toss a coin to your witcher

Geralt nodded, still keeping eye contact with her, watching her expressions as she talked. In a way, her questions were much different to Jaskier's - it seemed the bard always tried to annoy Geralt, but Ifri.. He couldn't blame her, she was curious - no doubt living in this castle since birth, he had no doubt questions wouldn't be thrown his way.

"The only way I can describe it is dull. Rarely we do feel emotion, it isn't unheard of - but it's very weak, easier to ignore if we choose to." He looked up slightly, as if trying to find the right words that would be easier for her to understand. "...Like a weak tea. You can taste it, but it's weak and easy to forget it's taste." He looked towards the cup briefly, before training his eyes back on Ifri.

"There have been many. One was when the village told me to rid them of a devil, however it was just a Sylvan - half man, half goat. Apparently you can mistake goat horns for the devils." There was a slight hint of humor at the end, and a faint smile threatened to find its way to his lips. "People have tales of us, mainly to scare their children to behave. What most miss is we are like this to hunt monsters. We pose no threat unless you are a monster. Humans are...Threatened by our abilities, I'd guess."

He watched her again, intrigued. Even with her fathers telling her stories of them, Geralt was surprised she didn't tense up at him being close like everyone else at the castle did. He sensed she was pure - more than likely not influenced much by others, he imagined she would like to make her own impressions of people, and not take the word from others. It was a nice change.

---

A shy smile framed her face, looking at Jaskier through her eyelashes. "W-Well, I'm glad you do. If it's something I care about, I will show my passion for it, often in the form of long sentences through one single breath." She laughed at her joke, taking a gulp of her tankard, looking at Jaskier as she did so. Once again she was just lost. His eyes smiled with him, and how his smile framed her face and how sometimes a faint pink would appear on his face - how he held himself high but clearly had a goofy side.

"And I told you there was more to you than just being a bard!" She leaned forward and playfully pushed his shoulder, grinning at the other. "I now know you're Jaskier, a bard with a passion for songs that brings hope and courage and understands music can power a whole army. You like the color red, you love how I talk, and you're passionate. Now, if you ask me, that is far from the boring man you claimed to be moments ago."

Sending him a lop sided smirk, she turned her head slightly to look at the crowd of the tavern. Her eyes fell on a group of men, clearly old friends having a drink, to which she giggled at slightly - then settled on a couple in the booth just behind. The smiling, the blushing, hand holding, the look in the eyes... She let out a content sigh, before grabbing her tankard and turning back to Jaskier - a blush spreading to her cheeks noticing how he never took her eyes off her, she took a sip as she made eye contact with the man sitting just across from her.

Jaskier followed suit in lifting his ale up along with Hevi, but this time, he chugged the rest of the drink down. Dropping the tankard back down to the table for the last time, he let out a relaxed sigh and smiled widely no at her. "Tell me how you've managed to turn my whole mood around today." He leaned his elbows on the table, propping his head up with his hand. "I stood in that castle dreading every moment, trying even to talk Geralt out of helping the princess. Imagine." The bard felt horrible for it now. What if Geralt had decided to listen to the fool and ride on past Redania?

"I hope you won't hold that against me," he sounded a bit ashamed. He didn't like admitting he tried talking anyone out of helping a young girl, but sometimes he could be selfish. "My point being, now I'm dreading the moment Geralt comes to me and it's time for us to leave."

For a moment, he sat in his own thoughts before even considering what he had just said. He might as well have just professed his love for her. He looked up at her with wide eyes and his face turning red again, "well, you know what I mean... You've just been so... Kind." There he went, using that word again to describe her.

---

The mention of tea reminded Ifri just how thirsty she was yet again. She grabbed onto the nearest post of her bedframe and used it to help herself to her feet. She hated to stay bed bound if she didn't have to. Holding onto the post for support, she confirmed Geralt's story. "My father used to tell me terrifying tales of Witchers when I was a child." She glanced back at him as she stood, seeing the concern in his eyes, but he stayed completely still, just watching her.

Moving over to the head of her bed again, she leaned against the wall and picked up her teacup. She closed her eyes and tried to remember the old story. "He used to say Witchers would kidnap naughty children and take them away from their families." Opening her eyes again, she looked down at the rose colored tea and took another sip of it.

Instantly she felt a sharp pain run up the back of her head and then immediately after she became dizzy. "I shouldn't have stood-" Her voice was slurred and slowly the cup fell from her hands, shattering against the floor, splashing tea all over her feet. All she could do was grab onto the nightstand for stability and grimace in pain. The room was spinning and all she could hear was the sound of glass shattering repeatedly and all she could focus on was the pain in her skull and how the tea was soaking through her socks.

