Embers

Jaskier

Jaskier's POV

He was biting the skin on the side of his thumb. Nervous and scared at the same time. Waiting for either Geralt or Eira to emerge out of the forest and that strange mist that seemed to cover everything around him.

Jaskier was back on the dusty road. At the exact place where he just danced with Eira. Geralt had found him in the forest ; alone and frightened to the core because Jaskier had lost track of Eira. Something had grabbed him from behind and pulled him away from her.

It was in that moment, that the bard had wished he was able to fight. He felt useless and had started screaming her name. To no avail because Eira hadn't answered. And that scared him more than Jaskier would like to admit. The fear that, whatever grabbed him, would be going after her.

It felt like Jaskier had been roaming around for hours when someone grabbed him by the shoulder. He had screamed : loudly and cowardly.

"Shut up, Jaskier," the voice of Geralt reached his ears in slow motion and the bard had turned to face the Witcher.

A sigh of relief escaped him and Jaskier leaned with his hands on his knees to take some deep breaths in.

"Where's Eira," Geralt asked, his eyes a bright yellow while he scanned the forest.

Jaskier shook his head.

"I don't know. We got separated. Something pulled me away from her," the bard started and went to stand before Geralt. "Something big, Geralt! We need to find her!"

Geralt finally looked at him with a straight face and grabbed Jaskier by the shoulder. The Witcher started walking, briskly marching towards the treeline of the forest and when Jaskier saw the road again, the bard pulled himself away from the Witcher's hold.

"No, she is in the forest!"

Geralt turned around to fully face him.

"I know," he said. "You need to stay here."

"The monster is after her," the bard spoke hurried, panicked and Geralt took a deep breath through his nose. Clearly annoyed that Jaskier was keeping him back from going back in.

"Eira can fend for herself," Geralt spoke, yet a slight frown of doubt crossed his face. "Normally," he added.

The doubt in Geralt's voice and face made Jaskier grab his hair.

"Normally? What do you mean! What's in there?"

"A mongrel that feeds on fear," was all Geralt said before he passed the bard. "Stay here. Be here when we come back."

"Fuck no," Jaskier muttered under his breath. "She needs me."

"She needs you to be alive," Geralt spoke harshly. "Now stay or I'll tie you against a bloody tree."

And so the Witcher went back into the forest, leaving Jaskier alone with the hooting owl that was still on the tree to his left. The bard looked at the bird while he started biting his nails first. And when they were gone, he started biting the skin.

It was so silent around him. So erie that Jaskier felt and heard his own heart beat. He had no doubt that Geralt would be fine. The witcher was well trained. And though, Geralt had said that Eira could fend for her own, Jaskier never saw her fight. The girl didn't even carry a weapon on her!

Again, time seemed to go slow. This time not due some beast that lurked in the forest. No, this time because all Jaskier wanted was to hold Eira against him. To know that she was fine. Alive.

He started walking, turned again, and walked the few metres again. Over and over again. The same path while his thoughts chaotically ran through his mind.

They just reunited again. His time away from her made Jaskier realise he did like Eira. A lot. He had no idea where this thing they had would go, just that he was willing to try to make it work. Whatever it was.

Jaskier loved the attention he got from women. Especially those girls in Inn's and castles who craved for the attention of the bard. The hope they had that he would write a song about them. To make them live forever in a tale of a bard.

He never once wrote a song about any of them. And Jaskier probably never would.

Eira was different. Made him feel different and, to his credit, Jaskier didn't even try to bed her. Though, that was mostly what drove him to women in taverns. It was easy pleasure and entertainment. When the sun came up, you just left and parted ways.

He had missed Eira, there was no doubt about it. Her presence and the way she listened to him. The sparkle in her eyes when Jaskier sung or simply played the lute. Yet, Jaskier couldn't stop thinking Eira hid something from him. Something that Geralt did know.

And the fear on her face when she thought the Witcher was hurt. Or worse.

His thoughts were interrupted abruptly when a roar of pain sliced through the air. Jaskier stood frozen in place, stared at the forest and saw how the mist slowly travelled up and up...To eventually fade away entirely.

The bard didn't doubt a second when he strode towards the treeline again and entered the forest. He had heard footsteps and when he saw a puff of gossamer hair, he couldn't help but smile bright. The relief that washed over him when he saw Eira emerge between the trees was something he hadn't felt before.

"Eira," he spoke up and got her attention.

She held her pace and locked eyes with him. Jaskier could see the scratches on her face, the dress that was torn on several places and the streaks of tears on her cheeks.

Yet, it was the sparkling in her eyes as soon as Eira looked at him that made Jaskier move towards her. The bard moved fast and easily through the low growth, jumped over a low hanging branch and without thinking about it, Jaskier pulled Eira into the tightest hugs he had ever given.

Her arms came around his back, pulling him even closer to her and Jaskier felt the sobs that escaped her throat. His hands caressed her hair, her back and cheeks.

He let her cry while Jaskier glanced at Geralt who stood a bit back.

"What happened?"

The Witcher looked up at him while he kept cleaning dark blood from his silver sword.

"A fear demon," he replied. "It wanted Eira."

"Why?"

Geralt shrugged.

"The why isn't important. It didn't succeed. The monster probably messed with her head."

Jaskier frowned, pushed Eira a bit off him but still held her in arms reach.

"Eira, are you okay?"

Blue eyes looked up at him, tears still streaming freely from her cheeks and he wiped them away with his thumb. A faint smile crossed her features and Eira nodded.

"I thought you were dead," she spoke silently.

Jaskier's eyes widened and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm fine," he whispered against her skin before looking over her. "You're bleeding. We need to find you a bath and take care of the wounds."

"I know a farmer who lives a bit farther down the road. Go to him. Tell him I send you," Geralt spoke while he put away his sword again. "I need to meditate. See you both tomorrow."

Jaskier glanced at Geralt who was already turning away. Yet, the witcher glanced over his shoulder towards the bard.

"Let her get some sleep," he spoke. "She needs rest."

The bard rested one of his arms around Eira's shoulder and nodded once towards Geralt.

"Let's go," he spoke gently. "We'll find you a bath and the softest of beds."

There was the shadow of a smile that made Eira's lips curl up slightly. He held her close while they made their way to the farm that Geralt had spoken about.