Geralt's POV

Geralt furrowed his brow as he tried to stretch out the bluish grey wool dress jacket. It was super uncomfortable. Furrowing his brow, he follows Jaskier into the great hall. He was instantly regretting being here.

"Right, so stick close to me, look mean and pretend you're a mute." Jaskier says looking around the room cautiously. "Can't have anyone finding out who you actually are?"

"Geralt of Rivia, the mighty Witcher!" A familiar voice calls out drawing the attention towards him.

"Oh Shit." Jaskier says as Geralt grits his teeth.

"I haven't seen you since the plague." Mousesack continues as he makes his way over to Geralt.

"Fun times, Mousesack." Geralt replies causing Mousesack to laugh.

"I've missed your sour complexion. I feared this would be a dull affair, but now the White Wolf is here, perhaps all is not lost." Mousesack reaches out to touch Geralt's jacket as he adds, "Why are you dressed like a sad silk trader?"

Geralt groans as he slowly turns to glare at Jaskier.

"What?" Jaskier inquires.

"Walk with me." Mousesack offers as he reaches up to grab Geralt's shoulders and lead him away.

"To Mousesack!" People cheer as Geralt and him walk along the hall. Mousesack laughs hardily as he lifts his mug to the sky in cheers. "I've been advising the Skelligen crown for years. A tad rough around the edges, but they're of the earth. Like me."

"Old and crusty." Geralt jokes a smirk filling his lips. "How long before this horse trading is done? I find royalty best taken in... small doses."

"I wouldn't count on leaving before dawn. These suitors will vie all night for Princess Pavetta's hand. Marrying into this monarchy is a mighty prize. Who wouldn't want to be king of the most powerful force in the land?" Mousesack asks tapping Geralt on the shoulder.

"Hm." Geralt replies giving a curt nod. "So, which one of theses little shits is your coin on?" Geralt asks as he looks around at the possible prospects.

"Come with me, there's much for you to see." Mousesack says as he motions for Geralt to follow him to a corner of the room. "It's not a fair bet. That red-headed scanderlout over there, Crach an Craite, will marry Pavetta. The Lioness has already arranged it with the boy's uncle, Eist Tuirseach. No one would dare make a move on an alliance that powerful."

"Handy with a blade." Geralt observes as he watches the royalty. "Handy with women, too." He adds noticing all the women around the man.

"All an act. Queen Calanthe refused his proposal three times after king Roegner died, despite the two of them gliding around each other like courting swans. No, no, no. She was not for living in her husband's shadow again."

Geralt looks across the room to see someone approaching Jaskier and clenching his jaw he scoffs and walks across the hall to where the man was pushing Jaskier against a wall wanting to verify his suspicions that Jaskier slept with the lord's wife.

"Well... uh, uh... Ah. Geralt." Jaskier chuckles nervously as he greet the Witcher.

"Forgive me, my lord. This... happens all the time." Geralt starts offering a brief sigh. "It's true, he has the face of a cad and a coward."

Jaskier's eyes shoot to Geralt offering him a look of offense.

"But, truth be known, he was kicked in the balls by an ox as a child."

"Well, that's..." Jaskier starts to disagree but noticing the lords face continues, "T-true."

"Apologies." The lord offers as a look of sympathy fills his eyes. He turns back to Jaskier and handing him some coin continues, "Here, drown your sorrows on me, eunuch."

Geralt wouldn't admit it but he was enjoying himself. He smirks as he Lord rushes away.

"Oh, wow. Thank you. Thank you so much. First of all, you hog all the fanfare, then you go and ruin my courtly reputation."

"I saved your life." Geralt states. "You're on your own from here on. Try not to get any daggers in your back before dawn."

"Oh wow," Jaskier says distracted by someone. "She's here."

"Who's here?" Geralt asks turning to look at who Jaskier was referring to. Suddenly it felt like his heart stopped in his chest. How was this possible. "How do you know her?" Geralt asks his eyes staying focused on her.

"I saw her at the pub earlier today. She smiled at me." Jaskier continues a smile filling his lips as he starts to walk over to where she was. Geralt instantly grabs his arm and stops him in his tracks.

"Not her." Geralt warns his grip becoming tighter by the second.

"Huh, this is interesting, I've never seen that look on your face before." Jaskier comments making Geralt turn to glare at him. "Who is she to you?"

"Drop it Jaskier." Geralt warns making the bard shrug his shoulders and pulls his arm from his grasp.

"Fine, I'll just be over here, you know, singing." Jaskier pouts causing Geralt to roll his eyes.

As Jaskier walks away Geralt turns back to look across the room to see her standing there smiling brightly as she talked with some nobles. How was she here? Was it even her? The woman he saw every time he slept, or at least one that looked identical to her, was here. Geralt slowly starts to make his way around the outskirts of the room as he closes the distance between them.

