Reincarnation ➵ The Witcher

xxxiv.

GERALT pushed Edith behind him, watching as the soldiers fell from their horses without a second to spare. Snow coated the ground below them, and the thick fog around them shrouded the atmosphere in a tense tangible smell of apprehension. Her eyes widened in the darkness, her hands clutching the back of Geralt's cloak as his sword gleamed in the night.

"Witcher." A female voice echoed, and in the distance she could see a figure shrouded in a cloak, approaching them from the darkness of the forest, "You can put down your sword. I'm not here to hurt you."

"Says the witch hiding in the woods." Geralt retorted, grip still tight on his weapon as Edith glanced over his shoulder.

"Sorceress."

"Witch." He reinforced.

The woman stopped before them, her hands removing the hood of her cloak as she gazed at the pair of them. Edith's eyes stayed narrowed on her figure, hands digging painfully into Geralt's back.

"There's no difference." Edith stated in suspicion, and her grip didn't falter as she watched the woman's locks reveal themself from the protection of the hood, "What do you want?"

"Triss Merigold. I serve King Foltest."

His sword pointed to the ground, hands briefly urging Edith to let go, "So he makes a show of kicking me out then sends his errand girl to slip me some coin so I kill his monster." he approached Triss, head tilting mockingly, "Not a very original plan for a king."

"It's my plan." Triss interrupted, but Edith's suspicion didn't falter, "My coin."

Geralt's gaze turned back towards hers, and the golden irises comforted her in the darkness. Edith stopped herself from smiling at him like a fool, and instead watched the altercation unfold.

"And I don't want you to kill the beast," Triss continued, "I want you to help me save it."

Geralt's eyebrows furrowed, and Edith let out a brief laugh at the request, "That's not really Geralt's area of expertise."

He sighed, before agreeing to the woman's request. Triss trekked the way she had came, and the duo hesitantly followed far behind her.

"I don't trust her." Edith whispered to him, and he shook his head at her at the loud volume of the tone. He continued on, feet overstepping branches in the road before offering Edith a gloved hand to help her over them in assistance.

"I can hear you." Triss called, back to them as she walked. Edith cringed, but followed nonetheless.

"Right."

Geralt stopped himself from smirking in amusement, footsteps snapping twigs beneath their feet as they moved. The atmosphere was full of a thick blanket of cold, and Edith shivered once or twice at the temperature invading her bones uncomfortably. Geralt's figure drifted through the trees, and the woman's pace infront of them refused to slow.

The three of them had reached the stone building quicker than Edith would have thought, which was mainly down to her mind being centered elsewhere. She thought about Geralt and her. Her mind was engulfed in the thought of what Geralt thought of her. Did he still see her as only a friend? She hoped he didn't, but knew she'd have a better chance of Roach talking to her than Geralt ever talking about his feelings.

Her gaze stayed locked onto his figure ahead of her, and Edith watched as Geralt glanced back at her a few times to ensure she was still huddled behind him. She was, of course she was. His company had became a luxury for the longest time, and she was no longer afraid to admit this feat to herself. But she wouldn't admit it to Geralt yet. Hell, she wouldn't even admit it to Roach.

Her footsteps shadowed his, like they always would, and Edith predicted Geralt's future attempts of forcing her to stay put whilst he went off to deal with the creature, and considering the dangerous nature expressed by the residents, she wasn't sure she would give much of a fight.