"It looks beautiful on you, but wear what you like. I would add a warm cloak to it though, it's quite cold outside. I'll meet you by the door, shall I?" Jarek said, before leaving to allow Sara to get ready. He took his own advice and returned first to his room to fetch a warm cloak, swinging it about his shoulders before going to the kitchen and pilfered some food, filling a basket with some backed goods, some wine and a few tart treats.

Finally fetching a blanket he waited by the doorway for Sara to arrive, smiling when she did and leading the way out. He bypassed the training grounds and headed away from the castle, climbing a steep path that looked as though it might have been used by wild goats or something at some time until he came to a clearing at the top of a hill, sheltered by the trees. From here they could look out both over the valley surrounding Kaer Morhen and the other direction over the keep itself where, like small blurs, the inhabitants could just be seen.

"Here we are," he said as he laid out the blanket and, setting the basket down, sat down himself.

Sara ran up the stairs to her room and grabbed the first cloak she saw, which happened to be a soft ivory colored fur cloak that hung past her knees and was at least two sizes too large for her, but would be very nice while they sat in the chilled morning air.

As she came back, cloak around her shoulders and her hair pulled back into a loose braid piled on her head, she smiled as she saw Jarek standing by the door awaiting her. Sara placed her hand in the crook of his arm and let him lead her out into the early morning light. The scene was breathtaking; the green grass luscious and wet with sparkling drops of dew, wisps of golden clouds dotting the brightening sky and the sun rising behind the huge towering mountains, casting it's golden beams on the castle of Kaer Morhen.

Sara sat beside Jarek, pulling the fur cloak tight around her shoulders as she bit back a shiver. "It's beautiful. You must come here often." The last statement was more of a question, her attempt to make conversation and to keep herself from just ravishing the food that Jarek had been so thoughtful to carry up here.

"Not as often as I would like," Jarek said. "I found this place by accident years ago while trying to get out of a training exersize. Didn't work of course but it remains a favourite location. Usually I'm too busy to come up here. During winter all the witchers here take a hand in training the boys in whatever skills they are good at. For me that's usually agility. Bet the boys must be relieved that this year I've been charged with looking after you instead," he said with a chuckle. "Though it is nice for me to have a break from that as well," he added, leaning back. After all, he was able to spend pleasant relaxing times like this in good company, something he much preferred to be doing during winter rather than training and training others. That was Gawel's favourite past-time, not his.

He laid out the food and poured a couple of glasses of cider, handing one over and eagerly drinking his own, welcoming the warmth it brought. "Very little changes here," he said quietly, looking over the keep rather than the valley. "It's as though it's trapped in time. I go away and come back each winter and it's exactly as I left it. Even the people are the same. A little taller for the boys, a few less familiar faces, a few more lines and scars for the older ones. But otherwise everything is exactly the same. It's sort of comforting, you know. To know that in the turmoiling world where alliances and feelings and even the landscapes and towns change so quickly, this one place is always the same.

----------

Briar Rose:

Sara quirked an eyebrow at Jarek. "Ah so you have been tasked with the arduous task of watching over the devastatingly beautiful, and very powerful sorceress?" With a dramatic sigh and flick of her hands, she swept her right hand up to her forehead, fluttering her eyelashes at him. "What a burden you must feel! To be forced to spend all of your time with me when I'm sure you would much rather be exhausting those boys with your fantastic training regimens!" She laughed outright at the expression on his face and leaned back onto her arms, her hands now supporting her lower back.

She took the offered glas and sipped at it, her only experience with alcohol being the wine that Gawel had given her that one evening. SHe was just starting to drift off into her mind when he began talking. Sara's face softened as she listened, and as she sat up, she hunched over her crossed legs, the cloak wrapped around her, giving her the look of a pile of ivory snow. "I know what you mean. Did Gawel ever tell you about where we met? I lived in a cabin in the middle of the {making up a name} Farin Woods, and I turned most of the woods into a perpetual winter because, besides it being my favorite season, winter is stable. Predictable. After being uprooted so much, I never got that. I'm sure being a witcher, you can relate to that." She turned her bright teal eyes to him, feeling like they were sharing some sort of connection through this one thought. "It's nice to know there is a place where you can be yourself... Safely."

"What a burden you must feel! To be forced to spend all of your time with me when I'm sure you would much rather be exhausting those boys with your fantastic training regimens!"

"Burdened indeed," Jawel agreed, a small smile on his face. "Well, I could always continue the training. The boys' faith in their abilities would certainly be bolstered by a new, untried sorceress joining their training and making a fool of herself," he said with a small chuckle, imagining the scene. He usually trained the boys who had already gone through the mutation process so their agility, even untrained as it was, would be far greater than Sara's, whatever instinctual abilities she may have. "I also occassionally help in their potions classes, though Gawel tends to hate it when I teach that as I tend to use him as my demonstration dummy," he said with a mischeivious grin.

"It's quite amusing actually," he said. He unstrapped the swords on his back that all witchers always had with them and put it aside before he flopped back to lay on his back, head cushioned on his arms as he stared at the clear pale, blue sky. "One of the new ones invariably challenges my ability as a witcher. Every year without fail. It's not like I look like the many who pass through or their teachers, or Gawel," he added. He was, after all, wiry and, frankly only a little taller than Sara, quite short compared to many of the witchers though he was not a short man. The swords didn't suit him, nor did the wolf medallion he normally hid under his fashionable clothes and they rarely saw him actually fight. And each year he came back without a visible scar to show his time. He knew what they said when they though he wasn't listening, claiming that he must spend his days in taverns with women and dice. After all how could he come back and remain rather silent on his own adventures, only piping in with smart arse comments on everyone else's? He wished that were so, but Jarek wasn't prone to bragging about kills he had made, he found that distasteful. He only really spoke of what he had done that year with Gawel and Vesimir when he asks.

Sara nodded, taking in the landscape as the sky continued to lighten and the sun washes everything in pale gold. "I am sure that you put those naughty boys back in their places?" In her mind, Sara caught an image of the lean Jarek tossing boys his own size around like rag dolls. She intentionally ignored Jarek's goading about continuing to train the boys, and including her in that. There was no way, in this world or any other, that she would do that. Not only would it be very embarrassing for her personally, she didn't want to cast a bad light on Gawel for being his friend, or on Vesimir for allowing her to stay.

"You may look and act differently from the other witchers, but you have the same inner strength that they posses, and in same cases, I think you are stronger than they are." She hadn't meant for the words to slip out, but they did. "Having been the youngest, smallest, and frankly, the most gifted of the girls I trained with sometimes, I can empathize with your situation. I was constantly challenged by everyone, and very rarely did I escape our yearly group meetings without being called to show my abilities."

Sara took another sip of the cider, relishing the warmth that flowed through her limps and settled in her stomach. "This is really very good. Do you make it here?"

"You may look and act differently from the other witchers, but you have the same inner strength that they posses, and in same cases, I think you are stronger than they are."

