The Widow and The Witcher (Complete)

Chapter 10 (Edited)

A/N Thank you for reading my story so far, please comment and vote to let me know how I can make this story better :)

Chapter 10

Geralt didn't sleep well, tossing and turning with the conversations from last night running through his mind. The Look in Julia's eyes as she said "I understand if you feel you need to go. It's your job and they need you" but her eyes betrayed her true feeling of fear, as unshed tears shimmered as she spoke. Even as they said goodnight, she had lingered in his arms seeming to not want to let go. It broken his heart closing the door and not following her back to her room. Turning for the final frustrating time Geralt sat up. He could hear Ciri's gentle deep breathing and decided to go for a ride to clear his head.

Walking out to the stables Geralt started to saddle up Rose. The beautiful horse reminded him so much of Roach that he fell into his natural compulsion to talk about his problems with her. Leaning his forehead against roses neck he spoke "What am I going to do Rose? I want to stay but I know that if I don't go more people will be killed." Sensing her friend's discomfort Rose neighed as if trying to comfort him. Pulling himself into the saddle Geralt headed off as the sun started to peek over the trees.

It had been a long day for Julia, once again she stood looking out at the garden the sun streaking through the clouds as it headed to bed. Geralt had been noticeably absent at breakfast and she had not seen him since. Even though she wanted to drop everything and go searching for him she had responsibilities. Renee sensing her friends unease came and sat near Julia, not sure what to say she just waited for her to speak.

Still staring out at the garden Julia whispered "I am going to have to let him go again, Renee. I don't want to; I want to pull rank and tell him he can't go. But then I will be in the same place I was 4 years ago. I need him to go knowing that he is supported and will be welcomed home." she shifted to look at Renee, her anxiety and fear bringing  tears to her eyes. Renee seeing her friends anguish pulled her into a hug. She could not imagine having to say goodbye to Tobias especially now. She had a secret she wanted to share with Julia but in her current state, Renee felt it was not the right time.   

Dinner was once again a quiet affair, Tobias was absent attending to a dispute that had arisen between two of the new servants and he was yet to return. His abilities to calm situations and help resolve conflict were a great asset to her estate especially when Julia herself was being more and more preoccupied. So, it was just the girls here tonight. Julia worried about Geralt's absence, she had an unsettling feeling that he had left already. She hoped that this was just an irrational thought that he would let them know before he left. Even so, Julia could not shake the feeling that it occupied her thoughts that she would lose him forever.

Their evening dragged by slowly, Ciri went to bed at 9 pm, the poor girl was also worried about Geralt but could not keep her eyes open, so Renee took her to bed. Julia unable to concentrate on anything just stared into the fire. Every few minutes she looked at the clock on the mantel as the hands ticked by the knot of dred tightened in her stomach.  Both Tobias and Renee noticed her fretting, Julia was wringing her hands in her skirt, her eyes darting between the fire and the clock. However, no amount of attempts to engage her in conversation seem to work. At 11 pm they bid her goodnight and left hoping that Geralt was not gone but just detained somewhere.

Geralt arrived late, the house was dark, swearing himself all kinds of a fool at letting the night get so late. He first went to make sure Ciri was in bed, after making sure she was tucked in safe he went to find Julia. The library was cold the fire long put out; the healing room was dark. Realising that the only place she could be was in bed he stood at her door. It had been weeks since they had spent the night together, knowing he needed to see her, to let her know what had happened, he slipped into the room. The moon illuminated the bed, he could see that Julia's face was tear-streaked.