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Geralt, Lambert and Eskel stopped confused as Vesemir stepped out of the inn, clearly having heard them coming up the road together, though you would have to be deaf not to hear Lambert complaining his way up the road, egging Geralt on which the white-haired Witcher was ignoring for the moment but Eskel knew from experience would not last.
They were in the village at the foot of the mountain leading to Kaer Morhen, the trio ready to get the last few supplies for the trip up the mountain to the Witcher School, ready to spend the winter together, all three of them ready for a break this year from the Path, ready to catch up with each other and their mentor.
Their mentor who should have been in Kaer Morhen and getting ready for their arrival, but who instead was standing at the door of the inn, his arms crossed, and his mouth pinched. He motioned to the stables and then stepped back into the inn, taking the silent instruction they stabled their horses and grabbed their things before hurrying into the inn, quickly finding Vesemir sitting at a table in the corner, steaming bowls of soup waiting for them and mugs of ale.
Normally they would have been too busy scoffing their food down to pay attention to anything but the food, but their curiosity and concern had them all sitting and looking at Vesemir, not touching their food.
"We have a bit of a problem lads, the main hall…it had a bit of an issue during the summer, the roof fell in, and well, the Keep is unlivable this year I am afraid. I was able to seal things off and get our things stored away, but, we aren't going to be able to live there this winter," Vesemir sighed.
"But, I don't have enough money for spending winter on the Path, not with the slow down the monsters this time of year!" Lambert protested right away.
"I am quite tired as well, I took on a lot of big monsters the last few months," Eskel said softer, but with real concern in his voice. They all knew what happened when you were too tired on the Path, they all knew what happened to Witchers that had to take on more monsters than they could physically cope with to get the coin in.
Geralt scowled at his steaming bowl of soup, trying to work out what they could do, where they could go, but the world wasn't known for being kind and generous to Witchers, there would be no one that would take them in, no one that would offer them reasonable lodgings for the winter to allow…
"I will be back in a minute," He said standing suddenly and breaking Lambert out of complaining about what he was going to do. As they all opened their mouths to ask him what he was doing he grabbed his saddlebags and hurried back outside to the stables.
Roach nibbled curiously on his hair as he threw his bags over the door of her stable and started digging through his bags to find what he was looking for, his fingers finding the Xenovox that he had buried under his things, determined that he would not use it, and knowing that he was going to.
Tugging out the ornate box, that reminded him exactly of the person that had pressed it into his hands and demanded that he use it over the winter, he stared at it for a few moments until Roach huffed in his face. Snorting he thought she knew exactly who he was about to call, and she was judging him hard for stalling it.
He activated the box and sent his message, waiting for the ping to say that the box had been picked up on the other end, and feeling utterly ridiculous standing in the freezing yard with his horse now nibbling on his sleeve as he stared at the box intently, as though he could get it to activate by pure force of will alone.
"Geralt!" The voice came from the box nearly making him startle.
"Jaskier," Geralt said, and he ignored the warmth in his chest at speaking to the Bard, it was ridiculous it had only been three weeks since they had separated, and he should not be missing the other so much already.
"I wasn't expecting you to actually use this you know, even though I told you that you had to, I was all ready to write a dirty limerick about you to spread around the Continent in the spring, I was thinking about how I could work the words shlong and song into it. But you used it so now I don't have to, is that you at Kaer Morhen? You got there faster than you said you would. Did you meet your brothers? Is everyone there safe?" Jaskier rambled, and through the box, Geralt could hear his booted feet walking around on wooden floorboards before he heard the squeak of a bed as the Bard threw himself onto it.
"I have met up with the others, they're all ok. But…" Geralt said and then cut off, not sure what the hell to say now.
"But? Is everything ok Geralt?" The Witcher could practically see the playful expression falling from Jaskier's face.
"Vesemir met us at the foot of the mountain. The roof caved in on the main hall, the keep is unlivable for the winter," Geralt said.
"And all four of you are there for the Winter?" Jaskier asked sharply.
"Yes," Geralt said and then huffed when Roach nickered loudly.
"Is that darling Roach?" Jaskier laughed. Honestly only the Bard would refer to a horse that was more likely to take your hand off than allow you to pat her 'darling'.
"Yes," Geralt grunted.
"Right well, if you start heading this way now you should be here just as the snow is hitting, it might not be pleasant the last few miles but needs must, I will make sure that everything is ready for you here," Jaskier said.
"Jaskier, the others…"
"I hope you are not about to suggest that when I said make your way here I did not mean all of you. Now, get yourselves moving and head here, I will make sure that everything is ready for you arriving,"
"Your family though…"
"They will be more than happy to have you here!" Jaskier said firmly, and Geralt did not think that they really would. "I will let them know that we are having guests for the Winter, besides my family want to meet you who I spend all my spring, summer and autumn with, and I want to meet your family, so this is perfect! I will see you soon Dear Witcher, I will go get everything ready. Oh, this is going to be so much fun!" Jaskier trilled, and he actually clapped his hands in delight.
"Ok," was all Geralt could say. "Jaskier…"
"You're welcome," The Bard's voice was warm, knowing exactly what Geralt was struggling to put into words. "Now, make sure that you call when you are a few days away so that I can make sure the last minute preparations are ready!"
"Ok,"
"I mean it Geralt! Call or I will get back to working on the limerick!"
