RINDE - Redania
Almost four months passed. Geralt and Yennefer were quite happily living together. Yennefer was doing her work as mage, she was helping people and earning money for yourself. She still didn't tell Geralt what she wanna do with all that money. Geralt has asked her this many times but she didn't tell him. She adored that he always cared about her but she thought he wouldn't understand it. That he wouldn't understand she wanna be a mother and wants to take back what they took from her despite he is the only one who understand her the most.
Geralt was almost always busy during the day. Many villagers were hiring him to kill monsters or to find lost members of family. Also many other people from the further towns or villages wanted to hire him too. They heard rumors how Geralt killed the monster from the sewers because Jaskier was singing about it everywhere. He got the letters or people came to visit him personally. Geralt sometimes disappeared on two or more days because of work but he always returned back to Yennefer. Every day he adored her more and more, even if she was sometimes playing on his nerves. Meanwhile was Geralt hanging out also with Jaskier when he's visited Rinde. They were drinking in the inn on the evenings or Jaskier joined him on the path. They became a very close friends. Yennefer allowed Jaskier to stay in her house but Geralt had to persuing her almost two weeks when she finally said yes.
It was the end of April which means the Belleteyn was coming.
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Belleteyn is a fertility festival beginning at dusk on the 30th April and continuing until the dawn of the 1st May. It is also a traditional time to begin or end relationships of a physical nature. Food, drink and love are the order of the evening making this celebration a time of many marriages. Bonfires abound, and revellers are encouraged to jump the flames for luck and their own fertility.
~~~
People in whole town were working on preparation almost a week. Geralt were watching how the whole town was changing when he was coming back to Yennefer's house. Someone needed help on his field. The Noonwriath was causing problems for him, he couldn't plant the new seeds.
Noonwraiths are only known to haunt rural places, and usually stay near the place of their deaths. They prey on peasants working in the fields or children playing nearby.
Geralt quickly killed that monster and the peasant was very grateful. He gave him more coins that the witcher asked for. Geralt couldn't complain. He just wished to meet people like this peasant more often.
But something was in Geralt's mind which was worrying him for a while. He noticed that something wrong was with Yennefer. She was behaving differently than usual the whole week. He also sometimes heard her how she was communicating or shouting on somebody through the Megascope but he didn't know who it was or why she was so angry.
Geralt entered into her house and then sat down on the chair in the corner because she had a customer. He knew that he caused a problem for himself. Yennefer hated when he came here and she was working. But he couldn't help himself, he wanted to see her so much.
After couple of minutes the customer left, she finally turned to him.
"How many times I've told you Geralt to not come here when I'm working. Am I speaking into the wind?" she was mad at him. He stood up and came towards her but she turned her back to him and sighed.
Geralt embraced her from behind and kissed her on cheek.
"I hate you.." Yennefer rolled her eyes.
"I know." he smiled. After couples of seconds being in his arms she turned back to him.
"Geralt, I'm serious. I cannot focus on my work when you are staring at me with those eyes.." she put her hand on his face and caressed it.
"I adore to distract you.." Geralt said teasingly and leaned closer to her and kissed her on her lips.
"Then try not to do it in my work." Yennefer smiled at him but Geralt knew there was also a threat in her words. He knew her too well already.
She went towards her table to prepare herself on celebrations and Geralt again sat down on the chair.
"You could dress up something different for today than your armor." she started combing her hair.
"I don't have any tunic Yen.. you know that." he frowned. He didn't like to wear things in whom he couldn't normally move.
"Do not tell me you don't have anything else than your armor.." she raised her eyebrow. Geralt was thinking.
"I have one white shirt but.." she interrupted him.
"You'll take that shirt or I'm going alone." she said strictly.
Geralt knew he didn't have a choice, he stood up and he went to get dress up.
When he came back, Yennefer was already dressed up. She was wearing long black and white dress. When she noticed him, she came closer to him. The smell of lilac and gooseberries hit him like a arrow. He took a deep breath.
"It suits you wearing something different than your armor." she purred and she fixed his collar.
"And I think that dress suits you more. You look beautiful." Geralt couldn't take his eyes from her.
"I know." she said confidently. He caressed her cheek. Geralt loved her confidence but he also knew that under different circumstances it could cause problems.
