Author's Note:
Hi folks. Alright, I know this is a late upload but unfortunately I got COVID the day I landed home from my trip, and have just been dealing with a lot of post-covid fatigue. Sadly pretty busy at work throughout that time too :/
Secondly, there are some really important things coming up in this piece that are kind of nerve-wracking to flesh out so I want to make sure I do right by the characters and the story I'm telling. Anyway, still here, still writing, and really hope you enjoy this one. Welcome new followers also, please leave a review if you can, it'd make my day. Lots of love, and the occasional cough.
Ward of Kaer Morhen – Chapter 13
Nym tossed the covers aside and sat upright, hand on her warm head. She rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times, trying to recall what had happened in the dream. She had been caught in the fog again, except this time many hands had reached out to pull her from it when it became too thick to navigate - many unfamiliar hands. She had waited, but Geralt and his shadow had not appeared once. Nym stood up, putting on a fresh pair of clothes and fastening her belt. She had considered telling Vesemir or Eskel about the dreams she had been having the past few nights, but they had both done enough to help her. Nym balked inwardly at the thought that her father would be the only person with any real answers, he wasn't someone she was excited to ever see again. Part of her ached at her loss and struggled with the desire for them to have been the family she needed, especially now that she was unanchored.
Restlessness had begun to grow within her recently along with the realization that she'd have to leave Kaer Morhen before winter. She'd be delayed for months once the paths through the valley were blocked off by snow, and also trapped with a group of Witchers she hadn't yet met. Although she had grown fond of the dilapidated keep, it wasn't her home, and it wouldn't be appropriate for her to treat it as such. She shook off the blurry image of Geralt sitting beside her as her fever broke. Where had he been?
"And what of the magic?" Vesemir asked as Eskel rolled an apple back and forth between his hands.
"Not even a lick of it. I don't think she has any, Vesemir." Eskel replied. He had tried in vain to detect any sort of inherent magic in Nym but had discovered nothing. The girl was mortal after all. It was actually quite disheartening to learn - if anyone deserved to be blessed with power and long life, it was Nym.
"Eventually, perhaps.." Vesemir said, frowning.
"There she is," Eskel said, hearing the sound of Nym's footsteps approaching the dining area.
"Good morning," Nym said, nodding at the two of them in greeting.
No sign of Geralt, again, she thought, the feeling of unease setting in like it had every morning for the past few days.
"Something to eat?" She asked, pulling a few plates down from one of the shelves in the kitchen.
"We've eaten, thank you," Vesemir called out in response.
"..Oh, it's quite late, isn't it?" Muttered Nym, slicing an apple along with some hard cheese for herself.
Now that Nym had use of her voice, she could finally contribute more to conversations than yeses and nos. Eskel had described it as matter-of-fact and 'not very girly', which she took to mean that it wasn't high pitched. There was a slight huskiness to it, perhaps left over from the transition out of the curse. She hadn't had much practice with tone, and her sentences sounded emotionless on occasion so Vesemir had switched her over to a book of fiction to improve her enunciation. It felt a little silly to sit and read a story to him out loud, but it had allowed her to work on how she wanted to sound. Nym ate her breakfast absentmindedly, still mulling over the surreal thought that Geralt hadn't ever heard her form a full sentence.
"...Have either of you seen Geralt?" She asked, the bluntness in her voice failing to mask her discomposure.
"No, but he's here. Just off sulking somewhere." Eskel replied after a pause. "Give it another day or two. He'll reappear."
Nym chewed on the apple, standing in the kitchen alone. The last few days had been long and stagnant. Vesemir and Eskel had been dismissive about Geralt's lack of presence, which had bothered her further.
"I'll be outside, come when you're ready," Eskel said, peeking into the kitchen. She nodded, not looking up.
"Come here for a minute, Nym." Called Vesemir, still sitting outside in the kitchen. She obliged, finishing the last bites of her small breakfast.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, his golden eyes settling on hers. She shrugged, fidgeting with her hands. "Still forgetting to use your words, I see," he chuckled.
"I'm sorry, it's just strange..." Said Nym, returning his smile. "I feel fine, I think."
Vesemir paused, surveying her.
"Have you thought about where you're going?" He asked quietly. She looked up at him in surprise.
