Titus (about Kiyan, watching him slaughter Scoia'tael): That witcher is a hurricane. Adrien (wistfully): He sure is. Titus: …Hurricanes are bad, Adrien.
Thought I was out of Witcher fusions and then pulled this last one out my sleeve. Dandelion and Triss Merigold. Probably goes by a yellow flower name (Sunflower)? They honestly wear such similar outfits with the boots and collars and gauntlet looking things it’s really funny.
Did a Geralt and Yen fusion! Not a big fan of the design so I might have to revisit it at some point. But like. Aesthetic very cool. Also would probably take up the name Raven (after the Griffin Witcher who had the raven’s armour).
Guess who committed some fandom war crimes and made character fusions! *slaps table* ITS ME.
So uh this is a Geralt and Dandelion fusion. (Dubbed Jerral because that’s an actual name! It means strong and open minded which honestly fits.) Kind of got an emo bard aesthetic. The more you progress the more beta the design gets lol.
So I guess this is the Witcher Froston-equivalent. If you guys have better name suggestions feel free to smack ‘em in the comments
My beautiful Grayson stitch is finally done! I worked so hard on his pattern to make him as pretty as he deserved and I am so happy with how he came out.
Thank you to @witcherscrane for the lovely portrait of Grayson. I used it as the reference for this stitch and I wanted to make him as pretty as that picture.
Also, thank you to everyone at the @continentcakeshop who helped me tweak his pattern over the last months, giving me suggestions and feedback to help make him look as good as possible. Thank you for listening to me obsess over his nose for far too long, then his eyes, then his hair. This was a labor of love though and I thank everyone who helped.
His armor was inspired by the Bear Witcher mentor Gwent card:
I couldn’t resist hopping on the Witcher OC bandwagon with a Witcher concept of my own - a Witcher of Ofir!
Ofir is a country south of Nilfgaard consisting of numerous desert tribes and kingdoms united under a Malliq. It is a land of great cities said to be even more grand than those of Nilfgaard.
My Witcher is from the Ofieri School of the Cobra (a school of my own creation), who train Witchers in alchemy, oils, and poisons made to fight monsters.
In my alternate universe inspired by the glimpses of Ofir we’ve seen in Witcher 3, the Witchers of Ofir are not feared, but revered experts. However, royal decree states that only a certain number of Witchers may exist at one time. When one falls, another is chosen from volunteers to take their place.
Read my entire lore write-up on The Witchers of Ofir + see more WiPs of this painting at my blog!
She raised a brow and coyly smiled at Lambert. “Aw, so you do listen to what I say?”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself. How can I not hear you when you’re so damn loud all the time?” Karina pursed her lips. She knew he was exaggerating, considering his hearing is better than the average person’s.
The sorceress pointed at the wine cabinet. “Pick a different one. Or, if you insist on drinking my wine, you’re going to share it with me.”
Lambert looked to the cabinets and back to the bottle he had in his hand.
“Whatever.”
I’m going to tag this forward to @poeti-kat,@theowlseye, and @pikapeppa, all who I know have many wonderful fics under their belts. As always, no pressure to participate if you don’t want to though!
Next chapter of my cat witcher OC (Nix) fic. See the Masterpost for content/warnings. Masterpost here.
I won’t spoil it, but it’s soft. Probably only one chapter after this <3
-
Nix was lying on her back on a bench in the courtyard, soaking up the sun, when she heard Jaskier, strumming his lute and humming to himself. As he approached the bench, she spoke up.
“You’re just drawn to someone enjoying peace and quiet, aren’t you? Like a cat.” She cracked an eye open to peer at him.
“Thought you were the cat,” he retorted with a grin.
She sighed, but dropped her feet to the ground on either side of the bench, leaving a spot at the end for Jaskier to sit. He dropped onto it happily, fingers still picking out the melody he was working on.
“So, enjoying the sunbeam, kitty?”
“I was enjoying the sun and the quiet,” she started, and Jaskier’s grin faltered, “but I suppose a bit of company won’t hurt.” His grin picked back up.
“So, you’ve been tearing through the poetry books! And did I hear you reading out loud to Eskel from one of them the other day? So romantic, Nikola!”
Nix made a noise of disgust, draping an arm over her eyes. “Oh, shut up.”
Jaskier grinned wider. “Where’s the fun in that? It was very sweet. Have you seen the way he looks at you? Like an overgrown, devoted puppy dog.”
“Jaskier!”
“What? It’s true! It’s a compliment to you both. It’s adorable. I think I’ll write a song about it. The witcher and the assassin. No, that won’t do at all. The wolf and the kitty cat? The—”
“Jask, how would you like to wear your underwear as a hat?”
“How would… why would I do that?”
Nix sat up in one swift movement, a dangerous twinkle in her dark green eyes.