Geralt hesitated for a while.
"Yen? Does something happened? You behave differently." he was serious.
"I don't think so it's good time to talk about it now.." Yennefer pulled back from him.
"And will be ever suitable time to talk about it?"
"Maybe." she turned around and she went towards her table.
He already knew the answer.
The Belleteyn celebrations had already started when they came. Lot of people were dancing and drinking. There were many tables with food or delicious cakes. There was also a group of people who were watching fist fight. On the hill behind the town were burning big bonfires. Geralt and Yennefer entered into the biggest inn in the town. Geralt wanted to support Jaskier because he was invited to the one of the night competition "The Battle of Bards".
Yennefer sat down to the one table in the corner and she ordered red wine. Geralt noticed Jaskier and he went towards him.
"Geralt! I'm glad you're here." he patted his shoulder.
"What's the point of this battle?" the witcher asked him. He read the program yesterday on the information table.
"It's simple. Ten bards will sing thier balads and bard with the best balad will win. I will sing my new balad, people will cry.. you'll see. It's about love." Jaskier was proud of himself.
"I hate bards Jaskier.." Geralt was honest.
"Geralt, poetry is an amazing thing. You can express every your feeling in words and make a masterpiece." the bard was excited.
"That's nothing for me. I'll rather go Jaskier, good luck." Geralt said calmly. He started leaving.
"Wait.. did you find out why is Yennefer angry?" Jaskier was curious, the witcher stopped.
"What do you think? I didn't find out anything. She doesn't want to tell me." Geralt was upset. Jaskier was speechless.
"But I have a surprise for her, I hope she'll like it."
"Oh.. I'm a damn fool! I forgot she was born at Belleteyn. I should give her something too." Jaskier was mad at himself.
"I don't think it's a good idea, she hates when somebody remind her that she is older and especially when it'll be from you.." Geralt said with laughing
"I'll take that risk. She wouldn't kill me for that.." Jaskier said confidently.
"I wouldn't be so sure Jaskier." Geralt started smiling. "Anyway.. I read that Essi Daven is here too.." Geralt looked with uncertainty at bard. Jaskier understood. They have a common past.
"Oh, your good friend.." he looked at Geralt with big smile at. The witcher gave him angry look.
"My lovely rival Little eye. I must sing very good, if I wanna win." Jaskier admitted.
"Then don't screw it up Jaskier." Geralt slapped Jaskier on his back and then left. Jaskier looked at him angrily because that hit was strong.
The competition started. The bards were singing and people were claping and crying at the same time.
"The best two bards will sing at the end. Please welcome talented Essi Daven and our favourite master Jaskier." the man introduced them and the people started shouting and clapping.
"Ladies first." Jaskier smiled at Essi and he stood up at the corner of podium. Essi came to the middle and she started singing. When she ended the crowd started shouting and clapping. She was very good.
"Very nice, this will be hard to beat." Jaskier smiled at Essi when she was going around him.
"Beat me and then we can talk differently Julian." Essi was teasing him. Jaskier swallowed and he continued to the middle of the podium.
Meanwhile Geralt bought a beer, then he leaned against the wall and he was waiting on Jaskier's performance.
Jaskier started.
"I hope everybody know me already and if not, then you should get to know me." Jaskier smiled and the women started blushing. Geralt rolled his eyes. Jaskier is worse than peacock, he thought.
"So.. it was hard to choose ballad which could beat our talented Essi but I will try my best. I will sing my new ballad which will one day also appeared in my masterpiece "Half of Century of Poetry" on whom I working on right now." he smiled again.
"I will start with my one poem to introduce the balad." Jaskier started speaking:
We know little about love. Love is like a pear. A pear is sweet and has a distinct shape. Try to define the shape of pear.
He ended with poem, then he looked at Yennefer sitting in the corner.
"I would like to dedicate my new balad to lady Yennefer as gift.. she know for what." he made a big smile at her. Yennefer frowned. The bard then started playing the lute and he started singing:
These scars long have yearned for your tender caress.
To bind our fortunes, damn what the stars own.
Rend my heart open, then your love profess.
A winding, weaving fate to which we both atone.
You flee my dream come the morning.
Your scent - berries tart, lilac sweet.