"I will!"
"You had better!"
"I will!" Geralt huffed.
"Roach make sure that he does!" Jaskier called before laughing. "See you soon Geralt!"
"See you soon," Geralt said softly. Tucking the box away back into his bags he was biding his time he knew to tell the others, and trying to work out how to phrase what was happening, Jaskier was better at words.
Turning to head back into the inn and figure out how to tell the others he froze when he found all three of them standing in the doorway of the inn looking at him with utterly varying expressions.
"I thought the Bard was made up," Lambert said and then grunted when Eskel smacked him over the back of the head.
Geralt was ready to strangle Lambert and Eskel, if they asked one more thing about Jaskier he was going to go mad, Vesemir had been almost as bad, but he was just more discrete about trying to wheedle information out of Geralt.
The White Wolf was still sulking about the fact that his family had thought that Jaskier was made up and that he was having some sort of mid-life crisis and had made up a friend, or something like that. He had been especially wounded when Eskel had admitted that he was not sure that the Bard had been real and he thought that Geralt had made him up to stop them worrying about him and the difficulty that he had in making friends and companions on the Path and because he thought they were worried about him.
He wasn't pouting no matter what Lambert said.
Finally, though Lettenhove came into sight, and not a moment too soon considering the snow was now coming down in a thick blanket, covering them and soaking through their cloaks no matter that they were thick winter cloaks.
It felt odd to be heading to the large manor house of Lettenhove not for a contract, but with the hope of staying there. They tramped through the snow on their horses, winding their way up the pathway in the dark to the manor until finally, it was in sight, twinkling lights in a few of the windows making it look warm and welcoming, especially with the scent of smoke on the wind that indicated roaring fire had been lit to warm the massive house.
As he looked up at the house, he tried to imagine Jaskier growing up here. It was both easy and hard to do, his Bard's love for the finer things in life, his love for the beautiful and comfortable, his grumbling when they had to really rough it, but also imagining free and bright Jaskier growing up in the strict confines of being a Lord, a Viscount, imagining him going to his lessons, imagining that he would be anything but a wondering Bard where his music seemed to flow through him, his passion for it making him brighter and full of life and made him impossible to look away from.
"Bloody hell, Geralt, are you sure about this?" Lambert said with concern in his tone as he gazed up at the Manor House.
"Jaskier said that his parents agreed," Geralt grunted, but he felt a tingle of worry.
"This is really fancy Geralt," Eskel said with a tone of worry.
"Really fancy, not the type of place that would normally accept one Witcher for an hour, never mind four for the winter," Vesemir nodded.
"Jaskier said it was fine," Geralt just said.
"Do you do everything that Jaskier says is ok?" Lambert huffed, more prickly than normal as his nerves grew.
"Not often, I wouldn't be alive if I did," Geralt snorted.
"I heard that Geralt of Rivia!" The voice had a smile forming before he could help himself, and he hopped down from Roach, turning to see the brightly coloured Bard who was definitely not dressed for the winter snow racing towards them.
The others watched with open mouths from their horses as the Bard threw himself at Geralt, wrapping his arms around him in a hug, which Geralt returned after only a brief second of hesitation. He squeezed Jaskier firmly as the Bard hugged him tightly, but the Bard pulled back with a bright grin, his blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight as he looked up at Geralt.
"I am so glad you are here! I have been looking out for you all evening, I was hoping that you would make it tonight! You made good time, though it is getting really heavy out here, I was worried you would be delayed by it. We have some food ready for you all," Jaskier beamed. "Welcome, by the way, it is amazing to meet you all, I have wanted to meet you for years now!"
"Thank you, it is lovely to meet you too," Vesemir was the first one to find his tongue when faced with the honest, warm welcome.
"They thought I had made you up," Geralt said as he stripped off his cloak and threw it over Jaskier's thin silk doublet.
"They thought…what?" Jaskier started laughing.
"Apparently I am so antisocial I could not possibly have a friend,"
"That isn't what we said!" Eskel said, sounding faintly mortified.
"To be fair I did latch onto you and essentially follow you around until you stopped barking and snapping at me," Jaskier grinned leaning against Geralt.
"Not sure why you would want to follow him around," Lambert said as the three of them hopped down from their horses.
"Because he smelt of death and destiny," Jaskier smiled up at Geralt who smiled softly back at him.
"And onions," he added, smiling a little more when Jaskier's delighted laughter filled the courtyard.
"Come on let us get inside out of this weather. The stable hands will deal with the horses, I have warned them about Roach's tetchiness," Jaskier said even as he held an apple out to Roach who happily chomped on it. The stablehands hurried over when Jaskier motioned to them.
"We erm, caught these, as thanks for letting us stay, we don't have much coin between us and…" Eskel stammered, rubbing the back of his neck as he motioned to the bucks that they all had attached to their saddles.
"We have more than enough money, food will always go down well though, my mother and brother have huge appetites, that is very thoughtful of you, thank you," Jaskier beamed.
"Oh, you're welcome," Eskel blinked down at the Bard, clearly not knowing what to do when faced with….everything that was Jaskier.
"Come on," Jaskier waved them in, grabbing Geralt's hand and started towing him towards the house, the others following close behind. It was only then that Geralt realised that there were people at the front door watching the interactions.