“Oh! Oh, no. That look spells trouble. Listen. I am wearing fresh clothes, and I am holding a very precious instrument, so whatever you are planning…” He quickly stood, backing up slowly with his hands held up placatingly in front of himself.
“I’ll give you a head start,” Nix said.
“Nix, beautiful, smart, wonderful Nix—”
“Ten, nine…”
“Ahh!!” Jaskier turned and started running for the doors to the keep.
Nix smirked and went back to laying on the bench. She let Jaskier’s words run back through her head, and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She knew that Eskel seemed interested in her, seemed to care for her. But her mind was usually quick to excuse it away: that he cared only because she meant something to his family. That he pitied her. That he was just a caring, helpful person, but that it didn’t mean anything about her in particular. But both Aiden and Jaskier seemed to think it was more than that. The thought was still a bit scary, but it was also exciting. It made warmth flood under her skin.
“There you are,” came a warm voice.
“Hmm?” Nix lifted her head and shaded her eyes to see Eskel walking towards her. He was smiling.
“Jaskier said I might find you out here. He seemed a bit frazzled - were you tormenting the bard?”
She grinned and dropped her head back down. “He was the one tormenting me!”
“I’m sure it was mutual. Enjoying the sun? You aren’t too cold out here?”
“No, the sun is wonderful. I’m solar-powered.”
Eskel walked around the bench to stand behind her head. “May I?” He asked, gesturing to the spot where her head was.
“Hmm?” She peered up at him, then realized what he was asking. “Oh. Sure, alright.” She sat up a bit, letting him sit where her head and shoulders had been, before laying back down with her head in his lap. He pulled the tie out of her hair and gently combed his fingers through it, and she let out a pleased sigh.
“I still don’t know how you managed to get out of the keep unnoticed yesterday, and yet I was caught! In my own home! And by Jaskier, no less!”
Nix laughed. “Tough luck, Wolf! Some of us are built for stealth, some of us are built for strength…”
“I am plenty stealthy! And you’re plenty strong.”
“Mmm.”
“Gallant rescue on your part, though. You haven’t called in your favour yet.”
“I’m saving it,” she said with a smile, eyes still closed.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, Eskel slowly combing through Nix’s hair while she melted into the bench and his touch.
“The snow will be melting in the pass, soon. Will you be going down with Lambert and Aiden, when it’s time?”
“I guess.”
Eskel was silent a moment, massaging his fingertips against Nix’s scalp, eliciting the faintest purr from the Cat. He smiled to himself.
“You could come with me, if you like,” he offered quietly. Nix’s eyes flew open, emerald staring into gold. His hand in her hair paused, then he blinked and looked away to the trees. “We could still take our own contracts, that doesn’t have to change. But the path doesn’t need to be so lonely. And inn rooms are cheaper when shared. Bedrolls warmer, too.” He glanced down to find Nix staring at him with wide, wet eyes. “And if you find yourself dreaming of being a frog, we can go be frogs, for a while.”
Nix sucked in a breath and held it.
“I know a place in the forest outside Toussaint,” Eskel continued. “There’s a little waterfall, a clear pool, and a cave for shelter. Perfect spot to be a frog and shirk responsibilities.”
Nix sat up swiftly, shifting to face Eskel. “Do you mean it?” she asked shakily.
“Of course,” he replied solemnly.
Nix surged forwards and crashed their lips together, a little off-centered, lips mashed into teeth, more feeling than finesse. After a moment she pulled back an inch, drawing in a shuddering breath, and their eyes met.
“Is that a yes?” Eskel asked, voice quiet and hoarse with emotion.
Nix nodded, then gulped. “Yeah. I’d like that,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper and wavering with emotion.
Eskel slowly raised a hand, brushing it along her jaw before combing into her hair, grasping the back of her head lightly, then leaned back in, gently pressing his lips to hers. It was soft, gentle, and full of emotion. Too much and not enough all at once. Nix made a quiet whimper into the kiss, shuffling forwards on the bench. Eskel’s other hand reached out to rest softly on her hip, his thumb stroking her soft shirt. It wasn’t clear if she moved forward first or if he pulled her forwards, but she was then straddling his lap, held in strong arms, lost in soft lips and hot breath. When they broke to catch their breath she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
“Alright?” he asked softly.
“Yeah,” she murmured, tightening her arms around his back. “A bit overwhelmed, but good. Great.”
He hummed, giving her a squeeze. “Great.”
They sat there for a while, secure in each-other’s arms, breathing in the crisp air and each-other’s breath. She felt warm, and safe, and settled in a way she’d forgotten was possible. She didn’t ever want to leave, and she found she didn’t really have a reason to. She could have this. Could keep this. And she would fight to do so, if she had to.
Next chapter of my cat witcher OC (Nix) fic. See the Masterpost for content/warnings. Masterpost here.
