Vesemir Meets Eskel’s Daughter
A/N: Quite a while ago, I got an ask about Vesemir meeting each of the wolves’ kids, so here he is meeting Nadia. Hopefully I will have the other ones out in a reasonable time but we’ll see :)
Warnings: none, pure fluff
Word Count: 3.3k
Summary: Unexpected company shows up at your door, but they certainly aren’t unwelcomed. (I suck at summaries sorry lmao)
***
The wood in the fireplace crackled. Frost covered the windows, but they were sealed tight so the chill couldn’t get in. Outside, a bitter wind pushed against the side of the house.
You sat in front of the fireplace, holding a plate with a slice of apple pie on it. Eskel was laying just in front of you with Nadia. She was sitting on his lower stomach leaning back against his bent knees, cooing and chewing on her fingers.
You put the spoon in your hand down on the plate and reached out to comb your fingers through Eskel’s dark hair. His eyes flickered up to you.
“You’ve been awfully quiet for a while.”
“Just thinking.” He explained.
“About what?” You tilted your head to the side a little, swiping a few strands of hair across his forehead.
He brought his eyes down to Nadia, who seemed sleepy. Her eyes were drooping shut and her head bobbed up and down a little as if she struggled to keep it upright.
“Just…. Haven’t seen anyone in a while. Saw Lambert this past summer. Haven’t seen Geralt since Nadia was born. She’s two and Vesemir has yet to meet her.”
“I’m sorry, love.” You brought your hand down to his chest. “I’m sorry we’re so far away from Kaer Morhen.”
“No, doll. Don’t be sorry.” Eskel sat up, moving Nadia with him so that she now sat in his lap. Her eyes widened for a moment, confused as to why they were moving so suddenly. Eskel hushed her and cradled her in his arms. She tucked her face into his chest, content with going back to sleep. “This is our home. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“But they’re your family, Eskel.” You looked down to Nadia. He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back.
“And they understand that I have a wife and a child.” Eskel’s golden eyes met yours.
You smiled softly at him, your eyes flickering down to the plate in your lap. You picked the spoon up and took a bite, then offered some to Eskel.
“I’m gonna make a cream one next and I think a strawberry, a pecan, and a blackberry.”
“All in one week?” He raised his brows.
“We like our sweets around here. Nadia can demolish a blackberry pie and my husband is particularly fond of my strawberry pie.”
“You make the best pies.” He hummed. “Give me another bite.”
You scooped up more apple pie and fed it to him.
“I’m going to go put her in bed.” Eskel stood up, carefully moving Nadia around in his arms.
Before he could even take a step in the direction of the bedrooms, he froze in place. He turned his head towards the front door, brows drawing together.
“Eskel? What’s wrong?” You asked him, standing up. You put the plate on the mantle above the fireplace, concerned.
“Someone’s coming. I hear horses.”
“How many?” You placed your hand on his arm.
“Three.” He paused for a moment, listening closer. “Take her.”
“Do you know who it is?” You didn’t hesitate to take your sleeping toddler from your husband. She tucked her nose into your neck.
“Not yet. But if…. I need you to do exactly as I say.”
Eskel took a few more steps towards the front door and then listened again.
A few moments passed and you swore all you could hear was the pounding of your heart in your chest. You held your breath, hoping he could hear over you.
“I-I think I know who it is.” He said, a little smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Who? Is it- Are we in danger, Eskel?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’ll be back in a second.”
You watched him slip out of the house, closing the door behind himself. You stood there for a few moments, worried and chewing on your lips.
Surely he wouldn’t have gone out there if it was dangerous, and especially not unarmed.
You moved to sit at the table, still holding Nadia in your arms. You waited for what felt like hours for your husband to return to you.
When the front door opened, Eskel wasn’t the one to step into the house. It was Lambert, followed by Vesemir then Geralt and Eskel.
A smile crossed your lips and you stood to your feet. But your attention was soon taken from the witcher when Nadia whined.
“Daddy.” She lifted her head from your chest and sleepily rubbed her eyes.
“Right here, love.” Eskel moved from behind his brother. “I can take her, doll.”
When he had Nadia, you went to greet Geralt, Lambert, and Vesemir.
“Sorry to barge in unannounced.” Geralt hugged you first, giving you a kiss to the head.
“Don’t apologize.” You squeezed him tight. “We were just talking about you guys. Eskel’s been missing you all like crazy.”
