Shani's position wasn't the most comfortable one for a good few solid hours of sleep, but she felt oddly rested when she awoke, despite the penetrating giggle invading her ears. She twitched as the noise startled her, which in turn made the elf in her lap twitch and shift with a low grumble of protest, his cheek pressing into her thigh.

Truth be told it did not make Shani feel the slightest bit better, despite the admittedly pleasant warmth his surprisingly soft hair and the light tickling sensation his twitching ears brought to her thighs, for she had no idea why an elf had his head in her lap.

She wasn't left in the dark for long however, as in the very moment she caught sight of the terrible old wound adorning his features , the memories came rushing back to her.

In shocking clarity she recalled last nights 'events' and couldn't believe how easy it had been for her to just fall asleep the way she did. She should have tried to detangle herself more... Mockery was inevitable and now she got whole nine yards.

Abigail the blasted wench stood there, the bucket of fresh water she wanted to bring now at her feet since she needed to use both her hands to stifle her full blown laughter.

Shani thanked Melitele that Iorveth was still so weakened by his previous fever and the toll the infection has taken on him. The elf moved a little, his pointy ears twitching but he was so deeply asleep that he did not wake up.

He wasn't exactly out of the critical phase after all and the medic told herself that she was willing to provide her lap as a pillow when it meant that her patient would heal faster.

At least she wasn't as depraved and ruthless as the priestesses in the temple who would take their time to study a well built body when washing it.. and more than that Shani was sure as long as their condition allowed it. She shuddered a little and managed to slip out of the relaxed elf's hold, only having to fight a weak tightening of arms.

"Abigail!" Shani hissed but the woman was just shaking her head and rushing out into the courtyard, probably to be able to laugh in honesty without waking the whole temple.

The young redhead shrugged helplessly and placed the bucket next to Iorveth's bed and began her routine with him. His fever hasn't risen again and stayed at a slightly heightened temperature, which was good for now and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Wiping his forehead she replaced the bandages and cleaned his wounds carefully before applying the salve and the paste. Leaving her now tended to patient behind she stormed out into the courtyard herself to give that infuriating witch a mouthful, Shani could clearly feel the tense knot of anger in her stomach and she'd like to get rid of it. In such a state of mind it's bad to work with patients, it leads to mistakes that could otherwise easily be avoided.

Much to her dismay she found the woman with three young priestesses, all giggling like stupid younglings.

"I swear she was! Cuddling that elf like there's no tomorrow! But as long as it helps the patient... who am I to judge?" The three young women giggled, apparently so amused that their cheeks already turned red from all the mirth.

Sensible as she was Abigail has only referred to Iorveth as 'the elf', since they had quite a few elves in the temple and barely anyone knew that the Scoia'tael leader was also under their care.

"So that's what you do for fun? Gossiping like a fishwife?" Shani hissed through gritted teeth, her dainty fists on her hips as she stared down the smirking witch and the embarrassed priestesses.

"Gossip? So you imply I'm lying?" Abigail countered, arms crossed defensively but she seemed to find joy in their little argument, her eyes were bright with mirth. "I.. No, but the way you say it is a lie! I did not let him, he forced himself up on me!"

Shani noticed that she did not make things better with that statement and cursed rather unladylike. Abigail laughed and shook her head, red curls bouncing "Sure, a half dead elf forced a session of cuddling on a perfectly healthy, energetic and stron-..." Abigail cut herself off and looked Shani up and down with an appraising expression... it was not a look that Shani appreciated in the slightest. The witch cleared her throat and shrugged helplessly, very much looking like she could barely contain herself. Shani wasn't really an intimidating sight, much the contrary actually.

The girl was impossibly slender, almost thin even and Abigail admitted that the strength a half-dead but still well trained elf could conjure up was enough to subdue the woman. "Well...You poor, poor thing! You have to eat your vegetables you can fight off the evil clingy elven lad!" The witch chuckled and was really close to crying from the laughter she held in.

