The Proposal

Chapter 10

"Well, since you and dad will be busy on the mainland..." Jaskier turned to Geralt and asked, "Fancy going horse riding today?"

Geralt raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You want to go horse riding?"

"Why not?" he shrugged. "You said you'd never done it before."

Geralt felt an unfamiliar, though not entirely unpleasant, fluttering sensation dance across his stomach. He had mentioned that to Jaskier, hadn't he? Geralt was surprised that he would remember such a small detail like that. Then again, that was Jaskier's job, wasn't it? Perhaps he shouldn't read too much into it.

"You've never ridden a horse?" Grammy gasped. "Oh, you must try it, Geralt! And you won't find a better teacher than Jay, he's been riding almost as long as he could walk."

Geralt experienced an uncharacteristic spike of excitement but responded with a casual shrug. "Sure, why not?"

After breakfast, Geralt and Jaskier headed in the direction of the stables and paddock.

"I suppose we should listen to what Grammy and my mum were saying. If we want to make a more convincing couple, we're going to have to be more affectionate with one another," said Jaskier.

"Yeah, makes sense," Geralt murmured.

"We don't actually need to go horse riding, if you don't want to," said Jaskier. "I just thought it'd be a good excuse for us to get out of the house and revise those questions that immigration services are going to quiz us on."

"Oh." Geralt was quiet for a moment before shrugging. "Well, we're almost at the stables, and I'm perfectly capable of multitasking."

Jaskier flashed him a brilliant smile and walked faster. "Alright, then! Come on, let me introduce you to the gang."

As they approached the stables, four horses came into view. In the first stall was a white gelding, its coat shimmering like silk in the early morning sun.

"This handsome fellow is Pegasus," said Jaskier fondly. He approached the pale horse and rubbed its neck. "Hey boy, it's good to see you! Has Matholm been taking good care of you?"

Geralt moved closer to the horse in the second stable, a bay mare with an ink black mane. Slowly, it turned its head and eyed him with curious, big brown eyes.

"Who's this?" he asked.

"That's Roach," said Jaskier. "You can pat her if you like, she won't bite."

Geralt hesitated. "I don't know how."

He half expected Jaskier to mock his inexperience. Instead, Jaskier gave Pegasus a parting pat on the shoulder before moving closer to Geralt. He took Geralt's hand into his own and slowly held it up to Roach's neck. "Keep your movements slow so that you don't startle her."

Geralt was surprised how fine and smooth Roach's coat felt beneath his fingers, even more so at how warm and firm Jaskier's hand felt on top of his own. He was finding it difficult to concentrate on Jaskier's instructions with his assistant and husband-to-be standing so close to him. They'd already slept together, for gods' sake, he shouldn't feel this nervous. But then again, there was a big difference between a one-night stand and what they were doing. Normally, you'd sleep with someone first before meeting their family and proposing marriage. What they were doing defied labels.

After Geralt got better acquainted with Roach, Jaskier showed him how to attach the saddle. He helped him mount the horse before taking hold of the reins and guiding Roach slowly out of the stable into the paddock. Geralt couldn't help but grip tightly onto the rein as Jaskier walked slowly around the perimeter. He could feel the horse's muscles bunch and release beneath him with each step forward, her head bobbing in a hypnotic, rhythmic motion, up, down, up, down.