Jarek laughed at that. "Oh I highly doubt that. I can hold my own, if I couldn't I would be dead. I haven't managed to defeat Gawel yet, but then he hasn't managed to defeat me either. We just batter each other down until neither of us can stand," he said chuckling. He remembered the last time they had done so, it was a sparring match that had turned into a competition. Vesimir saw them at it, shook his head with a chuckle and left, already knowing the outcome. When he could no longer hear the sounds of their fighting he took a bucket of water and threw it over each of them and told them to get their lazy arses up and go help make dinner. And that was only last year. "Though I wonder if that may change with Gawel's bung leg. I'll have to try," he said. Of course, he wasn't intending to take advantage of it, continuously strike it. Not unless Gawel invited such a move, but he had caught the man limping when he didn't think anyone could see so it had to affect his fighting style.

"Having been the youngest, smallest, and frankly, the most gifted of the girls I trained with sometimes, I can empathize with your situation. I was constantly challenged by everyone, and very rarely did I escape our yearly group meetings without being called to show my abilities."

"Oh I enjoy it," Jarek countered. "Most of the time anyway. Those who matter know my true abilities, and those who don't are welcome to underestimate me as it will mean I will have the advantage over them." Still, it got tired being dismissed as a fluke all the time, some freak of nature who couldn't die during the mutations like all the other small boys. But he put such thoughts from his mind.

"This is really very good. Do you make it here?"

"Sometimes, but not this batch," Jarek said, taking another sip himself. "The valley down there has some good apple trees so occasionally when I've a mind I used to fetch some up to make both apple juice, and cider. But only normally in the spring and summer. This has probably been brought in with someone when they arrived, since we get no traders here."

*

The screaming tore are Gawel's heart but he dared say nothing. To begin with Iwan had called out around the bite cloth, for his mother, his father, for Gawel (that had been the hardest not to yell at them to stop) and to anyone he had previously known. Now though, as the afternoon wore on, he no longer called for anyone. He just screamed. Always Gawel was right beside him, his hand stroking his forehead, gently brushing the sweaty blonde hair from his face and murmuring soothing words that he doubted were heard. He had no idea if it was helping or not but he wouldn't move regardless. The boy strained against the manacles that held him and the woolen cloth around one wrist had slipped, the iron biting into his skin but they had had no chance to remove it and fix it yet. The muscles under his skin had bunched and receded over and over such that there were stretch marks on his skin but so far none of the livid red and green lines. That, Gawel guessed, would probably come tomorrow, with the poisons and diseases.

After some time, Gawel knew not how long as it all seemed to be forever to him, Iwan's screams subsided to whimpers, though his body still twitched and strained on occasion. Then even that faded and he seemed to sleep. Vesimir appeared at Gawel's side then, his face grave.

"I know this isn't easy with your attachment to the boy," he started, "but you need to prepare yourself. It is unlikely he will make it through the mutations."

Gawel felt that like a blow to the stomach, driving all air out of him. Somewhere, at some point, he had let himself hope, had believed at least in part Sara's words. He missed part of what Vesimir said as he continued speaking.

"- considering his violent reaction to the herbs when we first introduced them to his diet."

"Yes," Gawel found himself saying. "He told me he vomited blood."

Vesimir nodded slowly. "That's usually the first sign that a boy won't survive the mutations."

Gawel latched on to that one word. "Usually?"

"In every case. Bar one," Vesimir said slowly. "Jarek. He reacted so violently I feared we would lose him even before the mutations. And he should have died here. But for some reason, unknown to me, he didn't."

"Then there's still hope," Gawel said turning back to Iwan's tired, sleeping face.

"No, Gawel," Vesimir said firmly. "That one case was an anomaly. Every other boy who reacted that way, and there have been hundreds, every one died usually on the venom stage but if not then with the nervous system. He reacted far worse than he should have at this stage. It does not look promising so you need to prepare yourself. You have been lucky so far, you have lost no one you were particularly close to. It is harsh that the first should be this boy, but that's the way of it." Vesimir paused, then rested a hand on his shoulder and said, "Get him to drink some and rest, and you should rest too."

"I'll rest here," Gawel said, his voice hollow.

"No," Vesimir said again, but this time his voice was gentle and he turned Gawel around to look into his eyes. "Gawel listen to me. As one who has done this hundreds, if not thousands of times before and as someone who has felt the pain and the failure of losing so many. You need to take rest yourself and you need to leave this room on occasion. You need to remind yourself that there are others about you care for and who care about you. It's important for you to know that for you to move on. Stay here a while, reassure him when he wakes, but then take your own leave to rest. You'll be back later, you're not leaving him, just taking the time to look after yourself so you are better able to look out for him as well."

Gawel wanted to disagree but he found himself nodding anyway, like a child caught under his teacher's gaze, unable to respond in any other way. Vesimir's gaze held him for a moment longer, then he turned and left as well.

Gawel stood there for a time before stirring from the table drew his attention and he turned back to Iwan. The boy's blinked open as Gawel removed the bite cloth. Already they were different, a little less green in the irises, bloodshot, but still human. He frowned in confusion for a moment as he looked at Gawel and for a little while Gawel feared he had forgotten him already. But then his eyes seemed to clear and a small smile touched his lips. "You're still here," he said, his voice husky and raw but with wonder in it.

Gawel smiled in return and again smoothed his hand over his forehead. Iwan closed his eyes, relaxed at the touch, then opened them again when Gawel removed his hand to pour a cup of water and to lightly lift his head and help him drink it. He moderated the amount, making sure he didn't guzzle it down so fast as to make himself sick or to choke, but there was always more for the wanting. When Iwan finished, Gawel filled the cup once more and drained it himself in one gulp.

"You were there the whole time, weren't you?" he said as Gawel unfastened the wrist where the wool had slipped. "I could feel you there, and hear you, even though I couldn't see you or understand what you said."

"I was," Gawel replied. He used a cloth to gently wipe the blood away from where the iron had tore at his skin and tied the same cloth around it before he replaced the wool and the manacle.

"What now?" Iwan asked, a hint of fear in his voice.

Gawel returned to his side, one hand on his head, the other resting on his chest. "That's all for today. Now you rest, sleep and regain your strength. It's over for now. I'll bring you some food later but Vesimir wants me to leave to rest as well, so you will be alone for a little while. I won't take long though."

Iwan nodded, accepting this though he showed neither fear nor trepidation at the coming morning or being left alone. Gawel wondered at that, wondered if it had already begun to strip his emotions. It had Jarek, Gawel knew he felt a number of emotions that Jarek no longer did. He also knew that this could be a good thing, since it would mean that he wouldn't be subjected to as much as Gawel had been. He remembered, quite suddenly, Vesimir urgently whispering to him, telling him to pretend he felt nothing. There was a burning and the smell of burnt hair and Vesimir's visage was blurry. And so he had.

