A/N Sorry for the tardiness! December is being the month from hell apparently -.-
Anyway –takes a deep breath- I don't know how many of you may follow me on tumblr but I've been posting there under the tag of forgottenpromise little extras of the story like the characters profiles, a map for the ones that this is their first dive into the world of the witcher and many other details and tips that could come in handy. The tumblr url is like my penname, shadowdianne and if someone wants to ask me any detail regarding this story or any other one you always come there and ask in case you prefer tumblr over ff or ao3.
Smell of magic and leather
The widow's mansion where Regina was staying wasn't exactly difficult to find and so at the first hours of morning Emma presented herself in front of the house that was almost on the outskirts of the rich part of the city. It was certainly a place that had seen better moments but still was too proud to settle down for less. Knowing what Emma knew about the nobility that was probably the case with the ones that lived there; an old maiden and her servant for what she had been told by the old man that had pointed her in the good direction once she had reached the town and the guards had thoroughly looked at her belongings, muttering insidious comments about her aspect and medallion as they did so. The money that wasn't on the house she was eyeing now could probably have disappeared have gone with the deceased husband and it showed.
Albeit the city was quite used to have visitants wearing swords due to its proximity with the Temerian and Nilfgaardian borders the two hilts made a few young children –offspring of the rich merchants that had recently moved to that part of the town Emma gathered- look at her in wonder as the dirty looks of the adults who knew perfectly well what meant the penchant the albino had around her neck redoubled every time a child approached Emma. Knowing full well that she was dragging attention from errand boys and noblemen alike Emma stood in the middle of the stone-paved floor of the road and waited, her arms crossed over her chest, white tresses covering her eyes every time she moved her stance slightly; she needed a cut she thought for a second; a blind-witcher was a dead one.
For what she had learnt Regina was actually behaving quite unusually deciding to stay in one of the less rich noblewomen in the entire court she thought as she eyed the slowly awakening city through her too long bangs. As hungry for knowledge the sorceress usually was the decision of staying with someone who didn't hold the same power in court like she had done before was a strange decision, one that didn't exactly suit the brunette sorceress.
Humming to herself and feeling the medallion on her neck heating up for a second she let her body and mind reconnect once again, scaring a young little boy that went back running to one side of the street once her pupils changed, her hands twitching slowly as it happened. Regina had probably sensed her.
She really didn't need to wait after that and as the first smells of trading goods accompanied with the ever-growing mutters around her started to get too obvious to not listen to them the main door of the house was opened by a slim little girl who looked at Emma once before nodding, blushing and looking over her shoulder for a second before looking back at Emma who grunted and walked towards the girl, her two swords clanking softly between them as she walked, her light amour making the softest of sounds as she passed just right behind the servant, the girl still red once the door was closed tightly behind the two of them.
Once inside Emma turned to look at her; young and blonde the girl appeared to barely reach 18 and the witcher thought about the girl that had been working on the inn the night before. Far too young perhaps, like the one she was looking at.
"I'm getting old" She thought, smirking darkly at the concept; Witchers aged far more slower than the rest of humans, just like sorceress, dwarves and elves, the last ones having a lifespan far more dilated than the witchers themselves. Old was a concept that witcher didn't exactly know what it meant, not like it would mean for a human at least. But she still felt old in that moment.
"Madame Mills wants to talk to you" The girl finally said, trembling a little as she talked, giving a little courtesy once she had finished to speak. Her voice was soft and airy, her eyes not exactly meeting Emma when the woman tried to take a look at the servant, curious of her. Definitely the girl had been taught on the noblemen houses and the way she eyed the weapons and Emma's eyes from the corner of her own –the cat-like pupils shrinking ever so slightly- made the witcher almost want to smile again. She had come across many noblemen servitude, most of them weary of her aspect, a few of them even treating her like nothing but scum. The girl, however, looked as curious as it was scared and for a second she let herself play with that knowledge.
"Did she told you something else?"
The girl shook her head once and turned, her red hands, product of the times she probably had washed the clothes those past few months still clutching the loose dress she wore.
"Already scaring the service? I thought that you at least would want to wait until I've finished with you"
The words, said in a deep tone with sultry undertones that no other woman Emma had ever met could have produce, was what gave away the sorceress presence and as Emma turned and looked at the beginning of the wooden stairs that led to the second floor of the place her pupils dilated ever so slightly at the sight of the brunette, her digits fidgeting for a second when the woman started her descent over the stairs, her hands at her sides and a small smirk on her bloody red lips.
The sorceress wore on of her dresses, tight enough to be considered revealing but still not showing really as much cleavage as other members of her order. If witchers were known due to their deadly work sorceress were known of her vanity and it was a trait that every single one of them shared. This time, however, the sorceress was wearing something that could be considerate appropriate and as the woman brought her hands to her styled hair Emma caught the smell of apples and something that it could only be considered magic coming on her way. The scent she had learn to link to the sorceress and one she had drunk from the woman's skin more times than she would want to remember.
