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Sleeping Beauty Reloaded	By : dschinny Category: +S through Z > Witcher 2, The: Assassins of Kings Views: 1938 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Witcher, this is purely for fun, and not profit

Chapter List
- 32
- 33
- 34
The Forester’s Daughter Returns
Family Matters
https://youtu.be/gA1VwpOrbh0
Velita got her mantle from Roach’s saddle before she returned and used the flattest section of the bolder to climb up. Geralt extended his hand briefly to hoist her up. Noon approached, the sun filtered through the trees. Iorveth had decided to climb up the rocks in the back. He looked out for his goshawk. Velita sat to Geralt’s left on her folded mantle and arranged her skirts around her ankles. Sitting wasn’t comfortable, but since Iorveth was annoyed, she better shut up and stayed safe.
Geralt draped his mantle around their shoulders and pulled her a bit closer. “That was not necessary,” he said, his breath was warm on her forehead.
“I considered it worth a try,” she inhaled the horse aroma that clung to the woolen cowl around their shoulders. “Gernot told me of the fight that took place here. A leshen... a month ago, I didn’t even know what that was. This morning, Iorveth said I grew one in the cellar. He was right in a way.”
“He was wrong in other ways.”
“What is underneath that puddle?”
“As I told Iorveth, we dug out a part of a leshen.”
“The day before you left?” Geralt nodded. “I remember. Tough job.” Her hand rested on his knee as she looked up at his profile, but he would say no more. Protecting her? Protecting himself? She did not know.
Geralt’s face remained stony. The open cuts their axes had left... he would not mention. They had been plastered with mud. If Iorveth got curious enough to get a shovel and excavate the four feet hole again, he would not prevent him from doing his own research. But from what he had seen and Nenneke told him, that would not help this place either. He calculated that the elf had no shovel and was not interested in dirty jobs. He also trusted Nenneke, who said it would adjust itself.
The witcher’s biggest concern was Anne. If Iorveth decided to vanish, here in the wood it would be difficult to get a hold on him again.
Later that afternoon, Iorveth came down the slope beside the rock formation, balancing the goshawk on his gauntlet. The witcher dropped the mantel about Velita and stood. Hoof beat resounded from the steep path down from the heaven’s meadow. It was Anne on the Brown. She approached against the wind and wasn’t as alone as it appeared. “As promised, here is your daughter, Forester.” Anne held the Brown she had pushed relentlessly a moment before and jumped over on the bolder “Daddy!” she hugged Gernot close. “Thanks, Iorveth,” the forester managed to bite out one last politeness.
“I will be going now. The constable has made up his mind and I don’t want to bloody up this place even more.”
“Please send the lady and her maid back on your return, will you?” Gernot had to make a last attempt, knowing it was futile if Iorveth did not want to.
Iorveth just shrugged and went across the path. “We will see how this turns out.” A moment later, he had literally vanished.
Velita held the prancing Brown and went to tie it beside the Grey Iorveth had left with them. Apparently, he was more prone to steal women than horses.
Once he had made sure his daughter was in one piece and got her knife back, Gernot started to question Anne immediately “Where did they take you? Did you recognize the landscape?”
“We were taken northwards first, then westwards, nearing the Pontar stream during the night. The elven hide in the fog, scared the Countess witless with the monsters hiding in the woods. In the morning one of the elven warriors took the horse from the countess and lead me southwards, through the woods, up the ravine on the north side of heaven’s meadow and then down here. I think the others could have ended in the Flotsam area, but they do not use the roads. Without the horse, they will be moving as slow as the Countess, but they are even harder to find.”
Gernot nodded. “I have to find the Constable and give him this information. He can send riders looking for the Countess in Flotsam and ask Lorado to put his foot down on the human trafficking for once. Will you return to the mansion at all, Geralt?”
“Is it save for Velita to return with Lord Bearstone and the Constable around?” – “Depends on what the steward told him. I expect him to remain in the mansion while the Constable has left if we can trust what Iorveth said. I have to stand up for the fact I let the Scoia'tael go.”
“If I leave now with Velita, you can put all blame on me.”
“I would prefer if you could accompany Anne and Velita home while I search for the Constable.”
“Some days rest would do Velita good. We will follow you slowly and meet in the stable.” Geralt nodded. If his talks went bad, Gernot would have a chance to warn them before they arrived.
Velita brought his horse “See you.” Gernot jumped from the bolder on Cricket’s back and sped off to find the constable.