He remembered nothing else no matter how he strained to. He would have to ask Vesimir about it later.

"Stay with me a little while? Until I fall asleep?" Iwan asked, and with the tone of a little boy that Gawel dismissed thoughts that all his emotions had gone already.

"Of course," Gawel replied. And he did.

*

Jarek spent the day with Sara and much of it on that hillside, just talking of idle, inconsequential things. Sometimes he would share a story or two but mostly they talked about other things. During the afternoon they packed up their picnic but instead of going straight to the keep they explored the woods surrounding it. Occasionally they had to step to the side to allow a group running the Trail to pass but they were intent on their training and paid them no mind. It was coming to evening when he finally led her back to the keep.

Sara walked contentedly beside Jarek as he lead them back to the keep, her fur cloak now held loosely in her hands in front of her. She had had a wonderful time with him, laughing, telling stories and jokes while wandering the forest and surrounding countryside. It was probably one of the best days she had ever had. As they neared the keep, Sara had to put a hand against the wall to steady herself, she was laughing so hard at something Jarek had said that she was finding it difficult to breathe, and her legs had turned to jelly. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye as she shakily took in a ragged breath. "I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life!" She managed to gasp. As her legs regained their solid feeling again, Jarek opened the large wooden door and she stepped inside, only to be brought up short by who she saw.

"My darling girl!" Adrianna Shastraya turned and shouted in glee as she spotted Sara. She was dressed in a very extravagant red and gold satin dress that cut rather low, revealing a large section of her ample bosom. Her fiery red locks were partly pulled back, the loose curls cascading down her back brushing the top of her round, and sort of bubbly, butt. Her heels rang out on the stone floor with each step, filling the hall with the sharp sound.

As Adrianna came closer, her arms outstretched towards Sara, she noticed the dress. "Well, my my, this is the first time I have ever seen you in anything other than white, blue or that awful black!" She ran a critical, but affirming eye over Sara's slim frame. "Well don't just stand there like a statue! Come give me some sugar!" Adrianna pulled the shell-shocked Sara into her arms, squeezing the breath out of her lungs. When she finally let go, Adrianna turned her attention back towards Jarek.

"My oh my. If it isn't Jarek. You sure have grown since the last time I saw you. Glad to see you thawed out." Her voice was silky and coy, her eyelashes fluttering. Her green eyes flashed between Jarek and Sara, then narrowed as they settled back on her former student. "Is he the reason you are dressed like that?"

Sara didn't think her eyes could get any wider, or her cheeks any redder, but with that comment, they sure did. Her voice left her, and she was unable to speak anything other than a few short croaks of attempted speech.

"Well. Just you stay clear of her keyhole, young Jarek." Sparking eyes turned back to the witcher. "Now," her smile returned, showing nearly all of her pearly white straight teeth. "Tell me how you have been? I didn't expect to find you out of your winter bubble, my dear!"

Sara was about to speak when she saw a flash of movement behind Adrianna's shoulder. She shifted her focus and found that it was Vesimir striding towards the dining hall, or maybe the kitchens... She was still turned around in this giant of a castle. "Vesimir! I'd like to introduce you to..."

"I know perfectly well who Vesimir is, Sara." Adrianna slowly turned away from Jarek and Sara towards Vesimir, who now stood stock still. "Hello love. Remember me?"

Jarek stopped and stared when he saw a familiar figure before him. It was her! That sorceress! The one who had frozen him and Gawel in their rather compromising position without even seeming to acknowledge that they were there.

"My darling girl!"

Jarek blinked and looked between Sara and the sorceress. His eyes darting back and forth in confusion. They knew each other?

"My oh my. If it isn't Jarek. You sure have grown since the last time I saw you. Glad to see you thawed out."

Jarek scoffed at that. "It has been ten years," he said. Then he paused. "Your spell wouldn't really have lasted that long, would it?" he asked, a sudden tinge of fear in his voice. Vesimir had used the fire sign, Igni, to get them out, but that if that ice could last that long... he shuddered to think of the power she must be able to weild.

"Is he the reason you are dressed like that?"

Jarek grinned at that, even more so at Sara's seemingly inability to form coherant words.

*

Gawel waited with Iwan until he fell sound asleep. He had found a blanket and pulled it up over his body so he wouldn't become cold with the sweat cooling his skin. Then, reluctantly, he left to get some food and rest himself. He promised himself that he wouldn't take too long, a few hours at most, and then he would be back.

Nonetheles, Vesimir's words haunted him, that they would probably lose him. He didn't want that, he couldn't let it happen. He kept feeling as though he were trying to catch smoke with his hands, to hold on to this boy's life, to keep him here. The boy loved him, that he knew, and even were it to be lost during the mutation some hint of it would remain and would be rekindled. And he found he liked the feeling of being loved by someone. There were others who cared about him, true, but none who loved him. His parents he didn't remember and they clearly didn't care enough to come visit him or ask about him. Vesimir was like a father, yes, but it wasn't love. He would send Gawel to his death if it helped the greater goal, and would kill him should he stray too far from their witcher code. Jarek was a friend, almost like a brother. But he did not love him. And in truth Gawel would be kind of uncomfortable if he did. And Sara? Well, he didn't know. He knew she liked him, but they hadn't really known each other long enough for him to know if she loved him. He hoped she did and thought it might be possible. But he knew Iwan did. And he was losing that.

Turning a corner he stopped when he saw a familiar woman, and Jarek and Sara too.

"Is he the reason you are dressed like that?"

Gawel arrived in time to hear that and to see the somewhat smug (or so he saw it) grin on Jarek's face, the bright blush and stammering that Sara suffered from. And he realized that she didn't love him at all, she loved Jarek. And with Iwan gone, that left no one. He was alone again.

"So that's how it is," he snarled, and it was an ugly expression he wore, before he stormed away, going to his room and slamming the door shut as he struggled to get a hold of his turmoiling emotions, emotions he never usually let himself feel and had no idea how to handle.

*

Jarek frowned when Gawel appeared, growled something and stormed off. He had a feeling that he knew what it was about but... surely Gawel knew that was impossible?

Regardless he was distracted by the conversation continuing around him and Vesimir appearing.

"I know perfectly well who Vesimir is, Sara. Hello love. Remember me?"

Vesimir too had stopped dead when his eyes fell on the sorceress, having missed Gawel's abrupt departure, but he recovered much faster than any of the others. He broke into a grin and strode forward, gathering the woman up into an embrace that spoke of lovers. "Adrianna, my dear, it's good to see you," he said softly, his voice deep. "You haven't aged a day, unlike this old man." In truth neither of them had aged much since their last parting as witchers also aged slower than humans, though not as slowly as sorceresses.

Jarek, after he got over his shock and then wonder at this new development, snickered. "Vesimir and Adrianna. Sitting in a tree," he started singing teasingly. "K-I-S-S-I-N-Geeeeeeeeee!!!!" the last letter he trailed off as he bolted when Vesimir made a move towards him. Like a child he ran away cackling to himself until he was safely around the corner where he could no longer contain his laughter.

