Embers

On the road again

Chapter 38 - On the road

Eira's POV

Geralt his reasoning made sense... Not going after the Other would keep Eira out of the line of fire. Still, Eira wasn't sure it was the best idea the Witcher ever had. Yet, she didn't speak up and just agreed. A part of her wanted to forget everything that happened in the past months.

Jaskier's hand came to rest on her knee and Eira turned to face him. He smiled and the elemental was able to nod slowly.

"Then there's another matter," she said and turned her head to face Geralt.

"Hmm?"

"Where will we go next?"

A faint smile crept onto his face.

"We'll see. We can leave tomorrow," he glanced into the direction of the bard. "And you can join. If you behave and keep your fucking lute in that bag."

Jaskier laughed dryly, saw Geralt was serious and then agreed.

"I shall get some rest," Eira stood up, felt Jaskier's hand slide off her knee. A feeling that made her regret getting up.

The bard was up in a second and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"Yell and scream if you're in trouble," he said and Eira grinned.

"Sure," she said and left the two men behind, not sure if she would need Jaskier's help if she got in trouble.

Yet, it seemed to dawn on her that maybe he liked to think that Eira would call for him if something went wrong. Not to defend her, but to be by her side. Something that made her warm inside while she climbed under the heavy blankets.
Sleep came fast and Eira didn't dream. It seemed like she closed her eyes for only a few seconds when Eira felt the bed move.

"Morning," Jaskier's voice reached her ears and Eira turned to face him.

She blinked a few times in confusion.

"Morning?"

Her throat hurt and her voice sounded like scrap paper.

"How long did I sleep?"

Jaskier smiled and caressed her hair with his fingers.

"Twelve hours," he replied and Eira's eyes widened in surprise. "Geralt asked to wake you up. Seems he wants to leave Kaer Mohren and is itchy to get on the road again. I checked on Bramble and she's fine. I think she misses you."

Eira kept staring at him, waited for the waterfall of words to stop before she sat up straight. She rubbed her eyes and nodded slowly while she swung her legs over the bed.

"Well, we don't want to keep Geralt waiting," she muttered. "We all know how he gets..."

Jaskier laughed and jumped off the bed.

"Yennefer put some clothes ready for you. I asked for pants and a shirt instead of some frivolous dress. Thought you preferred that for travelling."

Eira smiled and nodded when she noticed the clothes on a chair. Underneath, a pair of heavy riding boots.

"Although," Jaskier circled his arms around her waist, pressed a longing kiss on her neck from behind. "I do love you in a frivolous dress."

Eira took a deep breath in and closed her eyes when his fingers traveled from her waist to her ribcage. Playful and warm at the same time. His hands lingered there while Eira could feel his breath on the skin of her neck. The ragged breath that escaped her sounded tormented and relieved at the same time.

A warm feeling came over her and she pressed her legs together to stop the sudden tingle that emerged between her thighs. Jaskier pulled his fingers away suddenly, a movement that made Eira snap her eyes open again and return to reality.

"Sorry," he murmured and rubbed his fingers through his hair. "I'll let you get dressed. See you at the stables."

With a few strides, the bard was out of the door, leaving Eira flustered and out of breath. Confused and with the tingling feeling all over her body. Especially on her ribcage, where his fingers had playfully lingered and caressed her through her robe.

She wasn't stupid, Eira was fully aware what couples in love normally do. It seemed that Jaskier was about to take the step, just like in the Inn months back after the Fear Demon, but again, he decided it was best to not move further.

She turned to face her clothes and the mirror, couldn't help but to look at herself. For the first time, Eira truly looked at her reflection. The silver, white locks on her head needed combing and a new braid because of sleeping, they were a mess. Blue, tired eyes gazed back at her and her now thin frame, looked unhealthy and malnourished.

A sad sigh escaped her lips when Eira turned away from the mirror. No wonder Jaskier turned around and practically ran out of the room. And he hadn't even seen the scars on her back that her vessel got during her life as a slave girl. They ran deep, leaving white, thin marks on her back.

Eira quickly got dressed, put on the boots and forgot about her hair. Never looking into the mirror again when she ran outside and towards the stables.

"Finally," Geralt huffed and threw her a bag. "We've been waiting for two hours."

Eira grinned while she caught the bag with a puff. And her smile only brightened when Jaskier brought Bramble her way.

"Hey," she rubbed the nose of the horse who nudged her in return. "I'm so happy to see you."

Bramble made a happy sound, trampled with one of its legs and Eira adored that horse.

"I need to say goodbye to Yen," she spoke while glancing at Geralt.

"She already left," he said and started walking towards the gates of Kaer Mohren. "Told me to tell you to keep safe."

Eira glanced at Jaskier who was struggling with one of the other horses.

"Are you okay?"

Jaskier snapped his head into her direction, saw her raised brow and nodded quickly.

"All is well," he huffed when the bard finally got the horse under control. "Let's go, shall we?"

Eira chuckled when he was able to get on the saddle after a few tries.

"Horses don't like me," she heard him mutter while she jumped on Bramble.

"You'll be fine, Jaskier," she said when he came to ride next to her.

He offered her the most beautiful smile when he drove past the Elemental. His lute strapped on his back and a bit awkward on the horse, yet Jaskier did it without complaining and a smile plastered on his face. It was one of the things about him that made her heart speed up. His neverending enthusiasm and just being cheerful.

She quickly gave Bramble the command to go a bit faster so Eira was next to the witcher.

"Where are we going?"

Geralt glanced at her while steering Roach towards the left and upon a hill.

"I heard about a monster in the first town to the East. Something that devours only women and nobody ever saw it. Leaves carcasses everywhere."

Eira grinned.

"Sounds exciting," she said and locked eyes with him.

Geralt reached out and patted her shoulder.

"Glad to have you back, Eira," he said calmly.

"Happy to be back," the elemental spoke and took his hand. "Thank you for staying by my side the whole time."

Geralt shrugged.

"It was the right thing to do," he merely spoke before leaving her to ride next to Jaskier.