Chapter Text
Jaskier snuffed his nose, trying to keep the snot from dripping down his face. His head felt too heavy and everything ached. Scrunching his nose hurt, but the snot going down his face would hurt more.
“He’s clearly had some sort of training to be able to evade us.” The mage growled. Rience. That was his name. Jaskier remembered somewhere in his mind, “The witch must have taught him something.” Yennefer had taught him some ways to protect his mind but he hadn’t wasted all his time away from Geralt. Countess de Stael and her court taught him a few things. A mage there showed him a few tricks. It wasn’t perfect, but he could protect the things he had to. Namely, a location.
Everyone had advised him against leaving Yennefer’s safe house. Everyone. Vesemir. Eskel. Lambert. But they didn’t understand. Jaskier needed to leave. While he had forgiven Geralt for his words, he hadn’t forgotten them. So once the opportunity had come up for a trip, he volunteered to go. And, he was truly the best one to go. He wasn’t as recognizable with his yellow or purple eyes. Some hair dye and a different outfit, Jaskier was a completely different man.
They needed someone to slink into taverns and get some information about what was going on. Yenn could get some information, but not everything. Witchers were too recognizable. Especially Geralt.
And Jaskier needed to prove himself useful. Everyone in that house was more than human. Vesemir constantly training the Witchers and Ciri. Yenn teaching her magic. Eskel teaching her witcher magic. Geralt and Lambert took turns training her to fight. Jaskier was reminded just how human he was. All those feelings that hadn’t really been dealt with since leaving Geralt came bubbling to the surface and he wasn’t supposed to be angry about it anymore. He was in a house full of people who refused to indulge their emotions. Every day being told over and over again how his profession was lesser. It was demeaning. Infuriating.
And, at the end of the day, he was the most expendable person as well. So, it made sense to let him go. No one cared about the human who didn’t make it back. The most infuriating part was that the information Jaskier found out would be critical to help Ciri; so, it was a shame he wouldn’t be making it back.
But he could protect them, and that had to count for something.
“Throw him in the cell. Maybe that will loosen his tongue.” Rience declared. For the first time in a few days, or so he thought, he was unshackled from the torture chair. His limbs weren’t quite working so he was dragged by two thugs. Pain blossomed when he was thrown to the floor, overwhelming him so much he forgot how to breath.
Jaskier must have blacked out because he was blinking awake still on the stone floor. He had to bite his cheek against the agony as he sat up, sucking in a breath. Breathing in hurt, but he managed it. Somehow, he was also able to sit up. He was shaking horribly. He knew it was shock and adrenalin.
“Hello?” A voice made Jaskier jump. He looked into the cell to see slit eyes staring back at him, “I- I won’t hurt you.” The shadows moved a bit and the man stepped out more into the dim light. He looked about as good as Jaskier felt, which wasn’t too good. The light caught the medallion around his neck with a cat on it.
“What’d th-they g-g-g-get you for?” Jaskier asked, leaning back carefully against the stone wall. His body was still pumped full of adrenalin and shaking so hard it effected his voice.
“They want me to tell them the location of a secret path to Kaer Morhen.” Jaskier couldn’t help but glancing at his medallion again. A cat witcher probably wouldn’t know, since most of the ones that did know had died.
“You show more brains that the people who snagged me.” The man grunted as he moved to sit next to Jaskier, “They asked me innumerable times.” The witcher was careful with his words but Jaskier figured that he didn’t know where Kaer Morhen was located. But if anyone found it out, they would probably just kill the witcher for the trouble.
“Aiden.” The witcher introduced himself.
“Jaskier.”
“Jaskier, this is going to sound—extremely odd—for a human. But your face is infected.” Aiden said calmly. Jaskier nodded, that hadn’t sounded too weird. Rience had burned his face. Burned his fucking face. He had made Jaskier choose. Choose between burning his hands or his face. It wasn’t much of a choice, in the end. Jaskier wouldn’t risk never being able to play his lute again. So, his face was the easy choice. His throat had gone hoarse when he yelled. The entire right side was in pain. He was terrified he would lose the sight in his right eye, but it held on. The smell of burnt skin and hair hadn’t left yet.
“I kn-know.” Jaskier’s teeth chattered so hard it hurt. He felt hot and cold all at the same time. His face still felt hot—too hot. And while he knew he was in shock, that wasn’t the only reason he couldn’t stop shivering.
