Chapter 6- It's My Choice To Make
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In the early light of dawn, Geralt carried a limp Sable in his arms.
He could no longer sense her heartbeat.
She was indeed gone from this world.
Broken, Geralt made his way back through the forest to the campsite where Roach was waiting.
Thinking back, the last thing he had said to Sable before fighting the beast was… he had yelled at her to go away.
'Fuck.' Geralt cursed softly under his breath.
The last thing he had done was rejected her when she had kissed him.
'Fuck.' Geralt said louder.
He had met someone he truly felt something for, yet he had thrown it away.
Witchers were not known to cry, but Geralt felt something close to tears welling in his eyes.
'Fuuuuucccckkk.' Geralt shouted to the sky.
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Wading through the gently flowing river with Roach now in sight on the other side, Sable's shoulder twitched.
Geralt felt the movement, but thought it could be nothing more than some kind of rigor mortis.
Sable twitched again, this time her head and shoulder together.
Then her whole body jolted and spasmed unexpectedly.
Geralt received such a surprize that he let her go, dropping Sable into the thigh deep water.
Sable went under, completely submerged.
Geralt looked down, puzzled at what just happened.
For a few seconds the surface of the water was calm.
Eventually she came to, the shock of the cold water forcing her to consciousness.
Sable splashed around wildly.
Gasping for air and taking a few involuntary gulps of water, she tried to keep her head above the surface.
Geralt stood motionless for a few moments, like he had seen… a ghost.
The freezing water was unwelcomed by her senses.
After such a rude awakening, a surge of adrenaline coursed through her system.
The first thing Sable remembered was skulking back to the village and… that she was angry.
Angry at Geralt.
Scowling at him, she struggled in the water with heavy wet wings, trying to find her footing on the slippery rocks beneath the surface.
Although the water was not deep, Sable didn't know how to swim.
Eventually pulling her up roughly by her tunic, Geralt helped her stand, steadying her.
'What did you do that for?' Sable fumed, dripping wet from head to toe.
His face was the last thing she wanted to see after remembering him yelling at her.
Geralt remained silent.
He couldn't believe his eyes.
After his initial shock at seeing her alive, Geralt smiled.
Then chuckled.
Giving him an evil glance, Sable saw Geralt's chuckle turned to a laugh.
Standing clumsily in the water, sopping wet all over with soggy wings, Sable growled at Geralt.
'You think this is funny, do you?' Sable demanded.
'I am angry at you. Firstly for yelling at me, and secondly for dropping me into freezing cold water.' She said wildly.
Geralt just stood there, with a grin on his face.
Spurred on by Geralt's smug reaction, Sable rushed at him and pounded the front of his armored chest with her fist.
Geralt didn't seem to mind at all, which made Sable more frustrated.
In fact, he seemed to like it.
'Yes, I can see you are angry...' Geralt replied.
'I am glad you are angry.' He said.
'Glad…? Whatever are you going on about?' She spat.
'I am happy you are angry at me as it means you are alive.' Geralt answered.
'The Witcher truly has lost his mind.' Sable muttered to herself, shaking her head.
Geralt grasped her wrists firmly to capture her full attention.
'Don't you remember anything? What happened?' Geralt exclaimed holding her still.
Sable tried to wrangle out of his grasp.
'I am glad you are strong enough to be angry… Only moments ago you were… dead!' Geralt explained.
Sable narrowed her eyes.
'Your mind has blocked out the trauma of what happened.' He said, letting go of her wrists.
Furrowing her brows, Sable stopped to think.
Images started coming back to her.
The three headed monster…
The glint of Geralt's sword…
Flashes of fire lighting up the night…
The beast's sharp tail coming towards her…
Geralt put a hand to her middle.
Sable looked down to see a gaping hole in the material of her tunic, blood staining most of the fabric.
Shocked, Sable's jaw dropped.
'The beast's thorned tail pierced right through you.' Geralt said, running his fingers over the torn material.
Sable's eyes widened.
She remembered the pain now.
'Well, if I was really dead, then, how did I come back?' She asked suspiciously. 'Not even I can do that.'
Geralt relayed the scene to her.
'You lost so much blood, you passed out. But, remember that vile you gave me? I had it strapped to my leg next to my elixirs.' Geralt explained.
'It was the only thing I could think of to try.' Geralt said.
Sable raised her eyebrows.
'So… you, healed… me…with my blood?' Sable questioned, looking up at him with a shocked expression.
'So it seems.' Geralt nodded.
'You didn't respond at first. I thought it failed, but… here you are.' Geralt continued.
Sable nodded slowly.
Having such a dangerous occupation, Sable had given Geralt a sample of her blood if he was injured.
Luckily.
She had no idea she would be the one to need it.
That was a clever move by Geralt indeed.
'If you hadn't distracted the monster when you did, it is quite possible I would be dead now.' He said.
Grateful that she was alive, Geralt wasn't going to let her walk away from him this time.
He was fortunate to have a second chance.
With her.
He wouldn't fight his feelings any longer.
Geralt decided that he wouldn't waste another second to show Sable how he truly felt.
Before she had a chance to speak, Geralt stepped forward, cupping her face with his palms.
Looking at her with a newfound sense of appreciation, Geralt kissed her firmly on the lips.