   -oOo-
Anne had just pushed the sheath of her dagger on her opened belt when she found herself alone on the bolder with the tall white haired mercenary from Kevin’s tale. She then realized that she had been staring at the witcher who had gathered a package of fabric in a totally unhurried way. She hurried to buckle her belt and extended her hand once he stood “Greetings, I’m Anne Forester.”
Geralt answered her pleasingly firm handshake. “Geralt of Rivia. Pleased to meet you.” It was the truth. Renfri’s prophecy of the ‘girl in the wood’ suddenly lost its awkwardness. He could not even remember when he had been entrusted with such a mission by another guy. Of course he would take care of them. “Are you ready for the last leg of your journey?” – “Yes, Sir Geralt.” – “Just Geralt,” the witcher smiled and beckoned Velita over to bring the Brown. “You are secure without saddle, Anne?” he inquired. – “I will be alright,” the hunter’s daughter slid a coltish leg over the wide back of the brown, revealing boots and tights as the skirt rode up her legs. She took up the reigns, nudged the Brown a couple of steps backwards and to the side and stood ready. Geralt was awed.
In a few years, this whirlwind girl would be a goddess in someone else’s home as well as in the woods.
Velita was about to bring the Grey, but Geralt slid off the bolder. “You take Roach’s since she’s saddled.” He took the rains from her, held the stirrup for her to mount up and secured her as she hoisted herself into the saddle with some difficulties. He shortened the stirrups accordingly. Afterwards, he mounted the Grey with his hands on the mane and one fluent jump. After Iorveth the Grey was not happy with the new rider’s heavy weight, but strong legs signaled calm altogether with a light axi. “Lead the way, Anne.” Geralt proposed and nudged the Grey to fall in step beside Roach. The mare eyed him suspiciously, like she wondered what this new game was. While she did not mind to be groomed by Velita, the witcher was her comrade of choice, period.
Velita held onto the rains, ready to cling to the saddle’s bow for hold. She kept her wooden clogs securely in the stirrups and tried to match Roach’s gait with her hips. Her lower back ached, her sore insides were drawn in yet another direction, but Roach’s back was wide and the saddle comfortable without Geralt’s weight smacking her into the saddle bow with every step the horse took.
Once they were down the hill and on the main road, Velita couldn’t suppress a chuckle. Geralt straightened his back and cast a side glance down at the woman who rode beside him. He remembered that sound and the bastard truth behind that. Velita had a jester’s way to release her fears and inner tension. Did he want to know? He waited until the chuckle had subsided into a smug smile on her face. “Feeling better?”
“I do,” her smile was wide and real. “It feels really good to know that I can hold myself up. To be out in the countryside, to be free…” she laughed again, “Whoa, I even got a couple of false feathers about me. But I guess it’s alright as long as I don’t strut around like a peacock.” She patted Roach’s neck who had reacted on her straightening up and started to raise her front hooves higher. “Shh… it’s alright, good girl, I like you, too.”
Her grey skirt and apron bunched over the saddle and her bare calves were showing. “Like what?” Geralt wondered. He could attest that everything she displayed was real and delightful. – “I’m on the path with the White Wolf by my side, riding a splendid war mount and I’ve got a silver sword stuck underneath my left thigh like a shield maid from the tales,” she cracked up, “It’s a ridiculous twist, but a funny one for once.” She saw him grin and found herself wanting to make him laugh out load.
   -oOo-
They arrived at the branching that lead up to the mansion as a group of three riders came that came from Midville, Gernot among them. They preceded the lordship’s coach. The Fox was tied to the back of the coach. The riders in the colors of Midville left and the driver took the branching up to the mansion. Gernot greeted and fell in formation beside Anne. The gate was opened by a city guard, Hector and Balon who had taken on guard’s duties.
The steward and the priest came out of the mansion, accompanied by Lord Bearstone. The coach was opened and the body of the Lady in Waiting was unloaded by the carriers. Velita remained in the background, took their horses into the stable, hung her white handmaid’s apron and mantle to a peg in the saddle chamber and got her leather apron instead. Gernot went into the house with Anne to report to the steward and was glad that Velita and Geralt took over. So far, nobody had raised a complaint.
