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thelostgirl21 · 4 days ago

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For @my-jokes-are-my-armour, just a tiny snippet from a WIP accompanying a fanvid I made (that has yet to have been released publicly), where Radovid and Geralt have their first heart to heart regarding their respective place in Jaskier's life...

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Once they’re sure the boys are going to be okay, the rest of the family manage to convince Jaskier to let them have their own turn getting properly introduced and being given the chance to build their own bond with his prince.

The most surprising, perhaps, is Geralt.

Radovid isn’t exactly sure what he’d been expecting because, until then, Yennefer had been this regular nurturing and mother-like figure often checking up on him with her magic, occasionally fluffing his pillows, fixing his covers, and watching over his sleep whenever they managed to convince a very stubborn and overprotective bard to go get some much needed rest, too.

Ciri had been that distinctive voice that had kept hovering around, and keeping Jaskier company whilst he slept, occasionally offering him a slightly shy and polite smile whenever he woke up and their gazes met.

But Geralt… his strongest memory involving the man been the enraged growl that had managed to cut through the fog and the darkness that had been closing in on him, right before he’d suddenly found himself gasping for air – his throat raw and on fire – but blissfully able to breathe again.

Geralt had since been the more elusive of Jaskier’s companions – keeping a watchful eye from the distance, expression impassive, occasionally warning Jaskier that if he refused to listen to Yennefer and go rest, he’d personally come pick him up and physically shove him into bed himself!

Until now, he’d acted as the family’s guardian with a stoicism that one might expect from a seasoned warrior. And, if he had to be perfectly honest, Radovid would have had to admit to having been slightly intimidated by him.

Not afraid – but out of all of Jaskier’s family, Geralt had been the one that had looked most like a figure of legend to him! The famed Sandpiper’s powerful white-haired Witcher!

So, imagine his surprise when, the moment Geralt takes a seat next to him, he turns into that big soft fluffy white wolf that Jaskier had been talking about but that Radovid himself had yet to have personally encountered. What immediately comes out of his mouth is a long list of things that one should know to take proper care of Jaskier.

“…often, during winter months, his feet really tend to get cold, even when sleeping inside an inn with a well-kept fire burning in the fireplace. So, sometimes, I heat a few rocks over the fire that I wrap in a soft wool cloth and slide under the cover next to his feet…”

And, at first, Radovid listens – partly because he wants to learn as much as he can to be a good partner for Jaskier, too, but also because he’s way too stunned to do anything else!

Eventually, though, it dawns on him that Geralt sounds like he expects Radovid to replace him, and he says “You know that you’re one of the most – if not the most important person in the world to Jaskier – and I’ve no desire to take him away from you, right?”

And, while Geralt appreciates the sentiment – and agrees that their bard has a huge heart and that there’s room in it for more than a single person (actually, you could probably fit the whole Continent into that heart!) – he also knows that Jaskier ‘imprinted’ on Radovid in a way that’s a bit different than how he ‘imprinted’ on him when they first met.

Radovid is not ‘stealing Jaskier away’ from Geralt. Jaskier is naturally drawn to him, seeking his presence, and bonding with him in a way that highly suggests that the king is the one member of their found family that the bard will be naturally seeking to build the bulk of his life with, and following around most often from now on.

And Geralt is okay with that. Because Jaskier is going to continue to grow older, and his feet will only get colder, and although he loves going on adventures and seeing the world, eventually it might be a lot more appropriate and convenient for him to do so traveling by coach while having access to a warm, comfortable bed at night.

And if Radovid is genuine in his desire to improve the living conditions for the peasantry as well as the North’s relationship with the other races they are sharing the land with, then Jaskier will want to get actively involved.

Geralt can sense that the bard is simply entering a new chapter of his life and that Radovid is going to be right at the heart of said chapter.

In many ways, it feels right, too. Radovid is human and roughly around the same age as Jaskier… They have a similar perception of time and – assuming the Gods are kind – they might get to share and experience the rest of their lives together.

