If you feel comfortable, may I please request something where Netflix Coen brings his lady and her two kiddos to Kaer Mohren for the winter? Thank you so much for everything you've written so far <3
Also yes the did butcher Eskel and I was so disappointed.
A/N: I probably most likely completely butchered his character.... But I really really liked the idea and I really wanted to write for him! So I had to start somewhere! Someone who knows Coen better than me, please feel free to critique things!
Note: The name "Odie" in this fic is pronounced "Oh-dee" or at least that's how I pronounced it :)
The wind whipped around you, bringing with it a bitter chill that threatened to freeze you to the bones.
“Are we almost there?” Your youngest whined. You could feel Edda shivering from the cold.
“We’re nearly there.” Coen spoke from your left. He sat atop his buckskin mare named Alder with your eldest, Odette, riding with him.
“Keep your nose covered, Odie.” You told your daughter, taking note of the way her scarf was falling from her face.
You checked Edda’s scarf, adjusting it to make sure it would keep her warm.
The young six-year-old looked over to her sister and to Coen.
“Why doesn’t Coen have to cover his nose?” She huffed.
“I won’t freeze like you ladies will.” Coen told her.
Edda leaned back against your chest with a huff. She was growing tired of riding, and it was hard to be able to relax with the freezing temperatures.
“We’ve been traveling since morning, Coen.” You spoke quietly, turning your head so you could meet his gaze. “The girls are getting tired.
“I know, sunshine. I promise, we are almost there.”
***
Within less than an hour, the two horses were approaching a large stone structure mostly hidden into the side of a mountain. Snow covered the stone in a generous layer of white.
Your eyes carefully glided along the structure, taking note of a few places where there seemed to be torches lit.
The movement of something near a torch caught your attention. You gripped the reins tighter, searching the area above the wall for any more movement.
“What is it, Y/N?” Coen asked you. He could hear your heart pick up pace just a little and the way your breathing changed ever so slightly.
You furrowed your brows, shaking your head softly.
“I thought I saw something.”
“Where?” Edda sat up straight, pivoting her head back and forth as she searched for whatever you had seen.
“On top of the wall over there.”
“Probably just someone keeping watch.” Coen explained.
“There’s people where we’re going?” Odette looked over her shoulder to him.
“Not many, but there are a few.”
Once inside the first set of walls to the School of the Wolf, Coen slipped down from his horse and walked her in the direction of the stables.
You followed behind him. Your eyes flickered ahead of Coen, noticing a few horses in the stables that Coen was leading you to.
There were four horses in total: a chestnut mare, a black bay gelding, a gray gelding, and a piebald mare.
“Look at the horses, Edda!” Odette exclaimed.
“Whose horses are those, Coen?” Edda couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of the beautiful animals.
“My brothers. Maybe tomorrow I can properly introduce you girls to them.” Coen tethered Alder to a hitching post inside the shelter. He then turned and lifted Odette off of Alder’s back.
“Why not right now?” Edda frowned at him as he approached her to help her down as well.
“Because I don’t think you want to freeze your toes off now, do you?” Coen placed Edda on her feet and then looked down at her for a moment before bringing his eyes to you. “Besides, I think momma’s tired.”
You smiled just a little as you tried to hide your yawn with your hand.
Coen took your hands and let you slip down from your horse, Bee.
“But Coen–!”
“Edda.” You cut her off. “It is late. We don’t need to be out here too much longer.”
“Come on, Edda.” Coen put his hand on her shoulder and ushered her in the direction of the main doors.
“Are you sure it’s okay that we are here?” You spoke quietly as you walked alongside your witcher.
The two girls walked just ahead of you. You kept your eyes on them until Coen’s hand found your arm. He stopped you from walking and made you turn to face him.
“Stop worrying, sunshine.”
“I just don’t want to be unwelcomed.” You admitted.
“Wherever I am, you are welcomed.” He leaned down to kiss your head. “I sent a raven to Vesemir before we left telling him what was happening. I am sure he’s told the others.”
You said nothing, turning your head to find your girls.