{Hehehehe, at the theater, stealing Steve's internets ^_^}


Sara stared, her eyes growing ever wider as she watched Jarek race down the corridor cackling louder than a schoolboy at his childish rhyme. Her mouth twitched upwards, but she forced her lips to stop moving. It would not do to start laughing... at least, not while she was still this close to both Adrianna and Vesimir. Just before Jarek got to the corner, with Vesimir hot on his heels, Adrianna flicked her wrist, a white cloud shooting from her outstretched palm, racing towards both witchers.

Sara watched, entranced by the swirling snow and ice as it enveloped Jarek, completely bypassing Vesimir, although he did stop and stare. Once Jarek was covered, frozen in a very funny half running pose, Adrianna lowered her hand and twitched her lips in a half-smirk. She moved forward, with almost painful slowness, Sara could barely stand to watch, although the thought of moving her eyes to a less eventful spot in the room seemed inconceivable. When Adrianna was a few steps ahead of her, she began to follow, the growing bubble of laughter threatening to burst from her firmly shut lips with each step. When she reached Jarek, just in time to hear Adrianna tell him, "And yes. The ice I froze you in could have lasted all this time." Victory clear in her tone, Sara could no longer withhold her laughter, especially seeing the look of pure shock frozen on Jarek's face.

"Addie, won't you please let him out?" She asked between fits of ragged breathing, tears running down her face. It was official, this was the best day of her life.

"I most certainly will not. However, I will not stop you if you wish to melt him." Adrianna turned away, Holding her hand out, palm down, in a pose that begged nothing less than for Vesimir to offer his arm. "I am frightfully hungry after my arduous warp here, and nobody has even offered me a glass of that glorious cider!"

Sara moved around, trying with much difficulty to keep her quivering lips still, to Jarek's front. "For someone who thinks he's so smart, that certainly wasn't very clever." She whispered, not able to withhold the mocking humor from her voice. Her eyes roamed over his frozen form, crossing her arms over her chest. "If I thaw you," putting extra emphasis on the word 'if', "what shall you do to repay me?" As empathetic as she was with his frozen plight, Sara just couldn't ignore the opportunity to gain a boon with a witcher.

Jarek straightened when he heard Vesimir still coming after him - he had thought the old man would have given up by now - and started running again laughing all the while. "Better slow down old man, before you break a hip!" he called, grinning over his shoulder as much to see how close his old teacher was as to let him see the grin and know he was joking. Though for Vesimir to think otherwise would mean only that he knew one of his favourite students not at all. He saw the wave of ice coming and bypass Vesimir before coming straight at him.

"Oh shiiiiiiii-" he started off, doubling his pace but in the end it was no use as his voice was cut off and the ice surrounded him. And he was freezing! An all too familiar feeling. The last time it had taken hours for the shivering to stop, by which point they were shaking from the strain of standing on the blocks. Somehow, though he couldn't move or speak, he could still hear and could still breath.

"And yes. The ice I froze you in could have lasted all this time."

Horror welled up within Jarek. Surely he wouldn't be left like this! Gawel at least would get him out. But Gawel seemed pretty pissed at him for some reason, he remembered. Sara! She seemed to like him! His eyes latched on to her imploringly, though they flicked up at Vesimir when the man spoke.

"If you somehow get out of there, don't think you're too old to feel my belt. I'll wrestle you to the ground if I have to."

Jarek glared at him and longed to say something like 'You'll ave to catch me first!' but with his mouth sealed he couldn't utter a word. He knew Vesimir wouldn't make good on his promise. At least he hoped not.

"I most certainly will not. However, I will not stop you if you wish to melt him."

Hearing that Jarek instantly turned his best puppy eyes to Sara, hoping to win her over.

"I am frightfully hungry after my arduous warp here, and nobody has even offered me a glass of that glorious cider!"

Vesimir chuckled at that and after taking her arm he led her away to the kitchens. It was going to be an interesting winter, he mused, with two sorceresses under one normally male-only roof.

"For someone who thinks he's so smart, that certainly wasn't very clever."

Jarek rolled his eyes as if to say it was hilariously funny and worth it. And as if she wouldn't have done the same if she had thought of it. Then again, Jarek wasn't sure. She seemed to enjoy the jokes and prank but never seemed to participate in them and none of the stories she told had been of her misbehaving in such a way. Regardless even with this outcome he had enjoyed the brief outraged and disbelieving look on Vesimir's face that he would remember such a rhyme, let alone use it.

"If I thaw you, what shall you do to repay me?"

What would he do to repay her? How was he to know? Hadn't spending the day with her been enough? Regardless though he couldn't respond and he looked meaningfully down at his frozen body then turned those puppy eyes on her again, widening his eyes imploringly possibly looking even more beseechingly than he had earlier.

Sara groaned, a smile playing on her lips. She moved her hand up, then palm facing the floor, slowly lowered her hand back to her side. As she did so, the top of the ice started to melt, and the lower her hand got, the more the ice melted, revealing Jarek. "I reserve the right to call upon you for a boon." She said, when her hand was about hip level and the ice was just beginning to melt at Jarek's hips. "You know, you really are far too handsome to be making such puppy dog eyes."

'Oh my, how bold I've gotten!' She wondered at herself. Any other time, or any other person, she would have blushed herself silly at saying such things, but with Jarek, it was... different, than if she had been saying it to Gawel. As her mind returned to him, as it usually did lately, she began to wonder how he was faring. She hadn't seen him all day and was beginning to think the worst. As her hand finally returned to her side, and the ice nothing but a harmless puddle around their feet, she noticed that Jarek was shaking. "Oh, here." She took a few tentative steps forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. Immediately, warmth flowed from her palm and into him, filling him with a radiant warmth that spread quickly through his body, relieving the bone chilling cold.

"Is that better?" Her voice was just a whisper, once she was aware just how close she was standing to him. As much fun as it was to see her former teacher teach Jarek a lesson he should have learned many years ago, she didn't like to see him hurting, and for some strange reason, she was attracted to him. Not in the same way she was Gawel... with him, she was attracted to his strength, both physical and mental, and she couldn't resist that roguish smile he sometimes graced her with. It was something she just couldn't pinpoint the cause. Her heart thundered when he looked at her, her skin nearly steamed when he so much as brushed her, and when he held her... It was as if her soul had been lit on fire.

She liked Jarek for his wit, humor and charm. He was always making jokes and keeping her laughing, something she rarely had done before. He was quite dashing, and he constantly showed that he enjoyed being around her and sharing her company. Sara didn't think there was anyone else like Jarek in the world. That was actually, probably a very good thing for the rest of humanity.

Realizing she may have missed it if he had said anything, she brought herself back to Jarek. "I think I'll take a plate of food to Gawel, make sure everything is going alright." Sara managed to croak out. She turned away from him, breaking the contact and all but ran from the room.

