The Widow and The Witcher (Complete)

Chapter 3 (Edited)

After quickly eating her meal Julia took the bone broth and bread back to the healing rooms. She smiled to herself recalling how the servants had responded to the change in her. She still was not her old self, and did not know when she would ever feel that carefree joy as she had before. However, seeing Geralt and arranging his escape had filled her with a strange sense of purpose again, and if she was honest with herself, she was also strangely attracted to The Witcher. There was something memorising about his Yellow amber eyes, the way they followed her as she tended to him, that thrilled and unnerved her. Backing into the room so as not to spill the tray of food she almost bumped into Tobias. "Mistress, can I help you with that?" He asked, "no thanks Tobias but can you please help Geralt to sit up, but before you do, has he spoken to you?" Shaking his head Tobias quickly moved back to Geralt, noting only a small grunt as Tobias lifted Geralt into a reclining position. Julia believed the elixir had taken the desired effect as the same action yesterday would have bought about a cry of pain. Knowing Geralt was unable to feed himself she sat on a stool and with a nod to dismiss Tobias she faced Geralt.

They sat in silence, Geralt's stony face watching Julia, studying her as she spoon-fed him the broth. Growing more uncomfortable by the minute Julia decided enough was enough, and with determination to engage Geralt in conversation she spoke with a smile. "Ok, what you have been through would have been harrowing for the strongest person, so I have excused the silence. However today is a new day, and I need you to talk openly with me this is important in your recovery. First, I want you to know as I stated with the men yesterday that you are safe here. Confidentiality is important in my line of work so nothing you say will leave these walls unless you want it to." She watched his face as he shut his eyes for a moment then opened them, and with a slight twinkle nodded in agreement.

Was he was teasing her by not speaking but nodding, chuckling she chose to ignore that for now and smiled again. " Ok why don't we try something current, can you remember what your nightmare was about last night?" at that question Geralt's eyes clouded over "yes" he said with what she had come to realise was his naturally deep gravelly voice. "What was it?" she posed the question, and again waited.

With a sigh Geralt looked away "I was back in the cage; it was so real. It was almost like this was the dream and I was back with Kias. I started to panic something that is not normal for me. Then a sweet voice began swirling around me like the wind saying – Shh your safe Geralt, Shhh. The cage disappeared, and it was just the voice and the darkness after that. I felt a strange peacefulness." At this, he looked back directly into Julia's blue eyes "that was you, wasn't it? That voice was your voice".

Compassion filled Julia as she saw the deep pleading in his eyes to prove he was not mistaken. "yes Geralt, I awoke to you screaming out and thrashing in your bed. I knew not to touch you as I'm sure even in your current physical state you could throw me across the room without know it." A look of horror and realisation crossed his face knowing that she was right. "So, you just spoke to me instead?" Geralt asked even thou he knew that is what she must have done. Shifting closer In her seat she took his hand, and looking once again into his eyes Julia confirmed: " yes I kept speaking to you in a calm voice until you stopped screaming and settled then I came closer and stoked your forehead until I was sure you were sleeping again." Geralt closed his eye the feel of Julia holding his hand bought about such a feeling of calm and peace. "Thank you, I don't normally sleep around others so I have not had to worry about what my nightmares could do in the physical. Your calm voice was the reason for the first time my nightmares have not woken me up in a sweat."

Julia's heart broke hearing this "what a lonely existence Geralt, I hope that you will find some sense of peace while you live here." Still feeling her hand on his Geralt had a strange feeling that for the first time in a long time, he might actually be able to believe that peace was possible.