Shani herself was now redfaced, but rather from anger and embarrassment than mirth. The medic was positively fuming, and absolutely speechless. She had never been too good in defending herself in situations like these, so her mouth only opened and closed uselessly

"Ahh, don't be so uptight Shani dear." Abigail chuckled, then she looked up into the sky and sighed. "Ah, so late already. I have to salt the windowsills and jump three times across the threshold! We will talk later." The witch said airily and left Shani behind in the courtyard while she made her way to the exit with swaying hips. Shani could have screamed with frustration but instead she (carefully) punched the stonewall and noticed that she had to use to privy, and little bit of a cat-lick wouldn't hurt either as sleep still clung to her eyes.

Making her way to the private section were the priestesses lived she locked herself into the small bathing chamber and made quick work of making herself presentable again, all the while thinking of how she had met the horrid hag for the first time.

It was about two years ago, when the unbelievable had happened to her and she had met Geralt Of Rivia again. The lass snorted, trying to stop the hurtful memories from bubbling up and succeeded. It was also there that she had met Abigail for the first time while searching for herbs close to the village.

The two women had bonded fast over the mutual fascination for plants and healing and while Shani has curiously asked about witchcraft, Abigail in turn was highly interested in the art of surgery.

Despite her snarky being, Shani had come to like Abigail for her sharp wit and her sincere forthright ways soon enough. In her way she always made up for her faults and the medic found that she could never stay angry long, no matter how hard she had tried.

While she had worked in Vizima and Abigail fled the two women had no chance to meet up again, nor did Shani knew where her friend was hiding, for the better maybe. That is until she rescued the witch from the flames just one day ago and it was like two years inbetween had never really happened, their friendship had stayed the same.

With a sigh of defeat Shani leaned against the door and startled when someone knocked against it.

"Excuse me but.. Are you in there Shani?" It was Lív, one of the young priestesses still in training. "The Matron send me, she said your help was needed, we received a few more poor souls, I think one of them is bound to loose his leg. But there is a second, an elven lass, she... By Melitele Shani, it's horrible!" Lív sounded faint, her voice trembling and Shani unlocked the door and opened immediately.

Lív had always been fair but now she looked outright pale, her huge dark eyes haunted.

"What is with the she-elf? Take a deep breath and calm down."

Shani spoke calmly and softly squeezed the girls shoulders who took a deep breath as instructed and really looked less shaken. "There's a spear in her stomach, she lost so much blood! The others stabilized her but she needs your knowledge in surgery. Otherwise she won't make it 'til dawn."

Shani nodded and rushed towards the main complex, the girl following her with gathered skirts.
Storming her way into the central nave she could already see where she was needed, the Matron and two more priestesses standing around a pallet, blood littering the floor and the way to the entrance where it was hastily wiped away already.
Running up to them Shani instructed Lív to bring her her tools and pushed one women aside to get a better look at the wound.

The spear was broken already, splintered wood stuck in the flesh around the entry wound which was looking torn from the movement of breaking the weapon. it looked like it had punctured the spleen and possibly the stomach as well, but as it was she couldn't tell.

Shani was grateful when Lív finally returned with her large bag and immediately set to work, giving the priestesses around her firm instructions in a voice that was alien to even herself, but she payed it no mind at the moment, her full focus was on what she was doing.

She has done operations like this before of course, mostly during the Battle of Brenna and the uprising of Vizima, but that did not mean that it wasn't always an utter challenge. There was still so much to discover about the humanoid body, so much to learn and it was always connected to a great risk.

Though she had discovered over the time that elves seemed to be able to endure more than humans, their physique was definitely tougher so she was hoping that it wasn't too late already.

It took her about three hours to remove the spear fragment and all the splinters, mend the internal damage as good as was possible under the circumstances and tend to the wound, yet the she-elf was far from stable. But Shani had done all she could for now and asked Lív to watch over the woman and to do everything in her might to nurse her back to young priestess seemed to be hooked and nodded eagerly, promising that she would do all she could and remember all she was taught.

Satisfied for now Shani wiped her bloody hands on a rag which she threw into a basket full of those and old bandages before washing her hands in a lithic basin.

It was time to look after the others that needed her abilities, Lív hadn't been exaggerating in the slightest.