An injury (it’s fine), some PTSD, some talking & comfort <3
-
Nix was washing down the table in the hall when Eskel returned from hunting, pushing through the front door while holding his side. When Nix spotted him her hand froze mid-swipe.
“Eskel?” she asked, concerned. She started walking towards him, but when she smelled blood she started running. “What happened?”
“Wyvern thought that deer looked like a good meal too, I guess.” He chuckled, slightly out of breath. A blood stain was blooming further out underneath his hand. “It’s not that bad.”
Nix ignored his words and gently pulled his hand away, then carefully peeled his gambeson aside. Her fingers were stained with blood and her hands started to shake. A memory flashed before her eyes, her hands covered in Aleks’s blood, and she shook her head fiercely. Not now. She needed to focus on helping Eskel. She took his sword belt and gambeson off, but she was starting to tremble, her breathing growing ragged.
“Hey, Nix, it’s alright, I’ll be fine,” Eskel tried to reassure her.
Lambert and Aiden came down the stairs together.
“Well, where’s my dinner?” Lambert called out jokingly to his brother, but as he focused on the scene in front of them his breath hitched and he hurried forwards, Aiden on his heels. “Hey, what the fuck, you’re supposed to take down the wildlife, ‘skel, not the other way ‘round.”
“You know, I knew I was forgetting something,” Eskel responded sarcastically, wincing slightly.
Aiden came up beside Nix, who was starting to lose control of her breathing, and gently touched her elbow. “Nix, love, hey.”
She jolted at the touch, looking at him with wide wet eyes.
“Here,” Aiden continued, “we’ll let Lambert take care of Eskel, ok? He’s going to be alright. Let’s go wash your hands.”
“So much blood,” she said in a shaky whisper.
“It’s ok. We’re going to clean it all up, and Lambert’s gonna patch up Eskel good as new. Everything’s going to be ok.” He steered her towards the kitchen with his arm wrapped around her shoulders. He brought her to the sink and gently washed her hands as she stared ahead with glazed eyes, drawing in gasping breaths. “What’s the furthest sound you can hear?” he asked, nudging her shoulder gently.
“Uhm… there’s a mouse in the cellar,” she took a shaky breath, “wait, I think there’s a bird, nesting or something, on the far wall outside.”
“Good,” Aiden soothed, “and what’s the faintest thing you can smell? Can you smell the chickens outside?”
She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. She pushed past the baking scents in the kitchen, the blood in the dining area, willing down her speeding pulse that came with it, the fresh air that had come in the door… “The snow in the air… Lil Bleater’s enclosure. Pine trees.”
“Perfect. What’s the softest thing in this room?” Aiden asked quietly. Nix glanced around the room before landing her gaze back on Aiden. She leaned forward and nuzzled into his neck, and he wrapped his arms around her.
“You,” she murmured, and he snorted into her hair, stroking her back lightly.
“Feel a bit better?”
“Yeah. Thanks Aiden.”
“No problem, kit. Let’s make some tea for everyone, hmm? And we can put out some of the sweet buns Vesemir baked earlier. We can have it around the fire.”
“Ok.”
By the time they’d made tea and put together a tray, Eskel and Lambert had come back downstairs from the infirmary. Eskel was wearing a fresh set of clothes.
Eskel caught Nix staring. “Right as rain! Lambert got me all patched up.”
She gave a tight smile and nodded.
“So, do I need to go hunting now, since you failed at your job?” Lambert asked teasingly.
“You can have all the wyvern your stomach desires, left it outside for you. Maybe if you burn off some energy dealing with that, you’ll have less for your noisy night-time—” Eskel was cut off by Lambert.
“Oi, alright! That’s fine. You know, maybe I’m in the mood for goat—” Lambert was cut off by a growl from Eskel at the same time as Aiden’s elbow found his ribs.
“Drink your fucking tea, would you?” Aiden demanded.
“Alright, alright. Everyone is so touchy,” Lambert grumbled, picking up his cup. He glanced at Nix, who was staring into the fire, then back into his drink. He cleared his throat. “Good tea,” he offered. When he got no response, he added, “Thanks Nix.”
She startled and looked up. “Hmm?”
“Thanks for the tea.”
“Oh. No problem.” She gave him a weak smile and turned back to the flames. They finished their drinks and treats in silence.
-
That night Nix woke up from another nightmare about Aleks, gasping for breath in the dark of her room. She threw off the blanket and furs and quickly dressed, then made her way down the hall, down the stairs and out of the keep. She stood outside the doors for a minute, watching her breath escape in white puffs in the frigid air. Flashes of her nightmare kept repeating in her mind, and she growled angrily. She tore across the courtyard, stopping in front of a training dummy, and struck it quickly with a right hook. Like a dam had broken, she started raining down hits and kicks on the dummy, pouring all of her misery into the form of cloth and straw.
