Reincarnation ➵ The Witcher

xxviii.

"CREDIT where credit is due," the bard began, Edith slumped over Roach tiredly, "That whole reverse-psychology thing you did on them was brilliant, by the way, 'Kill me. I'm ready.'"

Edith groaned, "Don't remind me. I can't believe you were even stupid enough to even say that, Geralt."

Geralt looked back at her, hands holding the reins of Roach as she rode her whilst slumped over like a corpse. His face was bloody, and tiredness creeped over him like a shadow, but she mattered more.

"Stop complaining. It worked." Geralt began.

"Yeah, well, what if it didn't, huh? Then what?"

"Then I'd be dead."

"Exactly! And you think that's okay?" Edith scowled.

"Isn't it?"

The bard rolled his eyes at the bickering, "Mom and dad are fighting again."

Edith reached forward from ontop of Roach, hand whacking the bard around the top of the head harshly. He let out a yelp, and scampered away from her reach.

"Little shit." Geralt couldn't help the small smirk form, but Edith certainly wasn't happy with either of them.

"That's the conclusion," The bard started once again, "They just let us go, and you give all of Nettly's coins to the elves."

"Filavandrel's lute not gift enough for you?" Geralt countered.

"Yeah, she is a bit sexy, isn't she? What do you think, Edith?"

"I think you're delusional."

"Yeah, sure, I wasn't the one that went all crazy back there."

Edith's jaw locked, and she quietened with annoyance. She knew what happened - she knew what the anger caused, but that didn't mean she liked it.

"Shut the fuck up, Bard." Geralt defended, golden eyes gazing upon his figure in warning.

"..I do have respect for Filavandrel. He survived the Great Cleansing once. Who knows? Maybe he can do it again." The bard had fallen slightly behind the two, and Edith perked at his words, "Be reborn."

Edith's eyes rolled as he broke into song, pausing seconds afterwards in dislike, "No, that's.. shit."

"This is where we part ways, bard, for good." Geralt enforced.

"I promised to change the public's tune about you. Atleast allow me to try."

Edith couldn't help but admit his next choice of song was better than the last, but Geralt didn't think to agree so.

"That's not how it happened." His golden eyes glowed at the bard, "Where's your newfound respect?"

"Respect doesn't make history." The bard admitted, beginning to strum on his lute as he walked away from them. Edith listened, the lyrics presenting a fake facade.

Geralt debated his words before following behind the bard at a distance, "Hmm."

Edith's tired eyes gazed down at him, "I'm still angry at you, by the way."

Her frustration rose at Geralt ignoring her words, "Real childish, Geralt."

"Stop throwing one of your tantrums, girl."

"I don't throw tantrums!"

"What are you doing now then?"

"I-I'm, uh, being angry at you!" Edith pitfully retorted.

"You look better with a smile." He teased

"Geralt!" A crimson painted her cheeks, and her gaze diverted away from his figure towards the sandy path underneath Roach's hooves. She couldn't believe he'd just came out with something like that, but he didn't seem to care about his words, only the effects afterwards.

"Hm."

"You-- You can't just come out with things like that."

"I'll come out with whatever I want, Edith."

Edith's blush brightened, and she slumped further on Roach's neck, "Right." She replied hesitantly, and watched Geralt's ashen hair from behind.

She noticed his sword situated there, and saw the crest that once belonged to Renfri. This wasn't the first time she'd saw it, but it acted as a reminder that Witcher's do feel, no matter the opinion of others. Apart of Edith was grateful for this feat, but she wouldn't admit that even on her deathbed.

Her mind drifted back towards the dream that felt so real, and she herself wondered if it was real. She felt a motherly love she'd never experienced before with a complete stranger that looked painfully familiar. And then she remembered what she had done, or specifically, how the anger engulfed her whole. Her mind went back towards the two rotten circles left in her wake, and wondered if Geralt knew what was wrong with her.

She remembered the bracelet, but all of her worries seemed to be mininature in the presence of Geralt.