"Going for a visit to the royal couple?" She asked, a smile on her lips when Regina raised a brow, the penchant she always wore on her neck glowing lightly, magic becoming strong enough around her that Emma's own penchant noticed it and trembled warningly.
"Always a delight to see you too" The sorceress finally said, reaching the end of the stairs and motioning towards the room she had on her right, the stillness of the place, which smelt of dust and old money that would never come back, made Emma look at every corner consciously, knowing full well that she really couldn't trust the sorceress and her methods. Not like they were better than hers anyway.
"Where is your host?" She asked instead as she saw how Regina snapped her fingers, the same girl of before appearing with two cups full of wine, her stammering lips muttering something the witcher didn't catch.
"Thank you Cinder" Regina said distractedly as she also looked around her, the books and sheets of slowly yellowing paper showing the place the probably now dead husband of the widow had been using as a study. "Currently trying to make amends with one of the new merchants on the city, a real catch they say"
"So you are alone" She asked and seeing the way the sorceress lips parted made her sigh inwardly, already preparing herself for some of the brunette sharp tongue.
The lashing comment, however, didn't came and so the albino found herself looking expectantly at Regina who nodded once before grabbing one of the two cups, her lips glinting slightly due to the droplets of wine that got stuck there, being swiftly removed by the aforementioned tongue as the woman turned slowly, giving her back to the blonde, approaching to one desk that was completely swarmed in vials, maps and books. Regina's workplace probably.
"You could say that. Now witcher, how is that you are here, so early in the morning without any single invitation? People will start to talk"
"As if you care for what other people say" Emma replied swiftly, taking its own cup and walking towards Regina, stopping just a few steps behind her, her eyes fixed on the woman's hair, trying hard not to start looking at the glimpses of neck she could see here and there between the carefully brushed tresses. Her boots echoed on the wooden floor and for a second Emma's mind went back to her days as an apprentice, the rules of how a witcher should be walk coming back to her.
You need to be quick, soft, like a feather.
Shame that those kind of epithets could never function around a certain sorceress.
The brunette turned back, her smile transforming into a smirk, one that almost looked feline, as she eyed the albino. Her eyes shone purple once again as she rose one single hand, the tips of her fingers caressing Emma's armor, the chains so carefully applied by some dwarf in the northern side of the kingdoms trembling under the power of the sorceress. Emma didn't move a muscle albeit she felt her whole body answering to the magic, every cellule of her being suddenly alert, waiting.
"Your reflexes are as sharp as ever" Regina finally commented, taking a step back and eyeing Emma, smirk still on place and a cold look on her face; the purple on her irises and pupils fading slowly as she talked. She had abandoned her accent long ago, almost as long as Emma had started using a rivian accent, but in that moment the way the words echoed against her tongue and teeth had a cadence that could almost be seen on air, Emma's body shuddering again albeit no magic had been involved this time.
"And you are the same as ever" She proclaimed narrowing her eyes. She wasn't angry, not anymore, and she definitely didn't feel regret but the way Regina's eyes seemed to flash made her sigh inwardly, remembering all too well…
"You are leaving"
It wasn't a question, nor a reproach and Emma could feel the bitter taste of jealousy on her teeth and tongue as she nodded.
"Again"
And it was true, she had already been gone once. A long time ago for the two of them but still too present.
"I did"
"Shall I presume that your friend told you about my incursions on the court then?" The question, asked succinctly, made Emma blink, leaving her memories on her subconscious mind, her body tensing as another wave of magic and apples caressing her nose.
"You already told me that you were here for the coronation" Emma replied, not wanting to give the bard's name so quickly. Reluctant of doing it.
"True" Regina accepted, giving a minute nod before looking at the desk again, her long fingers caressing one of the many papers that were scattered around. The silver star she wore on her neck shone the moment she moved, catching Emma's eye for a second before she looked at the paper for a second time, her brows arching as she saw a map from the continent, the new barriers between the kingdoms and the empire written on bright red ink that was starting to fade slowly. "Have you thought about my offer?"
Emma didn't answer to that, eyeing a curious trail of dark blue ink that seemed to tell something on the south part of the kingdom, the Temerian and Aedirn borders being pushed back unsteadily as they were. Storybrooke, barely a speck on the normal maps, almost doubled in size by a large point that situated the city too close to the empire's borders for Emma to really feel uncomfortable with the picture. Apart from that the map was like the many others Emma had already seen; the continent divided in two parts, empire and kingdoms, looking back at her. The Nilfgaardian Empire with the black sun as its symbol on the south, the four major kingdoms-Aedirn, Kaedwen, Redania and Temeria- plus the minute ones that formed the rest of the continent on the north drew with such precision that the mountains and forests were also pictured on it. Storybrooke, apart from having being drawn in such a strange way, appeared on top of one of the southern rivers of the kingdoms, near the border of the now destroyed Cintra, the war and battles that had been fought there making Emma swallow tightly, remembering the battle and the consequences that it had brought to the people of the north. Temeria was at its northwest, the borders there slightly blurred. As if changing.