To dream of raven locks entwisted, stormy.
Of violet eyes, glistening as you weep.
The wolf I will follow into the storm.
To find your heart, it's passion displaced.
Amidst the cold to hold you in a heated embrace.
I know not if fate would have us live as one.
Or if by love's blind chance we've been bound.
The wish I whispered, when it all began.
Did it forge a love you might never have found?
You flee my dream come the morning.
Your scent - berries tart, lilac sweet.
To dream of raven locks entwisted, stormy.
Of violet eyes, glistening as you weep.
Jaskier stopped singing. The whole crowd stood up and people started clapping and shouting, almost every woman in the inn was crying expect Yennefer. Someone was also shouting at Jaskier to continued.
Geralt was watching Yennefer the whole time. Hers eyes changed while Jaskier was singing the balad. She understood it too. This balad was about them.
The man who were introducing them before came to the Jaskier and he shaked his hand. Essi came towards him too.
"I think we have the winner.. the crowd choosed him already. Congratulations master Jaskier." the man told him and Jaskier was proud of himself.
"You were very good Julian.. come, you deserve a beer for that." Essi said with laughing and they both left from the podium.
Geralt came to Yennefer. She was sitting there confused, he could read it from her face.
"Yen.." he interrupted her from her thoughts. "Come outside.. I wanna take you somewhere." Geralt smiled at her and he offered her his hand. Yennefer grabbed it and they both left from the inn.
It was almost midnight. They were going around lot of people who were enjoying the wonderful atmosphere. Geralt wanted to took Yennefer at one special place where they could be alone. They went around group of drunk people. One of them stood up and he came towards Yennefer.
"Our sorceress.. lady Yennefer, your beauty is making me.. oh, you know what.." he was already horny and he leaned closer to her.
"Come with me.. I would like to take your clothes from you tonight.." the man grabbed Yennefer's butt. Yennefer quickly pulled away from him.
"Watch your moves!" Geralt warned him.
"Someone is jealous." the man said with laughing, he was trying to stand straigh, then he looked at Yennefer.
"I'll show you my dear, who is the real man." he said confidently.
The man then looked at Geralt and he tried to punch him but Geralt was faster and he punch him first into his face. The man was dazed but after couple of seconds he tried to hit Geralt again. Geralt lost his nerves, he thrust into him and the man fell down on the ground. The witcher came closer to him.
"Have enough?" Geralt was ready to hit again.
"I have.. please stop!" the man begged him, he was bleeding from nose.
"I will stop soon as you apologize to the lady." the witcher said strictly. The man slowly stood up and came towards Yennefer. Geralt was watching his every move.
"I want to apologize lady Yennefer.." the man lowered his head.
"No offense taken." she said amusemently.
"Get out!" Geralt told him angrily. The man didn't wait and he quickly left.
Geralt then turned to Yennefer.
"I can take care of myself." she smiled proudly.
"You don't always have to.." Geralt smiled at her and he took her hand. But someone interrupted them
"Mutant! You don't belong here!" unknown man shouted at Geralt while he was going around them.
Yennefer looked at the man angrily and she said the spell. She hated when somebody call Geralt like that.
Suddenly the man slipped and he fell down to the dog's shit.
"Neither do you.." Yennefer winked at him, then she continued in the way. Geralt shaked his head and he laughed. He followed her.
They were going around the biggest bonfire on the hill. Lot of people were singing and dancing around the bonfire. They both stopped and they started staring at the flames, they were enjoying the moment but some woman came towards them and interrupted them.
"Geralt.. is that you? How are you doing? I haven't seen you for ages.." Essi Daven smiled at him. Jaskier was standing behind her.
"Essi..hi." Geralt was surprised that he met her here. "You know, I'm doing fine.." he was trying to smile. He didn't like this embarrassing situation at all. Yennefer didn't say anything.
"You don't like crowds of people, I'm surprised that I found you here." Essi raised her eyebrow. Then she noticed that they were holding hands. "Your new girlfriend?"
Geralt stayed frozen. He didn't know how to react or what to say.
"Yes. Yennefer of Vengerberg. Nice to meet you." Yennefer answered for him and faked her smile. The tension between then could be feeling from miles away.