---

After collecting a heaping plate of food, Sara made her way down the corridor towards Gawel's room. She counted the doors, making sure to open the right one, then went for the door handle. As she tried to open it, she found to her tremendous surprise, that it was locked. Perhaps he hadn't come out of the room with Iwan yet? Sara knocked on the door, pressing her ear to the door listening for any noises or shuffles.

"Gawel? Is everything alright? I brought you some food..."

"You know, you really are far too handsome to be making such puppy dog eyes."

"I-Impossible. N-n-never too handsome t-to make p-p-p-p-puppy dog eyes-s-s," Jarek said, teeth chattering. He didn't mind the cold normally, but not this all encompassing, bone numbing cold that h e couldn't even retreat into warmer clothes to escape. Even when he was completely free, he wrapped his arms about his body, still shivering violently. He was free of the cold and it was warmer inside but he was still cold.

And then she let a flowing warmth flow through his body, ridding him of the chills. Now that would be a useful skill to have. "Now why can't we have a sign or potion that does that. Oh, we already do: good, strong spirits," he said, chuckling a little. Reaching out he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and said. "Thank you. That is a far better way to come un-frosted than being singed with a too-powerful igni sign, then refrozen stuck out on the blocks for days."

"I think I'll take a plate of food to Gawel, make sure everything is going alright."

"Um..." Jarek started. He was about to say that that probably wasn't a good idea, that he should see him himself first, straighten out what he suspected the problem was but then gave up. Maybe Gawel would be more willing to listen to a beautiful woman than himself. "Alright," he eventually said. "Let me know how it goes. I would see if I could wrangle some information from Vesimir but..." he trailed off, looking the way his mentor had disappeared. "I probably should lay low for a little while," he finished, feeling a grin creep up once more at the memory of his lyrical teasing. "If I had any more than a passing skill at music I would make it a ballard! The forbidden love between a witcher and an enchantress! Oh it would be the stuff of legends!" he said, humming a tune to himself as he left Sara. It wouldn't happen; while Jarek was decent on a lute or mandolin, he had quite the terrible singing voice. Surprisingly Gawel was the one with the good singing voice, though he would kill Jarek for ever mentioning such a thing, and it was a rare thing that he ever sang anything.

*

"Gawel? Is everything alright? I brought you some food..."

Gawel looked to the door at that, then back out the window once more. Not moving to answer it or give any reply. He had known she would come and he didn't want the company. Not when he apparently had been mislead about her. He had thought she had feelings for him, and yes, he had deluded himself into thinking it was love. Now it was clear that her heart obviously belonged to Jarek. Of course. Dashing, charming, relatively unscarred Jarek. The one who got all the attention and all the girls.

He had lost her. He was about to lose Iwan. It felt as though everything who he loved and who loved him was pulling away from him and he could do nothing to stop it.

Sara's heart was in a torrent of emotions. She knew he was there, and the fact that he wouldn't answer her, hurt. She shifted her balance onto her other slippered foot, trying to come up with something more to say, something that might make him open the door. The plate full of food was beginning to get heavy in her hand, she knew she either had to make him open to door to give it straight to him, and make sure he ate something, or to leave it and hope he ate.

"Gawel please..." Sara felt at a loss. There was nothing she thought she could say, safely. She knew he would react to her offer of help, being a big prided man after all, and indicating he needed her help would injure that pride. Staring at the solid door, she could almost see the man behind it, either sitting at the window and staring out, or laying on the bed where they had spent the night together.

"Oh dear." She sighed. "I'll leave then. Please... eat something, if not for me, than for Iwan." That might get him more riled up, but at least it might give him a dose of guilt to swallow with it. As she turned to leave, the full pain of his rejection slammed into her chest, forcing out a slight gasp. This was why she didn't trust people. This was why she shut herself away. The pain was too much, especially when it come from someone you lo... Angrily, fighting back tears and the horrible timing of her dawning realization, she stomped up the stairway leading to her room.

As she flung open the door with a burst of magicked wind, then slamming it behind her with another fresh blast of chilled wind, she stormed over to her bed and flopped into it, finally allowing the tears to flow. After a few shuddering breaths, she felt a gentle hand rest on her shoulder. At the touch, Sara stiffened.

"It's alright, sweety. It's just me. What happened lovey?" Adrianna whispered, her voice full of concern. She had been sitting by the fireplace, having finished chatting with Vesimir for the moment. "Is it about that sweet, if not very bright, man Jarek?"

At the mention of Jarek, Sara buried her head deeper into the furs and shook it, a fresh well of tears forming behind her tightened eyelids.

"Ah. Gawel then."

Sara snapped her head up, confusion obvious on her face, her usually bright eyes dulled and red with tears. "H-How did you k-know?"

Adrianna smiled fondly at her favorite student, then winked. "I just know darling. Now. What did he do?"

Sara sat up, using the butt of her palm to wipe the tears from her eyes. "That's just it. I don't know! Last night... and then just now..." Tears welled in her eyes again.

"Sshhh. Start from the beginning." Adrianna pulled Sara into her arms and began rocking her as she would a young child.

"I thought he was opening up to me... last night, we talked and fell asleep together. Now today... he wouldn't even open the door."

"And how long have you loved him?"

"I don't-"

"Don't lie to me honey."

Sara dropped her head. "It's not fair!" She clenched her hands around the furs. "I just want to go back. I can't take this."

"Pain is part and parcel of love, my little darling. Besides," Adrianna tried to perk up, painting on a bright, cheery smile for Sara. "the passes are probably all closed up by now."

"You could warp me." Sara pointed out, trying to take her mind off of what was going on.

"Well I won't anyhow. I just got here, and I don't want to leave yet!" She laughed then, trying to lighten the mood even more. "Here. Come with me down stairs for some of that cider." She pulled Sara to her feet and took her arm. "That will cheer you up, and if we drink enough of it, you may just forget all about what's his name."

"Gawel."

"I'm trying to distract you."

Sara smiled shyly. "Oh. Sorry." Adrianna laughed heartily as she led Sara back down the stairs and towards the kitchen.

Jarek watched the whole exchange discretely from around the corner and frowned when Gawel ignored Sara which led to her leaving in tears. That wasn't like Gawel at all. Even if he was angry he wouldn't be so cold and callous to ignore Sara when she was obviously upset and worried about him. After Sara left Jarek came to the door and knocked. Still no answer.

"Gawel, open up you arse," Jarek demanded.

"Fuck off Jarek," came a voice from inside.

"I'm not going anywhere, fucking or otherwise. Not until you open this door and explain what's crawled up your arse and died." Nothing. Jarek sighed and drew his belt knife. "You know I can open this lock. We learnt when we were twelve, remember?" he said as he started jiggling the lock. It slipped unlocked after a time and he pulled the door shut.

