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As dawn breaks their short night's rest, Geralt saddles Roach.
"You still want to go north?" he asks Lorelay over his shoulder. She is packing up the blankets. At his question, she hesitates. She never thought that there would be another path for her as the way in the north to marry the prince. Jalen is a good man. Now, the Witcher implies that there probably is another future for her. But her parents expect her to do as she is told, they want the best for her. No, she can't disrespect them and her prince like that. She slightly shakes her head to get rid of any other thoughts in this direction of unknown freedom.
"I have a duty to fulfil," she finally answers. The duty of marrying that northern prince. Geralt notices the dull tone of her voice and the melancholic sound between the lines.
"Is that what you want?" he asks on and turns to face her. She rises and brings the bundle over to him and Roach.
"It doesn't matter what I want," she says, keeping her eyes downcast,
"It never has." It gives his heart a sting to hear that, he wants to go on discussing this and to get her to really think about what she wants but...it isn't his business, and it isn't his way to interfere with destiny, is it? So, he lets it be and they continue their way north. Most of the time they are on foot. Roach can't carry them both for long.
Over the following days she grows close to him as she trusts him more and more. He keeps her safe and after they dodge the attackers once again and he kills one who comes close to her, he teaches her some basic self-defence. Later, he finds that only that knife of hers will do no good. So, he gifts her one of his long daggers and shows her how to use it.
"You've to thrust it in as deep as you can and hold it until your attacker doesn't breathe anymore, understood?" She isn't as fragile as he thought at the beginning, adjusting quickly to the life on the run.
Once, they are still more in the south than in the north, Lorelay really wants to clean up at a stream here and there but at one point that isn't enough. As they rest at a small lake, she asks him if it is alright for her to take a bath. She will be quick, and her clothes will dry fast in the sun. He can't deny her request, and she gets to work. She undoes her long hair from the braid and slides out of her cloak and outer dress. Discreetly, he turns around after earning a pointed look from her. She washes her dress and hangs it on a nearby tree. Then she gets in the water, underskirts still on, armed with a small piece of soap of Geralt's. He always keeps a little bit around. She washes her undergarments as well and leaves them at the shore to dry, going for a swim in the meantime. The Witcher can't help but turn around as he hears her melodic laugh. Two ducks came to her, swimming with her. He watches, a fond smile growing on his face. He loves to hear her laugh; her voice is like music to his ears. She waves at him as she looks back to the shore.
"Don't get out too far," he calls out. Not so far away from me, he thinks by himself, calling himself out in the next moment. This is only another job; one he will hopefully get paid for by that prince. Not much later, she reluctantly leaves the water. Looking in the other direction, he holds out her cloak. She dries herself and dresses, grateful for the warmth of the fire he got going. The cold of the North will come soon enough.
~*~
As they travel farther towards their destination, it gets colder. One night, she quivers uncontrollably with the light clothing she has on and the blanket. He freezes just a bit, still, he shrugs out of his cloak and hands it to her as well. She looks at him, thanking him with a silent smile but asking what he is going to do. He doesn't answer and just lays there with his arms under his head, staring in the dark sky. He hears her moving but doesn't look over at her. Then, she is next to him, covering him with his cloak and both of them with the blanket.
"What are you doing?" he asks.
"Not going to let you freeze," she mumbles. This becomes their ritual every night from then on. At first, he doesn't want to sleep, keeping watch instead, but he finally gives in and sleeps well in her presence. In an extra cold night, she slides closer as usually. He doesn't mind and wakes in the middle of the night to find his arm around her and her curled up at his side, perfectly fitting in the spot. Finding his heart warm at that, he grunts disapprovingly.