“Y/N.” Coen turned your head back to him with gentle but cold fingers. “What has you scared?”
“I’m not scared.”
“Nice try. I can smell it on you, sunshine.”
You looked up at him, quiet for a few moments.
“I just…. I’m nervous about meeting them. Your family. There’s so much that could go wrong. I just don’t want them to dislike us.”
“They won’t dislike you, because I love you.” He kissed your head once more. “Come on now. Let’s go before you freeze.”
***
Coen pushed the large and heavy wooden door to the keep open, then held it for your daughters and yourself.
Edda and Odette both came to near immediate stops once they were inside of the keep.
In the large room were multiple tables. Most of them were empty.
A crowd of people sat at one of the tables, their loud chatter coming to a silence as the front door shut with a deep thud.
Silence filled the room. Your stomach churned with anxiety. You looked around from face to face.
This was Coen’s family.
“Fucking finally!” The man with curly red hair spoke first, his voice booming and echoing off of the high walls. The sound startled Odette and Edda, making them jump. “Thought you were gonna take until the next plague to fucking get here, Coen, you whoreson!”
“I planned to be here earlier, but I’m here now.”
“And who have you brought with you?” The eldest appearing man with gray hair approached Coen.
“Y/N of Brugge, and her girls, Odette and Edda.” Coen gestured to each of you as he said your names.
The redhead smacked the dark haired man with scarring on his face in the shoulder, a look of disbelief crossing the former’s face.
“That’s her, Eskel! That’s Sunshine!”
“You’re shittin’ me.” The dark haired one, Eskel, looked at you in disbelief, a smirk coming to his lips. “Good to finally put a face with all the stories, Little Miss Sunshine.”
“Who the hell is ‘sunshine?’” The other dark haired man asked. He was dressed in clothes that were much brighter than the other men’s.
“Don’t ask–,” Coen started, shaking his head but Geralt cut him off.
“Sunshine is the only name Coen’s ever given to a woman he’s been sharing stories about for the last four years.”
“Welcome home, wolf.” The older man with gray hair said. “I’m glad you made it safely.”
“Didn’t expect such shit weather so early in the winter.” Coen shook his head.
“Heard that this winter’s gonna be a nasty one.” Eskel told him.
“Just what we fucking need.” Coen muttered. “I’ve brought Y/N and her two here ‘cause I didn’t want to leave them for the winter. Nilfgard is closing in, and I didn’t feel comfortable leaving them in Brugge for the winter.”
“We’ll need to work on a room for the children. I’m sure you all are tired from your travels.” The elder witcher smiled at you.
“We are.” You nodded softly, placing your hand on Odette’s shoulder. “We appreciate your generosity greatly.”
“No need for any of that.” The witcher shook his head. “My apologies, but better introductions will be made in the morning. Your younguns should probably get to bed.”
“This way, Y/N.” Coen nodded for you to follow him.
You ushered the girls in his direction.
“Coen, a moment please?” Geralt moved to walk with his brother. “If it would be alright with the girls’ mother, they could sleep in the room with Cirilla.”
Coen came to a stop, his eyes widening.
“She’s here?”
Geralt shook his head, eyes closing for a moment.
“It’s a long story. But the offer is there. She’s in a room by herself down the hall from Lambert.”
“I’ll let Y/N know. Thanks.”
You watched as the White Wolf returned to the table the witchers had previously been at.
***
“I heard what Geralt said.” You spoke quietly to Coen as the girls walked just ahead of you both down the hall. “Who is Cirilla?”
He let out a sigh, his free hand coming to rub his face. One of his arms was linked with yours, elbows interlocked as he walked you through the halls of Kaer Morhen.
“Geralt’s Child Surprise. Princess of Cintra.”
You turned your head sharply to look at Coen, brows furrowed.
“The Princess? I-I thought she died in the sacking.”
“I thought so too. But I suppose not. Would you be okay with the girls staying in a separate room?”
You didn’t answer him immediately, your eyes finding the backs of your daughters’ heads.
Coen followed your gaze. His hand came up to your arm.