-
Eskel was still trying to get to sleep, struggling to get comfortable with his aching side, when he heard footsteps pass by his door, going towards the stairs. Guessing at who it was, he carefully rolled out of bed and got dressed before following them down the hall.
He couldn’t see or hear anyone downstairs in the kitchen or the main hall, and there was a whiff of crisp winter air, so he continued to the doors and went outside. He spotted Nix across the courtyard, beating one of the training dummies, and crossed towards her. She hiccoughed, and he could smell salt in the air. She threw one last half-hearted punch at the dummy and sank to her knees, starting to sob.
“Nix?” Eskel came up behind her. “Hey, Nix,” he said softly, “what’s going on. You’re shaking from the cold, let’s go back inside, hmm?” He gently helped her up. “I’ll stoke up your fire. Come on.” He turned her back inside, and she let herself be led, sobs quieting back down to silent crying.
They ascended the stairs together, but as he walked them towards her room, she stopped.
“I…I don’t want to go back there tonight,” she said quietly.
“Alright. You could come to mine, if you like? Just to sleep,” he rushed to add.
“Ok,” she whispered.
They walked over to his room, and Eskel tossed another log on the fire before turning to her.
“Do you mind if I take off my pants? I’ll keep my shirts and braies on.”
She nodded. They both stripped off their cloaks, pants, and boots , then slipped under the blankets. After a few minutes Nix shuffled closer, and Eskel lifted his arm. She snuggled into his chest, and he wrapped his arm around her. She shivered, and he froze, lifting his arm slightly, but she nuzzled into his chest, and he relaxed back down again.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he murmured. “Did you have another nightmare?”
She nodded, but didn’t elaborate. The wind surged past the window, whistling through a crack, and the fire sparked. Eskel’s eyelids were growing heavy when Nix’s whisper roused him.
“It’s always the same.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s always our last contract. The night… the night I lost Aleks.”
Eskel shifted slightly, turning into her and lightly rubbing his thumb along her side.
“We were taking out a sadistic lord. We’d infiltrated the party he was hosting, gotten him into a room alone and killed him without any trouble. Everything had gone according to plan, we should have been free and clear. But we were cornered by his men in a hallway on our way out. There were too many of them.” Nix drew in a shaky breath. “We took them all out, but not before… before…” Her breathing hitched, and she took a moment to try to steady it. “She died in my arms. I dream of her blood soaking her dress and mine, staining my hands, like it will never wash off…”
She turned her face into Eskel’s chest, her breathing ragged, his shirt growing wet.
Eskel thought back to earlier that afternoon, what it might have looked like to Nix when he came in bleeding, the memories it must have set off. He hugged her tighter.
“I’m so sorry.” He wished he had something more to say, but he knew the ache of loss, knew there were never really any words that would fill it. “And I’m sorry if I triggered that memory earlier.”
She made a sound, something between a sniff and a laugh, her throat still thick with tears. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. You shouldn’t be apologizing to me, you’re the one who got injured.” She shoved up onto her elbow, leaning over Eskel. “I didn’t even ask. Are you ok? Does it hurt?”
He smiled at her. “I’m fine. Hardly know it’s there.” He tugged her back down to him. “Think you can sleep now?”
She nodded, snuggling into him and wrapping her arm around him below the bandages.
“Thank you,” she whispered, barely audible. He hummed and nosed in her hair. It wasn’t long before their breathing evened out and both were asleep.
Next chapter of my cat witcher OC (Nix) fic. See the Masterpost for content/warnings. Masterpost here.
Cozy library times
- - -
Eskel hurried through the courtyards, scanning the area. He had already checked the animal enclosures and stables, and they had been devoid of people. Lambert and Aiden had been sparring (or engaging in foreplay, he could never tell), in the training area. Geralt and Jaskier seemed to be enjoying each-other’s company in the barn, so Eskel hadn’t bothered checking inside, as they were clearly in there alone, judging by the sounds he was hearing. Unless she’d ventured further outside the walls, which he doubted, and sincerely hoped she wouldn’t on her own, Nix wasn’t outside.
Eskel spun around and jogged back inside. He had already checked her room and the kitchen, which was where he had found Vesemir. The eldest witcher had told him that Nix had been charged with gathering eggs and cleaning the hen house that morning, but he hadn’t seen her since. She wouldn’t go outside the walls, he told himself. Remembering her hunting outing with Aiden, a shiver ran down Eskel’s spine. It wasn’t snowing today, but it was damn cold, and while her leg seemed to have healed, he still worried. Nix was a witcher, still strong and stubborn as any of his brothers, but she seemed somewhat fragile with her obviously weaker healing abilities. If she had gone out on her own, they would have words. He would tell her she wasn’t to go out on her own. He would… Eksel halted that train of thought, snickering to himself. If he said anything like that to her she’d likely give him a black eye and refuse to talk to him for days. If he was lucky.
Eskel ran into the library, out of breath, slowing to a stop when he spotted a head of dark hair over the top of a chair by the fire. He stopped a moment to let his breathing calm, and Nix popped her head up over the chair to look at him.
“You racing someone, or running from someone?” She smirked. “Do you need to be hidden? Did you commit a crime?”
Eskel chuckled, walking over and dropping to the floor on the rug at her feet.
“No crime today. The others are all busy canoodling outside.”
Nix raised a dark brow. “All together?”
Eskel snorted. “Lambert and Aiden are sparring, in the loosest sense of the word, in the training area. And I’m fairly certain that what Geralt and Jaskier are doing in the hay shouldn’t be said in polite company.”
Nix laughed. “Well, I don’t know that you’ll find any polite company around here, but I also don’t need any more details.”
“Noted.”
“So what were you running around out of breath for? Did you need help with something?”
Eskel shook his head. “No. I was looking for you.”
“Oh. Well, you found me. Why the hurry, though?”
The tips of Eskel’s ears turned pink. “I was worried.”
Nix blinked at him. “Worried?”
Eskel cleared his throat and glanced at the fire. “Well, you weren’t in your room, and Vesemir said you were on chicken duty, but I figured that should have been done an hour or two ago, and then I couldn’t find you anywhere outside…”
“And you thought, what? The chickens might have revolted? That I got lost, or…”
“You don’t exactly have the best track record outside of the keep.”
“Hey!”
“Well?”
“‘m perfectly capable,” she grumbled.
“I know”
They lapsed into silence for a few minutes.
“What are you reading?”
“Jaskier recommended this book of poetry: I’m enjoying it.”
“Is it one of his?”
“No, but he did lend me one of those as well,” she laughed.
After a few minutes of companionable silence, Nix let her hand drift down near her knees, brushing the top of Eskel’s hair. It was incredibly soft. After a moment she grew bolder, trailing her fingers through it lightly. When Eskel didn’t move away or say anything she let her fingers draw through deeper, down to his scalp. He rumbled happily, and she paused.
“Mmm, don’t stop.”
She chuckled softly. “Alright.”
“Read to me?”
“Hmm… The Frog.
Have you ever wished when fretting
‘Bout the chilly air of spring,
When the days are longer getting
And the frogs begin to sing,
Have you ever wished that you could
Just change places with the frog—
Let him shoulder all your trouble
And then leave you on the log,
In the middle of the mill-pond,
Nothing in the world to do?
Have you wished you could change places,
You be frog and frog be you?
He don’t fret 'bout rainy weather;
If the sun shines he don’t cry;
He just takes it all together;
Happy wet and happy dry.”
“I think the frog would have a hard time fighting monsters,” Eskel said.
“Well, that would be the frog’s problem.”
“But I would feel guilty.”
“Sort of misses the point of trading places.”
“Mmm. How about you? Would you like to be a frog?”
“Holds a certain appeal, doesn’t it? No worries or responsibilities, just sitting on logs and hopping about and catching flies.”
“One might argue that frogs worry about being eaten.”
“Can’t say I’ve ever seen a frog look worried.”
“But have you ever spoken with one?”
Nix chuckled. “Can’t say that I have, no.”
“Geralt did, I think. But then, that wasn’t truly a frog, but a cursed prince.”
“Oh? And did a princess kiss him and he turned back?”
Eskel sighed. “No, it wasn’t that kind of story.”
“They usually aren’t. Not in real life. Especially not when witchers are involved.”
“It seems that way.” He adjusted his position, sitting back against her chair and resting his head against her knees. When he’d settled she went back to playing with his hair, twisting a lock around her finger. “What worries and responsibilities do you wish to be rid of?” He asked.
“The usual ones. All of them. Sometimes I envy humans. To be a milkmaid or a seamstress, go to work without fearing for your life, do your job and go home at the end of the day. Have a home and a family to go back to. But that isn’t in the cards for us. May as well dream of being a frog.”
“Sounds nice.”
“Being a frog?” She gave the lock of hair a little tug.
Eskel chuckled. “No. I’ll pass on the flies. The human life though. Maybe a blacksmith.”
“Yeah?”
“Sure. Make swords instead of swinging them. Make pots to cook dinner at home.”
“You would cook the dinner?”
“With my partner. Or maybe we’d take turns.”
“That does sound nice.”
They were quiet for a moment.
“Maybe it’s not so out of reach,” Eskel said.
“What?”
“Who said witchers can’t have those things?”
Nix scoffed.
“I mean it. Who’s to stop us from having a home, or any of those things, really.”
“It isn’t done.”
“Doesn’t mean it couldn’t be.”
“Hmm. Perhaps.”
“Perhaps? You have no problem telling Aiden where to go and how to get there, but you’re going to let others’ expectations dictate what you can and can’t do with your life? A home is just a house, a structure made of wood. Love makes it a home.”
