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Geralt sat in the shadows of the small tavern watching Jaskier perform. They had stopped in for a quick bite on their travels, and one of the patrons had recognised them, begging Jaskier to perform just a couple of songs. Being the troubadour showpony that he was, he got up with glee and made his way to the front of the tavern.
Geralt had slunk to the darkest corner he could find and ordered an ale. He closed his eyes and leant his head back against the wall, the sound of Jaskier's singing piercing through his skull like a swarm of bees.
"Your ale," the barkeep grunted, sliding the heavy mug towards him. Geralt eyed the man with suspicion, before reaching out for the drink. He was just about to raise the liquid to his lips, when Jaskier snatched the ale out of his hands and downed the whole lot.
"Jaskier!" Geralt growled, incredibly annoyed.
"Well I think that's all we have time for. Let's be going," Jaskier rushed, before belching crudely.
Geralt frowned, murder in his eyes, but something in the way the bard was looking at him, made him realise that there could be something amiss. He felt his wolf's medallion vibrate gently, and reached up to finger the amulet. He grunted, slamming a couple of coins onto the table, before gathering his swords and slinging them on his back. He followed Jaskier out of the tavern, into the bright sunlight, wondering what the fuck had just happened.
"What was all that about?" he grunted, grabbing Roach's reins and leading her down the dirt road.
"Nothing," Jaskier replied a little too quickly. "Just wanted to get on the road."
Geralt raised an eyebrow, glaring at his companion. "Fine," he muttered, leading the way out of the small town. The weight that had settled in his chest seemed to lift the further away from the tavern they got. There had certainly been some aspect of danger, and he was glad they hadn't hung around to find out what.
They continued down the road for about an hour in silence, making good time in the beginning, before Jaskier started to fall behind a little.
"Sorry Geralt, nature calls," he muttered, traipsing off into the dense underbrush. Geralt caught sight of the other man's face before he disappeared. He was pale and sweaty and looked rather unwell.
When Jaskier returned, Geralt was waiting patiently for him. "Are you alright?" he asked, his earlier annoyance at the bard for stealing his ale dissipating.
"I'm fine," Jaskier mumbled. "Let's get going, shall we?" He walked off down the beaten path, looking rather unsteady on his feet.
Geralt cocked his head to the side, staring after the bard. He sighed. "Come on Roach," he murmured to his horse, leading her in the direction the bard had taken off in.
Not five minutes later, Jaskier let out a low groan, holding his hand to his stomach. "Excuse me," he ground out, rushing off the path again.
Geralt sighed, staring off after the bard. He would be beginning to get annoyed at the delays if he wasn't concerned. It was then that the sound of retching filled the small clearing. "Jaskier?" Geralt called, standing on the path should the bard need his privacy.
"I'm fine!" Jaskier lied. "I'll be out in a second."
Geralt took a deep breath, scanning the path, before walking off down the track. When he came back, Jaskier was angrily traipsing after him, muttering under his breath. "Couldn't even wait for me… I said I'd be right out."
"There's a clearing up ahead. We'll make camp there."
"Oh," Jaskier murmured. "I thought you'd left without me."
Geralt frowned. "I can tell that you are ill. I think it's best we stop for the night."
"No, no. I said I was fine," Jaskier lied again, shaking his head.
Geralt raised an eyebrow in amusement. "What you say, and what you are, are two very different things." He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on."
Jaskier sighed, his facade dropping with a loud gurgle of his stomach. "Ok… maybe I need to lay down a little," he muttered, clutching his belly in discomfort.
Geralt lead the way to the clearing he had found, quickly untacking Roach and laying out Jaskier's bedroll. "Rest, I'm going to gather firewood."
Jaskier complied wordlessly, laying down with a soft groan. He curled up in a ball, falling asleep almost instantly. He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but he woke up in a rush, his stomach threatening him from both ends. He scrambled to his feet, running for the treeline, ignoring Geralt's calls.
Geralt frowned after the bard, hating to admit how much it worried him to see him unwell like this. He placed a pot of fresh water on the fire he had just started, wanting to boil water to make a tea that would hopefully help the other man feel a little better. He had to admit this situation was a little unorthodox for him. It had been a long time since he'd had to look after someone other than himself.
Jaskier appeared a short while later, looking pale and miserable. "Jask…" Geralt murmured, gesturing for the bard to take a seat by the fire. "You know you can tell me when you're sick?"
"Mm not sick," Jaskier mumbled, sitting on a tree stump by the fire, rubbing his upset stomach.
"You don't need to lie to me," Geralt said gently. "I can see that you're unwell." He handed Jaskier the ginger and fennel tea, which he accepted gratefully.
"I'm not sick," he muttered again. Geralt gave him a hard look and Jaskier sighed. "The ale," he whispered.
Geralt shot him a confused stare. "The ale?" He raised his eyebrows. "You mean to tell me you're hungover?"
Jaskier gave him an exasperated look. "No I'm not hungover!" he all but growled. "I saw the barkeep put something in the ale." he muttered finally.
Geralt flared his nostrils. "So you decided to drink it?!" he asked incredulously.
"It was the only thing I could think of to not draw attention to you!" Jaskier said quickly.
Geralt's shoulders deflated. "You know my body would have handled whatever it was better than yours?"
Jaskier grimaced. "Probably. I didn't think!"
"You could have died!" Geralt growled. "You're lucky this is all that happened!"
"Lucky?! I'm literally pissing out of places one should never piss!"
Geralt gave him a slightly amused look. "Be that so, maybe next time, just knock the drink out of my hand."
Jaskier rolled his eyes. "Fine."
"Jaskier?" Geralt whispered after a moment. "Thank you. I know you were just trying to help me." Jaskier looked up at him and nodded. "Now, drink your tea and let me help you."
"Oh I intend to!" Jaskier exclaimed. "Be prepared to play nursemaid for a couple of days. At the rate I'm going, it's going to be a long night."
Geralt rolled his eyes again, but nodded. "Whatever you need."