Chapter Text
The cold of the night bit at his nose as Jaskier traveled through the Darkling woods. His lute was was strapped to his back, magic bubbling at his fingers. “Who goes there?!” Someone shouted from just beyond the treeline. Jaskier swung his lute around his body, holding it like a weapon.
“Jaskier,” he responded. He was too close to Camelot to rely on his magic as a solid defense, their laws forbid it. Weak from his long week of travel the bard stumbled forward into the clearing, arms reached out and caught him
“Steady there Jaskier! I’m a knight, at your service.” The man introduced himself then helped Jaskier back up, “you need rest… and your a bard! Perfect, the court is in need of a new entertainer. You can rest in one of the guest rooms of the castle. King Uther won’t mind I’m sure.” Jaskier shook his head, but allowed himself to be ushered into the walls of magic’s enemy.
The castle seemed to be as fancy as castles get. Jaskier followed the knight blindly through the twists and turns of the corridors. He was then ushered into an empty bedroom, only a desk and bookshelf, and dresser decorated it. “Thank you,” Jaskier said to the knight. The man nodded then asked,
“If I may ask… what were you doing in the Darkling Woods? Beasts roam there, only the knights are allowed to enter them past sundown.” Jaskier decided to lie,
“I got robbed by bandits. They chased me into the woods from King Cenred’s kingdom.” The knight seemed to be surprised,
“You said your name is Jaskier?” He nodded, the knight continued, “you’re brave for a bard Jaskier.” The knight said as Jaskier curled around his lute. Just as the knight was about to leave the room Jaskier asked,
“You know my name… what’s yours?” The knight froze, hand just reaching the doorknob. He answered with a smirk,
“Prince Arthur, at your service.” Jaskier let his eyes flutter shut as he rested in the safety of Camelot’s walls.
Jaskier groaned as he woke up, blinking the dryness out of his eyes. The first thing he noticed was Geralt sleeping in a wooden chair that was much too uncomfortable. The second thing he noticed was the princess curling herself around him protectively. “Jas, you’re okay!” Ciri exclaimed. The warlock turned around with a smile,
“Yes, sorry about the scare.” He apologized as Ciri snuggled deeper into his chest. Geralt grumbled something about him being too self-sacrificing from his chair. “What about Nilfgaard?” He asked horsley, Geralt grunted.
“They fell quickly, five nights have passed since the war.” The door banged open and Merlin rushed into the room just so he could hit him upside the head.
“Dollophead!” The young Dragon Lord exclaimed. Jaskier rolled his eyes, but Merlin persisted, “you knew what that spell would’ve done to you if you weren’t able to contain it! And locking me out of the room? What was that for?” He demanded, Jaskier glanced at Geralt when he answered.
“I couldn’t let any more of my friends get hurt,” he said. Geralt grunted then engulfed him in a hug. Jaskier returned the gesture then asked, “what about Morgauase and Morgana?” A shadow crossed Merlin’s face. “Merlin, what happened to Morgause and Morgana?” Jaskier asked again as he limbs slowly turned to rubber, it was only thanks to Geralt that he didn’t fall over again. Merlin spoke,
“Morgause fell in the war, Morgana…” Merlin trailed off before saying, “Morgana was injured.” Jaskier started to run for the door, “not gravely!” Merlin shouted after him. “Jaskier slow down!” Merlin yelled chasing after him as Jaskier ran down the hallways towards Morgana’s chambers.
“Morgana…” Jaskier said entering the ward’s room. Arthur stood at her bedside, arms crossed and brow furrowed. Just by stepping into the room he could tell Morgana’s magic was already healing her. “She’s healing?” He asked Gaius, the old man nodded in response. Arthur looked up surprise then said,
“You’re not supposed to be up yet.” Suddenly Geralt appeared behind Jaskier,
“Time to get more rest bard.” The Witcher said grabbing jaskier’ sarm and pulling him out of the room. Jaskier tried to twist out of his grasp, but Geralt only grabbed his bicep harder.
“Let me go Geralt! I just found out my mom got killed. I need to see her!” He shouted fighting against the Witcher’s hold. “I need to see her Geralt. Let me go,” Jaskier insisted. “I need to see her!” He shouted, the well built emotional walls he’d built around himself shattered. “She can’t be dead, she can’t!” Jaskier, you need to calm down. Merlin thought at him, Jaskier whipped around and turned on the Dragon Lord. “Shut up!” Jaskier roared, Merlin was pushed backwards thanks to a burst of magic. Geralt quickly stepped between the two of them so Jaskier couldn’t see his friend again.
“Jaskier you are going to hurt someone. Most likely yourself again,” Geralt said holding up his hands like he was placating a rampant beast. Merlin quickly bounced back to his feet, eyes solid gold as he stood to protect Arthur. Jaskier melted into Geralt’s open arms melting against the warmth of the Witcher. Geralt held him in silence and let Jaskier soak his tears in his tears into the Witcher’s shirt.
“I’m sorry Jaskier.” Geralt said into the bard’s messed up hair. Jaskier nodded then pushed away from the Witcher. He turned to Arthur, who followed him out of Morgana’s room.
