War Of Hearts (Geralt of Rivia imagine)
Request: can you write something about geralt x princess!reader where he gets invited to her birthday banquet because there's suspicion that there's a monster in the castle and they start falling for each other after he saves the princess -
+ can you write something where Geralt saves the princess from a monster at her brithday banquet and they start falling for each other
Warning: violence - fight scenes
A/N: since I'm in quarantine because I've got covid, I had quite some time to write this. My last story of the year! - I really hope you'll like it, don't hesitate to give me any feedback! Happy new year lovelies, and as always, stay happy & healthy!
The mission should have been easy for Geralt. Get in, kill the monster, get out. Yes, it could have been if he were to protect anyone else than Princess Y/N, the tigress of Zaidor. She had earned quite the reputation over the years, turning into a warrior on the battlefield, leading her people with heart and determination.
Her parents were traveling to Cintra when the Queen had been brutally killed. The kingdom had sunk into turmoil and Princess Y/N was too heartbroken to understand what was really at stake.
While she mourned, her father led an investigation to found out who was behind the assassination. Fearing whomever ordered that horror would come after his daughter, he chose to teach her how to fight. He kept her away for years, forcing her to learn about any and every subject, to practice for hours on end, to make her not only strong but also smart, thus becoming the tigress of Zaidor.
She was kept in the dark about her mother passing and never found out what really happened. Ithar, her father's most trusted advisor, became her protector, following her everywhere and ensuring her safety the best he could. He was a mage that had been assigned to the Kingdom of Zaidor long before she was born. Beside her father, he was the only person she trusted inside the walls of the castle. He suspected someone was coming after the Princess, and what better occasion than the banquet of her anniversary.
Despite the threat, the King had wanted the party to be spectacular and the amount of people present opposed a real challenge for the mage to keep the Princess safe. That was how he had decided to call on an old favor to the Butcher of Blaviken.
“Let’s practice this one more time, princess” The mage spoke to the woman.
She rolled her eyes and smoothen her gown. “No need to say it again, Ithar. No fight, no bad words, if any danger - run and hide.”
He gently smiled at her. “I’m only trying to protect you”
“I know, but you’d do well to remember I’m not as defenseless as my father and you make me out to be”
She huffed. “Fine. I’ll do my best”
They were standing outside the grant Hall that would hold the celebration. Music could already be heard behind the golden doors and Princess Y/N was about to order to announce her arrival when the mage laid a hand on her shoulder to grab her attention.
“One more thing, Princess”
Judging by the lack of emotions on his face, she knew already she would not like what would follow.
“Well ?” She rushed him when she noticed his uneasiness.
She saw the silhouette of a man walking toward them and tilted her head to the side to study the appearance of the sudden stranger. He was taller than her father, and much more muscular. He exuded power and strength, looking everything like a wild wolf. His long white hair had been pulled to the back of his head and what instantly captured her attention was his gaze. Whomever that man was, she could see his tales of war through his eyes.
“Princess, let me introduce you to Geralt of Rivia” Ithar turned to the stranger, acknowledging his presence. “The…”
“Witcher” Y/N finished for him, never taking her eyes off of him. She said it with interest but also curiosity.
She thought she saw the outline of a smirk on his face for a second, but he only offered a courtesy nod.
“Princess” He greeted her, bowing his head in reverence. She raised an eyebrow, surprised by his low tenor. He had an alluring voice, powerful and authoritative yet warm enough to bewitch her. She was mesmerized by the intriguing comfort of his ethereal tone.
She couldn’t remember words, only nodded. Her restlessness was perceivable and he answered with a knowing smile. She felt sudden heat spread through her body and slightly blushed.
“Hm” Ithar cleared his throat, breaking whatever spell was at work between Geralt and his protegee. “He will keep you company for the night”
“What ?” She replied, startled. “Why ?”
“Because somebody is threatening your life” He reminded her.
“So you keep saying” She crossed her arms in annoyance. “This house is full of guards, and you’re a mage. Surely nobody would dare to attack me”
“We are not discussing this. He will stay with you, whether you like it or not”
She hated when he spoke to her that way. It made her feel like a child, incapable of defending herself. She pursed her lips but kept her mouth shut. Geralt didn’t usher a single word but studied her closely. Somehow, something about her was strangely fascinating to him.