“I have mutagens that help heal wounds and fight against infection in my spit. If I lick your face—it might help.” Jaskier thought he had heard everything when it came to witchers, but that was certainly new.
“C-Cat w-witcher thing?” Jaskier asked. Aiden shrugged, “W-work on h-humans?”
“Never tried before.” Aiden admitted, “But not sure you’re going to live without it. The infection has caught deep, and I don’t think the guards are going to care if you die from it.”
“Or Rience.”
“Can I try?” Aiden asked, and Jaskier nodded. Aiden arranged himself close to Jaskier’s right side, “This will probably hurt.” The first lick ripped a gasp from his lungs. Hurt didn’t begin to describe the pain radiating down to his core, “There is dirt in the wound as well.” Aiden murmured, “You ready for this?”
“Y-you have s-something I c-can b-bite on?” Jaskier asked. Aiden handed him a broken leather strap that was probably from his missing armor. Jaskier bit down on it and gripped the witcher’s arm. He glanced at Aiden’s green eyes before nodding. He tried to muffle his yell at the next lick. The pain was blinding. His fingers dug into the witcher’s arm, most likely drawing blood. It went on forever. Jaskier could only stare at the stone wall with a tiny caged window fifteen feet up. There were vines that wrapped down the wall and a steady drip of water from the rain. He pictured the vines tearing away the stones, the water rushing the stone away so they could get the fuck out of there.
“Almost done.” Aiden murmured. The few more licks were still agony, and Jaskier could feel himself fading. Aiden pulled back, looking at his work.
“Gunna pass out.” Jaskier told him.
“I’ll look at your other wounds.” Jaskier was able to mumble something affirmative before his eyes rolled in the back of his head only to dream about washed away stone.
This time when Jaskier woke up, he felt much better than he had since he had arrived at the hell pit. Which wasn’t exactly a very high bar, but it still a win. He knew immediately that the infection was gone and Aiden’s spit had done the trick. His body wasn’t nearly as hot as it had been the day before. The witcher was curled up behind Jaskier, his body heat radiating off of him like a furnace. Running too warm must have been a witcher thing, Geralt was a wonderful travel companion when it started to get cold because of that very reason.
“How are you feeling?” Aiden asked.
“Much better.” Jaskier’s voice was rough. He moved to sit up and realized his other wounds didn’t hurt as much either. The burn on his back had made the shirt cling to his skin, but it now felt much better. And the one on his upper thigh—that one also didn’t feel as stiff. He stared at the hole in his breaches and his thigh.
“Be glad you were passed out for that one.” Aiden said.
“Dunno. Might have liked to watch.” Jaskier flirted. Aiden’s eyes went wide for a second before he chuckled.
“You are not frightened of witchers.” Aiden concluded as he sat up. His hair was greasy from being locked up for too long, but he pushed it back anyway.
“Traveled with Geralt too long. If I ever was afraid of them anyway.” Jaskier told him.
“Meet any other wolves?” Aiden asked, his tone light.
“Eskel. Vesemir. Lambert. Few others that—didn’t make it.” Aiden tensed. The only reason Jaskier noticed was because they were still sitting so close together.
“Lambert ok?” Aiden asked quietly.
“Still being a holy terror somewhere.” Jaskier said with a grin, which made Aiden huff a laugh, “How long have you been here?” Jaskier said.
“Three months, give or take.” Aiden answered.
“Y-you know when I got here?” Jaskier asked.
“Heard your screams starting four days ago. Dunno how long they had you before that.” Jaskier nodded, “Why do they want to find the wolf witcher stronghold?” Aiden asked.
Jaskier figured it was no harm telling Aiden since it was common knowledge with the enemy anyway, “Geralt’s Child Surprise is the Lion Cub of Cintra.”
“The princess is alive?” Aiden asked, astonished, “Last I heard she died when Cintra was sacked.” Jaskier shook his head.
“She made it out.” Jaskier said with a smile, “She’s a force to reckon with too, just like her grandmother. Doesn’t hate witchers though.” Aiden smiled, it looked a bit unhinged.
“Good.”
They were left alone for quite a while. Someone brought down food that wasn’t meant to be eaten. Luckily, the water coming in from the window was good enough to drink. If Jaskier wasn’t so terrified, he would say that he was bored. He was glad that Aiden didn’t seem to mind him humming. The man was quite a lovely prisoner companion, if Jaskier was allowed to think it. And he seemed to need physical comfort just as much as Jaskier did. Often, Jaskier would find Aiden’s head in his lap, his eyes closed in a meditative state. He would run his fingers through Aiden’s hair as he hummed, staring at the wall with the vines on it hoping that they would tear the stones apart.