“Morgause deserves a funeral, a proper funeral. Not some burning at the steak like I’m sure you’ve got planned.” Arthur winced,
“Morgause was a sworn enemy of Camelot.” Jaskier shook his head then responded,
“Without her fighting at your side, you would never have been able to defeat Nilfgaard.” Jaskier blinked the tears away and rolled his shoulders back. “My mother needs a proper burial King Arthur. Your father would’ve had her burnt on a pyre. Be better than your father King Arthur,” he finished without room for arguments. After what seemed like ages Arthur nodded,
“All of the fallen will be granted proper burials. Morgaus’s will not take place until Morgana is fully recovered.” Jaskier let the corners of his lips curl into a small smile. He hugged Arthur thanking him then turned back to Geralt,
“So Witcher, where does the next adventure lie?” Ciri perked up,
“Maybe you can actually train me!” She exclaimed happily. Geralt hummed then said,
“We aren’t going anywhere for awhile. If King Arthur allows, I would like to remain in Camelot for a few weeks.” Jaskier glanced at Arthur, who luckily nodded.
“As of today, witchers are welcomed with open arms in Camelot.” Arthur said facing Geralt, who grunted thanks.
“If the rest of you don’t mind, my patient still needs rest.” Gaius said suddenly appearing behind Merlin. Sometimes Jaskier swore the older man had magic and just neglected to tell the rest of them. Geralt nodded,
“Sleep for Jas and Ciri.” Gaius shook his head and pointed,
“For you too Geralt. You’re all exhausted, and Merlin used much of his magic putting the castle back together.” Upon hearing that Arthur turned to the dragon lord,
“You told me it was a simple spell!” The king accused his court warlock. Merlin looked to Jaskier for help, who somehow made his way back into Geralt’s arms. Don’t look at me for help, you got yourself into this. Just sleep man, like Gaius said, we all need it. Jaskier thought, Merlin glared daggers at him as Arthur ushered him in the direction of their bedroom. Jaskier sighed then looked up at Geralt.
“Sleep?” Jaskier asked his friend, Geralt hummed then nodded as he picked up Jaskier so the bard laid across his arms. Jaskier let the sound of Geralt’s steady heartbeat lull him to sleep just as Geralt reached his bedroom door.
His magic jolted Jaskier awake during his fifth night in Camelot. Something seemed to be calling at him… Jaskier stood up, put on casual clothes then followed the feeling that woke him up. “What the hell?” He wondered out loud, a ball of blue light appeared in front of him, guiding him into the Darkling Woods. The ball sped up as they got closer to wherever it was leading him. “Hello?” Jaskier called out hoping whoever he was meeting wasn’t hostile. Just as he reached a small clearing the ball of blue light disappeared.
“Arthur, help.” A boy said lying in the clearing wrapped in metal chains. Jaskier rushed forward just as a scorpion-like creature impaled the guy in his back. The boy threw his head back and screamed in pain. His eyes shot open to reveal magical golden ones. Jaskier used a quick burst of magic to scare of the rest of the scorpions then tried to help the magic user out of the chains. He realized quickly, as he pulled on the metal links they only seemed to be wrapping around the boy tighter. Jaskier decided to roll the boy over so her could better see his wound. Luckily, before Jaskier left the Isle of the Blessed Morgause taught him a few healing spells. Jaskier raised his hands over the injury before chanting,
“I alcl puno het ehliang pisirst. Lcenaes hits anms owunsd yhpscailyl orf eh aws urht yb gaimc.” A wave of calmness passed through Jaskier and into the boy’s wound. The second the boy’s skin knit itself together he began chanting something in a language Jaskier did not understand. The boy’s language seemed deeper, older, than the Old Religion itself. The boy’s eyes shimmered gold as he continued to chant. “Boy, what are you doing?” Jaskier asked him having his own magic ready in case he accidentally healed a hostile creature. The boy paid him no mind as whatever magic he used burst him free of the chains. The boy panted heavily as he tried to stand up. He turned to Jaskier and asked him a question in the forgein language. Jaskier only shrugged, for fear of saying the wrong answer. The boy frowned then turned his head to the night sky. He screamed words in a deeper voice than Jaskier thought was possible. The boy had a sense of control, a sense of power. Jaskier figured it wouldn’t bode well for him to get on this boy’s bad side. When the boy finished yelling at the sky he promptly sat next to a rather thick tree trunk and leaned against it. He turned to Jaskier then spoke in english,
“I’m Merlin, what’s yours?” He said innocently introducing himself. Something in the back of Jaskier’s mind whispered the name Emrys. Jaskier shook his head loose then sat next to Merlin.
“Jaskier, nice to meet you,” he said reaching out to shake Merlin’s hand. Merlin nodded and returned his gesture. Not half an hour later and a large shadow covered their clearing blocking the moon’s light. Jaskier sat up worriedly, eyes on alert, but Merlin laughed. “Oh relax Jaskier, I only want you to meet my friend.” The Great Dragon gracefully landed on the field before them making Jaskier squeak in surprise.