She twitched and tugged his hair a little harder by accident, then quickly let it go and combed through it in apology.
“Why are you talking about love all of a sudden,” she mumbled.
“It’s part of what we were talking about, isn’t it?”
He turned to look at her, his eyes searching, and she shrugged.
“I suppose,” she replied, her eyes on her hands which she’d pulled back to the book, fidgeting with the pages.
Eskel shuffled so that he was properly facing her. “Aiden said you lost someone.” Nix nodded. She was silent for so long that Eskel was about to apologize for asking, when she spoke up.
“There was no house, but she was my home.” She flicked her eyes up to Eskel’s then quickly back down.
“You don’t have to tell me if it’s painful to talk about,” Eskel offered gently.
“Her name was Aleksandra. She was a Cat as well. We did everything together. Travelled together, took contracts together. She was beautiful, and strong. Confident to a fault. Sarcastic and funny and stupidly kind. She was everything, and then,” her voice faltered, “and then she was gone.”
Eskel reached a hand up and set it gently on her knee, and when she didn’t shy away he rubbed it gently. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured. “I would have loved to have met her. She sounds amazing.”
“She was,” Nix said with a watery smile, meeting his eyes. “She would have liked you.”
He smiled. “I’m glad. I’m sure I would have liked her too, from the sounds of it. Though…” He trailed off and Nix looked at him questioningly.
“Though?”
“I might have been jealous if she were always by your side.”
Nix’s eyes widened then darted down to the book in her lap.
“It’s true life is no fairytale. No kiss will bring back what we’ve lost, no fairy godmother will grant our wishes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be happy,” Eskel said.
“We can, but it doesn’t last.”
“Nothing lasts forever. But I hope you won’t let your loss stop you from being happy again. I’d wager that Aleksandra would want you to be happy.”
Nix was about to say something when Jaskier came bounding into the library with ruddy cheeks.
“Nix! Vesemir asked me to fetch you to help with dinner.” Jaskier came up alongside them. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt—”
“No, that’s alright! Thank you Jaskier, tell Vesemir I’m on my way.”
Jaskier nodded, and left the room. Nix turned back to Eskel.
“Sorry Eskel, I should go…”
Eskel got to his feet and offered Nix a hand. “Of course, we shouldn’t keep the old man waiting.”
She set the book on the table beside the chair and accepted the hand up.
“Maybe you can read to me again tomorrow.”
Nix’s cheeks heated. “If you like. More poetry?”
“Maybe Jaskier can recommend something. Maybe something about new beginnings.”
Nix looked up at him, his golden eyes wide and hopeful, with a spark of mirth. He was smiling, and something about his expression reminded her of how Aleks had looked at her, a lifetime ago.
She caught herself smiling back at him. “No. No, it isn’t.”
Next chapter of my cat witcher OC (Nix) fic. See the Masterpost for content/warnings. Masterpost here.
Wake up, kitties!
- - -
Aiden burrowed his face further into Lambert’s throat, his partner’s stubble scratching lightly at his forehead. He was slowly waking up, surrounded by Lambert’s familiar, comforting scent, cozy under a heap of bedding and laying against Lambert’s warm skin.
“You awake, kitten?” Lambert murmured.
“Mmm.”
“How do you feel?”
“Cozy,” Aiden mumbled.
“Nothing hurts? Can you feel your toes?”
“What are you…” Aiden trailed off as memories started to filter back. He had been hunting with Nix, and it had started to snow. They had gotten lost, and it had been cold. So cold. They had finally stopped and huddled in the snow… He bolted up in bed, the blankets and furs pooling around his waist. “The snow! Nix!”
“Yeah,” Lambert replied, sitting up and trailing his hand up Aiden’s back softly. “The snow. I told you to turn back right away! You’re lucky your dick didn’t freeze off before we found you.”
“Where’s Nix? Is she ok?” Aiden asked insistently.
“Yeah, she’s ok. She’s in her room.” Lambert’s voice was still rough with sleep, and he rubbed wearily at his eyes.
Aiden’s posture relaxed a fraction. He took stock of his limbs and extremities.
“Ican feel my toes. Everything seems fine.” He flexed his fingers and wiggled his toes, then stretched. “It was so cold. I know we were becoming hypothermic before everything faded. How…”
“Like I said, you’re a lucky bastard. When we found you, you were both covered in snow and turning blue. Scared the fuck outta me. I haven’t felt like that since —” Lambert cleared his throat. “Well anyways, we bundled you back to the keep, had the fires roaring, stripped off all your wet and frozen clothing, and warmed you up under a pile of furs with skin to skin. Best way to do it.”
“And Nix?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah what?”
“What what? Like I said, we did all that, and it worked, we saved your asses. And fingers and toes.”
“You did… you… she… you took her clothes off and did skin to skin?!”
