Archive of Our Own ^beta

A Grain of Sandpiper

BY: WolfaMoon

Summary: S3: Dara recognizes the sandpiper during the battle. Going to him after he is hit with the arrow.

Disclaimer: No Own only fun.

A GRAIN OF SANDPIPER

Dara saw the first arrow strike the man in the red jacket.

“Sandpiper,” he whispered. “SANDPIPER!” Jaskier turned to the voice to see Dara. Jaskier smiles but stops as another arrow strikes him. When Dara had called Sandpiper, Ciri paused in her approach to the archer which gave the elf the chance to fire again. She moves to get the archer as he aimed again.

Gallatin heard Dara call for the Sandpiper. Looking around he saw where Dara is then to whom he is staring at. The man in the red jacket. His eyes going wide when he recognizes the man now impaled by two elven arrows. Breaking through a set of fighters he rushes over to grab Jaskier and haul him off the battlefield.

“Sandpiper,” Gallatin voices lowering him to the ground. Jaskier grits his teeth as he focuses on the elf.

“Gall, Gallatin.” Jaskier remembers.

“Long time no see.”

“Yeah,” he groans in pain. Gallatin whistles to his squirrels which has them retreating. “You’re gonna be fine.”

“Yeah for bait,” groaning again as he sinks further onto the ground.

“We need to get you to a healer, Sandpiper.”

“No, just go before, Geralt.” Geralt holds his sword to Gallatin’s neck.

“Step away from him.” Geralt growls.

“Geralt,” Jaskier tries. “Go Gallatin. I’ll be fine.” Gallatin stands and stares at the witcher.

“Take care of him.” Gallatin squeezes Jaskier’s shoulder one more time. “See you Sandpiper.” Bowing his head to the man.

“See you, Gallatin.” Jaskier croaks to him. Gallatin nods to the witcher. He did not sign up for this. And to hurt the only real human on their side.

“Jaskier,” Geralt kneels down taking Jaskier in his arms. Nodding that he is leaving Sandpiper in good hands.

“How bad is it?” Jaskier asks.

“Yennefer, will have you healed up in no time.”

“Promise me you will never do this to me again.” Jaksier groans trying to curl in away from the pain.

“Yennefer!” Geralt calls. Ciri comes running over to cushion Jaskier’s head in her lap so his wounded back is exposed.

Yarpin comes running over and takes in the bard. The man had been hurt trying to save his men. He owes him.

“What do you need?” Yarpin asks standing on guard over them. Yennefer come over to sit on the other side of Jaskier that Geralt is not occupying. She gasps.

“Jaskier,” she voices. She had promised he would be safe. Simple human helping magical beings. Hovering her hands above his back she searches for the damage. The lower one is shallow. But the one just a little left of it’s twin is sticking in further and… “No.” She halts Geralt from pulling the arrow out.

“You need to heal it.” He grunts.

“And I will but it is close to his organs.” Geralt looks upset looking to the battlefield.

“We need to move,” he reminds her

“I know.” She argues back. “Do you want him dead?”

“Stop fighting,” Ciri voices as she strokes Jaksier’s head as he is keening in pain. “Help him or I’m going to try.”

“Do you think you could heal him?” Yennefer asks/challenges. Ciri huffs. She doesn't want to hurt Jaskier anymore than she already has. Learning is different from practice. Glaring at Yennefer she turns gentle looking down at Jaskier.

“This is going to hurt.” Ciri warns him with a soft voice.

“Too late.” He groans.

“Geralt?” Ciri turns to him. “Pull it out.”

“You’re serious.” Yennefer voices.

“Waiting is doing no good. So let me do something. Now Geralt.” Geralt grabs the bolt and pushes it all the way through. Jaksier screams as the bolt tears through him. The all cringe at the noise. Once it is through Geralt snaps off the fletch and pulls the remaining bolt and arrow head from the front. Ciri’s hands are quickly over the wounds. Her focus is on healing him.

