she might be able to take a warm bath, and hell he longed for one as well. He had taken of his body armour and was only standing in his underwear in the middle of the room, when she returned from her short bath inspection.
He hadn´t been able to suppress a smirk, when he felt her eyes linger on him.
Lambert let his fingers brush above the scars, they had healed well, and the bruises were almost gone.
Looking good.
"Back´s looking good. Scratches are heeling good. Shouldn´t reopen now, that means we won´t need to put ointments on them anymore." He told her, and his heart skipped a beat when her face lit up.
She told him, she would take on the pumping.
Always eager to help.
He had helped her with pouring the water into the bath tub and told her to hurry.
Back in the main room, he had taken care of his weapons and went to his stash of ointments and oils he would need against the monsters.
His thoughts had just wandered towards his female companion when he heard her call his name, asking for something to shave.
Wondering what she needed it for, he grabbed his utensils and headed for the door.
Internally, he hoped she was facing in his direction, so he would be able to see her in her whole beauty. And he didn´t knew where that feeling came from.
She had her back towards him when he entered and handed her his knife and shaving cream.
When Milli returned, she was wearing his shirt, that clinked to her body on some places.
The second he entered the little room, he made a beeline for the warm water kettle, but what he found there he didn´t expect: hidden next to the fire, he saw a well-known thin fabric laying.
Let´s see what this is all about.
He had grabbed the underwear (his Witcher-senses registered the clean smell) and headed back into the main room.
"Want to tell me something with this?"
The second she registered what he had in his hand, her face became crimson rest and embarrassment was written all over it.
Kind of cute- where did this come from?
He gave her room to get fully dressed for the night and offered her the choice on the side of the bed, before laying down to rest.
As a Witcher, he was a light sleeper, and so he woke up, the second her female companion began to shift in her sleep.
He had felt her shiver and had wanted nothing more, than pull her against his chest (once: because he wanted to sleep in peace and second, because he didn´t want her to suffer), but he didn´t want to cross a line.
Lambert didn´t dare to move, when her body began to move closer to his, until she settled just millimetres away from his skin.
He was able to feel her pulse and when he was sure she had fallen asleep, he pulled her close. In the morning he could blame it on nightly movements.
The Witcher fell asleep again with a feeling, he never felt before.
It was two hours after sunrise when he had woken up refreshed, the woman was still sleeping in his arms and he couldn´t but look at her and take in her sleeping form.
Her ass was pressed against his midsection and he had to use all his trained control, to not get hard right then and there. He was a man after all, and she made him feel things he didn´t knew.
Usually the women, he was in bed with, wouldn´t stay for a cuddle and so he enjoyed the feeling of someone´s warmth against him.
Lambert had felt her move in his embrace and he was sure, she would wake up soon. Her body tensed, and he decided to fake sleep. It would freak her out should she wake up and learn he stared at her the last hour.
Her breathing deepened, and he felt her move.
"Warm again?" Lambert had asked, she had jerked together in surprise and he couldn´t suppress a silent laughter.
"Yes, thank you. Hope I didn´t wake you up." She mumbles, with sleep still in her voice.
"Am up for an hour now." Best to just tell the truth.
"What time is it then?"
"Three hours after sunrise." Lambert answered in a matter of fact voice.
Upon hearing this, Milli turned around so fast, not even his mutated reflexes were fast enough to retreat his arm. Her face mirrored shock and a hint of guilt(?).
"You said to start our day an hour ago. Why didn´t you wake me. "
Is that panic?
"Relax. The next days will be stressful enough. I indulged myself to stay in bed a bit longer. Having a half-naked woman snuggled into my arms, made the decision easier." The male had answered with a grin on his face.
Just now he noticed, the shirt had tangled itself up and was now covering only the minimum of what it was supposed to be decent. He thanked and cursed the fact he had found her slip the night prior, or else he would be able to see her womanhood right now and that would shatter all the control he had over the last couple of hours.
Gonna get out of here. Damn woman, what are you doing to me. Last time I felt like that was when I faced that succubus.
"I need to piss. Get ready in the meantime." He grumbled and disappeared into the little bathroom where he found her bra, pictures of how she could look like bare naked flashed in her mind.
To get them out of his mind as fast as possible, he had decided to return it to her.
When he entered, his eyes had immediately fallen on her chest, the sun had made his shirt slightly see-through and his catlike eyes were able to make out the contours of her breasts.
Shit.
His control went over board and he had to hurry to get back into the little bathroom, to take care of the growing bulge in his pants.
The rest of the day were only a blur, but he remember her smart remark on how to use her dagger.
`Stab them with the pointy end.´
She had then asked him about his prey for the next day and sounded sincerely interested.
When Lambert had seen her laying in the bed, his body ached to feel hers pressed against his.
He couldn't believe his luck, when she laid down closer to him than the night prior, and he decided to test his luck, pulling her close again.
Milli hadn´t complained and so they fall asleep against each other.
When he had returned the other day, she had asked him to bring a her a talon or feather of the griffin he was supposed to kill. That caught his interest even more, not many people are interested in things like that, and using it as jewellery was unheard of with normal "civilians".
The witcher had promised her to do his best and hurried to get that job done.
She felt unsafe with the men. Need to hurry up.
Killing and finding the beast was easier than usual, than usual- it was sleeping in his horst and he only needed to gut his head off and get the talon for his female companion.