@ beam me up scotty

The second the tea cup smashed on the floor and Ifri grabbed onto the nightstand, Geralt was already on his feet and right next to her, before gently wrapping an arm around her waist and taking her swiftly back to the bed. "No, I don't think this was because you stood." He pulled her pillow up to rest behind her head, as he pressed his hand to her forehead, testing her temperature.

She was warm, but not alarmingly yet, so he grabbed the jug of water the servant brought in earlier before the tea. He paused, before he ripped some fabric from his sleeve and folded it, soaking it in the cold water. He brought the jug and fabric over to Ifri and placed it gently on her head to relieve some of the pain. His eyes were narrowed, the second she almost fell he felt something pull himself to quickly be at her aid.

Experiencing her pain first hand, Geralt knew why the king said she was so tired all the time. He pulled the chair right up to the side of her bed - with her health dropping so quickly, he wanted to be closer; he needed to be closer. To think if he didn't mention the tea to describe his emotions, this wouldn't of happened...

The tea.

He snapped his head towards the cup, his eyes narrowing as he let out a deep grumble. She didn't feel any different to when he met her until a few moments after her first sip - no poison acted instantly, if this was poison then someone in the castle knew, there was a grudge; a reason, a motive. Geralt would ask her at a later time, he would not stress her anymore than now.

"Ifri.." He readjusted the strip of fabric on her head, his hand lingering before he brought it back to his chair. "You need to tell me if this gets any worse, or if it changes. It'll help me understand what it could be. I'm right here."

---

The second Hevi heard his voiced laced with a hint of shame, she frowned. The moment he finished talking, she leaned forward and grabbed his hands tapping timidly on the table into her own. She clasped them together, looking at Jaskier in the eye.

"No, you don't get to feel ashamed for that. I could see the second I bumped into you, this wasn't your area of comfort. Plus, honestly, given Ifri's condition - I don't blame you for hesitating to help. And if I say I am not affected by that, you don't get to be." She squeezed her hand, a small smile framing her lips. "I'm starting to think the only word you can use to describe me is kind, Jaskier. I'm kind to those who deserve it - if I was annoyed by what you said, I wouldn't be here holding your hand, would I?"

She bit her lip, still holding his hand in her own before looking down slightly. "Yes, the day you leave when the Princess is cured - it'll be a sad one for sure. As we don't know when that'll be, I'm making a condition. We'll be happy while you and your friend are here. Our time might be short, so there's no point in having a bad time."

Soon after her little mini speech, she let out a laugh, looking at Jaskier through her lashes. "I don't think I've seen you this red yet today." Her left hand let go of his to poke his cheek, a playful giggle passing her own lips, before she instinctively went back to hold his hands. "This is, okay...Right?" She looked towards her hands, looking back at him with a plead.

@ dezzy

The moment the question left her lips, Jaskier was quick to place his free hand over hers, not wanting her to pull away. "Its more than okay," he whispered to her, a smile beginning to play on his lips again. He wasn't a stranger to swooning women and heading home with them all at the first time meeting, but this wasn't different. He was already feeling for Hevi and that was the stranger thing. Rubbing his calloused fingers over her the back of her hand, he felt goosebumps run up along his arms.

"Tell me, you don't treat every bard that falls in your path like this, do you?" It was just a tease, he assured her by the way his laugh followed his words and he squeezed her hand tighter. He didn't want to ever let go. "What do you say to one more drink? I'm sure your princess is in great hands with Geralt. No one will miss you. I'll even pay."

It was only then that he pulled his hands away to dig in the pockets of his trousers, pulling out two silver pieces and letting them fall to the table. "The least I can do is buy you a drink after you saved my ass back in the castle." The coins clinked onto the wooden table, spinning before falling flat. It was the last two pieces to his name, but Geralt had promised to cut him a sliver of the coin he would make from the king.

---

Ifri's mind was going slowly from the tea, she couldn't focus on what was actually important at the moment. Instead, she could only focus on how he had ripped his shirt to help her fever. Her arm rose from her side and she went to touch his exposed arm, "Geralt, your shirt." Her voice came out in a murmur.

Luckily for the princess, the poison was weak. In very small doses, it would only bring on the hallucinations, the delirium and make her sickly, but it wouldn't kill her. And once the poison would leave her system, it had no real permanent side effects. It would only kill her if she drank a whole vials worth at once.