Only to be met with Gawel's fist in his face. Stumbling back a few paces, holding a hand briefly to his throbbing cheek, he glared at Gawel, who stood in front of the doorway glowering at him, fists bunched at his side. Jarek dropped his hand and approached, before darting away, luring Gawel out so he could slip past into the room. "You know you'll never catch me," he taunted as he manouvered Gawel exactly where he wanted him.

"I just got you, didn't I?" Gawel growled as he made a lunge for him again.

"Ah but I wasn't expecting a fist to come from a a doorway. Now I know what to expect."

"If that fist was a blade you would be dead!"

"Then let us both be glad it wasn't!" Jarek declared as he danced around and shut the door behind them. "What the hell is up with you Gawel? You mutter something and storm off, then you don't respond to Sara when she comes calling to try and make peace with you and help you and you make her cry, thinking that she is to blame for your black mood!"

Gawel actually snarled when Jarek mentioned Sara. "Deciever. Femme fatale!" he snapped. He made another lunge for Jarek but the smaller man, furious with Gawel for calling Sara such things, simply dodged it and moved in, landing two lightning fast punches, one to Gawel's ribs, one to the side of his head and using the moment gained by the stunning attack, performed a leaping kick, landing it right on the wound in Gawel's leg. The man crumpled with a glare at Jarek. It hadn't been a light kick and had stopped him from getting up. For now at least.

"Tell me what the hell all this is about!" Jarek demanded, taking a seat now that he felt safe enough that he wouldn't be attacked. "I know you're worried and upset about Iwan and judging from the worn look Vesimir wore when I saw him and the strain on your face it isn't going well for him. But that's no reason to treat a young woman who only has your best interests at heart and, hell, who loves you when she comes to try and help you."

"Loves me? Ha, rubbish," Gawel responded and he looked away, a hand resting on his thigh. Jarek made the mental note to work with Gawel in being able to fight with such an injury so that he didn't leave such an obvious opening, but later, once this whole mess was sorted out.

"What are you, blind? Why else would she follow you into this den of wolves if it wasn't love!" Jarek demanded.

"If it was love why is she fawning over you like a love-sick girl? It's you she loves, not me. It's always love. And you return it. I know you do, I saw it in your face."

Jarek was silent for a time and Gawel was sure that this merely confirmed his words except for the pained look that crossed Jarek's face at what he was thinking about. Eventually, he said, "Gawel, I can't love."

"Don't be ridiculous," Gawel snapped. "I said I saw the way you two were acting."

Jarek shook his head. "I told you this when we were teenagers but you dismissed it then too, saying I just had to find the right girl. Well the fact that you're jealous enough to punch me and make Sara cry, wouldn't that say that Sara would be the right kind of girl? I feel nothing. I never have Gawel. I can't love. You know the mutation changes us in different ways and you know I nearly didn't make it through."

Gawel was quiet for some time, still sitting with his crumpled leg before him, staring at the ground as his mind struggled to process this. "Vesimir mentioned your mutation today," he said quietly.

This startled Jarek visibly. "He did? What did he say?" he asked curiously. He, like Gawel, remembered very little of his mutations, possibly even less than his friend. And he had nothing from before it unlike Gawel.

"He said you were the only one who reacted so badly to the mutations but still survived them all."

Jarek smiled slightly and nodded. He had suspected as much but never had it confirmed. "And you know that the harder the process the more it takes from us." A single nod from Gawel. "Well along with my memories and a couple other emotions, it took away love. So it's impossible for me to love Sara. Now I can't talk for her feelings but know that there will never be anything between us as I feel nothing and can never feel anything."

Gawel was silent for some time, his mind working through this. He suspected, of course, that Jarek lacked many emotions that he felt. Gawel lacked a couple as well, but nothing so vital to life, at least for Gawel, as love. And if that was the case then... he still had a chance. Though that all depended on where Sara's heart really lay.

He made to stand, stumbled a little then tried again, managing to rise by putting his weight on his good leg. Jarek made no move to help him but he did stand as well. He didn't think Gawel was still angry enough to hit him, his tempers usually flared and then vanished, but he had been surprised before. He wore a bruise on his cheek as a testimony to that.

"I have to see her, find out exactly what's going on with her," he said firmly.

Jarek nodded. He wasn't sure it was the best idea but it was far better than this simmering fury. And the sooner it was sorted the better Gawel would be able to cope with Iwan; Jarek had guessed that the only reason Vesimir had told Gawel about his mutation was because the boy's was not going well, he was likely having the same reactions, whatever they were that Jarek had had.

Gawel left his room and Jarek in there to limp up to the tower-top room. He hesitated only a moment before knocking on the door, lest he lose his nerve. The door opened a crack but it wasn't Sara on the other side like he had hoped, but that other woman he had seen with Vesimir. She seemed to scowl at him and was about to slam the door shut once more in his face but Gawel slipped his foot in, wincing when it was squashed between the door frame and the door. "Wait," he said through the slightly open door. "I... I need to talk to you, Sara. I need to know. He glanced at the other woman. "Alone," he added.

Adrianna continued to scowl at Gawel, the wince that flashed across his face putting a slight smirk on her own. "Oh really? You need to talk to her? Just like you did a little bit ago?" Her voice was condescending, but at a normal level.

"Addie..." Sara's quiet whisper came from deep inside the room.

Giving Gawel another scowl, Adrianna turned towards her student, a look full of compassion replacing the open hostility she granted the witcher. Giving a tiny, almost imperceptible nod, she brushed a lock of hair from her face. Adrianna turned back to Gawel, blocking his view of Sara.

Now, with her voice low and her eyes narrowed, she muttered, "If you hurt her as much as you have today, believe me, I will lock you in a block of ice that will never defrost!" She swung the door open wide, and gave Sara a final look, mentally telling her, "Just send me a distress signal this way if you need me." Once again, Sara nodded, then turned her full attention back to Gawel.

Her large eyes were red and puffy from her tearful talk with Adrianna, her normally shiny and immaculate hair was lackluster and in sorry disarray. Her dress was crinkled, and even the fabric seemed dulled. Her heart felt like it had been squeezed with an iron grip, and as she stood there, she couldn't help but feel like an empty shell. The moment she had heard Gawel's voice at her door, she had begun pulling herself back into her previous shell, keeping her face completely void of any emotion. Her voice, on the other hand, she didn't trust to not shake, so she stood, and waited.

Gawel met the woman glare for glare. He remembered her now, the one they had played peeping tom on. He had no idea what they saw in her. Probably just the fact she had breasts, he amended now. "Certain things have... come to light since then," he said, struggling to keep his voice level and not just force his way through. He had no doubt he could, he was far larger and stronger than this woman, but he also had no doubt that some kind of magic would follow and he still didn't like the feeling of magic being used on him.

"If you hurt her as much as you have today, believe me, I will lock you in a block of ice that will never defrost!"