Of course, should anything happen to one of them, they can count on Yennefer and him – and probably even Ciri – to watch over the other for as long as they shall live.

And they’re not planning on simply walking out of their lives, either – far from it!

But there’s no need for Geralt to be right at the center of Jaskier’s life to still be a part of it. Truth is, they’ve often lost sight of each other for a few months or years at a time in the past. But, as soon as they see each other again, they feel as though they’ve never left each other’s side.

That’s how strong the love between them is, and Geralt doesn’t expect it to be something that will ever change regardless of how many others Jaskier might love.

The one change that Radovid does bring, however, is that Geralt will sleep much better at night knowing that, whenever they’re apart, there’s someone that genuinely loves him looking out for him. Someone that truly appreciates Jaskier’s music and talents and shares his artistic sensitivities, among others.

Plus, Geralt knows that Jaskier sees Radovid as a person first, a poet second, and a king – or prince – third. Same as he saw a scared child with the weight of the world on her shoulders when he met Ciri, and continues to treat her as if she’s a young girl needing love, guidance and protection rather than one of the most powerful beings on the Continent.

While the world keeps making demands from her, Jaskier is more interested in offering her a listening ear, support, and teaching her things.

People often expect kings and queens to watch over them and sacrifice for them, but very few of them wonder who watches over the kings and queens to ensure they don’t lose sight of themselves in the process.

What Radovid did, trying to foolishly stand between Dijkstra and Philippa and his people to protect them from their greed shows that he’s got the whole ‘willingness to make sacrifices for his people’ thing down.

He even took a knife to the guts in an attempt to do the right thing by stopping an innocent family from being robbed.

And, the moment they all realize how much Radovid cares, his people might attempt to take full advantage of that while forgetting that he’s only human, and thus demanding more from him than anyone would ever be able to offer!

Jaskier won’t let them forget, and most importantly he won’t let Radovid forget.

So, assuming they can manage to help Radovid reclaim Redania – and Geralt has no doubt they can – he will also sleep better at night knowing that those in power that do attempt doing the right thing and dare dreaming of something better for their people aren’t always punished for it.

Knowing that Ciri might become queen at a time where she won’t have to stand alone against bigger and more powerful kingdoms dominated by a thirst for blind power and greed!

Knowing that she, too, might continue to find people that will love and support her without letting her lose sight of herself.

Everyone deserves to have someone by their side that can see past what others needs them or are trying to push them to be...

Jaskier’s already made the whole Continent much friendlier to witchers than it used to be, brought him Yennefer, and Ciri…

All Radovid has to do is give him the signal, and that bard will rally his people behind their king, make them all fucking fall in love with him, have the elves, dwarves, and other races want to become his allies, and give him all the resources he needs to use his position for good.

Because Geralt can see how pissed off at Redanian nobility Jaskier is right now! As far as the bard is concerned, they all let Radovid down by allowing Dijkstra and Philippa to rob him of his voice and refusing to listen to him.

And a pissed off bard like Jaskier, with a powerful voice that carries over seas and mountain, will make everyone listen whether they want to or not!

With Dijkstra dead, Philippa on the run, and that Duke’s son they put on the throne to use as a puppet in Radovid’s place, Redania’s nobility will either have to step aside and let Radovid walk right back in, or risk permanently losing whatever little influence they might still hope to cling to.

It'll be fine. And if a realist like Geralt – with a tendency towards disillusioned fatalism – says it’ll be fine, then Radovid can trust that it will be.

And Radovid can see why Jaskier loves Geralt so much that he’d be willing to follow him right into hell, and then help him fight his way back out of it!

He’s a good man through and through, that’s spent his whole unnaturally long life standing between others and the monsters threatening them, while having one of the most noble, compassionate and gentle hearts he’s ever seen.

“I’ve once asked Jaskier if you knew how lucky you were to have him, but I think he’s lucky to be have you, too,” he finds himself saying.

