Chapter two
Geralt found himself oddly eager the next morning in a way that he had definitely not been expecting to see Jaskier again. Triss gave him a knowing look when she walked into their suite and found Geralt already up, washed and dressed and sharpening his swords while he waited.
Lambert and Vesemir were both looking sleepy and grumpy as they tried to tug on their boots, Eskel was as ever awake early, and watching Geralt a little bemused which the white-haired Witcher was trying to ignore.
"Ready to go to breakfast?" Triss asked.
"Yes," Eskel smiled at her standing and offering her his arm.
"He was up ridiculously early," Vesemir huffed standing and nodding to Geralt.
"And he washed in some of the perfumed shite that the servants brought," Lambert snorted.
"Shut up," Geralt grunted putting his swords away and standing himself.
"He is very pretty to look at, if I were you I would be looking forward to the wedding night as well, I am sure that you will have some fun with his pretty ar…"
"You're a dick in the morning!" Geralt growled as he shook out his sore first from punching Lambert.
"I would be careful if I were you he seems to already be quite protective," Vesemir chuckled as he stepped between them and shoved them apart. "One more comment and I will tell Aiden about these comments when he arrives tomorrow," Vesemir warned waving his finger in Lambert's face, watching amused as he paled.
"I thought you wouldn't accept us, now you're using him as a damned threat," Lambert huffed wiping his bloody nose.
"Come on you lot, and remember some of the other nobles are going to be there," Triss said as she tugged Eskel out of the door.
"Ugh wonderful," Geralt sighed.
"How is the house going?" Vesemir asked Triss as he straightened himself out.
"The King said that it is going well and that it will be ready for you," Triss said.
"I still say that there is going to be a catch to it," Lambert sighed.
"Hmm," Geralt grunted in agreement.
"I would warn you if I knew of anything," Triss narrowed her green eyes.
"We know you would, it doesn't mean that it is not going to happen though my dear," Vesemir sighed.
"Geralt!" The bright voice had Geralt turning quickly to see Jaskier hurrying down the hallway towards them, towing his little brother Albin behind him who was looking at the Witchers wide-eyed.
Today Jaskier was in a bright green doublet and trousers with a gold shirt underneath, his doublet, trousers and boots were embroidered with golden thread with more little flowers. Jaskier was also wearing a bright smile, it seemed for Geralt, that was almost beaming in its brightness.
"Morning Jaskier," Geralt said as the bard came to stop in front of him. He blinked and then blinked again when Jaskier went onto his toes and kissed him on the cheek in greeting, stunned that the young Bard was willing to make such an openly affectionate action in a public hallway, which when Geralt glanced around uncertainly he found a couple of nobles that had also been making their way to the breakfast hall were standing staring open-mouthed as well as Geralt's family. Even Triss was looking a little stunned.
"Vesemir, Lambert, Eskel, Lady Triss, good morning. I hope that you all had a wonderful night's sleep. You all remember my baby brother Albin I am sure, say good morning Albin!" Jaskier said brightly swinging his brother up onto his hip.
"Good morning Albin," The little boy said dryly, making his brother laugh brightly.
"Good morning Julien, Albin," Vesemir said, emphasising Jaskier's birth name as though worried that Geralt had forgotten it.
"I told Geralt to call me Jaskier, it is my Bard name, I would far rather that you all use it, I prefer it as it is more me," Jaskier explained before Geralt could, that hint of embarrassment going through him at the scolding for perceived bad behaviour from his father figure going through him as it always did no matter how old he got.
"You did huh, when?" Eskel narrowed his eyes at Geralt.
"Jaskier, buttercup, that says a…" Lambert growled back when Geralt snarled at him.
"Last night when we had a bit of a chat, and yes Jaskier, I think it suits me, buttercups are pretty and enduring and can be poisonous when they want to be," Jaskier said with a bright smile before taking Geralt's hand again and started leading him into the hall, leaving the Witchers staring after them and Triss laughing as she followed.
"Have you killed Drowners?" Albin asked Geralt curiously gazing up at him with bright eyes that were like his brother's.
"Yes I have," Geralt nodded seriously.