As they got closer the people stepped into the hallway to allow them in out of the cold, watching as Jaskier led the four Witchers through the door, one of them by the hand, and tugged them over to the fireplace that was crackling merrily and warming the large space.
"Mum, dad, Felcia, Luiz, this is Geralt, Vesemir, Eskel and Lambert," Jaskier made the introductions happily as he stood in front of Geralt practically bouncing on his toes.
"How did you…" Vesemir started to ask as an expression crossed his face that had Geralt wanting to laugh, he was clearly kicking himself for forgetting his manners and not introducing himself, especially to Jaskier who was technically a Viscount's son even though he was…Jaskier. Vesemir still clung to those formalities.
"Geralt has told me so much about you all, I feel like I already know you," Jaskier answered the half-finished question.
"You mean you manage to get him to talk?" Lambert snorted before glancing warily at Jaskier's family who had still not said a thing.
"I have learned to interpret his hmmms and swearing, once you manage that it turns out he is actually quite literate," Jaskier grinned before yelping and jumping out the way when Geralt poked him in the side, honing in perfectly on his ticklish spot. "That is cheating," Jaskier pouted.
"Hmm," Geralt said, raising his eyebrow.
"Oh Melitele, did he just make a joke?!" Lambert snorted.
"Told you, translations," Jaskier grinned. He chuckled when Geralt grabbed the cloak still around his shoulders and towed him back to his side using it before stripping it off the Bard.
"Take your shoes off as well," Geralt grunted.
"I know, I know, they're not built for the snow, they're soaked, I will catch a cold, your practical sensibilities must be twitching at seeing them," Jaskier said brightly as he hopped around stripping off his silk slippers until Geralt took his arm to steady him.
"Hmm,"
"I was just excited about meeting you all!" Jaskier shrugged wiggling his bare toes thoughtfully and then delved into Geralt's saddlebags which were still slung over his shoulder, the Witcher grunting and steadying himself as Jaskier nearly threw himself into the bags to delve around until he made a triumphant noise and came out with a large, thick pair of woollen socks.
"I made you your own," Geralt grunted as he steadied Jaskeir again when he pulled the socks on.
"But yours are bigger and comfier!" Jaskier shrugged, straightening. "Now, you will have to…
"Julien!" The Bard's mother barked, and all of them turned to look at where Jaskier's family were standing watching them. The Witchers all exchanged a concerned glance, wondering if this was when the reality of having four Witchers in their home kicked in, and they were going to be chucked out into the cold night.
"Your mother is right Jaskier, let the poor men breathe before you pounce on them. We have some food and drink set aside for you in case you arrived tonight, come on through, you can place your bags down over there and we will have them taken to your rooms for you. I am Mikolai, this is my wife Olesia, and our other children Liuz and Felcia. Now, come on through," Jaskier's dad rambled in much the same way that Jaskier did, and they found themselves blinking at him instead of the Bard.
Jaskier's mother and father did not look like they should go together. Jaskier's father Mikolai was smaller at around 5,7 they would guess and was very slender and slight. He had greying blond hair and the same bright blue eyes that Jaskier had. He had a lot of wrinkles, particularly around his eyes from how often he smiled.
Jaskier's mother was around 6,1 with broad, strong shoulders and a stern featured face that was handsomely beautiful, her deep brunette hair was intricately braided over her shoulder down to her waist. Her dress was intricate and beautiful, her stance protective as she stood by her children and husband.
Jaskier's brother was around the same height as Jaskier, but with blond hair and the same blue eyes as his father, but his structure clearly came from his mother. He had a stern face, but looked as though it would break quick enough for the right person.
His sister had blond hair and blue eyes, braided as neatly as her mother's, she was wearing breeches and a blouse with a doublet much in a similar fashion as Jaskier's, her face open and bright like Jaskier, standing about three inches taller than him.
"Quite right, sorry. Come on," Jaskier yanked Geralt's bags off of his shoulders, staggered slightly before placing the bags down and then hurrying back over to take Geralt's hand again and started leading him down the hall. The other Witchers dropped their bags by Geralt's, a little uncertainly, but not wanting to risk offending their hosts for the winter.
Jaskier was chattering away to Geralt as they made their way into the dining room, over to the table, and even as he started loading up Geralt's plate he carried on chattering.
"Do you give the poor guy a break, Jask?" Liuz snorted. Jaskier only paused to stick his tongue out at his brother before he carried on talking about what he had been doing since they had parted. The others around the table watched with bemusement as Geralt started eating when Jaskier poked his shoulder in a clear order to do so, his white head tilted towards the Bard as he ate clearly listening to him with an intensity that was amusing to watch considering Jaskier was telling him about a poem he had composed about a cat he met on the way home.
"He has been excited about seeing him and getting to spend the winter with him and yourselves since Geralt called, he does calm down eventually," Mikolai said fondly, "please eat!" he added motioning to the food.
"Thank you, and thank you for letting us stay," Vesemir said a little uncomfortably.
"Oh please, it is our honour. We have wanted to meet Geralt for years now anyway," Felcia waved her hand.
"It is nice to get to meet you all as well," Liuz nodded.
"It will be easier for Geralt to meet us all with you here," Mikolai smiled warmly.
"It is odd seeing him with someone that isn't us," Lambert said before shoving a chicken leg into his mouth, wheezing when Vesemir clipped him around the ear.