The Palfrey was there, the Fox was brought in, Roach, Cricket, the Brown, the Grey… Arya was leashed at the inner stone trough to guard the mansion’s horses while the right hand side of the stable had been filled up with the visiting guards and hunter’s horses. The water still ran red and the water level in the rain tub sunk under the consumption of so many horses and people. Velita went up to the hay loft opened another bulkhead over the aisle and shoveled down hay for the horses while Geralt stuffed the empty racks.
After a while, Hector opened the upper stable gate only to poke his head in, “Geralt?” he called. A pair of huge paws appeared on the edge of the lower part of the gate and Balon poked his black flat head in as well, looking out for Arya who started whining. “Sorry I cannot come in. Iorveth has brought Anne and left?” – “Yes.” – “Lord Bearstone wonders what more can be done to retrieve the countess.” – “Gernot has addressed it with the constable. Probably sent inquiry to the city commander of Flotsam already.” –“Lord Bearstone wants to see you about it, witcher.”
Velita came from the right part of the aisle where she had filled the hay racks as well. “What is the situation at the mansion?” she inquired.
“Lord Bearstone will stay a couple of days, until the fiduciary’s arrival, he said. He wondered where the house servants left off but the steward and the constable could explain that. The constable left some guards in the hospitality the steward extended. They will stay in the chevalier’s house. Cass has arrived from Midville with Fabian and started the bakery. It would be nice if Anne and you could help her.”
Velita nodded. “I will come over to the kitchen in a few. I just want to try something to filter the water.”
“Hunting elven is not a witcher’s job,” Geralt said “hold your dog. I will talk to Lord Bearstone.” He left the stable after a short glance at Velita who had gotten a pile of cloths and rope from the saddle chamber.
   -oOo-
Velita rolled up her sleeves, equipped four buckets with a layer of cloth she tied over three quarter of the opening. She piled up a cascade as high as the spillover of the indoor trough. The water ran through a layer of fabric, into a bucket. Mud sunk to the bottom of each bucket while the surplus water spilled over and the process repeated on each step. The result wasn’t quite clear and carried a rosy hue and had an iron tang, but it was probably good enough for animal consumption and washing one’s hands.
At least Velita washed her hands and feet properly before she went for the kitchen. Cass was standing in front of a hollowed tree trunk, kneading a huge amount of dough while Fabian added flour according to her command. Anne was preparing baskets for the bread.
“Ah, there you are, Velita.” Cass eyed the slim woman standing in the doorway: blue print headscarf, fair skin, cheekbones edgier, brown eyes bigger than she remembered due to days of starvation in the cellar? She noted the grey handmaid’s dress on her, the white apron tied sloppy above the belt and dirtied up at the knees, wooden clogs smeared with the exceedingly present red mud.
“Greetings, Cass.” Velita came into the kitchen, “Have you seen the chicken brew I prepared? There is also a bucket full of beans I soaked, maybe we can prepare dinner with those.”
“The brew has been consumed. The beans I’ll see to them later. Fire on the oven house.”
“I have not eaten so far. Can I have an apple please?”
“Out of my kitchen, you filthy whore and don’t you dare to come any closer to me and Anne again. Who do you think you are, that your dress makes you a cook? Or a proper handmaid?”
“I am a free person and spend lunchtime to get Anne home safely. I even negotiated with Iorveth for the countess safe return. Since I am back to this place on Gernot’s invite, I will work only if I get paid for my effort in return. You want me to fire the oven, I want food for me as well as Geralt of Rivia. If you do not want to give me food for my work, I will work elsewhere and you can fire on your oven yourself.”
“Here’s your apple.” Cass threw her one from the basket on the window sill, “But I insure you, the steward will hear of your disobedience.” – “I cannot be disobedient because you’ve got no right to order me around.” Velita bowed out of the kitchen. Cass sighed and released her anger on the dough. The Butcher of Blaviken was back and he and who knows who had been together with Anne. Her girl had been away over night then came home watched by that butcher’s old whore who dared to prance around in a stolen house servant’s dress! Gernot was relaxed about it, but she wasn’t!
Thronebreaker - Lair of the Beast
https://youtu.be/-IBk43FU6F4
Velita went through the barn to a small house set against the compound wall, well away of other wooden structures and the kennel. The wood storage there needed refill like many others, but there was enough left for this firing. She got the logs for the pre-firing ready as well as the faggots that were necessary to reach the final temperature. Tinder twigs and bark were missing, therefore she ate her apple and went for the garden hut to get an axe and split a couple of spruce logs. Afterwards, she went to lock up the axe again and to pick up a bucket of rain water to mob out the oven before shooting in the bread. It was about as much as she could carry in her weakened state.