Geralt’s instinctive mocking, disbelieving huff is so filled with guilt and self-hatred that it utterly breaks Radovid’s heart, and triggers an odd sense of righteous outrage and protectiveness in him.

Geralt’s mouth starts moving, but he immediately cuts him off.

“Jaskier told me about the mountain. I know. It doesn’t change anything,” he states firmly, head held high, fixing Geralt with a stare that’s uncannily authoritative and almost dares him – or anyone really – to challenge him.

And, for a moment, Geralt freezes. Because he fully realizes that the person sitting in bed before him – recovering from a violent assassination attempt – is none other than the direct descendant of King Radovid the Great.

And that, the very first time he personally gets to witness him display the kind of inner strength and resolve that one would typically expect from such a king – the kind that leaves no room for dissent and sharply reminds anyone that would seem to have forgotten that his word in the land is law – it’s essentially to tell him: ‘Jaskier’s lucky to have you! Now stop with your nonsense, and deal with it!’

And the worst part is that it’s working!

That twink of a king – sitting in bed with probably still a fourth of his blood missing, looking like he’s ready to wage holy war on anyone daring to suggest that Geralt is not as good a friend to Jaskier as he’s royally decreed him to be – is actually making the crushing guilt he’s usually experiencing over what happened on that mountain want to bow down to him and quickly scutter out of his sight before it actually manages to draw out the king’s full anger!

The situation feels so surreal and absurd that, before he can fully realize what’s happening or have a chance to stop it, Geralt’s shoulders are shaking, and he’s starting to laugh…

And, just like that, Radovid’s scowl is loosening, and his shoulders are also starting to shake, too, and the two of them just end up laughing to tears together!

It takes a confused and almost alarmed bard – having been alerted by the unfamiliar sound of a witcher dissolving into a fit of laughter and rushing in to investigate to make sure he’s not suddenly dying or something – for them to finally manage to regain control of themselves.

“Just so you know, that king of yours is a bloody menace that will have the whole Continent bowing to his will in no time!” Geralt amusedly declares, wiping at his eyes.

“I try!” Radovid shrugs, while trying to catch his breath, still visibly sharing in Geralt’s amusement while obviously not knowing him well enough to fully grasp just how unusual the response he got from him was.

Jaskier, however, remains very confused and somewhat agitated. “Wait. Hold on. How did you make him laugh? I never even knew he could laugh like that!”

“Huh,” Radovid answers noncommittally – and Geralt has a sense that Radovid is very intentionally choosing to use diversion, so Geralt will be free to enjoy the cathartic moment they’d just experienced without returning to that place of self-doubt and self-hatred by being reminded of the path that had taken them there in the first place.

Because he’s now slightly yawning and stretching like a kitten, burrowing himself back into the bed’s pillows, and lifting the covers as a clear sign that he’s tired and wants Jaskier to come and join him.

And, when the bard attempts to hold his ground, his prince decides to give him the kind of sad, imploring look that Geralt genuinely thought said bard was the only being on the Continent able to so expertly pull off!

“Oh! I see how it is! Just because you are lying there pouting – looking all adorably affectionate and tired – you think I’ll just drop the issue and jump right into bed to cuddle you instead, is that it?” Jaskier says, stubbornly crossing his arms over his chest and looking clearly unimpressed.

There’s a pause, where the imploring look improbably intensifies (how?), and then, very gently and quietly…

“…Yes?”

Jaskier gives him an exaggerated sigh and throws his hands up in the air “Alright okay, FINE,” making Radovid immediately perk up. “Now scoot your pretty little royal ass over…”

They manage to maneuver themselves into a single bed, Radovid half sprawled on top of Jaskier, the bard tenderly running his fingers into his now shorter hair making the other man – wait, is he purring?

It’s pretty clear to Geralt that whatever they might still need to discuss will have to wait, but it’s okay – by the absolutely smitten expression on Jaskier’s face it’s rather clear that their bard is set on keeping him around for a very, very long time, so there will be plenty of opportunities for them to continue catching up!