"They really scare me," Albin admitted.
"Well Geralt and the other Witchers are going to help protect us from things like drowners," Jaskier smiled softly at his little brother.
"Really?" Albin looked up at Geralt.
"Yes," Geralt nodded. It seemed to have been the right thing to say considering he got a bright smile from the little boy, and the way his eyes started shining there was some hero worship forming. Geralt had seen it before, but it was quickly squashed by the adults around them as they reminded them that Witchers were more than likely to eat them, or steal them from their bed at night.
He was startled when Jaskier squeezed his hand, and when he met those blue eyes he oddly felt as though the younger man knew something of what he had been thinking. He blinked at the strange young human who smiled brightly at him and squeezed his hand again. Geralt had a feeling that Jaskier would try and make sure that Albin did not become scared of them.
"Here we are," Jaskier gently placed Albin in one seat and sat in another, patting the seat next to him in a clear request for Geralt to sit beside him.
"Julien, I am not sure that this is appropriate," Olesia muttered, glancing concerned between her son and Geralt who froze in the motion of sitting down, looking at the woman who he realised with a shock that she was actually going to be his mother in law.
"Of course it is, we are simply having breakfast and getting to know each other better," Jaskier waved his mother off, tugging Geralt down the rest of the way as the Witcher opened his mouth to protest that he could move.
"Julien," The Viscount sighed.
"Tanek will be escorting us this afternoon as well, I wish to take Geralt, Vesemir, Lambert and Eskel down into the town to show them Lettenhove, that way no accusations of indiscretion can be called," Jaskier chattered on as though his father had not spoken.
Geralt couldn't take his eyes off of the human, looking from his family and back to the young Bard quickly. He was so bright and filled a room with his personality, his laughter and his cheerfulness, even in a room filled with aristocrats who were used to claiming a space as a professional skill in the same way that a Witcher knew tracking as a skill. Jaskier was completely one of his own and Geralt could not prevent himself from being drawn to him, like a moth to the flame no matter how stereotypical that comparison was.
He blinked when Jaskier's crystal blue eyes turned to him all of a sudden, clearly sensing his eyes on him, the young man blinked before a bright smile crossed his face, and he couldn't stop himself from smiling back, though he was sure it probably looked more like a snarl. Jaskier seemed happy with it though as he smiled even brighter.
"Hem," Tanek cleared his throat breaking the moment, and they realised that they had the eyes of the whole table on them when they turned around. Jaskier flushed a little, and Geralt fought to scowl at them all as he normally would, not wanting to scare his fiance's family.
"Yes?" Jaskier smiled at his brother.
"What if I don't want to escort you?" Tanek rolled his eyes.
"You owe me, if I hadn't taken up the marriage offer it would have been you that would have been chosen if the King had decided on Lettenhove, and considering you are as straight as a sword that wouldn't have been any fun," Jaskier fluttered his eyelashes even as he leaned against Geralt, the Witcher freezing a little unsure what to do with the sudden contact.
"Felcia would have been next," Tanek grumbled.
"We all know that she would have been running Lettenhove not me, there is no way she would have been married out of Lettenhove," Jaskier snorted. "So you can play escort for the morning, and nothing can be said to have been inappropriate, not that anyone would,"
"They wouldn't?" Eskel blinked.
"Of course not, Geralt and I could have sex against the windows of the feasting hall and no one would say anything, they're all relieved that it isn't one of their children marrying a Witcher, and we need this alliance almost as much as you do," Jaskier said quietly.
"Julien!" Olesia groaned covering her face after ensuring that none of the nobles further down the table had heard her son's words.
Jaskier winked at Eskel who was red from trying not to laugh as the Viscount hastily swallowed gulps of water to try and force down the chunk of food that he had just swallowed in shock. Tanek was grumbling to himself but it seemed that Jaskier had taken that as agreement.
An hour later Geralt found himself standing at the door to the manor with Vesemir, Lambert and Eskel feeling extra awkward as nobles milled around, passing them and taking the chance to stare at them intently, all of them suddenly needing to make their way through the entrance hall.