“Tried to talk the bastard into taking a few contracts with me over the summer.” Lambert sighed, shaking his head disapprovingly. He gave you a hug next. “Guess he’s done being a witcher for good.”
“Least until Nadia’s older. Then it’s only the easy ones.” Eskel spoke from behind you.
“What qualifies as easy?”
“Drowners, nekkers. Easy kill monsters.”
“Boring.” The young wolf rolled his eyes.
You moved on to Vesemir.
“How have you been, Vesemir?” You asked him, hugging the old witcher tightly.
“Getting by. I’ve been anxious to meet the little one.” Vesemir’s eyes were on Nadia. She was still fast asleep.
“She’s asleep right now.” You explained. “But you guys are staying through the night at least, right? You can see her when she wakes up.”
“Can you, um, Can you come with me to put Nadia in her room, Y/N?” Eskel asked you, rubbing her back to keep her asleep.
You nodded your head and followed him back to Nadia’s room. You pulled the blankets back on her bed and fluffed her pillows.
“I-I hope you don’t mind, but I already asked them to stay.” Eskel placed her down on the bed. “We have plenty of room, and I-I think…. I really think it would be nice for them to stay here. To be with us for the winter.”
“The whole winter?” You smiled.
Eskel nodded his head.
“I know I should’ve talked to you about it first, and I’m sorry I didn’t. I just- I didn’t think about it in the moment. It just sort of happened.”
“Oh, love. There’s nothing to worry about.” You shook your head, embracing him in a tight hug. “They’re your family, our family. I’d be happy to have them stay with us for the winter.”
Eskel’s arms wrapped tightly around you, his large hands splayed out across your back. He buried his nose in your hair.
“Thank you, doll.”
“No need to thank me. But we will need to clean out the spare rooms. And Lambert and Geralt will have to share a room. We have the cot to pull out from underneath the bed in the one room, so one of them can sleep on that and the other can have the spare bed. But I’ll leave it to them to fight it out on who sleeps where.”
“We can get sleeping arrangements settled in a bit. I’m sure they’d be glad to get something to eat.”
***
You moved around the table, making sure everyone’s bowls were still full of soup and their tankards had plenty of ale.
“You can sit down, Y/N. You don’t have to wait on us.” Vesemir told you.
“I don’t mind.” You shook your head a little. “I like to stay busy.”
“It’s hard to get Y/N to sit still for too long, Vesemir.” Eskel said. You smiled at him as you passed behind him, your hand brushing along the top of his shoulders.
“How old is the little one?” The old wolf asked.
“Two years old. She’ll be three come spring.”
Vesemir let out a sigh, shaking his head.
“Can’t believe I missed almost three years already.”
“They’ll have another one soon enough, Vesemir.” Lambert said.
“You’re a funny one, Lambert.” Eskel chuckled, shaking his head. “Nadia is enough for the both of us.”
“Oh come on! Not even one more?”
“You have one and then see if you want to have another one.” You took your seat next to Eskel.
“Is she a light sleeper?” Vesemir asked.
“Hardly. Sleeps like a log.” Eskel turned his head to look towards the hallway. He had been listening to his daughter’s heart beating since he put her to bed. It brought on a sense of serenity to hear the steady thump of her little heart. “Always has, hasn’t she, Y/N?”
“Even when she was a newborn.” You nodded, placing your hand on Eskel’s arm. “She’s not a very fussy baby.”
“Those are few and far between. But it doesn’t surprise me. Eskel was never a fussy child. Always quiet and content. Well, until Geralt came along. Then anywhere in the keep there was trouble, I knew those two boys were behind it.”
“Eskel wasn’t all that sweet and innocent.” Geralt rolled his eyes.
“Was too.” Eskel countered.
***
A few hours had passed. Dinner was over but everyone still sat around the table, chatting and bickering and catching up.
You were sleepy, but you didn’t want to go to bed just yet. You enjoyed the wolves’ company and wanted to spend as much time with them as you could.
Your chair had been scooted as close to Eskel as possible and you leaned against him, resting your head on his shoulder. Your eyes were fluttering shut, growing heavy with exhaustion when the witchers fell silent.
You lifted your head, rubbing your eyes before looking at them to see why they had suddenly gone quiet.
All four of them were looking in the direction of the hallway, yellow eyes focused on the empty space. They had heard the soft sound of tiny feet against the floor.