She could barely hear Geralt, his words sounded muffled and distant, as if he was trying to call to her from the hallway. Her vision was blurring slightly around the edges, but once she lifted her eyes to meet his she felt a bit safer. Not saying that him being here was some magical cure-all, but just knowing he was here with her made it seem like it would all be fine. It would pass. Her hand still lingered on his arm, the sensation of touching his warm skin was enough to ground her and keep her from completely passing out. She watched as his lips moved, but just shook her, "I can't understand," she whispered, not even sure if she was truly speaking or not.

@ beam me up scotty

Geralt initially look at his arm where Ifri touched, her delicate soft hands on his own rough skin - initially shocked by the movement, he made no attempt to move; maybe the touch of someone near softened her mind and relaxed her. He noted her eyes, while looking at his own he noticed they were almost dazed; dizzy, nauseated. His own narrowed, feeling the hint of anger start to build up in his system.

He always found poison the weakest way to torture someone - especially someone who has done nothing to deserve it, like Ifri. The fact she was there, visibly in pain and breaking in a sweat for a reason that she didn't know made him clench his jaw - he was pretty set on the idea this wasn't a curse, but poison.

Pausing, Geralt hesitated before bringing his much larger hand up and placing it on Ifri's smaller, decliate one on his arm. "I am here..." He spoke slowly, pointing to himself and the ground before pointing slightly at the woman. "For you. Don't worry." To most, it would seem he was mocking - almost babying her, slowly forming the words for her to see his lips. He hoped she didn't see it as that; it was the only way he could think to show her she was safe.

He looked down at his hand, eyeing up his hand. Geralt instinctively did it, he would say it was to calm her down - but the more he thought about, he jumped to her aid quicker than he did to Jaskier when she was about to fall. He didn't hesitate to rip his sleeve to bring down her temperature, he knew as much Jaskier would be yelling at him for the ripped clothes when they next saw each-other. Geralt realized since he met her, he was making a more logical reason for him protection and feeling this way - but he wasn't sure it was a true explanation. He's heard before in trails that over time, certain feelings would become harder to ignore, typically in the books it was anger and selfishness...But, could this affection, protectiveness, and anger at her being hurt be something else?

---

Hevi lost herself in the eyes for a moment, a soft smile on her features. She'd been by Ifri's side for the past 4 years, and she never had an interest for things like this - nobody approached her, most thought she only got to such a high status due to her family connections, so she did get a fair bit of negative attention at the castle. Men were either intimidated by her skills, scoffed at her being one of the Guards or refused to acknowledge her.

She let out a laugh, hiding her face by looking down as she chuckled. "I can assure you, you're the first Jaskier." At the mention of him paying for a new round, she was about to interrupt to say it was no issue - but his coins clanked on the table, making him stand his ground.

A smirk played on her face, looking up to Jaskier. "Well, I suppose one more won't hurt. If you trust this Geralt with Ifri, then I do too." Her fingers strummed on the table, before leaning back in the seat as opposed to leaning on the table as she did practically the whole time they've been sitting down. "In a way, there is no point two guards in her bedroom watching over her - and from how you speak highly on Geralt, I'm in no rush to get back."

She held her hands above her hand and held them together, stretching against the seat before falling back and rolling her shoulders. "I might be able to get a few hours of rest with Geralt there. I'd say the most I've been gifted is two hours one night - I slept in Ifri's chair because I didn't wish to leave her alone; I wouldn't be able to sleep through worry anyway."

"Geralt will keep her safe, I promise. Any harm tries to come her way and he will put an end to it. And I'm not just saying that because of the pay. Geralt cares about every job he takes on... Usually." Jaskier couldn't help but chuckle again, thinking of all the times Geralt had bitched about coin or taking a job for less than what he should've been owed.

Jaskier ran his hand back over his two silver pieces before snatching them up and rising from his seat. "I will be back in one second, my lady." He knocked his hand on the table before turning to make his way through the crowded bar. He felt exhilarated, absolutely pumped with energy. How funny can life can be sometimes... He moved through the crowd, excusing himself past everyone he pushed through before making his way back to the barkeep. "Two more ales, kind sir." Jaskier slid the coins across the counter.

"My boy-" the round man grabbed the money with a smile on his face when Jaskier told him to keep the change. "One of these for Hevi?" The bartender could already see how smitten the bard was. He nodded his head and grabbed the tankards with a twinkle in his eye. "Good luck, don't think you really need it though." He laughed and watched Jaskier disappear back to the corner of the bar.