"We're just grateful to him, for everything that he has done, for keeping Jaskier safe while they are travelling," Olesia said, her eyes pinned on the two of them, Jaskier refilling Geralt's mug and plate for him while still chattering away, Geralt's yellow eyes focussed intently on him. The group watched with utter bemusement when Geralt reached out and moved a knife out of the way of Jaskier's hand before he could hurt himself on it. Jaskier patted him on the shoulder in thanks, not stopping talking, they weren't sure he was breathing between words.
"Right, let us head to bed, we have time in the morning to get to know each other, I am sure you are all tired. Jaskier will show you to your rooms," Olesia said standing. Everyone followed suit, the woman possessing an aura of control and authority that they all responded to.
"Oh we have some lovely rooms set aside for you, come on," Jaskier clapped, snagging Geralt's hand and tugging him from the room.
"Night," Felcia waved amused to the Witchers who followed along feeling more than a little bemused by this turn of events.
"Honestly, he is your son," Olesia snorted once the door was shut and they were sure that the Witchers were out of their impressive earshot.
"I take that as a compliment," Mikolai chuckled.
"Did you see the way he looks at Jaskier?" Luiz grinned.
"He looks at him like he doesn't know whether to eat him or protect him," Olesia huffed.
"Going by those looks, both," Felcia snorted.
"We sorted out rooms for you all for the winter, they will be your own rooms so please make yourselves at home, and use them as you wish, the only thing I ask is that you don't put any holes in the wall," Jaskier chattered, as he led his trail of Witchers up the stairs.
"That was once Jaskier," Geralt huffed. "And I had been drugged,"
"Yes, yes I know," Jaskier grinned. "The comment still stands,"
"What happened?" Lambert asked curiously.
"He…"
"Don't you dare," Geralt snarled, moving quickly to catch up with Jaskier and cover his mouth. He ignored the sucked in breaths that his fellow Witchers made, clearly expecting Jaskier to react badly at the sudden movement and the exceedingly frightening snarl that Geralt let out, his fangs on full display.
They were not expecting Jaskier to start giggling underneath the hand and wiggling his eyebrows at his white-haired Witcher.
"You're incorrigible," Geralt huffed, shoving Jaskier down the hall.
"You have missed me!" Jaskier grinned.
"It has only been a few weeks," Geralt grunted.
"Doesn't matter, that is more than enough time to miss me," Jaskier took his hand and tugged him further down the hallway. "You are all together, there is another stairway down there that leads to the outside of the back of the house," Jaskier pointed to a door at the end of the hall.
"Where are you?" Geralt narrowed his eyes as he scanned up and down the hallway.
"Right here," Jaskier chirped, pointing to a door just a little further down the hallway. Geralt nodded as he looked around, narrowing his eyes as he scanned over the hallway again.
"I will take this room," He grunted, pointing to the room that was closest to Jaskier's, completely ignoring the snickering that was coming from behind him.
"I had the servants draw you all a bath while you were eating, I know that you will be cold and want to rest after your travel," Jaskier smiled.
"Thank you, and thank you for putting us up with so little notice," Vesemir said, seemingly to manage to find his voice.
"Oh no, it is my pleasure! Honestly, I am just really excited to meet you all, and to get to spend the winter together," Jaskier beamed.
"We are definitely looking forward to getting to know you better," Lambert chuckled.
"Go have your bath," Geralt grunted, stomping off.
He stepped into his room, listening to the others thanking Jaskier, before dropping his saddlebags onto the floor by the door and looking around the nice room. He shook his head as he took it in, it was 100 times nicer than any of the fanciest inns that he and Jaskier had sprung out on during their travels, and it was clearly something that was thrown together for them in a guest room. The bed looked sinfully soft.
If he did not know better and could not scent out Jaskier's feelings he would think that the Bard had to hate travelling and sleeping the way that they did, staying in the miserable little inns crammed into a bed together that was more splinters than a wooden frame, and more sheet than mattress, with a leaking roof and floors and walls that creaked with every breeze. But though Jaskier had his moments, and though there were times that he grumbled and clearly felt miserable when they were outside and it was storming, on the whole, though he genuinely did not mind, and even enjoyed himself.
He was a little baffled by how he could enjoy it seeing all this, but then Jaskier wasn't like most people.
He quickly unpacked the few things that he had, dropping most of his clothing near the door that needed washing, before hurrying over to the bath that was standing in front of the fire. The water was ice cold, Jaskier clearly telling the servants not to worry about heating it, and with a quick igni the bathwater was steaming pleasantly.
He had his clothes off in seconds and was stepping into the bath, groaning softly as the hot water soaked into his cold, aching body. He dropped his head back against the bath with a contented sigh and settled in to soak.
Ten minutes later he cracked an eye open when there was a tap on his door, smiling a little when Jaskier poked his head in.
"Want some help with your hair?" Jaskier asked, wiggling the bottle in his hands at Geralt, it was the Witcher's favourite to use.
"Thank you," Geralt tried not to say too eagerly, shuffling a little to push himself further up the bath as Jaskier snagged a stool and placed it by the bath at Geralt's head. "And thank you for this, for taking us in,"
"You don't have to thank me Geralt," Jaskier said gently as he undid Geralt's hair from its ponytail and combed his fingers through it gently to untangle it. Geralt ducked under the water at the soft tap to his shoulder, scrubbing his fingers through his hair to loosen the dirt and grime from it. Chuckling to himself at the irritated noise that Jaskier made above water at his actions, and ignoring the finger that started poking irritatedly at his shoulder.