"Ready!" Jaskier called brightly hurrying across the entrance way to their side, wrapping his arm through Geralt's and tugging him into walking.
"I thought it would only be Tanek escorting us?" Eskel asked Felcia as she walked over with the younger brother.
"Mother and Father were worried that Tanek would not be able to control and corral Julien if needed and so I have been sent along as well," Felcia nodded.
"And they want her to spy and report back on how we are actually getting on, and making sure that Geralt isn't threatening me into pretending to like him," Jaskier laughed.
"That as well," Felcia wasn't embarrassed to admit.
"They think Geralt is threatening him?" Vesemir said concerned.
"They expected me to take one look at Geralt and regret volunteering, they were expecting tears and begging as well," Jaskier nodded as he carried on leading them down the driveway.
"You seem very…blaise about all that," Lambert frowned.
"It is the misunderstanding, and exactly what I am going to work on dispelling, especially the idea that I can't be looking forward to marrying Geralt and actually realise that I have gotten a much better deal out of this than I was expecting,"
"A better deal?" Eskel blinked.
"Well, he is handsome in his rough way, clever, able to have interesting conversation, I am going to be able to travel and get lots of works created around the lot of you that is clear, and he is a good kisser,"
"I didn't hear that," Felcia said cheerfully.
"You kissed him!" Lambert choked.
"Technically we kissed each other," Jaskier grinned.
"I think you are going to give them all a heart attack, Little Flower," Geralt snorted.
"Well, the others are fine, but I can't be giving Vesemir a heart attack, I will stop," Jaskier laughed cheerfully. He slipped his hand down Geralt's arm and took his hand instead, linking their fingers together as though it was the most natural thing to do.
"You have already given him a pet name?" Lambert choked.
"Oh don't be idiots!" Jaskier snapped at his brother and sister when they flinched back from the snarl Geralt let out in the direction of his brother. He paused in kicking himself for relaxing so much around Jaskier that he forgot himself, to look down surprised at the suddenly furious human.
"Julien…"
"No! I mean it. Geralt is going to be my husband, Lambert, Eskel and Vesemir my family as well, and through me, they will be yours as well. This is stupid and ridiculous! If you are going to be idiotic and insulting like this then go back to the manor," Jaskier snapped, all lightness and joy around him replaced with a fury and annoyance that stunned Geralt and the others.
"Julien…Jask… you have to understand…" Felcia tried.
"No, I don't! I will not have you making them feel uncomfortable and that they can not be themselves when I am trying to get to know them, it is not fair to them! If you are going to be like that then you can go back home and send Albin down, at least he waits to judge someone by who they are rather than what they are! This ridiculousness will stop right now!" Jaskier hissed before he yanked a stunned Geralt into walking with him further down the pathway.
"We're sorry, Julien is right, we are judging you without knowing you. We apologise for our behaviour," Geralt heard Felcia saying to the others as they started following.
"We will try our best to get to know you, and ask that you are patient with us while we try and get rid of our preconceived notions and actually get to know you," Tanek added.
"Of course, as Jul…Jaskier said we are going to be tied together through him and Geralt and their marriage, and we do not wish to cause a rift between you and Jaskier," Vesemir answered before either of the other two could.
Geralt noted Jaskier looking over his shoulder, his shining blue eyes narrowed on his siblings before seemingly deciding that it was good enough for now.
"Jaskier," Geralt started to say.
"I did need to do that, and I will do it again. I won't have anyone talking about you like that in front of me, it does not matter who they are," Jaskier said firmly.
"Where are we heading first?" Felcia asked cautiously as the others joined up with them again.
"I thought I would take them to meet Jock first," Jaskier smiled at his siblings making their shoulders drop as they obviously realised that he was forgiving them.
"Jock?" Eskel asked curiously.
"He is the local bladesmith, he is fantastic at what he does, I think you guys will really appreciate his work!" Jaskier enthused.
"That definitely sounds interesting, I could get Aiden a present," Lambert perked up, and so did Jaskier with a mischievous grin.
"Who is Aiden?" The Bard asked.
"The only one that can truly control Lambert," Eskel snorted.
