ourladytrees | the witcher and the goddess

[ The witcher studies her with those cat's eyes of his, the same incisive, unblinking gaze he'd used to take her measure in the woods. She's pale, injured, weakened, traumatized. If he wanted to take advantage of her, it would be all too easy.

Which she has to know. Which means she either trusts him so much she's willing to bet he's not that sort of man, or she's so scared to be alone she's willing to risk it.

But he'd seen that core of steel in her before. He doesn't think it's the second, even as shocked and worried as she is. ]

Alright.

[ He won't pass up a chance to sleep in a real bed, even if he ribs would be fine without it. And if something does come after her in the night, it'll be better if he's right there. Who knows, maybe that's part of it; maybe she wants to be able to reach out and find someone there in the dark. He's never thought of himself as an especially reassuring person, but he's taken on her protection, and he means to see it through. If this is part of it, it's part of it. ]

I'll take the side nearest the door.

[ Just in case. ]

[ Julia might be weak right now, but she's not helpless. Though it doesn't factor into her decision, she knows that if she were to scream for help, people would come running, and it wouldn't be because she was a woman in need. The reputation she built for herself when last she was here will serve her well so long as she continues to cultivate it, and it would be so very easy for her to use Geralt's unearned reputation against him as well. But she knows there won't be any need for such an effort because she's felt his heart and knows how true his soul is. He might not be perfect, who really is, but he's good and that's enough. ]

Okay.

[ She nods again before gently pulling her hand from his and slowly standing, her movements careful so she doesn't sway too much on her feet. Wrapping her arms around herself, she looks at the door for a moment before moving to it, her bare feet nearly silent on the wooden floor. Geralt will be between her and anything that comes through it, she knows, but she still has to reach out and check that it's secure. Her fingers itch to form the spell for a simple ward, and after a brief hesitation, she gives into the compulsion. The fluid motion is nothing like the magic of this world and there's no reason for her to expect it to work, yet she's still disappointed when it doesn't.

No magic. No money. No resources of any kind. Just a man she'd somehow roped into helping her and a warm bed for the night. Honestly, it's better than she could have hoped for, given her recent track record. ]

Edited (now with a link!) 2023-07-22 03:02 (UTC)

[ He can still recall the scent of magic that had surrounded her, before, like ozone before a storm. Enough that he could feel it, like the faint crackle of static energy, even without the vibrations from his medallion.

Right now, there's nothing, not even as she attempts what seems to be a warding spell. Her fingers move, graceful as ever, but nothing comes of it, not even a spark. There's not much he can do about it. Aard won't last long enough to be a meaningful ward, and the Signs are all the magic he has. Whether they'd need it tonight or not isn't the problem; it's the path ahead that has him concerned.

But they'll get there when they get there. And perhaps, along the way, they'll find some part of her magic again. He shifts on the bed, reaching to pull back the covers on the other side for her. ]

Come on. Get some rest.

[ Nodding to show she's heard him, Julia stays standing at the door for just a moment longer, pulling together the scraps of whatever strength she has left. It's not much, she's spent nearly every ounce just getting this far, but all she needs is enough to get through this night. One step at a time.

She takes a breath, holds it, and then turns and walks back to the bed as she slowly lets out that breath. Stepping around to the other side of the bed, she gathers the voluminous nightgown as she slips under the covers he'd pulled back, arranging the extra fabric of her borrowed clothing so it wouldn't tangle or be too uncomfortable. Only when she's finished does she lean back against the pillows, which are far from luxurious but feel like heaven at this moment.

Darkness immediately wraps around her mind, trying to tug her into blissful unconsciousness. And she has no intentions of fighting that pull, she'll give into it soon, but first. ]

Thank you, Geralt. For everything.

[ Her words slur slightly at the end, and she tries to shift to better face him, but all she manages is to turn her head and blink slowly at him. Her knight in slightly dirty armor. ]

[ He huffs a breath and nods. ]

Sure.

[ Even he's not enough of a boor to sleep in his armor in a bed, especially when she might roll into him in the night and accidentally hurt herself on a stud or the chainmail. He'd heard enough complaints from Yen over the years about the perils of sleeping next to a lump of boiled leather and mail, so while Julia closes her eyes, he sets about removing first his gauntlets, then his chest armor. Sets it aside as the banked fire glows, filling the little room with the warmth she needs after the shock she's had.

His thoughts meander as he tugs off his boots, unlaces the leather armor from his legs, leaving him in breeches and undershirt. Could be an Elven Sage might know something that would help. Trouble is, he can't stand any of the Sages of his acquaintance.

All of that is a problem for tomorrow. The witcher swings his legs up onto the bed and settles back, lying over the blankets while she's underneath them, his hands loose on his stomach.

Sleep. Both of them need it. ]

[ She doesn't dream. Her sleep is deep enough that she barely even moves, physical and mental exhaustion pulling her deep enough into the darkness that even her usual nightmares can't penetrate the veil. It's a blissful reprieve from the pain and regret that has haunted her for months, though it'll be renewed now with the fresh material of recent events.

The sun is up when she finally opens her eyes. Is she waking naturally or did something tug her back up to the surface? As she blinks heavily at the unfamiliar room, she struggles to remember where she is and why she's here...

Until it rushes back to her with the force of a truck. She presses her aching hands to her face, taking a few long, deep breaths, and pulls herself together before she breaks apart into a thousand little pieces. ]

the witcher and the goddess

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject