Hello hello, this is my first time posting my writing anywhere so I’m excited but also a little nervous! After I watched the Witcher on Netflix, inspiration hit me like a train and so here we are. I hope you enjoy:)
Fandom: The Witcher
Pairing: Geralt x Jaskier
CW: minor character (OC) death, other than that you should be fine. If there’s anything else I should tag pls let me know!
So we all know that Jaskier unfortunately is human in canon. But hear me out, what if he wasn’t? I present to you, half-elf!Jaskier:) (also the title is a wip as well so if anyone has title suggestions pls feel free to comment them or shoot me a dm)
When Julian Alfred Pankratz is 8 years old, his mother tells him he is half elf and gifts him a bracelet of brown and blue pearls. It looks just like the one she wears around her left wrist, except hers is brown and green. The colour of her eyes, little Julian thinks. She instructs him to never take it off again. He nods and slips it over his left wrist, the band tightening as if by magic until it fits snugly around his small arm.
‘Listen carefully, my little one’, she says and kneels to be on his eye level. ‘The world is not kind to our kin. This is the only thing I can do to protect you from now on.’ Her eyes are piercing and serious and little Julian swallows nervously. ‘Soon, the changes will begin. Would you like to see what I mean?’ Little Julian nods again. With a swift movement, she takes off her bracelet and her eyes begin to glow softly. Her ears, previously round and soft, have graceful pointed tips. She smiles, warm and kind as she has always been and her teeth are too straight. She taps the place where her canines would be normally and little Julian runs his tongue along his own pointy teeth.
His mother slips the bracelet over her wrist and her eyes return to their normal green colour. ‘There is more. Come, my little one.’ His mother extends her hand and they leave his room. She leads him to her garden, the one that none of the children are allowed to enter and that is guarded by at least two men at all times of day. He blinks in awe at the colourful flowers and sweet-smelling herbs. His mother smiles at her little boy’s wonder but steers them to a flower pot with her favourite plant. She kneels beside Julian again and takes a small flower bud between her fingers. She whispers a few words and his eyes widen at the impossible sight before him. Slowly, the flower bud unfurls and blooms a beautiful yellow-orange. He gasps and turns to his mother, who only laughs softly. ‘When the time comes, I will teach you all I know. Do you want to learn?’
‘Yes!’ he shouts excitedly and she chuckles.
When Julian Alfred Pankratz is 12 years old, his mother dies in her sickbed. For all her knowledge on herbs and medicinal plants there was nothing she could do to stop the sickness. Neither could Julian, only having learned under her for three years. Julian feels empty and cold, but he knows he must keep it together for his sister. Essi is only 7 years old but she understands that her mother is gone forever.
It takes him weeks to pick up his lute again. When he does, Essi comes running. He brings her to bed and sings to her until she falls asleep, careful to keep the magic out of his voice, just like his mother taught him.
Later, he finds his mothers’ jewelry box. Buried under all the glittering necklaces and gem-studded rings there is a bracelet, the twin to the one on his left wrist. He takes it out and hides it in his own box of jewelry.
When Julian Alfred Pankratz is 13 years old, he runs away from home. Naturally, he is caught by his father’s guards not half a days’ journey from the estate grounds. He is brought to his father’s study, where he sits behind a giant oak desk. He sets his blue eyes on him, blue like his sons’ eyes. He looks so tired, Julian thinks.
‘I wish to be free.’, he states with all the courage he can muster. Granted, it’s not much. He used it all up on his daring elopement.
‘Julian.’, his father says.
‘You and I both know I could never be your heir. Teodor is the eldest but even if he wasn’t he is the only one who can inherit your title and lands.’ Julian isn’t bitter or resentful towards his elder stepbrother, born from a union of his fathers’ first wife. He is glad that his brother will take on the burden as the heir to the Viscount de Lettenhove, because it leaves Julian to do as he pleases. If only his father would allow it.
His father sighs deeply. ‘Do you think I don’t know the laws? Do you think I enjoy the way your mother was treated by them?’ He rubs a hand over his face. ‘Very well, you may have your freedom. You may go to Oxenfurt to study whatever it is you wish to study.’
Julian’s heart jumps in his chest and he rushes forward to hug his father. ‘Thank you, father!’, he whispers as warm hands pat his back.