"He's his lover, who he hid from us for ages because he thought we wouldn't approve of him being a Cat," Geralt snorted.
"As in the School of the Cat, not an actual cat right?" Jaskier snorted.
"Arguably he is both," Vesemir snorted.
"He will love you," Lambert rolled his eyes.
"I will take that as a compliment," Jaskier grinned.
"There is no accounting for taste," Lambert grunted, dodging the swat Geralt sent at him, he couldn't however dodge Jaskier's words.
"I quite agree, I shall ask what he sees in you,"
"He's definitely going to love you," Eskel managed to say through his laughter. Geralt squeezed Jaskier's hand in what he hoped the Bard would realise was affection, the smile that he got saying the young human understood.
"Jaskier! Is this your Witcher?" The Dwarf shouted cheerfully as they got in sight of what was obviously the bladesmith's shop.
"It is! This is Geralt, my fiance, this is Jock, the finest bladesmith that you will find!" Jaskier beamed proudly, and it was everything that Geralt had not to trip over himself at the declaration and introduction.
"Well, come on in and have a look around. He is treating you well?" Jock asked hefting his hammer over his shoulder pointedly.
"Calm down, there is no need to threaten him, he is being very sweet and lovely," Jaskier beamed. Lambert started choking at the description while Eskel started laughing.
"Well, that is all I want to hear! As long as it carried on like that I won't need to bury my hammer between your eyes! The young Lad helped me escape from a bad situation, gave me a home and a job and a chance to have a life better than I could ever have hoped for, one hair out of place and you will find yourself full of my creations, understand!?" Jock growled motioning to the dozens of blades decorating his walls.
"Jock!" Jaskier flapped his hand at the Dwarf, flushing embarrassed.
"I understand," Geralt nodded seriously.
"As long as we have that understanding," Jock nodded. "Now what can I help you gentlemen with?"
"Can I see those knives!" Lambert honed in on a pair of curved knives, and Jock nodded his allowance for the Witcher to take them down, the youngest Witcher practically drooling as he took in the balance of the beautiful blade.
"Jaskier was not exaggerating in your skill, Master Dwarf," Eskel whistled through his teeth as he balanced out a steel sword.
"Indeed," Vesemir hummed stroking his hand lovingly over a crossbow.
"Do you have it?" Jaskier asked eagerly.
"What do you take me for lad?" Jock huffed before reaching behind the counter and pulling out a wrapped sword. The Witchers all gathered around curiously, them all catching their breath when the wrappings were pulled back and Jock with utter pride, and rightly so, revealed the stunning blade to their eyes.
Then Geralt noticed the wolf on the pommel and the Buttercup flowers and leaves engraved on the helm. He turned to Jaskier wide-eyed who was watching him a little nervously. "I know it is a little presumptive, especially as I had it commissioned before we met," The bard started to say.
Behind them Jock herded the Witchers and Jaskier's siblings firmly out of his store and down the pathway, not taking no for an answer.
"I meant what I said about wanting to make this a real marriage, I hoped that this would show that, more so now that we have met and spent time with you,"
"This is stunning Jaskier, but it is…"
"Do you not like it?" Jaskier asked, and with horror, Geralt realised that he was going to be incredibly weak to those beautiful, big blue eyes.
"I like it, a lot, but something like this I wouldn't be able to get in my life, and I haven't been given anything like this…"
Geralt's words were cut off by Jaskier's lips on his, the young human smelling so sweet and enticing, his lips and arms embracing Geralt in a way that the Witcher just wanted to lose himself in over and over again. He was sure that this was what addiction was. He tugged the human even closer to him and kissed him deeper until he had the young man limp against him. He listened eagerly to the noises that the young man made into his mouth, loving the way his hands gripped tightly onto Geralt's shirt as though hoping that he could pull the Witcher even closer.
"I want to give you things, because I want you to be happy," Jaskier said a little more coherently, "and I already want to make you smile, even if it is a honey cake or a sword. I wanted to give you something to remember the start of our marriage together. And besides, this is technically spending the King's money as much as my own, it is being paid for with part of the bribe that the King paid my father for me 'bravely offering' myself for this, and I convinced my father that a good portion of that should go to me,"
"All of it should go to you, and you should keep it for yourself," Geralt frowned brushing Jaskier's fringe from his face.