His eyes narrowed dangerously at that and he flexed his hands at his side, not even remembering the bruises on the knuckles of one hand, trying to control his urge to strike her down. He had never had to fight a sorceress before but there were plenty here who had so he knew it was possible for a witcher to overcome their magic. But then at the same time, if he found out that Sara's heart really did belong to Jarek and Iwan never saw the light of day again then maybe being trapped in ice would be preferable. A brief flash of raw pain flashed across his face and he probably didn't cover it up quick enough to stop Adrianna from seeing it. Though she would probably completely understand what caused it.

After she had left, Gawel closed the door firmly behind her and turned back to Sara. There was no delicate way to say this and, frankly, he had no more patience for the niceties of society. "I need to know," he said, his voice husky and though his eyes weren't red and puffy as hers were, it was clear on his face the pain and torment he had been and was still experiencing. "You and Jarek. Do you love him? Or no one? Or... maybe... me..." he trailed off, a slight flush to his face as he looked away, unable to meet her gaze, shoulders hunched as though expecting her answers as a physical blow he could not ward against.

"You and Jarek. Do you love him? Or no one? Or... maybe... me..."

Sara's eyes widened in shock, the force of his question hitting her chest solidly, causing her to take a step backwards as if she had been pushed. Her mouth opened slightly in her shock, and for a moment, as she took in Gawel's hunched stature and pained look, her heart welled with compassion again, breaking the carefully replaced walls around it.

"Jarek? You think I'm in love with Jarek?" For a split second, Sara considered being vague with her answers, and leading him on before telling him the truth. But her heart and mouth refused to allow that. "Oh Gawel." She whispered, then continued, taking a single, tentative, step forward. "I have great respect for Jarek, and a fondness...but no. I do not love him."

Turning away, she bit the side of her lower lip, trying to think of the way to tell him how she felt without opening herself up to more pain that he would surely cause her in his rejection. With her eyes focused on her hands held tightly against her belly, she whispered, "I love... you." before flicking her eyes back up to study his reaction of those three, yet powerful, words.

"Jarek? You think I'm in love with Jarek?"

"Well, why not?" he answered defensively. "I know he's handsome and charming, far more than me. Stand me and him side by side and girls will go to him every time. You spend all your time with him and were flushing like an innocent maid when that woman asked if he was who you were dressing up for, and he too for that matter. Though why after what he told me I have no idea..."

"I have great respect for Jarek, and a fondness...but no. I do not love him."

Gawel felt relief wash over him, even if it wasn't for him. "I'm glad," he said softly, before turning to the window and leaning on the sill, looking out. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt because of it."

"I love... you."

Gawel blinked, the words not registering at first. He glanced over his shoulder at her in time to catch her eye. "But... why?" he asked, as though completely confused by the confession even if it was the one he was looking for. After all, he knew he wasn't a particularly dashing young man, he was only in his early twenties and already covered in scars with a rather bad limp (albiet it was only made worse by Jarek's kick not too long ago), his hair was an odd colour, his eyes unusually bright, and let's not forget how hideous he looked when he took potions and a witcher's incredibly short life expectancy. No witcher had yet died of old age after all. He knew he was far from an ideal man for a woman, especially one as beautiful as Sara was who could no doubt have her pick of any man of any station. She could live her life in luxury, in a castle with everything she ever wanted at her beck and call. With him... well his work wasn't exactly conductive to relationships and there was no luxury involved. Not to mention the fact that he was infertile. But then... maybe she didn't realise that. He had to tell her. At some point. Maybe.

Sara flushed when they made eye contact.

"Why?"

For a moment, Sara was incredulous. "Why? You want to know why I love you?" She turned towards him. Before she could stop herself, she continued talking. "I tell you three words that I have never spoken to anyone ever before and all you can say is 'why'?" Furious that her eyes were brimming with tears, again, she dashed them away swiftly. "I love you because you are strong, funny, smart and witty, and to my way of thinking, far too handsome than any man has any right to be. I love the way your eyes sparkle when you laugh. I love the sound of your voice, especially when we teasing one another. I love the way you make me feel when you touch me, or hold me." A tear fell down her cheek, glistening in the dying light of the fire. She took a shallow breath and whispered, "I love you Gawel. I'm sorry if that isn't what you wanted to hear, I'll leave tomorrow. You'll never have to deal with me again!" Her voice, which had started out so quiet, grew louder as she became more upset.

How stupid she was to think that there could be anything between them! "Addie..." Before she could even think anything more than that, Adrianna burst into the room, standing tall and looking mighty confidant. Her hands were loose by her side, but obviously ready to cast whatever spells the situation calls for. "I think this little chit chatting has gone on long enough." She said, striding into the room and taking a position besides Sara, who was now visibly shaking with the effort of holding back tears and the urge to crumble to the floor. Sara looked, and felt, like she had aged twenty years in the span of just a few minutes. Her mind was all a jumble with mixed emotions, each one fighting to take her attention. Her heart was calling out to him, to say the words she wanted to hear, but her mind, being completely logical, just wanted him to leave her with the remnants of her shattered emotions.

As soon as Sara started ranting Gawel realized he had made a mistake by voicing his thoughts. He should know better by now but what could he say, he was a slow learner. He let her rant though and was rather stunned by the things she said, the shock and confusion showing clearly on his face. He didn't dare interrupt her.

"I love you Gawel. I'm sorry if that isn't what you wanted to hear, I'll leave tomorrow. You'll never have to deal with me again!

He shook his head to counter that, to say that she wouldn't be able to get through the passes any more, and that it definately was what he wanted here he just couldn't understand what would make her choose him over Jarek especially since she didn't know about his lack. He opened his mouth to say that, and to say that he returned the feelings but before he got a chance to, the other sorceress came back and he shut his mouth firmly. His eyes flicked between the two women and even though he hadn't heard Sara call for her, he knew she had. His eyes flashed with hurt and betrayal at her unwillingness for them to work things out themselves before he turned and left without a word. What he had to say was for Sara and not that other woman. He had no doubt she had been listening, but he needed at least the illusion of privacy to say what he had to say.

He left the room and, turning a corner, found Jarek waiting for him.

"How did it go?" the man asked, though Gawel could tell he dreaded the answer from the tone of his face.

"Fine until that witch showed up," Gawel said vehemently. "I'm going to Iwan. At least he doesn't go crying for help whenever things don't go his way," he said before heading ever downwards to the vaults.

Here, in the dank darkness of the laboratory, he felt as though it matched his mood and his heart. Iwan was still sleeping, though he stirred slightly when Gawel lightly brushed a hand over his head but he thought he saw the boy's face relax a little more with his presence. Taking up a stool he sat beside the table.

*

Jarek watched his friend leave then sighed. "Shit," he muttered to himself. He then left himself, but this time to find Vesimir. He had to tell him what was going on. Maybe their old mentor would be able to get Gawel to at least take care of himself. Maybe even talk to Adrianna, tell her she needed to but out and let them work things out on their own. Maybe explain to Sara's teacher that the reason Gawel was acting like such an arse was because he was losing someone very close to him.