Royal griffin, not so royal payment.
He imagined her excited face when he would hand her the talon. But everything turned out differently.
As soon as he crossed the village boarders, Rina and other villagers stormed towards him.
"Master Witcher. Your companion was taken. We couldn´t do anything."
She had panted, and his heart dropped.
"What happened" He had demanded with a growl that let the villagers jump back in fear.
Anger started to rise, when the eldest had told him the happenings of the day, he should have been there. It was his job to protect her and now she was in danger because of him.
All he could think about, what they could do to her.
Not always were beasts the real monsters.
He used his Witcher senses to follow the scented track they had left. A few hours into the night, the wind whiffed a fresh scent towards hi, a scent he was looking for.
Milli.
Lambert had given his horse the spores and the wind also had whiffed over the scent of fresh blood.
When he turned around a corner, his eyes found her figure standing on the path he was riding on, and wasn´t it for the situation, he would say she looked beautiful lightened up by the stars right then.
Adrenalin pumped through his body and he placed his body between her and the way she was coming from.
She looks tired and stressed. No blood on her though- Let´s get you back to the village.
Then she had nearly begged him to bring her back to the inn and he saw tears fall down her face.
Hate and anger overtook him, when he listened to what happened to his companion and when he saw the bruising they had left on her skin he wanted to revive them and kill them again.
Regardless what happened to her, she had later searched for his warmth. He was glad she felt safe near him and something deep inside of him hoped she felt more.
The next morning, he had decided to look for the Chort, after her little story he wanted to know why it had behaved that unnatural. But he didn´t find anything, the beast had disappeared.
When he had returned to the inn, he was as silent as possible, not wanting to wake her up. Gods know she deserved every rest she could get. Upon entering their room, his eyes felt on her almost naked form sitting on the floor, crying.
He couldn´t but let his eyes fall down on her chest. Not because he had the chance to see her naked, but because of the dark bruises on her skin.
Lambert hadn´t believed her explanation, and he was right to do so, apparently her ex and his new lover, had said some pretty, nasty things and told her she looked like a fat troll.
No, you are far from it.
She wasn´t fat and he became angry that someone exploit her in such a way, but he had to stay neutral, Witcher don´t love. They don´t have an opinion on politics and so on. They are there to do just one thing: kill mosters.
He hated it, when he was a child he had wished for nothing more than a normal life. A life without his abusive father, but then a Witcher had to save said fathers' life and he had ended up as a payment, just like Milli did, the only difference was that his future had then been decided to be that of a Witcher. And now here he was, sitting in the same room like the woman that had ended up as his payment, who had disappeared into the bathroom.
He had needed to get steam out of the system and decided to do some training with his swords.
Since the moment she had returned from the bath, he had felt her eyes settled on his body and he couldn´t but enjoy to be the centre of her attention.
She had thrown acorns at him, which he easily deflected.
Then the food had returned and the maid had openly offered herself to him, and any other day he would have accepted it, but even the thought of him fucking her felt wrong and he declined in a very direct way, he shut the door in her face.
He had heard his companion giggle and his heart had made a little jump, finally something else than tears.
When he asked her what had been so funny, she had told him her observations and offered him to give him space, should he ever want to take a female in their room.
No. Unless its you. Where did this came from again. What is happening with me?
Not knowing what else to say, he had begun to teas her, hoping she would maybe laugh again, but his plan backfired, she got mad at him and he decided it was best for him to leave her alone.
Too often had he been on the receiving end of an angry Yennefer or Triss Merigold to test his luck.
Later her face had lit up just the way he had imagined, when he had gifted her the talon she had asked for and she apologised to her. He had taught her still angry with him, but regardless her angry state, she had thought about him and left water on the fire, for him to be able to wash something should he felt the need to do so.
The next two weeks he kept a close eye on her, but she was her old self, until one morning where she demanded to stop for a second.
He had been surprised and his senses had told him that there was a bad place to stop, but she didn´t want to bulge on that matter.
And as it turned out, she had a good reason for it.
Damn stupid female body, worst timing ever.
She had taken care of it, but the next days he had to be more careful then usual, most beasts were haemophilic and probably on their track now.
But they had been lucky and a week later the spook was over, and they were heading to the village where they were staying now.
Lambert had to supress the urge to turn around, when Milli bathed behind his back.
With her smaller body laying beneath him he felt a warm feeling rise in his stomach and he thought he could get used to it. Also, less clothes one time would be nice.
Realising her companion had fallen asleep, he pulled her shirt back down. Not knowing why, Lambert placed a light kiss between her shoulder blades, before leaving her to sleep.
What are you doing to me woman.
AN 2.0:
I hope so much I was able to show his thoughts and why he is acting the way he is. And did not go to OOC.
His whole childhood he wanted a normal life, but after a childhood of abuse he was taken away and made into a Witcher. Hate and mistrust crosses his path wherever he goes. But now he has a companion, that had the same fate as him and he felt some kind of connection.
Regardless her situation, she was fearing or mistrusting him, she didn´t treated him like he was some kind of monster. She treated him as anyone would treat another human being. That confused him and woke feelings he didn´t know in him at the same time. Not one to easily show feelings, he often comes over as an asshole. (well with most people he is, it is his default behaviour but with her it is different.)
Was I able to clarify my thoughts? If not – sorry for the confusion and maybe confusing writing.