"And that is why I know that I made the right choice having this made for you," Jaskier grinned.
"Thank you…I…it has been a long time since…since someone other than my brothers or Vesemir have given me a gift," Geralt said incredibly awkwardly and stiltedly.
"I hope that it keeps you safe and with me for a long time," Jaskier smiled sweetly at him, and Geralt knew that he was no good at words, the only thing that he could do was reel the young Bard in and kiss him again.
"I hope that you two are not having sex in my shop!" Jock boomed walking in. He chuckled when he found Geralt admiring the sword, testing it out with a pretty satisfied look on his face, Jaskier watching happily where he was sitting on Jock's anvil.
"Pft as though I would break the rules!" Jaskier grinned cheerfully.
"Yes, as though you would do something like that!" Felcia snorted.
"I will take these," lambert said placing the knives in front of Jock.
"Wonderful!" Jock said brightly.
"You're very lucky," Vesemir said to Geralt as he admired the sword that Geralt had handed him, neither of them were aware of Felcia and Tanek listening intently near them.
"I know," Geralt nodded seriously.
"He cares and he wants to make this serious, that is what indicates, you need to treat him well," Vesemir smiled handing the weapon back.
"I will," Geralt nodded.
Felcia and Tanek exchanged a look before they moved to look at a couple of other items, watching from the corner of their eyes and Geralt carefully sheathed the sword, and with great care attached it onto his back, their brother watching with an incredibly pleased expression on his face.
They spent the morning walking around the two looking at all the different things that Lettenhove had to offer, the different stalls and people. Jaskier introduced them to everyone with a beaming smile, proudly introducing Geralt as his Fiance.
Everyone in the town seemed incredibly fond of the Bard and they were treated incredibly well considering what they were, they had a lovely meal in the tavern in town and got decent beer. It was an unusual experience, and with Jaskier, Felcia and Tanek with them, they were not glared at or spat at and were treated with cautious civility.
It was different, utterly different, and they weren't really sure what to do with it, even before everything had kicked off with the recent attacks on Witchers that had led them to this moment they had not been treated like this, but here they were, and their eyes kept getting pulled back to the brightly coloured Bard who was sitting happily pressed against Geralt chattering to this siblings as he pulled his bread in half and gave Geralt one part without even stopping his conversation.
They made their way through another part of the town once they were done with their meals, Felcia insisting on paying for them.
"Here," Geralt took the large bag off of Jaskier that he had just been handed with a winter coat in.
"Oh thank you!" Jaskier beamed at him.
"Give that to me," Geralt rolled his eyes when Jaksier was handed another bag at the next stall.
"Thank you!"
"Here," Geralt reached out to take the next bag before Jaskier's could reach for it.
"You're wonderful," Jaskier beamed getting a grunt back.
"I have it," Geralt took the two bags the very pleased stall owner was handing over.
"Right, this shop next," Jaskier snagged Geralt's arm tugging him towards a clothing store. "All of you," he added when it looked like the other Witchers were going to wait outside.
"Jaskier! What can I do for you?" The elf smiled stepping around from behind the counter to hug the Bard.
"This is my fiance Geralt and his brothers and mentor Eskel, Lambert and Vesemir. I am looking to get them some clothing made for the wedding please," Jaskier smiled.
"We have clothing for the wedding," Vesemir shook his hand quickly.
"More doublets like yesterday?" Jaskier asked and they all nodded. "Yeah you looked about as comfortable as a corpse in them," He snorted.
"What are you thinking?" the elf asked, ignoring the Witchers spluttering and Jaskier's siblings laughing.
"Something formal obviously, but more in their style than the Court style, something mixing this, with this and this, nothing too frilly or buttoned up," Jaksier whizzed around the store motioning to different items.
"Hmm, yes I think I have an idea," The Elf nodded and started scribbling out a design.
"Perfect Elihal!" Jaskier clapped.
"Now fabrics," Elihal started pulling out different reels of fabrics and holding them against the stunned Witchers, Jaskier and he choosing different colours.