Before she could say anything though a purple cloud covered the maps and she found herself looking again to Regina's irises, a warning shining on them.
"Why do you want me there?" She finally asked, looking straightly at the brunette eyes, leaving her cup on the table and shrugging, her arms crossing again on top of her chest, the familiar weight of her swords shifting slightly on her back as she did so. "It's not exactly normal to have a witcher in a coronation, unless is for a contract"
Regina, who had been looking at something behind Emma for a second, blinked and nodded, the same mischievous smile than before appearing slightly before she answered, her clothes catching the light of the room for as she moved, crossing her own arms, the fabric of her dress tightening against her arms and chest.
"Who did say that this wasn't one?" She finally asked, deflecting Emma's obvious question with a dismissing movement, her eyes traveling back to where the maps of the continent had been, a deep look on her eyes as she did so, the warning suddenly appearing once again as she looked back to Emma, who hadn't move one single millimeter.
The blonde weighed her options, remembering how Regina had appeared just after the ghoul attack. Not mischief there, at least not one that she could detect. Which didn't exactly mean much considering she was talking about Regina.
"So this is about a contract?" She asked, making the brunette nod firmly, the smirk staying on her lips.
"Always so decided… you could say that is about a contract, in a way"
Emma kept silent, not bothering to even say anything yet, she knew that Regina would tell her eventually everything the brunette sorceress decided it was best for her to know and she wasn't wrong.
"Go to talk to the monarchs, they are quite interested on meeting you"
"I'm not some errand boy" Emma said coldly "You know how I think about working for the nobility"
"And yet you work for them" Regina replied smartly, laying on the desk, the dress she wore opening ever so slightly with the movement, showing Emma one calf the brunette was quick to hide once again with the smirk turning into a secretive smile that barely lasted a second. "Besides, I'm sure you are quite intrigued by now, Ruby's worries always made you think twice about everything"
The curt words made Emma blink twice, the movement, albeit minute, being caught by the sorceress who turned her smirk into a humorless smile. "I always knew that the bard didn't like me, it's still quite interesting to know how much though"
Emma didn't say anything to that verbal jab, spies, as she had just confirmed, could be everywhere.
Regina waited for a second before turning, knowing that Emma wouldn't go, not yet at least. She knew the albino far too well.
"You have an audience in a few hours, the queen will be attending you" She said, lips tight once she finally turned, cup in hand and the glimpse of the map from before glinting behind her, lines seeming to be moving by their own as she spoke. "And Emma"
The witcher, who had been about to turn for real this time halted, the movement making her armor to protest.
"I'm glad to see your wounds seem to have healed properly" It was a futile observation, Emma had been wounded worse, a lot worse, and her body had survived the blows. But she took the word for what it was and nodded, the curt response making Regina tilt her head to one side, dark hair cascading, the proudness every sorceress showed in the way they kept her hair long despite the inconveniences of having it like that obvious, the social status that gave us taking a new meaning with Regina and Emma almost smiled, remembering one night she had seen the ritual the brunette always subjected her hair before going to bed.
"Do you plan going to bed sometime soon?" The words were playful, light. A tone that few could say they had hear Emma using.
"Once you are asleep everything can happen dear" The answer was playful in the same way Emma's light laugh was heard all over the room. Far too happy maybe, but still too real and as the albino touched the cold side of the bed, sleepy eyes looking at the figure of the sorceress she let out a heavy sigh. One that echoed inside her long before she had fallen asleep.
The two of them shared a look and Emma did nothing this time to avert her gaze, noticing the way the brunette's eyes stared at her, the rise and fall of the woman's chest matching her own, those luscious red lips parting ever so slightly, wet due to a quick tongue that she barely got a glimpse from.
And she knew in that moment that they really had a lot of things they really needed to talk, explanations maybe that had been long overdue. But that would have need many other things the witcher did not have and wasn't intending on even trying to pretend she had them so she nodded one final time before leaving, Regina sighing when the door finally closed, the smell of the street from the outside reaching her nose for a second, making her almost want to smile. Leather and burned wood, that was the smell she had learnt to associate with the witcher, a smell that didn't do justice and yet it was too fitting for her.
"Cinder" She called and the girl appeared, her eyes blinking quickly, as if excited by a douse of fisstech, the drug that could be sold and found in almost every street of the kingdoms. Judging by the state of her nose and the slightly tremble of her hands the douse should have been taken a few minutes ago and the sorceress sighed inwardly at the sight. "I will be going to the palace, if your mistress comes back tell her I will return in a few hours."
"Of course" The voice was broken and airy, as if her mind was already elsewhere and probably it was. As Regina gathered her belongings from the desk she shook her head once, dismissing the girl with the gesture.
The map was the last thing she picked up, her eyes shining purple as she looked at one point of it, her penchant glowing on white bright magic, tendrils coming out of it for a second.
Just a little more, she thought, just a little more.
A/N this is the final "slow" chapter, next one will be a short interlude and from that things are going to start happening ;)