Embers

Slumber

Chapter 18
Slumber

Eira's POV

She wasn't able to speak up. Not yet.

After she saw that Jaskier was fine and reunited with him on the dusty road, her emotions seemed to gotten the better of her. All Eira had wanted, was to hold him and before she was fully aware, she had broken down in tears. Unable to stop them from streaming down her cheeks, wetting her dress and Jaskier's jacket.

He didn't seem to mind. At least, he never said anything about it.

The bard had guided her towards the farm that Geralt had spoken about. A small, cosy house with only the farmer who lived there. The man was confused and hesitant at first. It was close to midnight by now and Eira was well aware she must have looked like a real mess.

As soon as Jaskier told the man the Witcher's name, a smile crossed his lips and they could enter the old man's home. It wasn't a lot, but the farmer gave his spare room to them. He also made sure there were towels, a bucket and some clean sheets.

Eira sat down silently on the bed, her gaze followed Jaskier's movements who sometimes smiled at her. He looked tired. The dark circles around his eyes betrayed his fatigue and when Jaskier took the bucket with cold water, he kneeled before her.

"Your arm," he asked and glanced up at her.

Eira didn't hesitate and stretched her arm out. He softly took her hand in his while the other plunged a small towel into the water.

"It will sting," Jaskier said.

It didn't hurt. It didn't even sting. Jaskier worked gently and softly while he cleaned the scratches on both of her arms. His fingertips left a warm, tingling sensation wherever he touched her skin. Something that made her throat dry and Eira couldn't help to watch him work.

He chuckled awkwardly while he took care of her bruised knee.

"I feel watched, Eira," he murmured and glanced up at her.

The elemental pursed her lips together and quickly turned her gaze towards the wooden ceiling.

"Sorry," she whispered, her hands grabbing the cotton sheet underneath her.

Her knee did hurt when Jaskier cleaned it and the silence between them became close to unbearable to her.

"I thought you died," she blurted out, her gaze still on the boring ceiling.

She could feel his hands stop, still resting warm on her leg.

"You got pulled away. I thought it killed you," she spoke, trying to hold back the sob that was threatening to escape her. "I forgot about Geralt. That's a bad thing. I shouldn't have forgotten about him, but I wanted to find you first."

Silence.

Jaskier was still there. His hands rested on her leg, but didn't speak.

"The monster found me," she went on, still staring at the ceiling. "Told me it killed you. Killed both of you. That I was alone again."

This time the sob did escape her and Eira felt his fingers squeeze her leg tenderly.

"Is that your biggest fear?" Jaskier spoke, his voice hoarse and the elemental nodded.

"Yes," she managed to get the reply out of her throat.

It was an honest and sincere answer. One that she never thought to share with anyone, but here she was ; spilling her greatest fear to a bard she met months ago.

He moved. Eira could feel the bed move and felt his hand on her cheek. She turned her head to face Jaskier who smiled at her reassuringly.

"It's okay to be scared," he told her and wiped her tears away for the second time tonight. "It's only human."

Eira swallowed thickly and turned away from him to look at the scratches. Now clean and a bright red. She should just spit it out. Tell him the truth about herself. Maybe he'll forgive her for lying? Maybe not?

"I'm scared of spiders and losing my lute," Jaskier suddenly laughed.

Eira forgot her thoughts and turned to lock eyes with him.

"Spiders? Really? That's so...," she chuckled.

"Cliché? I know," he laughed and Eira felt herself relax a bit more. "You can have my to sleep in. Geralt will bring your bags and Bramble tomorrow morning, I suppose."

Eira felt her heart swell in her chest while looking at him.

"Thank you," she said and smiled.

Jaskier shrugged and stood up from the bed. He swiftly pulled his shirt out and threw it into her direction. Eira caught the piece of clothing, but her gaze travelled over his bare torso. When he turned away from her to go and move the bucket with water, Eira lets her eyes roam over his back and shoulders.

He had a lean built, but he could carry the heavy bucket without a problem. The underlying muscles in his arms flexed and Eira widened her eyes when she felt her heartbeat speed up. Her throat dry and a tingling feeling between her legs suddenly emerged, which made her press her legs tighter together.

"Are you still feeling okay?"

She realized her lips were parted and took a deep breath in to get her thoughts together again.

"Yes," she breathed. "I'm fine. Totally fine. I'm euh, I'm going to change into this."

She held up the shirt and stood up from the bed.

"I'll turn around," Jaskier offered. "I won't peep, I promise."

He did just that and as promised, Jaskier didn't peep while Eira got rid of the torn dress and stood in nothing but her underwear. She glanced at the ripped, blue evening gown with some feeling of remorse. Eira had hoped to one day wear it again, but looking at it, the dress really was beyond using it again.

"I'm ready," Eira spoke while she let herself fall back onto the bed.

The soft mattress underneath her made her sleepy and she felt how tired her vessel truly was. She tried to stifle a yawn that came up while Jaskier came to lay next to her. Eira tried not to look at his body, afraid she might start staring again. Instead, the elemental turned her head and locked eyes with him.

The bard's face was serious while his eyes flicker over her face. His fingertips moved some strands of her hair out of the way and his touch felt electric on her skin.

"You're not alone anymore," he told her the same thing that he had said months ago while lying in a field with her.

She nodded while Eira took his hand and let their fingers entwine. When he moved closer, Eira was the one who closed the distance between them. The kiss started slow and gentle, but turned passionate soon. His hands were everywhere ; her hair, the back of her neck, her waist and up again. Before she was fully aware, Jaskier leaned above her. His body pinning hers against the mattress.

Her own fingertips darted across his skin. Resting on the back of his neck and in his hair while she suddenly felt Jaskier pull back. They locked eyes and both were out of breath. The dark blue shade that Eira had seen only once before had pushed back the ocean blue in his eyes.

Scared that he could hear her heartbeat, Eira took a large gulp of air to calm herself. His gaze was intense while he kept looking at her and after a few seconds, Jaskier kissed her tenderly on her sensitive lips.

"You need sleep," he murmured, his voice hoarse and rolled off of her. "Come here."

He opened his arms and Eira rolled into them. As soon as Jaskier closed her into his embrace, Eira hummed out of happiness. The bard chuckled, a deep warm sound to her ear. His warmth engulfed her wholy and she leaned her head against his chest. Jaskier's chin rested on her hair and his calm breathing made her soon drift off into a peaceful slumber.