"What colouring does Aiden have?" Jaskier asked.
"He…erm…sort of…ginger…" Lambert waved his hands over his own body.
"Ginger?" Geralt snorted.
"He has ginger hair like that, in a bun most of the time, a beard, he comes up to about my shoulder, little bit smaller than I am," Lambert described with a glare for him brother.
"I can work with that, when does he arrive?" Eilhal asked scribbling a few more things down before grabbing a notepad and handing it to Jaskier with his quill and then grabbing up his tape measure.
The Witchers stood slightly reluctantly but moved as they were directed when Eilhal took their measurements and Jaskier jotted down everything that the elf reeled off in what sounded like another language to the four of them.
"Two sets in the fabrics that we have chosen, and if you could add embroidery onto mine and Geralt's that have the wolf symbol matching his medallion please," Jaskier requested as the two of them moved around each other pulling things together.
"Two sets, Julien we don't need that, it will be expensive!" Vesemir protested with a slightly uncomfortable look.
"I will be paying for it, and you are going to have to attend a few political things now that we are in this position so having two sets is important," Jaskier explained.
"We have clothing," Eskel flushed a little.
"You didn't look comfortable in them at all, and people can see that it is about appearance as much as anything else with the Court, and if you are visibly uncomfortable then it will be like blood in the water to drowners," Felcia explained stepping forward. "Put it on the Estate account Eilhal, and please make four sets for each of them,"
"We can't…" Vesemir started to say, but the young woman reached out and took his arm.
"Think of it as a welcome to the family, and as helping our family as well. You are going to be representing us as well when you go anywhere now, we are to be bound together as family, you need to look your best while you are attending any event," She explained.
"That is why she is better at running this area than me," Jaskier grinned wrapping his arm around Geralt's. "I want you all to look and be comfortable at the wedding, it is a big day and I don't want you to feel more uncomfortable than need be,"
"Than need be?" Geralt raised his eyebrow.
"I have a feeling being in front of a crowd isn't your most comfortable place, and there are going to be a good few people there to see the Viscount of Lettenhove's strange son marrying one of the Witchers," Jaskier chuckled.
"True," Geralt sighed, and because he genuinely could not stop himself with Jaskier looking up at him with those big blue eyes the way that he was, he leant down to kiss the young Bard, Jaskier leaning up into him eagerly.
"Hem," Felcia coughed pulling the two of them apart.
"I see that it is going well between you two," Eilhal chuckled.
"If you send this Aiden down once he arrives so I can get his measurements, I will get the wedding outfits started and then work on the other outfits after," Eilhal said.
"Perfect, thank you!" Jaskier quickly hugged the elf tightly before returning right to Geralt's side.
"See you soon," Eilhal waved, looking more distracted with starting to put together their outfits than actually watching them leave.
"Thank you for that Jaskier, that was very considerate of you," Vesemir smiled a little at the young man.
"For most people, this is a political show, but this is personal and an important day, I want you all to be comfortable being there, and while I am sure being in your armour is more comfortable for you, I hope that this is the second-best,"
"I am looking forward to seeing what you have designed," Eskel smiled at the Bard as they started making their way up to the Mansion.
"At least you said no-frills," Lambert nodded.
"Thank you," Geralt said softly to the Bard.
"You're welcome," Jaskier smiled at him, but Geralt didn't think that he really understood where the thank you was coming from. It wasn't really for the clothes, it was for the thought behind the clothes, for taking their comfort into consideration, for realising it and actually caring enough to not only bring it up but to do something about it. For thinking about them during this ceremony and wanting them to feel comfortable through it.
The fact that this wasn't just some arrangement for Jaskier, that for him the ceremony was personal and he wanted them to be able to enjoy it as much as they could given the situation meant more than anything to Geralt. This could have been a lot different, it could have been extremely different, and he thanked the gods that he had not been sure existed that Jaskier was the one that he was marrying.
"Honestly!" Felcia huffed when they turned around and found Geralt and Jaskier kissing again, the Bard a little confused about where the kisses had come from, but more than happy to accept them.