“Right this way, then” She raised her hand in the air, leading him toward the doors.
She avoided looking at him but hooked her arm to his as the guards called her name, drawing the attention of her guests. She plastered a smile on her face and waved her hand in salute. She could hear the whispers, see the judgmental stares and accusing eyes as people realized she was walking beside the Witcher.
“I’m sorry” She turned her head to whisper so only he would hear.
He gently smiled down at her. “Don’t be, I’m used to far worse”
She kept staring at him, trying to hide the sadness brought by his statement as he led her to the main table of the ballroom. Torches were lit all around the place and decorated with her favorite flowers. As she sat down, she let her gaze trail around with a smile, admiring the work that was put into making everything look so perfect. Some people were already dancing, others were eating or chatting around. It was filled with so much life.
“My mother would’ve loved this” She whispered with a voice filled with emotion.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Princess” Her companion stated.
“Y/N, please” She asked him. “Call me Y/N”
He smiled and extended her hand for her to shake. She laughed at the gesture but did it anyway. “Geralt”
“Tell me, Geralt” She emphasized his name. “What did you do to deserve to play governess tonight ?”
“I’m not your governess” He growled, raising an eyebrow and pouring himself a glass of wine.
“What, then ? Guardian ? Keeper ? Caretaker ?” She joked. “Which one exactly fits your role ?”
She smirked and leaned on her elbows to look at him.
“You are taking all this…rather lightly, considering someone is trying to end your life”
“Hm…” She pondered for a moment. “I think my father is taking unnecessary measures to protect me”
“What makes you so sure of that ?” He frowned, staring at the crowd with intensity.
“No one in their right mind would dare attack me” She told him. “And if they did manage to get close enough, they wouldn’t live long enough to tell that tale”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you assuming I’d kill them?”
“Now you wound me, Geralt” She teased him, turning her head to the side and spoke back to him in a tantalizing quiet voice. “Do you really think I need anyone yielding my own sword for me ?”
She was relishing on the sweet satisfaction of the surprise showing on his face. She wished she could keep his expression forever in her memory.
He draped an arm around her chair and leaned toward her, eliciting shivers over her skin. “I should warn you, Princess, killing a monster is no easy task” He grunted.
She laughed loudly and picked a knife off the table, rolling it swiftly between her skilled fingers. His eyes followed her movements, almost in a trance.
“So I’ve heard” She sensually whispered in his ear, planting the weapon into the wood, right next to his thumb. “But I’ll take my chances”
He straightened on his chair and cleared his throat, glaring at the blade so close to his hand before taking it out and putting it back on the table. She bit her lip while smiling, definitely enjoying the effect she had on him.
“At last I meet the infamous tigress of Zaidor” He grinned, drinking from his cup without breaking their contact.
She rolled her eyes and ate a piece of her birthday cake. “I hate that title”
“What is a reputation if not the simple flicking power of a couple of words? They’re worth nothing” She toyed with her glass, evidently annoyed. “Just a boring tale to elicit terror”
She leaned back, observing people having fun around her. Ithar was sitting by one of the windows, his plate left untouched. She knew he was assessing possible threats.
“You’ve never answered my question” She stated to her new friend. “I don’t think I’ve ever saw you at court, yet I know you’ve slayed a couple monsters in this Kingdom”
“I find royalty best taken in… small doses” He simply explained.
She sniggered. “You and me both”
“You are a princess” He said matter of factly.
“Not by choice. Why did Ithar go to all the trouble of bringing you here tonight ?”
“You’re not gonna let this go, are you ?”
“I’ve got a title to honor” She smirked, casting an alluring side glance at him.
He pursed his lips, internally debating on whether or not to tell her everything he knew. She didn’t move from her position and kept looking at him, silently pressuring him to talk.
“They think something is after you” He revealed.
“Something ?” She repeated.
“Do you know what a Theriantrope is ?”
“A human infected by a magical disease”
He raised his eyebrows in astonishment, amazed about her knowledge. “Exactly. It changes them into hybrids. Much faster, stronger, impetuous”
He shifted in his seat, uneasy. “You are the offspring of the Queen of Zaidor”
Her eyes widened in horror. “They killed my mother ?”