"I didn't say I wanted to leave," she said, almost in a whisper.
"Hm, you've been thinking about it, haven't you? Where would you like to be?" Vesemir questioned, a knowing look on his face.
"…I can find work now, so… anywhere, really. Maybe somewhere by the water?" She said cautiously.
"Hrm, very well. We'll have a think and discuss it when Triss is back." Vesmir nodded. "Go ahead - Eskel will be waiting for you." He sighed. "And try not to look so glum."
Nym walked up the spiral staircase to the armory, slowing in the spot where she had tried to snatch the shears back from Geralt. A little spark of frustration rose within her at the thought of it. She'd puzzled over his nature for days but was beginning to come to the conclusion that Geralt did not see her as his equal. After all, why should he? He was older, stronger, and infinitely more experienced - in every matter. It was obvious that after she'd failed to answer his question, he had brushed the entire thing aside and decided to move on to bigger game. This, she had decided, was not fair in the least. Even though she hadn't clarified her feelings to him yet, it would give her some satisfaction to throw a book at his silver head for giving up on her so quickly. Nym gritted her teeth and fastened her too-big bracers, picking up her sword and dagger, and making her way to the training area.
Hours later, Eskel's huge frame shadowed her as she lay flat on the cobblestones with the wind knocked out of her.
"I told you, you can't use your weight to counter an opponent who weighs three times as much as you." He berated, offering her a hand. She shook her head, happy to lie where she was at the moment.
Eskel sighed, sheathed his sword, and sat down beside her, looking out over the misty mountain range that surrounded them. He glanced over at Nym and frowned.
"You know, you look a little different." He observed, scratching his stubble.
"How so?" She asked breathlessly, propping herself up on her elbows.
"I don't know. You look less.. peaky." He said, cocking his head. "You're brighter somehow."
"Peaky?" She laughed. "Thanks."
"Was probably the curse.. Those things aren't easy to bear." Eskel said, looking back at the mountains.
They sat there for a few moments in comfortable silence, the clouds hanging low and thick above them. Nym sat upright eventually and looked up at the sky, then back at Eskel's scarred face.
"Do you think I'll ever be good at this?" She asked, gesturing to her sword.
"Maybe," Eskel said, standing up and dusting his hands. "If you stop overthinking everything for a minute." He offered her his hand and yanked her up to her feet.
As the night fell, Nym busied herself in the kitchen with supper. In the light of the roaring hearth, she folded and rolled thick sheets of pie crust and ladled meat and vegetables into the prepared tin. Eskel helped her stoke coals as she carefully laid the pie into a large cast iron pot, putting the lid on.
"Coals go on top now," she said, gesturing to Eskel.
"Where'd you learn all this? Did your father know how to cook?" He asked, piling hot coals onto the lid of the pot. Nym grabbed a rag and carefully placed the heavy pot into the hearth to bake.
"Books," she said simply. "My brothers barely knew how to boil water, but my father knew how to cook."
"When did you take over?" Eskel asked, still crouched by the fire.
"When I was ten or eleven." She said. Eskel let out a low whistle.
"Bastards…" he said, his eyes reflecting the embers in the hearth. Nym turned and fixed her gaze on Eskel, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes… but now I make really good pies," she stated in her deadpan voice. Eskel blinked, then began to shake with laughter. She grinned at him, enjoying that she had managed to tell a joke out loud.
The group of three tucked into the meal, eating quietly but appreciatively. Nym had somehow managed to turn the Witchers' mealtimes into a civilized affair, where even Eskel refrained from belching out loud at the table. Vesemir poured them all another goblet of wine and drank deeply from his.
"Delicious," he said simply, standing up to clear the plates.
"Think I'm going to have to add another notch in my belt," Eskel said, patting his stomach in satisfaction. Nym smiled and took a sip of her wine, spinning the goblet between her fingers and watching the dark liquid whirl around.
"Gwent?" Eskel asked as Vesemir emerged from the kitchen.
"Yes, if you've got coin to spare." Vesmir replied, smirking at him.
Nym watched the game unfold until her eyelids became heavy, then excused herself to go lay in bed.
