Reincarnation ➵ The Witcher

xxxi.

EDITH arrived back to camp with the cup of water firmly planted in her hands and the musky smell of Geralt removed from her frame. Geralt was no longer dozing in the position he once was, instead his chest was now covered in the cloth Edith saw on the branch moments before. She wasn't sure whether or not to feel disappointed, and watching his back move, she decided she was.

"Here." Edith announced, and Geralt turned from seathing his sword back into the right position. His armour a was situated on the ground, ready to be placed over him.

"Thanks," Geralt's hands grasped the cup, "Saddle Roach."

Her eyebrows raised in refusal, "That horse will kill me. It's already given me the devil eyes when you're not looking."

Geralt snorted, "Never thought you'd be afraid of a horse, girl."

"Let's not jump to conclusions. I never said anything about being afraid of Roach."

"You didn't have to. I can tell."

Edith's jaw clenched, and Geralt was mildly amused at her annoyed behaviour. She sighed, and instead of retorting she picked up Roach's saddle blanket thrown over a branch. She kept eye contact with Geralt the entire time, and he shook his head at her behaviour before continuing with his own to-do-list.

"If Roach bites me and I die, I'm totally coming back to haunt your ass." Edith called, and he smirked with his back to her in amusement.

"Hm. I'm sure you would, Edith."

"I'm not joking!" She reinforced.

"Never said you were."

"But you were thinking it."

"Just saddle the horse, girl." Geralt sighed, and watched from the corner of his eye as she approached Roach who was situated the other end of the camp. Her movements were hesitant, but she still did as Geralt had asked. Sure, she may have at first put the saddle blanket on incorrectly and albeit wonky, when it came to the saddle itself that's when she struggled.

Geralt's hands were busy tightening pieces of his leather armour down, but Edith's hands were busy attempting to drag a saddle that seemingly weighed more than the horse itself. This did little to prevent Geralt's amusement, and even he could see she had hardly any muscle on her arms. He watched as she almost buckled under the weight but still mounted the saddle on successfully.

"It's around the wrong way." Geralt called, and Edith groaned further.

"Fuck sake," she moaned, hand smoothing Roach's mane, "anything else you want to complain about, Geralt?"

"Yes," he agreed, eyes interlinking with her own, "your attitude."

Edith let a smile grace her features before turning and attempting to move the saddle without hurting Roach. The horse whinnied, and Edith flinched back in fear. Her heartbeat slowed, and her hands slowly reached again to attach the saddle more securely.

Geralt watched her figure, and watched as she had to step on her tip toes more than once.

"You done?"

Edith glanced back at him, strand of hair drooping into her face, "I'm not doing the reins."

"Hm." He agreed, hands clasping one last piece down before approaching her from behind. He picked up the reins on the floor, hands briefly brushing against her elbow as he softly urged her out the way.

She complied, hands hesitantly brushing against Roach as Geralt applied the reins. She watched the side of Geralt's face, and memories from what had occurred between the two caused a blush to form. She could smell the essence of pine and rain clinging to his body like a shield, and Edith felt a comfort in the homely smell.

"You're staring again."

"Glaring."

"Hm. Glaring again." Geralt repeated, and Edith's gaze didn't falter.

"I know."

Geralt ingnored her, hands fastening the final parts of the bridle together before patting the saddle for Edith.

"Get on." He demanded, and she watched him in slight confusion, "Hurry up, daylight's being lost."

Edith hummed before her left foot entered the stirrup and Geralt pushed her the rest of the way up onto the saddle comfortably. He surveyed her posture, and handed her the reins to Roach as he packed up the remainder of the camp. Edith's form stayed stiff, unlike the last time she was on Roach.

Geralt grabbed at the end of Roach's rein, beginning to pull both the rider and the horse towards the small natural path ahead of them, and Edith was sure she'd be gaining a saddle sore from this ride, despite the excitement of their next destination springing to mind.