The closer he gets, the more he starts to think about how long it had been since he had started seeing her in his dreams. It had to be over twenty years. The more he looked at her the more she drew him in. Her hair cascading over her shoulders in wavy tendrils. Her eyes shining brightly as they looked around at the group of people. If it was really her, what was she doing here?

"I'm sorry I haven't been to more events, but my father was very overprotective." Geralt hears her say to the group of adoring young princes and rolls his eyes as he hides on the other side of a pillar to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Your father was a very wise man, but I'll admit he was a tad selfish in keeping you all to himself." One of the men flirts and Geralt has to fight off the urge to rip the prince's arms off.

"King Odin never did anything for no good reason." She retorts silencing his advances.

"They why did he let you come now?" Another lad asks and she smiles.

"He wants me to become a sort of envoy of peace to the neighboring kingdoms."

"And what did you say the name of your kingdom was again?" another asks trying to find fault with her story.

"Asgard." A deep male voice replies causing Geralt to glance around the pillar at them. The man was tall with short blonde hair and deep blue eyes.

"Gentlemen, this is my older brother, Thor. My father wouldn't allow me to leave without the proper escort." She instructs making them all nod and look up at the giant of a man who towered over them all.

"I was just checking on my baby sister, making sure no one got too handsy." Thor calls as his eyes move around the group in silent warning. "If you are alright, I shall make my way around the room."

"Of course, have fun." She replies giving him a look of understanding mixed with something suspicious. No one else would have noticed it but Geralt did. Thor walks away and the princes and lords start flirting again trying their best to win a night with her.

"How about a dance your highness?" One asks and she shakes her head.

"I'm sorry good sir, but I don't dance, I fear I would just step on your feet." She explains trying to give them an excuse. "I would however, like a drink." Like a stampede they all turn and make a beeline for the nearest table leaving her temporarily alone. Geralt watches as she lets out a sigh of relief. Deciding now was a good time he moves around the pillar and reaching out to gently touch her arm speaks.

"I thought you loved to dance." Geralt says low causing her to tense in his grasp. She turns, her eyes looking up into his and they light up as a gasp leaves her lips. "Hello (Name),"

"Geralt." She says excitement filling her words. He couldn't help the way her voice saying his name made his body warm up. "It was me, the girl you saw in your dreams, it was me?" She asks her eyes watering slightly as relief washes over her.

"It was." He answers a soft smile filling his lips. Her hands reach out to grip tight to his jacket as if he would suddenly vanish on her. She goes to speak again when the hoard of men who were hitting on her return with mugs of ale in their hands.

"Ah it seems you've met the mighty Witcher, don't pay him too much mind princess, he's just some sterile dog." One of the princes says chuckling and Geralt clenches his jaw in anger and annoyance.

"Better some sterile dog than a pompous overzealous prince." (Name) retorts angrily without looking at them causing Geralt's eyes to shoot toward her in surprise. He could feel the anger now radiating through her body.

"I beg your pardon?" The prince exclaims offended.

"I wish to speak with the Witcher, all of you, go back to your party and forget our altercation." She orders and Geralt watches as they all turn away and without so much as an argument return to the festivities. So, the gift he had seen her use all those times in his dreams was real, and she could use it here too.

"Come with me." He says as he looks around and finding a quiet place leads her over to it.

"I can't believe I wasn't crazy." She says once they are alone. "You don't know how much of a relief it is to know that." She says her eyes meeting his.

"I'm glad to see you too." He adds making a smile fill her lips. "Jaskier said he saw you at the pub, why did you not come over and say something then?"

"I couldn't." She replies a heavy sigh leaving her lips. "I wanted too. I wanted to run over there and tell you I was here; but I couldn't. I didn't know until a few moments ago that it was me who you saw. I didn't want to look insane."

Geralt nods, his hand reaching up to gently touch her cheek. It was soft compared to his calloused hands. She leans into his touch and smiles.

"This might sound silly, but I've waited my whole life to meet you." She chuckles making him smirk.

"As have I."

"Why do we see each other when we close our eyes?" She asks her eyes watering as she once again reaches out to grasp his jacket.

"I don't know," He replies his hands moving down to rest at her waist. "But I'm glad we do."

"Geralt," She speaks his name once again igniting the fire in his belly. "Will you say my name again?"

"(Name)..." He speaks, his voice low and gruff. Her hands move from his jacket to wrap around his waist pulling him into a tight hug. His arms wrap around her shoulders as he holds her tight. His head drops down slightly as he gently places a soft kiss to the top her head. He didn't notice at first, but she smelled of vanilla and tulips on a spring morning.

It was intoxicating.