“WellI didn’t, I was with you.”
“Lambert!!”
“WHAT?? You gonna pick a bone over that? Eskel took care of her. Jaskier checked in on them. I’m sorry, would you have rather we let her lose some extremities, or die? Better to let her die than upset her?”
Aiden spluttered, and Lambert continued, softening.
“I know, alright? I know it’s bad. But what should we have done? You know as well as I do it’s the safest way, and you were a block of ice, you weren’t about to be warming anyone else up, so it had to be one of us.”
Aiden nodded tersely. “I know. I know, it’s just…” He flipped off the covers and started searching for clothes to pull on. “I’ve got to check on her.”
Lambert sighed behind him before following suit and getting dressed.
“I gave them one of your shirts to put on her once she was warmed up enough to be safe.”
Aiden grunted in response. Once he was dressed, he hurried across the hall, gently pushing the door open and entering, before stopping in his tracks at the scene before him. Nix was snuggled up to Eskel, her head on his clothed chest, the covers pulled up under her chin. Eskel cracked an eye open and peered at him.
“Hey,” Eskel whispered groggily. “She’s ok.”
Aiden stared mutely for a moment. “Is she… I mean, did she…” he whispered.
“She woke up a while ago, and we talked briefly. She wanted me to stay.”
Aiden nodded absently, baffled by what he was seeing and hearing.
“I’ll make sure you know when she’s up so you can check in with her,” Eskel offered, and Aiden nodded again. Nix made a soft noise in her sleep, then nuzzled into Eskel’s chest before settling again. Aiden crept back out of the room and closed the door softly behind himself.
-
When Nix woke again, she couldn’t remember the last time she had slept so soundly, or felt so safe. She also wasn’t sure of the last time she had been so close with someone, woken wrapped around another warm body. A steady, slow heartbeat thumped under her ear through the soft worn linen shirt Eskel wore, and his arm was secure around her waist. He shifted under her as she stirred.
“You awake?” he whispered.
“Mmm.”
His fingers stroked lightly up and down her back. “We should go downstairs when you’re ready. You must be hungry, and I think Aiden is anxious to see you.”
She pushed up on an elbow, rubbing at her eyes. “Right. Ok.”
As she sat up properly, Eskel slid out of the bed and pulled on the pants Jaskier had left him.
“I’ll let you get dressed and see you downstairs?” he asked.
She nodded in reply. As he got to the door, she called out.
“Eskel?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
He smiled softly. “I’m glad you’re ok. Thank you for trusting me. I’m sorry again for—”
“Don’t, you probably saved my life. I’m grateful; for that, and for… that you stayed.”
“I was happy to,” he said with a smile, before turning back and walking out, closing the door quietly.
Nix stayed sitting in bed, looking at the closed door. Her emotions were all over the place. Eskel made her feel warm, and cared for, and safe.
Part of her craved that: to let down the guard she’d been fighting so hard to maintain. To let someone else take care of her. Laying in his broad arms, she felt settled and safe in a way she hadn’t since before she lost Aleks. A feeling she had often worried, in her darker moments, that she wouldn’t experience again.
Part of her wanted to run from that. It meant being vulnerable again. It meant letting something into her heart, knowing it could be ripped back out. Losing Aleks had nearly destroyed her. She couldn’t even remember the days after it happened: where she had gone, what she had done, how she had survived. After that she had closed off her emotions, doing what she had to to survive, moving through life without really experiencing it. She didn’t think she could survive another loss like that.
She hadn’t been looking for a partner of any sort. Hadn’t felt ready for someone else, hadn’t been sure she ever would be. She didn’t want to feel like she was replacing Aleks, and she hadn’t felt that anyone ever could. Her guilt, grief and fear left her feeling that it was easier, safer, not to try.
And besides, her and Eskel’s lifestyles were different. Wolves hunted monsters, they didn’t take contracts on people, whereas that was all she did, working as a spy and assassin. She was surprised she had been let into Kaer Morhen at all, really, but the type of contracts she took wasn’t a topic that had ever come up. She wondered what would happen if it did. She couldn’t imagine she’d make it very far from the keep in this weather. A shiver ran down her spine.
Worrying over it all now wasn’t doing her any good. What had been a dull ache in the back of her consciousness was becoming a throbbing headache. She pushed the thoughts aside and went about getting dressed. While the thought of burrowing under the covers and staying there for the rest of the winter currently held great appeal, her headache wouldn’t go away on its own, her stomach was growling, and she knew Aiden wouldn’t let her hide for long once he knew she was up. She wrapped a fur around her shoulders and headed downstairs. Ale. That might help things. Or White Gull. Even better.
The last!! chapter of my cat witcher OC (Nix) fic. See the Masterpost for content/warnings. Masterpost here.
Time to say our goodbyes at the end of winter.