---

The sensation of Geralt's hand over top Ifri's was enough to envelope her in a comforting embrace. His hand was warm and strong, it instinctively made her feel safe. She brought her other hand up to place over top of his, in a way to beg him not to move it. She needed to feel him, to feel someone to remind her that she was still here and she was fine. The effects of the poison were terrifying. Her thoughts started to swim around in her head like a whirlpool, making it difficult to think straight.

She heard his voice, but only in pieces. "Here...you...dont..." was all she could catch but seeing his hand move to point from him to her told her all she needed to know. He wasn't going anywhere, he would keep her safe.

"Geralt, I-" Ifri didn't even know what she was trying to say, her eyelids were fighting to close against her will. Her vision was blurring worse and darkening, as if she was going in and out of consciousness. "my head..." She whispered, unable to keep her eyes open. Her head fell to the side, lying in an uncomfortable angle on her pillow.

@ beam me up scotty

It was when her head dropped, still awake but barely, Geralt couldn't take it. He leaned to the side and grabbed his small satchet, rummaging through the different vials before he paused, looking at the shards of the tea mug on the floor. He slipped from her grasp briefly, to grab a piece which had a small trace of liquid still resting inside it. Geralt brought it closer, and inhaled deeply, before letting out a grunt.

Due to his heightened senses, he could smell exactly what one of the components in the tea was. With that in mind, he grabbed his satchel and pulled out a small vial - a dull, pale green swirled inside the glass. Soon he resumed his sitting position, leaning forward to try and get Ifri to drink.

"Fuck." He grumbled, realizing hearing was getting difficult for her, and with her eyes closed, she probably didn't know he was talking to her. He leaned down near her eye level, and tilted her chin slightly - to try and get a bit of attention from her.

Geralt held up the vial, showing Ifri before taking the cork off with a 'pop'. Before he passed it, he paused. Ifri might not trust him yet, she had no reason too - he was a stranger, so showing her a vial with a weird substance in it probably set her off guard. He brought it to his lips and took a small sip, keeping his connected with her half open ones, in an attempt to show her it would help.

The vial contained a counteract herb, only found in the highest hills on the other side of the kingdom - one of three herbs that could remove the affects of what he smelt in the tea. He felt something building inside of him, his senses were inhumanely strong, so he smelt the mandrake the second he sniffed it, something everyone would of missed. The vial would take away the side effects that would make her unconscious and would stop most of the dizziness - however she'd still feel ill, and sweating, but it was better than slipping out of consciousness every few seconds. He held it to her lips, begging she'd drink it silently.

---

From when Jaskier left, she kept his eyes on him. To say she was captivated by the man was no understatement - he was so different to those she'd encountered before. It felt like he was seeing her for who she was, not just a pile of armor to royalty. Her lips curled up when he eagerly paid the barkeep, her eyes casting away to catch the twinkle in the round mans' eyes, grinning over at Hevi who simply stuck her tongue out at him, before Jaskier could start to make his way back.

She acted like she hadn't been watching him walk away - surely it would be seem as creepy if he turned around and caught her eyes - so she took a second before looking again, her smile still on her lips.

"Thank you, Jaskier." Her voice was a softer tone than before, watching him slide in opposite her in the booth. "We bumped into each-other not long ago, but in that short time... Well, there was one person to make me smile - that was Ifri, but now it seems I have to add another name to the list. Our time might be short but, I'm not going to forget you and I hope you don't forget me either."

She grasped her tankard, her fingers brushing Jaskier's accidentally, before she raised it and clinked with the other man. "You and Geralt go on quests wherever the gold calls, right? Maybe one day, destiny will let out paths cross again - I have no doubt soon Ifri would like to go on rides outside the castle walls, might see you along the way if the gods are kind enough."

@ dezzy

The princess was in a haze, feeling like her whole self was swaying back and forth and falling through the bed, even though she laid perfectly still in it. Geralt's grip made sure of that, but now she could barely feel him. She wasn't scared, because this had happened to her before, many times and when she had been alone. A part of her could remember that Geralt still sat next to her and that was enough to bring her just a little bit of comfort. Even as the beads of sweat started to appear across her forehead. She could barely feel his touch pulling gently at her face, her lips barely parting for the vial Geralt pressed to them. The loud popping of the cork caused her eyes to open for a second before they dropped again.

What's he trying to get me to drink? One coherent thought. The girl's mind tricked her into hearing voices that were all telling her not to drink the poison, that what if the Witcher had been sent by whoever had cursed her, that he was the one who would kill her. No... She forced her eyes open again to see him taking a sip from the vial and the worry disappeared. He wouldn't hurt me...