“You can say no, sunshine.”
You looked at him, guilt festering inside your stomach.
“I-I just don’t want them away from me on the first night, Coen. It isn’t because of where we are. I just…. You know how Edda with her nightmares and I’d hate to bother someone with them.”
He pressed a kiss to the side of your head. He understood your concerns with Edda. The poor girl was plagued with terrible nightmares, so much so that often times she would crawl into bed with her sister or with you in hopes to keep them at bay. Sometimes the nightmares could cause her to get so vocal that everyone in the entire home could hear her and were awoken.
***
Coen pushed the door to his room open and signed Igni into the hearth.
“You gals can have my room for the night. It’s far cleaner than any of the uninhabited rooms.”
“This is clean?” Edda furrowed her brow as she looked around. Odette nudged her in the arm.
“My apologies, my lady.” Coen smiled as he looked down at her. “This castle is hundreds of years old and until recently, has only ever had men living inside it. All of us are filthy.”
“I disagree with that statement.” Eskel commented as he walked by the doorway to go to his room.
The two girls giggled.
“Where will you stay for the night?” You asked Coen, taking note of the bed that would already be a very tight squeeze for you and the two girls.
“I don’t know that I’m going to get much sleep tonight.” He admitted, moving to place his hand on your arm so he could lean in for a brief kiss. “First nights at the keep are always a bit…. Rowdy. I’ll make sure we keep it down.”
“Rowdy?” Odette repeated.
“Yes, rowdy. Sharing stories, recounting what’s happened since the last winter, telling jokes. Sometimes there’s fighting. There was once singing too.” Coen nodded his head. “But you three need your rest.
“You do too.” You told him.
He held your gaze for a few heartbeats, a smile coming to his lips.
“I’m glad you’re here, you know?”
You returned the smile, your hand coming up to brush over Odette’s hair since she was closest to you.
“I know. Have fun down there, Coen.”
“Always do, sunshine. Sleep tight, girls.”
You watched as he left, closing the door behind himself.
“Come on, girls. Let’s get some sleep. This winter is going to be one for the books.”
Noble griffin witcher :3 very excited to see Coën in season 2!!
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I haven't heard anyone talk about this but: Coën having all these women to party with and bang and he's just holding this girl and swaying with this lost dog look on his face??? Is homie okay emotionally??? Did he just need someone to hold??? Like???? He could be drinking, partying with his brothers and he's just got his head against miss girl's shoulder and swaying.
Mans rlly said "fuck parties, I'm just gonna 🥺🥺🥺 for tonight"
CW: Possible character death, possible season 2 spoilers
I just had a thought and it's created a theory. Not one I'm entirely happy with but one that makes almost too much sense.
Early on, there was a rumour via Redanian Intelligence that a scene had been filmed of Eskel's funeral. This thought alone is heartbreaking even if you're not sold on the Netflix version of him. Supposedly killed by wolves? This seemed hard to fathom but okay. Theories at the time were about casting issues, characterisations etc etc
Now, during the live stream, the puppeteers were seen to be holding giant heads and it appeared to be in the hall of Kaer Morhen. One of them mentions someone getting bitten on the arm and someone getting thrown around in the choreography. Lots of bleeping out for spoilers and the heads themselves are blurred out.
Is it just me or do these possibly look like giant freaking wolves?
Then you have the images of the boys themselves, appearing to be in battle. In the hall.
I'm starting to think there may be some truth to the death of Eskel. Also, Paul himself mentioned them fighting a Leshen. Wolves travel with, and are controlled by, Leshen.
Anyone else got some thoughts on this? Am i off with the pixies on this? It's worrisome, no matter what.
my second art piece with whom I participated in the BTC @beyondthecontinent!!!
@brighteyedjill wrote a fucking fantastic fic for it that i encourage everyone to read!!! you’ll find the links in the reblogs!!
(i think this was my actual first pure watercolor illustration and ho boi that was something) also its a bit funny with witchercon yesterday and our first real glimps at Coen! my hc/image had been the actor actually but i took the manbun from the Coen Gwent card xD)
