#lambdenier

He heard Aiden sigh softly, a put on wistful swooning sound as he settled against the wall, leathers creaking in a way that told Lambert they’d be recently replaced. That got Lambert’s attention, and he scowled over his shoulder. Aiden had the good sense to look mildly sheepish as Lambert eyed the shiny new leathers deliberately. He could still smell the damn dye on the breeze that’s how new they were, the rich royal blue was a little too eye catching for the usual Witcher get up, but Aiden favoured it, and it was one of the few indulgences that the Cat Witcher allowed himself.

“What caught you?” Lambert demanded. Thankfully, Aiden didn’t bother to lie or pretend some measure of ignorance or innocence about the matter. They’d played that particular game a few times in the past, and all it did was lead to them both being miserable and someone storming off for weeks at a time. Usually Lambert. Neither one of them really wanted to waste the limited time the seasons offered them to be together now-a-days, more so now they’d coaxed a particular song bird into their bed. 

“A Werewolf, mated pair. The village hadn’t mentioned the second one, probably didn’t know about her and I should have done a bit more investigating, but it had appeared simple enough,” Aiden shrugged with a slight wince, already anticipating the lecture and bracing himself for the volley of curses and chastising that would come. 

Lambert did not disappoint, they were barely a year out of the attempt on Aiden’s life by his own kin and Lambert was still twitchy about every scrape and bruise his partner suffered, “It’s never simple Aiden, you fucking know that, if it looks simple-”

“Yes, yes, it’s a fucking trap,” Aiden finished with a gruff impersonation of Lambert’s own voice, a touch too deep but otherwise unnervingly accurate. “I was eager to get it done, a simple mistake.” 

Lambert finished the final swing with a touch more violence behind it, “I’d rather not lose you to a ‘simple mistake’.”

Aiden’s smile softened just a little, “You won’t Wolf, I’m tougher than that, we should be more concerned by our little Sandpiper, speaking of which…?” Aiden left the question unsaid and Lambert glared at him for a moment, his unsubtle attempt to change the subject had been noted, and they would be swinging back around to Aiden’s recent brush with Death soon enough. 

“Tavern, earning some coin,” Lambert jerked his head to the Inn just on the edge of the widow’s land. The building looked like a dark mushroom with its large second floor overhanging the first, not the most inviting space, but there was the soft lilt of Jaskier’s singing echoing out of the open shutters transforming the sullen and shadowy tavern into something a touch friendlier.

Aiden’s head tilted to the side as he focused on picking up the tell-tale tune from a distance, Lambert knew the moment he caught it when his face softened and his lips twitched towards a smile. He listened for a moment before turning his attention back on Lambert.  

“And here you are farming?” Aiden’s eyebrow cocked upwards.

“Old lady’s newly widowed from the winter, asked for a hand bringing in the harvest,” Lambert shrugged it off, feeling the heat of his cheeks change from a summer burn to embarrassment at having, yet again, been caught doing something either of his lover’s considered noble.

Aiden’s one remaining eye twinkled, “Ah…and I suppose none of the local lads were able to help?”

Lambert groaned as he brought the last of the wheat to the pile near Aiden’s knowing gaze, “Not enough coin in it for them.”

“My sweet soft-hearted wolf,” Aiden mumbled sappily as he lent against the stones, chin in hand. 

“Shut it,” Lambert grumbled, moving close enough to get a well deserved and long overdue reunion kiss. They rarely separated these days, but the draw of more than a couple of contracts had split their paths for a handful of weeks. Lambert lingered in the surprisingly chaste kiss, long enough that when they parted, Aiden’s breaths came a little harder. Aiden nuzzled their noses together, chasing an additional kiss before Lambert left a quick peck on his fellow Witcher’s nose and moved away to finish his work, content that he’d riled Aiden up enough to lead to an interesting night. 

“Sap,” Aiden teased, hopping the wall with his usual grace and setting himself to the task of helping Lambert tie the harvest into manageable bundles. Neither of them had much skill nor understanding about farming, but it would have to do. 

“Let’s get this to her shed and see if Jaskier’s conned some free drinks and room out of the inn’s owner,” Lambert said, throwing a handful of bushels onto his shoulder and marching towards the humble stone cottage tucked into a corner of the acreage. 

“Knowing him, there’ll be a bath too,” Aiden pointed out, following Lambert’s lead hefting his own bundles. 

With Aiden’s help they had the harvested wheat tucked away safely in no time at all and the sun had just sunk beneath the horizon when the ailing grandmother had pushed a wonky but delicious smelling freshly baked apple pie into Lambert’s hands as a thank you for his kindness. 

Ignoring Aiden’s both sappy and teasing grin, they finally made their way to the tavern, slipping in just as Jaskier bowed with a flourish and lingering final note to one of his more jauntier tunes. He caught sight of them as he rose, offering a wink in greeting before turning his attention back to the small but engrossed crowd. 

“Good folk, I leave you but for a moment to wet my throat and enjoy some of your most hearty offerings! I suggest you indulge as well before my return,” Jaskier said with all his usual showmanship, ignoring the whines and demands for more songs with ease as he skipped across the room to a table he’d appeared to claim as his own. Aiden and Lambert joined him, Aiden ducking to nip at Jaskier’s cheek in greeting. 

“Good to see you too pussycat,” Jaskier said, flicking a chastising finger at the Cat Witcher. Aiden smirked, ducking under Jaskier’s ridiculously floppy hat for a proper hello kiss that left Lambert a little warm around the chest as he watched.

“I’ve missed you both,” Aiden admitted with an enviable ease as he pulled back with a sigh, sliding onto the bench and settling into the shadowy corner. Lambert shoved the ugly emotion to one side, despite now having two relative verbose lovers, Lambert was still lagging in the communication department, but he was trying. He dropped the still warm pie onto the table and slid in beside Aiden. 

Jaskier waved at the innkeeper, clearly he’d already ordered for them all long before they’d shown up, anticipating two hungry Witchers' arrival, “It’ll be good to travel together for a spell, we’ve a room and a bath for two nights and I do believe the Alderman will be round a bit later with a request. Something that sounds like Nekker’s near the woods.”

“You’ve been busy,” Lambert said as the waitress pushed three heavy bowls laden with spiced stew across the table, she darted away quickly for whatever else Jaskier had ordered that she’d been unable to carry in one go. 

“Not really, just listening to the gossip,” Jaskier replied, taking the bread and an ale from the returning waitress. 

Aiden took the last two flagons for the rushed lass with a nod of thanks to her, “And you just happened to mention us in response?” He said knowingly. The bard was really only subtle to everybody else, it was truly fascinating to see him work a crowd or an Alderman with ease while Lambert worried about the general state of intelligence for most of the continent. 

Jaskier shrugged, a wicked smile on his lips, “Only to help, now dig in. I’ve promised one more set, and then we’re taking full advantage of that bath and bed.”