If doing this wound Jaskier up, and meant that he had to spend a little longer easing the tangles out of Geralt's hair….well he would never admit it out loud!
"You are annoying," Jaskier huffed when he bobbed back up, but he was already pouring the oil into his hands and started working it through Geralt's white hair.
"I do have to thank you," Geralt said as he rested his head back on the side of the bath. "It would be one thing to take me in for the winter, but to take all of us in, is a different thing,"
"I want to meet your family, getting to spend the whole winter with you all and getting to know them properly is perfect. And I wanted to introduce you to my family as well," Jaskier smiled.
"They're exactly as you described them," Geralt smiled a little.
"They're wonderful, aren't they? Felcia is coming along really well getting ready to take over from dad," Jaskier hummed as he concentrated on working the worse tangles out of the white hair he loved tending to, the soft rumble starting in Geralt's chest as Jaskier's fingers started massaging the oil into his scalp.
"Does she mind that you gave up being Viscount and it passed to her?" Geralt asked.
"Not at all, I was not suited for it at all, whereas she definitely is, she enjoys bossing people around and problem-solving everything that comes with running the lands," Jaskier smiled.
"And you are definitely not suited to it," Geralt rumbled.
"Hey that sounded more like an insult," Jaskier yanked lightly on Geralt's hair before going back to untangling it. "I don't know how you manage to get your hair so tangled in such a short time," he added with a huff.
"Hmm," Geralt rumbled, sighing as he relaxed into the water and into Jaskier's clever fingers. "What are you planning on doing for the winter?"
"I have a few plans, I have my half-done songs that I wish to work on and complete, I want to complete my book of poetry over the winter. I would also like to show you around some of the things that I loved about growing up here, show you some of my favourite places," Jaskier smiled.
"I could teach you to properly make my potions now that we have time to do so," Geralt offered.
"Really?" Jaskier asked eagerly.
"Yes, and I am sure that the others would enjoy telling you stories that you wish to hear," Geralt smiled.
"That would be good, I could write them songs as well," Jaskier hummed. "I know that you are of the School of the Wolf and that there is already a School of the Bear that did exist, but what do you think about the Black Bear for Eskel?" Jaskier hummed after a few moments of silence where he carried on detangling Geralt's hair.
"The muses talking to you?" Geralt cracked open a golden eye and looked at the Bard.
"Just a little," Jaskier grinned sheepishly.
He had been worried that Geralt would make fun of him when he started talking about how the muse would hit him to write things and that it was almost like an urge that he could not stop sometimes, having the create what was pressing him until it was at its completion. But the Witcher while not really understanding, had accepted these moods.
"I do not wish to offend him," Jaskier added.
"He will like it, and I think it suits him," Geralt said thoughtfully before smirking at Jaskier. "I will buy you a whole wardrobe of silk whatever…"
"Doublets Geralt," Jaskier snorted.
"Them, to call Lambert the Red Skunk,"
"Geralt! You are terrible!" Jaskier laughed shoving at the Witcher's shoulder. "As tempting as that is, one, you would complain about having to carry around a whole wardrobe of silk and rant at me about how it is not appropriate travel wear,"
"I won't I promise!" Geralt smirked.
"And two, I want your family to actually like me," Jaskier snickered.
"Spoilsport," Geralt huffed.
"I might be convinced to create a song about a predicament that a certain man finds himself in with a cat though, purely allegorical, of course," Jaskier leant onto the side of the bath so that they could see each other, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Completely allegorical, of course," Geralt said with a growing smirk of his own. "Price?"
"Next time we are in Novigrad we stop by that boot shop I like," Jaskier leant back to finish his job.
"If you make it really good I will buy them for you," Geralt tilted his head back, his amber eyes shining with that amusement and mischief that Jaskier loved.
"Oh, you doubt me?" Jaskier mock gasped holding his hand to his chest. "I was thinking about a scene where the cat does something very inappropriate with his knives to the redhead,"
"I will buy you 2 pairs," Geralt said deadpan after a pause, watching as Jaskier's head tilted back in delighted laughter.
"Deal!" Jaskier said through his chuckles. "And you are all done!"
"Jaskier," Geralt whined reaching up after he felt Jaskier doing something with his hair. "Stop putting my hair in this,"
"It is called a man bun and it suits you!" Jaskier said firmly smacking Geralt's hand away. "Now tell me about your journey to Kaer Morhen and your travel here, did anything interesting happen?" He asked excitedly, throwing himself down on the thick, plush rug in front of the fire that looked as though it would swallow you whole, sprawling himself out on his side and then resting his head on his hand to look at Geralt.
"You mean aside from the look of horror on everyone's faces and being asked if the world was ending when they saw four Witchers travelling together?" Geralt snorted feeling the man bun thing one last time with a huff before relaxing into the bath, casting another quick igni to heat it back up.
"Oh, I wish I had been with you, that would have been wonderful!" Jaskier beamed.
"Also telling the others that as well as being my Barker you were the son of a Viscount and watching their eyes nearly fall out their heads after they asked how we would all fit in a cottage with you and your family," Geralt tilted his head so that he could watch the amusement and joy crossing Jaskier's face.
