And yet... Here we are

Stay

"What are you doing Jaskier?" Geralt asked as he stepped into the room.

Jaskier had been well enough to stand an hour after his awakening. After the bard had been questioned about his experience with the Maride, he had made his way to the tower.  He had begun to gather his things. What wouldn't fit in his lute case went in a satchel he had found in a forgotten corner of the castle walls. He glanced over at Geralt when he spoke.

"I'm going to Oxenfurt. I'm an alumnus at the college, you know? I was even a professor for a year before I found it all too boring." Jaskier returned to gathering his things as he talked. "They want me to guest lecture from time to time. It's whenever I'm in town, truthfully. Perhaps they have time to fill at the University and I could earn some coin easily. From there I don't know where I'll go."

"You promised Ciri you would stay." Geralt said simply. He crossed his arms.

"No. No, I didn't promise anything, Geralt. I told the girl I would think about it." Jaskier paused his actions to look at Geralt. He said nothing of his feelings as he looked back at his hands. "I thought about it, and I've decided that it's best that I leave."

"Hmm."

Jaskier scoffed but said nothing to the response he felt that he always got. He slung his lute strap over his shoulder and clutched the satchel tightly in his hand. "The sun is already setting, and I want to try to outride it. At least until I get to the safety of a town."

"Tonight?" Geralt looked the man up and down.

"Why? Do you not think the light will last long enough?"

Jaskier glanced towards the window. The sun still had an hour in the sky at least. He looked back at the Witcher when he heard no response. His hand adjusted his lute strap on his shoulder again before he slung the satchels over the opposite shoulder. He gave one last look around the room before he made his way towards the door. Geralt caught his shoulder, effectively stopping him.

"You hardly have your strength back." Geralt warned.

"So being in a city is better for me. Oxenfurt has a university, as I said. Men are well versed in medicine and herbs and the like. I can count on more than just a handful of Witchers whose potions would kill me. I should be fine in the city. I'll reside there until I am truly myself again."

"I don't like it."

"Geralt, what's not to like?" Jaskier sighed in an attempt to keep his tone light. "I will be fine to live there until I am once again myself to travel the world in search of poetry and love and destiny."

"Hmm..."

"What?" The bard asked.

Jaskier looked over at the Witcher. He stared at the room rather than looking at Jaskier himself. He pressed his lips together. His eyebrows scrunched. It looked as though he was physically fighting himself; Jaskier just didn't know if it was for Geralt to force himself to speak or to suppress the words.

"Well, Geralt," Jaskier patted the hand on his shoulder, "if you have nothing left to say I would like to get going. It is quite a long ride to Oxenfurt from here- comically long actually. The less time I have to waste before I get there, the better."

Geralt's hand tightened on the bard's shoulder. Jaskier winced in pain, not fully healed from his body attacking itself. He rolled his eyes when Geralt still didn't speak to what he was thinking.

"Geralt, if you would."

Jaskier felt the Witcher's hand loosen and used it to slip his own hand under it. He lowered the Witcher's hand from his shoulder, fully intent on letting it fall from his grip. The bard smiled quickly, in a goodbye. His hand let go of Geralt's. However, as he began to walk out of the room, he was pulled abruptly to a stop by Geralt's hand still gripping his. Jaskier sighed.