The second difficult intervention followed promptly and a young man lost his leg under countless tears and screams. His foot had been completely black and rotting already, hidden under a thick bandage he had applied himself. The infection had already wandered up to the knee, the veins bulging and black and she had wanted to be on the safe side, so that the infection couldn't come back at a later point and take his life for good.

It was a hard day and one of the youngsters, Vivienne, was giving her an especially hard time. The lass had two right hands and all she touched would go wrong, it was easily predicted.

It wouldn't even be half as infuriating if the girl would at least show interest in her craft, but she wouldn't touch a sick patient with a barge pole and shied away from most tasks.

Shani endured her whining for two hours before she lost her temper chastised the girl with harsh words, sending her into garden where she could crawl on the muddy ground and eliminate the pest plants that took the light from the valuable herbs. Every now and again she caught sight of pale red hair, but she was too busy to ever exchange a few words words with Abigail and actually was grateful for it since her anger hadn't yet subsided.

By the time the sun set she felt utterly drained, her hands shaking a little and her nails caked with blood and grime. Her stomach was growling with the insistence of a starved manticore and she sighed heavily, deciding that she really had to grab a few bites and see to her special patient.

The elf's presence unsettled her and she felt a weird mixture of curiosity, repulsion and care which only served to confuse her, though it was hardly the first time she'd felt such conflict with regards to her patients, she'd tended many warriors in her time, and more than few had, had reputations just as, if not more distasteful.

With a sigh she got up, brushed off her dress and decided to join her colleagues who were standing and sitting around a small wooden table on which bread, butter and wine was dished up.

"Have you seen the lad close to the window? I mean, have you seen him?" One of them giggled and sipped a little bit of wine. "I have. We should surprise him with our services some time soon don't you think, sister?" The other answered mischievously and Shani grimaced as she reached for a buttered slice of bread.

"Oh, Shani! We heard all sorts of interesting things about your new patient. You know, the elf." The first one piped up suddenly, her eyes alight with mischief and curiosity.

The medic sighed exaggerated and took a large bite before answering. "So, and what have you heard Mariann?" Shani said, tension in her voice.

Mariann just chuckled and shrugged innocently. "I heard he's quite handsome. Ivory skin. Raven black hair and a body worth worshiping." Shani spluttered and could barely prevent herself from spitting out the bite she had just taken.

"So what's your point?!" She wheezed and Mariann crossed her arms exasperated. "Well is it true? I haven't seen him for meslf yet and I'm curious."

The redhead shook her head and seemed helpless. "I will not help you in your perversions!" That indeed made Mariann laugh and the others giggled with her. "Perversions? Well I heard you have quite enjoyed his affections, unwilling or not."

Inwardly Shani cursed Abigail for what felt like the umpteenth time. "It was nothing like that. And yes he is quite handsome. Satisfied?" Mariann rolled her eyes and snickered. "Fine fine, have it your way." She said with a wink and made her leave to the central nave to tend to some patients, probably.

Finishing her snack hastily she herself want back to the patients, knowing she had to look after Iorveth.

To her discomfort Abigail was sitting in the chair next to the elf's cot and seemed to knit. Shani strode over, her anger bubbling up again when she quietly hissed, "I swear did not encourage it Abby! Do you think I coddle every patient and allow them to huddle against me like I'm their ma?" , trying to keep her voice low so she would not disturb the elf or any of the other patients.

Abigail just grinned mischievously, her amber eyes still only fixed on the sock in her lap which she was knitting, occasionally weaving nettles in ever so delicately.

"Well, not every patient. But this one." The witch said and nodded at the drapery that faintly showed the silhouette of the elf.

The young medic was positive that she would never hear the end of it. "He was feverish and he dreamed, I checked on him and suddenly his arms were around me. I tried but he left me no space to move!" Shani hissed and then crossed her thin arms with an obvious huff, apparently unwilling to discuss matters any further.

Giggling Abigail got up and threw the finished woolen sock at Shani, not without looking around carefully though, the smile never leaving her peach colored lips. "Give that to your patient with the gammy foot, it'll help him."