“There is a fast-moving river outside. If you are able to get out, jump into it. It will carry you away quickly, away from the soldiers here. It would be dangerous, but if you try to escape on foot, you will get caught.” Aiden told him, “If you get a chance to escape, go for it. I will do the same. I will come back for you.” Aiden had been there a bit longer and tried to escape more than once.
Every few days, Rience would pluck one of them back up into his torture room. Jaskier got used to Aiden’s screams. Jaskier could tell Rience was losing his patience. Aiden lost a finger. The mage was fine to just burn parts of Jaskier’s skin off, for the moment. But he knew he was going to die here. Geralt didn’t know to look for him, no one was expecting him yet.
He couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t live long enough to yell at Geralt one last time. To hug Ciri. To share a bottle of wine with Yenn. He had been so depressed when he left, thinking himself useless. What he would give to be useless again. He wished he could play his lute, which was too recognizable to travel with him so it was back at the safe house. He was very glad he brought a cheaper one that was confiscated when he was captured.
Jaskier wouldn’t make it to see Geralt one last time.
Depression gripped his heart with the slow loss of hope and a realization that he was not getting out. Though he had Aiden to lean on, neither one of them had much hope of surviving. He was just glad he wasn’t alone at the end.
Jaskier was waiting for Aiden to come back. His arms were wrapped around his legs. When Aiden was thrown back into the cell, there was more blood than usual. Jaskier’s heart raced as he crawled over to the witcher. He flipped him on his back to reveal that his left eye had been removed.
“Aiden!” Jaskier wanted to vomit, but it would only stink up the cell even more. Aiden’s one eye rolled a bit in his head before finding Jaskier.
“Didn’t ask me about Kaer Morhen.” Aiden rasped, “Think he’s given up and just torturing for fucking giggles.” Jaskier couldn’t help but start to cry. He hadn’t since he had arrived, but this was too much, “It’s ok, Jaskier.”
“Fuck off.” Jaskier chuckled a bit through his tears, “I should be comforting you.”
“You’re going to make it out.” Aiden told him.
“I don’t think either of us are getting out of here alive.” Jaskier whispered.
“You are. And you’re going to take this with you.” Aiden took off his cat medallion, handing it to Jaskier, “Can you—if you could—give it to Lambert?”
“I’m not getting out of here either, Aiden. He is going to pull us apart until there is nothing left.” Jaskier sobbed. Aiden didn’t seem to hear him, most likely passed out. His heart beat was slow, so Jaskier waited for the pulse against his fingers. His faint breathing and rise of is chest meant he was alive.
Jaskier prided himself on being able to see a glimmer of hope in all situations. Or at least a silver lining. But this felt desolate. He put the medallion around his neck, curling up around Aiden. He stared at that stupid wall he had been since he got in the cell. Water was trickling in from the rain outside. Jaskier wanted to scream. He stood up on shaky feet, not quite sure what he was doing as he walked toward the wall.
He wished he wasn’t so useless. If Yennefer would have been kidnapped, she would have gotten them out by now. If it were Geralt. He wasn’t sure what the wolf would do that Aiden hadn’t, but he was sure Aiden and Geralt would have been able to get out. All Jaskier could do was stare at the vines and hope. Hope that the vines would come alive and grip the walls. Hope that the water that trickled in turned into a flood that washed away the stones. Jaskier yelled. He punched the wall and then screamed again.
Water was pouring into the cell and his chest buzzed, but he wasn’t paying much attention to it. He just wanted that fucking wall gone. His chest felt like it was kicked and he flew back against the cell bars. The wall was shaking.
“Aiden!” Jaskier shook him. The witcher looked at him immediately, then the wall across from them.
“What’s happening?” Aiden asked.
“Can you manage an Aard?” Jaskier asked. The wall was crumbling in a few places. A small push could get them out of here.
“We’ll find out.” Aiden said weakly.
“Come on. You want to see that wolf, right? Small push is all we need.” Jaskier encouraged. Aiden nodded his head, looking determined. Jaskier closed his eyes, wishing to whatever gods would listen. He poured any strength he could into that fucking wall. Aiden’s fingers flexed and Jaskier shut his eyes, too nervous to watch. He felt a bubble in his chest, it was feeble. The hum was louder than ever, so he covered his ears. It felt like he was stretching a limb that was asleep. It hurt. The static was unbearable. Jaskier couldn’t help but scream.