Ifri parted her lips and tried to raise her head up slightly, just enough to show him that she was trying. He tipped the vial up more for her and she felt the cold liquid enter her mouth. Dropping her head back to her pillow, she tried to relax, hoping it was something to help the way she felt. She slipped out of consciousness for the last time, until the concoction Geralt had given her began to work. It had taken a few minutes, but soon the princess began to blink her eyes open. Her head felt clearer and the room was no longer spinning, but nausea and fatigue were still completely overwhelming. Clearing her throat, she forced her arm to raise her up, trying to prop herself up against her pillows. Letting her gaze shift over to the Witcher, she now realized just how close he had gotten to her. "I-I don't know what that was, but... thank you."

---

Sliding back into the booth, Jaskier wasn't slow to bring the drink back to his lips. "If Geralt hasn't lost his touch, I'd say your right about our time being short." The smile had left his face now. "He usually doesn't linger in one place long, he's just that good. I wouldn't be surprised if later tonight when I speak to him he already has an answer." He lifted the tankard to his face again, before bringing it back down with his smile reappearing.

"Even if destiny doesn't bring us back together, I know where to find you."

The bard didn't always stay attached to Geralt's hip. There had been many times when the Witcher would leave him behind and he wouldn't find him again for weeks. But the two of them were always traveling, whether together or alone. Jaskier couldn't stay in one place if he wanted too, that wasn't the life of a bard. He had to go wherever the music took him, as corny as that sounded. "But you were right about something you said earlier, let's not dwell on how much time we have together. Let's just enjoy it."

@ beam me up scotty

Hevi lost her smile with Jaskier, they both knew it might be short lived - she'd heard stories of The Witcher, he was quick to get the job done almost all the time. At his next words, her smile grew back, eyes shining into Jaskiers' own, finding herself lost in his words.

''let's just enjoy it''

That phrase rang around in her head, simply nodding slightly distracted by her own thoughts. If anything, Jaskier and Geralt would be gone by the morning - the sad reality of life, but if today was all they had... Well, she had a small idea that would make Jaskier remember her. She sent a lop-sided smirk his way, her eyes dancing in mischief as she took a sip of her tankard, keeping her eyes locked on his.

"Soo, after this drink can we talk a longer walk back to the castle? It only adds five minutes at maximum, but it's something nice I'd like to show you just between us, if you want." Her smirk fell at the suggestiveness of her words, before her eyes widened as she tugged her lip between her teeth. "N-No, I didn't mean like... T-There's just a nice fountain that is really pretty and it might be nice to spend some time there andmaybekissorsomething" The last words sped out of her mouth much quieter than the others, before she placed her tankard down and let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding. "Sorry, ignore me, I went off on a tangent" Hevi mumbled, rubbing her hands averting her eyes slightly.

---

Geralt didn't move backwards from where he tipped the liquid into her mouth, and judging by her look of surprise sitting up, she didn't expect him to be so close. He was glad she sat up rather quickly, most of the side effects must of been cured shortly by the liquid.

His jaw tensed slightly as she thanked him, his eyes still trained on her face. "How do you feel?" His voice cut through the silence, keeping watchful bright eyes on her face at all times, checking for anything else that would cause an alarm in his head. "And Ifri, tell me honestly, do you know anyone who has a grudge against you? Any enemies in the castle?"

He rested his arm on his leg, leaning his chin to rest on his fist. "Your tea. It smelt of mandrake - what I gave you cancels the effects of mandrake; unconsciousness, dizziness, sometimes hallucinations. It's not normally in tea." Geralt hoped she understood what he was hinting at, his jaw still clenched slightly. He understood why people would target people of a royal bloodline, it's a strategical move - but this was a princess, not anywhere near the throne yet; there would be no real meaning to target her. Most of the times, Kings and Queens are targeted, not their children.

It was someone in the castle, he knew this much. But who it was... That he didn't know. It could be anyone, he needed Ifri to help as much as she could - if she could manage the energy to, that is.

Jaskier hadn't expected the sudden rush of word vomit that spilled from Hevi's mouth. He had lifted his glass to his mouth and was taking a sip at the andmaybekissorsomething part. He instantly choked, lowering his tankard and coughing a couple of times before he could regain his breath. He hadn't expected the night to end like this and perhaps it still wouldn't if Hevi was too embarrassed now. Still, just at the thought of finishing the night kissing such a pretty girl, it had his heart beating hard against his chest.