"Oh, wonderful! You never told them?" Jaskier asked.
"Forgot," Geralt shrugged.
Jaskier smiled fondly at him as Geralt told him about a Wyvern that they had come across not far into Jaskier's father's lands and had decided to dispose of as a gift, at one time he would have thought that Geralt hadn't told his family about him at all, or that he hadn't been interested enough to share the smaller facts about Jaskier with them. Now he was delighted because Geralt was one of the few people in Jaskier's life that knew who he was and did not care, genuinely just saw the man that Jaskier was, the travelling Bard who happened to be exceedingly lucky enough to be born into a well off and understanding, accepting family who supported his choice to leave behind the rich life they had.
He rolled onto his back when Geralt stepped out of the bath and started to dry himself off, Jaskier chatting happily to him as the fire warmed his side. He listened to the sound of Geralt pottering around the room, the rustle of fabric as he got dressed and then his steps as he made his way across the room to Jaskier.
The Bard shuffled a little closer to the fire to make room as Geralt dropped a couple of pillows from the bed onto the floor, Jaskier shifting his head to rest it onto one of the pillows as his Witcher dropped down onto the floor next to him with a soft groan, laying on his front as he made himself comfortable, wearing only a loose pair of linen trousers.
"I can't wait to show you Yule here, it really is beautiful, we will have to go to the market together," Jaskier said as he turned around to look at Geralt.
"I am keeping control of the purse," Geralt smirked.
"Geralt it is Yule!" Jaskier whined.
"Why do you think I took the majority of our savings with me," Geralt snorted.
"Mean! You're mean!" Jaskier wailed poking at Geralt until the Witcher batted him away. "Geralt…"
"Hmm?" Geralt looked up at the thoughtful tone in the Bard's voice.
"You did tell the others about my dad, right? I don't want it to be a thing," Jaskier asked.
"I did," Geralt nodded.
"Oh that is a relief, I didn't want things to be a bit weird, and I know some people can find it so," Jaskier grinned before starting to chatter about Valdo and the meeting that he had had with him on the way home.
"Geralt we…" Eskel and Vesemir paused in the doorway looking confused at the bed.
"What is the matter, just ask him where the bloody bard is, or where the dining room is, or whatever these posh people call it, I am starving!" Lambert grumbled shoving his way to the front before staring himself.
Geralt however had been started by the sudden noise and grabbed Jaskier around the waist he tugged him underneath him as he reached for his sword where it was propped up next to the bed.
"Are we under attack?" The Bard mumbled into the mattress.
"What ze matter?" Geralt blinked at his family waking up a little more.
"We're hungry and we have no idea how to make our way back down," Eskel said absently, peering at the head of brown hair that seemed to have dropped back onto the bed and was snoring again.
"Give us ten minutes," Geralt grunted flopping back down causing the Bard to grunt a little and then let out another loud snore.
"I didn't know that they were together," Vesemir frowned once they were standing a little further down the hallway.
"I don't think that they are," Eskel shook his head.
"Then why is the Bard in Geralt's bed when we saw him going into his bedroom last night, and has his own bedroom that is no doubt fancier than guest rooms," Lambert scowled.
"Not sure that you knew what a guest room was," Eskel smirked.
"He does have a point though," Vesemir shrugged nodding at Lambert.
"I don't think that they are together yet, or from what Geralt has said to me, and from watching them, I don't think that they realise that they are together yet," Eskel chuckled.
"They can't be that oblivious," Vesemir turned back to look at the door.
"Especially not seeing them together, it is just weird!" Lambert shook his head. "I have never seen a human act like that with one of us before,"
"But they can't not know that they're…"
"Geralt can be a little oblivious sometimes," Eskel hummed.
"That is true," Lambert nodded. "This Yule could be even more interesting!" he added with a growing smirk.
"Don't even think about it boy," Vesemir huffed shaking his head. "I do not want these generous people scraping bits of you and Geralt off of the ceilings because you have tried something foolish like flirting with his Bard,"
"Besides Geralt knows about Aiden, and I fairly sure he tells Jaskier pretty much everything about us," Eskel added turning towards Geralt's room as they heard some stumbling around and then a grunt.
"What…" Lambert looked between them worried.
"Come on then," Geralt sighed walking out of the bedroom, he made it all the way down the hallway to them without any of them saying anything considering they were all too busy staring at the Bard perched on Geralt's back, legs wrapped around his waist being carried down to them, still looking half asleep. "What?" their white-haired brethren scowled as he looked between them.
"Nothing," Vesemir snorted.
"Come on, let's get something to eat, I am starving," Lambert grumbled.
"Oi, don't fall back asleep, you need to tell us if we are going to wrong way," Geralt jiggled Jaskier's leg a little when the Bard seemed to be dropping off a little more. "Don't whine, you're the one that wanted to tell me in-depth your argument with Valdo last night,"
"It isn't an argument if he can barely get a word in," Jaskier mumbled into Geralt's shoulder, but he did crack his eye open.
They made their way through the hallways with Jaskier correcting them every now and then when they went to take the wrong turn until they were able to follow their noses to the scent of food and down to the dining room.
"Good morning!" A mountain of a man beamed at them as they stepped into the room from where he was seated at the table feeding a baby that looked positively tiny next to him.
"Mornin da," Jaskier managed to flop his hand in the man's direction. "Mornin Albin," He added when the baby let out a shriek.