Once she went around the corner between the stable and the barn, Sean approached with a guardsman she did not know. “The steward requests your presence,” Sean said evenly. “Before or after I fired on the oven house for his wife?” – “Immediately.” Sean gave her a tight lipped smile “Accompany Velita, I will take care of the fire.” Sean bowed out politely, but the other guard grabbed her by the arm. - “I will come by myself.” Velita tried to side step him, but she was grabbed nevertheless and lead through the main door of the mansion into the steward’s front office.
“Ah, there she is.” the steward rose and stepped around her, “It has come to my attention that you deny orders, even go so far to pretend to be a free woman, even though you are just a slave, a piece of property the deceased count bought and paid for.” He grabbed her chin. “I’ve heard that you have been here at the mansion when he died. That makes you part of the count’s hair loom.” Velita reached over his claw-like hand to pry it off her face, “Don’t you put your hand on me. I am a free person and I can prove that I am no one’s property anymore.” – “Show me what you have. Lord Bearstone will want to have a look at it as well. He takes care that no items of the countess and his nephew’s hair loom vanish in the meantime.” The steward released Velita who reached under her apron and retracted the folded contract from her pouch.
She was about to unfold it as the Steward suddenly yelled at the guard to hold her. The precious document sailed to the ground as her arms were twisted on her back and the steward reached underneath her apron. She froze in shock. The old man had never been that intrusive before, but all he produced was the key ring.
“The count’s key ring! Where did you get that from?”
“It was handed to me in the morning so I could prepare food for everybody.”
“And you did?”
“Yes, I made breakfast because your wife was away.”
“Also for Iorveth?”
“Everybody was allowed at the table.”
“Did you host Iorveth?”
“I only served breakfast, I did not decide who came.” Velita repeated stubbornly, “I don’t insist on having the keys, they were handed to me in the morning by somebody because without them, I could not have given the carriers the shovel to excavate the count’s grave while you took care of the mortal remains with the priest and I could not have fulfilled your wife’s request to fire on the oven house.”
“By somebody, you say?” - “Yes.” - The steward picked up the unfolded parchment “That is a contract to prove you are a slave.” - “Turn it around and look at the backside.” - “The count’s seal.” The steward noted, “So what? The Count bought you and put his seal on the contract.” - “Read what is written on the backside.” - “It is not the count’s script. Could be the slaver’s notes.” - “It reads that I have been freed for special services.” - “You can read?” - “Yes.”
The steward frowned and held the document out to the guard. “Tell me, does that read this slave was freed?” – “I recognize the count’s seal, but cannot tell if this document was issued for this woman.” What the guard did not admit was the fact he had never learned to read past his name. – “Well, too bad.” the steward shrugged, “I’ll keep it for Lord Bearstone then.” – “That is my document and you can certainly read it properly. Unhand me and give it back. I will show it to the Lord upon his requests.”
A man of the hunting company entered from the lord’s succession of rooms, “Milord inquires what the ruckus is about?” – “Tell him I’ve got one of the female servants here, a slave pretending to be a free woman based on some fake document. I already secured the count’s own key ring. Invite your lord to have a look into the matter.” The lord’s servant bowed out and the guardsman pushed Velita on her knees in front of the steward.
Velita signed “If this document in your hand was not about me, then by what other right do you hold me here at all?”
“This paper could accidentally vanish and then I can always witness that you’ve been a slave to the mansion in front of Lord Bearstone or the Constable. I have drawn your face as the bounty was posted on behalf of the Count and that certainly looks like you.”
“Such a bounty would illustrate a lie that I was not here, while Gernot and Hector and the Witcher are witnesses that I was here indeed and that the document freeing me existed.”
“That is another interesting thing. You have been here when the count and the captain died.”
“What you imply taints the deceased honor. You honestly imply that a weak woman like me could make a dent into two prized veterans of the Redanian war? Let alone kill them?!”
“Maybe the witcher helped you?”
“The witcher was not around when they died. He minded another business a day’s journey away.”
The servant reappeared “Lord Bearstone requests the female servant to be brought into the living room together with the evidence.”
The guard pulled Velita to her feet and she was quick to snatch her paper from the old steward’s wavering hand. “Let me go, I’ll explain it to your Lord myself.”
- 32
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Sleeping Beauty Reloaded