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After Jaskier took his post at the side of the Witcher's bed, he strums his lute and plays a few chords. Lady Lorelay had to leave again, reluctant as he noticed. He promised to do as she wishes and stay by Geralt's side and tell her if he wakes. Somehow, he feels that something greater is at work here. Destiny probably, but Geralt doesn't believe in that, does he? For now, the bard starts to form a song about all this interesting events.
~*~
Geralt awakes from his slumber before dawn. He feels better, the delirious state is gone and the pain in his shoulder went numb – if he doesn't move the right arm at least. His thoughts jump to the last things he remembers...the fight, riding to the castle and Lorelay's voice which never left him. Even in his sleep he dreamed about her, dreamed that he tells her how he feels and her staying by his side forever. He slightly shakes his head, scolding himself for his childishness. There was something else...a song but he can't remember the exact words.
A light snoring lets him look to his side. To his surprise, he doesn't find the lady but a well-known bard. He sits up which causes Jaskier to stumble from where his arms and head rested on the edge of the bed.
"Oh, you're awake," he greets him,
"How's the shoulder?" Geralt raises and eyebrow at him, left hand touching the bandage the healers put around his torso.
"Jaskier," he mumbles but can't help the small smile flickering over his lips. The bard catches the movement and grins.
"Yeah, I missed you too," that causes Geralt to roll his eyes and move forward to set his feet on the floor.
"Where is she?" he asks. Jaskier leans back on his stool – nearly toppling backwards as there's no backrest – and looks at the Witcher thoughtfully.
"Probably sleeping, after the ordeals you put her through. Had to pay her respects to the king and queen...and the prince, for that matter," he rambles,
"So here I am to watch over you in her place."
"It's not her place," Geralt mumbles, sliding his boots on,
"Her place is in that castle; the prince'll keep her safe." Jaskier lifts his head a little.
"So, you really like her," he states,
"Why don't you just tell her and off you are into the sunset?" Geralt grunts, Jaskier smirks. He knows that he struck a nerve, but he didn't expect to get a real answer.
"Because I can't offer her anything," the Witcher states quietly, finishing tying the laces,
"Here she'll have a good life. The prince worships her, in time she'll learn to love him."
"You know that she doesn't love him now?" Jaskier asks a little confused until a literal light blinks up over his head,
"Ooooh." Geralt ignores him, rising to his feet slowly. But Jaskier already started his song.
Blue eyes and golden hair were melting a cold heart.
In the deep, deep forest, they were running fast,
The cruel black riders driving on that farce.
A princess bewitched the Witcher,
But his mind told him to stay apart...
All that while he was stealing, the princess's heart.
"She's not a princess," Geralt corrects him. Jaskier just shrugs.
"She sure looks like one," the bard counters,
"And don't you like her just because she catches every eye,anyway, do you?"
"She IS NOT a princess!" Geralt repeats. His friend raises an eyebrow at him,
"Why are you saying that like-" he is cut off.
"Because princesses always die," the Witcher says silently. He stands with his back to the bard, now straightening, turning, and glaring at him.
"She's promised to another who'll be good for her," he growls, back to his usual voice.
"Who are you to decide what's good for her if destiny chooses differently?" Jaskier asks and doesn't let the Witcher speak,
"And before you say that 'destiny doesn't choose anything, we do'...then let her choose for heaven's sake!" At one part he attempts to mimic Geralt's deep voice. He sounds hilarious but that doesn't concern anyone right now. Geralt stares at the bard, considering his speech.
Then, he shakes his head and turns without another word, calling out to the healers for where they put his things. Jaskier rolls his eyes, sighs, and jumps to his feet to follow him.
"Come on, you can't just leave," he says.
"What are you even doing here?" Geralt asks off-topic, striding forward to get outside and to the stables to retrieve Roach.
"Well, I'm an amazing bard and was requested to play for the...feasts to come," he answers and hesitates, avoiding the word wedding. But Geralt thought so already. He doesn't even slow his steps, walking to the stables. Jaskier must quicken his pace to keep up with the Witcher's long strides.
"Did you really think that through? If you leave now, you'll both be left with broken hearts," he says.
"Love doesn't exist, neither do broken hearts," Geralt counters coldly. He knows that it isn't true but at the moment he would say anything to just get away. He can't stay and watch her be wed to another, that would just be cruel.