"Good morning, I have heard a lot about you, it is nice to meet you," Geralt nodded his head.
"And I you, I have been hoping to meet you for a while. I am sorry that I was not here to greet you last night, I took Albin to bed and fell asleep in his room," The man held his hand out as Geralt approached him and Geralt juggled his Bard before taking his hand and shaking it.
Jaskier shuffled awkwardly once Geralt's grip was back on him, the Witcher just moving his grip to accommodate his wiggling so that he could lean forward to kiss the other man.
"This is Vesemir, Eskel and Lambert," Jaskier tiredly introduced, glaring up at the Witcher when Geralt just dropped him unceremoniously onto a seat, flopping down next to him ignoring the glare completely as the other man laughed.
"Lovely to meet Geralt's family, we have heard so much about him, and so much about you as well, I am of course Tanek," The man nodded.
"Erm…" Lambert glanced at Vesemir and Eskel, relieved to see them looking as confused as he was.
"Jaskier dad." The man added a little more hesitantly as Geralt reached out to take the teapot and started pouring tea for himself and Jaskier.
"But we thought…" Lambert held his hand at a shorter height… "was his dad,"
"You said you had told them," Jaskier smacked Geralt in the arm.
"I thought that I had!" Geralt hissed, though his ears were burning a little red.
"Myself, Mikolai and Olesia are in a trio," Tanek explained good-naturedly. "This is Jaskier's little brother, a little bit of a shock for us all," he added tickling the baby's chin.
"You're telling me," Jaskier huffed but he was pulling faces for his little brother as Geralt pushed a teacup into his hand.
"You are…"
"Whatever you are about to say nope, or I will reconsider Geralt's request for what I name you in your song!" Jaskier pointed his finger at Lambert before taking a sip of his tea.
"He knows you so well," Eskel laughed taking a seat next to Jaskier. "I apologise,"
"Oh no matter, it is a surprise to everyone who is not already aware, and a surprise to those who are. We are always the subject of lots of interested stares whenever we attend court," Tanek chuckled.
"At least until Olesia glares at everyone," Mikolai laughed walking in. He kissed Jaskier forehead before making his way around the table to lean down and kiss Tanek deeply.
"You guys are gross," Jaskier grumbled, but he was smiling fondly as he looked at them.
"Please sit, do make yourselves at home this winter!" Tanek motioned to Lambert and Vesemir and then to the table.
"We're going to ignore traumatising your son?" Jaskier huffed draining his cup and poking Geralt demandingly in the chest with it until the Witcher took it with a huff and reached forward to refill it.
"Don't they always," Felcia laughed waltzing in, she snagged Vesemir's arm and tugged him over to the table, patting his arm when the older Witcher pulled the seat out for her hurriedly. She patted the seat next to her and stared at him until he took it. Lambert dropped down into the seat next to Eskel, seemingly completely lost now.
"Exactly, I am seriously traumatised by my childhood!" Jaskier nodded.
"It explains a lot," Geralt snorted dropping Jaskier's teacup in front of him again.
"Wounded! Wounded! How could you say such things to me!" Jaskier wailed. Geralt snorted amusedly at the expression on Eskel's face when Jaskier dropped himself into Geralt's lap, his hand pressed to his forehead and put his feet up onto Eskel's lap in a mock swoon. His brother looked utterly baffled as to what to do when faced with Geralt's overdramatic Bard.
"Erm," Eskel looked at Geralt is askance.
"Don't worry you will get used to me!" Jaskier said brightly straightening in a flash and patting Eskel's cheek. The other Witcher blinked when he realised that it was his scarred cheek and Jaskier hadn't flinched or seemed bothered at all by the gnarled flesh under his hand, turning instead to chomp happily at his breakfast and banter with his sister.
Geralt met his eyes over Jaskier's head and smiled slightly at his brother, a look of understanding crossing his face and flashing through his eyes. He had felt the same way when Jaskier had first met him in that shitty inn, when he had learned that Geralt was The Butcher of Blavakin and had decided to travel with him anyway, just shrugging off the hissed warnings and even the hands that had tried to pull him away from Geralt for his own safety.
"Right well I am off shopping!" Jaskier said brightly, and quickly, leaping to his feet and hurrying away from the table and out the door leaving his family and Witchers alike blinking after him. At least until Geralt broke from the warm thoughts he was having about the Bard and crashed back to earth with a bang.
"Jaskier don't you dare!" Geralt thundered jumping to his feet and racing after Jaskier. "Give me back our purse you thief! Do not buy baubles with our savings!" he bellowed racing after the laughing Bard.
"Well, they're quite the pair and quite in love aren't they," Tanek said brightly after the sound of the front door slamming reached them. Lambert spat his tea back into his teacup spluttering at the comment.
"And…you do not mind?" Vesemir asked slowly.
"Why would we mind?" Mikolai asked, seemingly genuinely confused.
"They mean because they're Witchers' dad and most rumours have Witchers sacrificing babies and eating virgins under the full moon," Felcia snorted. The Witchers looked at her, but she did not seem inclined to be one of the people that thought that.
"Your brother has not been a virgin for a very long time, so that is not something we need to worry about," Olesia said dryly as she walked into the room. "Why was Jaskier running out the front door with Geralt behind him shouting about baubles and then scolding Jaskier for his winter coat?"