The room spun slightly as she lay down, exhaustion and grogginess kicking in from the rich meal and wine. She took a deep breath in and drifted off to sleep.
Geralt stepped silently into the keep, closing the door behind him softly. He padded up the stairs, extinguishing the dim sconces as he went. Something about the chilly, dark keep had always comforted him, but tonight it seemed cavernous and empty. As he made his way up to the spare rooms, he spotted a sliver of orange light emanating from under a door - the library. He hesitated for a second and then opened the door. He'd have to speak to Vesemir about his plans eventually.
"X, y.." Vesemir muttered to himself, looking up as Geralt entered and closing the book.
"What are you looking for? It's late." Geralt asked, crossing his arms.
"Hmm? Ah - nothing. Care to tell me what you've been doing?" Vesemir replied, carrying the book back to its shelf.
"Thinking, mostly." Geralt said, seeing no reason to lie.
"About what?"
"Think it's time I get on my way again.."
"And leave Nym here, I'm presuming?" Vesemir said, raising an eyebrow. "That's a surprise. Does it have something to do with the fact that she's taken a shining to Eskel?"
Geralt closed his eyes for a moment, then looked back at his mentor.
"Doesn't matter either way. The curse is lifted, and she's healthy. Eskel can handle the rest. I'll leave tomorrow." He said.
"I see… I won't try to change your mind.. but you must speak to her before you go, Geralt."
"I will, tomorrow." Geralt said, clenching his jaw.
"Very well. Come and see me before you leave." Vesemir said, the disappointment evident in his hard eyes.
Nym frowned in her sleep as her head clouded over with fear and frustration. It was scorching hot in the fog. She looked down at the cracked earth beneath her and licked her dry lips, itching for a drop of water. Thunder rumbled above her in the grey, overcast sky. A streak of green lightning cracked above her, causing her to wince. She put her arms out around her and felt her way forward through the fog, the hair on her arms and neck rising in trepidation. Finally, she touched something and began to feel it out - it was the rim of some sort of well or fountain. As she approached the structure, she hurriedly dipped her hands in the cool water and brought them to her face, drinking fervently. She ran her wet hands over her face, dampening her parched skin and lips. The water stood still, reflecting the green and grey hue of the sky and lightning above her.
Nym gasped at her reflection in the mirror-like surface of the water. She was surrounded by figures standing in a circle around her. Another streak of lightning cracked in the sky, thunder crashing around her immediately afterward. The image in the fountain shook as she gazed into it, her tears rolling off her cheeks into the water.
"Arkhyr, it is time." The voice rang out in the sky, clear as a bell. Nym shook her head, her reflection matching her movements.
"Hold on, child." The voice said, in an oddly soothing tone. Nym's face crumpled as her hand reached up to her mouth. Her reflection did not follow suit, instead staring back at her steadily. She looked down at her right hand as lightning and thunder began to rumble again.
Nym jolted up from the nightmare, breathing ragged as the images rushed away from her. She threw the covers off and sat on the bed, head in her hands. The wind howled outside, rustling the thatch of trees closest to her windows. She put on her clothes numbly, got up, and went downstairs.
Torchlight flooded the entrance of the keep as she lit each of the sconces on her way to the stables. Blue greeted her with a gentle nicker, his soft, whiskered mouth nuzzling into her hair. She rested her face against his broad cheek for a moment, relishing the feeling of warmth and companionship.
"There's a good boy, Blue," she whispered, lifting the saddle off the mount and onto his back. His ears twitched, as they had been doing recently at the sound of her voice. "I know, it's new to me too." She said, smiling at the stallion.
Geralt sat upright and got out of bed at the sound of footsteps in the hall. Where was she going? It was barely daybreak and light had only just started to tinge the sky. He put on his shirt and made his way out of the keep, tying his hair up as he did so. The wind whistled in the trees around the keep as he walked down the dark cobblestone path towards the stables. Geralt hesitated as he approached her and the horse, thankful that her back was turned to him as she leaned against the horse for comfort.
