It had been this way for as long as you could remember—a life split between land and the water. Usually, you didn't mind, in fact it was sort of amazing that you could shift into a mermaid at will. But on the night of the full moon when you had no choice, you hated it. There were so many times...no, best not to think of it. Besides it hadn't been an issue since Geralt found you crying as you tried to drag yourself to a lake under the light of a full moon.

The witcher was convinced that you were cursed. After all, real mermaids could give up their tails to live on land but you were this thing whether you wanted to be or not. You'd been travelling with him for over a year now. It worked well, you thought. As neither of you cared much for people, you kept each other company. And when he hunted, you stayed with Roach.

You thought the arrangement was perfect. Which is why you didn't understand when Geralt let the bard travel with you. There were several things he could have done to be rid of the man if he truly wished, but he just rode Roach and hummed in annoyance. Occasionally he ran his thumb along one of the arms you wrapped around him. He knew the bard's presence would unsettle you. Too many encounters with superstitious cruel humans had colored your view of them long ago.

"And what's your name, gorgeous?" Jaskier asked when you stopped the first evening. Geralt had gone to hunt and left the two of you alone. You didn't answer, instead sliding sideways to put a bit more space between the two of you. He frowned. "There's no reason to be afraid of me. I'm just a bard. A brilliant, talented bard, but a bard just the same. I won't hurt you. I mean obviously Geralt left me here to protect you. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't trust me."

You huffed a laugh but still said nothing. If anything, you'd been left to protect the bard. You never would have been allowed to travel with Geralt for so long if you couldn't take care of yourself.

"Her name's Y/N and she doesn't like people." Geralt's sudden appearance from the dark startled Jaskier but didn't faze you in the least.

"So, you two are well suited then."

Geralt answered with an angry growl but flashed you a small grin and you turned your head to the side so the bard wouldn't see your own smile.

***

The three of you had been traveling together for a couple of weeks. You had grown more comfortable around Jaskier but you still didn't talk to him much. You also hadn't gone for a swim in that time which made you irritable. Bards weren't exactly known for keeping secrets, however. You couldn't risk it. Geralt assured you that he'd take you soon. Another week and he wouldn't have a choice.

Currently, you and Jaskier were keeping Roach company at the edge of a swamp. Someone had yelled for help as you passed by and Geralt had gone to investigate. It was taking longer than you liked for him to return. Finally, the sounds of a battle and splashing water drifted in your direction. You pulled the knife you kept at your waist and stepped toward the noise.

Jaskier grasped your arm to stop you and you turned to scowl at him. "Geralt told us to stay here so I think that's what we should do."

You yanked your arm from his hold and continued on your way. When the fight came into view, you stopped to watch. Geralt stood in calf deep water fighting a beast that was easily three times his size. Tentacles writhed in the murky water and snapped in the air. You'd never seen a beast of its like before. As always, you were amazed by Geralt's dexterity as he dodged blows and delivered his own.

"Look out!" the bard yelled from behind you.

You immediately spun and shoved him backward. "Quiet," you hissed. Yelling at the witcher would only serve to distract him.

Your gaze focused on Geralt again just as one of the tentacles wrapped around him and tugged him beneath the water. Shit. You counted in your head, waiting for him to recover on his own before you intervened.

When there was no sign of him reemerging from the swamp, you placed your knife between your teeth and dove into the murky water, shifting as you went. Your tail was fully formed by the time you hit the water and you used its strength to push you forward. When you reached Geralt tangled in the mass of tentacles, you sliced into the beast's tender flesh with your knife. Almost immediately, it released it's hold on Geralt and he surged upward out of the water.

You twisted and wove your way around the monster, disorienting it so Geralt could take it down more easily. The bulk of the beast slammed into the water with Geralt's death blow and you dodged out of the way. A moment later, a familiar hand wrapped around your arm and pulled you up. You shifted back to human so you could stand. You shivered as Geralt lifted strands of hair so he could see your face.

"Okay?" he asked in that rough voice even as his gaze ran over you looking for injuries.

You nodded once and gripped his hand firmly as he helped you from the murky water. Your breeches had been lost when you shifted but you still wore one of the oversized shirts you'd taken to wearing. It kept you covered for the most part though it was hardly modest at the moment with the way it clung to your skin. "I hate swamp water," you muttered.

Geralt hummed in what you assumed was agreement.

As the two of you approached Roach, you found Jaskier waiting for you with wide eyes. His gaze darted back and forth before settling on you. "You're a..."

You frowned and fidgeted as he trailed off. He turned to Geralt. "She's a—"

The witcher's hand at the bard's throat cut him off this time. "She's a woman. Nothing more. Understood?"

Jaskier managed to nod and Geralt released him. The bard rubbed at his throat. "That was hardly necessary. I wouldn't say anything if you asked me not to."

Geralt narrowed his gaze and stepped toward the other man.

Jaskier held his hands up in surrender. "I mean there's nothing to say anyway. I saw nothing."

The witcher grunted and turned back to Roach. He mounted the horse then took your hand to pull you up in front of him, which he rarely did. He preferred you at his back so he could protect you better. "Town's that way," he told Jaskier and gestured in the direction you'd been heading. "We'll be along later."

"You expect me to just—"

Geralt urged Roach forward and rode off before the bard even finished his sentence.

"I'll just head to town then," he yelled after you.

You couldn't help the chuckle that escaped you. Geralt wrapped an arm around your waist and held you against him while he directed Roach with the other hand. "Where are we going?"

"For a swim." His breath tickled your skin as he spoke in your ear.

You shivered again, though it wasn't entirely from the cold this time. Geralt simply held you more firmly and urged Roach to go faster.

A short time later you arrived at a clear pool bathed in sunlight. You bounced a little and a low chuckle came from behind you. As soon as he stopped near the edge, he helped you down and you ran for the water. You pulled up short before diving in and turned back to him. "Do you need any help?"

He glanced at you with a soft smile and shook his head once. "Not today."

You stripped the shirt off and tossed it aside then dived into the clear, clean water. It was more than refreshing after a dip in the swamp. A tug on your tail had you turning with a squeal. After yanking your tail from his hold, you used it to send a wave of water in his direction. You popped your head out of the water just in time to see Geralt running a hand down his face to wipe the water away. You grinned and darted away from him. As fast as you were, the witcher always managed to catch you, but you enjoyed the chase all the same.

Soon enough, strong arms wrapped around you and the two of you rolled in the water. You surfaced with a laugh. Geralt kept one hand on your waist while the other pushed your wet hair off your face. "Better?"

"So much better." You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him close so you could smash your lips to his. The kiss was soft, tender and needy. Most of your nights the past several weeks had been spent outside with a nosy bard far too close for comfort. "I hope you intend for Jaskier to room on his own this evening."

There was a wicked glint in those amber eyes as he leaned back to look at you. "Hmmm. There's a cave behind the fall. Just big enough for two. I thought we'd wait until tomorrow to head to town."

You shifted so you could wrap your legs around his waist. "Sounds perfect."

He readjusted his hold and twisted out of your legs as he tossed you up and away.

When you surfaced, he was chuckling while he gave you that cockeyed grin of his you loved so much.

You shook your head and crossed your arms over your chest. "You are in so much trouble, Witcher."

"Oh, I'm counting on it."