“The King thinks so, he found a trail to the north” He elucidated for her.
“Is that why he’s not here tonight ?”
“Yes. He put your protection into my hands and left to investigate”
She shook her head, trying to process the amount of information she had just been given. “Is that all you know ?”
“It might get ugly, Y/N” If he was trying to scare her, it wasn’t working. “Your guards won’t be able to keep them outside and they won’t be alone”
“Fine. Let them come, then” Her expression hardened, her whole body tensing at the prospect of a battle.
“Geralt” She cut him with authority. Her voice was firm, imbued with power “Do not underestimate me. I’m tired of everyone thinking I’m afraid, because I’m not”
“Good” He wickedly smirked. “Your sword is attached to the back of your chair. I’m counting on you to use it”
He didn’t miss the way some of the guests strangely exchanged glances, moving fast across the room and shoving people out of their way. His eyes landed on Ithar and he darkly bowed his head, using the silent signal to alert him.
“Looks like the show came early” He told her, his gaze never leaving the outsiders he was following. They were getting closer.
“You said it yourself, a name alone isn’t worth anything. So let your actions live up to their words” He barked before turning to look at her dead in the eyes, pervaded with an emotion she could not decipher. Violence mixed with blind faith. “Show me the tigress of Zaidor”
His attention on her never broke when he drew his sword out to deflect a knife coming directly at her. His movement was quick and meticulously calculated. She was left speechless as her eyes widened in realization. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.
The Princess reached behind her chair, grabbed her weapon and rose to her feet. Every single soul in the room had stopped moving and in front of her stood a large man, part human, part beast, leading a group of soldiers. He had a sickening rictus on his face, fists clenched and looking every bit menacing. The tension was palpable, the fear visible among the innocent visitors around them.
The woman exchanged a side glance with Geralt before barking an order to her guards. “Kill them all !”
As soon as the first sword was drawn out, all hell broke loose. Before her eyes, she saw men launching at each others while the beast easily bypassed them to reach her. He marched with determination and so much violence it made her shudder.
“Fuck” She heard Geralt growled as he easily moved the furniture out of his way and sliced the chest of the only mercenary that had dared to come close to her.
She didn’t move as his dead body fell at her feet but kept her gaze on the half-human as he stopped in his tracks. It was then she noticed his crimson glowing eyes.
“I’m leaving you one chance to back off” She spited with resentment. “This will be my only warning”
Even his laugh was sickening.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to tear apart every single shred of happiness your father possesses” He barked.
“Good luck trying” She muttered as she rolled her blade around her wrist, instinctively taking a step back in a fighting stance.
“Any last words, Princess ?”
Once again, she looked at the Witcher, waiting for his instructions.
“Tell me what to do” She whispered, now was the time to form a new kind of alliance.
“Keep him from changing. He’s weaker in his human form” Geralt advised her.
This time he turned to stare at her. She could see the tension on his shoulders, the tight grip around his sword and his jaw flexing with anger, but despite their situation, she smirked when their eyes met. They barely knew each other yet she felt this strange pull toward him, like she’d known him all her life. She saw that same trust on his face, mixed with respect and faith. In that moment, they shared a bond through an unspoken vow. They were a team.
“Aim for the head” He gritted between his teeth.
He struck first, going for the man’s shoulder. The half beast deflected the attack but Y/N didn’t give him enough time to push Geralt back. They parried quickly, reflexively; one of them from the side, the other finishing the movement. They were working in harmony, moving back and forth in perfect unison, until the intruder used inhuman strength to throw Geralt across the room.
The Princess tried to assess a powerful blow to his chest, but he grabbed the blade mid-air, forcing her to let go of the weapon. He tossed it triumphantly as his fingers suddenly wrapped around her throat. She was caught off-guard by the unnatural speed. Ithar was already fighting an army of men and Geralt was nowhere in sight. She was on her own.
She gripped his wrists as he tightened his hold and looked him dead in the eye. She knew she could trust her Witcher. Now all she had to do was distract him.
