Reincarnation ➵ The Witcher

xlv.

"WELL.. uh, uh.. Ah, Geralt." The ashen haired man chose an appropriate time to step in, halting Jaskier's mumbles. He gently pushed Edith aside, and the shorter man gazed up at his presence questionably.

"Forgive me, my lord." Geralt began, false respect seeping through his words thickly, "This.. happens all the time."

Geralt gestured to Jaskier's fearful face, "It's true, he has the face of a cad and a coward." The man nodded in agreement to his words, and the bard was left looking between the two men with a frown as Geralt's gaze stayed pointed to his own, "But, truth be known, he was kicked in the balls by an ox as a child."

The man's face engulfed with sympathy, and Edith decided it was a solid time to step in, watching the two of them gaze at the bard in pity, "He's had problems with it ever since.. if you catch my drift." She sighed in sympathy, frown exaggerating the story further as the man's eyes diverted to her for a second.

"Well, that's.." Jaskier hunted his mind for words, not wanting to admit the horrid story they had created but knowing he had no choice, "tr-- true." He attempted to keep his face in serious position, and the man turned back to face Geralt.

"Apologies." Edith watched as the man took a coin out of his brown jacket before presenting it to Jaskier, "Here, drown your.. sorrows on me, eunuch."

He proceeded to toss the coin to the bard, which he caught without complaint. Jaskier nodded down at the coin, and the greying man offered the three a nod before departing. A small, barely there smirk had formed on Geralt's lips, and Edith watched in amusement as Jaskier processed what had just happened.

His arms flayed in defeat, "Oh, wow. Thank you. Thank you so much." His eyebrows stayed raised as he pointed to Geralt accusingly, "First of all, you hog all the fanfare, then you go and ruin my courtly reputation."

"What reputation?" Edith questioned, and Jaskier's angered eyes pointed to her.

"And you! Don't get me started with you, encouraging this.. this behaviour!"

Geralt raised his eyebrows in a smug Geralt-like way, "I saved your life. You're on your own from here on." Jaskier shook his head at his words, "Try not to get any daggers in your back before dawn."

At the end of his words, trumpets rang out in the hall, and a speaker's words resonated through the hall, "All rise for Her Majesty, The Lioness, Queen Calanthe of Cintra!"

Edith turned, watching a brown haired woman clad in golden armour stride through the hall. Blood painted her head, and she was followed by a group of well polished individuals. She grabbed a pint of ale in her stride, and raised it for the hall to see, before announcing the crowd.

"Beer!" People cheered at her words, and Edith watch Jaskied grab his instrument before joining the rest of the musically talented on the stage, "Apologies, noble sirs. A few upstart townships in the south needed reminding who was Queen."

People laughed and cheered at her words, and she presented them with a large smile. She turned to face them, "I find it's good for one's blood and humors. Ready your suitor's tales of glory, good lords. My daughter is eager to have this over with."

The pair of them watched the events unfold from the shadows of the side, and Edith glanced at Geralt's face every so often to gage his expression. They watched the Queen loosen the distance between herself and the table situated above the stairs, ale still tightly in her hands but her front still facing them.

"As am I." Her hand made the motion of a circle in mid air, "Bard, music!"

Jaskier nodded at her words, and attempted to begin singing until the Queen stopped him in her wake. She shook her head at the bard, a grimace across her face, "No, no, no! A jig! You can save your bloody maudlin nonsense for my funeral."

Edith let out a short laugh, already beginning to like the woman as a more lively tune spread throughout the expanse of the hall.