"Are you hungry? Here, I brought you a little treat.." Nym murmured to the horse, pulling an apple out of her coat pocket and feeding it to Blue. She laughed in adoration as he devoured it in barely a few bites, continuing to stroke his neck. Geralt froze where he stood, the sound of her voice and laugh filling him with a painful mixture of feelings. Nym's voice was low and slightly hoarse, it was also unfortunately quite arresting. She laughed again as Blue pushed his nose into her, trying to sniff out her pockets for more food. That laugh.. It wasn't musical or tittering but instead sounded like the laugh of someone who had met the horrible parts of the world and knew how to make them lighter. Nym stilled, her dark hair billowing behind her. She turned around, her eyes widening in surprise as she realized who it was.
"Morning. Where exactly are you going?" He asked, cocking his head. Something about her face reminded him of how she'd looked the first time she'd seen him. Her eyebrows twitched, clearly considering a frown. She chose to smile politely instead.
"Just.. for a ride. Would you like to come?" She offered, her eyes still glued to his. Geralt didn't shy from her gaze, recognizing the hum of anger and upset she was masking. He nodded, beginning to saddle Roach silently. She watched as he tightened the girth and swung himself onto Roach.
"Go ahead," he said, prompting her to lead the way.
There was something different about her that he couldn't place, apart from her voice. It was like some new life had been breathed into her body after the curse had been lifted. Nym guided Blue down one of the paths that led out of the keep. They rode in silence for several minutes, the sound of hooves on stone filling the air that hung between them.
"It's good to hear your voice. I'm.. glad you have it back. It suits you." He said, breaking the silence. She turned and smiled tightly at him, bowing her head in thanks.
"Thank you. It'll take some getting used to." She replied.
Nym turned back around and clenched her jaw, contemplating whether now was a good time to confront him about his absence or confess her feelings to him.
"Are you feeling better?" He asked in a detached tone.
"Yes, much better." She ground out, hoping a tree would fall in their path and interrupt their awkward small talk. Eskel and Vesemir had described Geralt as non-conversational, but Nym knew he'd always chosen his words carefully with her. Today was different, she could sense a tightness in his demeanor that hadn't been present before Triss's arrival at the keep.
The horses walked side by side as they entered the woods, the leaves brushing against each in the pines bordering the trail.
"Nym.. I'm going to leave Kaer Morhen today." Geralt said suddenly. She met his eyes and frowned in confusion.
"Why..?"
"Time I get back on the Path, I think." He replied. "You're better now.. and you have Eskel."
Nym brought Blue to a halt. They had found themselves in a clearing surrounded by dense forest.
"What..?" She asked, still caught off guard by his previous statement.
"He'd be happy to help you get settled somewhere.
"Ah... I understand. Well.. Thank you for everything you've done. I owe all of you a great debt." She said simply, turning in her saddle to face him. "You especially."
Geralt almost laughed at her expression, a combination of scrutiny and seething frustration.
"Is that it?" He asked, unable to help himself.
"What do you want me to say?" She asked, watching as his eyes grew steely. The wind continued to pick up around them, dead leaves whirling around the horses. Nym brushed the hair out of her eyes and glared back at him, unwilling to budge from her position.
"Nothing. I'll leave you to it. Goodbye, Nym." He said finally, his shoulders relaxing in acceptance of the moment. Nym turned Blue back around on the path, tears of frustration and disappointment pricking her eyes. This was how it would end, it seemed.
"Goodbye. And be safe - both of you." She said, nudging her head towards Roach. She prodded Blue forward, unable to watch Geralt go.
Geralt forced himself to turn around mechanically, something ripping within him at the sight of her continuing on without him. How had they reached this point?
Nym wiped her tears away hastily with her sleeve, unable to stop imagining that look in his eyes. She shook her head, brushing off the horrible moment. A wave of desperate sadness washed over her as she realized that she would never see him again. Blue ambled down the trail in the forest as the sky began to lighten slowly. Mist hung thickly in the canopy above them as they entered the denser brush, Nym sniffing occasionally. The path before her widened to reveal a tunnel-like path through the trees and to a vast overlook at the edge of the mountain.
Suddenly, Blue stalled, jolting her forward in her saddle. He puffed air through his nose, his breath visible in the brisk Autumn air.
"What ?" Nym asked, leaning down and stroking his cheek. Blue's head rose jerkily, his ears perking up at a sound she couldn't hear.