“Eskel, what is it?” You asked him, your hand squeezing his arm.
“She’s awake.”
“This late?” You frowned and rose to your feet. But his hand took hold of yours, preventing you from moving towards the hallway.
“Just hold on, doll.” He spoke quietly, nodding towards Vesemir, who sat directly across from you two.
The old witcher had yet to meet his granddaughter. Geralt met Nadia back when she was first born and Lambert had met her over the summer, but Vesemir never got the chance to meet the newest addition to the family.
Realizing what Eskel was asking of you, you nodded your head and sat back down into your chair.
A few moments later, Nadia came padding out of her room. One of the sleeves of her nightgown was pushed all the way up above her elbow while the other sat normally at her wrist. Her hair was falling from the braid Eskel had put it into earlier in the night. She must’ve been sleeping rough.
“Mommy?”
“Right here, love.”
She rubbed her eyes and yawned. She looked in the direction of your voice, but she didn’t look at you. She caught sight of Geralt first. Her little brows furrowed together just slightly in confusion. Then she looked at Lambert. After staring at him for a few moments, she scrunched her nose up at him and giggled.
“She remembers me.” He said the words quietly, a little smile playing on his lips.
Her eyes fell on Vesemir. She brushed her hair out of her face with both hands and moved quickly to you, eager to get into your lap. The second she was in your lap, she buried her face in your chest.
“I know you’re sleepy, love, but daddy and I want to introduce you to a couple people.” You rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. “Can you lift your head for a moment, Nadia?”
She didn’t listen immediately. But at her own pace, she lifted her head and shyly looked over in the direction of your three guests. Then she turned her head to look at Eskel. Wordlessly, she reached her arms out for him.
“Hello, love.” He took her into his arms, holding her securely on his lap.
“You remember Uncle Lambert, don’t you?” You pointed to Lambert.
Nadia looked at him, scrunching her nose up.
“Hi, squirt.” Lambert smiled at her.
She tucked her nose into Eskel’s neck, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
“She’s a shy one.” Geralt commented, smiling softly.
“She is.” You nodded. “Nadia, that’s daddy’s second brother. That’s Uncle Geralt.”
Eskel tapped her back until she lifted her head.
“Can you say hi to Uncle Geralt for me?” He asked her.
“Hi, Uncle Geralt.” She whispered.
“Hi, Nadia.”
“And this is Papa Vesemir.” Eskel pointed to Vesemir. “Say hi Papa Vesemir.”
“Hi, Papa Vesi….” She only got part of the way through his name before trailing off and mumbling.
Lambert chuckled, turning his head away from Nadia so she wouldn’t see that he was laughing at her. He didn’t want to offend the kid.
“Hello, Nadia.” Vesemir smiled at her. “My, you do look just like your father.”
She smiled shyly and turned her head to put her face in Eskel’s shoulder.
“I think she looks like Y/N.” Eskel said. “She’s got her nose.”
“But she’s got your hair.” You reached out to brush your fingers over Nadia’s hair.
“Mommy?” Nadia whispered, turning her head so she could only see you. “Sleepy.”
“I am too, love.” You stood up and rubbed her back. She held her arms out for you, allowing you to pick her up. Your eyes flickered to Eskel. “I’ll take her to bed. She needs to sleep.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” He asked.
“No, no.” You put your hand on his shoulder. “Stay out here. Spend time with them.”
You leaned down carefully to kiss him and let him give Nadia goodnight kisses.
“Good night, gentlemen.” You waved to Lambert, Geralt, and Vesemir. “Nadia, will you tell everyone good night?”
“Good night.” She muttered into your shoulder.
As you disappeared down the hallway, Eskel’s eyes remained where he had last seen you.
“She’ll get better once she warms up to you guys.” He explained, absentmindedly rubbing the back of his neck.
“It’s alright, Eskel. She’s young and we’re strangers.” Vesemir shook his head softly. “You must be very proud, son.”
Eskel nodded his head a little, smiling.
“I am.”
***
The next morning, you woke up with Eskel’s arms wrapped securely around you. His face was tucked into your neck. You smiled, turning your head to look over your shoulder.
“Hmm.” He groaned softly at your movements, arms tightening around you just a little.
“I should be getting up. Breakfast needs to be made.” You rubbed the back of his arm that stretched across your torso.
His arms released you, but not before he kissed your neck.
“You think Nadia will warm up to them before they leave?” You sat up and brushed your hair out of your face. “You know how shy she can be.”