Jaskier felt, rather than heard the wall come down. The ringing in his ears didn’t stop.
“Gotta move.” Jaskier said, though he couldn’t hear himself. There was muffled shouting. Aiden moved slowly, so Jaskier helped.
The wall had blown outward. Jaskier could see the river not fifteen yards away. The rain was coming down in buckets. He grabbed Aiden, hauling the cat with him over the broken stones that made up the wall. Aiden helped Jaskier as well, who couldn’t seem to keep his limbs in line. His chest had stopped humming, but his strength had left him. They were soaked within seconds of stepping outside of the broken cell.
“Come on Jaskier.” Aiden encouraged, “Into the river!” Jaskier felt fear like he hadn’t since they first got there. The hope of getting out was nearly debilitating. Shouts came from the fortress. He felt an arrow narrowly miss his arm. They were lucky the rain obscured their movements across the short yard.
“Jump!” Aiden yelled, throwing himself into the river.
Jaskier followed.
askier took a sharp breath he couldn’t afford because of the freezing water. The current swallowed him immediately. His body moved quickly down the river, rolling against the bottom. He couldn’t quite tell which way was up or down. The panic was overwhelming as he fought to find the surface. When his lungs began to burn, he slammed into a rock and was pinned. It became a blessing when it gave him enough leverage to climb to the surface. He gasped his first breath, taking in as much air as he could. He held onto the rock as tightly as he could, the water rushing around him.
“JASKIER!” Aiden yelled.
“Aiden!” He managed to rasp.
“AGAIN!” Aiden yelled, and Jaskier was very grateful for witcher’s sensitive hearing. He managed to speak Aiden’s name a bit louder that time. He heard some splashing right before Aiden came into view. Jaskier gasped as Aiden slammed into him.
“Hold onto me!” Aiden yelled. Jaskier whimpered, terrified to let go of the rock, “We can do this!” Jaskier couldn’t hold in the current much longer anyway, so he took hold of Aiden’s tunic. Aiden pushed them out back into the rapids, taken away by the flow of the river. Jaskier kept a death grip on the shirt, despite being knocked and rolled around. The witcher pulled him back up to the surface a few times, demanding him to breathe.
Eventually, the rapids evened out and the current eased a bit. Aiden kept them floating down river for a while. Jaskier laid on his back, feeling the rain fall on his face. He couldn’t believe that he was breathing. He wasn’t quite sure he was alive.
“Come on Jaskier.” Aiden whispered, “There looks to be a barn up ahead. We can get dry and perhaps get some rest.” Jaskier could barely move his limbs, so the witcher had to help him get to shore. Once they climbed up the bank, Jaskier wasn’t sure who carried who to the barn. There were panels fallen over and the entire thing looked abandoned. Jaskier was able to push open the sliding door. It was pretty empty inside, some hay left behind.
“Doesn’t smell like anyone has been here for a long time.” Aiden said, “We need a fire.”
“C-can w-w-we?” Jaskier’s teeth chattered.
“Don’t think we can afford not to. We’ll die of hypothermia.” Aiden said seriously, “We floated quite far down the river. Hopefully, they won’t look this far.” Jaskier nodded. He managed to grab some of the broken boards, pulling them together to make a pile of wood to burn. Aiden grabbed some straw that was dry. A small igni was able to spark the fire.
“Strip.” Aiden said as the fire began to take hold.
“W-what?”
“Wet clothes will keep you cold. Strip.” Aiden had already taken off his shirt. There was a broken beam that he placed his shirt to dry out on, then took off his breaches and small clothes. Jaskier did the same, shivering as he did. Aiden found burlap sacks they were able to sit on in front of the fire. Jaskier pulled off the medallion, handing it back to Aiden.
“G-glad I didn’t h-have to deliver this.” Jaskier whispered. Aiden slipped it over his head.
“Me too.” He whispered back.
“Get s-some s-sleep.”
“I’ll keep watch.”
“Y-you lost y-your eye. Y-you need sleep t-too. We’ll h-have to risk it.” Aiden nodded his head. Jaskier laid down on the barn floor, “Aiden?”
“Sleep.” The witcher whispered.
“You t-too.” Jaskier demanded.
“Ok.” Aiden’s shoulders slumped as he lay down an arm’s reach from Jaskier.