"It's just the wind, it's alright." She reassured the horse softly, looking around the forest and nudging him forward again towards the overlook. Nym ignored the rising feeling of trepidation in her stomach, it wasn't often that Blue spooked. The indigo and grey view of the mountain grew closer as they continued down the trail towards the cliffside.
"Arkyhr," came a faint whisper from above her. Blue seemed to hear it too, his head jolting up again. Nym dismounted swiftly, scanning the forest with her heart beginning to pound in her chest. She swiveled back towards the skittish horse, holding her hands up against both sides of his neck and hushing him.
"There you are…" The voice said again softly. "Come now, to me."
Blue whinnied as the voice spoke again, the whites of his eyes beginning to show. The air crackled around her at the end of the trail, a dull hum beginning to sound at the edge of the mountain. Nym spun around, her mouth opening in awe as rays of whirling green light appeared before her. The trees seemed to close in on the trail, framing the pool of green against the backdrop of the mountain range. Some awful curiosity prevented her from running or hiding at the sight of it, instead freezing her in place as the circle began to grow.
Nym stepped back fearfully as a cloaked figure emerged slowly from it, it was a woman dressed in dark robes embroidered with silver thread. She watched in astonishment as six other figures emerged from the portal, cloaked and heavily armored. Nym backed up again, bumping into Blue who was moments from rearing in alarm.
"Go, go," she cried out at the horse. throwing his reins aside and freeing him. He refused to budge, transfixed by the cloaked woman approaching them.
"There you are," the cloaked woman said, her accented voice cracking with relief. She lifted one arm up towards Nym before she had a chance to respond.
Nym caught one last glimpse of the sunrise in the valley before everything went black.
Geralt slowly rode back up the path towards Kaer Morhen, regretting every word he had said to her a few moments ago. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the agate stone he had kept on his person since she'd gifted it to him, the weight of it more troubling than it had been in days. Had he expected her to resist? What would he have done if she had? He tucked the stone safely away again, shaking off the image of her beautiful, hurt face. A familiar sensation of emptiness washed over him as the pair continued on towards the keep. The wind picked up, animating leaves and pine needles around them. It was relatively safe in the wooded area around the keep, but Geralt couldn't help but feel as though he shouldn't have left her alone there.
"Fuck.." he muttered, pulling on Roach's reins to slow the horse. It would be safer to guide Nym back to the keep in case the weather worsened.
Roach nickered, her ears pricking up as the wind blew around them. Geralt's sharp ears picked up the sound as soon as she did - it was Blue whinnying from further down the path where he had said goodbye to Nym. He jerked on the reins, spinning Roach around to face the trail and listening intently. Another faint whinny rang out in the dawn, and then the sound of a shout. Without hesitation, he nudged the mare into a full-tilt gallop towards Nym.
"Come on, Roach," Geralt urged as her hooves thundered down the dirt path. His eyes picked out the portal right away, a brilliant emerald light emitting from behind trees at the end of the trail. A terrible feeling of dread and panic rose in his chest at the sight of it. Then, he spotted several cloaked figures around the portal as they drew closer, one of which snapped their head up at the sound of hoofbeats. He watched as another one of the figures threw some sort of rope hunting weapon at the stallion's ankles, downing the enormous horse who let out a panicked bray. He could see her now - Nym was on the floor unconscious, being dragged towards the portal by two of the figures. He leaped off of Roach's back and drew his sword, his arm flying up to send flames towards the cloaked woman watching him approach.
"You," she said in recognition, her commanding voice rippling around the forest. She lifted her own hand, casting a large silver shield around them and the portal, deflecting the flames he had flung in her direction. Geralt identified immediately that this was no common sorceress, he had never seen a protective shield that large.
"Nym!" Geralt roared, watching as six of the figures dragged her and the horse through the portal. He launched himself against the translucent barrier, causing it to throw him backward. The figure lowered her hood as he landed on his feet, grey eyes glaring back at him. Geralt's breath caught in his throat at the sight of her face, and the marks on her neck. She turned away, lowering the shield and disappearing into the portal swiftly, emerald light fading away before he had a chance to follow.
The sun finally emerged from behind the thick veil of clouds - a vengeful, burning sphere of orange illuminating the empty valley before him.