"Essi come.. we should go." Jaskier interrupted her and he was trying end this whole uncomfortable situation.
"Of course.. See you soon Geralt." Essi and Jaskier turned to leave.
the witcher stayed speechless.
The quiet between Geralt and Yennefer was very long while they were going on the near meadow.
"Who is she?" Yennefer interrupted the quiet.
"An old friend.." he was trying to cover this obvious thing.
"Do you have many old friends?" the question was clear and Geralt knew exactly, what she wanted to know. He sighed.
"Not many.. but they will never be you Yen.." he told her kindly. She looked at him and she opened her mouth to say something, but he interrupted her.
"Look, we're here." Geralt pointed at the place. They were staying on the highest place on the meadow and behind them was forest.
He was so glad they arrived there in this moment. He was hoping she won't ask anything again about Essi.
"Turn around and look at the view." he smiled at her. Yennefer then turned around and she was amazed. The view was so beautiful. The bonfires were shining above the whole town and the sky was pure with full of stars.
"How did you find this place? I've never been here before." she was surprised.
"I was going around this place today after I killed the monster." he explained.
"It's very beautiful place.." she looked at the view again. She was so happy and he was also the main reason of her happines.
"Yen?" Geralt interrupted her from her thoughts. She looked at him.
"I want to give you something." Geralt gave her a small sachet. Yennefer took it and then opened it. She got surprised. Inside of it were diamonds.
"Where... why are you giving me this?" she was confused.
"It's a gift for you. You can sell it, get lot of money for it and then use them on your research.." he lowered his eyes. He knew she won't tell him. He then looked at her again.
"I know you hate it but.. happy birthday Yennefer." he carresed her face. She was speechless. She didn't expect that, she didn't know what to say. She didn't like her birthday at all but from his mouth it sounded differently.
"Geralt you didn't have to do it all of this for me." she put her hand on his face.
"I know but I wanted to make you happy." he kissed her forehead and then started undressing his shirt.
"You wanna do it now?" she raised her eyebrow.
"Not now.. but I would like to later, well.. if you want." he laughed and then he put his shirt on the ground. Yennefer still didn't understand.
"Sit down my lady.." he pointed at the shirt.
"I don't recognize you Geralt.." she was surprised again.
"Me neither." he said with laughing.
They both sat down on the ground. Yennefer looked at him.
"Won't you be cold?"
"I'll be fine." he petted hers hair.
They were staring at the far bonfires and sitting there speechless for a while.
"I wanna be a mother.." she suddenly told him. She took a deep breath.
"I thought that they took you.." she interrupted him.
"I know Geralt." she sighed. "That's why I'm doing all of this. I need money on the research. Maybe.. I can find the cure." she was trying to hold her tears.
Geralt was speechless. He didn't like when she has had this mood but at least he finally found out the source of this. He noticed these her moods many times but he didn't know why she was sad or angry. Now he knew.
He just embraced her and she snuggled closer to her. She embraced him tightly and she put her head on his shoulder. He wasn't surprised, he knew she needed it. He kissed her head and then tears started rolling down her face. She's never been so vulnerable in front of him before. He wished he could comfort her sooner.
After couple of minutes Geralt interrupted the quiet. He looked at her and softly swiped away the tears from hers eyes with his thumb.
"Yen.. I wanna take you on Kaer Morhen."
Maybe it wasn't the best time to told her that but he wanted to change the topic and make her to think about something else.
"You always ask me about my abilities, you want know more about me. So, I wanna show you where the witchers are raised and where I have lived too."
"When?" she raised her eyebrow.
"I don't know.. we could leave after Belleteyn.. if you want or later. It's up to you." he was waiting on hers answer.
"I would like to go.." she kissed him on his cheek and she snuggled more to him.
"Belleteyn.. the May night almost ended." Geralt started staring at the far bonfires.
"I think I have an idea.. how to end this May night." she smiled at him. He didn't understand what she meant.
She suddenly slowly pushed him towards the ground and she leaned over him.
He looked straight into hers eyes and smiled.
He then kissed her with desire and he started slowly undressing her dress. Yennefer stopped kissing him for a second.
"Thank you Geralt.. for everything.." she carresed his face.
"Always." he kissed her and they continued in the night they wanted to remember very well.
THE END: Chapter 12