Shift My World (Witcher x Reader fanfic)

Chapter 16

She heard them before she actually saw them. Her steps were light against the cold stone stairs as she descended with slow deliberate steps. The men were back from another hunt and they all seemed jubilant. She couldn't help but lose the battle to fight the smile that crept to her lips at the sound of the voices below; the sound of rejoicing amongst the darkness and coldness of the stronghold itself. It was nice to hear them so happy and relaxed. Probably just as happy the men were to have a woman around and not for the taking. She hadn't been here long but it was long enough for her to get comfortable around the men; she realized how much of a humorous man Lambert was even if he were a bit of a crass man and she soon realized how smart and kind Coen actually was despite his scary appearance. Thoughtful and kind were other words to describe him. While Lambert saw Olivia as a pretty face that gave the men a sense of home and comfort Coen had admitted in not so many words her presence and her attitude were nothing short of insinuating protective brotherly instincts from the men, himself included. It definitely made the place a lot more bearable the more Olivia got to know the men here.  Vesemir himself was a man like no other. The raven woman could understand the respect the others had for him and the longer she stayed at Kear Morhen the more she began to fall madly and deeply in love with the man; oh no not romantically of course! But his personality although generally quiet had a sense of wisdom to him that Olivia found refreshing and the more she listened to him talk not only about such things as history and old hunting stories that her respect and trust in the man only grew. He was slowly filling the part of her heart Olivia always felt was lacking on the parental level. She loved him dearly much like she did Jaskier and Yennefer but with more of a familial bond. 

Leaning over the banister she peered down with a small smile as she rested her chin on her folded arms as they leaned her weight against the railings watching the men below. This place was growing on her. As if sensing her presence despite her being stealthy Vesemir's golden gaze lifted above to catch hers and he gave her a small smile before tipping his head as if to beckon her down to their level. Giving him a broader smile than his own she brushed aside her long hair from her face; having forgone her usual braid and allowed the length that now reached down to her waist to hang free and wavy along her back. She allowed her shoes to make the clipping sounds as she nearly skipped down the stone ledges to make her presence known to the others right before she walked over to join them. 

"Good morning princess!" Lambert's boisterous voice was the first to greet her as he held up a large mug of ale in her direction. 

"Good morning? It's the afternoon Lambert." Olivia rolled her eyes playfully as she plopped her butt down on the long bench seat right next to Coen. 

"Well considering you no doubt just woke up I'd say good morning is in order no matter the time of day." Coen shrugged joining in the conversation as he pushed his almost untouched plate towards the woman.

"That's not fair! I was up all night reading about the different tonics a witcher uses and how to make them!" she argued grabbing a bread roll off the plate in front of her and tearing off a small piece before dipping it into the stew and popping it into her mouth while sliding the plate back to Coen silently as they talked. 

"Why shove your nose in a book when you could be doing hands-on training?" Lambert threw back at her before taking a gulp from his mug. 

Olivia glared over at the red head and pointed a finger at the large man. "I rather kiss a horse's arse than train 'hands-on' with you Lambert, you stubborn mule. You'd break every bone in my body if I let you." she quipped back but the grin on the man's lips was a fond one when he shrugged his massive shoulders.

"A few broken ones never hurt anybody. Helps people learn their lessons real quick." Olivia's mouth dropped a little bit and she tossed the remaining half of her bread roll at him with a look of horror.