“Jaskier?” Yennefer voices. The bard is silent. Sweeping the hair form his face. Noticing he is passed out. They need to do this quickly. Yennefer places her hands over Ciri’s.

“I can do this,” Ciri challenges back.

“Let me help him too.” This is not just a lesson. This is life. Their friend’s life. Ciri nods and they both chant to help Jaskier. The wound closes and heals up into a scar. “Geralt lift him up. We need to lay him down so he can rest.”

“We need to leave.” Before complying.

“Than carry him in front of you on Roach. He is in no condition to be riding solo.” Geralt hauls Jaskier up in his arms. The man light and passed out. He just looks at the human. He brought him here. Brought him to this. Geralt makes his ways to the horses.

Yennefer turns to Yarpin.

“Do your men need anymore healing?”

“No, the little,” arse. He wants to use a harsh word to call Jaskier but stops. “The bloke helped my men before it was too bad. Tell Jaskier, thank you.”

“I will pass it along.”

“Bye Yarpin.” Ciri voices standing and heading after Geralt.

~AGoS~

Jaskier wakes with a groan. His eyes looking up into the canopy of trees. Not moving for he doesn’t know where he is. Is he with the Scoia'tael or with his friends?

“You’re awake,” Ciri comes bounding over with a water skin.

“Am I?” Ciri kneels beside him. “Where are we?” He asks after he takes a long drag from the water skin.

“We had to move.” Jaskier nods resting back against his bedroll. “Yennefer and I healed you.” He nods again feeling tired. “Yarpin told me to tell, thank you Jaskier for helping his men.”

“He said my name?”

“Yes.” He hums closing his eyes. “Are you alright?” He hmm again falling back asleep. Ciri looks around worried. “Yennefer!” She calls for her mentor. Yennefer comes over. “He was awake. He drank but didn’t talk. Then he passed out again.” Yennefer lays a hand on Jaskier’s head. She smiles.

“He’s just exhausted. He’s no longer passed out from the pain. This is a healing sleep. Let him be.”

“Can I stay with him?” The witch smiles at her.

“We can both stay.” Yennefer moves around to maneuver Jaksier’s head into her lap stroking his hair. Ciri smiles before laying down and resting on Jaskier. Head over his heart.

That is the image Geralt comes back to. He stops with his dinner haul to take them in.

They are all asleep curled around the bard. He releases a deep breath for he brought Jaskier into this. Needing protection and time to heal.

He let’s them rest. All would be well in the morning.

To bad he had another visitor during the night.

~AGoS~

Gallatin jumped down from a tree as Geralt got the hares roasting on the spit. He watches the elf move around the camp to look down at Jaskier. Then he looks to the princess.

“Francesca wants the girl because of some prophecy,” Not taking his eyes off the Sandpiper. Geralt hmm a reply. “We were there for a caravan. Not her. Not him. Francesca’s mind has become so clouded after the lost of her daughter. Gathering you can relate.”

“What does she think of you being here?”

“She doesn’t know I’m here and I don’t care if she think she is the bloody queen of us. She got my men killed over this. Got the Sandpiper hurt. He is going to be okay?” Geralt listens to the worry fill the elf’s voice.

“They healed him up good. He is resting off the healing.”

“The first time I met him he was injured as well.” Geralt straightened at learning that Jaskier had been hurt again without him around. “Protecting a child. One of my kin.” The elf sighs taking a deep breath. “He passed out right in front of me. I caught him. He burned for 4 days.”A fever had taken hold on Jaskier. Geralt is shocked to learn this.

“How was he injured?” Geralt inquires. Wondering if he could have prevented it if he was there.

“Something scratched him as he crossed a river. The network stopped using that passage.” Gallatin sighs as if a burden has been lifted. “Take care of him.”

“I will.”

“Later witcher.” Gallatin lays down a pouch by Jaksier’s feet before running off into the trees. Geralt took in the gift. Realizing there is so much more to his friend than what he knows.

The End