"They're going shopping," Mikolai explained tilting his head up for a kiss, something Tanek mirrored.
"Why are we talking about Witchers sacrificing virgins, Jaskier wasn't ranting again was he?" Olesia settled down between her partners after tickling Albin's chin.
"Ranting?" Vesemir asked.
"No he wasn't, we were talking about Jaskier and Geralt being Jaskier and Geralt," Felcia shook her head. "Jaskier spent most winter for years ranting about how Witchers were misunderstood and jumped down the throats of anyone that repeated any of the ridiculous rumours about Witchers," she added for Vesemir.
"Ah, you think we would have a problem with them having a relationship," Olesia nodded.
"You don't?" Lambert spat but the family seemed to realise that it came from shock rather than being an attack.
"Not at all. If they love each other, which they most obviously do, that is all that matters, and Geralt cares for Jaskier, looks after him, ensures that he is safe and indulges him going from what we have heard, and what we have already seen since you arrived. Why would we desire someone else for Jaskier simply because of what Geralt is, all that matters is how he feels for him," Mikolai smiled.
"You're very strange people," Lambert said before wheezing when Vesemir elbowed him. The family around them just started laughing though.
"Jaskier!" Geralt huffed as Jaskier wandered to another store.
"You're such a worrywart, I am fine, it isn't that cold," Jaskier laughed shaking his head. When he turned however he found his Witcher standing there with an expression that Geralt would refuse to admit was a pout and looking mutinous. "Honestly," he chuckled.
He reached out and paid for the item that he was looking at before turning and taking Geralt's hand. The Witcher didn't protest as Jaskier led him through the market, his knowledge of the twists and turns of the stalls and streets saying how well he knew it.
"Jaskier," Geralt whined when he realised that Jaskier was leading them away from the house.
"Shush, just allow me a few more moments, I want to show you something," Jaskier smiled wrapping his arms around Geralt's arm, carrying on leading him through the snow and into the forest.
"You're going to catch a cold," Geralt sighed.
"I'm not that vulnerable," Jaskier squeezed his arm gently.
Geralt's blinked when they stepped into the clearing that Jaskier had led them to. It was stunning. Full of all the flowers that he used in his potions, all the herbs and different plant life that he needed to make his potions. The small garden was stunning and covered in snow with icicles hanging from the branches, the plant life planted in a stunning way.
"Liuz and dad look after it for me when I am away,"
"This is where you get all the ingredients I need from?" Geralt blinked walking to the middle of the clearing and looking around.
"Mm hm," Jaskier nodded walking over to Geralt.
"Why? This is so much time and effort," Geralt turned to look at his Bard, and his breath caught as he took him in, standing there with his blue 'its sapphire Geralt' cloak that contrasted with his pale skin making him look almost like he was glowing with the snow surrounding them.
"Because," Jaskier stepped even close to Geralt until he was able to reach up and cup his face. "Because I love you Geralt," He smiled softly at the Witcher as he said the words, his eyes warm and expression open.
His initial and instinctual reaction to push Jaskier away to protect him, to hurt him now to stop him from being hurt worse later was stilled by this warmth and openness, by the gentle, warm touch of Jaskier's fingers on his face, those clever fingers that created such amazing music and art were barely touching his skin, but it was enough to anchor Geralt and stop his knee jerk reaction.
"You're allowed to have nice things you know, you're allowed to want things, and you're allowed to have them in your life," Jaskier had said once during a rant and scolding he had been giving Geralt after he found out that Geralt had been denying himself things that he needed.
"You're the best thing in my life," Geralt heard himself say, and Jaskier looked both overjoyed and worried at the same time. "And I want you,"
Jaskier's smile was so bright and so happy that Geralt could not have stopped himself from leaning down to claim those lips, to taste that smile and Jaskier's joy. They quickly lost themselves in the kiss, Geralt wrapped his arms firmly around the slightly smaller Bard, pulling him against his body as he lost himself in Jaskier.
It was like coming home, and as though they had been home the whole time and this was just the last part to the puzzle. When they parted so that Jaskier could suck in some much needed breaths Geralt pressed their foreheads together.
"I love you too," he breathed into the small space between them.
"Not running?" Jaskier asked gently stroking down the scar on Geralt's face gently, his blue eyes understanding and not accusing at all.
"No, you wouldn't let me," Geralt smiled.
"No, I wouldn't," Jaskier kissed over his cheek, along his jaw, kissing his chin before pressing their lips together again.
"I love you," Geralt said when they parted.
"I love you," Jaskier smiled, looking utterly happy in Geralt's arms.
"We can be happy can't we?" the Witcher asked.
"Yes we can. Together we can be happy, we are happy," Jaskier nodded.
"Thank you, for brightening my life, thank you for bringing colour into it," Geralt sighed happily before leaning down to kiss him again.
Standing there in the snow filled clearing, wrapped in each other's arms, they sealed their words of love and the promises for the future that they breathed between them. They started the rest of their future together, building on the happy, warm life that they had already created together.
Walking hand in hand back to the house where their families were waiting for them, they crunched through the snow without saying anything. Jaskier was humming a song, the love song that he had created for Geralt but had been scared of sharing because it revealed his heart. Next to him, Geralt walked in his normal quiet, listening to the song and just looking at his handsome Bard as he realised that he was truly looking forward to the rest of their life together.