The witch turned to leave but looked over her shoulder once more. "I also think your patient has woken up quite a while ago." She whispered and really made her way out this time, over to the small shack they shared.

Shani had been lucky to get that one, she had been taking care of the son of a nobleman and rescued him from a certain death, in exchange she was gifted the small place she could call her own now.

Shani now shared it with the infuriating hag, trying her best to keep her safe from Radovid's Witch Hunters which meant that the woman had to stay inconspicuous, but also not so much that her inconspicuousness would arise suspicion.

Basically it was a wild card, everyone could be aspersed by anyone, due to patty disputes with devastating consequences.

It was a mad time.

And indeed, Abigail was right. There was a stirring behind the curtains and a soft groan and Shani pulled the linen drapery aside to greet her patient.

Long, thick lashes were fluttering, pearly teeth revealed with a pained snarl and Iorveth felt like the weight of the world was pressing slowly on his body. His body was aching all over now but at least he felt that his fever has subsided and the infection as well apparently, for there was no maddening itch or the dull throbbing of swollen blood vessels any longer.

Still, his arm and leg ached when he carefully tried to move and he knew it would take quite a while until he was recovered enough to actually get up and walk around.

He would need a lot of exercising after, he thought with a wistful sigh. The next thing he noticed was that he was almost naked, even his headscarf was gone and exposed the mark of his shame to everyone who came for a gloat.

The elf grit his teeth, his eye scanning the area close-by, hoping he would find his gear but he was left disappointed. With the disappointment rose his anger, he could tell he was in the temple of Melitele but how he had gotten here.. That he did not remember. Maybe it'd come to him later.

Iorveth's gaze was fixed on the ceiling when the person came in and only when she was close and speaking did he turn his penetrating gaze slowly.

The elf's gaze was rather cold, but not ungrateful. He knew she must have rescued him.

"I see you finally woke up, that's good. I'm Shani, I saw to your wellbeing." She seemed a little uncomfortable, he could not blame her. People mostly were in his presence. If he knew why she was really uncomfortable he would be stunned speechless for the first time in his life. But luckily for all, he did not.

"I see. ... thank you, Shani, you have my sincerest gratitude." Finally he did look at her and was surprised by her pretty features. They were fine and palid, quite attractive in their way, and were it not for her flat ears and her slightly too thick to be Aen Seidhe cheekbones, she could easily pass for one of his own... as it was he did have to wonder if perhaps she had a touch of elvish in her, from a grandparent perhaps.

The elf did school his features into indifference though, almost looking critical as he looked her over. It was so unnerving and outright uncomfortable that Shani fidgeted slightly, almost relieved when the elf spoke up again, his voice was pleasant. Though the content not so much. "Where's my gear? Wherever it is I need it back now and don't want it tempered with by anyone."

Of course it had been grimy and needed mending, but he hated the fact that he hadn't been awake to consent to it. He did not even know who took it, whose filthy hands were on it. He almost felt sick when he thought about Aerondight and the medallion.

His expression seemed to sober her up, for she had wanted to rant already but saw that it probably wasn't the best idea with the elf. She had to remind herself that he was dangerous, no matter what.

"It was taken in by a priestess to clean it. For all I know your pack hasn't been touched." Iorveth nodded but he did not seem convinced. "I want it back, now." He said, and though weak, his tone left no room for objections. Shani took a deep breath to calm herself and nodded her pretty red head. "I will see what I can do." Her answer seemed to satisfy him and Iorveth relaxed back into his pillow, his eye closing though he remained awake.

Shani stormed off into the direction where the belongings of the patients were kept. It wasn't much since most did not have anything on their bodies safe for their clothes.

Finding the pack, clothes and armor did not prove a challenge. most of the armor and clothes were still desperate in need of a wash, but a few articles of clothing were good and ready to be returned and were set carefully on the pack. His sword, bow and quiver was neatly placed next to it and Shani let her fingers trail over the intricate pattern of the quiver, finding herself intrigued by it.