As soon as the door slammed behind Gawel, Sara fell to the floor, her shaky legs unable to hold her up any longer.

"What a horrid man." Adrianna said and she pressed a cool hand to Sara's forehead, sending her into sleep. "Sorry my dear, but you need to rest..." Sara's eyes fluttered momentarily, then shut, her long thick lashes laying against her pale, if flushed, cheeks. Using a surprising strength, Adrianna picked her student up off the floor and carried her to the bed, where she gently lowered her down and pulled a fur blanket up around her shoulders.

"I'll be back in a moment.. you rest, I'm going to have a little chat with Vesimir..." With that, she twirled from the bed and floated down the stairs, using a slight spark of magic to discern where Vesimir was. His room, eating. She should have known. With a roll of her eyes, she began making the familiar walk to his room. She had been there many times before, but never with a matter as serious as this one.

Without even knocking first, she began talking as she opened the door, "Vesimir, we have to do something about that thick-headed lout of yours." Seeing that he was not alone, she veiled her surprise and just smiled. "Ah, I see Sara did have a soft heart and defrosted you. You've even stopped shaking already!" Adrianna widened her smile and leaned in, almost with a conspiratorial air, "She warmed you, didn't she? Ah, that is so like her..."

Jarek found Vesimir in his room, eating his dinner. He was welcomed in and invited to sit and eat with him, which Jarek did, selecting a buttered bread roll for himself.

"What troubles you, Jarek?" Vesimir asked. "A long face doesn't suit you."

The corner of his mouth twitched upwards at that. "Just as a foul temper doesn't suit Gawel. Nor a certain sorceress teacher driving him away before he's sorted out how his heart feels."

Vesimir paused at that and rose an eyebrow. "His heart?"

Jarek shrugged. "A blind man can see it. I don't have to know what it feels like to know what I see," he replied frankly. It was the way between them now, they spoke frankly and with equality, whatever was on their mind. Jarek liked it that way, it was a refreshing change from his usually dancing vocabulary.

Vesimir was about to answer when the door suddenly opened once more and Adrianna entered.

"Vesimir, we have to do something about that thick-headed lout of yours."

Jarek frowned a little at that, not liking the way she spoke of his friend - sure he may call him similar things all the time, but always to his face where he could retaliate, and always in jest, not like she was - especially since she knew but half of the story. Vesimir, however, only smiled and said, "My, aren't I popular this evening."

"Ah, I see Sara did have a soft heart and defrosted you. You've even stopped shaking already! She warmed you, didn't she? Ah, that is so like her..."

"Yes, though I don't know where she could have gotten such a kind heart from," Jarek said silkily with a pleasant smile on his face.

He was perfectly nice about the insult, though Vesimir still said, "Enough, Jarek," and he bowed his head briefly in acknowledgment. "Sit down, Adrianna," he said to the sorceress. "Have a bite to eat and let's talk. I suppose this has to do with our little love birds that Jarek here was just telling me about?"

"Considering how she was treated her first few years of life, and is obviously still being treated, I'm surprised she talks to anyone, let alone allows herself to fall in love." She snapped back, ready to turn Jarek into another ice sculpture, or just a pile of ashes.

Adrianna took her seat next to Vesimir and nodded. "It does indeed." She crossed her arms and leaned forwards towards Vesimir. "Hon, I admit I am biased against both of these young bucks, considering the last time I was here, they peeped through my door. But," She held up a hand to stop any interjections, "this is about Sara. For some reason, she had given her heart to him." Adrianna eyed both Jarek, then Vesimir, her gaze resting back on Vesimir. "I'm sure you both have noticed that Sara is a half-elf. Because of this, it should come as no surprise to know that she's endured the same amount, if not more, animosity that you witchers do. When I was sent to take her from her family, at her families request, that child was already broken. She hid everything, her feelings, her hunger, her pain. To listen to her pour her heart out to this man, and receive nothing in return, broke my heart."

She took a deep breath and turned towards Jarek. "Do you think Gawel returns her feelings?"

Vesimir nodded to what Adrianna said, listening quietly, and Jarek bit his tongue, refusing to speak what he wanted to. At least just yet. And only in respect for Vesimir since normally he didn't care whether his tongue spoke witticisms, flattery or poison. At her question to him, he rose an eyebrow, shooting a glance to Vesimir remembering his comment about even blind men seeing it. Vesimir conveniently rose a hand to his mouth to cover the grin that threatened to show and wisely said nothing.

"Of course he does," Jarek said. "And speaking from an unbiased perspective without any knowledge of the feelings involved, I can tell you he returns them just as strongly as she does." His eyes flicked to Vesimir as he added, "He didn't know about my... lack earlier when he left." Vesimir simply nodded. "And he was about to tell her as such before you came in," he added. He didn't know for sure if that was the case but he drew that conclusion from what Gawel had said when he left.

"My dear listen to me," Vesimir said, turning his attention to Adrianna, resting a hand on her knee. "I was responsible for bringing both these boys here so I have known them most of their lives and certainly all their witcher lives. They are both good and honourable people. As for Gawel, however..." Vesimir glanced away, seemed to consider, then sighed and returned to Adrianna, meeting her eyes squarely. "I know you have taken a peak or two into our laboratory during a mutation," he held up a hand to forestall any argument. "Your curiosity would not permit otherwise and I trust to your silence not to mention anything you may have discovered. A boy Gawel discovered and brought back here is currently going through such a mutation. He won't survive."

The finality of Vesimir's voice shook Jarek to the core. Even he hadn't expected that; Iwan may not be the biggest of the boys but he was quick and fast, agile and stubborn to a fault. He had thought he would pull through even if it would be bad for him. He shook his head and sat back. "No wonder he's shut himself away," Jarek said, speaking quietly, more to himself as though having forgotten there were others around him. "First he's losing Iwan who is like a younger brother or son, and then to believe that Sara and I had a relationship..."

"If he had been about to say anything, Sara would never had called out to me. I only came in because she needed me. Gawel was destroying her, and I will not allow that to happen."

Adrianna's eyes softened at the mention of the boys improbability of survival. "That is very disheartening, and I understand a little of what he must be going through. But, and unfortunate as it is, less than half of the boys that make it to this stage survive, that is a cold fact of life. This is a time where they should be coming together, not burning bridges with one another."

She turned towards Jarek. "You say Gawel returns her feelings just as strongly." She flicked her gaze to Vesimir and continued, "Alright then. Which one of you is going to volunteer to talk to him? If he truly loves her, I will not fight him and keep them apart. All I want is for my little Sara to be cared for and cherished, not cast aside and wounded every time he falls into a black mood." Adrianna stood, and ripped off a small piece of Vesimir's buttered bun, and, popping it into her mouth, smiled. "I'll go wait for Sara to wake up, and then I'll talk to her. Are we agreed that we should arrange a meeting for our birdies?"