"Ignore you?" He said in a surprised manner, before laughing, his cheeks blushing a pale baby pink. "How could I ignore such an offer?" He picked his tankard up and chugged the rest of the ale down in just a few seconds. Probably wasn't the best idea, but he couldn't hold back his enthusiasm. "Whenever you're ready." He smirked, leaning slightly over the table before licking his bottom lip slightly. This was one area the bard was also pretty confident in, but still, there was a little bit of worry in the back of his mind. Just a few butterflies were flittering around his stomach, which was still odd as he couldn't remember the last time he was nervous to kiss someone. He imagined it would only get worse the closer they got to this fountain.

---

For just a second, Ifri had begun to admire Geralt. Yes, his glowing orange eyes were captivating enough and she felt like there was a lot she could learn from just staring into them, but now, being so close to him, she had realized just how handsome he was. Her eyes ran over his chiseled jaw, the rough stubble on his chin, the wispy gray hair- specifically the few strands that had currently fallen in front of his face, so in awe, she had almost forgotten to breathe. Her attention was snatched away from his features when he mentioned the word enemies.

"No," was Ifri's immediate response. To her, it would've had to have been someone new in her life if she had just started to be poisoned and how could she, herself, ever come to the suspicion that it could be either one of her parents? "You think someone is poisoning me? On purpose?" Still so naive the princess was, but how could she not be? She had been isolated for the majority of her life, even before she had fallen ill, she spent most of her time with her best-friend Hevi, inside the castle walls. This wasn't to say she was a secret, hidden away locked in her room, but she barely saw the people her father ruled over or stepped foot into the city.

@ beam me up scotty

Him almost choking mid drink made Hevi think she overstepped the line and ruined everything, but judging by his next words, it was more from shock. She raised a brow at his eager attempts to finish his tankard, before slowing gulping down the rest of her ale. For what seemed to be the tenth time this evening, she bit her bottom lip slightly - a habit she found she'd always do if nervous or embarrassed, which is all she'd seem to be in front of the bard. "Let's go." She stood up, grabbing his hand again and she pulled him through the crowd, the two weaving between the people as they danced and argued.

Hevi took him to the right of the tavern, down a cute little cobbled path, each step making her feel more and more nervous. She'd kissed before, yes, but that was many years ago - she just hoped that Jaskier had more of an idea than her. Soon after they left the tavern, she took a turn and the two came across the fountain - the way the setting sun shone on the water made it seem to glow, the slight moss around it making it even more beautiful and cinematic, and the noise of the running water from the fountain drowned out her awkwardness. She turned to Jaskier, dropping her hand and rubbing it in nerves. "You don't mind if we kiss, right?" Halfway through her words, her eyes lingered on his lips before snapping back up to his eyes. "You don't have too if you don't wish too..."

---

"I think that, yes." Geralt dropped his gaze, standing up before picking up the broken shards of the mug from earlier, placing them gently on the cabinet. "Someone has been placing mandrake in your tea - highly toxic, it will make you sweat, hallucinate, collapse, and feel like your body is slowly leaving you." He turned back around, his bright eyes flickering towards his seat before he averted and sat at the bottom of her bed, on the edge.

"This isn't an accident. Who it is will be harder to know. It might be a servant, or the servant might not know. Is there any reason someone would benefit from you being ill?" He turned his head, looking over at Ifri. His jaw clenched again slightly, the way her hair hung from her face - some strands more curled from the sweat from before, but they framed her soft features perfectly.

Geralt had been to many brothels, many villages, he'd appreciate if someone was pretty but then he would leave it at that...But this wasn't the case. Ifri wasn't pretty. She was one of the most beautiful creations Geralt had seen in his lifetime. Ifri just looked...Pure. Innocent. Stunning. He blinked a few times, pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind with all his strength. "It might be jealous, or someone could be stopping you from being on the throne. Any jealous aunts or distant relations?"

"Hevi, stop." Jaskier committed to his words and grabbed the guard by her waist, running his hands over the armor she wore, wishing he could feel her warmth. He pulled her close to him and stared into her eyes for just a moment, before gently pressing his lips to hers. His eyes shut and he held her in his arms, entranced by the softness of her lips. He let himself linger there in that moment for a few seconds, before he pulled his lips away, but kept her pressed tightly against his chest.

"Don't be nervous around me," he whispered in her ear, brushing a few strands of her out of her face that the wind had blown loose. He let one of his hands free of her waist, but only to interlace his fingers with hers. His eyes flickered away from hers and back down to her lips before he leaned in for a second kiss. Hevi was intoxicating to him and she was so inviting, it was almost impossible for him to keep his hands off of her now that this was where they had wound up.