She pulled her hand away all too soon, scolding herself that it wasn't proper to do such a thing. Slinging the weapon belt with the sword and quiver attached to it over her shoulder she buckled under the weight and cursed silently before hooking the bow over her shoulder as well.

Picking up the rest of the stuff she startled when she heard the clinking noise of something hitting the stone ground and immediately feared to have broken something.

Her eyes scanned the floor until she found what she was looking for. Shani's brows furrowed in confusion when she took a closer look at the unharmed pendant, sure that her eyes betrayed her. But they did not.

It really was a Witcher amulet, the form of the wolven skull allowing no chance to be mistaken.

She gasped almost inaudibly and picked the necklace up, the metal smooth and cold against her palm.

Shani could feel her stomach clenching with the memories that the sight of this amulet brought her and she had to stifle a small sob. Crying wouldn't help now, besides it was stupid to weep over such an old wound now, was it? It still hurt though, and the lass almost feared that it always would.

Her love for Geralt had been genuine, she had fancied him for quite a while but gave up her hope when she had thought he died... But then there he was two years ago, alive and as charming and taciturn as ever. He had played with her heart and then dropped her like a hot potato to crawl back to his blasted witch.

Shani hasn't noticed that she has held the amulet so tight that it nearly broke the delicate skin of her palm. With a sigh she released her hold around it and shoved it back into the pack. Of course, she was immensely curious on how Iorveth has gotten his hands on a Witcher amulet. Has he?... her heart dropped for a moment but then she shook her head, sure that the elf did not kill a Witcher for it. At least she hoped that.

She would like to ask but knew that it was too soon, if she asked now the elf would only suspect that she searched his belongings against his will and she wanted to avoid a confrontation if possible.

Making her way back to Iorveth she placed the items neatly on the ground under his scrutinizing glare, relieved when he seemed satisfied.

"You must be hungry, and thirsty. I shall bring you something." The medic seemed to be intent on getting away from him and suddenly Iorveth felt a tad bad for her as he recalled the dreams he has had when he had been flat out with fever.

He would have liked to deny the accusing words, but he could not. They were true, so bitterly true.

He thought on what his grandmother had shown him in the memories... what she'd said. And... as much as he'd like to deny it, as much as he'd like to ignore the fever dreams... he couldn't, cause he knew his actual grandmother would indeed have said and done all of that and more... she would not at all be pleased with the creature he had become.

With a determined expression he swore himself to help this lass, Shani, as soon as he was able to. He knew it was only a small service he could provide but if he started with doing amends he could just as well do it here.

Authors Note

AlexanderRavana: Y'know guys and gals, I'm really immensively grateful for the attention this fiction has got already.
That so many people are interested in the ad-and misadventures of this cursed elf as we describe them.
I have long felt that there was not enough Iorveth fiction material out there and it's really fun to see how many people seem to agree with me, with us, here.

It's always a joy when my phone vibrates and I open my mail just to see that another review has been written.
Because these are what really keeps a writer going, next to the ideas that burn within us.

And, talking about ideas so conveniently right now hehe, without my amazing partner this story would be only half as good, if not worse.
He is the one coming up with the really great ideas most of the time, shaping the way this story goes and without him I would be at a lost fast, I can assure you that.
I'm just the one padding this story, writing it and thusly doing all the detailing and characterization.
But really, we help each other in equal measure, as it should be, and I'm immensely curious where our lunatic minds take us.

The Grinning Psychopath: heh ahh what he said and more pretty much. Eh can't think of much to say today, apologies for the shorter than usual chapter, but if its any consolidation, things will be getting interesting indeed soon here. Iorveth's dear seanmhathair, shall be appearing to deliver more exciting lectures to our favorite elf, more old faces shall appear (One of which none of you at all will expect i guarantee it lol!) and a whole lot more.

Special thanks to

ThurstonRam

Lumisohjo

Sellmie

And last but not least h34rt1lly for your kind, inspiring and helpful words.
I love to read that you enjoyed the journey thusfar, and the constructive criticism was most helpful as well.
We hope to read more from you guys, as well as new readers!

Never be shy about telling us what you think. We never bite. At least not hard. ;)