His Little Bird: Jaskier

Chapter 6

Y/n started getting back into the festive attitude as she drank more ale, managing to start up conversations with a few of the upper class women surrounding the hall. They all sounded and looked the same, light voices and straight heads with the finest of gowns on their figures, that soon Y/n was beginning to get bored with conversation with women. Luckily, Jaskier approached her, having started a break from his set as he let the rest of the band play without him before he began to sing again. "Y/n," he called lightly, and drew her attention. When she turned, she swayed a little on the spot, causing him to hold out his arms to steady her with a slight laugh. "Having too much fun already?"

"Just because Geralt must suffer this night sober does not mean I do," she responded, the ale in her cup sloshing with each movement. "To be able to speak with all these prim and proper, courtly, women is exhausting. Many of them speak far too much of their annoying little children."

Jaskier's smile widened as she set down her mug, dropping onto one of the benches as he joined beside her. "If you don't mind my asking," Jaskier started hesitantly, drawing in her attention to look at him, "how did you meet Geralt, exactly?"

Y/n blinked, sobering up quickly after the question hit her mind. She didn't expect him to ask her this question tonight, of all nights. She knew it had to come at some point, but at a feast such as this, surrounded by Melitele knows how many eavesdropping ears, she hesitated. Jaskier took a sip of ale, waiting for her to respond. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes for a moment and said, "It's... not a lovely tale, I'm afraid. Not one a bard could reform into a song, by any means."

"I mean not to," Jaskier told her, slightly surprising her. The amount of times the bard in front of her had attempted turning any story into music was mind-numbing, so it slightly shocked her that he did not mean to turn it into some sort of story about a White Wolf saving a Little Bird from death. "Y/n," Jaskier spoke, gaining her eyes, "you can trust me. I'm not about to go singing all your deepest, darkest secrets."

A laugh made its way from her throat, causing Jaskier to join. "Forgive me for exercising caution," she replied before settling down. "My... father couldn't bear to live with the shame of a half siren child. It sullied his good name in Vizima, apparently. It was obvious he never cared for me, and my mother had only dropped me at his doorstep and left without so much as a note. After a time, on my fifth nameday, he couldn't take it any longer. His reputation mattered more to him than me. He sold me away to a nearby witch who heard about what I was and wanted to study me, take me in, train me and control me. After near ten years of being at the control of a witch, she all of a sudden... stopped. One day, she woke me, put a dagger in my hand and clothes on my back, and told me to go find my destiny. I still don't know what the fuck she meant, I don't think I ever will, but it didn't take long before I knew that I, a young girl of only four and ten, was going to die in the wild."

Jaskier was listening intently, hanging on to each and every word she spoke to him. "It wasn't long after that I got into trouble. About six years ago, almost to the day, a krallach found me, and it seemed just as starved as I was. I was too weak, I could barely keep myself upright, let alone battle a monster such as it. I thought I was finished, that this would be the end of my wretched time spent on this Continent as an abomination. I could move on, be reborn, or whatever the shit is people believe these days. But before the krallach could kill me, Geralt came. He had been passing through the woods and heard my screams. He saved my life. He taught me everything I know now. For about a year he kept me around, training me, even bought me Windchaser so I could learn to ride my own horse. But when we tried to go our separate ways, we kept finding ourselves together again. After a few times of running into one another, we agreed to just stick together, only leaving when the coin required it." Y/n was quiet for a moment, fidgeting with her hands as she finished, "I've... never told that to anyone."