Julian packs meticulously for his journey (others would say he is attempting to stuff his entire room into two travel packs). In the midst of it all, Essi plops down on his bed to watch him intently. As Julian turns his room upside down to find that particular red doublet, Essi I know you must have seen it! his brother enters and laughs at the mess Julian’s made.
‘You are leaving then?’, he asks.
‘Father has allowed me to study at Oxenfurt.’ Julian can’t contain the bubbling joy and smiles. ‘I will become the best bard on the whole Continent, just you watch me!’ His brother grins and they clasp hands. Essi jumps from the bed and tackles them both into a hug. ‘Take care of yourself.’, his brother mutters. ‘We will miss you.’ Essi is sniffling a little but makes an effort to hold it in. She hugs her brothers tighter.
‘And I will miss you.’, Julian says soflty. ‘You both take care of each other for me, will you?’ They both nod and Essi releases her tight hold.
Teodor makes his goodbyes and leaves Julian’s room again.
‘This reminds me, Poppet’, he turns to his dressing table and opens his box of jewelries.
‘Will I get your ring?’, Essi screams excitedly and jumps up and down. Julian smiles at her antics but returns to show her his gift.
She looks at it plaintively, then back to her brother. ‘A bracelet?’ The confusion is clear in her voice, tinged with disappointment.
‘Listen carefully, Poppet.’ He kneels down to face his little sister. A strange sense of déjà-vu overcomes him and he can’t fight the wistful smile. His face turns serious again as he fixes Essi with his eyes. ‘When I was eight years old, Mother gifted me this bracelet.’ He holds up his left arm and her little hands find the blue and brown pearls with ease. ‘Tell me, how old will you be this summer, Poppet?’
‘Eight’, she replies quickly.
‘That’s right!’, he praises, proud of his little Essi.
‘You see, Mother was an elf.’
She gasps and clasps her hands before her mouth.
‘That means that we are half-elves, both of us. Because of that, our bodies begin to change at a certain age. Our ears become pointed, our eyes glow and we develop magic.’ Essi’s enormous blue eye shines softly, the other hiding away behind her unruly blonde locks.
‘Would you like to see?’, Julian asks. She nods vigorously. He chuckles and takes off his bracelet. He can feel the glamour fall away and reveal his pointed ears, glowing eyes and missing canines. All things that make him different, stand out, reveal his true nature. Essi only stares in wonderment. He slips his bracelet back on and holds the other one out to her. She takes it and brings the pearls close to her face, examining them. ‘Put it on for me, please, Poppet?’ She nods again and slides it on her left wrist, the band tightening to fit her small arm. ‘Now Poppet, this is very important, do you hear me?’ She looks him in the eye. ‘You must never, under any circumstance, take off your bracelet. This world is not kind to those who are different. Mother left this behind to protect you, to protect us, even after she is gone.’ Essi frowns. ‘But you just took it off!’, she eyes him, accusation clear in her voice.
‘My clever Poppet,’ he smiles. ‘That is because you are family and because I trust you. Even in front of father or Teodor, I would not take off my bracelet. Do you understand?’
‘Yes.’ Essi replies, playing with the pearls on her wrist. ‘Very good.’ He kisses the top of her head softly.
‘What did you mean when you…’, she trails off.
‘What is it, Poppet?’
‘You said something about magic.’ She fixes him with her blue eye, blowing her hair out of her face. Julian smiles again. ‘I can show you if you want. Wait in your room, it’s time for an afternoon nap anyways.’ She dashes off and Julian is left in his room. He looks around and winces at the mess he’ made. The two travel packs sit on his bed, stuffed to the seams with his clothes and other supplies he will need. Behind the packs, his lute is propped up on a pillow. He grabs it and follows Essi to her room. She is bundled up beneath her covers and only her wild mop of hair peeks out. He settles beside her on the bed and starts playing.
Let’s hide under the covers
We don’t know what’s out there
Could be wolves
So hold me, lover, like you used to
So tight I’d bruise you
I’d bruise you, I’d bruise you too
Careful not to let his control slip, he lets some of his magic escape and dance with his voice and his words. Essi, drowsy from Julian’s magic, rests against his side. He hums and continues strumming until he hears her soft, even breaths and turns to see her fast asleep.