-
Aiden walked into Nix’s room as she was packing. He sat on her bed, beside her pack, and started neatly packing her clothes as she piled them beside it.
“So, you’re going down with Eskel,” he said.
“Yeah.”
“I’m happy for you, kit. You’ve been smiling a lot more lately. And I’ll feel better knowing you aren’t out there alone. I know,” he said before she could interrupt, “you’re perfectly capable, but still. It’s lonely. And it can be dangerous.”
“That’s the life,” she said. She dumped the last few items on the bed. “But, I know. I’m glad too,” she said softly.
“I know he’ll be good to you. But, if anything happens—”
“Aiden—”
“If anything happens,” he continued, “you know the route Lambert and I usually take. Come find me, ok?”
“I’ll be fine, Aiden. I’m not a fresh-faced witcher, leaving for my first time out on the path.”
“I know that. But a lot has changed for you lately, and times have been hard, and…listen, I know Eskel, I trust him, alright? And I know you’ve been getting along really well up here. But you never know what it will be like out on the path. So just. In case there are any issues… you know where to find me, hmm? Don’t wait until you’re desperate this time. Ok?”
“You really are a mother hen.”
“That wasn’t an answer.”
“Yes mother, if I really need you I know where to find you.”
Aiden smiled, grabbing her hand and pulling her into a tight hug. “I love you.”
“I know,” she said, muffled into his shoulder. “I love you too, you nagging lout.”
He grinned and let her pull back.
“I’ll let you finish and see you downstairs.”
“Alright.”
Aiden left Nix and went to find Eskel, coming across him in the kitchen, packing supplies for the hike down the Killer.
“Hey,” Aiden said.
“Hey. You found Nix?”
Aiden nodded. “I’m glad she’ll be with you. I would have worried if—”
“I know.”
“I wanted to tell you what I do, when she gets overwhelmed, or has an anxiety attack….”
Eskel set down what he was packing and turned his full attention to Aiden.
“We go through the senses. I get her to try to match her breath to mine, then to tell me the most distant sound she can hear, the faintest thing she can smell, the furthest thing she can see, the softest thing she can touch, something she can taste. We don’t always do them all, but it helps ground her.”
“Thank you. I’ll remember.”
Aiden nodded.
“If you hurt her, I know where you live,” Aiden said with a smirk, but something sharper in his eyes.
“I promise to take care of her. If I fail her, I’m all yours,” Eskel replied seriously.
Aiden stepped forward and pulled Eskel into a hug.
“I’m glad. That she’ll have someone; that it’s you.”
“Thank you. Me too.”
Aiden laughed. “I’ll let you finish in here,” he said, heading back into the hall.
Nix had come down and she and Jaskier were teasing each other.
“Sing only good things about us!” Nix said. “And don’t sing about me unless you want me to feed your favourite doublets to Lil Bleater.”
Jaskier gasped. “You wouldn’t!”
Nix narrowed her eyes. “I absolutely would. Anything personal will get all your doublets thrown into his enclosure, including the one you are currently wearing. With you in it.”
“Right,” he said, tugging nervously at the hem of his current doublet. “Of course, my dear. Well, you have fun with your puppy, I mean, Eskel.” He gave her a cheeky smile.
Nix gave him a shove and he laughed, then she pulled him in for a hug. He stood still in surprise for a moment before wrapping his arms around her in turn.
“Be safe, take care of each-other,” Jaskier said.
“You too.”
“I’ll bring new poetry for you next year, but take this for the road.” He handed her a slim book. “You’ll like this one, and it won’t take much room in your pack.”
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Geralt got up from where he had been sitting with Lambert at the table to sling an arm around Jaskier’s shoulders.
“Look forward to seeing you next year. Keep my brother in line,” Geralt said with a smirk.
Nix smiled. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Eskel had come out of the kitchen and was making his rounds, giving hugs and murmuring goodbyes. Lambert got up to drape himself over Aiden’s back.
“Don’t let him take any succubus contracts on his own,” Lambert told Nix with a grin.
“Oh shut up, Lambert,” Eskel said with a scowl.
“Why?” Nix asked, brow furrowed.
“I’ll tell you next year,” Lambert promised, and Eskel just sighed.
Vesemir had come from the library to join them.
“We look forward to having you back next year,” he said, giving Nix a warm smile.
“Thank you,” she answered softly.
Eskel had finished his goodbyes and come to stand with Nix, his pack on his back. He caught her eyes and held his hand out.
“Well. Are you ready?”
She took his hand and grinned.
“Yeah. I am.”
-
THAT’S IT FAM. Thank you so so much for those of you who read and enjoyed this, reblogged, left comments or tags, you have truly warmed my heart! If you have things you had hoped to see, please feel free to drop me an ask, and I’ll see what I can do! I have a few others projects I need to attend to now, but if you ask for something, I will likely come back to it.