---

Infri didn't like the first thought that had popped up in her head. Her eyes drifted away from the Witcher and she just stared dumbfounded down at the floor. It couldn't be.... She decided to end the conversation, as much as she didn't want to. "I'm sorry, Geralt, but I think I'm going to be sick." It wasn't all a lie, she really did feel like her stomach was doing summersaults, and the thought of her father being the one who had ordered her poisoning wasn't helping anything. She quickly rose to her feet, grabbing onto the bed for support. "I'm sorry." She repeated, before quickly, or at least as quickly as she could, moving past him towards her own private bath.

Entering the bath that was connected to her own room, she quickly closed the door on him, latching the lock before hurrying over to the vanity. She sunk down into the plush seat, unable to look at herself in the mirror.

...someone could be stopping you from being on the throne...

Ifri told herself she couldn't believe her thoughts. They were all just side effects of the poison. Her father wouldn't want to poison her just to keep her from the throne... What reason would he have? Just because she was a girl? Out of worry and sickness, the princess lurched to the left, grabbing the wastebasket next to her vanity before wretching into it.

@ beam me up scotty

When he pulled away, Hevi almost whined at the loss of contact. Looking at their hands wrapped together, she found more confidence in her - especially after Jaskier told her to not be nervous. Watching him lean down, she leaned up and caught his lips, the bitter taste of ale still lingering on his lips.

The spark she felt this time was... It was amazing. She felt that nothing else was around them, no danger, no interruptions. Just her, Jaskier, and the moment being the only things that mattered. Timidly, she brought her hands up to lay behind his neck, hooking her arms around as she tiptoed up into the kiss more. Humming into the kiss, smiling into it as well, she felt so peaceful - relaxed. A spike of confidence rushed through her as she perked up slightly - she was brave on the battlefield, so she wanted to be brave in intimate moments, too. Her thumbs rubbed small circles into the skin at the back of his neck, as she started to move her lips with him - in too much bliss to register anything else.

---

The second the he heard the latch lock Ifri in the room, he moved towards the door silently. He stayed there, leaning slightly into the door to hear anything. Silence, at first - but then the sound of her spilling her gut contents into a basket, he knocked on the door three times.

"I won't bring it up just..." He let out a grunt, leaning his head against the door - closing his eyes. "Let me in, Ifri." He felt worry rise in his chest - sick and other fluids didn't both him at all, it was more the fact he couldn't see her. Geralt couldn't see if she was getting worse, and that pained him. He had been studying her face so closely, the fact he wasn't looking into her eyes made something churn inside of him.

"I don't want to break down your door..." He muttered more so to himself, but his deep voice surely carried across the thin wooden door. He tried again, knocking three times - this time, more soft; she more than likely had a headache anyway.

Why do I care if she has a headache? It's not like I feel for her.... Right? No, no I can't be. But every time she paled or looked ill and I rushed to her side..... Geralt grumbled to himself for his thoughts, leaning even more on the door.

Jaskier pressed his lips more firmly to hers, wrapped his arms around the smallest part of her, moving one hand to run through her hair. His fingers mingled with the strands and he twirled them around his fingertips. He wondered if it was confidence from the alcohol that was helping him to make out like this with Hevi, a guard, in public. He liked to tell himself it was completely just his feelings for her. They were overwhelming.

Pulling back gently away from her, he rested his forehead against hers, shivering at how her touch made him shiver. "This was a pleasant surprise." He breathed out gently, listening to the rushing water of the fountain behind them. He was surprised they were able to find such a quiet, empty place in the city walls that was this beautiful, but then again, this was Hevi's home. She probably knew every secret Redania held. He was thankful for the solitude, without it, he might not be enjoying this moment right now. "You're an angel, Hevi." He smiled, just wanting to compliment her now.

---

Ifri held the basket in her hands, tears burning her eyes as she listened to him through the door. "No." She said firmly, hoping he didn't mean it when he threatened to break down the door. She had no doubt he was capable of it, but she didn't want him to see her like this. Wasn't it bad enough he saw her nodding in and out of reality, losing herself to madness on her bed? When her friend Hevi had told her that morning, that the stranger who should be able to help her was arriving later that day, she had never believed he would appear to care for her so much. Why did he seem to care so much? Any other doctor or healer would've left her chambers long ago, but he stayed.

For a man who apparently could not feel emotions, he surely wasn't acting like it.

