Reincarnation ➵ The Witcher

xxxvi.

"MISS Merigold, you were dispatched to settle a family matter," a man started, and Edith frowned in disgust, watching the man in a crown dig into a piece of meat greedily, "not to enlist a mutant mercenary for a game of sleuthing."

Edith stood behind Triss with Geralt, watching the man in the seat not give a second glance to the conversation, only the food situated in his hands and on the table infront of him.

"This is no game, Captain. Tonight is a full moon," Triss began, "and Geralt has already proved himself to be invaluable. We believe we can cure the creature."

"You say she's a girl. Then you will refer to her as Her Royal Highness." The guard enforced, and Edith's eyes rolled involuntarily, "And you, girl." His eyes snapped onto Edith's figure, "What assistance do you offer?"

She bit her lip, watching as Geralt debated coming to her aid, "Uh.. I'm here for, uh.. moral support?" She questioned, and Geralt's eyebrows furrowed at her answer.

"She's with me." He rasped, before the man on the king's right began walking away from his post towards the man clad in armour. Edith couldn't help the brief smile she gave Geralt in return, and she also couldn't help her gaze wander towards the lips of his in distraction.

"Segelin, I believe urgency warrants flexibility in court decorum." He argued, but the armoured man retorted nonetheless. The golden armour stuck out like a sore thumb, but it did little to protect him against the truth being catapulted at him.

"The witcher's theory is nonsense. Princess Adda was the people's angel. Who'd wish to murder her?"

Geralt watched the scene unfold over Triss's shoulder before interrupting briefly, "What about her lover?"

The man stood forward, disbelief written across his face, "Seditious rumors. Idle courtesans trading out boredom for jealousy."

Triss sighed in annoyance, "Perhaps if you called off your guards, if we were able to search the abandoned castle we could find clues as to who cursed her."

"Except this witcher would kill the princess as she sleeps, and collect the miners' coin." Segelin spat in distaste, and Edith's eyes narrowed onto the silent crowned man at the table. For hells sake, could he not intervene atleast once?

"Call her a Princess." Geralt spoke up once again, "Call her a unicorn if you'd like to. She grew inside Adda, feeding on her petrified womb."

"Have you no respect?"

"Mutating." He continued, stepping forward past Edith's still position, "Growing for years till she got so hungry.." he stopped, and watched as Segelin reached for the handle of his blade, "she was forced to slither out. Rotten muscle, bent bones, two spidery legs, claws dragging in the dirt. An overgrown abortion."

He listed, and Edith watched as the crowned man began to lose his composure, "Enough."

"Your Highness?"

"Leave." He demanded, and Edith watched as they bowed their heads in respect for his commands. Geralt shook his head at Triss, turning and softly grabbing a hold of Edith's elbow as they also turned to leave.

She offered a small smile up at him, and his golden irises gleamed down at her in recognition and gratitude at the attempt of cheering the atmosphere. The room followed behind the witcher's footsteps, and Edith grinned when he opened the doors for them all. He nodded his head for them to all leave, and Edith offered a small 'thank you' before complying.

However, this quickly turned into a yelp as she watched Geralt aggressively shove Segelin out of the door frame, two guards stationed outside attempting to prevent him from slamming the door in the groups faces.

"Hey!" A guard yelled, fruitlessly banging on the door in hopes it would open, "Open the door!"

Edith stood back with Triss, but couldn't help but think this action would result in Geralt's head being mounted on the pike. Triss's gaze turned towards her, blue gown illuminating in the candle light as she addressed her.

"Out of curiousity, what's Geralt to you?" Triss questioned, and a crimson painted Edith's cheeks like a tidal wave. She didn't know how to answer, because technically speaking they weren't anything over than travel companions.

"F-friends." She muttered, but knew that it was far from the truth even if she didn't admit it.

Triss smiled knowingly, "Friends don't look at eachother like that, Edith." Amusement tangled in her brown eyes despite the yelling occurring ahead of them, "He looks at you like he wants to ravish whole, but not before worshipping the ground you walk on. You've caught a good one."

Edith's gaze diverted down, but this did little to stop the warm smile spreading across her face at the words which was accompanied by butterflies raging in her stomach. Sure, Geralt was moody, but Geralt offered her a home, a sense of security, and most of all, he offered her his all. He definitely was a good catch.