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The Cost of Destiny

Summary:

Having left Kear Morhen's safety, Jaskier was left alone in the world. However, it is Geralt who sets out to track him down again.

Only Geralt must break a promise if he is to ensure Jaskier's safety.

Work Text:

Geralt made a promise to himself about not having to use it any time soon.

 

Immediately after Jaskier flew out of the window, Geralt took little time to inform the others of Jaskier departure. Instead, a discussion was held regarding the location of where Jaskier would have run off to hide at that time.

 

There was speculation that he would have gone to Oxenfurt. Although Geralt was aware of how very much Jaskier loved Oxenfurt, he was also not expecting him to return after nearly being executed there. While Yennefer made the observation that Jaskier was more than likely to have friends in the area who would be more willing to hide him from his enemies.

 

The voice of Jaskier sister Lottie is the starting point for all of this. They might have thought he might return to Lettenhove to ensure she was all right. But on the other hand, Jaskier didn't have the best relationship with his family. So he wouldn't risk being trapped there.

 

Geralt finally remembered the one place that Jaskier wanted to go to more than anything else. More than any other place, the coast occupied a special place in the heart of the bard's life. Even inviting Geralt to come along with him, Jaskier was very fond of the coast. 

 

Sometimes Geralt wished that he had agreed to go with Jaskier all those years ago when he had asked him to join him.

However, with the help of a tracking spell and a map, Yennefer discovered that Jaskier had gone to Temeria coast to hideout. So with the time to leave rapidly approaching, Yennefer and Ciri went straight to Aretuza to work on Ciri's magical powers. As for Geralt, he would go to the coast in order to retrieve Jaskier.

 

Yennefer gave Geralt an enchanted bracelet just prior to the group breaking up. For the possibility that Jaskier may not agree on his own to come back.

 

However, Geralt made a vow to himself that he would never have to use it. So he decided he would not let that be the case.

 


Upon reaching the coast, Geralt took delight in seeing Jaskier still in his bird form, flying around happily. He had gotten more practice in turning from his human form into his bird form.

 

 As soon as Jaskier landed on the ground, he changed back into a human again. He announced to Gerald, "You're here, " and turned to face him.

 

Almost trembling, Geralt approached Jaskier to share a hug, with the bard hesitant to do so but accept it nonetheless. "You left"

"You did not need to come here," Jaskier cautioned, pulling away.

 

Geralt asked with a wry smile, "Why shouldn't I come and get you?". First, it needs to be explained why he left when it was unsafe for him. Then, the witcher needs to understand his friend's reasons for making that decision fully.

 

"I left in order to protect you and everyone else there," Jaskier told Geralt, who seemed to be caught off guard. But, he continued, "Geralt, I burnt down an entire army."

 

Geralt disagreed, "but they were also kidnapping you and trying to get Ciri." he said. "Besides, everyone was fine your fire never touched them," He added.

"That was now, but what about next time" Jaskier hissed. "I don't want to risk hurting any of you."

 

"I know you very well, Jas, and I know you would never harm anyone who did not deserve it," Geralt said. So then why was Jaskier trying to make everything so difficult for Geralt?

 

The two friends were clearly engaged in a very heated argument at this point in time. However, this time, it does not just consist of Geralt yelling at Jaskier like on the mountain

 

"Why can't you just let me help you" Geralt yelled, frustrated by the bard's refusal to come with him.

 

"Geralt, I don't want you to worry about me, as you already have so much to worry about with Ciri, so please don't worry about me," Jaskier pleaded, trying to get Geralt to see where he was going. 

 

In reply, Geralt countered that "Nilfgaard is after both the two of you and Ciri.". Surely, Jaskier saw that it was the witcher's responsibility to protect both of them, so how come he couldn't see this.

 

Jaskier said softly, "So that's why you have to let me go," he added. "I said that we would meet again, and I meant that"

 

Geralt reached out; as he leant over, he allowed their foreheads to come into contact. "I've just got you back," Geralt whispered to his friend.

 

"I know we'll be back together one day," Jaskier said as he began to pull back. It was only Geralt who grasped Jaskier's wrist as he drew back.

 

Geralt said, "I am sorry," as he pleaded with Jaskier. He had promised himself that he would not need to use it. Nevertheless, Geralt must protect Jaskier at all costs, even if it means causing the bard's Hatred to flare.

 

Jaskier looked down at his wrist, seeing a bracelet wrapped around it. Then he asked hesitantly: "Geralt, what is it? ". 

 

As Geralt Divulged, having more difficulty with words, "I have to be certain that you will come back with me." So, he explained, "Yen created an enchanted bracelet that would serve as a Magical Tether."

 

"Geralt, what have you done?" Jaskier said, getting more and more worried about how the witchers were acting.

 

"With the Bracelet, it will ensure that you can't disobey any orders that either I or Yennefer give to you," Geralt said. It was also designed so that Jaskier would not be able to take the bracelet off.

 

Original, the only person who would have the power would be Geralt. They decide to allow Yennefer access to the power. To make sure neither one of them could take advantage of Jaskier.

 

"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" Jaskier screamed in a fury at what he had heard.

 

"Yen made it clear that any order we would give needs to be very exact. It is also imperative that your name be said first," Geralt concluded. "And we made sure no one else was going to be able to force you to obey them."

 

Then Jaskier screamed, "Take it off!". How dare Geralt curse him with obedience. "I said take it off now, or I'll never forgive you."

 

As Geralt replied, "I'm sorry," he said. Geralt was resentful of the fact that he was required to do this in order to ensure that Jaskier was safe. But, on the other hand, if this meant that Jaskier would hate him, then Geralt could bear that if Jaskier was safe. "But I can't do that."

 

"I swear to Melitele, Geralt, I want you to take that bracelet off. Take it off."However, the witcher never took it off. As he turned around, he found that he could not look directly at his friend's hurt face.

 

Geralt could only hope that one day Jaskier would forgive him. "It is important that we return to Roach before meeting up with Yen and Ciri in Aretuza." 

 

It was fortunate that they weren't that far from the magical school. There would be little more than a day's walk at most, and Geralt planned to let Jaskier ride on Roach in the hopes that it would serve as a peace offering.

 

"Jaskier follows me," Geralt said, giving an order. He tried his hardest to ignore Jaskier screaming at him in the background.

 

As Jaskier legs moved independently, he cried, "Please, Geralt, I don't like this."

 

"Please know that I am very sorry for this," Geralt whispered, barely audible to the point that Jaskier could even hear him.

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