She lurched her stomach contents up again, this time not because of the thought of the poisoning. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, before letting the basket go and sitting up against the wall, resting her shoulder against it for support while she stared at the door. Ifri didn't know how to face him anymore, but she could imagine him on the other side of the door, the way he probably looked knocking on the other side. She was hurting now for other reasons, the thought of her father hating her so much he would poison her and her mother not caring enough to stop him. She had to try to push the thoughts away, they couldn't be true.

@ beam me up scotty

There was defiantly one thing Geralt was feeling right now - irritated. He let out a grumble, about to walk away and find Jaskier or take the door of it's hinges. He just turned around, pinching his fingers between his nose. "You're innocent." He grunted out, letting out a breath while shaking his head. "That's why I'm making sure you're okay. If my presence isn't welcomed, I will gladly leave."

He sensed the sadness in the air - he almost smelt it, curse his enhanced abilities. He stood away from the door and went to sit on the chair like before, picking up a shattered piece of the tea mug on his way. Sitting down, Geralt looked at the cup with a narrowed eye.

Mandrake would of killed her by now, but it defiantly was a component - so something else was added to take away the deadliness. Whoever wanted her poisoned didn't want her dead, it seemed. Leaning back, Geralt closed his eyes, searching his brain for what it could be. "Poisoned, but not to kill. Maybe to stop her being throned? Keeping her from something bad?" He muttered the possibilities in his head, opening his eyes and glancing up at the ceiling. From here, he would go and accuse the King, but that's a quick way to bet banished; when Ifri came out of the bathroom - whenever that was - he'd give her the choice. He go accuse her father, or stay a while longer keeping seeing if he could find a reason for it.

---

When they pulled away, Hevi took this as a chance to steady her breathing. God, she'd never moved so quick from meeting someone to kiss them - by Gods, the last time she kissed was easily a few years ago; a spark went through her non the less, if it was because of how long it's been or because it was Jaskier, she didn't know.

Looking up at him through her lashes, a small smile graced her face. It was just them, the moment, and the sound of the fountain - all she wanted to focus on. Their foreheads together was such an passionate gesture, as she relaxed into his touch. The angel comment made her softly laugh, connecting with Jaskier in such a sweet moment. She leaned in again, giving him a quick peck before pulling from his lips just as quick as she met his - a playful giggle escaping her lips.

"I can't remember the last time I've read of an angel in the embrace of a man by a fountain - new material for a ballad, maybe?" Her hands still around Jaskier's neck, there was a faint blush that seemed to stay since they got to the fountain, yet she was still nervous being so close to him. She wished she was like the other women in the kingdom, confident in these certain situations, that is.

"No scene has ever been more inspiring." Jaskier smirked, keeping his face close enough so as to press his nose against hers, "a mortal man enchanted by a sun-drenched angel so beautiful she puts the goddess Aphrodite to shame." He let his eyes follow how the rays of the sun cast over the fountain and washed over her hair, positively making her radiant. He let his hands rub down her sides, letting his forehead rest against hers just to enjoy her presence.

He let a few moments of silence pass them by as he just relaxed and enjoyed the way her touch felt. "You've really smitten me this day, Hevi." He whispered, finally breaking the silence before he kissed her lips once more. He pulled back, his hands running up her arms and then pulling them down so he could hold her hands firmly in his. "So much so, that I intend to do possibly, absolutely, almost anything to force Geralt to stay in Redania for as long as I possibly can." The bard couldn't help but laugh at how stupid he sounded, but he just couldn't take his eyes off of her.

---

Ifri stayed against the wall for just a few more minutes, waiting for her stomach to settle down. She felt horrible hearing him through the door. Pulling herself to her feet, she moved over to the vanity once more, forcing herself to look into the mirror. Shocked by how deathly she appeared, Ifri raised a hand to her cheek, gently touching her skin. She couldn't believe her father would do this to her. He couldn't. Standing up straight, she slowly walked over to the bathroom door and unlatched the lock, before gradually creaking the door open.

"Your presence is greatly welcomed, by me at least" She whispered, but couldn't look at him, keeping her eyes trained on the floor. Moving from the bathroom, she came up next to Geralt and looked down at the broken teacup shard in his hand. "Please don't think it isn't." She reached out to place her hand on his shoulder, wanting to touch him again, even if she could only feel his leather shoulder pauldrons. Her other hand grabbed at the center of her dress, just fidgeting with the fabric out of nerves. "I don't know who would want to poison me."

@ beam me up scotty