Sable was initially ecstatic, before quickly changing her mind.
Pushing on Geralt's armored chest with her hand, she broke their connection.
She remembered as much that he had rejected her.
'I don't think so…' Sable said keeping him at arm's length.
'You didn't want to kiss me before..' she started.
'You don't get to do it now… just because you thought I was dead.'
Geralt looked regretful.
'I never said I didn't want to kiss you. I only thought it was best for you that you didn't get close to me.' He said.
This made Sable even more angry.
'Best for me…? You don't get to decide that. I have had someone else do that my entire life and look how that's turned out.' She spat, raising her voice.
'I am sick of everyone else making decisions for me. It's my choice to make.' She said resolutely.
'This is not a life I would have chosen for myself. Always on the road, always facing dangerous circumstances, living day by day...' Geralt explained also raising his voice.
'...I can't expect anyone else to live like... this.' Geralt said raising his hands expressively.
'But still, it is my choice to make. Not that it matters now anyway.' Sable said, mumbling the last bit to herself, thinking back to Geralt sending her away.
Geralt had to agree on that.
'I was wrong. I am sorry...' Geralt said sincerely.
'It is because I didn't want to hurt you, not because I didn't want you...' Geralt explained, gesturing with his hands.
Sable shook her head, not wanting to hear anymore.
'…and…I do… want you.' Geralt added slowly, truthfully, taking a small step towards her.
Raising her head, Sable looked into his ghostly yellow eyes.
That was the last thing she had expected Geralt would say.
But she could tell he was being completely sincere.
Her eyes widened as his words sunk in.
'You do…? Want….. me?' Sable said astonished, in disbelief.
Like a wave washing over her, Sable's anger immediately dissipated.
Geralt nodded. 'Yes...'
'…more than you will ever know.' Geralt confirmed in a low voice, stepping closer to her in the water.
Suddenly Sable felt very self-conscious.
She had literally come back from the dead.
She must look like death.
Or at least a drowned rat.
Her hair was sticking to her face, her clothes were soaked through and her wings were submerged in the freezing water.
Not that she had the energy to care.
Now that her adrenaline and anger had subsided, she was starting to feel very cold.
For a few seemingly long seconds, Sable and Geralt stood facing each other, thigh deep in the middle of the river, silent and motionless, as the water gently flowed past them.
Both pondering their next move…
Both wanting the same thing…
Not holding back any longer, they both rushed forward, towards each other at the same time, kissing eagerly.
Their lips locking together.
Sable felt Geralt's kiss was passionate and full of need.
It was at that moment that she knew that he really had always wanted her.
It was what a kiss should feel like.
What Sable had imagined a real kiss would be.
Something more than just physical touch.
Something indescribable.
At that moment there was nothing else on the entire continent except him and her.
No water flowing, no forest, no sound, nothing.
They were consumed by each other.
Snaking his arms around the curve of her lower back, Geralt held her tightly against him, deepening the kiss.
Sable could feel his strong arms at her back and the firmness of his armor against her front as he leaned into her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck in return.
She never wanted him to let go.
Before she knew what was happening, Sable faltered as she felt herself go weak at the knees.
Again, she broke their kiss, this time unintentionally as she struggled to stay standing.
Sensing that everything was moving too quickly as she was not yet fully recovered from her near-death experience, Geralt took her weight, scooping up her legs, lifting her out of the water to be eye level with him.
Sable felt the strength of Geralt as he lifted her easily, her face was close to his cheek as she gazed at him up close.
Holding her against him, Geralt waded out of the water and up the embankment.
'You need to rest.' Geralt said with reluctant conviction.
Setting her down gently, on her feet this time, Geralt held her close.
Looking up at him, wanting to be kissed again, Sable shivered involuntarily.
'Remove your wet clothes and put this on.' Geralt said handing her his cloak.
'I will make a fire.' He said turning his back to her as he went about gathering some wood nearby.
Sable nodded, removing what was left of her blood stained tunic and stepping out of her water logged trousers.
Leaving Sable only in her smock, the wet fabric was now semi sheer and clung to her frame, clearly revealing the outline of her figure.
'Take that off too, otherwise you will catch a cold.' Geralt said looking up.
His eyes lingered momentarily on her form, before he turned his back to her once more.
Sable complied, pulling the soggy fabric over her head, letting it fall to the ground.
'Rest.' Geralt instructed as Sable engulfed herself in his cloak.
The heavy fabric was much warmer than it looked.
Sable nodded reluctantly feeling lightheaded and fatigued.
Moving closer to her, Geralt moved strands of wet hair from her face before he placed his palm on her cheek.
Giving her a slow single kiss, he looked into her eyes.
'I'll be right here.' Geralt reassured her, after sensing her hesitation.
'I promise.' He whispered.
With that, Sable felt reassured.
She knew she could trust him.
Sable thought back to the night she had been shot with the crossbow.
He had stayed with her then, the first night that they had met, out of concern.
Before he knew she could heal.
So he wouldn't leave her now.
Wrapping his cloak around her tightly, Sable lowered herself onto Geralt's makeshift bed by the soon to be fire.
She lay down on her side, not wanting to take her eyes off Geralt.
She curled up for warmth and sleep soon took her…