“She warmed up to Lambert within a couple days.” Eskel watched you slip out of bed and move to the wardrobe. “Just give her time. Vesemir is good with kids. And Geralt…. Well, he’s not bad with them.”
As you changed into something for the day and fixed your hair, Eskel remained in bed, watching you while his mind wandered. You were finishing up your hair when his ears picked up on something. It was the sound of Nadia’s laughter.
Eskel sat up, turning his head to look at the door.
“What is it?” You asked him.
“I don’t…. I don’t know. Nadia, she’s laughing at something.”
He stood up and moved towards the door. You followed behind him down the hallway.
Eskel stopped at the end of the hall. You peaked around his shoulder.
Vesemir sat in front of the fireplace with Nadia, telling her a story. She seemed completely entranced by whatever it was he was saying. Her eyes were focused on him as he spoke of a “magical place” he had been to.
You placed your hand between Eskel’s shoulder blades, your thumb tracing circles over his bare skin as you smiled at the sight.
“Wild horses were everywhere, I tell you. And there were more flowers than I had ever seen in all my life!”
“Did you ride them?” Nadia asked, sitting up on her knees.
“Ride what, dear?”
“The horsies.”
“Oh, no. I had a horse of my own. Maximus was his name.”
“That monster.” Lambert muttered from the kitchen table.
“He was a good horse.” Vesemir told him.
“Every time I tried to brush him down, he’d bite me!”
Nadia giggled.
“You probably deserved it.” Vesemir turned his attention to you and Eskel. He stood up from the floor, grunting. “I see you’ve finally woken up, wolf. Your brothers and I are preparing for a hunting trip. Would you care to join us?”
“Daddy! Mommy!” Nadia jumped to her feet and ran over to you both.
“Good morning.” Eskel greeted her, rubbing her back as she hugged his legs. “How long are you planning on being out?”
“Not long. Just for the day. If we’re going to be staying here, we want to do our share and help put food on the table.”
Eskel turned his head to look at you.
“Go.” You encouraged, smiling softly. “Ms. Nadia and I will be fine here. Spend time with them.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” You put your hand on his arm.
“Okay.” He nodded. “When do we leave?”
“As soon as you’re ready.”
“Give me just a few minutes to get some things together.”
Nadia let Eskel go, moving to hug you as her father went back to the bedroom.
“Mommy? Why Papa call daddy wolf?” Nadia whispered, tugging at your shirt.
You picked her up, holding her on your hip.
“Because that’s just what they call each other. Daddy calls his brothers that sometimes and sometimes they call him that too.”
“It’s ‘cause he’s soft like a puppy, squirt.” Lambert moved across the room, passing by the both of you.
Nadia giggled, tucking her face into your neck.
“What will you do while we’re gone, Y/N?” Vesemir asked.
“I think me and Miss Nadia will make a few desserts for you all.” You looked down at Nadia. “How does that sound?”
“Yeah!”
A few minutes later, Eskel emerged from the room in his witcher gear. Seeing him in the outfit made goosebumps break out across your skin. You hadn’t seen him wear the armor since before Nadia was born.
You didn’t like the idea of him in it. But he was going hunting. The armor would keep him safe should anything happen.
“Go say bye to daddy, Nadia.” You placed her on her feet and watched her waddle to him.
She said her goodbyes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
You watched him as he moved towards you. You didn’t realize a frown had found its way to your lips.
“Don’t be like that, doll.” He pulled you in for a hug, pressing a kiss to your forehead.
“Hate seeing you in that.” You murmured, pressing your hand against his chest.
“There was a time when you loved this thing on me.” He grinned just a little, the scarred corner of his lips pulling up.
“.... I do love how it looks on you. Don’t like what it means you’re doing.”
“We aren’t hunting monsters.” Eskel rubbed your side.
“I know.” You sighed gently.
“Don’t worry, Y/N.” Vesemir moved towards the front door. “We will not let any harm come to him.”
“Speak for yourself.” Lambert rolled his eyes. “First chance I get, I’m pushing him into a draconid nest.”
Geralt elbow the youngest witcher in the side.
“Thank you, Vesemir.” You ignored Lambert.
You watched as Eskel moved onto Nadia, kneeling down to her height.
“See you in a little bit, love.”
“Bye, daddy.” She closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead.
Then as the band of witchers moved towards the door, she came to your side and took your hand.
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