Embers

Water

Eira lingered behind the two men the whole road towards ... wherever Geralt was leading them. She hadn't been listening at all when the Witcher had told both Jaskier and her where they would go next. Eira assumed he already found a next contract or heard about some monster roaming around.

She was glad to see her horse again after the whole Triss and Striga thing that had happened. And the more space there was left between Triss Merigold and herself, Eira felt more and more relieved.

"You haven't spoken for a day," Jaskier suddenly popped up next to her.

He bought his own horse a while back so that he could follow them more easily.

"And not to mention, you look flushed," he pointed out.

It made Eira her face heat up some more and she glanced in his direction. His gaze was locked with hers for just a few seconds, which made Eira's throat dry. She shook her head and looked away from the bard.

"I think I'm getting ill," she said confused. "I don't get ill."

Jaskier laughed, a lovely sound in her ears and Eira couldn't help to look at him again. His lute was strapped on his back and, for some reason, the bard looked like he had full control over his horse. He must have ridden one before because he seemed well trained.

Not to mention that the blue of his jacket matched the clear blue of his eyes. Again, her heart throbbed in her throat and Eira practically felt how the heat travelled over her cheeks to her neck.

"We all get sick once in a while. I had the flu a few years ago. It was horrible. Thought I was going to die and..."

"She isn't sick," Geralt's voice carried to them from the front and the witcher glanced over his shoulder. "We'll make camp here. It's dark."

He had spoken to Eira, but Jaskier jumped off his horse too. Even from a distance, the elemental could see the eyeroll of Geralt.

"Bard, when are you going your own way," he grumbled while throwing down his bag on the soft grass.

Jaskier shrugged. "I have a performance soon. Will travel to the South for it. I will be gone for a few months." He glanced into Eira's direction for just a second and she locked eyes with him.

"Good," Geralt muttered.

The knot that formed in Eira's stomach before, was harder this time. And much more uncomfortable. She visibly shifted from one foot to another while rubbing the flank of her horse.

"You're leaving," she asked when Jaskier came to help Eira with her bag. "When?"

The bard shrugged and shook his head slowly.

"It's no big deal. Maybe in a week or so. I've got plenty of time," he muttered and his gaze kept flickering between the horse and Eira.

"How long will you be gone?"

Jaskier bit his bottom lip and decided it was better to just look away from her to focus on the bags.

"A few months. Maybe three," he finally spoke and for some reason Eira felt the earth shift underneath her.

"A few months," she repeated and Jaskier turned to face her.

"Do you want me to stay," he asked and Eira mustered up a smile while her insides seemed all in pain all at the same time.

"No, no," she quickly said, "of course, you're a bard. That is your work and ... you should go."

She took a deep breath, clearly feeling uncomfortable and way too warm all of a sudden. When Geralt suddenly appeared next to her, Eira felt his warm hand on her shoulder.

"There's a stream East from here," he said calmly. "Get water for the food?"

Eira turned gaze towards the witcher and for the first time since she started travelling with him, there was a faint smile around his lips. A nod was given towards him and Eira grabbed a small bucket that they used for water. She swiftly made herself scarce towards the East, through the forest and found the little stream Geralt talked about.

It was there that she sat herself down, feet in the water and leaning against a tree. Letting the silence of nature surround her and Eira dug her fingers into the earth underneath her while closing her eyes.

A sense of serenity came over her before the turmoil in her head returned. Her eyes snapped open and she hardly realised her fingers were clawing the grass. Why was it bothering her so much that Jaskier was leaving? Or even worse, why did she feel even more sick now he told her he would be gone so long?

The questions flew around in her mind while her gaze was on the calm water. The more Eira clawed into the earth, the more uneasy she became. And the calm water slowly changed. First it was just minor ; gentle waves came where the water was first flat and calm.

It was when she became so frustrated and confused within that body that she inhabited that Eira wished she could just leave her vessel and disappear. And at that point, a stream of water suddenly burst out of the surface, swiveled around before hitting the grass a bit further.

Her eyes grew and Eira jumped up, the water just missing her.

"Try to move it to your will," the voice of Geralt made her glance at him.

Eira didn't hear him come and wondered how long he was standing there, leaning against the tree. His eyes gentle towards her and he nodded with his chin to the stream.

"Just try it, you don't own the water yet. It's the element that you can bend using your emotions."

Eira looked at him confused and shook her head.

"I don't know how to use emotions. I...I didn't know I had them," she confessed and stared at the calm water before her.

"You do have them. You aren't feeling ill, Eira," Geralt told her and put his heavy hand on her shoulder.

She closed her eyes under his touch and breathed out.

"I am. I feel unwell. My stomach ... my heart sometimes seems to skip a beat."

A dry laugh came from the Witcher making her glance at him.

"You have feelings for the bard," he said while crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't know why, he's a nuisance."

"I don't," she tried and looked at him with a frown between her brows. "I really don't. I am just...ill. Maybe the flu. Like Jaskier said."

Geralt lifted up his brow and grinned.

"Sure," he said, the sound of his voice gave away he didn't believe her.

Which frustrated her even more. Eira balled her fists and turned to fully face him.

"I'm an elemental! He doesn't even know that," she said loudly. "I don't do love. Or hate. Or anything in between."

Geralt his gaze travelled from her to something over Eira's shoulder and his smile grew faintly.

"Eira," he said and nodded his chin towards the water. "You're making the water dance."

She quickly turned on her heels, her long hair playing with the gentle wind while she did.

The water bowed and rose in strings. To rise and fall down again, playful and chaotic. She carefully lifted her hand, wiggled her fingers and the water moved to her will. Eira was in wonder at the sight. The sunlight played with the water, making it colourful and her mouth was agape.

"I am controlling it," she said out of breath. "I can use the three elements. I can bend them."

"I'm proud of you," Geralt said, which brought her back to reality.

She turned, let the water fall again and looked up at him. He was standing close to her, watching her with his dark, yellow eyes.

"You are?"

He nodded once, face serious.

"I am," he admitted and turned around. "Now get water for the food , like I asked."

She huffed.

"You didn't ask. You commanded," she said but Geralt was gone already.