She used her legs to rattle him but was too slow because of her dress. The half-beast cynically laughed, thinking he was seconds away from killing her. From the corner of her eyes, she felt relieved to see Geralt slowly walking behind the stranger, stalking him as if he was hunting a prey. This was the perfect opportunity for her.
Her hand clenched in a fist and with as much force as she could, she hit his elbow, forcing him to lean closer. Once she was sure he was within reach, she used the momentum to land a powerful blow with her head. The half-beast staggered backwards, this time giving her enough time to grab the aim of her gown. Spinning on herself, the back of her heel struck his chest. She was reacting on pure instinct, remembering everything her father taught her, fighting back until Geralt had an opening.
The half-human shouted in pure rage, breathing sharply. He clenched his jaw, trying to force his body to turn into the monster he was.
“Y/N!” The Witcher called across the room. He grabbed her sword and threw it at her.
She easily caught the weapon and with the next cut, slashed the monster’s face, drawing blood. Geralt took advantage of his surprise and used his powers to pin the intruder to the ground before he could attack her.
He scrambled back, away from the Witcher’s sword. “Any last words?” Geralt repeated what the half-beast had said to the Princess earlier with fury.
“You’re a dead woman” He promised to the tigress as she stood next to her newfound protector.
The Witcher hummed in annoyance and raised his blade, this time aiming for his face. He swiftly wounded him, cleaving his head from the top of his left ear to the right corner of his jaw. The top of his skull slid off as his body crumpled to the ground.
“Are you alright ?” He turned to Y/N and quickly examined her body for any kind of injury.
“I’ll live. Only a couple of bruises”
Behind them, the fight had stopped. Where a bunch of men fought now stood Ithar, hands still raised to use magic.
“Geralt, you’re bleeding!” She proclaimed loudly, letting her sword drop in a loud thud as she closed the distance to check his bloodied shoulder.
“It’s nothing,” He shrugged.
“Sit!” She ordered, making him laugh.
The situation was quite risible. Here she was, her dress almost torn, in a room with several dead bodies, including a decapitated head, taking care of a scratch.
She grabbed a bottle of alcohol nearby and poured it on his shoulder, making him hiss in pain. “Nothing, huh ?”
“I’ve been through much worse”
“I’m sure you have” She glanced at the beheaded beast and grimaced.
“You’re quite the fighter” He complimented her.
“Don’t sound so surprised” She rolled her eyes.
A smirk drew upon his lips and she felt that warm feeling yet again, building up in her chest and bursting into tiny butterflies in her stomach.
“Not surprised” He corrected her. “Impressed”
She didn’t answer back but put a wet cloth on his injury to stop the bledding.
“He knew how to come into the castle” She sadly told him.
“Do you think he had help ?” He looked up at her, grabbing her wrist to make her stand still.
“Honestly, that wouldn't be a shock”
“I’m afraid I don’t know much more than you do, Geralt”
“That’s a lie” He grumbled.
“It’s just…” She gulped. “A suspicion”
“That my father might not be as innocent as he pretends to be” She whispered, almost afraid to say it out loud.
He raised an eyebrow and suddenly stood up, startling her.
“That’s it, you’re coming with me!” He took her hand, dragging her outside of the ballroom.
“Geralt, what are you doing ?!” She tried to stop him but the man was a mountain of muscles.
“I’m making a very stupid decision” He shook his head.
He let go of her and she waited for him to elaborate.
“Until this is settled, I’m taking you with me” He explained firmly, not leaving any room for discussion.
“You’re not safe here, Y/N!”
“And your job is done, Geralt! This party is over, you no longer have any debt to Ithar!”
She visibly saw him clenched his jaw, hesitating to say what he was thinking out loud.
“I’m not doing this for Ithar” He whispered in a low voice. “I’m doing it for you”
Her eyes widened in surprise and her body instantly tensed as he closed the distance between them. He gently cupped her cheek to raise her head so she would look right back at him.
“We’re going to figure out what your father is hiding, but until then you’re staying with me, within reach. So I’m sure nothing happens to you”
“I can defend myself” She poorly offered.
“I know you can, Princess" He smirked. "I've seen it firsthand”
His fingers trailed down the now visible bruises over her neck and he softly brushed her skin, making her quiver.
“But it won’t stop me from doing my best to keep protecting you”
